Someone's having a real laugh - gollum?

[raininblood]

"Manchester United rediscover the glory that was Selhurst Park!" - Clive Tyldesley

Balmy Selhurst Park surely !

[RedRazor]

Just seen an interview with him on the BBC, he looked chastened and the bullish sourness of recent times was all gone, just looked a beaten man.

 

I suspect someone has marked his card.

He did indeed.

 

I am ashamed to say that I couldn't stop smiling. Taking pleasure in anothers misfortune is not an admirable quality but I'll forgive myself just this once. I've waited a lot of years for a day like this. Even better than seeing Barca rip them apart in a CL final because they look like they are going into a club wide meltdown. They need to give him the transfer budget for the next three years and let him spunk it away in the summer before they sack him.

 

Tonight I will offer up a sacrifice to the gods of football to thank them for their benevolence.

[PestiRed]

Twitter going mad and bookies slashing odds but I hope it's just a rumour on the potential NYSE announcement. Can't see them doing it that way

[RedRazor]

Deliverance 2.

Will this be where Moyes gets tied to a statue of Matt Busby outside Old Trafford and severely bummed by the banjo playing locals?

[Dr Nowt]

Twitter going mad and bookies slashing odds but I hope it's just a rumour on the potential NYSE announcement. Can't see them doing it that way

 

It's where they officially announced his appointment, remember people commenting on it in the summer.

 

Also, Pepe Mel is said to be on the brink at West Brom, so the final step in Gollum's journey to Roy-dom would be open to him.

[Stickman]

 

Please don't make it so

[Dr Nowt]

[Dr Nowt]

[PestiRed]

It's where they officially announced his appointment, remember people commenting on it in the summer.

 

Also, Pepe Mel is said to be on the brink at West Brom, so the final step in Gollum's journey to Roy-dom would be open to him.

Didn't realise that

 

Watching the US stock market news to find out if a manager has been fired. Modern football is rubbish

[PestiRed]

Guillem Ballag (however you spell it) saying that it's bollocks and that Moyes will be heavily backed for another season. Fucking hope he's right

[Brigant Moloch]

Guillem Ballag (however you spell it) saying that it's bollocks and that Moyes will be heavily backed for another season. Fucking hope he's right

 

yeah, giving him 150-200mil to spend in the Summer + playing in Europa League would be great, they'd do the Leeds, long-term harm has to be done. #MoyesIn

[Tony Moanero]

Didn't realise that

Watching the US stock market news to find out if a manager has been fired. Modern football is rubbish

Isn't it just.

[PestiRed]

Article from the ever-excellent Iain Macintosh

 

 

 

It is important at a time like this to take stock of the positives. So, let’s see what we can find, eh?

 

1, Manchester United only conceded two goals.

 

2, No-one died.

 

3, Er...

 

4, Did we mention that they only conceded two goals?

 

The negatives, sadly, will take a little longer to catalogue. Even in a campaign as disappointing as this one, United’s defeat in Greece was a real stinker. All the fight has gone out of this team now. You can see it in the way they play, their traditional cavalier spirit replaced by a haunted conservatism. They don’t make runs for each other. They don’t fight for each other. It’s as if they’ve been hit too many times and they’re just hoping the next blow brings the sweet embrace of unconsciousness.

 

All season we’ve debated whether or not these players are good enough, but it’s irrelevant now. They’re not even trying to prove their worth. All of which rather begs the question, is it time to think the unthinkable?

 

David Moyes has just over five years left to run on a contract thought to be worth approximately £5m a year. Ordinarily, it would be insane to consider paying a man £25m not to turn up to work ever again, but given the cost of an extended period outside of the Champions League places, it might now be considered quite prudent.

 

If there was any sign, any sign at all, that progress was being made, it would be easy to argue for more time. It’s not like there isn’t support in the media for Moyes. Most observers knew that this would be a difficult succession. Most of the summer columns suggested that a wobble would be entirely expected. Some of us, ahem, even got a bit snotty about it.

 

But a wobble was supposed to mean third or fourth place. Maybe even a closely fought fifth. It wasn’t supposed to mean fighting it out with Everton and Tottenham for a place in the Europa League, a competition that Liverpool’s form suggests does more harm than good.

 

United will have to spend in the summer, but the idea that all of this can be cured with £100m is laughable. That kind of spending might have worked last year when United would have benefited from a thunderous statement signing, but it won’t work now. They need a complete re-fit. A dual swoop for Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba would cost at least £100m alone. And then there’s the defence to consider.

 

United’s catastrophic decision to hold back in the summer of 2013 will have far-reaching consequences. They are desperate now and everyone knows it. Not only will they have to pay higher wages to convince players that the Champions League isn’t all that, but every agent in the world is going to play them like a second-hand accordion. Expect a lot of deals to suddenly collapse when yet another suit walks into the room and demands a six figure “consultancy” fee.

