It's something we've often failed to do post SAF.
Last season we finished with 75 points, our 2nd best tally post SAF. We simply must build and improve on that now.
In 17/18 we finished 2nd on 81 points, it was a chance to kick on and become challengers. Now personally I thought Mourinho's transfers were poor in general but he was not backed enough that summer. We only bought a raw Dalot and a not good enough Fred. Mourinho was out by Xmas and we finished 6th.
In 20/21 we finished 2nd on 74 points, again a chance to kick on. That summer in fairness we signed players that most believed would take us up a level. Sancho never lived up to his potential, Varane was injured too much and if anyone is still trying to argue that Ronaldo was a positive signing in any way then I give up. Ole was out by Xmas and we finished 6th.
We cannot repeat that again. The club must get this summer right. If we end up going backwards again next season it's a long, long road back.
We need to be adding adding 5-10 points to our tally and getting to the CL quarters at least imo.
Building on a decent season
posted on 30/6/23
comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 9 seconds ago
I couldn't see much improvement at all on the pitch last year
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Obviously weren't looking too hard
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Agree, best season post SAF in terms of playstyle for me, well done Eth and the lads.
posted on 30/6/23
comment by Urmstonite (U23025)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Baz tard (U19119)
posted 2 hours, 34 minutes ago
I think eth might struggle a bit next season. With rivals strengthening and Chelsea, Liverpool and spurs out of awful form, could be a tough season for him if we don’t get in some key, quality players. He was a bit fortunate at times last season.
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Absolute nonsense - ETH had so much bad luck last season; Inheriting a shiitshow of a mess of a club - Ronaldo, Maguire, Sancho, DDG form, Casemiro corrupt red cards from Andre Marriner (first one coming conveniently when we were ahead of City and a few points off Arsenal).
But yeah, hes been fortunate... clown.
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Who’s this eejit? Rdd sock account, or Anne zeity?
posted on 30/6/23
comment by Baz tard (U19119)
posted 2 hours, 47 minutes ago
I think eth might struggle a bit next season. With rivals strengthening and Chelsea, Liverpool and spurs out of awful form, could be a tough season for him if we don’t get in some key, quality players. He was a bit fortunate at times last season.
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We shouldn't forget, we lost Martinez and Verane within 45 minutes which derailed us for a period.
posted on 30/6/23
I think it's fair to say that amid some encouraging spells (results- and performance-wise) you wouldn't say there was a consistent evolution across the season into a fluid, possession-dominant side under ETH. But I think that can be explained mainly by 1) tactical compromises between what Ten Hag would have liked to do and the need to win points in the meantime, and 2) the deficiencies in the squad he inherited.
Whether we'll struggle or kick on next season depends a lot on getting this transfer window right, in my opinion. Obviously, that directly addresses point 2, but also the more suited the squad, the less ETH has to come up with pragmatic tactical fixes.
posted on 30/6/23
Imo if you get the same points and CL footy again, you'll have done well.
posted on 30/6/23
Agree.
Unless we add goals to this team though then we won’t progress on last year. We need a reliable number 9 who can stay fit and put the ball in the net regularly. I can’t see Rashford hitting the heights of last year again (although I’ll happily be proved wrong on this one).
Also CM needs an upgrade. Fred and McTominay are too relied upon whereas they should only be last resort back-up and cup rotation options. Eriksen, Bruno and Case won’t have the legs to carry us all year again, and Mount doesn’t convince me / isn’t genuinely a central midfielder.
posted on 30/6/23
comment by Keanos Magic Hat (U10101)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
Agree.
Unless we add goals to this team though then we won’t progress on last year. We need a reliable number 9 who can stay fit and put the ball in the net regularly. I can’t see Rashford hitting the heights of last year again (although I’ll happily be proved wrong on this one).
Also CM needs an upgrade. Fred and McTominay are too relied upon whereas they should only be last resort back-up and cup rotation options. Eriksen, Bruno and Case won’t have the legs to carry us all year again, and Mount doesn’t convince me / isn’t genuinely a central midfielder.
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Agree.
Rashford did great to get 30 goals but those stats were boosted by the Carabao and Europa League.
Can he replicate those numbers next season with CL football? Time will tell but he needs help.
posted on 30/6/23
Cant see Rashford getting near 30 next season, so we need more from our other forwards. Hopefully that includes a specialist CF.
posted on 30/6/23
I honestly think we didn’t get enough time on the training ground throughout the season to see continuous progression into what you would call Ten Hags style of play. There were some signs early on in the season, but then it kind of stalled and if anything some players started to regress back to what we’ve seen before, especially when the likes of Martinez were missing.
posted on 15/4/24
Well its going pretty well I think