[SirScholes]

Felt like a loss but ok I edited it.
It is tactically wrong if your defense is incapable of not conceding. Also you don't change a winning approach. We clearly did.

Not with only a few minutes left, we had kept them at bay for the whole match so absolutely jose could of had faith in his team

 

[DomesticTadpole]

If that was for 2nd yellow than mate best if you keep watching cricket.

Tell me why was Mata booked?

Mata was booked for celebrating a goal, because you are not supposed to enjoy scoring a goal.

 

[Will Singh]

FOR FECK SAKE

 

[edcunited1878]

If by the way of support, you mean did I encourage the team, yes I did. But I also lamented the fact that too many individuals aren't working hard enough. They're too comfortable. Too happy to be static. To slow things down. Hey, maybe we aren't as fit as other teams, because other than laziness and a lack of hunger, that's the only reason I can think of for being us so pedestrian at times.

You obviously have players singled out, so why don't you just say who you think is too pedestrian for United and why they are happy to slow things down? United are methodical in their forward approach, it's not 442 with Ronaldo on one side and Giggs on the other with 27 year old Carrick and 34 year old Scholes in the midfield with a peak Rooney up top...with Rio and Vidic not letting the wind pass them.

 

[Janson]

If by the way of support, you mean did I encourage the team, yes I did. But I also lamented the fact that too many individuals aren't working hard enough. They're too comfortable. Too happy to be static. To slow things down. Hey, maybe we aren't as fit as other teams, because other than laziness and a lack of hunger, that's the only reason I can think of for being us so pedestrian at times.

Football is not all about going full attack mode running at goal at full speed all the time.

 

[Janson]

We needed Ibra today. We had two youngster with confidence issues. Ibra has just come off a good game against Swansea, but was unfortunately banned.

I'm with you there, thats just our luck to have him suspended right after he starts scoring again.

 

[edcunited1878]

Football is not all about going full attack mode running at goal at full speed all the time.

You don't play FIFA at amateur level do you?

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

I think we'll be ahead of both Spurs and Arsenal after the Christmas fixtures.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Football is not all about going full attack mode running at goal at full speed all the time.

Exactly, because a lot of teams that have done that funnily enough have been relegated. You pick your moments to attack and there will be times you have to defend. One of the supposed best sides on the planet have been held 0-0 today by Malaga. They may have rested players but you would still think they could beat Malaga.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I think we'll be ahead of both Spurs and Arsenal after the Christmas fixtures.

If they don't turn todays game round, they have the joy of going to Chelsea next weekend. Is it going to be another kicking match from Spurs?

 

[David Court]

I think we'll be ahead of both Spurs and Arsenal after the Christmas fixtures.

I don't

 

[edcunited1878]

If that 4-4 draw against Everton at OT didn't teach United anything...buccaneering football leaving yourself exposed because the other team has no right to matriculate up the pitch and try to score as well...that's not how it works in my lalaland! Shame!

 

[Raw]

I think we'll be ahead of both Spurs and Arsenal after the Christmas fixtures.

Fixtures from now until the end of 2016:
Utd: West Ham H, Everton A, Spurs H, Palace A, WBA A, Sunderland H, Boro H
Arsenal: Bournemouth H, Southampton H, West Ham A, Stoke H, Everton A, City A, WBA H
Spurs: Chelsea A, Swansea H, United A, Hull H, Burnley H, Southampton A

Maybe we can overtake Spurs depending on how well we do against them, but overtaking Arsenal will be difficult. Especially with how inconsistent our results are.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I don't

Nobody asked you.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Fixtures from now until the end of 2016:
Utd: West Ham H, Everton A, Spurs H, Palace A, WBA A, Sunderland H, Boro H
Arsenal: Bournemouth H, Southampton H, West Ham A, Stoke H, Everton A, City A, WBA H
Spurs: Chelsea A, Swansea H, United A, Hull H, Burnley H, Southampton A

Maybe we can overtake Spurs depending on how well we do against them, but overtaking Arsenal will be difficult. Especially with how inconsistent our results are.

Then the club have to make a decision. Will it be better to actually be out of europe altogether and next season just concentrate on the league? It has not done Liverpool or Chelsea any harm. If we can't get CL are we better getting nothing?

The team have enough travelling about with international football. The reduction in travelling might be beneficial as well.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

If they don't turn todays game round, they have the joy of going to Chelsea next weekend. Is it going to be another kicking match from Spurs?

Wouldn't surprise me. Should actually be a good game. Chelsea will be remembering that kicking from last season. Definitely a bit of needle between them.

 

[Steven7290]

In hindsight the result is not too bad, coupled with the direct opponents' similar lame results this weekend is acceptable.

 

[Raw]

Then the club have to make a decision. Will it be better to actually be out of europe altogether and next season just concentrate on the league? It has not done Liverpool or Chelsea any harm. If we can't get CL are we better getting nothing?

