5 reasons to be positive next season

rcoobc

Not as crap as eferyone thinks
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Quite aside from being an obvious candidate for sponsorship from a cryptocurrency exchange, ETH has got a few things going for him next season.

1. Low expectations. Every season post SAF where United have failed to qualify for the Champions League has been followed by a bounce and qualification. CL qualification is probably the only requirement next season.

2. Low requirements. Due to changes in the CL format, qualification for the Champions League the season after is likely to require only a top 5 finish (or a EL win). It never been so easy! (Famous last words, bannable offence if we don't qualify). (This is wrong its the year after)

3. A disrupted season. If you chart the number of goals scored across the whole of the premier league each season, you'll see a bi-annual dip the season after each Euro and World Cup year as forwards need to recover. Who knows what havoc a Winter World Cup is going to do for the premier league's star attackers.

4. An A team and a B team. A very much think we have players who are sticking around solely to play Europa League matches. Hopefully, as the deadwood is cut further and players are added to the B team from the A team, the B team will evolve from a EL group stage team, to a EL knockout team, to one that has the enviable task of being one of the top 24 teams to qualify out of the CL League Stage in 2024. The A team can play once per week. What could possibly go wrong?

5. A new manager brings players. With respect, Solskjear and Ragnick weren't going to bring lots of quality players. Moyes, Mourinho and LVG all had players they signed from their own backgrounds.

And that's it. Low expectations, low requirements, a disrupted season, an A team that can play once per week, and new players. Shame there's not much to be positive about in the actual squad but we start again.

Bring on September
 
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rcoobc said:
Quite aside from being an obvious candidate for sponsorship from a cryptocurrency exchange, ETH has got a few things going for him next season.

1. Low expectations. Every season post SAF where United have failed to qualify for the Champions League has been followed by a bounce and qualification. CL qualification is probably the only requirement next season.

2. Low requirements. Due to changes in the CL format, qualification for the Champions League the season after is likely to require only a top 5 finish (or a EL win). It never been so easy! (Famous last words, bannable offence if we don't qualify).

3. A disrupted season. If you chart the number of goals scored across the whole of the premier league each season, you'll see a bi-annual dip the season after each Euro and World Cup year as forwards need to recover. Who knows what havoc a Winter World Cup is going to do for the premier league's star attackers.
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To be honest, the first 3 don't fill me with hope (and I need more hope!) but I understand the use of low expectations/requirements in order to at least think about the coming season!
I'm on @ForeverRed1 side: Ten Hag is the only bright spot I have at the moment going into August...
 
This coming season is the first one post Fergie where going in I have no optimism going in when it comes to top 4 or a lesser trophy win

We feel further away now than we have ever done post Fergie
 
I think we might get a Europa League win, which would be a trophy and the first in what feels like a long time. Honestly think it's probably more realistic than a top 4 finish (which by the way isn't impossible, i just think it might be a tough ask in what will be a weird season)
 
ETH and the fact that we've let 3 pensioners and a part timer leave for free means we will sign someone.
 
charlenefan said:
This coming season is the first one post Fergie where going in I have no optimism going in when it comes to top 4 or a lesser trophy win

We feel further away now than we have ever done post Fergie
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Not optimistic about having a proper attack minded coach for the first time, and not some past it, defensive minded manager unsuited to the club? It's the first time we're bringing in a manager who is kinda in the Pep school of thought with how he coaches and how he wants his teams playing (well, Van Gaal, but he used the possession in a defensive and risk averse way, whereas Ten Hag has always prioritized creating chances and taking risks).

feck all big name signings or previous season finishes, this for me is the single biggest reason for hope. Yes in 20/21 we finished 2nd. But we had Ole, and most people knew he had to be replaced and then hope we replaced him well to make the step up. So even with Ronaldo/Sancho/Varane, we were never competing with Klopp or Pep. Now we have a manager where we can hope to make that step up to the elite clubs who also have elite coaches.
 
bosnian_red said:
Not optimistic about having a proper attack minded coach for the first time, and not some past it, defensive minded manager unsuited to the club? It's the first time we're bringing in a manager who is kinda in the Pep school of thought with how he coaches and how he wants his teams playing (well, Van Gaal, but he used the possession in a defensive and risk averse way, whereas Ten Hag has always prioritized creating chances and taking risks).

feck all big name signings or previous season finishes, this for me is the single biggest reason for hope. Yes in 20/21 we finished 2nd. But we had Ole, and most people knew he had to be replaced and then hope we replaced him well to make the step up. So even with Ronaldo/Sancho/Varane, we were never competing with Klopp or Pep. Now we have a manager where we can hope to make that step up to the elite clubs who also have elite coaches.
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I'm 50/50 on ETH on one hand yes it feels like for the first time post Fergie we have a manager on the rise rather than the reverse but on the other I can totally believe in a scenario where things are going so bad that he doesn't last the season

So many unknowns going into next season and after the lowest of lows of last season that's not necessarily reasons to be optimistic
 
1. Ten Hag as manager.
2. Europa League football.
3. No Wreck-It Ralf stinking out Old Trafford.
4. We certainly couldn't be any worse than last season.
5. Signings will be right for United.
 
