I really do not want to see much more of those "hoof it to the bigman" tactics.
PL L FA Premier League
Manchester United 1:2 Swansea City
Post-match discussion
Sat, 16 August 2014
So before I kill myself, I am taking some positives out of the match:-
So, in summary, it was actually a decent result for us....... I'm not panicking at all, it's fine, really really, absolutely fine....... where's the gun
- We beat Swansea 4-1 first game of last season - we don't want the same season so change the start
- The excellent pre-season could have LVG thinking he didn't need any more reinforcements. I'd have taken one defeat to ensure that he knows we are miles short in terms of quality at CB and CM
- Hernandez, Fellaini and Nani - clear that they are not United players - sure they will be sold in next 2 weeks
Me neither but what chances did we create in open play? Honestly can't remember any.
Really disappointed. Felt we had enough to get a result today and we end up playing poorly. We lacked confidence and were nervous throughout the game which effected our decision making, also our wing backs are a mess at the moment.
I found it bemusing how easy we were to defend against as well. They put a lot of men behind the ball but I expected us to be more creative and move the ball quicker to break them down, but we lacked ideas and ultimately tippy tapped the ball around defence and then pumped it long. Should have done better here!!
I found it bemusing how easy we were to defend against as well. They put a lot of men behind the ball but I expected us to be more creative and move the ball quicker to break them down, but we lacked ideas and ultimately tippy tapped the ball around defence and then pumped it long. Should have done better here!!
True
Yeah cant remember any either except Ashley's run and shot toward the end.
Yeah, Hererra coming off really was a strange one..
No of course not. You see it happen to other teams, where they get on a bad run and suddenly start doing basic things wrong and end up in a rut.
It's not something we've ever found to be a problem in the past though, mainly due to Sir Alex...and now we really do have shockingly little character in our squad.
There's plenty of players who want to do the right thing and can't be accused of not putting the effort in. I wouldn't say anyone can be accused of sulking today for example. It's just that as soon as something goes awry we turn into a panicky mush. In our home games it's like we start the game so much in fear of going into meltdown, that we end up beating ourselves while the opposition just sort of celebrate in the corner with baffled looks on their faces.
All of the top teams in the league do have players who will compose themselves and drag their team out of a mess. Most teams at the very least have one or two people with leadership skills.
For us, Wayne Rooney is genuinely the closest thing to that we have, which sums up the problem in itself. No real criticism of Rooney but he's not a leader, if anything he's the sort of player who needs leaders around him in order to get the best out of himself.
You asked why it is an anti-climax, hence I reminded you of the optimism, whether you judge it relevant or not.
I never said I expect he'd turn it around in a few games or anything to that effect, but hoped to show some progress in terms of performances and tactical awareness if not results.
I think people need to calm down. You dont go from 7th to swashbuckling football instantly.q
maybe he got an injury...unless you re there you never know
True I suppose
Maybe it wasn't all Moyes fault last year...
Hehehehe.
He obviously means since SAF left. The thing is managers aside the problems lie with a lot of players being average. I struggle to see why so many fans on here think a change of tactics and manager will make these players better.
Top class players in team Rooney, De Gea, van Persie and Mata
Herrera, Shaw and Adnan have that potential.
The rest could be playing for the likes of Villa and Southampton.
The issue we need to address is simple. The first team is not strong enough we need several additions. Even if SAF and his god like abilities were still here I feel he himself would struggle with this current team especially after losing so many leaders and experience in one swoop. Teams can only do as much as their capabilities allow them. LvG is a master tactician and has his own philosophy's but to get this club back to the top he will need some quality signings and time to mould the team. If we do this before window shuts I will be quite confident we can get fourth place and then strengthen further next summer.
Apart from a bit of luck am I wrong in thinking that 95% of the time the team with the best players win tournaments!?
Yeah, I'm so pleased not having to listen to Moyes' plodding post match interviews.
