We're ManchesteROFL United, we do what we want

[PATRIQT]

Neville's rant made my weekend, but he has a point. That club is fooked from top to bottom. Interesting about his claims money is all but ran out as well. Could be some interesting times for that club unless the owners do sell, and someone throws £2b at the stadium and infrastructure.

[From Despair To Where?]

Oh he's not the problem but he's not the solution either, not sure what is to be honest. Think they need a new ownership in place before anything else, this cycle of shite will continue as long as the Glazers are there.

Would you not argue a lot of people (myself included) were saying the same about Arteta a couple of years back? He’s built a very strong squad this year, really fancy them for top four

Do feel a bit for Maguire who’s really underperforming but gets the bulk of the criticism

Think it's an interesting comparison. The thing with Arsenal is you could see a plan. They invested in their youth and are now seeing the fruits of their labour. I'd also say Arteta and the Arsenal board didn't just go out and sign a load of players from the Dutch League to play in their first team squad which helped.

Can you look at United and see any kind of coherent plan of action? They are all over the shop when it comes to recruitment and the players they have don't seem to have any clue what the system is. They are playing a 5'9 centre back in the Premier League, you cannot do that here and Ten Haag would have known that had he done his research properly.

I'd also say that Arsenal tend to stick with their managers. There's a lot to be said or continuity and the lower turnover of players that comes with that.

If you include Ragnick, United have had more managers since Ferguson retired than Arsenal have since the formation of the Premier League. Rioch and Emery are the only Arsenal managers to have been given less than 3 years since Queen Victoria died.

[Royal Rother]

Good stat!

[From Despair To Where?]

To be completely honest, Arteta is 4 months short of 3 years but I reckon he'll reach 3 years in charge. Emery had 18 months, Rioch 14.

Actually, I wasn't quite right-with the stat, they had one manager in the 50s who lasted 18 months.

I think my general points till stands though.

Even Liverpool only had 8 managers in the 30 years they went without a league title

[Vision]

"A bit ropey"?
Did you see the Community Shield when they beat possibly the best side in world football?
Not so good at Fulham but with 2 games played "ropey" feels a bit OTT.

I have a feeling that Man Utd will turn up next week and possibly sneak a draw in their biggest game of the season-those very expensive players and Rashford surely can't ever be as bad again?

Alexander Arnold is an absolutely shit defender. His spacial awareness is awful. Problem Is he is important to Liverpool going forward. It's a bit of a conundrum for Klopp. The mistakes are plentiful, but so are the assists and goals. United could definitely get something...Problem is that they need to press and if he starts Ronaldo there's no chance of that.

You are welcome to your opinion of TAA but his positive attacking contributions far outweigh any defensive deficiences.
Don't forget that Man Utd have an even worse defender on the same side of the pitch in Tubby Shaw and he will be marking Salah.

And that’s exactly the point . TAA isn’t asked to play Right Back by Klopp in the same way that most Right Backs are asked to play the position . It’s a given that there will always be space in behind TAA the way Liverpool play and unlike Robertson he doesn’t have Van Dijk on his side as a covering defender or indeed ( before this season ) Mane in front of him tracking back . Salah works hard but still not as hard as Mane .

TAA as an out and out defender in terms of defensive skill set is about average for the league whereas in the attacking skill set he’s top of the pile.

All that being said , I do think Liverpool are weaker this season than last and for all the talk of the others being way behind them and City I suspect Chelsea and perhaps Arsenal will be closer than we thinkZ

WRT Man Utd , think Liverpool is probably the best fixture they could ask for . People will expect a beating and if they avoid that , it might just give them the lift they need .

As an aside , we’re all still very keen to already set the outcome of the season after just a couple of games . In this of all years , the mid season World Cup distraction , means we’re in uncharted territory.

