We have to break the post SAF voodoo.Sorry, I'm not buying this. We have to challenge, sure. But the wheels won't come off if we don't win it. Which is what you imply by bolding the "have to"
We have to break the post SAF voodoo.
people get impatient, other teams get stronger, sponsors spend less money
2 years without winning turns into 10.
As I said, We have to break the post SAF voodoo.
Our incomes have increased despite being shit and out of the top 4. Our only performance related clause is about getting CL football from Adidas. All that voodoo hockey pockey, I just don't buy into.
If the team plays good football and challenges in all fronts, everyone would be happy. There is no necessity to win the league, just to be up there and get exposure.
So you'd be happy if we became the next arsenal?
Its a serious possibility unless the mentality is correct.
Personally, I will never accept that eventuality.
Can you read? I said challenging on all fronts. Are Arsenal challenging on any front? They did not even challenge Leicester for the title and the're out of the CL on the Last 16 round every year. That's not challenging.
Challenging for the league is being in with a good shout to win it 5 games from the end. Challenging for the CL is being a team that can make semis regularly.
Zlatan was signed as a very short term fix. We may get another year like this one, we also might not. If we don't, we're in big trouble, and anyhow he needs replacing.
Keep Zlatan but we need a his replacement next season as well.
Why the aggression? - we're just chatting.
For a club (business) with our investments and resources, 'challenging' and not winning is not good enough. Woodward and Mourinho should be sacked if thats all they deliver.
Zlatan has maximum, 1 more season as a top pro at our club.You could say the same for every player in the squad - if he doesn't perform as well next season, 'we are in trouble'. So logic would say replace those that aren't performing well this season.
Of course you have look at Zlatans long term, but we're signing 3-4 players. Is it a priority to replace our best player??
I was relaxed back in October as I had no expectations and so never expected us to win this year. I have total belief in our manager and recognise he need a little time to organise: he has this year to do as he wishes, as long as we finish in a respectable position (top 4) and demonstrate progress.Well the aggression is because you are taking what I say out of context. In order to win you have to challenge. If your view is that Mou should be sacked next year if he doesn't win it, even if he challenges, then I don't know what to say. I hope you are not saying that at least
Zlatan has maximum, 1 more season as a top pro at our club.
Finding a replacement is an absolute priority, given how scarce and securely contracted goal scorers are.
You cant simply sign one as and when you need them: if you find the right fit and have the cash, you buy!
Nev has a point but Mou will be only satisfied with players that will take us on another level. Finding even just two or three world class talents available won't be that easy but who knows really. Perhaps it's easier than it looks.
Zlatan is the right fit for now.
I try to look at what 'will' happen, rather than some ideal scenario. Zlatan is the kind of guy who wants to play every game, probably because it keeps him competitive at his age. His backup will get the odd game here and there - which makes Rashford the ideal player, due to his own playing demands. Signing a backup (like Alcacer at Barca) will fail if he isn't getting enough games.
The issue for next season is spreading goals around the team, which should come from the 3 behind contributing more and adding more goals in the form of Griezmann.
Why the aggression? - we're just chatting.
For a club (business) with our investments and resources, 'challenging' and not winning is not good enough. Woodward and Mourinho should be sacked if thats all they deliver.
IF both those things work out, fantastic. But in a year which I believe we must win the league, its a risk.
Do you seriously expect us to win the league and Champions League every season??
Our club should always be formulating strategies to win and simply competing should never be enough. I expect us to have a strong chance winning the league every year based on sqaud and manager and we should win regularly (1 in 3?) too.
But I state again, we are also in a unique post-Ferguson situation: £500m spent on transfer fee's, 4 years without a league title, our competitors are stronger and more stable: we can't win our first post SAF league soon enough.
Martial and Rashford are his replacements but personally I would just love to see Chicharito come back as backup. Never should have been sold.Zlatan was signed as a very short term fix. We may get another year like this one, we also might not. If we don't, we're in big trouble, and anyhow he needs replacing.
Keep Zlatan but we need a his replacement next season as well.
Its a sign of the times unfortunately. we have fallen so far from the summit we cant rely on hit and hope tactics that a youth player will become WC eventually as we need the WC or at least very good players now.The players suggested in most of these threads are exactly that. There's no real game plan except "pay to win". Call me romantic, but this whole "galacticos" thing isn't how I imagined United becoming.