It would have been nice if his subs made the right impact again, because the Herrera/Fellaini one was typically bold. I expect he'll do more of these and I'm optimistic that they will come off more often than not.
I think this is a real problem within the team. We just don't have those strong characters, leaders if you like, who exude a winning mentality even when they are totally up against it...thinking Keane, Ince, Beckham, Robson etc etc. LVG is totally right in saying we are not playing as a team..but then again we haven't for sometime. I also agree that you couldn't fault the players for effort today whatsover...but some real ingredient is missing, something more than just ability...because none of that United team are less skillful than those in the Swansea team! It is physcological to a large extent, it seems as though for all the effort....there is no real understanding of each other, trust if you like. It's a big job LVG has on his hands...that is for sure.
The squad isn't fit for purpose. This could have been a fresh start for United but it's been totally undermined by another incompetent summer in the transfer market. Injuries were a factor, but there's still no excuse for the shambolic state of that starting 11 today. Young players playing out of position, no options, it's just not good enough. We're 3-4 players short in key areas, it's that simple, and if we don't redress the lack of balance and quality then we don't deserve top 4.
Nicely summed up
Which is pretty much what i said in a different context. I said he cannot play as a lone striker, because he doesn't create for himself, cannot beat his opponent reliably and doesn't hold a ball good despite his strength. Neither is he an anchor point. To be fair i would be extremely disappointed in LvG if he holds onto Rooney as a striker and not make him a midfielder. Because this is really not LvGesque to keep a guy like this as our main striker and actually basing a 352 system around him to fit in 2 strikers, despite screwing over our wingers in this system.
At least we're out of the bottom 3, so not all bad.
People asking why Herrera came off and not Fletcher, he obviously planned Fellaini to be a target upfront and didn't want to leave Herrera in the middle of what was a 442 on his own. Fletcher played well in the first half with his energy and did as much as he could, but what do we expect of him in the 2nd half when he was much more exposed.
Januzaj was our shining light and we under utilised him in the 2nd half with Young/Nani being extremely wasteful. Hernandez was missing in action and not enough was played into the feet of Mata/Rooney.
Januzaj was our shining light and we under utilised him in the 2nd half with Young/Nani being extremely wasteful. Hernandez was missing in action and not enough was played into the feet of Mata/Rooney.
What wingers ? The same wingers who have done feck all for us in the last 2 or even 3 years in systems that relied on them ?
I support every system that makes us less dependent on the attacking contribution of Nani, Young and Valencia as much as possible, especially if it is set up to make the best out of our players that do perform like Rooney and RVP.
Absolute shite. I paid around 200 quid for travel and ticket to see this. Raging.
No one stood out. Dont know about second goal, but from where I was , thought de gea could have done better. Could be wrong though. Smalling is absolutely useless on the ball. Same thing as I said after the valencia game, there is no pace, forwards are really static. Fletcher should not be anywhere near the first team, no disrespect. He's finished.
We need atleast 2-3 signings to get top 4 let alone 1st. The scary thing is even if we had rvp, I look at the bench and there is no game changer. Standards have really fallen at the club. There is no quick fix and van gaal is ptobably the best to do it. We are not winning the league for atleast 3 years and you can quote me on that. ..
No one stood out. Dont know about second goal, but from where I was , thought de gea could have done better. Could be wrong though. Smalling is absolutely useless on the ball. Same thing as I said after the valencia game, there is no pace, forwards are really static. Fletcher should not be anywhere near the first team, no disrespect. He's finished.
We need atleast 2-3 signings to get top 4 let alone 1st. The scary thing is even if we had rvp, I look at the bench and there is no game changer. Standards have really fallen at the club. There is no quick fix and van gaal is ptobably the best to do it. We are not winning the league for atleast 3 years and you can quote me on that. ..
I liked in LVG's presser he still talks like he is aiming to be champions. This is the perspective that many posters are preaching.