I'd rather not deliberately throw matches away to ensure we don't get Europa League football! If we end up in the EL again and we don't want to take part, just play a reserve team or something.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

Fixtures from now until the end of 2016:
Utd: West Ham H, Everton A, Spurs H, Palace A, WBA A, Sunderland H, Boro H
Arsenal: Bournemouth H, Southampton H, West Ham A, Stoke H, Everton A, City A, WBA H
Spurs: Chelsea A, Swansea H, United A, Hull H, Burnley H, Southampton A

Maybe we can overtake Spurs depending on how well we do against them, but overtaking Arsenal will be difficult. Especially with how inconsistent our results are.

I just think that there are signs we are picking up form. With Zlatan to return, I'm banking on him scoring goals against most of those sides. Maybe I'm just an optimist, but I think Mourinho has finally managed to figure out what his best XI may be.

 

[Raw]

I just think that there are signs we are picking up form. With Zlatan to return, I'm banking on him scoring goals against most of those sides. Maybe I'm just an optimist, but I think Mourinho has finally managed to figure out what his best XI may be.

If we keep the performances up then the results are sure to follow. It's games like WBA and Palace that worry me, tough away games that we've struggled in these last few years. Everton and Spurs won't be a cakewalk either.

 

[Acole9]

Absolutely gutted about today's result, it felt like a defeat because Arsenal were so poor. I wasn't expecting much from us going into it and especially when I saw that Sanchez was starting and saw our back four. We played well and were terribly unlucky, I said it in one of the other threads earlier but if we play like this consistently we will find ourselves moving up the table.

 

[Jacko21]

Football is not all about going full attack mode running at goal at full speed all the time.

Didn't say that. But it would be nice if United moved out of second gear for more than just brief spells in games.

Surely, we have much more to offer and much more potential.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I'd rather not deliberately throw matches away to ensure we don't get Europa League football! If we end up in the EL again and we don't want to take part, just play a reserve team or something.

I don't want them to throw matches. If we don't get out of the group this time. I just want him to decide on his first 11 and play them game in game out to build up an understanding. It might actually give us more hope for next season. There is too much, he deserves a chance and someone else deserves a chance and then they do absolutely nothing when given that chance. It is disruptive to the rhythm of the team.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Didn't say that. But it would be nice if United moved out of second gear for more than just brief spells in games.

Surely, we have much more to offer and much more potential.

Arsenal and the like will not let you do that all the time. We were at full pelt against Stoke and Burnley and came up against two freakish goalkeeping performances. Those are the results that have caused us problems, not todays.

 

[freddie the red]

The last 3 home games have been decent performances but 3 points from 9 and only 2 goals scored is very poor.
I posted after a few games that our lack of goals could haunt us on goal difference bearing in mind losing both the title and fourth place to City in recent seasons because of it and I was shouted down with members saying it was too early in the season but now, the lack of goals is costing us not just in goal difference but, more importantly, not winning games.
The goal difference problem will be irrelevant if we can't win sufficient games in the first place. We SEEM to have the firepower in Zlatan, Rooney, Tony M, Rash etc but whatever the team is doing is just not working.

 

[Eboue]

at the crying about the referee

also pogba has very long fingers

 

[Jacko21]

You obviously have players singled out, so why don't you just say who you think is too pedestrian for United and why they are happy to slow things down? United are methodical in their forward approach, it's not 442 with Ronaldo on one side and Giggs on the other with 27 year old Carrick and 34 year old Scholes in the midfield with a peak Rooney up top...with Rio and Vidic not letting the wind pass them.

The team as a whole is too slow. We fail to react with any impetus. We're slow to win the ball back. We take too long over menial stuff like dithering over thrown ins. Our failure to play the game at any pace, allows the opposition to maintain shape, to not be stretched. We make it too easy for the opposition.

We were also 'methodical' in our forward approach under Van Gaal. You can't say you wouldn't rather see us play with some of the verve that a Klopp or Simeone side has. I'm not asking for full throttle. Just more thrust.

Valencia works damn hard. Rojo's ability consists of hoofing the ball. We need Bailly. Darmian doesn't offer enough offensively. Mata and Carrick will inevitably slow things down. Herrera is our best player at turning defence into attack. Martial and Rashford should be running at opposition, getting in behind, not coming short or playing the ball in-field. You're going to struggle to transition quickly enough with Ibra, Rooney leading the line.

We lack fluidity.

I don't believe the players in this squad are exerting themselves to their maximum potential. If they are, then we're not fit enough as a squad.

We're also hampered by one too many players not displaying the kind of form that saw them brought to the club in the first instance.

We shown huge promise, but in fits and starts. What I want more than anything is for the team to deliver more readily and for longer than 10/15 minute spells in games.

 

[Jacko21]

Arsenal and the like will not let you do that all the time. We were at full pelt against Stoke and Burnley and came up against two freakish goalkeeping performances. Those are the results that have caused us problems, not todays.

No, but you can do little things to up the tempo. To make the opposition feel as if they are on the back foot. To encourage the home supporters.

Take throw-ins quicker, take fewer touches, move the ball diagonally and stretch the opposition as opposed to playing short.

