[Sultan]

The team is presently too skewed towards defence.

 

[backofthenet]

I was really impressed by the game. Yup, we didn't create too much but they created sweet fa. The defence and the midfield in front of them were excellent, and at this point in the season I'm very happy with that. There are a couple of worries, but I'm confident that the team will improve as we go along.

 

[Member 39557]

We were twice the team when Schweinsteiger and Herrara came on. How they aren't starting baffles me.

I think Schweinsteiger will start when he's fully match fit.

 

[Unlikely lad]

The team is presently too skewed towards defence.

Do you think so? We've got the fullbacks bombing forward everytime we have the ball + Schneiderlin making forward runs as well.

 

[Sultan]

The only bright point for me was Schweinsteiger when he came on. We controlled the game better and every pass he did was forward, a lot of our players could learn from him.

Morgan was particularly guilty of turning back instead of looking forward.

 

[Name Changed]

I think Schweinsteiger will start when he's fully match fit.

Hopefully.

However, even if he's not fit, his sheer presence brings stability and structure to the team. He has a brain. If that is what it is like when he's not fit, then he still needs to play.

 

[dwd]

The highlight of the game for me was that there was a Bacuna and Mata on the same pitch. Couldn't stop singing the Lion King to get me through it.

 

[AbusementPark]

Rooney with another awful performance. Keeps dropping into midfield too much and needs to stay up front, would like Hernandez to get a chance.

 

[chetan]

As per SAF, every title winning side is based on solid defense. I feel we are just working with that strategy.

 

[Member 39557]

Hopefully.

However, even if he's not fit, his sheer presence brings stability and structure to the team. He has a brain. If that is what it is like when he's not fit, then he still needs to play.

I think he was definitely an improvement when he came on, not sure how much that coincided with Villa tiring though. It's pointless playing him for longer until he's 100%. it's not worth the risk of getting him injured when we have competent comrades in Michael and Morgan.

 

[Question234]

I think we struggled with creativity again but we definitely pressed them in the second half.

2 games 6 points, I really can't complain.

 

[Nik70]

We were twice the team when Schweinsteiger and Herrara came on. How they aren't starting baffles me.

Agreed. Totally changed the game when they came on.

 

[Name Changed]

I think he was definitely an improvement when he came on, not sure how much that coincided with Villa tiring though. It's pointless playing him for longer until he's 100%. it's not worth the risk of getting him injured when we have competent comrades in Michael and Morgan.

Carrick isn't really that competent if he keeps playing like that. If we are playing a 2 and Schweinsteiger isn't considered due to lack of fitness then surely Herrara starts.

 

[Sultan]

Do you think so? We've got the fullbacks bombing forward everytime we have the ball + Schneiderlin making forward runs as well.

Yes. Our 3 midfielders are too alike. More geared towards protection than attacking play.

 

[Blue always red]

The only problem I have is that it looks like we setup to play this way so I'm not sure I believe the posters saying the football will become more attacking.

Oh and the other thing I noticed is that our forwards are too similar and maybe too creative? What I mean by this is when one of them, say Mata, picks up the ball, nearly everyone else is stood still waiting for a ball to their feat so that they can then try to pick out someone else. The only two clear cut chances we had were when players made runs in behind.

 

[Nik70]

The team is presently too skewed towards defence.

I don't think it helps that Rooney gives the ball away every time he gets it. A little retention and maybe occasional creativity from him would make us look a whole lot better going forward.

 

[pierrethesnack]

The only problem I have is that it looks like we setup to play this way so I'm not sure I believe the posters saying the football will become more attacking.

Agree. For all of LvG's talk about attacking football, I have yet to see any evidence that will start actually doing it at some point.

 

[Unlikely lad]

Yes. Our 3 midfielders are too alike. More geared towards protection than attacking play.

Only 2 of them play at a time though!

 

[Catt]

Nice win that and great to have a whole weekend relaxing watching football.

 

[Member 39557]

Carrick isn't really that competent if he keeps playing like that. If we are playing a 2 and Schweinsteiger isn't considered due to lack of fitness then surely Herrara starts.

Well, that's one solution but LVG tends to bench Herrera more than anybody else if I think back to last season.

Don't forget that Carrick seemed to be the difference between winning and losing last season. We really missed him when he was't there. It'll take a few more bad shows for him to get left out (at least until Bastian is fully match fit)

 

[Name Changed]

Well, that's one solution but LVG tends to bench Herrera more than anybody else if I think back to last season.

Don't forget that Carrick seemed to be the difference between winning and losing last season. We really missed him when he was't there. It'll take a few more bad shows for him to get left out (at least until Bastian is fully match fit)

I don't forget last season but last season Carrick was our only proper defensive midfielder. Now we have two more who one could argue are better.

Herrara seems to be the easy one to drop. He'd be the first one on my teamsheet to be honest. He offers something that none of our other midfielders do.

 

[17 Van der Gouw]

I honestly believe that we could bring Giggs out of retirement and play him out of position as a false 9, and he'd still offer more than Rooney did today.

 

[Sultan]

Only 2 of them play at a time though!

2 defensive midfielders is a bit much against Villa. I'd rather we played with Herrera and Mata in the middle ahead just one of Morgan, Bastian or Carrick.

 

[Member 39557]

I don't forget last season but last season Carrick was our only proper defensive midfielder. Now we have two more who one could argue are better.

Herrara seems to be the easy one to drop. He'd be the first one on my teamsheet to be honest. He offers something that none of our other midfielders do.

I agree. I rate Herrera a lot, he's one of my favourite players. Unfortunately I don't manage the team though!

