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Man United Supporters Thread (Part 50)


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Old 29-10-2016, 22:54
batdude_uk1
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That's the saving grace about this result. Goals apart, the statistics are phenomenal and how we failed to win it by 2 or 3 at least I have no idea! 72% possession, 37 shots, 11 on target plus at least two off the woodwork, a sending off and our pressure continued. Those stats taken together make it a totally different situation from when Moyes or LVG were in charge and it does make me feel a bit better than I would have been.

But sadly, we are in serious danger now of irretrievably losing touch with the leaders, it's frustrating to say the least but one of these days, someone's going to get a right hammering. I just hope it doesn't come too late in the season to make a difference.
Be careful with a post like this, you could be called a drama queen!
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Old 29-10-2016, 23:55
f_196
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That's the saving grace about this result. Goals apart, the statistics are phenomenal and how we failed to win it by 2 or 3 at least I have no idea! 72% possession, 37 shots, 11 on target plus at least two off the woodwork, a sending off and our pressure continued. Those stats taken together make it a totally different situation from when Moyes or LVG were in charge and it does make me feel a bit better than I would have been.

But sadly, we are in serious danger now of irretrievably losing touch with the leaders, it's frustrating to say the least but one of these days, someone's going to get a right hammering. I just hope it doesn't come too late in the season to make a difference.
You're quite right Dave. At the moment we are anything but boring.

Last season I cracked the slippers and a pipe out it was so coma inducing.
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Old 30-10-2016, 00:02
d'@ve
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Be careful with a post like this, you could be called a drama queen!
I'm only referring to the leaders (currently City). I have no doubt that we'll make the top 4. The title itself was always going to be hard this season and it's now become 8 points harder, three times over. Harder, not impossible.
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Old 30-10-2016, 00:17
batdude_uk1
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I'm only referring to the leaders (currently City). I have no doubt that we'll make the top 4. The title itself was always going to be hard this season and it's now become 8 points harder, three times over. Harder, not impossible.
Yeah on these points we agree, and it is nice that we are thinking along the same lines.
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Old 30-10-2016, 07:56
ags_rule
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Yeah on these points we agree, and it is nice that we are thinking along the same lines.
So you agree that there is "no doubt we will make the top four" even though you have in the last few pages been saying our best chance of CL football next season is by winning the Europa League? Which is it?
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Old 30-10-2016, 09:15
batdude_uk1
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So you agree that there is "no doubt we will make the top four" even though you have in the last few pages been saying our best chance of CL football next season is by winning the Europa League? Which is it?
I mean that I agree that our football on the whole has been a lot more entertaining this season then it was last season, and the fact that we are eight points behind the leaders, which makes things that much more harder in terms of any potential title bid.

As for a top four place, yes it is still possible, and we may do just that, but it is looking a tad hard to see at the moment, if we go on a winning run, (of which our football at least in the Stoke and Burnley games deserves) then my optimism would increase dramatically.

The Europa League is still a crucial element for us, and we should be taking that as seriously as possible, as it is one way of making sure that we have Champions League football at the club next season.
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Old 30-10-2016, 09:37
sixtynine
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And there goes our title chances for this season, the gap is becoming bigger and bigger as time goes on.


I mean that I agree that our football on the whole has been a lot more entertaining this season then it was last season, and the fact that we are eight points behind the leaders, which makes things that much more harder in terms of any potential title bid.

As for a top four place, yes it is still possible, and we may do just that, but it is looking a tad hard to see at the moment, if we go on a winning run, (of which our football at least in the Stoke and Burnley games deserves) then my optimism would increase dramatically.

The Europa League is still a crucial element for us, and we should be taking that as seriously as possible, as it is one way of making sure that we have Champions League football at the club next season.
So the "Drama queen" has changed his mind... There go our title chances has now turned into much more harder!

As a previous poster advised me, I won't waste my breath conversing with you.
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Old 30-10-2016, 09:48
batdude_uk1
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So the "Drama queen" has changed his mind... There go our title chances has now turned into much more harder!

