Soldato
What was he like in juv
UEFA Champions League/Europa League 16/17/18 April *** Spoilers ***
- Thread starter Cosimo
- Start date
Caporegime
He did well initially because he had a full compliment of players. Past two months have been injury hell and the players have just not gelled well on their return.
Look at Liverpool just how much difference one center back has done. This summer is so important and needs to go well.
Permabanned
Yeah not just VVD, though he is immense. The rise of Robertson(best LB in the league) and Trents continued development plus Alisson have all contributed to a much improved defence. Gomez was excellent till injury and Matip has done ok too.
Soldato
Look a juve have they missed him have they fallen since he's gone they walk the league there . Pogba plays well against lesser teams but put him against a decent side and he disappears Messi lost the ball last night and sprinted back Pogba lost it and just trudged back
Caporegime
We have lost to Barcelona twice (Best team in Europe), Arsenal with a threadbare squad and Wolves due to Ashley Young being sent off. We were by far the better team up until that point. Wolves FA Cup being the only game we have been terrible and really deserved to lose. People forget we beat Chelsea, Arsenal away and Spurs at Wembly.
You had a run of injuries back in February just like most sides do at some point during the season (we had no defenders for a few weeks at one point) but that cleared up fairly quickly. To put your form in the last 6-7 weeks down to players not gelling on their return from injury sounds like you're searching for excuses. Solksjaer isn't entirely to blame obviously, the state of your squad has played a big part and it just highlights how much money Utd have wasted on fair-weather players or players that simply aren't good enough.
As for Liverpool and the difference VVD's made. It's often ignored but Liverpool's defensive improvement began months before we even signed VVD but yes, he's stupidly good. The emergence of arguably the best two fullbacks in the League has also had a big impact on our defensive record as has the signing of Alisson who's undoubtedly been the best keeper in the League this season too. The only one of Utd's back 5 that is of comparable quality to ours (and he's been sub par this season) is De Gea and it's looking increasingly likely that he could be off. I'm not sure one big summer signing is going to turn your fortunes around I'm afraid, certainly not defensively anyway.
You can also flip that around and say you fluked your way past PSG and got outplayed at home by Southampton, Watford and West Ham and were incredibly fortunate to scrape wins in those games. Whichever way you want to look at it, Utd haven't played well for a couple of months now.
And I just had a look at your squad for the Arsenal game. Threadbare? I only notice Lingard missing.
Soldato
I think the trouble will come in the summer really.
Unless things change we're likely to waste time chasing marque signings which we won't get and it'll be a struggle to get good players due to lack of CL and the general direction of the club. We need someone to create a long term plan and bring people in for that, but honestly don't see what happening.
Was chatting to a mate this morning who said we're basically like Liverpool a few years ago. Have a few players who are great on their day and a lot of average players. On their day everyone steps up and you can have a great performance but in a league you struggle with consistency. You then struggle to attract the best players and have to take a gamble where for every 10 signings you hope you end up with a Suarez or a Coutinho and then rest end up being dross!
Unless things change we're likely to waste time chasing marque signings which we won't get and it'll be a struggle to get good players due to lack of CL and the general direction of the club. We need someone to create a long term plan and bring people in for that, but honestly don't see what happening.
Was chatting to a mate this morning who said we're basically like Liverpool a few years ago. Have a few players who are great on their day and a lot of average players. On their day everyone steps up and you can have a great performance but in a league you struggle with consistency. You then struggle to attract the best players and have to take a gamble where for every 10 signings you hope you end up with a Suarez or a Coutinho and then rest end up being dross!
Caporegime
Momentum counts for a lot. The team has been chopped and changed quite a lot and we just haven't been the same since our first bout of injuries. Missing Herrera and Matic has been a big one recently. Letting Herrera go will be a huge blow if it happens.
This summer we at least need a DM and right back.
Completely agree with this. We’ve got yet another difficult few years before we get a squad that isn’t full of fair weather players (great use of the word from someone who mentioned it before!)
Pogba is unfortunately such one of those players. His body language and effort stinks when he’s losing and not in an angry ‘i’ll show them’ sort of a way, but a petulant teenager way.
Alongside the no-CL challenge for attracting the best players (it’s not exactly likely we’ll get top 4 outside of a miracle, let’s be realistic)
We’ll have the usual slow or inappropriate signing Woodward issues and the relatively new Utd tax for any players just because it’s utd and we’re desperate which will constrain the overhaul required to a couple of players in summer probably.
Soldato
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- 22 Mar 2007
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It's scary the amount of players United need to sign to be competitive. Realistically we need a new RB, cover at LB, at least one CB but ideally probably two, a DM and probably a CM as well. The papers are banging on about a 'huge' £200 million transfer fund that Solskjaer will be given, but in today's market that would probably only get us three or four players. Plus on top of that we need a clearout of the deadwood, the likes of Rojo, Jones, Smalling, Young, Darmian, Valencia, possibly Matic. It's a massive summer for Woodward and Solskjaer.
Soldato
I think the other issue is we've set our stall out on wages where even the dross are being paid huge amounts. Any new players (even non marquee signings) are going to want 200k per week and because we're desperate we'll cave in.
It's all come at a terrible time because the top 6 are so strong that it's difficult to carry mediocre players there days. It'd be nice to dream about doing an Ajax where you take a team of talented youngsters (easier said than done) but in a league that's so competitive it's difficult to do that and not fall hugely down the table. At least Ajax are virtually guaranteed European football either way.
It's all come at a terrible time because the top 6 are so strong that it's difficult to carry mediocre players there days. It'd be nice to dream about doing an Ajax where you take a team of talented youngsters (easier said than done) but in a league that's so competitive it's difficult to do that and not fall hugely down the table. At least Ajax are virtually guaranteed European football either way.
Soldato
If Chelsea or arsenal win Europa does that mean 4th place won't get champs league or not
Soldato
Ah ok wasn't sure if they had changed the rules
This is what worries me!
Caporegime
If Spurs and say Chelsea won Europa and Champs but finished outside top 4 only top 3 league positions would get a place. Only 5 from one league can get in which I think is wrong.
Soldato
Yes that's wot I must have heard yesterday
Soldato
I know that's wot it was but wasn't sure if rules had changed
Permabanned
Cruyff completely rebuilt the youth setup and Ajax are reaping the rewards. Long term vision!