Manchester United

[meffin]

I hope they win a few now, we don't want any all start signings, or rash sackings, so a few wins would calm it all down.

[RichC]

Wow, he really is setting records at OT

[marksared]

I hope they win a few now, we don't want any all start signings, or rash sackings, so a few wins would calm it all down.

Exactly, slow and steady will do nicely.

They need a false sense of security backed up by fictional stats that the majority of fans are behind Moyes.

We can play a part .

In Moyes we trust.

[marksared]

Make sure that we participate in every Manchester United Poll from now until the end of the season.

Manager of the year...David Moyes.

[EwarWoo]

He can't last much longer surely? Now the press has started taking the piss out of him he's on borrowed time.

I hope he does, but I can't see it. All that could save him would be a run of wins, and well, that could restore a little confidence in the team, so we don't want that.

Though I suppose that would be better than Fergie coming out of retirement.

[Yozza]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2536074/Manchester-United-underestimate-Alex-Fergusons-influence-look-Liverpools-demise-Kenny-Dalglish.html

When Dalglish quit Liverpool the speed of their collapse was devastating... With Fergie gone, Man United could flop like the Kop

April 28, 1990. Anfield is bouncing and the Kop is in full voice after Liverpool have been confirmed as champions of England for the 18th time.

A new decade starts with the arrival of more silverware, maintaining the glorious theme of the 1970s and 1980s, and Kenny Dalglish’s position as the most inspirational manager in British football has been cemented — that was his third title in five years, to sit alongside two FA Cups.

Liverpool finished that campaign seven points ahead of their nearest pursuers, Aston Villa, and had a yawning advantage of 31 points over 13th-placed Manchester United. To put Liverpool’s domination into context, it was the 34th major honour they had won since 1973.

Nobody predicted the empire would crumble, despite Dalglish’s shock departure on health grounds in February 1991. Not even two years later when his successor Graeme Souness’s first full campaign in charge had ended with an FA Cup triumph, a few weeks after Liverpool and their fans had gleefully celebrated wrecking United’s challenge for a first title in 25 years.

That was the last time, before these last dispiriting seven days, that United had suffered three defeats in a week and the scenes that followed that 2-0 win in April 1992, in which Ian Rush scored his first goal against Liverpool’s most bitter rivals, suggested normal service would soon be resumed.

But crumble it did. The ‘bastion of invincibility’, as Bill Shankly called Liverpool, lost their aura. The decision of one iconic figure to end his tenure presaged an extra-ordinary reversal in fortune and there is no doubt United fans will be fretting whether Ferguson’s departure will have parallels with Dalglish.

Do not underestimate how important one figure can be. When Dalglish walked away, Liverpool were three points clear at the top of the First Division and favourites for the title. They ended the campaign trailing the new champions Arsenal by seven.
It was not a blip. Over the next three seasons, the gap between Liverpool and first place kept widening. They were 18 points behind Leeds in 1992; 12 months later they had fallen 25 points behind United before 1994 saw Liverpool trail in a massive 32 points adrift of Ferguson’s men.

Liverpool have won 13 honours since 1990, including the Champ-ions League, but the one they covet more than anything — that 19th English title — continues to elude them.
Ferguson reflected in his recently published memoirs: ‘Towards the end of Kenny’s first spell in charge, you could sense a shift. The team had grown old and Liverpool were starting to make unusual purchases: Jimmy Carter, David Speedie. These were untypical Liverpool signings.’

Some of that is true. Dalglish would bristle at the criticism of those buys but the perception that he left a team full of veterans when he left is wrong. The average age of his final team selection against Everton was 27.3 and many top players, such as John Barnes, Jan Molby and Ian Rush, still had much to offer.

‘Graeme Souness made the right move but too quickly, breaking up an ageing team too fast,’ Ferguson argued. ‘Graeme is a good guy but he’s impetuous. He can’t get there quickly enough. And his impetuosity cost him.’

Football has, of course, changed dramatically since the days Liverpool set the agenda but what happened at Anfield and what could yet unfold at Old Trafford under David Moyes is the same.

The departure of such a towering figure; one who has commanded so much respect and been a source of inspiration, cannot fail to have an impact. Ferguson might be providing Moyes with support at this moment but are his players doing everything for him?
Consider this observation from Barnes, made the day after Ferguson announced he was retiring last May. It was one he was well placed to offer, given he experienced the highs of winning the title and the nadir that came with transition.

‘If the Manchester United players don’t do as well as they have done this year and in previous years, it will be no reflection on the new manager,’ Barnes said. ‘It will be a reflection on them. If you are going to do what you have done under Sir Alex Ferguson, why should that change?

