[Withnail]

That's a very depressing view. We should been through comfortably from that group. Instead, we need 2 wins from the last 2 matches.

We look clueless top to bottom. If you can't see that, it's very unfortunate.

Did I say we don't often look clueless?

I was talking about the context of one particular game where we were 1 nil up and in little danger of losing the game to my mind, until the red card. Even then it was a ridiculous howler which lost it.

I don't know why you're trying to paint my post as some kind of blind optimism in relation our form or performance to date.

 

[Lentwood]

I'm not sure I am buying this hype on Eric Bailly. Rave reviews after the game from the pundits, everybody lining up to slate Maguire and I've seen not one but two tabloid articles this morning on FB stirring the pot.

The first goal was unlucky, and De Gea should have saved it, but not sure why Bailly is getting attracted to the ball when McT has it covered. The ball bounces kindly into the area vacated by Bailly. It's harsh to call it a mistake from Bailly, but it's certainly nothing to do with Maguire or Varane.

Second goal is clearly Bailly's fault. That's one, straight pass over the top and one straight run from their CF. Nothing cleverer than that. Yet all I have heard is how its Maguire's fault for not covering in-time. So that's how it works is it? I make a mistake, but the actual blame lies with the person who isn't able to correct my mistake? Let's not even get started on DDG again. Many people have been quick to highlight the ground Maguire doesn't make up...what about the fact the lad is INSIDE the 6 yard box when he takes the touch? The ball has travelled 40 yards before its touched by an opponent and our GK is still stood motionless inside his 6 yard area. If you're allocating blame for that goal, you go Bailly first and foremost, De Gea second and possibly Maguire 3rd.

I don't particularly care what opposition fans say. We know at United that any big signing we make is going to get absolutely panned by the press if they aren't foot perfect every game. It's just how it is. I just can't understand our fans being so quick to try and trash Maguire for everything. Has he been at his best this season? No. Have any of our players? No. Primarily because there's no organisation whatsoever and the defending front to back is shambolic and last-ditch as a result.

We need to calm down a bit at times and not get carried away with the nonsense.

 

[justsomebloke]

Its embarrassing because nowadays no matter who beats us, we just bend over and accept it. When we have a manager who said you don't need to win trophies to be successful, shows how low our standards have become.

I didn't say they beat us before AWB went off, I said they beat us sorry if I confused you. Even before AWB went off they were the more aggressive and better team.

We have two games to go in this group, Villarreal which will be a tough game and the YB return, both will be a lot tougher than they should be and ill not be surprised if we dont win either.

He never said that. What he said was that an excessive focus on minor trophies can become a distraction from what should be the main focus, which is the major titles. At most, that can reasonably be construed as meaning that what fundamentally matters is more where we are with regard to competing for the PL than whether we win f.e. a Carabao Cup. With which I for one totally agree, and that represents a higher level of ambition and higher standards than a focus on winning any kind of trophy.

 

[justsomebloke]

Actually, as crazy as it may sound, City is probably the best team to play that pair. They don't have strong, physical forwards that could bully Lindelof.
But we all know that if Harry is half fit he'll start ahead of any of the two.

Plague or cholera really. The way Maguire has been playing since his injury, every ounce of sense dictates he should not be on the pitch against City. On the other hand, if you think back to the experience with the Lindelof/Bailly pairing at the end of last season, that's not a happy thought either.

Personally I think it'll be a back 3, with Shaw as the third man only if Lindelof isn't ready. If he is, then I think Ole will take his chances with Maguire rather than play Telles on LWB. A back two consisting of a Maguire in his present form and a Lindelof not fully in match shape is a recipe for disaster. Maguire/Bailly is also fundamentally undependable, and he knows they can't afford slip-ups against City. Only a back 3 will offer a semblance of credible stability.

 

[Pavl3n]

Plague or cholera really. The way Maguire has been playing since his injury, every ounce of sense dictates he should not be on the pitch against City. On the other hand, if you think back to the experience with the Lindelof/Bailly pairing at the end of last season, that's not a happy thought either.

Personally I think it'll be a back 3, with Shaw as the third man only if Lindelof isn't ready. If he is, then I think Ole will take his chances with Maguire rather than play Telles on LWB. A back two consisting of a Maguire in his present form and a Lindelof not fully in match shape is a recipe for disaster. Maguire/Bailly is also fundamentally undependable, and he knows they can't afford slip-ups against City. Only a back 3 will offer a semblance of credible stability.

