[m1y2]

looks like his four bad passes against chelsea came really costly for him.. Its absolute BS decision not to play him...

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Van Gaal must be daily blind that he doesn't see on the training ground what Ander brings to our play... Carricks back and here we go we wittnessed the best of Zombie performances...

We have been crying out for Michael to come back, yet seem to have erased from our memories all the criticism he got for slowing the game down and not creating anything. All that time out has clouded out judgement maybe. He has only just come back though. However he has been part of all those awful midfields we have had since Ronaldo and Hargreaves went. Since his injury he has morphed into this midfield messiah.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

looks like his four bad passes against chelsea came really costly for him.. Its absolute BS decision not to play him...

Didn't think Ander came on against Chelsea.

 

[m1y2]

Didn't think Ander came on against Chelsea.

or was it against west brom? nevermind the match..

 

[Hamadovich86]

Clearly LvG hates this lad.Seriously cant understand why hes not starting or why he isnt coming off the bench even for five minutes!

 

[DomesticTadpole]

or was it against west brom? nevermind the match..

Yes, he played the first half against WBA in the bloody corset. It was obviously too early and if LVG is holding that performance against the lad, I am not impressed.

 

[united_99]

He needs to be the 3rd name on the starting 11 behind DDG and Di Maria! Needs to play whenever fit! We look so much more mobile with him.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Clearly LvG hates this lad.Seriously cant understand why hes not starting or why he isnt coming off the bench even for five minutes!

He might think he is lightweight at the moment, and not defensively disciplined. If we had anywhere near a decent defence it wouldn't matter. That isn't Anders fault.

 

[DevilRed]

Clearly LvG hates this lad.Seriously cant understand why hes not starting or why he isnt coming off the bench even for five minutes!

Probably because he is still recovering from broken ribs? Will now get the entire international break to recover along with our other defenders. Hopefully we can them all back for the next match away against the gooners.

 

[m1y2]

We have been crying out for Michael to come back, yet seem to have erased from our memories all the criticism he got for slowing the game down and not creating anything. All that time out has clouded out judgement maybe. He has only just come back though. However he has been part of all those awful midfields we have had since Ronaldo and Hargreaves went. Since his injury he has morphed into this midfield messiah.

I like him but he was for me always as squad player we should never count on him as our 1st midfielder... scholes talent and level is obviously hard to replace but our midfield was by far the worst from top6 teams. Carrick figured there a lot.. He is so immobile that it pains me.. certainly has got good pass in him but he is not the level of a palyer that manchester united the biggest club in the world should aspire to be its first midfield option. I am beeing maybe too harsh on him as he came back.. but so what he is 34 and yet some people see him as you mention as another messiah which is ridiculous.. Blind is good squad player and yet here almost called new Modric.. We certainly need a better defensive midfielder/playmaker. Hope we try to snatch Schneiderlin last think to I want to see is Carrick making 15 fecking touches to finally play the ball and being scared to death when some player presses him unable to make space for him as he always stands on the ball. Anderson was bloody fantastic compared to carras as he always moved with the ball. Blind is decent contructive player has a good spin on him but still not the class we should aspire. He plays too many celverleyesque balls and doesn't provide any significant shield on defense.. his passing doesnt make up for it and its overrated.. I am being really harsh but I am right, right?

 

[Sammyjunn]

He needs to be the 3rd name on the starting 11 behind DDG and Di Maria! Needs to play whenever fit! We look so much more mobile with him.

Nobody has to get a guaranteed place, if di Maria continues this poor form, eventually he needs to be benched. The only one who has been solid all season is DDG.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Nobody has to get a guaranteed place, if di Maria continues this poor form, eventually he needs to be benched. The only one who has been solid all season is DDG.

RVP has, a bit of nepotism there.

 

[united_99]

Nobody has to get a guaranteed place, if di Maria continues this poor form, eventually he needs to be benched. The only one who has been solid all season is DDG.

