FA Premier League

Manchester United 3:1 Aston Villa

Old Trafford

Kick-off
Sat, 4 April 2015 @ 3:00pm BST
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    One thing I would say, Villa gonna have to come at us now. We'll get a lot of space in this second half.
     
    Not a great performance by any means but for from 'shit' as some were saying.

    Rooney looks like he's been boiling over since the penalty wasn't given, hopefully a breather and a word from the manager will calm him down.

    Young has been hit/miss, some infuriating final balls but some cracking runs.

    Valencia also has been aimless with his crosses, I really don't get why Rafael can't get a game, he'd offer more at both ends.

    Herrera is just great.
     
    Not our best football, which is partly to how AV are playing. We look a bit slower and aren't pressing as much. Rooney is also looking a bit isolated up top and not being effective. Hopefully our goal will force Villa out of their shape a bit to chase the game and we can find some more space between the lines. Mata has been quiet today. I feel that he doesn't do as well against these defenses which set up to close the space. He needs the formations to get a bit stretched and chaotic to be at his best.

    *Also, should've been a penalty and red card early on which would've made this a stroll in the park. Ref botched it. That pull back would be a foul EVERY SINGLE TIME in the middle of the pitch. Just because it occurs early and in the penalty box should not change that fact.
     
    RetroStu said:
    Decent half, a few bits of really good football. A let down after the last 2 games though and the game felt very much like a 'do just enough to win the game' kind of game that we had so much in Fergie's last 2 or 3 years.

    Also not limited to this match but we really don't get the number of players in the box that we used to under Fergie.
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    True. There was one long ball played to Rooney who was on his own surrounded by 6 Villa players.
     
    Inigo Montoya said:
    Please describe the goal someone especially as it's nearly1/2 time.Got no stream
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    Rooney makes a slightly underweight passback to Carrick on the left who does well to get the ball forward to Fellaini under pressure. Fellaini holds the ball up well, runs into the edge of the box and squares plays it wide to Young who has plenty of space. Young plays it short to Blind, Blind passes low onto Herrera who is running into the box and Herrera takes a touch and makes a nice low finish into side of the net.
     
    kidbob said:
    We look a little disjointed compared to the last couple of games but we definitely look a lot better than the weeks before that. Started to play better before half time.
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    I think we have looked stellar. Villa looked to be playing for a draw because there's no ways that they were matching us. Thanks to Sherwood for not replacing Hutton though.
     
    Young has to link up with Blind and Fellaini more, he's been too selfish. Valencia decision making is terrible but he's a threat. Other than that it's a good game.
     
    Looking so much better recently. Passing and tempo so far improved it's ridiculous. Everyone playing their part as well, working well in combinations.
     
    Some people saying Young didnt have a good half, am I missing something? He and Herrera were our best players.
     
    Rooney should be the first one to be considered being brought off if he doesn't get his act together after the first 15 mins of the second half
     
    Loving all the posters who would take Rooney off for Falcao. Clearly a player who's been so badly done by:confused:
     
    Rado_N said:
    I really don't get why Rafael can't get a game, he'd offer more at both ends.
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    Pretty sure we will see Rafael come on now in the second, hopefully quite early on. The fact that he is on the bench while Shaw is not (although Van Gaal said Shaw is fit) tells me that Rafael will have some part to play in this run-in.
     
    I'd like to see rafael come on for Valencia. He's ,ore creative and think would help to create from the right side of the pitch.
     
    Yes we're playing "worse" football because of the two stacks of four players Villa are displaying. We're breaking them down and it's difficult. Great half.
     
    We are totally dominating this game, and we should be having it even easier because Kieran Clark who has blocked two goal bound shots should have been sent off for his early foul on Rooney.

    Its patient build up from United but its all purposeful. The defenders are not recycling the ball because they haven't got a scooby what to do, you can always see them trying to work an angle or open up the opportunity to switch it up. Really solid performance continuing in the same vein as our recent wins against Spurs and the Scousers.

    Our overloads down the flanks, especially the left, have worked really well. Its clever how sometimes players starting on the left or right, join attacks on other flanks to create numerical advantages. Herrera coming over from right centre midfield to the left bagged our goal, Villa didn't have enough men in the area to close him down quickly. Lovely positional play.
     
    Good half, Carrick and few others have been very good, Fellaini, Rooney were invisible and poor with the ball, Valencia's crossing is 'excellent' as always.
    Bring on di Maria for Fellaini.
     
    ManUnitedCanuck said:
    I'd like to see rafael come on for Valencia. He's ,ore creative and think would help to create from the right side of the pitch.
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    This season Valencia has been better defending, in possession and attacking. Possession is important to LVG and rightly so.
     
