EPL Matchday 3

[moomba]

It doesn't come as any great surprise but it's a bit of an indictment on Mourinho, after all the money he's spent at United, that he's still pushing the line that it's a straight choice between playing well and winning.

United supporters I know are embarrassed at the way they play, particularly with City and Liverpool playing attractive football.

 

[jd2010]

Was their 1st half that unattractive? Or their 2nd half despite being carved open?

 

[moomba]

I think that's what he's saying. You have a choice between playing a more open, attractive game and losing, or parking the bus and winning.

Basically saying United aren't capable of matching other teams in an open game so they have to park the bus.

 

[jd2010]

I think that's what he's saying. You have a choice between playing a more open, attractive game and losing, or parking the bus and winning.

Basically saying United aren't capable of matching other teams in an open game so they have to park the bus.

That's a simple conclusion to come to that they can't win playing a good way. For 50 mins until a set piece they looked by far the most likely to win.

The problem is they're so natural and better setup not to be the aggressive side that when they went behind they were stuffed. Just like when we scored against them in 10 seconds at Wembley. The beauty of football is there's more than one way to skin a cat. No point trying to get the great defensive Italian teams of the 90s and early 2000s to play joga bonito just like there isn't a Mourinho side. Sure they can pull it off from time to time but it's not their natural way and they are exposed more when playing that way.

 

[moomba]

The conclusion was from an interview he did after the match.

He asked journo's what the wanted. To play well or to win. Made a big deal of it as if you can't expect both.

 

[jd2010]

The conclusion was from an interview he did after the match.

He asked journo's what the wanted. To play well or to win. Made a big deal of it.

And it's a good question. He played they lost. He could have sat back and won 1-0 and would have still copped it.

 

[jod23]

Disappointed my club didn't take more of a stand than that of a club who captained a DJ basher

Excellent gif.

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

We showed in the first half that we can play attacking football, we looked pretty good just couldn’t score, why we lost 3-0 is because when we play like that it opens our defence up which is absolutely horrid, one of the worst in the PL.

Now Mou will turn back to parking the bus and grinding results, yay!

 

[jd2010]

We showed in the first half that we can play attacking football, we looked pretty good just couldn’t score, why we lost 3-0 is because when we play like that it opens our defence up which is absolutely horrid, one of the worst in the PL.

Now Mou will turn back to parking the bus and grinding results, yay!

It is what you said you would prefer so thankyou

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

It is what you said you would prefer so thankyou

I know, if Lukaku scores which he should’ve it might’ve been different.

Wouldn’t be so bad if we actually rectified our problems in the transfer window and signed some good CB’s though!

 

[jod23]

That's a simple conclusion to come to that they can't win playing a good way. For 50 mins until a set piece they looked by far the most likely to win.

The problem is they're so natural and better setup not to be the aggressive side that when they went behind they were stuffed. Just like when we scored against them in 10 seconds at Wembley. The beauty of football is there's more than one way to skin a cat. No point trying to get the great defensive Italian teams of the 90s and early 2000s to play joga bonito just like there isn't a Mourinho side. Sure they can pull it off from time to time but it's not their natural way and they are exposed more when playing that way.

I think United's biggest problem is they have bought poorly and just have a bloated squad with a bunch of average players.

How many United players get into Spurs first XI? Liverpool's first XI? City's first XI?

Only De Gea really and it's marginal anyways considering his form has been patchy lately and all three squads have excellent goalkeepers.

Sanchez, Pogba are probably their best players. Maybe they squeeze in somewhere but Sanchez wouldnt play in front of our front three and City is loaded attacking wise. Pogba is very inconsistent, he'd probably get into Spurs' midfield.

But that would be it. That's pretty telling.

 

[jd2010]

I think United's biggest problem is they have bought poorly and just have a bloated squad with a bunch of average players.

How many United players get into Spurs first XI? Liverpool's first XI? City's first XI?

Only De Gea really and it's marginal anyways considering his form has been patchy lately and all three squads have excellent goalkeepers.

Sanchez, Pogba are probably their best players. Maybe they squeeze in somewhere but Sanchez wouldnt play in front of our front three and City is loaded attacking wise. Pogba is very inconsistent, he'd probably get into Spurs' midfield.

But that would be it. That's pretty telling.

