Football 2013-2014

[The Nal]

Utd holding out for a capitulation from LFC in order to finish 4th no less.

The legacy of Ferguson right there. A mess.

Edited February 3, 2014 by The Nal

[DomDom1984]

Given that Fergie is the best manager of my lifetime, it's no surprise that the squad are doing significantly worse than they did last season.

[pink_triangle]

Given that Fergie is the best manager of my lifetime, it's no surprise that the squad are doing significantly worse than they did last season.

[zahidf]

good article. Man Utd , so far, rank 20th at attacking moves through the central channel. and 'This season Manchester United’s entire complement of natural central midfielders have contributed one goal and one assist'

http://strettynews.com/a-new-unacceptable-low/

[eFestivals]

Because of the things that you mentioned above. Changing all the coaching staff and rebuilding a team (particularly midfield and defence) takes time. He'll get time. And rightly so. Just as Fergie did. And just as Rodgers did.

Rodgers is building a team only upwards, and the progression has been clear to see.

It's completely unlike Moyes, who has smashed to pieces what was meant to be a top-level set-up, and the result has been downwards.

I'm not convinced they should sack Moyes because anyone they get (no matter how big their rep) is not guaranteed to do better, but at the same time it's difficult to see what Moyes has got that makes him worth sticking with.

In general terms, fans of any club asking for a manager to be sacked after anything less than one season (and theres a lot of Utd fans doing it now) show a lack of basic football understanding.

But Utd aren't a "general terms" club. If Real Madrid or Barca appointed a manger who took them from champions to (say) 6th in one season without there having been major changes to the squad, I'm pretty sure they'd be sacked.

A dip is understandable. A Utd-style slump is much harder to justify.

And its not an excuse because theres a big squad there, but Utd have been very unlucky with injuries this season which hasn't helped.

I'm pretty sure that Arsenal have been at least doubly-as-unlucky for the past 5 seasons if not longer, and I reckon L'pool have as much right to complain about the effects of injuries (the entire back line, and Lucas) .... so while it's of course affected things at Utd, it's not anything significant enough overall to be put out there as much of an excuse.

Mostly in recent seasons Utd fans have been crowing about just how good their back-up strikers were.

Edited February 3, 2014 by eFestivals

[The Nal]

Mostly in recent seasons Utd fans have been crowing about just how good their back-up strikers were.

[eFestivals]

Errr..... yeah.....

Did you see Welbeck's "contribution yesterday?

50 minutes he was on for.

Fickle you lot are. Last week it was all about how he was fantastic scoring 5 in 5.

[DomDom1984]

I actually like Danny Welbeck. Makes for a decent squad player if you ask me. Not a starter by any stretch, but he's a goal threat.

[pink_triangle]

I personally find the successful passing percentage one of the most misleading statistics in football. As long as it gets to the intented player its counted as succesfull. No thought as to whether its too heavy,aimed at the players wrong foot or forces him to change direction to take the pass.

[eFestivals]

I personally find the successful passing percentage one of the most misleading statistics in football. As long as it gets to the intented player its counted as succesfull. No thought as to whether its too heavy,aimed at the players wrong foot or forces him to change direction to take the pass.

... or even whether the pass had any value to the team.

A player could have fantastic stats by always passing backwards. It doesn't mean they're any cop.

[DomDom1984]

Worth noting that Atletico Madrid have now taken the top position in La Liga after Barcelona dropped points against Valencia when they lost 3-2. Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Bilbao as well. Really intriguing stuff going on down there.

[kaosmark2]

A player could have fantastic stats by always passing backwards. It doesn't mean they're any cop.

[The Nal]

I personally find the successful passing percentage one of the most misleading statistics in football. As long as it gets to the intented player its counted as succesfull. No thought as to whether its too heavy,aimed at the players wrong foot or forces him to change direction to take the pass.

Edited February 3, 2014 by The Nal

[kaosmark2]

In regard to the whole Champions League thing, I think it's Liverpool's spot to lose, but I can see them losing it. The problem is I don't see any of the other teams being good enough to chase. I think Spurs have the best squad of the 4 teams, but the weakest 1st 11. All teams seem mentally fragile to me, except possibly Everton, but they're really lacking in squad depth. I think no matter what happens the teams that finish 5th and 6th will end up feeling it's their failure rather than the 4th place being that good.

Oh, and Neil, if you're up for it, I'll take the £5 charity bet as well I don't reckon BOTH Mersey teams will finish with 69+ points. I'm fairly sure one will but not both.

[eFestivals]

I think Spurs have the best squad of the 4 teams, but the weakest 1st 11.

I'd say they have the best players and the strongest squad ... but also the weakest team and worst manager.

I can't see them upping their game any more than I can see Utd upping t5heir game.

Edited February 3, 2014 by eFestivals

[eFestivals]

Oh, and Neil, if you're up for it, I'll take the £5 charity bet as well I don't reckon BOTH Mersey teams will finish with 69+ points. I'm fairly sure one will but not both.

Cool.

I'm not particularly confident that they will ... but i think it's far more likely than Utd getting 5th.

[kaosmark2]

I'd say they have the best players and the strongest squad ... but also the weakest team and worst manager.

I can't see them upping their game any more than I can see Utd upping t5heir game.

[eFestivals]

I reckon Spurs SHOULD be able to take advantage of any slips/injuries in Merseyside, but won't.

Nope. Just like Utd, they're a team that any decent team can tear thru.

Oh, and they have Dawson.

The players are more skilled than Utd's worst, but the tactics are more naive than Moyes and the club atmosphere doesn't suit many of them.

[DomDom1984]

Just a working theory really, but I get the sense that efests doesn't particularly like Man United.

[kaosmark2]

Just a working theory really, but I get the sense that efests doesn't particularly like Man United.

[DomDom1984]

I don't particularly care about United either way. The only English team I care about is Blackpool and that's only because I went there as a kid. There's people I don't like though. The likes of Terry, Mourinho, Wenger, Wilshere and Suarez ( off the top of my head ) are very hard not to have an opinion on because they're all such massive arseholes.

[The Nal]

Just a working theory really, but I get the sense that efests doesn't particularly like Man United.

[eFestivals]

Just a working theory really, but I get the sense that efests doesn't particularly like Man United.

I'm very much enjoying the best part of 20 years worth of arrogance turn round and bite them on the arse.

All of the things which are going to cripple Utd over the coming years are the exact same things which they forced onto football with the claim of it being good for the game.

They're just about to discover what they've really created. I've ordered pop-corn and everything.

[zahidf]

Where did you get that idea from?!

[DomDom1984]

As I've said, next season is the key. I didn't suggest that the team themselves just look to next season, but the supporters need to be prepared for the massive disappointment of getting absolutely nothing for their efforts this season, outside of a Europa League slot, and is that even certain?

Next season is the key and that's where we'll see exactly what Moyes is made of. He's made an arse of one summer transfer window. If he makes an arse of another one, then the questions can begin IMO. This season is going about how I expected it to go for them.