[Hed Zitin]

He'll look just as clueless if we put him along side a new partner every week. We're never going to look good at the back until we get a settled partnership going. Particularly when the rest of our team is so open and attacking.

As an individual performance he was fantastic. He man marked and had RvP in his pocket. No doubt about it though that teams defensive shape was well organised.

That second goal . So much space between Jones and Rafael. Absolutely disgusting defending.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

LVG thinks tonight was our best performance of the season? I realise we improved in the 2nd but I really didn't think we were good at all

He didn't say that post match. He did however say that we didn't get what we deserved.

 

[footballgirl07]

 

[DevilRed]

LVG thinks tonight was our best performance of the season? I realise we improved in the 2nd but I really didn't think we were good at all

We did dominate for long spells of the match and pretty much were undone by the second goal which came out of nowhere.

When the feck are we ever going to play a consistently good/perfect 90 minutes?!

 

[Eriku]

I have to say, it is at least nice to see the last 10 of a match and actually having hopes that we might score a goal. Far cry from how I felt for entire matches last season.

 

[legball]

It's a team problem, some of it is mentally and the others is just lack of discipline and organization. We are not as bad as many on here are suggesting, though we should have taken 3 points today, but let's see how the boys perform against Chelsea. We'll be fine, everyone needs to calm down a bit.

 

[Randall Flagg]

He didn't say that post match. He did however say that we didn't get what we deserved.

He did. He said it was our best game of the season

 

[legball]

As I said in the Mata thread, the guy is another Veron. World class player, signed for the wrong purpose, for the wrong team. I think he'll be sold in the summer.

 

[.Rossi]

They had set-pieces. Marking from wide freekicks is identical to corners. Chill.

I'm strangely relaxed about tonight's game, for some reason. Still seeing signs of improvement. Which is encouraging. Chelsea will smash us though. Oh well.

True....Just hate sloppy analysis from people in the studio

 

[Joga Bonito]

We really lacked incision today. Most of our service came out wide from either Di Maria or Rafael and RVP is not exactly an aerial threat is he. I feel we could have stuck to he diamond formation instead of changing it to a 4-1-4-1(or 4-2-3-1 or what not). Blind holding, Di Maria and Herrera ahead of him, Mata at the #10 position with Januzaj playing off RVP seemed like the way to go for me. We looked to be adapting well and playing good incisive football in the diamond formation and it didn't make sense to change formation.

Di Maria probably had his least influential game so far with us and playing him on the left flank isn't utilizing his abilities to the fullest. He plays best as the most advanced midfielder in a midfield trio or the left mid in a midfield diamond, playing him on the left flank kind of restricts him positionally and doesn't give him the necessary freedom. Januzaj and Mata had poor games which didn't help our chance creation as well. RVP looked extremely isolated and devoid of support at times. It would have even made more sense to play Falcao instead of Mata in the 4-4-2 as RVP constantly needs players around him to thrive. Falcao and Mata would have been more feasible but Falcao was jetlagged and RVP is looking like an untouchable in the team...

 

[FromTheBench]

As an individual performance he was fantastic. He man marked and had RvP in his pocket. No doubt about it though that teams defensive shape was well organised.

That second goal . So much space between Jones and Rafael. Absolutely disgusting defending.

Our defensive organization is problem as a team more than personnel.

Craig Dawson in a high line chasing the game will be hilarious. Marking RVP in a deep line isn't that tough these days either.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Mata didn't finish the game, which distorts things. He was crap though.

Januzaj and Van Persie have the prominence their contributions deserve.

 

[bosnian_red]

Honestly think it was just an off day, even Rafael who has become incredibly consistent had an off day.

RVP and Mata again were shite, Januzaj proving why he shouldn't be in the team and our defense, well, I don't think anyone in the league could have struck the ball better for the first goal, 1 out of every 100 shots that.

Only positive I have from the game is we had a never say die attitude towards the end which we haven't seen in years, plus we're getting better at creating chances and keeping possession, if only everyone wasn't so shit today we might have scored more.

