Football Thread 2018 | August | How Much Dead Wood Could Woodward Chuck If Woodward Could Chuck Dead Wood?

Put all that approach/mentality and man management/ workings shit to the side for a minute

He can't even coach the team. The actual football bit. He can't get his team to construct attacks or defend properly.

The man is finished. It happens.

is the madrid - barca situation back then really that much different to the city - united situation now?

by your accounts, this should again be the "perfect storm" for mourinho do his work in.

whether you can call united the "underdog" or not, the fact of the matter is that they're going up against the best english side since arsene's invincibles.

shouldn't he be thriving under these circumstances?

Looking from outside it does seem like Utd have got themselves in is a real mess.

At the end of the season it was clear to see that despite coming 2nd Utd really needed to spend big to get close to City. But Woodward had such little confidence in the opinions of Mourinho and his scouting staff that he apparently told reporters he didn't think the targets he was given were better than the players they currently had. Looking at the business Utd has been done since Fergie left and its clear to see why Woodward and the Glazers would were not so keen to splash the cash big this summer.

These are Utds most expensive signings post Fergie on Transfermarkt:
Paul Pogba - £94.50m - OK
Lukaku - £76m - GOOD SIGNING
Angel Di Maria - £67m - FLOP
Anthony Martial - £54m - FLOP
Fred - £53m - Too early to say
Juan Mata - £40m - OK
Matic - £38m - OK
Miki - £37m - FLOP
Eric Bailly - £34.2m - OK
Luke Shaw - £34m - FLOP
Herera - £32.4m - OK
Schneiderlin - £32m - FLOP
Lindelof - £32m - FLOP
Depay - £31m - FLOP
Fellaini - £29m - GOOD SIGNING
Sanchez - EDIT: Swapped for Mkhitarian - FLOP


Thats way over half a billion Brexits and for that amount of money you should be expecting more. Really the powers that be at Utd should have identified their poor record with recruitment and either brought in a director of football or revamped their scouting department way before this transfer window ended. Mourninho was not backed and he is clearly not happy. The players don't look happy. The fans are not happy. Not a good place to be 2 games into the start of the season.

Fellaini - £29m - GOOD SIGNING






shanks, do your job and ban this man.

Ive watched two games with Fred and though ill give him time I have absolutely no idea what he does in the team, he doesn't pass well, he loses under pressure, hes small so physically hes getting bullied and he doesnt appear to have good positioning or link up the attack.

Sanchez wasn't free, he was swapped with Mikhi

United need a new manager?

Where is pepe mel

By Grizzled Cola Go To PostIve watched two games with Fred and though ill give him time I have absolutely no idea what he does in the team, he doesn't pass well, he loses under pressure, hes small so physically hes getting bullied and he doesnt appear to have good positioning or link up the attack.

I've watched both matches and I don't even remember him touching the ball.

By Flutter Go To PostSeriously doubt we can defeat Spurs with the state of United's right side crisis.

Last season we lost the game on a goal kick, we will find a way to lose.

By bud Go To Postis the madrid - barca situation back then really that much different to the city - united situation now?

by your accounts, this should again be the "perfect storm" for mourinho do his work in.

whether you can call united the "underdog" or not, the fact of the matter is that they're going up against the best english side since arsene's invincibles.

shouldn't he be thriving under these circumstances?

City aren’t being called the best team ever ever ever. Even though they’re very much favourites, they aren’t being deified the way Pep’s Barca were. There’s also the small matter of five clubs ostensibly challenging City rather than the one against Barca.

edit: i also think united’s side of 2007-09 was better than the invincibles. Don’t @ me.

By FortuneFaded Go To PostI've watched both matches and I don't even remember him touching the ball.

He touches it, passes backwards or sideways or miscontrolls it and loses it, absolutely anonymous. Now im willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that hes new and also this is what hes been told to do, I just do not understand what value he offers yet or what his point is.

By FortuneFaded Go To PostSanchez wasn't free, he was swapped with Mikhi

Cheers I will edit that.

