Winning tonight is very important because it takes a bit of pressure off the weekend. If we win tonight and lose on Sunday we'd be no worse off.
comment by Glazers_Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 1 minute ago
Winning tonight is very important because it takes a bit of pressure off the weekend. If we win tonight and lose on Sunday we'd be no worse off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's look to win both. I doubt we'll catch LFC at a better time (even though they're still capable of beating us easily of course) with their defensive injuries.
Tonight is the game though. Sunday can worry about itself.
JustYourAverageFan (U21016)
Everyone could see before the international break we were completely unfit due to long season before.
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by JustYourAverageFan (U21016)
posted 20 seconds ago
comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 11 minutes ago
Just because they stayed up and no one expected them to win it but it is a bit like Man Utd last season we had won 9 games out of 24. Then Bruno came in and we we won 9 and drew 5 of our last 14 games and got 3rd and carried onto this season. When you think of it both sides ended the previous season strongly and carried it onto the next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You didn't carry it on into this season though as you were labouring at the start of the season, 15th after 4/5 games I believe? How did you take such fantastic form into this season?
I think Man United go through peaks and troughs. A really good spell of form for a time, a bad spell of form for a time and then repeat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If we can get through that bad form/good form cycle then that will be a positive for this season.
At the start of the season I wanted us to target 76 points. We're on course at present so that would be progress.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
United are showing potential to be genuine title contenders, it's about if they can sustain it and break away from the good/bad form they seemingly go through. If you do, you're well in with a shout, if not then I think you will fall short.
Either way, all this expected goals/points nonsense is just a load of stats that tell nothing.
Perfect example after international break our first game we managed 28 shots 14 on target.
comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 1 minute ago
JustYourAverageFan (U21016)
Everyone could see before the international break we were completely unfit due to long season before.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That's not what you said though, you said that you carried your good form into this season, which wasn't the case.
I know there may well have been a reason for it, but you didn't carry your strong end of last season into the start of this one.
I'd say we've had some bad form this season at the start, although more down to lack of fitness after a poor pre-season, but we've had a bad run of games performance wise during recent months and managed to still pick up the points which is promising.
Yes I agree with that, United have picked up points when they haven't been their best and have even won games from losing positions, showing signs of a good side.
But stats such as expected goals, expected points, number of shots/shots on target etc are not a true indicator of how good a side are. It certainly doesn't make one side lucky and another unlucky as previous comments suggest.
I meant we carried it on after we got match fit. Everyone who watched us could see we were struggling at the start of the season. I just hope we win the league and also end Liverpool ridiculous home unbeaten home record.
We've scored the 2nd most goals and we are 2nd right now on GD with a game in hand tonight.
I'd say the table is fair. It doesn't lie after 17 games.
comment by Glazers_Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 8 minutes ago
We've scored the 2nd most goals and we are 2nd right now on GD with a game in hand tonight.
I'd say the table is fair. It doesn't lie after 17 games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The table is always fair I feel.
People can go on about expected points but the bottom line is the actual points. If we're below the expected points total then that suggests we need to improve in some departments. It's not a shock that teams with better attackers have better than expected points because they are better finishers.
We are where we are on merit. In a month we could be top or we could be 6th. Either way that's where we deserve to be based on results.
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 15 minutes ago
People can go on about expected points but the bottom line is the actual points.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
hafigeddon
I think if you look at how we played in the second half of last season it's very evident that we haven't yet hit our stride. We can certainly play a lot better than we have been this season. If Ole can motivate the lads then we definitely have a chance.
I get why people think it is City's to lose, but if we beat Burnley tonight it puts them under huge pressure to win their games in hand. I think Liverpool are probably favourites and I think our defence will let us down over the course of a full season.
Top 3 prediction:
1st: Liverpool
2nd: City
3rd: United
People forget that Man City already dropped as many points as they did in there last title winning side. Some reason people think Man City will finish on 90 points plus again when to do it from this situation seems next to impossible really.
Next ten fixtures for United, City and Liverpool. This could be why people think City will take over at their top. On paper, at least, their fixtures do look kinder.
