Comment deleted by Article Creator

This season was always going to suit teams who essentially came back from the shut down just to go through the motions without unnecessary risk

Then go on holiday and make the most of the little rest and pre season

I think that shows for most of those teams vs the ones who had to fight to the last day and even then play in Europe after

But there are still several issues that cannot be blamed on preseason; procurement, formation & tactics

I'd say the disadvantage is not the length of break but the length of pre-season. Every game played is more sharpness gained and united are 1 game behind most...hope it last into the weekend bu which time Spurs have played ANOTHER 2 games

first time Guardiola side has ever conceded 5

did not know this stat, bet jose allowed himself a small chuckle.

very small sample size, but i did notice this myself earlier, especially when contrasted with the form of those teams who had a lengthy break (leicester, arsenal, spurs, liverpool).

what i do not know is if we do see a pattern at play, is it a question more of lack of preparation (which should ease over the next month), or accumulated fatigue (which, given this season's congestion, could be an issue for the whole season)?

comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 1 minute ago
I'd say the disadvantage is not the length of break but the length of pre-season. Every game played is more sharpness gained and united are 1 game behind most...hope it last into the weekend bu which time Spurs have played ANOTHER 2 games
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your schedule this week is brutal.

comment by Wahl Icht ; (U22469)
posted 4 minutes ago
The pattern is that there’s always an excuse for Solskjaer underperforming
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Whats Jose's excuse

Oh yeh that he's not at a big club

comment by Wahl Icht ; (U22469)
posted 3 minutes ago
The pattern is that there’s always an excuse for Solskjaer underperforming
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He's not underperforming though, so we don't need a reason. But you're daft

comment by Wahl Icht ; (U22469)
posted 3 minutes ago
The pattern is that there’s always an excuse for Solskjaer underperforming
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I can't raise the energy to engage with your pathological world this evening Wahl

comment by Wahl Icht ; (U22469)
posted 5 minutes ago
The pattern is that there’s always an excuse for Solskjaer underperforming
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Irrespective of what side you are on, this is why he was bought in, and why other clubs are doing the same.

There's a lot less criticism from the fan base, which probably gives the club and the Manager a lot more breathing space.

We had 3 days more than you but had to deal with a covid outbreak. We’ve been below par as well.

All these teams should start picking up in the next few weeks.

Turns out Liverpool getting shafted by Atletico has worked out for their benefit (they got the full pre season they wouldn't have got had they won that and was unlikely they'd have beaten Bayern).

comment by Anne Ziety (U22412)
posted 54 seconds ago
Turns out Liverpool getting shafted by Atletico has worked out for their benefit (they got the full pre season they wouldn't have got had they won that and was unlikely they'd have beaten Bayern).
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yep worked out incredibly well for them, they snuck in that defeat barely, what, 48-72 hours, before everything shut down? combined with them having nothing really to play for over the last 6 games or so (unlike leicester, or arsenal), they've had the longest break of anyone in the division. even bombed out of the domestic cups early for good measure.

comment by Don Draper's dandruff (U20155)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Anne Ziety (U22412)
posted 54 seconds ago
Turns out Liverpool getting shafted by Atletico has worked out for their benefit (they got the full pre season they wouldn't have got had they won that and was unlikely they'd have beaten Bayern).
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yep worked out incredibly well for them, they snuck in that defeat barely, what, 48-72 hours, before everything shut down? combined with them having nothing really to play for over the last 6 games or so (unlike leicester, or arsenal), they've had the longest break of anyone in the division. even bombed out of the domestic cups early for good measure.
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you could even see the disappointment on Klopps face when they won midweek and progressed in the carabao

Hopefully we use this excuse of being a couple of weeks behind all other teams all season. Then come May when everyone else has completed their season, we can win the league passing the ball about ourselves, scoring whenever we want.

Interesting breakdown RR. I’m inclined to agree with your analysis, there is certainly a pattern.

I’m usually quite ignorant about such effects as I expect modern players especially to be fit enough regardless but when you see similar across other leagues it’s rather axiomatic that there is indeed a knock-on effect.

If we don’t get rest to catch up, is it a matter of match fitness and we’ll be where other teams are now in a few games from now or are we always going to be a bit behind? As I said, I’m rather ignorant to the science of recovery/match fitness

Bayern won their first game back 8-0

Our players certainly arent fit enough, likely because of a lack of pre-season

We looked done after 70 mins yesterday

I think it’s having an impact, for sure. There are other issues at play with the teams in question as well, it’s not a one or the other issue.

Or maybe United, City, Bayern and PSG simply aren’t very good?

comment by Sat Nav (U18243)
posted 35 seconds ago
Interesting breakdown RR. I’m inclined to agree with your analysis, there is certainly a pattern.

I’m usually quite ignorant about such effects as I expect modern players especially to be fit enough regardless but when you see similar across other leagues it’s rather axiomatic that there is indeed a knock-on effect.

If we don’t get rest to catch up, is it a matter of match fitness and we’ll be where other teams are now in a few games from now or are we always going to be a bit behind? As I said, I’m rather ignorant to the science of recovery/match fitness
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I'm no expert either Sat Nav.

I assume the players needed a proper rest, to avoid exposure to risk of muscle fatigue injuries. After which a certain period of high intensity training is required to compete at the same physical level as other athletes.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Sat Nav (U18243)
posted 35 seconds ago
Interesting breakdown RR. I’m inclined to agree with your analysis, there is certainly a pattern.

I’m usually quite ignorant about such effects as I expect modern players especially to be fit enough regardless but when you see similar across other leagues it’s rather axiomatic that there is indeed a knock-on effect.

If we don’t get rest to catch up, is it a matter of match fitness and we’ll be where other teams are now in a few games from now or are we always going to be a bit behind? As I said, I’m rather ignorant to the science of recovery/match fitness
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I'm no expert either Sat Nav.

I assume the players needed a proper rest, to avoid exposure to risk of muscle fatigue injuries. After which a certain period of high intensity training is required to compete at the same physical level as other athletes.
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I’ve seen us fatigue quite a bit over the past few years; do you think drive/hunger/passion is also a problem for us? We seem to drift way too often these days and it’s not always been about the quality of our players and/or managers

Days between last match of 19/20 and first of 20/21

Liverpool 34
manu 34
Wolves 34
Man City 37

Seems like other teams having a longer preseason could be interpreted as a bit of an excuse.

We only tend to do well against teams that we can sit back and counter against. Yesterday was no different. We get the result by holding on and getting goals on the counter. 10 years ago if you said we'd need to do that to get a win v Brighton then I'd bite your hand off, and hope you die of blood loss for suggesting it.

comment by Manfrombelmonty (U1705)
posted 2 seconds ago
Days between last match of 19/20 and first of 20/21

Liverpool 34
manu 34
Wolves 34
Man City 37

Seems like other teams having a longer preseason could be interpreted as a bit of an excuse.


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cute that you include the charity shield, which is traditionally seen as a club's final warm-up match.

comment by Don Draper's dandruff (U20155)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Manfrombelmonty (U1705)
posted 2 seconds ago
Days between last match of 19/20 and first of 20/21

Liverpool 34
manu 34
Wolves 34
Man City 37

Seems like other teams having a longer preseason could be interpreted as a bit of an excuse.


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cute that you include the charity shield, which is traditionally seen as a club's final warm-up match.
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It’s traditionally seen as the first game of the season isn’t it?