Rashford out partying at nightclub hours before reporting as too ill to attend training

[Samid]

Not trying to contradict you just think in context Rashford's record is comparable.

Marcus Rashford 126 goals in 384 games,
OGS 126 goals in 366 games
Andy Cole 121 in 275

Andy Cole and Solskjaer played as strikers (not wingers) in a much better team at a time when scoring 3+ goals a game was pretty normal for Utd.... not saying Rashford is the bees knees, and I would rather have a peak Cole or OGS than I would Rashford, but his GPG stats are comparable to players we (I) hold in high regard.

But clearly stats are not everything, Rashford at his best is a better player that either Cole or OGS (IMO), problem is you always got a 6-7/10 performance from them, Rashford tends (a lot like the rest of this squad) to be a 9/10 or a 2/10 and unfortunately the 9/10 performances are in scarcity.

I am not giving Rashford a free pass, TBH I do not really care about the nightclub in the grand scheme of things his biggest transgression is being stupid enough to get caught, it's not like he shat in a nun's mouth (against her will!) he went out drinking, Christ at 26 I think I was hammered 90% of the time, if I had been minted then I would probably have died before I even reached 26.

But his form is criminal, end of the day he can do what the feck he likes off the pitch as long as it is consensual and doesn't involve cruelty to animals! just get it right on the pitch, and there IMO it is more ETH at fault than Rashford.... this team is so poorly set up that nobody is performing to their potential.... stick Pep, Klopp (or another decent manager who has any fecking clue about tactics) in charge of this team for a month and it would be transformed.

"Stats are not everything" says the guy who leaves out the fact that Rashford has scored 15 pens and 15 goals in Europa. Those make up almost 25 % of his goals. Neither Cole nor Ole took a single penalty for us nor did they play second tier European comps.

Rashford better player than Cole and Ole Give me a break. It's an insult to even name him in the same breath as those two, never mind actually claiming he's better than them at anything (other than partying).

PL numbers:
Ole 91 goals, 13 942 mins. 153 mins/goal
Cole 93 goals, 14 451 mins, 155 mins/goal
Rashford 80 goals, 17 797 mins. 223 mins/goal (non-pen: 73 goals, 244 mins/goal)

 

[golden_blunder]

No one gets boo'd at Old Trafford...

Unless it’s MG, who I believe would get booed . Not sure Rashford would though it’s a reasonably small transgression at the end of the day

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Looking at this nightclub issue in isolation, I agree with a few posters that have said ‘much worse’ has gone on and he’s not on his own with this kind of behaviour.

But the trouble with Rashford here is that this isn’t an isolated piece. I’m not even talking about being late for training, I’m talking about his performances on the pitch.

I could forgive him for not scoring 20 goals so far this season. It’s a tough league. But I’ve watched him on more than a few occasions this season and been convinced he’s downed tools. He hasn’t tracked runners. Doesn’t close town. Jogs back when he should be bursting a gut. His performances have been a disgrace this season and that part is unforgivable for me.

He doesn’t have a right to score 20 goals in a season, what he does have though is the expectation to always go out and try his hardest. And that part he has completely failed on.

I can’t think of another player at a top side that has been accused of downing tools in recent years but he absolutely has given up on trying or putting in the required level of a player at his level.

That's the nub of the issue and something that people defending Rashford (admittedly very few of them) don't seem to get. He's not being hung out to dry because he went on the piss and missed a training session. He's being hung out to dry because this lack of dedication/professionalism comes in the middle of the season where his attitude/performances on the pitch couldn't have made it more obvious that there are major doubts about whether our most highly paid player is fully committed to the cause. So when we get cast iron evidence that this is definitely the case, it puts everything we've been watching all season into a new, much worse, perspective.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Unless it’s MG, who I believe would get booed . Not sure Rashford would though it’s a reasonably small transgression at the end of the day

I dunno. There have been audible grumblings from the crowd aimed at his direction a few times already. This could be the tipping point. Especially in a season where the horrendous performances/results has made the atmosphere in and around the club more toxic than I can ever remember.

