Why are we so negative?

[Elvoz]

Why didn't you reply to my question; instead you prefer to make petty remarks to suit your agenda.

I'm off; enjoy the bickering.

see ya fella

i find it disrespectful tbh to say shanks would be turning in his grave

[Guest]

see ya fella

i find it disrespectful tbh to say shanks would be turning in his grave

No it's not. It's the way some of you behave which is disrespectful.

1) towards the players and
2) towards what we are and the foundations our club has been built on

Football is not based on Cartesian rules. You can try to win games through sheer willpower and quality but you have to understand that small teams aren't that bad anymore and that the players and the manager are professional who are supposed to know their job more than you do.

Just stick to what you know best (or not). Support the team through thick and thin.

[Elvoz]

No it's not. It's the way some of you behave which is disrespectful.

1) towards the players and
2) towards what we are and the foundations our club has been built on

Football is not based on Cartesian rules. You can try to win games through sheer willpower and quality but you have to understand that small teams aren't that bad anymore and that the players and the manager are professional who are supposed to know their job more than you do.

Just stick to what you know best (or not). Support the team through thick and thin.

thanks for the advice - you will find i do

[Reece]

possibly, who knows - but imo, for us, playing for thre 4-5-1 with gerrard behind torres, works regardless of who it's against or at home or away, it's seems to be our best set up - take either gerrard or torres out of that, and we seem to struggle, which is fair enough, take gerrard/torres out of any team in the world and they would struggle

for me, we need to be able to adapt/change the set up if or when torres/gerrard are not available cause kuyt/babel/keane/ngog can't play the lone striker role at all to any effect. - i just don't see why don't play 4-4-2 at home

Can't disagree with any of that Mike

[PTP]

I just think this is rubbish. It does require other players to help out but you can be a successful loan striker without being a world class talent. Keane and Kuyt both require people running past them from midfield - I largely blame the midfield for our impotence at times when they are up front.

The argument for switching formation sooner is in many ways sound. I'm not sure that it is a great formation against the packed defense unless we have a target man.

ok fair enouugh but you see the point, maybe being a world class superstar is going a bit ott, but it has to be a certain type of player in that role - i do think that the 4-5-1 formation is our best formation i do - but i don't think keane/babel/kuyt can play the role as the lone striker, regardless of the support from midfield - i totally agree you want the wide men to help out more, maybe gerrard to push on more etc, - but the majore problem on saturday was the ball just did not stick up front, kuyt had a mare, his first touch was poor imo i just feel that without torres there, we should have any two out of those three playing up top together.

[Shaggy]

I think our conduct as a collective during this title challenge has been ****ing embarrassing, and it's solely down to inexperience and sheer desperation. Booing at Anfield, forums in meltdown after we draw...it's a shambles but I suppose it highlights just how long it's been - some young adults have never seen us win the league so maybe I shouldn't be surprised. We need to start being positive, have some belief and most of all try to enjoy it - this time last year (and the year before, and the year before, and the year before...you get the idea) we were out of the running.

[bobbyfallon]

3-5-2

its the future

[red g]

I think our conduct as a collective during this title challenge has been ****ing embarrassing, and it's solely down to inexperience and sheer desperation. Booing at Anfield, forums in meltdown after we draw...it's a shambles but I suppose it highlights just how long it's been - some young adults have never seen us win the league so maybe I shouldn't be surprised. We need to start being positive, have some belief and most of all try to enjoy it - this time last year (and the year before, and the year before, and the year before...you get the idea) we were out of the running.

[Harv]

3-5-2

its the future

Just need a more attacking RWB. Arby isnt good enough to play as one unfortunately. Rafinha would be quality.

In that formation everyone will be in their proper possies. Solid at the back, and potent up front with Torres, Keane and Stevie

[Kenneth]

Why didn't you reply to my question; instead you prefer to make petty remarks to suit your agenda.

