The English Football Thread

[Strike 7,854]

56 minutes ago, Stats said:

Highly disagree. When he took over as manager, my expectations were low and a lot of other supporters were too. You say we nearly blew a top 4 position, but point is how many people expected us to be in top 4 from the start of the season? So finishing top 4 regardless was a top achievement considering we lost our best player and could not sign a new new players. Pulisic joined obviously but was no way near same level and had injury problems and had to settle in also. Abraham was taking on the mantle for leading the line whilst really young. Mount's first season at us. We sold Luiz and promoted Tomori. Our wingers were Pedro, Pulisic, Willian and you can say Mount as he was shifted out wide several times. The squad was not screaming quality so when you say Sarri or Allegri woudl have got top 4 with that squad, highly debatable. 

You see clubs like Arsenal spending millions each summer and still struggle to get top 4. We done that whilst let's face it, we had promising youngsters, however where was the real quality like standout player for us? He also got us to  a cup final and also getting through the group stages of UCL. If we weren't in Europe then yes, maybe I would say he had easier task but the amount of competitions we were involved in also, he done brilliantly to guide us top 4.

I think most managers would struggle to get that squad in top 4. Kante had his injury problems throughout the season. LB options were Alonso and Emerson.

We played some scintillating football also and we nearly blew the top 4 but genuinely after the ban and Hazard and even Luiz sale, this was my season were my expectations were really low. I was actually astonished we got top 4. I think he deserves more credit than he gets.

I feel like the culture change of going with Mount Reece Tammy was the best thing he did but in his personnel, game-to-game tactical decisions, he was out of his depth very often. I disagree about the quality statement. We had quality - much more than any of the competitors for top 4 but Lampard's decisions meant Jorginho couldn't get in the team (now he was in Ballon D'Or discussion), Rudiger couldn't get in the team (now he's top 3 CB in the league), Tomori was promoted and frozen out without an apparent reason (doing well in Italy). 

This scintillating football we played under Lampard is also overstated imo. It was maybe twice or thrice over 90 mins in the first season (vs Tottenham away, Ajax away) We played much better football under Sarri (granted Eden was there) and a serious manager would have comfortably finished top 4 with that squad in 19-20.

[Stats 7,230]

30 minutes ago, Strike said:

I feel like the culture change of going with Mount Reece Tammy was the best thing he did but in his personnel, game-to-game tactical decisions, he was out of his depth very often. I disagree about the quality statement. We had quality - much more than any of the competitors for top 4 but Lampard's decisions meant Jorginho couldn't get in the team (now he was in Ballon D'Or discussion), Rudiger couldn't get in the team (now he's top 3 CB in the league), Tomori was promoted and frozen out without an apparent reason (doing well in Italy). 

This scintillating football we played under Lampard is also overstated imo. It was maybe twice or thrice over 90 mins in the first season (vs Tottenham away, Ajax away) We played much better football under Sarri (granted Eden was there) and a serious manager would have comfortably finished top 4 with that squad in 19-20.

Ok, at the time who was our star player? Who was the one player you are seeing in that team and thinking, yeah real quality. Arsenal had Aubemyang who was a world class striker at the time. Also bought £72m Pepe who ripped up Ligue 1 and at time they had him, looked like he would be a top signing. Also had Lacazette. At time of that season, would you say our strikers were near there quality or even winger? Obviously Pepe has not cut it at Arsenal but I envied them signing him. We decided to sign Kovacic who many fans before start of season were hesitant on but he had his best season for us. Anyway on paper, Arsenal had 3 players capable of scoring goals in Pepe, Auba and Laca to lesser extent but at time speaking, either of those strikers would have walked into our team.

I don't need to mention City and Liverpool as they were comfortably ahead of everyone else. United bought Fernandes in January but also spent over £200m or so that season on their defence and midfield/attack. Secured Fernandes in January who is streets ahead of anyone we had in our team. Not surprised they finished above us, considering we did not buy anyone in January.

