We are not going to score enough goals

Even if he comes back into the squad, there is no guarantee he would provide goals immediately. He hasn't played a professional game of football in a year and a half. He also hasn't had a pre-season. It could take him a while to get back to his previous level.

Unfortunately this quote could be used almost as much to describe martial
 
I remember when we sold RVN that people said we weren’t going to score enough goals with then young Rooney and Ronaldo, and brilliant but injury prone Saha.

And I’m pretty sure when we brought in ADM and Falcao alongside Rooney, RVP and Mata, we were creaming ourselves about goals galore.

Both occasions you somewhat agreed with it on paper but the reality was much different.
 
Oh yes I’d forgotten about the building work back then. I hardly made it to any games that season owing to birth of first child, moving house and turbulence at work. United prospered in my absence though :lol:
That was the start of the end of my match going days, I stopped going on a regular basis at the end of that season, it was becoming too expensive
 
That is suggesting we had almost the expected goals from our open play as Manchester City. This is clearly bollocks.

Yeah I'd have thought the same but it's opta so likely legit? I didn't find any models that broke it down by open play / set play so still not a 100% certain.
 
Do you have to be a knob about it though?
Not my intention but I can often veer there, my bad.
Why do you have to refer indirectly to me as ‘the fan base’?
I don’t mean you as the fan base, part of it but not you singularly.
All I said was that I believe we’re close to a challenge based on what we saw last season apart from when the schedule, injuries and suspensions took their tole around February.
I distinctly remember speaking to rival fans around the new year who said they thought that we were a couple big wins away from a genuine challenge. I think we were around 5 points off the top at the time.
Getting close to said challenge would depend in my opinion on signing a top striker e.g. Kane, plus improving the midfield and goalkeeper.
Im not happy with Antony, but maybe he will improve.
If Rashford had a similar season to last, coupled with Kane’s goals, I don’t see why we couldn’t be optimistic, what’s the point otherwise?
We finished 3rd last season. Surely youd be hoping for at least 2nd if good signings were made?
I distinctly remember fans & pundits alike saying how crap we were 2 games into the season being the same people that were calling us crap when we still exceeded their expectations. With the team we had we were never really a challenger but of course people set us up to pull us down which is exactly the trap I feel people are falling into this season; we’ll be a better 11 but we’re going up against teams & managers who have had much longer to craft squads.

Fully agree with the last sentence, I’d like us to ‘improve’ on last year but I don’t think that’s as simple as a league place nor should we hold EtH to standard we’ve seen recent examples not being for others. I don’t want mediocrity, I want us to challenge this year to be clear.
 
Not my intention but I can often veer there, my bad.

I don’t mean you as the fan base, part of it but not you singularly.

I distinctly remember fans & pundits alike saying how crap we were 2 games into the season being the same people that were calling us crap when we still exceeded their expectations. With the team we had we were never really a challenger but of course people set us up to pull us down which is exactly the trap I feel people are falling into this season; we’ll be a better 11 but we’re going up against teams & managers who have had much longer to craft squads.

Fully agree with the last sentence, I’d like us to ‘improve’ on last year but I don’t think that’s as simple as a league place nor should we hold EtH to standard we’ve seen recent examples not being for others. I don’t want mediocrity, I want us to challenge this year to be clear.
Fair enough. Nice that we’ve signed Hojlund, let’s hope he does well.
 
Do not worry. All will be well. We will score exactly 100 goals in the PL this season. They will be split between these players...

Rashford 18
Højlund 16
Bruno 12
Eriksen 8
Mount 8
Garnacho 8
Martial 6
Casemiro 5
Sancho 5
Shaw 4
Dalot 2
Varane 2

The last six goals will be own goals. Five of those will be scored by VVD in the historical 8-0 revenge against Liverpool at OT. The sixth will be smashed in by a frustrated Harry Kane, pissed as f... because we couldn´t afford him.
 
There is some truth to this, but chance creation was not our problem, finishing was. I think the main difference between us and teams like City and Arsenal last season was the distance to the goal when winning the ball back, i.e. a high defensive line. It is easier to create bigger chances when the ball is won closer to the danger areas. The signing of Onana should help massively with this, and a striker that can occupy the oppositions centre backs should help a lot as well with creating space. Statistically we should expect more goals this season just based on our underperforming last season but I also believe the type of players ten Hag has targeted will make us a lot more dangerous. Mount is comfortable in tight and congested spaces and areas of the pitch, which we'll need in midfield if we play a higher line.

All in all I'm quietly confident our scoring will increase notably this season. We might start a bit slow, given that the De Gea/Onana change is huge and some player may need some time to get used to it, but the signs are pointing in the right direction if you ask me.

I agree with both of you a bit. We shouldn't have issues creating, but we do need more dribbling/carrying threats especially against higher quality opposition. Rashford's dribbling is meh, Antony never takes anyone on, Bruno is awful on the ball, and Sancho as we've seen just isn't really a threat in that way. Garnacho is really the only consistent 1v1 threat we have in the squad and he's still very raw in other aspects and not ready to be a starter.
 
