...::[The Footy Desk]::... (Part 2)

[Guest]

Awful opening. Exposed defence, half-cooked attack, what was that starting eleven?

 

Thiaw should go. Bennacer wasn't in his best. Why did Jovic start? He's best used as sub and never as starter. Morata had his usual offside moments, but he lifted the team and scored. Okafor time and time again showed his passion and why he deserved a place above Chukwueze.

 

And duh, we bought Emerson Royal, of all RB out there in the market, to compete with Calabria.

Edited August 18, 2024 by One of Wisemen
double posting, thanks bad connection

[TheSantader25]

Flick is trying to play more long balls and direct passing than we are usually accustomed to here at Barca. It's gonna take time to see if it's gonna work. The positives from last night are how much better than usual we looked transitioning from defense to attack and the suffocating pressure. The downside was how exposed we looked when losing the ball. But that's a known issue with Flick's high risk system. 

 

Seems like every season now we spawn 2 or 3 new players who look incredible from La masia. We are lucky to have an academy like that. 2 new promising DMs is exactly what we needed. Decent start at a difficult stadium for the new season.

Edited August 18, 2024 by TheSantader25

[Eutyphro]

I don't really understand Flick at Barça. I think Tuchel would have been a more natural fit.

[TheSantader25]

I respect Tuchel but I generally don't like the way his teams play. I think the fans would turn on him quickly if his system didn't bring immediate results. He is known for being stubborn in his ways which could furthur crash down on us due to the toxic Spanish media.

[Jason]

I think Tuchel is over rated... vastly over rated tbh. His style of play is poor, and his style is negative and invites pressure which eventually causes teams to down tools. The fact he's abrasive publicly with the board isn't helpful either, even if he's got a point, he doesn't do it in the right way for me.

 

I really wasn't keen on him taking over United this summer for these reasons, as his name was touted before they decided to stick with ETH.

 

Flick was an odd choice for Barca though, he's very not Barca. They usually get managers who suit the Barcelona style of play, 433 especially, but hiring Flick feels like they've abandoned that approach and just went for a top manager. No idea if it'll work, especially given how f*cked they are as a club financially, meaning he won't be able to get the players he needs for his style in so easily.

[Eutyphro]

His Bayern stint was definitely quite poor. His PSG stint was decent. His Chelsea stint was good. His Dortmund stint was good. I have to say, I'm not sure I really get Tuchel as a manager. He seemed like a better match for Barca's style of play than Flick though, who does not fit at all. Flick should've gone back to Bayern.

Edited August 19, 2024 by Eutyphro

[Jason]

His Chelsea stint started well, winning the CL, but he failed to build on that despite having a really strong squad, they were PL favourites in his first full season. He didn't do terribly but he didn't impress at all, which has been the story of his career. He'll have a good squad and everything he needs to take them to the next step, but fail every time, and cause the club issues as he does.

 

He's not a terrible manager but I wouldn't even describe him as elite tbh. Tier below that probably.

[Eutyphro]

The reason for the posts I made about Tuchel is not cause I personally so highly regard Tuchel, but because he is one of the most highly regarded managers on the market. I very much understand the criticism of him though, but my logic is mainly from the perspective that the top manager circuit is small and he is part of that group, not that I think he's that great. A manager I actually really like for instance is Arne Slot. That is someone I regard highly and am interested in how he does.

[Jason]

Tuchel's whole rep is weird yea. He's regarded as a world class manager because when you look at his achievements in a bottle, he looks it. But over the course of his season especially post-Dortmund, where he was the young manager on the rise and not the supposedly world class manager he's been since, he's been all over the place for the reasons I said.

 

He's a very weird manager in the sense that his trophy cabinet is at odds with his ability and history.

 

I feel like he's the poor mans Emery at this point. But like Emery, he's probably better suited to clubs just outside the elite tier.

[TheSantader25]

Well we haven't won a game with scorelines this big since prime MSN era with Enrique. 8 years ago. Flick's cooking so far. Though our depth will cause problems later.

[Jason]

Oh wow yea, Barca look like they're flying at the moment.

[LongHairedFreakyGuy]

Well, we may have sold the vast majority of our top players, but I'll take today's win as some form of positivity. Leeds were literally on the brink of promotion last season, and it just seems like we've screwed our chances of that happening again, but heh, crazier things have happened at our club... 

 

Also, RIP Sol Bamba. 

Edited September 1, 2024 by LongHairedFreakyGuy

[TheSantader25]

I don't know much about Arne Slot but so far it seems like among clubs that are owned by foreign billionaires Liverpool have a better structural understanding of recruitment both in case of managers and players.

Edited September 1, 2024 by TheSantader25

[Jason]

Well the circus is back in town.