As a previous poster advised me, I won't waste my breath conversing with you.
I am no drama queen, our chances have become that much more harder due us drawing our last three league games, eight points is a bit of a significant gap to have to close, even at this early stage of the season.

Our title chances do seem a bit remote to myself at this moment in time, can that change, of course, but that does depend on ourselves returning back to winning matches on a consistent basis, something that so far has eledude us.

If we can put together an decent run of five or six consecutive victories, then we will be right back in with a chance of achieving some degree of success, but until we do something like that, (which of course I hope that we do), then we will remain just outside of where we want and need to be.
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Old 30-10-2016, 10:03
mikeyddd
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So the "Drama queen" has changed his mind... There go our title chances has now turned into much more harder!

As a previous poster advised me, I won't waste my breath conversing with you.
That's so ironic
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Old 30-10-2016, 13:58
d'@ve
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Just to expand on my midnight thoughts earlier today, the thing is that 3 to 5 teams in effect have broken away at the top, whatever happens at Southampton this afternoon. I am assuming that at some point by the end of the year, we will go on a solid winning run as Jose learns what is his best team and how and where they should all play. I'm confident of that as we've put in a few pretty impressive performances already and the goals will at some point start going in, these things usually even themselves out when you are creating chances (unlike last season).

If we assume that I'm right about that, and that some of the current top 5 (the ones to worry about IMO) will continue dropping points at the same rate as so far, we'll catch some of them. But if 1 or 2 of them go on a run better or longer than ours, we'll be facing a 9 to 12 point gap by Christmas. So I think even challenging for the title will now be very difficult, but I am sure we'll make the top 4.
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Old 30-10-2016, 14:02
Brutal Ardour
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Just to expand on my midnight thoughts earlier today, the thing is that 3 to 5 teams in effect have broken away at the top, whatever happens at Southampton this afternoon. I am assuming that at some point by the end of the year, we will go on a solid winning run as Jose learns what is his best team and how and where they should all play. I'm confident of that as we've put in a few pretty impressive performances already and the goals will at some point start going in, these things usually even themselves out when you are creating chances (unlike last season).

If we assume that I'm right about that, and that some of the current top 5 (the ones to worry about IMO) will continue dropping points, we can catch some of them, but if only one of them goes on a run better or longer than ours, we'll be facing a 9 to 12 point gap by Christmas. That's why I think even challenging for the title will now be very difficult. not so with top 4, I am sure we'll make that.
how can you be so sure? The current top five sides look much better than United. I think you have a chance but i wouldn't bet on it.
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Old 30-10-2016, 14:03
DUNDEEBOY
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Just to expand on my midnight thoughts earlier today, the thing is that 3 to 5 teams in effect have broken away at the top, whatever happens at Southampton this afternoon. I am assuming that at some point by the end of the year, we will go on a solid winning run as Jose learns what is his best team and how and where they should all play. I'm confident of that as we've put in a few pretty impressive performances already and the goals will at some point start going in, these things usually even themselves out when you are creating chances (unlike last season).

If we assume that I'm right about that, and that some of the current top 5 (the ones to worry about IMO) will continue dropping points, we can catch some of them, but if only one of them goes on a run better or longer than ours, we'll be facing a 9 to 12 point gap by Christmas. That's why I think even challenging for the title will now be very difficult. Not so with the top 4, I am sure we'll make that.
The media are saying only six points behind now eight, but the problem is it's around four of five teams to go past now which makes a title challenge unlikely.

