Absolutely have exceeded expectations. Some pundits had us struggling for top 6. A title challenge would have been too much of an ask this season when we needlessly dropped points in our first 2 games and against Villa. However, a comfortable top 4 finish along with being within 10 points of the title winner is a great start to the ten Hag era.
Half-season verdict?
- Thread starter horsechoker
- Start date
More than happy, already looking forward to games instead of a sense of dread and defeats and draws hurt more now so past the feeling of being numb towards them.
still nervous for top four as we can also easily drop points but the fight seems to be there and we don’t look like walk overs anymore.
still nervous for top four as we can also easily drop points but the fight seems to be there and we don’t look like walk overs anymore.
The fact of how bitterly disappointing last night was shows how quickly hopes and expectations have risen. It's the most frustrated I've been for a while after one of our results because it actually feels like the season has a bit of meaning again, beyond the usual story of keeping our heads above water and being happy with a decent performance.
Can't really fault how this season has gone so far, considering we were at absolute rock bottom last year.
Can't really fault how this season has gone so far, considering we were at absolute rock bottom last year.
Without a shadow of doubt we have exceeded expectations this season. Didn’t expect us to be where we are right now in the league table, especially after how last season ended and the start we made.
There’s a real connection between the players and the fans which hasn’t been seen since the Fergie days. Really enjoying watching us play again and liking the direction we are heading under ETH. Exciting times ahead I’m sure!
Long may it continue!
There’s a real connection between the players and the fans which hasn’t been seen since the Fergie days. Really enjoying watching us play again and liking the direction we are heading under ETH. Exciting times ahead I’m sure!
Long may it continue!
We're third, which is higher than expected, especially after the first two games. But unfortunately, we're still miles off challenging. My two cents on our season:
- Ten Hag is clearly a fantastic manager. Caf can pat themselves on the back because the wisdom/push of our fans actually led to us getting ETH over Poch
- The Ronaldo situation wasn't great for Ten Hag to be put in but he came out of it stronger
- Title challenge, as expected, is a bridge too far. But we're in a decent position for top 4 and my hope/expectation is that we'll achieve it along with at least one trophy
- We still need better recruitment. Even though I have no complaints against the signings of Lisandro, Casemiro, Eriksen or Malacia. But splurging 80+ million on Antony seems like a blunder. We need a proper DoF who works with Ten Hag and finds him the players needed rather than relying on Ten Hag's personal preferences.
- We wouldn't be back to the very top until we get every new signing in the summer to be spot on. A top striker is a must.
A and A plus are basically perfection which would be winning the league. I'm not gonna do any 12/10 rubbish
We have unrealistic squad depth to be in 4 competitions still, I know we haven’t won a trophy for a few years and any would do at the moment but having so many games is going to harm our league form badly I feel, not sure what the answer is tbh.
we are seeing it already where Arsenal got a break this midweek and we had to play a squeezed in league game.
we are seeing it already where Arsenal got a break this midweek and we had to play a squeezed in league game.
I expected that it would take a lot longer for us to play in a manner that EtH expects, and that we'd take a lot more beatings like the start of the season trying to do so, so I think we're way ahead of schedule.
Everyone deserves credit - EtH for winning over the dressing room brilliantly, and the players for buying in to his philosophy and showing they can press and play football.
Everyone deserves credit - EtH for winning over the dressing room brilliantly, and the players for buying in to his philosophy and showing they can press and play football.
Looks like we're all thinking the same, is that the first time this has ever happened!?
Perhaps we are grading different things. I guess I am grading ETH and you are asking for the grading of the club/team.
Individual wise, I'd give it:
Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers
- De Gea - 6 - improved a lot on the ball as I thought he'd do with good coaching, shot stopping has been good but aerially he is still shit and he still has random big mistakes in him, and overall he's pretty much an average premier league goalkeeper in terms of the overall package he provides. John Harrison on twitter has him lower than mid table in terms of his overall xG performance per match ranked, but a lot of that was from the first 2 games which were horrific from De Gea
- Dalot - 8 - incredible development, huge potential, good age, think he's our long term RB and he displaced Cancelo for the national team
- Wan Bissaka - 7 - has shown his value since the world Cup, and has shown that he can compete and starter or backup, we have 0 things to worry about at RB.
