[Sandikan]

I think in January , we ll sign a striker like Ole used to be - someone who tap in the ball (with a decent work rate not like Lukaku).

I think we'll be forced to.

What will be interesting will be if we're still anywhere near 4th.

 

[JG3001]

Love or hate it but face it : this team would be better with Fellaini.

Of course it would be.

Binned the players who can actually do something, kept the players who offer absolutely nothing, and not brought in any replacements.

Geniuses at this club...

 

[BusbyMalone]

Really not sure why last season is relevant right now? I mean it's about as relevant now as pre-season results (which we won all bar 1)

Well of course it's relevant. It shows a disturbing pattern of form from a team under the same manager. That's not to say i want the manager gone by the way before people jump on that. But it ain't a great statistic. And no, it's not the same as pre season is it. That's daft.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

If we can’t counter, we are useless.

With the quality in that midfield it is all we get and even when we do counter we do not score enough goals. We always end up under threat.

 

[tjb]

We need to go with the following for the next game:


----------------Martial----------------
James---------Pogba-------Greenwood
------------Fred--------McT-----------
Shaw*---Maguire---Tuanzebe---AWB
----------------Romero----------------

So sick of underperforming players like Rashford, Lingard, DDG and Lindelof constantly starting.

What did ddg ever do to get in that list. By far our top performer over the last 5 years. No mistakes today either. He was average last season, but never poor or underperforming.

 

[charlenefan]

Well of course it's relevant. It shows a disturbing pattern of form from a team under the same manager. That's not to say i want the manager gone by the way before people jump on that. But it ain't a great statistic. And no, it's not the same as pre season is it. That's daft.

It's no more daft than including games from last season which had a different set of players under a different set of circumstances

 

[The Real Treble 99]

Decent result.
The reality is fans should accept & understand we are no longer the powerhouse we once were.
For this team top 4 will be a huge achievement & top 6 is where we should finish. One silverware again is a great achievement & 2 will be a fantastic one.
You have to be realistic which is very hard for many fans to accept especially after witnessing the glory years we’ve all been through.
This team isn’t capable of achieving beyond their limits. We no longer have leaders or players with a winning mentality but a team where no one wants berate another player.
The jigsaw is still missing pieces & has for a while now & probably will take a long time until we get a complete set.

 

[R'hllor]

When you see the way of thinking among United fans in here and what are the problems in their eyes, they dont deserve anything better than our current state.

 

[RedSky]

For me, if we are poor this season, we as fans should relax and wait. The patience we give now will pay off in a year or two. Our starting attack and midifield will not be the group of players we saw today, and that will only happen if we give the team space to fail ( gomes, garner, williams, chong and greenwood) and ole time to buy in future. I like our direction, our strategy. Let's keep it. If Ole isn't the guy to be our manager, I would push him to that director role as his vision and execution of it has been spot on so far.

That's my opinion as well. I think Ole is actually building a decent squad, he's making all of the right decisions imo and signing players who are making an immediate impact. He's actually showing signs of being a top class DoF ironically. Whether he can become a top class Manager however is the debate. He's actually what I thought we'd be getting with LvG.

 

[montpelier]

I think in January , we ll sign a striker like Ole used to be - someone who tap in the ball (with a decent work rate not like Lukaku).

Yes, and January is a good mention too. Presumably a coherent plan () will mean that transfer movements there, comprise of prompt & painless acquisitions & departures in the early part of the month.

I mean, it isn't rocket-science to spot where we need reinforcements & who we have atm, that isn't wanted.

 

[Freak]

What did ddg ever do to get in that list. By far our top performer over the last 5 years. No mistakes today either. He was average last season, but never poor or underperforming.

We have had 1 clean sheet over the past how many months. De Gea and Lindelof have been constants during that time. I'm tempted to try something different. And I absolute love De Gea.

 

[Swearing Budgie]

We are a wanky team but we all knew that before the season started.

A Chelsea mate of mine said we fluked the 4-0 against them and am starting to think he was right

 

[MattyB1986]

Mid-table team.

 

[BusbyMalone]

It's no more daft than including games from last season which had a different set of players under a different set of circumstances

There is obviously a pattern here, and we also suffer from the same problems that we had last season. We have a couple of different players, but we trying to play a similar system, under the same manager with the same results. That's why i think it's relevant. Looking at the bigger picture, it shows a worrying trend. Only by looking back can we see how much we are improving or, in this case, not.

Not sure why that's so controversial.

 

[dev1l]

Yes, and January is a good mention too. Presumably a coherent plan () will mean that transfer movements there, comprise of prompt & painless acquisitions & departures in the early part of the month.

I mean, it isn't rocket-science to spot where we need reinforcements & who we have atm, that isn't wanted.

There are so many changes to be done, that they cannot be done all in one window. Things were left to rot for so long.

