Rival watch

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Only 10 games into the season, and there’s already a 5 point gap between 5th and 6th.

my thoughts over the summer was that our lack of European football could give us a huge advantage, so it’ll be interesting to see how it pans out with the likes of Newcastle, United and Brighton chasing the current pack. Obviously there’s a long way to go, but those teams are not gonna want to see the top 5 pulling away over the next set of 10 games.

The strength of the PL is such that apart from the
CL group stages (where strongest starting XIs must
usually be played for at least 4 games) , some
squad rotation can be done without interfering with
the PL campaign (EL "air miles" is another story) .

The problem for these teams is if they reach the
JO stages. The further you get, the larger the
overlap with the business end of the PL season.
This IMHO is where squad depth will be found wanting.
 
Waiting to watch Marseille v Lyon. On hold. Game held up because fans attacked visiting players coach injuring manager and assistant. Oops! Match postponed now..Oh well.......!!
 
Utd are woeful. Gone backwards under ten Hag, who has made the team worse, although that barely seemed possible, despite spending a fortune.
There is no structure the team, clear formation or style of play. The players seem to lack commitment, purpose or motivation. There are some good players when judged individually, but they clearly don’t fit together as a team.
Transfer policy has been laughable. It’s hard to imagine how any of his signings fit the profile of the players Utd need to compete for trophies. Some have been top players elsewhere, but were signed when past their best and cannot deliver often enough. Some seem to be no more than players he’s worked with before - as if that was a necessary criterion <confused>. The club has paid over the odds for all of them (either fees or wages or both). It’s about as dysfunctional as it could possibly be at present.
Thank God I was driving 520 miles to Portsmouth and back today and missed it all. And England’s woeful batting v India.
 
Far be it of me to waste any concerns over the Manchester clubs, but the fat fecker in the white t shirt appears to be about to launch a coin at Haaland.

I presume he will be identified. The suitable punishment may well be forcing him to attend every United home game <laugh>

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Utd are woeful. Gone backwards under ten Hag, who has made the team worse, although that barely seemed possible, despite spending a fortune.
There is no structure the team, clear formation or style of play. The players seem to lack commitment, purpose or motivation. There are some good players when judged individually, but they clearly don’t fit together as a team.
Transfer policy has been laughable. It’s hard to imagine how any of his signings fit the profile of the players Utd need to compete for trophies. Some have been top players elsewhere, but were signed when past their best and cannot deliver often enough. Some seem to be no more than players he’s worked with before - as if that was a necessary criterion <confused>. The club has paid over the odds for all of them (either fees or wages or both). It’s about as dysfunctional as it could possibly be at present.
Thank God I was driving 520 miles to Portsmouth and back today and missed it all. And England’s woeful batting v India.
Making a petulant, workshy prima donna as captain wasn't exactly a master stroke. <doh>
 
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The strength of the PL is such that apart from the
CL group stages (where strongest starting XIs must
usually be played for at least 4 games) , some
squad rotation can be done without interfering with
the PL campaign (EL "air miles" is another story) .

The problem for these teams is if they reach the
JO stages. The further you get, the larger the
overlap with the business end of the PL season.
This IMHO is where squad depth will be found wanting.

this is the thing though. You could argue that Newcastle and Brighton don’t have the strength in depth (as it’s newcastles first season with European football in years, and Brighton’s first ever.)
so whilst it may only be the start of the season, and we’ve not reached the busy Christmas period, the air miles + the wait for the January transfer window could actually make the next couple of months particularly tricky for those sides in particular, long before any KO stage.
 
Utd are woeful. Gone backwards under ten Hag, who has made the team worse, although that barely seemed possible, despite spending a fortune.

I don’t know how the general Utd fanbase feel about him but I think he’s looking way out of his depth. I don’t think he’s made a single successful signing despite a few of them even being ones he’s worked with before (and how he utilises Eriksen as a CM and not a number 10 is criminal), his style of play is non-existent and he’s got the personality of a sewage drain.

There were rumours we rejected him in during the interview phase a few years back because his communication skills were poor and he lacked charisma, originally the article wasn’t taken seriously by Spurs fans but I’m thinking now it was 100% accurate.

I’ll be surprised if he lasts the season with you, from a rival fan’s perspective though I hope he does!
 
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Making a petulant, workshy prima donna as captain wasn't exactly a master stroke. <doh>
I hate to defend the diving rat, but I wouldn't call him workshy.
He's knackered, as they've run him into the ground, despite having plenty of cover for him.
Probably the only player they've got that could push for a place in City's team, though.
Wouldn't make it, but he'd get time from their bench.
 
I hate to defend the diving rat, but I wouldn't call him workshy.
He's knackered, as they've run him into the ground, despite having plenty of cover for him.
Probably the only player they've got that could push for a place in City's team, though.
Wouldn't make it, but he'd get time from their bench.
He's a skillful player alright, but not leadership material and is an arm-waver, moaner when things don't go his way, rather than getting his head down. Not someone I would build a team ethos around for sure
 
Danny Drinkwater has retired from football age 33 after being released on a free by Chelsea , another player who's career stagnated by moving to a money club ,took the money but in the long run shortened his career
 
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He's a skillful player alright, but not leadership material and is an arm-waver, moaner when things don't go his way, rather than getting his head down. Not someone I would build a team ethos around for sure
Oh, he's an absolutely terrible choice for a captain, no doubt.
I pointed out how appropriate he was when they picked him.
Bruno Fernandes is Man Utd's new captain. Perfect choice.
He's a whiny, diving, rat-faced cheat who gets away with murder. Suits them down to the ground.

I've honestly no idea why they thought it would be a good idea.
Son was a bit of an odd one for us, though it appears to be working out.
Fernandes' personality is like the anti-Son, though.
Fantastic talent, but he's negativity personified.