Manchester United

[MrMichael]

I could understand the love in for LVG from the united fans. The rationale was "that he isn't Moyes"................ well guess what folks??

I expect their regular fans to be a bit delusional, but pundits and journalists who make their actual living from analysing the game you could surely expect to be a bit more sensible?

[Boogs]

just watched the Sigurdsen goal, talk about inane defending he was free in the box for so long, with a utd player on the edge of the box looking at him then when he scored the utd player waved his arms at his team mates in disgust! (could'nt tell who the utd player was on the clip is saw)

Darren Fletcher

[red g]

I've been totally baffled by the LVG Utd lovein in the last few weeks, pundits actually predicting them for the league ahead of teams like Chelsea and City (and us & Arsenal come to mention it) are bat**** crazy. Herrera and Shaw have hardly scratched the surface of their issues, and personally I think LVG has demonstrated a complete lack of flexibility (and even sanity) in his determination to play 3-5-2 in a league where that has rarely worked for all but the most defensive of teams, and with a squad utterly unsuited to that formation. Sure if they had a bunch of top quality central defenders, but Smalling, Evans and Jones? Lololol

heard something on the radio, although not sure if I heard correctly but its been 47 games since a team playing 3-5-2 in the premiership won a game.

Hopefully LVG will be arrogant enough to keep trying, apparently he has the youths/reserves playing this way to

[chadrtc]

I expect their regular fans to be a bit delusional, but pundits and journalists who make their actual living from analysing the game you could surely expect to be a bit more sensible?

I think a lot of it comes from everyone being so used to them winning most years. Well that has well and truly gone now, their squad looks incredibly weak and withouth European football to attract top quality talent, it could take a long time for them to get back to winning ways.

If they don't make the top 4 this season (they won't), then the rebuild becomes even harder again. They are in a very precarious position, I would never have dreamed this could have happened so soon after Fergie retired.

Tremendous.

[SK]

heard something on the radio, although not sure if I heard correctly but its been 47 games since a team playing 3-5-2 in the premiership won a game.

Hopefully LVG will be arrogant enough to keep trying, apparently he has the youths/reserves playing this way to

us a few seasons ago at newcastle wasn't it?

and i'm sure we've won on other occasions as well with a 352

[Buzzo]

Rooney as captain is a baffling decision as well. I don't think I have ever seen a player less suited. The worry has to be that the additional responsibility removes the edge required to get the best out of him. I guess without any experienced players guaranteed to start they had no other choices but why not go with Van Persie? Unless they are expecting another injury plagued season from him.

[Fredo]

Van Persie will never be fit regularly enough to play one full season.

[Buzzo]

Agreed.

Which means they really had no option but to give it to Rooney - which is quite an astonishing state of affairs. I reckon we have at least 4 or 5 options as captain should Stevie not be fit.

[Leyton388]

I think their squad is fantastic and the more people keep tipping them for the title due to Louis Van Hodgson being there and their deluded fans thinking everything is back to normal the longer this will go on.

In reality they are ****, an absolute shadow of the team they once were. Gone are the days teams would be beaten before a ball is kicked, officials are no longer intimidated and there is no £200m to spend. The glazor's have just effectively wiped out the debt with that Adidas deal so there's no pressure to invest big due to lack of CL. They'll just leave it ticking over.

They've spent a fortune since last summer anyway and that's made no difference at all. I very much doubt the best players in the world are lining up to join them.

[red g]

I think a lot of it comes from everyone being so used to them winning most years. Well that has well and truly gone now, their squad looks incredibly weak and withouth European football to attract top quality talent, it could take a long time for them to get back to winning ways.

If they don't make the top 4 this season (they won't), then the rebuild becomes even harder again. They are in a very precarious position, I would never have dreamed this could have happened so soon after Fergie retired.

Tremendous.

last year could be excused as a 'blip'. No top 4 this season all the advertisers will start to move away. They cant muscle there way to the top either as City/Chelsea have bigger spending power than them.

I can see a sale within the next couple of years as Scum cannot keep up with City/Chelsea as they are.

[dww]

I expect their regular fans to be a bit delusional, but pundits and journalists who make their actual living from analysing the game you could surely expect to be a bit more sensible?

My general feeling is that a few factors are affecting pundits judgements:

• They have been wrong about the decline of United several times before and now they have a good manager they don't want to look stupid. To be honest it is not so different to how we were tipped for the title in the 1990s & 2000s more out of tradition than any real belief we would do it.
• There is a general belief they will make more big signings
• Well fancied United crumble is a better story than 'average bunch of players finish mid table'

[dom9]

My general feeling is that a few factors are affecting pundits judgements:

• They have been wrong about the decline of United several times before and now they have a good manager they don't want to look stupid. To be honest it is not so different to how we were tipped for the title in the 1990s & 2000s more out of tradition than any real belief we would do it.
• There is a general belief they will make more big signings
• Well fancied United crumble is a better story than 'average bunch of players finish mid table'

Yep, the similarities between us in the 90s and United now are striking. Although we were never this bad. The league is much more competitive now than it was then.

I think a lot people are in some mild state of shock at the rapidity of their demise. We're lapping it up of course, but I still find myself pinching myself.

[Roboklopp]

last year could be excused as a 'blip'. No top 4 this season all the advertisers will start to move away. They cant muscle there way to the top either as City/Chelsea have bigger spending power than them.

I can see a sale within the next couple of years as Scum cannot keep up with City/Chelsea as they are.

Why would the Glazers sell if they are still making money? Someone would have to offer way over the odds. It's a steady income stream, they don't care if Scum aren't really competing cos they're still gonna generate significant income on the back of past glories for years yet.

[Bender]

Jay Riley @Jay_78_ 13s
Seems like Man Utd could be in for yet more bad news as Roma defender, Benatia, who's heavily linked, is close to joining Bayern Munich.

[Roboklopp]

Gutted for them.