Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2017

adox wrote: »

Motivate yourself to kick a ball? They were hardly asked to run a marathon.

It was laughable and inexcusable for most of the misses.

The excuses people come up with...

JaMarcusHustle wrote: »

I also think that it's looking very fortunate that we've held on to Jones and Smalling for now.

Yep Lindelof certainly at this stage looks like he will have to be eased into the team. Looks a million miles off being ready to start the season for us.

The morning papers.

WBA to bid £10 million for Smalling.

United to offer £75 million for Veratti.

Jose blames lacklustre second half on lack of motivation facing Real Madrid youngsters.

Said he didn't pick his best penalty takers and has no idea if Herrera injury is bad.

That was about it.

I've seen Christy Brown hit better penalties than these lads.

Some quotes from Marca:

On the penalty shootout: "With the teams level after the final whistle, matters were settled from the spot, which proved to be a dreadful display of penalty taking, mercifully ending in favour of United, 2-1."

On the United goal: "But the best movement of the first 45 minutes came from United and it was some fancy footwork from Martial, who danced past a couple Real defenders by the end line before feeding the wide open Lingard and it was an easy sweep into net for a 1-0 lead right before half-time."

http://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2017/07/24/59752e39e5fdea58788b4641.html

Cant wait for the pre season to finish and the league to start up again.

I was over last year for utd city game for the first time at old trafford, we lost 2-1 but i was literraly first row and zlatan scored the goal. Electric stuff, cant wait to go again this season

Any of ye heading over for a game?

JaMarcusHustle wrote: »

I also think that it's looking very fortunate that we've held on to Jones and Smalling for now.

As I said yesterday with Rojo out until January I doubt Jones or Smalling were being offered to clubs.

We have conceded 4 goals so far this pre-season and Lindelof has been at fault or at least could have done better for every one of them.
I don't think he is going to start the season either. In each game he has played at RCB with either Jones or Smalling at LCB. It looks to me like Mourinho sees a battle between Bailly/Lindelof for RCB and Jones/Smalling for LCB with Rojo to step in there once he is fit.

zerks wrote: »

I would reckon José might have had a few choice words last night.The attitude of the players in the second half stunk."Ah sure we are only playing against kids".
Jose doesn't like this lazy mentality and I hope he weeds it out,preseason or not you at least look like you are interested on the pitch.

Funny that. I said the second half performance was poor last night. Cookiemonster took a shot at me over that specifically and you continued after that saying I would be trying to stop fans having fun. nice.

Think I posted a while ago that with the signing I wouldn't expect Lindelof to start the season, but ultimately be gradually brought in alongside Bailly. That the likes of rojo, Jones and Blind had earned their spots, and they shouldn't be stripped away. They played well when it counted last season.

Slotting in a new CB is difficult work, as with any position but especially in CB where mistakes or confusion are quickly exposed. That Bailly took to things quickly is testament to himself but he was also rash and positionaly all over the shop for a good portion of his introduction last season, making up for it with his pace.

Obviously be better if Lindelof was settling quicker in terms of the on the pitch setup, but wouldn't get overly worried. Would have been nice for him to have a strong performance on the tour, but there is enough good reporting and discussion on him that there is likely no major panic required, that he is a strong reader of the game and when he is up to speed will hopefully be a strong CB for us. Some indication in the matches I've watched of that to be honest, some good covering positions and snuffing out danger.

Hopefully his confidence hasn't taken a dent as it's blatant he has been poor. Few reporters been picking up on it and pushing that narrative early, especially with two English CB's there likely to lose out. So he is going to get it tough if he has some ropey games.