The Manchester United Thread

Tbh lets no kid ourselves every manager dies throughout the season. And it's always been tougher being in the EL to the CL. For some strange reason.

I disagree with that. I wouldn't say the Europa is necessarily tougher, it's more because it's smaller clubs that tend to qualify for it, and they therefore have thinner squads which can't handle the extra games as easily as the bigger clubs which have squads built for fighting on multiple fronts, so it has a greater impact on their league results.

And possibly now a psychological effect too because everyone thinks it's tougher
 
I disagree with that. I wouldn't say the Europa is necessarily tougher, it's more because it's smaller clubs that tend to qualify for it, and they therefore have thinner squads which can't handle the extra games as easily as the bigger clubs which have squads built for fighting on multiple fronts, so it has a greater impact on their league results.

And possibly now a psychological effect too because everyone thinks it's tougher
Who knows. People in the game don't seem to know either :) It's not like Liverpool, Utd, City, Chelsea, Spurs have thin squads.
 
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Who knows. People in the game don't seem to know either :) It's not like Liverpool, Utd, City, Chelsea, Spurs have thin squads.

That's my point - at least United, City and Chelsea have strong and deep squads so they can cope with European football relatively well, and are more often than not in the Champions League.

Compare this to say a Southampton or West Ham who don't qualify for the Champions League but maybe Europa on occasion, but don't have the squad depth to cope with it and domestic results suffer as a result. It's not like if you bumped them up into the CL instead their results would suddenly improve back in the PL - it's the fact that they're not strong enough to cope with fighting on as many fronts as the giants with the big squads, who usually end up in the CL.
 
Being in CL I'd argue is easier than Europa, obviously not as a competition but when it comes to fixture congestion and scheduling Europa is an utter nightmare. Which is part of the reason why I don't really like it.

Nine games in April is absurd, let alone with the injuries we've had. Like Jose rightly pointed out, if we had of got through to the FA Cup Semi's, where on earth would they of been scheduled in our fixture list? Being successful in Europa only harms you in other competitions.

Anyway getting top 4 and winning a cup is a good season, not great, but have to lower expectations in the context.
 
Just seen this. But looks a good sign. Seen a couple reports saying he twisted it. Maybe play through pain or will be all good for Thursday








Byron Carey @ByronCarey





Eric Bailly has just left Old Trafford with his right ankle strapped up. No crutches though, which is hopefully a good sign #Mufc







 
There's one extra round the Europa. That's it. That's the only difference between the two competions.


You get the exact same rest time between games as you do the Champions League for weekend games. Just a day advanced. Every other Country copes fine with it. Only in England clubs and fans ever complain.
 
Being in CL I'd argue is easier than Europa, obviously not as a competition but when it comes to fixture congestion and scheduling Europa is an utter nightmare. Which is part of the reason why I don't really like it.

Nine games in April is absurd, let alone with the injuries we've had. Like Jose rightly pointed out, if we had of got through to the FA Cup Semi's, where on earth would they of been scheduled in our fixture list? Being successful in Europa only harms you in other competitions......

That's football man. You want to be successful, that's the price you pay. All it means is you aren't spending time the training field preparing for the next opponent. All you're doing between games in the main is resting. Which players would rather be doing. Playing and not training. Just coaches that hate it.

L'pool had a mad 9 game January and we aren't in Europe with both domestic cups. That's the price you pay for progressing in the cups. Always has been the way. Always will be.

That's football. You deal
 
Mad after how this season has unfolded, the bookies are still too cautious to side against the two Manchester clubs for next season. Manchester City & United are early favourites & second favourites respectively for the 2017-18 campaign.

View attachment 95782
 
Mad after how this season has unfolded, the bookies are still too cautious to side against the two Manchester clubs for next season. Manchester City & United are early favourites & second favourites respectively for the 2017-18 campaign.

View attachment 1114092

Maybe they're reading Tod's posts and are worried Utd are going to buy every top player in Europe this summer? ;).
 
Perhaps. Still doesn't explain City's short price, wdskoul's posts are pretty grounded XD
 
Is that even allowed? A bit of rotation is one thing, but surely you can't just deliberately put out a **** team.

Yeah it'll be interesting.. I remember Mick McCarthy getting the book thrown at him for fielding a weak team against us a few years back?
 
Being in CL I'd argue is easier than Europa, obviously not as a competition but when it comes to fixture congestion and scheduling Europa is an utter nightmare. Which is part of the reason why I don't really like it.

Nine games in April is absurd, let alone with the injuries we've had. Like Jose rightly pointed out, if we had of got through to the FA Cup Semi's, where on earth would they of been scheduled in our fixture list? Being successful in Europa only harms you in other competitions.

Then again, Benitez won Europa League with Chelsea while basically using 14 people squad, and also making FA cup semis, League Cup semis, finishing at 3rd place, and having to play Club World Cup in the process.
 
Yeah it'll be interesting.. I remember Mick McCarthy getting the book thrown at him for fielding a weak team against us a few years back?

Which was ridiculous at the time. You can field any one you want tbh
 
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