Top 4 race 2016/17

unitedforeveral said:
wow mate! It is disappointing that you feel this way. Have you forgotten that Jose is picking up a team that was left behind by LVG, a man who suffered numerous injuries and had a saddened philosophy. Newspapers and Media always have questions and that's their job primarily but as a United fan, i think you know we are doing much better than last season. I know we have off games but that's because we are not taking our chances. It is too late for a title rush this season but keep faith in Jose. He loves winning and will decimate any team to get where he wants to. He has inherited a team that lacks confidence, he has introduced wonderful and confident lads in the summer and he has kept the whole team in shape. He's already making plans for the summer window and sold players to save some in the bank. He's doing very well. I mean he cannot get on the field and play, our players have to take responsibility and perform.
Click to expand...

After the game i needed to blow off some steam (was expecting a win and had my money on United...) not fair, but it happened. In the end you do have a point there, some of my written drivel was over the top. It's been better than under LVG and Moyes, that's for sure.

Still, United bought 4 class players and despite some players having improved compared to last season (Rojo, Jones, Valencia, Carrick, Darmian) others have fallen behind (Martial, Smalling, Shaw, Schweinsteiger) and the future's not loking too bright when it comes to the likes of Blind and perhaps Mata. Rashford's development has arguably stalled.

I wasn't happy with the style of play in a lot of games this season, e.g. the last game against Scouse. Their team was there for the taking, but how many clear cut chances did United create?

The question is what did you expect before the season started? I thought we would mount a serious title challenge and most likely win the thing. Personally, i can't see the leaders Chelsea having a better squad player for player and after last season their mentality must have been rock bottom too. So i disagree with your assessment that Mourinho's doing very well so far, as aformentioned he's no doubt been better than the former two coaches but taking the 4 new acquisitions into consideration (tbf all of them have been a success story) i and most people expected us to be in a far better position this time around the year.

But Mourinho should be given another season, even without reaching top 4 which would still be a huge disappointment. Mourinho build his reputation on winning no matter what, that's what you'd expect to get when you hire him, so you get my disappointment after the Liverpool game. These are the games you expect him to win. Maybe he set the bar too high...most likely make or break next season.

We can still reach top 4 and win 0-3 cups, but next season i want us to challenge for the league with the quality we have around.
 
Mourinhonista said:
After the game i needed to blow off some steam (was expecting a win and had my money on United...) not fair, but it happened. In the end you do have a point there, some of my written drivel was over the top. It's been better than under LVG and Moyes, that's for sure.

Still, United bought 4 class players and despite some players having improved compared to last season (Rojo, Jones, Valencia, Carrick, Darmian) others have fallen behind (Martial, Smalling, Shaw, Schweinsteiger) and the future's not loking too bright when it comes to the likes of Blind and perhaps Mata. Rashford's development has arguably stalled.

I wasn't happy with the style of play in a lot of games this season, e.g. the last game against Scouse. Their team was there for the taking, but how many clear cut chances did United create?

The question is what did you expect before the season started? I thought we would mount a serious title challenge and most likely win the thing. Personally, i can't see the leaders Chelsea having a better squad player for player and after last season their mentality must have been rock bottom too. So i disagree with your assessment that Mourinho's doing very well so far, as aformentioned he's no doubt been better than the former two coaches but taking the 4 new acquisitions into consideration (tbf all of them have been a success story) i and most people expected us to be in a far better position this time around the year.

But Mourinho should be given another season, even without reaching top 4 which would still be a huge disappointment. Mourinho build his reputation on winning no matter what, that's what you'd expect to get when you hire him, so you get my disappointment after the Liverpool game. These are the games you expect him to win. Maybe he set the bar too high...most likely make or break next season.

We can still reach top 4 and win 0-3 cups, but next season i want us to challenge for the league with the quality we have around.
Click to expand...

I totally agree but when i'm talking about Jose and United, i mean the pressure on our team is higher than that of Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal. We have fans now who are not happy with Jose but majority of the fans are happy. I'll side with you regarding the game against the Scousers, it was ridiculous and slow. It's been so for many matches this season but still i think we can improve.
 
Can we say Liverpool are the weakest team atm? I thought it was City, but man, Klopp's team are just going through a big crisis.
 
