Football 2024/25

[Crazyfool01]

Just now, thetime said:

 

I've been called a plastic since the 90s, it's hardly being horrible and insensitive. I would of thought people don't need to use smilies, as we are not 12. 

 

And it makes a change from talking about Newcastle. 

 

But as you are all offended, not like liverpool fans that. I will behave in future. (😃😃😃😃😃). 

 

 

not offended,  im perfectly chilled thanks for asking just dont think it gains anything . 

[Skip997]

Liverpool baiting has been going on forever.

 

Best response is “imagine being us!”

[thetime]

28 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

Liverpool baiting has been going on forever.

 

Best response is “imagine being us!”

 

This where I reel of many things, pity I'm in the naughty corner. 😃

[charlierc]

17 hours ago, thetime said:

He had a 5 game run of scoring, that's about it. It's not his fault, he shouldn't be utd main striker. Just another case of utd poor transfer policy. 

 

He should be coming in for a main striker, nothing more. 

There was a period in the middle of last season where he looked quite decent, but it did seem curious to spend a superstar budget on potential. Particularly given Atalanta seem to have reinvested the proceeds very well, having won the Europa League last season and now being Serie A leaders. 

 

Saying that, for all that I'm not sure about if it was worth it, a striker can only be as good as the supporting infrastructure in any case and if the chance creators just aren't doing the business, they're going to feel a bit of a passenger. It's like how Haaland has looked in some games of Man City's recent malaise - barely any chances created means its not a surprise he's been struggling to score. Even if Haaland did miss a penalty against Everton.

 

Mason Mount being permanently injured probably doesn't help, given he would arguably be one of the players suited to the AMs in a 3-4-3 as he played in that system with Tuchel at Chelsea. But hey. We're debating the incoherence of Man Utd both on the macro level of the post-Fergie era and the micro level that is just since Ineos brought a stake. We could probably carry on until the 2025/26 thread is needed at this rate.

[lost]

1 hour ago, Skip997 said:

imagine being us!

 

 

[thetime]

9 minutes ago, charlierc said:

There was a period in the middle of last season where he looked quite decent, but it did seem curious to spend a superstar budget on potential. Particularly given Atalanta seem to have reinvested the proceeds very well, having won the Europa League last season and now being Serie A leaders. 

 

Saying that, for all that I'm not sure about if it was worth it, a striker can only be as good as the supporting infrastructure in any case and if the chance creators just aren't doing the business, they're going to feel a bit of a passenger. It's like how Haaland has looked in some games of Man City's recent malaise - barely any chances created means its not a surprise he's been struggling to score. Even if Haaland did miss a penalty against Everton.

 

Mason Mount being permanently injured probably doesn't help, given he would arguably be one of the players suited to the AMs in a 3-4-3 as he played in that system with Tuchel at Chelsea. But hey. We're debating the incoherence of Man Utd both on the macro level of the post-Fergie era and the micro level that is just since Ineos brought a stake. We could probably carry on until the 2025/26 thread is needed at this rate.

 

There was a time we were buying over the hill players, then all of a sudden they've gone the opposite way. Buying potential, unfortunately that hasn't worked either. You can't rely on 20 year old to lead the utd front line, with the pressure that entails. 

 

I find Hojlund hold up play really poor, just bounces off him and then we lose it. 

 

It's a long term process, they have to get it right this time they just have to. If we don't gave a relegation battle this season, it will be next season. We are turning into Everton, can't even manage to be spursy.

 

No money in January, players will only go out on loan with utd paying the bulk of wages. Average players, not arsed players. Even when we were sh*t in the 80s, we had warriors who gave there all.

 

Crazy ten hag was allowed to spend 600m on dutch/Dutch based players. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kaosmark2]

1 hour ago, charlierc said:

There was a period in the middle of last season where he looked quite decent, but it did seem curious to spend a superstar budget on potential. Particularly given Atalanta seem to have reinvested the proceeds very well, having won the Europa League last season and now being Serie A leaders. 

