itdoesntmatterwhatthissay

He was know for that but mostly because it highlighted him losing the ball. He also did some amazing things both on and off the ball at least once in any 5 minute period. Plus I knew who he was well before United bought him, Traore isn't anywhere near as special. But yes, you're right, good management is vital! I have and still do watch most United games, Ronaldo was something special and you could tell that. Traore is too but he's at least a few years behind Ronaldo in reading of the game and technique, I suspect that's why we haven't seen a lot of him despite him needing games to develop.

I'd say a combination of poor management and injuries have been the problem. Though the Ronaldo comparison isn't too fair, Ronaldo was astonishing with the ball from the minute he signed, Traore just looks dangerous with it. He needs a run in the team to work out whether he's ready to learn game by game or whether he needs to keep learning on the bench. Injuries didn't help with that but neither did any of our managers. I feel certain under a more experienced manager we'd have seen a lot more of him, I still think for a kid he showed some mature moments that could've been built on.

Only reason I properly considered the Lib Dems was because of Jerry Evans who keeps trying and failing to be an MP for Hall Green. A truly brilliant and hard working Councillor who will never get the recognition he deserves. I actually joined the Tories before meeting him and attended a meeting or two, it was a shambles. I looked up who else might be running and immediately realised how devout Evans was to his ward and city. It's very sad, everyone loves the guy but hates the Tories more. The one year he could've won 'Respect' stood and they got many many many postal votes, hmmmmm, enough to give Labours Roger Gobshi_e the victory. He's a dead cert and that's politics, as you've said those entrenched don't really move. We need a better system of voting but after the AV nightmare I doubt it will happen, though at least 'first past the post' harms Labour, maybe they'll think about policy and not politics next time the opportunity comes around to influence voting change....though I'm not holding my breath, they really are the part of politics despite hiding behind policy conversation.

If you get a chance you should try and see 65 Days of Static, really great live.

Not that it matters because my reasoning is as flawed as everyone elses (awful debate on the subject and exactly what the calculated Tories wanted), but I'm 90% sure I'm voting to leave. The benefits to staying are numerous but the majority can be achieved with good British government, unfortunately we have back of a fag paper government so meh, probably not great. The local economy has suffered hugely since joining the EU in part because we're pathetically respective to legislation, unlike other nations. We need further control and I don't think that can be achieved by working in the EU. We hide behind EU regulation when trying to protect our own British industry and I think that's so wrong it's verging on treason, ha. Local authorities are the absolute worst and perhaps if they had more influence they'd bother to do something about their awful 'hands tied' leadership. There of course is a flip side, when I tried to save the Aston Arena I was very much aware that it was EU funded and it was our British decision makers (Labour, Tory and Lib Dem, all were in power) which were happy to squander that opportunity. Things on our own soil are not always much better but I believe if we had more control we could do a lot more. It would take up to 5 years to leave, we'd still have an influence and certain benefits could exist as a mutual positive, such as roaming charges and single chargers for mobile phones. However we could actually introduce proper policy where it's needed and not ill thought out ideas such as energy efficiency in homes or fish discards. The EU has a lot to teach us but we don't care for a lesson, for that reason I don't see the major benefits remaining whereas I do see many ordinary people doing a lot better if we left.

Definitely learnt is wasn't Black after yesterdays tactics and subs. No surprise the momentum changed when Grealish entered, not that he's anywhere good enough but he makes defenders backtrack and not many of our players can achieve that. My god do we need someone strong in charge.

The guy is an absolute disgrace who carries himself so poorly it's untrue, I was always prepared to give him a chance but he's proved himself as a less than average player with less than average ambition. Get rid asap, I think we understand now why he's been a flop at so many of his previous clubs.

I hope it's not that sinister but I agree with what you've said about it being a massive job. It's the main reason I've never written off Moyes despite not being his biggest fan. (not that I think he's a bad manager)

Exactly. Shows how good a manager he was. Lots of old players who gave it one last push for the manager, plus RVP. Nothing coming through or tested by Fergie, many average 'stars' like Mata and Hernandez; a mess for a team who always challenged for the title. It required a rebuild to be challengers, something still being proved today and recently stimulated by investment in young talent and youth players coming through, in LVG's second season. If you're not a challenger you need to consider the CL as uncertain so United finishing 6th under Moyes wasn't that surprising. Liverplop have discovered that, as have United and Chelsea.

I was never that sure about Moyes but after watching what he did with Everton under a very tight chairman I think he'd be a good fit for us right now, but does he remember what it was like to be the Preston manager? He's not a manager with a massive win rate and his teams do draw a lot, but they work hard and players without the right attitude get the Scottish treatment. He's quite obvious though; play wide, strong in the tackle, midfield who switch play. I think he got lucky in his great Everton days by attacking quality such as Baines helping him out, but it was his luck and Everton were a force at home and tricky away. Much like our MON days but with mid table wages and spend..... His Spanish and United days I'm not sure what to make of, he spent a lot of money in Spain and brought in some decent players but nobody performed for him. People joke about Fellaini but he's kept United in many games, plus the United squad is shocking. Fergie left it in a mess, shows how good he was as a manager. Both his previous clubs only gave him 1 year to develop and reflect; 4 years at Preston and 10 at Everton suggests he's a planner. Plus that Everton record really is enviable. If our club wants a long term vision rather than a bounce back manager he might be a good option.....maybe we should get him in now.....

