We all know that we are struggling with injuries, a manager who we had high hopes for but it's not quite turning out that way, and all the background structure isn't where it should be, but in terms of this current squad of players how good are they?
Every squad had injuries, but if everyone was available, what is a realistic expectation?
We aren't good enough to challenge City, that's a given. I don't think we can match Liverpool currently either. But should we be best of the rest? I would put Arsenal as best of the rest, but are we a match for them with the current squad? And that's without mentioning the likes of Villa or Spurs.
I know football isn't quite as simple as that, but effectively, if the same manager was in charge of all the squads, where would we be?
I look at our squad, and there isn't one player who I think, wow, he is amazing, or near that amazing level. Rashford and Bruno when on form can be very good. Hojlund has potential, along with Garnacho. Varane is solid but injury prone. Martinez is good, although I'm not sure he is quite the saviour everyone is making out to be. Hard to tell how good Mainoo will be, but I wonder because of everything else, are we putting too much hope in him. I haven't covered everyone.
I know that obviously the manager makes such a big difference, where some will get the best out of their squads and perform better as a whole than as individuals, or others will be the other way round (like ours?), although just how good are our individuals in the first place?
I know we aren't as bad as where we currently lie in the table, but where do you rank our squad compared to others, if performing as they should be? I think 4th at a push.
Genuinely, how good are we?
posted on 8/1/24
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 35 minutes ago
4th feels about par for course with this squad.
I would say that Klopp would probably be best suited to the the most out of the squad that we have and might achieve a 3rd/and place finish.
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Klopp would do like he's done in the past and protected his defence by playing at least two defensively minded midfielders. That's why VVD has better than average stats.
posted on 8/1/24
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - One man down, One nil up (U21434)
posted 5 minutes ago
I have followed Utd since early 80s. So don't remember the relegation of the mid 70s which obviously was a real low point.
+++
The season played out in Division 2 was a blessing in disguise and was for many Reds, one of the best seasons ever to be a United supporter.
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I have read about that season and Utd were so dominant in getting promoted, so that would have been enjoyable I guess. Not sure we would want to go through it again...................
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I now quite a few Leeds fans that stopped going to games in the PL. They have now started going again since relegation.
They say it is more enjoyable in the Championship.
posted on 8/1/24
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - One man down, One nil up (U21434)
posted 5 minutes ago
I have followed Utd since early 80s. So don't remember the relegation of the mid 70s which obviously was a real low point.
+++
The season played out in Division 2 was a blessing in disguise and was for many Reds, one of the best seasons ever to be a United supporter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have read about that season and Utd were so dominant in getting promoted, so that would have been enjoyable I guess. Not sure we would want to go through it again...................
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I now quite a few Leeds fans that stopped going to games in the PL. They have now started going again since relegation.
They say it is more enjoyable in the Championship.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They would know I suppose.
posted on 8/1/24
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - One man down, One nil up (U21434)
posted 5 minutes ago
I have followed Utd since early 80s. So don't remember the relegation of the mid 70s which obviously was a real low point.
+++
The season played out in Division 2 was a blessing in disguise and was for many Reds, one of the best seasons ever to be a United supporter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have read about that season and Utd were so dominant in getting promoted, so that would have been enjoyable I guess. Not sure we would want to go through it again...................
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I now quite a few Leeds fans that stopped going to games in the PL. They have now started going again since relegation.
They say it is more enjoyable in the Championship.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They would know I suppose.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I find it quite interesting that they struggled for 15 years to return to the promised land. Then once they got there, after 1 season, they didn't actually enjoy being there. It's a funny old game.
posted on 8/1/24
Depends if you include the manager or just the players.
Put Ancelloti, Pep, and Emerey in charge and we're title challengers with a fit squad. With ETH, 6th.
posted on 8/1/24
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - One man down, One nil up (U21434)
posted 5 minutes ago
I have followed Utd since early 80s. So don't remember the relegation of the mid 70s which obviously was a real low point.
+++
The season played out in Division 2 was a blessing in disguise and was for many Reds, one of the best seasons ever to be a United supporter.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have read about that season and Utd were so dominant in getting promoted, so that would have been enjoyable I guess. Not sure we would want to go through it again...................
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I now quite a few Leeds fans that stopped going to games in the PL. They have now started going again since relegation.
They say it is more enjoyable in the Championship.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They would know I suppose.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I find it quite interesting that they struggled for 15 years to return to the promised land. Then once they got there, after 1 season, they didn't actually enjoy being there. It's a funny old game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
posted on 8/1/24
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 3 hours, 10 minutes ago
Definitely not a title challenging team but still much better than what we are getting.
Most of our injuries have been in defensive areas and despite this it's still the attacking side of our game letting us down more so there's no excuses.
I think more fans would give ETH a reprieve if the attackers were banging the goals in and it was just injuries costing us silly goals. That's not what's happening though.
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Our attacking is just fine, what are you on about? We’re only one goal behind Luton
Some fans are just crazy….
posted on 8/1/24
Good post, have 5*.
I think fourth or fifth. It's difficult to decide with managers in your scenario, eg if Klopp was our manager would the Liverpool have a manager as good.
I think our squad is fourth or fifth assuming all the managers stayed the same and we had Klopp 2. Probably fourth. We need a minimum of one stand out player in attack or attacking midfield to get to say second.
posted on 8/1/24
I really enjoyed our season in division two for a few reasons.
We were dominant so were sure to go up.
We played exciting attacking football, which we knew would be good in the first division.
We liked the Doc
I visited grounds I'd never been to.
For some reason the crowds went up.
The atmosphere was bouncing.
posted on 8/1/24
We played exciting true Man United style football under the doc with proper footed wingers, so much of todays football is passing for the sake of it, not so much us because we’re not even very good at that, the Doc understood United and the fans and had Charisma sadly ETH just doesn’t get it in my opinion