Spurs had Kane and Son and also bought N'Dombele who (AT THE TIME) looked a top signing for them. Also at the time, probably had one of the best CB in league in Alderweireld. Rudiger may be one of top CB now, however at the time that is like me saying United bought £80m Maguire who was brilliant at Leicester. Also had Shaw who is streets ahead of Alonso. Christensen and Rudiger are a lot better now, however at the time they looked shaky in a back 4 and still possibly may do.

You mentioned Ajax and Spurs away. We had several games in the league where we played top football. We beat Palace 2-0 but played them off the park. Beat Waftord 2-1, but controlled large parts of that game, however a mix of players who are poor in final third productivity meant the scoreline was closer than should have been. Brighton, Newcastle again we were thoroughly dominant but not surprised we could not finish games off when we had likes of Willian playing. 

Games lost also where we played in such a good manager, we got a lot of credit due to performance. We lost 2-1 City at Etihad but had large dominant spells and I think that was one extraordinary game where we had more possession than City. Lost to Liverpool 2-1 and majority of our fans applauded our team end of game due to the way we played, despite our losing. Could you imagine that happening the following season with Lamps where we spent bucket loads? Never. But expectations were a lot lower, because we lost one of the world's best players and could not effectively replace him. Lamps first season managing in PL.

I expected Spurs and Arsenal to finish above us that season. Why? Because they had 2 world class strikers who know how to put the ball in back of net. I just don't see how you say a more serious manager would have finished in top 4 with that squad when likes of Conte, despite winning us league guided us to 6th place following season with likes of Hazard in his team. Sarri, whilst winning us Europa and top 4, only also just about got us in top 4 in the last 2 games of season.

Like I say, other managers at other clubs with more experience struggle to do what Lamps done. 

Edited January 28, 2022 by Stats

[OneMoSalah 9,124]

43 minutes ago, Strike said:

I feel like the culture change of going with Mount Reece Tammy was the best thing he did but in his personnel, game-to-game tactical decisions, he was out of his depth very often. I disagree about the quality statement. We had quality - much more than any of the competitors for top 4 but Lampard's decisions meant Jorginho couldn't get in the team (now he was in Ballon D'Or discussion), Rudiger couldn't get in the team (now he's top 3 CB in the league), Tomori was promoted and frozen out without an apparent reason (doing well in Italy). 

This scintillating football we played under Lampard is also overstated imo. It was maybe twice or thrice over 90 mins in the first season (vs Tottenham away, Ajax away) We played much better football under Sarri (granted Eden was there) and a serious manager would have comfortably finished top 4 with that squad in 19-20.

This is spot on.

1 hour ago, Stats said:

Highly disagree. When he took over as manager, my expectations were low and a lot of other supporters were too. You say we nearly blew a top 4 position, but point is how many people expected us to be in top 4 from the start of the season? So finishing top 4 regardless was a top achievement considering we lost our best player and could not sign a new new players. Pulisic joined obviously but was no way near same level and had injury problems and had to settle in also. Abraham was taking on the mantle for leading the line whilst really young. Mount's first season at us. We sold Luiz and promoted Tomori. Our wingers were Pedro, Pulisic, Willian and you can say Mount as he was shifted out wide several times. The squad was not screaming quality so when you say Sarri or Allegri woudl have got top 4 with that squad, highly debatable. 

You see clubs like Arsenal spending millions each summer and still struggle to get top 4. We done that whilst let's face it, we had promising youngsters, however where was the real quality like standout player for us? He also got us to  a cup final and also getting through the group stages of UCL. If we weren't in Europe then yes, maybe I would say he had easier task but the amount of competitions we were involved in also, he done brilliantly to guide us top 4.

I think most managers would struggle to get that squad in top 4. Kante had his injury problems throughout the season. LB options were Alonso and Emerson.

We played some scintillating football also and we nearly blew the top 4 but genuinely after the ban and Hazard and even Luiz sale, this was my season were my expectations were really low. I was actually astonished we got top 4. I think he deserves more credit than he gets.

I am sorry but any other manager under the same circumstances, we would of been expected to get top 4. I think your lying to yourself thinking otherwise!