At least he was here when things were better and the club actually tried to be part of its fanbase. Okay he was part of the team who dismantled that (though he individually tried to interact) but he's trusted by Randy, knows his way around and perhaps might be more motivated to listen to football minds, like Little.

Ahhh fair enough, I didn't realise that. He did need fitness and some games so that's at least one bonus.

He's not good enough otherwise he'd be playing or have a clause to recall him.........perhaps it says a lot about our managements ability to judge players or we will be absolutely fine next year......sadly I don't think it's the latter.

That's what I like best about him, though I really haven't seen much of him. Seems to watch play unfold and react accordingly, even if he's not going to get the ball.

Glad to see him put Green on before Sinclair, hopefully some psychological warfare.....didn't do anything for Sinclair though.

Didn't look like he understood how to change the game and was stationary expecting a pass for a lot of his time on the pitch, but heck, it was his first start and did just as well as the rest of the team. Clearly grew in confidence as he was having more touches when the ball was at his feet but probably learnt that he cannot expect to make a pass, he has to make a pass! Great learning experience, just what he needs (to realise he's nowhere near good enough) and hopefully he got back into training today working harder than ever. Glad to see him come on before Sinclair too, because he is absolute turd.

Great appointment, as mentioned a little late but still, thank god.

Probably right there, what is Julio Arca up to!? (playing non-league) Though, the players you've named......would all get into the Villa team....so we really are in trouble.

The Euros might give us some options....I wonder if MON would come back

Definitely not. Continuing to support that £50m dross and ignoring an opportunity to keep them on their toes, well that one is on him. And I don't care how bad the kids are, stick three on the bench, take out some first teamers and tell them to watch from the stands. Could've. should have been done months ago.

Perhaps you guys are right, I do remember those days. Sigh, everything's a mess.

Bit of both, but you have a great point on choosing players. Barry was always a class act as we well know. Distin, well that guy is as pacey as any defender comes, and always has been, plus he can defend...a no brainer. As for Richards, well he couldn't hold down a Man City spot, despite being given plenty of chances and wonderful players around him, he couldn't hold down an England place, despite Johnson etc. being in front of him and he failed at Fiorentina......there was always something managers didn't like about him and I think we've experienced it first hand, he thinks he's good enough. I wouldn't criticise the board too much on his signing though, it was probably a fair gamble. Lescott however was a shocking signing, not because it was Lescott (who I always thought was decent enough) but because he was never quick and he's getting slower. West Brom replaced him with Evans....erm, seriously, who thought Lescott was a better shout. Evans was a Fergie favourite and 27, I think that's a pretty good start even for the bottom half. The club is a little toxic for sure (players wise) but if we signed someone with ability and with experience perhaps they would've come in and been more influential? Instead we got loud mouth achieved nothing Richards and mistake prone can't hold my place Lescott, neither guys seem capable of inspiring a revolt against toxicity. Good god I miss Collins and Dunne, now there were two guys with the right attitude, plus nobody is messing with them.

I do see what you're saying but I feel what Lennon and Townsend both give you is what we thought Gabby would build on; relieving pressure. In Gabbys case he's lost all ability to take pressure off the midfield and back four and it's been killing us for a few years. At least with Lennon and Townsend they have purpose to get forward and lord does it help when the opposition is on the back foot. They can also dribble. The pace, the chance to play it early, the defenders on their heels, the space and time made, none of that should be underestimated and we see it in spurts when Traore plays. Wide players are key in this and so losing all width lets the opposition defend narrow and pack the middle. I've said it before and I don't think I'll stop saying it, whatever we thought about Albrighton's ability and fitness he relieved the pressure, he worried defenders because they knew he could and would swing in a cross (so they had to be tight), he tracked back and he pulled players sideways. Any manager worth employing would never ignore that as a feature going forward, it's one of the reasons I feel sorry for both Gestede (who knows he is limited) and Garde, who has dross at the club.

I can see it too, I just question the validity of that decision. Playing the kids for 20 mins to see what happens (to the player and team mates) is a sign of managerial strength, especially before you're mathematically down! Apart from Wenger I can't think of one top manager who hasn't used reserve players as a strategy for motivation, many got lucky! It was Fergie's go to move.

Yup, crazy. It's been the culture of the club for years, clearly Sherwood was trying to change that (or it's all he knew) but look at the nature of Albrighton's leaving, he himself has said the club wanted to play narrow. No good mid table team plays narrow, and very few teams in Europe do. We bought Gestede and panic bought Traore who never played. No other wing players exist and a whole host of central or round peg/square hole players came in. We also play opposite foot wingers to cut inside. Narrow with Gestede, wide with Gabby....jesus tap dancing christ!