Ahh but we beat Real Madrid! Here's me thinking those were just exhibition games. We need to spend or else...
PL L FA Premier League
Manchester United 1:2 Swansea City
Post-match discussion
Sat, 16 August 2014
For all the lamenting about defence and midfield, it was our attack which was disappointing and completely toothless. In the first half, Mata and Hernandez were completely anonymous and Rooney wasnt much better.
The thing is people seem to be surprised when others comment on our squad being average.
If we're being brutally honest, our defence is midtable standard. Our midfield is midtable standard. Up front is our only saving grace. Where do you expect us to finish with such a bang average squad? Just having the name Manchester United on your jersey isn't good enough to win you titles anymore.
If we're being brutally honest, our defence is midtable standard. Our midfield is midtable standard. Up front is our only saving grace. Where do you expect us to finish with such a bang average squad? Just having the name Manchester United on your jersey isn't good enough to win you titles anymore.
We are shit. No pace in midfield, if we dont invest in some pace we will be lucky to improve on 7th.
The bigger loss today was having to shift back to 4-2-3-1 so quickly after having played the entire preseason with a 3-4-1-2.
The defense is still utter fecking shambles no matter who's coaching. Individually not a lot wrong but the collective was just so poor and it didn't help by the fact that out midfield as always went missing. The lack of signings to cover for the full back spots will eventually bite us hard, its match 1 and we started with Lingard/Young both out of position and had to move Phil Jones back to right back to patch it up.
I love Fletcher but man, he is done at this level. Such an underwhelmingly poor performance from the vice captain.
The defense is still utter fecking shambles no matter who's coaching. Individually not a lot wrong but the collective was just so poor and it didn't help by the fact that out midfield as always went missing. The lack of signings to cover for the full back spots will eventually bite us hard, its match 1 and we started with Lingard/Young both out of position and had to move Phil Jones back to right back to patch it up.
I love Fletcher but man, he is done at this level. Such an underwhelmingly poor performance from the vice captain.
Yep, or Barcelona or someone like that will give us their deadwood. Watch us get Alex Song for £35m.
Agreed.
We need about 6 players. Most depressing thing is how much rival fans will enjoy it. I'm sure LVG will turn things around though.
Would of preferred to have lost with the 3-5-2 than switching to 4-4-2 and still losing - seriously where do we go from here? Persist with 3-5-2 switch to 4-4-2? Either way we need to spend money on quality
It made so little sense that we pick a system that should get the best out of Mata but we hardly play it to him in the first half. This 3-5-2 doesnt seem to offer us the protection we need at the back and what annoys me is the gap between our defenders and midfielders is massive, whenever any of our CBs had the ball no one was dropping deep to give them a outlet - so frustrating to watch.
Second half we start really brightly but after we lose the second goal our heads dropped. I was hoping to see LvG bark orders from the touchline ala SAF but he was a picture of Moyes if ever i saw it.
Still its only the first game of the season and i am still hopeful for reinforcements - a CB, CMF and winger would be nice
Second half we start really brightly but after we lose the second goal our heads dropped. I was hoping to see LvG bark orders from the touchline ala SAF but he was a picture of Moyes if ever i saw it.
Still its only the first game of the season and i am still hopeful for reinforcements - a CB, CMF and winger would be nice
I get the feeling LVG deliberately sabotaged us with the Herrera sub, in order to make it clear to woodward there is deficiencies in the squad.
The most horrifying thing was that in around the 80th minute, we truly looked lost. Players were out of position, we were scrambling for the ball back, and for a while we seriously looked like a pub team.
Disappointed with the result but I don't think we were that bad. In fact at certain times through the game I thought we played well.
Interesting that we changed shape at half time, not sure what we can read into that apart from the fact we looked more threatening for the switch. Januzaj was extremely frustrating and was pleased to see Rooney giving him a earful. Nani was really good and Herrera stood out without being spectacular. Odd for him to subbed, kind of messed our midfield up a bit for me.
Also Young as a left back. Not again please.
Interesting that we changed shape at half time, not sure what we can read into that apart from the fact we looked more threatening for the switch. Januzaj was extremely frustrating and was pleased to see Rooney giving him a earful. Nani was really good and Herrera stood out without being spectacular. Odd for him to subbed, kind of messed our midfield up a bit for me.
