Would be a travesty for us to get Top 4, we're a complete shambles and achieving it will only paper over the cracks. Perversely, the thought of the Glazers and the players getting hit in the pocket for their failure appeals to me.
The chase for 4th place (not top 4)
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Yep would be absolutely awful. I hate watching United play in Europe.
West Ham have interesting schedule, mix games against relegation candidates and Top 6.
If they do well particular against Spurs this weekend, I would include them in this race?
If they do well particular against Spurs this weekend, I would include them in this race?
Lets say we are out of the top 4 race, I would like for Ralf to make drastic changes going forward by starting the following:
1. Henderson over DDG just to see how he works with a higher line and distribution
2. Lindelof over Maguire because he is a bag of nerves at the moment
3. Dalot and Telles till the end of the season
4. Mejbri over Pogba - there is absolutely no reason why Pogba needs to start another game.
5. Sancho Ronaldo Elanga front 3
1. Henderson over DDG just to see how he works with a higher line and distribution
2. Lindelof over Maguire because he is a bag of nerves at the moment
3. Dalot and Telles till the end of the season
4. Mejbri over Pogba - there is absolutely no reason why Pogba needs to start another game.
5. Sancho Ronaldo Elanga front 3
Never thought they'd beat Liverpool and they'll lose to Chelsea almost certainly.
Spurs run in is quite nice but I think Conte would rather finish fifth with this squad than fourth because Levy won't budge.
Arteta’s Arsenal have actually had some success against us so I wouldn’t chalk that up as a given for us. Especially if we’re pretty secure in 3rd and focusing on the CL at the time.
Shouldn’t we start a “Chase for 5th Place” thread?
This is where I stand with it too. Nobody learns anything when everything goes right. We can see from the Glazers behaviour over the past decade that they will never be proactive and only ever react to untenable situations.
I would go further and actually say that we need to finish outside of top 7 ideally. I don’t want any European football of any kind because they will spin any win of the Europa conference league or Europa league as a trophy to be proud of. The result will be the Glazers not trying to improve on the squad or management.
I'm just thinking long term, it will be of little benefit to the next manager if he has to be burdened with pogba and ronaldo creating drama
This approach will only really work if you have the foundations already set, so in that year out of Europe you can actually take advantage.
If you have no foundations in place and you take a year out of Europe, you run every risk of just falling behind and not using that year well at all.
I'm just a realist. We have a lot of difficult away games left and I don't know if this young team is capable of grinding out results when the pressure is on.
We'll see what happens but I've been pretty consistent all season in thinking that United's more experienced players are going to see it through.
I love your optimism but Arsenal have been playing well and have a big advantage at this stage. You'd have to massively Spurs it up not to make top 4.
One game at a time then see where Arteta ends. If the team is good enough then he will get there. If not so be it. Don't bother a bit.
I mean, I don't think there's anymore that our team can give in terms of energy and effort, and I think Arteta has done his part too.
If we miss out, it's just due to missing quality and experience. For that though, I do pick bones with the club for not making an addition in January to help see us through, especially upfront.
If we miss out, it's just due to missing quality and experience. For that though, I do pick bones with the club for not making an addition in January to help see us through, especially upfront.
Why do people keep getting sucked into this it's over for us. Arsenal will 100% drop points but so will we. We couldn't even beat Watford at home.. There's 0 chance we'll make it and as I have said previously the amount of points we dropped in the winter will ultimately be the reason why we'll miss out.
Newcastle, Villa, Burnley, Wolves, Watford, Southampton, 13 points have been dropped just there and that's simply not good enough if you want a CL spot.
Newcastle, Villa, Burnley, Wolves, Watford, Southampton, 13 points have been dropped just there and that's simply not good enough if you want a CL spot.
Good points and I fully agree with you. Think about it though, the Glazers seem to enjoy taking that risk you described. We have seen them make decisions such as to sack a manager way too late even though it’s clear we will miss out on top 4. We have also seen them not sign players in January even though it could help push us to top 4, instead they just allow us to finish badly.
The old saying is you can’t build a future on short term thinking. From my opinion, the Glazers seem to only think about the next Quarters profits. As long as we finish top 4, even if we scrape it, to them it’s job done, financial target met and no need for improvement.
Big win for Arsenal that. I don't know who their other game in hand is against but away to Villa is a game that I thought they'd drop points in.
We'd have to go on a major winning streak (unlikely) to have much of a chance at this rate.
We'd have to go on a major winning streak (unlikely) to have much of a chance at this rate.
