[Ballache]

Stopped watching at the 65th min or so. Honestly don't give a shit anymore, it's not like we're losing because of bad luck or because their keeper had a blinder. Our performance didn't warrant a point and we got what we deserved. Their midfield dominated our £150m cms. Some of the misplaced passes and decision making in the final third is very worrying.

 

[mitchmouse]

Having had two very long nights at work, I gave up at half time because I knew what was coming. We have no lost away to all three sides that were promoted last year. That's is pathetic, embarrassing and shows that despite what pundits keep saying, our squad is weak as hell. Once again. from what I saw, our midfield created almost nothing and rom the moment Fellaini's header was disallowed we seemed to lose passion or interest. I got in bang on kick off so didn't see the line-ups . and for 20 minutes had no idea Martial was playing. Pogba is hardly worth £8.9m lest alone £89m, Young is nothing short of a joke but it's the midfield that is the problem. They create nothing and I am sure will be overrun by West Ham's passion and desire next week. I'm pretty sure (a) we won't finish second (b) Chelsea will win the FA Cup and (c) DDG would be right to think he's never going to win another league winner's medal at Old Trafford unless we have a mammoth clear out. Score out of 10: minus 3 for players, tactics and manager. Awful

 

[Borden]

Don't you get a bit sick of hearing this or variations from various players?
It's true, but we are hearing it over and over again in various competitions. They need a new script writer.

11:12
Ashley Young reacts to the defeat
Speaking to MUTV Young said:

“It wasn’t good enough from the first whistle to the end. We put pressure on them at the end, but you can’t start like that and expect to win. It is disappointing and we have to dust ourselves down and prepare for the next game.”

Yep. Same shit, new week. How about doing instead of talking.

And this ‘It is disappointing but..’ attitude of our players really fecking annoys and worries me. Like they’re saying ‘oh well, shit happens, what are you gonna do, new game soon.’ It doesn’t seem like losing bothers them a whole lot. Have some pride you twats.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Some people say we are spoilt. Well I look at some of the distances our fans travel to support this team , home and away and I think they deserve to be spoilt. They deserve to have a team that plays attractive football to entertain them, to have a team who gives their all every single game, not have them writing games off because it is the end of the season. Somebody said he has just spent £2000 on renewing his season ticket and cup final tickets. That is a lot of money for most of us, yet a footballer could spend more than that on a night out. They need to come out of their bubble and look at the sacrifices fans make to support them.

 

[AndyJ1985]

It's matches like this that give me no hope for us achieving anything next season. Our squad players are crap, and if we're going to win a title we have to rely on our squad players at times.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

It's matches like this that give me no hope for us achieving anything next season. Our squad players are crap, and if we're going to win a title we have to rely on our squad players at times.

People have criticised City for spending so much money, well this is why, to get a deep squad. We have the same amount of players, but the quality is miles apart.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Yep. Same shit, new week. How about doing instead of talking.

What's he supposed to say though? " we gave everything."

They're damned if they do and damned if they don't. The lack of application and desire was apparent from the first few passes. Too many players splaying passes to no one. Even Matic put in a few bad passes. It was nonchalant.

And fans wonder why as Jose puts it, ' some players start ahead of others,' Why he likes fighters.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

People have criticised City for spending so much money, well this is why, to get a deep squad. We have the same amount of players, but the quality is miles apart.

When Leicester won the PL, did they have superior quality to the rest of the PL big 5?

I'm not buying that argument anymore. Sure we have some ageing players at full back but some of our players look like they'd rather be somewhere else. I could only point to about 3/4 players who look like they're playing for the shirt

 

[DomesticTadpole]

What's he supposed to say though? " we gave everything."

They're damned if they do and damned if they don't. The lack of application and desire was apparent from the first few passes. Too many players splaying passes to no one. Even Matic put in a few bad passes. It was nonchalant.

And fans wonder why as Jose puts it, ' some players start ahead of others,' Why he likes fighters.

