We really haven't. We've got a good first XI (that somehow still seems burnt out from last year) and very poor bench options. I don't think we'll make top 4 this year, barring 2-3 very good signings over the next couple of weeks.
Top 4 race / race abandoned (or maybe not) / Leicester & Chelsea in the process of bottling it
- Thread starter Andycoleno9
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Bench had about £200m of talent v Palace, that is not poor options.
Think a lot of Utd fans under rate your own players.
Can see that with loads of ex Utd players in later stages of EL and CL last year.
We don't, we just watch them play. Their monetary value (which for example probably includes the high fee we paid for Mata 8 years ago) are pretty irrelevant currently. That is, if you actually watch us play.
We are looking forward to an exiting season. Liverpool are nailed on champions. Can‘t predict anyone else, somehow not even City as a secure top 4 finisher.
Our season is over already, still hurt after that weekend game
Why do you rate City so poorly?
Usually I'd say it's bonkers to suggest our season is over after a loss in the first match of the season but 1-3 against Palace at home playing the way we did was a serious downer and it's difficult to feel optimistic.
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It’s in our hands.
I think United took their position in the top 4 for granted. Might be an unpopular opinion but Utd getting top 4 last season was more due to the poor competition. Arsenal and Tottenham were shambles and so were Chelsea at times. Leicester imploded and bottled securing top 4 even when Utd gave them plenty of opportunities.
Arsenal and Tottenham look a lot better this season with Everton coming into the equation as well. Under the current circumstances, I expect them and Leciester to fight it out for 4th spot with Chelsea coming 3rd.
Arsenal and Tottenham look a lot better this season with Everton coming into the equation as well. Under the current circumstances, I expect them and Leciester to fight it out for 4th spot with Chelsea coming 3rd.
I agree. I said this last season: we benefited from a weaker league. It was obvious that the league was going to get stronger in terms of competition, and that we would have to react.
Now, we are suffering from Tottenham getting managed by Mourinho, Chelsea actually getting to sign players, and Arteta making Arsenal far more solid (although, not remarkable.). Then we have Everton, who have had a brilliant transfer window, Wolves, and Leicester.
Well, not that I was taking it for granted per se but I was more sort of eyes forward, looking how we could build on last year's blistering form post signing Fernandes.
Signing DvB was a good start, we needed to spread our kitty around squad strengthening like a solid RW and CB but seem focused on attack which is a place we are already pretty good imo.
Top 4 is very difficult to call, I no longer am sure we will be there, 2 home defeats already at an aggregate of 2-9 is a shock to the system.
35 games left, win 22-23 and we will probably have done enough.
Everton, Spurs, Arsenal all look SO much better this year.
City slipping and Pool are suffering from Covid and their intensity probably catches up this year, don't think anyone's place in top 4 is100%.
Signing DvB was a good start, we needed to spread our kitty around squad strengthening like a solid RW and CB but seem focused on attack which is a place we are already pretty good imo.
Top 4 is very difficult to call, I no longer am sure we will be there, 2 home defeats already at an aggregate of 2-9 is a shock to the system.
35 games left, win 22-23 and we will probably have done enough.
Everton, Spurs, Arsenal all look SO much better this year.
City slipping and Pool are suffering from Covid and their intensity probably catches up this year, don't think anyone's place in top 4 is100%.
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I think we’ve blown it already.
bite...
bite...
I don't think it's an unpopular opinion. 66 points would have got you top 4 in 5 PL seasons since it began having 38 games (since 95/96)
Goes back to the season before that as well when Spurs and Chelsea fell over the line. With Everton, Leicester and the apparent improvement of Spurs and Arsenal there might actually be a higher standard to finish top 4 this season rather than just who's the least shit which it's been for the past 2 years
How we react from a defeat like this will tell us everything about this team.
After we did that under Fergie, he won I don't know how many games with a clean sheet and a one goal margin.
I am Ole in but I think he is too soft now and he has his favorites. Pogba plays no matter what...the same about Maguire...