- Varane - 9 - back to performing like the best CB in the world
- Martinez - 9 - developing a world class partnership with Varane, brings a great mentality, so composed on the ball and aggressive off of it. Love to see it. Seems to have great fitness too.
- Maguire - 5 - still a bit shit and a bit of a liability when he starts. Has had a few decent games, a few shit ones. Surely off in the summer.
- Lindelof - 6 - has done alright when he's had to come in. No real complaints from me. 3rd choice CB.
- Shaw - 9 - in the form of his life and playing at a world class level. Has shown he can cover for Martinez at CB to a high level as well, and who saw that coming? Excellent player.
- Malacia - 8 - young but so tenacious, has talent but not as good as Shaw of course. Great attitude and excellent as a #2 LB who can come in if Martinez is out or if Shaw is out and we don't lose much at all. Have to love his attitude though.
- Casemiro - 10 - best DM in the world, transformed our team. Provides loads on the ball, but mainly of course his defensive reading of the game is 2nd to none. He is the modern day Roy Keane. Bruno wears the armband (and Maguire is still technically club captain), but the captains on the pitch are Casemiro, Varane and Bruno IMO. Our most important player by a long shot.
- Eriksen - 8 - Excellent free signing, provides so much composure to our team, has adapted to the deep midfield role so well, and yesterday was a perfect example of what he can do for us. Has the ability and intelligence to pick the right pass out when others would force it to the striker, knows how to spread the ball all over the pitch, excellent set piece delivery even if as a team we are still a bit shit with set pieces. He does tend to tire after an hour, but overall it's fine as we have an able deputy for him.
- Fred - 7 - Excellent squad player to have, can come in to big games and give us so much more in midfield, can come in for Eriksen to provide more energy and help us be more solid. Hope he stays and keeps this level up, but with his age, he'll likely need replacing and we'd do well to get another squad player like him.
- McTominay - 6 - Has performed admirably I'd say in the start of the season especially when he kept Casemiro out of the team. Was never going to last forever of course, and now he's essentially our backup for Casemiro who plays every game which is fair enough, so is subbed to be a big guy to close out games essentially. I don't mind him, but he'll probably be replaced by a more natural DM like Lavia to learn from Casemiro and be the eventual replacement.
- Van de Beek - 4 - Feel really bad with the injury, the guy has had no luck here, but also he just isn't good enough. Needs to leave for his own career, his old manager came here and didn't deem it worthwhile to use him differently to previous managers. Says it all.
- Bruno Fernandes - 7 - He's had some excellent games, some mediocre games. Has generally been much better since Ronaldo left, and I think he's trending towards an 8/10 season, and scored in back to back games to bring his total to 5 goals now. Finally had a great game vs a team like Man City too, which he generally struggled with. I think he's excellent overall, but we need to give the rest of our team the right attackers
- Rashford - 9 - Excellent in the big games, and has shown a very good level in the smaller games now too. On course for his best ever goalscoring season, I think his decision making is massively improved, his work rate is massively improved, he's using his physicality like never before... it's great to see how he's responded this season with Ten Hag. Love the guy. But we are painfully reliant on him in our attack, and I fear we will overdo it again without resting him ever or allow him to recover from knocks because nobody else is performing
- Martial - 5 - always injured. Has had some very good games while fit, and I think he could be a very decent striker for us if he could stay fit, but he can't. We play much better with him on the pitch and he really helps with Rashfords level and Bruno's level as he can provide a good link up and hold up point. But he is just so soft of a player.
- Sancho - 3 - a complete non factor this season (he's at 3 because he managed a few goals and ok performances in our first 5 games this season). Hopefully this break and time away has given him what he's needed and he comes back to show how good he can be, because he has the ability to be one of our most important players. But needs to have the courage to show it which isn't a given.