Think it is more that we are hearing it too often, if it was a game against a big team, then you can understand why they could outplay you on that day. When it is against the bottom clubs, as you say, there is a serious attitude problem and it is alright players coming out with these platitudes when they might actually be the problem.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

When Leicester won the PL, did they have superior quality to the rest of the PL big 5?

I'm not buying that argument anymore. Sure we have some ageing players at full back but some of our players look like they'd rather be somewhere else. I could only point to about 3/4 players who look like they're playing for the shirt

Then as I have said it is an attitude problem, but look at Leicester now, nowhere with the same players, it was a freak, Manchester City might not be.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

The way some of them played last night they would struggle to get in a soccer aid side.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Think it is more that we are hearing it too often, if it was a game against a big team, then you can understand why they could outplay you on that day. When it is against the bottom clubs, as you say, there is a serious attitude problem and it is alright players coming out with these platitudes when they might actually be the problem.

Thank God we're playing Chelsea in the FA Cup final and not Southampton then! Can you imagine this team coming out on to the pitch thinking that the game's already won?

Only in 99 did I know and hear it from the inside that the team that day knew that Newcastle Utd had no chance.That team played for each other

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Then as I have said it is an attitude problem, but look at Leicester now, nowhere with the same players, it was a freak, Manchester City might not be.

Agreed, but the point I was trying to make was that, yes, it's great having a deep squad but if they don't play for each other and have piss poor attitude then it's pretty pointless having a quality bench. You only had to look at how some of the younger Arsenal players played against us compared to how the senior players played against Atletico Madrid.

We need players chomping at the bit to play because it's Utd not ones going though the motions

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Thank God we're playing Chelsea in the FA Cup final and not Southampton then! Can you imagine this team coming out on to the pitch thinking that the game's already won?

Only in 99 did I know and hear it from the inside that the team that day knew that Newcastle Utd had no chance.That team played for each other

That is the one saving grace, it is Chelsea. If it were Southampton I could see another '76. That 99 team fought for each other, would protect each other. This lot are every man for himself and that is not good.

 

[djembatheking]

Some people say we are spoilt. Well I look at some of the distances our fans travel to support this team , home and away and I think they deserve to be spoilt. They deserve to have a team that plays attractive football to entertain them, to have a team who gives their all every single game, not have them writing games off because it is the end of the season. Somebody said he has just spent £2000 on renewing his season ticket and cup final tickets. That is a lot of money for most of us, yet a footballer could spend more than that on a night out. They need to come out of their bubble and look at the sacrifices fans make to support them.

Totally agree mate , I feckin hate it when pundits say they`ve got nothing to play for as like you said there is a lot of fans shelling out huge amounts to go to matches as well as non match going fans shelling out on tv subscriptions to watch their team .
This would not happen years ago as united players always had a desire to win every game , we used to have players that were really bad losers and would play every match to win .
David May was shell shocked on MUTV last night and he said the desire to win comes from within and it just wasn`t there last night .
The manner of defeat was a real low point last night and a part of me feels like not bothering but I know it won`t happen as I keep coming back for more .

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Agreed, but the point I was trying to make was that, yes, it's great having a deep squad but if they don't play for each other and have piss poor attitude then it's pretty pointless having a quality bench. You only had to look at how some of the younger Arsenal players played against us compared to how the senior players played against Atletico Madrid.

We need players chomping at the bit to play because it's Utd not ones going though the motions

Cannot argue with that.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Totally agree mate , I feckin hate it when pundits say they`ve got nothing to play for as like you said there is a lot of fans shelling out huge amounts to go to matches as well as non match going fans shelling out on tv subscriptions to watch their team .
This would not happen years ago as united players always had a desire to win every game , we used to have players that were really bad losers and would play every match to win .
David May was shell shocked on MUTV last night and he said the desire to win comes from within and it just wasn`t there last night .
The manner of defeat was a real low point last night and a part of me feels like not bothering but I know it won`t happen as I keep coming back for more .

I watched MUTV after the game as well. People ringing in were more sad than angry. That everything this club stood for is becoming a long distant memory. Think May and Stepney were dumbstruck at times.

 

[Andy_Cole]

Didn’t watch the game but I’m going to put the blame on Fellaini.

