£480,000 a week according to reports.
Manchester United
£480,000 a week according to reports.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
Wes Brown interviewing Ronaldo. Great listen to get fired up for Saturday night - hope he starts.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/cristiano-ronaldo-new-documents-emerge-in-rape-allegations-a-1241349.html
I suppose you’re left hoping that Martial comes good…
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…
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…
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?
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…
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
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.
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....
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.
This is probably a polite way of saying Ole is crap
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
"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.
"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.
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