I suppose if you get four that will do for this season but if you don't more pressure is heaped on your team again
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Old 30-10-2016, 14:09
d'@ve
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how can you be so sure? The current top five sides look much better than United. I think you have a chance but i wouldn't bet on it.
Confident might have been a less contentious word, but no, I'm sticking with sure. That's for top 4, not the title. The chances are already coming and IMO goals will eventually come as well. If we weren't creating chances, I wouldn't be saying this. From what I've read and the woefully short clips on MOTD I still cannot believe that we didn't score yesterday so for that reason I'll be watching the full match replay on MUTV tonight, perhaps I'll know more then!
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Old 30-10-2016, 14:12
NorthernNinny
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Unless we find our scoring boots we won't get top 4.
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Old 30-10-2016, 14:39
Danny_Francis
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Don't think we can be sure of top 4, I think one place in the top 4 is up for grabs and were in contention for it mathematically but we've got a real fight on our hands were mixing it with Spurs, Chelsea and Everton. We've finished outside the top 4 in 2 of the past three seasons, we don't look like title challengers so it's not unthinkable it could happen again. While were still in the race for it, I'll believe that we can do it but like I said we could just as easily finish outside of it. Too many competitive teams in the league now
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Old 30-10-2016, 14:49
Jim De Ville
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Don't think we can be sure of top 4, I think one place in the top 4 is up for grabs and were in contention for it mathematically but we've got a real fight on our hands were mixing it with Spurs, Chelsea and Everton. We've finished outside the top 4 in 2 of the past three seasons, we don't look like title challengers so it's not unthinkable it could happen again. While were still in the race for it, I'll believe that we can do it but like I said we could just as easily finish outside of it. Too many competitive teams in the league now
Yep, pretty much spot on.

We've got a real job on to get ahead of City, Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea. I wouldn't be putting any money on us to get into the top 4, at this stage.

Of course, it could all 'click', and we could go on a storming run, but I'm not 'sure' that it will happen.
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Old 30-10-2016, 15:40
batdude_uk1
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Yep, pretty much spot on.

We've got a real job on to get ahead of City, Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea. I wouldn't be putting any money on us to get into the top 4, at this stage.

Of course, it could all 'click', and we could go on a storming run, but I'm not 'sure' that it will happen.
Everton are very much in the mix as well they cannot nor should not be written out of the equation at all either.

It is just so competitive at the top, that getting a top four place will be a heck of an achievement for those four teams that do eventually finish up doing so, as there are six or seven teams trying trying to do so.

Unless our form changes for the better, then we will not be getting one of those crucial top four places, and hence Europe will become much more of a priority then perhaps it is at the moment.

Each of the teams above us, has something we do not possess currently, a striker who is scoring goals, you have Aguero at City, Giroud at Arsenal, Sturridge at Liverpool (even if he is struggling to get league goals), Costa at Chelsea, Jansen at Spurs, Lukaku at Everton, whilst our strikers are just not doing so.
That needs to change pronto, if so, then we might find ourselves closing what is just beginning to look like a bit of an unhealthy gap between ourselves and those top four places.
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Old 30-10-2016, 16:07
d'@ve
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Don't think we can be sure of top 4, I think one place in the top 4 is up for grabs and were in contention for it mathematically but we've got a real fight on our hands were mixing it with Spurs, Chelsea and Everton. We've finished outside the top 4 in 2 of the past three seasons, we don't look like title challengers so it's not unthinkable it could happen again. While were still in the race for it, I'll believe that we can do it but like I said we could just as easily finish outside of it. Too many competitive teams in the league now
Last season we weren't creating the chances though, and this season we are, so that's at some point likely to convert into goals. Strikers all have lean spells and that too will likely end before too long.

Also, the competitiveness of this season's PL will ensure that other teams at the top will continue to lose points not only against each but sometimes against the rest as well. And Jose is a new boy at the club, unlike Klopp, Wenger, Pochettino and even Conte to some extent. All else being equal, I think he's likely to achieve a greater improvement than the others, as the season progresses.

