Premier League

United missed a great chance yesterday to trow out City from the 4th place, the way both tems playing I think neither of them deserve a CL spot. But of course a failure is famous word in Van Gaal's era.
Sunderland leading 3-0 deep in the second half so obviously they are safe for one more season. The Blackcats has a lot more than 9 lifes obviously.

Everton fired Martinez and it was quite surprising to me although the season was pretty poor by their standards. Just in the beginning of his time with Everton they've played some fantastic games and all the Everton fans have a huge expectations by that time I think. They were glad that Moyes is not their manager any more but now we could say I guess that Moyes was more successful and probably better Everton manager despite some really entertaining matches during the Martinez era. But what's next?

Yeah I've read somewhere about new owner ambitions and his promise to invest huge in the club but obviously Martinez wasn't new owner's favourite. I agree that they sack managers far too easy these days and sometimes this is quite wrong approach.
I also didn't like projects like Man City for example who just bought all the hottest players back then in attempt to win all straight away, it just doesn't work that way, hopefully Everton will not become in such project because I pretty much like their style in the last seasons.

Here is the games from the last day in the PL, there is not much of intrigue excepts for the 4th spot which City could keep even with a draw against Swansea away so really not expecting any drama.

17:00 Arsenal - Aston Villa
17:00 Chelsea FC - Leicester City
17:00 Everton FC - Norwich City
17:00 Manchester United - Bournemouth
17:00 Newcastle Utd - Tottenham
17:00 Southampton - Crystal Palace
17:00 Stoke City - West Ham
17:00 Swansea City - Manchester City
17:00 Watford FC - Sunderland
17:00 West Bromwich - Liverpool FC

Manchester City claimed that fourth spot in the end with a 1-1 draw to Swansea and even if United win their abandoned game from today City will be in front by a goal difference.
Arsenal fans enjoyed wonderful afternoon with a 4-0 win against Aston Villa and the rivals Spurs were trashed 5-1 by all ready relegated Newcastle. Arsenal also overcome Tottenham in the standings for the second place which also added to the club 's enjoyable last day of the season.

CL-Ed wrote:

Gee Spurs really faded away in the last few weeks after being only a couple of points from the top and putting pressure on Leicester a month ago. It was typical Newcastle to save their best performance of the season for when it didn't matter though.

I think Spurs has one of the best squads in the PL when we see not only the quality of players but also their experience as a group but I'm not sure Pochettino is the right manager for this team. When you have the funds to keep players like Kane, Ericson and some of the rest in your team you certainty can afford to take on some of the top managers out there.

CL-Ed wrote:

The news that the bomb at Old Trafford was a device left behind from a security training exercise has to be one of the biggest face-palms ever. Heads must be rolling at the security company right now. You would think that when they hide these things for training that they would have a simple count of the number they placed so that nothing gets left behind.

Quite unbelievable really, a ridiculous story.

OK Ed, I understand that but if Pochettino is good Ranieri has to be Jesus or something.
Who knows maybe I'm wrong but I don't see that character of a champion in Pochetino, for me Spurs have one of the best squads in the PL but just their previous managers were so poor (except for Harry of course 😉 ) that it makes Pochettino looks great on this background. Anyway he's a good manager and I'm agree that would be a risking move to replace him although I don't see them winning the title next season if he stays. They really need a world class manager but there's have to be a world class owner too to make this move and I'm pretty sure Levi is a lot better businessman than a football specialist

Yeah it was quite a tense game abd certainly one of the better ones for Chelsea this season.
Would love to see how good Pochettino is if Spurs missing Kane or Ericson or both next season, would love to see some of those in MU next season although I know it's not realistic to expect that.

Just a day before the FA Cup final there is still not guaranties who will be Manchester United manager next season. According to few different sources Van Gaal's job is not safe even if United wins the cup tomorrow so the most probable scenario is the Duchman staying in the club on some other position while his place will be filed by Jose Mourinho.
Hopefully all these rumors and the uncertainty around manager's position won't take effect over team's performance tomorrow.
Ironically the success in Ferguson era started with a win against Palace on the FA Cup final so I think many MU fans seeing something symbolic in that.

Manchester United won the FA Cup today which was the end of the season or at least for teams involved in the Premier League.
As MU fan I'm not exactly happy with the performance but of course happy with the trophy which was won after 12 years of awaiting.
Hopefully it was last game as a United manager for Louis Van Gaal who has still one year of his contract left and it's still uncertain whether he will be released or not after this cup but I realy hope they will save us one more painful season and replace him.

I'm certainly not a Mourinho's fan Ed, didn't wanted him as a manager like I didn't wanted Van Gaal couple of seasons ago, knew that his teams playing very slow and totally outdated football which was good enough at Holland national team but not in fastest paced league in the world.
As you said Mourinho's teams playing defensive and on counters and maybe his style could be too defencive for United philosophy but I don't think they could play much worst than the last two seasons when really the fans were bored to death by the style.
I think they could be more successful with Mourinho than they were under Van Gaal even if the style is not too pretty but the thing that should worry all United fans is are Mourinho is still that winner we all know he's famous for? Because I think he had too many dissapointing seasons in the last years with the teams he managed.
Certainly Mourinho was not my first choice for a manager (neither second or third 😉 but I just don't think Ed Woodward knows exactly what he's doing.
I would be happy to see British manager because United always have a strong tradition to rely on many local players and it's just in the nature of the club.As I said before too I would like to see Giggs who I think waited long enough for a chance, what if Barcelona never gaved a chance to Guardiola for example, not comparing those too but I think United management trying play safe with Mourinho's appointment but I don't think the safest move is always the right one in footbal or in life.