We would score more goals when we know how to control games and pin the opposition back. Arsenal and City do that all the time and it allows them to create many chances. No doubt we also have to be more clinical than last season but the ability is there
 
I agree that we can get better at chance creation. I tried to explain in that post why I think we will, and that players that can dribble isn't the only way to get there. As someone pointed out earlier, one of our biggest problems in recent years is getting bodies in the box. With the whole team pushing up the field the distance players will have to cover to get into the box should hopefully be drastically shorter, which again should lead to better chances and more goals scored. Players with good ability in tight spaces, such as Mount and Sancho should be quite useful centrally if this is the case. More people close to the box centrally should also leave some more space open on the wings, which could help players like Antony and our fullbacks quite a bit. It might not always work, especially to begin with, but I like the direction ten Hag is taking the squad.

Antony doesn’t score much even at Ajax. It has to be either Amad or Greenwood for me.

Given Rashford’s and all the other players improvements under ETH including AWB… I reckon Mason Greenwood would be world class under Eric. I want him given counseling and given a second chance… o don’t see any other way to compete with liverpool who are scoring goals for fun with Salah, Nunez, Diaz, Gakpo
 
With Bruno and Mount, we have two of the best chance creators in the league. We have a new number 9 (who admittedly is raw), flanked by two of the best goalscorers in the division, Rashford and MG. I would love for us to have another striker rather than Martial, someone like Gift Orban, and I think we would be absolutely flying.

Our problem last season was that we didn't have a proper striker, our right winger (Antony) is good at holding the width, but isn't a great creator or goalscorer, and Rashford is a good goalscorer, but less of a creative winger. That left all the creativity to fall on Bruno's shoulders. This season we should be much more balanced.
 
Do not worry. All will be well. We will score exactly 100 goals in the PL this season. They will be split between these players...

Rashford 18
Højlund 16
Bruno 12
Eriksen 8
Mount 8
Garnacho 8
Martial 6
Casemiro 5
Sancho 5
Shaw 4
Dalot 2
Varane 2

The last six goals will be own goals. Five of those will be scored by VVD in the historical 8-0 revenge against Liverpool at OT. The sixth will be smashed in by a frustrated Harry Kane, pissed as f... because we couldn´t afford him.
Time to wake up now!
 
Time to wake up now!
Ok Realistically we scored 58 PL goals in last 2 seasons, a huge improvement would be 85 PL goals which is what I’m predicting

Realistic Goal Targets PL ;

M Rashford - 15
Bruno Fernandes - 13 (Pens)
R Hojlund - 10
Garnaucho - 7
Antony - 6
J Sancho - 6
M Mount - 5
A Martial - 5
Casemeiro - 3
Ericsen - 2
S Amrabat* (providing he signs) - 2
The Whole Defence - 3
Others - 4(S McTominay, Amad, K Mainoo)
Own Goals - 4
 
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Do not worry. All will be well. We will score exactly 100 goals in the PL this season. They will be split between these players...

Rashford 18
Højlund 16
Bruno 12
Eriksen 8
Mount 8
Garnacho 8
Martial 6
Casemiro 5
Sancho 5
Shaw 4
Dalot 2
Varane 2

The last six goals will be own goals. Five of those will be scored by VVD in the historical 8-0 revenge against Liverpool at OT. The sixth will be smashed in by a frustrated Harry Kane, pissed as f... because we couldn´t afford him.

Watching Dortmund Vs United we are shot shy, same as Madrid as soon as we play a decent team we concede space don’t take our chances and play pretty football with very little end product, if we score Less than 65 PL goals this season we’ll get found out, we need an experienced number 9 that gets goals to go with Hojlund, this inability to take chances is starting to worry me we should have been 4-2 up half time. But there is no way we are scoring 100PL goals, my 85 prediction looks pretty stupid as well?
 
It's a big problem when it's pre-season and you don't score more than 2 goals in any of the games.
 
We'll create plenty of chances but I really hope hojlund shows some composure in front of goal because our guys shit themselves
 
We'll create plenty of chances but I really hope hojlund shows some composure in front of goal because our guys shit themselves
I don't think we've really created enough this pre-season to suggest this. I hope I'm wrong but a lot of the players haven't yet clicked into gear when they should be by now.
 
I don't think we've really created enough this pre-season to suggest this. I hope I'm wrong but a lot of the players haven't yet clicked into gear when they should be by now.
Yeah it's just pre season so while I agree we could have created far more, I think during the season we'll be that bit sharper and create more. Taking chances I think will still be the biggest issue and not creating. We get in great areas very often and it feels like we are getting there more consistently and look dangerous, but it's not translating to the final shot or a goal often enough. Needs a bit more composure.
 
Yeah, pinning our hopes on a 20yr old who is new to the club new to the league new to the style of play to score our goals. Good luck with that. That’s not fair on the kid at all. We have to get another striker in because we are woeful infront of the goal. Doesn’t have to be a marquee signing. Just bring in someone decent enough to take the pressure away from Hojlund and can share the burden. I don’t trust anyone right now in our team whether it’s Sancho or Rashford to lead the line for us and score goals.
 
I don't know what people were expecting today, we played without a striker.

