20 May 2018 15:53:44
Interesting debate ab it the United way with a reference to the ‘99 team, but the United way can be traced back to the 50’s. In essence it is a focus on developing our own and entertaining the fans, you score 3, we'll score 4, and it’s all about the team. It is not a style of football it a state of mind. The selection of an odd game here or there to decry it is mischievous. Think about the 7-1 Roma game, the 2 thrashings of Arsenal, the 8-1 away at Forest, the away game at Arsenal in the ECL semi final, the semi against Juventus, I could go on. For every bad game I’ll name you 4 good ones.
You either respect it or you don’t. What we are seeing now is boring safety first football, the public haranguing of very young players, no clear style, and for me, a Manager whose heart isn’t really in it. Jose was never right for United and nothing I have seen since his arrival has suggested otherwise. Some people say results matter above everything, not for me, never have and never will. And yes, I was going week in, week out long before SAF took over.
Ed02 indicated that all was not well and that this was far from a marriage made in heaven. As I have said previously, the longer this goes on the more damage will be done. Jose does not seem a happy bunny, I don’t think he will see out next season.
20 May 2018 16:13:02
The best advice I can give you is to read what rival fans are saying, ignore the idiots, the majority will tell you the truth:
1 - We are not feared anymore
2 - We have wasted hundreds of millions
3 - We are more boring to watch than anybody can remember - consistently
4 - Our supposed World Class players look anything but
5 - Our respected heritage of advancing young potential has died a death
6 - Our brand is being damaged by this odious football
When our own fans try and call a spade a spade they are called toxic, just until a critical mass is reached and then they are preaching to the supposed converted.
Ultimately SAF didn't mop up in Europe like he maybe could have, but he brought entertainment and we all felt confident going into every game we played. We knew it would be fun to watch and there would be something positive to take from a game more often than not. Only one team can win the CL and there are almost 10 teams hard to separate at the minute, similar during SAF's time, maybe a few less, so it's hardly a massive criticism if you don't win it. Roma, Liverpool, Madrid all finished 3rd (or worse) in their leagues this year yet made the Semi-Final of the best cup in the world!
The board will be happy though as we still managed to get more than City in broadcasting rights - doubt that will last as people will be tuning out if this continues. Sponsors will offer less, good players won't want to come (or money will be their primary motivator which spells trouble) . Yes there is always room for improvement, SAF wasn't perfect, but this different is not the way forward, it's crippling everything we built up over a generation.
Too many of our fans are leaving the game feeling dejected too often - win/ lose/ draw. The answer is painfully simple to me and any other fan that cares about enjoying the game, it's only difficult for people financially connected, as change brings uncertainty. The fans that are happy for this to continue are over-complicating everything and looking for signs where they don't exist.
It's getting to the point where rival fans are almost missing Man Utd, for all their mock hatred (real in some cases I suppose), they respected us and enjoyed the games when we were on. Kind of like I will happily watch City or Liverpool at the minute as I know it will likely be a good game, with good football. A fun killing Man Utd is bad for football as a whole, it's like watching a King being humiliated at the minute every time you tune in, even if you don't like the King, the're something fundamentally wrong about seeing a legend crumble before your eyes.
20 May 2018 16:38:01
(Meant for Shaw below sorry AJH) .
20 May 2018 17:17:12
Just ask one question. Is Woodward or the owners happy? If not then you'll get your away and that's 3 sacked in 5 years. If they are then Jose gets next season.