 

ETH needed a strong start, the performances and style needed to improve, the space in front of the defence and in midfield needed to tighten up.

 

None of that has happened and after being battered by Liverpool of all teams, at home, I expect the ETH out stuff will start again.

 

If things don't improve fast he wont make it until Christmas I suspect.

[Eutyphro]

Casemiro is absolutely awful. Good that they are getting Ugarte so Casemiro can go on the bench. Man U holding midfield really looking not good enough. Maybe starting with both Mount and Fernandes to strengthen midfield not so bad an idea after all.

 

Liverpool looking really good under Slot.

[Eutyphro]

I personally think Man Utd should've bought Joey Veerman. Joey Veerman is a very good player, similar to Toni Kroos in playing style, and he could have made their midfield stronger, especially in depth.

[TheSantader25]

I saw Van de Beek playing for Girona as a sub on Sunday. How the hell did he end up there?

[Jason]

2 minutes ago, TheSantader25 said:

I saw Van de Beek playing for Girona as a sub on Sunday. How the hell did he end up there?

 

Sold him for 500k lol.

[Eutyphro]

8 minutes ago, TheSantader25 said:

I saw Van de Beek playing for Girona as a sub on Sunday. How the hell did he end up there?

Did he play any good?

 

He ended up there cause van de Beek has pretty specific qualities, but not the level of a top European club. He does not have a great passing range, but he works great in tandem with Frenkie de Jong, as he has good work rate, he is intelligent, and at Ajax he made important goals. He also lost confidence after failing at several clubs and a bad injury, so Girona is a good club for him.

Edited September 17, 2024 by Eutyphro

[Jason]

VDB is a very, very strange player. Neat and tidy on the ball but slow and physically weak. He isn't good for a team that plays any sort of counter attacking football cause he has no place, nor can he play deep midfield in any system cause he doesn't have the physicality for it.

 

He's this weird number 10 that isn't a goal threat and isn't really someone known for precise through balls or creative passes.

 

His talent is being neat and tidy in advanced possessions and playing one twos, flicks, etc.

 

In a nutshell, he has no place in most top sides in Europe, he's not good enough for certain leagues (like the Prem) in general. He only seems to work when the team is built around him and he isn't gonna get that anywhere these days.

[Eutyphro]

I think he only works well with a top level holding mid like Frenkie, as he complements Frenkie well. He might also be decent at our national team along with a guy like Gravenberch, who is also very technically gifted. At Ajax he made important goals and had really good work rate, but he never made a chance competing with Bruno Fernandes, and he doesn't have qualities to play as a holding mid, which I think is how they misused him at Everton.

At the national team we now have guys like Xavi Simons for the number 10 role though, so that as well will be very difficult for him to compete for. A bunch of midfielders came up in recent years like Tijani Reijnders to make van de Beek pretty irrelevant for our national team as well. It's also a question whether he can even regain his old level after his horrific injury. But I wish the guy the best.

Edited September 17, 2024 by Eutyphro

[TheSantader25]

10 minutes ago, Eutyphro said:

Did he play any good?

 

Not really. He came on as a sub though. I think his game hasn't really been that impressive since Ajax. He was quite the goal scoring midfielder. He's like if you remove the control and passing qualities from Gundogan. His physicality and work rate also leave much to be desired. Overall I'd say he needs someone who fully understands his game to take advantage of him. Someone like Simeone could probably use him as a deadly sub.

[Eutyphro]

Just now, TheSantader25 said:

Not really. He came on as a sub though. I think his game hasn't really been that impressive since Ajax. He was quite the goal scoring midfielder. He's like if you remove the control and passing qualities from Gundogan. His physicality and work rate also leave much to be desired. Overall I'd say he needs someone who fully understands his game to take advantage of him. Someone like Simeone could probably use him as a deadly sub.

He was a pretty deadly box to box midfielder for Ajax, but the inury might have been pretty fatal for his career potential. Sad. If he does not impress at Girona he should come back to Ajax. We would definitely take him back. He's a very loved player over here.

[TonyRyodan]

I hope Endrick is a real star

[TheSantader25]

I feel like the script for United in the past 10 years has been the EXACT same scenario every year. No difference whatsoever. By the end of the season you'll be in top 6 again and everyone forgets everything and the same sh*t happens next year again.

Edited September 29, 2024 by TheSantader25

[Jason]

All round awful situation to be in.

 

ETH wins the FA Cup and with no stand out alternative available, he gets backed by the board and makes multiple new signings. His players.