 

[Sterling Archer]

How many of Leicester or current City team players had experience of winning this league for that matter? City have just as many as ours in the squad. What experience of winning EPl had regulars such as Ederson, Stones, Otamendi, Laporte, Walker, De Bruyne, Sterling, Sane, Clishy, Gundogan, Bernarndo Silva and Jesus? Or is it different again? The amount of excuses for underperformers, including managers our fans coming up resulted in lowering expectations and standards at this club and allowing to get away with everything until it goes south real bad.

Can you digest what I'm saying for a minute please? That City side has a spine of PL winners already in it. That helps a team.mentality when new players come in. We lost that when we sold Rio, Ever, Hernandez Vidic. As for Leicester, u can go thru my old posts. I've been bringing them up constantly as an example of how important mentality is and as an indictment of Spurs and Liverpool and Arsenal in that same time. They didn't have a core of PL winners but they had heart. Our team lacks both. The latter is fixable from within and also why I'm so harsh on some of the cafes beloved players.

Manager has not under performed in the way the players I'm frustrated by have. If City weren't having a record breaking season we might still be within shot of the title.

I think it's because you decided to pick on one specific sentence in my original post and then continue to throw replies tit for tat ...but it sounds like we may have a similar opinion here. But that's the problem here - posters get so blindly hung up on phrasing and completely ignore the point being made even if theyre on a similar plane. So here's my big picture opinion :

I want Jose to do better through the season. 7 losses - three to promoted sides - and an awful end to the CL, sour some bright spots and are not acceptable for this club or a manager of his caliber. But big picture if we seal a FA Cup and 2nd, I will also admit progress. So while disappointed, I stand behind the manager for another season. I knew what he was , flaws and positives , when he signed and accept them bc of his pedigree and overall results .

I do not stand behind some of these players in the same way. The also need to do better but I am more critical of them because I don't see enough anger or passion. I am of the opinion that unless a player has the talent of Messi or Ronaldo he shut the feck up and follow the managers instructions . When Ibra, Etoo Drogba etc have done so in the past, it just highlights a generational gap - people today are too soft. Perhaps that's Keano level ignorance of complex human emotions but whatever . Seeing a player like Kane turn out to be such a giant pathetic ego maniac is kind of symbolic. I'm grateful we haven't had any public outbursts as such (then again the leaks last year were rank) but it's still clear that mentality is an issue w players. We could have had a care taker manager today, doesn't matter who , but you can't excuse a performance like Tonite. Just compare the attitude versus BHA players. So unlike Jose, some of these chumps have been around giving us less than enough for more than two seasons. For me they're under a more critical spotlight. Some, I do not think they can become perennial winners and want out. Others need to mature and come to grips with what it takes.

So there you have it. Hope my feelings are a bit clearer. It's not black and white .

 

[TotallyRed]

Absolutely shocking ... Cant see how this squad can improve .
All that pace and we don't look at all dangerous ,What a shite season !!

 

[KingCantona87]

Don't know if anybody else picked up on this before yesterday's shambles, but the body langauge between Pogba and Mouriho was very interesting during the pre-match warm ups.

You could tell after 30-35 minutes that it was going to be another "West Brom". We made Brighton look like world-beaters.

Attitude of the players selected was 100% to blame for what happened.

I know I was quick in the past to want Moyes and LVG out but 3 managers (2 of whom were/are what I would consider to be top-tier) all producing the same results? For me it's the players this time. Jose can only do so much.

I worry for the futures of Rashford and Martial though. If Jose sells them then his days are well and truly numbered. This isn't the same situation as when Fergie sold Hughes, Kanchelskis and Ince.

 

[djembatheking]

I watched MUTV after the game as well. People ringing in were more sad than angry. That everything this club stood for is becoming a long distant memory. Think May and Stepney were dumbstruck at times.

I think a few of us were . I can accept defeat if we have really piled it on and tried for a result but we went down in the 57 min last night and there was no urgency after the goal to try and get something out of the game . Brighton didn`t even have to hang in there as they were fairly comfortable .

