The Manchester United Thread

[Scouseinthehouse]

With all due respect to Liverpool, they're the last thing on my mind at the moment. This is a HUGE game, not for equalling or breaking any records, this is a huge game in terms of being a step in the right direction for my football club.

One would think. But zz is of a different ilk. :S.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Well, all might not be lost from today. Just had a mail saying the 8:18 rattler down to Euston this morning was delayed well over an hour so we may well be entitled to a full refund there. Glad I never webbed those train tickets after the semi loss.

As much as I'm lamenting missing another boss day out at Anfield South (NEVER understand the attitude of football 'fans' that would rather have a top 4 place over a final day out, a major piece of silverware, and European footie locked down before the Spring); really looking forward to this game.

Goes without saying over recent seasons Southampton are no mugs and Puel has shown to be another real bright, tactical mind to come into the PL. Still find it staggering that they've become the first team to reach this stage ever without conceding a single goal in the competition through 5 games. Be interesting to see if the new Uruguayan defender comes straight in for van Dijk. And the Italian forward has added a whole new threat there. Massive day out for them and their fans. Cherish it guys. This is what football is ALL about.

United naturally go in as favourites given the amount of money differential between the two squads but it looks a well evenly matched contest on paper and a tough one to call either way.

*Edit* All that said the only downside for Southampton fans is today is at Wembley and Cardiff, which ****** all over the Wembley 'experience' in any facet anyone cares to mention. But sadly those glorious 6 years in South Wales are passed and you make the most of a final just being a final. Which is boss in its own right.

 

[RhQQ]

2 FIFA Club WC

Nobody usually counts this.

No point getting into it, it'll be endless. Let's just remember that the two clubs have produced over 80 trophies between them, regardless who's in front, here's to another one today!!

 

[steveorobbo]

2 FIFA Club WC

Nobody usually counts this.

I dont get why people dont count this. In my eyes its a major trophy. You can only even have a chance of winning it by being the champions of europe. Same when people knock the super cup. Again you can only have a chance of winning it by being a european champion. Even annoys me more about the charity shield. Just because we historically dont ake it as serious as other countries doesnt make it less of a trophy. Again you can only take part and have a chance of winning it by winning one of the two most important trophies in the country (Or come second in the league if team A wins both). If you fight all season long and win a trophy, how can fighting for another trophy to be considered best of the best any less important? It baffles me

 

[epic terrorist]

Tells you all you need to know on a person's 'support' when they resort to things like that.

They want to try telling Madrid they haven't got a record 19 UEFA trophies because 'Super Cups don't count.'

Or Milan they're on 10 and not 17 because their two CWC's and 5 SC's mean nothing; Barcelona 5 not 14 etc.

Modern day football fans mate. (And God **** typing these things with the frigging iPhone auto correct *****. Loads of corrections needed to be made the previous post **** it! Lol.).

UEFA should never have scrapped the cup winners cup it was a great competition in my opinion

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

I dont get why people dont count this. In my eyes its a major trophy. You can only even have a chance of winning it by being the champions of europe. Same when people knock the super cup. Again you can only have a chance of winning it by being a european champion. Even annoys me more about the charity shield. Just because we historically dont ake it as serious as other countries doesnt make it less of a trophy. Again you can only take part and have a chance of winning it by winning one of the two most important trophies in the country (Or come second in the league if team A wins both). If you fight all season long and win a trophy, how can fighting for another trophy to be considered best of the best any less important? It baffles me

One of L'pool's main aims the start the season used to be, to be playing in the following August's Charity Shield. You achieved that, it invariably meant you'd won either the League or Cup.

Tell that to people now and they just can't comprehend it.

Baffling isn't the word mate. Different generations brainwashed by what the likes of Sky ram down their throats.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

UEFA should never have scrapped the cup winners cup it was a great competition in my opinion

Don't get me started mate. If I had it my way, the European Cup would be only Champions against Champions as it still should be (Which in turn would make the UEFA Cup a **** of a lot stronger like it always used to be), the CWC would still be there for the respective domestic Cup winners; and all these completions would be straight two legged knock-out European football (which just can not be beaten) from round one with none of the turgid group bollocks where you can lose half your games and still qualify.

