Feelings towards the current side

Fair enough, so why start a 35 year old twice in a week?
I was talking more generally than just the one game but to answer your question specifically I'm sure there were a number of factors that went into deciding the starting line-up. Physical conditioning would have been part of it. Wanting to restict ManUre's chances to counter-attack by playing two holding players another. Gundogan's ankle knock in the previous game may have restricted his selection to the bench only. Sorry I can't be more specific but I'm not part of Pep's team so don't receive the actual tactical analysis of match preparations.
 
I was talking more generally than just the one game but to answer your question specifically I'm sure there were a number of factors that went into deciding the starting line-up. Physical conditioning would have been part of it. Wanting to restict ManUre's chances to counter-attack by playing two holding players another. Gundogan's ankle knock in the previous game may have restricted his selection to the bench only. Sorry I can't be more specific but I'm not part of Pep's team so don't receive the actual tactical analysis of match preparations.
Yeah but that’s the point. Don’t play people who were in his thoughts for starting the derby in a meaningless midweek game. Play some kids but Mr we need 5 subs in the premier league didn’t even use 5 in a dead rubber.
 
Rome wasn't built in a day, we're in transition, don't worry, it'll take nowhere near as long as the rags and unlike them, it will happen.
I admire you're optimism but I think we've seen the glory that was Rome built here 2010 to 2019. Now we're into the Decline and Fall of the empire unless we replace the great players who carried us through those heady years.
 
Exactly could have easily had a completely different 11 midweek and a completely fresh team for Saturday whilst giving kids a game. So many things Pep had been doing and saying for months are a contradiction.
He's managing the team with fear now....its crept in and infected the squad. I feel like this lack of fear is what made those 2 big seasons what they were.
 
Thinking about it in more detail, I think my main disconnect stems from the lack of academy integration.

United started the derby game with 4 academy graduates, we did not have a single one involved. That alone is a shocking fact. It wasn't even particularly about the derby itself but we had a dead rubber game against Marseille and there was no academy involvement whatsoever. It's becoming clear that there will continue to be a lack of synergy between our academy and our first team and we will not have a team that has a genuine connection to the fans and club. We have a potential golden generation of players coming through that have a genuine bond to the club and its fans and I have no faith that any of them will actually be given a chance. This is totally juxtaposed by the treatment of Eric Garcia at the club which has, at least personally, been a frustrating chapter that I want to close. We have given away Tosin, a life long City fan, and Angelino, an academy success story, and given significant playing time to a player that does not want to be here. It genuinely boggles the mind and it is all making me very distant from this current crop of players.
I get your disconnection. Is the bar for us set considerably higher than the one at the Rags ?
Hopefully Fidel, THB, Doyle and Delap will all become regulars.
 
Exactly could have easily had a completely different 11 midweek and a completely fresh team for Saturday whilst giving kids a game. So many things Pep had been doing and saying for months are a contradiction.
And this is what is frustrating and confusing people.The mixed messages,the bizarre tactics,and strange use of personnel,is a concern.

That's not being negative,despite what the odd super fan believes,its highlighting a concern.
 
Exactly could have easily had a completely different 11 midweek and a completely fresh team for Saturday whilst giving kids a game. So many things Pep had been doing and saying for months are a contradiction.
Pep has a history of playing players into form, at the minute we are talking about 5 or 6 players from the 13 or so regulars who are under performing, so expect this to continue....as for the substitution issue, I’m sure he’s lobbying hard now for 5 subs as it will be later in the season before the full effects are felt should it continue to be 3, once this team reaches somewhere near its potential & a better level of consistency is achieved, we will be able to rotate/rest/substitute players a lot more......the irony is Pep will probably get slated for tinkering
 
Happy enough with the defensive side of things. As we all know midfield could do with some legs. If we play with inverted wingers I’d much prefer them to be narrow, more like a front 3 than hugging the touch line. Think this would particularly suit Torres, for me the lad has that something about him
 
After winning back to back leagues it needed a big freshen up & that did not happen. Half of our squad are just not motivated as they have won it twice on the bounce. We need hungrier players in the mix. We are still relying on the old guard which is ridiculous now.

We solve the defence but now a creative midfielder & 2 top strikers are desperately needed.

happy to sell Mahrez, Jesus, gundy, fern & Aguero now if we need the cash. They have served us well but time to change it. The way sterling has been playing he’s close to being on the list too
 
Thinking about it in more detail, I think my main disconnect stems from the lack of academy integration.

United started the derby game with 4 academy graduates, we did not have a single one involved. That alone is a shocking fact. It wasn't even particularly about the derby itself but we had a dead rubber game against Marseille and there was no academy involvement whatsoever. It's becoming clear that there will continue to be a lack of synergy between our academy and our first team and we will not have a team that has a genuine connection to the fans and club. We have a potential golden generation of players coming through that have a genuine bond to the club and its fans and I have no faith that any of them will actually be given a chance. This is totally juxtaposed by the treatment of Eric Garcia at the club which has, at least personally, been a frustrating chapter that I want to close. We have given away Tosin, a life long City fan, and Angelino, an academy success story, and given significant playing time to a player that does not want to be here. It genuinely boggles the mind and it is all making me very distant from this current crop of players.
Well said that man
 
all need a kick up the arse.

As usual think the only players safe from the fans ranting are usually youth academy turned 1st teamers

We also need a striker or better attacking prowess. I cant help but think Phil and Bernardo would of offered that saturday

on a plus side, defensively we have been looking a lot better.
 
Agreed. It's great that football has improved and we have lost all the yard dogs. I am not misty-eyed about them at all. I remember watching Leeds in the 60s and 70s. They were a cheating disgrace led by a posionous manager (ex City player as well). History has been revised since then by the media suggesting Leeds players were all legends. I call that bullshit because I saw them play.
The style of teams like Leeds (plus hooliganism) led to the decline of football in the late 70s and early 80s. The game almost died because of negative, dirty football. The crowds were low everywhere (apart from the big games). Mourhino would have revelled in it.
All the romantic claptrap in the media since that time about that era is just the usual fake narrative though the away trips were great. Football didn't really revive itself till the much-maligned Premier League came on the scene. There are lots of things I hate about the modern game but I am not deceived by nostalgia for the past.
While Leeds had their share of hard men they were a bloody great side who never received their due from the media. Leeds commited the sin of not being the rags and like our side of that era was ignored. The sixty nine seventy season they could have won the treble and finished up with nothing. Like ourselves a decade later against Spurs , Leeds carried the hopes of the north into the cup against Chelsea the best final I can remember ultimately losing to the joy of the London media sound familiar. Will always remember the Leeds side of my youth, just sorry they often beat us.
 

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