Starting XI
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over 9 years
whatever
Nelfoos
Sancho, Varane and Ronaldo for less than £150m is good business no matter how you spin it. One and a half Jack Grealishs.

I guess he'll play as a 9 mostly, but our front 4 seem to rotate heavily so he'll pop up everywhere. He'll get goals and I cannot wait to watch it. 

Think this is bad news for Martial, who's definitely behind Cavani as a 9 option and now behind Ronaldo as well. Likely limits Greenwood to right wing for the season as well.

I still think there's a gaping hole in midfield needing filling, but AWB's lack of quality getting forward seems like somewhat less of an issue now, we have so many other options which should help shore up the defence. Excited to see Varane as well. Pieces are falling into place for a title challenge.


We will only know if spending $150M in addition to all the previous purchases is good business if they win something significant. Ronaldo will demand a large weekly payment.

£480,000 a week according to reports.
First Team Squad
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over 15 years
That was an appalling performance by Mike Dean. Let Wolves do whatever they wanted, including body checking Greenwood with his head, and then wouldn't let us go near them. Atrocious.

Highlight of the evening was Andy Townsend who rivals only Jim Beglin for bitterness, trying to claim that United should've kicked the ball out before Mason's goal. Apparently it was "exactly the same as when Wolves kicked the ball out for Bruno"... except of course when Wolves kicked the ball out they'd already counter attacked, failed, passed it backwards, and the play was essentially dead.

Some other hottakes from Andy Townsend were Wolves playing getting grazed.. "Oh definite foul!!!" Two minutes later, someone goes right through Brunos legs from behind and even Mike Dean can't ignore the obvious foul: "oh he's almost clattered into him and it's almost a foul"

Exceptionally bad refereeing with clueless secondary commentators who can't remember what happened 15 minutes early.

/rant
tradition and history
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almost 17 years
Ha ha, trying to deflect the poor performance from our players and the clueless manager. 
20 Legend
That was an appalling performance by Mike Dean. Let Wolves do whatever they wanted, including body checking Greenwood with his head, and then wouldn't let us go near them. Atrocious.

Highlight of the evening was Andy Townsend who rivals only Jim Beglin for bitterness, trying to claim that United should've kicked the ball out before Mason's goal. Apparently it was "exactly the same as when Wolves kicked the ball out for Bruno"... except of course when Wolves kicked the ball out they'd already counter attacked, failed, passed it backwards, and the play was essentially dead.

Some other hottakes from Andy Townsend were Wolves playing getting grazed.. "Oh definite foul!!!" Two minutes later, someone goes right through Brunos legs from behind and even Mike Dean can't ignore the obvious foul: "oh he's almost clattered into him and it's almost a foul"

Exceptionally bad refereeing with clueless secondary commentators who can't remember what happened 15 minutes early.

/rant
Starting XI
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over 8 years
Leggy
Ha ha, trying to deflect the poor performance from our players and the clueless manager. 
20 Legend
That was an appalling performance by Mike Dean. Let Wolves do whatever they wanted, including body checking Greenwood with his head, and then wouldn't let us go near them. Atrocious.

Highlight of the evening was Andy Townsend who rivals only Jim Beglin for bitterness, trying to claim that United should've kicked the ball out before Mason's goal. Apparently it was "exactly the same as when Wolves kicked the ball out for Bruno"... except of course when Wolves kicked the ball out they'd already counter attacked, failed, passed it backwards, and the play was essentially dead.

Some other hottakes from Andy Townsend were Wolves playing getting grazed.. "Oh definite foul!!!" Two minutes later, someone goes right through Brunos legs from behind and even Mike Dean can't ignore the obvious foul: "oh he's almost clattered into him and it's almost a foul"

Exceptionally bad refereeing with clueless secondary commentators who can't remember what happened 15 minutes early.