By Dan Go To PostIncredible.

its tc91

incredible

By n8 dogg Go To PostI’ve said it before, but I think Mou’s methods work best when he’s an underdog. He exhausts shit anyway, but in the past:

- Porto. Obviously not underdogs in the league but so far beyond everyone it didn’t matter. Massive underdogs in the CL.
- Chelsea. New kids on the block with an upstart attitude and a point to prove. Then the challenge of doing it again. Wheels came off when they were established favourites and winners.
- Inter. Came up against a really strong Milan side, of which they were probably joint favourites with in the wake of Calciopoli. Again, big underdogs in the CL.
- Madrid. They were up against a team lauded as the best there has ever been. No brainer.
- Chelsea again. In the post-Ferguson era, no team has been able to dominate, but after his first season the expectation was that City would continue scoring bucketloads under Pellegrini and Liverpool would only improve under Rodgers. He made some smart buys and won the title so definitively that they were clear favourites the year after.

Part of the issue is that he will treat these stars and winners, once they have done so, as if they still have a point to prove and he will do so in a negative way. Instead of Pep-style “let’s improve upon last year”, it seems to be more “you think you’re hot shit”.

This does not work at United; we are never going to be underdogs because of our wealth, our size, our history. Inter were far from the biggest club in Italy. Madrid, while not necessarily underdogs in almost every other circumstance, had the perfect storm for him to engineer his methods in.

United are the biggest club in the country. We may not be favourites, but we are never underdogs. This was part of Moyes’ failing; managing the club like he was still at Everton. Mourinho is applying tactics to us that worked at other clubs; they will not work here.

If Pep was in charge of this squad, he’d fashion something out of it. Maybe he wouldn’t play the likes of Lukaku (and that sucks for me because he’s my favourite current player), but he’d be instilling this squad with self-belief, telling Shaw he can fucking make it, telling Pogba he’s a once-in-a-lifetime talent, giving Martial and Rashford the keys to the kingdom. Mourinho’s siege mentality, burn everything down for results methods do not work in the context of the club.

Good point but I would say we are in a similar situation to what Real were when he was there. We are no underdog in other matters but compared to City from a financial pov and the quality pov we are certainly underdogs.

We are not underdogs to City from a financial POV, lol. Maybe if Woodward stops sucking off the financial intake every time we hear something he says, I’ll start believing that.

We've still "only" paid £30m for Martial.

Not bad, tbh.

This is for you father noal

By n8 dogg Go To PostWe are not underdogs to City from a financial POV, lol. Maybe if Woodward stops sucking off the financial intake every time we hear something he says, I’ll start believing that.

we cannot afford to spend 200 mil every transfer window like City did for past decade.

By Officer_lool Go To PostWe're hitting relegation form?

ITS THE 2ND GAME OF THE SEASON FFS!!!

After a season where we finished 2nd and at 81 pts.

Stop with these hyperbolic statements. Pls.

I never said we're in relegation form. I said if we hit that sort of form that's when Woodward will pull the trigger.

But that's not good enough either. Mourinho has shown that he's not capable of coaching the side properly. I wouldn't have had a problem if he was sacked in the summer. The football is stone aged compared to City and Liverpool despite having players just as talented. Instead of trying to improve our side he'd rather sell our most talented players because he doesn't know how to get the best out of them.

Btw Pogbas post match interview just popped up on my timeline. In 40 seconds he took 3 shots at Mourinho

"They were better prepared than us"

"They tried to press and things like this".

"We didn't have the attitude to kill them, to go through the lines when we had to - we have to learn that"

#pogfeelings

—————-— Lukaku —————-
Lingard —————-——-—- Sanchez
———-———- Pogba ——————
————- Fred — Pereira ——-
Shaw — Bailly — Lindelof — New RB
—————-— De Gea ——————-

By n8 dogg Go To PostCity aren’t being called the best team ever ever ever. Even though they’re very much favourites, they aren’t being deified the way Pep’s Barca were. There’s also the small matter of five clubs ostensibly challenging City rather than the one against Barca.

edit: i also think united’s side of 2007-09 was better than the invincibles. Don’t @ me.

why should it matter how they're defined? not being seen as the best team ever doesn't take away from the fact they're a step above and beyond any other team in the league, and the clear favorites to win it. it would be an upset if any other club were to win it. which, again, gives mourinho his underdog position in which he supposedly thrives in.

he just doesn't have it anymore. there's not much more to it.

nate, i have to tell you something: many of the stars we see in the sky today, exploded a very long time ago...

By Cleff Go To PostI never said we're in relegation form. I said if we hit that sort of form that's when Woodward will pull the trigger.

But that's not good enough either. Mourinho has shown that he's not capable of coaching the side properly. I wouldn't have had a problem if he was sacked in the summer. The football is stone aged compared to City and Liverpool despite having players just as talented. Instead of trying to improve our side he'd rather sell our most talented players because he doesn't know how to get the best out of them.