 

[Sir Scott McToMinay]

We are a wanky team but we all knew that before the season started.

A Chelsea mate of mine said we fluked the 4-0 against them and am starting to think he was right

We could’ve easily been 3-0 down before half time against Chelsea.

 

[JohnnyKills]

The immediate aftermath of a game that ends poorly for us is not the time for balance but I agree with the few posters here who see that it is not all doom and gloom. First off, give Southampton some credit - they are not relegation shoe-ins, that Ralph chap has them well organized and quite dangerous as other clubs will find out. I thought we handled them well for the most part. Their goal? It would be easy to blame Lindelof for not outjumping a giant but where were the others as the ball was slowly set up for a lobbed in cross? All in straight line facing the crosser and not moving as far as I can tell. And why did Southampton even have the chance to get that cross in? Cos our goalie once again failed to catch the ball just before and chose to punch it without really clearing it.

For the most part, we do play much better than under Jose. We look to pass forward continually, we try to attack, and at limes move with speed and coherence. These are the signs to me that Ole has a plan and he's working the team to deliver it. Sure, we're lightweight up front so one wonders why we bang crosses into nobody when it gets urgent. Sure Matic and Young tend to give the ball away (and yes, Pogba did that three times in one 30 second period in the first half too) but when you're trying to pass in tight areas, the skills needed are perhaps now beyond some players. I see hope in the way we play that I never really could feel under that last years.

All that aside, remember when the mood here was it would be ok to get rid of Jose and have someone spend a season blending the youth, no matter the results? How we'd all stand beside that team as we built for the future? Well here you go.

Good post

 

[Devil may care]

It's not really a surprise, there are things I like about our play, flashes of moments here and there, but it is a team full of unproven players, truth is Rashford had two good chances he should have scored, AWB and James also put two crosses in that I felt he failed to anticipate, and we conceded again due to Lindelof getting beaten in the air.

Ole's subs were the one point of frustration for me today, I get he put Rigor on to push Pogba further forward but Lingard on instead of Greenwood or Chong was the wrong call IMO, and as soon as they went down to ten men he should have gotten Greenwood straight on, he waited too long.

 

[Swearing Budgie]

Setting up to counter against lesser teams is pretty negative. It's underdog tactics, which we should only need to employ against City and Liverpool.

 

[charlenefan]

There is obviously a pattern here, and we also suffer from the same problems that we had last season. We have a couple of different players, but we trying to play a similar system, under the same manager with the same results. That's why i think it's relevant. Looking at the bigger picture, it shows a worrying trend. Only by looking back can we see how much we are improving or, in this case, not.

Not sure why that's so controversial.

Well if you want to look back then we're 2 points better off than we were in the subsequent fixtures last season

 

[always_hoping]

One other comment i forgot to say was why didn't what looked like a foul on Greenwood in the penalty box not be reviewed by the VAR?

Only positives in the season so far is that new signings are all showing well but they have to play alongside so many average players and some of them are getting worse than better.

 

[flappyjay]

Also weren't we drawing with midtable dross because we couldn't pass from the back?

 

[BusbyMalone]

Well if you want to look back then we're 2 points better off than we were in the subsequent fixtures last season

Well that's a positive spin on it i suppose.

As i said to someone else, we're a mid table team really, so perhaps a point away to Southampton isn't that bad...

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

A manager with short term thinking (“success or result oriented”) - is a poison for a club in United situation. Solskjær might fail as a coach (I doubt it) but as a DOF (He is our de facto DOF) he is doing great because he loves the club more than his ego.

1. Tries to play attacking style. We try to attack even if we lead this season.

2. Good acquisitions so far - football wise (not going to debate over wether we overpaid for Harry or AWB).

3. Not afraid to put himself in a really difficult position (very thin squad) to benefit long term (offloading unwanted players). Fast clear out is impossible to do without thinning squad because getting rid of the players (even in our case) is a way faster than building the squad (especially in our case). You can’t expect to replace 5 mediocre players with 5 world class players in one window, especially with bloated salaries, do you?

4. Doesn’t buy to have numbers (again long term thinking) or names. Fellaini, Depay, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Rojo, Sanchez.....a very long list of crap transfers by CV driven managers.

5. Mental and tactical coaching must improve. Ole need a continental tactical coach and Dept of Psychology (whatever) ASAP.

6. Don’t panic.

7. Wrong thread oops

 

[Swearing Budgie]

Imagine for a minute how well Dan James' start to his Utd career would have been if he wasn't surrounded by cack...

 

[nainaisson]

I like Lindelof but have to say, we do not concede the last two goals if Smalling is playing.

Yeah, the goals we would have conceded instead would have been more comical.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Just heard in the BBC that City scored a “proper team goal.”

When did we last string 3 decent passes together and score a “team goal?”

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Pogba should be playing in that position.

