15 Jan 2021 10:26:06
So we are 2 days away from playing Liverpool and a win will take us 6 points ahead, a defeat will leave us level on points at the top almost half way through the season which is something I don't think anybody on here predicted. We haven't lost an away game in the league in almost a year and our home form has improved since the disappointing game against Arsenal. I still think City will win the title but it looks like we will be in and around the top and not scrambling for top 4 this season, as this form doesn't feel as much of a flash in the pan but a sustained consistent run (especially away from home) .

After the defeat in Istanbul and dropping out of the CL how we did (despite a tough group) I must admit I was in the 'Ole out' camp, our home form was atrocious and we were fluking our way through away games, but you don't fluke an almost 12 month undefeated streak do you?

I guess my question is what has changed in the last year, because we are constantly told by Ed's that the training methods aren't good, AWB isn't trained on positioning properly and the manager is an amateur and I have always agreed he isn't the long term solution, but he has got rid of players who didn't buy into the club, has stopped playing players who aren't good enough (Jones, Rojo, Lingard were all regulars in recent years, I remember when Lingard was the go to man in big games) and has even changed his back room staff mid season which has coincided with an upturn in performance.

I know the consensus on here is that Ole isn't good enough but when I have given that view to mates in recent weeks they are laughing at me saying how he is growing into the job and the results are now being seen. Are they right, or are we just having a lucky year? Is a lucky year a thing?

Posting this now as I have no idea what will happen on Sunday and I think a defeat will send the site into meltdown and people's judgments will be different. This is the quietest January I have ever seen on here which tells me something is going ok.


1.) 15 Jan 2021
15 Jan 2021 13:11:47
Imo we have improved on and off the pitch since ole come in and that is down to a number of factors .
It doesn't happen over night, there is still a lot of work to do but we are definitely moving in the right direction and have been for a good while now.


2.) 15 Jan 2021
15 Jan 2021 13:16:44
Claudia Raneiri had a lucky year. And let's not forget, we haven't won anything yet. Let's put the plans for a statue for Ole on hold eh?


3.) 15 Jan 2021
15 Jan 2021 13:33:23
they didn't have a lucky year TDK they won the title being the best team, they outplayed and beat the so called best teams.


4.) 15 Jan 2021
15 Jan 2021 14:22:28
We have 36 points from 17 matches, that's 2,1 per game and if we continue with the same form we will go at 80 points which is not too much. Even Leicester collected 81. At the other hand we will go from 66 points to 80 and that's progress.
I don't think we are that good, in every country the favourites have problems and that's a chance for underdogs to take something. In any other year the league leader would have 42-45 points and we would have no chance.


5.) 15 Jan 2021
15 Jan 2021 14:24:33
I think whether your Ole in or Ole out, its fair to say that nobody thought he had the experience to do the job when he was hired permanently.

Even the most ardent Ole in supporter would have said he would need to grow into the role at the time. The question was more could he learn on the job and step up, and if so could he do it quickly enough.

We are far from a definitive answer, and I think even if we win the league this year that still can't be considered definitive due to the nature of this season.

I think we as a fan base should probably learn to enjoy the ride and take things as they come. Fact is most managers end up getting sacked, and not because they are doing a phenomenal job.

Look at Mourinho, one of the most successful managers ever, yet sacked by us, Real Madrid and Chelsea twice.

I think we need to shelve the Ole in/ Ole out debate for at least the rest of this season. No one is likely to change their position, and its just becoming repetitive now. Have we progressed? Well we won't really know until the end of the season.


6.) 15 Jan 2021
15 Jan 2021 14:27:05
TDK,

An odd response to my post imo as I never mentioned anything about a statue for OGS or that I think he’s amazing or won anything, imo the jury is still well and truly out and you’ve responded to a post you think I posted and not read it.


7.) 15 Jan 2021
15 Jan 2021 17:27:05
Bruno Fernandes is the answer to your question GDS2. When you look back at our previous form before he arrived it was very hit and miss. The team would show glimpses of form and then show glimpses of how bad they could be and the true form was somewhere in the middle.

I wrote on here many moons ago how Lingard was an appaling footballer, an imposter if you will. Many jumped to his defence, some agreed with me. The CAM posistion is the jewel in the crown. Lingard went 18 months without a goal or assist but because he was born close to Old Trafford and runs around a bit, was given the keys to the kingdom. When Bruno arrived, his work ethic, his passion, his bravado. Everything about that player screams world class and we havnt had that in awhile. There are few in the squad that can be world class on their day but Bruno in my eyes is our true captain. Even his interviews impress me.

