Scheduling. It's been kind since September. End of story. This time next month, we could be 15 points off the top or 3 points off the top in my opinion. It could swing that wildly in either direction.
I just had to report this response because I cant surprised at your question. Yes it was the cup. Newcastle's bench embarrassed us at Old Trafford 3-0.
#MUFC after 13 league games - Last Season - Points - 23 Wins - 7 Goals Scored - 18 Goals Conceded - 19 Points off Top - 9This Season - Points - 24 Wins - 8 Goals Scored - 16 Goals Conceded - 16 Points off Top - 6Maybe… pic.twitter.com/yHehMhUcJv— Benjamin Hunt (@JustAFootyFan_) November 27, 2023 Perspective lads!!
here's some more perspective for you @Deadtigers FYI, these are the 'kids' already qualified Bayern played today and likely what we have to face to salvage whatever we hope to from the group. København didn't win today (0-0) so we're not mathematically eliminated. 1 M Neuer (c) 27 K Laimer 8 L Goretzka 2 D Upamecano 19 A Davies 6 J Kimmich 22 R Guerreiro 11 K Coman 25 T Müller 39 M Tel 9 H Kane Substitutes 7 S Gnabry 10 L Sané 18 D Peretz 20 B Sarr 26 S Ulreich 41 F Krätzig 45 A Pavlović
We scored 3 goals 3 times away - 9 goals ..... and came away with a single point That takes some truly dire defending to concede 11 goals in 3 games. I have seen nothing this season to suggest we have the defence required to do anything in any of the cup competitions. Would probably rather we don't make it into the Europa to save the pain of watching us in Europe and to get away from that nasty Thursday / Sunday nightmare.
the most disheartening thing about today's game wasn't the result or the effort. it's the starting lineup. Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Shaw, Dalot, Mainoo, McTominay, Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho, Martial minus the underlined players this is the same side (+Lindelöf lately too) that we definitively know wasn't good enough under Solskjær and Rangnick that we were meant to be moving away from. basically the same football that was deemed not good enough too. all we need to do is re-sign Fred and we're there. it's a lovely ode to our dog shit recruitment
Erik made it pretty clear through his selections in his first season that there was no place for a number of those above - Maguire, AWB, McT, Martial. All the above have effectively been told by EtH they are not wanted at various times. Then we fail to sign a CB (despite that being the first signing Erik had lined up in Kim Min-Jae), we only sign one young inexperienced #9 (despite losing a number of strikers). AWB getting a reprieve is forced because of Dalot having to cover our LB injuries. McT getting games is on Erik - his signings (we assume) of Mount / Amrabat have just not worked out so far. Rashford throwing a hissy fit because Garnacho is being selected ahead of him at LWF is not helping. That was some lazy ass performance against Newcastle on the back of a number of other garbage performances since he got his new contract. As a club, we just cannot let players like Rashford get away with this behaviour. Why though let Rashford (and Martial) mail it in this game for 60 minutes before getting subbed? If we give in to these players, we will continue to be effed as a club. I am still for keeping the manager - the issue has always been and continues to be some of these players. That said Erik needs to stop digging his own grave with some of these decisions (Maguire over Varane, McT over anybody, overrun single-pivots in away games, players mailing it in without getting subbed etc.).
McT plays because he scored some goals here and there. That’s all on EtH. It’s easy to see that he is a nothing entity in midfield. Let Amrabat play alongside Mainoo. We don’t need to see a run of McT in midfield. Everyone knows he’s no good there.
Agree with all of this. ETH has been getting some heat for falling out with players, but I think that’s a good thing. He’s drawing a line in the sand and if you don’t follow orders you’re out. He needs to take that stance with everyone, especially Rashford. Weeding out the mentally weak players and ones that will turn on the manager is hugely important.
When it comes to ETH and anyone that thinks he needs to go, my questions is always...who available is better and would it even make a difference beyond the initial new manager bump? These same core players have thrown Ole and Jose under the bus as well. They'll keep doing it to a new manager. And beyond that, there's zero recruiting at this club so any new manager will be given money to buy a random assortment of players that doesn't fit under any specific style of play and will be thrown in with the hodgepodge we currently have. Until we get a proper DOF and recruiting department to take over footballing direction and recruitment, it doesn't really matter who is in charge so may as well stick by ETH unless things get really bad.
Fun fact: we're the only team that hasn't tied a game in the PL. Domination or defeat, there is no between.
It looks like ten Hag is still master and commander of the ship. I suspect he'll want to impress the brass at Bayern and hope for something against Liverpool. I wonder if he risks playing a "weakened" team against Bournemouth.
it's weird that despite all these messy midfield displays ten Hag still can't find any use for van de Beek. you'd think Amrabat and van de Beek would at least have the distribution and recycling possession part down
Anyone who really knows football knows that Donny is just not a #6, especially at this level. City were without Rodri last night and lost. Their other two defeats in the EPL this season were also when Rodri was unavailable. They went out the EFL cup …. when Rodri didnt play DM is such a key position. Amrabat had his best game for us and we looked so much better. Mainoo looking promising there too. Cas to come back. Donny is an #8 or #10 and with Bruno, Eriksen, McT, Mount and Cas etc. ahead of him in EtH thinking there is just no room for Donny with us.
He's much more of a 6 that Scott, and Mason Mount are and both these guys have played in that double pivot more than once this season. Your point stands though. I'd be curious to see Donny in Scott's position.
i really want to know what Varane did. i read or heard something suggesting it was petty. and if there is/was an issue with Amrabat
Amrabat feels like it is more down to Amrabat having to adjust to league and teammates plus the fact EtH has adjusted his midfield setup. So maybe just more time needed in training on details and familiarisation rather than an issue with Amrabat as such. Agree 100% on Varane though - just has to be more to this.