 

Saying that, for all that I'm not sure about if it was worth it, a striker can only be as good as the supporting infrastructure in any case and if the chance creators just aren't doing the business, they're going to feel a bit of a passenger. It's like how Haaland has looked in some games of Man City's recent malaise - barely any chances created means its not a surprise he's been struggling to score. Even if Haaland did miss a penalty against Everton.

 

Mason Mount being permanently injured probably doesn't help, given he would arguably be one of the players suited to the AMs in a 3-4-3 as he played in that system with Tuchel at Chelsea. But hey. We're debating the incoherence of Man Utd both on the macro level of the post-Fergie era and the micro level that is just since Ineos brought a stake. We could probably carry on until the 2025/26 thread is needed at this rate.

This is a longer and much better articulated version of what I'd been getting at.

[charlierc]

37 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

This is a longer and much better articulated version of what I'd been getting at.

Well if nothing else I do like to waffle about football ha. Plus good for me that I'm coherent enough to do it at length given New Year & birthday meant I was up until 4am last night.

[charlierc]

2 hours ago, thetime said:

 

There was a time we were buying over the hill players, then all of a sudden they've gone the opposite way. Buying potential, unfortunately that hasn't worked either. You can't rely on 20 year old to lead the utd front line, with the pressure that entails. 

 

I find Hojlund hold up play really poor, just bounces off him and then we lose it. 

 

It's a long term process, they have to get it right this time they just have to. If we don't gave a relegation battle this season, it will be next season. We are turning into Everton, can't even manage to be spursy.

 

No money in January, players will only go out on loan with utd paying the bulk of wages. Average players, not arsed players. Even when we were sh*t in the 80s, we had warriors who gave there all.

 

Crazy ten hag was allowed to spend 600m on dutch/Dutch based players. 

 

Yeah the transfer spending both last season and this has been pretty rubbish and if it's sell to buy, it's hard to see Amorim getting who he wants to make that 3-4-3 have less square pegs in round holes. I don't think it's far off tbf - a more outright left wing-back, a more mobile central midfielder and someone suited to playing in that attacking midfield role that's crucial to make it work. But on a budget that's empty EtH pissed it up the wall, that's easier said than done.

 

It's a curious window in some respects as a few big end clubs seem to need more than usual - Arsenal lost Saka long term, Man City's issues in central midfield and Spurs being Spurs means you think a few will invest. Long shot if any help with the issues at Old Trafford though.

 

It's kinda mental to think of Man United being in the relegation mix, mind. I think there's 4/5 worse clubs this season so that fate should be avoided but it's a different era indeed.

[thetime]

4 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Yeah the transfer spending both last season and this has been pretty rubbish and if it's sell to buy, it's hard to see Amorim getting who he wants to make that 3-4-3 have less square pegs in round holes. I don't think it's far off tbf - a more outright left wing-back, a more mobile central midfielder and someone suited to playing in that attacking midfield role that's crucial to make it work. But on a budget that's empty EtH pissed it up the wall, that's easier said than done.

 

It's a curious window in some respects as a few big end clubs seem to need more than usual - Arsenal lost Saka long term, Man City's issues in central midfield and Spurs being Spurs means you think a few will invest. Long shot if any help with the issues at Old Trafford though.

 

It's kinda mental to think of Man United being in the relegation mix, mind. I think there's 4/5 worse clubs this season so that fate should be avoided but it's a different era indeed.

 

3 years ago today, United were top after 19 games.

 

 

 

[Neil]

 Manchester not as good at the football thing as they like to say.

[charlierc]

Well... three more points for the Toon away at Spurs, which coupled with Chelsea drawing really brings us back into the top 4 chase. Not bad.

[thetime]

32 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Well... three more points for the Toon away at Spurs, which coupled with Chelsea drawing really brings us back into the top 4 chase. Not bad.