/rant

Bit of both really, I think we got a bit lucky with our goal, as Pogba does make shin high conduct on Neves. Still, Neves' reaction wasn't exactly convincing. Mike Dean is the definition of inconsistent though and the commentary is almost always god awful - more enraging than the refereeing for me.

Fred cannot play in midfield with Pogba, gaps absolutely everywhere. Very disjointed going forward, which was really hard to watch.

Varane & De Gea looked great though
Starting XI
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over 8 years
Looks like Dan James is going to be a Leeds player.

Mixed feelings for me - he provided a point of difference in our forward options and while he didn't really look to be of the quality we expected, our record with him in the team is nothing short of incredible.

Sad to see that he didn't develop into the player I'd hoped but I think he has a lot of the attributes to do very well at Leeds, to develop under Bielsa and we've got a pretty damn good price for him all things considered. Will be watching him at Leeds with interest.
WeeNix
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almost 9 years
I'll say this for the Man U squad.....its fudgeing huge. It seems unlikely that any of the kids will be seen this season.
First Team Squad
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Rusty Dunks
I'll say this for the Man U squad.....its fudgeing huge. It seems unlikely that any of the kids will be seen this season.

Yes, Cavani/Martial/Rashford/Greenwood/Lingard/Sancho/Ronaldo all vying for three positions. You can arguably include in that mix Pogba and VDB as well.

If he keeps his form up, Greenwood should be starting. And we can expect Ronaldo to start as well. A few people are going to be very disappointed even with rotation.
Starting XI
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I'd add Bruno to that list and say that they're competing for 4 positions if you wanna shoehorn VDB & Pogba in there.

There's going to be a lot of games and I'm sure there will be injuries but I do agree that a few of those players will be disappointed with the minutes they get - mostly likely Martial, Lingard and VDB at this stage.
WeeNix
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There's a huge logjam of squad players; your Mata, Matic, Bailly, etc.

I'm not an EPL manager, much to my chagrin, but it seems we have a lot of horizontal depth but not that much vertical depth.

I would have thought a functional squad would have three layers; first teamers, squad members, then kids, with each layer trying to push up. 

We have first teamers followed by a gaggle? Herd? Parliament? Of squad members, meaning there are no opportunities for the kids, who in turn cannot break into the role of a squad member.

Still.....25m for James? Get in!
Starting XI
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https://old.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/pl2mgr/cristiano_ronaldo_full_interview_ronaldo_x_brown/

Wes Brown interviewing Ronaldo. Great listen to get fired up for Saturday night - hope he starts.
WeeNix
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Better reading than this, which paints him in a very bad light and has removed 99% of my enthusiasm for him. Warning, this is disturbing.

https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/cristiano-ronaldo-new-documents-emerge-in-rape-allegations-a-1241349.html
Legend
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over 16 years
So apart from Ronaldo, Fernandes, Cavani, Greenwood, Pogba, Sancho, Rashford, Lingard and maybe the odd one here and there from Maguire, McTominay and Varane, where are the goals coming from this season?
I suppose you’re left hoping that Martial comes good…
One in a million
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almost 17 years
martinb wrote:

So apart from Ronaldo, Fernandes, Cavani, Greenwood, Pogba, Sancho, Rashford, Lingard and maybe the odd one here and there from Maguire, McTominay and Varane, where are the goals coming from this season?
I suppose you’re left hoping that Martial comes good…

Not Shaw
Marquee
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over 16 years
Scoring goals certainly isn't this team's problem. 
Marquee
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over 16 years
There are many many United players who I absolutely despise (and I’m sure you’d feel equally the same about Arsenal players) but I’m genuinely enjoying seeing Ronaldo back and scoring (until he does it against us). Some actual romance still left in football after his return to your lot.
Legend
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Oi Oi Edgecumbe
martinb wrote:

So apart from Ronaldo, Fernandes, Cavani, Greenwood, Pogba, Sancho, Rashford, Lingard and maybe the odd one here and there from Maguire, McTominay and Varane, where are the goals coming from this season?
I suppose you’re left hoping that Martial comes good…

Not Shaw

that ‘not Shaw?’ or a not from Shaw!

