Zen86
Full Member
Off course. Anything is possible. You can be optimistic. But leicester never claimed that they're not actually that far off "the year before"
What are you talking about
Off course. Anything is possible. You can be optimistic. But leicester never claimed that they're not actually that far off "the year before"
We are Manchester United so there should be expections. And if you look at our squad squad and put some thought into why someone would feel 'we aren't that far off' then I have to say I agree with them. I've also given my reasons to why I agree with the OP.Off course. Anything is possible. You can be optimistic. But leicester never claimed that they're not actually that far off "the year before"
That was a footballing miracle. If we need a miracle we are far off.I don't think anyone will expect us to win the title next season. But Leicester won the title a season after nearly getting relegated. Was it Mahrez and Kante who made the difference?
What are you talking about
I'd rather we replace Martial as a starter and buy someone who has a different mentality even if he is less talented, who is prepared to be on it all game and every game not when it suits him. Even though a new DM would be ideal I think we will do well to go big on a Right Winger and Striker and continue with McTominay, Fred and Matic in midfield with Garner taking up a squad role, at least for the first half of the season. If we get Gimenez and Sancho we will surely create and score more goals whilst even after selling off Jones and Rojo we'd have enough depth at CB, we just need the manager to recognize that Lindelof brings nothing to his partnership with Maguire and go for Bailly or Tuanzebe as his primary partners.I honestly believe we are only 2/3 players away from our first proper title challenge since Sir Alex retired. Liverpool might be run away winners this season but there's been a lot of luck involved in their run this season and their overall performance level has been quite a step down from the previous 2 seasons. I can see them struggle next season, Klopp asks so much of the players every game and with this being their first title in so long I can see next season being somewhat of a hangover from this one. Who can forget Dortmund in the relegation zone not long after winning the title, the whole squad was burnt out and I think this Liverpool side will suffer the same fate.
Mourinho has ruined spurs, Arsenal are a laughing stock and Abramovich doesn't appear to be interested in spending big anymore. I think City could be our main danger but it all hinges on their ban appeal. If they're banned from the champions league for 2 seasons there's no way they'll get any top players in and will likely lose some.
------------------Martial-------------
Rashford----Bruno----New??--
--------New??---McTominay------
Shaw---Maguire--New??--Bissaka
Fill those gaps and we'll take some beating. Tuanzebe could possibly make the step up but the kids made of glass.
We are Manchester United so there should be expections. And if you look at our squad squad and put some thought into why someone would feel 'we aren't that far off' then I have to say I agree with them. I've also given my reasons to why I agree with the OP.
He did some good and some bad. Any enthusiasm for him must surely be tempered. It’s okay to change our minds about players, coaches, managers. Heck, Lingard looked promising for a while.So you think this season has negated everything Poch did previously?
We don't need a miracle. The issue currently is that we're having problems with transitioning play from defence to attack to a high level which is giving the so called lesser teams a grip in central areas. We're yet to see Pogba and Bruno together aswell which will help with the build up and creativity. Our RW options are not good enough either.That was a footballing miracle. If we need a miracle we are far off.
But lets not also forget that we went into this season woefully outgunned by most if not all of our rivals so, with the addition of Fernandez, a RW and a striker, we should see an improvement. Obviously that improvement won't be enough to build a title winning side but we were never going from 6th to 1st in just two seasons. Another thing is don't expect all teams ahead of us to maintain their levels or even improve, for example who genuinely thought that City would be 22 points behind Liverpool at this stage of the season? The level Liverpool are at is difficult to sustain as City have shown because they were at a similar level for the past two seasons.We're counting our next seasons team using this season competitions as standards, it rarely goes right.
If we add 1-2 players, it doesn't mean we jump 3-4 position, it simply means we keep on par with City / Chelsea / Hotspur / Leicester who will also adds 1-2 players. Liverpool will also strengthen, if not their main team at least they'll keep 1-2 coming for rotation. City could splash the cash, Mourinho Hotspur will have his preseason, Leicester and wolves etc aren't static too.
We (including me) thought City 100pts is an anomaly and unrepeatable, but Liverpool this season did exactly that.
So, no, we're not that close, it's a long way ahead.
We have the lure and financial superiority over the likes of Spurs, Leicester, Wolves. We can easily jump 3/4 positions, and I expect us to finish next season ahead of all three and Chelsea for that matter.We're counting our next seasons team using this season competitions as standards, it rarely goes right.
