The 2023-2024 Football Thread

[Scepticalscribe]

Trossard should put in a transfer request and go to where ever window is open. He is being ruined.
Arteta’s experimenting too much with his line up and formations.

At least, Gabriel Magalhaes was on the pitch from the start, today. Last season, partnered with Saliba, they were the best in the league (until Saliba's injury, which, I would argue, as much as anything, is one of the main things that eventually cost us the title).

The tactical experiments of the past few weeks have left me somewhat uncomfortable, and uneasy.

 

[Sal09]

Fergie Time 😎

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Lol.

I is shocked 😝

Well, I wasn't there, instead, was busy gnawing nails at home.

In any case, I get the sense that we are not as coolly confident as we were at this time last season.

Granted, at that time, there was no pressure on us, and little by way of expectation (none of the forecasts or predictions in advance of last season predicted a top four finish, let alone that we would have headed the table for most of the season and end up in second place).

 

[Sal09]

At least, Gabriel Magalhaes was on the pitch fromt he start, today. Last season, partnered with Saliba, they wwre the best in the league (until Saliba's injury, which, I would argue, as much as anything, is one of the main things that cost us the title).

The tactical experiments of the past few weeks have left me somewhat uncomfortable, and uneasy.

Yes finally. He kept Hojlund at bay.

That is our strongest back four and Arteta needs to stop tinkering with it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Fergie Time 😎

Yes, I used to hate it - really hate it, deeply dislike it - when that happened with United under Sir Alex.

However the very definition of a double standard is that I am a lot less exercised about this when we have been shown to have benefitted from the addition of extra time; oh, dear.

Time for a mental, moral, tap on the wrist, methinks.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yes finally. He kept Hojlund at bay.

And not before time.

That is our strongest back four and Arteta needs to stop tinkering with it.

Exactly.

Our strongest back four by far; they played a huge part in our successful season last year, - and were easily the best in the division for most of the season (until Saliba's injury) - and, to my mind, should be deployed on a regular basis.

Mind you, I'm delighted with Declan Rice; he has been excellent so far, and today's goal was a treat to behold.

 

[Sal09]

Yes, I used to hate it - really hate it, deeply dislike it - when that happened with United under Sir Alex.

However the very definition of a double standard is that I am a lot less exercised about this when we have been shown to have benefitted from the addition of extra time; oh, dear.

Time for a mental, moral, tap on the wrist, methinks.

But their Goalie kept wasting time. Plus Ref gave them enough time to score equaliser but Gabi finished them off.

 

[Apple fanboy]

And not before time.

Exactly.

Our strongest back four by far; they played a huge part in our successful season last year, - and were easily the best in the division for most of the season (until Saliba's injury) - and, to my mind, should be deployed on a regular basis.

Mind you, I'm delighted with Declan Rice; he has been excellent so far, and today's goal was a treat to behold.

Rice has never been a prolific scorer. But he does score some good goals when he does.
Still trailing his old team though isn’t he!
We face City next. Not an easy task.

 

[Silencio]

Another trip to the Emirates, another kick in the crotch at the end. I should be used to this by now. It was always going to happen when being forced to play a 4th and 5th choice center back pairing to try to close out a match.

Ending aside, United did a decent job overall. Everything was pretty even after 1-1, though neither team looked terribly fluent in attack. In the end, United fluffed their chance with Garnacho being correctly called offside, and Declan Rice beat Jonny Evans easily enough, as one would expect.

It doesn't get any easier after the break with Brighton and Bayern being the next two fixtures. Hope Licha and Lindelof are OK and Amrabat provides a boost to midfield.

Højlund looked encouraging out there. If he has a finish in him, he could be really good. With Martial, it was like playing 10-vs-11.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Rice has never been a prolific scorer.

In truth, I'm not bothered about his goal-scoring, or lack of it; that is not why we bought him. I'm just delighted for him that he scored, - and scored in such circumstances - for he is an asset to the team in every possible way.

He is a superb leader, a tireless worker and gifted player who is not afraid to lead and take responsibility, and anticipate what needs to be done.

But he does score some good goals when he does.

Agreed.

Still trailing his old team though isn’t he!

That will change.

We face City next. Not an easy task.

No, not an easy task at all.

This season, I will be shouting for - supporting - each and any and every team that plays against City.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Another trip to the Emirates, another kick in the crotch at the end. I should be used to this by now. It was always going to happen when being forced to play a 4th and 5th choice center back pairing to try to close out a match.

Ending aside, United did a decent job overall. Everything was pretty even after 1-1, though neither team looked terribly fluent in attack. In the end, United fluffed their chance with Garnacho being correctly called offside, and Declan Rice beat Jonny Evans easily enough, as one would expect.

It doesn't get any easier after the break with Brighton and Bayern being the next two fixtures. Hope Licha and Lindelof are OK and Amrabat provides a boost to midfield.

Højlund looked encouraging out there. If he has a finish in him, he could be really good. With Martial, it was like playing 10-vs-11.

Candidly, Arsenal should have been three one up at half time, had they been able to convert - and put away - their chances, such was their dominance.