Yeah, too many players underperformed IMO though we still dominated the game. Herrera was clearly not fit still, and had a poor game uncharacteristically, Mata and RvP have continued their awful form, Di Maria was below his usual level and picked up a knock, Januzaj was timid, the fullbacks were worse then normal. Pretty much every player are normally a lot better then how they did individually, but as a whole we still created loads of chances and controlled most of the game, so that is what encourages me I think. Once most of our players actually go in form we'll be fine, but when they have off days then we still make chances and dominate possession.

 

[jem]

RVP form is becoming an issue, Mata hasn't grasped his opportunity, and Januzaj didn't make an impression on the game. Really disappointing, and we seem to be reliant on Di Maria for any form of inspiration. Blah

My feelings exactly. I don't buy that Mata was awful, but this is reminiscent of when Rooney got hurt at the end of the 2009-10, and Berbatov failed to step up. RVP looks a shadow of his former self, and Januzaj was unrecognizable from the player we saw last year.

 

[El Zoido]

We really weren't as bad as some were saying. RVP was a big problem because we created a lot of chances in areas where you'd expect your striker to be dominate, and he was all over the place. Ruud would have had 5 tonight, but when Rafael drills in a great ball across the 6 yard box and nobody gambles, it counts for nothing. Had Falcao started instead of RVP we would have the three points.

 

[SER19]

Ed seems pissed
https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/0D...p4?versionId=GGVj6sjKP2S8bwvtGyuKwFboagYOxguz

its "aw feck whats the point?" as hes watching a long ball.

im certain.

 

[RORY65]

3 of those teams were Burnley, Hull and Sunderland though. The only good team to go there was Everton and they won 2-0 so obviously surrendered possession to the home team.

Yep, West Brom are not a good team and it's disingenuous to say they only had 2 shots when one of them was a one-on-one, a situation we didn't create once all night. We may be improving very slowly but it was still a poor result against a poor team and we look like we're going to be in a real fight with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal to get into the top 4 this season.

 

[Devil may care]

It was very disappointing, no two ways about that. Shaw and Jones were very poor, Mata was invisible and RvP just looks shot. On the plus side I thought Rojo had a good game, won his one on ones, decent in the air and brought the ball out really well. Di Maria must have felt he was wasting his time putting some great balls in as no one was attacking them.

Blind had an odd game in terms of how far forward he was getting, but took the goal really well. Fellaini had easily his best game in a United shirt and scored a great goal, but our lack of someone that can dictate from deep is evident and despite all our strikers we showed a lack of punch up top when we got up against their back 4.

I guess some will look at it as a point gained in the end but it feels like 2 lost to me when you consider the amount of good possession we had.

Foot note: Januzaj was so under par it was sad to see, hopefully he picks up from here.

 

[iBoss]

Amazed at the excuses being made. Albion set up exactly as they need to in order to beat us, and they will be gutted they didn't. We're so easy to take points off these days - opponents just watz through us. Defensive problems are not just down to the back line personnel - we're dire as a team.

They had two shots on goal and scored. Jones is an idiot for what he did. We win the game if he keeps his head. We had a lot of threatening delivery we really should have made more of. We will score at least two a game with this team. If Falcao comes on earlier we score another IMO. I think we are short defensively obviously, but it was one great strike and a moment of madness from Jones that took the points from us. The teams around us will go away from home to teams like WBA and look worse.

 

[El-Manos]

The defence is badly organised, I don't think it's down to lack in quality only. The 2nd goal emphasises our lack of organisation. It's down to LVG to address this as soon as possible.

 

[buckooo1978]

Part of the defensive problems were tactical

Caught short as Shaw pushed up for the first one

For the second Jones was far too advanced and defending so high up the pitch is a risky tactic against a pacey striker like Beharino

Overall some decent passing at times and Fellaini and Falcao improved us a lot

I actually like the formation we played tonight and had Falcao started I think we would have won despite our defense

RVP, Mata and Januzaj have been awful - I can't believe that some argue that Mata deserves a place in the team ahead of Rooney - he's rapidly turning into Kagawa, becoming a passenger in games and exerting little or no influence

I think there were some tactical issues at times, how advanced was Herrera in the first half?

All in all we are unlikely to finish near top 4 with defending like that and I'm nervous about the next 4 games.

 

[Galactic]

Anyone care to summarise the first half? Cheers.