Also Young as a left back. Not again please.
Rodgers was nice and did try to warn Van Gaal, but you all laughed!
Fletcher was really poor. This was the wrong game to start him in especially considering Swansea's playing style. Left Herrera who also didn't have a great game having to do the work of two. You need to get Mata on the ball more.
Fletcher was really poor. This was the wrong game to start him in especially considering Swansea's playing style. Left Herrera who also didn't have a great game having to do the work of two. You need to get Mata on the ball more.
I still don't understand why Fletcher passed it back so many times when he had absolutely no one putting him under any real serious pressure.
The only positive I can take out of today is that LvG now knows just how injury prone our defence is.
We were in control of the game but we weren't exactly doing much, Fellaini was awful aye but you've got our vice captain next to him who was much worse all game. The problem is we're relying on these players in our midfield who just aren't up to it at the level we want to be at.
By the way the moment that free kick was taken early by Bony, I knew we were fecked. These defenders just do not know how to read and position themselves out there.
When we switched it up at half time, yeah - we finally had control of the match and looked the most likely team to score - we were getting the ball to januzaj who was causing them all sorts of problems. Then Fellaini came on for one of our best players today and we lost all control and failed to build from the back at all.
We don't even have to be picky. Literally anyone whose anyone in club football is a improvement to our current midfield.
We switched to 4-3-3 because Hernandez was very awful and Lingard got injured.
Then we must accept midtable.
Erm half of them yes. You can't polish a turd. I don't care if you're LVG or SAF.
The squad has been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that it needs more than a couple of plasters to hold it together.
We lost our 3 most experienced defenders and our cover at left back and bought 1 left back (who's now injured). That's either arrogance or sheer stupidity.
And that's on top of our long existing midfield problems.
Ffs. It's boring banging the same drum over and over again!
I had Sigurrdsson in my fantasy football team too and took him out 
Our midfielders and defenders were average as hell. Got absolutely dominated by a midfield consisting of Shelvey and Ki.
Can't defend. Jones got us out of jail with last ditch tackles, that covered up the lack of intelligence back there. Absolutely shocking at dealing with counter attacks, just like the previous two seasons.
Rooney couldn't pass. Lost count of the under hit ones.
Mata was invisible.
The midfield had no influence on the game.
No creativity. Can't cross. Slow passing, sporadic pressing.
Januzaj and Nani we're the only decent players when they came on. Januzaj faded because he doesn't have match fitness yet. Thank god we have him.
Rooney couldn't pass. Lost count of the under hit ones.
Mata was invisible.
The midfield had no influence on the game.
No creativity. Can't cross. Slow passing, sporadic pressing.
Januzaj and Nani we're the only decent players when they came on. Januzaj faded because he doesn't have match fitness yet. Thank god we have him.
I honestly don't know why people are surprised. The squad is weaker than it was last season. If we don't sign anybody I still think LVG will get more out of this team than moyes could but it won't be enough for top 4. We just don't have a top 4 team. Fletcher wouldn't get into any PL team never mind one trying for top 4.
We're not going to solve years of underinvestment in 2 weeks. This squad is 300 million pounds off were it needs to be so people really need to lower their expectations. Without the transfers look for small signs of improvement.
We're not going to solve years of underinvestment in 2 weeks. This squad is 300 million pounds off were it needs to be so people really need to lower their expectations. Without the transfers look for small signs of improvement.
Disappointing but not that unexpected.
Significant change is a process.
Significant change is a process.
Maybe we were a little harsh on Moyes. Still, I'm glad he's gone. He was never right for us anyway.
Smash and grab victory for Swansea, extremely disappointing. We dominated the game but lacked the quality to create many chances.
Janujaz and Nani were far and away our best players in the second half. At the end there Nani was the only one driving us on, which was a pleasant surprise to see from him these days to be honest. Blackett cost us both goals unfortunately due to silly little errors, getting caught in no mans land on the first causing Smalling and Jones to shift over and leave the space behind them and giving the ball back for the quick free kick on the second.
Fletcher inspires no confidence any more unfortunately. Herrera should have stayed on. LVG will get it right eventually I have no doubts.