[URZZZZ]

Thing is where Conte and Arteta seem to be delivering is by clearing the deadwood and building their “own squad”. Alli, Winks, Aurier, Bergwijn, Sissoko, Lamela etc for Spurs and the likes of Willian, Lacazette, Kolasinac, Bellerin, Chambers, even Aubameyang who was badly struggling at the end. With the exception of perhaps Willian who was only there for a season (but was awful), these players were simply stuck at these clubs for too long regressing season on season

Top managers/clubs are ruthless with their decision making. The problem is that United really aren’t. How the likes of Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, McFred, Rashford and Martial have stayed so long as first teamers whilst delivering very little is staggering. Patience is indeed a virtue but it’s all rather futile saying “he should be given time” unless he can properly re shape the squad. Everyone knows by now the limitations of the squad yet nothing is ever done about it

Like Nuno for Spurs. Highly doubt he would have been much cop there to be honest but he was hung out to dry, had no chance. Even Conte struggled at first until he was allowed to stamp his own authority on the squad

[From Despair To Where?]

Thing is where Conte and Arteta seem to be delivering is by clearing the deadwood and building their “own squad”. Alli, Winks, Aurier, Bergwijn, Sissoko, Lamela etc for Spurs and the likes of Willian, Lacazette, Kolasinac, Bellerin, Chambers, even Aubameyang who was badly struggling at the end. With the exception of perhaps Willian who was only there for a season (but was awful), these players were simply stuck at these clubs for too long regressing season on season

Top managers/clubs are ruthless with their decision making. The problem is that United really aren’t. How the likes of Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, McFred, Rashford and Martial have stayed so long as first teamers whilst delivering very little is staggering. Patience is indeed a virtue but it’s all rather futile saying “he should be given time” unless he can properly re shape the squad. Everyone knows by now the limitations of the squad yet nothing is ever done about it

Like Nuno for Spurs. Highly doubt he would have been much cop there to be honest but he was hung out to dry, had no chance. Even Conte struggled at first until he was allowed to stamp his own authority on the squad

Wan Bissaka £85,000/wk
Lindelof £140,000/wk
McFred £120,000/wk and £75,000/wk
Rashford £180,000/wk
Martial £250 000/wk
Jones £110,000/wk

https://www.statista.com/statistics/547090/average-annual-first-team-player-salary-in-football-clubs-english-premier-league-uk/

The average salary at Man Utd is more than twice that at West Ham, 16% higher than, Man City, nearly 40% higher than Liverpool.

Luke Shaw gets paid the same as TAA.

That could well be a huge reason why they can't shift these players. Pay inflated wages, change manager every 18 months. No wonder they've got a bloated squad of underperforming players that no one else wants to buy. It also doesn't help that the whole club is dysfunctional from top to bottom.

[Sanguine]

Re Conte and Arteta - imagine if the knives had been sharpened for Klopp too soon?

[6ft Kerplunk]

I'd also say that Arsenal tend to stick with their managers. There's a lot to be said or continuity and the lower turnover of players that comes with that.

If you include Ragnick, United have had more managers since Ferguson retired than Arsenal have since the formation of the Premier League. Rioch and Emery are the only Arsenal managers to have been given less than 3 years since Queen Victoria died.

That's part of what I'm finding so amusing about this. Man United fans used to love banging on about how loyal their club was to managers just because they gave Ferguson a bit of time when he first started and after that its easy to be loyal when trophies galore are rolling in. Now they're back to the Man United of the 70s and 80s they don't seem quite so keen on being loyal to managers. I'm now hoping Elon Musk attempts to buy them and goes full Michael Knighton before pulling out of the deal.

[URZZZZ]

Re Conte and Arteta - imagine if the knives had been sharpened for Klopp too soon?

Well quite

It does work the other way mind, were Arsenal too lenient under Wenger those last few years? Did that cause a period of stagnation?

