[GM K]

Rooney - playing by default and injuries but really this is the end.
Smalling - you tried your best but just not United material.
Jones - Ibid.
Darmian - See you in Serie A
Axel - looked good. See you next year.
Mata - average today but just back from injury.
Miki - let's give him till next year shall we? Worked hard but didn't do anything much.
Martial - can the real Martial please come back.
Carrick - did his job but not a game changer.
Herrera - was one of the livelier players but not one of your best games. See you Thursday.
De Gea - please stay but I'd leave too if I had to put up with more of this crap next year vs. playing at RM.

This shows we need something close to an overhaul.

About De Gea, I actually blame him partially for both goals. The first for poor positioning. The second for not being aggressive enough to go for the ball especially after noticing (I assume) that his centre backs could have lost Wellbeck.

 

[Kraftwerker]

People not going to give credit to Mourinho for playing two youngsters in this match and handing out a debut?

Only positive amongst quite a few negatives.

 

[Jazz]

People not going to give credit to Mourinho for playing two youngsters in this match and handing out a debut?

Yes he gets some credit today for that. Best thing about the day.

Happy for Tuanzabe, kid was good

 

[Rhyme Animal]

That was rubbish against Arsenal, really drab.

If we don't win the EL, the season is gonna feel like a failure and I wonder how it could effect the mood around the club.

Absolutely MUST win that fecking trophy.

 

[Manny]

Hard to argue with the Sky pundits.

Also, how is Rooney still taking the set pieces?

 

[Klopp_De_Klown]

Well done the kids

What else could we expect with that selection

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

No one to blame other than Mourinho's awful tactics.

Someone please tell me why Mata and Mkhi had to mark Arsenals wing backs (Oxlade and Gibbs)?

To me, it was pointless, especially given our full backs hardly got forward, so they could have tracked the runs of the wing backs.

This is the same mistake we made against Chelsea when they beat us 4-0. We had our wingers marking wing backs, meaning when we tried to counter, we had nothing up top.

Instead, what we should have done is get Mata, Mkhi and Martial pressing one centre back each, thus making it hard for Arsenal to get out.

Too many times today Arsenal's centre backs plus Xhaka were given so much time on the ball to pick out forward. In contrast, when our centre backs had the ball, they were pressed by Arsenal, which is why we found it so hard to build from the back.

The team on paper was fine. The tactics; however, lost us the game, in my opinion, which is really frustrating.

 

[red_devil83]

Well that was shit but there you go. Hope we win the EL

 

[DomesticTadpole]

This.

No wonder we've been constantly fighting for top four these last few seasons, with a captain like that. This is the kind of shit influence we have in the dressing room. Then Jose still plays him after that when he should have got a telling off and dropped! Rather he put one of the youth players in to make up the numbers.

If we get through to EL final, I think we will see a lot more kids and unfortunately Mr. Rooney, but at least we can rest our few decent players to prevent injury and fatigue. Stick two fingers up to the PL.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Hard to argue with the Sky pundits.

Also, how is Rooney still taking the set pieces?

Not that I want Rooney to take set pieces, but do we have anyone better actually?

 

[RedDevil-85]

Pathetic performance and a deserved loss.
We have plenty of players who are not good enough and needs to be sold in the summer.
Barely any goals in this team,im really fearing for Europa League.

 

[endless_wheelies]

Is Jose just lying through his teeth or totally delusional? That interview was ridiculous. As bad a performance as the game.

Why would he aim to kill our players' confidence right before the biggest game of our season?

 

[SirMattBugsby]

Smalling really should have headed out Welbecks goal.

Rooney looks finished.

Wouldnt be surprized if Mourinho sells one of Mata or Micky T. The defensive side of their game is poor.

Was not expecting much. Thought me might get a draw.

Tuanzebe was pretty good. Looks confident.

Get through on Thursday and all we be forgiven.

Nice assessment. Smalling's lapses in concentration are something Mourinho won't like one bit.

I feel today's game has highlighted who José will probably sell: Rooney, Smalling and (my guess between the 2 M's) Mata.

