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The 2025-2026 Football Thread
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Indeed.
We are still clearly unable to score from play, - recent games have included two nil all draws, followed by today, when we scored from a deflection and a set-piece.
As per usual, we are unable to convert dominance - and possession - into points by scoring goals.
United played well, and, though it galls me to say it, fully deserved their victory; new manager bounce notwithstanding, Cunha, Mbeumo and Lammens all excelled, and the rest of the team were very good.
For us, Gyokeres was, as per usual, useless, while Zubimendi gifted Manchester United two goals with silly (if uncharacteristic) errors when he lost possession.
More to the point, we still haven't learned lessons that should have been digested and internalised years ago; you do not sit back, you do not surrender possession so easily - our passing, possession (other than the first thirty minutes) and control were all very poor.
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We never learn, do we?
As a (former) teacher, I am offended by the constant repetition of the exact same errors, (sitting back) mistakes, (failing to score from play), weaknesses (failing to convert possession and dominance into actual goals cored and points amassed), repeated year after year, season after season, - and worse - at almost the exact same time of the year, somewhere in the deepest, darkest depths of dreariest January.
Back before the season started if you had been offered 4 points clear on the 22nd of January I chance you’d have taken it!
Well, yes, but there is a repeating pattern of behaviour - a pattern that suggests that costly lessons (from the past few seasons) most certainly have not been learned - that I find both frustrating, and very tiresome.
As a (former) teacher, it almost offends me.
Arsenal inexperience seeping through predictably. They probably needed this result now rather than in Mar/Apr.
All is not lost, they're still 4 pts ahead but they need to wake up or risk losing out...again.
Other teams will smell blood with that performance
Meanwhile, very well done to Utd. Looked like a team and wanted it more.
Carrick proving to be the energy shot they needed. And each positive result reflects badly on Amorim.
Although all the goalscorers today were his signings.
Carrick probably still won't get the job
All is not lost, they're still 4 pts ahead but they need to wake up or risk losing out...again.
Other teams will smell blood with that performance
Meanwhile, very well done to Utd. Looked like a team and wanted it more.
Carrick proving to be the energy shot they needed. And each positive result reflects badly on Amorim.
Although all the goalscorers today were his signings.
Carrick probably still won't get the job
Not just this performance; the two nil all draws that preceded it don't augur especially well for us, either.
This is now three games where we - the league leaders, though goodness knows how long that will last - failed to convert a single chance from open play.
The goal scorers (Cunha and Mbeumo) were both excellent, - and extremely good signings (unlike both Sesko and our own Gyokeres who is irrelevant and redundant on the pitch whenever he plays, unlike Havertz, whom I think an excellent team player with terrific positional sense and very good distribution, but not a natural goalscorer), but, for me, the real gem in that Manchester United team was their goalie, Lemmens, who was exceptional.
However, one does ask at what stage does this "inexperience" turn into "experience"?
Old mistakes (such as sitting back) are endlessly recurring, which is very frustrating. Slow learners........
Vintage Man Utd performance tonight. Not the absolute highest quality outing, but rediscovered that ability to dig deep and pull out a victory. They gave up two scruffy goals but otherwise stifled Arsenal's attack. They did well to capitalize on Arsenal's mistakes to score on the other end.
This was the first time United won at the Emirates since Jose Mourinho, and the first time they came back to win since the infamous "I'll see you out there!" game at Highbury.
The real trick will be if Carrick can get this side to break down lesser teams who sit back and defend. But for now, I'm very happy.
Senne Lammens between the sticks was such a crucial addition to the squad. The defense and midfield don't have to worry about him doing something stupid, allowing them to play with a bit more freedom and confidence.
This was the first time United won at the Emirates since Jose Mourinho, and the first time they came back to win since the infamous "I'll see you out there!" game at Highbury.
The real trick will be if Carrick can get this side to break down lesser teams who sit back and defend. But for now, I'm very happy.
Senne Lammens between the sticks was such a crucial addition to the squad. The defense and midfield don't have to worry about him doing something stupid, allowing them to play with a bit more freedom and confidence.
One consistent feature of post-Fergie Man Utd has been an ability to raise themselves for derbies and other big matches. Usually followed by a loss to a bottom feeder. But there it is.
I don’t know why anyone thinks Alonso will be better than Slot. He did well with a Bundesliga underdog team and then not so will with Real.
How does any of that experience provide evidence that he’ll definitely be better than Slot at breaking down low blocks in the Prem?
