That Balotelli chance pissed me off. Because him and Fellaini seemed to be having an argument whilst Sterling ran past them.
35
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 17
- Clean sheets
- 9
- Goals
- 0
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 1
That Balotelli chance pissed me off. Because him and Fellaini seemed to be having an argument whilst Sterling ran past them.
FFS
From the man himself.
Oh well, my bad. Rojo and Evans could have been a bigger calamity.
Actually I was talking for the other Balotelli chance. That one when Markovic run and made the pass while Evans was just looking and somehow lost Balotelli. Then De Gea had to make an another save and scream at him.
But yes, that one you mentioned was bad too.
Great pass to Mata in action for third goal.
I think he's been woeful. it was his job to step up as the most senior defender at the club and he's just not done it.
He really was, once. His confidence has inexplicably collapsed and he's nervous and error-prone with it now.
Poor from him today. His and Fellaini's were the only bad performances, for me, although Wilson struggled to get on the ball much (mainly because he spent all day waiting for balls to be played in behind and none were.)
I have only really took notice after reading on here so i don't doubt that he once was but as i said above whenever i watch him he doesn't look comfortable on the ball at all.
After a sloppy 1st half i though Fellaini was great in the 2nd, he broke up everything that came near him.
Yeah, whatever it was that he had, it's thoroughly gone. You see the odd glimpse with nice midfield-splitting passes into the forwards every now and then, but he looks terrified in possession whenever an opposition player gets anywhere near him. And so error-prone. Gutting, because he really did show Pique-esque potential for a while.
Fellaini started actually doing something in the second half, true, but he was still giving away the ball for fun, and has the agility of an eighteen-wheeler. I counted his successful tackles/interceptions and dispossessions/mispasses during the game. 4 or the former, 7 of the latter. Herrera struck a stark contrast in his 20-minute cameo - he was winning the ball too, but keeping it and then actually doing something with it.
Just watched the highlights again, I hadn't realised at the time just how badly he'd played.
Maybe now this myth about Evans being a leader will finally be dispelled for good. His best performances have come when being led by others like Vidic and Rio.
A couple of seasons ago i thought he would be leading the line after Rio and Vidic, but now he looks as if he is afraid of getting onto the pitch. A player with so much experience should not look as if he is playing in the first team for the first time in his life. Evans needs to grow some balls and lead the line, otherwise it's the end for him.
He wasn't great, but he's still returning from an injury. Evans is very much a confidence player too, you see his best form when he's consistently picked in the side. Having said that, Jones was also returning from an injury and he was good.
I think he thought De Gea was going to get there and was trying to offer a passing option. When he realised he wasn't he tried to get back.
He wasn't very good. Maybe it's just a match practice thing but I am not sure. Shouldn't be starting once Smalling is fit anyway. Think Smojo is the way to go. Evans is in trouble. Would be looking to offload him.
I'm not sure if he has regressed massively, just had an 18 month purple patch next to the more experienced Rio, or is rusty after coming back. Whichever, he was fairly awful. If he doesn't improve on what we've seen this season i don't think he can have any complaints if he's moved on.
Second match after the injury. Some of you lot are quick to write him off. To be fair, the criticisms are justified, but he'll still come good. Wasn't it rumoured that LvG liked Evans of all the defenders we have? Let's hope he's sorted out physically and also build up some confidence and games. With a busy period like Christmas, a fit again Evans could make a world of difference.
He's turning 27 in a month, is constantly out injured and hasn't put in a solid half of football this season really. I just don't think he's good enough. Makes way too many mistakes and has gone backwards (by a lot) if you compare him now to 3 years ago.
I disagree, the last season was a write off for everyone and he has shown enough talent for us to stick by the injury related issues this year. I'm not sure if he's gone back massively, he's still a great defender and he is comfortable on the ball. It's not easy to adjust to a new system and repeatedly play the ball in tight situations and we've seen even reliable defenders struggle with LvG's set up. I can understand why some of you want to move him on, but I'm still not giving up.
As a defender, I've always thought he was behind Smalling and Jones, at least in terms of potential. On the ball, he's definitely plummeted due to a lack of confidence.
The only positive contribution he made today was the pass to Mata for the third goal, after good work from Fellaini. He was rubbish otherwise, with his defending as well as passing.
Can't believe the rumours which say he's above Jones and Smalling in LVG's keep list; he's been quite shite since the start of the season.
Can't believe the rumours which say he's above Jones and Smalling in LVG's keep list; he's been quite shite since the start of the season.
Agreed. The only two CBs we have that seem at home as the outside CB in this system are Jones and Rojo, the rest don't enough pace.
Smalling is as quick as Jones, if not quicker
Smalling has pace over a long distance, but Jones is quicker over a short area.
You might have a point but I don't quite see it. Maybe I need to be more observant. I know Jones is just getting back from injury, but Sterling had the beating of him for speed quite a few times in his own area.
