Klaus wrote:

Feeling exactly like I did before this weekend: top 4 is going to be tough for us and United are better than people think they are.

I don’t know if it’s because Chelsea are sitting back, but United look significantly smoother than us. And their counter attacks are well rehearsed. We are going to have to fight for top 4. I assume City, Pool and Spurs will go 1,2,3.

I think there's over a 50% chance that at least one of Wolves, Everton or Leicester makes a legit run at top 4 this season.

A penny for Giroud’s thoughts

Diaby KungFu wrote:

I think there's over a 50% chance that at least one of Wolves, Everton or Leicester makes a legit run at top 4 this season.

Those teams have nowhere near the resources required.

I think Everton do, and Wolves will make a push for Europa League at the very least.

Klaus wrote:

Feeling exactly like I did before this weekend: top 4 is going to be tough for us and United are better than people think they are.

I'm not afraid of United, they looked today like they did when OGS took over. They'll hit the same problems they hit last season and they have a lot of weak spots in that team. I think Spurs wont be able to pull away either. What this season has shown is that Chelsea lack any quality in attack. I'm more confident than ever we'll get top 4.

Diaby KungFu wrote:

I think there's over a 50% chance that at least one of Wolves, Everton or Leicester makes a legit run at top 4 this season.

Nah. One of them might push past Chelsea but none of those teams will finish within 10 points of the top 4.

Claudius wrote:

Klaus wrote:

Feeling exactly like I did before this weekend: top 4 is going to be tough for us and United are better than people think they are.

I don’t know if it’s because Chelsea are sitting back, but United look significantly smoother than us. And their counter attacks are well rehearsed. We are going to have to fight for top 4. I assume City, Pool and Spurs will go 1,2,3.

United looked pretty bad early on, their passing was as shoddy as Chelseas and both sides kept turning it over. It was only once Chelsea really pushed up after the second goal that United got so much space and started to actually play well.

I'm not afraid of United either, but I think they're far more likely than us to abandon something that isn't working. They're also likely to end up with something else that isn't working because they keep appointing one idiot after another, but at some point they'll get it right by accident. I can see them splashing big on a striker in January too if they need goals. Icardi maybe?

Guys, Wolves were 14 points off the Top 4. This after the Top 4 teams basically flatlined in the last month of the season. Those teams might be in a Europa League race but they will not compete for Top 4.

United are comfortably better (so are we) than Chelsea and easily our biggest threat for top 4. This is the first time in the post Fergie era, where they have addressed all of their needs with strong relevant signings, and didn't just load up on players with big reputations. I'd have them as slight favourites over us. Their defence and midfield is better than ours, whilst our attack is better than theirs. It's a wonder how it will all play out, but I can't imagine more than a few points separating us in the end.

I’m nervous. They look ahead of us. We probably have higher potential once all our players are back and IF Emery can make the whole greater than the sum of its parts

Claudius wrote:

Guys, Wolves were 14 points off the Top 4. This after the Top 4 teams basically flatlined in the last month of the season. Those teams might be in a Europa League race but they will not compete for Top 4.

Exactly. I think top 4 will take a few extra points this season too.

Don’t let today fool you, United are still weak going forward. Pogba is all they have.

deardevil wrote:

United are comfortably better (so are we) than Chelsea and easily our biggest threat for top 4. This is the first time in the post Fergie era, where they have addressed all of their needs with strong relevant signings, and didn't just load up on players with big reputations. I'd have them as slight favourites over us. Their defence and midfield is better than ours, whilst our attack is better than theirs. It's a wonder how it will all play out, but I can't imagine more than a few points separating us in the end.

I'm not sure their defence is better. I think our defence when everyones fit is going to be pretty good and Uniteds is massively overrated just because they spent big.

United look very confident in counter attacking situations and executed very well. That aside, I don't think they looked very good bar their new CB pairing. Chelsea's poor control of the ball and lethargic pressing handed easy possession to United which it made it a very comfortable afternoon for the boys in red. Would have been interesting to see how United reacted if Abraham had actually taken that early chance.

Overall, not worried about this United team over the course of a season. They have a Europa League campaign to manage as well and while more capable defensively, doubt its enough to challenge for a top 4 place. Also, Pogba is even more important for them now and a serious bid from one of the continental giants could easily unsettle him.

Chelsea will get better. Were very naïve and fitness and discipline can only get better after that showing. Again not overly worried. Think they are a more likely outfit to challenge for top 4 than United, but feel we definitely have the edge. Having Auba and Laca makes a big difference.

Was a great Pogba performance.

Have to say I don’t like Jose but the guy knows his football, insight on another level to other pundits.

I was looking forward to his stint as a pundit. You almost never see a manager as successful as he has been take on the role at this time in their career. Gives a manager's perspective of a top dressing room and attitude which is more current than someone like Souness can offer. Did laugh at his little dig at Shaw when giving his verdict on Maguire in the first half.

Coombs wrote:

Was a great Pogba performance.

He lost the ball a lot of times in the first half and was very subdued. Not the penalty taker or the captain, and he played that way. He was better in the second half and when the game became stretched he showed his class, but honestly, if you watched that game again you'd see mistakes everywhere from Pogba.

Obviously Mctominay and Perreira made as many or more, but they're not Pogba or even close. The midfield was pitiful first half and for chunks of the second, but Chelsea were too poor to capitalise so it goes unnoticed.

goon wrote:

Have to say I don’t like Jose but the guy knows his football, insight on another level to other pundits.

What did he say post-match? I missed that.