 

United are going to discover, as Liverpool did before them, that every season spent outside of the Champions League makes it harder to get back in. You only get poorer while four other clubs get richer. If the Glazers are going to spend what needs to be spent, which will mean reinvesting a significant proportion of the money they’ve already siphoned out, they’re going to need to be sure that the man picking the team is the right one.

 

This isn’t the time to sack Moyes, but it isn’t the time for blind faith either. Serious questions need to be asked of him. The players are a shambles and should be disgusted with themselves, but you can’t blame them alone. This has gone far worse than anyone could have imagined. If it doesn’t improve soon, if there is no resurgent end-of-season run of victories, it may be time for United to cut their losses.

[Guest davelfc]

Phew

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/feb/26/david-moyes-position-manchester-united-manager-secure

 

David Moyes's position as Manchester United manager remains secure despite the dismal 2-0 defeat by Olympiakos in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

 

In a season of disappointing results during the Scot's inaugural campaign in charge, the manner of the loss against the Greek champions at the Karaiskakis Stadium, in which they managed only a single shot on target, was a new low for United.

[AL66GOLF]

Phew

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/feb/26/david-moyes-position-manchester-united-manager-secure

 

David Moyes's position as Manchester United manager remains secure despite the dismal 2-0 defeat by Olympiakos in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

 

In a season of disappointing results during the Scot's inaugural campaign in charge, the manner of the loss against the Greek champions at the Karaiskakis Stadium, in which they managed only a single shot on target, was a new low for United.

Thank God for that - He needs more time to complete his work!

[s(k)aturation]

I just don't think they'll sack him, at least until the season is over.

 

They have nothing if not stubborn pride, both justifiable and misplaced.

 

Charlton et al, they'll all bite their tongues and squeak their bums through this until the summer in my book.

 

If only to protect Ferguson's legacy, if nothing else, which of course now includes his clearly execrable anointment of Moyes.

 

At the mahogany table, they'll all be tossing around Fergie's first three years in charge to comfort themselves (even though when no one's looking, each of them will have an expression on their face like the first time Frederick Treves' Mrs clapped eyes on John Merrick).

 

Then come the summer, they might even be confused, tormented, arrogant, self-entitled and agonized enough to actually back him again.

 

I think it's wonderful, wonderful theatre.

 

Certainly, the theatre of my dreams.

[Dr Nowt]

We get our chance to be the ones to do the deed eh.

 

That could be some day, I want Suarez kept in a cage at Melwood, fed raw steak and shown videos of Evra and Ferguson talking about him 24/7.

[LFC64]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10661904/Robin-van-Persie-accuses-Manchester-United-team-mates-of-getting-in-his-way-in-

 

RVP keeping matters in houshe

[setreal]

Fixed: 

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10661904/Robin-van-Persie-accuses-Manchester-United-team-mates-of-getting-in-his-way-in-shocking-loss-against-Olympiakos.html

 

Can't go wrong with succinct headlines.

[Russ Atmosphere]

Wrong effin thread.

[Jairzinho]

We get our chance to be the ones to do the deed eh.

 

That could be some day, I want Suarez kept in a cage at Melwood, fed raw steak and shown videos of Evra and Ferguson talking about him 24/7.

 

They'd be about the fourth or fifth club that have sacked their manager after a bumming from us this season.

[WhiskeyJar]

Moyes sets the tone

 

Manchester United have left themselves plenty to do after a miserable 2-0 defeat away to Olympiakos in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie. The result piles further pressure on David Moyes and Adam Bate feels the manager must take the blame for this latest failure.

 

After witnessing Manchester United's woeful display in Athens on Tuesday night, curiously, it was the recent comments of former player Tim Howard in praising Everton manager Roberto Martinez that sprang to mind. Evidently, the experienced goalkeeper has been inspired by the positive attitude of David Moyes' successor at Goodison Park.

 

"No matter what game we go into," said Howard, "the focus has not at any point this season been on the other team - it has always been about us. You have to do this 40 weeks of the year, it is nice not to come into work every day thinking 'Oh, that's looming ahead'. The manager keeps us bright and bubbly and focused on ourselves. Not always having to look over your shoulder at who is coming next is good. We work on ourselves and it's a difference."

 

It certainly seemed very different to the United team that walked out to face Olympiakos in the first leg of their last 16 clash in the Champions League. The game was Moyes' first in the knockout stages of the competition and there were clues to his outlook in the pre-match interview. Fans of Moyes bingo were in business. Tough place to come. Check. Be compact. Check. Be hard to play against. Check. There was even a warning to watch out for the Greek side's adventurous free-kicks.

 

Clearly the United boss had done his homework but the focus felt negative. The plan seemed to be to play with little tempo in the hope of keeping the vociferous home support quiet. This was about stopping Olympiakos and nicking the away goal. Get it right and it's called a professional European performance. Get it wrong and it can be interpreted as more of the same from a Moyes - an overly-cautious approach from an inexplicably cautious manager.