 

[imamuppet]

That`s why Goal King Cole will always be remembered and respected by United fans. Loved seeing him in action with Dwight York as the terrible twins for the opposition and he also had the drive for success and self-discipline to overlook his personal problem with Teddy Sheringham.

Seeing Andy and Teddy working together on the pitch, you would never have thought they disliked each other. And that is what we haven`t seen enough of since Sir Alex - players putting their egos and personal feelings aside to combine for success after success.

Generally, people from that era were cut from a different cloth. The devolution that has occurred in society in the past 10 years is what we see in those professional footballers who have no strength of character to go against the grain (the trappings of fame, fortune and social media!).

With Rashford is even more of a traversty being one of our own though the dilemma is that being one of our own may have directly led to his deficiencies as a human being, I.e. lacking respect to his profession, fellow team mates, members of family etc

 

[Chumpsbechumps]

That`s why Goal King Cole will always be remembered and respected by United fans. Loved seeing him in action with Dwight York as the terrible twins for the opposition and he also had the drive for success and self-discipline to overlook his personal problem with Teddy Sheringham.

Seeing Andy and Teddy working together on the pitch, you would never have thought they disliked each other. And that is what we haven`t seen enough of since Sir Alex - players putting their egos and personal feelings aside to combine for success after success.

Yorke and Cole was just magic. And if I remember correctly, their partnership was kind of accidentally found due to injuries and they were played together and it worked.

 

[phonics_tid]

That's the nub of the issue and something that people defending Rashford (admittedly very few of them) don't seem to get. He's not being hung out to dry because he went on the piss and missed a training session. He's being hung out to dry because this lack of dedication/professionalism comes in the middle of the season where his attitude/performances on the pitch couldn't have made it more obvious that there are major doubts about whether our most highly paid player is fully committed to the cause. So when we get cast iron evidence that this is definitely the case, it puts everything we've been watching all season into a new, much worse, perspective.

Spot on.

The next point I’d add is this. How can any of his teammates or manager trust him? Imagine bursting your gut like Bruno does and you look over and see a guy that just cannot be arsed. And this isn’t an isolated incident, it happens more often than not, especially this season.

He’s not even being held to a higher standard than others. I think most Utd fans know he’s not close to being a world class talent any more, that’s fine. But as fans, the very minimum expectation we have is that our players fight for the badge and their teammates.

I’m done with him, he’s had too many chances now and it’s best for all that he leaves. I’m convinced he’s going to have a ton of regrets once his career has finished. Shame he’s not aware enough to understand that at the point where he should be entering his peak years.

 

[Ish]

That’s exactly it.

It reminds me of when players would join United under SAF and talk about the shock they would get with the new, different culture where so much more was demanded of them.

Id say the shock players get when they join United now is how low standards actually are. Then they realise they can screw the manager over cause the clubs hopeless at offloading them and they will get paid 100% of their wages , maybe even get a contract extension and a Payrise if they time playing well around contract negotiations.

This is what I hope INEOs stamps out. A manager can’t sort that out, only the club can.

Agreed, i think a manager can sort it out - but he needs the gravitas and the full backing of the board/owners. Kind of like what Pep did at City (rid of Yaya, Hart etc.) or Arteta did at Arsenal (Auba, Pepe, a couple of others) etc etc. Not all of them were obviously "discipline" issues, but a reset can be done by a manager - only if its supported at the top though.

But yeah, more to the point, I'm getting sick of saying it now but i don't think it's been said enough - Woodwards (& the owners!) incompetence from a footballing POV has been the single largest contributor to our malaise.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Agreed, i think a manager can sort it out - but he needs the gravitas and the full backing of the board/owners. Kind of like what Pep did at City (rid of Yaya, Hart etc.) or Arteta did at Arsenal (Auba, Pepe, a couple of others) etc etc. Not all of them were obviously "discipline" issues, but a reset can be done by a manager - only if its supported at the top though.

