30 Dec 2020 15:03:04
Great result last night. But I wouldn't even bother watching the highlights again it was that poor.

The whole "winning while playing badly is the hallmark of champions" wasn't meant for this Manchester United team. It's meant for the best teams who consistently play great football who have off days and find a way.

This iteration of Man Utd play that slow turgid football quite often. Relying on individual brilliance, a penalty or a slice of good fortune. Again last night I watched a team with no plan. Our movement in the final third is non existent. But as many have pointed out, Christmas time isn't the period to be worried about performances.

The team right now is quite perplexing. We have a lot of good individuals that don't play as a team. We're not a team that is as good/ better than the sum of its parts but it's working. We're just as capable as winning the next 6 as we are dropping points in them all.

We're the equivalent of a goal scored but it's being reviewed by VAR. I don't know whether to get excited by this team or is that excitement quickly going to turn to disappointed if results go against us?

1.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 15:56:07
Since they’ve come back up, every time we face Wolves they’re awful games. I honestly couldn’t care how we play if we keep picking up points. I personally think we’ve played some good stuff this season, probably our best in a number of years. The defence worries me.

I wouldn’t say there was no movement last night, how many times did rashford make movements in behind and the ball not be great? Cavani made a few good runs. A good 3 points last night, move on rather than trying to bring negativity mumbles. I’m excited by this team and like you say we could go on a poor run- but I’m going to enjoy the ride.

2.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 16:02:32
Only the scouse have scored more, we are averaging just over 2 goals a game.

3.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 16:07:01
I think we’ve been playing much more like a team in the past few weeks. The performance against Everton was as good a team performance as I’ve seen from us in a long time.

I agree that we do rely on individual brilliance but hasn’t that always been the case to an extent? Cantona, Beckham, Ronaldo, Rooney to name a few, have all won us games with their individual brilliance. Cantona more times than I can remember.

We’re winning now, can we just have a few days on here to enjoy it 😂.

4.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 16:52:48
Jred, add that "second most goals scored" trophy to the "3rd in the calendar year table" trophy and we could get an open top bus parade for the outstanding achievements.

I am happy lads honestly. It's always nice to score a last minute winner and the table looks decent. All I'm saying is that there are few different faces to this team. We play some outstanding football in bursts. But also some woeful stuff.

Head down and pick up a few more wins and see where we are. All we ask is that we're I the hunt for trophies in March/ April.

5.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 17:14:32
Mumbles we know United are miles off being the finished article but Christ man we've made some improvements. Remember Ole asked for Grealish, Sancho and Upamecano and got none of those reinforcements. Instead we have Van de Beek who Ed has already noted looks to be potentially off elsewhere and Cavani - a last minute addition though he's a quality player and can do a job for 2 years. Diallo at RW could be sensational in time who knows. But the point remains Ole has got us to second after a poor start and without the players he thought he may be getting. Add into that the Pogba 'Is he staying / is he going' circus and I think Ole deserves a little more credit than he's getting.

The knives will always be out for Ole to some extent. He's got the job on pure luck let's be honest and many times he has looked out of his depth. But also given us memorable victories too. Perhaps signs of someone still learning in one of the biggest jobs in management?

Our defence is a worry and we are still a CB short for the first team. I would argue we are short of a Grealish too - someone who is versatile and cover key positions of Bruno and Rashford who we are exceptionally reliant on.

Our RW problem is well documented though expect Greenwood to continue there and the youngsters Diallo and Pellistri are for the future.

Whilst we know we are very much still a work in progress I don't think we are as far away from a genuine title challenge as you may think. I do not think we will win the league this year as that defence just won't hold up. But we can play some good stuff now and are scoring plenty and I think we that will get us Top 4 and a cup this season, then with the addition of quality CB and a goodbye to the Pogba circus we will genuinely challenge for honours across the board next season.

We are second in the league. let's enjoy it!

6.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 17:31:54
No Mumbles I have again pointed out that things maybe aren't as bad as you and a couple other like to make out.

You say we
"Relying on individual brilliance, a penalty or a slice of good fortune"
Averaging just over 2 goals a game over 15 games suggest different imo.
Again no need for an open bus.

7.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 17:41:59
We don’t have anyone competing for top scorer so perhaps other teams are relying on individual brilliance. Bruno is our top scorer but goals are being shared around.

