[Tincanalley]

Were people expecting points yesterday? Looking through the performance threads every hater has come out for every player with a few joining in for the lols.... This place can be terrible reading after a loss but bringing it back, what were we expecting?

No surprise to see a resumption of the Zirkzee and Garnacho criticism and Rashford/Dalot.... par for the course. This fanbase does love it's scape goats that's for sure.

Arsenal were the overwhelming favourites, I saw good things in that match. I'm fully AmorIN.... Perspective.

The fact that it’s a crowded thread if MUFC lose, and empty after a win shows that most are here to gloat. I’m sure it’s the same on Bluemoon these days

 

[Tincanalley]

That ship is in a whole other galaxy and has gone through several mutiny's by now

 

[afrocentricity]

The fact that it’s a crowded thread if MUFC lose, and empty after a win shows that most are here to gloat. I’m sure it’s the same on Bluemoon these days

Yup, camped in player threads and 95% of their posts are criticising (at the least) said players, but they wanna pretend there's nothing in it.

Bro! (not you, them obviously ) Maybe, just maybe... you have a bit of an agenda or it's just about possible you're a bit of a negative cnut? But what do I know....


Even when we were giving a good account of ourselves people were saying we were shit, and calling out players. Expectations need a bit of realigning.

 

[Gator Nate]

Probably better than I expected. I saw more progress in what we're doing, and that against one of the top teams in the league. Only losing on two set piece goals? Say what you want regarding defending it, but Arsenal have become masters of the corner of late.

Very excited to see how we evolve over the next few weeks.

 

[A-man]

There winner came from a rashford mistake though.

First Yoro failed to clear the ball and passed it to Arsenal centrally then Rashford couldn’t clear the ball at the corner flag. These are natural mistakes that happen to players unest pressure. We were sitting so deep that our forward was defending down at our corner flag.

 

[Ollie Derbyshire]

In fairness those 3 chances were probably worth of 1 goal in total - so we should have scored 1 of them.

Maybe but we still created some chances, if not many which on another day could have gone in.

I’m trying to think more on the positive from here on in!

 

[Andersons Dietician]

For 50 minutes we were looking pretty good. There was no real attacking threat but we were moving the ball about and just looked a lot more structured.

We just didn’t have any creativity and when there was an opportunity to do something we didn’t play the easy pass.

Fair enough last game Malacia had his crossing was non existent/just bad but there were times where Garnacho had to play him in so he could try and whip a ball across the box.

Later Dalot seemed to have similar blindness. Two occasions Rasmus had made two great runs and Dalot had a simple pass having come inside and for whatever reason he didn’t make the pass. It would have fallen to Rasmus in space on his left side with no opposition and Dalot from where he was could surely see it, just didn’t play him in.

These are the things we need to improve on and this has been an issue that goes way back. We just don’t seem to see or play the easy passes that lead to chances on goal.

 

[RedRocket9908]

The fact that it’s a crowded thread if MUFC lose, and empty after a win shows that most are here to gloat. I’m sure it’s the same on Bluemoon these days

Is not the defeat thats the problem is that manner of the defeat thats the problem, Man Utd should not be setting up so ultra defensively in a game of this magnitude and producing that awful backpassing football we witnessed in the first half last night and the fact we created nothing a didnt get a single touch in Arsenals box in the opening 30 minutes was utterly embarrasing.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Is not the defeat thats the problem is that manner of the defeat thats the problem, Man Utd should not be setting up so ultra defensively in a game of this magnitude and producing that awful backpassing football we witnessed in the first half last night and the fact we created nothing a didnt get a single touch in Arsenals box in the opening 30 minutes was utterly embarrasing.

You are easily embarrassed.

 

[Alemar]

Maybe but we still created some chances, if not many which on another day could have gone in.

I’m trying to think more on the positive from here on in!

We did, but Arsenal attacked much more (that’s the reason for 13 corners conceded). We played very cautious football

 

[tjb]

I think people are underestimating the level of progress this game showed.

Yes, over the past few years, we've had games against strong opposition away from home where we've won, but these usually came as a result of a hyper counter attacking set up, in which we struggled to keep possession or play the ball out. I'm not talking about games against the equivalent of Chelsea or Spurs now, but the City's and Liverpool's of this moment. This wasn't a scenario where we relied on the opposition missing chances, a good goalkeeping performances or exceptional defensive performances. This was a game where we matched them in play, but where they have an effective attack, we struggled to keep in high up the pitch.