But yeah, more to the point, I'm getting sick of saying it now but i don't think it's been said enough - Woodwards (& the owners!) incompetence from a footballing POV has been the single largest contributor to our malaise.

To be fair to ETH he’s obviously been trying to do that sort of reset. Hence shipping out a clown like Bailly and playing hardball with Sancho.

What makes his job impossible is the very real possibility that cutting off all the deadwood will leave him with no tree left behind! Which is very different to what Pep/Arteta were dealing with. For all his sins, Rashford is still very obviously our most effective and productive goalscorer (when the mood takes him, which isn’t often)

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

Bizarre way to have a discussion about football. Why even post on here if you won’t stand over your opinions in public?

Recently received an infraction for a back & forth with the poster so felt a PM was more fitting. Poster actually thanked me for the approach.

I’ve said I’d respond to you in long form later. Get over yourself.

 

[Chumpsbechumps]

To be fair to ETH he’s obviously been trying to do that sort of reset. Hence shipping out a clown like Bailly and playing hardball with Sancho.

What makes his job impossible is the very real possibility that cutting off all the deadwood will leave him with no tree left behind! Which is very different to what Pep/Arteta were dealing with. For all his sins, Rashford is still very obviously our most effective and productive goalscorer (when the mood takes him, which isn’t often)

Exactly.

Whatever is going on with Rashford is a Rashford thing. So this season we have lost our most productive forward to some of his own demons that we cant pin entirely on the manager.

We already have a wafer thin functioning forward line this season, Rashford might aswell of been injured for how well hes played.

You see people say "ETH needs to drop that guy and that guy", I mean drop everybody for who ? We dont have Grealish, Alvarez level replacements for players.

Garnacho, Mainoo and Hoijland are all starters because we dont have strong panel of senior player alternatives. They are far too young to be starting regularly for a supposedly super clubs expectations. And "well he signed Anthony" doesnt explain the squad wide issues.

 

[Zed 101]

"Stats are not everything" says the guy who leaves out the fact that Rashford has scored 15 pens and 15 goals in Europa. Those make up almost 25 % of his goals. Neither Cole nor Ole took a single penalty for us nor did they play second tier European comps.

Rashford better player than Cole and Ole Give me a break. It's an insult to even name him in the same breath as those two, never mind actually claiming he's better than them at anything (other than partying).

PL numbers:
Ole 91 goals, 13 942 mins. 153 mins/goal
Cole 93 goals, 14 451 mins, 155 mins/goal
Rashford 80 goals, 17 797 mins. 223 mins/goal (non-pen: 73 goals, 244 mins/goal)

Point taken on penalties... am not saying that Rashford IS as better player, which is clear from the entire post! was saying that IMO in isolation at his best, be it a 15 minute spell, he has more to his game than either... overall he is nowhere near!

 

[matherto]

ETH has forgiven him, the squad have forgiven him, the club say he's welcome back any time. Why are we so bothered? Trial by social media if I've ever seen it.

For this one, I'm gonna posit that I'm frustrated that the culture of the club is such that we just accept it as a mistake. If it was me he'd be sold today and I bet a lot of United fans who at least want him gone in the summer are in the same boat.

God knows what's going on in his head but he's human so he's allowed at least to just not be with it because we all do it to varying degrees but for the club to just let him apologise and then all is forgotten is ridiculous to me and smacks of nobody taking it seriously.

If I was the manager I'd do a Sancho on him. If i was a CEO or in another position further up in the club I'd be getting rid.

Until we start sending the message to the players that they can't take the piss, how can we ever stop them taking the piss?

 

[MadDogg]

What gives me hope with Rashford (and I hope he finds a way to resolve whatever is going on with him), is that he seems to be able to take his medicine when he messes up. He’s not going on twitter to defend himself, seems to be more character in the lad which has me rooting for him moreso then I might for others.

Yeah, I'm somewhat the same in this particular situation. I think there's a decent chance that this lights a fire under Rashford and he comes back playing better than he has at any other point this season. The issue is that even if that does happen, it feels like only a matter of time under he drops back off again.