    The strikers in LVG's system often looks a bit isolated as he wants them to play like that. If they don't score goals people will criticize them.
     
    Concerned about them on break. Jones is getting pulled out wide which is leaving gaps in middle of our defence.
     
    #07 said:
    We are totally dominating this game, and we should be having it even easier because Kieran Clark who has blocked two goal bound shots should have been sent off for his early foul on Rooney.

    Its patient build up from United but its all purposeful. The defenders are not recycling the ball because they haven't got a scooby what to do, you can always see them trying to work an angle or open up the opportunity to switch it up. Really solid performance continuing in the same vein as our recent wins against Spurs and the Scousers.

    Our overloads down the flanks, especially the left, have worked really well. Its clever how sometimes players starting on the left or right, join attacks on other flanks to create numerical advantages. Herrera coming over from right centre midfield to the left bagged our goal, Villa didn't have enough men in the area to close him down quickly. Lovely positional play.
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    Yes!!! Very different from how they were playing earlier in the season, it was more pointless possession than useful possession.
     
    Would be tempted to take rooney off later, if only to rest him for city. He's looking a little tired.
     
    Good half, although Villa we have looked a bit open. Guess that's expected, seeing as we're playing at home against Villa, no disrespect. We're playing at a quick pace, stretching Villla and looking dangerous down both flanks.
     
    Loublaze said:
    No excuses. He doesnt have his scoring boots and he's given the ball away cheaply
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    No matter how bad a game he's having at home, I'd never take a player of his calibre off for a guy who's best days were 3 years ago. If we had better options, then yes, but simply bring Falcao on would be crazy
     
    One of those halves that are hard to rate. Calling it poor would be harsh, calling it good would be overly flattering.

    Very poor from Rooney, rest of the team seems to be pulling their weight. Not loving the Valencia-Mata combo, I think Mata would do far better with Rafael, but otherwise not too bad. Can be a lot better, let's not allow them an angle back in this.
     
    Think I'd be tempted to swap Young for Di Maria at the break, and then Rafael for Valencia around the hour mark.

    Not sure Rafael will be ready for 45 mins after so long without a match.
     
    Inigo Montoya said:
    Loving all the posters who would take Rooney off for Falcao. Clearly a player who's been so badly done by:confused:
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    It's a ridiculous suggestion. Rooney is struggling to get really involved as there's so little space to work in with Villa's tactics, that's exactly the sort of situation Falcao would struggle even more to make an impact.
     
    That stat about our 30+ year streak of not losing a game that we've been winning at the half (at Old Trafford) is mind-blowing.
     
    If we get a 2nd goal, LvG will probably rotate Falcao and Di Maria in, as well as possibly Rafa.
     
    Good time to score when we did, otherwise it would have been a very frustrating first half. Nice goal and Herrera has looked very lively all afternoon so far. Young has been threatening, though wasteful. Some people are suggesting he should come off, but I'd give him a bit of time yet, though I do understand their frustrations. Rooney the biggest disappointment, whether it's because of being denied a clear penalty or not, he's need to sort it out.
     
    Inigo Montoya said:
    Doesn't the fact that he's on the bench say some thing about him?
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    No. LVG always plays his captain and his captain is not good enough to play in our midfield. Plus, it is hard to say Fellani has not been playing well recently. It should not be lost on people that when Fellani and Rooney were in midfield they produced sweet FA for the strikers. Now they are in the front and getting the benefit of having the ball passing skills of Herrera, Carrick and Mata.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Ander Herrera image Ander Herrera 91% of 884 votes

Runners-up

Player Ratings

6.6 Total Average Rating

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Score Predictions

633,7,11
  • Man Utd win
  • Aston Villa win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 35% Man Utd 3:0 Aston Villa
  • 18% Man Utd 2:0 Aston Villa
  • 14% Man Utd 3:1 Aston Villa
  • 14% Man Utd 4:0 Aston Villa
  • 6% Man Utd 5:0 Aston Villa
  • 5% Man Utd 2:1 Aston Villa
  • 3% Man Utd 4:1 Aston Villa
  • 2% Man Utd 1:0 Aston Villa
  • 1% Man Utd 1:1 Aston Villa
  • 1% Man Utd 0:0 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 0:1 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 3:2 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 1:2 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 2:2 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 0:5 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 4:2 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 2:3 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 5:1 Aston Villa
  • 0% Man Utd 5:2 Aston Villa
Compiled from 651 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Man Utd
  2. Aston Villa
Possession
76% 24%
Shots
20 5
Shots on Target
7 2
Corners
10 2
Fouls
15 12

Referee

Roger East

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