We got rid of Conte for finishing 5th and effectively pushed Sarri out the door for finishing 3rd yet people really believe the club would of sat down at the beginning of pre-season and thought something along the lines of ‘you know what, Frank, we aren’t expected to get top 4, so if we don’t, we don’t and if we do, we do’. Bullshit.

Eden and Luiz there or not, that squad was still capable of getting top 4 for sure and the youngsters only strengthened the squad IMO, James despite having some ups and downs was clearly better than Zappacosta, Mount was clearly better then Barkley, Tammy better than Batshuayi and you could easily argue Tomori did much better than David Luiz, who looked absolutely pathetic in the pre season. 

Even if by some minor miracle, blowing a 12 point lead from midway through the season and only managing to scrape top 4 on the final day of the season, I don’t care what anyones expectations were, that is not good enough (or it wouldn’t be for any other manager). Once in such a position, to blow a 12 point lead due to tactical naivety and poor performances, very disappointing. So if we didn’t finish 4th that season having been in that position, it would of been a disaster.

How anyone calls it a major achievement is beyond me. It was purely because it was Frank Lampard that it was an achievement and I’m still sticking to my guns that Sarri would of done a better job from prior to Frank’s appointment because at least he had an actual style and you could see what it was. Barring 2 good runs here, Frank’s team didn’t have anything of the sort.

[dimmas 131]

Well lampard have his own tactical limitation to turn things around and lacking something from his man management when things get ugly.

 

But watching this kind of video makes me remember again, how many times Chelsea matches under him somehow was really give some excitement to watch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[milka 3,407]

Well ,  more or less we will support Everton  😄

 

Edited January 28, 2022 by milka

[Pizy 19,383]

Maybe Super Frank can do us a solid and take some of the deadwood off our hands.

[MoroccanBlue 5,408]

Really hope he succeeds there. 

[NikkiCFC 8,529]

Gylfi is not playing, James is not there anymore they really need AM for his system. Ross Barkley?

[MoroccanBlue 5,408]

15 hours ago, NikkiCFC said:

Gylfi is not playing, James is not there anymore they really need AM for his system. Ross Barkley?

VDB

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[nyikolajevics 2,851]

Fan medical emergency at Fulham-Blackpool.. Crazy.

Edited January 29, 2022 by nyikolajevics

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

Greenwood could join prison fc very soon.

Edited January 30, 2022 by Blues Forever

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[Vesper 31,181]

3 hours ago, Blues Forever said:

 

Greenwood could join prison fc very soon.

what the hell is it with Manc footballers?

Mendy serial raping, and now Greenwood beating the fucking shit out of his GF

🤬

[Blues Forever 1,232]

10 minutes ago, Vesper said:

what the hell is it with Manc footballers?

Mendy serial raping, and now Greenwood beating the fucking shit out of his GF

🤬

Greenwood also attempted rape on his GF from the audio leaks.

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[chelsea_4_eva 1,186]

Disgusting.

[Pizy 19,383]

Just terrible. Imagine being 20 years old with the world at your feet and pissing your whole career away.

As for what this means for United in the football pitch, you’d have to imagine they’ll now be going huge in the summer market. Greenwood should be gone forever, Cavani is going, and who knows what happens with CR7 if they don’t have CL football next year.

That clears a whole lot of room for a mega Haaland bid… 😒

[Fulham Broadway 17,810]

Not a peep from the Glazer owned franchise. The least they should do immediately is say hes suspended

The longer we wait the bigger the piece of shitcunts  they are 

[Mário César 1,525]

3 hours ago, Pizy said:

Just terrible. Imagine being 20 years old with the world at your feet and pissing your whole career away.

As for what this means for United in the football pitch, you’d have to imagine they’ll now be going huge in the summer market. Greenwood should be gone forever, Cavani is going, and who knows what happens with CR7 if they don’t have CL football next year.

That clears a whole lot of room for a mega Haaland bid… 😒

if United go to EL, no way they get haaland