What happens if the winner of the Europa has already qualifed for the CL through his own league?
 
Liverpool falling out of the two cups will now be a disadvantage to us trying to push top 4.

They only have the Prem to focus on now, 1 game per week right up to the end of the season.
 
Pumplex said:
Liverpool falling out of the two cups will now be a disadvantage to us trying to push top 4.

They only have the Prem to focus on now, 1 game per week right up to the end of the season.
Click to expand...

From a fitness stand point it's fine but right now they're a mess and look short of confidence. They play Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham in the next few games they will not win all of them and could easily be 6th at the end of that spell.
 
For Mou's own sanity he's gotta be absolutely desperate for a top 4 place. He bitches and eeping lay every press conference about fixture congestion so another season in the Europa League would surely infuriate him.

Would be hilarious to see from my perspective.
 
Kentonio said:
Where does the place go then? Surely they must have a fixed number of spots available?
Click to expand...
Maximum of 5 teams from one country. If tottenham wins the EL and finishes 2nd, that's one CL spot more for the lower leagues
 
  1. Chelsea
  2. Spurs
  3. Arsenal
  4. Utd
That's my prediction at this point. Liverpool's coming fixtures ordinarily is difficult - in this form I can't see an upturn.

City are slipping up too often. They waste too many chances and their defence and keeper aren't good enough to save them.
 
Boycott said:
  1. Chelsea
  2. Spurs
  3. Arsenal
  4. Utd
That's my prediction at this point. Liverpool's coming fixtures ordinarily is difficult - in this form I can't see an upturn.

City are slipping up too often. They waste too many chances and their defence and keeper aren't good enough to save them.
Click to expand...

I have a sneaky suspicion that Jesus will hit the ground running and give their attack some much needed variety and confidence. I hope not, but it could be enough to push them into the top 4.
 
Pumplex said:
I have a sneaky suspicion that Jesus will hit the ground running and give their attack some much needed variety and confidence. I hope not, but it could be enough to push them into the top 4.
Click to expand...

Same here actually, although I don't like to admit it. Their defense does remain suspect at best though, but now with Kompany things could change.
 
Boycott said:
  1. Chelsea
  2. Spurs
  3. Arsenal
  4. Utd
That's my prediction at this point. Liverpool's coming fixtures ordinarily is difficult - in this form I can't see an upturn.

City are slipping up too often. They waste too many chances and their defence and keeper aren't good enough to save them.
Click to expand...


Sane appears to be over his injuries and initial problems in moving to the UK and adds so much to us, I'm probably more excited about him than I am about Jesus who in a cameo appearance and one full game has given us a different attacking dimension and should hopefully get Aguero to just up his game the level or so he's more than capable off.

Add into the fact that Kompany is now fit (again) that should help our defense. The last injury was a bit of a freak injury and nothing to do with the usual muscle injuries so hoping that he can get through till the end of the season.

We've apparently been crap for months (but that's a press and rivals fan narrative) when in fact we've been playing pretty well for the most part but either not taking chances or not really getting the rub of the green with ref decisions.

Not saying we'll definitely make the top 4 but I'd be surprised if we didn't. United have been on a 16 or 17 game unbeaten run (all comps.) and are still outside the top 4, think it'll be harder for you once the EL starts again than it will with us in the CL.

next 5 pl fixtures for us

West Ham (A)
Swansea City (H)
Bornemouth (A)
Sunderland (A)
Stoke City (H)

I'd expect us to get at least 12 or 13 points from that lot, that should see us back in the top 4 before playing Liverpool and Arsenal.
 
Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87 said:
Can we say Liverpool are the weakest team atm? I thought it was City, but man, Klopp's team are just going through a big crisis.
Click to expand...

Maybe but they still got a valuable point away at United and they have been but they're getting Mane back for the remainder of the season. Every team will have drops in form. Liverpool's next month will be testing for them though.
 
WackyWengerWorld said:
Maybe but they still got a valuable point away at United and they have been but they're getting Mane back for the remainder of the season. Every team will have drops in form. Liverpool's next month will be testing for them though.
Click to expand...
At least their drop in form has come before ours ;) :D
 
Thunderhead said:
.

next 5 pl fixtures for us

West Ham (A)
Swansea City (H)
Bornemouth (A)
Sunderland (A)
Stoke City (H)

I'd expect us to get at least 12 or 13 points from that lot, that should see us back in the top 4 before playing Liverpool and Arsenal.
Click to expand...

