Football

[CC 72100]

I wonder if there is another way of looking at it. In recent seasons at least, reports on MUFC matches have consistently commented that they were not up to their expected standards, that they scraped a win, that they got the rub of the green, etc etc.

I think that's a fair point. Even in the past few seasons, the games we were winning 4-0, 5-0 pre-2010 we were winning 2-0, 3-1. It would be interesting to see stats of how the goals scored have decreased as the years have gone by. It must be a good 4 or even 5 seasons ago since we were regularly handing out the beatings at home like Man City have been this season.
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Moyes has been unlucky in one respect by inheriting a team with quite a few players either out of form or quite poor.

Fletcher for instance looks like he's never seen a football before.
Van Persie is doing his traditional pre world cup habit of either being injured or playing at half speed to make sure he doesn't miss Brazil.
Raphael and Evra are poor and have always been poor but have been carried.

To be fair to Fletcher, he's barely played football in the past 3 years, and hasn't exactly been fully match fit for long this season. Let's wait a little bit before we cast judgement on him.

Van Persie - well this is what all the Arsenal fans warned me about, that he's got a habit of picking up lots of little injuries throughout a campaign.

Evra and Rafael I disagree with though. Especially Evra. And let's bear in mind that Rafael is still relatively young and still learning.

 

[SS4]

A comparison between the two clubs who occupy the "lucky" seventh place in the top two English leagues with similar points gained this season shows the following:-
Manchester United...41 points
Ipswich Town.........44 points

I wonder which club will see more postings upon this thread.....:roll:

If you want to put it like that Manchester United have five games in hand to make up a three point deficit.

 

[CC 72100]

Evra always has been a hugely overrated player, Heinze was a much better option for them previously but he was moved to early in my opinion.

Some of the players are starting to be found out a little bit but it's not just that.

The Ferguson factor is gone, Moyes has been on the wrong end of some incredibly bad luck and he's had injuries to key players at unfortunate times

As soon as Heinze wanted his move to Liverpool, that was the end. He didn't hit dizzying heights abroad afterwards though, it must be said.

The bold that I have highlighted I think sums it up perfectly. Perhaps if you add in the state of the squad that he has inherited, you've got all your reasons for our current situation summed up in two neat sentences.

 

[richw]

I think that's a fair point. Even in the past few seasons, the games we were winning 4-0, 5-0 pre-2010 we were winning 2-0, 3-1. It would be interesting to see stats of how the goals scored have decreased as the years have gone by. It must be a good 4 or even 5 seasons ago since we were regularly handing out the beatings at home like Man City have been this season.

2012-13 goals for 86
2011-12 goals for 89
2010-11 goals for 78
2009-10 goals for 86
2008-09 goals for 68
2007-08 goals for 80
2006-07 goals for 83

So no real decrease in goals over the last 5 seasons, in fact an increase over last 5 years!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If you want to put it like that Manchester United have five games in hand to make up a three point deficit.

On current form, do you think that a haul of three points from the next five matches is asking a little bit too much..

For those with quite long memories, even Ralph Milne would not look out of place in their current set-up.
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I see that the FA are said not to be minded to give a 3-match ban to Yaya Toure of Manchester City for his kick-out against a Norwich City player in that match, despite "The Special One" openly calling for such a ban in the media.

 

[bb21]

On current form, do you think that a haul of three points from the next five matches is asking a little bit too much..

For those with quite long memories, even Ralph Milne would not look out of place in their current set-up.

Beat one or both of Palace and West Ham, won't get defeated by both Arsenal and Liverpool, but I can see them dropping points against West Brom under pressure.

7-9 points I reckon.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Can hardly blame the manager when they had 75% possession! and 31 shots. Such stats come back to the players, how can previously top class players suddenly not score with such stats?

Was it not also the fact that they also created the record number of 81 crosses in a Premiership match. When what you say plus the fact that I have just mentioned and still all you get is a 2-2 home draw against the bottom team in the Premiership says an awful lot about the team's ability to convert chances into goals.

 

[richw]

Was it not also the fact that they also created the record number of 81 crosses in a Premiership match. When what you say plus the fact that I have just mentioned and still all you get is a 2-2 home draw against the bottom team in the Premiership says an awful lot about the team's ability to convert chances into goals.

One of the Fulham defenders has said Man Utd's approach was similar to what he was used to in the conference, with just crossing into the box.
Their ability to convert chances came to the quality of the crosses, I think only 15 of those 81 crosses met a man Utd's player.

Quality vs quantity I guess.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

But being David Moyes is, except at Manchester United

Just the forum member to raise this thought with. Because the two most respected post-war football managers with a good result sequence at that club, Busby and Ferguson, came from Scotland and the previous incumbent would obviously have had a say in the appointment of his successor, would that make it certain that another manager from Scotland would be appointed to the post ?

 

[SS4]

On current form, do you think that a haul of three points from the next five matches is asking a little bit too much..

For those with quite long memories, even Ralph Milne would not look out of place in their current set-up.

No, Manchester United are still a good team and Fulham was but one game when all is said and done. I'm with bb21 on the points haul

I see that the FA are said not to be minded to give a 3-match ban to Yaya Toure of Manchester City for his kick-out against a Norwich City player in that match, despite "The Special One" openly calling for such a ban in the media.

I wouldn't mind "The Special One" getting a 3 match ban, I fail to see why he is such a media darling instead of an arrogant tosser. I'd be inclined to believe Yaya Toure does not deserve a ban based on his comments alone.