 

[uwotm8]

Unless it’s MG, who I believe would get booed . Not sure Rashford would though it’s a reasonably small transgression at the end of the day

It is possible at the next home game if we lose against Wolves.

Reasonable amount of animosity building up against him. The fans didn't really appreciate his last goal celebration with the shushing gesture. I could see it happen; not that I want it to

 

[Solius]

For this one, I'm gonna posit that I'm frustrated that the culture of the club is such that we just accept it as a mistake. If it was me he'd be sold today and I bet a lot of United fans who at least want him gone in the summer are in the same boat.

God knows what's going on in his head but he's human so he's allowed at least to just not be with it because we all do it to varying degrees but for the club to just let him apologise and then all is forgotten is ridiculous to me and smacks of nobody taking it seriously.

If I was the manager I'd do a Sancho on him. If i was a CEO or in another position further up in the club I'd be getting rid.

Until we start sending the message to the players that they can't take the piss, how can we ever stop them taking the piss?

Did you see the rest of my post?

 

[VP89]

Heard a bit of Mitten on this and think he was a bit biased toward Rashford in his assessment. He also seemed to scoff at the amount of people wanting him sold, and I don't think he has a right to be surprised by it.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Yeah, I'm somewhat the same in this particular situation. I think there's a decent chance that this lights a fire under Rashford and he comes back playing better than he has at any other point this season. The issue is that even if that does happen, it feels like only a matter of time under he drops back off again.

The thing is, he’s had opportunities like this already this season. When he was finally dropped after his terrible start to the season I assumed his first game back would see a player desperate to prove a point. Yet his performance was arguably even more half arsed than the most recent one before that. It almost felt like he was playing badly in a deliberately passive aggressive way. Wouldn’t be surprised if we see the same against Wolves.

 

[Matt Varnish]

This is a big part of the problem,. Encouraging today`s celebrities in all industries to blame social media and the MSM for `going off the rails`. Big things are expected of people who have the big money, big profiles, big reputations, big lifestyles etc. Some cannot handle this - that is alright,, just don`t keep taking the money and expecting everybody to understand when you don`t deliver.

Totally agree with this, I'm sure he knew the expectations and hence the pressure would be there.

 

[red_de_pologne]

yeah he won't switch on great form all of a sudden, but he can show more passion at least

 

[Yagami]

Heard a bit of Mitten on this and think he was a bit biased toward Rashford in his assessment. He also seemed to scoff at the amount of people wanting him sold, and I don't think he has a right to be surprised by it.

A poll on here would be interesting.

Personally, in a cohesive team and under a proper structure, I think Rashford can still be a positive member of the team, but I think the majority (at least on here) would probably be in favour of selling now. Maybe I'm being too optimistic by letting the romanticism of an academy player coming good for us blind me.

 

[VP89]

A poll on here would be interesting.

Personally, in a cohesive team and under a proper structure, I think Rashford can still be a positive member of the team, but I think the majority (at least on here) would probably be in favour of selling now. Maybe I'm being too optimistic by letting the romanticism of an academy player coming good for us blind me.

I just think there are too many flaws in his game to suit anything outside of counter attacking football. His best seasons have been under pragmatic approaches to the game, and when we want to expand beyond that he can't step up. That sort of tells me his level.

 

[Scarlett Dracarys]

Bottom line respect your manager even if he's shit. Stay professional and do your job.

 

[Yagami]

I just think there are too many flaws in his game to suit anything outside of counter attacking football. His best seasons have been under pragmatic approaches to the game, and when we want to expand beyond that he can't step up. That sort of tells me his level.

That's reasonable. Though, when I think of his best form (which was the 19/20 season before his injury to me), I remember him actually being an asset in terms of breaking teams down because his link-up play with Martial as CF that year in tight spots left opposition players wondering. That was also the year (I think) we were winning penalties left, right and centre because those two alongside Greenwood were just causing havoc. It's a small sample size in regards to his already long career, granted, but, for me, it made me more positive about him fitting in to a team that goes out to dominate opposition.

