I am fully behind you on this, it seems like every single time they win 2-3 games in a row, or have one convincing performance, people quickly put them up as title favourites and rave about their immense quality. It doesn't happen with any other top team (it used to happen with Chelsea for the entire period between 2006 and 2012 when people consistently thought they were so much better than us, even if we were winning 4 titles in 5 years).
The Title Race 2017/18 | Done and dusted.
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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.
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I am fully behind you on this, it seems like every single time they win 2-3 games in a row, or have one convincing performance, people quickly put them up as title favourites and rave about their immense quality. It doesn't happen with any other top team (it used to happen with Chelsea for the entire period between 2006 and 2012 when people consistently thought they were so much better than us, even if we were winning 4 titles in 5 years).
A sensible pace is needed to win a marathon. Sprinting off at the start is counterproductive. Getting a fast start in the league isn't going to have a negative effect on our chances of winning games later on in the season & early points on the board can only increase our chances of winning the title, so the marathon comparison is ridiculous really.
If we don't win it, I hope West Brom don't.
"United have won ten in a row. 30 points from a possible 30. It's a shame they're out of the blocks too quickly, however. Liverpool, with 18 points out of 30, are setting a much more sensible pace."
I think we have no worries in the first 2 months. The team is going to ease its way at the top. Everton might be our only tough ask but even that is played at home. Our tough games will start when the Champions League group stages start, along with FA cup and EFL fixtures. Our squad is much larger than the other teams knowing how we have introduced many academy graduates and also have brought back a couple of loanees. We are actually looking good to take on any team at any given point right now. This position does make me feel good but i hope we can carry this enthusiasm and hard work throughout the campaign
Because they are Spurs
"United have won ten in a row. 30 points from a possible 30. It's a shame they're out of the blocks too quickly, however. Liverpool, with 18 points out of 30, are setting a much more sensible pace."
Because Spurs title challenge was based on their amazing WHL form. Without that this year they are going to very much struggle to challenge for the title, also the fact they haven't really got stronger.
I think its in the bag, i just dont see us losing this season but more importantly i dont see us drawing either. Chelsea, City, Tottenham dropping points has really helped us because I dont see them catching up with us now. My fear is Huddersfield though, i think we'll win every game 4 nil but Huddersfield will have bigger results. They'll win some games 2 nil but others 10. Jose is too defensive to truly let the horses loose and we may lose it on goal difference but its going to be a good season thats for sure.
PL game 3
We were only a 97th minute goal away from looking very healthy at the head of the table today.
Keep winning and the race will eventually be turned to other clubs chasing us.
That's the way to go! Not many league titles are won from behind.
Yep. Mourinho is usually relentless when setting the pace at the top. Let's stick to that 2.3 ppg average as best we can. There's not many teams in the league you could wholly trust to chase us down.
Yep. I got sick of us looking to the teams above us and calculation how much points they should lose to get past them. Time to try the opposite as we used to under SAF.
I've pointed out before, Mourinho has never chased down a league title.
Those he's won he's lead the table for basically the whole season. If we can take advantage of our kind opening fixture run then we'll be in a great position to continue his trend.
The one fly that may find it's way into the ointment is that by not playing better teams at this stage of the season you'll be stacking them up for when matches start to come thick and fast with the CL and cup games. That may well be a true test of squad depth.
It all fell apart in GW4 after the International break last season, Stoke away in two weeks time is a must win
Just checked our schedule of the EPL.
http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-A...tition={6544809A-4E60-4CA7-A099-A042A2352357}
It looks really decent for me. We're only facing 2 top teams in 2 successive matches only 2 times during the season and both are in the first half of the season . The rest of the matches are fairly arranged. Even the big matches we have 3 out of 5 at home in the second half of the season. We won't last long in CL, QFs at best so it won't be a problem.
I'll be disappointed if we didn't benefit from this schedule this season. The best among other top clubs imo.