‘But we know human nature. In modern football, managers bear the brunt of anything negative. When new managers come in, they are not bad managers. I went through this when Graeme came in. We recognised that he might not be popular with the fans.
‘I would never accuse another player of not trying but subconsciously you know as a player if you don’t win that day, the fans are going to boo the manager rather than you coming off the field. As long as that is the case, you don’t have to perform.

‘You then have to question the players, if they have respect for the manager and for the club, and ask whether they have done what they have done because of the manager or because of themselves?’

Those words have been prophetic. Whether United are set to follow Liverpool’s example or arrest this slide depends as much on his squad as it does on Moyes.

[Rich]

Chatting with my United supporting mate yesterday, he says luck is paying a big part. He argued () that they got the rub of the green last season and they're not getting it this season, which is the main reason for the transformation.

He still thinks Moyes will get until the end of next season at least - he does think they need a total squad rebuild though.

[Shaggy]

Chatting with my United supporting mate yesterday, he says luck is paying a big part. He argued () that they got the rub of the green last season and they're not getting it this season, which is the main reason for the transformation.

Deluded

[Bender]

Chatting with my United supporting mate yesterday, he says luck is paying a big part. He argued () that they got the rub of the green last season and they're not getting it this season, which is the main reason for the transformation.

He still thinks Moyes will get until the end of next season at least - he does think they need a total squad rebuild though.

They have had the rub of the green for the last 25 years

[Fosterbloke]

They have had the rub of the green for the last 25 years

As well as all these colours -

[Norbs]

I think they'll go above us at some point before the end of the season, although I'm not saying that it'll stay that way. Saving my gloating until the final table as it has a habit of biting you in the bum

[PTP]

I think they'll go above us at some point before the end of the season, although I'm not saying that it'll stay that way. Saving my gloating until the final table as it has a habit of biting you in the bum

i'm torn

i usually keep my mouth shut until the result/end of season etc, and i do have a worry that united are too big to not come back

however that said, i also want to enjoy it whilst it is happening

Re that article, some players don't think Moyes can turn it round.....without trying to defend moyes...part of me thinks what a bunch of ****house cunts...

they are playing ****, tactically yes, and they don't think moyes can turn it round....so what are they doing about.....are they just going to sit there an let results continue to be **** till he's sacked......or are they all going to dig deep, pull together and turn it around

bunch of cunts

[Norbs]

i'm torn

i usually keep my mouth shut until the result/end of season etc, and i do have a worry that united are too big to not come back

however that said, i also want to enjoy it whilst it is happening

Re that article, some players don't think Moyes can turn it round.....without trying to defend moyes...part of me thinks what a bunch of ****house cunts...

they are playing ****, tactically yes, and they don't think moyes can turn it round....so what are they doing about.....are they just going to sit there an let results continue to be **** till he's sacked......or are they all going to dig deep, pull together and turn it around

bunch of cunts

Them, like Spurs, have had a spawny season and are well within touch of the top. I don't think either have a hope in hell in reality but while they're only a few points behind us then I think it's too early to call. Spawny spawny spawny cunts

Spurs have a habit of choking, Arsenal have a habit of fading, Everton have a habit of springing surprises and Utd have a habit of winning the league when seemingly not having the ability to do it. We can forget about the top two as I can't see anyone getting close to City and Chelsea but we can close and overtake Arsenal if they don't get their key men back soon. United can do that too though and have a squad who've been there, done that many times. All bar Fellaini of their squad have experienced it already, even dross like Cleverly, Valencia, Wellbeck and Smalling have winners medals. Smalling and Valencia have 2 FFS

[danperkins]

Thats why i've kept quiet about United this season, can never rule them out. I think that our decline is a blueprint of what not to do. They have been champions for so long that they will be absolutely desperate to keep winning things and be at the top so to speak.

IMO they will spend huge money over the next year to try and make sure they are still contenders. Don't think they will be as silly with the money as we were, buy they may have to fork out a bit more to get their man. No doubts they will still have a big draw for potential targets but with their decline & with Fergie gone, i'm curious to see who they can attract. I think the January & Summer window will be a big clue into what is going on behind the scenes, especially as regards who want out.

[RedReet]

As much as I'd enjoy them getting put out of the league cup, part of me wants them to scrape through and then get demolished in teh final. Would make the final a bit more interesting and would be nice to see them humiliated on a grander stage.


It will be a bit like watching England at the world cup. I was the f*ckers to fail miserably, but equally once they are out there is a bit less interest in the competition.