Figure someone has to be defending and assisting all these goals I’ve booked in…
What formation Ole playing? 

Also can’t see United scoring a lot of counter attacking goals, unless teams play like Leeds. 

Watching Sancho run at a 10 behind the ball may not be so much fun. 

Interesting one to put a wager on- more goals for Lingard, Sancho or Rashford this season? Lingard coming off some great form. 

And how pissed off is Cavani? About the only player not to get a hit out yet? Could play at CDM?
tradition and history
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almost 17 years
Wow, despise. How pathetic.
brumbys
There are many many United players who I absolutely despise (and I’m sure you’d feel equally the same about Arsenal players) but I’m genuinely enjoying seeing Ronaldo back and scoring (until he does it against us). Some actual romance still left in football after his return to your lot.
Starting XI
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over 8 years
martinb
Oi Oi Edgecumbe
martinb wrote:

So apart from Ronaldo, Fernandes, Cavani, Greenwood, Pogba, Sancho, Rashford, Lingard and maybe the odd one here and there from Maguire, McTominay and Varane, where are the goals coming from this season?
I suppose you’re left hoping that Martial comes good…

Not Shaw

that ‘not Shaw?’ or a not from Shaw!

Figure someone has to be defending and assisting all these goals I’ve booked in…
What formation Ole playing? 

Also can’t see United scoring a lot of counter attacking goals, unless teams play like Leeds. 

Watching Sancho run at a 10 behind the ball may not be so much fun. 

Interesting one to put a wager on- more goals for Lingard, Sancho or Rashford this season? Lingard coming off some great form. 

And how pissed off is Cavani? About the only player not to get a hit out yet? Could play at CDM?

Cavani has played this season, came off the bench vs Wolves. Ole said he wasn't in the squad on the weekend due to a knock, but who knows - maybe he starts midweek instead.
Marquee
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brumbys
There are many many United players who I absolutely despise (and I’m sure you’d feel equally the same about Arsenal players) but I’m genuinely enjoying seeing Ronaldo back and scoring (until he does it against us). Some actual romance still left in football after his return to your lot.
Sacrificing the development of exciting young attackers in favour of building the team around a 36-year-old who faces credible rape allegations and is being paid  £480,000-a-week... how romantic.
Starting XI
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Oska
brumbys
There are many many United players who I absolutely despise (and I’m sure you’d feel equally the same about Arsenal players) but I’m genuinely enjoying seeing Ronaldo back and scoring (until he does it against us). Some actual romance still left in football after his return to your lot.
Sacrificing the development of exciting young attackers in favour of building the team around a 36-year-old who faces credible rape allegations and is being paid  £480,000-a-week... how romantic.
That's one way to put it - the other is that United are now a very real title contender which is pretty much all the romance a football fan needs.

I also think training with arguably the greatest the game has ever seen might do a thing or two for the development of younger players
Marquee
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I think we'd be much more of a title contender if we'd invested the Ronaldo money into our midfield, although in that scenario he would have gone to City which would have been particularly unpalatable. 
Legend
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almost 17 years
Nelfoos
Oska
brumbys
There are many many United players who I absolutely despise (and I’m sure you’d feel equally the same about Arsenal players) but I’m genuinely enjoying seeing Ronaldo back and scoring (until he does it against us). Some actual romance still left in football after his return to your lot.
Sacrificing the development of exciting young attackers in favour of building the team around a 36-year-old who faces credible rape allegations and is being paid  £480,000-a-week... how romantic.
That's one way to put it - the other is that United are now a very real title contender which is pretty much all the romance a football fan needs.

I also think training with arguably the greatest the game has ever seen might do a thing or two for the development of younger players


Yep. His signing completely changes the game.
Starting XI
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Oska
I think we'd be much more of a title contender if we'd invested the Ronaldo money into our midfield, although in that scenario he would have gone to City which would have been particularly unpalatable. 

