09 Aug 2024 23:38:51
Would have liked a more inspirational presser from ETH rather than we will start the season slowly. sigh!
10 Aug 2024 03:14:43
Gotta get in there early with the excuses so that he can tell us all how he told us so later on.
10 Aug 2024 06:51:08
A slow start is quite likely with Yoro and Hojlund injured, and Bruno, Mainoo, Shaw, Dalot, Garnacho and Zirkzee having had no preseason. Stands to reason.
10 Aug 2024 07:29:10
Stands to reason. Maybe, but then other teams are in same boat.
Could have been worded better so as not to belittle the players that start the season. ‘Know, feel wanted!
Nothing like an early season morale booster for your troops!
10 Aug 2024 08:05:41
Everyone one here would agree we’ve not had a good window, and some may argue that the squad is worse now than it was in May.
So with that in mind, what exactly are you expecting?
Then I’ve seen people expecting a “title charge” amongst going “deep in every cup competition”. Those are the people who will be the most angry and upset come November.
10 Aug 2024 08:26:00
Just watched it, not sure what people want or prefer to hang onto something to justify their dislike of the manager. i thought it was a very good straight forward honest presser and he was not making excuses and said many teams going through same thing. Watch peps and see what he said, same kind of message.
10 Aug 2024 08:43:44
I remember last summer, there was a few who thought we were just a Harry Kane away from being nailed on title winners.
10 Aug 2024 08:56:41
Doesn’t matter what he says in press conferences does it? It’s what he says to players behind closed doors that matter.
I think we’ll do a lot better than people are saying this season.
10 Aug 2024 10:43:36
So you'd rather he lie or come across delusional?
Over half the first team have had less than 10 days training for pre-season and haven't played a single minute of football due to them returning late due to international commitments (Garnacho, Martinez, Mainoo, Shaw, Dalot and Bruno) .
While new signing Zirkzee has only had a week training with the full squad and has played zero minutes.
We then have injuries to players like Højlund, Yoro, Shaw, Malacia, Lindelof, Maguire and AWB.
The only senior players who have had a full pre-season who we can rely on for the first few games will be Onana, Evans, Casemiro, Mount, Eriksen, McTominay, Rashford, Amad, Antony and Sancho.
That's just 10 players, of which only one is a defender (the 36 year old Evans), while 4 or 5 are players we are actively trying to sell (Casemiro, Eriksen, McTominay, Antony and Sancho) . You then have Amad and Mount who aren't nailed on starters. Leaving just Onana and Rashford who are likely/ planned to be regular starters this season.
Who on earth seriously expects a quick start to the season when we have two of our best starting 11 to have had a full pre-season, and only 10 senior players in total to have had a full pre-season.
For the first few games it's likely that 5-7 of our starting 11 will either be youth players from the academy or players with limited preparation for the season. With pretty much an entire bench of players who are undercooked for the start of the season for one reason or another.
The only hope is that other top sides in the league will have had similarly slow pre-seasons and will also not be quite up to speed.
10 Aug 2024 11:37:47
I don't think any manager should be talking his team down.
City have players not even back in training yet 3 from the English squad and 1 from Spain.
I don't hear pep saying the team will start badly.
Nor have I heard arteta claiming they will stay slowly or slot.
It's typical eth imo. A man not to be trusted.
Excuses coming already from him.
There is no reason we should start any any slower than any other team full of internationals.
10 Aug 2024 11:58:18
Hey. I’m not expecting miracles. Nor am I expecting any cup run etc. If you read previous posts I have said people need to temper expectations. And in no way am I “hanging” on to something to “justify” any dislike for the manager. I have already said that I respect the senior management decision to keep him.
Clearly very few here have coached teams at any level. Those that have and successfully will know that the message you are sending out is that the players available are not capable of winning or of the level required.
That may well be the case, and often is, but you don’t kick the poor buggers before the season starts!
Oh and Shappy……. he already comes across as delusional. Did you not listen to his ramblings last year?
Seems like half of you are already making excuses before the season starts.
10 Aug 2024 12:02:18
I should quantify what I am saying by adding that I do not disagree with anything he or you guys have said. Just that he could have worded it differently so as not to alienate some of the squad by making them out to be nothing more than also ranks even if, as we all know, some of them are!
10 Aug 2024 12:29:24
Just to add
Onana free summer
Dalot knocked out early
Shaw only played 1 game
Maguire free summer
Martinez fresh as a daisy
Cas free summer
Mount free summer
Evans free summer
Lindelof free summer
Bruno knocked out early
Erriksen knocked out early
Mctom knocked out early
Mainoo didn't play 1st 6 months of of last season so can't be exhausted.
Zirkzee didn't play all summer
Amad free summer
Rasmus knocked out early
Rash free summer
Garnacho played copa but not a starter.
I'd say we are better off than a lot of teams no reason we should start slow at all.
10 Aug 2024 12:59:08
It's just the same old same old, people make of it what they want to see.
Those that want the manager out (even those that said that if INEOS backed the manager then they would as well) will always see the worse and find someway to complain.
Anyone who thinks our squad is ready to start the season on fire is a fool and clearly unable to comprehend that the majority haven't had a proper pre-season for one reason or another.
They seem the manager tempering expectations as a slight on the players and undermining their confidence. Yet it's a press conference, the manager will be briefed on what questions will be asked and what to say within reason. He's also not speaking in his first language, so there will always be a chance for things to be lost in translation or for him to misspeak.
I've found his press conferences to be honest and fair, he doesn't dodge questions or look to throw mud or avoid answering difficult questions. If you want to be critical he's possibly too honest and open.
But ultimately people will lean on their confirmation bias and see what they expect/ hope to see. They'd rather the club/ manager fail and them be right than see them succeed and be wrong.
10 Aug 2024 13:56:39
Who would rather see the team fail shappy?
10 Aug 2024 14:01:49
@ keefy who are the posters on here that you think have coached or played the game at decent levels.
I'd suggest very few have judging by the posts.
Computer games and pretend football is not quite the same??.
10 Aug 2024 14:30:00
At no point did I say anything along the lines of starting the season on fire. I have posted on this forum that I expect to finish 6th and would have no issue with that if there is tangible progress on and off the park.
What self respecting fan of over 55 years would want the manager to fail? NONE! To suggest that is foolish to the extreme. I would love it if he went on to become one of our most successful managers. Otherwise we go round again and start the process of rebuild all over again! Do I still think he is delusional? Yep I do! Do I want him to fail? NO I DON’T!
But hey ho whatever.
Sheesh. All I said was I thought he could word it better and now I want the team to fail!
Yep I am a fool!
10 Aug 2024 14:46:34
Keefy I don't think shappy said you but he just hung it out there. Nobody wants the team to do badly energising wants the team to do well. I think they will come 3rd or 4th I can't see any reason why they can't or shouldn't.
10 Aug 2024 20:45:51
I think they will have a title charge as per Wazza comment, but I certainly won't be disappointed if they don't.
I think eth is the right man to take the team forward, he is better than anything we've had post Fergie. (Although Jose wasn't supported and RR wasn't listened too) .
Time will tell, but in 12mths almost all the crap will be gone.