That City game came too early during the season. They were much prepared and settled while we were still testing with Fellaini as a partner for Pogba. The worst time for big matches is the early part of the season.
All that means is Pep got to grips with his team quicker than Jose did, it's no real excuse
Except for the fact that the City team was already ready from the previous 2 season before Pep joined them and he just played their ordinary team while we were a mess for 2 years before Jose arrives and we didn't know who our starters are.
Before the last season If I asked what's City main team you would have lined them pretty easily while if I asked you what's United main team or their starters you would struggle to agree on a certain XI.
Pep just played the ordinary City team they used to play the previous years while Jose was still figuring out what players we have that can be even considered as a starters. Of course Pep's job was much easier at this time than Jose's.
The previous season/LVG's last season we finished on the same number of points as City, the year before we beat them 4-2 at OT. There really wasn't much between the sides going into Jose and Pep's first seasons
It's going to absolutely do my head in if this race is as close as I expect and the turning point of the season ended up being 15 minutes in when fecking Cahill decided to leave one in on a Burnley midfielder for no reason whatsoever.
Don't worry Chelsea won't be involved come May
Rude!
Unrelated question for the admins, is it possible to request a threadmark? Like I said, this is for no reason whatsoever and I am purely curious.
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United look so strong and solid. Still early, but i think they have the edge in the title race.
Not to mention Mikitaryan not being fit and having a shocker as well as Lingard. Both were hooked at half time. We had Rooney and Zlatan in central positions slowing everything down too.
I'm talking about their formation and their main players not their performance. Also no there was a big difference. City started last Pelligrin season very strong, they just downed the tools after Pep has been announced to manage the next season and their performance dropped heavily, but their formation, starting and main players were well known to everyone. We at the same time were just a big mess under LVG.
Difference is this season we have a much more settled team. Last season up until March I didn’t think Jose knew his best team. This season the spine of the team hasn’t changed.
Stoke away will be a good test but for different reasons
We never looked this confident in any of those games last season. This looks like a team on mission. I expect us to win.
I always chuckle when people say this. We could draw beatable teams easily and go far.
Just take it one game at a time.
Stoke is a big, big match. We usually struggle there, and didn't win last season either (Mata missed an absolute sitter IIRC).
Stoke is a big, big match. We usually struggle there, and didn't win last season either (Mata missed an absolute sitter IIRC).
I definitely consider us to be a dark horse. Can beat anyone on our day.
A long long way to go, but really pleased with the way we are playing....Absolutely fabulous looking at these games in Old Trafford..
I still think we are weak on the left hand side..Shaw needs to get back in quickly...
I still think we are weak on the left hand side..Shaw needs to get back in quickly...
Table will take early shape 5 matches in. The team that eventually wins the league will be up there somewhere and the teams that go down will be down there somewhere.
Think Darmian has done quite well, tbh.
Early signs are in our favour, but we also won first 3 last season and ended up losing the next two.
The encouraging thing is that we've been excellent defensively for a while now, so as long as our attackers don't decide to revert to last season's form, we should see improvement in our league standing this season. Will it be enough to win it? Time will tell.
The encouraging thing is that we've been excellent defensively for a while now, so as long as our attackers don't decide to revert to last season's form, we should see improvement in our league standing this season. Will it be enough to win it? Time will tell.
It's going to be interesting, Stoke A is a good test, equally Liverpool H for City. Two games we both typically struggle with. I think it'll be interesting to see how United react to going a goal down, and whether you can stay composed and stick to your game. City have been woeful at getting back in to games in the past and we've already made 4 points from losing positions this season, it's nothing to boast about going behind but it's nice to see a bit of fight in this side finally. I think they feel the pressure of having to win it this year and that's a good thing.
We're a completely different team this time around. We could've honestly won yesterday's game 4-0 too if we'd been more clinica.
I'm not really thinking about the title at the moment. Just enjoying the beautiful football we're playing.
I'm not really thinking about the title at the moment. Just enjoying the beautiful football we're playing.
That's less likely as you go farther in the competition.
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