The main positive for me is that this should act as a reality check for Murtough and his “don’t need that buy anyone in January etc“ narrative. Still a lot of work to do.
Positivity after City
- Thread starter Jericholyte2
- Start date
Yeah, to me the phrase that comes to mind is "trial and error". This type of game gives us a better picture, it's actually useful long term. I get that many people wants to win individual games at all costs but it's not realistic and the "lucky" wins aren't a solid foundation.
But it has to be done, eventually. And it's not the fans so much as the people who run the club that have to realize it first.
They are a machine and will destroy most of the teams they play. I'm not too worried.
What? He looked pretty decent especially in posession when he came on. I don't think he really did much glaringly wrong defensively either, pretty unfortunate for the Foden goal when he tackled Haaland.
I don't think it will, I didn't watch that game thinking "wow, we're desperately missing a fullback" or anything like that. I watched it thinking we're 2-3 years away from that kind of level if we manage things properly. It's not to say we shouldn't do anything in January, but nothing we'd do in January would have made much of a difference to that result.
erm Brentford and Brighton
Agreed but it's not as straightforward as we'd like. Bruno will be given a lot more rope and will be left hanging for much longer than other players because he has credits in the bank and he looks like a leader, pushing him aside will have to be unquestionable. Martial who has been largely rightfully criticized has also I believe made the benching of every other striking options unquestionable, ETH can do whatever he wants with Ronaldo or Rashford because everyone has been able to see how different we are with Martial, now Martial may not be the longterm answer but his performances have exposed the fact that Ronaldo and Rashford are totally inadequate.
Yeah if anything we need to be more patient and not waste our money before we actually see what we do and don't have under ten Hag. We already spent a massive amount, and the last thing we need is ending up with 5-10 players on massive wages who we can't offload. There is a lot of improvement that needs to happen in the way the players we do have are playing before we make finishing touches. Obviously if a starting quality striker or right back comes available, then go for it, but we have reasonable depth right now, so buying for the sake of it is not the right decision.
The biggest postive? This time the result hurts, for way too long i was numb and didnt care.
We brought EtH knowing that he had a system, and would stick to that system no matter what, and that we'd take a few beatings on the way as we slowly learn how to play that system (with plenty of players who simply aren't cut out for it).
Even Guardiola's city got thumped a few times early on, if we ever want to be able to play proactive football and mix it with the best then we need to put up with a few of these results along the way.
Even Guardiola's city got thumped a few times early on, if we ever want to be able to play proactive football and mix it with the best then we need to put up with a few of these results along the way.
The result flatters City, purely because they have a freak of nature up front. He’s just extremely clinical. They’re scoring not only every chance but every half-chance. It skews their goal tally massively. They look vulnerable at the back and are leaking goals. Haaland won’t be starting every game and they will drop points.
We’ll beat most of the teams in the league, and even today’s performance would’ve seen us beat most teams (scoring 3 goals in the second half). We just have to accept City will run away with it this season. We just have to hope they’re left wanting in the CL again.
We’ll beat most of the teams in the league, and even today’s performance would’ve seen us beat most teams (scoring 3 goals in the second half). We just have to accept City will run away with it this season. We just have to hope they’re left wanting in the CL again.
Going forward.
I think this is more of a scenario where ETH just needs time to work with the players get their confidence up and understanding of what they need to do on the pitch. We do of course need reinforcement but then of that starting 11 who are we replacing to make it better and who can you buy in January that can go in and say replace a Bruno or so on?
The chances of unearthing an absolute gem that could do that is slim and players who could do it are either not available of would cost a fortune.
Its just going to take time and hopefully ETH can keep it together without the players crumbling and just keep improving till the summer where he can have another look at it.
The only positive I can take is that it's over.
We won the 2nd half 3-2
We don't have the money. We spent it backing ETH this summer.
It has to be done the right way, of course. Bruno absolutely deserves to be treated well by the club. I just feel that his new contract was a bit premature and points toward the lack of direction on the club's behalf. I think they'll do the same with Rashford, who, as you said, has looked inadequate for the forward position quite a few times in recent years Our executives seem to be dazzled by "moments" players and their stats and lack the understanding of what constitutes a good side organically (Ronaldo transfer, another example). It comes as no surprise, since Fergie used to do their job for them. As for ETH, i think he's waiting for the right moment. For Antony/Casemiro to settle in and Martial/Sancho to hit top form. Then, i suspect, he'll give it a try. Only Pep has the gravitas to force his hand and even he had to be patient with Aguero.
If you want to beat any top top side you need at least your first 11 to show up. We had too many passengers and if you are gonna have passengers it’s gonna be a long afternoon. We needed bravery and an outlet. Rashford and Sancho were anonymous and Bruno is a liability when you know you will have less of the ball.
so All in all- got more than we deserved.
so All in all- got more than we deserved.
Somewhat expected. They are a well oiled machine and we are making baby steps. I expect us to make significant progress by end of the season.