- Antony - 5 - Maybe a tiny bit harsh, but he did cost 100m so you can't ignore that. Has shown talent, but also a ton of struggles adapting to the prem, the pressures of a big team, and probably his price tag too. He does have excellent technique and close control, he does have a burst of pace, great acceleration and agility, but he barely shows it. He can pull off some great tricks, but he does it in irrelevant areas. He can have very good crossing/passing/shooting technique and has shown it at times, but again, he's been a bit of a tik tok footballer as someone has said. Not even a highlights footballer as he doesn't do anything in the final third and shows most of his talent in the middle of the pitch in pointless areas. But he has shown enough to make me think that he can in time turn into a top player... but definitely a project.
- Garnacho - 8 - An 18 year old that was able to be subbed in to the Manchester derby and provide a cutting difference to assist the winning goal, what more can you ask for? He has a huge future, but as of now is 18 so he'll be used here and there.
- Ronaldo - 1 - Garbage, glad he's gone. 10 for the interview sabotaging himself and giving us an easy out where we can cut his contract without paying for it
- Elanga - 4 - nowhere near good enough obviously and we should just let him leave, don't see what the point is to keep him as deep depth as Pellistri is far better
- Ten Hag - 10 - Can't ask for more really. Dealt with seriously big issues in the Ronaldo situation and the Maguire situation perfectly and they are non-stories now. Has implemented an excellent defensive structure faster than anyone could have imagined, we look like an elite team defensively as a group after half a season. Even with Martinez not on the pitch, he just slides Shaw over and we still keep it up. On the ball and in build up we have also transformed. We progress the ball into good positions very effectively, and have a very modern build up structure, players understand the system and look well coached where even when we have an off day with some individuals, the system is evident and allows us to dominate the game. Have 0 doubt in my mind that he's capable of turning us into one of the top, elite teams in world football. Just needs the right signings which will come with time.
- Set Pieces - 3 - Putting this as a separate note as set pieces are generally trained with individual coaches. We are 17th in the league in completed dead ball passes that led to shot attempts (have less than half of the amount that the best teams do). Defensively we have the third most completed dead ball passes against us that led to shots (so 18th). Basically... both offensively and defensively we are bottom 4 in the league in set pieces, whether it's throw ins, corners, free kicks, etc. That is 100% just something that can be improved upon without impacting anything else, and is something that will hold us back until we do. Arsenal for example are 7th offensively, 4th defensively. City are top defensively and 6th offensively. Liverpool are 2nd offensively and 3rd defensively. Newcastle are 1st offensively and 2nd defensively.
Last edited:
A million times this.
I went into this season hoping that, finally, I'd feel optimistic about the team again - for the first time since the late Fergie era, I do. Not that everything in between was universally bad, but I never felt like we were setting up for (say) ten years; I was optimistic that Moyes and/or LVG might be able to pull that off when they were announced but that faded quickly, and Jose/Ole/Ralf only ever felt like short term solutions.
The summer transfer business, for the first time in I don't know how long, looks like a big win. Three huge players in Casemiro, Eriksen and Martinez, a good prospect in Malacia (and the competition that Shaw seems to need), and the jury's still out on Antony.
The squad looks so much better today than it did this time last year. Don't know if it's the man-management or the coaching or the system (or some combination), but it's a huge difference. Suddenly we're getting a tune out of Dalot, AWB and Shaw. Can't say enough about Rashford, and Bruno seems to be coming back into things. Fred's good enough to play the role he's playing. Garnacho getting serious time in the team, and some of the younger youth getting cameos.
League position is well beyond where I thought we'd be at this point - yes I'd have loved the title challenge that briefly looked on, but pre-season I wasn't optimistic about top four so I'll take where we are at the moment thanks v much. Still in both cups. Europa League Playoff is annoying, but hard to compare to previous years as it's a new format - just one slip, really, and that was early in the season.