Di Maria won't be benched, he is just in bad form and playing out of position, but at least he still wins a corner or gets past players at times (admittedly sadly not enough). God help us if we have to bench him! Something is really really wrong with us if we can't get the best out of him.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Di Maria won't be benched, he is just in bad form and playing out of position, but at least he still wins a corner or gets past players at times (admittedly sadly not enough). God help us if we have to bench him! Something is really really wrong with us if we can't get the best out of him.

You dont know how fast it can go, Mata was world/top class for two consecutive seasons, then benched at Chelsea and later on benched at United, if you dont perform you need to be benched eventually. It's now to early to bench him, bit if he continues this form till lets say Christmas, the bench will have to be his destination. You cant let players disorder the balance in the team just because of the name they carry or their pricetag, di Maria hasnt done anything right in his last 4 games, that's just unacceptable.

 

[reelworld]

Can't wait for Ander to come back to the side. Hopefully his ribs is fully healed and he can contribute again

 

[TwoSheds]

Carrick was excellent today. Big part of why we didn't concede. For me, Fellaini's is the spot that Herrera has to target. Hopefully with some proper defenders in the team and Carrick in front we wont need to use Fellaini's physicality and Herrera comes back in.

 

[pocco]

I'd have thought he is sitting out as long as possible to get over the injury. Of course, the situation does offer another stick to beat Fellaini with though.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I'd have thought he is sitting out as long as possible to get over the injury. Of course, the situation does offer another stick to beat Fellaini with though.

I think LvG should be going for horses for courses in these situations. Fellaini is great against the City/Chelsea big midfielders where we can be easily bullied. Until we get a top class defence that will always happen. I would even play him against dirty scumbags like Stoke. However today and the likes of Arsenal that physicality isn't needed and is actually affecting the attacking side of our game as the ball isn't getting moved from the back to front quickly enough.

 

[Trizy]

I don't think the midfield is the problem. Front line has done nothing.

Kinda harsh, RVP wasn't fit at the start and Falcao hasn't had the chance and just when the team was scoring for all angels our defense gets fecked over by injuries making everyone sit deep as seen today, resulting our best attack and creative players being played out of position = no supply. Playing against teams parking the bus doesn't help either.

 

[wiz4231]

Carrick was excellent today. Big part of why we didn't concede. For me, Fellaini's is the spot that Herrera has to target. Hopefully with some proper defenders in the team and Carrick in front we wont need to use Fellaini's physicality and Herrera comes back in.

Defo, unless he bulks up like the hulk or puts on a bog brush it ain't happening. I don't quite understand why though, we can say that we lack presence in midfield and that's why Fellaini is playing. I can't help but think all of Herrera ability shouldn't solely be replaceable just for the sake of presence, that kind of means that our set up is lacking.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Defo, unless he bulks up like the hulk or puts on a bog brush it ain't happening. I don't quite understand why though, we can say that we lack presence in midfield and that's why Fellaini is playing. I can't help but think all of Herrera ability shouldn't solely be replaceable just for the sake of presence, that kind of means that our set up is lacking.

In a way you wouldn't complain if it was a Viera/ Matic/ Toure/Keane type but it isn't, it's Fellaini who for all his presence and height offers nowhere near what Herrera does. I think if he can get that presence into the defence, Herrera will get his games. The defence is that soft he needs to but the physicality into the midfield.

 

[Ringo 07]

Despite being a brilliant player all round - Herrara looks physically considerably off the pace in this league and I think he will need a year or two before he will be ready for the first team. We were getting absolutely murdered in midfield and defense when Herrera was in the team despite Herrera chipping in with a goal or two. Midfield and defense has been more solid with Fellaini in the team and there's no way I'd drop Fellaini for Herrera for the foreseeable future even though Fellaini is not the perfect player for the role either but with defending set pieces Fellaini is a huge asset to have and his all round play has been decent

 

[wiz4231]

In a way you wouldn't complain if it was a Viera/ Matic/ Toure/Keane type but it isn't, it's Fellaini who for all his presence and height offers nowhere near what Herrera does. I think if he can get that presence into the defence, Herrera will get his games. The defence is that soft he needs to but the physicality into the midfield.

