Manchester United vs. Athletic Bilbao

[MalteseRedDevil]

we are all over the place tactically. Its looks like we are st up to play on the counter but as a result we are being overrun in midfield. We should b looking to hold on to the ball and make them defend cause they look all over the place defensively. They are good on the ball so teh solution is to keep them of it.

WHilst the players havnt covered themselves in glory, I think that its th manager that is mainly responsible for our awful first half

 

[acnumber9]

Another game you're getting outplayed in. Shud be 1-3.

Luckily none of them have been against Arsenal.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

I'd take Park off and put Carrick on personally

 

[Siorac]

It's crazy to start with a midfield of 2 when one of them is Jones

He would be okay with Carrick. Giggs would also be OK with Carrick. Even Anderson could do well with Carrick.

Yeah, there's a pattern here.

 

[LARulz]

"Epic performance"



sack him.

 

[Name Changed]

It's crazy to start with a midfield of 2 when one of them is Jones

Yep agreed.

 

[Sw33t]

There was a passage of play where with his first touch he was away towards the oppositions goal and he tried to set up Hernandez. It was a class touch.

He's had more of an impact on this game than Young who has gone missing.

So one touch makes up for a couple of thousand misplaced passes?

k then...

Note, tried to set up Hernandez... but ultimately failed.

 

[wr8_utd]

Bet some of you would like us to go out.

Wouldn't really care if we did. The PL is what's important and if going out in the EL helps us concentrate on and win the PL then I won't complain.

 

[Claymore]

This post is fairly dumb

How is it dumb? He rekons La Liga aint a two team league just because were getting outplayed by Bilbao tonight in a tournament were never usually in! La liga is a better quality SPL. End of. We got outplayed on the ball by Ajax as well. I guess Holland is better thanbthe Premiership too. Cant wait for Aguero or Rooney to head over there....

 

[Bross]

It's crazy to start with a midfield of 2 when none of them is Carrick

Fixed

 

[kouroux]

Especially when the other one is a 38 year old Giggs.

Jones has to be instructed to be a thousand times more focused on his positioning since Giggs is gonna try forward runs and dangerous passes.It's a very bad CM duo this one

 

[Siorac]

I'd take Park off and put Carrick on personally

Signed. Put Rafael to wide midfield and move Jones to right-back.

 

[ArmchairCritic]

Oh the arrogance!!!!

They've been much the better team, just like Norwich, just like Spurs. I don't know if Fergie's trying some new tactic out or something but it's not working. We look so vulnerable it's unbelievable.

Just watch when they're in our half, they're like a poor man's Barcelona, and that's no insult - it's one, two, and occasionally three touch football, pass and move.

I fully share your worries but a heck of a lot of teams would kill for our mental strength, these grinding out type of wins (which are far to frequent mind) are testament to the beliefs instilled by the manager. I think the increased frequency of these type of wins is because of the awkward phase we seem to be in as a club, for me we are in transition but it's felt like that for a while for some reason.

 

[Man-United]

As said, awful first half from United but what a great half from Athletic. Played fantastic football, great challange for us in the 2nd half.

 

[jojojo]

Jones has been diabolical to be fair.

Anyway, I just don't think anyone expected Bilbao to be so good.

Why not?

 

[ArmchairCritic]

How is it dumb? He rekons La Liga aint a two team league just because were getting outplayed by Bilbao tonight in a tournament were never usually in! La liga is a better quality SPL. End of.

You think I think this just because of tonight, ok.

 

[wr8_utd]

We really should be delving into the Spanish teams for their midfield talents this summer.

We don't want to stall the progress of Pogba and Morrison

 

[Kraftwerker]

Not a great half.

Jones didn't track Llorente for their goal.

Crying out for Carrick's control in midfield but we can't play him every game.

Rooney very sloppy.

 

[TheBest]

And people are still surprised that we're out of the CL

Not sure if serious

 

[sincher]

Another game you're getting outplayed in. Shud be 1-3.

