Competing is being one of the best teams in Europe. We haven't done that for about 5 years.

 

 

 

 

Although I'm no stranger to hypocrisy, I spent too long explaining to Scousers that they weren't the best team in Europe in 2005 to then say we were the best team in 2012.

 

When we talk about competing we're talking about a return to the competitiveness we showed from 2005 to around 2010.

Edited April 15, 201511 yr by Blue Daze

Although I'm no stranger to hypocrisy, I spent too long explaining to Scousers that they weren't the best team in Europe in 2005 to then say we were the best team in 2012.

 

When we talk about competing we're talking about a return to the competitiveness we showed from 2005 to around 2010.

 

Is winning the trophy not being competitive? More than one way to skin a dead cat and all that. 

 

Year after winning Big Ears we were unfortunate to go out in the group stage but still ended the season with another European trophy despite a managerial disadvantage. 

 

With a proper coach back at the helm we got to the semi finals of the Champions League, that's really not a bad showing over a 3 year period in my opinion and one that most clubs would be envious of. 

 

This season was a disappointment I'll grant you but it just goes to show that knock out football is unpredictable. 

Is winning the trophy not being competitive? More than one way to skin a dead cat and all that. 

 

 

Winning the trophy is not the same as being the best in Europe. Maybe it qualifies as 'being competitive' but I want us to be competitive consistently. Fact is we were the 6th best team in England that year, much like the Scousers were the 5th best in 2005 but as you say knockout competitions are somewhat unpredictable.

 

 

Year after winning Big Ears we were unfortunate to go out in the group stage but still ended the season with another European trophy despite a managerial disadvantage. 

 

We weren't unfortunate, we were just poorer than two other teams and whilst I enjoyed winning the Europa League, it's not a massively competitive cup.

 

 

 

With a proper coach back at the helm we got to the semi finals of the Champions League, that's really not a bad showing over a 3 year period in my opinion and one that most clubs would be envious of. 

 

This season was a disappointment I'll grant you but it just goes to show that knock out football is unpredictable. 

 

Last year was good, this year less so and that's fine because we're building towards being competitive (which in my opinion means having the resources to truly mount a challenge in both the league and Europe) next season.

You know I'm winding myself up for this one thinking back to certain injustices like the loss to them when Torres was incorrectly sent off and Hernandez winner was a mile offside.

Or the CL game when Evra should have been off and we should have had a stone wall penalty.

Or although we win how United fans still moan about Drogba's offside goal in the 09-10 season yet conveniently ignore that Macheda's goal was handball.

There are more things but these are the ones that really spring to mind.

I would love a repeat of the 05-06 win when we beat them 3-0 probably my fave win over United ever (closely followed by the 5-0 demolition).

They beat us 2-0 up there a couple of years ago. Both goals were offside.

 

This year we were denied at least one stonewall pen up there. And we had Ivan unjustly red carded before the final free kick that cost us the win.

 

We also had Mikel sent off at OT in Avram's first game. That was a shocker of a decision, too.

 

Then there was the Howard Webb game under AVB when we were 3-0 up and he gifted them two pens.

 

We've had some shocking decisions against them in the last few seasons. I'd say the Evra one in CL was the worst, followed by the Torres red card in the Clattenburg game and the non-red card for Evans for the kung-fu kick. The offside Hernandez goal was a real kick in the teeth, but it was a tight decision.

 

Manure fans go on about the Drogba offside goal - which was immediately cancelled out by the Macheda handball goal - and two pens we had against them at the Bridge (Zhirkov won one, the other was a handball against Carrick). Both were correctly awarded, but they are so used to decisions going for them they saw them as harsh.

 

I see the FA have installed Mike Dean for Saturday, in the hope and expectation he will repeat his performance against Sunderland that cost us the league last year.

God yeah even more than I could think lol

I still remember when we beat them in 97 with goals from Vialli and Dubbery. Great day!

On the referee I hope he's smart and doesn't act too rash or favourable to one side. I am worried that with us seemingly running away with the title that a red could do something to make it interesting. That maybe me been paranoid but I do believe they do that sort of thing from time to time.

Edited April 15, 201511 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

Does anyone think Steve Holland could be the next Chelsea manager after Mourinho?

Does anyone think Steve Holland could be the next Chelsea manager after Mourinho?

 

No. 

Lots of calls for Zouma to man mark Fellani but wouldn't Matic be more suited?

Does anyone think Steve Holland could be the next Chelsea manager after Mourinho?

Really like the guy but it rarely works for number 2s to become managers.

Lots of calls for Zouma to man mark Fellani but wouldn't Matic be more suited?

Neville reckons Matic been left footed doesn't make him suited to mark Fellaini

I think this is more of a must win game than assumed actually.  Sure, even if we (United) were to win this one and beat Arsenal, we'd still be relying on you guys slipping up badly for any actual shot of the title.  The rest of the games are pretty much a formality for you guys now, though it would be nice for us to apply some pressure, you've basically walked through this season with ease and that's not a good look for apparently the toughest league in the world.

 

I mean more long run.  United are at a point now where it's finally looking like we're at the end of the "transitional period" with a string of good (and surprising) results.  You guys, for next season, are gonna want to stop us in our tracks.  If we beat you guys and the arse we're gonna be looking for winning the rest of the games of the season and your gap isn't going to seem so impressive when a team who got hammered 5-3 by Leicester are right behind you, and that's gonna be a hell of a boost in the transfer market for us.  But more importantly, it could mean United are properly back.  Jose's long term plans for complete destruction of the league will be challenged by about the only other team capable of doing so right now.  If you want a slightly easier season next time, you're not gonna want to give us any more potential than we already have.