I agree about him as a pundit. I think the guy us super-intelligent full stop. His command of the English language is exceptional too.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Coombs wrote:

Was a great Pogba performance.

He lost the ball a lot of times in the first half and was very subdued. Not the penalty taker or the captain, and he played that way. He was better in the second half and when the game became stretched he showed his class, but honestly, if you watched that game again you'd see mistakes everywhere from Pogba.

Obviously Mctominay and Perreira made as many or more, but they're not Pogba or even close. The midfield was pitiful first half and for chunks of the second, but Chelsea were too poor to capitalise so it goes unnoticed.

Yea, I saw the mistakes, they were about the same as Xhaka today. He made the difference doing what he is good at. Driving runs and outside of the boot passes, etc. Don't think the low quality of the game went unnoticed by anyone here. MU midfield was ripped to shreds in the first half.

Ricky1985 wrote:

goon wrote:

Have to say I don’t like Jose but the guy knows his football, insight on another level to other pundits.

What did he say post-match? I missed that.

I agree about him as a pundit. I think the guy us super-intelligent full stop. His command of the English language is exceptional too.

Fucking strange how likeable he is as a pundit. I guess you can't help but respect people who talk sense, and when they are no longer a threat. Despite, genuinely hating him as a manager.

Ricky1985 wrote:

goon wrote:

Have to say I don’t like Jose but the guy knows his football, insight on another level to other pundits.

What did he say post-match? I missed that.

I agree about him as a pundit. I think the guy us super-intelligent full stop. His command of the English language is exceptional too.

Nothing revolutionary, just small basic snippets with regards to tactics etc that immediately make sense while the rest of them carry on with pub talk.

When I think of how dense Theirry comes across as a pundit by way of comparison it makes you wonder.

Souness tried to chip in and you immediately figure out why he failed as a manager, Sunday league level input.

Ricky1985 wrote:

goon wrote:

Have to say I don’t like Jose but the guy knows his football, insight on another level to other pundits.

What did he say post-match? I missed that.

I agree about him as a pundit. I think the guy us super-intelligent full stop. His command of the English language is exceptional too.

Graeme "it ain't rocket science" Souness.

Kanté needs to leave Chelsea. Too good to waste his prime at that shower.

Just seen highlights of the City game. Ok, I can understand the offside decision and the decision on retaking the penalty. What I don't get it how Sterling's third goal stood. That was a blatant, blatant foul on Haller by Gundogan.

It's because pep is enriching the EPL with such enamoring football with limited funds. You just have to give them the inches so they can carry on.

deardevil wrote:

Ricky1985 wrote:

What did he say post-match? I missed that.

I agree about him as a pundit. I think the guy us super-intelligent full stop. His command of the English language is exceptional too.

Fucking strange how likeable he is as a pundit. I guess you can't help but respect people who talk sense, and when they are no longer a threat. Despite, genuinely hating him as a manager.

i stopped hating him after accepting that wenger wasn't good for the club. i really only hated him because of his first run with chelsea and the constant sniping at wenger and i would fight someone back then over wenger. shit really it's the only reason i hated sir fungus as well.

Nothing to do with their embarrassing antics, harassing referees or poking opposition managers in the eye then?

Muswell Hill Gooner wrote:

Ricky1985 wrote:

What did he say post-match? I missed that.

I agree about him as a pundit. I think the guy us super-intelligent full stop. His command of the English language is exceptional too.

I'd like to imagine he was inwardly rolling his eyes once Neville started talking at 2.50.

Neville is wrong. Lacazette, Aubamayeng, Sokratis, Guendouzi, Holding and Xhaka are strong type personalities. I feel team ethos has been there.

Neville strikes me as someone who doesn't watch a lot of football outside his pundit duties. He never has any insight on new players, etc Some pundits have a deep knowledge of English football including lower league, some know a lot about specific foreign leagues, some have great knowledge of young players coming through all Neville knows is what it was like to be in that United dressing room for his career and thats why he goes on about characters constantly.

It also occurred to me over the weekend that his United team must have been a dour place to go and play football despite the success. I was listening to Scholes and thinking how unpleasant and uncharismatic he, Neville, Giggs, Keane, etc all were. Fergie pretty much ran Beckham out of the club once he started developing a personality. Meanwhile we had Henry, Pires, Freddie, Vieira, etc exuding charisma, confidence and looking like they were having a great time while still managing to be serious about their football.

Was quite telling that Mourinho was able to cite watching Pepe at Lille last season or At. Madrid's pre-season form and weave them into his analysis. I'm willing to bet that none of the others were aware that At. Madrid beat Juventus the other day or have even seen a minute of Joao Felix play.

It's not really their fault, the likes of Neville, Carragher, Scholes etc are lifers who've been indoctrinated at one club and mainly played under one manager - it's not that they are wrong all the time but their insights into football could be covered in a season, listening to them basically rehash the same opinion 5 years in a row doesn't really provide much analysis particularly when you have Mourinho who has won multiple titles across Europe with a couple of CL trophies for good measure. Honestly I'd rather Sky moved away from ex-players and picked up a few managers with recent experience.

Having said that I'm waiting for Mourinho to snap and make the whole thing about him at some point. Smart guy but he's capable of picking a fight in an empty room.

Or even coaches or scouts. Plenty of ex-players who've done years of that if they want name recognition too. Liam Brady used to be a pundit on Irish TV and he had a great deal of knowledge, always knew about young players coming through in England and for international football he knew about players from all over Europe that weren't playing in the top leagues. Thats far more valuable than an ex-player like Neville who was at his peak nearly 20 years ago. Even a more recently retired player would offer more insight into a modern dressing room.