16 Dec 2025 07:42:50
Looking at the stats only city have scored more than us this season and we are joint second with Arsenal with 30 goals for. Clearly we’ve improved in that area as we struggled massively in that department last season. Defensively though we’ve the 6th worst record with 26 conceded, sort that out and we could be in business.
I think a lot of the issue is how exposed the system leaves our cbs and the fact our midfield is poor. Maybe a signing or 2 can help and a few tweaks to help provide more protection. Lammens has definitely helped but more work to do for sure.
16 Dec 2025 08:29:52
Of course its a work inn progress. Is that a surprise to anyone? What were you expecting tim,
We are improving.
16 Dec 2025 09:56:01
We've also underperformed our xG, suggesting that we should have scored more.
The whole squad needed to be rebuilt this summer, but that was never likely to be possible. We spent big on the forward line as we really struggled for goals last season and looking at the stats so far it's clear that paid off.
However, we still need to rebuild the midfield, and the defence also needs a little work.
We've missed MdL and Maguire from the last few games, last night at CB we had two teenagers and a fullback. Of course we were going to be a little too open and mistakes were always likely.
Add to that a young, new keeper and it's clear we are missing leadership and experience when MdL and Maguire aren't available.
In midfield our best pairing is Bruno and Casemiro, yet even that pairing has obvious flaws. The problem is that none of the options on the bench solve those issues without bringing other bigger problems.
Until we get those new players in midfield and defence to finish the rebuild then our performances and results will continue to be patchy.
16 Dec 2025 10:05:11
That wasn’t meant as a negative post Ken, more positive in fact as I was highlighting we’ve improved offensively.
16 Dec 2025 17:13:10
I get you Tim. I think we just need to stop being so reactionary after every game win or lose. We are improving. Reading headlines and dissing the club at every turn and junction does not help and is not supporting imo.
No issue with anybody not trusting a manager but running the club down on a daily basis is feeding the social media frenzy and giving a very slanted view on the reality imo.
{Ed025's Note - but you cant blame people for being reactionary Ken when you keep shooting yourselves in the foot mate, you were doing fine then had three results where you were abysmal and should have done better, yesterday you scored 4 and still never won because your defence and midfield were a joke..
16 Dec 2025 18:14:30
Ed025 I thought it was a great game to watch. One of the best for years we played very well going forward . We know the midfield is really vacant so no surprise. And the 2 teenage cbs made errors and shaw was great and hopeless as usual. Until there are better players in those positions we can lose any game. Very few people had us competing for top4 at the start of the season those same people are now moaning we are not 3rd when they didn't and couldn't have expected that.
Every poster wanted improvement year on year and they have improved on practically every single measurable stat. Yet still not happy? It could be better it could be worse butthe signs are good imo given that the squad is far from ideal for consistency.
We have thrown some points away primarily because we are not good and strong enough yet. But I think coming into the season everybody knew we were not strong enough so let's not miss the club at energy opportunity.
Its a long climb but we are showing signs of considerable improvement it may not be happening as fast as we would like but have you ever built a team or business or new framework from scratch? If you have you understand that tolerance is needed and if you hit road bombs you don't over react and as long as your strategy is showing signs you stick to it. The ability to separate strategy and emotion is not something football fans are known for. But in a situation like ours emotion can't overtake the tolerance and understanding imo. I think nearly every team in the league can say they should be 4 or 5 points better off this season. The league is very competitive more so than ever. I sort of expect the top 2 to pull away but the rest is very much up for grabs. We will rue those dropped points no doubt but we might win a few we don't deserve in the remainder of the season. The future looks brighter to a lot of fans than it has for a while.
{Ed025's Note - maybe im disappointed because you should be higher Ken, United have had some great chances to be higher and its so frustrating when you can go to Anfield and beat the Champions then lose at OT against 10 man Everton mate, so its no wonder supporters are pulling their hair out when you can play so well and also so pathetic even within the same game like last night, i will have ups and downs its part of the game but concentration and basic skills should be a given at this level and thats where you are falling down imo, i know you are a big Amorim fan but the set up looks wrong to me, too many gaps in midfield and a back 4 that go into panic mode when pressed is not a recipe for success, you have some very good individuals but as a team you look all over the place and thats down to the manager for me..
16 Dec 2025 19:24:14
I understand your thought process but I don't agree. Any defence will suffer with players streaming through midfield like Liverpool has. If your midfielders are not where they should be when they are needed then you are in trouble. When cas is not there its worse. But our midfield options are bruno (not a natural) mainoo ugarte cas.
When they played in a 3 man midfield how did they do? I don't care what shape you put them in that's a poxy selection . We need 2 starting cm players until that happens we will continue to be inconsistent.
I like RA correct but I do see his shortcomings. He is young inexperienced and learning on the job. The changes he is trying to implement and the club as a whole are trying to implement are never going to happen overnight it takes time and we are improving in nearly every single measurable stat so if your on the right track you need toto understand you will need to endure some pain to see the rainbow. I've a high Gillette for anybody working that shouted conduct improvement over a reasonable amount of time.
If and when the rate of investment and support outweighs the rate of improvement then you are entitled to ask questions. Imo the rate if the rate of improvement continues at its current trajectory them our Leo's target of 27/28 is possible. Sothats the target i'm not interested in short term gain or pain its sustained improvement and that's what we are experiencing imo.
Ra didn't bring united to 15th averaging not much over a point a game. He inherited a team with 11 points after 9 games sitting 15th.
I think we are 6th now without a midfield.
When was last time united were within 2 points of a cl place after 16 games?
Im not suggesting its good enough long term but we were on the floor and now we are 6th. It could be better its fine margins. We are just not good enough yet.
If we had beaten Everton in that 1 game would you think ra was doing well sitting 4th? 7 points off top?
{Ed025's Note - its the inconsistency that worries me ken and the hero to zero instances that the whole team seem to be suffering from, you seem happy with the manager mate and i think hes probably the problem, but thats fine by me..
16 Dec 2025 20:45:35
Can't be all the managers ed025 pal. Big change Trafford time. I know it's not the way everyone thinks and I'm fine with that too.
16 Dec 2025 20:47:37
Didn’t think I had been doing that, trying to be more measured in my thoughts. But ok!