United thread 2017/18

[BlueMoonz1977]

We know how they will play the season out. As mentioned, bully lesser teams into submission...which is where the other so-called lesser teams need to be more savvy. For example if brighton and others, play as they did against us at the weekend, no way are united getting a guaranteed win. They would resort to hoof ball.

Against the top 5 teams jose will shut up shop, play deep and look to nick one from a free kick etc etc......i would take Pep's method anythime over that stagnant shite. They may make top four but they do not have great squad depth and are only a few injuries away from being bang average like last season. As madrid also showed you actually take the game to them, they have poor positional sense and can be cut through with ease.

 

[CityInWashingtonState]

Really not getting the over-hyping of the rags after just one game, and an easy one at that and given that two of the goals came near full time which flattered the game. As far as i can see they finished 6th last season and have only really added Matic to the team over and above last season, particularly when considering that Lindeflop looks village.

Lukaku was also added - and he seems to be a huge addition. Ibra - as good as he is/was - seems to make teams worse. He walks about the pitch and somehow makes scoring all about passing the ball to him. Ibra out - Lukaku in (assuming that Lukaku can maintain some semblance of form) - makes United far more dangerous.

The Scum will likely be our biggest competition for the title this season.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

One game in and predictions of a two horse race already? It was a one horse race after 6 games last year and we all know how that panned out. Until end Oct it's hard to tell anything. When we won the league under Pellegrini we were average until November,

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Lukaku was also added - and he seems to be a huge addition. Ibra - as good as he is/was - seems to make teams worse. He walks about the pitch and somehow makes scoring all about passing the ball to him. Ibra out - Lukaku in (assuming that Lukaku can maintain some semblance of form) - makes United far more dangerous.

The Scum will likely be our biggest competition for the title this season.

Agree with this.
Matic allows them to play more of a 4231 than 433, as he will usually be in the right area and be competent as a defensive midfielder.

Lukaku scored 8 more goals than Ibrahimovic (in 9 more PL matches), but will run past defenders and create space in the middle. He also offers a point in a long ball over the top as he will chase it, and someone that it's worth crossing the ball in front of as he'll actually try to get there.

All of that makes them more attacking without losing anything defensively.

 

[CityInWashingtonState]

One game in and predictions of a two horse race already? It was a one horse race after 6 games last year and we all know how that panned out. Until end Oct it's hard to tell anything. When we won the league under Pellegrini we were average until November,

Spurs will also push us - but yeah, our biggest threat is the Scum, followed by Spurs. Pool has issues and may lose their best player - Chelsea are weakened and don't seem to want to spend. Arsenal are... well, Arsenal - they'll never win the league.

So it's a 3 horse race - City, Scum, Spurs - and I think it'll finish in that order.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

I think we will improve against the lesser teams that we sometimes dropped points to last year.
Generally the Rags tend to do well against these teams and I expect they won't have as many hiccups this year either.
I think it will come down to our head to heads against the top six.
Win them and we win the league.
It is something we desperately have to improve on anyway.
Beat the Rags, Dippers, Chavs, Spuds and Gooners. Then all is well in the world.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

I think we will improve against the lesser teams that we sometimes dropped points to last year.
Generally the Rags tend to do well against these teams and I expect they won't have as many hiccups this year either.
I think it will come down to our head to heads against the top six.
Win them and we win the league.
It is something we desperately have to improve on anyway.
Beat the Rags, Dippers, Chavs, Spuds and Gooners. Then all is well in the world.

Funnily our record against the lesser sides was pretty good (Boro aside), it was our record against top 7 that was particularly bad (11 points from 36). The rags dropped points against the likes of Stoke, Watford, Burnley, West Ham, Hull, Bournemouth and Swansea. They did marginally better than us against the bigger sides (12 from 36) but if they become flat track bullies again then they will be our main rivals.

What no one has taken into consideration is the effect of Champions League football on United, Liverpool and Chelsea. Spurs and City had that to contend with last season and Arsenal might benefit from playing a reserve team at times in the Europa League.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Funnily our record against the lesser sides was pretty good (Boro aside), it was our record against top 7 that was particularly bad (11 points from 36). The rags dropped points against the likes of Stoke, Watford, Burnley, West Ham, Hull, Bournemouth and Swansea. They did marginally better than us against the bigger sides (12 from 36) but if they become flat track bullies again then they will be our main rivals.

What no one has taken into consideration is the effect of Champions League football on United, Liverpool and Chelsea. Spurs and City had that to contend with last season and Arsenal might benefit from playing a reserve team at times in the Europa League.

I actually think Arsenal will benefit from this also. I still think they'll lose Sanchez, but would not be surprised to see them in the top four this season.
There will be a fight to get a CL spot through the Europa League channel and who knows, Arsenal could pragmatically do what the Rags did last season when it became obvious the competition for top four was too much for them.
Last two weeks of this transfer window are going to be very important for some teams more than others.
I think if we stay as we are we have still strengthened our main weaknesses from last season. If we add one or two more I think we will be i the driving seat to mount a challenge on the domestic and European fronts. I don't think the same can be said of United, Liverpool or Chelsea if they do not add to their squad.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

I actually think Arsenal will benefit from this also. I still think they'll lose Sanchez, but would not be surprised to see them in the top four this season.
There will be a fight to get a CL spot through the Europa League channel and who knows, Arsenal could pragmatically do what the Rags did last season when it became obvious the competition for top four was too much for them.
Last two weeks of this transfer window are going to be very important for some teams more than others.
I think if we stay as we are we have still strengthened our main weaknesses from last season. If we add one or two more I think we will be i the driving seat to mount a challenge on the domestic and European fronts. I don't think the same can be said of United, Liverpool or Chelsea if they do not add to their squad.

Liverpool are in trouble as they haven't added their two main targets and the whole Coutinho situation is hugely problematic. Chelsea have to add but have struggled to get deals done. United will probably add a winger. Spurs will look for late bargains again. Arsenal need to sort their midfield and centre backs but will probably be ok if they can keep Sanchez. We are a centre back and forward short of a phenomenal squad.

 

[Dr Mick]

Anyone know how Pep got on in his second season at Barca and Brian Munchen?

All this 'Mourinho never fails to win the league in his second season' bollox is doing my nut it. Its like January 2012 all over again and all that shite we had to listen to about how the rags are always stronger in the second half of the season. Remind me again how that one ended up.

Rags are total cnuts. Media are total cnuts. End of.