I never heard that myth but he's anything but a leader. Ok he does a lot of shouting and pointing but doesn't lead by example. I like a leader to be battle hardened not someone that would get bullied of a school kid.
Both Small
Smalling and Jones have both pace to burn. You won't get many quicker centre backs that's for sure.
Came out of the mouths of SAF and Keane. Fergie once said the United team would be built around Evans, tipped him for captaincy and said his future place in the team was guaranteed. I was shocked because i've never rated Evans. That was after he was awarded a 30k contract after his return from Sunderland. Roy Keane said in his book that Evans is a 'natural born leader'. They were both wrong
Jonny was a centre-half. He had the qualities of a Manchester United player, and he was bringing them to Sunderland. For such a young man – he was nineteen – he was very mature, and a born leader. Jonny was unbelievable for us. He lived with his mam and dad in Sale, near my home, so I picked him up there and brought him up to see the set-up at Sunderland.
I knew I was on a winner; I knew him, and I knew what he was about. I remembered an incident when I was still at United; there’d been a fight in the canteen and Jonny had looked after himself well – I think he knocked the other lad out. I knew Jonny was tough
I think Keane was more impressed that Evans knocked someone out to be honest
Fergie also said Macheda was like Hughes! It's ok Both saying this but another thing watching them season in season out being anything but a leader. I would love to be proved wrong (like i was wanting to be with Clev and Anderson) but I suspect like those two he will always come up short. He looks excellent when we are flying but when he has to dig deep I'm not so sure.
Evans was absolutely terrible yesterday. It was one of the worst defensive performances I have seen from a United defender. It was absolutely incredible that he decided not to close Sterling down just before Balotelli hit the bar. He just stood there and watched as Sterling turned unopposed in the box to play a simple pass to Balotelli.
Playing 3-5-2 is no excuse for having no sense of where the danger is. Both he and Jones should be embarrassed that a makeshift centre back in Carrick completely outperformed them both. He's just back from injury so hopefully after some games he will improve but that was a shocking performance.
Playing 3-5-2 is no excuse for having no sense of where the danger is. Both he and Jones should be embarrassed that a makeshift centre back in Carrick completely outperformed them both. He's just back from injury so hopefully after some games he will improve but that was a shocking performance.
He's going through a poor run of form, that's for sure. In a game where Van Persie made a lot of people eat humble pie - and a season where Valencia and Young are doing the same - it would be silly to write him off completely. Although no doubt many will.
People love a moan. He and Jones have just returned from long injury lay offs, it should hardly be a surprise that they look so rusty.
He is not as bad as it would seem reading the caf imo, but then again, there is almost n oone who is as bad as they are on here.
Still, for a CB in the modern game with years of experience, his passing is way below avarge.
ITs strange, but up untill last year i always had a picture of him as a CB who was good on the ball.
You can see he dont trust his own passing game anymore. Driving the ball upwards he either hoofs it or turn around and take an easy pass. The way the game develops a modern CB needs to be able to pass thru the midfield. You can see the difference when Carrick gets the ball deep in the field and look up to start the attacking play, while Evans looks scared to try anything.
Still, for a CB in the modern game with years of experience, his passing is way below avarge.
ITs strange, but up untill last year i always had a picture of him as a CB who was good on the ball.
You can see he dont trust his own passing game anymore. Driving the ball upwards he either hoofs it or turn around and take an easy pass. The way the game develops a modern CB needs to be able to pass thru the midfield. You can see the difference when Carrick gets the ball deep in the field and look up to start the attacking play, while Evans looks scared to try anything.
Smalling's very quick over short distances as well. See the way he dealt with Sterling's pace in the pre-season friendly. I've rarely ever seen him beaten 1v1 whether that's in the box or over a long distance.
He looks woeful and has done for some time. I'm not buying this line that its just rustiness either he's not up to it. He was a journeyman at best and now he's a liability.
I cack myself every time he's on the ball and its clear that opponents are smelling blood when he has it - they know if they press him he'll panic.
I cack myself every time he's on the ball and its clear that opponents are smelling blood when he has it - they know if they press him he'll panic.
Will judge him after a couple of months, but he's been awful. Looks worse than his debut season which is staggering.
The worst of our defenders this season IMO, hopefully he can get some form as we're going to need him with all these injuries. Have a feeling Rojo might be out for a while...
That's just wrong.
There is nothing that fills me with any confidence that he can deal with any striker with above average qualities comfortably. He has looked average at best for very long now and with defensive changes touted, his future here must be at risk.
He's up against Big Ben next weekend too, that should be fun.
He's up against Big Ben next weekend too, that should be fun.
Out of the CBs for me he needs to go in the summer tbh, maybe he can change that around in the second half of the season, but going on this season so far he is going to be shown the door.
Continues to pose an inabilty to play one match without kacking his knickers whenever opposition present him with the slightest of pressure. Surely first to go in the summer once an upgrade is available. The lad just reeks of self destruction. With his amount of experience you would think he has something to offer the young cbs coming through, but honestly i feel more confident with blackett or mcnair starting before him.