Fellaini is not good as deep CM and because of his positional sense i wouldn't trust him as a defender, his only use is behind the striker. The issue i am also having with Fellaini's use upfront is that for all his use closer to goal we reaped 1 goal from and an arguable assist, other than that we have not scored a heading goal since his inclusion, the only 1 can remember this season was RVP (correct me if i'm wrong) where Falcao crossed the ball early. Its as though now every time we move forward with ball we slow down our attack waiting for Fellaini to get into the box and get on the end of crosses. This is the wrong way to go about it. Over the years we have had various strikers upfront and Rooney getting on the end of crosses that shouldn't change. The reason we was successful over that period was because we had the best passer of the ball in midfield Paul Scholes who moved the ball forward quickly to the wingers. Next to him sat a intelligent Carrick. This does not need to change, we have all the players (except another top winger and a CM) we need to continue on past success with the added dutch philosophical approach LVG can bring. We need to go back to basics. 4231.

Herrera......Carrick
Rooney
????????....................Di maria
Falcao
​

Don't get me wrong we still need at least 2 players to get the best out of the bunch, Strootman (Carrick) and Cuadrado (winger) would be my choice of players. If things don't go to plan we can switch the wingers from wide wingers to inside wingers. Rooney and Falcao/RVP is more than enough presence in the box.

 

[marlowe78]

I think we need to live with Herrera's weaknesses and let him mature with the squad. I hope it's sunk in for a lot of people today that he is the hub of our counterattack and when he is not in the game we are playing the same zombie shit that we've been having to stand watching for the past few years. Carrick, as usual, was excellent defensively but our forward game comes to a literal halt when he's at the controls.

Herrera brings the right kind of energy to our game for Di Maria, Mata, and Rooney to be productive.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I think we need to live with Herrera's weaknesses and let him mature with the squad. I hope it's sunk in for a lot of people today that he is the hub of our counterattack and when he is not in the game we are playing the same zombie shit that we've been having to stand watching for the past few years. Carrick, as usual, was excellent defensively but our forward game comes to a literal halt when he's at the controls.

Herrera brings the right kind of energy to our game for Di Maria, Mata, and Rooney to be productive.

You would think he should be playing over the Christmas period. If ADM is struggling a bit now, goodness knows what he will be like when he realises he isn't getting Christmas off.

 

[OneUnited24]

I'd have thought he is sitting out as long as possible to get over the injury. Of course, the situation does offer another stick to beat Fellaini with though.

Is my feeling too.

At the end of the day he had a cracked/bruised rib, regardless of the medication that can be very painful coming back from. I think its more a case of easing him back than throwing him back in - with our injury record we probably have to be more careful than before. I mean his performances before injury, for me, made him our best performer. Would be shocked if LvG dropped him for Fellaini.

 

[Litch]

He's been absolutely lightweight in some games. He's really struggled with the physical nature of the prem. That's not to say he doesn't like a tackle but needs to work out how's he's going to cope. Fellaini clear technically isn't even close but we've seen already the benefits of a bit of balls in the matches...

 

[NotoriousISSY]

I really hope the reason for his absence is down to the rib injury. There is no other logical explanation for it.

Our attacking play was significantly better with him. Some say he wasn't THAT impressive which might be true, but he brought everyone into the game with his quick incisive passing, our pressing further up the pitch was a lot better too.

Fellaini is a good option when you might be on the back foot vs Chelsea or City, but I want to see our better passers like Mata and Herrera against shithouses like Palace.

 

[Stringer]

He's been absolutely lightweight in some games. He's really struggled with the physical nature of the prem. That's not to say he doesn't like a tackle but needs to work out how's he's going to cope. Fellaini clear technically isn't even close but we've seen already the benefits of a bit of balls in the matches...

He was one of our best performers before his injury so I don't know where you're getting that he 'really struggled'. There was no need to play Felllaini today as Palace were always going to set up defensively therefore a player who can actually create things would be useful. I do accept that Fellaini can do a 'job' in certain games but today wasn't one of them.