If we were solid against big teams last year it was mostly because of Fred and MacTominay doing the dirty job. With Pogba and Matic in the middle we have no one to run...
I would like to see a double pivot of Fred and VanDeBeek. I am sure we will be much faster and solid at the back.
Top 4 is out of equation right now. We should start by winning some games !
After we did that under Fergie, he won I don't know how many games with a clean sheet and a one goal margin.
I am Ole in but I think he is too soft now and he has his favorites. Pogba plays no matter what...the same about Maguire...
If we were solid against big teams last year it was mostly because of Fred and MacTominay doing the dirty job. With Pogba and Matic in the middle we have no one to run...
I would like to see a double pivot of Fred and VanDeBeek. I am sure we will be much faster and solid at the back.
Top 4 is out of equation right now. We should start by winning some games !
Despite only being a couple of points off the top, who genuinely believes we will make top 4 this season?
I feel Liverpool, City and Chelsea are nailed on to get top 3 and most likely be challenging for the title with the strength of their squads.
That leaves 4th spot for Utd or Spurs for me. Personally I feel it would need Kane to be out for a significant period of time for them not to finish in top 4.
If we don’t fix our inconsistencies quickly and start putting a run of good performances together, we may be settling for 5th. We’ve been getting lucky with results recently, but we can’t keep relying on comebacks like we have been doing. We’ve stolen 3 points against Brighton and West Ham. We can’t keep relying on rescue acts with moments of brilliance.
I feel Liverpool, City and Chelsea are nailed on to get top 3 and most likely be challenging for the title with the strength of their squads.
That leaves 4th spot for Utd or Spurs for me. Personally I feel it would need Kane to be out for a significant period of time for them not to finish in top 4.
If we don’t fix our inconsistencies quickly and start putting a run of good performances together, we may be settling for 5th. We’ve been getting lucky with results recently, but we can’t keep relying on comebacks like we have been doing. We’ve stolen 3 points against Brighton and West Ham. We can’t keep relying on rescue acts with moments of brilliance.
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It’s in our hands.
Yeah... How dare we score goals to steal their points. Shame on us.
People on here were raving about Chelsea last season too! In fact the naysayers were telling us how we’d more likely be in a relegation dog fight than achieving top four! I personally think Chelsea and Tottenham have peaked early and will tail off as we head into the new year!
Why not ? Look at it this way, without being brilliant consistently, we're in great position already.
I think Spurs are more nailed on for top 4 than City. City haven't really shown much but are just living on their reputation of things they achieved whilst they still had Silva, Aguero, Kompamy and Fernandinho at something resembling their peak.
Its City that are gettable for me but I don't think we will be good enough to fight both City and Leicester off because we are too inconsistent and one player is the difference between us being a pub team or a contender. If we lose Bruno and Rashford we are done.
The thing is that every week it seems like we are nowhere near the quality of a elite team, but we get results.
We can clearly play like an elite team and if we are able to put in a run of 8-10 games like that, we'll be right in the mix.
This season looks like it's shaping up to be an exciting one for a number of teams. Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool and City can all win the title. United can look like world beaters one day and utterly hapless the next.
There are a lot of ifs and buts with United, and the one thing for sure is that we will need to be very lucky with injuries (especially to Bruno) to get Top 4 or better.
We can clearly play like an elite team and if we are able to put in a run of 8-10 games like that, we'll be right in the mix.
This season looks like it's shaping up to be an exciting one for a number of teams. Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool and City can all win the title. United can look like world beaters one day and utterly hapless the next.
There are a lot of ifs and buts with United, and the one thing for sure is that we will need to be very lucky with injuries (especially to Bruno) to get Top 4 or better.
That's just a ridiculous point. By that same logic, Spurs stole way more points than us since they do nothing at all in their games and rely on 1 or 2 opportunities from Son and/or Kane to score.