I just think if we can get him in a cohesive team where he has players around him who he can play off like that year, he can still make a positive contribution. The question is, is that contribution enough to warrant his humongous salary, and will it make up for his troubles off the field? I can totally see why a portion of the fan base is done with him, anyway.

 

[VP89]

That's reasonable. Though, when I think of his best form (which was the 19/20 season before his injury to me), I remember him actually being an asset in terms of breaking teams down because his link-up play with Martial as CF that year in tight spots left opposition players wondering. That was also the year (I think) we were winning penalties left, right and centre because those two alongside Greenwood were just causing havoc. It's a small sample size in regards to his already long career, granted, but, for me, it made me more positive about him fitting in to a team that goes out to dominate opposition.

I just think if we can get him in a cohesive team where he has players around him who he can play off like that year, he can still make a positive contribution. The question is, is that contribution enough to warrant his humongous salary, and will it make up for his troubles off the field? I can totally see why a portion of the fan base is done with him, anyway.

Think we were broadly a counter attacking side then.
His interplay is sometimes good, often not. Think we have had a long sample of Rashford under various managers to know he's not nearly consistent enough. Same with Martial.

 

[TsuWave]

 

[afrocentricity]

Bottom line respect your manager even if he's shit. Stay professional and do your job.

Not that straightforward Scarlett, but I get what you meant....

My last boss was universally regarded as shite, no longer employed there either..... Haha, the prat!

 

[TsuWave]

That’s exactly it.

It reminds me of when players would join United under SAF and talk about the shock they would get with the new, different culture where so much more was demanded of them.

Id say the shock players get when they join United now is how low standards actually are.

Eh, I vividly remember Pique saying the shock he got when he went back to Barcelona at how much more relaxed things were in Manchester - food/diet at the club included.

People have this idea of the Ferguson era - because we were extremely successful - that often doesn’t reflect the truth. Ferguson was just that good though.

Even above I just posted a clip of Keane saying a 12 hour bender was a warm-up session for them. Can only imagine what they did and got away with.

These are individuals that are idolised by millions with shit loads of money - the idea that they’re well behaved and acquiesce to everything and everyone (managers/staff) doesn’t even make sense. No doubt in mind that Ferguson turned a blind eye to and covered up/shielded a lot of players antics. It’s part of the role.

 

[afrocentricity]

Eh, I vividly remember Pique saying the shock he got when he went back to Barcelona at how much more relaxed things were in Manchester - food/diet at the club included.

People have this idea of the Ferguson era - because we were extremely successful - that often doesn’t reflect the truth. Ferguson was just that good though.

Even above I just posted a clip of Keane saying a 12 hour bender was a warm-up session for them. Can only imagine what they did and got away with.

Less scrutiny, and they were winning.

The expectations from fans and media are off the chart nowadays.... On that note, I'm half expecting another infraction so I'm watching my words, pffft

 

[ryansgirl]

Generally, people from that era were cut from a different cloth. The devolution that has occurred in society in the past 10 years is what we see in those professional footballers who have no strength of character to go against the grain (the trappings of fame, fortune and social media!).

With Rashford is even more of a traversty being one of our own though the dilemma is that being one of our own may have directly led to his deficiencies as a human being, I.e. lacking respect to his profession, fellow team mates, members of family etc

Good points. I always loved Andy Cole`s approach - he didn`t believe in putting on an act for the media but dealt with their questions in an understated way. In one interview, after he had been praised for better play and more goals resulting he simply said he was going to `keep persevering`. Self-belief that didn`t need constant proclamation.
No idea why he disliked Teddy to the point of never talking to him except on the pitch because what mattered was winning with and for United.

I think Marcus was mistakenly thought of as a leader who would provide that homegrown United backbone. It has become clear that he tends to drop his head when things don`t go well unlike Davis Beckham, for example, who always wanted to play as Sir Alex said. What Becks went through after the World Cup debacle was a constant media and opposition fan nightmare - nothing contemporary players go through can compare with it.

