[Trizy]

Just imagine how good we'd be with Falcao back to his best and two of the best full backs in the league in Rafael and Shaw? (Yes I think Rafael is THAT good and Shaw, well, he's Luke Shaw)

 

[The Red Thinker]

Crystal Palace?

I think that we did keep the ball with Palace, but that complete confidence amongst all the midfielders and defenders was missing. That's why this is better and more like the Fergie era.

 

[Raptori]

Watching AH play, I wonder why the hell he was not on every other game, maybe it was the match fitness, but his intelligence is a game changer.

Seriously it has to be match fitness. He was roughly this good before his injury, his only bad game was the one where he was still injured. Been great today, so good to have a midfield.

 

[Theonas]

Carrick has perfected the art of standing still, Rarely moved out of the centre circle. I'm a big Blind fan but he's much more action orientated, Carrick puts out fires before they get even close to starting, such a platform for our other players to dominate from.

He's a magnificent football. You only have to hear what the Italians and Spaniards think of him. He just happens to play in a country where you're not appreciated unless you're box to box, pacey, or a hard tackler. Even Scholes struggled to get the appreciation he deserves over here.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

This! We shouldn't overestimate this game. No disrespect to Hull but they're really bad today. Never mind, it's Hull or whoever at the moment, just the three points is all that matters.

You can beat only what's it in front of you.

 

[minoo-utd]

Herrera, Fellaini, Mata, Smalling ... all very great.
Di Maria seems to be a safety sub right? If it would be a real hamstring, he wouldn´t have been able to play another 5 minutes.

Id like to see Falcao getting some minutes now, please more than just 10 mins.

He didn't he was just walking beside the line waiting couple of mins for Ander to warm up a bit, hopefully it's not that serious though.

 

[The Stain]

RvP won the second header leading up to the first goal then was in the right place to assist Wayne. Involved in creating the goals sure, but hes been invicible the rest of the half. Id sell him in January but thats not happening of course.

Carrick is so calm playing the Pirlo-role, Herrera orchestrates further up and Fellaini bossing cnuts around. That should be our three in midfield. Would like to see Di Maria as a wingforward.

Cool and composed first half, keep it up.

 

[marlowe78]

Excellent play from just about everybody. Di Maria is a tough loss but we at least have the chance to see Herrera back in action. We clearly need a player like Herrera who can move, navigate that middle area, and distribute. I'm by no means comparing him to Scholes, but we haven't had a young, mobile player of that type in quite a while.

Fellaini has been solid. Nothing brilliant but I've been very pleased with him. With Blind out, he's been a very good compliment to Carrick in slowing down attacks and reclaiming the ball.

RVP, as we most all expected, has been crap. TAKE HIM OFF. I'm glad that he assisted on Rooney's goal and acted unselfishly, but he's done nothing of note otherwise. Falcao must be squirming on the bench to take his place.

 

[Sunny Jim]

I cant remeber when was the last time i enjoyed watch us play so much. Great stuff.

 

[Ramshock]

No harm to Brucey but he isnt a good manager. He needs to get himself in better shape, fitter body sharper mind and all that

 

[daniel9988]

Just imagine how good we'd be with Falcao back to his best and two of the best full backs in the league in Rafael and Shaw? (Yes I think Rafael is THAT good and Shaw, well, he's Luke Shaw)

You might be slightly overrating our players. But yes, we'll be playing better football with them on the pitch.

 

[Theonas]

We do still need 1/2 leaders in the team. Yes we have played well so far but this has been 1 half of 1 game against Hull at home. Let's keep some perspective and not get carried away.

I wasn't talking about this half. I am talking about what Van Gaal is trying to do, I didn't say he succeeded already. For what he is trying to do, having a leader Vidic style defender is simply not required. It's much more important to have players who can possession and rotate the ball well.

 

[pacifictheme]

If anyone has a river that would be great...

 

[Trizy]

You might be slightly overrating our players. But yes, we'll be playing better football with them on the pitch.

Well Rafael is my opinion but whose better than Shaw?

 

[JackWhite]

I think that we did keep the ball with Palace, but that complete confidence amongst all the midfielders and defenders was missing. That's why this is better and more like the Fergie era.

I agree. Very much sterile domination vs. Palace.

 

[Catt]

Only thing that cnut has ever strained is his nose

Can't stand him. Just reporting from beautiful Norway.

 

[red_7]

Best half of the year! Really pleased with the performance! Totally dominating for the first time since SAF left. Good movement and passing, Pressing opponents as well getting the ball back asap.

 

[RedRavi]

Rooney is terrible as a lone striker. Always has been and always will be. And despite how well he's done, Rojo and Smalling are better players than McNair right now. Smalling made up for his idiotic performance against City with a great one last weekend.

I was saying that because like most people, I initially thought we were playing 3 at the back. Yeah but i like players on form and mcnair has been pretty good. Agreed smallings made a good comeback since city, but for me mcnair looks more assured and composed than rojo atm. Regardless of this anyway, our defence hasn't been tested at all so far, so not really that fussed anymore about mcnair haha

 

[Raees]

I actually think that Valencia has played pretty well. He's no Rafael but he's still a good player. Only Rvp for me. Would love to see Falcao come on.