It'll be an entirely different situation when we have a proper centre forward in the team
 
Yeah, pinning our hopes on a 20yr old who is new to the club new to the league new to the style of play to score our goals. Good luck with that. That’s not fair on the kid at all. We have to get another striker in because we are woeful infront of the goal. Doesn’t have to be a marquee signing. Just bring in someone decent enough to take the pressure away from Hojlund and can share the burden. I don’t trust anyone right now in our team whether it’s Sancho or Rashford to lead the line for us and score goals.
Yep. Unlike some others I think we were better off getting another striker in instead of bringing Mount in this season. Him and Bruno playing together during pre-season have made us look very disjointed in midfield, while at the same time not offering us more attacking threat.
 
Yep. Unlike some others I think we were better off getting another striker in instead of bringing Mount in this season. Him and Bruno playing together during pre-season have made us look very disjointed in midfield, while at the same time not offering us more attacking threat.

its pre season, not real season. Real lost 7-3 to Atletico one season and won the league. Also Cleverly, Leon Bailey and Darwin Nuñez have looked like World beaters here. Even Rooney has looked like Heskey in pre season.
 
ETH might tinker too much with Bruno on the right to balance our midfield. That could become a huge issue imo and will weaken us upfront
 
Let's hope Rashford picks up when the season starts or we're really struggling. His purple patch ended in Feb/March.
 
I mean that's just a load of crap. Bruno has largely been the most creative player in the world alongside KDB and he's hardly had a load of great options in front of him for much of his career with us.

They don't create much because they aren't creative players. For Rashford that's fine as he's actually a good goalscorer and improved his finishing tremendously last year. For Antony it's a huge issue as he isn't efficient at all in front of goal while shooting more than anyone else on the pitch not named Rashford.
Yep, Bruno got 18 expected assists last year, the most of any player - De Bruyne was next on 16. However, he only had 9 actual assists, the deficit being due to our poor finishing. De Bruyne got 18 assists, two more than his expected number.
 
People point to Bruno apparently creating so many chances according to the stats. But I genuinely think overall we don't create enough. Maybe it's the lack of a focal point up front, but I do worry because we've got so many wasteful attacking players.

This isn't based on the pre-season.
 
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People point to Bruno apparently creating so many chances according to the stats. But I genuinely think overall we don't create enough. Maybe it's the local of a focal point up front, but I do worry because we've got so many wasteful attacking players.

This isn't based on the pre-season.

Depends on the metrics you look at.

There was an Opta model posted yesterday that had our open play xG only behind City in the league. Set piece xG was awful though.

I do think we could create more chances. I actually think we progress play pretty well into the final 3rd, but our decision making at times is shocking.
 
James Ducker saying a decision will be made prior with regards to Mason by the beginning of the Premier League. I think he's going to be back in the squad.
 
James Ducker saying a decision will be made prior with regards to Mason by the beginning of the Premier League. I think he's going to be back in the squad.

From a pure football standpoint it makes sense to keep him He fixes some major issues we have.

From a moral standpoint it's a lot harder to justify of course.
 
Depends on the metrics you look at.

There was an Opta model posted yesterday that had our open play xG only behind City in the league. Set piece xG was awful though.

I do think we could create more chances. I actually think we progress play pretty well into the final 3rd, but our decision making at times is shocking.

Yep. I think this is a major element that kills us so often. We get into amazing positions quite often, but the killer ball is miles off and/or the wrong decision is made a staggering amount.
 
People will say it’s only pre season, but literally all of the exact same problems from last season are still present.

Getting top 5 will not be easy.
 
The front three have some serious weaknesses. Obviously we'll be adding Hojlund which should improve a couple of areas. But even then we'll still have Rashford, Antony and Sancho on the wings and each of them are really poor in at least one area.
Rashford is seriously thick and his decision making is horrid. He is too Inconsistent. Antony also is thick and has poor decision making, but he's also painfully one footed and selfish, choosing to shoot too often and wasting possession. Sancho is mentally weak and has no aggression and lacks determination.

It's not an attack that comes close to the elite teams that win the league let alone the CL. Nowhere near enough end product. The decision making and composure are seriously poor for this level.
 
We'll need it to click more than we've ever seen it click before. There's a lot more hope than expectation with our attacking players, and that's not really the situation you want to be in.
 
I don't think a lack of a prominent goalscorer is what will determine whether we will score enough goals or not. If we keep improving our general play, the chances to score as well as the actual goals will come. It's easy - create more, and more goals will come.

I know we considerably underperformed last year in regards to expected goals, but I would be willing to bet that it was a considerable outlier and that we will score much closer to the rate we should be scoring the upcoming season. However, more of a concern to me is that I would think some of our best players are more suited to a counter attacking style of football rather than possession based style. I'm thinking mainly of Rashford and Bruno here, and I'm happy to be proven wrong, but that is my feeling about them.
 
James Ducker saying a decision will be made prior with regards to Mason by the beginning of the Premier League. I think he's going to be back in the squad.

A decision one way or another must have been made by now.

I reckon he'll be reintroduced but the club didn't want him near a pre season/advertising tour.

There's no doubt from a football perspective he's what we need.

Those current forward options are nowhere near good enough.