25 Apr 2021 19:01:32
"It's not going to be 0-0, I can guarantee it's not going to be 0-0. It's two teams who want to attack and attack as quickly as they can. We know that when we attack they're very dangerous on the counter-attack [and vice-versa]. "

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer commenting on his expectations of the game with Leeds ahead of the match.

Bloody jinxed it didn't he, that's it Ole out🤣.

1.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 19:33:36
Owwwww 🎣🎣🎣🎣 I don't think someone will be able to resist.

2.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 19:56:30
It felt like an end of season game. The 2 teams that have enjoyed more goals in their games than everyone else played out a 0-0. I popped onto chat but left quickly as someone said it was the worst game they had ever seen, which was something of an exaggeration.

Bruno is still stuttering, Rashford still isn’t fit, Shaw is still excellent, James is still not a United player, Greenwood is looking livelier, Fred is still erratic.

Ole did the right thing, rest a couple with an eye on Thursday, personally I would have rested Rash who needs recovery time.

3.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 19:56:30
It felt like an end of season game. The 2 teams that have enjoyed more goals in their games than everyone else played out a 0-0. I popped onto chat but left quickly as someone said it was the worst game they had ever seen, which was something of an exaggeration.

Bruno is still stuttering, Rashford still isn’t fit, Shaw is still excellent, James is still not a United player, Greenwood is looking livelier, Fred is still erratic.

Ole did the right thing, rest a couple with an eye on Thursday, personally I would have rested Rash who needs recovery time.

4.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 20:43:55
It’s a game against Leeds and anyone who knows our history should know it is one we should try hard to win, we didn’t. Very ordinary game but the substitutions or lateness of them is baffling.

5.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 21:58:37
It was a poor game to watch. Again Ole fielding Fred and McT.
At some point he need to ditch the defensive approach.

Bruno along with Pogba adds lots of creativity.
Also if Donny still doesn't feature much, we will sadly see him leave.

6.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 22:47:50
I think Ole expected them to play how they did at OT and make it an end to end game, instead they decided not to bother attacking and just marked all of our players out of the game. Ole decided to rest cavani for Thursday with top 4 and possibly top 2 pretty secure we need to make sure Thursday is a good result.

7.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 22:51:54
We had 3.5 players on the pitch that are comfortable on the ball.

Rashford Bruno and Mason, somtimes shaw.

The rest of them especially MCFRED are off the ball players.

Ole needs to find a way over the summer to transition the team to a team that are not scared of the ball.

8.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 06:20:49
Oh and Shappy, there is a very big difference in quoting Ole about a match prediction and ones where he reaffirms his support for, as Neville called them, the leeches. I am sure someone of your supreme intellect understands that.

9.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 09:00:38
Red Man, surely a man of your erm experience knows the difference between a serious comment and someone poking fun.

Simon got it.

As for the match, I agree with Tony and GDS. It felt like an end of season match where both teams were comfortable with their league position and weren't fighting for anything (title, European place, avoid relegation etc) .

While I'd have preferred to see a bit more fight considering it was Leeds. Without the fans in the stadium these types of games lose a lot of that bite which feeds into the players on the pitch from the stands.

While nearly everyone on here has said Ole needs to win a trophy and to that end I wouldn't be surprised if the team had one eye on the Roma game on Thursday. Players don't want to get injured, might even save a little energy and not push themselves as much as they normally would.

At least the United players have some kind of excuse for not giving it their all. What excuse do the Leeds players have for such a poor show on their part? Comfortable in the league, nothing to worry about in terms of relegation. Their first league game at Old Trafford in 16 years, the chance to bloody the nose of the old enemy, especially with them distracted by a European semifinal. Yet they came, they defended in numbers and showed very little ambition to commit men forward, to look for a goal. To be honest I expected much more from Bielsa.

But it's been a long season, there are no fans in stadiums to feed into the tired legs of the players and ultimately there was nothing at stake bar a little pride or one upmanship.

Just a typical end of season nothing game.

10.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 09:30:19
Oh I got it alright, Shappy, just like I got your comments about my age. I also know it wasn’t in jovial humour.

We should fight to win every game to put pressure on City, yet didn’t. We handed it to City, yet when they were chasing us when we were 8 points clear they were relentless. It’s about mindset. It also isn’t just an end of season game, it was a bore fest, most games have been like that.

You are happy that OGS reaffirmed his support for the owners, I am not, especially and even more so after recent events.

