O'Neil Confirmed

[YoungWolf]

Not sure anyone said he was dislikable?

Just how ridiculous on the face of it is to go from Lopetegui to him? No one blames him for that.

I hope he wins every game he ever manages for us.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Not sure anyone said he was dislikable?

Just how ridiculous on the face of it is to go from Lopetegui to him? No one blames him for that.

I hope he wins every game he ever manages for us.

We’re fishing in a very small pond. It’s clear we won’t sign anyone without outgoings, that’s pretty much what GON is saying everytime without actually saying it.

JL was miles out of our league on paper with the direction from the owners. But we’re also miles out the league of anyone with any form of CV as they are already employed or waiting for better offers.

It’s clear why he would have impressed at interview. Where’s it’s also clear to me why someone like Lampard wouldn’t. In truth we have no idea what his coaching credentials are or how he’s thought of in the game. Plenty of assistants who end up at the right place and right time have success when someone takes a chance on them.

 

[GLASGOWOLF]

One of his biggest critics, yet I find I am warming to him.

Comes across well, players obviously like him, to put a performance like that, especially the work rate.

Yes actually warming to him, let hope he continues

 

[YoungWolf]

We’re fishing in a very small pond. It’s clear we won’t sign anyone without outgoings, that’s pretty much what GON is saying everytime without actually saying it.

JL was miles out of our league on paper with the direction from the owners. But we’re also miles out the league of anyone with any form of CV as they are already employed or waiting for better offers.

It’s clear why he would have impressed at interview. Where’s it’s also clear to me why someone like Lampard wouldn’t. In truth we have no idea what his coaching credentials are or how he’s thought of in the game. Plenty of assistants who end up at the right place and right time have success when someone takes a chance on them.

No but what I mean is this whole situation the club have manufactured that has led to us going from Julen to GON is what is so ridiculous. I think that is the main issue people have had, that and those who were not impressed with his Bournemouth team (every time I watched them they were absolute rubbish).

But, it’s a small sample size and we have to hope it was more a case of playing the cards he was dealt and learning a lot on the job. Another tough test next week, be interesting to see how we approach it as they obviously pulled our pants down not that long ago

 

[prawnking]

Generally happy with tonight, and GON does seem relatable, but teams have raised their games at OT before, so we need a bigger sample size before too many conclusions are drawn.

He'll have learned a lot from tonight though, and there's plenty of talent in the squad to work on, so it's all in his hands

 

[WsWolf]

I mean it's very early for that victory lap. There is a similar amount of points we have to Lage's "incredible" first game.

Oh man, if you think that was a victory lap you are going to really enjoy my antics when we win Saturday.

 

[prawnking]

What a penis

 

[big mean bunny]

Oh man, if you think that was a victory lap you are going to really enjoy my antics when we win Saturday.

Yes, if we win Saturday I will be in a good mood.

 

[Loki]

At least I can understand everything he says.

 

[Wolvensam]

Last night was great but it’s now about turning up for the “relegation decider” games (tbf, his Bournemouth team usually did) and evolving. I think some of our players are still a bit of an unknown quantity at the moment - but it won’t be long before Cunha and Gomes get doubled up on. United seemed to target Nunes as the danger man last night.

Brighton will be a big test and I’m really interested in how we approach it.

 

[Templeton Peck]

No but what I mean is this whole situation the club have manufactured that has led to us going from Julen to GON is what is so ridiculous. I think that is the main issue people have had, that and those who were not impressed with his Bournemouth team (every time I watched them they were absolute rubbish).

But, it’s a small sample size and we have to hope it was more a case of playing the cards he was dealt and learning a lot on the job. Another tough test next week, be interesting to see how we approach it as they obviously pulled our pants down not that long ago

Bournemouth were proper rubbish though. Awful squad last season. Should never have been in the survival conversation. Not saying we've hired Gary Cruyff but that Bournemouth squad wasn't Milan 89 having an off year.

 

[Wolvensam]

I think, in hindsight, it came across like I wanted to give Lopetegui zero credit for last night: which isn't the case. The pressing team he has left us with will be a bit of a legacy, and obviously the fitness levels are top notch to play like that for almost a sustained 90 minutes (we wouldn't have managed that last year probably at any point).

But I do also think that to bring the team together and battling for one another - O'Neil deserves credit for that. His Bournemouth side weren't always pretty, but there were games they played with an intensity that caught a lot of teams out. He's coming across articulate and like he knows his stuff, and that he genuinely wants to give the fans and players a foundation to be excited about after a pretty turbulent summer.

We will come unstuck with this style if we try and implement it every game - which I don't necessarily think we will - just because there were times last night where RAN and Semedo were high up the field and Dawson and Kilman were left quite exposed. But if we're willing to commit to it in at least half of the games, I think we'll give quite a few teams in this division a lot of trouble. And whether that was Lopetegui's or O'Neil's masterplan, or a bit of both, I'm here for it.

 

[Templeton Peck]

I'd have Bueno over RAN - more solid defensively. Bueno also attacks on the outside whereas RAN likes to come in where he loses the ball in more dangerous areas.

 

[YoungWolf]

Yeah if we set up the same in midfield I’d have Bueno there I think. Can those two sharing a lot of minutes

 

[Wolvensam]

I would probably be more inclined to play Bueno against opposition where we might be penned back a bit. Although to be fair his attacking game is decent too.

 

[Templeton Peck]

OR we can fuck them both off and get Cresswell!

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

I was as critical as anyone about the O'Neil appointment but feel much better about it after watching our performance last night.

I am still really angry at the club decisions that have led us to appointing him but he seems like a likeable guy and I do want him to succeed. Obviously, it's a bit premature to judge too much after one match but it made a pleasant change to actually enjoy an away perfomance for once.

Hopefully he can prove a few people wrong (including myself) and I'll be chuffed for him if he gets to be Mr Smug by finishing well above Bournemouth. I won't get too carried away just yet though, Lage's first few games made it look like he may be able to offer more than I expected and look at how that ended up.

if (and it's a big if) he does do better than expected this season, the most annoying thing will be Jeff thinking he's played a blinder and probably taking the credit. The arrogant cunt.

 

[Del Woppio]

Obviously I've slaughtered his appointment so only fair I acknowledge a surprisingly encouraging start. I'd never really paid much attention to his interviews etc when he was at Bournemouth, but he came across really well - he was honest, clear, demanding but not overly so, and actually really likeable. Good on him for approaching the game bravely, it would've been very easy to play that 20 yards further down the pitch, parking Gomes/Lemina on the half way line , sitting in and hoping for a counter. It's a brave approach to take at Old Trafford, and hopefully there's going to be more of the same going forward. Good start Gazzler, long way to go, but fair play

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Yeah - fair play to him. That was an impressive way to set us up. More of the same and we should be absolutely fine.

 

[Wolvensam]

He also didn't get drawn into those journalist 'traps' of "you've got a good side here, but surely you would like more players?"

Course he would. But his response was spot on that there's players here who can be coached and improve. Not really something you're used to hearing from football managers.