Today's Football

[Korattt]

Tambov 1 - 2 Dynamo Moscow

What a bonkers game of football!

got me thinking there Pat, couple of games that stand out that for me that were absolutely mental were United 4-3 City & yonks ago Peterborough 4-3 Exeter, both yo yo games as I call them

[Derek27]

I've upgraded my package to include all the Sky Sports channels so I can watch the Arsenal match, but I've overlooked the BT channels that sometimes monopolise the football.

In December Amazon Prime have 20 games live.

I wouldn't mind subscribing to Prime but everything you subscribe to there's always other channels, BT, LaLiga, I don't want to end up paying £200 a month for my package.

[Archery1969]

I've upgraded my package to include all the Sky Sports channels so I can watch the Arsenal match, but I've overlooked the BT channels that sometimes monopolise the football.

In December Amazon Prime have 20 games live.

I wouldn't mind subscribing to Prime but everything you subscribe to there's always other channels, BT, LaLiga, I don't want to end up paying £200 a month for my package.

Agreed,

I pay £7.99 a month for amazon music, next day delivery on 95% of stuff plus access to films, series and their sports channels. I believe when the bidding starts again for the Premiership then amazon are going to put in a mega huge bid. Although, i guess then my subscription may increase etc.

Wait until 1st December, then do a 30 day free trial and cancel it.

[firlandsfarm]

[I wouldn't mind subscribing to Prime but everything you subscribe to there's always other channels, BT, LaLiga, I don't want to end up paying £200 a month for my package.

In business it's not the expense that matters it's the profit.

[Derek27]

[I wouldn't mind subscribing to Prime but everything you subscribe to there's always other channels, BT, LaLiga, I don't want to end up paying £200 a month for my package.

In business it's not the expense that matters it's the profit.

Having a match on my big screen is more for convenience than profit. I'm watching a US Super League on Sky and it's 5 seconds behind BLV.

[Kafkaesque]

Tambov 1 - 2 Dynamo Moscow

What a bonkers game of football!

Tambov go a goal down after 8 minutes, then get 2 men sent of in the second half, equalise from the penalty spot after 64 minutes, go 2-1 down thanks to a 93rd minute penalty and then get a chance to salvage a draw from the penalty spot after 99 minutes.... they missed!

If it was the PL, I would go bonkers game of footbal, to be surel.

It's 99.99% certain to be a bias, but in Russia, or similar countries, I can never stop myself thinking that something might just be fishy; and whether it's better to stay clear of the league in the future.

[greenmark]

considering the passing of Nobby Stiles & the sad news about the health of Sir Bobby Charlton it shouldn’t have mattered who were put in front of United today, we should have won, I know you go out to win anyway but such circumstances should have given them much more of a reason to win.. so disappointed, why on earth Pogba was bought back for £90m I don’t know, Luke Shaw is not the same player since he had that bad injury, (never rated him anyway), should have got rid of de Gea had it not been for that poxy faulty Spanish fax machine, kept Romero, (best South American player United have had since Tevez), as for top four we can forget it, we’re a long way behind half the teams in that league at the moment, even behind that lot from Yorkshire

Rant over

I believe Pochettino is a pundit on Sky Monday night football, so he's emerging from the shadows. I would be very worried if I was Ole, much as I like Ole. Poch is a big beast looking for a job. United fits him, although for reasons I don't understand United seem unable to exploit their wealth and potential. But many said the same about Liverpool, so watch your backs. The right manager and off you go.

[Kafkaesque]

considering the passing of Nobby Stiles & the sad news about the health of Sir Bobby Charlton it shouldn’t have mattered who were put in front of United today, we should have won, I know you go out to win anyway but such circumstances should have given them much more of a reason to win.. so disappointed, why on earth Pogba was bought back for £90m I don’t know, Luke Shaw is not the same player since he had that bad injury, (never rated him anyway), should have got rid of de Gea had it not been for that poxy faulty Spanish fax machine, kept Romero, (best South American player United have had since Tevez), as for top four we can forget it, we’re a long way behind half the teams in that league at the moment, even behind that lot from Yorkshire

Rant over

I believe Pochettino is a pundit on Sky Monday night football, so he's emerging from the shadows. I would be very worried if I was Ole, much as I like Ole. Poch is a big beast looking for a job. United fits him, although for reasons I don't understand United seem unable to exploit their wealth and potential. But many said the same about Liverpool, so watch your backs. The right manager and off you go.

Weeeeeeeellllllll, not so fast, imho.

