Manchester United

The Manchester Evening News had an article in Jan this year (which was half way through the season) in which they rated 18 players.

Smalling came 15th, Lingard was 17th and Darmian was 18th.

I certainly don't necessarily agree with MEN, but I do on this occasion.

would genuinely love to see Perisic play centre back (or even fullback) in the premier league.

I saw a story the other day that one of the reasons why Spurs were struggling in the transfer window is because no one wanted to go there an be a squad player. Hence their struggles to finish a season and to get anywhere in the CL. They tried to sign Morata but didnt want to play rotation with Kane. 

Darmian, Smalling, Lingard etc are all players that other clubs would love to have, and I imagine that they could go elsewhere and be first choice. But they are at United because they want to be and they recognise the value of a squad. Otherwise they wouldnt be there. If I was a manager, I would want a Darmian and a Lingard in the team, who can play when needed and do what is asked of them. 

You do not get anywhere with a 23 man squad where everyone thinks they should be the first choice every week. But what you can have is a very good top 14/15 players, supplemented by decent enough players to ensure that when rotated, the squad doesnt lose so much. 

One thing in the past that you always used to say about United (excluding past three seasons when managers were making their mark with poor results) was that even if you took out their best 5 players, they were still a very good side. That is what we are back to, and thats what top teams have. 

I don't believe the story regarding Spurs. I doubt any player would WANT to sign to be 2nd or 3rd choice.

I also don't doubt that other clubs would like the three mentioned. However, to say they would not be there if they did not want to is not necessarily true. None of them would want to be on the bench and any true footballer that says otherwise is a liar. 

One of the things that JM has done is improve every one of the Utd squad, but if you think that he would have any qualms about selling the above three for better players then you  are dreaming. Of course they are good back up right now but would I trust them 100 %  ? .................

Think you have the best squad in the league, personally. Man City have better attacking options, but are pretty kak at the back even with their full back signings.

Invincibles they're saying!

Congratulations lads. 

LOL

A more than average showing for most of the game, but to be expected when the opposition has setup a bus inside their home. Oh, and John Moss is being a utter tool.

Important point is we can now score off corners and scrap a goal out of a game like this. After getting that important goal we made them chase the game to which we replied by steamrolling them.

Another clean sheet too.

Nah, being invincible & we'd still likely finish 6th , so surely its not too early to start thinking of being Winvincibles...only 36 more to go lol  !  ;-)

Zlatan re-signs as expected. Takes the #10 jersey. Where does he fit in? How much does he play?

I assume he backs up Lukaku and will not play a whole lot of CL. Good depth up top now as well when Rashford is the 3rd choice striker!

That's a great signing imo. 

Going to be excellent for us, with an expected December return for Zlatan, just the perfect time to be bringing him back into the squad over the busy period.

I think the team that wins the league will be the team with the least injuries. At the moment we're looking solid on that front. Touch wood.

So if Zlatan is fit to play, I doubt he will replace RL,  and I can't see them playing together as they are not mobile enough. 

They are not Cole and Yorke.

Watch out for replays of the excellent feature documentary "George Best: All By Himself" on ESPN in the "30 for 30 Film series"

This screened at cinemas and film festivals in the UK and Europe earlier this year and is brand new. Has been on ESPN a few times the last few weeks.

Some good interviews with Best, his former wives and girlfriends, friends, team mates and match footage.

Sad to see the decline from the 1970's interviews of a fit and happy Best in the USA enjoying the California beach lifestyle to the later years back on the booze in the UK.

As a side note, one of Best's last club matches was as a guest for Reading against the All Whites on their UK tour in 1984. 

He'd previously played against the All Whites 17 years before for the great Man United side at English Park in Christchurch in 1967.

What would a 24 year old sober George Best be worth in the transfer market today? It's a shame that Busby could never quite get him under control off the field. I still rank Pele the best, Best 2nd, Maradonna 3rd (Cheated too often to be ranked higher), Cryuff 4th, Messi is a goal machine for sure but could he turn it on from inside his own half against quality opposition that Best did on a regular basis?

Tough game this morning, which will be the usual story for most teams coming to Old Trafford. Leicester had two good banks of four and United could not keep the width to draw them out. 

Will be interesting to see how the team shapes up after the international break, with midweek games coming thick and fast. Seven games in September should require the whole squad to be utilised

Massive congratulations on winning the league in August. Hats off to Mourinho it really is a special achievement, along with your much heralded treble last season. Biggest club in the world? You are certainly on your way.

This time last season we were 2nd and ended up miles off the pace.

Hardly worth getting excited about at this stage of the season.

Originally from the scouse thread but replying here as more relevant...

To be honest we've just moved with the times.

1 - Moyes was incompetent and we learnt from that. We gave LVG a fair go but we were struggling there too and to be frank I think dressing room issues were developing.

2 - I disagree with this. United has always spent big but we've always balanced that with youth, which I think we are currently still achieving. (Though this is my biggest concern, but probably a little bit dumb founded). The statement might have been fair enough last year after Pogba's massive transfer but after this summer he looks like an absolute bargain and a good bit of business.

3 - Heh... Arsenal are aiming top 6 this year aren't they???

4 - To be fair, since SAF left we've won the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League. Not overly acceptable but a fairly healthy haul. We all knew post SAF would be tough. If that's what post SAF looks like for a few years it's not bad... but yes, no one wants to turn out like Liverpool.

Why would you bother to reply to a bloke that can't see the wood for the trees about his own club.

