I'll put it another way then; a one off game tomorrow that is a absolute must win at all cost, you can only pick Young or TAA at RB and there will be no follow up games, who do you go with? In other words, take age out the equation, who do you pick right now?
Firmino is world class in the role we play him. He's not a traditional number like Shearer or Kane or even Aguero who's expected to spearhead the attack and bang in the goals. He drops deeper to link the attack and feeds our two wide forwards who come inside. I honestly can't think of a better player than Firmino when we play in that style and half of what he does doesn't show up in simple stats, goals, assists or otherwise. Rashford is a very good player who'll only get better and I'd love him at Liverpool, but you'd never pick him with Salah and anyone else wide - wouldn't work. Salah, Firmino and then Rashford would work though. Maybe a little summer bid.. Regarding Ole's United term so far. He's had some very favourable games, yeah, but a few tough ones mixed in. He's got that boost in moral just like Di Matteo had at Chelsea where the players were so happy to get rid of their former manager who was sucking the life out the club that the change was immediate and massive. Put your best talent in, play them how they like and with freedom and watch the improvement. Their squad is good enough top 3 at least. I don't think it makes Ole a brilliant manager at all though, just like I didn't rate Matteo, exactly the same situation. He deserves his chance, but I don't see him being anywhere close to being experienced enough or ready for the job yet - he's even seemingly getting a lot of support from Fergie right now, that can't keep on going.
So that's twice you've wriggled out of answering, guess that tells us all we need to know; apology accepted
Hope you are right. A bit of wishful thinking but 9 away wins do not happen by chance. Included in them have been so pretty juicy opposition. Mourinho , van Gaal and Moyes were not suitable but he does seem to fit them perfectly. He will not provide any trophies but their fans will surely be excited by the football he brings.
He's former United, young, positive and adored by the fans. It's such a radical difference to Mourinho that it can't help but have a massive change on their mindset. Positivity is enormous in sports. Plus, there's absolutely zero pressure or expectation on him or the players beyond being better than Mourinho and enjoy themselves again. The squad takes care of itself because despite what others might say, it is a talented squad (defense aside, which is absolutely bang average with pineapple head holding up the barricades) United are a seriously big club, he's not close enough to being ready, he's flunked elsewhere. Maybe in the future, but not yet. See what happens when it's a new season, expectations are back and he's brought in his own players with Fergie retreating away a little.
just actaully read back and you'll see I said it, clarified it and then you started. this entire discussion started when I said take the red tinted glasses off. basically I'm just seeing a lot of digging heels.in at this point.
Agree on much of what you've said, and what KM says, but I think you're underestimating the influence of Mike Phelan and many of the backroom staff. That was the fck up Moyes made when he took over and we paid for it. When it comes to a new season I think there's enough there to feel confident as a United fan. But I accept there is a degree of unknown still. So far though, not one United fan can fault it.
Thank goodness that Moyes was such a stupid arrogant Pratt but I immediately thought he made a huge mistake when he sacked Phelan and the other coaches. In one instant he destroyed the players last bit of continuity with their illustrious former manager. What Solskjær did confirmed Moyes ‘s mistake. I am sure he’ll still be in that job otherwise.
Not sure he'd still be in the job, but he would have had an infinitely better chance. Utter madness, the whole coaching staff ffs
the reality is that when clubs have no upper structure it's quite common they tear up the entire club to change manager and hire on anyone new guy wants. clubs to solid upper organisation don't do this.
That's fair. I don't see why any United fan would fault it, it's a damn sight better than where things where in Autumn and where expectations lay. Phelan's influence is probably big, like you say, but so is Fergie's guidance from the back too. It's a huge gamble to take him on full time, just not one I would want Liverpool to take - but then I always tend towards caution normally. Tbh, I hope United do gamble on him and it screws up, but then that's just optimism instead!
OGS is doing a great job and 100% deserves the position after the summer. However, it's very different now when expectations are dead to come next season and they're expecting to achieve things. Not that they can't win anything this year, they just had zero expectations before Jose was rightly booted and currently, fans are just happy that the football's improved.
It's what most fans wish for when they're looking for a new manager - a club legend who understands the club's mentality, ethos, history, playing style and continues the tradition and proves successful. Hardly ever happens, and I often felt it was a wish and prayer more than anything else, so it's a buzz that it is happening! The only skew with it is, 5 years ago ppl were talking of Giggs and it's turning out to be OGS. Probably worked out for the best imo. As for what will happen, honestly speaking look at the alternatives. Would we honestly fare any better with anyone else available, or would it be any less of an unknown? Whether it's Zidane or Poch, I would have just as many doubts, probably more. So all in all why not Ole. Who'd have thunk it when a manager who broke up the old firm in Scotland would come down and do the business? And if 5-10 years from now Gerrard comes down and has the same initial impact at Liverpool after 17 games, would you feel any different. As for current expectation and next season's expectations. Yeh, the season was almost dead so anything we achieve is a bonus. But I'm a great believer that every experience of success a player goes through at a big club, and more importantly the manner they go through it, makes them a seasoned professional. Whether it's getting past Chelsea and Arsenal in the FA Cup, to coming back from 2-0 down to PSG away from home, to finishing Top 4 when we were completely out of it, to going unbeaten game after game after game. That builds something in players minds, in their resolve, self belief. Ofcourse it will be tested when we lose, but how they respond remains to be seen and will be yet another experience that hopefully they will build from. So even though everything we achieve this season will be a bonus, I think it will mean more than ppl think come next season.
tbh our league form under di matteo was ropey too. 5 wins, 3 draws 3 losses isn't great. OGS by comparisson has 10 wins and 2 draws including 2 matches against yourselves and the spuds. What save di matteo and cemented his permanant role was that he won us our only CL