Fantastic as Klopp has been for Liverpool, then they've also had some very smart cookies behind the scenes. Pure speculation on my part, but I'll venture that if Klopp had been at United instead of Pool, and had gone to Woodward (and not a moneyball-ish set-up) and said he fancied hiring a throw-in coach, Woodward - with his zero football knowledge - would have told Klopp to stick it where the sun doesn't shine. Which is a tiny thing, but many tiny things....

United are, by all accounts, a mess from the top down. The right manager and they're set to go, really is a stretch. They need a cohesive transfer policy and the people to implement it.

Specifically on Poch. Let's be clear, I love the guy as I've never loved someone in football before in my life. If he has one flaw it's transfers. More specifically being too picky with who he'll want into the group. He wanted, more so than a salary increase, to be promoted to manager (from head coach) and have transfer control, when he signed a new deal at Spurs. Arguably that was where things started going wrong at Spurs. Less time on the training pitch and even more selective transfer policy. If he's learned his lesson, he might have a shot at United. If not, it's a poor fit imho. It's a case of assuming, big club needing a manager + big manager available = success. Not so fast, I'd argue.

[greenmark]

considering the passing of Nobby Stiles & the sad news about the health of Sir Bobby Charlton it shouldn’t have mattered who were put in front of United today, we should have won, I know you go out to win anyway but such circumstances should have given them much more of a reason to win.. so disappointed, why on earth Pogba was bought back for £90m I don’t know, Luke Shaw is not the same player since he had that bad injury, (never rated him anyway), should have got rid of de Gea had it not been for that poxy faulty Spanish fax machine, kept Romero, (best South American player United have had since Tevez), as for top four we can forget it, we’re a long way behind half the teams in that league at the moment, even behind that lot from Yorkshire

Rant over

I believe Pochettino is a pundit on Sky Monday night football, so he's emerging from the shadows. I would be very worried if I was Ole, much as I like Ole. Poch is a big beast looking for a job. United fits him, although for reasons I don't understand United seem unable to exploit their wealth and potential. But many said the same about Liverpool, so watch your backs. The right manager and off you go.

Weeeeeeeellllllll, not so fast, imho.

Fantastic as Klopp has been for Liverpool, then they've also had some very smart cookies behind the scenes. Pure speculation on my part, but I'll venture that if Klopp had been at United instead of Pool, and had gone to Woodward (and not a moneyball-ish set-up) and said he fancied hiring a throw-in coach, Woodward - with his zero football knowledge - would have told Klopp to stick it where the sun doesn't shine. Which is a tiny thing, but many tiny things....

United are, by all accounts, a mess from the top down. The right manager and they're set to go, really is a stretch. They need a cohesive transfer policy and the people to implement it.

Specifically on Poch. Let's be clear, I love the guy as I've never loved someone in football before in my life. If he has one flaw it's transfers. More specifically being too picky with who he'll want into the group. He wanted, more so than a salary increase, to be promoted to manager (from head coach) and have transfer control, when he signed a new deal at Spurs. Arguably that was where things started going wrong at Spurs. Less time on the training pitch and even more selective transfer policy. If he's learned his lesson, he might have a shot at United. If not, it's a poor fit imho. It's a case of assuming, big club needing a manager + big manager available = success. Not so fast, I'd argue.

Nothing got in the way of Fergie. Poch probably isn't the new Fergie, but if any club in the world is chomping at the bit of success it must surely be United in the right hands. I'd dump Pogba instantly, but I don't understand the marketing opportunities that would cancel. But the guy is a liability imho. No passion for his club, a mercenary. Which is fine. Just recognise the fact and cash in.

[Derek27]

I shouldn't laugh when people are in pain but two opposite players were rolling on the ground in the penalty area like synchronized swimmers.

[firlandsfarm]

Having a match on my big screen is more for convenience than profit. I'm watching a US Super League on Sky and it's 5 seconds behind BLV.

Are you one of these guys who would watch any game of football just for the love of the game?

[Korattt]

I would be very worried if I was Ole,

Agreed, but not sure it MP is the right man for the job, who is?, Ole has badly been let down by his players.. beat PSG away twice in 12 months but ship 6 at home to Spuds, 3 to Palace & can’t even beat the Goon Squad at home either.

.. as for the mess United are in it’s a right mess, quite rightly said from the top down and it really goes back to when SAF started thinking about retirement, I don’t blame him for leaving the game but I really do think he could have left the club in a better way.