LVG said:
It's a comforting narrative, kidding ourselves that Moyes took a well oiled machine, stacked full of talent, and somehow wrecked it.
The thing is, this has been coming for years. The signs of decline were obvious, even when we last won the league. The squad is nowhere near good enough and no manager can polish a turd. Not even Louis Van Gaal.
Same shit, different formation.
You are right. I doubt anyone would have gotten away with pointing out deficiencies when we were winning leagues though. However, the truth has been revealed since Fergie left.
Near enough what I posted earlier but it took me about 3 paragraphs to sum up what you have in one quality sentence!
Yep.
Of course it wasn't. People will realise this pretty soon. The squad is very flawed and it's (sorry to say) SAF's fault. Added to this we're also wasting money on players we don't need (Fellaini, Mata).
We couldn't have made a worst transition even if we tried. It's absolutely shocking.
And all we heard throughout the years was that we won't repeat past mistakes.
Good job so far on that front.
Well said by the man himself
What's the point of playing with confidence during pre season if it's to become scared of playing at OT ?
That's what seems to be a big worry. We need 2 or 3 players just so we can challenge for the top 4 let alone the title. I was optimistic about this season but that result has dampened my spirits.
Everyone knew that we needed to sign and sell players over this summer. Hopefully by September 1st we will have more arrivals and departures. If we can get our act together soon, I think we can make the top 4. Then there will be less work to do with the squad next summer.
Everyone knew that we needed to sign and sell players over this summer. Hopefully by September 1st we will have more arrivals and departures. If we can get our act together soon, I think we can make the top 4. Then there will be less work to do with the squad next summer.
Don't think many here ever said that - but Moyes should have done better..and so should the players.
Extreme anti climax isn't in it. Losing at home already
He also accepted that this team isn't good enough to challenge for the title and that he already knew that before today's game. Right now that sort of realistic assessment is far more important than any bullshit "we can be champions" talk.
Agreed
I'm not even that angry about the result like I used to be, it's just complete disappointment. It felt just like a Moyes game.
Man of the Match
Runners-up
-
25%
Adnan Januzaj
-
19%
Wayne Rooney
-
10%
Tyler Blackett
-
7%
Ander Herrera
-
3%
Chris Smalling
-
2%
Nani
-
2%
David de Gea
-
2%
Marouane Fellaini
-
1%
Ashley Young
-
1%
Jesse Lingard
Player Ratings
Total Average Rating
Highest Rated Player
Lowest Rated Player
Compiled from 458 ratings.
Score Predictions
710,6,26
- Man Utd win
- Swansea win
- Draw
Detailed Results
- 27% Man Utd 3:0 Swansea
- 23% Man Utd 2:0 Swansea
- 18% Man Utd 3:1 Swansea
- 10% Man Utd 2:1 Swansea
- 8% Man Utd 4:0 Swansea
- 4% Man Utd 4:1 Swansea
- 2% Man Utd 5:0 Swansea
- 2% Man Utd 1:0 Swansea
- 1% Man Utd 0:0 Swansea
- 1% Man Utd 1:1 Swansea
- 1% Man Utd 3:2 Swansea
- 0% Man Utd 2:2 Swansea
- 0% Man Utd 0:5 Swansea
- 0% Man Utd 5:1 Swansea
- 0% Man Utd 5:3 Swansea
- 0% Man Utd 4:2 Swansea
- 0% Man Utd 1:2 Swansea
- 0% Man Utd 5:2 Swansea
- 0% Man Utd 0:1 Swansea
- 0% Man Utd 3:3 Swansea
Match Stats
- Man Utd
- Swansea
- Possession
- 60% 40%
- Shots
- 14 5
- Shots on Target
- 5 4
- Corners
- 4 0
- Fouls
- 14 20
Referee
Mike Dean
Man Utd Lineup
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-
-
-
-
-
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replaced by Adnan Januzaj
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replaced by Marouane Fellaini
-
-
-
replaced by Nani