It's tough being a title challenger sometimes. You wouldn't understand.

 

[kouroux]

We played good in December with Jones-Carrick, but then again, Carrick is easy to play with for every player. We miss him.

Carrick is currently United's most important player

 

[All 3 United]

After watching the 1st half I'm not sure how many Utd players want to even be in this competition.

 

[Massive Spanner]

Jones is as much a midfielder as Rooney is a defender, or something.

Basically, he's not, get him the feck out of there, please.

 

[togg]

hey..I know I'll be shouted down...and yes he scored...but rooney really has been a bit shit this season hasn't he. I mean...he ain't world class :-)

 

[DomesticTadpole]

We don't want to stall the progress of Pogba and Morrison

At least Spanish midfielder know how to control the ball. Most teams here can't pass the ball 5 yards .

 

[Sw33t]

Carrick is currently United's most important player

I'll agree with that without hesitation.

 

[yamo123x]

We have no Speed to our play, no creativity and no urgency They have all this and more, we simply don't have the quality in midfield- we can get away
With it in the prem but not against top European Sides. This Bilbao side are good but we are just inviting them onto us. Poor.

Fergie needs to spend in the summer big time if we are tO compete at the highest level.

 

[Red Dreams]

It's tough being a title challenger sometimes. You wouldn't understand.

 

[TheBest]

How is it dumb? He rekons La Liga aint a two team league just because were getting outplayed by Bilbao tonight in a tournament were never usually in! La liga is a better quality SPL. End of. We got outplayed on the ball by Ajax as well. I guess Holland is better thanbthe Premiership too. Cant wait for Aguero or Rooney to head over there....

ok
edit cheeky edit eh?

 

[Orton]

We don't really have anyone out there who can pass and retain possession, that's the biggest problem, each time we get the ball it is just going forward without much thought and coming straight back at us.

 

[Walrus]

I think park has looked reasonably sharp for the most part.

Jones and giggs just isn't going to work as a partnership, shock horror. For giggs to play in a midfield 2 he has to be with a partner with excellent positional discipline, ie carrick.

I can't actually think of anything to fault our back 5 with, all the faults have been from the strikers and the large midfield-shaped hole between our attack and defence.

 

[Garethw]

i think i've been watching a different game lads. Jones apart form being at fault for the goal has done nothing wrong. Irony.

Was thinking the same thing myself mate.

 

[#07]

Why not?

Second this. Anyone who watches La Liga would've known how quality Bilbao are.

Fergie said he watched the tapes thoroughly before the game so he must've known how good they are which is why I am troubled by so many elements of what I've seen tonight.

 

[Maajid]

We better close that midfield down before they put the tie beyond us.

 

[Siorac]

Jones is as much a midfielder as Rooney is a defender, or something.

Basically, he's not, get him the feck out of there, please.

What IS Jones? He's quick, he's strong, he's good on the ball but what is his position?

Reminds me of Anderson a bit sometimes. Except he's got a better figure. He needs to mature a lot to hold down any position.

 

[sincher]

Why not?

I'm not at all surprised. Have seen them put in some quality performances in La Liga. Muniain and Martinez are big stars of the future.

 

[Cold_Boy]

Jones has been diabolical to be fair.

Anyway, I just don't think anyone expected Bilbao to be so good.

And they are still the 5th best in Spain and we are Manchester United ffs!

Any decent side look like world champs against us.

Thank god we know how to win,though!

 

[Godfather]

Most worrying is the lack of tempo in our game. Like we stuck in second gear. That has been a concern for much of this season

 

[pauldyson1uk]

hey..I know I'll be shouted down...and yes he scored...but rooney really has been a bit shit this season hasn't he. I mean...he ain't world class :-)

oh please , is this for real

 

[Bross]

Why not?

I for one certainly didnt expect them to play better football than any team we've faced since the CL final against Barca. Not that hard with the "quality" of our midfield today mind.

I dont think there are that many on here who watch La Liga enough to have seen several Bilbao games. I will be from now on though, excellent side.