 

Season begins and it's same old as last season, with no sign of any progression or improvements in sight. Board now have a decision to make in terms of how much longer they can risk this going on, because I think it's fair to say at this point that ETH is not good enough. I don't know why he's not good enough cause I saw a manager in his first season who I thought was good enough and enjoyed having as our manager, but his second and now third season is becoming embarrassing for everyone. Same problems every single game, it's so easy to get into dangerous areas in our half, so easy to get 1v1's in midfield, and we have a front line that plays in straight lines, with no link up play or combination play in sight. This is despite ETH making three summers worth of HIS signings.

 

I don't know what he changed or why, but we're f*cked. I wouldn't be upset if they sacked him him tomorrow, I don't think any fan would.

[beneksy]

9 hours ago, Jason said:

All round awful situation to be in.

 

ETH wins the FA Cup and with no stand out alternative available, he gets backed by the board and makes multiple new signings. His players.

 

Season begins and it's same old as last season, with no sign of any progression or improvements in sight. Board now have a decision to make in terms of how much longer they can risk this going on, because I think it's fair to say at this point that ETH is not good enough. I don't know why he's not good enough cause I saw a manager in his first season who I thought was good enough and enjoyed having as our manager, but his second and now third season is becoming embarrassing for everyone. Same problems every single game, it's so easy to get into dangerous areas in our half, so easy to get 1v1's in midfield, and we have a front line that plays in straight lines, with no link up play or combination play in sight. This is despite ETH making three summers worth of HIS signings.

 

I don't know what he changed or why, but we're f*cked. I wouldn't be upset if they sacked him him tomorrow, I don't think any fan would.

 

As United fan I cannot stand him any longer to be honest  Imagine these results by any other manager, they would be sacked long time ago. How many did we had in the last years? Sometimes even 2 in one year. But something is holding them to keep him despite these results this season, also last one wasnt the best. We're worse from season to season. The plan is just not working, bringing everyone to MANU from Ajax or his others previous clubs isn't the way to go  

I dont know what might help this "team", complete wipe out.  For sure it isnt his strict discipline and othe bullsh*.

Our younglings like Garnacho, Kobie - they are the future of this team, dont stop polishing these diamonds.

[Eutyphro]

There's a bunch of things I don't like about ManU currently. Rashford should not start but Garnacho should start on the left wing. Diallo should also start. Rashford should be a sub.

 

Zirkzee is decent at link up play, but I strongly prefer for Hojlund to start. Man U need a dynamic striker, and not an ineffective lanky one. Hojlund has struggled with injury though.

 

Another thing I don't like is the overreliance on Bruno. He plays too many games and he lacks sharpness. I'm also disappointed in de Ligt who went from a monster talent at Ajax to being way less good. He needs another fitness regimen, because he doesn't show the athletic ability he once had. If he did Man U defence would be on another level, but it seems he deteriorated.

 

Another thing I've noticed is Kobbie also looks a pale version of himself, and probably also played too many games recently.

 

Anyway, Casemiro being sh*te is also a huge let down. Now they already rely on Ugarte who only just came in. ETH needs to figure all these things out soon and make some potentially harsh decisions like benching Rashford to move into a better direction and not make the season a disaster like it seems right now.

Edited September 30, 2024 by Eutyphro

[smokeless6]

That was rather embarrassing by United yesterday. Looked like the first time the players had been on the pitch together. It looked to me like all of the things a manager can have an affect on -- formation, tactics, motivation, execution, selection, substitutions -- were poor. I'd fire him today were I running that show. Bruno's card was weak, looked like a stamp but wasn't, really, and should have been downgraded by the remarkably laughable English VAR system. That changed the game according to Ten Hag, and in a sense it did, killing any chance they might have had to get back in it. But that also ignores how poor they were up to that point and they would have lost, probably, if the card hadn't been red.

 

Ten Hag isn't out there playing and cannot be held responsible for everything. But the things he should be in control of, making the side a cohesive and effective unit, just aren't there. Three years and no improvement that I can see, the manager still speaking of 'learning' from these defeats. Not sure who they bring in, but I'd say the time has come.

 

Maresca has done more in a few weeks with the mess that is Chelsea's squad than Ten Hag has done in three years. Look at what Emery has done with a Villa side that were nearly relegated when he took over. Ten Hag has had his chance, it didn't work out and United need to make a change.  Second highest spending side in the league after Chelsea over the past few seasons and this is the result? He would have been let go at just about any other club I believe.

[Jason]

Oh yea that Bruno red card was laughable. This year one of the things with VAR was that there would need to be a huge error for them to overturn the on field decision, but yesterday was once again a great example showing that the tech isn't the issue, it's the people using it, the people on the pitch.

 

He slipped and while he did throw a leg out the contact was minimal with no malice or force behind it, and it was the side of his boot and not the studs. All round awful decision, sorta hope we put an appeal in for it.