Manchester United

[Doc_Piptorious]

I am pretty sure if we go back 12 months most of you were all predicting the same. If not worse. Utd had just finished second. Signed. Sancho. Signed Varane. Ronaldo incoming.

They still have a bloated and inbalanced squad. Some massive ticket players now know they are not ETH players. They have not resolved central midfield. They are bringing in players who have not played in the Prem.

In theory they should be a bit better, but I dont see any guarantees. The biggest problem they have is keeping belief in ETH when they go through a bad patch of results which will happen.

We have experienced everything they have over decades. The journey back is a long one.

That said we NEED a more competitive league, if it ends up us vs City about 20 points ahead then the League us effectively decided in the head to head games between us. We need a few more challengers.

Depends on what people mean when they say they think the Mancs will improve though.

I think they will improve enough to consolidate their upper midtable status rather than having to scrap for that status until late in the season.


I fully expect them to come sixth again though a bit easier than last season. If one of Arsenal, Spurs or Chelsea implode (and I have my eye on Conte having one of his second full season fall outs ) for some reason then the Mancs may be able to battle with that team for fifth.



That is about as good as I see it getting for them. Saying they are like how we were in our wilderness years is a decent comparison, though could also be said that their history is dotted with such periods and remove Busby and Ferguson and they have really only had two great managers (and as such only two great periods) in the past 70 or 80 years. Granted one of those managers lasted 25 or so years with them, but the myth of "The United Way" is really a modern thing and mostly build upon the Ferguson years imo. Slight tangent there but cest la vie.

[Pablo]

I am pretty sure if we go back 12 months most of you were all predicting the same. If not worse. Utd had just finished second. Signed. Sancho. Signed Varane. Ronaldo incoming.

They still have a bloated and inbalanced squad. Some massive ticket players now know they are not ETH players. They have not resolved central midfield. They are bringing in players who have not played in the Prem.

In theory they should be a bit better, but I dont see any guarantees. The biggest problem they have is keeping belief in ETH when they go through a bad patch of results which will happen.

We have experienced everything they have over decades. The journey back is a long one.

That said we NEED a more competitive league, if it ends up us vs City about 20 points ahead then the League us effectively decided in the head to head games between us. We need a few more challengers.

Agree. Their signings are daft and not very well thought out:

- A left-back when they already have a decent left-back
- A 5ft 9in CB who might not even start at CB
- A very good player in Erikssen but no clear idea on where he actually fits in the team.

I think they might do better (not a high bar), but they still look disjointed in philosophy to me and a bit of a mess.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Agree. Their signings are daft and not very well thought out:

- A left-back when they already have a decent left-back
- A 5ft 9in CB who might not even start at CB
- A very good player in Erikssen but no clear idea on where he actually fits in the team.

I think they might do better (not a high bar), but they still look disjointed in philosophy to me and a bit of a mess.

Their signings are plain odd.

Eriksen I think they did not need at all because they already have two or three players that play in the same role.

The leftback..well fair enough on that one if he is a genuine upgrade but was not where they needed to vastly improve at the back.


Martinez is an odd one. Only thing I can think off is they are considering going three at the back or are planning to use him as a DM or some sort of DM/sweeper hybrid. Him and Maguire at the back might be fun to watch in a league that has lot of tall strong strikers who are also mobile and quick.



Would have thought that they needed a DM, CM, CB (to replace Maguire) and RB before looking at other positions.

Could argue they need a striker too but they probably have enough in attack to get by if they sorted their problem positions first.

Might need a keeper within a season as well.

Despite all that it is not a bad squad, by midtable standards of course, and if they could get a consistent style of play other than being ****, then sixth place is there for them to keep.

[frank the tank]

The league isn't that strong. I think they will get somewhere between 3rd and 5th next year.

Erik will then be hailed as a genius and they will back him to the hilt. The likes of Ferdinand and Neville will be on the tele going on about how promising they are.... And this is where the real big test will be.

[Doc_Piptorious]

The league isn't that strong. I think they will get somewhere between 3rd and 5th next year.

Erik will then be hailed as a genius and they will back him to the hilt. The likes of Ferdinand and Neville will be on the tele going on about how promising they are.... And this is where the real big test will be.

That clown is already at it with the "we're back" type rubbish

[Le Chef]

Both Martial and Rashford will have had a full pre season, some pace up front, Erickson I don't get, especially if the go for deJong as well. McFred in the middle ?

Its pre season and he's gone really strong so far which means not everyone is getting enough game time, which will lave a few playing catch up.

Still short a mobile number 9, RB and DM just to come somewhere near.
Plus, how long before the leaks start coming again the moment they hit a rough patch, he's had a good few years with Ajax but this is a whole new level.

They will back him, but for how long ?

[Pablo]

Both Martial and Rashford will have had a full pre season, some pace up front, Erickson I don't get, especially if the go for deJong as well. McFred in the middle ?

Its pre season and he's gone really strong so far which means not everyone is getting enough game time, which will lave a few playing catch up.

Still short a mobile number 9, RB and DM just to come somewhere near.
Plus, how long before the leaks start coming again the moment they hit a rough patch, he's had a good few years with Ajax but this is a whole new level.

They will back him, but for how long ?

This bit in bold is already a stretch and sounds like a United fan trying to convince themselves they're back

I've found the full strength pre-season friendly line-ups amusing , he's clearly desperate to build up some belief before the season starts

[danperkins]

They've done well in preseason so far but they also have started with a full side in every game and gone from 45-65 mins with that side. I can see why Hag is doing it in fairness, to build confidence and get some wins under his belt but many United fans "once again" think their back. I think they will improve on their finish from last season but unfortunately for them Chelsea, Spurs & Arsenal have also strengthened.

[Irishnev]

They've done well in preseason so far but they also have started with a full side in every game and gone from 45-65 mins with that side. I can see why Hag is doing it in fairness, to build confidence and get some wins under his belt but many United fans "once again" think their back. I think they will improve on their finish from last season but unfortunately for them Chelsea, Spurs & Arsenal have also strengthened.

I love it Dan - nothing like a crash down to earth when the season kicks off. All this “my manager” bull**** because he shouted at some guy and ensured they turned up on time ffs

I’m sure they’ll do better than this season because one if the biggest problems (Pogba) is gone

[Buzzo]

I am loving this sort of chat from Martinez.

[ame]https://twitter.com/UtdFaithfuls/status/1548676640812802048[/ame]

[Buzzo]

[ame]https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1549016637407387650[/ame]

[ChesterDave]

I am loving this sort of chat from Martinez.

https://twitter.com/UtdFaithfuls/sta...76640812802048

Stepping over dead bodies is easy. Its the killing that's the hard part

[rudedog]

I think he will be stepping under the dead bodies

[Exiled_red]

He'll be playing alongside Maguire who will be playing like a dead body, so could be a useful skill

[danperkins]

I love it Dan - nothing like a crash down to earth when the season kicks off. All this “my manager” bull**** because he shouted at some guy and ensured they turned up on time ffs

I’m sure they’ll do better than this season because one if the biggest problems (Pogba) is gone

This is true.

I think they will have a bit more togetherness this season, their work rate has to improve and it seems Hag is working them hard to address that. It's funny because my manc mates are a little bit cocky now, their still keeping it a bit quiet but their are absolutely bursting to say "WE'RE BACK!!!!". If they win their first few games they won't be able to hide it anymore. Also the pre season king Anto Martial is apparently reborn for the 25th time under yet another new manager.