 

[The_Order]

With Rooney on your team, you are essentially a man down, so in light of that, not too bad.

Mou needs to reassess who he considers precious cargo, bringing on Rashford was foolish and risky.

Arsenal pressed us and contained us to pot-shots, and we kept fluffing our few clear-cut chances.

I watched the City game yesterday and the difference is stark, they don't need clear-cut or even half chances to put teams away - that difference means that even if half of the 14 draws we've had turned into wins, we may be challenging for the title instead of relying on EL.

 

[JohnnyKills]

Mourinho's tactics away from home have to be called into question.

From the games at Chelsea, Liverpool, City and Arsenal we've got a grand total of two points. So not only is the football rubbish to watch, it's totally ineffective. If we'd gone out and attacked in each of those games we'd have done at least as well.

Negative football is only justifiable if it brings results. If not, there's no defence or excuse.

 

[Jazz]

If we get through to EL final, I think we will see a lot more kids and unfortunately Mr. Rooney, but at least we can rest our few decent players to prevent injury and fatigue. Stick two fingers up to the PL.

Yep, if we get through to the final then we definitely play the kids.
Not sure I want to see Mr Rooney though. Would rather someone from the under 18s take his place.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Anyone having Jose's comments after the match

 

[DevilRed]

If we get through to EL final, I think we will see a lot more kids and unfortunately Mr. Rooney, but at least we can rest our few decent players to prevent injury and fatigue. Stick two fingers up to the PL.

Honestly wouldnt mind dropping out of the EL places if we manage to get a good result midweek and get into the EL Final.

Just play the kids and see where it gets us in the league. Would rather have no European football and focus on the league next year than have to be back in the EL (assuming we dont win the EL).

 

[Catt]

People not going to give credit to Mourinho for playing two youngsters in this match and handing out a debut?

Of

 

[shield]

I am feeling really annoyed too, but I think this is the best Mourinho could have done if he is prioritizing EL. He selected the best team available after resting key players, so that we don't mess up EL. We don't have enough depth and the players are not good enough to perform well in two successive matches.

Actually, even the 1st team is like a 2nd team, the team today was like a 3rd or something. We will definitely need Pogba for the next match and he himself is coming off an injury, so it is good to rest him. Rashford and Lingard are our only attacking threat so they had to be rested. Fellaini is suspended, so we are left with only Carrick and Herrera in midfield and only Rooney as an outlet which just does not work.

We could not have tried to go all out and attack, because that could have resulted in an embarrassment so a 1-0/2-0 defeat or a draw was considered acceptable. Celta are a good team, they can turn up the pressure on Thursday, and we will need our best players to be at the top of their game. The squad is just not that good to be expected to win two high intensity matches. We have to be pragmatic about things.

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Once again a chance lost … Giggsy till the end of the season … anyone?

 

[Catt]

Is Jose just lying through his teeth or totally delusional? That interview was ridiculous. As bad a performance as the game.

What is he saying that's so bad?

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

This squad seriously lacks creativity.

 

[Jazz]

Honestly wouldnt mind dropping out of the EL places if we manage to get a good result midweek and get into the EL Final.

Just play the kids and see where it gets us in the league. Would rather have no European football and focus on the league next year than have to be back in the EL (assuming we dont win the EL).

We've already qualified for the dreaded EL as we won the cup

 

[djembatheking]

Honestly wouldnt mind dropping out of the EL places if we manage to get a good result midweek and get into the EL Final.

Just play the kids and see where it gets us in the league. Would rather have no European football and focus on the league next year than have to be back in the EL (assuming we dont win the EL).

We won the league cup so are already in the Europa League .

 

[Esquire]

No one to blame other than Mourinho's awful tactics.

Someone please tell me why Mata and Mkhi had to mark Arsenals wing backs (Oxlade and Gibbs)?

To me, it was pointless, especially given our full backs hardly got forward, so they could have tracked the runs of the wing backs.

This is the same mistake we made against Chelsea when they beat us 4-0. We had our wingers marking wing backs, meaning when we tried to counter, we had nothing up top.

Instead, what we should have done is get Mata, Mkhi and Martial pressing one centre back each, thus making it hard for Arsenal to get out.

