Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - See Mod Warning in OP, 09/11

kryogen

Logic, thats the basis for believing Southampton won't maintain their form for the entire season

Donnielighto

Can see utd getting 2nd fairly easily, city arent far ahead and southampton will drift.

UnitedIrishman

Well we did win the title in 02-03 after a start of W5 D5 L3 and having played only one of the top four if memory serves me right.

That said, complacency isn't something you associate with Mourinho teams so I can't see it happening.

lordgoat

Pro. F wrote: »

RVP was still fairly poor today. If that goal is the start of him scoring regularly then he'll be worth his place, but if he continues playing like today and scoring like he has been this season then he really needs to be replaced by one of the other strikers.

I wouldn't say he was poor. Not at top of his game, but he had a goal and an assist and another header that was called offside but very close. I think his movement is excellent and he worked hard during the entire game (something that might have been missing in previous games) deserved his goal and really benefitted from Carrick in the team as he's the only one it seems who can pick out his runs, maybe Herrera can but Mata it seems can't.

Lord TSC wrote: »

Was a step off, as is expected coming back from injury. Was making good runs but a second too slow. Had a really good chance late on he should have buried. Did well in the build up to that moment by shurgging off defenders.

Disagree, first game back from a lengthy lay off, got no real chances except one, which Mata should have finished, if the game is 0-0 Mata is taking that on his own and rightly so, sure it was a nice thing to do but if you gave that pass to Mata i doubt you are expecting it to come back. Other than that he got nothing to work with, prob didn't help having Fletcher in CM.

Donnielighto wrote: »

Can see utd getting 2nd fairly easily, city arent far ahead and southampton will drift.

I can see us getting 2nd if we continue to work hard, it was a good performance but Hull were abysmal but we did what we needed to do and killed the game off, they had zero chance of anything in the last 20 mins and it's been a while since we were in that position.


Positives for me: Herrera, smashing game, gave the ball away a bit but won it back. Carrick steadied everything and got moves started. Young and Valencia did nothing wrong defensively - shows they are learning Young especially this season has worked very hard on his game, deserves to get time. Rooney consistent. RVP working for the team and interested.

Negatives: Mata for me is way too slow on the ball. It was Hull, they gave up after goal 1 and that's needed to keep the result in perspective.


Overall: Job done and we keep the run going. Stoke is actually a crucial game now, a win there and it extends our best run of 2014 (yes folks DM never managed as awesome a run as what we are currently on)

RobertKK

United have the best strike force in the league. Chelsea and City are highly dependent on Costa and Aguero respectably.
Injuries or suspensions to them remove their main threats.
United have stronger options.

Our midfield is improving all the time. We have a better midfield than when we won the league last year: 2012/2013 season.

Our goalkeeper is better than city's and on a par with Chelsea.

Our defense should continue to improve.

Out of Chelsea, City and ourselves. We have the most room for improvement.
Southampton don't have this and today will tell us a lot.

These are the main reasons for my optimism.

dirtyden

l would say it was the best united performance in a year that I have seen.

Positives were the comprehensive nature of the performance. Confident and dominant for the whole game. Carrick makes a huge difference to the midfield, defensively disciplined and really improves our ball retention.

Hull were very poor though. The next three games will tell a lot. 7 points from the next three should be the target. If we can get that I will be more convinced that a corner has been turned.

Robson99

Great to see Herrera back. With all players fit I would like to see a midfield 3 of Carrick or Blind holding, Fellani and Herrera eitherside, with a front 3 of Rooney, Falco and Di Maria. That 6 is as good as Chelsea or Citys imo

Rayne Wooney

Think I'll wait and see how we fare in the next 3 before saying anything concrete but things are promising at the moment

I think Chelsea will hit a slump at some stage, they haven't had it bad with injuries at all

keeponhurling

Great to see Herrera back, I predict a bright future for him at United

Son Of A Vidic

kryogen wrote: »

Logic, thats the basis for believing Southampton won't maintain their form for the entire season

I agree and the PL era has shown us that a lot of these early season front runners, who are punching above their weight. Tend to fall away once we enter January.

The Moldy Gowl

Chelsea are 8 ahead of man city and 11 ahead of us. You'd swear no team has ever thrown that away or caught up.
There is still 25 games left.

adox

Gowlasauras Rex wrote: »

Chelsea are 8 ahead of man city and 11 ahead of us. You'd swear no team has ever thrown that away or caught up.
There is still 25 games left.

That's true but they are the only team that has looked half decent this season and been consistent.


I still think anyone who thinks Utd will challenge for the title this season are being extremely optimistic.

PhlegmyMoses

Jesus, talk of challenging for the title is premature. Top 4 and I'd be delighted.

Rayne Wooney

Chelsea are the complete opposite to us as they have had their stongest team available in almost every game, Costa has missed two and Oscar one the exceptions.

Would the 11 point gap have been less had we had everyone fit?

RobertKK

adox wrote: »

That's true but they are the only team that has looked half decent this season and been consistent.