Don't know how much the squad will fade over the back half - Eriksen and Casemiro in particular, though I'm worried about Varane as well. The squad is thin at striker as well as having no good backup for Eriksen; I'd love to see something happen there, whether it's a signing (Weghorst doesn't strike me as the answer), a youth player (feels more doable for the Eriksen understudy), or a reshuffle (e.g. playing Rashford up top because someone emerges to hold down his position on the left). These are going to be problems not just this season but in the future.
Fourth and the league cup - I'd be delighted, given where we were last year, with that haul. Would love to see Sancho get through his problems and start to really develop over the run-in, and for Martial to get physically right. Then move on a bit of the deadwood, make some sensible signings, and...I'm getting ahead of myself.
We have a very good first 11 that I believe with sufficient rest would go on to mount a title challenge, ETH has done exceptionally well at this. We don't have a squad though, you look to the bench and the drop off is huge.
Overall we have exceeded expectations, I'm very happy and would be happy with 4th place and a cup run, hopefully a cup. Irs important to remember just how bad last season was but also the last 10 years we have had no consistency or style. We look like a team playing under a managers philosophy, the future is bright especially when the nee owners come in.
Overall we have exceeded expectations, I'm very happy and would be happy with 4th place and a cup run, hopefully a cup. Irs important to remember just how bad last season was but also the last 10 years we have had no consistency or style. We look like a team playing under a managers philosophy, the future is bright especially when the nee owners come in.
Watching you from the outside, I think you’re very much on the right track and the improvements you made are of lasting nature. Keep going and you’ll get back where you belong.
Almost made a title run. With Ten Hag here and new owners in place the next season is ours. Things are looking good.
7 / 10
we’ve overachieved id say. Still in all competitions, beaten the top teams this season, playing some lovely football. In the mix for top 3. Best thing about us now though is everyone’s enjoying watching us and can’t wait for the next game. We look a lot better as a team. We use to dread playing because we’d get hammered every game. That isn’t the case anymore.
100%. Were a top ST and another world class CM from competing.
Better than expected. I had us pegged for 6th going into the season. I didn't expect Liverpool and Chelsea to underperform, and didn't expect Newcastle to overperform. I think 3rd place is ours to lose now. Anything less than 4th from our current position and form would be really disappointing now.
-The improvement of Rashford, Dalot, Shaw, and AWB has been incredible.
-It's looking like the best summer haul we've had in ages. Only one I'm a bit worried about right now is Antony.
-Our play out from the back has improved significantly.
-Really seems like an attitude of belief and accountability has been instilled in the players by ETH. Night and day difference from last season.
We need two big signings this summer (box-to-box mid and a striker) and maybe a couple squad rotation signings and we could be set to compete for the league next season.
-The improvement of Rashford, Dalot, Shaw, and AWB has been incredible.
-It's looking like the best summer haul we've had in ages. Only one I'm a bit worried about right now is Antony.
-Our play out from the back has improved significantly.
-Really seems like an attitude of belief and accountability has been instilled in the players by ETH. Night and day difference from last season.
We need two big signings this summer (box-to-box mid and a striker) and maybe a couple squad rotation signings and we could be set to compete for the league next season.
It is disastrous how we gone into the season without a real striker. Incredibly bad planning. Our midfield is still horrible without Casemiro.
I feel like not getting a reliable goalscorer/striker will mean just another wasted season..
I feel like not getting a reliable goalscorer/striker will mean just another wasted season..
How is this a wasted season? A wasted season is when you have 0 development and resign yourself to finish outside of the top 4 and have little to no hopes for any cups.
We are developing loads, will be either 3rd or 4th this season pretty much guaranteed at this point, are favourites for the league cup and in a good position for the FA Cup, while still in the Europa League but have a tough draw. It's easily our best season since Sir Alex. Mourinho in 16/17 did well in cups but basically ignored the league as we weren't favourites for top 4. Now we are comfortable in top 4 while being also favourites to win a trophy for the first time in 6 years.
