If you'd have said after six games (and three defeats) we'd be guaranteed a CL spot with four games left people would have thought you mad!
The intention wasn't clickbaity, Diafol, I promise. It just feels so unfamiliar to be so relaxed with four games to go. This really must be what it feels like being an e.g. Everton supporter most Aprils.
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 5 minutes ago
If you'd have said after six games (and three defeats) we'd be guaranteed a CL spot with four games left people would have thought you mad!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
At the time I thought a slow start was very understandable due to lack of pre-season, and didn't reflect our true quality. But that basically put me in the 'Ole-out-is-overreaction' club. I'd like to find that post I wrote in September predicting we'd finish second, but for some reason I can't find it.
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 7 minutes ago
The intention wasn't clickbaity, Diafol, I promise. It just feels so unfamiliar to be so relaxed with four games to go. This really must be what it feels like being an e.g. Everton supporter most Aprils.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know. Only kidding.
What your post has done is made me find this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVWu0HbY8V8 - which brings back some happy memories of my first season attending Old Trafford. The Arsenal game in this video being the first I attended. Happy days!
How are you like a mid table side?
Title isnt won yet, never give up
If you dont win the title, do you really want to end the season 3rd or 4th
You still have to play Liverpool, surely that should fire up the team
You still have an EL final to play.
How on earth is the pressure off if you are a professional player?
The fans may feel relaxed, but the players have all to play for.
Exactly why Ole should field a side with a point to prove. Amad, James, Martial, Telles, Mata, Bailly, De Gea, Matic, VDB, Tuanzebe.
Start them all tonight
comment by Sut mine klunker - Admin 5 (U1250)
posted 35 minutes ago
How are you like a mid table side?
Title isnt won yet, never give up
If you dont win the title, do you really want to end the season 3rd or 4th
You still have to play Liverpool, surely that should fire up the team
You still have an EL final to play.
How on earth is the pressure off if you are a professional player?
The fans may feel relaxed, but the players have all to play for.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not talking about dropping basic professional standards, but it's clear that (whether consciously or unconsciously) players are affected by the stakes. United were clearly in energy conservation mode in the second leg against Roma, thanks to their big aggregate lead, and lacked a bit of sharpness in that game, even though they obviously wanted to win it. I can't think of an athletic sport where you don't see elite athletes raise their performance levels at clutch moments, and play slightly within themselves when they don't need to.
My point isn't that the team will relax in the sense of giving up. My point is that we see contrasting effects when a team is in a 'safe' place. Some teams go into holiday mode; some play with boldness / confidence that comes from having nothing to lose.
BTW I was referring only to domestic matches: the Europa League final is definitely something to play for, and could well be a factor in our players not going for it in the final matches.
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 7 minutes ago
The intention wasn't clickbaity, Diafol, I promise. It just feels so unfamiliar to be so relaxed with four games to go. This really must be what it feels like being an e.g. Everton supporter most Aprils.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know. Only kidding.
What your post has done is made me find this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVWu0HbY8V8 - which brings back some happy memories of my first season attending Old Trafford. The Arsenal game in this video being the first I attended. Happy days!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Diafol. I'll look forward to this.
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 7 minutes ago
The intention wasn't clickbaity, Diafol, I promise. It just feels so unfamiliar to be so relaxed with four games to go. This really must be what it feels like being an e.g. Everton supporter most Aprils.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know. Only kidding.
What your post has done is made me find this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVWu0HbY8V8 - which brings back some happy memories of my first season attending Old Trafford. The Arsenal game in this video being the first I attended. Happy days!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Diafol. I'll look forward to this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Should have also stated it was 1986/87.
The standout points for me was thinking Davenport looked decent and that Strachan was a really talented footballer.
I'd kind of blanked out Davenport in my memory too - I guess that must have been his best season for us. Guess he was displaced by the signing of Choccy. Strachan was quality (and sadly demonstrated that at Leeds later on). Nice to see cameos from various players of that era: McGrath, Moses, the Gibsons, Jesper Olsen.
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 15 minutes ago
I'd kind of blanked out Davenport in my memory too - I guess that must have been his best season for us. Guess he was displaced by the signing of Choccy. Strachan was quality (and sadly demonstrated that at Leeds later on). Nice to see cameos from various players of that era: McGrath, Moses, the Gibsons, Jesper Olsen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Davenport scored a winner for Boro against United a day after United had beaten Liverpool 3-1 at OT!