His attitude on the pitch was always outstanding but the distractions off-pitch were real.When he and Sir Alex clashed we knew there would only be one winner and it was typical of United then that the decision to sell Becks despite his status was making a statement about club over rich and famous individual players no matter how talented.

I don`t think it`s so much that Marcus values the wealth, rich person`s assets and toys and attention he has received playing for United and England more than playing football. I think he lacks the drive of those United players that we miss so much and doesn`t have the strength of character to `be the change`.

I know he can`t do it by himself and he has experienced a different United than that under Sir Alex but I think he has stopped growing as a player. He doesn`t deal well with footballing adversity and that differentiates him from a genuinely top class player. Too much was expected of him without taking into account his limitations. The club for some time has given overly generous contracts to keep players without receiving the performances that would merit them first.

I think he`d be happier in the French League but forget about Spain and Italy - he wouldn`t be able to handle expectations there especially as he can`t do it on his home turf.

 

[Ish]

To be fair to ETH he’s obviously been trying to do that sort of reset. Hence shipping out a clown like Bailly and playing hardball with Sancho.

What makes his job impossible is the very real possibility that cutting off all the deadwood will leave him with no tree left behind! Which is very different to what Pep/Arteta were dealing with. For all his sins, Rashford is still very obviously our most effective and productive goalscorer (when the mood takes him, which isn’t often)

Yeah, absolutely. I'm actually 100% behind EtH when it comes to all these disciplinary matters. I struggle to understand how some of our fans - who have witnessed our fall from grace post SAF, actually side with players here or try to use this as another reason to berate the manager. I mean, there's at least a handful of other very legitimate reasons to berate the manager/want him out. Trying to reset the culture by asking for a minimal level of effort, professionalism, discipline and respect from the squad really shouldn't be one of them. But each to their own.

 

[TsuWave]

Less scrutiny, and they were winning.

The expectations from fans and media are off the chart nowadays.... On that note, I'm half expecting another infraction so I'm watching my words, pffft

Agreed. Everything is so magnified at United. I mean, yeah - what he did isn’t a good look and he def should be disciplined - but the reaction/ just feels so overblown to me.

Consequences of United being so poor for so long, I guess. It’s just funny seeing people “misremembering” the Ferguson era - when the actual players in said Ferguson teams tell you how wild/unruly they were living then at every chance they get.

 

[Chumpsbechumps]

Eh, I vividly remember Pique saying the shock he got when he went back to Barcelona at how much more relaxed things were in Manchester - food/diet at the club included.

People have this idea of the Ferguson era - because we were extremely successful - that often doesn’t reflect the truth. Ferguson was just that good though.

Even above I just posted a clip of Keane saying a 12 hour bender was a warm-up session for them. Can only imagine what they did and got away with.

These are individuals that are idolised by millions with shit loads of money - the idea that they’re well behaved and acquiesce to everything and everyone (managers/staff) doesn’t even make sense. No doubt in mind that Ferguson turned a blind eye to and covered up/shielded a lot of players antics. It’s part of the role.

Agreed. Everything is so magnified at United. I mean, yeah - what he did isn’t a good look and he def should be disciplined - but the reaction/ just feels so overblown to me.

Consequences of United being so poor for so long, I guess. It’s just funny seeing people “misremembering” the Ferguson era - when the actual players in said Ferguson teams tell you how wild/unruly they were living then at every chance they get.

If we were winning it didn’t matter. The expectations were to do with performance on field. If Rashford was playing well for United and did this , it wouldn’t be a problem.

Don’t conflate “Ferguson would let players away with some stuff” with “Ferguson had much higher standards“.

I remember the Ferguson era very clearly. If you were doing your stuff on the pitch , you got away with things that a lessor player would not.

I think of Liverpool and United of the 90s, how Neville said the difference in application was chalk and cheese. And Rio Ferdinand talking of the shock he got after joining, the levels expected etc. even vidic and Evra found it very hard at first to get to the levels they eventually found.