And if Chelsea and City can challenge for the title, so can we. With our so called "very bad start" and inconsistency we're above city and potentially 2 points behind 1st. Chelsea are 3 points above us while we have a game in hand.
You may have stolen 3 points against us, we hit the woodwork 5 times in that game and I still haven't got over your penalty after the final whistle had gone! But the West Ham game was totally different, you had a poor first half and then totally blew them away in the second, completely different games.
Win our outstanding game and we are on the same points with Chelsea and yet Chelsea are being touted to be in the title race while we are the ones that are termed inconsistent and fighting for top 4. We are somehow always the underdog. Could be as a result of us always putting ourselves in a position where we have to make comebacks and playing counter attacking against top teams
When Chelsea and Spurs have a good run of results it’s because they are the real deal. When we do likewise it’s because it’s a fluke.
I am happy for United to continue being written off widely.
I am happy for United to continue being written off widely.
Better for us to be underdogs. I would like us to have our deep in form now and start playing better later as Chelsea are an unstoppable force aparently now and will probably loose form later on.
I just love the fact we are potentially level on points with Chelsea while being bad and them in title challenge ! That for sure won't backfire on us !
The idea that Chelsea have already peaked is bizarre to me.
You never know. Look at the posts prior to yours - most were saying that Arsenal looked a great bet, and two months later they're 15th, 8 points off fourth and closer to the relegation zone points-wise. Liverpool, City, Chelsea and Spurs will be favourites for those positions, no doubt, but I wouldn't write us off completely.
Yeah there’s some weird Chelsea jealousy on here at the moment. You have a really strong squad, Havertz, Pulisic and Ziyech still yet to play together. Your defence is completely changed from last season. You’re controlling games, rotating the squad, creating chances and haven’t sacrificed that despite the improved defences performances bar the Old Trafford game. Your only defeat was with ten men against Liverpool and you smashed your CL group. It seems massively wishful thinking and serious red tinted specs to think it’s a sure thing Chelsea will stutter and United will overtake.
Absolutely agree. Things change so fast in football. Earlier in the season I had arsenal finishing above us due to our shocking start.
Even last season I would have given us absolutely no chance finishing 4th from January when we were 14 points off Leicester.
We still have an amazing chance. I just feel we can’t afford to continue with the inconsistency we keep having.
As of now, I feel Spurs are going to be our biggest threat to 4th but I don’t see them collapsing so badly like Leicester did.
This week really could be season defining. 2 wins against Leipzig and city could really get us going for the season. 2 defeats and anything could happen!
There's not, their fans are just really obnoxious so no one wants to give them any credit.
There are a lot of nonsense takes when it comes to the PL at the moment. I would agree the idea Chelsea have peaked is rubbish. Just like many summarily write off United from doing some major damage this season.
What is there to be jealous of? Chelsea are looking good, but like last season we are neck and neck with them. There’s this strange narrative around United where their good results are explained away by blind luck but the likes of Spurs and Chelsea apparently have grand plans.
For sure. Would also not rule out the impact of Covid on players. Pogba said it affected him badly, Havertz, Mane, Gundogan, Dybala all struggled/some still have issues getting back to their best.
Some of the comments on here are priceless. Written off for top 4 after 2 and 3 games. After 10 games we're 5pts off top spot with a game in hand.
I think the top 4 will be Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea and City, though in what order I don't know.
I reckon United will just miss out and that their current points total, even taking the game in hand into account, flatters to deceive ... which their GD total tends to indicate. All in all I don't think they'll be consistent enough to make it.
I reckon United will just miss out and that their current points total, even taking the game in hand into account, flatters to deceive ... which their GD total tends to indicate. All in all I don't think they'll be consistent enough to make it.
Your logic for United could also be applied to City...
Perhaps true. But City have a track record of consistent top 4 finishes for a fair few years now (and mostly top 2), so I don't see them falling off sufficiently this season.
Writing off a United team currently on a 4 game winning streak in the league is equally bizarre.