Sign in if you want to comment
We're like a mid-table side
Page 2 of 2
posted on 11/5/21
If you'd have said after six games (and three defeats) we'd be guaranteed a CL spot with four games left people would have thought you mad!
posted on 11/5/21
The intention wasn't clickbaity, Diafol, I promise. It just feels so unfamiliar to be so relaxed with four games to go. This really must be what it feels like being an e.g. Everton supporter most Aprils.
posted on 11/5/21
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 5 minutes ago
If you'd have said after six games (and three defeats) we'd be guaranteed a CL spot with four games left people would have thought you mad!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
At the time I thought a slow start was very understandable due to lack of pre-season, and didn't reflect our true quality. But that basically put me in the 'Ole-out-is-overreaction' club. I'd like to find that post I wrote in September predicting we'd finish second, but for some reason I can't find it.
posted on 11/5/21
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 7 minutes ago
The intention wasn't clickbaity, Diafol, I promise. It just feels so unfamiliar to be so relaxed with four games to go. This really must be what it feels like being an e.g. Everton supporter most Aprils.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know. Only kidding.
What your post has done is made me find this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVWu0HbY8V8 - which brings back some happy memories of my first season attending Old Trafford. The Arsenal game in this video being the first I attended. Happy days!
posted on 11/5/21
How are you like a mid table side?
Title isnt won yet, never give up
If you dont win the title, do you really want to end the season 3rd or 4th
You still have to play Liverpool, surely that should fire up the team
You still have an EL final to play.
How on earth is the pressure off if you are a professional player?
The fans may feel relaxed, but the players have all to play for.
posted on 11/5/21
Exactly why Ole should field a side with a point to prove. Amad, James, Martial, Telles, Mata, Bailly, De Gea, Matic, VDB, Tuanzebe.
Start them all tonight
posted on 11/5/21
comment by Sut mine klunker - Admin 5 (U1250)
posted 35 minutes ago
How are you like a mid table side?
Title isnt won yet, never give up
If you dont win the title, do you really want to end the season 3rd or 4th
You still have to play Liverpool, surely that should fire up the team
You still have an EL final to play.
How on earth is the pressure off if you are a professional player?
The fans may feel relaxed, but the players have all to play for.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not talking about dropping basic professional standards, but it's clear that (whether consciously or unconsciously) players are affected by the stakes. United were clearly in energy conservation mode in the second leg against Roma, thanks to their big aggregate lead, and lacked a bit of sharpness in that game, even though they obviously wanted to win it. I can't think of an athletic sport where you don't see elite athletes raise their performance levels at clutch moments, and play slightly within themselves when they don't need to.
My point isn't that the team will relax in the sense of giving up. My point is that we see contrasting effects when a team is in a 'safe' place. Some teams go into holiday mode; some play with boldness / confidence that comes from having nothing to lose.
BTW I was referring only to domestic matches: the Europa League final is definitely something to play for, and could well be a factor in our players not going for it in the final matches.
posted on 11/5/21
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 7 minutes ago
The intention wasn't clickbaity, Diafol, I promise. It just feels so unfamiliar to be so relaxed with four games to go. This really must be what it feels like being an e.g. Everton supporter most Aprils.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know. Only kidding.
What your post has done is made me find this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVWu0HbY8V8 - which brings back some happy memories of my first season attending Old Trafford. The Arsenal game in this video being the first I attended. Happy days!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Diafol. I'll look forward to this.
posted on 11/5/21
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 7 minutes ago
The intention wasn't clickbaity, Diafol, I promise. It just feels so unfamiliar to be so relaxed with four games to go. This really must be what it feels like being an e.g. Everton supporter most Aprils.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know. Only kidding.
What your post has done is made me find this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVWu0HbY8V8 - which brings back some happy memories of my first season attending Old Trafford. The Arsenal game in this video being the first I attended. Happy days!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Diafol. I'll look forward to this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Should have also stated it was 1986/87.
The standout points for me was thinking Davenport looked decent and that Strachan was a really talented footballer.
posted on 11/5/21
I'd kind of blanked out Davenport in my memory too - I guess that must have been his best season for us. Guess he was displaced by the signing of Choccy. Strachan was quality (and sadly demonstrated that at Leeds later on). Nice to see cameos from various players of that era: McGrath, Moses, the Gibsons, Jesper Olsen.
posted on 11/5/21
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 15 minutes ago
I'd kind of blanked out Davenport in my memory too - I guess that must have been his best season for us. Guess he was displaced by the signing of Choccy. Strachan was quality (and sadly demonstrated that at Leeds later on). Nice to see cameos from various players of that era: McGrath, Moses, the Gibsons, Jesper Olsen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Davenport scored a winner for Boro against United a day after United had beaten Liverpool 3-1 at OT!
Page 2 of 2