We desperately need 2 new midfielders. Even with a budget of 20m each id sooner have 2 that meet whatever criteria he wants from midfielders
Our ability to make every poor or average side look like Brazil 1970
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They come to Old Trafford all energised and brave because they know our players won't give a feck
We need a consistent core and we haven't had that for a long long time. I think if we can 100% identify our best 11 and formation, we'll start seeing the consistency we're missing at the moment.
I'm old enough to remember the first 30 minutes against Palace. It was a simpler time, but there was a sense of hope in the air. It really seemed as though things could be different. 
It’s an amazing ability to be fair, it’s not easy to do it every week for years.
This is it.
At this level of nullity
At this point
Bring in Hannibal, Elanga, Shortire and the others and look what will happen
You have nothing to lose, maybe a conference league place
At this point
Bring in Hannibal, Elanga, Shortire and the others and look what will happen
You have nothing to lose, maybe a conference league place
Lots of things mentioned in this thread, but as an outsider this looks to be the most crucial. You currently play a version of 4-4-2. I grew up watching you put out one of the best four man midfields I’ve ever seen. It’s baffling.
It’s not passion, or lack thereoff, as players seem to grumble enough to show “they care”. It’s patently a lack of direction, communication and ability on the pitch. Probably not helped by the formation which suits none of our front 6, not to mention it doesn’t suit the full backs lack of positional awareness which is vital in a 4-2-2-2. I’m all for Ralf ball, shame he doesn’t pick/have a team capable of implementing it.
theres a lot of things you could point to....
think its too simplistic to blame the midfield
unfamiliar formation which isnt working
average players in key positions
relatively poor passing
the heaviness of the united shirt
etc....
we look dysfunctional and i think this will be the case largely until next season
think its too simplistic to blame the midfield
unfamiliar formation which isnt working
average players in key positions
relatively poor passing
the heaviness of the united shirt
etc....
we look dysfunctional and i think this will be the case largely until next season
One question I have is where is the upside in McFred / Matic? Taking Arsenal for example, each of our core midfielders have drawbacks. Xhaka has low agility and is rash. Partey has been slow to adapt to the pace of our league. And Odegaard (to start with) lacked end product for a 10.
But when they click, you can see what we’re working towards (plus - I’m hoping this is the last season of Xhaka as a starter). But what is the United midfield even supposed to be? Matic was a great player and McFred never will be. But we’re in to what, their third or fourth seasons as linchpins? Of Manchester United?
I don’t get it.
But when they click, you can see what we’re working towards (plus - I’m hoping this is the last season of Xhaka as a starter). But what is the United midfield even supposed to be? Matic was a great player and McFred never will be. But we’re in to what, their third or fourth seasons as linchpins? Of Manchester United?
I don’t get it.
Someone told me on this forum once that "McSauce" was the future of our midfield and was an essential building block back on our way to winning the league
The quality of the midfielders are definitely part of the problem, but the main issue is we have been persisting with formations with only 2 midfielders. We went from Oles 4 2 4 with bruno next to ronaldo, to a variation of that under Ralf. which results in us not dominating midfield and the game, givinfg the opposition more possesion and more opportunities to implement their gameplans.
Just cos we are united doesnt mean we have to play with 2 strikers or 2 wingers. We won the double in 08 playing 4 3 3..
Just cos we are united doesnt mean we have to play with 2 strikers or 2 wingers. We won the double in 08 playing 4 3 3..
Did they just say that's Wolves 3rd goal in 9 matches? Manchester United, take a bow.
It is a strange one. When teams play 2 in midfield it’s usually because they are extremely confident in that pairing.
Arsenal need a midfielder and are being linked with Douglas Luiz from Villa. I was checking him out - I’d like him, but he’d probably be overpriced buying from within the league.
Then it struck me. I’d take a Villa midfielder over a United one, given the choice. Villa are 13th. The same is true for the entire top half of the table (Rodri / Kante / Thiago / Rice / Ndombele / Neves / Bissouma / Ndidi).
How has this happened?
Brentford, take a bow.
It’s embarrassing. Literally every team we play end up dominating us. I wouldn’t be surprised if fecking Middlesbrough do the same.
We had people first half wanting to bring Mbeumo and Toney back into their FPL sides. I am baffled at how we make everyone in the bottom half look brilliant for at least half a match.
I've explained all the negative effects that happens to one's own players (employees) if you severely overpay.
There's something else that happens as well.
There's something else that happens as well.
In fairness, Brentford gave Liverpool and Chelsea really tough games earlier on in the season. Chelsea were hanging on in the second half to get their win. Mendy made so many saves to save them. They also got a draw against Liverpool in their first game against them. They could have won it as well. This team are no joke.