I think that's utter nonsense. As much as there's a gaping hole in midfield, there isn't a single DM in the world that would improve us more than adding Ronaldo, especially when you consider that the direct result of that decision would be him improving a title rival.
Marquee
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He didn't improve Juventus.  Got himself a very tidy goal tally but the team as a whole regressed with him in it.  

I can see him being an amazing option off the bench for City (until he throws his toys at that), but he would completely ruin their pressing game if he was a starter for them. 
WeeNix
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Oska
He didn't improve Juventus.  Got himself a very tidy goal tally but the team as a whole regressed with him in it.  

I can see him being an amazing option off the bench for City (until he throws his toys at that), but he would completely ruin their pressing game if he was a starter for them. 

I don't know where this "he doesn't press" nonsense came from. The guy I saw in a red 7 shirt was harrying defenders. 
Marquee
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Putting aside the fact that United and City play very differently, occasionally harrying defenders doesn't make him a good presser, and against Newcastle he seemed to me to be more active than I've seen him for years - I don't think that will last. 

He's listed here as being in the bottom percentile for pressures in the big 5 leagues - https://fbref.com/en/players/dea698d9/Cristiano-Ronaldo.
Starting XI
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Oska
He didn't improve Juventus.  Got himself a very tidy goal tally but the team as a whole regressed with him in it.  

I can see him being an amazing option off the bench for City (until he throws his toys at that), but he would completely ruin their pressing game if he was a starter for them. 

He was the Serie A golden boot, of course he improved them. The team regressed because of a coach who couldn't manage multiple large personalities (something which Ole has excelled at, btw) not because of their best player scoring too many goals.

Your biggest criticism is that a 36 year old striker doesn't press. But, like, no shark? We didn't buy him to press, we bought him to score 30 goals a season, so we can put away the little teams that we've dropped stupid points to in previous seasons and to lead the way in the big games that he's experienced more than the rest of our side put together.
First Team Squad
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over 15 years
Wow, this thread is something else.

Imagine watching this and then trying to argue that Ronaldo is somehow bad for the club because his "pressures" is 6.55 compared to say, Lukaku's 8.28. Come off it mate.

Christ, I even heard a podcast with Lee Grant this morning that said the players are basically copying Ronaldo in what they eat.

Manchester United feels like a super power again. Opposing teams are shark scared of Ronaldo. Everyone else has more time on the ball. We might not win the Premier League this year but football is fun again. Choochooo

Marquee
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Nelfoos
Oska
He didn't improve Juventus.  Got himself a very tidy goal tally but the team as a whole regressed with him in it.  

I can see him being an amazing option off the bench for City (until he throws his toys at that), but he would completely ruin their pressing game if he was a starter for them. 

He was the Serie A golden boot, of course he improved them. The team regressed because of a coach who couldn't manage multiple large personalities (something which Ole has excelled at, btw) not because of their best player scoring too many goals.

Your biggest criticism is that a 36 year old striker doesn't press. But, like, no shark? We didn't buy him to press, we bought him to score 30 goals a season, so we can put away the little teams that we've dropped stupid points to in previous seasons and to lead the way in the big games that he's experienced more than the rest of our side put together.

When he arrived at Juve they had won the league for seven straight seasons and made two Champions League finals in four years.  With him they won the league two more times, but then lost it, and got knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 twice and the quarterfinals once.  That was under three different managers.  Fair enough if you think they were a better team with him, but I think they were better before he arrived.