  1. Ten Hag - I'm convinced with him. I think our single biggest issue from a footballing perspective the past 10 years has been coaching, I really do. Yes recruitment has been a mish mash, yes behind the scenes there are issues... But are you telling me that even if the recruitment was right, that Ole could compete with Pep or Klopp? That current Mourinho could compete with them? That Moyes could make us an elite team? Van Gaal is the only one we brought in who was an actual coaching focused manager. And I genuinely believe all the managers did their thing to their normal levels. Mourinho finished 2nd in a grind out season to Pep who got 100 points, and season 1 had an encouraging season with a few cup wins. No shame in that, and season 3 he did his usual thing that always happens. Van Gaal implemented his way of playing, won the FA Cup, got top 4, however he was too stubborn to adapt to other players, couldn't accept a risk taking player, and probably just didn't fit with a top club in this day and age so couldnt do more. Ole got back to back top 4 spots before eventually collapsing. Moyes was moyes. They all did pretty much what people would expect of them. It's not like just any manager has title winning capability.
  2. Clearout of deadwood - we had a stupidly bloated squad. Whether that was down to Ole or Woodward or both, whatever the case, it was the #1 reason for unhappiness and unrest. You promise a player they will play, and then don't play them, well you get an unhappy player. Ole didn't rotate and then claimed he had no depth, then got excessive depth and still didn't rotate properly, and it led to a dressing room nightmare. We need to work with a lean squad. Being in Europa League, we don't need as much depth as the CL, which works as we have a lot of holes to plug so it gives us time.
  3. Midfield priority in the summer window - obviously if we manage to sign Frenkie De Jong, that would be a dream signing that I never expected us to be able to do. If you could ask me over the past few years 1 midfielder to sign, it probably would be him. We've been dying for a press resistant deep lying playmaker like him who is a natural at the role since Scholes. Carrick did it well, albeit differently, but Frenkie will take up a lot of the same positions and movements as Scholes (just play it differently). But having a player who searched out the ball from the CBs and knows how to run the build up, it's invaluable and we've lacked that.
 
charlenefan said:
I'm 50/50 on ETH on one hand yes it feels like for the first time post Fergie we have a manager on the rise rather than the reverse but on the other I can totally believe in a scenario where things are going so bad that he doesn't last the season

So many unknowns going into next season and after the lowest of lows of last season that's not necessarily reasons to be optimistic
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Eh the only way he doesn't last the season is if he walks because the Glazers... Which is possible... But I don't think so. We give everyone too much time even when it's failing, not a chance we move him on.
 
One reason not to be positive for the forthcoming season and beyond:

- The Glazers still own Manchester United.

It doesn't matter if ETH actually wins a cup competition or finishes 'Top 4'. His reign will all fall apart sooner rather than later, due to the ownership not making sound football decisions.
 
charlenefan said:
This coming season is the first one post Fergie where going in I have no optimism going in when it comes to top 4 or a lesser trophy win

We feel further away now than we have ever done post Fergie
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It all depends on signings. Right now I'd agree, even finishing top 4 has never looked such a challenge let alone a trophy.
 
bosnian_red said:
Eh the only way he doesn't last the season is if he walks because the Glazers... Which is possible... But I don't think so. We give everyone too much time even when it's failing, not a chance we move him on.
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If we're still showing RR form with no signs of progress the knives will be out from supporters and the media
 
We are not as bad as people think, quiet the opposite. I don't think ETH who is known to be a direct and stern talker would say that he see a lot of potential in our squad otherwise.

A lot of our fans(myself included) got duped by Ralf and his "expertise". As we found out there is a huge a difference between walking the walk and talking.

When his incompetence got exposed he reverted to the we need to sign 10 new players and the gullible fans lapped it up. On a side note when he tried to pitch that idea to AC Milan just 18 months ago, they told him feck off. Look where they are now.

There is also a reason ETH didn't even want to actually have a detailed chat with him.

Our biggest issues is squad harmony. Ronaldo must have ruffled up a couple of feathers and that turned the entire dressing room into a toxic cesspool. Knowing that one of ETH's biggest strength is man management, I think he will sort this mess out real quick.

After that we will see a new United moulded in his image.
 
Leftback99 said:
It all depends on signings. Right now I'd agree, even finishing top 4 has never looked such a challenge let alone a trophy.
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Signings can definitely lift the mood but right now we're way off the pace on that front as well having seemingly seen ETH's priority attacking signing go to Liverpool

Hopefully we get De Jong and a couple of others he wants through the door
 
Caesar2290 said:
We are not as bad as people think, quiet the opposite. I don't think ETH who is known to be a direct and stern talker would say that he see a lot of potential in our squad otherwise.