8.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 17:46:39
Cavani and Rashford did make runs off the ball. However, the passes to them were either not timed well or wasn't good enough.
Bruno missed a sitter as well.

The games are coming thick and fast. Winning is all that matters at the moment.
We are the form team at the moment and we also possess the squad depth to challenge Liverpool.

9.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 17:53:21
Halesini, he can ask for Sancho, Grealish and Upmancano all he wants. He's been back fairly well in the transfer market.

Again, I am happy but I think there is huge room for improvement. As you mention, the defence look shakey. I'd be worried about AWB. He looks to be going backwards in terms of development. Going forward he hasn't improved and his positional awareness is off too.

I'd expect any Man Utd team to average 2 goals a game Jred. That's nothing to write home about.

Do any of you think there's another gear or two we can go to?

10.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 18:07:45
On the brilliance subject, Utd have always partly relied on individual brilliance. They have actively sought/ developed these players for years. I honestly believe fergie knew Van Persie’s brilliance would win the league. 2-3 quality signings and Utd will be as good as anyone.

11.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 18:18:16
Mumbles absolutely i have said many times there is room for improvement and an other gear to go into .
But also things are imo nowhere near as bad a some make out.
On this particular thread I don't belive
"Relying on individual brilliance, a penalty or a slice of good fortune" is true " .

12.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 18:29:29
Not buying Sancho and Grealish is an excuse? I would say wanting them in the first place, knowing their price and their personality, is a mistake.
I think is the same Sancho who doesn't played good in a single international match, this year has no goal and last year while scored a lot i didn't see anything to suggest he is a 150+ million player. Are you happy to throw so much money for a player only proven in a weak league, a league that our former Mikytarian seemed to be world class?
Is it the same Grealish that dived 10 times against Chelsea and holds the ball too much? If i remember correctly he almost injured a player diving in front of his foot. Are you happy with 80 millions for such a player?
You must move on from this, no manager have the full backing. And thankfully.

13.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 19:00:18
Herrera- stop chatting rubbish. Grealish is a very good player, a bit of a prat off the pitch but I like him. I’m sure he must be a good player if the messiah pep wants him at city.
Sancho is a good player in poor form- likely caused by the uncertainty around his future from the summer when we messed Dortmund and him around.

14.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 19:28:13
Is he Caolan? Talented yes, but very good player? I am sorry when i see him i don't think he makes his team better like for example winaldum or Bissouma, holds the ball too much much always dives and doent track back too much. Really is he the best buy for 80 millions? Is the "good player in poor form" Sancho worths 150+ millions?
You can keep liking Grealish if you want, oh look at his stats and the fouls won. Let me like whoever i watch and want.

15.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 19:51:26
I think grealish is a good player can beat a man find a pass and works hard for team. Makes villa tick looked the part for England.
Sancho is also a good player, I don't think anyone will spend a 150 mil on him, united certainly won't imo .

16.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 22:08:28
Both are talented Jred. But they are the obvious choice, as Maguire or Bissaka was. Are they the best pair we can get with 250 millions? that's the total cost according to Ed002. Sancho has talent but we don't know if he will become a world class player. Only by paying a huge amount of money will allow us to learn if he will continue improving or not, worth it?
We can't take 100 players and buying one means missing the chance to buy another. So is Grealish the midfielder we are missing? I would go for a selfness player not so effective but who makes the team tick. that's more important than scoring 5 more goals. So why going for someone with outfilled problems and a clearly cheater and not for say Bissouma? Cases like Pogba Unfortunately didn't make us wiser, we are crying for all these players with hype who seems good at highlights and the same time there are much better players with less money.

17.) 30 Dec 2020
30 Dec 2020 22:35:30
Herrera I think I will have to disagree with your judgement on sancho and grealish .
And bissouma as well who imo is nothing like the above?
Have a look at ANGUISSA at Fulham in regards to a pogba replacement.

18.) 31 Dec 2020
31 Dec 2020 00:05:47
Herrera where have you plucked £150 million for Sancho from?

Also Grealish does improve villa- a lot actually. 5 goals and 6 assists in 14 matches. Wijnaldum and bissouma are completely opposite players in terms of role and position. So I don’t get the comparison. I bet you probably thought we shouldn’t sign Bruno because he was in a “weak league”.

19.) 31 Dec 2020
31 Dec 2020 01:51:03
Hang on, someone actually thinks Grealish doesn’t make Villa better? He’s literally their best player and pretty much singlehandedly kept them up last season.