Yes. But we have not had anyone to put next to mctominay instead thus far this season. Hopefully the signs of life Matic showed today were not only due to being a sub and facing 10 men....

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

Just heard in the BBC that City scored a “proper team goal.”

When did we last string 3 decent passes together and score a “team goal?”

Vs Chelsea. Vs Wolves

 

[Pennywise]

Anyone still claiming we had a good transfer window then? Comedy gold.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Top 4 absolutely no chance. Top 6 not looking likely.

However it might do us good to finish 8th or 9th. Somebody might get to Woodward and floor him. Would make my year.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

The Lindelof jumping issue must be resolved. It's not because of his height either. Roberto Ayala didn't seem to run into these issues in his day.

He is just poor in the air. Never gets his timing right

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

The game is up already, boys and girls. Four games in. The game is well and truly up.

A 'rebuild' shows positive signs. I have no idea where some are seeing positive signs, here. I predicted 1-1 and laughed at those posters who thought we were going to win - I'm not sure how blind faith makes you a better fan, it just makes you easily influenced and weak of mind.

Southampton are a mid-table team. They were down to 10 men for 20mins and still looked the slightly better team.

Where do we start?

Defence - what was the point of spending 85m on Maguire, when we have nobody above 'competent' to partner him? We either need to hope than Tuanzebe comes good, or we are fecked. Lindelöf is an average CB, nothing more. I rated Smalling higher. I don't care about passing ability - leave that to Maguire. Harry needs a solid partner, not a weak, timid mid-table CB who is being targeted. Nobody would be targeting Smalling, as aerially he's as dominant as they come. Lindelöf is average in all areas, every single one of them. He is our weak link at the back and will continue to be targeted.

Midfield - we have ONE good midfielder. And he now appears to be injured, and our manager cannot get the best of him. And he wants to leave. McTominay, Matic, Fred, Pereira, Garner is as MID TABLE as it gets, in terms of personnel. Shocking, shocking line up of players. We have nobody in midfield who is capable of either presenting a goal-threat or creativity (Pogba played so deep negates his ability to do this), nor do we have anyone capable of properly defending. It's a fecking shit show of a midfield.

Attack - Marcus Rashford has been awarded a 200-250k a week deal, plus the responsibility of leading our attack. I've said before, 'Rashy' is a kick and run merchant, albeit a good one - if a defence is stretched and we can counter-attack, he's a dangerous player. If a defence is ready for him and we cannot counter, he is borderline useless. There's a reason he has never hit 20 goals a season. This was perhaps the most ridiculous decision of the summer - to not replace Lukaku. As limited as Lukaku was he represented at least 'something different' if things aren't panning out. You look at someone like Haller at West Ham, and think 'he would do a job here'. If the chips are down, and we need something different, even if that is slinging crosses to a target man, he would have provided that. Lukaku's replacement was a 17yr old kid who gets 10mins a game. Absolute shocking squad building. Our answer in terms of creativity is Juan Mata, an old bloke with no pace or physical presence who might score/assist every 5-6 games. It's appalling.


I hope to God that this 'performance' wakes a few posters up. This isn't a rebuild - its a squad settling into what it really represents. Top 10 material.

 

[Swearing Budgie]

Looks like Chelsea's patient development of Tammy Abraham is paying off.

Shame we were desperate enough to make Rashford a first team regular before he was really ready.

 

[Sterling Archer]

This squad is set-up for playing on the counter. Rashford, Martial, James, and Lingard are all more comfortable on the counter. Chelsea helped us by attacking. Still, I'm seeing progress and actually liking watching these young players.

Southampton going down to 10 men did us no favours giving no room to our strikers to use their pace and were ultimately short of grass.

If you asked me which manager I would back fully to allow him to play shit on a stick n counter attacking football, it'd be our previous one. Having pourer cold water all over him, to watch Ole follow up with more or less the same plan is very frustrating. Is it because he doesn't know how else to play?

 

[b20times]

3 wins in the last 17 PL games.

That is relegation form.

 

[dev1l]

This squad is set-up for playing on the counter. Rashford, Martial, James, and Lingard are all more comfortable on the counter. Chelsea helped us by attacking. Still, I'm seeing progress and actually liking watching these young players.

Southampton going down to 10 men did us no favours giving no room to our strikers to use their pace and were ultimately short of grass.

Another sensible post.

 

[RoyH1]

Another poor performance. I feel like I’m stuck in a time loop with this current United team.

 

[fps]

Looks like Chelsea's patient development of Tammy Abraham is paying off.

Shame we were desperate enough to make Rashford a first team regular before he was really ready.

Yes the pressure on Rashford is insane, and it is the club's doing more than his. He's a young talented footballer, of course he wants the earth.

 

[croadyman]

Was really rattled that Young and James were putting balls into the box in that second half,yet unbelievably there is no one busting a gut to meet them.