11.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 09:56:35
Very few teams shine against united. One plays anti football strangles the opposition and that makes for a dull affair. It can be effective to an extent but just like it was with Jose its a tough watch. Ole could sign Messi Ronaldo and neymar and still score every game.
He said yesterday they are committed to their style and believe in it. Yet it still has not got him to 81 points which we got the season before he took over. So 2 and a half years on we are still not at the place where we finished before he came.
He is a complete buffer. Good at spoiling football games. Pretty efficient which had its merits but its not entertaining or enjoyable. Still we will suffer though it until he is inevitably sacked. The sooner the better for me.

12.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 10:10:15
Red Man, it was meant in a jovial manner. I find a lot of what people put on here funny, even if it wasn't meant to be funny.

It's a banter site, look up the meaning of banter. It's literally meant as a jovial exchange.

Yes ideally we should fight for every match, but the reality is the players are human and they will naturally have one eye on the Roma game. 24 hours ago if I asked you which game was more important to win you'd have said the Roma game.

As for putting pressure on City, really? If we won yesterday we would have been 8 points behind with 5 games left to play.

City have games against Palace, Chelsea, Newcastle, Brighton and Everton.

We have Liverpool, Villa, Leicester, Fulham and Wolves.

On paper our final fixtures look much tougher than City's and we would have needed them to lose 3 of them, while we would have had to have won all 5 of ours.

The title is gone and was gone a long time ago. With top 4 all but confirmed we should be focusing on the Europa league now.

Did Ole reaffirm his support for the owners? I must have missed that, I'm sure you'll be able to find a quote though where Ole says "I support the Glazers". I must have missed it. All I remember him saying was that they have backed him. Which is fair enough, if he feels he has been supported. In fact has Ole ever said he "supports" the owners? I mean he's said the positive spin stuff handed to him by the press officer, but I can't remember him personally giving his support to them.

Like I said you do love a quote, so no doubt if he did indeed say explicitly that he supports them no doubt you'll come back with it. I look forward to reading it.

13.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 10:10:30
The game was at Elland Road Shappy.

What you're alluding to is worrying. The fact that we have a team that wants to avoid injury and conserve energy for a game that's 4 days away? This is acceptable?

Watch Chelsea this weekend. Their work rate was incredible. They suffocated West ham. In his short time there Tuchel has turned them into serious title contenders next year if they can keep it up. They also have a champions league semi final coming up.

Man city absolutely bossed a cup final. They don't let up for a single minute. They've also got bigger fish to fry in terms of the league and the champions league.

From the beaming smile on Oles face at the end of the game he was obviously very happy with the display he saw. I would be worried that there isn't another level we can aspire to get to with this coach and his defensive tactics.

The ethos being instilled into this team is not one of winners. It's one of accepting mediocrity.

14.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 10:26:55
Bang on mumbles. But we are slowly getting back to where Jose left us which is effective boring rubbish.

15.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 11:09:19
Mumbles, the difference between United and Chelsea right now is that it would take a huge collapse for United to not finish in the top four, whereas Chelsea NEED to fight for every point to make top four this season.

I agree Tuchel has them playing much better, let's wait and see if it is dead cat bounce or whether he is capable of sustaining this form over a whole season and actually challenge for the title. He has a squad capable of doing so.

City are just a country mile ahead of everyone. They have the biggest and strongest squad in the league and as such have been able to rotate more effectively with less chance of them dropping points.

"What you're alluding to is worrying. The fact that we have a team that wants to avoid injury and conserve energy for a game that's 4 days away? This is acceptable? "

This is a tired team that for whatever reason hasn't seen much rotation. Key players like Bruno look exhausted, while Rashford has been carrying numerous injuries for up to two years according to his agent. Cavani was rested with the Roma game in mind. Martial is still injured.

The team Ole picked didn't look like a side that was thrown together with no thought on what result they might get. It looked like a team sent out to try and win the game. In the end Leeds showed little to no ambition, and we struggled to break down a team that refused to give us space in behind.

What is ideal and what is realistic are not always the same thing. Ideally I'd have like to see us really go for the throat and score a few goals. The reality is that doing so would have burned up energy and risked injury to a tired and battered first team ahead of what will be our biggest game of the season so far.

Context is needed, this is the most physically challenging season probably ever, a congested season with little to no let off. Last week was the first time since October where the players haven't played twice in 7 days.

If beforehand you could make a choice, United would win one and lose one against Leeds and Roma, you along with pretty much every other United fan would opt for the win against Roma.

Barring an absolute collapse top 4 is done, now we should rightly be focusing on the only thing we have left to win. That's just reality.

16.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 11:54:10
As a Man Utd I shouldn't have to choose between between beating Leeds or Roma.

The excuse that the squad is tired is not one I can get behind. Of course fatigue comes into it, but we don't play high intensity football. And our managers squad rotation and in game management is appaling.