If we add 1-2 players, it doesn't mean we jump 3-4 position, it simply means we keep on par with City / Chelsea / Hotspur / Leicester who will also adds 1-2 players. Liverpool will also strengthen, if not their main team at least they'll keep 1-2 coming for rotation. City could splash the cash, Mourinho Hotspur will have his preseason, Leicester and wolves etc aren't static too.
We (including me) thought City 100pts is an anomaly and unrepeatable, but Liverpool this season did exactly that.
So, no, we're not that close, it's a long way ahead.
I agree with this, if we get players like Sancho and Zakaria in we will have the 3rd best squad in the land but instead of a CB I think we need a central striker more because I feel that Martial is not reliable in terms of effort and mentality. So whilst he might be exciting, talented and capable of jaw dropping moments of brilliance I think we need someone who is more ready to run the channels, harass defenders and score the ugly goals that Ole constantly speak of in addition to having technical talent. Even if we lost Pogba but still managed to get someone who is creative from the right I think McT and Zakaria would do well behind Bruno, I say this because I think that it will be difficult if not impossible to sign Sancho without selling a big player for a big fee.We don't need a miracle. The issue currently is that we're having problems with transitioning play from defence to attack to a high level which is giving the so called lesser teams a grip in central areas. We're yet to see Pogba and Bruno together aswell which will help with the build up and creativity. Our RW options are not good enough either.
Three players would completely galvanise the team imo. Denis Zakaria would be a excellent choice to transition play from the backline and build play from a deeper role. He's a good passer of the ball too and is a very mobile player that is physically and technically very good and would be invaluable in both offensive and defensive transitions. He's also playing under Marco Rose currently who is one of the best up and coming young forward thinking coaches in the game. So Zakaria will also be well drilled tactically which will be beneficial to any club that wants to play fast fluid attacking football.
If Pogba stays then i'd sign a CB who is excellent at bringing the ball out from defence, excellent aerially, lightening quick. Ibrahima Konate fits the profile and is accustomed to playing the high press and will without question allow us to play a high defensive line which would help in boxing the opponent in their own half. But if Pogba leaves then i'd prioritise a box to box CM with craft and guile to act as the conduit between the DM/backline and Bruno/attack, which would enhance the quality of our build up.
Sancho as the RW would make the team look very balanced. Pogba, Bruno and Zakaria in midfield. Rashford, Martial and Sancho in attack. AWB, Maguire, Konate, Shaw/Williams in the backline. We would still need to tweak things in the future transfer windows but that team would have more than enough to take us very close to the likes of Liverpool and more than raise spirits among the United faithful.
Why is this thread still open?Poch is not a better coach than Ole.
On paper, you are correct. But the reality is, our squad needs are basically whack-a-mole and our board have no interest in signing more than 3 players per summer window it seems (based on recent history).
So whereas we currently need 4 x first teamers, we might get 2 of them in the summer. By the following summer, another 2 x first positions will become glaring needs again, meaning we're about "four top signings away from competing" again. We might get 2 of them, that summer....
And the cycle continues. Before you know it, we're still having this conversation in summer 2024.
That's some logic
Mct and Fred in midfield doesn't sit well with me...................De Gea.....................
AWB......Bailly.....Maguire....Shaw
..............McT.......Fred.................
.................Bruno........................
Sancho......STRIKER?........Rashford
Not far off at all. 2 players in the next window. I don't see us signing any more than that - we don't seem to want to do that now.
I've not named a striker as my first choice is Werner and I have a feeling Liverpool will get him.
But 3 signings in the summer would be really good actually, especially if they are first team signings. If we can get a RW, CM and another, we will be in a really good position.
We have a youthful team so getting 3 players now would not mean next summer we need 3 more.
If we look at the squad, we have majority of our players under 26.
Poch is not a better coach than Ole.
Yeah, but just because someone is under 26 that doesn't automatically mean they're good enough or won't need upgrading next summer. I see the following positions as urgent for the summer (Pogba being sold):
1 x CM
1 x CDM
1 x RW
The following positions aren't urgent, but could well be a major issue by Christmas unless certain players kick on and sort their heads out:
LB
STR
CB
Just my feelings on the matter. It seems to be an endless rebuild from where I'm sitting, if the goal is to challenge for major honours.
Shaw has looked good lately, can he keep it up and stay fit? We need to hope so because Williams is still young, raw and learning.
