WSL chat - but mostly United miscellaneous

Here's my take about the season so far. Please tell me if I'm wrong.

During the first half of the season we looked good on paper, and went into the holiday break clearly in the mix for a CL spot. At the same time, however, I think we all agreed that the performances we were watching on the field were much weaker than the results on paper. More recently, though, I'm seeing a team that is really coming together and playing with a confidence and freedom that we weren't seeing earlier, and now the results reflect the quality of performances on the field. If we can keep putting up points over the next six weeks, I think we might be ready to seriously challenge the "big 3" in our season-ending trifecta of matches.

During the first part of the season, lots of folks were calling for Skinner's head -- for not making enough subs, or for inflexible tactics or personnel decisions, or whatever -- but it seems to me that the season is unfolding exactly the way he might have been planning/hoping all along. I don't want to get out too far in front of my skis, but I think he might look like a genius by the end of the season.
 
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A big part of our post-Christmas uptick is a rejuvenated Ella Toone. I'm sure Skinner planned to have this version of Tooney back in September but life can be cruel like that.

I also think Naalsund's long spell on the sidelines has been something of a blessing too as it has forced Skinner to use Hinata, and we're really seeing her blossom now. Naalsund will then be very useful depth on her return.

City's injury woes cannot be ignored either, I don't think we put four past a team with Greenwood in it.

I'm sure we are precisely where Skinner wanted to be at this stage of the season, though I not entirely convinced of how much that is thanks to him.
 
Lobster11 said:
Here's my take about the season so far. Please tell me if I'm wrong.

During the first half of the season we looked good on paper, and went into the holiday break clearly in the mix for a CL spot. At the same time, however, I think we all agreed that the performances we were watching on the field were much weaker than the results on paper. More recently, though, I'm seeing a team that is really coming together and playing with a confidence and freedom that we weren't seeing earlier, and now the results reflect the quality of performances on the field. If we can keep putting up points over the next six weeks, I think we might be ready to seriously challenge the "big 3" in our season-ending trifecta of matches.

During the first part of the season, lots of folks were calling for Skinner's head -- for not making enough subs, or for inflexible tactics or personnel decisions, or whatever -- but it seems to me that the season is unfolding exactly the way he might have been planning/hoping all along. I don't want to get out too far in front of my skis, but I think he might look like a genius by the end of the season.
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I think it's progress and we've seen changes in the way he handles the in game decision making this season. We're using subs earlier and more decisively to change shape, not just personnel. It's not just been a "throw on Williams for the last ten minutes" act of desperation.

As I've commented before I think losing some of his "safe bet" players has actually helped. Oddly enough even losing Naalsund and then Toone may have helped.

Toone coming back rejuvenated has cost Clinton her place (though she was going off the boil before Christmas). That's going to be a challenge going forward. Prior to injury it was mostly Toone being moved to try to accommodate Clinton. Whether it's possible to use them both without losing our resilience/control isn't obvious. Though I suspect for now it'll rely more on Clinton finding a way to fit in.
 
AmarilloMike said:
A big part of our post-Christmas uptick is a rejuvenated Ella Toone. I'm sure Skinner planned to have this version of Tooney back in September but life can be cruel like that.

I also think Naalsund's long spell on the sidelines has been something of a blessing too as it has forced Skinner to use Hinata, and we're really seeing her blossom now. Naalsund will then be very useful depth on her return.

City's injury woes cannot be ignored either, I don't think we put four past a team with Greenwood in it.

I'm sure we are precisely where Skinner wanted to be at this stage of the season, though I not entirely convinced of how much that is thanks to him.
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You're certainly right that Skinner can't be credited for the "rejuvenated" Toone, nor the "blossoming" of Hinata after he was forced to play her due to Naalsund's injury, nor City's "injury woes." My only disagreement is that I think we are in much better position right now than he could reasonably have expected (and certainly what I expected). I suspect his goal by mid-season was just to still be in contention for a CL spot.

