Was calling for Ole and the team to show a reaction of some kind and this week, it can be said they have done that. Getting a hard fought draw vs Pool (even if we could have won), earning all 3pts in Belgrade (even if the performance was not up to par) and winning again at Norwich in what appeared to be an accomplished display, have given the team some much needed momentum. Vital now to keep this going in the coming month: our league games are not 'gimmes' but they're games we can get results in nonetheless (@ Bournemouth and Sheffield and home to Brighton), provided we don't resume our recent form. Would love a win in the League Cup, but the Prem and the EL have to the priority right now in terms of squad management and the need to rest some players. We can also secure passage thru the EL group stage with a win vs Partizan at home, so there is that as well. Big opportunity in the coming month to keep raising the spirits around the club and put ourselves in a solid position going into what will be a hard December. Let's hope they don't let it go to waste .
Today marks 82 years since @ManUtd started an incredible streak of naming an academy graduate in every matchday squad.3,990 games and counting 👏 pic.twitter.com/Q5LuCIdrs4— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 30, 2019
United have drawn Colchester United in the semis of the Carabao Cup. -Manchester United v Colchester United -Oxford United v Manchester City -Aston Villa v Liverpool -Everton v Leicester City
This United team are better when they are not afraid to take risks. https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/2...bold-on-the-ball-premier-league-europa-league When Ole first came in, that is the approach he brought to the team. Something, more than any 'manager bounce', seemed to be lost once he signed permanently or thereabouts for a generally more safe and defensive approach. Very good to see that aspect of our play return (along with being more aggressive in general). There is still a big concern about injuries and the squad being pretty short, but at least we are competitive in games, as we've seen since the Pool game. Can only hope that the group can keep this up, along with catching a much needed break, in terms of injuries (with fresh concerns regarding Maguire and Rashford apparently).
37.5% of United’s goals this season have come against Chelsea. 😂😂— United Religion (@Unitedology) October 30, 2019
Have United turned a corner? https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11850082/have-manchester-united-turned-a-corner Still a little early too really tell. But if we can get to the next intl break on the back of a few more positive results (especially in the league games vs Bournemouth and Brighton), we can look to the rest of 2019 with some real optimism imo. Will probably still be too soon by then to get Pogba back but with some luck, others can return to bolster our options. As much as Ole did deserve some criticism recently, he has earned some praises for being able to make some much needed adjustments recently. That shows competence at least and helps with having some confidence (for now at least) in him.
13pts from 11gms and we've already lost to Palace, West Ham, Newcastle and Bournemouth. Nowhere near good enough. In most top clubs, that would see the manager fired, in all likelihood. What the rest of the month looks like. Needless to say that the games vs Brighton and Sheffield are must win now. They're not the most difficult of games either, but based on what we've seen so far, can't take anything for granted unfortunately. Need to wake up though and do something to steer clear of the relegation zone.
Big step backwards today. Inexplicably back to the timid, lifeless, isolated, limp 4-2-3-1 again - insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Plus is a horrible watch again as always.
When you (erroneously) dare to compare Ole to Klopp. Ole should stay until the end of the season (unless we somehow find ourselves in the bottom 3). But the smart money is still on us having to get a new (top of the line) manager by then: hard to see how he can be the guy to guide us long term. And I realize that some of our shortcomings (squad quality and depth) are not entirely his doing, yet some of his choices do the team absolutely no favors at all.
I have an amazing, great, original and ground-breaking idea - if we want to score against a low-block, we could play with a system where more than one player is allowed in the oppo box! Or we could just stick with this 4-2-3-1 that has served us so well, suits this insufficient squad and has led to such high Xg and chance creation ...
Woodward ready to finally appoint a Director of Football? https://www.goal.com/en/news/wounde...appoint-director-of/4uwet35xxkj61vno12dmnh2hf It would be funny and deeply ironic that vanity is what would finally move him to action on that front. But if being known as the "most hated man in football" does the trick, then so be it. After all, it's not like he hasn't done his fair share to earn it. Not knowing what you're doing (on the football front) is one thing, but when you blatantly lie the way he has, then it is what it is. Still have my doubts unfortunately whether this position will actually be filled (or filled properly). But major shareholders voicing their doubts can only help also in that regard. We'll see I suppose but 6yrs, 4 failed managers (in various ways) and over $1bil spent on players under his stewardship with little real success to speak of, tells a pretty clear story at this point.
