Fabrice29

Agree with all of that but yet he's been better than Cedric. Cedric is good enough going forward, although he's yet to actually prove it, but you can see the talent is there however defensively he's just as all over the place as Martina and is exposed much easier. Dont think despite the hype he was that good in the Euro's either. He's got the ability but I've yet to see him have a good game.

Martina has definitely been better than Cedric for us. Scary ambition from Everton though.

Hesketh is class. He'll be in the first team by the end of the season.

Is this beefy guy the same guy who said Cedric had signed a new contract and Fonte was all but signed a couple of weeks ago?

You might be running out of years but the club isn't. It has to take a long term view and approach of things. Yes we all want some glory and to want that isn't a bad thing. However realistically all we can ever ask from the club is improvement, whether be in terms of league position or with a bit of context where we are as a club. The club has delivered that for the last 7 seasons. I really dont understand the criticism of the club and the way it goes about things. Latheal has posted some very interesting and insightful posts about why we cant go out and spunk loads of money on Bolasie and Benteke and thank **** that is the case. The club is delivering on the pitch every year at the moment, I believe we will get at least one more in but even if we didn't, it will be because the club doesn't think we need it or it was right to do so, and the club has earnt my trust when it comes to those decisions. I'm quite excited by the season, not just because of what we have in store in terms of European football but I quite like the look of the squad myself but I can see why others might not. Personally I think Hoijberg already looks a better player than Wanyama and suits Puel's possesion game better anyway. Redmond is someone the club has been interested for a while and again the club has earn't my trust in that if they rate someone so much then he must be good and certainly I can see the qualities he brings and how we as a club can help him improve. Puel excites me. I get why he might not excite you, but he does me. He's a champions league experienced manager, who has had success in another country and has a good record of young players. I dont give a **** about his interviews being dull but when I listen to them they don't seem dull to me because instead of thinking about how dull he is when I press play, I actually try to listen to and understand what he has to say and he's pretty similar to Koeman and Poch, which makes sense seeing as the club prides itself on being able to easily carry on with different managers. I just don't get the meltdown people are feeling. I certainly dont understand how people can criticise the owners and board as they have delivered every year. The management and players have had has had one game so I dont see how people can be on there backs already. I get why people might be greedy and want more but taking a minute to understand how lucky we are, where the club is at and it's restrictions it's working under and what we have in store this season I think will help calm people down. Everything is going to be ok. Even if we get battered tonight...which we wont.

Ah those statements that Reed has done in the past and still gets criticised for now. A statement wouldn't change anything.

I am the only one that doesn't have a problem with Puel, his English or his accent then? Probably because I didn't go into it already judging him, angry about him or expecting it to be perfect. Also I read the stuff about him being a bore in his interviews and completely different behind the scenes from anyone who told us about him when he joined.

When you say go after them...do you mean interview and assess them and all other available options like a sensible business would do when making a managerial appointment?

Remember Lallanas mate on here who was ITK? Cant remember his name but he was Guan levels of reputation. Anyway when Lallana and Poch left didn't he post that Claude Puel was to be the new manager...so quite obviously been on our radar for a long time.

Saw opportunities for us on Friday if United play like they did today. Scoreline looks impressive and it must be taken into account that it was an away game but if players like Tadic get as much as the ball as the likes of Ibe did today then we will get chances.

Really frustrating result. Thought we were ok, much better second half obviously. Their formation and lazy passing stifled us, especially first half. They played with two blocks of 3 and wing backs. Our passing wasn't quick or crisp enough to be a threat. I'm excited to see us away from home though, can see us really suiting playing against teams a little more open. At home we will have to be patient and expect the odd frustrating 1-1, 0-0 draw but ultimately I walked away frustrated today but confident we're going to be more than OK this season. Hoijberg is going to be great for us as well.

Ummm...other than the fact that Hernandez isn't a left sided attacker you mean? Carlos Vela suits much more but I'm pretty sure Guan would have said if he had played in the Premier League before...wouldn't you Guan?

Probably a sign he considers Redmond a striker and therefore we have four for a system which plays two.

Well in terms of the line up only Redmond for Mane is any different attacking wise to what we finished with last season. Different formation maybe but the dig that there are no goals in the team is ill judged because minus Mane the goals will come from the same place they did at the end of last season. Unless of course as I asked we relied on just Mane last season.

Just the small overreaction in here

Umm, did we just rely on Mane for goals at the end of last season then? Really pathetic ill thought out dig.

Is Bertrand even fit yet?

United aren't interested in him though

We won quite a few games to be fair.

Koeman would always talk about keeping ball "position"and controlling the game. Sounds like Puel will just keep that consistency. Difference being that Koeman proved its effectiveness in games and Puel hasn't had that chance yet...but hey ho...write him off anyway. Much easier than actually thinking about it a little bit logically isn't it?

A google search of this guy and nothing comes up. Spelled wrong I'm guessing?

Interesting he talks of Redmond possibly being used as a striker.

Interview and new contract will be signed and up tomorrow or Thursday.

Guarantee Berahino is punched by someone at Stoke by the time the season is out.

I would also like to point out you cant keep improving every season either. In a league of 20 sometimes you will finish lower than you did the season before. However, if and when we do finish lower than we did in the previous season it might not be because we've sold our best players every year and losing successful management teams. It might be (and I expect next season it will be) because teams around us have the power to improve. We've done very well over the last seven years in recruiting, I dont see why any reason why that doesn't continue if we keep implementing the same processes that have been successful. The club have done more than enough over the last few years to earn our trust and have proven themselves time and time again. Whatever happens, I trust that we will go into September with a squad that people who have got us to 6th will be happy with and will believe is in a good position. League places at the end of the season might not show that but there are so many variables to that. We need to forget sixth this year and just focus on ourselves. Finishing ahead of the likes of West Ham, Everton and maybe Liverpool should be our aim. Taking advantage of any failings like Chelsea last season is possible if we stay ahead of the rest but ultimately the likes of Reed and any manager/recruitment team he chooses have earn't our trust by now and have our best interests at heart. As for the squad...as you say the defence is fine, although a right back would be nice, luckily it seems they have that in mind. Midfield looks average at best? It's the same midfield as last season minus Wanyama but he's been replaced by Hoijberg who comes highly rated. I dont really see how you can complain with that and where you think it needs strengthening unless you know something about Hoijberg that the people who have scouted and recruited him dont? The strikers...the injury records concern us all but again I'm willing to trust the medical team who have clearly given Austin and Rodriguez the OK. Mane is a huge loss of course but we have signed Redmond who has potential. He's only 21. I think Mane was similar when we signed him? That's the gamble teams like us have to take. We also look like we are changing tactics slightly and there was a good post on this forum somewhere showing how we maybe slightly over stocked if we are playing a diamond. Things are OK and I really dont get the yearly meltdowns. Do people not think the recruitment team have proven themselves to be quite good at the job so far?