Valencia is solid defensively and up till the final third, he hasn't put a foot wrong.. but he is so limited in an attacking sense and really does need a winger in front of him. He has no game intelligence in terms of how to deliver a cross, when to deliver a cross.. he could be such a lethal weapon this game as he is being given alot of space but he is constantly passing the ball inside when he has an opportunity to put a quality cross in and when he does try to cross... smashes it into the first man. Very frustrating.

That said, I am loving the movement today, looking sharp and Carrick/Fellaini.. really looking more agile on the ball, more character in their play.

 

[ChaddyP]

We have been a joy to watch this half for me ... This is what we been askin for.. And what we should be doing to teams like this that come to old Trafford. Confidence on the ball... Movement... Creativity... Belief. Long may it continue. Hope di Maria injury isn't too bad

 

[KeninDC]

Dominating: 93% passing completion with 76% possession. Would like to see Falcao get a run in the second half, keep a clean sheet and get 2 more goals.

 

[bosnian_red]

Feels a lot more then 76%... How the feck do Bayern get over 80% regularly

 

[RetroStu]

I can only imagine what a fully fit Falcao would of done in this game.

 

[allen!7]

reason for this excellent football.
CARRICK
FELLAINI HERRERA MATA

 

[Borys]

Lots and lots of possession but only 2, maybe 3, shots on goal. Still, this an improvement over what we've see against clubs like Burnley earlier this season.

This has been an excellent performance for us so far. We should have been awarder with a penalty, RVP had a great chance, Rooney was one on one too. I think we have been very good in attack and excellent at keeping the opposition away from our goal. This is possession football at its finest, and I love it.

 

[iAm20Legend]

Our centre backs look good. Smalling especially looks very confident.

Yes, he's been quite decent today. But I've given up hoping our CBs will stay injury-free for three games in a row .. but of course Hummels also falls into that injury-prone category.

 

[jeff_goldblum]

Happy with that first half, injuries aside. It's nice to see Herrera and Fellaini in the same team, along with Carrick there's a good balance there.

 

[Dylan94]

RvP won the second header leading up to the first goal then was in the right place to assist Wayne. Involved in creating the goals sure, but hes been invicible the rest of the half. Id sell him in January but thats not happening of course.

Carrick is so calm playing the Pirlo-role, Herrera orchestrates further up and Fellaini bossing cnuts around. That should be our three in midfield. Would like to see Di Maria as a wingforward.

Cool and composed first half, keep it up.

Suggesting that we sell him in January is pretty absurd to be honest. He's not playing well right now but that doesn't mean that he's done. He just needs some time out to rest.

 

[Lennon]

You can beat only what's it in front of you.

That's true.

 

[DJ Jeff]

Anyone have a good SopCast stream? Please

 

[Trizy]

reason for this excellent football.
CARRICK
FELLAINI HERRERA MATA

Indeed, great balance and each of them having a great game.

 

[Browniee]

You are missing out on the best football we played in two seasons.

Muther fecker!!

 

[kopviolator]

Great to see Smalling on top of his game. Great to see Carrick on top of his game. And great to see Rooney on top of everybody's game.

 

[BennyST]

I've said this before but at least one of Mata or Herrera needs to play every week. The Spanish style movement that they both do so well is fantastic and is really opening up spaces in attack that really no other players in the squad do.

That's why I think they need to play with Di Maria and Falcao too. Rooney gets it and builds off it, but with Mata, Herrera, Di Maria and Fellaini adding the muscle, that's a great understanding of fast play there. Falcao up front, we are on!

 

[Mali_Zeus]

So are we playing 3-5-2 which can easily transform in 4-4-2?

 

[iAm20Legend]

reason for this excellent football.
CARRICK
FELLAINI HERRERA MATA

True that, but I think our whole team has looked good. Rvp is way off, and Valencia still tries to break his fullbacks shins, but the others have been very good.

 

[Micha]

If scoring against Chelsea didn't help him, why wouid scoring against a poor Hull do so?

Because he doesn't just need to put the odd ball in the net. He needs to gain confidence by actually having a decent game, i.e. stringing some passes together, having somegood touches, that sort of thing.

 

[Borys]

Carrick, Fellaini, Herrera have been fantastic. Swap Mata with Di Maria and RVP with Falcao and it's our strongest team ATM.

 

[Raw]

Right, lets not collapse.

 

[Dylan94]

I wasn't talking about this half. I am talking about what Van Gaal is trying to do, I didn't say he succeeded already. For what he is trying to do, having a leader Vidic style defender is simply not required. It's much more important to have players who can possession and rotate the ball well.

I understand what your saying. But I maintain that having experienced leaders in your time is always necessary and beneficial regardless of the style of football that your playing. We have one in Rooney which is good. We could do with one more in defence that's all I'm saying even if he doesn't play every game.