Yeah, the way it's been going, I don't see anything else than a back 3. It will take time until we revert to a back 4.

 

[Denis79]

Atalanta are a decent side but we should be beating them home and away, although 4pts isn't bad.

Young boys didn't embarrass us. With 11 men we were never losing that game.

Yes the season hasn't been great but let's not rewrite history.

One thing the games against them have shown is that we are pretty much evenly matched. I would argue that this is a perfect example of how using your squad to it's strengths is the difference between a good manager and an average one.

We have a superior team on paper but Gasperini really brings the best out of his players, while Ole doesn't.

 

[largelyworried]

Yeah, the way it's been going, I don't see anything else than a back 3. It will take time until we revert to a back 4.

Trouble is we were really poor going forward on Tue before we switched to a 4, in particular we struggled to keep the ball if they pressed our midfielders, since we lacked an outlet going forward.

While a back 3 may offer some semblance of security, I don't for one moment think we can keep City out for 90 minutes with a rearguard action alone. We have to trouble their defence too. If we sacrifice an attacker for a CB and our FBs get stuck defending all match, forcing us into a back 5, then we're never going to cause them a problem the other way. So its a fine balancing act.

 

[Withnail]

One thing the games against them have shown is that we are pretty much evenly matched. I would argue that this is a perfect example of how using your squad to it's strengths is the difference between a good manager and an average one.

We have a superior team on paper but Gasperini really brings the best out of his players, while Ole doesn't.

I'd agree with that. On paper the sides should not be evenly matched at all.

 

[Maticmaker]

We need to calm down a bit at times and not get carried away with the nonsense.

Well said, agree completely.

 

[calodo2003]

 

[iammemphis]

Farmers who stink of Thursday nights

 

[calodo2003]

Farmers who stink of Thursday nights

Check out the Tottenham one, he has some absolute peaches in there.

 

[AndyMUFC86]

I'm not sure I am buying this hype on Eric Bailly. Rave reviews after the game from the pundits, everybody lining up to slate Maguire and I've seen not one but two tabloid articles this morning on FB stirring the pot.

The first goal was unlucky, and De Gea should have saved it, but not sure why Bailly is getting attracted to the ball when McT has it covered. The ball bounces kindly into the area vacated by Bailly. It's harsh to call it a mistake from Bailly, but it's certainly nothing to do with Maguire or Varane.

Second goal is clearly Bailly's fault. That's one, straight pass over the top and one straight run from their CF. Nothing cleverer than that. Yet all I have heard is how its Maguire's fault for not covering in-time. So that's how it works is it? I make a mistake, but the actual blame lies with the person who isn't able to correct my mistake? Let's not even get started on DDG again. Many people have been quick to highlight the ground Maguire doesn't make up...what about the fact the lad is INSIDE the 6 yard box when he takes the touch? The ball has travelled 40 yards before its touched by an opponent and our GK is still stood motionless inside his 6 yard area. If you're allocating blame for that goal, you go Bailly first and foremost, De Gea second and possibly Maguire 3rd.

I don't particularly care what opposition fans say. We know at United that any big signing we make is going to get absolutely panned by the press if they aren't foot perfect every game. It's just how it is. I just can't understand our fans being so quick to try and trash Maguire for everything. Has he been at his best this season? No. Have any of our players? No. Primarily because there's no organisation whatsoever and the defending front to back is shambolic and last-ditch as a result.

We need to calm down a bit at times and not get carried away with the nonsense.

Nice post, I have to agree with what you’ve said there. People love to trash maguire because we over paid for him. That’s not his fault. And the way our defence has been left 3/4 on 2 numerous occasions each game there’s no wonder he’s looked out of form. Rio and vidic would have struggled to hold our defence together this season!

 

[Pavl3n]

Trouble is we were really poor going forward on Tue before we switched to a 4, in particular we struggled to keep the ball if they pressed our midfielders, since we lacked an outlet going forward.

While a back 3 may offer some semblance of security, I don't for one moment think we can keep City out for 90 minutes with a rearguard action alone. We have to trouble their defence too. If we sacrifice an attacker for a CB and our FBs get stuck defending all match, forcing us into a back 5, then we're never going to cause them a problem the other way. So its a fine balancing act.

It's always is.

And versus City in last games we've always played on the counter, they've always pressed us in our half. But we've had some good results against them playing with a back 3. Let's see how it goes.