It's true like I don't even watch it at all now because I have sky sports - only ever see the odd goal on the news. Think I'm gonna get a rte Aeriel on my house so I get it through normal tv as my sky cuts it out. Their programme starts at 7 and finishes at 11 with full highlights of other games following the live game and the punditry is much more cut throat rather than the plastic English tv!

Is Eamonn Dunphy still doing punditry?

Now surely is the time for Ole Gunnar Solskajer to get the Man United job full-time?

I'd actually wait till the end of the season to announce it. Given how football usually works, if he's announced now we'll start losing all our games.

 

No doubt however that he'll get the position ultimately & why not? We've tried "ready-made winners" as managers to varying effect but it's clear that win or lose we need someone who knows the club & what the fans want. Funny how it's taken several years to figure that one out.

I would say Barcelona's comeback against PSG was more damaging back in 2017, Man United's comeback was just as this year.

I'd actually wait till the end of the season to announce it. Given how football usually works, if he's announced now we'll start losing all our games.

 

No doubt however that he'll get the position ultimately & why not? We've tried "ready-made winners" as managers to varying effect but it's clear that win or lose we need someone who knows the club & what the fans want. Funny how it's taken several years to figure that one out.

 

He's obviously got the job, but agree the timing will be crucial. I suspect they will wait until a potential bad loss etc. so to create good PR. I'd still really like to see how he reacts to things not going his way for a period of 2-3 games if I was a fan of the club. Only saying this as Liverpool were in a very similar boat under Dalglish the 2nd time he came back.

Yes I can't deny that it'd be interesting to see how we come out of a bad patch as we never seemed to be able to under the previous 3 managers. In effect, he's still unbeaten since he took over (as the PSG home loss was ultimately trivial) which is a crazy stat, this includes winning every single away match! Rather not have it this season though as we can't afford a single bad run in the league from now...

Edited March 7, 20196 yr by dobbo

He's obviously got the job, but agree the timing will be crucial. I suspect they will wait until a potential bad loss etc. so to create good PR. I'd still really like to see how he reacts to things not going his way for a period of 2-3 games if I was a fan of the club. Only saying this as Liverpool were in a very similar boat under Dalglish the 2nd time he came back.

To be honest I don't think there is a single Man United fan who wants there to be a period where things don't go his way. If it was possible to win literally every match that is played then all fans of the club would want that instead.

Yes I can't deny that it'd be interesting to see how we come out of a bad patch as we never seemed to be able to under the previous 3 managers. In effect, he's still unbeaten since he took over (as the PSG home loss was ultimately trivial) which is a crazy stat, this includes winning every single away match! Rather not have it this season though as we can't afford a single bad run in the league from now...

 

The away form is unbelievable, but it's unsustainable. I enjoy making decisions off of football stats - sometimes they only paint 80% of the picture, but on the whole they're reliable when making fantasy football choices and calculated betting risks

 

Goals: 39

Expected Goals: 29.8

 

Goals Conceded: 13

Expected Goals Against: 21.3

 

Games Played: 17

Penalties won: 7

 

It's little things like the above that plant a seed of doubt when the luck runs out. Be really interested to see how the Arsenal game at the weekend pans out now.

 

To be honest I don't think there is a single Man United fan who wants there to be a period where things don't go his way. If it was possible to win literally every match that is played then all fans of the club would want that instead.

 

Of course, but that is never going to happen. It's a period of time where there is no pressure or expectations, right now he's basically got a free pass. I remember Van Gaal and Mourinho started off really well too.

Van Gaal definitely didn't start off well with a home defeat to Swansea :P but I take your point.

 

Stats only mean so much, I particularly dislike the expected goal ratios (they've started using these on MOTD). The one "lucky" game we had so far was Spurs but that was the perfect away smash-and-grab performance. I actually don't think we'll beat Arsenal this Sunday for what it's worth, we'll be expected to win but they'll inevitably raise their game. The most pleasing thing is that we are still winning without most of the first XI (which begs the question how many of the so-called first XI should actually be in the first XI).

Van Gaal definitely didn't start off well with a home defeat to Swansea :P but I take your point.