But sadly money dictates and we're never going back.

*Edit* To add to and run with robbo's bang on point about the Club WC and European SC, and this is just a personal POV because I love going Nice/ Monaco, but one of the best things on winning the UEFA Cup in 2001 or the CL in 2005 was the though of going Monaco early the following year for the SC. Used to absolutely love that but UEFA have even managed to F that up by now taking it all over the place. Macedonia next year and frigging Estonia the year after for the SC final.

 

[Theatre of dreams]

Any chance to win a trophy should be taken seriously by the fans and club. I don't get why fans turn there noses up at certain comps. I wanna win every trophy from the community shield to the CL. If Mourinho thought like most fans he would never have won so many cup comps in his career so far. It's why his teams are always hard to beat, gets that mentality drilled into the squad. For me this is trophy number 2 of the season not 1.

 

[epic terrorist]

Don't get me started mate. If I had it my way, the European Cup would be only Champions against Champions as it still should be (Which in turn would make the UEFA Cup a **** of a lot stronger like it always used to be), the CWC would still be there for the respective domestic Cup winners; and all these completions would be straight two legged knock-out European football (which just can not be beaten) from round one with none of the turgid group bollocks where you can lose half your games and still qualify.

But sadly money dictates and we're never going back.

I do personally like the group stages but it is too diluted now, I think it was at its best (in the current format I mean) in the late 90's when it was top 2 IIRC? The farce of the 2 group stages though that was terrible.

Now with Europa league winners getting UCL footie teams should really take it more seriously, I dunno why some English teams don't, if anything its great for the fans you know as well as I do how good European away days are, they really cannot be beaten imo.

 

[steveorobbo]

I dont get why teams moan about playing Thursdays in the Europa then Sunday/Monday in the league. How is that any different to playing Champions League on a Wednesday and league on a Saturday?

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

..... Now with Europa league winners getting UCL footie teams should really take it more seriously, I dunno why some English teams don't, if anything its great for the fans you know as well as I do how good European away days are, they really cannot be beaten imo.

Honestly, and this has been a recent discussion with friends funnily enough who are all of the same feeling, as much as you want L'pool be in the CL next season, for arguments sake lets say we finished 5th/6th and ended up the Europa; from a purely travelling fan POV that would be even better because there's WAY more boss trips to be had from going places you never would the Europa than the same arl boring big places the Champions League.

The run to Basle last year was one of the most enjoyable European campaigns I've ever experienced. Hard to say which was the better trip right through. I was more gutted on the only one I missed Kazan as that would of been a great experience and some brilliant tales came out of that one.

Some boss little gems the Europa League.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

I dont get why teams moan about playing Thursdays in the Europa then Sunday/Monday in the league. How is that any different to playing Champions League on a Wednesday and league on a Saturday?

Never understood that mate but then studies do show that English clubs invariably have a worse record domestically after a Thursday night European game than they do after a Tuesday/ Wednesday one.

Has to be down to a psychological attitude that they actually believe the bunkum spouted the media as the duration between games is no different.

 

[zzeezzy]

I'm all for taking every game/competitions seriously, but in the modern age with the amount of games that you get it's not realistic to expect to go into every game with a full strength team and it not affecting you further down the line. You have to prioritize the most important in my opinion somewhat anyway.

Sadly my greatest example of this is Liverpool, the way they play, the high intesity, it's pedal to the metal, but once you get that going in all competition, it's very hard (near impossible) to sustain it with a consistent strong 11 throughout the season without some serious rotation. Which is where Liverpool's problem lies, I did say at the start of the season, their lack of depth (quality) is going to be their downfall this season.

 

[epic terrorist]

Honestly, and this has been a recent discussion with friends funnily enough who are all of the same feeling, as much as you want L'pool be in the CL next season, for arguments sake lets say we finished 5th/6th and ended up the Europa; from a purely travelling fan POV that would be even better because there's WAY more boss trips to be had from going places you never would the Europa than the same arl boring big places the Champions League.