My biggest criticism of him isn't that he doesn't press (I wouldn't expect any 36 year old to be much of a presser), it's this - https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/cristiano-ronaldo-new-documents-emerge-in-rape-allegations-a-1241349.html

His lack of pressing wouldn't fit in at City, likewise it was a major issue for Juventus in big games over the last three years.  I don't think it's as much of an issue for United because we play much more passively.  I also don't think our style of football (and in particular our midfield) is going to win us the league or the Champions League, even if Ronaldo is up there in the golden boot race. 
Legend
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using an incident that has occurred outside of football to suggest someone is better or worse for a football team seems odd. Ronaldo has the above mentioned incident in his past, he has also donated huge $$ to good causes. Does that make him any better or worse for Man U? Not in my book. His being at Juve when the did worse than when he wasnt there may also have somehting to do with the 3 managers in that time. A club in that kind of turmoil wont do well regardless of who is on the pitch (Arsenal anyone). I think him coming back to Man U is good for the EPL in general, and as long as he doesnt over shadow others in the team it will benefit Man U too.
Starting XI
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over 8 years
Oska
Nelfoos
Oska
He didn't improve Juventus.  Got himself a very tidy goal tally but the team as a whole regressed with him in it.  

I can see him being an amazing option off the bench for City (until he throws his toys at that), but he would completely ruin their pressing game if he was a starter for them. 

He was the Serie A golden boot, of course he improved them. The team regressed because of a coach who couldn't manage multiple large personalities (something which Ole has excelled at, btw) not because of their best player scoring too many goals.

Your biggest criticism is that a 36 year old striker doesn't press. But, like, no shark? We didn't buy him to press, we bought him to score 30 goals a season, so we can put away the little teams that we've dropped stupid points to in previous seasons and to lead the way in the big games that he's experienced more than the rest of our side put together.

When he arrived at Juve they had won the league for seven straight seasons and made two Champions League finals in four years.  With him they won the league two more times, but then lost it, and got knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 twice and the quarterfinals once.  That was under three different managers.  Fair enough if you think they were a better team with him, but I think they were better before he arrived.

My biggest criticism of him isn't that he doesn't press (I wouldn't expect any 36 year old to be much of a presser), it's this - https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/cristiano-ronaldo-new-documents-emerge-in-rape-allegations-a-1241349.html

His lack of pressing wouldn't fit in at City, likewise it was a major issue for Juventus in big games over the last three years.  I don't think it's as much of an issue for United because we play much more passively.  I also don't think our style of football (and in particular our midfield) is going to win us the league or the Champions League, even if Ronaldo is up there in the golden boot race. 
I didn't say that they were better with him, I'm just not naive enough to think you can place their regression squarely at Ronaldo's feet when there have been other, widely reported issues going on at Juve, and I think they'd be worse if you took away a large percentage of their goals. That's all.

Maybe we will win the PL & CL, maybe we won't. All I know is that we have a better chance with Ronaldo than without him and based on that alone I really don't see why you're choosing to come at this negatively when the only evidence (1 game, so not a definitive sample size)so far suggests he's revitalising the team and the fanbase. You still haven't sighted a single drawback to his game other than pressing, and you agree that we don't press heavily. Until I see anything to the contrary, I'm gonna remain excited as fudge for this season.

The rape case is another conversation and is problematic for sure. I do think we shouldn't forget about it, much the same as Scott Kuggeleijn should never play for the Black Caps without people being reminded that they are actively supporting a rapist. Much like Giggs, you try to separate the person from the player but there's definitely conflicting emotions underlying it all. It has no bearing at all on whether he improves the team or not though, of course.
WeeNix
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Not really on the subject, but kind off on it....I do recall Solskjaer protected (or something) a player at Molde accused of rape. I think the player has the same agent as Ole, and they arranged to loan him out to another country. I may have some of the details skewiff, but the bones are there. 

Also, how the fudge is Giggs allowed anywhere near OT, with what is hanging over him? Innocent until proven guilty, and all that. But an accused woman basher watching an accused rapist? The Theatre of Dreams, indeed. 

That Scott Kuggelijn case is shabby. How he is allowed to represent this country makes me very despondent. Not that my feelings mean anything compared to the lady's. 