A lot of our fans(myself included) got duped by Ralf and his "expertise". As we found out there is a huge a difference between walking the walk and talking.

When his incompetence got exposed he reverted to the we need to sign 10 new players and the gullible fans lapped it up. On a side note when he tried to pitch that idea to AC Milan just 18 months ago, they told him feck off. Look where they are now.

There is also a reason ETH didn't even want to actually have a detailed chat with him.

Our biggest issues is squad harmony. Ronaldo must have ruffled up a couple of feathers and that turned the entire dressing room into a toxic cesspool. Knowing that one of ETH's biggest strength is man management, I think he will sort this mess out real quick.

After that we will see a new United moulded in his image.
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That's what we've got to cling to isn't it. If Maguire can get back to form. If Shaw can get back to form. If Bruno can get back to form. If Rashford can get back to form. If Sancho can show his Dortmund form. If Varane can stay fit. If Ronaldo can keep scoring

That's a lot of ifs but if it all comes together and if ETH is as good as well hope then yeah we could be in business

if
 
charlenefan said:
Signings can definitely lift the mood but right now we're way off the pace on that front as well having seemingly seen ETH's priority attacking signing go to Liverpool

Hopefully we get De Jong and a couple of others he wants through the door
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I don't think Nunez was ever happening myself just paper talk. I'd have been less optimistic about next season if our biggest summer signing was a Ronaldo back up leaving the huge holes elsewhere.
 
Leftback99 said:
I don't think Nunez was ever happening myself just paper talk. I'd have been less optimistic about next season if our biggest summer signing was a Ronaldo back up leaving the huge holes elsewhere.
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I think the price is why it didn't happen, the budget just didn't stretch to Nunez, De Jong and others

I think De Jong is the priority

Still not a great start for the new manager though
 
charlenefan said:
If we're still showing RR form with no signs of progress the knives will be out from supporters and the media
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To be honest I don't think we'd show that form if Ralf was appointed full time and we had actual premier league standard coaches. It was a unique mixture of nothing to play for after a collapse, interim manager, lower league level coaches in because it was interim only. Perfect storm really. And like I said... We only really collapsed when we were knocked out of the CL. Motivation was a driving factor.
 
bosnian_red said:
To be honest I don't think we'd show that form if Ralf was appointed full time and we had actual premier league standard coaches. It was a unique mixture of nothing to play for after a collapse, interim manager, lower league level coaches in because it was interim only. Perfect storm really. And like I said... We only really collapsed when we were knocked out of the CL. Motivation was a driving factor.
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Hope you're right
 
charlenefan said:
That's what we've got to cling to isn't it. If Maguire can get back to form. If Shaw can get back to form. If Bruno can get back to form. If Rashford can get back to form. If Sancho can show his Dortmund form. If Varane can stay fit. If Ronaldo can keep scoring

That's a lot of ifs but if it all comes together and if ETH is as good as well hope then yeah we could be in business

if
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There is no clinging on mate. Ole's overhoarding of players that shouldn't be here created a very toxic disgruntled environment even before Ronaldo arrived. That broke our squad harmony from day 1.

Now a lot of those players are gone or going.

When it comes to our defense, I think they will benefit massively from having a functioning midfield in front of them and a GK that isn't glued to the line behind. There is a reason the likes of Maguire look way better for their NT than our club.

Our club has taken steps to fix this issue. We are trying to sign De Jong and are rumored to be in the hunt for partner for him. Also we have a certain Hernderson that will allow us to play a high line. Under him when he was our starter we had the 2nd highest defensive line in the league.

The answers are always here in our very own club.

The only thing I do worry are our players that were forced to play through injuries, especially back injuries like Rashford. I think we might never see again the same Rashford that we knew just a season ago.
 
There's some months to enjoy before the season starts and then we get a World Cup break half way through. The glass is half full chaps.
 
We have ten Hag and the first manager we’ve had since fergie that we know will get us playing attractive football which will hopefully result in some trophies.
 
We might have a genuinely talented head coach for once.

The good players in the group (Sancho, Fernandes and co) will bounce back and that will automarically give us more points. Morale can't be as bad it was last season.
 
I don't have Covid, Aids, Monkey Pox, a ticket to Rwanda & no Jesse Lingard!
 
Our last two managers were plucked from Norway and Russia with no real pedigree. The fact that we'll have someone competent in charge for the first time in 4 years should make a big difference
 
Lots of people putting their faith in Ten Hag, but is he really better than Pep/Klopp/Tuchal/Conte? Because he's going to have to beat at least one of them in order to nab a Champions League spot.
 
I’m delighted we’ve got ten Hag, but it’s Richard Arnold who’s the real difference maker as far as I’m concerned. He needs to get the Glazers fully on board; a decent start to the season should give them the confidence to take a step back and let the new team do what’s needed to rebuild the club.
 
1 - Fitter, 2 - better tactics to be taught and 3 - at least a worthwhile f'kin DM addiction to the team and we're going to be okay with the assistance from the kids
 
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