I partially agree with you as I think thats the main aim of the club. However if we can start finishing regular top 4 and it takes 2-3 more seasons with a cup or two thrown in then Mourinhos job would be safe.Its imperative to demonstrate the club can will the league without SAF, we have to win the league next year.
1993/94, 1998/99 and 2007/8 are indicative of the level we need to get to: I think Mourinho should be given a squad that can definitely win the league, and then its his managerial nous and luck that delivers it for us.
'It was amazing to have Mourinho call me, even though I'd been warned before how he would appeal to me.Yes, we need to raise the bar and stop signing the likes of Schneiderlin. But I fail to understand why he didn't go after Kante in the summer? He wasn't overly expensive and I rate him higher than Bakayoko.
When you look past the top 6-8 players in our squad we should be able to find upgrades easily. Its getting them to come thats the challenge. Were up against Chelsea and City for financial strength at home (plus the lure of London regarding Arsenal and Spurs). Then were up against the big boys in Europe.Nev has a point but Mou will be only satisfied with players that will take us on another level. Finding even just two or three world class talents available won't be that easy but who knows really. Perhaps it's easier than it looks.
Dont think Chic would come back to be honest, plus theres better options out there.Martial and Rashford are his replacements but personally I would just love to see Chicharito come back as backup. Never should have been sold.
I dont believe our manager on this.
I've always wondered about this. Why is it that whenever an "old" player is bought, some always say that it's a problem and you should find a replacement? Doesn't that apply to every player? Is there really a guarantee that any player will stay for 5-10 years? Isn't it better to just get the player you need, without looking at the age, and when they leave you get a replacement?Zlatan has maximum, 1 more season as a top pro at our club.
Finding a replacement is an absolute priority, given how scarce and securely contracted goal scorers are.
You cant simply sign one as and when you need them: if you find the right fit and have the cash, you buy!
Isn't van Dijk both available and good enough? Isn't Felipe Anderson very inconsistent? Wouldn't Icardi/Lacazette/Belotti be benched, if Ibra stays and play most of the games? I've said this many times, but my LB choice is Kolasinac - a Ivanovic-type and he will be free.We don't need another CB YET, none of them available are good enough either. Lindelof is not good enough.
Semedo is a good RB and he will be a good option. Kessie from Atlanta is the box to box we need, exactly Jose's type of midfielder and he apparently said in an interview he would choose United over Chelsea.
We need a quick skillful right winger. I would go for somebody like Felipe Anderson.
Striker We could do with 2, Griezmann + Icardi/Lazazette/Belotti would be ideal.
Ibra will stay 1 more year but perhaps be used more in rotation. Right now Martial/Rashford aren't good enough to fully cover the striker role consistently.
If Mourinho won't/can't trust Shaw, then we need a proper LB more than anything. Blind is good but too slow, Darmian is a coward and Rojo just can't position himself properly, and his attack is poor.
Yes Van Dijk is available but is he REALLY much better than what we have? he is pretty much Smalling but a better passer, perhaps not as good as a defender. For the money Southampton would want, I think we have bigger issues.Isn't van Dijk both available and good enough? Isn't Felipe Anderson very inconsistent? Wouldn't Icardi/Lacazette/Belotti be benched, if Ibra stays and play most of the games? I've said this many times, but my LB choice is Kolasinac - a Ivanovic-type and he will be free.
van Dijk and Smalling similar? I don't see it. Besides, think how good van Dijk would be under Mourinho, if Mourinho's been able to do miracles with these players.Yes Van Dijk is available but is he REALLY much better than what we have? he is pretty much Smalling but a better passer, perhaps not as good as a defender. For the money Southampton would want, I think we have bigger issues.
Felipe Anderson has been very good this season and is showing more consistency under Inzaghi. He has told him to keep it more simple and that's showing.
Yes 1 striker will obviously be benched but we can't rely on Ibra forever. If he get's injured or in bad form we are screwed.
Not sure who we will choose as a LB. If Shaw recovers his top form we are fine but I worry he won't under Mourinho at the moment.