But we also have players like Lukaku and Lingaard who have improved so much since start of last season.

Maybe its also the players responsibility to take it upon themselves to improve rather than sulking and hiding at every moment when going gets tough.

I like how Mou has made it all about himself that even after such a terrible performances the players are not being questioned. Just like he planned and just what SAF used to do.

By Vivalapizza Go To PostBtw Pogbas post match interview just popped up on my timeline. In 40 seconds he took 3 shots at Mourinho

"They were better prepared than us"

"They tried to press and things like this".

"We didn't have the attitude to kill them, to go through the lines when we had to - we have to learn that"

#pogfeelings

Yeah I think it's being underplayed how much of what he said were straight jabs at Mou.

By Vivalapizza Go To PostBtw Pogbas post match interview just popped up on my timeline. In 40 seconds he took 3 shots at Mourinho

"They were better prepared than us"

"They tried to press and things like this".

"We didn't have the attitude to kill them, to go through the lines when we had to - we have to learn that"

#pogfeelings

If its not been learned in 2 years its clear its not in the plan, no-one presses in our team, it is just not how we play, we let teams do whatever they want most games and our midfield is never trustworthy enough to hold possession nor is there any movement to give men options.

Is it time to give Lee Grant a go?

Giggseh's time t shine

By bud Go To PostFellaini - £29m - GOOD SIGNING






shanks, do your job and ban this man.

He's saved your butts more times than I can count.
Big Fella is an United Legend and you know it.

Got a 4 hour exam today so I'll be missing the Liverpool game.

By Officer_lool Go To Postwe cannot afford to spend 200 mil every transfer window like City did for past decade.

2018 - Utd £75m, City £60m
2017 - Utd £140m (excludes Sanchez), City £250m
2016 - Utd £150m, City £160m
2015 - Utd £105m, City £150m
2014 - Utd £150m, City £85m
2013 - Utd £65m, City £90m

Do they spend more than us? Yes. Do they spend so much more than us that they are financial overlords comparatively? No.

By Vivalapizza Go To PostBtw Pogbas post match interview just popped up on my timeline. In 40 seconds he took 3 shots at Mourinho

"They were better prepared than us"

"They tried to press and things like this".

"We didn't have the attitude to kill them, to go through the lines when we had to - we have to learn that"

#pogfeelings

And none of that is the players fault? I mean he also did mention a few times that he himself was at fault but you assume those are digs at Mou... I guess you would make a great editor for a tabloid.

Where does Matic play in that defence n8

Please say it’s in the middle. If he’s injured they could swap him for one of those giant BT wi-fi screens

By Officer_lool Go To PostAnd none of that is the players fault? I mean he also did mention a few times that he himself was at fault but you assume those are digs at Mou… I guess you would make a great editor for a tabloid.

We've lost you

Your soul belongs to Mourinho

It's fine. He'll be gone soon and we'll all be together again

By n8 dogg Go To Post2018 - Utd £75m, City £60m
2017 - Utd £140m (excludes Sanchez), City £250m
2016 - Utd £150m, City £160m
2015 - Utd £105m, City £150m
2014 - Utd £150m, City £85m
2013 - Utd £65m, City £90m

Do they spend more than us? Yes. Do they spend so much more than us that they are financial overlords comparatively? No.

But city have been buying bloody defenders and backup options for that amount of cash. We are buying first team players.

By FortuneFaded Go To PostGot a 4 hour exam today so I'll be missing the Liverpool game.

It will be a dull 0-0 affair either way.

By Lupercal Go To PostHe's saved your butts more times than I can count.
Big Fella is an United Legend and you know it.

i'm honoured he's playing for us but i'm not impressed by his performances

Poch to Utd. Dyche to Totnum.

By Bungie Go To PostWhere does Matic play in that defence n8

Please say it’s in the middle. If he’s injured they could swap him for one of those giant BT wi-fi screens

Totally Pogba's fault

Not like he just won World Cup or anything

By Auto Simeone Go To PostTotally Pogba's fault

Not like he just won World Cup or anything

He was away from Mou though.

By Vivalapizza Go To PostWe've lost you

Your soul belongs to Mourinho

It's fine. He'll be gone soon and we'll all be together again

All I am saying is that we - as in all the supporters - need to be positive and get behind the team and manager. Its 2nd game of the season and nothing is lost yet. Booing and dissing the manager will only create a toxic atmosphere like we saw at Arsenal and nothing gained by that.