 

[bosnian_red]

Anyone care to summarise the first half? Cheers.

Started off terribly and hardly got a touch of the ball first 5 minutes, though they were mostly just passing it around without doing much. Not sure when they scored their goal but it was a long ball from the keeper, Shaw missed out on a header leaving Wisdom with plenty of space to run into, does a pass to the edge of the box and Sessegnon smashes it in. It wasn't a great chance, more just a half chance then anything, not really awful defending either. Just one of those you have to accept and move on. Since then we pretty much dominated play, made a decent amount of chances but lacking a killer touch. RvP and Mata completely anonymous though.

 

[WyoManU]

We are solidifying our position out of CL football. Very mediocre performance overall. Again, I think we are dropping points to teams with far less quality on paper (and pay) than us simply because they are all willing to give everything they have for every second over every inch of the pitch where we have too many passengers.

Our defense is proving to be one of the easiest in the PL to open up. I am not sure what has happened with Shaw mentally since he arrived, but he doesn't look the same player as last season. I Think Rojo is average and can be a liability. Jones looked average. At least Rafael gets forward and puts in effort.

Herrera looked awful, hoping it is just the broken rib and nothing more. Blind did pretty well. ADM is the only true spark and threat we had. Hope he is not injured. Mata was completely absent yet again. He does not deserve to be in our side.

Januzaj was absent. He is still nothing more than potential. RVP deserves to sit and yet LVG won't do it and instead makes him captain.

Full credit to Fellaini who came and and added a lot to our play. Never thought I would be so happy to see him in our side and that says a lot. Falcao looked lively for the short time he was on. When everyone is back from injuries and suspensions surely he will lead our front line. Young...never mind.

I just wonder how long we are supposed to be patient with LVG. At this stage last year poor Moyes was already getting stick and he didn't spend nearly as much. Much in the same way the Chosen One banner became a bit of an albatross last season, the word philosophy is for this season. Some people on these forums still find positives, and in some ways I do as well, but it is mostly down to a single player, ADM. Otherwise, results are proving to be the same. We also had a relatively easy start to this campaign and are already bruised with the big boys now coming up. I just can't see us getting top 4 with this squad.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

He did. He said it was our best game of the season

I am watching it in the states so maybe they had a different post match.

He talked about making decision to bring on Fellani after 30 mins, because it was obvious we need muscle on the park. Said Herrera was normal, but not good. Said the play during training is promising and that the players did not get what they deserved.

 

[Dumbstar]

From a nervous outsider's perspective I was ecstatic to see the starting line up: Mata, RvP, Januzaj and an injured Herrera. West Brom's strength and industry were always going to triumph over lily livered footballers. Blind was better defensively than I expected though, he's going up in my estimation. Worryingly.

Just shows without Falcao and Rooney it really is a one man team and even Di Maria wasn't as effective as he could have been from his own very high standards. Effects of the internationals?

 

[FromTheBench]

if he was saying waste of money.

 

[Red Hand Devil]

I'm sick of goin back & forward in my head, as who's the better CB - Jones or Smalling..

Simple answer - neither are good enough to get us back to the top!

 

[siw2007]

Disappointed not to get the win but I can be satisfied to a certain extent that we didn't lose. First half was rubbish but at times we really played well in the second half. The defence let us down again and we just couldn't quite take our chances.

I felt we showed good resilience in how we fought back twice and with a bit of luck, we could have snatched it late on.

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

I'm sick of goin back & forward in my head, as who's the better CB - Jones or Smalling..

Simple answer - neither are good enough to get us back to the top!

Dortmund keep dropping points there will be a fire sale!

I'd take Subotic over Hummels!

 

[Jaap]

Why's Januzaj receiving so much stick? He did alright; definitely not as bad as some are suggesting on here.

Will be such a different game v Chelsea and I can see us get all three points on Sunday. Maybe we're better suited to teams who will try to dictate the game.

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Disappointed not to get the win but I can be satisfied to a certain extent that we didn't lose. First half was rubbish but at times we really played well in the second half. The defence let us down again and we just couldn't quite take our chances.

I felt we showed good resilience in how we fought back twice and with a bit of luck, we could have snatched it late on.