I don’t know why anyone thinks Alonso will be better than Slot. He did well with a Bundesliga underdog team and then not so will with Real.
How does any of that experience provide evidence that he’ll definitely be better than Slot at breaking down low blocks in the Prem?
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Honestly, I can see the back pages of the news papers already come May, if we don't win the Premier League. "Arsenal bottled it..."
Seriously, we're so close. I feel, had we gone 9 points clear, we would feel the confidence and surge to go on and win the thing.
Like others have mentioned, we've done this to ourselves. For me, there are a few frustrating things...
1. When we're behind at home, the fans go quite. Seriously, sing your heart out, urge the team on!
2. The faults today, with giving the ball away with poor passes and then giving the goals away, we cannot win the league like that.
3. I don't have the answers. But, we need to do something about our forwards. Something, and I don't know what exactly, is simply not gelling up front.
4. Lastly, Havertz. I feel a lot of fans are awaiting his return, thinking he will "save us". Alas, if he is not supplied the ball, well, you know the rest...
COYG!
Seriously, we're so close. I feel, had we gone 9 points clear, we would feel the confidence and surge to go on and win the thing.
Like others have mentioned, we've done this to ourselves. For me, there are a few frustrating things...
1. When we're behind at home, the fans go quite. Seriously, sing your heart out, urge the team on!
2. The faults today, with giving the ball away with poor passes and then giving the goals away, we cannot win the league like that.
3. I don't have the answers. But, we need to do something about our forwards. Something, and I don't know what exactly, is simply not gelling up front.
4. Lastly, Havertz. I feel a lot of fans are awaiting his return, thinking he will "save us". Alas, if he is not supplied the ball, well, you know the rest...
COYG!
It’s true I think that midfielders, and especially ones with a good defensive and offensive football brain, tend to make good coaches. So perhaps Carrick is a good choice for a longer stretch.
Carrick certainly picked our pocket, and at home, too!
My opinion is this, allow him to finish the season, and then assess his overall position in the league (stats, and such), and then determine if he should be offered a contract for a few years (not a silly 4-5+ year contract)...
My opinion is this, allow him to finish the season, and then assess his overall position in the league (stats, and such), and then determine if he should be offered a contract for a few years (not a silly 4-5+ year contract)...
It's big win for Man Utd. Arsenal have a big target on their backs and we're getting into the nitty-gritty part of the season.
OGS started similarly to Carrick - stunning wins that were quickly rewarded with a contract. He did well in terms of overall win rate, but ultimately won nothing, and was sacked as his overall success rate gradually trended downwards, booed at OT while losing to Watford.
It think it is helpful when talking about a new manager to look at how the last several 'failed.' I put that in scare quotes because nearly every manager ends up getting sacked ignominiously at some point. So if it's the normal course of events, can we really call it failure? That would be like referring to dying of old age as a 'failure.' 🤣
I don't see anything in Carrick to suggest he's 'The Answer.' Nor do I see him as being an especially bad choice either, at least as an interim.
OGS started similarly to Carrick - stunning wins that were quickly rewarded with a contract. He did well in terms of overall win rate, but ultimately won nothing, and was sacked as his overall success rate gradually trended downwards, booed at OT while losing to Watford.
It think it is helpful when talking about a new manager to look at how the last several 'failed.' I put that in scare quotes because nearly every manager ends up getting sacked ignominiously at some point. So if it's the normal course of events, can we really call it failure? That would be like referring to dying of old age as a 'failure.' 🤣
I don't see anything in Carrick to suggest he's 'The Answer.' Nor do I see him as being an especially bad choice either, at least as an interim.
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However… Man Utd have made strides in restructuring the team — what they did under Amorim seems sound, for the first time in years. It’ll be interesting to see where they turn next for a manager who can grow the team further. Xabi Alonso?
To a certain extent I agree, though Amorim himself seems to have been a square peg in a round hole. The margins are fine amongst the top 10 teams, even if budgets are far from equal. A cohesive team under a good manager can over-perform in this environment.
As is always the case, the longer a high-profile unemployed manager stays unemployed, the better they become in the eyes of the public. Poor Alonso will be linked with every single top-division managerial position in Europe, and be touted as the best manager anyone could ask for, until he makes his choice.
I actually think Alonso will carve out a solid (maybe even glittering) career as a manager. But at the moment 90% of the talk around him is pure hype. He has yet to build a long track record that reliably indicates his style and his level.
True, but I think Alonso’s record of building an over performing team with limited means at Leverkusen rather suits where Man Utd find themselves.