Not just that, Fergusons longevity was because he adapted with the times. I don’t think you necessarily mean it but I’m reading your post as if you think Ferguson was old school type management that didn’t adapt.

 

[TsuWave]

If we were winning it didn’t matter. The expectations were to do with performance on field. If Rashford was playing well for United and did this , it wouldn’t be a problem.

Don’t conflate “Ferguson would let players away with some stuff” with “Ferguson had much higher standards“.

I remember the Ferguson era very clearly. If you were doing your stuff on the pitch , you got away with things that a lessor player would not.

Not just that, Fergusons longevity was because he adapted with the times. I don’t think you necessarily mean it but I’m reading your post as if you think Ferguson was old school type management that didn’t adapt.

I addressed a specific part of your post, which I don’t find reflective of reality - at least in its entirety.

I don’t even know how you got what you got from my post when I said the exact opposite of it. It’s OK though

 

[golden_blunder]

It is possible at the next home game if we lose against Wolves.

Reasonable amount of animosity building up against him. The fans didn't really appreciate his last goal celebration with the shushing gesture. I could see it happen; not that I want it to

Yeah you might be right. If so, he’s only got himself to blame

 

[Lash]

This whole section was great and balanced.

 

[ryansgirl]

Agreed. Everything is so magnified at United. I mean, yeah - what he did isn’t a good look and he def should be disciplined - but the reaction/ just feels so overblown to me.

Consequences of United being so poor for so long, I guess. It’s just funny seeing people “misremembering” the Ferguson era - when the actual players in said Ferguson teams tell you how wild/unruly they were living then at every chance they get.

I think you`re forgetting that when Sir Alex took over at United, he started by reading the riot act to the players and let them know that things were changing. And the changes came, players were sold, discipline was tightened even if it was still normal in those days for professional football players to go out and have heavy drinking sessions.

As for the reminiscing of those title winning teams - they might have been getting up to things in their free time but it was not the same as in the Ron Atkinson teams nor the norms of the 80s and before for professional football players. The players under Ferguson actually delivered on the pitch and worked hard to do so. It wasn`t acceptable for players to drop their heads when things weren`t going well and if they did, they were taken off the pitch.

As media commentators noticed, big name players like Keano, Beckham and Giggs were still playing as if their lives depended on it towards the end of 90 minutes against teams that weren`t rivals in games that didn`t have so much riding on them. United teams were expected to deliver and they usually did. If the Ferguson teams were going on benders in their free time, it certainly didn`t show.

The Marcus Rashford incident/s are being done in a very different context. Manchester United has not had the kind of culture that prevailed in the Premier era since Sir Alex retired and when management is aiming to restore that winning culture where the team is paramount over the individual, do you really think a big name like Marcus Rashford deciding to go pubbing to the point of becoming sick and missing training is just another lads` night out?
Or just a mistake and not just another sign that there is something wrong with the culture at United when you can`t rely on homegrown big names with the biggest salaries to turn up to training and show basic respect to the management and their team members?

 

[TsuWave]

I think you`re forgetting that when Sir Alex took over at United, he started by reading the riot act to the players and let them know that things were changing. And the changes came, players were sold, discipline was tightened even if it was still normal in those days for professional football players to go out and have heavy drinking sessions.

As for the reminiscing of those title winning teams - they might have been getting up to things in their free time but it was not the same as in the Ron Atkinson teams nor the norms of the 80s and before for professional football players.

Respectfully, I’m not that old

 

[ryansgirl]

Respectfully, I’m not that old

Ha! But you can read about it as it`s part of United history. Of course professional football has changed so much along with expectations from society and social media has upped the stakes too but at the end of the day, the way Manchester United players behaved on the pitch under Sir Alex didn`t make us think of whatever they were doing off the pitch too much unless it was Becks in the limelight. Even then his consistency and work-rate puts Marcus and the current United players to shame.

 

[afrocentricity]

... but at the end of the day, the way Manchester United players behaved on the pitch under Sir Alex didn`t make us think of whatever they were doing off the pitch.

Beckham and Ronaldo got questioned on here as did Rio and others....