What yoir saying is correct, we have top 4 sewn up and a cup semi final to look forward to. But my point is that we shouldn't be allowed to have a friendly coming into the end of the season. That mindset should not enter the players heads for one second.

We've had 9 0-0s this season. This isn't just an end of season anomaly.

What we are instilling is that it's ok to take your foot off the gas. We could and should have been closer to this City side coming into the last few games of the season.

17.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 12:16:09
Why not just set up to win both? Or at least try to?

{Ed014's Note - I doubt whether Ole could set a dinner table to be fair!

18.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 12:36:46
Sepp, I think we did set up to win both. Started Bruno, Rashford and Greenwood. Played our starting back four, played our starting midfield.

Of course we set up to try and win the game.

The reality is the players probably had an eye on Thursday's game and we were playing a side that showed little to no ambition to try and win the game.

In the end it was a boring 0-0, it happens a lot at this stage of the season when you have two teams with little to play for.

End of, move on and focus on Thursday now.

{Ed077's Note - Isnt Man Utd vs Leeds supposed to be a bitter rivalry? If the team (inc. the manager) arent up for the game then it isnt a good look for them.}

19.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 13:01:27
How many nil nil draws this season? They were not all end of season games. We were the side that had little ambition.

Take a look at the substitutions, Ole was not trying to win just ensuring he did not lose. Why were they so late, why insult DvB with 2 minutes, it’s a disgrace how he has been treated

It’s Leeds, a notable rival over many years but we served up dross.

Ole is slowly but surely removing our attacking reputation, it’s there in front of everyone’s eyes and no amount of essay length posts are changing that.

20.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 13:06:11
It actually doesn't happen that often in end of session games that's nonsense.
Shappy. I know this will be difficult for you but can you answer the following with just 1 word answers either yes or no.
I'm interested in hearing your opinion.
In u he main do you enjoy watching the brand of football ole produces?
Do you find it entertaining?
Do you think other teams play a more attractive / high intensity style?
Do you think our passing is good as a team?
My answer is no to all the above and that is why I want one fired.
In 2 1/ 2 seasons he has made zero progress a
In fact we have regressed in both results and performance imo.
If you enjoy easygoing and if you are entertained that's fine. I don't see any of that. If we won the league in the manner we are playing of course i'd take it because its better than not winning the league but I'd still want one and his anti football out the door on following Ed down the road.
I'm it anti football its anti United and dull.

21.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 13:32:23
One=ole auto spell.

22.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 13:50:21
I'll add to that, there has been 23 0-0 draws this season. And we've been involved in 7 of them.

23.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 13:44:26
Since the start of March up until now in the entire premier league, there have been 5 0-0 draws. We have been involved in 3 of them.

24.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 13:46:37
Ed077, supposed to be, but then I've always felt that in modern football that rival comes from the stands and feeds into the players on the pitch.

Once upon a time when it was 11 Lancashire men Vs 12 Yorkshire men on the pitch it was probably different. But now how many of the 22 players on the pitch are actually from Manchester or Leeds?

Therefore the fight and fire comes from the crowd and fires up the players. Without fans games are very different. Derby games on the whole have been poorer for a lack of fans.

While everyone jumps on Oles back for an apparent lack of fight, no one seems to mention that Bielsa's team showed no attacking intent. Which should be considered strange in itself as that is his well recognised style of play.

Why no fight from Leeds?

{Ed077's Note - Dont care about Leeds lacking fight and desire to win. I would think Ole would be aware of the "importance" of the rivalry to the fans having played in a few of them himself.}

25.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 13:55:35
Red Man that's just bias hogwash from you again. It is your OPINION that United were the side showing a lack of ambition.

The facts highlight that United had 16 shots on goal to Leeds 6, at Elland road.

United had more possession, made more passes, had a higher passing success rate, made more passes into the final third and had more territorial possession.

United named more or less the strongest line up available, with only Cavani and Pogba arguably missing from their strongest 11.

United tried harder than Leeds to win the game even though they have a European semifinal later in the week.

We didn't break down a tough team who played to not lose and showed no attacking ambition. It happens.

At the end of the day it's 2 points dropped, but the reality is it likely won't change where we finish in the league.

I somehow suspect your opinion on the result and performance would be very different if the manager's name rhymed with nosey more-beeny-o. Rather than was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

26.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 14:02:24
jeez mumbles there is an improving stat for shappy to expand on. We have been involved in 30% of all nil all draws this season. But we were involved in 60% of the nil all draws in March.
Manchester United = entertainment vacuum.

27.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 14:19:18
Here you go Ken,

In the main do you enjoy watching the brand of football Ole produces? No.
Do you find it entertaining? No.
Do you think other teams play a more attractive / high intensity style? Yes.
Do you think our passing is good as a team? No.