 

Context

 

A little context: This is not a good Olympiakos team. It's 15 years since the club from the Piraeus reached the quarter finals of the Champions League and this vintage is far from their best. It's not even as good as last month's version with Kostas Mitroglou, the prize asset who was sold to Premier League bottom club Fulham. Even last week's incarnation with a fit Javier Saviola can be considered superior. Accepted wisdom was that they were the weakest side left in the draw.

 

 

Moyes: We can do it

Indeed, when Borussia Dortmund scored two early goals in St Petersburg earlier in the evening, the aggregate tally stood at 11-0 in favour of the seeded teams among the last 16 despite the underdogs enjoying home advantage each time. Trust United to bust the narrative. And against a side they'd beaten in their previous four encounters. Praise the Greeks, but do not doubt United were the architects of their own demise.

 

Their work was sterile and without purpose. With Juan Mata cup-tied and Adnan Januzaj omitted from the squad, it was left to Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young to provide their particular brand of one-dimensional invention from wide. In truth, conspicuously under instruction, they operated narrower than usual. But for the ploy to succeed in an attacking sense, it required nominal full-back Chris Smalling to get forward with gusto - a role in which he's seldom appeared comfortable.

 

Three of Robin van Persie's 24 touches in the game came from kick-offs

As a result, with Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley sitting deep and offering neither protection nor penetration, getting star striker Robin van Persie into the game proved something of a chore. The Dutchman had just 12 touches in the first half - fewer than any player on the pitch - and if that seemed a problem worth solving, there was little evidence of any intent to do so after the break. He managed only 12 more touches, albeit spurning United's only chance of note in the process.

 

That skied effort offered some semblance of an excuse for Moyes and the apologists who cling desperately to the view that the prophecy of the Chosen One can still be fulfilled. Perhaps the opening goal could be dismissed as fortunate but that would be doing the excellent Alejandro Dominguez a disservice as his first-half effort was more deft flick than deflection and reflected the balance of play if not possession.

 

After all, while United had the ball - 60.6 per cent of it in the opening 45 minutes - it was the home side that fashioned the chances. Only a Nemanja Vidic block had prevented Dominguez scoring earlier. Carrick spoke afterwards of "controlling the game without penetrating through their lines and causing them any problems" and the assessment was rather more accurate than some of his side's passing. This was a group of players lacking any conviction in their work.

 

Anyone expecting a half-time rollocking in the dressing room to result in a positive response was to be disappointed. "We didn't start the second half well," added Carrick. "It was a bit sloppy really." Understatement. United retreated from kick-off and Cleverley's misplaced pass set the tone. A lazy foul by Van Persie followed and when a quick free-kick from Wayne Rooney put Cleverley in trouble shortly afterwards, it was Carrick who surrendered possession. It was a mess.

 

And so, it felt entirely appropriate that Joel Campbell should double the lead 10 minutes into the second half. The finish was impressive, bending the ball low into the far corner, but a weak challenge from Carrick preceded it and for all the quality of the strike it only served to hammer home the point that the visitors were there for the taking. The only factor preventing a more handsome win for Olympiakos was the paucity of their own ambition - shown by coach Michel's questionable decision to invite pressure by withdrawing both scorers late on. It stayed 2-0.

 

 

So where do United and Moyes go from here? Questions will continue to be asked of the players. Moyes himself spoke of the Champions League finalists among the group but that feels something of a misnomer. Rio Ferdinand continues to look desperately poor and in need of the sort of Hawthorns-epiphany that struck Gary Neville, while Vidic's farewell tour might not fare so well. In truth, it feels cruel to suggest Moyes has the same tools just because the names are the same.

 

And yet, there is no excuse for plumbing these depths. The much-maligned midfield four of Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young won at both Chelsea and Manchester City just last season. Meanwhile, one can only imagine how Sir Alex Ferguson would have revelled in having Juan Mata and a maturing Adnan Januzaj at his disposal. No, this United regression is one of style as much as personnel - no fluidity or creativity to their play in spite of, rather than because of, the players.

 

This is a shell. A zombie Manchester United. As such, any optimistic talk regarding the second leg of the mystique surrounding this famous old club on magical nights seems similarly hollow. "We'll need the crowd," said Moyes. "We'll need everyone behind us at Old Trafford. It will be a big game for us. We've done it in the past and we'll try to do it again." We're reading from the Liverpool phrase book circa 1992 here.

 

Don't rule it out, of course. Olympiakos might not have the nous or quality to see this through. But it's hard to convince yourself that a dramatic turnaround would constitute 'typical United' anymore. Yes, we have seen those comebacks before. But like Tim Howard says, things were different then. And David Moyes wasn't the manager of Manchester United.

[Dr Nowt]

Those players absolutely weren't playing for him last night, and it would be no surprise at all if they don't believe in him one bit. In fact quite the reverse would be true.

 

I think he knows it as well, hence his bridge-building attempt of "I take responsibility."

 

Too late, no doubt.  They look like they're sleep walking until he's given the bullet.

[Jarvinja Ilnow]

[Bobby Hundreds]

Phil Neville looks like fucking Herman Munster.