12 Aug 2024 19:29:47
Like most fans lm thrilled the new regime are getting players and moving on others. Only concern is we are very much buying EtH former players, if he is sacked, l hope we don't have another rebuild on our hands, unless RvN is next manager!
12 Aug 2024 20:43:00
Spot on Redcon - I honestly believe SJR has brought in RVN exactly for that reason. I also think ETH was told that at his review - that's why he has a totally different demeanour from last season. Every game will be a make or break cup final for him this season.
12 Aug 2024 20:59:44
FFS the season hasn’t even started. Chill guys and give it a chance! ?.
12 Aug 2024 21:00:15
So many conspiracy theories, maybe there is a shade of truth in one or two of them, but I very much doubt it.
We've signed Yoro and Zirkzee this summer, neither of which are former players of EtH, in fact even with MdL and Mazraoui less than 20% of our signings have been former players of his.
Neither were high up our list at the start of the summer, but due to financial restrictions, an inability to get our first choices, and because they presented themselves as good opportunities we've moved for them.
Players play under many different managers, I'm sure that the club have decided that the players we sign this summer suit the club's vision for the future.
As for EtH's demeanour being different this season, well it changed over the course of last season, as things got tougher and the media tried very hard to get the manager sacked I'm hardly surprised his demeanour became more frosty. Likewise after having his contract extended, and being shown support by the club over the summer his demeanour has probably softened as he feels happier and more settled.
13 Aug 2024 00:08:54
RVN was a very intelligent player who just knew how to read the game and find space. We have young strikers who have his size and pace and power and he has been bought in to help them.
He is Dutch, he has the connection to United and to get he Jnited job he would need to a success which of he solves the United striking issue is going to go a long way to saving Ten Hag.
13 Aug 2024 06:54:11
Jesus, maybe RVN has been brought in to help the strikers find the net. I think there is a positive vibe right now, let's not try and knock it down.
13 Aug 2024 10:50:23
Eth has been given the nod so he will get on with the job.
The whole coaching team with the e caption of eth has been changed.
Rightly so the coaching was awful not 1 player has consistently played at the level required or Improved since eth came in apart for the 2 academy lads and possibly Bruno.
He is leading a new coaching team will have spent in excess of 500m in his tenure.
Ineos have given eth the opportunity to improve.
He really needs to.
I see no reason whatsoever why we can't get off to a hot start and finish in the top 3 or 4 come the end of the season.
He is here for the season I suspect and if he does well with his new coaches he will be kept if he doesn't show significant improvement in results he won't.
There is absolutely no reason why we can't improve significantly if we do them everybody will be happy. If we don't then the baton will pass to someone else.
Very good run of fixtures in the 1st 10 games so we should make a fast start.
Midfield will be addressed before the window closes I've no doubt about that.
13 Aug 2024 15:59:23
Is the first 10 fixtures that kind?
Fulham, Brighton, Liverpool, Southampton, Palace, Spurs, Villa, Brentford, West Ham and Chelsea.
Three of those team will be expected to fight it out for the top four (Liverpool, Spurs, and Chelsea) .
While Villa did finish in the top four last season and have bought well over the summer.
West Ham, Palace and Brighton are the teams that finished in the three places behind us last season. Of which Palace were on the up after Glasner took over and have a great record under him.
Then you have West Ham who have brought in a great manager in Lopetegui and have recruited very well this summer.
So in reality we are playing against 5 sides that will be challenging for the top 7 positions in the league this season (Liverpool, Spurs, Villa, Chelsea and West Ham) .
3 games against really solid EPL teams that have taken points off of teams that finished higher than us last season (Palace, Brighton and Fulham) .
And just 2 games against side that are either promoted or were in the relegation fight last season (Southampton and Brentford) .
Ken you keep saying this team is only as good as where we finished last season (8th), and based on last season's form I wouldn't say that is an easy run of fixtures where we should be expecting something like 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.
At least 50% of those teams are sides that currently and based on last season's form should give us a really tough game and shouldn't be a surprise if we lost any one or even all those games.
While 3 of the remaining 5 could easily beat us and have beaten better teams than ourselves last season.
I wouldn't say it's a horrible run of fixtures, but it certainly isn't an easy run.
Man City play Chelsea, Ipswich, West Ham, Brentford, Arsenal, Newcastle, Fulham, Wolves, Southampton and Bournemouth.
Playing 5 of the same teams (Chelsea, West Ham, Brentford, Fulham and Southampton) with Arsenal and Newcastle being of a similar level to Liverpool and Villa. While Ipswich, Bournemouth and Wolves look an easier group than Palace, Brighton and Spurs.
City have an easier opening 10 games.
Liverpool play: Ipswich, Brentford, United, Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves, Palace, Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton.
That's 4 teams the same as us as well as playing us.
Ipswich, Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves and Arsenal are the 5 different sides compared to our Spurs, West Ham, Villa, Fulham and Southampton.
While Arsenal are a tough fixture, the others look easier on paper than ours.
I don't think our fixture list is particularly kind. Either you think we are a better side than you give us credit for, or you are trying to set a narrative that it's an easy fixture list so if we slip up you can lambast the manager, while if we do well you can write it off as nothing special.
13 Aug 2024 18:26:37
Good one Shappy, i'd even add that we lost to Fulham last season and drew Brentford in one of the games (the other one was crazy McT goals turning the match) .
Seems like no easy matches in the league.
I do hope we catch Chelsea while they still haven't clicked and that CL will have a big impact on the Villa side.
13 Aug 2024 22:30:42
I heard a stat earlier that if you look at points won since Oliver Glasner took over at Palace then Palace would be 5th place.
They won't be an easy game.