Chelsea were much better than the draw specialists Arsenal (preston are the invincibles, your knowledge, or lack of, astounds me ). If we were in this seasons champions league we would have got out of the group and our season would be comparable to the above. We could quite easily finish 2nd or 3rd this season. Our record v rivals is only better by Chelsea and City so these tough games are winnable.
Can't believe I am asking you, of all people, this question. But how many points do you realistically expect to get out of your games with Spurs, Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal and City? The ones you have yet to play I mean. I would say 7 max.
And over the next few weeks we will see if you are correct or way off, it's going to be an interesting period for you lot.
UIR, if you genuinely believe that any of Fergusons premier league sides were as bad as the current ****e then you're madder than I thought. I really have absolutely no idea at all what makes you so star struck by van Gaal.
Agreed x 100000 It really is an odd thing, especially his 180 degree switch. He was Moyes' biggest critic last season, now he is a Van Gaal fanboy! I wouldn't say the pendulum has swung a great deal. Though I would say Van Gaal is doing better than Moyes currently.
If you think about that period mid 00's where United did struggle to win titles, they were competing with Jose's Chelsea MK1 and the Invincibles, undoubtedly 2 of the greatest P.L sides ever. I don't think any of the current premier league sides come close to them. United these last 2 seasons are by far the worst United sides in the premier league era, surely.
I dont think. The reality is they were poor. As bad, better or worse they were poor. They probably finished on more points than we will this season but much like now there wasnt too many who expected what came a few years later. The squads weren't too different either. Old players getting past there best, youngsters not quite there and established stars no longer cutting it. On van Gaal. Hes one of my favourite managers. His style of football is one of the very best but not for one minute am I happy about things. Im just willing to hold off and see what happens next year. I wasnt with moyes because he didnt have a style or a clue. We all knew we were going nowhere. van Gaal deserves a full summer to work with the side and bring his own players in. This past year will have taught him plenty. He underestimated the task at hand. He knows it and so do we. The situation we were in when he joined was poor. Anyone who expected instant success was kidding themselves, myself included.
You could replace the word "Van Gaal" in that sentence with the word "Moyes" and it would still apply. Why does Van Gaal deserve all this time but Moyes doesn't? Thats what I, and others don't understand.
You really cant. Moyes came and simply tried to copy Fergies game plan (or his awful interpretation of it). He failed miserably and caused a lot of damage to the club. van Gaal has come with his own ideas. New ideas are difficult to implement. Especially when one particular way of playing has ruled the roost for decades. New ideas are welcome. Copying the greatest of all time isnt. Someone mentioned you guys in a similar situation, including finishing lower down the table because of it. Between Mourinho and Ancelotti you spent quite a few years changing from defensive to attacking play. It even took Jose a year to get it right second time. van Gaal did it at Bayern. Changed them from a counter attack side under Klinsmann to a possession based side to great success. The managers since have kept that style and they now have the master of it. Our players are significatly bettee in their passing now. Its not perfect and theres plenty of work to do but they can actually string a few passes together, the centre backs now venture forward with the ball, a key component of the style is to add the extra man going forward so that the opposition will commit defenders to that player. From that a midfielder or winger gets space. Little things like that are why he deserved time. Plus all managers deserve a full pre season. Moyes went on holiday btw. When work needed to be done moyes went and worked on his tan. Van gaal went to a world cup, flew home packed his bags and started working a few days later. Committed to his job, something Moyes wasnt.
You kinda contradicted yourself there....but anyway Don't buy this at all. Moyes didn't get a chance to build his own United side, didn't even get a whole season and certainly didn't get the bank that Van Gaal was given. He signed two players (one in the summer (Fellaini) and one in Jan (Mata)). And it is pretty much accepted that Woodward was the one who ****ed up the transfer dealings. You are spellbound by LvG's CV and thats it.
Moyes not only got a full summer but was given the backing to go after anyone he wanted. Instead of that he went on his hols and dithered over every transfer. You can blame woodward but he proved in January and the summer that he is more than capable of doing his job. Looks like it was moyes and his inability to make a decision that cost him. Moyes, a defesive coach with a well drilled defensive unit suddenly forgot all about it. I suppose that wasnt his fault either. Nor was his over training of players and his inability to tailor his plans to individuals. No idea where you think I contradicted myself. The bold bit regarding copying styles. Well van Gaal brought his style to Bayern and Barcelona (though Barcelona had experience of it, at the time sir bobby wasnt a possession coach). Guardiola hasnt copied it either, hes adapted it in his own way. Moyes simply tried to copy Fergie. No variation and even abandoned his own ideas. Ridiculously poor management for someone with over a decade of experience in the league.