So, just how much credit is due to Skinner? It seems that we're all quick to blame him when things go wrong, but hesitant to credit him when things go well. I agree with @jojojo that he's made some positive changes in terms of substitutions and tactics. But another thing that I've observed -- and again, tell me if I'm wrong -- is a team that is playing with more freedom and less fear. There is much less back-passing and recycling the ball around the back: The backs and mids seem to be looking first to pass forward, and only backwards or sideways when necessary. The center backs are venturing forward more deeply into the attack, with other players rotating to cover them. Some players, like Toone and Hinata, might be pretty much anywhere on the pitch at any given moment. Everyone looks like they are less afraid of making a mistake and more bold about following their instincts. All this makes me think that Skinner might have learned something from the way Renee Slegers turned Arsenal around -- not so much with personnel or tactical changes, but rather by giving the players more freedom to do what they are capable of doing.
 
Lobster11 said:
You're certainly right that Skinner can't be credited for the "rejuvenated" Toone, nor the "blossoming" of Hinata after he was forced to play her due to Naalsund's injury, nor City's "injury woes." My only disagreement is that I think we are in much better position right now than he could reasonably have expected (and certainly what I expected). I suspect his goal by mid-season was just to still be in contention for a CL spot.

So, just how much credit is due to Skinner? It seems that we're all quick to blame him when things go wrong, but hesitant to credit him when things go well. I agree with @jojojo that he's made some positive changes in terms of substitutions and tactics. But another thing that I've observed -- and again, tell me if I'm wrong -- is a team that is playing with more freedom and less fear. There is much less back-passing and recycling the ball around the back: The backs and mids seem to be looking first to pass forward, and only backwards or sideways when necessary. The center backs are venturing forward more deeply into the attack, with other players rotating to cover them. Some players, like Toone and Hinata, might be pretty much anywhere on the pitch at any given moment. Everyone looks like they are less afraid of making a mistake and more bold about following their instincts. All this makes me think that Skinner might have learned something from the way Renee Slegers turned Arsenal around -- not so much with personnel or tactical changes, but rather by giving the players more freedom to do what they are capable of doing.
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You make some good points. I think for the first half of the season, whilst results were mostly good we were seeing the same old problems that got us frustrated with Skinner in the first place, including chucking away a strong position against Brighton, the meekest of showings at home against Arsenal (where was that Etihad zip??) and the most dismal showing in a good long time in a 0-0 against a Villa side who couldn't buy a clean sheet for toffee. Results masked deficiencies, and that 4-0 smashing of Liverpool provided us with a great lift going in to Christmas.

Since Christmas it has been night and day in my opinion, we have looked so much better. After the derby the most important thing was to keep winning (in the league at least...) to make sure that Etihad result wasn't rendered pointless. I'll Skinner the credit he deserves for getting us this far, he has done so before after all. My personal concern is the same as always, that I am not confident he can take us the next level up. Unfortunately, I also have no idea who could barring nabbing one of the Bompastors of the world who lets face it are waiting for jobs bigger than United to come along.

Challenge on now, we absolutely must win all remaining games before that horrendous run in (it's a fix, it's a fix!!). If we can get top 3 twice in three years, that could potentially be a marker to the world that we are here to stay.
 
Three long posts from @jojojo, @Lobster11 and @AmarilloMike - and I mostly agree with everything that has been said.

We have such a strong defensive base. PTJ gives the defence confidence and the defence gives everyone else confidence. Add to that Dominique Janssen who has been outstanding, and Miyazawa who is practically winning everything, and you have a recipe for success - choose any combination for our four attacking players and I back us to win.

I'm going to give Skinner credit. He sort of stumbled into the Janssen/Miyazawa combination but has persisted with it. Leaving out Clinton is a big call but it is the right call. Toone, Bizet, Galton and Terland ought to put fear into anyone - and to have Clinton, Geyse, Williams, Naalsung,, Malard - who needs to spend half a million on Keira Walsh?
 
I just don't get why MUTV doesn't seem to have full games for the Women's team. I mean, you only seem to get highlights and I want to see full matches whenever I get some time to do so. I'm in Australia right now so I'm considering getting it for the men's games, but not getting the women's team as well is making me hesitate.
 
Himannv said:
I just don't get why MUTV doesn't seem to have full games for the Women's team. I mean, you only seem to get highlights and I want to see full matches whenever I get some time to do so. I'm in Australia right now so I'm considering getting it for the men's games, but not getting the women's team as well is making me hesitate.
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You are right about MUTV, but if you want to see full women's matches then just search WSL on youtube. They are there.
 
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