Didn't feel there was a managers fingerprint on this one once the plan went south!

That is half my problem with LvG (who I will support to the end unlike Moyes) because I think he plans for a game ONCE and there is no plan B … the problem is that he doesn't know our league (that's Giggs' job to fill him in with)! I somehow can't see LvG out in the technical area screaming coded messages to players when it's going wrong but perhaps that's what they need! I think he's definitely underestimated this leagues' strength from top-to-bottom so far. As long as he doesn't over-compensate and go physical against Chelski and Citeh we'll be OK come the end of the season!

 

[JackXX]

Two individual errors cost us the game but even so we should have won. We dominated in many areas of play and created many chances. RVP & Mata needed to do more. Falcao should have started IMO.

Edit: was pleased to see Fellaini do so well. Great goal

 

[Tarrou]

if he was saying waste of money.

Looks like he is

My guess: Mata

Edit: As others have said looks more like the last word is 'point'. 'whats the point' would make more sense tbh!

 

[Mister Ed]

Not happy about the first half but second half was good, 2 nice goals and should have been more, RVP very close with that ball on the post and ofc the penalty that wasn't given (again).

Defensively we really need to stop making these silly mistakes, WB have 2 chances, 2 times an individual mistake from our defenders and 2 goals. Ofcourse we're also having some real bad luck, we need a ton of chances to score a goal and for the opposition every chance seems to result in a goal. Also getting really sick of stonewall penalties being denied, that would have turned the game for us today and it has been the same case in previous matches this season, seems like we just aren't getting penalties no matter how clear they are...

In terms of players performances, really happy with the 45 minutes Fellani played, looked real good, Blind also had a solid performance, felt like Falcao also made a good substitution, Rojo also had a good game and Di Maria was good aswell. RVP and Mata continue to be a shadow of their former selves and should really be dropped for the matches versus Chelsea nd City imo, Herrera looked like he wasn't fully fit and Shaw and Rafael did ok but both made a costly mistake that led to the goals from WB, Januzaj didn't impress, looked off the pace and slowed us down at times. I still hope we will continue to give him chances because he clearly has potential just really needs game time and if we can't give it to him than we need to think about loaning him out. In fact I'd really like a similar construction for Januzaj as what Chelsea did with Courtois, in case of Januzaj I think a topclub in the bundesliga would do miracles for him, like Gladbach or Shalke or something.

Versus Chelsea I'd really like Fellani to start and Mata and RVP to benched. Falcao up top as lone striker and an extra player at the back (Carrick or Smalling).

 

[fallengt]

if he was saying waste of money.

Don't think he said that but my guess is Mata . Feck Moyes.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

Why's Januzaj receiving so much stick? He did alright; definitely not as bad as some are suggesting on here.

Will be such a different game v Chelsea and I can see us get all three points on Sunday. Maybe we're better suited to teams who will try to dictate the game.

He (januzaj) was poor, very poor. It could be excused to some degree but it doesn't change the fact that he had a poor game.

Mourinho would be happy to sit back and counter us to shreds just like they did to us last year. We're not as strong going forward as our team-sheet would suggest, and our defensive play is shambolic throughout and that's not just down to the back 4. Therefore I fear that we have little to no chance of beating Chelsea this weekend as there are a number of ways that they could approach the game and still have the upper hand, either by pure domination or by sitting back and countering us with their pacy attackers.

 

[fergosaurus]

Disappointed but we dominated for long spells and were unlucky not to get a penalty again. The two goals could have been easily avoided also. For the first, Shaw was caught out of position and Sessignon wasn't closed down quick enough by Rojo. The less said about the second the better. fecking atrocious defending.

Have to take some satisfaction from snatching a point away from home with a few mins left, but the defensive performance doesn't bode well when our next fixtures are against the top two teams in the league.

 

[Ramshock]

what way did we line up when we started? was it 4-3-2-1?

 

[ScarleyUtd]

I have to say, it is at least nice to see the last 10 of a match and actually having hopes that we might score a goal. Far cry from how I felt for entire matches last season.

That's true. Although when Young came on it did feel like I was watching Moyes' team again (excepting Falcao and the match winner of course – which is down to LVG).