Man Utd fixtures:
Jan 12: Burnley (A)
Jan 17: Liverpool (A)
Jan 20: Fulham (A)
Jan 27: Sheffield United (H)
Jan 30: Arsenal (A)
Feb 02: Southampton (H)
Feb 06: Everton (H)
Feb 13: West Brom (A)
Feb 20: Newcastle United (H)
Feb 27: Chelsea (A)
Manchester United will face all of the bottom three in their next 10 fixtures - Fulham, Sheffield United and West Brom.
Their away trip to Anfield this Sunday is the standout fixture but there are a couple of mid-table banana skins, with matches against Southampton and Everton.
All in all, it's a relatively kind looking fixture run-in, with six fixtures against teams in the bottom half of the table.
Liverpool fixtures
Jan 17: Man Utd (H)
Jan 21: Burnley (H)
Jan 28: Spurs (A)
Jan 31: West Ham (A)
Feb 03: Brighton (H)
Feb 06: Man City (H)
Feb 13: Leicester City (A)
Feb 20: Everton (H)
Feb 27: Sheffield United (A)
March 6: Fulham (H)
Man City fixtures
Jan 13: Brighton (H)
Jan 17: Crystal Palace (A)
Jan 20: Aston Villa (H)
Jan 26: West Brom (A)
Jan 30: Sheffield United (H)
Feb 2: Burnley (A)
Feb 6: Liverpool (A)
Feb 13: Tottenham (H)
Feb 20: Arsenal (A)
Feb 27: West Ham (H)
Manchester City have, arguably, the nicest run of matches out of the three sides, with six of the bottom half to face.
comment by Don Draper's dandruff (U20155)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 15 minutes ago
People can go on about expected points but the bottom line is the actual points.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
hafigeddon
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hafi’s hard drive must malfunction when he looks at the understat table and sees we are outperforming our expected goals and points this season.
City looked very, very good against us in the league cup. I suspect we're going to get a bit of a chasing at Anfield on Sunday as well.
I'll tell you which one of these two I think'll win the league after Sunday's game.
We had underperformed it since Solskjaer took over until this season so it is a welcome change really. All title winning sides outperform it like the way we have been doing this season. The fact Ole talked in meetings about those tight games and trying to win those points late on suggests we are going for it this season. The fact we are also fitter proves it now.
comment by The Post Nearly Man. 20times, 20legend (U1270)
posted 1 minute ago
City looked very, very good against us in the league cup. I suspect we're going to get a bit of a chasing at Anfield on Sunday as well.
...........
Have you even watched Liverpool play. They just hope to win by 1 goal these days.
Don't think City will drop points in the league until February now looking at that fixture list.
comment by Glazers_Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 46 minutes ago
We've scored the 2nd most goals and we are 2nd right now on GD with a game in hand tonight.
I'd say the table is fair. It doesn't lie after 17 games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It lies because certain clubs are dragged there by the officials
comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 21 seconds ago
comment by The Post Nearly Man. 20times, 20legend (U1270)
posted 1 minute ago
City looked very, very good against us in the league cup. I suspect we're going to get a bit of a chasing at Anfield on Sunday as well.
...........
Have you even watched Liverpool play. They just hope to win by 1 goal these days.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think you get extra points for winning by more, Hafi
But our forwards are shiiiiit, how have we over-performed our xg? And how were we only marginally under last season, and conceder fewer than expected with De Gea letting in every shot? Hoisted by your own petard, Hafi.
comment by ● Billy The Yidd ● 2020* 2021* (U3924)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Glazers_Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 46 minutes ago
We've scored the 2nd most goals and we are 2nd right now on GD with a game in hand tonight.
I'd say the table is fair. It doesn't lie after 17 games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It lies because certain clubs are dragged there by the officials
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah Leicester have had 2 more PL pens than we have. Oh the humanity. Its so unfair.
Players can miss sitters and the goalkeeper could have nothing to do Donny but still count towards expected goals. De Gea actually played well towards the end of the season. He made 2.52 saves per game last season in the league.
Mason Greenwood was main reason for last season turnaround in efficiency. We still ended last season scoring near identical amount of goals as expected so we performed on par really.
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Genuine Title Challengers
Page 5 of 7
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posted on 12/1/21
Winning tonight is very important because it takes a bit of pressure off the weekend. If we win tonight and lose on Sunday we'd be no worse off.
posted on 12/1/21
comment by Glazers_Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 1 minute ago
Winning tonight is very important because it takes a bit of pressure off the weekend. If we win tonight and lose on Sunday we'd be no worse off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's look to win both. I doubt we'll catch LFC at a better time (even though they're still capable of beating us easily of course) with their defensive injuries.
