He played left back the entire game surprisingly enoughHow was Shaw? Did he play left back the whole game?
. He didn't do really well, and many think that he should go back to playing right back. He's way better there!FA Cup 5th Round
Preston North End 1:3 Manchester United
Deepdale
- Kick-off
- Mon, 16 February 2015 @ 7:46pm GMT
- Status
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Closed
Discussion Live Updates 56 Your Lineup Prediction
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- Status
. He didn't do really well, and many think that he should go back to playing right back. He's way better there!
Someone promote this man. Or make a new feature showing the results of this simulation. This stuff is gold!Great to hear! You guys keep me going
This is our 5th game against lower league opposition. We're due to dish out a proper thumping. But it's inevitable this game will be a disappointing performance again. I fancy a dull 2-0 win.
0-10 minutes: Preston on the front foot causing us problems with their intensity and winning several set pieces.
10-20 minutes: We settle into the game, try to bore the Preston players to sleep with passing between the defence. Kevin Davies sticks one in on Evans causing the defender to be replaced and United fans celebrate like they've scored a goal.
20-45: feck all
Half Time: 0-0. Phil Neville bangs on about how we need to bring big Fellaini on and start whipping some balls in. David Moyes in the studio talks about how back in his day we at least got to the byline.
55 minutes: BREAKTHROUGH. Van Persie puts in the rebound after Rojo's header from the corner is blocked into his path. United's first shot on target in the half.
55-60: feck all.
63rd minute: Falcao off for Wilson. Falcao touched the ball a total of 9 times with 1 being for kick off.
64-75: feck all
77th minute: James Wilson nips in behind and gets a second goal to put the tie to bed.
78-90: feck all.
FT: Preston 0-2 United
Bit of spare time on your hands tonight pal?
Yeah am quite bored. This time tomorrow will probably be the same too. At least RvP would have put us 1-0 up by then
Louis van Gaal's philosophy is as scripted as the FM match engine.
I've tried to get upbeat all season thinking this is the time El Tigger will pounce. But games go in the exact same pattern. I genuinely think we'll only see an exciting performance if Preston score first.
In that time we have only actually played well 3 times, and have failed to beat many mighty teams such as Cambridge, Villa, Stoke, West Ham.... not forgetting lamely losing to southampton at home. Results have flattered us and unless something changes we will have trouble in our run-in.
Don't get carried away, now, that sounds like quite the performance. I'm going for a 1-0 win with Fellaini scoring a header in the first 10min.I doubt this is going to be particularly straightforward, the lower league teams seem to be incredibly motivated.My prediction:
0-32min: "we're so shit, getting outplayed by a league one side"
33min: Davies scores. "deserved. saw it coming from miles away" "had to be the prick"
34-45min: "why are we so shit, worst I've seen United play"
HT
45-83min: "we're so shit, getting outplayed by a league one side"
84min: Van Persie equalizes. "we don't deserve this. we've been so shit"
85-90+min: "we're still shit"
1-1. Onto the replay we go.Hopefully we'll score a couple of early goals and kill the game off. Although the way we've been looking, I doubt that's going to happen.I think we'll do the same as we did against Burnley and come out of the gates firing on all cylinders. It's just a shame we didn't sustain it for more than 10 minutes in that game.
I think Van Gaal and his assistants have realised how important to our style of play it is to get an early goal, definitely the first goal. It forces teams to open up a bit and go searching for the goal themselves which we can then take advantage of. It also allows us to pass it around and let them do the leg work without the pressure of having to score soon.
I don't think we came out of the gates flying or anything, they had a great chance early on and then we just scored off an early corner. About it really. The passing was sloppy from both teams at the start if I recall, but nothing really out of the ordinary. It was a good start of course because we got the goal obviously but I don't think we're the type of team under Van Gaal who come out and go for early goals. Van Gaal tends to like a more measured and controlled approach.Imagine if we got knocked out to Preston of all teams. I think I'd actually laugh to avoid crying.Wouldn't mind seeing this:
-------------Dave
McNair Smalling Rojo Shaw
------------Blind
------Herrera Di Maria
-------------Mata
-------Rooney Falcao
Completely disagree. The first 10 minutes against Burnley was excellent, I suggest watching it again.
We moved the ball around quickly and decisively, had about 80% possession and had about 3 chances in that 10 minutes before Smalling put it away Then we conceded that stupid goal after continuing to play open and it rattled us and we lost our shit.
It's important we start the same way again and then if we get the early goal we need to suffocate them, force them out of their half and pick them off.