Give Mou some slack
He has brought good players for us
He has brought regular UCL for us
He made us finish 2nd last season and we would have really run the champions close had they not had a record breaking season.

Whatever he does.. it seems to work. Give him 10 15 games this season atleast before crucifying him.

Oh look. We've already discarded the idea of a DoF. Woodward wants the last call on players so any thoughts of a coherent, long term strategy is out the window. Probably still would've been even with a DoF. The idea was always window dressing.

By Bungie Go To PostWhere does Matic play in that defence n8

Please say it’s in the middle. If he’s injured they could swap him for one of those giant BT wi-fi screens

Centre innit. Be that sweeper fam.

By Officer_lool Go To PostBut city have been buying bloody defenders and backup options for that amount of cash. We are buying first team players.

my breh, we bought schneiderlin and depay and micky for 30m each and shifted them all quickly. Di maria was 60m. Bailly and lindelof, two mourinho signings which he’s already given up on coaching, were 25-30m each.

City, for all their cash, still have Aguero, Kompany and Silva as key parts of their team from 8/9 years ago because they have bought sensibly and well. Walker has become a top class RB. Sterling scores 20 a season. De Bruyne is one of the best midfielders in the world. Mendy has got three assists already. They coach players, irrespective of their fees.

By Officer_lool Go To PostAll I am saying is that we - as in all the supporters - need to be positive and get behind the team and manager. Its 2nd game of the season and nothing is lost yet. Booing and dissing the manager will only create a toxic atmosphere like we saw at Arsenal and nothing gained by that.

Give Mou some slack
He has brought good players for us
He has brought regular UCL for us
He made us finish 2nd last season and we would have really run the champions close had they not had a record breaking season.

Whatever he does.. it seems to work. Give him 10 15 games this season atleast before crucifying him.

What about the current situation is working

Last season did not work, it was a failure

I'm not getting behind him he's an utter cunt. YOU CANT MAKE ME.

By Cleff Go To PostOh look. We've already discarded the idea of a DoF. Woodward wants the last call on players so any thoughts of a coherent, long term strategy is out the window. Probably still would've been even with a DoF. The idea was always window dressing.

Things will get worse before they get better. It's a blanket statement, but there's no other way round it. The club is in total disarray from top to bottom.

Heading straight down the Liverpool tunnel post-Dalglish.

United's only current "positive" is their business dealings and its various sponsorship deals. Money in the bank.

Maybe i am just an optimistic fool. But i dont think all is lost. I still remember the horror of watching Moyes ball and 80 crosses against Fulham and I still remember literally falling asleep watching LVG ball. Compared to those days I will take Mou and Mou ball any day of the week and will atleast give him 10 games to decide whether his time is up or not. Some of you have already decided that he is to blame for everything including the plague.

By Francis Go To PostUnited's only current "positive" is their business dealings and its various sponsorship deals. Money in the bank.

I mean it's not like we finished 2nd just last season yet it's all doom and gloom for you all and teams who placed lower than us and had worse years are still more optimistic and happy I mean even Arsenal fans are more optimistic than you all.

By Officer_lool Go To PostI mean it's not like we finished 2nd just last season yet it's all doom and gloom for you all and teams who placed lower than us and had worse years are still more optimistic and happy I mean even Arsenal fans are more optimistic than you all.

have you seen guendouzi?

https://twitter.com/MUFCScoop/status/1031231619246575616?s=19

Omg look at that Pogba taking digs at Mourinhio.

By Officer_lool Go To PostI mean it's not like we finished 2nd just last season yet it's all doom and gloom for you all and teams who placed lower than us and had worse years are still more optimistic and happy I mean even Arsenal fans are more optimistic than you all.

I get where you're coming from, I really do - and I agree with you in regards to José when compared to LVG/Moyes.

But the reality is we finished 19 points behind City and were closer to Arsenal in 6th place. Our league season hinged on the opening fixtures where the team steamrolled opponents to gain an early advantage, and a world class goalkeeper during the rest. The truth is that we were tremendously lucky to even finish 2nd.

Officer_pool is basically that Arsenal fan in the time of Wengers struggles that left that i dont even remember the name that kept defending him even thought it was clear he was finished

at least he is educated and can argue without being a massive piece of shit so fair play m8