Realistic and indifferent fence-sitters of the world unite (or not, whatever)

[Webding]

I posted this elsewhere, but every negative nelly and happy clapper has their own thread, so I’m having mine. Many thanks.

It can’t just be me that’s sick of pretty much everything in the world boiling down to two sides of an argument - pick a side and fight the other.

The 2019/20 season before lockdown was brilliant. And even if we don’t get another win and only stay up by a few points, it will have still exceeded all expectations (and we’ll have had a bloody good time for at least two thirds of it)

However, we’ve been absolutely awful in the last three games; slow, tired, clueless, weak. It’s not all down to the opposition/fans/injuries/[your favourite excuse], and just because we would have been happy with 17th a year ago, doesn’t mean we should be happy with a drop-off in standards now, after getting so high on merit.

Expectations are allowed to shift, and you can acknowledge both sides of the coin you know...

 

[coolasanidiot]

Yes expectations do rise your right, but we all know these expectations are based on a very small squad keeping fit, I would imagine most level headed folks would see it like this....

Man Utd looked really good, we were missing a few of our best players, it's ridiculously hot and we have played 3 games in 1 week.
Completely expected a loss but would have been nice to see us do a bit better than that.

It wasn't so much entertainment more a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach for 95 minutes.

Players coming back on Sunday it'll be better.

 

[Sandygate Blade]

I posted this elsewhere, but every negative nelly and happy clapper has their own thread, so I’m having mine. Many thanks.

It can’t just be me that’s sick of pretty much everything in the world boiling down to two sides of an argument - pick a side and fight the other.

The 2019/20 season before lockdown was brilliant. And even if we don’t get another win and only stay up by a few points, it will have still exceeded all expectations (and we’ll have had a bloody good time for at least two thirds of it)

However, we’ve been absolutely awful in the last three games; slow, tired, clueless, weak. It’s not all down to the opposition/fans/injuries/[your favourite excuse], and just because we would have been happy with 17th a year ago, doesn’t mean we should be happy with a drop-off in standards now, after getting so high on merit.

Expectations are allowed to shift, and you can acknowledge both sides of the coin you know...

Pretty much how I feel.

This is the best United team I've seen since the 1970s team. I thought the main difference between the two was that the current team was more consistent and less likely to suffer heavy defeats. I'm not sure now after the way we've come back from lockdown.

Whatever happens we will be in the Premiership next season, which was the main aim at start of this one. Let's hope CW and the players can get this malaise out of their system and give us an end of season that they deserve.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Distinctly remember Wilder saying before the season started that he expected that we might lose a few games in a row and for him the key was how the players reacted to that. Paul Merson said after the Bournemouth game in February that he felt we'd not had 'that run' yet of losing games/poor performances and we'd been playing 'to the max' in every game so far. At the time I didn't think it would happen to us as Wilder has made us so consistent and competitive, however here we are.

Obviously it's easy to say it's the effect of the lockdown/lack of fans and I'm sure that has played a part. However it's the been the same for every other team. I wonder if it's because it's given the players too long to reflect and think too much about how well they've done. The other factor of course has been missing key players, something else we've not had all season. Although I don't think Jack Robinson has played that badly (certainly no worse than the rest of them), he's not JOC. I still think Fleck is hampered by injury, shouldn't have played against Newcastle and has been a shadow of the player he was pre lockdown. It's not just the players absence, it's also the balance of the side.

Whatever it is, it's now going to be a huge challenge for Wilder and the staff to turn it round.

Sunday would be the ideal place to start. It's the cup, Arsenal are not doing so well, get a goal and who knows.....

UTB!

 

[Webding]

Yes expectations do rise your right, but we all know these expectations are based on a very small squad keeping fit, I would imagine most level headed folks would see it like this....

Man Utd looked really good, we were missing a few of our best players, it's ridiculously hot and we have played 3 games in 1 week.
Completely expected a loss but would have been nice to see us do a bit better than that.

It wasn't so much entertainment more a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach for 95 minutes.

Players coming back on Sunday it'll be better.

Yes, I forgot to add heat in the excuses.

It’s clear that we rely on 8-10 specific players being fit and available, with 2-3 of these being especially huge losses if they don’t play. It’s also obvious that we need to get into a rhythm of play and understanding, so momentum (and confidence) is probably a bigger factor for us than it is for the rest in the top half. And it’s arguable that the fans being missing is a major issue for us, but I think this is the lamest of excuses. If you need an external force to motivate you, then your mentality isn’t right.

Either way, none of these things account for the biggest problems in the last three games, which have variously been skill, fitness and application.

 

[awblade]

Welcome to the internet, where you are expected to be on the extreme ends of any argument..

My main worry is that we haven't tested the keeper once in 270 minutes of play now. Yesterday we did look much better from first half and second half kick offs but as I said without being threatening about it. I do think if Egan was playing yesterday we wouldn't have conceded the first two goals, which could have made the rest of the game pan out differently.