Speaking of "The Special One" Chelsea go to The Hawthorns tonight. In the reverse fixture you may recall Chelsea were gifted a point and West Brom were gifted an apology (but not 2 points).

For those of you listening to 5Live I can assure you that West Bromwich Albion are also playing tonight at the Hawthorns

 

[andrew bell]

For those of you listening to 5Live I can assure you that West Bromwich Albion are also playing tonight at the Hawthorns

Are they?? All I've heard is Chelsea and flooding in and around Oxford

 

[Johnuk123]

Manchester United are still a good team.

Dropping 34 points by early February says they're not.

 

[SS4]

Dropping 34 points by early February says they're not.

41 points in early February is far from bad though. Don't get me wrong it's poor form for Manchester United and also poor form for the title/Champions league but they're still a good team - just not an excellent team. If they were a poor team they'd be fighting relegation and if they're an average team they'd be mid table (they're 7th but 14 points ahead of Swansea in 10th)

 

[Johnuk123]

41 points in early February is far from bad though. Don't get me wrong it's poor form for Manchester United and also poor form for the title/Champions league but they're still a good team - just not an excellent team. If they were a poor team they'd be fighting relegation and if they're an average team they'd be mid table (they're 7th but 14 points ahead of Swansea in 10th)

I think they're a fast fading team with a lot of very egotistical players who won't want to hang around as they drop down the table.

To have Rooney being consulted on transfer policy is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.

I agree they're not a poor team yet but may well become one before the season ends.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Beat one or both of Palace and West Ham, won't get defeated by both Arsenal and Liverpool..... but I can see them dropping points against West Brom under pressure..

I see that your "RailUK moderator special-issue crystal ball" correctly forcasted the 1-1 result that occurred in the Chelsea Tuesday night match against West Brom, that you added as an afterthought to your posting above about the form of Manchester United.....
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Tamworth 1...Hyde 1

Must be the shock result of the night...hock:

 

[bb21]

I see that your "RailUK moderator special-issue crystal ball" correctly forcasted the 1-1 result that occurred in the Chelsea Tuesday night match against West Brom

Thank you, Paul. My crystal ball is serving me very well at the moment in The Prediction League.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Was never going to last for the owls... still we appear to have put ourselves clear of relegation.

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

Leyton Orient 1 - 3 Bristol City at full time. I'm gutted that I'm not in Preston for our home match against Orient on Saturday. I reckon that despite the fact that Nathan Clarke deliberately tried to break our Beavon's leg, and for that matter gave him concussion, he won't get any negative reception. Mind, that could be a good thing.
We've got Brentford for Gentry Day, second biggest game left to play as well, I'm not sure of the away end capacity at Griffin Park but I seriously think we could even take 5,000.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Was never going to last for the owls... still we appear to have put ourselves clear of relegation.

Well that seems to have sorted out matters for the Sheffield "owls".

Perhaps a run of good results will do the same for the Oldham "owls".

 

[familyguy99]

Matches at Everton and Etihad have been call off due to terrible weather.

Fulham are winning 1-0 against Liverpool, could this be shock results of night?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Beat one or both of Palace and West Ham, won't get defeated by both Arsenal and Liverpool, but I can see them dropping points against West Brom under pressure.

Well, you have correctly forecasted that they would not lose to Arsenal, noting the 0-0 draw that occurred last night.

 

[Clip]

Stupid Alan Pardew and his band of stupid men.

 

[Chapeltom]

Was never going to last for the owls... still we appear to have put ourselves clear of relegation.

One of those nights I'm afraid, could tell we weren't going to score after about 50-55 minutes. Wigan's tactics were excellent and we changed formation, made the changes, tried different ways of playing, it just didn't happen. I don't think many will be too fussed about it to be honest, rather it Tuesday than on Saturday

 

[Morden Via CHX]

I cannot believe Arsenal fans booed their team off on Wednesday night vs Manchester United after a 0-0 draw. I find this very difficult to understand given how close they are to the top of the table and how well they've done this season.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Stupid Alan Pardew and his band of stupid men.

Is that the first line of a new Newcastle United song that is sung to the same signature tune of the old TV series "The adventures of Robin Hood" staring Richard Greene...

Giving my age away again...

 

[CC 72100]

I wouldn't mind "The Special One" getting a 3 match ban, I fail to see why he is such a media darling instead of an arrogant tosser.

^^ This.

So many things that Mourinho says - had it have been Fergie, it would be 'Old whisky face is off on one again...', but when it's the special one everyone sits round in a circle in awe of the mighty man who can say no wrong.

Funny how he didn't seduce the Spanish and Italian press in the same way... they obviously saw there the crap.

And if he anyone says that Jose isn't playing mind games.... :roll:

 

[EM2]

Fulham have changed managers again, with Felix Magath now taking the reins at Craven Cottage.

 

[Cletus]

Fulham have sacked Rene Meulensteen who says "They have hit the panic button on emotion and fear - but hey ho, that's football".
He's been replaced by Felix Magath.
Fulham chairman Shahid Khan said: "With 12 matches remaining, we certainly can no longer post empty results. Action was required."

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Sir Tom Finney of Preston North End and England fame has passed away at the age of 91. RIP to a great footballer.

 

[Butts]

Fulham have changed managers again, with Felix Magath now taking the reins at Craven Cottage.

So perhaps Martin Jol was not responsible for the current malaise at Fulham ?