 

Stats only mean so much, I particularly dislike the expected goal ratios (they've started using these on MOTD). The one "lucky" game we had so far was Spurs but that was the perfect away smash-and-grab performance. I actually don't think we'll beat Arsenal this Sunday for what it's worth, we'll be expected to win but they'll inevitably raise their game. The most pleasing thing is that we are still winning without most of the first XI (which begs the question how many of the so-called first XI should actually be in the first XI).

 

Yeah true, I forgot about that! But I mean for the most part Man Utd have done really what they have been doing under Van Gaal and Mourinho. Like I said before, in the big games you've played you've conceded posession and worked on shape - that's exactly what Mourinho used to do as well. Keep games tight for 70 minutes then open up on the counter attack. You've won the majority of games that were expected, I guess the difference really now is expecations were so flat after the players downed tools under Mourinho.

 

I'm a big fan of xG - I think it paints a really good picture of quality chances that you concede and score. It's not always right, but I think it's a really good representation of how the game should pan out. It paints a good picture of if you're creating and conceding high quality chances.

I've just remembered this article that I read the day after we lost the 1st leg against PSG. Journalist Phil McNulty said Manchester United's defeat to PSG was "several years in the making"

 

Of all the melodramatic things that were said during that time that was definitely the worst! Also Man United "legend" Phil Neville said that we had no chance in Paris.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47218876

 

 

Is Eamonn Dunphy still doing punditry?

 

Of course :lol:

Of course :lol:

And John Giles? He and Dunphy definitely aren't ones to pull their punches.

It's usually Dunphy Ritchie Sadlier Damien Duff Dietmar Hamann and Souness - or a mix of these guys!

This game ALONE is why Juve paid the money. The King of the CL delivers again! I'd put my money on Juve winning it, especially as Buffon left last year, that would be the typical outcome.

 

No more joke teams left in the comp for City to play but 1000% they get Porto in the next round.

This game ALONE is why Juve paid the money. The King of the CL delivers again! I'd put my money on Juve winning it, especially as Buffon left last year, that would be the typical outcome.

 

No more joke teams left in the comp for City to play but 1000% they get Porto in the next round.

 

Always got a chance with Ronaldo. Athletico were awful tonight, they are probably the one team I would back to see through a two goal advantage.

 

The City result is just meh. I thought they looked very average until they got the 1st goal then Schalke just gave up.

4 English teams through to the Quarter Final of the Champions League, the last time this happened was 2008 when we ended up with an all English final which had a glorious end! Juventus & Barcelona are the teams to beat in my opinion.

Thought Liverpool were fantastic tonight, that was sheer dominance bar a 10 minute spell at the end of the first half. I was not confident going in to the game and I thought we actually would get beat. Mane in great form at the moment - but the whole team was fantastic to knock the stuffing out of Bayern who are in great form.

 

4 English teams through to the Quarter Final of the Champions League, the last time this happened was 2008 when we ended up with an all English final which had a glorious end! Juventus & Barcelona are the teams to beat in my opinion.

 

Personally I think it's wide open especially with the 2 of the English clubs likely to play each other. I suspecr Barcelona are probably the team to beat, especially with their form at the Nou Camp. Personally I'm not bothered who we play next, I think over 2 legs we can beat any of the teams left. Preference would be to avoid the Manchester clubs though, purely for all the extra baggage and drama that comes with the games.

 

I can't see Juve winning it unless they get a fluke route to the final - they're definitely very beatable imo.

I've got a strong feeling we'll get an English team in the Quarters, I would love to see Barcelona get drawn against Manchester City but City will probably get Porto given their kind track record with cup draws. The draw for the Semi Finals will be made on Friday as well so we'll get a strong indication of what the Champions League final on June 1st will likely look like.

I've got a strong feeling we'll get an English team in the Quarters, I would love to see Barcelona get drawn against Manchester City but City will probably get Porto given their kind track record with cup draws. The draw for the Semi Finals will be made on Friday as well so we'll get a strong indication of what the Champions League final on June 1st will likely look like.

 

Well I think we can both agree we'd love City to get a difficult tie! As long as they don't get Porto I think they'll be given a good game either way. I'd love City to get drawn against Utd, save Barcelona for the semi-finals please :D