It’s an interesting debate discussing how long managers should have, look at Rodgers here. For me, boils down to how much managers are actually
learning from mistakes and how flexible they can be with their approach, becoming more pragmatic (arguably like Pep has done) if necessary

[URZZZZ]

Thing is where Conte and Arteta seem to be delivering is by clearing the deadwood and building their “own squad”. Alli, Winks, Aurier, Bergwijn, Sissoko, Lamela etc for Spurs and the likes of Willian, Lacazette, Kolasinac, Bellerin, Chambers, even Aubameyang who was badly struggling at the end. With the exception of perhaps Willian who was only there for a season (but was awful), these players were simply stuck at these clubs for too long regressing season on season

Top managers/clubs are ruthless with their decision making. The problem is that United really aren’t. How the likes of Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, McFred, Rashford and Martial have stayed so long as first teamers whilst delivering very little is staggering. Patience is indeed a virtue but it’s all rather futile saying “he should be given time” unless he can properly re shape the squad. Everyone knows by now the limitations of the squad yet nothing is ever done about it

Like Nuno for Spurs. Highly doubt he would have been much cop there to be honest but he was hung out to dry, had no chance. Even Conte struggled at first until he was allowed to stamp his own authority on the squad

Wan Bissaka £85,000/wk
Lindelof £140,000/wk
McFred £120,000/wk and £75,000/wk
Rashford £180,000/wk
Martial £250 000/wk
Jones £110,000/wk

https://www.statista.com/statistics/547090/average-annual-first-team-player-salary-in-football-clubs-english-premier-league-uk/

The average salary at Man Utd is more than twice that at West Ham, 16% higher than, Man City, nearly 40% higher than Liverpool.

Luke Shaw gets paid the same as TAA.

That could well be a huge reason why they can't shift these players. Pay inflated wages, change manager every 18 months. No wonder they've got a bloated squad of underperforming players that no one else wants to buy. It also doesn't help that the whole club is dysfunctional from top to bottom.

Are they official numbers? That’s really bad if so

Guess the best they can do is wait for their contracts to expire or subsidise some of their wages to a new team

Knowing United’s record, rheylll give them new bumper contracts mind

[From Despair To Where?]

Who's going to take a gamble on Luke Shaw or Harry Maguire given they've been wrecked by United?

They're paying Ronaldo £450,000 a week. I get that they'll claw a significant amount of that back in merchandise sales but that's mental for a 37 year old on a 2 year contract with an option on a third.

Do they have anyone at board level saying "Hang on a minute....."

[paultheroyal]

Looking at United's fixtures the season end run in is kind to them so just have enough points on the board to stay up. Also, are they in danger of not having a goal of the month competition for August unless own goals count?

[6ft Kerplunk]

I'm now hoping Elon Musk attempts to buy them and goes full Michael Knighton before pulling out of the deal.

The problem with the world at the moment is that when you think of the most unlikely ridiculous thing for comic* effect there's a deranged billionaire out there with too much time on his hands.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1559691922725281800

[Uke]

I'm now hoping Elon Musk attempts to buy them and goes full Michael Knighton before pulling out of the deal.

The problem with the world at the moment is that when you think of the most unlikely ridiculous thing for comic* effect there's a deranged billionaire out there with too much time on his hands.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1559691922725281800

However https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/155 ... owXVaPR9MQ

[Brogue]

Sir Jim Ratcliffe In talks with the glazers to buy the club

[6ft Kerplunk]

I'm now hoping Elon Musk attempts to buy them and goes full Michael Knighton before pulling out of the deal.

The problem with the world at the moment is that when you think of the most unlikely ridiculous thing for comic* effect there's a deranged billionaire out there with too much time on his hands.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1559691922725281800

However https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/155 ... owXVaPR9MQ

Ah, I tend to ignore the billionaire mentalist wherever I can so didn't know it was a long standing jape.

[Orion1871]

“I can't reply as to why Casemiro traded European Champions for a struggling side, it's his personal decision.”

United savaged by Carlo Ancelotti.

[paultheroyal]

Whats the chances of the game being abandoned tonight?

[NathStPaul]

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