At their best you could make arguments for Pogba, DDG, Sanchez and Matic. Their defence is no good. Martial and Rashford under Poch would push Son/Lucas/Dele for their spots too.

 

[glenferry23]

Could be time for some good ol combined XIs....

 

[kangaspurs]

Meh

I stream games when I have to when they're not on SBS/Talksport, or sometimes go to soccer pubs like The Impy/Squires Bar.

I only get up at 5am to go to gym/pool every now and then, preferred a sleep in today

Not the end of the world not having Optus, I make do. When I believe the time is right then I might look to invest in their product, but right now I don't believe it's worth it.

You probably already know this, but there are quality sites out there where you can get a full match replay of the game or a comprehensive highlights package if you don't have time to watch the whole game. If I can't be bothered waking up early, I just avoid the score and use one of those sites to watch a replay.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

Can't see Mourinho getting out of this rut with United. I don't think he's the cause of all their problems, with Woodward and the board also contributing to their downfall.

United were always going to struggle in the post-Ferguson era. The whole club structure was centered around Ferguson and the squad was ageing and in need of a rebuild after his retirement, but I don't think the club has handled the transition well at all. It's thrown money at the problem, but that doesn't seem to be working either.

Mourinho peaked between 2004-2010. Porto, Chelsea (1st stint) and Inter Milan were lucky enough to experience his best years. He had reasonable years with Real Madrid and Chelsea (2nd stint), but it didn't mirror that seen within the six-year span I mentioned earlier.

As younger managers such as Guardiola, Klopp, Pochettino et al have come along, Mourinho's tactics have become increasingly outdated. What worked successfully 10 years ago doesn't work anymore. If Mourinho is to remain relevant in the foreseeable future, he needs to relinquish his stubbornness and reinvent the way he wants his teams to play.

I'm adamant that something changed during his stint with Real Madrid. He went from the flamboyant, charismatic and slightly cocky manager to a bitter man in the space of three years.

I remember listening to players such as Lampard, Zlatan and Sneijder say they would have run through a brick wall for him, but he doesn't seem to possess that kind of quality with modern players. Maybe his man management skills aren't suited to Millennials the way they were for the previous generation.

As a Chelsea supporter, it pleases me to see United fail but my affection and adulation for Mourinho has never wavered.

 

[moomba]

And it's a good question. He played they lost. He could have sat back and won 1-0 and would have still copped it.

I don't think it's too much to expect him to put together a team capable of playing well and winning. He's spent close to half a billion on new players since he arrived.

 

[jd2010]

I don't think it's too much to expect him to put together a team capable of playing well and winning. He's spent close to half a billion on new players since he arrived.

But that's not his style. Never really has been has it?

The problem is a club that likes to play with style hired a manager who is results focused over style more than him not changing the way he assembles squads and sends out his XI

 

[moomba]

I'm adamant that something changed during his stint with Real Madrid. He went from the flamboyant, charismatic and slightly cocky manager to a bitter man in the space of three years.

I'd agree with that. He was always arrogant but that used to come with a bit of charm and humour.

Madrid definitely affected him in a negative way.

 

[jod23]

At their best you could make arguments for Pogba, DDG, Sanchez and Matic. Their defence is no good. Martial and Rashford under Poch would push Son/Lucas/Dele for their spots too.

Dont think Martial, Rashford or Matic would get anywhere near our best XI. DDG, Pogba and Sanchez at their best would be the best shouts. It's pretty damning. Their defense is garbage.

 

[PendlePie]

What's happened to Sanchez? There were signs in his final 6 months at Arsenal that he was fading, but he's almost dropped off a cliff entirely at United.

Pogba will go to Barca in the next 12 months also. Another issue for Mourinho (or his successor) to deal with.

 

[RossFC]

What's happened to Sanchez? There were signs in his final 6 months at Arsenal that he was fading, but he's almost dropped off a cliff entirely at United.

Pogba will go to Barca in the next 12 months also. Another issue for Mourinho (or his successor) to deal with.

Sell Pogba, bring in 2 CBs, play Herrera who probably was their best outfield player 2 years ago.

 

[windyhill]

What a brat.

 

[SM]

What could have been..

 

[GreekLunatic]

Lol at mou press conference

 

[Flameboy]

Just can't help himself, has to say or do something utterly inflammatory almost every week.