I'm surprised you think it was excellent, to be honest.
We were the better side in the first 10 minutes, for sure.
But Burnley had the first corner and effort (off target.) Two minutes later we made our first advancement into the attacking third, and McNair had that shot. We scored off the corner. (We had one chance before Smalling scored, not three)
We were better off the restart, and first to the loose balls. But even then, on roughly 8 minutes, Burnley had a one on one.Excellent
I don't think we can put excellent and United in the same sentence for any game besides the game against an abject Hull side.Excellent
I don't think we can put excellent and United in the same sentence for any game besides the game against an abject Hull side.
Read the post.Even if this proves to be very easy in the end we're not going to score more than two goals.
Unlike other teams, in easy games we just give up and try and make it hard for ourselves. I wish we could start battering teams 6/7-0 when we get the opportunity but we never do.
Yeah it fcuks me off too, go 3-0 up then get the cigars out and bore the shit out of everyone.
I did. It's laughable that someone is bragging that United were "excellent" for 10 minutes against relegation fodder at home.I did. It's laughable that someone is bragging that United were "excellent" for 10 minutes against relegation fodder at home.
Bragging? Grow up man, I'm talking objectively about tactics. Any excuse to knock the team you're supposed to support.
I think our approach for games is going to be a higher intensity opening 15/20 minutes where we go for a goal or two before settling into our suffocating possession game and patiently pick the opposition off.
Objective about tactics for starting 10 minutes of the games? You are the one that needs to grow up and not try to win every argument with your nonsense.
Your second paragraph hasn't happened. If you notice, neither do we try to start fast nor do we press high up the pitch to win the ball back. Our predominant approach has been to soak up the pressure like a bottom side, keep our fingers crossed that we don't concede and then try to get at opposition when they apparently tire. Which never happens, because no one gets fooled and falls into the trap with us passing between the GK and the defense.Last edited:I still want us to play a system with more width but if we stick to our diamond I'd like to see:
De GeaThe Rooney case won't be solved before summer I fear...
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Fellaini
Herrera di Maria
Mata
Wilson Rooney
I take it there's no chance of Pereira getting a game right? I mean Mata, Herrera and Fellaini are all big money players who need to play as well.The atmosphere around Preston has been buzzing this weekend. The game has completely sold all 22,000 or so tickets in a ground that normally pulls in about 9,000-10,000 fans. I had no chance of getting a ticket due to the complex structure set out by North End (season ticket holders first, official members who purchased Coventry tickets second, official members third, etc, etc). Thousands more are going to be pouring into the Preston pubs. Preston just aren't used to this amount of hype for one game. There is also a huge presence of United fans in Preston, and also of Liverpool fans wanting a Preston win.
PNE are confident of performing high up the pitch putting pressure on our dodgy defence tonight, especially with Joey Garner being back from his injury. Kevin Davies will be relishing playing against United for the first time in a few years too, though that will likely be from the bench.
Not an easy game tonight but I think United will benefit from the excellent quality pitch that PNE have, I'll say 1-2 to United.85-90+min: "we're still shit"
Reading the pre-match buildup and it's hard to believe our last loss away was way back at the beginning of November and even then it was a narrow loss to City.Louis Van Gaal Press Conference:
Matchday! Get the feck in. Stop being a douche towards the second nicest spanish fella in the squad and give him a game, Louie. With RvP possibly rested will Rooney or Wilson play up front? Also, play Mata.
I'm talking one game. The last game we played. We came out a lot quicker from the traps and clearly looked to go for that early goal.
Go back and watch the game again and you'll see exactly what I mean. Apologies if it doesn't fit with your woe is me, United are shit and it's all Van Gaal's fault campaign.What i am hoping for:-
------------De Gea----------------
Rafa----Smalling---Rojo-----Shaw
----------Herrera---Blind---------
-------------Rooney--------------
Januzaj--------------------Di Maria
-------------Falcao-----------------
What I expect:-
----------------De Gea----------------
Valencia----Smalling---Rojo-----Shaw
------------Rooney---Blind---------
---------------Fellaini--------------
Januzaj--------------------Di Maria
---------------Falcao-----------------What I'd like to see:
DDGProbably Januzaj for Mata, though.
