I guess no need to keep opening a match day thread. We simply don’t have enough interests at the moment. Terrible goal to concede today at Brighton. As I said last week, the midfield is still not there and it really doesn’t matter who plays in defence, we will concede goals because we invite pressure by not controlling the middle of the park.
Nice to see us ****ing it all up at the last minute - still. At least it means we can maintain our usual 0 goal difference.
I’m absolutely not convinced that our problems will be solved by spending more fkin money. It’s a waste at the moment.
Vs Twente Why do we struggle to get shots on target to force open the floodgates? We are playing at home, and the bench is jacked with talents. It is a mystery why we persistently struggle to score goals.
Dunno. There are vague chances being created, we just can't finish them. Anyone else notice that the ball was always behind Zirkzee? So, he either goes to soon or every player supplies him too late! That can be worked on, surely? However, I'd rather Hojlund get a run. Or even both together!
Ten Hag's half time team talks and substitutions are extremely concerning. Can't remember the name of the woman presenter at half time but she was saying along the lines of 'so, comfortable second half for United, who are well on top, to go and finish this off'. Then a different ****ing team came out! Also, his subs are just like for like. He never changes anything round. He sticks rigidly to 4 2 3 1. I could pick a team out of our squad that would play 4 4 2, one that could play 4 3 3, one that could easily play 3 5 2 into 5 3 2. These variations are there for all to see, they are just never tried. Very odd.
I want to see him play 4 4 2 with Zirkzee and Hojlund together up front.. He has so many midfield options that any two of Bruno/ Urgate/Eriksen/Casimero can fit in behind them,with Garnacho on the left, Amad on the right. Garnacho is far less effective out on the right so ETH is moving him around effectively to accommodate Rashford, which I don't understand.
If we were going 4 4 2 the midfield has to be Ugarte and Mainoo, otherwise we're too piss weak. I'd say Casemiro over the other two as well. Fernandes is doing nothing for me at the minute. He needs to play at ten and stay there, instead of wandering around all over the show. No discipline whatsoever.
Guys, the man should be fired! I don’t know why we keep holding on to hope. We have been here far too many fkin times. These guys go on international duty and blaze the field. Then they come back and turn into duds! It is strictly the man and the methods deployed! End of!
So every manager is the same, basically? The problem is so clearly more than just the manager, but there's no doubt we need someone stronger in charge. Either ten Hag becomes that man, or steps aside. I reckon these players would laugh at Southgate! Needs to be someone like Tuchel. Or Naglesman. Although I think that Potter would he able to implement a style, would fans like you give him any time to do this?
I would prefer Porter, but I also know that Tuchel or Naglesman will get more out of the team than ETH. From my perspective, the problem starts and ends with ETH given how much financial backing he’s had to create a team that represents his style (whatever that is). We overthink it by involving the upper management of the club. He’s certainly the luckiest manager of all big clubs in terms of backing and performance.
I think we can dismiss the idea that upper management is still a problem, that's been sorted. The Glazers/Woodward were the problem. Which we need to move on from. Again, sacking managers one after the other is not really my preferred way forward, but I'd say if we don't beat Spurs on Saturday he's dead. The thought of Southgate being out there waiting terrifies me though.
We can’t do this assessment on game by game basis. I’ve heard before how he’s dead in the water if we didn’t win X game. Even if we win against Spurs, the trend needs to be fully formed under as many games. Next five games for a start. If we win four out of five games with convincing display and execution, then we would be able to point to progress being make.
What about the next game, and the previous four? Is that a satisfactory five game range? Ergo, not just based on the next game.
There needs to be a confirmation in trend that we have turned the corner. There has been very little of those in the last 18 months. We get some scattered wins and we think we have, but as it often turns out, it is usually one step forward, a few backwards. The point is, if we think ETH is going to dead in the water if we lose the next game, then he should already be gone! Next game should not decide his fate. That fate is already sealed. We are simply denying it.
Potter seems to be putting himself in the shop window according to several press reports, Ole too (I'm an Ole fan, but nooooo). The problem I have with Potter is that I don't think he has the stature in the game to command the respect of the players at elite level - the Chelsea squad pissed him around something dreadful I hear, the same would happen if he joined us. Some managers have a glass ceiling and in Potter's case Brighton was it.
It’s hard to refute those points with regards to Porter, even though I like him. But as Chief mentioned earlier, the key attribute would then be a strong manager. ETH is a strong manager but his choices and match preparation are highly questionable. But if we can get a strong manager (doesn’t need to be a celebrity btw) with a style that is implementable, then that could be the way forward.
I think the key is having a manager prepared to tell Fernandes to show discipline, in both his positioning and captaincy. I see this as a case of the tail wagging the dog, and Bruno needs to be brought in line. It's as if the manager is scared of him, scared of making him stick to his position. And even drop him. Give Mount a go, for instance. Whoever the next manager is, they need to not give a **** what Fernandes thinks. I can't see Ruud taking any ****, so it could well be he is the perfect 'caretaker'. I can genuinely see us in a situation where the manager is sacked, an interim comes in (Ruud) and they search, yet again, for the next long term manager. We've been here three or four times before since Fergie. I'm genuinely scared by the prospect of Southgate!