I think this is more of a must win game than assumed actually.  Sure, even if we (United) were to win this one and beat Arsenal, we'd still be relying on you guys slipping up badly for any actual shot of the title.  The rest of the games are pretty much a formality for you guys now, though it would be nice for us to apply some pressure, you've basically walked through this season with ease and that's not a good look for apparently the toughest league in the world.

 

I mean more long run.  United are at a point now where it's finally looking like we're at the end of the "transitional period" with a string of good (and surprising) results.  You guys, for next season, are gonna want to stop us in our tracks.  If we beat you guys and the arse we're gonna be looking for winning the rest of the games of the season and your gap isn't going to seem so impressive when a team who got hammered 5-3 by Leicester are right behind you, and that's gonna be a hell of a boost in the transfer market for us.  But more importantly, it could mean United are properly back.  Jose's long term plans for complete destruction of the league will be challenged by about the only other team capable of doing so right now.  If you want a slightly easier season next time, you're not gonna want to give us any more potential than we already have.

 

United's strength was always their core. In fact you could say that about every top club.

 

Your central defence against City was Jones and Smalling, you had Carrick, Herrera and Fellaini in midfield and Rooney up top. I'd include De Gea, but I'm talking about next season. I think you're still very much in a transition period.

I think this is more of a must win game than assumed actually.  Sure, even if we (United) were to win this one and beat Arsenal, we'd still be relying on you guys slipping up badly for any actual shot of the title.  The rest of the games are pretty much a formality for you guys now, though it would be nice for us to apply some pressure, you've basically walked through this season with ease and that's not a good look for apparently the toughest league in the world.

 

I mean more long run.  United are at a point now where it's finally looking like we're at the end of the "transitional period" with a string of good (and surprising) results.  You guys, for next season, are gonna want to stop us in our tracks.  If we beat you guys and the arse we're gonna be looking for winning the rest of the games of the season and your gap isn't going to seem so impressive when a team who got hammered 5-3 by Leicester are right behind you, and that's gonna be a hell of a boost in the transfer market for us.  But more importantly, it could mean United are properly back.  Jose's long term plans for complete destruction of the league will be challenged by about the only other team capable of doing so right now.  If you want a slightly easier season next time, you're not gonna want to give us any more potential than we already have.

Hello and welcome.

I don't feel confident at all. The title is still far away, and we'll have to do well against several good sides within just a few games. I don't really believe we're about to let this one slip, but I feel really bad with games against United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Palace and Sunderland coming up. I don't take anything for granted.

 

Having said that, I think we'll perform better on Saturday, than we have been doing over the last couple of months, but I'm not too certain. A win this weekend and a draw against Gunners - then I can feel a little bit more relaxed again.

I've a good feeling. Cripes we must have a good match sometime soon :-)

Edited April 15, 201511 yr by EmeraldBlue

Our next two results dicides whether we hop, skip & jump to the title, or stagger across the line.

Win both games, great, win one draw other, no worries, draw both, still not harmful to winning the trophy, but lose both we will have to stagger across the line, & that is not what Jose has planned for us, he just loves these games with the big boys rather than those scapping games with the likes of Stoke QPR, he will treat Man Utd game with caution, but nowhere near parking the bus, putting there defence under pressure with pressing when we can, hitting Utd on the break get couple of goals then shutters come down.

Arsenal will be totally different he will play for a draw hope for a 1 nil, get the carpark organised, and the rest of the season is a walk n the park.

UTD  2-0 W,  Arsenal  0-1W or 1-1 D,

Hopefully the QPR result will ease the pressure on our boys - will be interesting to see how things transpire tactically on both sides...

 

Result wise, sorry but can't see past a 0-0 or jammy 1-0 for United.

 

                 Courtois

 

Ivanovic - Cahill - JT - Azpi

 

            Mikel - Matic

 

     Willian - Fabregas - Hazard

 

                      ???

Edited April 15, 201511 yr by the special one

Here's a question if we could only win one of this or the Arsenal game which would you rather win?

For me it would be Arsenal but I don't think that will shock anyone

im a bit worried now that i have seen who the ref is, i still have not recovered from the c**tenberg debacle at the bridge and really fear a similar performance

Me too got a little feeling that c##t dean is gonna turn us over again... i dont think Sky and the FA want this league wrapped up just yet so dont be surprised by some dodgy decisions on sunday....has usuall i hope iam wrong!!

Me too got a little feeling that c##t dean is gonna turn us over again... i dont think Sky and the FA want this league wrapped up just yet so dont be surprised by some dodgy decisions on sunday....has usuall i hope iam wrong!!

That's my worry

Lots of calls for Zouma to man mark Fellani but wouldn't Matic be more suited?

 

Matic is actually not that good in the air (when you take his height into consideration). He doesnt win as many headers as one would expect

Lots of calls for Zouma to man mark Fellani but wouldn't Matic be more suited?

Why? Zouma is far better in the air and built like a tank I'm sure he could win his fair share v fellani

Wouldn't do it myself but Zouma the man for the job if Jose does decide

Despite how confident a lot of United fans are, I can't help but remember my history. How often do we beat Chelsea at the Bridge? Not bloody often. How many times have we beaten a Mourinho led Chelsea at the Bridge? Never.... 

 

I'd take a draw right now.