Too many times today Arsenal's centre backs plus Xhaka were given so much time on the ball to pick out forward. In contrast, when our centre backs had the ball, they were pressed by Arsenal, which is why we found it so hard to build from the back.

The team on paper was fine. The tactics; however, lost us the game, in my opinion, which is really frustrating.

Good analysis. I was pretty perplexed by by the Mata tracking Gibbs arrangement. But you had to consider Axel on Sanchez. Axel shut down Sanchez today. This was a game which screamed out for Lingard to start. Mata would have been a better fit for the Celta game.

 

[Catt]

Once again a chance lost … Giggsy till the end of the season … anyone?

Sure, lets see if he can win us the EL.

 

[Peanut Butter]

Bigger fish to fry.

In a nutshell.

 

[WoodysWallet]

Such a shame that we've struggled against a very poor Arsenal team today.

Hard to put a finger on exactly what went wrong, but I don't blame tactics as our downfall, there were problems in every area of the pitch.

Just need to concentrate on the Europa now, cut our losses and put all our eggs in one basket.

 

[Al-T]

Expected that, never seriously expected us to break top four given the number of draws at home and Mourinho has clearly put his eggs in the EL basket. Fair enough, let's see if it works.

Midfield is poor without Pogba. Carrick is gone and what Rooney is still doing anywhere near a Man United team is beyond parody. Mkhitaryan looks better in Europe. Today he looked like Dortmund had had our trousers down - again. Is Martial even arsed anymore?????

Whatever happens in the EL, another busy summer ahead.

 

[VeevaVee]

What is he saying that's so bad?

Don't know if you're questioning the post, or actually wondering what was said, but for anyone who wants to know, he said he was very happy with the individual performances and performance as a team.

 

[golden_blunder]

Just because your playing a weaker squad Jose doesn't mean you have to set up that squad to lose. LVG often had to play make shift sides but atleast he tried to win.

He seems to think that playing a weaker side means a free pass to lose. It doesn't.

No, he setup to not lose. Everytime.

 

[Son Of Sam]

Even if we drew or won today top 4 chances were slim to non existant.

Exactly my sentiment.

Jose had to sacrifice something for Europa. It's unfortunate it had to be this game against Arsenal. Yeah - it's painful we lost to that shower of shit but should Jose win the Europa league, he would have had a more successful season than Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Spurs.

 

[OohAahMartial]

What is he saying that's so bad?

He said he was pleased with the team and individual performances for one, and that we were trying to win the game. Laughable.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Good analysis. I was pretty perplexed by by the Mata tracking Gibbs arrangement. But you had to consider Axel on Sanchez. Axel shut down Sanchez today. This was a game which screamed out for Lingard to start. Mata would have been a better fit for the Celta game.

Mata had to get some minutes before the Celta game. It is too important to have someone completely off the pace. Think this was just a game Jose used for resting people and giving others coming back from injury some minutes.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

We had better win the Europa League with our A Team.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

He said he was pleased with the team and individual performances for one, and that we were trying to win the game. Laughable.

As someone said, we have an important game on Thursday he is not going to shatter their confidence just before it.

 

[GaryLifo]

Anyone else fed up with the moaners?

If we were ever going to lose a game to arsenal, that was the one to lose.

The most empty victory over us arsenal will ever have. Their fans knew it too to be fair. Half of them were gone before the final whistle. They're in the Europa league next season unless they win four games in a row and Liverpool fail to win both their matches. Not happening.

We rested some key players and gained no new injuries in a meaningless match.

 

[ovoxo]

Exactly my sentiment.

Jose had to sacrifice something for Europa. It's unfortunate it had to be this game against Arsenal. Yeah - it's painful we lost to that shower of shit but should Jose win the Europa league, he would have had a more successful season than Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Spurs.

Completely agree. I don't see it any other way. As long as we get into the Champions league some how, that's all that matters. Next season will be the difference depending on the summer.

 

[Catt]

He said he was pleased with the team and individual performances for one, and that we were trying to win the game. Laughable.

Thanks. I haven't seen post match comments yet.