Heres to you Vincent Kompany

Sagna offered an alternative outlet against Everton.
He was the target man that Hart often directed long kicks to, and did an excellent job of finding Yaya and others with his flick ons and knock downs.

I think this is valuable because we rarely play with forwards or midfielder who are adept in this particular skill (Bony not withstanding).

Just something I think Sagna offers in an attacking element that Zaba does not x

I must admit, I thought Sagna was bobbins when he played lasts season. However, he's done his job so far in the first 3 games. Not sure whether going forward he overlaps with Navas, like Sterling does with Kolorov, but it's hard to be picky with what he's done so far.

I'd still prefer Zaba for his output, which could end up with us being even more attacking as both flanks will be all out attack, rather than the plaudits so far, being about Sterling and Kolorov's partnership.

But, have we suddenly become more solid because Sagna concentrates more on defending than overlapping? I know Vinny looks back to his best and Mangala looks like he's suddenly woke up to what's needed at this level in his second half, Kolorov, even though he still gets forward, suddenly looks like he is willing to be a proper defender now, but will Zaba automatically get his spot back? Remember what happened with Micah?

Whatever is the reason, the defence look very organised and they all seem to have that defensive cohesion which has been missing.

As for Vinny, been excellent so for.

Early days though. Let's see how we react when we go 1-0 down.

second half - i meant second season.

comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 9 hours, 42 minutes ago

You should win the league with this squad and if not Manuel's position should be under threat.
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Thanks TOOR,
but I don't think you'll find any Blues agreeing with you about our "Charming Man".
He won the PL title and Capital One Cup in his first season but shamefully got no credit whatsoever. He keeps us entertained with goals, goals and more goals and has now moved to a midfield-packed system which we've been pining for, for a long time.
I for one will stick with him as long as the board does and he's now contracted for another year after this one.
Even if we win nothing this year, he'll still have our backing regardless of how the media spins it!

comment by Bell-CTID (U3991)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 9 hours, 42 minutes ago

You should win the league with this squad and if not Manuel's position should be under threat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks TOOR,
but I don't think you'll find any Blues agreeing with you about our "Charming Man".
He won the PL title and Capital One Cup in his first season but shamefully got no credit whatsoever. He keeps us entertained with goals, goals and more goals and has now moved to a midfield-packed system which we've been pining for, for a long time.
I for one will stick with him as long as the board does and he's now contracted for another year after this one.
Even if we win nothing this year, he'll still have our backing regardless of how the media spins it!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Perhaps if I were a City fan I would see it like you do, however, as an outsider it's difficult for me to understand how you can't win the title with the squad you have. For me the only reason at this point is if Pelligrini messes it up.

comment by raheemsnewtrophycleaner (U20585)
posted 10 minutes ago

But, have we suddenly become more solid because Sagna concentrates more on defending than overlapping?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think you've got something there. Perhaps we'll play Zaba with Clichy OR Sagna and Aleks - one side defensive minded with the other attack minded?

Nobody has the right to win the PL title. If it was that easy, LFC would have won one, Chelsea should be doing back to back this season, United should have won a back to back 2 years ago.

Winning back to backs is extremely difficult, that's why United get so many plaudits for what they did in the past.

Is our squad stronger this season? Definitely!

Did we improve the squad last season, when many others significantly improved theirs? No.

I'm just hoping we get KDB and keep improving it and create more hunger and competition.

But just having a better squad means nothing. Look how much LFC have spent? Hunger and unity means everything.

comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by Bell-CTID (U3991)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 9 hours, 42 minutes ago

You should win the league with this squad and if not Manuel's position should be under threat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks TOOR,
but I don't think you'll find any Blues agreeing with you about our "Charming Man".
He won the PL title and Capital One Cup in his first season but shamefully got no credit whatsoever. He keeps us entertained with goals, goals and more goals and has now moved to a midfield-packed system which we've been pining for, for a long time.
I for one will stick with him as long as the board does and he's now contracted for another year after this one.
Even if we win nothing this year, he'll still have our backing regardless of how the media spins it!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Perhaps if I were a City fan I would see it like you do, however, as an outsider it's difficult for me to understand how you can't win the title with the squad you have. For me the only reason at this point is if Pelligrini messes it up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
But MontonBlue sums it up perfectly in his OP.
We're still in the mindset of getting the next 31 points to be safe before we move on to getting that 4th place and then 3rd. Once we've got there we'll think about the title.
Chelsea/Utd/Arsenal/Liverpool (in that order) have all improved/spent tons of dosh or both.
I can't get my head around how LVG gets such an easy ride from the media - a third of a billion quid and he still gets away with "we're in transition" & "our aim is for 4th place" kinda comments - that's what amazes me!

I think 'transition' is always a poor excuse for any club. You can change a manager, but the squad is the squad.

Yes, if you change a team formation, change the teams complete philosophy, there can be some time to achieve the desired results, but how long does it take for the 'transition' stage?

Now, United may well win 1-0 for most of their games this season and win the league - so therefore, LVG's transition strategy will have worked - and let's face it, that's his job. But nobody can honestly state on here, that with the squad he had, the money he spent, a top 4 was out of reach in his first season.

Manuel came in and took over a team that had just lost the league to United. He didn't change the style of play significantly, but managed to invigorate the team to win the PL. LVG didn't do that. No excuses.

He's since spent a shed load of money on players, just like we have done in the past, so there is absolutely no excuse for him to introduce his style of play on the current United team. It shouldn't take 3-4 years, 12 months maximum.

I don't get the argument that money is the sole reason. We've spent less this summer than we have in previous summer transfer windows, but we've just done good business so far - and most of that is down to one player - Raheem Sterling. Now, we might add KDB, which may make us better, may make us the same, may make us less attacking - who knows, but we'll have greater in-depth options.

United have untold options, but haven't signed the one/two players for the positions they desperately need. As mentioned, United may well go on to win the majority of games playing their current style and win the title. Would United fans accept that?

A question you've probably not had to worry about for the last 2 decades.

Raheem