FA Premier League

Sunderland 1:1 Manchester United

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Sun, 24 August 2014 @ 4:00pm BST
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    We are playing without our two newest signings, so it's essentially the same team as Moyes last season, albeit with a new and unfamiliar formation.

    Calm down and belay the meltdown.
     
    Fletcher and Cleverley are having a nightmare out there. It's even worse than I thought it would be there. Young and Valencia once again are looking suspect defensively, but I don't blame them too much since they aren't natural defenders and it's to be expected sadly. Smalling going off is big blow too, he was the best defender on the pitch. The Sunderland goal was criminal defending, how can you let someone completely unmarked in the box from a corner? We seriously need to step it up if we are going to win it now.
     
    shaggy said:
    I'm really not. Blackett, Keane, Valencia, Young, Cleverley, Fletcher. These would have a fight getting in the Sunderland team.
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    Sunderland don't have half a team injured, Young and Valencia are playing out of position, Blankett and Keane are lacking experience (However Blankett has been the best defender today) but have bagfuls of potential. Cleverly shouldn't be anywhere near the team let alone Fletcher (actually is he playing) So ill give you that.
     
    It is rather annoying that we actually saw decent paced football during the tour, but the moment the actual season starts, we are back to slow motion movement.
     
    Fletcher should be retiring right now, make sure Louis can't send him out for the second half.

    Cleverley might want to think about joining him.
     
    I think they could keep Fletcher and use him off the bench, he shouldn't be starting. Cleverley offers nothing, no matter how many times he is given a chance he doesn't take it.
     
    The Red Thinker said:
    In all fairness to Clevs he made one bad pass and a stupid foul. Apart from that he hasn't been a problem, unlike Fletch who needs to get his act together... Fast.
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    Yeah Cleverley didn't do anything and that's the problem. He just passes it to Fletcher or out wide and hopes for the best.
     
    Fletcher is poor and so is Cleverley. The front three are not seeing the ball and Mata has been a tad wasteful whenever he's seen the ball save for the goal.
     
    wow, that was some poor football, didn't even deserve that goal to be honest.
    Fletcher clearly is not on the same level, lost every ball, he made even Cleverly look solid next to him. We're missing Herrera badly, thought he looked good against Swansea, at least the drop off when he was subbed was remarkable...
     
    It's actually quite astonishing just how shit we look. It's not even close to anything acceptable. And it's not about the freaking result. It's the "football" we play.

    A fecking guy who just got his contract renewed plays in CM and can't pass a decent ball.
    Fletcher as well, absolutely atrocious.

    Young useless as feck, Jones a headless chicken and Mata again invisible.
     
    Timid performance so far. Now with Smalling off, that defense looks terrible shaky. I know it's still early in the season and the players will need time to adapt, but we can't be losing games like these. Hoping to see a better second half!
     
    The Red Thinker said:
    People need to get a grip. We're not going to see overnight improvement. What we have to watch is the determination of the players. If the attitude is shown well today, then the future will improve. But if we roll over like a dead horse, then we have serious problems.
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    Were not even maintaining our standards let alone improve. Its a shocking collapse like a house of cards against a team we should be beating comfortably. Thats what i saw in the first half.
     
    The pace we are playing at just ISN'T Manchester United. This slow tempo was brought in by that twat from Everton and it seems to have stuck. I hate the idea of being bored bwatching United...
     
    Seems like its been years since we scored playing a nice thru ball through the middle of the pitch. No off the ball movement at all, except from mata at his goal
     
    Can't wait to have Rafael and Shaw back. They should be our starting wingbacks when fit. They're both offensive enough to make it work.
     
    Kostur said:
    We're not playing Chelsea, Liverpool or City now though but a fecking Sunderland.

    We're all deluding ourselves saying that those midfield players are 'good squad players'. They're 'good squad players' who are ran through by fecking Sunderland. Jesus Christ.
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    The point was this is not our first 11, not whether our backups are good enough or not.

    Edy2 said:
    True. That midfield is still a worry though.
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    It is but I'm getting far more worried about out fullbacks/wingbacks right now. Young and Valencia aren't anything close to defenders. Our centre backs are having to adapt to a new system, the last thing they need is guys either side of them that need bailing out or aren't going to cover the space properly.
     
    orangeboom999 said:
    Also we need to go back to 4 3 3 surely, drop one of the strikers. We have to get more width in the attacking third.
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    The lack of fullbacks has fecked us up, but 352 is not helping us, and one of our most exciting players janazaj does not fit this system, because LVG wants too keep to this system. But defiantly the defensive and midfield options is killing us, and van gaals favoured system 433
     
    Not a single word can be used to describe how bad our central midfield are. Fletcher and Cleverly still play for Manchester United. Wow
     
    Take Cleverly off for Welbeck and put Rooney in CM and Welbeck up front.
     
    redevil2 said:
    Well, let's see who has the last laugh then. I pity you and some on here watching the game and giving up before half time. When it was Moyes, I was as nervous as some of you because I knew he had no plan. Until LvG proved me wrong I am still holding out hope the players would come out being better. That's my attitude for now.
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    The last laugh? Grow up, I'd like nothing more than to see us win here today.