Chelsea wrote:

Sure he can be a nasty and petty man and he doesn't play the most attractive football but you won't be complaining when you're winning most weeks sharpe.

I definitely hope they will mate 👍
By the way just to make this clear, I prefer Mourinho's style of play a lot more than this of Van Gaal.

CL-Ed wrote:

I think you're right. But also I think it shows that making money has become far more important than tradition or the culture of clubs. I read a good article the other day that pointed out that for the big premier league teams, the football team is no longer the product - the fans are. They are all owned by rich businessmen who want to make as much money as quickly as possible so it is essential to have their team in the top four for the Champions League money. So they don't want to take risks on less experienced coaches or give them any time if they have a bad run (as we saw with Rodgers or Martinez). Mourinho is a pretty solid bet to get your team in the top four so they will spend the big bucks on him and he will play cautiously but effectively.

Agreed with all you said above Ed, it's a shame how important became money in this sport, for example I kept saying to some of my friends during the season that If I have to choose, I prefer to see United lift the FA Cup than place in top 4 but I guess for the management of the club and even most of the fans the CL spot is more important.
But I don't understand why CL money are so important for the top English teams and even some of the European top clubs because I guess the main income for them is coming from the TV rights by the domestic leagues and from a sponsorship deals, the leading English teams spending like crazy in the resent seasons that incomes from the CL tournament itself looking quite insignificant on that background, probably the CL TV rights incomes are another matter.

After Mourinho's official appointment yesterday I was wondering what will be Ryan Giggs future, the rumors says that is going to left the club which would be shame really. As a whole I don't like the direction MU going, not only Mourinho but Zlatan Ibrahimovic who is one of my all time "favourites" could join the club.

Yeah Ed exactly the opposite 👍
Never liked the guy but not only because of his character, I think he's quite overrated as a player too. Yes he scored maybe around 40 goals this season in a League in which your team cost is maybe x 400 times....the Whole league 😕 All his career he circles around the top Italian teams, probably have couple of periods in each 😉 just looking for the next big contract. And every time the transfer amounts and his contracts have increased although I think the guy just don't scores enough for a central forward ( except for his PSG period of course)
I think the money are a lot more important for him than it should be and that in combination with his arrogance make me "almost" hate the guy.

Is that Ibrahimovic? 😜
I think these defs were drunk or something 😀
Anyway, I'm not saying he can't score fantastic goals Ed, that's why he's so popular all over the world but I've seen games in which he couldn't score 4 or 5 times face to face with a keeper and one goal even though a great one couldn't be redemption for all the misses. I think the % play is the most important sign of a great central forward.

Just read today that Mourinho probably would want Juan Mata and Daley Blind out of the club.
I think it's ridiculous to not even give a chance to them before he takes such a decision. We know Mourinho don't like Mata as a player and of course he was the main reason for Chelsea selling him to United few seasons back.
But for Blind I think he has a good season especially on some of the other players background and he's a quality versatile player who could pass the ball very well which is a rare quality for a defender. United pay just 14 mill pounds for him which is nothing compared to some other of their transfers and would be big mistake if he would not be part of the team any more, Mata too.
I know that Mourinho will annoy me just didn't expect to happen so fast.

I knew it's him mate, just joking, probably deserves to be Ajax best goal ever but I've saw a few from Van Basten that could be quite a competitors.
About Mourinho I think you're right Ed, but I just hoped United management would spend more wisely after 2 seasons of bullshit transfers but I guess this would not be the case now after Mourinho has been appointed. Definitely Ranieri had one of the worst squads in the PL this season and I'm fully agree that he succeed to get the best out of his players which is sign of a really great manager of course.

Here are some interesting titles from the British papers involving some latest transfer rumours and stories;

*Manchester United have made a club record £60m bid for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

*Conflicting reports in Spain claim David de Gea could indeed be off to Real Madrid this summer.

*Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel looks set to join Besiktas this summer.

*Manchester City are ready to activate the £39m release clause to sign Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao.

*Manchester City's summer spending could top £250m with Pep Guardiola wanting 10 new players.

*Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is interested in Ben Chilwell, Sadio Mane and Mahmoud Dahoud.

*Chelsea are pursuing Liverpool striker Christian Benteke as an alternative signing should they fail to bring Romelu Lukaku back to the club this summer.

*Ryan Giggs is to leave Manchester United after rejecting an offer to work under Jose Mourinho.

Yeah agreed Ed, most of the times these stories are pretty far from truth, although they are sometimes quite funny just because they are ridiculous 🙂
My favorite part is when I've had use to read those papers before and according to two different papers one and same player is going to sighn with two different clubs which are the worst rivals by the way, probably stopped reading papers somewhere around that.
Yeah I'm not obsessed about new signings in United either but obviously most of the fans are but I think no matter who your team will buy there's still have to be a proper playing system which is the most important thing. The great manager makes players perform above their recent condition.