The Manchester United Thread
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Christ almighty ... The top EPL clubs who compete in the FA Cup have a similar level of resources unlike the Europa League.
God forbid anyone tries to discount the ‘treble’ that Mourinho won in his first season. But if you lot want to give him massive credit for swatting aside mid-table EPL and lower-table EPL standard clubs on his way to winning a second-tier European competiton that he himself disparaged a few years ago then feel free
However, the NON-LEAGUE teams ie clubs like Altrincham, Aylesbury, Sutton Utd etc are on par with the clubs in Malta, Cyprus, Estonia who also play in the Europa league and even bigger shock horror the Champions League. Unfair competition does not make a cup worthless nor does an 'equal' playing field make a competition better. It maybe wise for you to give up now as no one is going to agree with you.
Scouseinthehouse
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This is absolutely nonsensical.
You can't pick your opposition in knock-out football.
It's like when Utd fans vainly try denigrate L'pool's first 4 European Cups with lines like 'you had it easy playing Zurich the semi.' Conveniently forgetting it was straight knock-out European footie from the get-go back then when one mistake and you were out. Which happened three out of 4 seasons the early '80's to such 'stellar' outfits as Dinamo Tiblisi the first round and, in successive season's the third round, CSKA Sofia and Poland's Widzew Lodz. Liverpool, by far and away the best team in Europe back then, getting beat by far inferior sides on every level. Was the European Cup insignificant those season's too?
Regardless of the standard of opposition, or disparity in financial clout, Utd battled through 15 games to win the Europa League last year. Including 9 straight do-or-die knock-out European ties. Do I think they'd of had a different story if they'd of had the run L'pool had the knock-outs the year before? (Utd themselves, a CL calibre Dortmund side, a very good Villareal side consistently up the top of La Liga. And Sevilla going for a third straight win the final?). No question. But it's COMPLETELY immaterial as they got dealt the hand they got dealt and beat what was in front of them. It doesn't somehow lessen their achievement because they had an easier run FFS.
You're talking like a fan of a small, insignificant club jealous of others achievements. Which is ironic as that's what you'd still be without Russian rubles affording you a glimpse of the high life at the present time.
And you've now had me defend Utd to boot which is never appreciated!
You can't pick your opposition in knock-out football.
It's like when Utd fans vainly try denigrate L'pool's first 4 European Cups with lines like 'you had it easy playing Zurich the semi.' Conveniently forgetting it was straight knock-out European footie from the get-go back then when one mistake and you were out. Which happened three out of 4 seasons the early '80's to such 'stellar' outfits as Dinamo Tiblisi the first round and, in successive season's the third round, CSKA Sofia and Poland's Widzew Lodz. Liverpool, by far and away the best team in Europe back then, getting beat by far inferior sides on every level. Was the European Cup insignificant those season's too?
Regardless of the standard of opposition, or disparity in financial clout, Utd battled through 15 games to win the Europa League last year. Including 9 straight do-or-die knock-out European ties. Do I think they'd of had a different story if they'd of had the run L'pool had the knock-outs the year before? (Utd themselves, a CL calibre Dortmund side, a very good Villareal side consistently up the top of La Liga. And Sevilla going for a third straight win the final?). No question. But it's COMPLETELY immaterial as they got dealt the hand they got dealt and beat what was in front of them. It doesn't somehow lessen their achievement because they had an easier run FFS.
You're talking like a fan of a small, insignificant club jealous of others achievements. Which is ironic as that's what you'd still be without Russian rubles affording you a glimpse of the high life at the present time.
And you've now had me defend Utd to boot which is never appreciated!
And I am not debating in the extremes either. I don’t think Mourinho’s achievement is worthless but neither do I feel it should be celebrated as heavily as it is in certain quarters because of the standard of opposition in the competition. And again I mention that not all clubs in the FA Cup are sub-par standard as quite a few of them have similar level of resources with one another unlike the Europa League so the analogy is nonsensical.
Completely agree that they can’t pick their opposition in knockout football. But it certainly does lessen their achievement for me particularly once you consider the gulf in resources between them and all the opposition they faced.
Can see everyone's point tbh. Yes it was nice to win the Europa, but given our road to it (draws) we would've been very disappointed not to have, especially how the top 4 got out of reach and it was our full focus. Still can't belittle it though, agreed.
Delighted to have won everything we won last season, but we as Manchester United do need to set our sights on bigger things. It was a good first season, but we were one loss away from it being a poor season (if we lost vs Ajax and didn't qualify for the CL), that's how fractional it was. Also shows how massive that EL victory was; lifting a European trophy aside.
Delighted to have won everything we won last season, but we as Manchester United do need to set our sights on bigger things. It was a good first season, but we were one loss away from it being a poor season (if we lost vs Ajax and didn't qualify for the CL), that's how fractional it was. Also shows how massive that EL victory was; lifting a European trophy aside.
Well-balanced post. Agree with it completely.
Given poor recruitment has been ongoing problem for 3 different managers, all signs are pointing upwards. Woodward seems only interested in signing players for their marketing value so he can place more noodle adverts on them. The whole place seems like recruitment is being run by a gang of premium agents, rather than an efficient organization that uses its own scouting network and it's own resources to sign talents according to long-term strategy.
https://twitter.com/FraSulas/status/946102570896019456
Should not Matic or Herrera cover him behind like it was done in Juve?
Should not Matic or Herrera cover him behind like it was done in Juve?
Really hope Fellaini leaves, with his recent moaning it may come true. I don't think we're going anywhere as a footballoing team when we rely on him. On the pitch or off the bench. Long-term we don't want to be playing hoof ball to Fellaini, even as a get out option. We need a greater vision.
Also Ibra has to go, absolutely done and dusted, does not offer enough in the modern game to be a functional forward. Despite a moment of brilliance he can produce.
Get in an alternative forward who can offer something different to Lukaku, Dybala would be a dream but it won't happen.
I'd keep Blind because he is a decent utility player, can do a great job as a CB. Sometimes better than our actual CB's.
Wise investment needed, not buying big names for the sake of it. As Tyton pointed out this is my biggest issue with Woodward. He sees us as a galactico, or that is what his vision is for us. Madrid-esque.
Also Ibra has to go, absolutely done and dusted, does not offer enough in the modern game to be a functional forward. Despite a moment of brilliance he can produce.
Get in an alternative forward who can offer something different to Lukaku, Dybala would be a dream but it won't happen.
I'd keep Blind because he is a decent utility player, can do a great job as a CB. Sometimes better than our actual CB's.
Wise investment needed, not buying big names for the sake of it. As Tyton pointed out this is my biggest issue with Woodward. He sees us as a galactico, or that is what his vision is for us. Madrid-esque.
We've signed Ribalta from Juventus so hopefully things should start to change
The problem isn't Fellaini. The problem is that Jose has made him invaluable to his setup
Nah, it's on Pogba. He should be able to defend, create, score, tackle, cover LB like Rooney and save penalties to become decent midfielder and maybe justify 100m pricetag.
Theatre of Dreams83
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Yep him and Guzman from Atletico who was behind there whole scouting and recruitment revamp.
Scouseinthehouse
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Definitely needs that structure.
Woodward should be solely on the financial end of closing things. Leave the football side to proper football men.
Theatre of Dreams83
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I don’t think Woodward’s the problem tbh. He simply gets the players the manager wants. Ok except maybe Di Maria. Who would of been actually good under Mourinho.
He negotiates, and uses agents for approaches . Which he should not be doing. Anything face to face should be Ribalta. The only thing he should do is pay the money