I'm off; enjoy the bickering.

With you off, there doesn't seem to be any.

[Elvoz]

With you off, there doesn't seem to be any.

i agree

maybe im being petty but i hate all the shanks turning in his grave nonsense

am i right or am i right

[dww]

ok fair enouugh but you see the point, maybe being a world class superstar is going a bit ott, but it has to be a certain type of player in that role - i do think that the 4-5-1 formation is our best formation i do - but i don't think keane/babel/kuyt can play the role as the lone striker, regardless of the support from midfield - i totally agree you want the wide men to help out more, maybe gerrard to push on more etc, - but the majore problem on saturday was the ball just did not stick up front, kuyt had a mare, his first touch was poor imo i just feel that without torres there, we should have any two out of those three playing up top together.

I disagree with that. I do think that we might have to think about who we play behind Kuyt/Keane more in that we need both wide players to get close to and past them at times. I'm not a big fan of his but it is likely that Babel rather than Riera would be a better choice. I think the thing is that while not ideal Kuyt is very good at holding up the ball if he has clear ideas of what he can do with it next. That means he needs options close to him. There is no need for it to be a forward (which I actually think in general helps very little as the option is always obvious and easily dealt with).

I think that two up front should be looked at but unless there is a specific weakness to be exploited I think it has to be plan B. We do however need to refine our plan A - I would suggest that as much as the problem is holding the ball up it is a lack of fear in the opposition created by a lack of killer instinct. If any of the three - Kuyt, Keane or Babel can hit scoring form in a central position I think it will have a knock on effect on the rest of the team. We are making decent numbers of chances.

3-5-2

its the future

Burn heretic, burn.

[dww]

I think our conduct as a collective during this title challenge has been ****ing embarrassing, and it's solely down to inexperience and sheer desperation. Booing at Anfield, forums in meltdown after we draw...it's a shambles but I suppose it highlights just how long it's been - some young adults have never seen us win the league so maybe I shouldn't be surprised. We need to start being positive, have some belief and most of all try to enjoy it - this time last year (and the year before, and the year before, and the year before...you get the idea) we were out of the running.

[PTP]

I think our conduct as a collective during this title challenge has been ****ing embarrassing, and it's solely down to inexperience and sheer desperation. Booing at Anfield, forums in meltdown after we draw...it's a shambles but I suppose it highlights just how long it's been - some young adults have never seen us win the league so maybe I shouldn't be surprised. We need to start being positive, have some belief and most of all try to enjoy it - this time last year (and the year before, and the year before, and the year before...you get the idea) we were out of the running.

aye - i do think a lot of this comes down to nerves, we have a real chance so people want us to win every game cause we don't want to throw away this chance!

but....i don't think it's fair that the blame is pointed at young adults who may not have been around when we last won the league, a lot of the slagging off at the games that i hear comes from 50yr old fellas who have been season ticket holders for 25 years - the majority of the younger adults that i see at the game seem more privilaged to be the fair, make the most of it by getting there earlier, have a few beers, and enjoying it. i'd say it's the majority of the old arses that moan!

[Shaggy]

aye - i do think a lot of this comes down to nerves, we have a real chance so people want us to win every game cause we don't want to throw away this chance!

but....i don't think it's fair that the blame is pointed at young adults who may not have been around when we last won the league, a lot of the slagging off at the games that i hear comes from 50yr old fellas who have been season ticket holders for 25 years - the majority of the younger adults that i see at the game seem more privilaged to be the fair, make the most of it by getting there earlier, have a few beers, and enjoying it. i'd say it's the majority of the old arses that moan!

Oh I didn't mean to lay the blame squarely at the feet of the young uns, not at all. 18 years is a long time in anyone's book. I hate to say it but I do know some Mancs are laughing at us, what with all the bickering, in-fighting and booing. We're acting like a bunch of desperado losers. We need to have a touch of confidence about us, a bit more swagger.