I think people are downplaying Arsenal's performance. I think we were structured really well, causing them to seem more pragmatic that they really are. They didn't get the time or space to to hurt us as much as people expected. They couldn't press us as easily as teams have in the past, and so were forced to build up play once we had lost possession in the middle/attacking third. At which stage, Nous, De Ligt, and Ugarte were placed well enough to hound them and either force them into a turnover or back to defence.

What we saw was a good framework for these type of games that would be reliable with the right offensive personnel. My big takeaway from his time here is the need for athleticism throughout the squad. A lot of running is required, and we need personnel with the ability exhaust the opposition. In regard to positions, the two number 10 roles have been really ineffective since Amorim arrived, and haven't really provided the type of physical presence needed to support the team. They are the reason we've shifted the ball out so much to start the season. I'd like to experiment with Mainoo being in one of those positions potentially. However, I think both positions need to be looked at, particularly as Amad is operating so well out wide on the right. We should get players with Amad's type of profile in those position, who have the technical ability to get a hold of possession and the dribbling ability to attack the opposition through the centre of the pitch. We obviously need a left wing back, that is fit and athletic enough to provide both defensive and attacking support. Finally, I would get another athletic midfielder, who can back up Ugarte and Mainoo.

I think we're fine in defence and that our young strikers can grow in to the role.

 

[RedRocket9908]

You are easily embarrassed.

I cant believe any Man Utd fan can look at that awful performance and not find it embarrasing.

 

[Nobby style]

Thats not true. Every corner they took caused us problems. I hope Amorim takes this from the game and gets us to train and aspire to take corners as good as this.

The first goal was Timber pushing off, and the second goal was an incredibly lucky carom off someone's ass. The only chances L'Arse had were corners. We were very good defensively. I don't see how any of that translates into Citeh killing us.

In fact, this was the first time in yonks I've felt confident in our defense and the set up of our side in our own half. You can definitely see what Amorim is doing and it is working defensively, even with a couple of key players out an others out of position. He will soon get it right in the oppo's half as we saw glimpses of against Everton

 

[Berbasbullet]

I cant believe any Man Utd fan can look at that awful performance and not find it embarrasing.

 

[imonkmc]

Utd played conservatively, forwards ineffective being the primary reason, my only complaint is the easy give away balls by a variety of players even when they have time to have a look or say if your in need of a goal then why try high risk flicks with low output and give ball away…..really frustrating

 

[Ollie Derbyshire]

We did, but Arsenal attacked much more (that’s the reason for 13 corners conceded). We played very cautious football

We did but I’m happy to have a coach who recognises that that is required at times, I don’t expect us to do that from next season but this season I think it’s the right call.

I’d rather that than ETH losing 5/6/7-0 and never learning.

 

[Alemar]

I’d rather that than ETH losing 5/6/7-0 and never learning.

For sure, that goes without saying.

 

[AjaxCunian]

All the stoke / corners talk seem incredibly small time when we created nothing.

They had a plan to win, we didn't.

 

[Tincanalley]

Yup, camped in player threads and 95% of their posts are criticising (at the least) said players, but they wanna pretend there's nothing in it.

Bro! (not you, them obviously ) Maybe, just maybe... you have a bit of an agenda or it's just about possible you're a bit of a negative cnut? But what do I know....


Even when we were giving a good account of ourselves people were saying we were shit, and calling out players. Expectations need a bit of realigning.

Your posts are always good.

 

[Tincanalley]

Is not the defeat thats the problem is that manner of the defeat thats the problem, Man Utd should not be setting up so ultra defensively in a game of this magnitude and producing that awful backpassing football we witnessed in the first half last night and the fact we created nothing a didnt get a single touch in Arsenals box in the opening 30 minutes was utterly embarrasing.

Absurd post. First half was great. Context is everything

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

The corner thing was just crazy, I don't recall other teams struggling like we did with them.

You'd think we'd have tried to stop giving so many away given what was going on.

It was just weird game, we were disappointing, but I wouldn't say it looked like Arsenal will be anything like title winners this season, it was just a very basic but very effective tactic that did for us, which is a bit worrying for both teams really.

 

[Still ill]

I cant believe any Man Utd fan can look at that awful performance and not find it embarrasing.

Eh? Good Lord, the last few years must been absolutely excruciating for you.

 

[kerrygold]

Maybe I'm really old, but I prefer man to man marking on corners and a man on each post. Not a fan of zonal marking.

I presume there are stats which tell me I have an out of date viewpoint and zonal marking is better in terms of less goals conceded from corners.

