As a Liverpool fan I'm quite pleased with the final position in the league, 30 fewer points isn't all that surprising given the injuries and the run of good fortune we had been getting
Are Leicester the new Spurs? - won the Cup when there was a one in the year then manage to throw away Chumps League football during the run-in despite being in the top 4 longer than any other team.
Are Leicester the new Spurs?
No. They've actually won stuff. Including the title. 😉
5th will only be considered a disappointment because a couple of months ago they looked to be in such a strong position. But they have a relatively small squad and had a couple of important injuries. I am sure they would have been delighted with 5th and an FA cup if offered at the start of the season. Winning the FA cup is a much better memory for the fans and players than a (probable) non descript CL campaign next year.
I agree re. Leicester that winning the cup will be memorable but losing to Spurs on the last day just seemed a bit "Spursy".
Thoughts on Chelsea and City ahead of Saturday.
Everton played the match like a testimonial but City looked good going forward. Dias had a bit of an off day and could easily have got a red. Ederson did great with the penalty and Aguero's cameo was wonderful. They will be on a high.
Chelsea have been on a run of bad results- probably deserved a bit more than they have got recently but got lucky with Leicester's result.
City should be favourites I guess but I would rather have played any team other than Chelsea tbh. They have players like Kante, Ziyech, Mount etc. that can match City's intensity in midfield.
Leicester had a difficult run in, just compare it to Liverpool's so I think it's a bit harsh to give them too much stick.
Some absolutely fantastic shots there. My personal favourite, for obvious reasons. Since he arrived, he's not lost an away game. Though god knows, we've tried.
Looking at the images, it seems even sadder to see a still photo with no crowd. Sums up the season I suppose. Weird.
But for the truly iconic, I think you'd have to have a heart of stone to begrudge him this. It has to be:
Quite a moment, and what a finish?
Conte to Spuds ?
Here we go.
I’ll only be able to relax if we concede in the first ten minutes
Conte to Spuds ?
More likely to RM, although it is debatable if the 3 remaining super league clubs will be in the CL next year, so may not be a good time to commit to one of them.
Not first five but there you go binners. Shocking marking.
Didn't think there was actual contact by Cavani on the Villarreal player for the freekick.
Feels like Utd will need Villarreal to tire a bit, they're looking very well drilled at the moment. I think Wan Bissaka and Shaw need to put a few more crosses in with Cavani as a target man
Didn’t put the first half as expected United to romp it. Now I’ve got it on they’ll come roaring back.
Rashford should have scored just now
Rashford looks like he’s won a Shreddies competition to get on the pitch tonight.
They’re so much better than Villarreal but created very little bar the goal and Rashford’s sitter. Villarreal playing for penalties ever since the equaliser.
It's pretty dull
Rope a dope from Villarreal? They’ve woken up.
It's not a classic
Bringing on 2 penalty takers in the last minute is an insane gamble. Ole clearly doesn’t have faith in they or the rest of the bench to win the game beforehand.
One of the worst finals I’ve ever witnessed.
Penalties. Can Bruno sky one please?
What's the betting one or both will miss? Have they even had a kick?
Reckon McT will nail the deciding pen.
He was subbed off.
Even the pens are dull
Agreed!
when does next season start?
he's no Alisson
De Gea's pen was rubbish
😆😆😆
Thank Christ for that, I can go to bed now.
couldn't **** it up by fluffing a save, during 120 minutes, so screwed it with taking a penalty 😂😂😂😂😂
Oh Bruno, don’t be sad. 😀
To be fair, they were great penalties by Villarreal
Yep, tactically they snuffed Utd out during the 120 minutes too. Two shots on target? Pogba and Bruno pretty poor when they needed them to step up.
Why didn't he use his subs much earlier? Either he has no confidence in them or he's tactically naïve. Madness
What is the issue with Van De Beek? So weird to spend that money on someone and not really give him a proper run. Is it a personality thing?
Subs and Van de beek - Ole doesn’t trust them or think they’re good enough is my thoughts. Remember he sees them in training day in day out. Plenty of other big money signings at other clubs who’ve flopped.
I guess it must be. I just watched a highlights reel on YT and he clearly has a lot of talent. You'd think though that if Pogba can be reintegrated into the team after a lot of upset and some truly shocking performances, then anyone can.
I feel like Ole doesn't have a plan b when his 'hit them on the break' strategy doesn't work. They were incredibly lacklustre. I'll say again he's done fairly well but I don't think they'll ever win a major trophy with him in charge. League position has flattered them this season.
I feel like Ole doesn’t have a plan b when his ‘hit them on the break’ strategy doesn’t work
you can say that again. That was like watching an England 'last 16 at a world cup' match where we come up against a decent side, don't know what to do and just huff and puff.
The Guardian MBM reporter said at half time that Utd needed someone to pick the lock and should consider de Beek or Mata. But they just kept banging their head on door and to everyone's surprise, it didn't give way.
Poor old Rashford looked way off his game. I kept forgetting Greenwood was even on the pitch. And I'm fairly sure Cavani made more essential defensive tackles than the actual defence!
Cavani was the only one moving off the ball to try and create options, everyone else were just standing around waiting for something to happen.
As I said a couple of weeks ago.
Last nights game was really clear at the difference between a team who a properly coached and a team who are just put out on the pitch with the hope that individuals can deliver.
I don't think Ole even has a plan A, he just massages the egos and puts the players on the pitch, whether they play well or not isn't down to anything he coaches them to do.
Poch in talks to return to spurs, didn't see that coming, and is probably the only move that could persuade Kane to stay.
I don’t think Ole even has a plan A, he just massages the egos and puts the players on the pitch, whether they play well or not isn’t down to anything he coaches them to do.
I read a thing recently suggesting managers only make 8% difference. It's a bit nebulous but...
I agree, Ole doesn't seem a tactical genius. But this season they scored more goals, equalled their best finish, and racked up their 2nd best points total since SAF left.
Ole isn't gonna have them overhauling Pep. But it's debatable that anyone could, in the next couple of years at least...
I read a thing recently suggesting managers only make 8% difference. It’s a bit nebulous but…
Was that written before the Bielsa Effect on the Leeds team?