SKD

Or sack him early, re assure players who are unsettled and wait to see if your preferred target becomes available, if he isn't already. Most of our signing are made by the club (and not the manager) so I don't see what the rush is. As long as we have the new man in place by pre season, we'll be alright.

I like it. F*ck balance in the starting 11 it's overrated. Romeu to sit in DM when on the ball carry it forward, breaking up play with Caceres and Stephens just behind him to offer assistance to CB and DM if needed. Pied and Bertrand looking for overlaps providing the width with Redmond and JRod having free roles. Austin to sit a little deeper with Gabbiadini playing on the shoulder. I'd be tempted to stick Hassan in goal and have FF on the bench to play up top for final 10 minutes to use as a target man. -----------Yoshida---------- ----Caceres --Stephens---- Pied-------Romeu------Bertand ---------------------------- Redmond--------------JRod ----Gabbiadini--Austin---- 25 attempts on goal - 0-0

McQueen & Stephens would have been given a chance whoever was in charge. Puel had no choice but to throw these in due to injuries to Bertrand, VVD & Targett. If Puel stays, which I am now convinced he wont, I hope the club are prepared to replace a number of first team players and to stomach the loss of ST revenue. Puel will go. Too many unhappy players and fans for the club to risk him having a second year.

Exactly what I said. Very stupid of the club not to offer some sort of renewal discount / incentive, especially with all the uncertainty with manager / owners at the moment. There are a number of reasons why I haven't renewed, but in the main it's down to work and other commitments with the amount of midweek / Sunday (granted these should drop considerably) games, I am just not getting value for money. Especially with the dross served up this year. It shouldn't make too much difference really, I may miss out on the big ticket games like away to Brighton and Bmouth, but so be it. Should we keep VVD, bring in a few exciting players and get a decent manager I may reconsider and renew a week before the season at least that way, I should get some value/excitement even if I'm missing 5 or more games a season. The fact the club have been making calls really does suggest to me that numbers are down, which to be honest will be one of the reasons that Puel is sacked.

Of course Puel has to take credit, he's given him game time? I never suggested it wasn't down to Puel did I?

JWP has no doubt improved this season, which I put down to exposure and game time. However, you have to question if he really has a place in the team next year? I don't think he has the strength to play in a deeper role, or the stamina to play box to box in 2 next to Romeu and I think he lacks the attacking side of the game to fill the role as a no.10 (with our current squad, I would say Davis is best suited to this role). He is very good at keeping the ball and is our best player from a dead ball. IMO, he's best suited to play in a 3, however I don't think that suits us. It'll be interesting to see how we set up next year and if JWP keeps his place.

How have you worked that one out? Both fell at the first hurdle (well technically second for Koeman), both pathetic. As soon as we beat Prague and Inter decided they didn't fancy the EL, we should have won that group. The display against HBS at home and Prague away were appalling, worse than the away performance in Denmark, IMO.

Agree

Would you also have taken most of the squad being unhappy, a pathetic display in Europe and, worst of all, 17 goals scored at home all season?

Happy to hold my hands up and admit I was wrong about Jack. From what I had seen at his time from Swindon, U23's and England U21's I really didn't think he had enough to succeed at the top level, however he has looked an established premier league CB since, being thrown in at the deep end (perhaps that has helped?). The big test will be next year, when we (should) rightly bring in 1 if not 2 (should VVD leave) CB's. Does Jack continue in the first team? unlikely IMO so does he drop down to 4th choice? Dropping down to 4th choice will be no good for Jack, he needs games so I would send him on loan (with a recall option, should we get struck with injury). I'm not sure there will be a great deal of takers in the PL however, perhaps Brighton or one of the teams in the play offs. Maybe B'mouth or Burnley? Massive summer in his career I suspect. Also, may I add, he's generally a decent bloke with a good head on his shoulders. I'm pleased to see him doing well.

From where i was sat, it looked like all of his saves were very good. He was the MOTM for me, and when you play United and their keeper gets MOTM, you must be doing something right. A win against Stoke and i would consider that a pretty strong end to the season. Lack of goals is a concern. It looks like we just lack confidence in front of goal, which is probably why we've missed the last 3 penalties!