Are United under Ole better suited to club competitions? https://www.skysports.com/football/...-to-cup-competitions-after-bournemouth-defeat
I must agree with JamesA on this point. While I don't have a problem with a DoF in principle, appointing one is neither a precondition to nor a guarantee of success on the pitch. We have a player problem, which for the most part is the legacy of Moyes, Van Gaal and Mourinho all pushing for instant success rather than developing a cohesive squad. The reply to that, one supposes, is that a DoF would prevent that from happening. But I'm not so sure about that. In event, Ole has begun the prune the deadwood and it's going to take another two windows to complete the job. Bring in some players of a much higher caliber than Mata and Lingard and we'll win games on a consistent basis again. Trophies are another matter, but one step at a time.
No modern club should have someone like Ed Woodward involved in transfers - Peter Moore https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...e-criticises-likes-Manchester-United-run.html Pool CEO obviously taking a shot at United and how the club is run. But putting the obvious aside, he's absolutely right on the money. Terribly frustrating that a club like United, which should be at the forefront in almost all departments, is still so antiquated in the way it is being run. We are one of the few top teams, not only in England but in Europe (or even the world) to not have someone in a dedicated role of head of football operations. Woodward is good at what he does when it comes to finances, business and so on but he's clearly out of his depth when it comes to football. Everything in the past 6yrs clearly bears that out. A DoF or something the like is necessary to at least give the club a genuine chance to get back where it needs to be. Much more is needed and no one is deluded enough to believe that it's a magic trick that will cure all our ills. But if nothing else, it will be a start, which would hopefully see the club get back on track.
But you still have to have a top Director of Football, don't you, for success to follow? It's not hard to imagine the other side of the coin. Say he hire a DoF who has all these powers beswtowed on him, but he's terrible at the job. It's not hard to imagine that being, as one supposes is likely the case at Arsenal or Spurs (which I don't follow that closely, so they might be bad examples) -- who are clubs in turmoil and haven't won a major trophy for a very long time. The precondition for success is a great manager. A DoF can earn his mint by appointing a great manager, but DoFs can also appoint failing managers and see their clubs mired in 4-6th place. JamesA's point still stands, although all things considered I'm on board with bringing in a DoF to relieve Woody of some of the workload that he's clearly incapable of coping with while he does his excellent work on the revenue side of the business (which, in all seriousness, is important work) and taking some of the burden of managers to oversee all of the football business. But don't expect miracles if/when we do appoint a Director of Football.
We continue to be Bants United Offering £70m + Gareth Bale for Raheem Sterling is the equivalent of trying to buy a Zinger Box Meal for £1.04 + Manchester United midfielder Fred. The sheer audacity of it.— KFC UK (@KFC_UKI) November 4, 2019
Lots of talk apparently about Ralf Rangnick and United in recent weeks: been pretty constant and sustained in some quarters at least. At first, was said to be on the shortlist of guys Woodward was looking to replace Ole, if he were to be fired. That then shifted to him being an interim option in that scenario. It is now being reported apparently that United are setting up a meeting with him about possibly becoming the club's DoF. Was not overly excited about him being the club's next manager (even if he did reasonably well at RBL and would clearly be a clear upgrade over Ole) but him becoming our first DOF would be very exciting, if it were to happen. The guy is the football guy we'd want for that position. Someone with actual experience there and a top of the line one as well. Would be able to provide a fresh perspective/approach and if he were to have actual power, he really could affect genuine change at the club and have a meaningful impact. Still choosing to remain cautious in all this talk of course, but I believe he's the first legit name we appear to have been linked with. Put that in conjunction with the recent talk about Woodward perhaps looking to finally get serious in that dept and there may be some hope. We're not there yet though but this story may have some legs. We'll see I suppose.
Interesting discussion about our #10 issue. Agree with Mata / Lingard / Pereira characterisations and concerned to hear that Gomes possibly being left out because he may not be signing a contract extension. Also agree that would rather we didn't go down the 4-2-3-1 route of needing a #10, but given we seems to be then have to get the #10 position sorted as is key in that system.
We need to make some signings for depth. With the injuries and the winter chaos coming, we need to have more bodies available and be able to rest Slab and AWB and Iceman. McT, Rash and DJames all could also use a bit of rest.