The run to Basle last year was one of the most enjoyable European campaigns I've ever experienced. Hard to say which was the better trip right through. I was more gutted on the only one I missed Kazan as that would of been a great experience and some brilliant tales came out of that one.

Some boss little gems the Europa League.

Yeah if/when we ever get promoted I'm hoping we can snag Europa through a cup run or something, remember when we played Belgrade in the UEFA was a great trip. Everyone was expecting bother but truth be told we had great fun mixing with the Belgrade lot plus the 20 pence pints or whatever it was went down a right treat. But you miss out on them trips usually in the UCL

 

[Theatre of dreams]

I'm all for taking every game/competitions seriously, but in the modern age with the amount of games that you get it's not realistic to expect to go into every game with a full strength team and it not affecting you further down the line. You have to prioritize the most important in my opinion somewhat anyway.

Sadly my greatest example of this is Liverpool, the way they play, the high intesity, it's pedal to the metal, but once you get that going in all competition, it's very hard (near impossible) to sustain it with a consistent strong 11 throughout the season without some serious rotation. Which is where Liverpool's problem lies, I did say at the start of the season, their lack of depth (quality) is going to be their downfall this season.

That's why we have such a big squad and a good quality to bring in also. Will only get better next season also our quality and depth. Most teams in the Prem would love some of our second teamers.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

That's why we have such a big squad and a good quality to bring in also. Will only get better next season also our quality and depth.

And yet Utd remain moored in 6th.

That 'quality' isn't as great as it's made out to be right now. Next season after another summer of mad spending it might well be different. But this squad isn't anything like top notch at this moment in time. Ferguson's sides scared you from back to front. This one, outside of one or two exceptions, just doesn't.

If it was you wouldn't of been nearly full strength in a dead European tie through the week.

*Edit* Along with City it's stronger than Arsenal, Chelsea, L'pool and Tottenham no question. (Who all have as strong a first XI as anyone but then there's a far bigger drop off in depth outside of 2 or 3 players.). But compared to the major European clubs this Utd squad is lagging a long way behind.

 

[zzeezzy]

That's why we have such a big squad and a good quality to bring in also. Will only get better next season also our quality and depth. Most teams in the Prem would love some of our second teamers.

Yep, certainly helps, but my biggest shock is how often Jose has continued to utilise first team players in games where he really didn't need to.

Take Thursday against St. Etienne, you didn't need to play the best players, Pogba, Mkhi, Zlatan etc etc. Could of gave them all a nice rest for today against Southampton.

Obviously todays result will influence whether that was a good decision or not, if we lose it is only right people will point to that.

 

[zzeezzy]

And yet Utd remain moored in 6th.

That 'quality' isn't as great as it's made out to be right now. Next season after another summer of mad spending it might well be different. But this squad isn't anything like top notch at this moment in time.

If it was you wouldn't of been nearly full strength in a dead European tie through the week.

*Edit* Along with City it's stronger than Chelsea, L'pool and Tottenham no question. (Who all have as strong a first XI as anyone but then there's a far bigger drop off in depth outside of 2 or 3 players.). But compared to the major European clubs this Utd squad is lagging a long way behind.

Missing the point somewhat, take a look since new year, Liverpool have been a downward slide in terms of results. In comparison to United we've been in form and looking like we're going to continue that. You can put it down to many things, but personally I think your lack of depth and the style Klopp wants has took its toll. Luckily for you, the schedule seems kind from now till the end to give you gaps between games where you can rest. So there's a good chance you can pick it back up again.

 

[Theatre of dreams]

Missing the point somewhat, take a look since new year, Liverpool have been a downward slide in terms of results. In comparison to United we've been in form and looking like we're going to continue that. You can put it down to many things, but personally I think your lack of depth and the style Klopp wants has took its toll. Luckily for you, the schedule seems kind from now till the end to give you gaps between games where you can rest. So there's a good chance you can pick it back up again.

Im sure he will say when we finish above them that he is not worried about us

 

[Tyton]

Group stage for Champions League is fine, but it should be only actual champions with a brutal elimination phase in a knockout format, so there's only maybe 4 groups, none of this 50 million groups with every rich club automatically qualifying.