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

[david3103]

So Arsenal are lauded as savvy businessmen and United are lunatics?

It's a flawed piece of logic, IMO.

Just because Man U earn far more revenue should not mean they have some sort of obligation to spend it on players wages, or any other operating costs or overhead.

It's a business. The owners are entitled to expect an increase in value, profits and dividend.

Tikay, in general terms I agree with the bolded part but not necessarily for a football club.

What is United's  business - is it playing football or selling noodles? If it's playing football then being successful at that is a pre-requisite.

 Since Sir AF retired United have struggled. We all assume it is a blip but it can be argued it is  a complete failure of  core infrastructure and succession policy. For over 20 years, United  had a successful system but relied on just one person to implement that system without making any serious attempt to replicate the processes that made it successful and guide a successor to be able to maintain it.

If I was a United fan I woud be worried and anti-Glazer.

Of course it's worrying that we have gone backwards since SAF retired.

Of course I loathe that we are an asset for the Glazers. But we are, we're an asset that has to be productive. Not a money-laundering image builder, nor a vanity project.

Yet we still appear to pay our players more than any other club.

[Archer]

So Arsenal are lauded as savvy businessmen and United are lunatics?

It's a flawed piece of logic, IMO.

Just because Man U earn far more revenue should not mean they have some sort of obligation to spend it on players wages, or any other operating costs or overhead.


Edit: Who are the money launderers?

It's a business. The owners are entitled to expect an increase in value, profits and dividend.

Tikay, in general terms I agree with the bolded part but not necessarily for a football club.

What is United's  business - is it playing football or selling noodles? If it's playing football then being successful at that is a pre-requisite.

 Since Sir AF retired United have struggled. We all assume it is a blip but it can be argued it is  a complete failure of  core infrastructure and succession policy. For over 20 years, United  had a successful system but relied on just one person to implement that system without making any serious attempt to replicate the processes that made it successful and guide a successor to be able to maintain it.

If I was a United fan I woud be worried and anti-Glazer.

Of course it's worrying that we have gone backwards since SAF retired.

Of course I loathe that we are an asset for the Glazers. But we are, we're an asset that has to be productive. Not a money-laundering image builder, nor a vanity project.

Yet we still appear to pay our players more than any other club.

No issue with me regarding the actual wages and I have not commented on the wages. It is unfortunate tho that  you are paying more in wages for Rooney than Sanchez & Ozil combined

United are a huge commercial success and likely to rise to the top of the Money League in 2016 when the projected turnover shows an increase of £100million+ but it is a shame the Glazers are milking the cash cow for their own personal benefit. Meanwhile the structure of the football side of the club is a mess IMO.

[Archer]

Who are the money launderers?

[POWWWWWWWW]

Scweinsteiger/Scheinderlin should play every single game.

Schneiderlin vs Swansea:

93% Pass Success
3 Tackles
5 Interceptions
0 Balls Lost

With Shaw and Darmian that's the team that should be playing every week.

[TightEnd]

Man United take encouragement from Benitez sacking in Bale pursuit...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-united-preparing-75million-plus-7117922

[POWWWWWWWW]

It's a shame Hazard has become terrible as the only way I'd see them selling Bale was to fund a move for another record breaking transfer.

[Archer]

It's a shame Hazard has become terrible as the only way I'd see them selling Bale was to fund a move for another record breaking transfer.

You are probably right. Zidane on record several times about loving Hazard.

I love the way the media are reporting this. As an example the Telegraph already has 3 articles on it.

The first and my favourite headline : Gareth Bale devastated by Benitez sacking: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/real-madrid/12081700/Gareth-Bale-devastated-by-Real-Madrids-sacking-of-Rafael-Benitez-which-may-encourage-Premier-League-return.html

Then the click-bait fest:   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/gareth-bale/11339654/Gareth-Bale-to-Man-Utd-11-reasons-why-the-transfer-could-happen.html?frame=3540890

It is worth giving them the clicks for the comedy value.

[TightEnd]

"The players are bored, fans are bored, everyone's bored. You look across at the bench and Van Gaal looks bored as well." Scholes yesterday on BT Sport

without changing manager, what are the tactical solutions to this, if ineed they are needed?

[Archer]

"The players are bored, fans are bored, everyone's bored. You look across at the bench and Van Gaal looks bored as well." Scholes yesterday on BT Sport

without changing manager, what are the tactical solutions to this, if ineed they are needed?

