Football 2013-2014

[thetime]

As expected united got beat, nothing to report here.

[zahidf]

#MOYESIN

Rafael was a definite redcard.

[strummer77]

I'm dead worried Moyes is getting himself sacked soon.

[Bobs]

I'm dead worried Moyes is getting himself sacked soon.

[LondonTom]

#MoyesIn

Its the only thing I have to be happy with Football this weekend

[TheGayTent]

Cabaye's really overrated isn't he

[kaosmark2]

I don't know. I do know playing well for one half against a team in the bottom 3 isn't much of a guide though.

[TheGayTent]

7 goals and 4 assists in 16 starts this season though. Not a bad return.

[kaosmark2]

It's a better guide than 45 mins against West Ham.

[pink_triangle]

As expected united got beat, nothing to report here.

[pink_triangle]

I don't know. I do know playing well for one half against a team in the bottom 3 isn't much of a guide though.

Should have been out of sight by half time. Though, have to say, even I had a shred of sympathy for the fat hoofball merchant yesterday.

[TheGayTent]

February looks huge for you, Swansea, Southampton, Norwich (h), villa (a). Looks like the perfect fixtures to move up the league.

[eFestivals]

As expected united got beat, nothing to report here.

Defo no shame losing to The Boring One at the bridge, but all the same i've gotta say it.

#MoyesIn

I'm dead worried Moyes is getting himself sacked soon.

[5co77ie]

Hoping for a win tonight to put us above our neighbours for a week at least , and the dizzy heights of fourth post new year!

Also hoping for Traore signing to happen before we meet the neighbours - he looks a good foil for Lakuka

Edited January 20, 2014 by 5co77ie

[kaosmark2]

I don't think there's any likelihood of Moyes getting sacked mid-season. If they do that, how are they going to attract a better manager? They're not spending huge amounts and it suggests impulsiveness. They'll be a lot greater move of managers in the summer after the world cup and I think that would then look more like an appealing challenge.

And as I've said a number of times before, Moyes has been dealt a crap hand by Fergie.

[eFestivals]

I don't think there's any likelihood of Moyes getting sacked mid-season. If they do that, how are they going to attract a better manager? They're not spending huge amounts and it suggests impulsiveness. They'll be a lot greater move of managers in the summer after the world cup and I think that would then look more like an appealing challenge.

And as I've said a number of times before, Moyes has been dealt a crap hand by Fergie.

I can't see how Utd can avoid having to spend a fortune to turn themselves around. The real question is: do they have a fortune to spend?

The Fatboy has just gone out on loan. Loads of contracts are up in the summer. Rooney wants out in the summer. Moyes had Nani sign a new contract, but apparently wants shot of him. Etc, etc, etc. Many for no money, others for peanuts, there's not much income from that.

The ones Utd will be left with are Jones, Smalling, Young, Cleverley. Oh dear.

Moyes was defo dealt a crap hand by fergie, but even so he's had those players perform worse. He's not blameless.

[kaosmark2]

I can't see how Utd can avoid having to spend a fortune to turn themselves around. The real question is: do they have a fortune to spend?

The Fatboy has just gone out on loan. Loads of contracts are up in the summer. Rooney wants out in the summer. Moyes had Nani sign a new contract, but apparently wants shot of him. Etc, etc, etc. Many for no money, others for peanuts, there's not much income from that.

The ones Utd will be left with are Jones, Smalling, Young, Cleverley. Oh dear.

Moyes was defo dealt a crap hand by fergie, but even so he's had those players perform worse. He's not blameless.

[eFestivals]

Vidic (who's still their best CB despite his idiocy yesterday)

his contract is up in the summer, and his agent says he's off.

Also, a lot of the contracts that are up in the summer are for players on big money they need rid of (Rio). It'll free more up in terms of a wage budget.

yep, but if they don't make top 4 they've firstly got to buy the players that will be good enough to get them back in contention, which means lots of over-paying in wages and probably prices too.