I think EtH has the diagnosis right. It's a self belief thing more than anything. The amount of times we turned over possession in the first half through poor technique or decisions was mind boggling.
We wouldn't have done it against lesser sides, just completely intimidated by the side / occasion.
I think EtH has the diagnosis right. It's a self belief thing more than anything. The amount of times we turned over possession in the first half through poor technique or decisions was mind boggling.
We wouldn't have done it against lesser sides, just completely intimidated by the side / occasion.
Agreed. We kind of needed a reality check to know where we are in the rebuild. We even had some talking of a title challenge on here after our 4 wins.
A big positive for me is you can see we are increasing in the technical players in the team who are actually able to do something with the ball at feet.
Man City have the best manager on the planet, one of the best squads ever assembled from unlimited oil daddy funding.
We are in the first couple of months into a new coach who looks promising. This result shows just as much about where we are going as Ole looking like the second coming of Sir Alex did in his first few months.
We are in the first couple of months into a new coach who looks promising. This result shows just as much about where we are going as Ole looking like the second coming of Sir Alex did in his first few months.
In more ways than one.
How could they be a well oiled machine in more ways than one?
I'm unsure if you're being intentionally obtuse.
I am positive. I know that Ten Haag will never play same way against city again. They are the masters of playing between the lines. Lessons learnt for ETH. Glory glory manutd
I'm positive in the sense we won't play anyone as good as them until the return at Old Trafford. That's some relief.
I'm feeling strangely upbeat. The manner of how we got taken apart in the first half was galling but they are a much better team than us and sometimes that means you get a brushing. If, and it's a big if, we can bounce back in the next few games (Everton is absolutely key) I think we'll have a chance of putting this to bed fairly quickly. The pressure is certainly on to put things right quickly though, and we have a shedload of games on the way.
We don’t play City for a few months?
Nope. Maybe unintentionally. I'm genuinely just curious what you meant.
A machine consists of many different parts. If it is well oiled then all the parts work better together (according to my very limited mechanical knowledge).
So, a well oiled machine says it all. Surely there's no need to say City is a well oiled in more ways than one... Right?
Was just a play on words regarding them being totally funded by oil mate.
I agree in a way. I was expecting us to get easily beaten just because Ten Hag has an uncompromising approach and against a team as good as city it means you either land your punches or get battered.
I had no problem with the effort or commitment today but there was zero belief or composure to go with it. We looked like a bunch of scared barrly trained soldiers being sent to fight an army of dragons or something.
I think there is a positive that Ten Hag has a plan and the players are buying into it...there was none of the skulking about or self pitying we saw so often last season, but it also showed just how far Ten Hag has to go with this team...and not just in the sense of how good City are, but in how easily and alarmingly our players lose their composure and belief. You could tell after less than 2 minutes we were getting soundly beaten today, because the first time City threw a punch we went straight into panic mode and were swinging wildly at thin air.
I expect we'll have a few games like that this season against the top level opponents and time will tell if Ten Hag is able to address it.
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Midfield lacks balance which is the biggest issue. I think United drastically need another ball carrier and distributer either to play alongside or in front of Casemiro assessing his influence in Madirds three man midfield (4-3-3).
This is why the conclusion of our summer activity was average at best. United attained relatively good players individually but the whole squad lacks balance. I think Murtough is a disaster that's already manifested it's going to take ETH having to coach this team into a success before the ideal players are recruited imo.
On the positives I think the club ought to ride these types of moments out so long as there's a foundation in place to build from. If by the end of the season there's a more refined identity, ethos and work ethic / detail off the ball that's enough of a positive to move forward.
To be fair on @Shakesey i also missed that reference, though now you point it out it’s blindingly obvious and nicely done.
I’m feeling a bit stupid now!
I don't think people were expecting to be 4 down at half time.
There are possible positives but only if the management transform this beating into a lesson learned.
Oil club etc
Absolutely none.
Attackers still looked up for it so shouldn’t be that much of a headache to get them up for the Everton game.
We won’t be the only team to concede 6 at the Etihad this season. I think that’s the 5th time they’ve scored 4 or more in a game this season already?
We are still very early into the ETH transition and both results and performances will be up and down all season. The first half was disappointing but had we been 4-0 down last season we would have completely folded and lost 8-0. At least we kept going in the 2nd half.
City look like they’re going to walk the league this season while we are still in the top 7 after playing 3 of the big 6 already. It’s a bad looking result in isolation and it hurts but in the grand scheme of things City are not our competition right now and this result won’t define the season.
We are still very early into the ETH transition and both results and performances will be up and down all season. The first half was disappointing but had we been 4-0 down last season we would have completely folded and lost 8-0. At least we kept going in the 2nd half.
City look like they’re going to walk the league this season while we are still in the top 7 after playing 3 of the big 6 already. It’s a bad looking result in isolation and it hurts but in the grand scheme of things City are not our competition right now and this result won’t define the season.