Janujaz and Nani were far and away our best players in the second half. At the end there Nani was the only one driving us on, which was a pleasant surprise to see from him these days to be honest. Blackett cost us both goals unfortunately due to silly little errors, getting caught in no mans land on the first causing Smalling and Jones to shift over and leave the space behind them and giving the ball back for the quick free kick on the second.
Fletcher inspires no confidence any more unfortunately. Herrera should have stayed on. LVG will get it right eventually I have no doubts.
I mean, what do the people at our club do?
Literally, I could list you instantly without thinking 10 reasons why we have problems, yet the whole club seem so ignorant of them. It's a fecking joke.
Literally, I could list you instantly without thinking 10 reasons why we have problems, yet the whole club seem so ignorant of them. It's a fecking joke.
Was ridiculed for saying it this week, but the squad is an absolute state. The club is an absolute fecking shambles when it comes to the players we have. We played a substandard winger at left back, a centre half ended up at right back, Fletcher stayed on despite offering nothing and we had a chronic lack of pace. Only Januzaj offered something a bit different.
The worst United squad I've ever seen.
The worst United squad I've ever seen.
Didn't get the Herrera sub, could understand for Fletch but not for Herrera, he wasn't playing that well but he just moves the ball forward faster than anyone else we have in cm which is what we needed.
Pretty much a combination of a lack of investment (particularly with the players who've left and injuries) and a system that may favor the 3 main attackers (Rooney, RVP, and Mata) from a positional sense and a logistical sense of getting them all in but has issues with the players behind them. Got defenders who aren't good on the ball and don't want to push up/not natural to them and wingbacks who either aren't wingbacks and so defensively v.questionable or are decent defensively but can't carry the ball forward. This just leaves the midfield in a position of being surrounded by the opposition and it slows down our passing or forces the ball back to the defenders who have to go long. There's not enough players drawing the opposition players to create space around the middle.
Thought we looked better in a 4411. The goal was a case of switching of more than anything and Young not being a Lb. But the problem with 4411 is it's only temporary fix and we get back to the problem that Rooney for me isn't as good dropping off when RVP does come back (and leaves Mata where he doesn't want to be) and the wingers haven't performed appropriately there in ages. I don't see a problem with 352 in terms of getting our 3 best players where they want to be but I'm surprised we haven't then brought in players behind them who suit the system.
Januzaj s the bright spark though, makes a massive difference to us because he's willing to have a go at players. Nani too made a difference with his ability to run at people. Neither have had many pre-season minutes but both looked like they added to the team. That's part of our problem at the moment, we're trying to play narrow with only one or two specialist passers in their roles but if we do go wide we don't really have anyone aside from Januzaj who represents a regular threat.
Still whilst I'm sure this won't cause people to panic at the club and it shouldn't as we had some decent moments but it will surely hit home that we need to invest.
Pretty much a combination of a lack of investment (particularly with the players who've left and injuries) and a system that may favor the 3 main attackers (Rooney, RVP, and Mata) from a positional sense and a logistical sense of getting them all in but has issues with the players behind them. Got defenders who aren't good on the ball and don't want to push up/not natural to them and wingbacks who either aren't wingbacks and so defensively v.questionable or are decent defensively but can't carry the ball forward. This just leaves the midfield in a position of being surrounded by the opposition and it slows down our passing or forces the ball back to the defenders who have to go long. There's not enough players drawing the opposition players to create space around the middle.
Thought we looked better in a 4411. The goal was a case of switching of more than anything and Young not being a Lb. But the problem with 4411 is it's only temporary fix and we get back to the problem that Rooney for me isn't as good dropping off when RVP does come back (and leaves Mata where he doesn't want to be) and the wingers haven't performed appropriately there in ages. I don't see a problem with 352 in terms of getting our 3 best players where they want to be but I'm surprised we haven't then brought in players behind them who suit the system.
Januzaj s the bright spark though, makes a massive difference to us because he's willing to have a go at players. Nani too made a difference with his ability to run at people. Neither have had many pre-season minutes but both looked like they added to the team. That's part of our problem at the moment, we're trying to play narrow with only one or two specialist passers in their roles but if we do go wide we don't really have anyone aside from Januzaj who represents a regular threat.
Still whilst I'm sure this won't cause people to panic at the club and it shouldn't as we had some decent moments but it will surely hit home that we need to invest.
