I know that Arsene has said that 4th place should be viewed as a trophy. There is no reason why United shouldn't go for both FA Cup and a CL place. LVG said the FA Cup is United's Top priority. But given the choice of ONLY one: Which one would you choose for this season?
I'd honestly rather we got back into the CL, so top four. It's been a bit **** without European football, much as a trophy would be nice it's not like we haven't won a ****ing **** load. Obvious answer though is we go for both, it's not as if we're also competing in Europe so resources are stretched.
CL. No question. Though winning the FA Cup would be nice. Been too long. as stated above, both is the real target. 2/3/4 and the FA Cup.
Agreed. I couldn't really give a monkeys about cups. We have had a sackful but I can understand LVG saying he would like a trophy in his first year. So winning it would be good but it wouldn't be such a disaster if we didn't win it. The CL is obviously key and thats how United's season will be judged,
CL. Since they expanded the CL, teams have only won the league if they qualified for the CL the previous year. And ultimately, neither the FA Cup nor CL qualification really matters when compared to winning the league. Winning the title is the goal, CL qualification is the first step.
I just mentioned on another thread, all this prioritising is dangerous and at times the reason a season can go tits up. Treat each game as important as the next whether cup or league and that's where you end up with doubles and trebles. As a fan would I give up a League Cup win just to finish 4th? Difficult to answer as why should I be influenced by club finances and CL money and give up the glory of a cup for it? Selfish maybe as my club needs that money and my team and club also miss out on a season in the CL. However as football fans isn't winning trophies what we watch football for? Isn't that every fans dream to see their team lift a cup, to go through the drama, the up's and downs of a cup run? I'll be very happy if we finish 4th this season but I wont jump around like a nutter and pop some Champagne. The money in footy is ruining the game when 4th becomes a priority over a cup.
The priority is always the league title imo - CL qualification is a better stepping stone to the title than winning a cup, ergo it's preferable. Although as a Liverpool fan I can see how that argument might not sway you
Agreed. The winning of the title is a must for United. LVG will get away with it this season I doubt he will next. And no amount of cups will cover it. A CL place may just indicate that he is in the right path but thats it. There won't be any jumping up and down for getting a CL place not even a runners up (like the RS).
To be honest, second isn't totally implausible. I can't see United getting past both us AND City, but you are only 5 points behind City, same amount of points they are behind us, if people still think City can claw back those 5 points, then surely United can claw back those 5 from City....its not like City have looked amazing this season (neither have we since December, but I think 10 points may be a tad too far for you).
Could only do that if somehow LVG discovers the magic blend fairly soon. He is trying out varying mixture of the ingredients but will the prize dish emerge eventually???
We still have to play City at OT as well. But I agree with Christian in that it depends on LVG getting the team to click. We're 5 pts behind City but Livpl are 5 pts behind us. It's worrying that at this stage of the season, rather than looking up I am still looking down. I wonder how many United fans are doing the same...
No idea why you are worried at all. None. Heres why I am not worried. P15 w9 d5 l1 8 of those were away. Weve conceded 5 in our last 10 and 8 in the last 15. We sit 3rd in the league. Through to the last 16 of the FA Cup and seem to be reverting back to a back four. Im not confident that the troubles are over but I am certainly not looking down at the clubs behind us. We are one of the hardest teams in the division to beat as out record shows and scoring past us recently is the stuff of legend. All despite the problems we have had from day one. I have said it before and I will say it again. Not one club in this league would do any better in the same circumstances. Anyway. Something to stop people being so negative when there isnt anything to be negative about. Remember when Madrid signed Ronaldo and Kaka? Benzema too? They won nothing the first season. Its not as easy as some might think and to be where we are is nothing but a positive.
That's us ****ing jinxed for this afternoon then I for one have had no great expectation for this season. Many people have underestimated how far we've fallen last season ( not all DM's making I hasten to add). And to get a CL place would be an achievement in itself (yes despite > 200m being spent!) At the risk of further jinxing us, I am surprised at how with makeshift defenders we managed to have such a good record. For that I will give LVG credit. For many of us so used to SAF there may indeed be method in the madness.
I've said previously, I'm not worried as such. Just quite often baffled! We're quite fortunate in that this is a bang average year as far as the premier league goes (wonder how London's biggest prick feels about Chelsea pissing a league with no opposition? Probably invent some story as to how this is the best league ever). It means LVG has chopped and changed, managed the injuries and tried various players in various incorrect and incompatible positions and we're still in with a big chance of finishing as high as second. Top three and the FA cup and we've had a really good season all things considered. I'd like to see some cohesion from here on in though, a strong settled finish.