 

Crazy to think after all those games city lost, they are 3 points of 3rd. 

 

Top 4

 

Liverpool 

Arsenal 

City

Newcastle/chelsea/villa for 4th. 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2025 by thetime

[kaosmark2]

1 hour ago, thetime said:

 

Crazy to think after all those games city lost, they are 3 points of 3rd. 

 

Top 4

 

Liverpool 

Arsenal 

City

Newcastle/chelsea/villa for 4th.

That's my feelings as well. I think City would have to sign noone in the transfer window and/or have a points deduction not to get top 4.

[charlierc]

9 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

That's my feelings as well. I think City would have to sign noone in the transfer window and/or have a points deduction not to get top 4.

A verdict in those 115/130 charges is meant to be coming in the next 2/3 months, so we'll see if that ends up being an influence on this fight.

 

If we treat this like it's a normal season without the potential for any such stuff (or at least they just get let off), I think it'll be a close fight between a few clubs.

[kaosmark2]

3 hours ago, charlierc said:

A verdict in those 115/130 charges is meant to be coming in the next 2/3 months, so we'll see if that ends up being an influence on this fight.

 

If we treat this like it's a normal season without the potential for any such stuff (or at least they just get let off), I think it'll be a close fight between a few clubs.

Yeah. The other reason I can see it being an influence is them not wanting to just casually drop £80m on a player to improve their midfield in January because even if they're confident they'll get away with it, it might look bad for the charges.

 

I think in a normal season, City make a big signing, that galvanises them, and they play at about 80% of how they have the last few years and that's plenty for top 4, probably enough to get them 2nd tbh.

[thetime]

Darn was hoping utd v Liverpool would of been called off. 😃

[charlierc]

1 hour ago, thetime said:

Darn was hoping utd v Liverpool would of been called off. 😃

Maybe if it was a few more inches of snow.

 

Or had been at Old Trafford given the dodgy roof there.

[thetime]

4 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Maybe if it was a few more inches of snow.

 

Or had been at Old Trafford given the dodgy roof there.

 

Saw Gary Nev trying his best. 

 

Saying that I'm going for a 0-0 or a sneaky 1-0 win to utd. It's the hope that kills you. 

[thetime]

Michael Oliver reffing today, will be amazed if utd end with 11 men. Seems a very odd choice after last season. 

 

 

[charlierc]

2 hours ago, thetime said:

Saying that I'm going for a 0-0 or a sneaky 1-0 win to utd. It's the hope that kills you. 

Well, that hope is looking more alive than it did earlier.

 

Must say this is significantly better than what I saw against Newcastle the other day, likely assisted by not having to resort to an Eriksen/Casemiro midfield that would've been world beating in 2017.

[charlierc]

20 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Well, that hope is looking more alive than it did earlier.

 

Must say this is significantly better than what I saw against Newcastle the other day, likely assisted by not having to resort to an Eriksen/Casemiro midfield that would've been world beating in 2017.

... and so much for that.

[Punksnotdead]

Can't believe I'm sat here disappointed we only got a point at Anfield!

[Gnomicide]

Urgh.

 

Poor today, Liverpool. Should have subbed Alexander-Arnold earlier but Bradley is only just back from injury. Still, given Maguire's miss at the end, it could have been worse.

[charlierc]

24 minutes ago, Gnomicide said:

Urgh.

 

Poor today, Liverpool. Should have subbed Alexander-Arnold earlier but Bradley is only just back from injury. Still, given Maguire's miss at the end, it could have been worse.

Made me wonder if for Man Utd fans, it was better that or the goal goes in only for Zirkzee to be deemed to be a quarter of an inch offside, seeing as Neville seemed to think he might be in that territory.

 

They were much better though. As said, I was deeply unimpressed by how they played against Newcastle on Monday and heard similar reviews for the recent Wolves & Bournemouth games, but clearly, time on the training ground and a better midfield pairing had a more stable platform to play with.