I’m with you. Allowing a free run is too difficult to defend. Body on body when they are lined up line that. Being passive is inviting trouble

 

[RedRocket9908]

Absurd post. First half was great. Context is everything

First half was great, are you joking? It was a disgrace, we are not a club that should be going to Arsenal to defend and park the bus like a lower league club in the FA Cup

 

[Tincanalley]

The first goal was Timber pushing off, and the second goal was an incredibly lucky carom off someone's ass. The only chances L'Arse had were corners. We were very good defensively. I don't see how any of that translates into Citeh killing us.

In fact, this was the first time in yonks I've felt confident in our defense and the set up of our side in our own half. You can definitely see what Amorim is doing and it is working defensively, even with a couple of key players out an others out of position. He will soon get it right in the oppo's half as we saw glimpses of against Everton

Well written and sensible post. An oasis in a desert of clueless opinionated dross

 

[Tincanalley]

First half was great, are you joking? It was a disgrace, we are not a club that should be going to Arsenal to defend and park the bus like a lower league club in the FA Cup

Are WE not? Thanks for the info.

 

[Berbasbullet]

First half was great, are you joking? It was a disgrace, we are not a club that should be going to Arsenal to defend and park the bus like a lower league club in the FA Cup

How the feck did we park the bus?! Parking the bus means surrendering possession and playing deep defending for your lives. First half we controlled the ball without being threatening.

Give me an example of a time a lower league club had more of the ball than Arsenal away?

Embarrassing.

 

[DRJosh]

United didn’t win and it wasn’t the greatest performances but there was a defined approach and they weren’t listless as they looked with ETH.

Our attack needs refining in the next transfer window. I’m still a tad unsure of Garnacho and the type of attacking intent he brings.

 

[Real Name]

I cant believe any Man Utd fan can look at that awful performance and not find it embarrasing.

You've heard of a word called circumstances?

 

[Devil77]

First half was great, are you joking? It was a disgrace, we are not a club that should be going to Arsenal to defend and park the bus like a lower league club in the FA Cup

I wouldn’t call it defensive. It was controlled but somewhat cautious in possession.

 

[Chungy]

First half was great, are you joking? It was a disgrace, we are not a club that should be going to Arsenal to defend and park the bus like a lower league club in the FA Cup

Do people have short memories or are just unreasonable.

Yes, being defensive isn't great. But were you one of the ones that hated SAF when he played ultra defensive against Barca in the CL - and we still got rinsed?
Sometimes, we're just not good enough to match the opposition blow for blow, and we need to be smarter about it.

 

[thisisnottaken1]

Do people have short memories or are just unreasonable.

Yes, being defensive isn't great. But were you one of the ones that hated SAF when he played ultra defensive against Barca in the CL - and we still got rinsed?
Sometimes, we're just not good enough to match the opposition blow for blow, and we need to be smarter about it.

Exactly. It’s called pragmatism. It worked away to Liverpool and against Man City in the cup final last season.

 

[Cloud7]

I mean, is anyone actually surprised that we lost? I know I joked about smashing them on the first page but realistically a loss was always the most likely outcome in this match and there's really nothing to be disappointed about. I think we did the right thing in setting up defensively. Under ETH there's a strong chance we get smashed in that match. We need to stop losing by these cricket scores because those will have huge effects on the confidence of the team. We were not in a good place when Amorim took over, there are many aspects of this team that need rebuilding (Tactics, confidence etc.) and I don't think that a defensive performance and a 2-0 loss to one of the best teams in the league is anything to really make note of.

 

[fps]

I thought the system looked well-drilled already for the most part, and that with players of the requisite ability we might be quite good. Not sure we’ll play exciting football though.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Do people have short memories or are just unreasonable.

Yes, being defensive isn't great. But were you one of the ones that hated SAF when he played ultra defensive against Barca in the CL - and we still got rinsed?
Sometimes, we're just not good enough to match the opposition blow for blow, and we need to be smarter about it.

When did SAF play ultra defensive v Barca and get rinsed?

 

[thisisnottaken1]

When did SAF play ultra defensive v Barca and get rinsed?

I think they’re referring to the 2011 Champions League final.

 

[Berbasbullet]

I think they’re referring to the 2011 Champions League final.

Where we absolutely did not play defensively (which was a really bad decision).

 

[noodlehair]

The corners were embarrassing by the end. They created next to nothing from open play yet could legitimately have won 6-0 just by scoring from corners.

I know they're good at them but we are allowed to try and defend them properly. We could also try not conceding about 15 corners to a corner gods team. Quite a few of them were very easily avoidable.

It's astounding how little in game management or basic sense our players seem to have.

 

[Red the Bear]

Was impressive how impotent we managed to make their attack for the most part.

 

[Real Name]

How many people were embarrassed by the whole thing?