Before Bruno arrived we were relying on players who have not shown consistency. Rashford, Martial, Pogba, all on their day could be top class but they could also disappear for very long periods.

If we could sort out our form against the other big boys and we can continue to beat the weaker teams, we are in with a shout.

Very impressed against Burnley, the attitude after a few set backs was fantastic. Huge game on Sunday. I hope he has guts to go for the win because this wonderful Liverpool team are on the ropes.

Very long way to go in the season but we're in the mix and that's the important part.


8.) 15 Jan 2021
15 Jan 2021 18:01:21
Mumbles,

I think you could be right on Bruno, he’s changed the whole mentality of the club, so much so that when he doesn’t perform it seems that somebody else steps up and performs instead. I suppose it goes to show that if one signing can change things that much we can’t have been that far away and a couple more signings in a similar mould could see the start of something special, as a lot of our better players are still quite young. Fun time to be a united fan that’s for sure.


9.) 15 Jan 2021
15 Jan 2021 19:13:14
GDS2, We always posted here year on year saying we were only a transfer window away from kicking on. Bruno is just that type of character that I would say the players love being around.

When we were successful in the early 90s the team was full of characters, huge personalities. Then it evolved to Keane and the class of 92 demanding high standards all being backed by Fergie.

It's not just this United side but football in general has lost those characters. They are few and far between. Lingard at 27 was taking videos of his friends humping a pillow on social media us a plethora of embarrassing antics and this should be a United graduate at the peak of his powers. And when he couldn't do his job right for 18 months he blamed his personal life.

Bruno is the opposite of that. As you said, he's getting the best out off his teammates as well as leading by example. There was a moment against Burnley where he pointed at Pogba to move forward into space. He doesn't shy away on the pitch.

Even his interview after city knocked us out saying it wasn't good enough to be losing in semi-finals we must do better. But our manager comes out saying it wasn't too bad, we were closer to City than when they beat us last year.

Van Dyke galvanised Liverpool. Made them seem invincible. Have the whole club that extra step from being contenders to being world champions. Another Bruno type and we're getting closer to being challengers.

But Red Man made a good point the other day. How long does a world class Bruno stay at United if we don't start winning things because he's good enough to play anywhere in the world.


10.) 15 Jan 2021
15 Jan 2021 19:23:50
Bruno has had as big an impact as Cantona did.

Under Sir Alex we were building a talented young squad, but we needed that player that brings it all together. Cantona did that.

Under Ole we were building a talented young team, but they needed that player to spark something. Bruno looks like he might be that player.


11.) 15 Jan 2021
15 Jan 2021 21:59:20
Bruno is a winner, Cavani is a winner, players with that professional winners attitude is exactly what our squad needed.


12.) 16 Jan 2021
16 Jan 2021 10:51:42
In terms of where we are. Delighted to be top, but this is January, maybe I am affected by all those years pre SAF when we would be up there at times in the season before dropping back. How many times stood on the Stretford End did I sing United, United Top of the league or we’re going to win the league. It feels like we have got a bit heady, over 7 years since we have actually competed and it has gone straight to our heads. Sustaining and finishing off good runs is what matters. It’s no good playing well, having unbeaten runs if it results in nothing. With that in mind, our end product was four semi final defeats, so we are yet to see if we can take that extra step.

No one knows if we can get over the hurdle. In 85 we won our first ten games, we thought no one would stop us and we have to guard against that.

Mentality is vital, most speak on here about Bruno but don’t underestimate Cavani as well, maybe there is a change in mindset. I saw a better team at Burnley, one that actually dominated a game for a change, much better mindset, physically matched them, then dominated until we scored. That gave me hope we can improve.

Look everyone, you know I don’t rate Ole, but happy to be proved wrong. We will likely know where we are before the end of the season, but finishing third after where we are would be disappointing. Tomorrow won’t define the season, but it would be lovely to win. Then we would have set ourselves up to really challenge. It’s when it gets tight that Ole has failed, he must show under pressure he can lead and make the right calls. Interesting to see how this pans out.


13.) 16 Jan 2021
16 Jan 2021 11:28:05
Everyone would of took this at the start of the season.
City and the scouse are still better teams and have been there and done it .
Imo we are still a couple short, target hasn't changed for me this season, close the gap on city and scouse .
We have had a lot of good results over the last 12 month i'm surprised that the Burnley result seems to be up there for a few .


14.) 16 Jan 2021
16 Jan 2021 18:22:17
Shappy, not yet. Cantona took the while team to a new level, Bruno needs to turn up in the big games first.