I know some people are hoping we go for it in FA cup now, but with the teams left in it I think we need to play a full second 11 at the weekend and concentrate on the league. Gte first 11 some rest and a recharge for final few matches

 

[coolasanidiot]

I know some people are hoping we go for it in FA cup now, but with the teams left in it I think we need to play a full second 11 at the weekend and concentrate on the league. Gte first 11 some rest and a recharge for final few matches

From this quote - I decipher without doubt you are a grade 1 nutjobber..

If ever the first team need to play its in this match kickstart the season- get pride back for the manager / themselves and above all US the fans.

We have had 270 mins without a shot - if you aren't hurting at this point you are simply not a Blade. We were sold the line our team will come back as fit and ready has any team- well we haven't it's been dire, come on first team put some effort in raise your game and win for us all..

 

[awblade]

From this quote - I decipher without doubt you are a grade 1 nutjobber..

If ever the first team need to play its in this match kickstart the season- get pride back for the manager / themselves and above all US the fans.

We have had 270 mins without a shot - if you aren't hurting at this point you are simply not a Blade. We were sold the line our team will come back as fit and ready has any team- well we haven't it's been dire, come on first team put some effort in raise your game and win for us all..

Where have I said anywhere that I am not hurting?

I can understand your viewpoint of needing to get team cohesion by playing, but I was coming from the angle of all the extra rest time that our opponents in the league get over us for each game, without us having the squad depth

 

[PokerBlade]

If we get outplayed by an established Prem side and lose I won't complain. If we work hard, play well, and get undone by a moment of brilliance from a top class player, I won't complain. That's what happened to us against Man U the first time we played them. We were fantastic that day but a ten minute surge from some brilliant players had us behind.

My concern is, and I understand that the injuries/suspensions go some way to mitigate this, that we've been poor by OUR standards. This last three games we've been slow, we haven't pressed, we haven't harassed, we'd been poorly organised, and individual performances have been bad.

I'm not panicking, and I'm weirdly fascinated by the trend of blaming the strikers after we concede three goals and create nothing, but it's hard to take. I at least expect us to match sides for work rate, and I at least expect us to put in a few firm challenges. But we didn't lay a glove on Villa, Newcastle, or Man U.

It's not concerning because we've lost, it's concerning because I didn't recognise the team on the pitch as the United that's shattered my expectations for four seasons. It's hard to take that. At least I can see Wilder on the touchline, listen to his interviews, and know we've got a manager who gets that. He won't be any happier than any of us now and I trust him to turn it round so long as he gets the backing.

 

[steve26272]

OP your kinda there, but the reality is you can be proud and pissed at the same time

Pre lockdown we were going amazingly well, media love in, we played well even when we lost (Man City)

We’ve now lost 2 in a row, following a draw that should have been a win and all of a sudden we’re all fucked, not going to win another game all season And CW has spunked £50m

So let’s all just accept that like every other team in the prem bar Liverpool, we have ups and downs.

Yes we have played shite in the last 3 games, but we’re 5 points off 5th place-Norwich are 6 off safety
Yes Berge, Mousse and McB haven’t set the world alight-neither have Wesley (villa £22m), Iwobi (Everton £28m) or Halle £32m)

Yes we haven’t been on form and have slipped in the table, but could be Arsenal

So in summary, we’re having a shitty patch, but as seasons go we’re having a blinder, above any expectations so enjoy!!

 

[Webding]

I think I’ve found peak happy clapper...



Apparently dropping eight points and being low in confidence going into a cup quarter final is better than anything else that could have happened, presumably including being well clear in 5th, and two points off fourth.

I get the sentiments of the actual thread, but equally this could be the only chance some (all?) of us get to see United win something or be in Europe. I’d take that and risk a slog next season every time.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

My main worry is that we haven't tested the keeper once in 270 minutes of play now.

I think they were all COVID-negative

 

[8lade]

There's talk on the street, it sounds so familiar

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

The only game I was really disappointed with is Newcastle. Villa are fighting relegation so it was never going to be easy or pretty, on top of being rusty after a 3 month layoff. We were screwed by the officials, human and electronic, but have taken 4 points off Villa, which is a fair return. I was disappointed with the result at Manure, but encouraged by some of the play. At Newcastle, a team with little to play for (they won't go down), we were abject. This was the game I thought we'd win of the three. Anyway, what do I know, I wanted Wilder sacked after his first 4 games!!!

 

[Webding]

I disagree, I think we were disappointing in all three. Manchester looked good and I think we were always going to struggle in that one, but I still would’ve liked to see the basic things that Wilder demands - fitness, effort, organisation, teamwork.

Effort and teamwork you could argue a point for, but there’s no denying we looked slow, tired and a bit clueless from the start of all three games. And we certainly looked less fit than the opposition each time.

Wilder and the core of the squad have more than enough credit in the bank to get a pass from me (and surely any right-thinking Blade) when it comes to a spell of bad performances, and they would have to have a run of absolute turd for a pretty long time for anyone to properly call them out. But you set your own standards, and the fact is that they have fallen way short of them since the restart.