Do you know the definition of insanity?

It’s repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

I stamped my feet and wanted Moyes sacked, the football was terrible, and I didn’t think it could get much worse.
Moyes got sacked and we got LvG, the football got even worse. I was wrong. I stamped my feet thinking the football couldn’t get much worse.
LvG got sacked and we got Jose. The football was pretty much the same, but the atmosphere around the club turned toxic. I stamped my feet wanting a manager who’d lighten the mood and bring about better football.
Jose got sacked and we got Ole. He did lighten the mood and we do see more youth players getting chances. That’s a bonus. But the football hasn’t improved at all.

Three times I wanted a manager sacked to see better football, three times the manager got sacked and three times the football didn’t get any better.

I’m not stupid, I learn from my mistakes. There is little point stamping my feet and asking for the head of another manager based on the misplaced belief that the next manager will magically improve everything. They won’t. So, I take joy in the good moments of football and seeing young lads come through and represent their boyhood club. I take joy in those moments as they are about all we have.

The next manager will have all the same problems as the last four managers, a lack of ambition, a lack of focus and a club top down that considers record profit as a bigger success than on pitch titles. From what I’ve seen in the past week its clear the owners will not sell up, nor will they change how the club is run. We will have a succession of managers who’ll be expected to do miracles with what they have and will be victims of any success they have. As we have seen that when any manager achieves anything the investment to build further dries up.

This is our club now and until the owners change nothing else will. It doesn’t matter what the managers name is, what previous success he has had or anything else. We are the new Arsenal. Top four, a good cup run and maybe some great talents make it through from the academy into the first team.

28.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 14:42:24
So according to you unless we get new owners we can't win the league. That's rubbish as we have won the league with these owners before.
So do you think a different manager could produce a more entertaining spectacle weekly?
You co. e o here sayi g we need to sign this player or this manager and on the other hand you say it makes no difference who we have because nobody can win.
So why do you support ole? You don't enjoy what he does do you really think nobody can do better?
You are not in favour of trying to play a more expansive entertaining game?
Why do you want nagglesman? Or all the other players you mention?
A you have done i your own condescending words is stamp your feet for a change of owner instead of stamp your feet for a change of manager.
I think if you give ole a blank check to sign who he wants he won't turn them into an entertaining team.
The owners are rotten. But the manager is rotten too.
You have stated its i impossible for anybody to do better than ole that's wrong. His predecessors did better and so will his replacement imo.

29.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 14:47:21
The hypocrisy is the main problem. We have a manager conseded defeat in title challenge from January only for him to say that we will fight for the title until the end when we were 7-8 points behind. Then he smiles with a draw that leaves out of the race for good.
Ole until now is a seller. A seller of hope. Some good words like "we are Manchester United we will fight till the end" but in the end he doesn't do what he says. Yesterday he cared mostly for the unbeaten run. What about the "United way"? Maybe with "United way" he means smiling when drawing. Who knows.

30.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 14:58:45
Definition of insanity🤣🤣 so you want to keep trying the same think with ole Shappy. mmm wonder how that will work out. Probably drive us all insane.

31.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 15:37:06
Ken, surely you can appreciate the difference between wanting something and expecting it.

I want someone to pay £2m for my flat, the reality is they won't pay more than 200k for it.

I want the club to sign a tactical up and coming manager. Do I think they will do it? No.

I want the club to sign great well scouted players who'll make a difference. Do I think they'll do it? Only by luck rather than judgement.

I'm saying the owners are the problem and things won't change while they are here. But I'm not saying let's run them out of town (only because I know there is little we can do to get them to sell up) .

Yes we won the league under them. However, that was on there part by luck and not design. Luck that they had Sir Alex as the manager. Luck that they bought a club set up for success. Then Sir Alex retired and they rippled things up and set down their own design, it's now 8 years and counting without even a title challenge let alone a league title.

As a club we have still only ever won the league under two managers. The Glazers were lucky that one of them was at the helm when they bought the club.

I honestly think that if the Glazers owned the club in the 1980's everything with Sir Alex would never have happened. So I see little chance that something similar will happen now under their charge.

I also never stated it was impossible for anyone to do better than Ole. Just that I doubt many will do better than him in terms of league performance at least anyway.

32.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 16:19:36
Mourinho already has done better than him in terms of league performance though? As well as win two trophies?

33.) 26 Apr 2021
26 Apr 2021 18:59:19
Shappy doubts many managers will do better than Ole in terms of league performance. To get more points than the previous incumbent don’t we need 5 wins out of 5 remaining games?

In terms of the words many would not do better, that means many would.