 

[manutddjw]

If I were manager I'd revert to the diamond and put either Herrera or Di Maria in the #10 spot. We're getting nothing from out wide and haven't for awhile, at least this way our influential players our on the pitch and playing in their natural positions.

I'll get flamed for this, but Januzaj hasn't justified his selection and if anyone should be dropped to accommodate Herrera it should be him and not Fellaini.

 

[legball]

He'll get plenty games. One time it was Januzaj, then Mata and now it's Herrera, be patient people - they can't all play at the same time. We are trying to be a bit solid in midfield due to our defensive problems, he'll be a mainstay in the team - we just need a little different something now to steady that ship.

 

[2 man midfield]

Maybe we just thought we'd be on the safe side with his ribs and capitalise on Fellaini's form. Hopefully he'll come back for the Arsenal game after the break ready to go.

 

[Sarni]

Very disappointing to see him out of the team after a very good start to the season, hopefully it's fitness issues and not van Gaal not wanting him in the first team for some reason.

 

[ivaldo]

It seems fairly obvious to me hat perhaps this was the first game where Herrera woudve been fit enough to play, as we were at home to probably the worst team in the league (missing their two best players) LVG thought we could risk giving him another weeks rest.

Our starting XI should always consist of Herrera, Blind and Di Maria in midfield. Carrick proved yesterday that for all his neatness he has completely lost any creative or attacking spark, it was the first game this season where we have seen Zombie passing of old. He should be reserved as an impact sub to see games out.

 

[GloryHunter07]

I suspect ribs is a pretty dificult injury to get over as you are constantly bending and twisting. Hope to see him back in the team ASAP.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

People are saying about the fact he needs to bulk up a bit to be able to survive the rigours of the PL. Do we know if the club are doing this? You would hope they have realised this. From what I gather Gary Pallister was scrawny when he joined United, for a CB that isn't great. They bulked him up. Ander doesn't need it to that extent. Without seeing him with no shirt on we don't know how he is muscular wise.

 

[Skills]

Why does he need to bulk up? He takes care of himself pretty well whenever I've seen him, has a bit of a nasty streak in him. Scholes wasn't built like a tank, and Silva looks like a gust of wind might knock him over.

It actually seems to be detrimental to players like him, who are pretty agile and fairly quick. Hernandez turned to shit after he 'bulked up' and Nani has looked noticeably bigger since 11/12. Hasn't helped him.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Why does he need to bulk up? He takes care of himself pretty well whenever I've seen him, has a bit of a nasty streak in him. Scholes wasn't built like a tank, and Silva looks like a gust of wind might knock him over.

It actually seems to be detrimental to players like him, who are pretty agile and fairly quick. Hernandez turned to shit after he 'bulked up' and Nani has looked noticeably bigger since 11/12. Hasn't helped him.

That isn't my suggestion, I like him as he is, but I am a woman. It might be they think he gets knocked off the ball. That could be more having to learn to look after himself not needing to bulk up. I like it that he has that nasty streak as well.

 

[ZDwyr]

It seems fairly obvious to me hat perhaps this was the first game where Herrera woudve been fit enough to play, as we were at home to probably the worst team in the league (missing their two best players) LVG thought we could risk giving him another weeks rest.

Our starting XI should always consist of Herrera, Blind and Di Maria in midfield. Carrick proved yesterday that for all his neatness he has completely lost any creative or attacking spark, it was the first game this season where we have seen Zombie passing of old. He should be reserved as an impact sub to see games out.

No it shouldn't. That would get dominated by good sides, it is too lightweight.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Why does he need to bulk up? He takes care of himself pretty well whenever I've seen him, has a bit of a nasty streak in him. Scholes wasn't built like a tank, and Silva looks like a gust of wind might knock him over.

It actually seems to be detrimental to players like him, who are pretty agile and fairly quick. Hernandez turned to shit after he 'bulked up' and Nani has looked noticeably bigger since 11/12. Hasn't helped him.

I actually think Tom Cleverley's form suffered after he bulked up. It's a pity we don't encourage skill in this league rather than physicality.