09 Aug 2016 03:02:39
top 4 is achievable this year imo, but god I would love the title, it has gone on to long this title drought, I was 13yrs old the last time it happened. I would also like to thank ed001 and ed002 for helping us separate fact from fiction this summer there insight and info is invaluable, thanks eds. let's hope for a sucsessfull season fellow red fans, as Leicester proved last year, anything is possible.

{Ed001's Note - thank you kk7.}

1.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 08:29:54
Unfortunately I think the title will go to the reds from Manchester. I can't ser anyone in touching distance from them, certainly not us. 4th hopefully for us if everything click and no more injuries. Don't undetstand why we alwsys top the injury table. We topped it most of the last two seasons, and already top of this table now, and the league didn't even started. Is something wrong with our training methods? It is not only Sturridge.

2.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 09:28:47
I am not so sure on United. Their midfield is gutless. Carrick has the excuse of being an OAP, Rooney is an overweight striker, Schneiderlin has not lived up to expectation, Herrara is more of a number 10, Pogba is also best in a more advanced or free role.

Not to mention their defence which is absolutely awful and relies massively on De Gea (who is a great keeper to be fair, but not as good as their fans and the media make out) . They have signed Bailly who is a good player. But Darmian has flopped thus far, they have no other good centre backs, and Shaw was no better than Rojo before his injury troubles so I can't see him charging back to his best either.

They are also now weaker up front in my opinion as Zlatan will demand gametine, and any time he is on the pitch, I'd time that Rashford is not! And that kid will be world class one day. What you do have to say though is that in Martial, Pogba and Mkhitaryan they have some serious pace and directness going forward. So they will score goals!

{Ed001's Note - seriously? Shaw was no better than Rojo? That is the most ridiculous statement you have ever made mate. Shaw was excellent, just prior to his injury, while Rojo struggled badly at left back.}

3.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 09:53:43
Hahahaha Shaw no better than Rojo. I know you talk about watching players on YouTube MK but I didn't realise you watched all of your football on there. What a ridiculous statement.

4.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 09:57:32
One of the rich teams with high-profile managers will crash. Has to be. Mourinho, Guardiola or Conte? My headline right now would be "Cockup for Conte".

5.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 10:47:43
No need for that really is there smplfc. It's an opinions game and I never really rated Shaw as highly as others did. Good for his age but he was billed as the next Ashley Cole before he even played 10 games!

Ed001, i always preferred the lad Targett myself. Before his injuries Shaw was about 18/ 19 and at that age, he was about as good as Rojo is now in my opinion. So I don't see him as an immediate improvement to United's team, or a guaranteed long term improvement. He may come back and struggle like Flanagan has, or he may pick up where he left off and progress to be a good left back. That is all i was trying to say, but i couldn't be bothered to go into tgat much detail on a United player. If Shaw was our player, everyone on here would be saying we can't rely on a young player who has missed almost 2 years to injury!

It's all relative. Shaw was playing well for his age, but still struggled at times as you expect, and allow a degree of lenience for. Rojo is bang average for his age and hasn't shown any progression, but is still as good as an 18/ 19 year old with minimal experience. I have no doubt Shaw has more potential and despite him playing for United I hope he recovers well and does go on to fulfill that potential, but I think he was similar to Sterling in that he benefitted massively from being young, English, and surrounded by hype. Sterling likewise was dubbed the new John Barnes within 10 games. It is just all a bit much too early and Shaw has not proven himself to me yet. He is a talented young player. That is all in my opinion.

{Ed001's Note - Shaw was excellent and United looked a lot better with him in the side. It was when he suffered his injury that their play suffered badly. He was not an overhyped English player, he was outstanding.}

6.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 10:51:45
There's a big if over Utd but if Mourinho can get the best out of Zlatan, help Rooney regain form and turn Pogba into world's best category then they're certainly in with a shout. Their biggest weakness is in defense but if there's a manager to shut up shop it's Mourinho. City are favorites for me but Utd could push them.

7.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 10:22:51
would love mourinho to have another meltdown as he crashes and burns, who would he blame this time I wonder? he is nothing more than a cheque book manager who proved last year he has no idea in how to deal with a bad run of results.

8.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 11:03:54
Ultimately i think United aspirations are pinned on a few things.

1. Zlatan, Carrick and Rooney being able to maintain their ability and not dip with age.

2. Shaw returning from injury and getting right back to where he was before, and then improving further as the season goes on. Not to mention staying fit.

3. older signings like Darmian and Schneiderlin finally hitting the heights expected of them.

Because the majority of their business this year (Pogba, Micky and Bailly in particular) cannot be knocked even be the most staunch critic. They are all top class players. Pogba is maybe even world class.

I think they will finish 3rd personally. No way are they title favourites though just because they have spent big. Mourinho is on edge as well and if anyone of the top managers is at breaking point, it is him.

9.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 12:07:46
KK7, bit harsh on Mourinho after winning the CL with Porto. I also can't think of a manager at any major club who was successful without spending any money.

10.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 12:08:27
I don't want to hear logic, facts or stats. I will absolutely never tip Man United for the title :) C'mon lads against the Arsenal!

And thanks Eds for top drawer work on this site.

11.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 12:24:47
Apologies It was all meant in good humour MK. Obviously I knew that when typing it, but you weren't to know that for sure.

Not being English, I often get to laugh at how much your press ridiculously overrate your youngsters and build them in to world superstars.

Now I'm not for one moment saying Shaw is a world superstar or was before his injury. but he is one youngster that I really wish we had and believe if he can stay fit, can become very good.

12.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 13:22:19
No worries smplfc.

13.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 16:41:27
We should be looking a lot more than just CL Play off qualifications for next season. A no of clubs have managerial changes to incur. No midweek games to cover. Title should be our aim and let's one show some ambition.