I still think anyone who thinks Utd will challenge for the title this season are being extremely optimistic.

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Jesus, talk of challenging for the title is premature. Top 4 and I'd be delighted.

Well at United, they are talking up the possibility.

PhlegmyMoses

RobertKK wrote: »

Well at United, they are talking up the possibility.

That doesn't change anything for me. We aren't strong enough to go the rest of the season only losing 2 or 3 more games imo. Our start set us back. Top 4 this year, build on that next year.

Quandary

Considering the injuries we have had and continue to have I think anything more than 4th place will be a bonus. LVGs first season in charge, the players getting used to his style along with the new boys getting fully settled etc etc..

We are improving slowly but surely. The atmosphere around the club is very positive. Things are looking up for us and I expect to see a strong showing for the 2nd half of our season.

Next season I will be expecting us to be pushing for the title but right now it's far too premature IMO. With Jose at the helm I cannot see Chelsea having more than a few minor blips.

Also on a different note, Southampton have gotten a taste of reality today. There is no way they will be in the top 4 come the end of the season.

TheDoc

Was on a weekend away so missed the match yesterday but got sent that gift of Snalling with the triple header. That's some dedication to the cause and really what's requires.

My spirits are so improved. Granted we are always suceptible to a defeat here and there now I don't seem to be freaking my **** going into games.

RobertKK

RobertKK wrote: »

Well at United, they are talking up the possibility.

3rd and 4th are up for grabs. United aren't good enough to get top 2 this season imo. Chelsea & City are much better. City haven't even kicked into gear yet.

Utd are only 1 point better off this season than under Moyes after the same amount of games. Obviously performances are better but those are the stats.

PhlegmyMoses

TheDoc wrote: »

Was on a weekend away so missed the match yesterday but got sent that gift of Snalling with the triple header. That's some dedication to the cause and really what's requires.

My spirits are so improved. Granted we are always suceptible to a defeat here and there now I don't seem to be freaking my **** going into games.

Anybody else think that that triple header was poor play rather than good play? Should have cleared with first header, should have left second header to the United player under the ball and still can't get it clear. Final header goes to a Hull player in our half. Maybe I'm being harsh.

The Moldy Gowl

For the record, I wasnt saying we will challange, but with a lot of luck and bad results going for chelsea and mancity, its a possibility, a very small one.

As it should be most seasons with our squad.

Al Capwned

It really should be more than a small possibility every year tbh, but i'm just overanalysing your post, and I know what you meant.

Will I Amnt

Put the title talk on hold lads, next year is "our year"

The Moldy Gowl

Al Capwned wrote: »

It really should be more than a small possibility every year tbh, but i'm just overanalysing your post, and I know what you meant.

Yeah. Most years apart from last and this year, we should be generally aiming to win.

Maybe I'm being too optimistic after 3 points from hull and Chelsea drawing. We will know more in the next 5-10 games.

Cantona's Collars

rarnes1 wrote: »

3rd and 4th are up for grabs. United aren't good enough to get top 2 this season imo. Chelsea & City are much better. City haven't even kicked into gear yet.

Utd are only 1 point better off this season than under Moyes after the same amount of games. Obviously performances are better but those are the stats.

LVG basically had to rebuild the team including the players already there.Confidence was at an all time low after last season and he also had to start stamping his own style on the squad.Now it's starting to shine through,no longer are we seeing the zombie football of last season - even Fellaini looks like a new man.
United haven't kicked into gear but the signs are there,at this stage I'd be happy with 3rd or 4th and anything above that would be a bonus.L
Last season we were actually scared of playing the likes of Stoke,now we are looking forward to it,that's a massive change.It's starting to put paid to the cries of rivals that last season was the beginning of the end for United as a force.

Will I Amnt

Ah rarnes is back
Pull up a chair, haven't seen you around here since we were sh*te.

Will I Amnt

Will I Amnt wrote: »

Ah rarnes is back
Pull up a chair, haven't seen you around here since we were sh*te.

Ok

I stated that I don't think Utd will get top 2, but 3rd and 4th are up for grabs. It's hardly a real controversial statement in fairness.

Cantona's Collars

Will I Amnt wrote: »

Ah rarnes is back
Pull up a chair, haven't seen you around here since we were sh*te.

Liverpool won a game,but hey even I'm being civil in my replies to him today.

What's wrong with me??:pac:

J. Marston

Melisandre from Game Of Thrones mimes Van Gaal quotes while lying in bed (you read that correctly)....

http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/man_utd/204369/step-this-way-to-see-red-priestess-melisandre-from-game-of-thrones-mime-along-to-louis-van-gaal-quotes-videos.html

The_Kew_Tour

If you had the choice would you take 4th right now?

Just conversation in work during week. From 4 of us United fans, 2 said they would and me and other guy said we play out season.

Personally, I be disappointed with 4th as I think we should be capable of 3rd at worst.

City are v good side but I don't think they are ahead of us as some like think. Chelsea are the top dogs and I can't see them slipping up.