Manchester United, that didn't last long. Seven up

[david3103]

If you're comparing the team to the Fergie era any team will pale in comparison. Have to have a touch of pragmatism about it

The squad isn't the issue. The way they are set up and the way they seem to be instructed to play is the issue.

I can compare it to the Dave Sexton era and it pales in comparison.

[George2Loose]

I'm pretty unhappy with the squad as a whole

[buzzharvey22]

For the money thats been spent on the squad it's fairly awful.

[Archer]

enjoy the variance.  Not embrace it.  You are running miles ahead of the game at the minute.

Regression to the mean i think it is called in the trade.  Why are people surprised?  How did Wolfs go off nearly 7/4 tonight at home to manure without lolrooney (like he makes a difference nowadays - in recent weeks him missing has actually made manure more likely to win a game according to the sharp betting markets and they still couldn't win when he was at home watching everton with his son on a monday night enjoying his £300k a week he has for the next 3.5 years lolzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz).  Without the comical own goal that kept you in the game you got battered tonight.

To not win that group is so funny.  It was as weak a group as possible for manure in champs league history.  They couldn't have found a weaker group and still couldn't get out of it never mind win it.  To say they have been running ahead of the curve in the EPL the last two months is a huge understatement.  

LVG must be gone surely?  Why would u keep him but fire Moyes a season on?  If not then Moyes was just a puppet to get over Sir alex retiring.  LVG has spent fortunes more than moyes and sent the club even further backwards than Moyes did but is unsackable.  Truely incredible.  

LVG got hired to make and keep us a top 4 side for the foreseeable future, so we didn't do a Liverpool. And he's achieving exactly that. As long we keep making top 4, we still get the gravy train rolling in. We have no shot of winning the CL (like 13/16 teams left) and the difference in money between group stages and winning is only (i think) £25m. Getting knocked out while isn't pleasant is far from a disaster.

You are not far out with the £25m in terms of additional prize money over and above the c18million euros already banked. the additional prize money is:

5.5m for last 16
6m for last 8
7m for last 4
15m for winner and a total of 33.5m euros.

However, this doesn't take into account the "market pool" which is essentialy the English clubs share of the TV revenues. Last year the 4 Englsih club shared c93m Euros and the figure for 2015/2016 is not yet known but prob c 130m euros to reflect the new BT deal. There is a formula for how this is split which is in 2 parts depending on league position the year before and the total number of matches played in this years competition. Too complicated to explain but, say, if City win the Champions League they would pick up c45million euros compared to c18million for United.

In this scenario, there would be a difference in prize money and market pool combined of c60 million Euros plus loss of revenue from home matches (less EL games)  and commercial value of late stage CL exposure.

[TightEnd]

January transfer window could be fun

[BorntoBubble]

Slow news day.

We get targeted with around about 200 players each window its so boring.

[nirvana]

When Fellaini is your best player.....

Was just typing this and then Van Lol took him off. Very fun

Anyway, time to add at least one sad to the title

[tikay]

With Bournemouth already ahead 2-1, Murray absolutely shreds the Man U defence then somehow balloons it over the bar with just DeGea to beat.

Minutes later, from a corner, Murray somehow blasts it into the stands again when presented with a clear chance to score.

Bournemouth don't know how to sit on a lead, and might pay the price, but it's fun to watch.

Bournemouth may yet be above Chelsea in the table tonight.

Fun times in the EPL.

[TightEnd]

spent £250m in the summer and have to bring on Nick Powell up front chasing the game..

not good, however the result finishes

[nirvana]

Watching the first 40 mins or so, although Bournemouth went up early - it looked like they would be unable to compete for 90 mins against even this Man U side. Very very ordinary team Bournemouth and doing way better than that squad should do - not quite to Watford's heights but pretty good.

[TightEnd]

bournemouth are missing wilson, arter, mings and gradel...thats most of the goals, best midfielder, £8m defensive signing and talernted winger

terrific management to have them competitive week after week

[tikay]

bournemouth are missing wilson, arter, mings and gradel...thats most of the goals, best midfielder, £8m defensive signing and talernted winger

terrific management to have them competitive week after week

I read that the Maxim Denim, a Russian geezer, purchased 50% of AFC Bournemouth in 2011 for £850,000.

Proper bargain, with the benefit of hindsight.

[tikay]

Ha, they beat Chelsea last week, and Man U this week, their supporters must think they are dreaming.

Whether they can beat the EPL elite, such as Leicester, Palace and Watford is another matter, of course.

Wonderful times.

No disrespect to Man U, but for neutrals, this is a season to cherish.

[david3103]

Did we play any better than MotD highlights suggested?

 

[TightEnd]

Did we play any better than MotD highlights suggested?

 

No.


Midtjyland v Manchester United in last 32 of the Europa

amusingly described post draw as "moneyball v moneypit"


meanwhile LVG has gone odds-on next PL boss to go....