To sum up:
- Hernandez is just an incredibly mediocre footballer
- Rooney once again proves he cannot compete with top strikers as a single striker
- Our midfield both Herrera and Fletcher's passing was sloppy as feck (and this defiantly isn't the first time for Herrera)
- 352 is a system that is to safe and is a cock block for attacking wingers, 433 is a system which is perfect but we don't have the players to make it work (also due injuries).
- Our defense is shockingly bad like always, and what even shocked me more is that LvG allowed our centre backs to launch balls forward like a true English team. Either Smalling is going to get the belt, or LvG saw no other chances to build up from midfield (which should be a major concern for him then)
- Hernandez is just an incredibly mediocre footballer
- Rooney once again proves he cannot compete with top strikers as a single striker
- Our midfield both Herrera and Fletcher's passing was sloppy as feck (and this defiantly isn't the first time for Herrera)
- 352 is a system that is to safe and is a cock block for attacking wingers, 433 is a system which is perfect but we don't have the players to make it work (also due injuries).
- Our defense is shockingly bad like always, and what even shocked me more is that LvG allowed our centre backs to launch balls forward like a true English team. Either Smalling is going to get the belt, or LvG saw no other chances to build up from midfield (which should be a major concern for him then)
Yes
Smalling, Jones, Fletcher, Nani, Young, Fellaini that is just a squad full of average shit that has consistently shown even under Fergie they aren't good enough for top football. Then the only other thing we have in the squad are youngsters like Blackett, Januzaj and a hand full of good players like Rooney and Mata but if they aren't having a top day then it all falls apart like a cardhouse in a hurricane.
We need quality injections on the midfield and espeically at the back, I don't want to see Smalling, Jones, Fletcher in the starting eleven, I really don't !
Fellaini - oh lordy, lordy, lordy. What a really, fundamentally average player. Why on earth did he come on to replace Herrera? Fouled repeatedly, was partly at fault for the second goal ... Another thing I noticed, as soon as we had possession he just ran straight up towards the box, no intention at all of playing it along the ground. I sincerely hope that was down to Fellaini just being shite rather than van Gaal's instruction. He gots to go. He gots to go.
Fletcher was really poor, too. At one point in that second half he actually gave up the ghost and just passed it to the opposition. It wasn't a mistimed, underweighted or even really a bad pass. He literally just gave it to the opposition.
The Young we know and love was back today, albeit in a foreign position, so I'll afford him some leeway.
The back three were shaky and lacked composure of any sort.
Hernandez needs to be sold.
Januzaj looked good in parts.
Rooney and Mata were 'meh', but they suffered from a chronic lack of support through the middle.
Fletcher was really poor, too. At one point in that second half he actually gave up the ghost and just passed it to the opposition. It wasn't a mistimed, underweighted or even really a bad pass. He literally just gave it to the opposition.
The Young we know and love was back today, albeit in a foreign position, so I'll afford him some leeway.
The back three were shaky and lacked composure of any sort.
Hernandez needs to be sold.
Januzaj looked good in parts.
Rooney and Mata were 'meh', but they suffered from a chronic lack of support through the middle.
I like that idea, I find it oddly cheering. However unlikely.
Despite LVG's arrival, Rooney remains so one-dimensional with his auto-pilot ball out to the right flank regardless of the position he's in. Not only is it predictable, but it basically omits Mata from the build-up.
Then when he did finally pass it forward he gave it straight to a Swansea player, even when there was no one pressuring him at all.
McManaman is right. City and Chelsea have two world class starting 11's. We don't even have one.
Wilted as soon as there was anything at stake.
My feelings exactly. I feel like my weekend is ruined now.
I must admit I have been having similar thoughts.
Starting to - unfortunately - think that Mata isn't all that.
There are few top strikers, if any, who suffer the same lack of support as Rooney. Having a midfield worthy of a 6th place team does not help at all.
Man of the Match
Runners-up
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25%
Adnan Januzaj
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19%
Wayne Rooney
-
10%
Tyler Blackett
-
7%
Ander Herrera
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3%
Chris Smalling
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2%
Nani
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2%
David de Gea
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2%
Marouane Fellaini
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1%
Ashley Young
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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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replaced by Adnan Januzaj
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replaced by Marouane Fellaini
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-
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replaced by Nani
