Football 2013-2014

[eFestivals]

Ah did neither of them play that night? I avoid international friendlies. Thank god for that.

I'm pretty sure that neither of them started (it was the starting 11 that I think were the first choices), tho they might have played (I forget).

[The Nal]

Mad seeing "Man Utd manager" and "Ryan Giggs" beside it.

[Wooderson]

Mad seeing "Man Utd manager" and "Ryan Giggs" beside it.

[mrtourette]

I don't think it's his age that makes it odd.

[Wooderson]

I don't think it's his age that makes it odd.

[The Nal]

He's ten months younger than Brendan Rodgers, five months younger than Roberto Martinez.

[mrtourette]

He's always come across as such a meek dullard, I just can't imagine him being a manager.

[eFestivals]

He's always come across as such a meek dullard, I just can't imagine him being a manager.

and yet he's got a fabulous record, both home and away.

[Wooderson]

Don't get a sense of grassroots of the club looking to Giggs as the next manager - despite his achievements I think Tourette has it right. Not the most vocal nor inspirational of characters. "Just wanna play football" kinda twats.

He's shrewdly positioned himself into the role nonetheless. Would be worrisome to underestimate him given longevity of his career and the amount of dark arts he's absorbed from Taggart.

[mrtourette]

Yeah I'm sure somewhere there's a mug with enough influence to seriously consider the 'wow look at all he's achieved the players are bound to respect him' approach.

[The Nal]

Yeah I'm sure somewhere there's a mug with enough influence to seriously consider the 'wow look at all he's achieved the players are bound to respect him' approach.

[eFestivals]

And hes positioned himself away from Moyes. Most of the senior players did from the start really. Vidic, Rio, Giggs, RVP etc

seems like Phil Neville managed some sort of Judas act, too.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Not when you see that City's wage bill is double Liverpools tho.

LFC winning the league against City and Chelsea - never mind Arsenal and United, both of whom have far better squads, is the real intruigue this year.

Edited April 22, 2014 by thesecretingredientiscrime

[eFestivals]

Not when you see that City's wage bill is double Liverpools tho.

City have the most expensive sporting wage bill in the world.

[zahidf]

A fun list of Man Utds season so far from Football 365 letters page

Abysmal record against the top 6: P12 - W1 D2 L9. That speaks for itself really. If you can only take 5 points out of a possible 36 against your rivals (and that term is only loosely applied this season) then you're not long for the job.

2. Horrible brand of football. In about one hour's worth of possession against Everton we only managed 2 shots. It was a similar story against Liverpool and City. In other matches, e.g. Fulham, we've smashed in cross after cross (wasn't it 82?) and still failed to score often enough. Shambolic defending, often leaving de Gea with no chance at all, has been a trademark of this United team - something Moyes was supposedly strong at coaching.

3. The record at home. That we have only won 7 matches out of 16 at home is shocking; we've dropped 24 points out of a possible 48 - that's midtable form and we are not (or rather we weren't) a midtable team.

4. The records that have fallen. This season has been a season of unwanted firsts:

- First time Everton, Manchester City and Liverpool have beaten United home & away since Premier League's inception

- First time Everton have beaten United home and away since 1969-70

- First time United conceded a first-minute goal in the Premier League

- Lowest ever Premier League points tally

- Failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1995

- Worst home league form for over a decade

- First ever home defeat to Swansea

- First home defeat to Newcastle since 1972

- First home defeat to West Brom since 1978

- First league defeat to Stoke since 1984

[The Nal]

Its the hour of possession and two shots which is the reason hes gone. I cant really think of a match this season when Utd have been bombarding the goal. Don't think I've seen a player take a decent shot outside the box. Apart from Rooneys lob. Theres no danger there, no bite, no aggression.

This happened on this exact day last year. Seems a long long time ago since Utd had this sort of confidence.

[ThomThomDrum]

A fun list of Man Utds season so far from Football 365 letters page

Abysmal record against the top 6: P12 - W1 D2 L9. That speaks for itself really. If you can only take 5 points out of a possible 36 against your rivals (and that term is only loosely applied this season) then you're not long for the job.

2. Horrible brand of football. In about one hour's worth of possession against Everton we only managed 2 shots. It was a similar story against Liverpool and City. In other matches, e.g. Fulham, we've smashed in cross after cross (wasn't it 82?) and still failed to score often enough. Shambolic defending, often leaving de Gea with no chance at all, has been a trademark of this United team - something Moyes was supposedly strong at coaching.

3. The record at home. That we have only won 7 matches out of 16 at home is shocking; we've dropped 24 points out of a possible 48 - that's midtable form and we are not (or rather we weren't) a midtable team.

4. The records that have fallen. This season has been a season of unwanted firsts:

- First time Everton, Manchester City and Liverpool have beaten United home & away since Premier League's inception

- First time Everton have beaten United home and away since 1969-70

- First time United conceded a first-minute goal in the Premier League

- Lowest ever Premier League points tally

- Failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1995

- Worst home league form for over a decade

- First ever home defeat to Swansea

- First home defeat to Newcastle since 1972

- First home defeat to West Brom since 1978

- First league defeat to Stoke since 1984

[eFestivals]

I can't believe how long it took Utd fans to realise how bad it was.

"Rebuilding", you said? And yet Utd have had a more-settled squad than just about all other teams around the top.

But if rebuilding needs doing, is the man to do it the man who took the club from top to 7th, despite having already spent £65M on new players? No.

Is Mata going to the world cup like he hoped?

[The Nal]

Is Mata going to the world cup like he hoped?

Edited April 22, 2014 by The Nal

[zahidf]

Is Mata going to the world cup like he hoped?

[Wooderson]

At least Mata's blog will be kept up to date throughout the summer.

[ThomThomDrum]

Mata is a class player and with the right manager at Utd he will be very dangerous. I still dont know if a Utd 1st 11 can accommodate RVP Rooney and Mata but.

Edited April 22, 2014 by ThomThomDrum

[Wooderson]

Rooney will be on his bike sharpish I'd imagine.

[thetime]

Fergie is bound to take some of the blame, the same way Sir Matt Busby took some blame when it happened when he first retired.

Still unsure if I'm happy or unhappy with his sacking to be honest.

[Gucci Piggy]

Rooney will be on his bike sharpish I'd imagine.