Much further along than was thought possible with this squad. Do have concerns about so few players enduring so many games, however.
Need to develop killer instinct in tight games,last night was going to happen sooner or later
You know things are progressing well when you are raging over a draw to Palace that dents our chances of a title bid. (An actual serious bid, not like being 20 points behind City and being second in the league cos everyone else was rubbish as well)
Ill be honest I fully expected us to beat City ahead of the derby at the weekend and its been over a decade since Ive been able to say that.
The signs are good, we just need to keep going, because it feels like something is happening.
Ill be honest I fully expected us to beat City ahead of the derby at the weekend and its been over a decade since Ive been able to say that.
The signs are good, we just need to keep going, because it feels like something is happening.
What I mean by this is that it is very obvious our rival teams are all weaker than previous seasons this year except Arsenal and there is really nothing special about them at all.
With the right signings this summer it is very obvious under this manager we could have put up a real title challenge this year, outside conditions are all aligned in our way but sadly it is what it is.
Only thing we could have done is show ability to get second goal in away league games because not seen much evidence
Ten Hag is working miracles with this squad. Can’t fault him. 10/10 so far.
Very exciting times. I may be a wimp, but I just want top 4 is all.
Nah. We made very good signings, and our performances have been good and we've been remarkably consistent. But there was always going to be some teething issues, some dropped points, etc. Arsenal you may say are nothing special (they look like an excellent side to me), but ultimately they are having one of the best 1st halves of a premier league season ever and one that no United side has ever matched in terms of points after half a season. It was always unrealistic to go from last season, to a title winning side. There was always going to be a transition year while we build, sort through issues, develop players and a system. Next season is different. The mentality of this team is different now. Now we are actually an appealing team for players to sign, where we can attract Kane and have one of the top 3 strikers in world football to actually make that jump next year.
Yeah why couldn't we blow them away too
Yeah another ex Arsenal person screwing us over
All I'm gonna say is we have a plan.
This.
He's got 1 year left on his contract (Levy is a business man, he won't lose him for free), will be 30, and there are 2 realistic options: United and Bayern. Kane highly prioritizes being the all time top scorer in the PL and has given Spurs a decade and will be their all time top scorer, so that would be United (and Newcastle, where he wouldn't go IMO). It's the right time for Levy to sell him, of course they'll still expect a big fee but they will let him go after this, especially when they don't make top 4.Kane!?? Are you going to negotiate with Levy!?
I would love to have him but even with 1 year left Levy will rinse the club!
It’s been excellent. Great opportunity to win a trophy and pretty certain of top 4. Exceeds expectation
Half way through the season; 0/3 points behind City; 3rd place. 6 points above 5th spot. Tell me that at the start of the season (especially after our start) - I wouldn’t have believed you. Arsenal is having an amazing season - otherwise we’d be up there for a title challenge.
Delighted with this; didn’t expect ETH to work wonders so quickly
Delighted with this; didn’t expect ETH to work wonders so quickly
Like a lot of people have said, it's exceeded expectations by a lot. I would probably have guessed that we'd have been 6 points off top four at this stage not six points ahead.
Squad depth and the drop off in quality between first XI players like Varane, Casemiro,Eriksen and Martinez is the big worry, especially with so many fixtures, and the options for number 9 are pretty limited. This is my big worry for the season but if EtH can keep doing what he's doing this could be a really good season.
Squad depth and the drop off in quality between first XI players like Varane, Casemiro,Eriksen and Martinez is the big worry, especially with so many fixtures, and the options for number 9 are pretty limited. This is my big worry for the season but if EtH can keep doing what he's doing this could be a really good season.
I think I'm grading considering where we have come from since last season. Getting embarrassed by teams, just shocking on and off the park.
To address that so quickly and fundamentally, that's outstanding from the management team and players. A+ for me.
Winning anything would be crazy incredible for me. Look how things were looking last season.