United Thread - 2021/22

[ChicagoBlue]

Bit early to write off Chelsea, IMHO!

Two draws for us and there go 4pts!! That’s the difference between us…2 draws…and they could have scored 6 against Everton, and probably should have done!

The Leeds tonking has done us no favors with lower league clubs, because NO-ONE is coming at us now, esp not at the Etihad! 70-75 mins of 5-4-1 and the chance of a counter, regardless of whether we score 1!

The key to those games is the second goal, which we have often struggled to get in some games. That completely takes away the “hang around long enough to grab a goal and a point!” mentality of some teams.

The second goal opens up teams earlier and often leads to the 3rd and 4th late in games!

 

[Chak19]

So, without jinxing it it looks like it's gonna be us and the dippers fighting it out for the league again.
This made me think, how many title battles has there been between the rags/dippers & us/dippers?
If it's us should us/dippers be more of a rivalry than the rags/dippers?

2009 is the only year with a title battle between the rags and the dippers that I can think of.

 

[Protein Junkie]

Manchester United have identified Leeds United's Illan Meslier as the best young goalkeeper in England - but when they sent goalkeeping scout Tony Coton to watch the 21-year-old Frenchman, he conceded seven at Manchester City on Tuesday. (Mail)

sounds like the perfect fit then.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

SIIIIUUUU

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Manchester United have identified Leeds United's Illan Meslier as the best young goalkeeper in England - but when they sent goalkeeping scout Tony Coton to watch the 21-year-old Frenchman, he conceded seven at Manchester City on Tuesday. (Mail)

sounds like the perfect fit then.

Seems bizarre. They don’t need a keeper?

 

[KentBlue]

The second goal opens up teams earlier and often leads to the 3rd and 4th late in games!

Agreed. And this is why I get so pissed off with Raz's seemingly unfathomable ability to put the game to bed for us sometimes. When you look at the amount of times he's had fantastic opportunities to score but somehow or other manages to fuck it up it's small wonder I get so wound up with him.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Agreed. And this is why I get so pissed off with Raz's seemingly unfathomable ability to put the game to bed for us sometimes. When you look at the amount of times he's had fantastic opportunities to score but somehow or other manages to fuck it up it's small wonder I get so wound up with him.

Oh dear, now you’ve done it!
(Tiptoes around the comment, while neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the sentiment)

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

So, without jinxing it it looks like it's gonna be us and the dippers fighting it out for the league again.
This made me think, how many title battles has there been between the rags/dippers & us/dippers?
If it's us should us/dippers be more of a rivalry than the rags/dippers?

It's a good question. We have had title battles with LFC in 1972 (we both missed out by one point to Derby), 1977, 2014, 2019, 2020. There may be some other ones. We have also played a League Cup Final and plenty of semi-finals as well as a CL Quarter Final. Of course they will never accept us as rivals but they do seem to hate us more than Everton these days.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Wonder if any Rags would have thought they would be 20pts behind us by Xmas with the second coming of Fakeronaldo , they were all so excited that Baconface had stepped in and prevented his transfer to us.
Absolute mugs , screwed over by a clever football agent , and Fakeronaldo pocketing £500k a week after tax to play for a mid table team.
The good news the CR7 shirts , duvets and pencil sharpeners are in plentiful supply for the Xmas rush.

 

[Vicmeldrew666]

If their games keep getting postponed, the media will surely claim it is due to lack of match practice and players lacking minutes (totally self inflicted), when they hopefully go on a historic losing run!
I reckon raggy ralf must be tearing his hair out trying to erase several seasons of shite coaching and a complete lack of fitness out of that scruffy lot.
Only when he has done this will he see just how poor the majority of their squad are.

 

[Mid Wales blue]

Bit early to write off Chelsea, IMHO!

Two draws for us and there go 4pts!! That’s the difference between us…2 draws…and they could have scored 6 against Everton, and probably should have done!

The Leeds tonking has done us no favors with lower league clubs, because NO-ONE is coming at us now, esp not at the Etihad! 70-75 mins of 5-4-1 and the chance of a counter, regardless of whether we score 1!

The key to those games is the second goal, which we have often struggled to get in some games. That completely takes away the “hang around long enough to grab a goal and a point!” mentality of some teams.

The second goal opens up teams earlier and often leads to the 3rd and 4th late in games!

More like 7-2-1 set up!

 

[Ted_Bovis]

People are still trotting out the conspiracy bullshit? Can one of those nut jobs explain how this helps them and how its more beneficial to be forced to cram in a minimum of 2 games into a schedule that has virtually zero gaps already?

Every game that doesn't get played is a much more taxing game to play before the summer and damages them.

*gets tin-foil hat*

Pushes the games to the new year.
Recruitment session in the Jan transfer window.
Stronger squad.

 

[NZBlue]

*gets tin-foil hat*

Pushes the games to the new year.
Recruitment session in the Jan transfer window.
Stronger squad.

... plus they're probably planning their usual strategy of getting knocked out of all the cups early to ease the congestion later

 

[bluebreeze]

Nick the rag is at the wheel now. I wonder if he parks in the managers car park, or will he follow Ole's lead and use another space out of respect?

 

[Plays By Sense Of Smell]

*gets tin-foil hat*

Pushes the games to the new year.
Recruitment session in the Jan transfer window.
Stronger squad.

Got to shift some crap before they can get more in.
Welcome to the paradox of the golden handcuffs guys.

 

[asahartford1]

Agreed. And this is why I get so pissed off with Raz's seemingly unfathomable ability to put the game to bed for us sometimes. When you look at the amount of times he's had fantastic opportunities to score but somehow or other manages to fuck it up it's small wonder I get so wound up with him.

I see ,so Raz gets the first goal, as he has done recently, Everton and Watford, but it is his his fault he didn't get the 2nd goal.
Interesting thinking.

 

[Grassland Blue]

I just had an opportunity to enlighten a well out of town (Polish/Hungarian/Slovakian) rag and his daughter.
As we were passing the Etihad on the train the mans' daughter asked if it was the swamp? (He thought it was!)
I couldn't keep quiet about this and told them that it was not the swamp but was the home of the Champions.
I also let them know that they wouldn't find the swamp in Manchester.
Glad to be of service I wished them a good day...

 

[rickmcfc]

I just had an opportunity to enlighten a well out of town (Polish/Hungarian/Slovakian) rag and his daughter.
As we were passing the Etihad on the train the mans' daughter asked if it was the swamp? (He thought it was!)
I couldn't keep quiet about this and told them that it was not the swamp but was the home of the Champions.
I also let them know that they wouldn't find the swamp in Manchester.
Glad to be of service I wished them a good day...

Wait until he falls asleep, then fucking slap him.

 

[Blue Til Death]

Only 9 players available for Brentford apparently and now they're down to 7.

Only 7 players are needed to start a game. I know this because we played St. Bede’s in the early 70’s they started with 7 and beat us 4-1 …lol…!

 

[ysmsa]

Basic data protection law. Medical information is ‘special categories’ data and subject to even tighter restrictions

Names yes but they could release a statement x amount of first team squad is isolating or tested positive etc.

Think this is why the League won't set guidance.

For example, you could have the Rags with 3 players isolating but they have been nowhere near the first team and have no chance of being selected anytime soon.
They could also have a clutch of regulars with injuries or suspensions so they would try and get a game called off as it benefits them.

Such a tricky situation and I don't see a way round it apart from regular checks and individual decisions to cancel a match.