Well that was a chastening result!
I'm not going to go over the top about that result tonight. It was always going to be a tall order to get the result and those two early mistakes killed us after a promising start.
What I do hope tonight will have taught us is that we need to be much better on the ball and that we need to improve our fitness to ensure our work rate is 100% every match.
Tonight may be a bad night but if we learn from it, realise who's worth keeping and who should be shipped out, and get properly prepared for next season it could be a blessing of sorts.
This isn't a vintage Barca by any means but they are very comfortable on the ball when you let them dictate the game. I think Liverpool, once they get past Porto, will have a good chance against them if they get enough of the ball and have quality up to their front players. Their extra oomph in midfield (and in general) should help with that.
Must do's for me this summer are:
Improve the fitness of the squad
Invest in players who fit the style we're trying to achieve. No signing players just because they're a big name. We need to identify positions for improvement and go from there.
Be ruthless when we let players go. For example I mentioned a few months back I didn't think keeping Young was that bad an idea for his experience but he's regressed so badly since then I'd let him go if we can get enough cover and/or trust some of the youngsters we have.
It's going to be a big job for Ole that's for sure but I do hope whoever we sign we don't throw stupid wages at. We need them to want to play for United. I do think there's a decent nucleus in there but we need first XI quality if we can possibly get them in. They don't have to be the obvious 'name' players but players who the scouts identify as having the skillset to succeed in Ole's system.
Onto the weekend I hope we show a reaction from this. If we can take the confidence we had from the early stages tonight then it would be a good platform. Top 4 is going to be difficult from now on in but we've now no excuses not to give it 100% every game.
Not going to go OTT
posted on 16/4/19
I’m still not sold on Griezmann, not sure what it is about him but i don’t think he’s top bracket.
posted on 16/4/19
He’s scored four league goals since he’s been back at Atleti. Morata has managed that since he joined them on loan.
Yeah I agree with that, I actually don’t mind the Europa. But still want to see us in the CL, even if we can’t win it. It’s a great competition.
posted on 16/4/19
Greizmann is definitely top bracket, I just don’t think he’s a particularly entertaining player to watch which is what gives a different impression of his talents. He’s been one of the top attackers in world football for many years, in a defensive team no less.
posted on 17/4/19
Yeah could be that Daz, i don’t watch loads of him. When i have i haven’t been super impressed but maybe it is just because he’s not entertaining.
posted on 17/4/19
Measured, sensible and balanced...
WTF DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?! WE NEED THIRTY NEW WORLD CLASS PLAYERS IF WE'RE GOING TO AVOID RELEGATION NEXT SEASON!
posted on 17/4/19
Ah well it's another day today!
United not good enough at the moment but if we can grow from a humbling at the Nou Camp like we did in 1994 then great.
If it has to be Europa next season then so be it. As we've won it to complete the set we may not have to tske it as seriously as we did in 2017 as I'm hoping for a better shot at things in the league.
Still, not all doom and gloom. Let's try and finish the season well. Big game v Everton on Sunday. If we go into it like we started last night then we have an excellent chance to get 3 points.
posted on 17/4/19
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 42 minutes ago
Ah well it's another day today!
United not good enough at the moment but if we can grow from a humbling at the Nou Camp like we did in 1994 then great.
If it has to be Europa next season then so be it. As we've won it to complete the set we may not have to tske it as seriously as we did in 2017 as I'm hoping for a better shot at things in the league.
Still, not all doom and gloom. Let's try and finish the season well. Big game v Everton on Sunday. If we go into it like we started last night then we have an excellent chance to get 3 points.
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Your poor name
posted on 17/4/19
I think we may have to take a step back to go forward. Obviously would prefer to be in the CL, but there will be less pressure to go out and win the EL so I'd expect we won't take it as seriously as we would the CL. Use it as at least 6 games to blood some young lads and move forward.
I'd expect we'll see as many as 8 players maybe more leave this summer and a good chunk of those will be replaced by the likes of Chong, Gomes, Greenwood, Garner and Tuanzebe I think will get a chance. We desperately need a RB and a top class CB, (Wan Bissaka and Alderweireld??). A Carrick type holding midfielder is needed, Matic is not consistent enough, and a replacement for Herrera and a RW. That's possibly 5 players to come in with the rumoured budget of £200m it probably won't all happen in this window. Patience is needed.
posted on 17/4/19
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 40 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 42 minutes ago
Ah well it's another day today!
United not good enough at the moment but if we can grow from a humbling at the Nou Camp like we did in 1994 then great.
If it has to be Europa next season then so be it. As we've won it to complete the set we may not have to tske it as seriously as we did in 2017 as I'm hoping for a better shot at things in the league.
Still, not all doom and gloom. Let's try and finish the season well. Big game v Everton on Sunday. If we go into it like we started last night then we have an excellent chance to get 3 points.
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Your poor name
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Diafol Better
posted on 17/4/19
One thing I've learned over years of watching football is that the margins are often finer than they appear. In 2005 we were miles off. In 2006 we were the best team in the league, thanks mainly to organic improvement in our squad. Sometimes the margins are psychological (see the shift in performance when OGS took over). Often they are a mixture of belief and telling advantages in quality in a certain area or two. We could be a long way away, or maybe a few good decisions from competing at the top again.
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I can see where you're coming from there RR but that side in 05/06 had a number of advantages over this one.
I'm afraid I think it's going to take some serious nous and more than just a few tweaks to get this squad competing at the highest level again.