However, in the second half, yes, United did play well, in fact, at times, they played very well.

The thing is, United have been exceedingly fortunate so far this season, with victories that they didn't really deserve, victories which belied how the actual game had gone, and which may have given them a false sense of security.

 

[Apple fanboy]

In truth, I'm not bothered about his goal-scoring, or lack of it; that is not why we bought him. I'm just delighted for him that he scored, - and scored in such circumstances - for he is an asset to the team in every possible way.

He is a superb leader, a tireless worker and gifted player who is not afraid to lead and take responsibility, and anticipate what needs to be done.

Agreed.

That will change.

No, not an easy task at all.

This season, I will be shouting for - supporting - each and any and every team that plays against City.

We will do our best. But I’m not expecting anything from the game. At least it’s at our place, not that will make any difference.

 

[Sal09]

We will do our best. But I’m not expecting anything from the game. At least it’s at our place, not that will make any difference.

If dodgy officials are officiating the game then you don’t stand a chance.

Otherwise I think Hammers can scarp a draw.

 

[laptech]

Experience counts for squat if you do not have the physical ability to back it up and sad to say that Jonny Evans nor Maguire have the physical ability. Arsenal saw where the weakness was in United's defence and they exploited it.

Arsenal had a strong back four and it kept United's attackers at bay.

I do believe if United had their normal starting back 4 the game would have ended in a draw.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Just watched the replay. Arsenal had the better of it and I think deserved their win but it was close for long stretches. The Garnacho var call was one of those 2020s ‘offsides’ we just need to accept as the result of VAR.

Jesus’s goal was pretty stylish.

Obviously a big win for an Arsenal squad that hopes to mount a real league challenge.

Weirdest Man Utd kit I’ve ever seen. Not ugly, but why black and white stripes?

 

[laptech]

......

Weirdest Man Utd kit I’ve ever seen. Not ugly, but why black and white stripes?

The away kit is actually a dark green and white stripe, it reminds me of an old fashioned sweet bag

 

[pachyderm]

So as a "tribute" to me the captains on my new fall team have named us "Sheffield Wednesday".

Spoiler

So this is what some of us wore last night...

Me, my buddy Jacob, My oldest son...

Several guys asked if I had more kits... lol. I do... and in true Wednesday fashion we got stomped 5 - 1...

 

[pachyderm]

Weirdest Man Utd kit I’ve ever seen. Not ugly, but why black and white stripes?

I really like it! Should have been a better shade of green because you're correct it looked black on the telly until you saw it up close.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Funny - they did look black on my TV.

Both Liverpool and Columbus are currently scoring freely but also dodgy at the back. The Crew managed a 4-2 win over Montreal this weekend and were so dominant in the first half it could easily have been more. Montreal’s defending was so bad, it mad Columbus look decent - which it isn’t.

 

[Silencio]

The dark green on United's away kit is supposed to be some tribute to the greater Manchester region, but the whole effect is like Juventus' home kit, but with even more stripes. They should have chosen a lighter green so it actually reads as green. I am not a fan.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Weirdest Man Utd kit I’ve ever seen. Not ugly, but why black and white stripes?

I really like it! Should have been a better shade of green because you're correct it looked black on the telly until you saw it up close.

Funny - they did look black on my TV.

The dark green on United's away kit is supposed to be some tribute to the greater Manchester region, but the whole effect is like Juventus' home kit, but with even more stripes. They should have chosen a lighter green so it actually reads as green. I am not a fan.

Actually, until I read this (and read a reference to the colour "green" in the Manchester United away strip in a report of the match), I must say that I also thought that it was black.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I knew it was green. But then our technical director did measure all the colour’s before the start of the season.

 

[laptech]

There is a good article in the Metro by Rio Ferdinand

'Disrespected' England stars urged to retire by Rio Ferdinand

Gareth Southgate's latest squad had several shocking omissions.

metro.co.uk

Basically he is saying that players who are in form but are being overlooked because of 'favorites' should retire from international duty due to being 'disrespected' by the England manager. Rio goes onto say that being in form and playing well for your club has always been the way to get yourself a lookin into getting a place in the England team but when the England manager picks players who have hardly kicked a ball for their club it get's players thinking what do they have to do to get into the squad.

Rio picks out two players in particular, Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips, two players who have hardly kicked a ball for their respective clubs but are picked for the Ukraine game and the friendly against Scotland. Rio points out that Southgate should be picking players who are in form to fill those positions even if it means using inexperienced in form players, at least they get experience.

 

[laptech]

This will be interesting to see how this develops. Apparently Sofyan Amrabat has had a back issue since December and has persisted with pain ever since and it turns out Man United's medical staff detected the issue during a medical but it was deemed not serious enough to stop the loan deal.

Man Utd medical staff detected Sofyan Amrabat injury before transfer

Awkward...

metro.co.uk

It shows desperation on United's part that they would take a loan deal of a player who has a persistent back problem since December and is still taking pain killers for it.

 

[pachyderm]

Actually, until I read this (and read a reference to the colour "green" in the Manchester United away strip in a report of the match), I must say that I also thought that it was black.