English Football Thread 2013/14

[Haarithan]

We don't have a plan B, in case of injury or adversity, and that's what worries me.

This, plus the fact we haven't scored a late winner from open play past the 76th minute over the last two seasons, when the scores are level. And only once overall - the 83rd minute winner from the penalty spot against Spurs last year. Surely that's a mental thing that needs to be addressed?

Compare that to Everton, who've scored 7 late equalisers/winners this season past the 80th minute. That is almost Man Utd-esque from the Fergie era! Top sides possess that never say never attitude, and Liverpool sadly lack that more than anyone else at the moment.

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Would Man Utd fans take this fantasy yet completely realistic XI next season?

-----------------Rooney--------------------
El Shaarawy----Mata---------Januzaj------
-------Marchisio-------Carrick------------
Coentrao----Garay----Jones------Rafael-----
-----------------De Gea-------------

Bench: Lindegaard, Smalling, Evans, Fellaini, Valencia, RvP, Chicharito

Out: Vidic, Evra, Young, Ferdinand, Buttner, Welbeck, Giggs, Anderson, Fletcher, Cleverley, Kagawa, Nani -> about 1mil saved in weekly wages = 52mil annually!

 

[P Squared]

lol, I don't think we're that rich, really doubt whether there will be more than 2 world class signings.

Would never kick Fletcher out too, in fact I think he should be captain after Vidic leaves this season

 

[Haarithan]

Darren Fletcher: Angry Manchester United players have snapped in dressing room | Football News | ESPN.co.uk

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@P_Squared: Those four incomings are likely to cost 90mil + 15mil on annual wages, give or take. And with about 52 mil saved on annual wages + 40mil through player sales, I don't see why you can't bring them in.

The name Man Utd still appeals to world class players, one bad season won't change it. Although admittedly the Vidals and the Krooses are unlikely to be roped in, without the luxury of CL football (IF you finish outside top four, that is)

To me, the difficult part is not getting those players in, it's how you effectively dump out your deadwoods who're on ridiculous wages this summer. Sadly, you have far too many of them.

 

[KBC]

your deadwoods whore on ridiculous wages.

fixed.

United have 13 players above 28 and 8 of them above 30. Players like Young, Welbeck, Cleverley and i'll step out of my way and say even Kagawa will have the remaining dozen plus games to prove their worth to stay beyond the season. Players have been as much part of the blame as Moyes but they've been made to rue on the failures in the summer window for a squad which is aging fast.

Moyes has a lot more to revamp if United are to spend big in the summer. Technically, They wouldn't just be signing top additions but also natural replacements to fill in for the outgoing players who were a primary mainstay in the squad for the so many years of success in the past decade.

Typically, United would bring in youth players into the first team but it's been strange what Moyes makes of the Man utd youth. He's promoted Januzaj, who turned out to be a revelation so far but also shipped out quite few of them in the january window. Also Scott wootton and Fredric Veseli in the summer, which by pure hindsight shouldn't have happened.

Big spending or not, United would look a very different side come next season.

 

[thedon5]

A spending spree like that will only be possible if one of Rooney or van Persie are sold. Should net a decent fee and will take a huge chunk out of the wage bill.

 

[P Squared]

tweaking hell Moyes, Young ahead of Januzaj again

 

[thedon5]

Excited to see what Mitroglou can do in the Premier League.

Edit: Aaaaaand he's not in the squad. What a letdown.

 

[P Squared]

1-0 down to Fulham at home, life doesn't get any better

 

[thedon5]

Moyes will get sacked at this rate.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Facepalm.

That is all.

 

[Abhas]

Oh how I wish Fulham could score from a counter-attack, and save us from this misery

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Bloody hell, I pop downstairs for a couple of minutes and the game is on its head!

 

[Abhas]

Spoke to soon.

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or did I!? 2-2, 95th minute

 

[MasterBlaster76]

But this is the new Man Utd and naturally, we didn't hold on. 2-2 against the bottom team and nine points off a CL spot.

I think failing to qualify for the CL would do massive damage to our standing on the European stage - is Moyes 'time' running out?

I remember before the season started, Jamie Redknapp was saying that it was as though all the other teams in the PL sense a chance now with Man Utd. He wasn't wrong - they're all getting a piece now, even the bottom club.

 

[Abhas]

I didn't watch the whole match, but from whatever little I did, I think they deserved to win. They were all over the Fulham defence, which was lucky they held on for so long.
I guess it's karma that they lost 2 points due to extra-time, that too in the last minute.