Cup half full.
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Old 30-10-2016, 17:57
allan_robertson
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how can you be so sure? The current top five sides look much better than United. I think you have a chance but i wouldn't bet on it.
I agree. The top 4 are Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and man city. Spurs may well finish ahead of mufc. Every week there have been problems in a section of the team. Finishing was a problem yesterday, last week it was defending and in other games it has been midfield creativity. There are big qtn marks over 6 first team squad members, all of whom may get moved on in 2017 but need to be properly replaced. Mufc best chance of a trophy are in a domestic cup competition. You won't win Europa league.
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Old 30-10-2016, 18:18
NorthernNinny
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I agree. The top 4 are Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and man city. Spurs may well finish ahead of mufc. Every week there have been problems in a section of the team. Finishing was a problem yesterday, last week it was defending and in other games it has been midfield creativity. There are big qtn marks over 6 first team squad members, all of whom may get moved on in 2017 but need to be properly replaced. Mufc best chance of a trophy are in a domestic cup competition. You won't win Europa league.
If we do I'm going dredge the forum for this post.
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Old 30-10-2016, 19:03
Makosi's pants
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Confident might have been a less contentious word, but no, I'm sticking with sure. That's for top 4, not the title. The chances are already coming and IMO goals will eventually come as well. If we weren't creating chances, I wouldn't be saying this. From what I've read and the woefully short clips on MOTD I still cannot believe that we didn't score yesterday so for that reason I'll be watching the full match replay on MUTV tonight, perhaps I'll know more then!
Watching the clips made me think those who commented on the game live on here must have swallowed pill mountains of Valium while viewing. We appreared to be all over them, there were two sweet combinations between Pogba and Zlatan and the save from Zlatan's overhead kick was exceptional. Plus, as much as Zlatan needs a goal, I'd be much more upset if he wasn't often getting in position to score. Of course, highlights never tell the whole story, but I did go and look up some comparative stats from the city match. We had 11 shots on target yesterday, more than in the whole match against city when we had the grand total of 8 and only two on target.

Last season we weren't creating the chances though, and this season we are, so that's at some point likely to convert into goals. Strikers all have lean spells and that too will likely end before too long.

Also, the competitiveness of this season's PL will ensure that other teams at the top will continue to lose points not only against each but sometimes against the rest as well. And Jose is a new boy at the club, unlike Klopp, Wenger, Pochettino and even Conte to some extent. All else being equal, I think he's likely to achieve a greater improvement than the others, as the season progresses.

Cup half full.
Yep. We have already seen this to some extent with Spurs and City. Spurs are still unbeaten but can't stop drawing and City were in a slump until yesterday. I'd be shocked if we won the title but top four is still well within reach.

Fancy a top-up d'@ave?
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Old 30-10-2016, 19:39
batdude_uk1
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Once again next week's fixtures allow us if we can get back to winning ways, to cut the gap somewhat to the teams above us, as Chelsea are playing Everton, and Arsenal have got a derby with Spurs.

Vital that we go to Wales and come back with three points, another "well we played very well, created lots of chances" sort of draw, would simply be unacceptable (nevermind a defeat!).
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Old 30-10-2016, 19:59
Malbren
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These dropped points against Stoke, Watford, Liverpool, and now Burnley, have already done some serious damage to our season, in terms of what we can now expect to be fighting for come the end of the season.
Yes it is early days, and yes things could change, and I sure hope that things change in our favour sooner rather than later, but we cannot keep on saying that we were unlucky in matches, as we have done today and against Stoke and Liverpool.
Hi Bats - Can I just politely ask why a) you consider an away draw at Liverpool with barely a shot on target as "dropped points" and b) why you think a point at anfield was "unlucky"?

I know I support Liverpool so have an interest but I'd say you deserved no more than a point at best from that game and therefore it was a decent point for you and by no means were you unlucky in the game from my recollection?
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Old 30-10-2016, 20:06
Jamesp84
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Hi Bats - Can I just politely ask why a) you consider an away draw at Liverpool with barely a shot on target as "dropped points" and b) why you think a point at anfield was "unlucky"?

I know I support Liverpool so have an interest but I'd say you deserved no more than a point at best from that game and therefore it was a decent point for you and by no means were you unlucky in the game from my recollection?
Quite right. However, given that Bats spent the week beforehand proclaiming the game as 'must win' and admonishing anyone who dared to suggest that they'd be happy enough with a point (i.e. most of the rest of us), I can see why he'd consider it as points dropped.
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Old 30-10-2016, 20:12
mikeyddd
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I think it's because if Ibra had scored from the header he missed then United would have gone on to win the game, without realising that football doesn't actually work like that.
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