    It's not a matter of "LVG vs Moyes"

    You can't polish a shit, LVG has been forced to play those four players, there's no other options.
     
    The Red Thinker said:
    In all fairness to Clevs he made one bad pass and a stupid foul. Apart from that he hasn't been a problem, unlike Fletch who needs to get his act together... Fast.
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    Aye, that's my thinking too, he's had some poor touches now and then but has done ok. Fletchers been the main problem in midfield, he's been bloomin awful.

    Youngs tracking back is a problem too, Clevs being forced to cover it way too much after Young muffs up a crossing chance.

    I think Sunderlands played very well too in fairness.
     
    iAm20Legend said:
    LVG wanted to assess his squad over pre-season. I have no idea how he thought our midfield was ok enough to not have any immediate additions. Either that or Woody couldn't buy the players we needed.
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    IMHO, it's not so much about he's still considering we have a perfect midfield and needing no replacement/addition. It's more about who are to come in and fit in perfectly and being better. LvG had mentioned about transfer and seriously fans should be more understanding it's not easy. New signings are not the only answer to our sad state of affairs now. He's importing new system and philosophy. He asked fans to give him time, did he.
     
    It's very sad to see Darren Fletcher playing like this, he's been the worst player on the pitch, incredibly slow and incredibly poor in possession. Hopefully as the injuries ease and we bring in 2 or 3 new players things will improve, but right now we are a total mess.

    I'd take a point right now.
     
    Look on the bright side of life...we now know our midfield can't get any worse. Been supporting united now for over 40 years and genuinely believe I have not seen a midfield this bad in all those years. Even the years where we were winning nothing in the 70's & 80's we were never this bad and could actually pass a ball, our control of the football is woeful.
     
    sharpiesdance said:
    You could be forgiven for not even knowing Flertcher was on the field... and what the hell hgas happened to Mata's ability to pass (or was it only AGAINST us that he looked good?!)
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    We need strong CM'S who are confident on the ball, this will stop jones and smalling needing to fill the gaps and mata rooney rvp coming back to get on the ball.

    Passing is soo poor and sluggish. No first touch passing and moving.

    And yes - every time mata got on the ball for Chelsea against us, I was genuinely scared :/
     
    Where the hell is Rafael? I keep expecting to see him - against Swansea - nope. Against Sunderland - nope. Apparently he was injured in the warm up against Swansea - but I haven't heard anything about it. Has anyone got any info on him or has he just been dropped permanently? Physio Room doesn't have him listed as injured (and they've updated everything else - like Herrera's knock for example).
     
    The Red Thinker said:
    In all fairness to Clevs he made one bad pass and a stupid foul. Apart from that he hasn't been a problem, unlike Fletch who needs to get his act together... Fast.
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    Neither have kept possession. Valencia and Fletcher need to be playing further up as wingers but that won't do us any good unless we keep the bloody ball in midfield. You saw what happened when Valencia ran at his man but he's not getting the chance to do that. LVG will sort it out. Teething troubles are bound to happen but he's on the right track and will make his system work. Might need a few players to leave and some to come in but it will.
     
    Man-United said:
    Fair play to Sunderland. They have been playing better than they usually do against us. Poyet has changed them.
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    They havent done anything special. That's the worst part. We are so easy to play against. Reminds so much of Arsenal few years back, we know only one way to play and the opposition easily counters it.

    Imagine this midfield going against City/Chelsea...Jeez...they will run riot...
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Phil Jones image Phil Jones 49% of 727 votes

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Player Ratings

4.8 Total Average Rating

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Score Predictions

741,167,143
  • Man Utd win
  • Sunderland win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 27% Sunderland 1:2 Man Utd
  • 13% Sunderland 1:3 Man Utd
  • 12% Sunderland 0:2 Man Utd
  • 8% Sunderland 1:1 Man Utd
  • 7% Sunderland 0:3 Man Utd
  • 7% Sunderland 2:1 Man Utd
  • 5% Sunderland 0:1 Man Utd
  • 4% Sunderland 2:2 Man Utd
  • 3% Sunderland 1:0 Man Utd
  • 3% Sunderland 2:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Sunderland 0:5 Man Utd
  • 2% Sunderland 0:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Sunderland 5:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Sunderland 0:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Sunderland 3:1 Man Utd
  • 1% Sunderland 2:3 Man Utd
  • 1% Sunderland 1:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Sunderland 1:5 Man Utd
  • 1% Sunderland 3:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 2:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 2:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 4:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 5:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 3:2 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 3:3 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 3:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Sunderland 4:0 Man Utd
Compiled from 1051 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Sunderland
  2. Man Utd
Possession
45% 55%
Shots
11 10
Shots on Target
3 3
Corners
4 4
Fouls
10 15

Referee

Martin Atkinson

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