Very much in the Puel out camp. I generally like the bloke, and I'm starting to feel sorry for him, he looks drained and I think he knows the end is coming. No doubt a good manager, and I'm sure he'll excel back in France with a club our size, however for me he's just not suited to English football. That said, I thought we were much better today, whilst it wasn't Uniteds strongest team, it wasn't ours either. We seemed to move the ball quicker and looked dangerous in the final 3rd, just lacked that cutting edge (not for the first time this season). We attacked and actually looked like we wanted to win (obviously we always do, however we showed it today). If we'd played like we did today for 80/90% of the season I think everyone would be happy with where we are. If, looking unlikely, Puel stays, the board need to back him, black needs to go and he needs to assess what's gone wrong this season. Basically not be stubborn and change his philosophy.

A very good post. Sums up my feelings on the situation.

I actually think Gabbiadini and Austin would be a good partnership. Gabbiadini has the pace to cause the defense trouble and Austin, whilst its not his best trait, has the aerial ability to hold the ball up / challenge long forward balls with Gabbiadini picking up the pieces. The trouble is, is Claude brave enough to risk not having a bank of 4 and 5 against a top 6 side? Would still like to see us try 3-4-3, but can't see that happening at this late stage of the season. 2-1 - Austin & Bertrand - Rashford

I said that should be the targets set each season, which it probably is in fairness. After having a taste of it, 2 seasons in a row, it would be stupid to set targets at lower. Is it realistic we will finish in Europa spots every year, no. However you have to look at other factors, how we've played, team cohesion/atmosphere and fan satisfaction (of course they have a part to play as ultimately they are a revenue stream). With the snippets provided by some on here and in the press, it appears the club agree that this season is unsatisfactory. I think even Les said it was 'dissapointing' himself at the players awards. If we appointed poch, or someone of similar style, in the summer, I bet you that 80/90% would be satisfied with a top 8 finish. I get the feeling that Puel will go in the summer and I honestly don't think many will be dissapointed.

2014: our second season back in the PL. played great football, under a great manager who fans and players loved. We were on our way up. 2017: finished 6th the year before, but failed when given the chance in Europe. Play dull football, under a manager who fans and players dislike. Very much on our way down. Starting to see the difference? It's not league position why people (including the club by the look of things), it's other factors.

No, I haven't missed the point at all. You get **** all for coming 2nd best and therefore I would rather finish in a higher league position. Of course if we had won, like we probably deserved on the day, it would have been a different story. I just don't buy the agruement that getting to a final of the EFL cup makes a successful season. Achievement yes, success, no.

Which of these would you prefer.....? 7th, not win a cup, play exciting football, score loads of goals, have a manager fans love. 8th, not win a cup, play exciting football, have a manager the fans and players love. 8th, not win a cup, play awful football, score next to no goals, have a manager the fans and players dislike.. I honestly fail to see why you are so keen to celebrate coming runners up in the smallest major trophy in the country, as if we've qualified for the champions league. I'd rather finish 7th and qualify for Europe, than I would come runner up in EFL cup. Personal opinion.

No, based on watching both managers and comparing styles. Gabbi wouldn't be dropping back to the edge of his own box to get the ball under Koeman. He wouldn't be isolated up front with no one around him. He be on the end of counter attacks. It's also based on current attacking players such as Long and Tadic who have massively gone backwards under Puel. It's based on the amount of goals we scored last year compared to this year. Other than that, you're right mate. Koemans rubbish, he keeps getting lucky with the players he has, he certainly doesn't play to the squads strengths. Same with Poch.

Whoever they brought, I would assume. Pretty difficult to say as obviously Lukaku is first choice. It may have even been Gabbi (They we're supposedly liked at the time we got him). I can bet you that Gabbi would score more goals under Koeman that he would Puel.

They would have had someone else who would have scored the goals for them, just like how we coped without him....

We somehow managed that last year

Probably above Everton to be fair.....

Does 8th mean we'll qualify for Europe?

This part of this is true, but what about Bertrand, Forster, Cedric & Austin (You can add Fonte to this list before he left as well)? From what I can gather, Stephens is grateful that he has been given the opportunity, but isn't overly thrilled by Puel (well this was the case back in February time). My opinion, but I don't think this is all as a result of Puel. I think Black has a big part to play in it as well. If we keep Puel, then IMO, the club should replace black. From what I've been told, the bloke hasn't got a great reputation in the footballing world and I cannot believe the club didn't get rid of him after the telegraph stuff.