Tonight is the game though. Sunday can worry about itself.
posted on 12/1/21
JustYourAverageFan (U21016)
Everyone could see before the international break we were completely unfit due to long season before.
posted on 12/1/21
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by JustYourAverageFan (U21016)
posted 20 seconds ago
comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 11 minutes ago
Just because they stayed up and no one expected them to win it but it is a bit like Man Utd last season we had won 9 games out of 24. Then Bruno came in and we we won 9 and drew 5 of our last 14 games and got 3rd and carried onto this season. When you think of it both sides ended the previous season strongly and carried it onto the next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You didn't carry it on into this season though as you were labouring at the start of the season, 15th after 4/5 games I believe? How did you take such fantastic form into this season?
I think Man United go through peaks and troughs. A really good spell of form for a time, a bad spell of form for a time and then repeat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If we can get through that bad form/good form cycle then that will be a positive for this season.
At the start of the season I wanted us to target 76 points. We're on course at present so that would be progress.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
United are showing potential to be genuine title contenders, it's about if they can sustain it and break away from the good/bad form they seemingly go through. If you do, you're well in with a shout, if not then I think you will fall short.
Either way, all this expected goals/points nonsense is just a load of stats that tell nothing.
posted on 12/1/21
Perfect example after international break our first game we managed 28 shots 14 on target.
posted on 12/1/21
comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 1 minute ago
JustYourAverageFan (U21016)
Everyone could see before the international break we were completely unfit due to long season before.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That's not what you said though, you said that you carried your good form into this season, which wasn't the case.
I know there may well have been a reason for it, but you didn't carry your strong end of last season into the start of this one.
posted on 12/1/21
I'd say we've had some bad form this season at the start, although more down to lack of fitness after a poor pre-season, but we've had a bad run of games performance wise during recent months and managed to still pick up the points which is promising.
posted on 12/1/21
Yes I agree with that, United have picked up points when they haven't been their best and have even won games from losing positions, showing signs of a good side.
But stats such as expected goals, expected points, number of shots/shots on target etc are not a true indicator of how good a side are. It certainly doesn't make one side lucky and another unlucky as previous comments suggest.
posted on 12/1/21
I meant we carried it on after we got match fit. Everyone who watched us could see we were struggling at the start of the season. I just hope we win the league and also end Liverpool ridiculous home unbeaten home record.
posted on 12/1/21
We've scored the 2nd most goals and we are 2nd right now on GD with a game in hand tonight.
I'd say the table is fair. It doesn't lie after 17 games.
posted on 12/1/21
comment by Glazers_Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 8 minutes ago
We've scored the 2nd most goals and we are 2nd right now on GD with a game in hand tonight.
I'd say the table is fair. It doesn't lie after 17 games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The table is always fair I feel.
People can go on about expected points but the bottom line is the actual points. If we're below the expected points total then that suggests we need to improve in some departments. It's not a shock that teams with better attackers have better than expected points because they are better finishers.
We are where we are on merit. In a month we could be top or we could be 6th. Either way that's where we deserve to be based on results.
posted on 12/1/21
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 15 minutes ago
People can go on about expected points but the bottom line is the actual points.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
hafigeddon
posted on 12/1/21
I think if you look at how we played in the second half of last season it's very evident that we haven't yet hit our stride. We can certainly play a lot better than we have been this season. If Ole can motivate the lads then we definitely have a chance.
I get why people think it is City's to lose, but if we beat Burnley tonight it puts them under huge pressure to win their games in hand. I think Liverpool are probably favourites and I think our defence will let us down over the course of a full season.
Top 3 prediction:
1st: Liverpool
2nd: City
3rd: United
posted on 12/1/21
People forget that Man City already dropped as many points as they did in there last title winning side. Some reason people think Man City will finish on 90 points plus again when to do it from this situation seems next to impossible really.
posted on 12/1/21
Next ten fixtures for United, City and Liverpool. This could be why people think City will take over at their top. On paper, at least, their fixtures do look kinder.