Rafael (lol) - Smalling - Rojo - Shaw
Blind - Herrera
Januzaj - Mata - Di Maria
Rooney
What I've predicted:
DDG
McNair - Smalling - Rojo - Shaw
Rooney - Fellaini - Mata
Di Maria
Falcao - Wilson
Smalling and Rojo have to start for me, their physical threat will be much better and keeping Evans out of the starting line up will be a bonus. Don't mind who starts at RB out of Rafael/Valencia/Mcnair as they've all done fairly well. Hope Shaw is back for the LB!.
Hope we stick to the Diamond in the first half as it helps retain possession and quiet down the home fans, then maybe 2nd half switch to a flat 4-4-2 and really go at them down the wings.
Main thing for me is whoever starts up top HAS TO GET INVOLVED in the game. Too often recently we've had no balls holding up or working the channels.
I hope the real Utd turns up tonight as it's going to be a tricky game I feel.I really would like to see a strong squad here but I would like to see the likes of Rafael, Herrera and Young starting (yes I know, I said Young). But those three guys are very positive this year.
Every time Young and Herrera played they added pace and positivity, they are not static, and against a lower side it would be better to stretch them on the wings and keep attacking us down the flanks in one vs one.
I would be glad to have a 4-1-4-1 in order to play like that, but it’s difficult knowing that the likes of Mata and Fellaini didn’t played much recently, and that LVG will start Di Maria and Rooney in midfield.
And don’t forget that we play a lower side and having a tough tough game at Swansea this weekend
What I would like
------------------------------------------De Gea--------------------------------------------
Rafael----------------------Smalling--------------Rojo----------------------------Shaw
--------------------------------------------Blind----------------------------------------------
Valencia---------------------Herrera-------------Di Maria----------------------Young
---------------------------------------------RVP-----------------------------------------------
Guess we’ll have (if Blind is fit)
------------------------------------------De Gea--------------------------------------------
Mc Nair--------------------Smalling--------------Rojo----------------------------Shaw
--------------------------------------Blind/Rooney-----------------------------------------
-------------------Herrera/Rooney-------------------Di Maria---------------------------
---------------------------------------------Mata----------------------------------------------
------------------------------------Wilson-------RVP/Falcao--------------------------------We will see probably our best side tonight (well, in LvG's eyes) as he sees the competition as a realistic and real chance of a trophy.
If Rafael starts, I would bet this would be start of him getting a run in the side. Lets hope - he deserves a chance to prove himself.Any news on Blind & van Persie since the press conference?It's all happening in Preston town centre, where's the crowd control?
Searing analysis. Hard to argue. Makes me not want to bother watching the match. Just one question, though, @Boycott; is a dull 4-0 win possible?- Status
Man of the Match
Runners-up
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25%
Ander Herrera
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12%
Angel Di Maria
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11%
Ashley Young
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10%
Wayne Rooney
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4%
Antonio Valencia
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2%
Daley Blind
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1%
Marcos Rojo
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1%
Chris Smalling
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1%
Luke Shaw
Player Ratings
Total Average Rating
Highest Rated Player
Lowest Rated Player
Compiled from 474 ratings.
Score Predictions
466,29,68
- Man Utd win
- Preston win
- Draw
Detailed Results
- 20% Preston 0:2 Man Utd
- 16% Preston 0:3 Man Utd
- 13% Preston 1:2 Man Utd
- 11% Preston 1:3 Man Utd
- 7% Preston 1:1 Man Utd
- 6% Preston 0:4 Man Utd
- 6% Preston 0:1 Man Utd
- 5% Preston 0:5 Man Utd
- 4% Preston 0:0 Man Utd
- 3% Preston 1:4 Man Utd
- 2% Preston 2:1 Man Utd
- 1% Preston 2:2 Man Utd
- 1% Preston 1:5 Man Utd
- 1% Preston 5:0 Man Utd
- 1% Preston 1:0 Man Utd
- 1% Preston 2:3 Man Utd
- 1% Preston 4:0 Man Utd
- 1% Preston 3:0 Man Utd
- 1% Preston 2:0 Man Utd
- 0% Preston 3:1 Man Utd
- 0% Preston 3:2 Man Utd
- 0% Preston 3:5 Man Utd
- 0% Preston 2:4 Man Utd
- 0% Preston 4:2 Man Utd
- 0% Preston 2:5 Man Utd
- 0% Preston 4:5 Man Utd
Match Stats
- Preston
- Man Utd
- Possession
- 35% 65%
- Shots
- 14 11
- Shots on Target
- 6 5
- Corners
- 2 3
- Fouls
- 17 15
Referee
Phil Dowd
Man Utd Lineup
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replaced by Ashley Young
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