Now, that I have grabbed everyone's attention.
He is partly, and by that I mean only a very little bit, right when he talks about our squad players being gash.
Allow me to explain.
In all of our great SAF teams when ever we have rested players and gave the squad players a game, it didn't effect the way we played. For example, Gary Nev could be rested and in would step JOS or Wes Brown and our style of play wouldn't change. Even Phil was more than adequate at LB or CM. Becks could be rested and OGS would play on the right, same thing, etc. Squad players would step in and more often than not our football continued to be the same.
Since then this really isn't so. Take Valencia out and replace him with Darmian and we have lost any attacking threat down that flank. Ditto when ever we put Blind and Rojo at LB.
Take out Matic and we lose any kind of control in front of the back four and our midfiled is all over the place.
I have said in recent weeks that Mata, Mik and Lingard don't seem to ever play in the same position week in week out but are shunted around from left right and centre. So when they are rested or dropped there doesn't ever seem to be any continuity in how we play.
This isn't meant to be any kind of rant into last nights game as the went pretty much how I expected, but more on a theory of why our football is so inconsistent.
Stretty is Right
posted on 21/12/17
Do any of us know what our first eleven is? I don’t.
The best sides always had/have a first eleven plus squad players,
We don’t. We just have 22 players of similar but not exceptional ability.
posted on 21/12/17
I think our first eleven is this
DDg
Valencia Bailly Jones young
Matic Pogba
Micky Lingard Martial
Lukaku
Obviously now that Micky looks to be off perhaps Rashford will be playing in his position more
posted on 21/12/17
Robb
I think you can only list six or seven out those as outright starters to be honest.
posted on 21/12/17
I think the GK, defence and midfield are all nailed on starters if all fit. Lukaku too
Just the three behind Lukaku which like you say is up for debate
posted on 21/12/17
Not having a consistent spine in the team is a big problem for us, no doubt about it. A team needs familiarity, we've not had this for any length of time for a good while. Especially in the back four.
While cb is not as pressing a concern I wouldn't be surprised if Mourinho goes out and signs a reliable one that can bring some leadership and consistent performances.
None of our cb's currently provide this and he'll be facking doing his nut because of it.
posted on 21/12/17
comment by Zlatan The King Ibrahimovic (U10026)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
Not having a consistent spine in the team is a big problem for us, no doubt about it. A team needs familiarity, we've not had this for any length of time for a good while. Especially in the back four.
While cb is not as pressing a concern I wouldn't be surprised if Mourinho goes out and signs a reliable one that can bring some leadership and consistent performances.
None of our cb's currently provide this and he'll be facking doing his nut because of it.
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We've got eight senior players who play at centre back. EIGHT.
If he buys another one I will facking do my nut, never mind him.
How about the coaching staff and physios actually develop and strengthen some of the undoubted talent we have, rather than we spunk another £30m on an area of the team that doesn't need reinforcement.
RW and CM is where we need to invest in quality.
We have plenty of players who can play at LB and sufficient cover at RB.
posted on 21/12/17
Yeah but he'll likely move one or two on. Coaching a physios can only do some much if your players are just crocks. Phil Jones springs to mind.
I agree about cm and rw.
And while we have plenty of cover for full back we don't have the quality needed. We've got Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia playing there for precisely that reason.
posted on 21/12/17
Valencia is one of the best fullbacks in the PL. How often does he get beaten? And going forward the stats demonstrate that he's a lot more useful than many give him credit for. Some of the grass-is-always-greener merchants on our board seem to believe there are hordes of rightbacks out there racking up 10 or more assists every league campaign. It simply isn't the case.
LB we could invest in (yet a-facking-gain). Or we could try to have one of our countless players who can play there (Shaw, Blind, Rojo, Darmian, Mitchell, Young, Riley) step up and claim the shirt.
Young is at present doing very well there, and deserves to keep the jersey. He may not be a long, long term solution, but if he keeps to the level of performance he's demonstrated in recent weeks through the rest of the season, we won't actually have an immediate problem at LB.
posted on 22/12/17
comment by TCW (U6489)
posted 14 hours, 25 minutes ago
comment by Davismungopark#InJoseITrust (U10279)
posted 31 minutes ago
(U10279)
posted 1 minute ago
Sideshow
I really don't think your squad is a bad as some fans have made out. Mourinho just isn't able to get the best out of it. Those who aren't willing to believe that Mourinho isn't the right manager for the job will continue to blame the players though.
Same way fans blame a 'lack of service' for a newly signed striker's terrible performances.
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Which player in this United squad do you think Chelsea will appreciate to have for free?
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martial, rashford, bailly maybe, DDG
Martial
Doesn't do enough to take the game to the opposition, always failing in his tricks. seems lazy and doesn't contribute much without the ball
Rashford
Young and wasteful. plays as if he's already a star (overhype) had 2-3 opportunities last night to kill the game with a simple pass but wasted it. very frustrating player. if not homegrown, will be on the bench
DDG, Valencia, Bailey and Pogba are the only players I can vouch for that have the chance to be part of any top 6 sides
Has been said
United squad is indeed average (midtable standard)
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May as well switch back to supporting Chelsea then mate
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posted on 22/12/17
------------ De Gea
--- Azpi, Christensen, Bailly
Valencia, Pogba, Kante, Alonso
--- Hazard, Morata, Martial
I'd take at least 5 players from United's starting XI and A LOT of their squad players. They have a good squad. Just missing that one special player.