FA Premier League

Manchester United 0:1 West Bromwich Albion

Old Trafford

Kick-off
Sat, 2 May 2015 @ 5:30pm BST
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Discussion Live Updates 59 Your Lineup Prediction

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    What I will say is that if I am West Brom and I see Fellaini getting taken off at half time, I am probably happy to see that.
     
    We can see how we miss Carrick right now. Herrera is reluctant to get forward with any pace in case he gets caught out of position, and Rooney is being too cautious in case he loses it and we get caught on the break. With Carrick in the team neither of them have that problem.
     
    Would put Mata behind RVP and bring Di Maria on
     
    Boycott said:
    Rooney has offered nothing
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    What I can't understand about him when he plays deeper, he's a natural striker and you'd expect him to be driving forward in the final 3rd and taking some speculative pot shots, but he isn't. If he was playing like Herrera and Mata, who are driving forward and creating chances, then we might be ahead by now.

    It seems to be touch, pass, touch, pass, touch, Hollywood pass etc etc
     
    Terrible to watch, but I don't think we've done much wrong. I imagine we're playing as LvG expects, but it's going to be difficult to break down that 9 man defence. It's probably going to come from Fellaini or RVP knocking it down and someone smashing it in.

    So little space between the lines for us to play football around the edge of the final third unless we go out wide. We could probably do with some passages where we don't press so high, invite them out with the ball, then we can counter with a bit more space between their lines. I doubt we'll do that though.
     
    Hopefully we see di Maria come on
     
    AltiUn said:
    Just out of curiousity what tactic can actually beat a parked bus?
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    Individual creativity, someone who can beat the man in front of him. Then someone has to come across to cover and leave space which you ideally exploit. Once you've scored they have to come out. We should throw Di Maria on.
     
    Shark said:
    If West Brom actually tried to play a game of football, we'd be slicing them in half.
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    Yeah, no denying that but it's a bit of a moot point though - if we're going to struggle to create chances with 70-80% ball possession, teams are just going to sit back more and more in future.

    Chelsea did it and Everton hit us hard on the counter as well.

    Oh well, let's hope we pull off that incisive pass to open them up
     
    Average height of WBA's defenders: 191cm. The shortest defender being 188cm. almost no use to go through the air.
     
    Kag said:
    That's the last tactical change we need to make. We need somebody in midfield, alongside Herrera, that is prepared to play a pass into or over the top for Van Persie.

    Rooney further up will just contribute to more crosses and an easy day for the West Brom back four.
    Click to expand...
    Stick pereira in there he will actually attempt something. All Rooney and fellaini are doing is going sideways!
     
    Shyftyy said:
    Average height of WBA's defenders: 191cm. The shortest defender being 188cm. almost no use to go through the air.
    Click to expand...

    Yea this is something I can't fecking understand. They're all Stoke-ish when it comes to height yet we insist on those shitty crosses every single attack.
     
    Getting it quicker outwide is what we are lacking. Long balls out to mata and young are what seems to be sort of catching WBA off guard. Hope we can get to see more of that to help break down this sardine can of a side
     
    Young has been very good and the only one who has looked like creating a goal. Herrera yet again showing he is a quality player but he needs to play further up the pitch if we wants to get the best out of him.
    For the second half I'd put Di Maria on for Mata who has been poor for the second game in a row now.
     
    Colin129 said:
    What I can't understand about him when he plays deeper, he's a natural striker and you'd expect him to be driving forward in the final 3rd and taking some speculative pot shots, but he isn't. If he was playing like Herrera and Mata, who are driving forward and creating chances, then we might be ahead by now.

    It seems to be touch, pass, touch, pass, touch, Hollywood pass etc etc
    Click to expand...

    He's too hesitant to have a pop. RvP messed up that counter but Rooney had the space to shoot himself in the first place. Why are we restricting him when we're playing a team content with defending all day? Take the shackles off, push him higher up. We shouldn't need his defensive work in this game really.
     
    WBA's approach is totally anti-intuituve - they have no interest in playing any football.

    Sadly, we've reverted to our form prior to the recent good run - everything is ponderous and unadventurous.

    Would be nice to see Van Gaal actually have a go. Fellaini has been totally ineffective for two and a half games now. He's not even playing in the role that he's previously caused so much havoc in. No point playing him as a conventional midfielder, he's not up to it.

    One final point - we desperately need a Carrick alternative. Herrera isn't anywhere near good enough in that role - gives us no rhythm whatsoever.

    Frustrating.
     
    This is where you earn your money as a sky sports analyser .
     
    Mali_Zeus said:
    Everybody blaming Rooney,Valencia and Fellaini but Herrera for instance hasnt been spraying forward passes or sthing.
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    I genuinely believe that Herrera has played more forward passes than Rooney, Mata and Fellaini put together.

    The fact he's given the ball away when having to force it is indicative of that.
     
    We need to develop a Plan (C), which we can switch to when teams park the bus.
    So far, we are great against teams who attempt to outscore us.
    We are decent when a good team goes defensive (but doesnt park the bus).
    But when any team parks the bus, we begin the sideways/backwards passing.

    I find it astonishing that when good players have so much of the ball, they can't do anything with it.
    Would someone like Bale improve us or would he also get sucked into the sideway/backwards passing against the "park the bus" tactic?
     
    That map of Mata's passes is pretty damning.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Chris Smalling image Chris Smalling 31% of 503 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

4.4 Total Average Rating

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Compiled from 403 ratings.
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Score Predictions

427,14,19
  • Man Utd win
  • West Brom win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 23% Man Utd 3:0 West Brom
  • 22% Man Utd 2:0 West Brom
  • 13% Man Utd 3:1 West Brom
  • 9% Man Utd 2:1 West Brom
  • 8% Man Utd 5:0 West Brom
  • 6% Man Utd 4:0 West Brom
  • 6% Man Utd 1:0 West Brom
  • 3% Man Utd 4:1 West Brom
  • 2% Man Utd 1:1 West Brom
  • 1% Man Utd 5:1 West Brom
  • 1% Man Utd 0:0 West Brom
  • 1% Man Utd 0:1 West Brom
  • 1% Man Utd 3:2 West Brom
  • 1% Man Utd 0:2 West Brom
  • 1% Man Utd 0:5 West Brom
  • 0% Man Utd 2:2 West Brom
  • 0% Man Utd 5:2 West Brom
  • 0% Man Utd 1:4 West Brom
  • 0% Man Utd 0:3 West Brom
  • 0% Man Utd 0:4 West Brom
  • 0% Man Utd 4:2 West Brom
Compiled from 460 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Man Utd
  2. West Brom
Possession
80% 20%
Shots
26 6
Shots on Target
9 3
Corners
9 3
Fouls
10 11

Referee

Anthony Taylor

Man Utd Lineup

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