Don't know about you but four of those five teams send shudders down my spine. And the 5th sends shudders down Utd fans' spines.
 
I think City will finally string wins together again with the return of Sane, Kompany, arrival of Gabriel Jesus & Pep apparently dropping Bravo.
 
Tonight's game is massive, more or less a season breaker. We haven't had the rub of the green when it has come to decisions recently but that's no excuse; we have been horrendous against rank average sides, at home as well.

We have missed Mane but equally Coutinho and Matip too. With them three and Henderson back together our fortunes will surely get better. We have a good record against the top sides; Chelsea will hopefully play an open and expansive game, then again they may not, might just sit back and soak up the pressure.
 
stevieg4ever said:
Tonight's game is massive, more or less a season breaker. We haven't had the rub of the green when it has come to decisions recently but that's no excuse; we have been horrendous against rank average sides, at home as well.

We have missed Mane but equally Coutinho and Matip too. With them three and Henderson back together our fortunes will surely get better. We have a good record against the top sides; Chelsea will hopefully play an open and expansive game, then again they may not, might just sit back and soak up the pressure.
Click to expand...

We will surely not play an open again. We were sitting vs City away and will do it again.
 
stevieg4ever said:
Tonight's game is massive, more or less a season breaker. We haven't had the rub of the green when it has come to decisions recently but that's no excuse; we have been horrendous against rank average sides, at home as well.

We have missed Mane but equally Coutinho and Matip too. With them three and Henderson back together our fortunes will surely get better. We have a good record against the top sides; Chelsea will hopefully play an open and expansive game, then again they may not, might just sit back and soak up the pressure.
Click to expand...

There is absolutely no way Chelsea will play 'open and expansive'. They will sit back, soak up pressure and hit you on the break with the pace of Hazard/Pedro/Costa. Liverpool have been average in attack recently and Chelsea will be waiting to counterattack.
 
stevieg4ever said:
Tonight's game is massive, more or less a season breaker. We haven't had the rub of the green when it has come to decisions recently but that's no excuse; we have been horrendous against rank average sides, at home as well.

We have missed Mane but equally Coutinho and Matip too. With them three and Henderson back together our fortunes will surely get better. We have a good record against the top sides; Chelsea will hopefully play an open and expansive game, then again they may not, might just sit back and soak up the pressure.
Click to expand...

Because they're coming back to fitness/tired I'm picking Chelsea, hopefully you pull if off for the rest of us though.
 
stevieg4ever said:
Tonight's game is massive, more or less a season breaker. We haven't had the rub of the green when it has come to decisions recently but that's no excuse; we have been horrendous against rank average sides, at home as well.

We have missed Mane but equally Coutinho and Matip too. With them three and Henderson back together our fortunes will surely get better. We have a good record against the top sides; Chelsea will hopefully play an open and expansive game, then again they may not, might just sit back and soak up the pressure.
Click to expand...

I can't see anything other than a comfortable Chelsea win tbh.
 
stevieg4ever said:
Tonight's game is massive, more or less a season breaker. We haven't had the rub of the green when it has come to decisions recently but that's no excuse; we have been horrendous against rank average sides, at home as well.

We have missed Mane but equally Coutinho and Matip too. With them three and Henderson back together our fortunes will surely get better. We have a good record against the top sides; Chelsea will hopefully play an open and expansive game, then again they may not, might just sit back and soak up the pressure.
Click to expand...
Conte is not like this.
 
Oh it's suuuuuuch a perfect day
 
Win tomorrow would put us two points behind fourth - the closest we'll have been to fourth since game 6 when we were one point behind. Good stuff.
 
Damien said:
Win tomorrow would put us two points behind fourth - the closest we'll have been to fourth since game 6 when we were one point behind. Good stuff.
Click to expand...

Well not just 2 points behind 4th, also 3 points behind 2nd ....
 
What a night. In a season where the teams above us seem to have had a knack for not dropping points in games they shouldn't, tonight is really special. Better win tomorrow now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.