m4ttm4son Posted December 8, 2013 Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 If this squad could easily challenge for the title I don't think Fergie would have left. One of the reasons for leaving will have been that this squad is in need of a rebuild. He wasn't willing to put that time investment in (5 years plus) so hand over the reigns. If Fellaini needs a year to acclimatise from the move then I think it's fair to expect the manager will need a bit too. It's not like ManU can't afford to give it to him. TBH I'm surprised MrMe hasn't ignored you already TS. If you had been talking about my team like you do your own I would've stopped responding a long time ago and considered your responses merely trolling. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted December 8, 2013 Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 I have to admit i am getting slightly bored of the only justification being"easily won title last year" when everyone under the sun appears to have put that in perspective. You are of course entitled to an opinion as is everyone else but come on dude have a bit more substance to the matter! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 8, 2013 Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 (edited) Incidentally, I agree that SAF knew that he was going to have to build yet another winning squad. As is said above, he also knew that takes time. He didn't have that time. He wanted to spend it with his family instead and who can blame him? So Moyes now has that job. Let me put into perspective what he has inherited from a squad perspective. Anderson doesn't cut it. Nani is appalling (why the club has given him a new contract I've no idea, but I think he'll go soon anyway and it just stops him going for nothing). Welbeck has been very poor. Cleverly doesn't look like he'll make the grade. Carrick isn't creative enough. Valencia is half the player he was two season ago. Smalling is inconsistent. Evans is the same. These are all Ferguson derived signings or products. Sir Alex could see he was going to need to spend big and take time. They are not the fault of David Moyes. I don't blame Sir Alex either, but I'm trying my utmost to show what Moyes is having to build - and from what foundation. Let's not forget he has already secured Januzaj. That is a huge plus. He was being chased by Chelsea, City, Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. But Moyes got his signature on a long term contract. He has settled Rooney (as much as I can't stand the bloke). He tried to get Bale (and lets not forget Ferguson could have got Bale in the first instance but had doubts - so even he didn't get everything right). He is managing his best with the squad we have. He will get it right, but to want immediate success is folly and the only result we'll end up with is long term disaster if the boo-boys get their only way. Edited December 8, 2013 by NewNiceMrMe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted December 8, 2013 Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 That's just jumping on a bandwagon of 'we won the title despite being shit' bandwagon, though. It's a solid squad of players - maybe a bit light in midfield options, but... we bloody won the title at a canter anyway. What's missing is the fire, the passion, the fight. We're not seeing the never say die until the final whistle that United have been famous for - we're rolling over and being trampled on, even at home. It all comes back to Moyes being a defensive manager - his philosophy is 'for ****'s sake, don't concede' - because that's what works at resource limited clubs fighting out for the minor European places. What happened to throwing the kitchen sink at things when we're a goal down, and fighting back? - his biggest crime is continuing to be defensive when we're losing. That is absolutely not acceptable. I admire your optimism that he'll turn it around. But I just can't see it - and I'm particularly concerned that Martinez seems to be exceeding anything Moyes achieved with Everton - he's really got them playing well, believing in themselves, and most of all, getting results where Moyes couldn't. Which rings all kinds of alarm bells about Moyes's abilities. Does make me wonder if we should have gambled on Jose. I don't like him, but he gets results and has the arrogance and self-belief not to let the shadow of Sir Alex get to him. He may not have been a long term solution, but he'd have got the club over the Sir Alex successor problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted December 8, 2013 Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 Away from the Man Utd debate does anyone agree with the thought that the PL is maturing and that there's now more contenders for the four places? Gone are the days of a Fab Four always qualifying for CL, there's a heap of clubs investing in players that want reward. Southampton, Newcastle, Spurs, Everton, Liverpool have new found desires and they have throw in surprise. There no outstanding team at week 14 of the season, there's City, Chelsea and Arsenal at the tip and none of those has really shown stunning form. Arsenal have to play Man City and Chelsea in the next few weeks, those are both 6 point games. If they end in draws and drag themselves down, that middle pack will close in. Maybe even Man Utd could get a Europa spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted December 8, 2013 Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 Yes. I think realistically though it is the usual suspects to the honest with Liverpool, Spurs, Everton sniffing around for the 4th spot and (Hull apart) I think we are finally starting to put away the lower teams - which is where we have dropped most points in recent years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted December 8, 2013 Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 I'm not sure if I've already said this, but hahahahahahahahaha. Club in meltdown hahahahahahahahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted December 8, 2013 Report Share Posted December 8, 2013 * and fans. I say fans, holders of shiny memorabilia and cheap china mugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 Does make me wonder if we should have gambled on Jose. I don't like him, but he gets results and has the arrogance and self-belief not to let the shadow of Sir Alex get to him. He may not have been a long term solution, but he'd have got the club over the Sir Alex successor problem. My problem with Jose is he might manage to gel an already good team to win a few trophies short term but he invariably leaves a club in a worse state than that in which he found it. Hence my comparison to Dalglish. Away from the Man Utd debate does anyone agree with the thought that the PL is maturing and that there's now more contenders for the four places? I'd like to think so but I'm really not sure. I hope this season stays as open but even then the title is most likely to be fought out by 3 of the big 4 with little hope of a top four place for anyone outside the 'usual' Euro contenders. The new tv deal has provided more money for all Premiership teams to invest, but the richest and best will still earn (and spend) most. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy2shots Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 I think it's far simpler than that. The clubs who made big changes have fallen back, city, Utd, Chelsea all changed manager and spurs bought too many players. The teams that stayed consistent have looked like they have caught up but in reality it's because those mentioned have come back to them. Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle all made small tweaks in the summer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted December 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 I still think it's way too early in the season. Let's get Christmas out of the way and see how things look in the new year. It's all going to be about strength in depth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 Newcastle will plummet down the table in the New Year, you can put your house on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 If City don't win the title now I'll be amazed. They have by far the best squad and Pellegrini will eventually tell them they can't just play at home. I saw enough from Arsenal yesterday to suggest they don't have what they'll need. When Ozil has an off day, and Ramsey is average, they're nowhere near strong enough. Everton may well challenge for a Champions League place too. I see Liverpool dropping off and fading to 6th or 7th. City, Chelsea, Arsenal and then Man United or Everton for 4th. If we finish 5th or 6th, so be it. I won't be unnecessarily worried. Southampton look good for a Europa League challenge too. I think their test will come in January - when Luke Shaw and Adam Llana will be targets for other clubs (I think it is inevitable that Luke Shaw will go in January). Newcastle for 7th-10th eventually and I think that'll be a very good result for them. They were lucky to get the win at Old Trafford and we should have had a blatant penalty (hand ball) not to mention the offside goal that could well have been given. But in the end I cannot past City now, as much as it pains me to say it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted December 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 Ahem, Spurs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinspark Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 I though Pellegrini (isn't that a water?) was going to lose a few and be on the dole by Christmas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 I though Pellegrini (isn't that a water?) was going to lose a few and be on the dole by Christmas? Pellegrini delivered his part of that particular bargain. Sadly, the City board didn't panic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 Ahem, Spurs. With or without AVB ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted December 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 Let's hope Levy doesn't go crazy and sack AVB, for Moyes.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 9, 2013 Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 I though Pellegrini (isn't that a water?) was going to lose a few and be on the dole by Christmas? He has lost a few. Plus, if other teams hadn't been as inconsistent, I think he may well be on the dole by Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted December 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2013 We now have the following fixtures (League): H - WBA A - Sunderland H - Southampton H - Stoke A - Fulham H - Arsenal A - Cardiff A - Spurs H - Everton H - Newcastle I think we'll be in the top 3 after those and fully expect no more than 3-4 dropped points. I think there are 9 wins out off 10 there. Those pesky predictions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy2shots Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 Those pesky predictions! Leave MrMe alone. I have made quite a few quid based on his sporting predictions in the last couple of years. So what if I bet the opposite way to how he sees it. MrMe is the most consistent sporting predictor I have ever come across. You can keep that World Cup octopus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 Yeah, yeah, yeah, so my loyalty is blind when it comes to forecasting and I haven't had the best run of predictions. So the last 10 years of my predictions on here have been a little hit and miss, but it'll change. It has to. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4ttm4son Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 I don't think it's inevitable that Southampton will lose players in January. If they keep a sustained attack on that Europa League zone there will be no need for Shaw to go anywhere. The reason he hasn't moved yet is the playing time and improvement he is making where he is. The only club that may be a worthwhile move is Chelsea, but Maureen won't buy a young player. Arsenal will finish in an automatic qualification spot for the CL. The chase for 1st and 4th will be worth a huge bag of popcorn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 United have been monitoring him for a long time now, and I'll be very surprised if Moyes doesn't make a bid for him in January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted December 10, 2013 Report Share Posted December 10, 2013 Feck off leave our players alone We've produced too many world class players over the years but can never keep hold of them maybe until now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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