Losing 7-0 to our rivals will always hurt but it did feel like a bad result was coming.
I'm not sure any of us expected it to be that bad but I'm not overly shocked we were well beaten.
I hate agreeing with Souness as he comes across as horribly bitter but he was spot on when he said we've been getting away with it in the last few weeks.
Leeds away, poor for the most part, could have easily gone behind but won it with 2 late goals.
Barca tie, we were slightly better than them overall but it could easily have gone the other way.
Leicester, I don't agree with Neville's analogy that we should have been 2 down as Leicester were never 1 up but if they took one of their chances and scored 1st it could have been a very different day.
Cup final, a very Jose like performance. Played poorly, sat back and scored from a set piece and a fortunate goal.
West Ham FA Cup, again poor for most of the game and this time should have been 2 down. We only player for about 20-30 mins.
There has been progress this season clearly but Sunday was a reality check.
We are still a bit away from being a really top side.
My article on Fernandes was slightly reactionary but I stand by some of my points.
The ball retention in midfield is still far from good enough and I include Casemiro in that massively. His passing accuracy was 62% on Sunday, if your DM is doing that, you're in big trouble.
Hopefully there is a response this week not just in results but performance also.
Reflection on Sunday
posted on 8/3/23
I think considering its the managers first season, our squad is light, we've recently had a WC and are playing more games than anyone else at the moment it's understandble to see our performances drop even though results in the main have been very impressive. Getting the balance right but also keeping us in contention of trophies and top 4 was always going to be a mamoth task.
posted on 8/3/23
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 2 minutes ago
And this is exactly why I still think top four might be a struggle. Thankfully Spurs are not putting pressure on at the moment, but all it will take is a few more bad results.
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I still don't think it will be a struggle VC, 6 wins from our last 13 gets us 67 points, 7 wins gets us to 70.
I'd still be surprised if we end up below 70 points and unless Liverpool really raise it, I can't any see of the teams below us breaking 70.
I still reckon we finish in the mid 70's.
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Your OP explains why it may be a struggle.
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Fair, I still think we'll comfortably win 6 or 7 more league games though.
posted on 8/3/23
The sooner we get the points on the board. I know that's obvious but if we do go far in the cups there could be a lot of games in a short space of time towards the end of the season. I'm not saying it'd be fatigue in particular that would affect us it'd be more the pressure of playing catch up in these games in hand.
Having said all that I'm confident we'll do enough at home to get the points we need. I also much prefer playing a lot of games than the turgid end to the season we had last year.
posted on 8/3/23
I admit that I thought we were a good team, not great, but good. Easy draw or not we won the league Cup, and are in the other Cup, plus the Europa. We have a good chance of top four.
I could see some weaknesses, but nothing like process is saying.
I haven't seen Sundays game after the first 30 minutes, driving home, but I won't watch it now.
We will have to see what the next two or three games bring, but I'm still optimistic.
posted on 8/3/23
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 3 minutes ago
I admit that I thought we were a good team, not great, but good. Easy draw or not we won the league Cup, and are in the other Cup, plus the Europa. We have a good chance of top four.
I could see some weaknesses, but nothing like process is saying.
I haven't seen Sundays game after the first 30 minutes, driving home, but I won't watch it now.
We will have to see what the next two or three games bring, but I'm still optimistic.
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Watch the rest of the match and you will see what he's saying.
posted on 8/3/23
Casemiros ball retention has never been his strong point. Fabinho who has been unrecognisable this year has better passing stats.
posted on 8/3/23
Utd will comfortably get top 4 i feel. Everyone else just isnt consistent / good enough.
posted on 8/3/23
comment by Rouge (U19907)
posted 42 minutes ago
Utd will comfortably get top 4 i feel. Everyone else just isnt consistent / good enough.
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That is in our favour for sure. I am certain Liverpool will go on a run similar to a few years back, so they will make it.
We can’t afford to go all Spursy, though.
posted on 8/3/23
comment by Rouge (U19907)
posted 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
Casemiros ball retention has never been his strong point. Fabinho who has been unrecognisable this year has better passing stats.
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True but 62% accuracy is very poor for a player in any position let alone at DM. I'm not saying he hasn't been very good but he's been slightly overpraised imo and his flaws often get overlooked by both fans and pundits.
Even on Sunday Carra said he "uncharacteristically" gave the ball away when anyone who's watched him at all know this isn't true.
posted on 8/3/23
“I hate agreeing with Souness as he comes across as horribly bitter but he was spot on when he said we've been getting away with it in the last few weeks.”
Hindsight is 20/20. Why are Utd “getting away with it” but Arsenal aren’t when scraping results? Or Liverpool who did it for 2 seasons.
No team wins big titles without winning when playing badly at times.