Exactly. Things look grim, but Arsenal might still bottle this.
I've absolutely no doubt that even if Arsenal gave us an opportunity to finish 4th we wouldn't take it. It's been proven time and time again with this team, for several years. Maybe it's a good thing and we finally see a real change of direction behind the scenes, and can build something positive.
Spurs away is the game they have left to be scheduled. They also still have to face us, Chelsea and West Ham.
Beyond that their fixtures are good. Palace, Brighton, Southampton, Leeds, Newcastle, Everton. Though even then, some of those relegation threatened teams may still be fighting for safety.
Another nail in the coffin. Arsenal have been much more efficient against teams 7th - 20th in the league. 4th place looking miles off for United now. Brutal
100%. It’s over.
Feels like Arsenal are always playing teams out of form but that might just be my bias.
We wont. If you are to pip us for 4th you will need to go on a winning run. Ive been saying it for a while. This isnt Wenger's cagey Arsenal that couldn't defend a set piece. This is Arteta's Arsenal that hasnt conceded from a corner all season and has more clean sheets than Chelsea.
We wont be self destructing and allowing you to pass us with home draws to bottom half teams.
Its over, and has been over for a while.
Arsenal are average but we are shit. Check out our performances against the teams in relegation.
Its over and worse than missing cl will be playing europa league
Oh lord I just cannot stand the Europa League. However, realistically, it's our only (slim) chance of winning anything meaningful
So how about that final against Villarreal, eh?
Leicester last season had 55 points after 28 games.
Arsenal have 54 points.
Everything is still possible.
Arsenal have 54 points.
Everything is still possible.
Same, but when you think about it, even if we did qualify for the CL we would have a snow balls chance in hell of actually doing something meaningful in the knock-out stage anyway. Most likely we would struggle mightily to get out of the group, and then get knocked out by some semi-decent team like this year.
This would be for the best actually.
The problem with the Europa league (for me anyway), is it means many of Utd.s prem games get played on the Sunday.
I just prefer to watch them on MOTD on Saturday night, not MOTD2 (on Sunday night) when half of my brain is thinking about work, the next day.
I suppose one advantage though: a season in Europa with loads of Sunday matches, it might be easier to demolish and re-build Old Trafford and do a ground-share with Man City for the season, who will be mostly playing on the Saturday.
Having said that, I have some friends who are City fans and they are not too keen on accommodating their neighbours for a year, not really sure why.
Well Spurs away as their game in hand is tricky. Lose or draw that and it's a 4 or 5 point gap. It still is doable but United have to go on a massive winning run which I just can't put my faith in this team doing, particularly when half the squad wants to leave or is always moaning about something.
We also have to face Liverpool and Chelsea although maybe we might get lucky and they'll be tired from champions league matches.
We don’t deserve top 4. But I would rather we get it than not. It’ll be easier to rebuild if we are playing in champions league. Good players prefer playing in it than not.
Arsenal have had a decent run of fixtures and have taken full advantage of it. Still don't think they are anything special because they still cant take any points from the top teams like Liverpool midweek. They'll proberly drop points to Spurs and Chelsea when they play them too.
Its just the fact that we are incapable of puttings a string of wins together againist anyone this season that is going to cost us. You just cannot not drop point against Watford, Burney, Villa, Southampton, Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle and Everton at the start of season.
The list is endless if you look at it.
We just do not desere to be anywhere near the Champions League next season. The fact that we are still in with a faint chance is a miracle.
Its just the fact that we are incapable of puttings a string of wins together againist anyone this season that is going to cost us. You just cannot not drop point against Watford, Burney, Villa, Southampton, Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle and Everton at the start of season.
The list is endless if you look at it.
We just do not desere to be anywhere near the Champions League next season. The fact that we are still in with a faint chance is a miracle.
Close the damn thread
Was really hoping arsenal would drop points here tbh. The liverpool game is a must win for us now. If we beat them and arsenal we’ll get it, but i can’t see it happening. When was the last time we beat them in the league? I know we knocked them out of the cup last year but can’t remember when we won against them in the PL.
We haven't got a prayer of winning the CL even if we somehow finish 4th. We would be one of the favs to win the Europa though.
I want trophies back. Even winning Europa League and Carabao cup is better than last 5 seasons running.
We gotta start somewhere. Go get Ten Hag (or Poch possibly) and let's have a real go at winning something next year. We know we won't win the league next season already so best we can hope for is a cup.
2018 at Old Trafford under Mourinho. You haven’t won at Anfield since January 2016 under Van Gaal.