Some of you will agree, others such as UIR will violently disagree with Jason's Burt's piece in the Telegraph. He says the manager's claim that United have exceeded expectations is nonsense. The season is nothing to boast about for a club of United's standing, The Dutchman has undeniably made progress at Old Trafford in recent weeks - but the truth is United are merely achieving the bare minimum. And has drawn a blank in both domestic cups despite no European football and a strong bench. What do you guys think? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ed-have-exceded-expectations-is-nonsense.html
The target was top 4. That would suggest hes on target and is in a great position exceed them slightly.
I think that getting top 4 would be a massive achievement. That's why we got him in the first place ( and pay him the high wages!) but it was/is also the main objective. So to say we've exceeded expectations is over egging it.
That's what gives fans hope for the future. We know that United will go toe to toe against the very top clubs here and abroad without any fear. LVG does not get overawed like Moyes.
That's exactly my thoughts. Top 4 was what was expected but the ability to beat near enough all the top teams brims confidence.
Too early to judge anything imo. My expectations for LVG were to finish top four this season as a platform to a title challenge next year, and win the title in one of the next two or three seasons. He's exceeded expectations in that regard, in that we are as close as anyone else to challenging for the title this year (i.e. still not very!), have great results against the top sides, and are comfortably better than both of the top two sides from last year. Maybe he's missed expectations in terms of mounting a genuine challenge for one of the cups, but the key focus for Utd is always the league. To put it in context, Chelsea spent £200 million over the last two season to move from being CL winners in 2012 to 3rd place and no trophies in 2014. Hard to criticise LVG for achieving the same as Mourinho, particularly having inherited a team in a much worse condition. The true test will be if he can match Mourinho in spending another £120 million this summer and winning the title, although I think it's a fair bet to say he will face more competition if he does
I think he has achieved his targets. A cup win would have been a bonus, but I said Man Utd's target for this season would be getting back into the CL with a view to challenging for the title next season. He looks to have as good as achieved the first part of that plan (getting back into the CL). Some questions were asked early on but he seems to have got the team firing now and getting results. Remains to be seen whether he can take the next step next season and put forth a title challenge as I would expect. He will spend more money in the summer, as will we, and Arsenal. For me Liverpool have gone backwards, City are too hampered by FFP. Next season I expect a 3 way battle for the title between Chelsea, Arsenal and United.
I think pretty much the same, except that next season will be Wenger's last, and he will spend big this summer I feel and make one last push at going out on a high. They'll probably finish 3rd though at best knowing our Arsene
He'll probably buy another few emerging youngsters and one marquee signing. IF he honestly believes Coquelin is the answer to his DM problem then I'll be happy. United will spunk some serious monies on our defence. If Chelsea weren't so bloody strong I'd really fancy us next season. As it is, I'll be happy with a PROPER title challenge and wont be pissed off if we dont win it. And... Q/F of the CL. Domestic cup final.
Well....I think we need to beef our squad up to be honest. We have probably the strongest first XI, and we have been pretty lucky with injuries this season (except Costa), but we have too much deadwood and in recent years we also seem to dip our heads after Christmas and grind results instead of blowing the opposition away as we did early in the season. I know what players I want rid of and what players I want him to sign, but who wins next seasons title, as always, will hinge on who signs who in the summer.
It is always tougher to retain the league than to win it the first time. Chelsea managed it in 04/05 but you had a much bigger financial back then and the biggest and best squad, so it will be interesting to see how you'll cope this time around. Would be good to have an exciting battle for the title next year, rather than the procession you've had most of this year.
They also recently played teams that played quite a few more games than they did who were out of form Chelsea were the first team to test them, even after playing many more games, and were not on top form with being forced to play a 90 year old Drogba and still got the result. United won the possession tho
He's a highly over-rated crap manager all he's done is come to Man Utd and spend a ****-load of money and fail. The only reason he looks good are because of the players and reverting to Moyes' tactics. He's tactically inept, which is why he kept to his failing 3-5-2, if he had reverted to Moyes tactics earlier Man Utd might actually be giving Chelsea a run for their money. He went on and on about 'give it a few months and we'll be looking good' until Gary Neville finally talked him into changing it.