I love the line of trying to separate the player from the person......I'm excited by the player.....but.....well, you know....
WeeNix
600
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Only saw the last 20 mins, as thought the game was on tomorrow, but Young Boys had United under constant pressure. A goal was always on the cards....and then it came just as I thought we would see it out. Would a dominant DM have helped alleviate the pressure? Possibly, but Matic did ok. Thought bringing Martial on was strange. If you want someone to bust a gut for the last few minutes, Martial is not that man. Only time I noticed Maguire was when he was horribly out of position. Pogba anonymous for the 20 mins I saw. 
First Team Squad
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Others are going to come and be much more negative than I but... for me it's just one of those few games we have a season where Manchester United rolls into town and the opposition gets their best and biggest crowd of the year and play their Champions League final.

The goals we were conceded were crap; a deflection and Lingard's backpass. Ronaldo had a decent penalty shout (for me, a pen). And then obviously the red card.

Meh.
tradition and history
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9994243/Peter-Schmeichel-SLAMS-Ole-Gunnar-Solskjaers-strange-tactics-against-Young-Boys.html

This is probably a polite way of saying Ole is crap
Legend
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or just shows how little Schmeichel understands about player management, and how two incidents in a game can affect the result and have nothing to do with a manager. Pretty sure Ole didnt ask for a red card, or for that ridiculous back pass. None of that would be coached and they are as they saying goes "coach-killers"
Starting XI
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theprof
or just shows how little Schmeichel understands about player management, and how two incidents in a game can affect the result and have nothing to do with a manager. Pretty sure Ole didnt ask for a red card, or for that ridiculous back pass. None of that would be coached and they are as they saying goes "coach-killers"

Not to say that Ole was perfect here, but every team is going to struggle down a man for 60 minutes. Ole's CL record is very poor and that needs to be turned around ASAP, but for me it is secondary to performances in the league.

Have to wonder what effect astroturf has as well, I find playing on astro vs grass very different, albeit at a much lower level, and I think that would heavily favour the team that plays on it regularly
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In six weeks time once Ronaldo and Bruno have played every game or worse, got injured, you'd be hearing:

"Ole has no man-management! They need rest. Bla bla bla"

Taking them off in a game with a man-down and is almost a write-off anyway, where we need some midfield presence more than anything, for a player like Lingard who's hopefully going to come on and do a job, is a totally reasonable play.
tradition and history
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Take off CR for Lingard. Good idea. The guy is a joke
20 Legend
In six weeks time once Ronaldo and Bruno have played every game or worse, got injured, you'd be hearing:

"Ole has no man-management! They need rest. Bla bla bla"

Taking them off in a game with a man-down and is almost a write-off anyway, where we need some midfield presence more than anything, for a player like Lingard who's hopefully going to come on and do a job, is a totally reasonable play.
WeeNix
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Nelfoos
theprof
or just shows how little Schmeichel understands about player management, and how two incidents in a game can affect the result and have nothing to do with a manager. Pretty sure Ole didnt ask for a red card, or for that ridiculous back pass. None of that would be coached and they are as they saying goes "coach-killers"

Not to say that Ole was perfect here, but every team is going to struggle down a man for 60 minutes. Ole's CL record is very poor and that needs to be turned around ASAP, but for me it is secondary to performances in the league.

Have to wonder what effect astroturf has as well, I find playing on astro vs grass very different, albeit at a much lower level, and I think that would heavily favour the team that plays on it regularly

I understand what you're saying about the CL being secondary to the PL, right now, and you make a good point about the turf. And United always used to lose to Basel in the Fergie days,  so losing to Young Boys is nothing new......but.....

Ole always reverts to type. He is very defensive. I've lost count of the number of times he gets United to sit deep to protect a 1-0 lead, only for it to go tits up. By making the changes he did, taking van de Beek off, going five at the back  (though Dalot on seems reasonable in theory)  just said to YB; "go on, have a go then". 

Which they did. 

Might as well have George Graham in charge

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