 

[Pogue Mahone]

@Pogue Mahone's still asleep.

Pleasant dreams.

I'm awake!

I quite enjoyed that. Better performance than last weekend. Our best away game in flipping ages. So I'm a happy camper again.

 

[Name Changed]

I agree. I rate Herrera a lot, he's one of my favourite players. Unfortunately I don't manage the team though!

Maybe you should!

 

[Kakeru]

I felt we were more in control of our destiny in tonight's match compared to the one against Spurs. The defending and the midfield battle was well in our favour. The areas where concern is warranted are about how we pass the ball too slowly at times when we have a chance to hit the opposition on the counter and how our players kept our shooting boots at home. Against Club Brugge, we will need plenty of goals in order to relax a little bit more for the second leg.

Rooney... like my mates at the pub said, he is always having one fecking slow start to any season. That's hard to imagine from a seasoned veteran. Hopefully, he will start picking up soon.

 

[sunama]

Many fans on here didn't want Mourinho because of his style but it seems it's okay with LvG because he's now our manager so we have to rationalise everything

It is strange that people say Mourinho doesnt provide entertainment.
Looking at this crudely, we see that his sides tend to score a lot of goals.
Even last year (when he started playing conservatively in the 2nd half of the season), only Man City scored more goals than Chelsea.

I said this before the Spurs game and again, before the Villa game - I can't see us scoring more than 1 goal a game. Some people were predicting 3 goals and I have no idea what they are basing this on.
In the last 8 league games, we have scored 5 goals, so statistically, I expect less than 1 goal a game.

 

[711]

All players have good spells and bad spells but there comes a time when the bad spells coalesce to a definite decline.
We need a centre forward.

 

[royboy16]

I went for Shaw as my motm

Surprised to see darmian leads the way. He had a good game, but Shaw was flawless I thought.

Same,he's been really good pre season and carried that form into the new season.

 

[SkeppyRed]

I love his honesty in front of the press / media - sometimes too honest though!

Yes he is and the media love it. Needs to be careful it doesn't influence individuals in the squad negatively by creating stories out of nothing. Some personalities will appreciate it, others won't.

Realised fergie's 'I'm not going into that' style was so effective now he's gone. Some things are better un-said.

Tactically however Van gaal has us better than I've ever seen. As a defensive unit at least.

 

[Acole9]

The performance wasn't brilliant but another three points is what matters. When the new signings start to gel with the current crop I'm sure we'll start to see better performances as well. On a side note the Friday night games are great.

 

[Dominos]

It is strange that people say Mourinho doesnt provide entertainment.
Looking at this crudely, we see that his sides tend to score a lot of goals.
Even last year (when he started playing conservatively in the 2nd half of the season), only Man City scored more goals than Chelsea.

I said this before the Spurs game and again, before the Villa game - I can't see us scoring more than 1 goal a game. Some people were predicting 3 goals and I have no idea what they are basing this on.
In the last 8 league games, we have scored 5 goals, so statistically, I expect less than 1 goal a game.

You can't honestly expect we'll end the season with less than 40 league goals scored?

 

[Americano]

The team is presently too skewed towards defence.

I'm perfectly willing to accept that for now. Solid defending & a dominant back line can be a joy to watch in its own way. Saving goals and shutting down opposition attacks can sometimes be as exhilirating as attacking play. At the very least we need to find that missing defensive stability to protect our new goalkeeper. It will be some time before we really establish the most effective approach to attack, I fear.

Just seeing all four defenders complete a full 90 with no red cards, injuries, or substitutions brings me a warm feeling.

 

[Born2Lose]

Whoscored has Herrera being dispossessed 4 times, surely that can't be right.

 

[Everest Red]

Defensively we look very solid, the fullbacks are our best players right now for me. Schneiderlin is a bit too casual on the ball but provides good protection and Smalling is fantastic at defending, he just needs to sort his passing out.

Up top it was poor again for the most part, a couple of decent runs from Memphis, couple of good through balls from Mata and some solid moments form Adnan as well as the goal, but the amount of times we stall on the break is frustrating and Rooney as a focal point kills more attacks than the Death Star killed Alderanians.

We certainly looked crisper offensively once Schweini and Herrera came on.

Schweinsteiger can be to Schneiderlin what Blind is to Smalling.

 

[caid]

Whoscored has Herrera being dispossessed 4 times, surely that can't be right.

Sounds about right tbh, wasn't exactly much room for him to maneuver at times and tough positions to keep the ball in.

 

[Dion]

Whoscored has Herrera being dispossessed 4 times, surely that can't be right.

He gave the ball away every time he got it, if anything it might be generous.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

If by excellent you mean dull, boring and tumescent then I agree.

I mean organised, controlled, intelligent -- what we lack is ruthlessness in front of goal. If we develop that then we'll be a force again.

We were twice the team when Schweinsteiger and Herrara came on. How they aren't starting baffles me.

Villa were fatigued from pressing us for 60mins when Schweinsteiger came on so he was in an excellent position to control the game. Not sure he'd have the same impact from the start.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Friday and Monday nights must be horrendous to play.

That was a professional performance won through solidity, efficiency and good organisation. Any PL side is susceptible to dropping points away from home, so taking all 3 back is always a welcome result.

Sure we want goals and a bit of excitement too, but that will come.

No further comment regarding the problematic number 10, but otherwise quite happy with this one. Nice to see Januzaj play and score, Blind looked at home, some good midfield performance. Mata played a few great balls. The full backs are winning our hearts and Tim Sherwood was wearing a collared top under a collared top.