The way I see it is that United under SAF had a certain mentality that I don’t think has ever existed at any other club, (since I’ve been on the planet anyway)..

that vanished when he left & I think during his last couple of years under his tenure he should have implemented that way of thinking / training et al under the new potential gaffer, (why Mike Phelan was never seriously considered is beyond me - maybe he didn’t want it?), have him as his No:2 for a couple of seasons, transfer that mentality over to the right hand man, get that same respect, never say die attitude over to the lads & with a bit of luck with the right lads things would continue, David Moyes was a nightmare appointment, soon as he arrived at OT was like a fish up a tree, rabbit in headlights.

Liverpool have got lucky with Plopp, then again United got lucky with SAF all those years ago, I fear for the immediate future but then again what goes around eh?, just wanna see United eclipse Liverpool with Champions League honours then I’ll die a happy man, sadly I don’t think that’ll ever happen, should have by now, but don’t think so..

[firlandsfarm]

Liverpool have got lucky with Plopp, then again United got lucky with SAF all those years ago, I fear for the immediate future but then again what goes around eh?, just wanna see United eclipse Liverpool with Champions League honours then I’ll die a happy man, sadly I don’t think that’ll ever happen, should have by now, but don’t think so..

The whole post was interesting Korattt but just picking out this bit. Looking at the 'lucky' appointments. You mention SAF and Klopp ... add Wenger to that list and it's about complete! Maybe someone like Moaniho comes next but to be 'lucky' you want the guy to stay around a bit, Moaniho got 'lucky' with Porto, had money at Chelsea and since then ... not much. Who else? Poch was a 'lucky' prospect but didn't live up to it and Pep came with a big fanfare but I think has found the PL and English football a harder nut than he expected (unless you count the 'League cup' which is more a testament to the depth of ability at his disposal than an achievement of winning). Couple that with the squad Pep inherited and the money in his transfer chest (and the additional rule breaking!) his time here has either burst his bubble or has shown the high quality the other 'average' PL managers have reached.

[Korattt]

add Wenger to that list and it's about complete!

I’ll go along with that, I think a top flight manager / coach or whatever has to find a “home” in order to be successful & for me affects the team accordingly, JM found his home in Chelsea, (got a bit unlucky there in the CL) & I think Plopp at Liverpoo has found his “home”, Ancelotti seems content at Everton & to a degree OGS at OT & FL at Chelsea, the latter lack experience, although JM did reasonably well at United I never felt he fit in, shame Wenger never got to win the CL with Arsenal, came close though,

as for PG at the Emptyhead I think it’s a case of a half decent manager having a shed load of cash available, kid in a sweet shop & all that, the whole thing at City is a bit bizarre if you ask me, I just don’t think they’ll ever crack the Champions League, it’s a bit of a mental block for ‘em, sure I’ve heard some of their fans say that they’re not that bothered about winning it.. weird but when you see the empty seats on CL match day there is substance to that, used to love travelling up to Manchester to watch CL games, European nights have a different atmosphere, somewhat special.. particularly semi final night when you have to get a result.

[Kafkaesque]

Ole has badly been let down by his players

The way I see it is that United under SAF had a certain mentality

This! Well, kind of. Ole hasn't been let down imho. He just doesn't have it in him. He's not a leader of men, taking no BS. And tactically inept.

The issues are plenty. A few that sticks out to me.

At times you see Maguire (and less often Lindelof) carry the ball out and into/beyond midfield. Watch the panic in the eyes of his teammates/the standing around. It's a case of A) Ole's handpicked captain saying, feck it I'm doing something, feck the manager or B) Ole telling him to do so but neglecting to set up a scheme for what the team does when it happens. Watch any other team have their CB carry the ball, and the rest of the players glide seamlessly into new positions.

Maguire, as the new captain, enforcing fines for players not attending social events planned by him. I nearly fell down laughing when I heard this. I'm your leader, be like me, or else!!! Not all people fancy Mykonos, because you do Harry.

Going 3-5-2/5-3-2 and moving Shaw into a back three and Wan-Bissaka into a WB. Flipping 'ell. You're moving your best defender (in terms of pure defending) further forward, and using a different fullback in the back three. What's the underlying issue? Tons of money invested, but only one true RB/RWB at the club, and you have to play him at RWB? Or you've invested heavily in said RB, but it turns out he's a one-trick pony (even if exceptional at that trick) and can't play going forward as a modern FB must but you're giving it a go at WB all the same and/or he's not tactially astute enough to play in a back three. Or Ole's lost the plot/never had the plot in the first place. Pick your poison. All three imo, I'm afraid.