As I see it though, for a real crack at the top 4 next season they need to keep one of RVP or Rooney to show they've still got a world-class talent and play Kagawa behind them, get Vidic to stay one more year, buy a young CB to play alongside him, and get another midfielder or two in. I don't think they need to spend City/Chavski degrees of money, but they definitely need to spend, spend big, and spend well.

Judging by how Spurs went this summer - with players that were generally considered good buys - I'd say Utd need £150M+ to spend, as well as a massive dose of luck (not something Moyes is well known for when spending big money).

[kaosmark2]

his contract is up in the summer, and his agent says he's off.

[eFestivals]

I agree they'll need to overpay per player, but I don't think you can cite Spurs as an example. Soldado and Lamela are the only real failures so far and the latter could well come good.

so what you're saying is that there's around a 50% success rate with big transfers from a weak position. I agree, which is why things aren't going to be so easy for Utd.

As for Lamela, it's not looking likely he'll come good. Indications are that he'll be off before the end of the month.

The problem is that whoever made the transfers just bought lots of players...

It's more than just that.

Another problem is that when buying big from the weak-ish position that Spurs are in compared to those who can offer CL footie is that you have to take a gamble on players, buying players who are not almost-certain successes. And because of that you by-nature end up with quite a high failure rate from them.

Also Spurs freed up a LOT in wages.

Did they really? Or did they have to be offering those they bought in big wages too - especially as they can't offer CL footie?

But whatever, it's pretty much small-fry in the scheme of things. Perhaps they've freed up £10M p.a. in wages, but that's proportionally pretty meaningless against a £100M+ spend.

Spurs themselves were pretty comfortable with making that big spend because they'd just hugely profited on a player. It's all going to be feeling far more risky for Utd.

Edited January 20, 2014 by eFestivals

[thetime]

Blimey are united in the relegation zone?

Did you 2 actually watch the game? The only ingredient missing was we had no firepower, other than that we were a match for Chelsea.

Get RVP/Rooney back and sharpish we will make top 4.

[pink_triangle]

For all the problems at Man Utd their last 7 league games are won 5 lost 2, they carry that form over the rest of the season and they will have a large amount of losses but will be in contention for top 4. They dont seem to be drawing games and in a league with 1 ponint for a draw and 3 for a win, you can absorb losses.

Not looking great for Aldershot Neil, I though after having made the point deduction up, they would then pull away. Im starting to think that may not happen now.

[zahidf]

Blimey are united in the relegation zone?

Did you 2 actually watch the game? The only ingredient missing was we had no firepower, other than that we were a match for Chelsea.

Get RVP/Rooney back and sharpish we will make top 4.

[thetime]

Probably not that easy.

They are definitely not winning the league.

They are 6 points behind liverpool at the moment, ( an massively behind on goal difference) and anywwhere between 6-4 points behind Spurs and Everton ( Depending on how tonight goes)

So to be in top 4, they have to win two more games than Spurs, Everton and Liverpool. It's not completely unfeasible, but i would think it somewhat unlikely...

[kaosmark2]

so what you're saying is that there's around a 50% success rate with big transfers from a weak position. I agree, which is why things aren't going to be so easy for Utd.

As for Lamela, it's not looking likely he'll come good. Indications are that he'll be off before the end of the month.

It's more than just that.

Another problem is that when buying big from the weak-ish position that Spurs are in compared to those who can offer CL footie is that you have to take a gamble on players, buying players who are not almost-certain successes. And because of that you by-nature end up with quite a high failure rate from them.

Did they really? Or did they have to be offering those they bought in big wages too - especially as they can't offer CL footie?

But whatever, it's pretty much small-fry in the scheme of things. Perhaps they've freed up £10M p.a. in wages, but that's proportionally pretty meaningless against a £100M+ spend.

Spurs themselves were pretty comfortable with making that big spend because they'd just hugely profited on a player. It's all going to be feeling far more risky for Utd.