Man Utd fixtures:
Jan 12: Burnley (A)
Jan 17: Liverpool (A)
Jan 20: Fulham (A)
Jan 27: Sheffield United (H)
Jan 30: Arsenal (A)
Feb 02: Southampton (H)
Feb 06: Everton (H)
Feb 13: West Brom (A)
Feb 20: Newcastle United (H)
Feb 27: Chelsea (A)
Manchester United will face all of the bottom three in their next 10 fixtures - Fulham, Sheffield United and West Brom.
Their away trip to Anfield this Sunday is the standout fixture but there are a couple of mid-table banana skins, with matches against Southampton and Everton.
All in all, it's a relatively kind looking fixture run-in, with six fixtures against teams in the bottom half of the table.
Liverpool fixtures
Jan 17: Man Utd (H)
Jan 21: Burnley (H)
Jan 28: Spurs (A)
Jan 31: West Ham (A)
Feb 03: Brighton (H)
Feb 06: Man City (H)
Feb 13: Leicester City (A)
Feb 20: Everton (H)
Feb 27: Sheffield United (A)
March 6: Fulham (H)
Man City fixtures
Jan 13: Brighton (H)
Jan 17: Crystal Palace (A)
Jan 20: Aston Villa (H)
Jan 26: West Brom (A)
Jan 30: Sheffield United (H)
Feb 2: Burnley (A)
Feb 6: Liverpool (A)
Feb 13: Tottenham (H)
Feb 20: Arsenal (A)
Feb 27: West Ham (H)
Manchester City have, arguably, the nicest run of matches out of the three sides, with six of the bottom half to face.
posted on 12/1/21
comment by Don Draper's dandruff (U20155)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 15 minutes ago
People can go on about expected points but the bottom line is the actual points.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
hafigeddon
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hafi’s hard drive must malfunction when he looks at the understat table and sees we are outperforming our expected goals and points this season.
posted on 12/1/21
City looked very, very good against us in the league cup. I suspect we're going to get a bit of a chasing at Anfield on Sunday as well.
I'll tell you which one of these two I think'll win the league after Sunday's game.
posted on 12/1/21
We had underperformed it since Solskjaer took over until this season so it is a welcome change really. All title winning sides outperform it like the way we have been doing this season. The fact Ole talked in meetings about those tight games and trying to win those points late on suggests we are going for it this season. The fact we are also fitter proves it now.
posted on 12/1/21
comment by The Post Nearly Man. 20times, 20legend (U1270)
posted 1 minute ago
City looked very, very good against us in the league cup. I suspect we're going to get a bit of a chasing at Anfield on Sunday as well.
...........
Have you even watched Liverpool play. They just hope to win by 1 goal these days.
posted on 12/1/21
Don't think City will drop points in the league until February now looking at that fixture list.
posted on 12/1/21
comment by Glazers_Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 46 minutes ago
We've scored the 2nd most goals and we are 2nd right now on GD with a game in hand tonight.
I'd say the table is fair. It doesn't lie after 17 games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It lies because certain clubs are dragged there by the officials
posted on 12/1/21
comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 21 seconds ago
comment by The Post Nearly Man. 20times, 20legend (U1270)
posted 1 minute ago
City looked very, very good against us in the league cup. I suspect we're going to get a bit of a chasing at Anfield on Sunday as well.
...........
Have you even watched Liverpool play. They just hope to win by 1 goal these days.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think you get extra points for winning by more, Hafi
posted on 12/1/21
But our forwards are shiiiiit, how have we over-performed our xg? And how were we only marginally under last season, and conceder fewer than expected with De Gea letting in every shot? Hoisted by your own petard, Hafi.
posted on 12/1/21
comment by ● Billy The Yidd ● 2020* 2021* (U3924)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Glazers_Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 46 minutes ago
We've scored the 2nd most goals and we are 2nd right now on GD with a game in hand tonight.
I'd say the table is fair. It doesn't lie after 17 games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It lies because certain clubs are dragged there by the officials
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah Leicester have had 2 more PL pens than we have. Oh the humanity. Its so unfair.
posted on 12/1/21
Players can miss sitters and the goalkeeper could have nothing to do Donny but still count towards expected goals. De Gea actually played well towards the end of the season. He made 2.52 saves per game last season in the league.
Mason Greenwood was main reason for last season turnaround in efficiency. We still ended last season scoring near identical amount of goals as expected so we performed on par really.
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