The stat that was banded about last night is amazing:

Last 10 first-halfs at Old Trafford: 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-1, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0.

[POWWWWWWWW]

"The players are bored, fans are bored, everyone's bored. You look across at the bench and Van Gaal looks bored as well." Scholes yesterday on BT Sport

without changing manager, what are the tactical solutions to this, if ineed they are needed?

Adapting tactics to the opposition would be a start. We play the same formation vs everyone. Playing 2 defensive mids, 2 number 10's and no wingers vs a team that is going to come and put 11 men behind the ball is just asking for what happened on Saturday. The rigidity in formation is killing the team.

[david3103]

"The players are bored, fans are bored, everyone's bored. You look across at the bench and Van Gaal looks bored as well." Scholes yesterday on BT Sport

without changing manager, what are the tactical solutions to this, if ineed they are needed?

Adapting tactics to the opposition would be a start. We play the same formation vs everyone. Playing 2 defensive mids, 2 number 10's and no wingers vs a team that is going to come and put 11 men behind the ball is just asking for what happened on Saturday. The rigidity in formation is killing the team.

Take the shackles off and let these highly paid and skilled footballers have a go.
We appear to have been trained out of any thoughts of creativity in the final third. FFS Arsenal had 25 shots on Saturday, we haven't had that many in the last 6 games at a guess. We certainly haven't had 13 on target.

[arbboy]

"The players are bored, fans are bored, everyone's bored. You look across at the bench and Van Gaal looks bored as well." Scholes yesterday on BT Sport

without changing manager, what are the tactical solutions to this, if ineed they are needed?

Adapting tactics to the opposition would be a start. We play the same formation vs everyone. Playing 2 defensive mids, 2 number 10's and no wingers vs a team that is going to come and put 11 men behind the ball is just asking for what happened on Saturday. The rigidity in formation is killing the team.

Take the shackles off and let these highly paid and skilled footballers have a go.
We appear to have been trained out of any thoughts of creativity in the final third. FFS Arsenal had 25 shots on Saturday, we haven't had that many in the last 6 games at a guess. We certainly haven't had 13 on target.

Def agree with this.  Huge case of overthinking/training going on at the minute.  Players have not got iq's in the 150's generally.  You need to keep it very simple.  LVG is def way over complicating things imo and not even getting the results.

[arbboy]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3394450/Louis-van-Gaal-betraying-Manchester-United-way-one-defeat-sacked-warns-former-striker-Michael-Owen.html

Hate to agree with Michael but he has this spot on apart from the fact why does LVG have to lose a game to get sacked?  Why does football keep having to be results orientated?  It is great that it provides pro punters with loads of lovely spots to make money but why cant it change and get in the 21st century?  Why can't LVG get sacked after 4 1-0 wins in a row and show the judges that football has moved on and you can sack an massive luck box over achieving manager like LVG even when he is winning and in a spot when manure probably should be this season in the league?  

I would really like the LVG sacking to happen after a win rather than a loss.  Am i being too optimistic?

[david3103]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3394450/Louis-van-Gaal-betraying-Manchester-United-way-one-defeat-sacked-warns-former-striker-Michael-Owen.html

Hate to agree with Michael but he has this spot on apart from the fact why does LVG have to lose a game to get sacked?  Why does football keep having to be results orientated?  It is great that it provides pro punters with loads of lovely spots to make money but why cant it change and get in the 21st century?  Why can't LVG get sacked after 4 1-0 wins in a row and show the judges that football has moved on and you can sack an massive luck box over achieving manager like LVG even when he is winning and in a spot when manure probably should be this season in the league?  

I would really like the LVG sacking to happen after a win rather than a loss.  Am i being too optimistic?

Dave Sexton won the last seven games of the season and still got the Spanish Archer.

[TightEnd]

Grand Prix Poker Tour Old Trafford this weekend

www.gppt.poker


As part of the pre-event activities on Saturday at Old Trafford: Legends Q and A with David May and Norman Whiteside, hosted by Simon Lazenby of Sky Sports

This will take place at 12.30pm Saturday. Simon will ask David and Norman a selection of the best questions submitted by poker players. Football/Poker/Life..its up to you!

Please post questions here and I will collate. Listen to the answers on Saturday and Highlights of the Q and A session will be posted up afterwards, too