Lindelöf is dodgy. Our alternatives are dodgy, too.
Martial is hot and cold. We clearly fancy a new striker or else Ole wouldnt have been in for Haaland.
Yeah, but just because someone is under 26 that doesn't automatically mean they're good enough or won't need upgrading next summer. I see the following positions as urgent for the summer (Pogba being sold):
1 x CM
1 x CDM
1 x RW
The following positions aren't urgent, but could well be a major issue by Christmas unless certain players kick on and sort their heads out:
LB
STR
CB
Just my feelings on the matter. It seems to be an endless rebuild from where I'm sitting, if the goal is to challenge for major honours.
Shaw has looked good lately, can he keep it up and stay fit? We need to hope so because Williams is still young, raw and learning.
Lindelöf is dodgy. Our alternatives are dodgy, too.
Martial is hot and cold. We clearly fancy a new striker or else Ole wouldnt have been in for Haaland.
It's amazing that we fail to win every time Chelsea drop points, and yet somehow we've closed a gap that was at least 8 points at one stage (I think it was as much as 10??) and is now down to 3. Not sure how we did that.We are not too far away, yes i agree, but it is worrying how when we need a good performance we are often found wanting and go through periods where we can't create anything at all. That bit about us failing to win times this season when Chelsea also dropped points is worrying. I see some encouraging signs in our play though and whatever you may say about ole and his competence he hasn't lost the dressing room.
I get what you are trying to say, but any will will need constant improving, if we stand still we will get left behind.
I want to see if Shaw can stay fit for a good period. We have alot of players that are in the "injury prone" bracket. Mainly in defence really.
I think they do, and I'm hoping they'll be even better next season. When Pogba and Matic go we will need numbers though. I'd just rather sign a RW and ST first.Mct and Fred in midfield doesn't sit well with me.
It's ok when we play the big teams and try to destroy their game, but against the rest of the teams, they don't have the quality I'm afraid.
But lets not also forget that we went into this season woefully outgunned by most if not all of our rivals so, with the addition of Fernandez, a RW and a striker, we should see an improvement. Obviously that improvement won't be enough to build a title winning side but we were never going from 6th to 1st in just two seasons. Another thing is don't expect all teams ahead of us to maintain their levels or even improve, for example who genuinely thought that City would be 22 points behind Liverpool at this stage of the season? The level Liverpool are at is difficult to sustain as City have shown because they were at a similar level for the past two seasons.
The one thing that will hold us back is our propensity to to embark on halfhearted rebuilds, I understand that it wasn't financially feasible to do both Maguire, Sancho and Fernandes in one go but I can't help but wonder whether we wouldn't be 3rd on the log if we had those three in instead of wasting half a season on Pereira, Lingard and James! Same will happen next summer, we will probably sign Sancho/another RW and a CM at a push but leave ourselves relying on Martial once again then spend the whole of next season debating where a top striker can take this team. In my view, we should push the financial threshold like Real Madrid did last summer and deliver all the players needed because, at the end of the day, the costs of missing out on CL football are just too great in terms of broadcasting and matchday income in addition to lost prestige. Paying a little more interest won't hurt as much as missing out on 50m to 80m in lost revenue.
Problem is. we say this literally every year.
Year 1 : it's a title winning squad, only need 1-2 world class player
Year 2 : we had World class teams, only need to wait for phylosophy to mature
Year 3: A manager away
year 4 : we had jose, give him time
Year 5 : A CB/RW and a modern manager away
Year 6: A RW, LB, STRIKER away
Year 7: Title challenge?
Sorry to be pessimistic, but we're not there until it's within our sight. We're currently a good 30+ points behind Liverpool. We to almost double our point tally if we want to be anywhere near challenging for the title. Plus, people are saying Sancho this, Sancho that, as if it's a given he's gonna come here.
Poch is not a better coach than Ole.
Until we actually prove it, these kind of posts all feel very RAWK 2000–2018.
We are Sancho and Grealish away in my opinion. We play some decent stuff and Ole is doing a decent job with recruitment / sales.
Ole for a bad coach sure does seem to get the better of a lot of big coaches....
I don't think we are far off. Of course we have room to improve and there are positions in which we can upgrade but surely no one can deny progress is being made?
If you going by comparing their careers this season, you could be right. But if you take their entire career in managent into comparison there isn't single person apart from romantic man utd fans that would say that Ole is a better coach than Ole.