Re-Bittered
Victory! Over City! At the Etihad! Who’d have thunk it? Expectations coming into the 171st derby were low, perhaps as low as they have been at any time in the past 40 years, but in winning 1-0 at City’s home United surpassed those expectations and some. It begs the question – exactly where did that performance come from, and why can’t Louis van Gaal’s team find a greater level of consistency? Ed & Paul analyse United’s victory over City and look back on a more disappointing outcome – aggregate defeat to Liverpool in the Europa League. There’s a discussion about Jose Mourinho, who may or may not have signed a contract with United this week, your questions and a look ahead to the International break.
No Question About That is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music and all good podcast apps. We really appreciate your support. Please hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write us a review! Talk to us on Twitter and Instagram. No Question About That is produced by the award-winning Tom Jenkins. If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing some cool rewards, check out our crowdfunding page and become a Patron!
Never has a manager made me feel like this as a fan. One week the team looks utterly clueless, tactically inept and with zero passion for the shirt. The next they produce periods of football that convince me that we are definitely going in the right direction. As a result I cannot do anything but look back in anger on what overall has been a wasted tenure that could have delivered so much more.
A naive approach in the transfer market, combined with numerous unfathomable selection/substitution decisions, topped off with some dreadful man management of players has got us where we are today.
This could and should of all of been so different.
Yep, it’s all been so odd, and you’re right, it just did not have to be this way.
I am pretty sure LvG has been watching too much Frozen… he just let it go, slammed the door, and nothing gets to him. No rules for him, he is freeeeeeeee… we’ll never see him cry, here he stands and here he stays… let the storm rage ooooon. His philosophy flows through the air into the ground.
LvG: “The past is in the past”
History will judge van gaal and the sooner he is history the better.
If for over 21month,and close to 300million spends,and yet a cetain placid and turgid coach with a foolosophy is yet to have a solid formation with proper starting eleven and is still experimenting a lingard is the hole…. If united continue like this,I bet it,this time next season…. United will be fighting a relegation battle
The investment under LVG has been nothing like £300m or even the £150m-£200m more commonly stated. It is in reality around £50m net in pure transfer fees, perhaps rising (in future) to £70m if Martial is the first footballer on the moon and his other ‘success’ clauses are met, in which case he will be worth every penny. The details can be found on the attached link.
http://www.transferleague.co.uk/manchester-united/english-football-teams/manchester-united-transfers
You will never find the club challenging the numbers thrown around in the media as to what LVG/United have supposedly spent, as the Glazers and EW want United to be perceived as big boys in the European transfer market. In reality the United BoM run a very, very tight ship and have in parallel overseen huge growth in commercial revenues, the proceeds of which are sent directly to our friends in Florida.
I am not defending LVG as a manager. His decision making and man management have been extremely poor. I expected much more.
Our club is however run my charlatans who are taking you, me and another few hundred million idiots for every penny they can.
For clarity I did not include the money spent on Herrera and Shaw as ‘LVG buys’ as these were transfers already sanctioned by the regime prior to the managers arrival. This would however the take net spend on transfers by United to £104.2m in the last two seasons. LVG has spent £50m net on his own players since his arrival.
I agree with Ed: Phil Jones should be put down. Before that procedure though (the humane thing to do), Jones does need to return wages that have been stolen.
In his 5 seasons at the club, United have claimed one piece of silverware, the 2012-13 Premier League title. Jones started in all of 13 league matches that season, with 4 substitute appearances, so let’s be generous, round that up to half a whole season, and he can return 4 and a half seasons’ worth (and also relinquish all his marketing rights to the Munich air disaster).
Under no circumstances whatsoever should any of that money be used to give Carrick a new pension plan (“contract”). As a goodbye gift for loyal service, Carrick can keep Schweinsteiger, Fellaini, Valencia, Young, Rooney, Giggs and Van Gaal. To do with as he pleases. Whilst observing a restraining order preventing encroachment of said ex-personnel, anywhere within 10 miles of Old Trafford and Carrington.
Phil Jones signed a new four year deal in July 2015 so United could well be shelling out plenty more cash for the non-appearance of a player about whom Fergie once said, “……….. “Arguably, the way he is looking, he could be our best ever player.”
Jones turned twenty four only last month but he appears destined to be a ‘couldabeenanything’ player blighted by injuries and a victim of his own physical style.
(No excuses for his Munich gaffe.)