General Premier League Thread 2023-24 Mod Note in op 27/6/23 And 21/05/24

Keystone cops defending there.

That’s absolutely ridiculous. 10 mins ffs.

Still a dive,let's call it what it is. His laces brushed the sole of the other players foot, it wasn't a trip and certainly wasn't a kick, a kick is certainly a dramatic discription of the event. But we don't call dives dives any more I guess!

this is extra, extra time is a farce , as if the players arent getting eneogh games, FIFA/UEFA / FA absolutly flogging the players

Given the way he squandered big money on dreadful players you'd wonder if the new owners will allow him more in jan?

The Mainoo to McTominay substitution, with both Forest goals coming from the vacated DM position, is just asking to be sacked.

Seemed to be a little more nuance in Ten Hags remarks re the sub than that goon luckhurst portrays (shock horror) but still just an awful sub.

He doesn't help himself.

I just saw a tweet that said Antony has one league goal in 2023 (33 games)? That's awful if true but he's bulletproof and plays pretty much every game as far as I can see.

Calender year should be 38 league games and he's played 33 (obviously a few of them are sub appearances) and he missed a few when he was given time off to go to Brazil but the €80m or whatever he was could have been spent so much better.

The ‘who replaces him’ is relevant to when you get rid of him. Doing it now, you’re either going for a temporary guy who probably won’t be better, or you’re going for someone of a lesser quality than you get in the summer.

Getting a manager that’s a bit better than what he’s achieving now, only leaves you back here with the next guy. As has been the case with the last few hires, United desperately need someone with both a personality and a skillset so large that they can offset everything else that’s toxic at that club.

Guys like Potter (already has that experience from Chelsea), De Zerbi, Alonso going there would just be detrimental to their own career when the inevitable happens.

The club is in the middle of the biggest upheaval internally in modern history and sacking the current manager before Brailsford and Blanc take over the football side wouldn't make much sense (It needs their approval now anyway by reports). They may well come in and decide ETH isn't for them and at that stage so be it - it's their decision on how to move forward but I don't see it happening straight away.

We have seen a good chunk of this squad go through the same boom / bust cycle we are seeing here now multiple times at the club already. They play well for a while and then they decide they don't like the manager and throw their toys out.

LVG methods were too restrictive. Jose had too much of an Ego. Ole was too soft. ETH is too strict. At a certain point you have to question the core of this group of players and the culture they have been allowed to wallow in at the club. The culture the Glazers and the people they employed have allowed to form at the club.

Sacking ETH (to me anyway) does nothing to address that core issue in that squad, in fact it just gives in to those players again.

Also "and who replaces him" is the single most important question because if there isn't a higher quality manager available then what are you moving him on for? What is the immediate aim? What is the long term aim? Just looking for a quick uptick in form to end up back at the same place again in a few weeks time?

6 months ago ETH took the team from their worst ever PL finish points wise to 3rd and a domestic cup win. I would like to see him get a shot with a competent backroom team behind him. Something every other top level club manager has had in world football in recent years.

ETH has made mistakes on his side since joining the club for sure but at no other top club in Europe would he have had to carry so much of the footballing operation. Utd haven't moved into the modern era at all as a club yet. The Athletic did a very good article a week or so back that highlighted just what ETH has had to work with (or against) since joining.

https://theathletic.com/5151315/2023/12/22/manchester-united-fotball-news-transfers/

I’m not even 40. Yeah Klopp has credit in the bank because he has won a league and a European Cup plus lots of other winning things Utd are a far cry from at present. ETH is a nobody by comparison who probably had one lucky season driven by Casemiro before he packed it in. But look, if standards have slipped so be it. Let ETH continue on for another couple of years lads, it’s absolutely fine by me!

Did Man City not play the most games last season? They literally won everything so I'd have thought that would mean they've played every game possible?

Ah you're right, they didn't win the Carabao Cup!!

Kompany is another who can shut up about refs.

They all had their chance. He's only angry as it's against his team.

I'm always very wary of managers who bring a number of their former players, players they had at a former club. Leads me to think they have a lack of imagination, or a lack of knowledge/scouting network. Add that to the fact the 3 former Ajax lads ETH brought in at massive cost haven't been very good, would certainly lead one to question his judgment of players and what is required at this level.

Maybe he's still on commission from Ajax.... 🤔😉

I see Sterling was an unused substitute yesterday. Wonder if that was Pochettino punishing him for what he did against Wolves?

Yeah I have to agree.

Mouse is doing a terrific job within the realistic expectations of a club with the resources you have outlined.

Not sure what else they would be expected to do, how do you break top 4 when you have City, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Utd etc