We give our opponents every opportunity to gather their thoughts. We're hurting ourselves by being ponderous.

 

[Janson]

Football is not all about going full attack mode running at goal at full speed all the time.

Didn't say that. But it would be nice if United moved out of second gear for more than just brief spells in games.

Surely, we have much more to offer and much more potential.

Well you can't say that for the Stoke and Burnley games for example, we were all over them. Arsenal today, we obviously had respect for their speedy counterattacks with Walcott and Sanchez. It's understandable that players can look lacklustre in this kind of game but that's part of their instructions from the manager.

 

[TheReligion]

I don't

United looked miles ahead of Arsenal today to be fair.

 

[stu_1992]

Once again I come here to write about my bewilderment at how we haven't gotten the result. A common theme this season. It's mental at this stage, we've been so unlucky. Hate to use that as an excuse because it's shite, but it's pretty accurate. How have we not won that today? Completely undeserved for Arsenal. I guess the old lesson about always needing a second goal rings true again.

I was impressed with a lot of people today and I definitely want to see more of this Valencia, like the old days. Using his pace, taking people on. Making stuff happen. I also really enjoyed Mata's goal. Classy stuff.

 

[BringNaniBack]

It's crazy how differently our fans see things to opposition fans. Watching Arsenal fan TV to see their opinion on things and they all admit they were very poor and lucky to get a draw but also nearly all of the people interviewed say United were crap and are one of the worst United teams they've seen etc etc. Completely the opposite to many on here who think that was one of our best performances.

 

[Jacko21]

Well you can't say that for the Stoke and Burnley games for example, we were all over them. Arsenal today, we obviously had respect for their speedy counterattacks with Walcott and Sanchez. It's understandable that players can look lacklustre in this kind of game but that's part of their instructions from the manager.

Aye, we were all over Stoke and Burnley... but weren't clinical enough. Our decision to pay so much respect to Arsenal, saw us only score once and thus drop points when they scored an ill-deserved equaliser. It is possible to adapt your approach in-game, once you realise the opposition may not be primed to produce their best. Any significant increase in our tempo in the final third, would've seen us open them up.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

I was impressed today in the tactical performance of United. Neither Ozil or Sanchez got a sniff, and the mobility of the front line caused Arsenal problems.

Thought Pogba was a bit pedestrian and went missing at certain times, but Herrera and Carrick covered for him well.

Jones has been very reliable, must be a record two 90 mins on the trot. Valencia really good.

Not sure about the subs. Not that they did bad, why they were necessary. Seemed change for the sake of change.

Result was not deserved, and i do not see a great difference in quality of the sides. I don't think it was Arsenal under performed, they performed as well as we let them.

Not attractive football, but a typical Jose tactical game.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

It's crazy how differently our fans see things to opposition fans. Watching Arsenal fan TV to see their opinion on things and they all admit they were very poor and lucky to get a draw but also nearly all of the people interviewed say United were crap and are one of the worst United teams they've seen etc etc. Completely the opposite to many on here who think that was one of our best performances.

It's not one of the worse sides when at full strength. With Bailly and Shaw back in that defence, Zlatan up front we would have won at a canter.

 

[BringNaniBack]

It's not one of the worse sides when at full strength. With Bailly and Shaw back in that defence, Zlatan up front we would have won at a canter.

Maybe. I am just wondering what game they were all watching. Yes we weren't amazing but we dominated them and nearly all of them then claim we are awful.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Maybe. I am just wondering what game they were all watching. Yes we weren't amazing but we dominated them and nearly all of them then claim we are awful.

If our front players had been full of confidence then they would have seriously had something to moan about.

 

[Sandikan]

Just back from the game, what a gutter that was. Probably less gutting than Stoke and Burnley as we absolutely stormed both of them, but still pretty gutting being so late and against such a tumescent display.

Sods law that last move happens when we don't have the famed height advantage everyone has been talking about playing! Lose Smalling, Bailly, Fellaini and Ibra and we're quite average all of a sudden in that respect.

Thought the Scheniderlin sub was only worthwhile if it was for Carrick. Otherwise, someone on for Rashford seemed the choice.

However, Carrick in for the big games to let Herrera and Pogba have security finally seems to have emerged. I just hope we sort out the condundrum of the wide spots soon.
Need to get some wins on the board very soon though.
Today was a real opportunity missed to catch up a few teams above us

 

[ElQuesoGrande]

Cowardice is its own reward. Take off your best attacking player when you have the impetus (when your DCM is struggling with a leg injury!) and sit back and you deserve what you get. The players didn't deserve to drop the points today, but the manager did.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

TeamTalk's headline for the game is "Arsenal show mettle of Champions".

Why is this a running theme through the media? It was the most pathetic Arsenal performance I can remember for ages. Ozil just sulked through the game. Their midfield was invisible. We don't deserve any credit either because we should have blown them away, but didn't. But they were horrid. Draw or not, that performance was awful. The kind of performance that LvG would nick a 1-0 win with, but still get pelters for playing shite.