What's new

Let's All Laugh At... Let's all wonder what's going on at United?

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,561
I don't think that's enough to call anyone a flop - or else you could call quite a few of our players "flops". They are decent signings who have suffered with team form
I certainly wouldn't call Lukaku a flop, he scored a goal every other game for them and can definitely be put in the bracket you mention. And as I said I wouldn't call Lindelof a flop either, he just needed time and a reliable partner to reach a decent level.

Matic is another story though, he has now been absolutely dreadful for half his United career to date after being pretty good the first half, and I don't think that is a system thing, I think it's a "his body can't take it any more" thing. You might feel it's too harsh to call him a flop after he started off well but his decline has been so steep and happened so quickly.
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,353
87,819
I'm not really paying too much attention to Manure, other than I'm just enjoying their misery. But I don't think it takes too much analysis to say that if your team has the likes of Lingard, Rashford and Young in it, you're doubtless going to be a bit shit.
 
Last edited:

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
Their biggest mistake was not letting Van Gaal see out his last year.

Van Gaal may have been boring football but he drastically cut the age of their squad and integrated many youth players. And his style of play was considered poor only at United. Nowhere else in his career was he considered a boring manager. If they gave him that last year he'd have probably signed a couple of young and exciting talents to upgrade what he already had. Instead they sacked him and gave Mourinho £350m to spend and pretty much all of his signings bar Ibrahimovic on a free has been a flop.

Solskjaer is now trying to do the job Van Gaal did by giving young players a chance but he doesn't have the record or skill as a manager to do it. His saving grace is he is a legend from his playing days so all the ex players in the media are friends with him whereas they seemed to really dislike Van Gaal (and vice versa).

That's a bit harsh. Jose often gets blamed for how much he spent, but United massively overpaid for some of those players which wasn't down to the manager. Almost half the money he spent went on Lukaku and Pogba. Lukaku wasn't a flop and letting him go was probably the biggest mistake that Ole has made so far. Pogba has been hit and miss but that seems to be an attitude problem rather than an ability issue and United would almost certainly make a profit on him if they sold him. Matic is debatable. Bailly looked like a good player when he first arrived, but he seems to be always injured so can't really blame the manager for that. Dalot is still only 20. Even Sanchez was effectively a free transfer as he was a swap with Mkhitarian (who could be labelled a flop I guess, although he did score in the Europa League final which United won).
 

allatsea

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
8,865
16,053
That's a bit harsh. Jose often gets blamed for how much he spent, but United massively overpaid for some of those players which wasn't down to the manager. Almost half the money he spent went on Lukaku and Pogba. Lukaku wasn't a flop and letting him go was probably the biggest mistake that Ole has made so far. Pogba has been hit and miss but that seems to be an attitude problem rather than an ability issue and United would almost certainly make a profit on him if they sold him. Matic is debatable. Bailly looked like a good player when he first arrived, but he seems to be always injured so can't really blame the manager for that. Dalot is still only 20. Even Sanchez was effectively a free transfer as he was a swap with Mkhitarian (who could be labelled a flop I guess, although he did score in the Europa League final which United won).
And Man Utd have continued to grossly overpay for players since Maureen left. 80 million or so for a Central Defender and how much again for a full back who is not very good going forward ?
 

Hakkz

Svensk hetsporre
Jul 6, 2012
8,196
17,270
Lindelof is one of few who has raised his game since Mourinho left and kept it at a decent level after the initial bounce. I think him and Maguire are a very good partnership, maybe not the basis of a title winning squad but certainly good enough to challenge.

Matic was good in the 2nd place season but the last six months of Jose left it was as if he'd fallen off a cliff. I don't think his body can handle the level and tempo of the PL any more and the signs were there before Jose left.

I think Lindelöf getting better had everything to do with Maguire coming in and nothing to do with Mourinho. Lindelöf is the type who needs an organizer next to him I think, then he had Smalling or Jones next to him...
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
I think Lindelöf getting better had everything to do with Maguire coming in and nothing to do with Mourinho. Lindelöf is the type who needs an organizer next to him I think, then he had Smalling or Jones next to him...

He was improving before they bought Maguire according to those on Redcafe.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,561
I think Lindelöf getting better had everything to do with Maguire coming in and nothing to do with Mourinho. Lindelöf is the type who needs an organizer next to him I think, then he had Smalling or Jones next to him...
It has no doubt helped, I agree that he's a player who plays better with a leader next to him, but he was steadily improving all through last season.

By the way, who is his next regular partner for Sweden now Granqvist is ancient and obsolete?
 

Hakkz

Svensk hetsporre
Jul 6, 2012
8,196
17,270
It has no doubt helped, I agree that he's a player who plays better with a leader next to him, but he was steadily improving all through last season.

By the way, who is his next regular partner for Sweden now Granqvist is ancient and obsolete?

...Granqvist, no kidding. He's played the last 3 qualifiers I think.

But Filip Helander (Rangers) and Pontus Jansson (Brentford) have played a couple as well. VNL and AG are main pairing though..
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,561

I lovehate that this plank is a United player.

Hate that he gets paid hundreds of thousands a month to be a "footballer" who seems more interested in social media that doing his job.

Love that he's playing a part in dragging United down.
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
7,405
13,785


He's fast becoming my most hated player. His lack of self-awareness and just general twattery are staggering. Every time I see him I can't help but think he's like a personification of everything that people hate about "modern players".

He's not even a good player either FFS. Shouldn't be anywhere near the Utd first team IMO.
 

Hakkz

Svensk hetsporre
Jul 6, 2012
8,196
17,270
Well, they need a striker obviosly and Mandzukic ain't that bad. I'd take him as back up.

He's 33 and hasn't played at all this season. Can't see him doing much.

Would have loved him here 2-3 years ago though!
 
Top