Not a bad result at the weekend, I suppose it kind of sums up Jones quite well, going from 4 great games for club and country, to two brain explosions that lead to conceding. Ahwell. Drawing away at stoke is not such a bad result, they have some quality in there now. 

Looking forward to seeing how the players deal with playing in the CL - the atmosphere and pressure will be a lot more than what most are used to. Will also be good to see how Smalling and Lindelof play. Games coming thick and fast!

Well, at least he didn't get injured! He's still one of our starting CBs for mine though. Wasn't helped by Bailly either, who seemed to lose focus/intensity after he took a knock. 

Will be good to see the rest of the squad get a run tomorrow morning, I love Champions League football.

Fellaini was outstanding this morning. Convincing performance and result, good start to the Champions League!

Still a bit shakey at the back, a decent team would have taken those chances. At the same time that was an entirely different back four to the weekend. 

Lukaku still taking a chance or two a game, the Martial / Rashford competition is making them both play great and Matic looks assured. 

Hopefully Herrera / Fellaini can step into Pogba's role for the time he is out, hopefully its only weeks rather than months - didnt look like much

The quality in the whole squad is proving to be the difference at the moment. The Martial / Rashford combination is fantastic, both have been playing well and when the substitution is made, the fresh legs are a fullbacks nightmare. 

Another clean sheet is also good, though still giving up some decent chances that should really be taken. 

Very good strike from Valencia too, had no right to hit that first time and it didnt even go into the corner, but was past Pickford before he knew it. 

Never thought Young would play two very good games in a row, but the squad is really showing no signs of weakness. Lets hope he gives some of the youngsters a run out in the league cup (whatever its name is now)..

Just to add to another 4-0 win the U18s were 3-0 down against Arsenal and came back to win 3-4. Quality stuff. 

Result was good but we still have a couple of guys that are not up to the job. We do have a strong squad but still don't have the quality to win the EPL. City are right now miles ahead of any other side. We should do OK because we have a proven manager who will improve all our players but I still think we are  short of  a couple of quality players . Things could be worse, we could have hired Roy.

I don't think City's squad is materially better than ours. We have weak points for sure - probably LB and CB right now is where I'd be looking to upgrade. You can say the exact same for City though. I'd take our CBs over theirs, aside from Kompany but he may as well live at his physio's house.

Our stats this year are almost identical, even beyond goals for and against (as per image I think I embedded?). We're 2nd favourites for the title as of now and I don't think it unlikely that we win it, it is Mou's 2nd season after all!

Ok that formatting is fudgeing awful but I don't know how to fix it  Ok I think I fixed it

Yep this is Mourinho's golden year traditionally. 

Like  Nelfoos i also disagree with this. City have done this the past two seasons and then fallen well away to finish 4th and 3rd respectively, both times miles off the top and any sort of decent title challenge. Have to give it a few more months yet before anyone can tell if they're the real deal this time round.

Remember last season? Everyone said the same thing at the start. City were flying.

Yes, but they got rid of dead wood and signed Silva,Ederson,Mendy, Walker and 4/5 other quality players. Pep has to do well this season or he is gone.

Lukaku and Matic are better than any of those you have named. Pep does have to do well, but I don't see how that is an argument for them being better than us.

Although not our greatest player, this is food for thought.

https://www.mcfcwatch.com/2017/09/18/tom-cleverley...

Both sides have done well to start the season but the fact that United are playing a better standard of football than they were last season, for me gives them the edge. 

City / Guardiola will play the same possession - position - pressing type game against every team, home and away. This was their shortfall last season and even though they have improved the quality of the players on the team, they are still going to press high, keep the ball and potentially be vulnerable to the odd counter / park the bus type of games. None of that has to do with the players involved, but the tactics being instructed. Their next two away games vs West Brom and Chelsea will be a prime example of this.

United have changed the way they play this season and it suits the players now there. Last season, Jose played the wingers very deep and it meant that a lot of the attack went through Zlatan up the middle. I am not sure what has changed but the defenders are not being so protected by a deep midfield and, meaning the wingers and creative players can do their thing up the other end. What I most like is the confidence of the players. 

There is a difference from last season, I am not sure how it came about, but everyone has it. I am not sure what has changed with City, other than the upgrading of the fullbacks and B.Silva in the attacking third. 

One other thing that i want to mention, is that I am not sure how Guardiola is going to keep everyone in the squad happy. All are big name players and they do not have the squad players like United, who have the temperament to play when needed and just to do a job. Herrera, Mata, Blind, Darmian are all happy to rotate in and out,but i am not sure about Mangala, Sane, Toure, Danilo etc. 

Unless one is actually in the squad it is all guess work how the other players will react to being rotated. Certainly don't believe all the crap I read. I am not sure  that we should have a big turn over of players every game. You need a basic stability in the side and the fewer players you use the better they know each other. With so many games you have to rotate but the key to it is to know how many and when.

I hope that we are better than City but right now I would not bet my house on it.

Would rather be cautious than cocky like some supporters.

^ Ferguson was the master of rotating just right, and keeping the spirit up in those who were being rotated in and out. A key strength of his, and a big reason for his success in my opinion. 

I think that is one of the strengths of SAF that few other managers have, even Guardiola and Ancelotti struggled at Bayern to keep everyone happy and none of the managers at the new age City have had a good handle of it. 

Any manager that could win games with players like Gibson, Cleverly and Obertan has done well with his squad