Oh sure, it's certainly possible. Lots of things can happen. I'm just saying, they don't look like the sheer mess they were at the end of last campaign (when they still managed to finish sixth, by the way), at least outwardly.
They don't have to really turn it around. They had 10 draws last year. Cut that in half and keep all other things equal and they're just a point behind us. Cut that down to the same number of draws as we had, and they leapfrog both us and the Spurs. For all their problems -- and they're legion -- they're still a dangerous squad if they can pull themselves together.
Ronaldo didn’t travel with the team on their tour and while United put out some kind of excuse for his absence it sure looks like he has gone on strike to force a transfer to a Champions League Club. Now there are reports that he wants a meeting with management this week. If he stays the dressing room this season will be no better than it was last season. If he.goes he takes 18 of their 56 league goals with him, They also cut Cavani loose and haven’t added a striker, so I’m not sure how they replace those goals.
Am I the only one that doesn't rate Uniteds list? Honestly top 4 this year is going to be City/Pool top 2, and 3/4/5 coming down to us, Chelsea and Spurs. Spurs have strengthened, we have strengthened, Chelsea sounds like a dumpster fire, but United haven't exactly properly addressed their needs.
rudiger was one of the weirdest story in my mind. lampard was just absolutely not about dude at all then teuchel comes in and dude immediately comes back to being one of the better performers in the league. like, what?
romano seems to be suggesting that they are keeping an eye on sesko from salzburg. maybe if ronaldo goes, that's who they are replacing him with? i know this is my bias talking but i feel like fernandes is just praying that c.ronaldo goes so he can get his penalty taker spot back.
it's a funky squad. their defense appears fairly set? super heavy on centre-backs with varane, maguire, martinez, and lindelof as their presumed first 4 but they also still have bailly and tuanzebe. curious to see how they go at left-back with shaw, alex telles, and malacia. i think dalot was getting looks over wan-bissaka towards the end of the season? but being 2-deep is legit. sancho, rashford, and elanga (dude looked a threat last year) is a strong list of wingers, in my opinion. if greenwood isn't out in the cold, i could see him and martial being a pretty solid striker tandem. i don't understand that midfield, though. i mean, i assume fernandes is a lock as a 10 or however ten hag runs that spot? and at least ten hag is familiar with van de beek. but who would be the other? fred? mctominay? are either of those terribly inspiring? or maybe run martinez in the midfield with van de beek?
They don't have to really turn it around. They had 10 draws last year. Cut that in half and keep all other things equal and they're just a point behind us. Cut that down to the same number of draws as we had, and they leapfrog both us and the Spurs. For all their problems -- and they're legion -- they're still a dangerous squad if they can pull themselves together. We'll see. He certainly can disrupt them, and that's fine by me. But they do have a decent set of forwards without him -- Martial and Sancho especially have been playing well in the preseason -- and were Ronaldo to leave it could become (and not for the first time in team sport) a situation of addition by subtraction. Anyway, my only point is we can't count on them coming apart again. For now, at least, they seem to have gotten their feet under them.
Here's my point: United doesn't have to be drastically better than they were last year, they just don't have to be as much of a disaster. As screwed up as they were (and look at those last five matches if you want to see a trainwreck) they still finished just a spot behind us. It's not a matter of whether they turn it around, or can contend again, or anything like that. They just have to be good enough to get in our way. Four teams vying for two spots is harder than three. That simple. And we can't count on it being just three.
You aren't entirely wrong but could also make the same argument about us. We had 2 completely unexplainable 3 game losing streaks that significantly changed our place in the table.
You're assuming cutting them in half means they are all wins. And if those 5 draws all become wins that's a +10 pt difference. That puts them one pt behind us still. You are right that last year was the worst Man Utd performance (pts wise) and worst 5th place points in like a decade. But a 10-pt difference is still a huge jump and one not likely to be made unless they significantly improve their squad.
I dunno, you can probably wait till Arsenal wins the League before you have to stock up on canned foods and ammunition.
About last season, I think Goldbridge said something about how if DeGea didn't play as well as he did stopping shots, United would have been fighting relegation. That's maybe a bit of hyperbole, but really they didn't look like a good team at any point of the year. The draws were at least as likely to be losses as wins, and AFAIC the fact that they ended up 10 points behind us in the League table flatters them, not us.
We could certainly use Lisandro or Sancho if we had them. Bruno Fernandes is an excellent player, but regressed last year, some speculated that was due to the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo. DeGea is an excellent shotstopper but mediocre at best as to the other aspects of goalkeeping. You can make a case for exceptions here or there, but as a generality there is no part of the United roster I want.
Just an added note on United, I’m aware the extent of Pogba’s importance at United is controversial, especially among United fans, but he did lead them in Assists last season, with 9, and he’s gone.
Two man back line versus a three. Im unsure how good he will be at Madrid unless they go with a three.
oh, dig it. that makes sense. that seems a . . . choice. of some sort. https://www.sportbible.com/football/real-madrid-antonio-rudiger-carlo-ancelotti-chelsea-20220726
Yeah. He was never that good, in a two man back line. Lampard is incompetent but there was more to it.
Rumors that Leicester may be interested in Leno, which if nothing else might push Fulham to pay what Arsenal want. Atalanta want a buy clause on Tavares, but Arsenal are reluctant unless it is a really good fee. Could be a sign that the club sees a path ahead for him with the club, or at least they think he can turn into a valuable asset. Aaron Ramsey's contract was terminated by Juve. If it was a heavily incentive laden deal based on appearances, maybe a 1+1 option year contract?
And I'm by no means saying we're a lock for top 4. Far from it. I could see us actually garnering more points this season and still finish 5th. Just not convinced Chelsea have significantly upgraded.
That would be nice. Perhaps if Fulham balks we could work a Leno + 10m for Tielemans? I think we may be willing to let him go but see the potential for a big profit on our investment (7.5m transfer I believe). I'm sure Atalanta is looking to offer us 10-15m in a buy option. However if his loan goes well we could easily get double that. Rumor I heard was that we was talking to Nottingham Forrest. Also not sure how much he would bring to our MF at this point especially considering that he has played 1500 min or less each season since leaving Arsenal.