 

[Sandikan]

Don't know if anybody else picked up on this before yesterday's shambles, but the body langauge between Pogba and Mouriho was very interesting during the pre-match warm ups.

You could tell after 30-35 minutes that it was going to be another "West Brom". We made Brighton look like world-beaters.

Attitude of the players selected was 100% to blame for what happened.

I know I was quick in the past to want Moyes and LVG out but 3 managers (2 of whom were/are what I would consider to be top-tier) all producing the same results? For me it's the players this time. Jose can only do so much.

I worry for the futures of Rashford and Martial though. If Jose sells them then his days are well and truly numbered. This isn't the same situation as when Fergie sold Hughes, Kanchelskis and Ince.

The good thing with the West Brom and Brighton terrible displays is it'll have cleared up any doubts Jose had about certain players.
He's a ruthless guy and will do what it takes to win.

No chance he'd sell Rashford, he'll just continue to be the forward line back up he's been this year.
Martial is an awkward one though. Sanchez is just a better player and as Importantly, works super hard too. He hasn't shown too much of his top form yet as he's still settling, but Martial will struggle to start over him.

Mata, Rojo, Fellaini and Darmian were described as "yesterday's men" in a column I read today. Pretty hard to disagree massively with that. All at best are squad players.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I think a few of us were . I can accept defeat if we have really piled it on and tried for a result but we went down in the 57 min last night and there was no urgency after the goal to try and get something out of the game . Brighton didn`t even have to hang in there as they were fairly comfortable .

That sums it up. In the past we would have had them penned into their box. Sad.

 

[AndyJ1985]

I watched MUTV after the game as well. People ringing in were more sad than angry. That everything this club stood for is becoming a long distant memory. Think May and Stepney were dumbstruck at times.

Yes that's how I feel. I love United and only moan about our current plight because I find it a sad state of affairs that we've accumulated so many piss poor players with weak attitudes. It's not befitting of our great club and I expect far higher standards than what we're seeing. Even if we lose I'd accept it if we at least fought hard and gave 100%. But many of our players don't look arsed. I'm fully behind Mourinho when he criticises players in public. Why should the manager get all of the blame? Players need to be held accountable for their shameful performances. Any player fit to wear the United shirt should be able to handle the pressure and the criticism that comes with it.

 

[Berba's_Flick]

No it's not Jose, no Pep wouldn't win the league with this team, no one could! If anything Jose has over achieved with this bunch of pussies. What Jose said about them is accurate and I personally am completely behind Jose. If he can clear this dross and get players who actually give a feck we might achieve what we all want. The likes of Pogba and Martial need to start pulling their weight consistently or gtfo. The team needs major investment and till that happens Manchester will stay blue

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Yes that's how I feel. I love United and only moan about our current plight because I find it a sad state of affairs that we've accumulated so many piss poor players with weak attitudes. It's not befitting of our great club and I expect far higher standards than what we're seeing. Even if we lose I'd accept it if we at least fought hard and gave 100%. But many of our players don't look arsed. I'm fully behind Mourinho when he criticises players in public. Why should the manager get all of the blame? Players need to be held accountable for their shameful performances. Any player fit to wear the United shirt should be able to handle the pressure and the criticism that comes with it.

Jose needs to look at himself as well. Send them out to win, not that they think they have already won. Also agree that there are some really weak minded players in our squad. Hopefully Jose will realise who they are and will get rid. The statements coming out that we don't need much to challenge is not right with this squad. We need two midfielders, two fullbacks to me, the ones thinking Valencia is fine, really, I think we need another striker, no matter what Jose says. A right winger depending on who we get for RB, if it is an attacking fullback/wingback, then it might not be needed.

Some of these players are stealing a living and will find that leaving United can only mean a career at a lesser team.

 

[McUnited]

Neville says the match showed that Mourinho had lost faith in some of his players. Or is it the case that those players have lost faith in Mourinho?

If the former, those players will presumably go. If the latter, ought Mourinho to go?

 

[Rajma]

Can you digest what I'm saying for a minute please? That City side has a spine of PL winners already in it. That helps a team.mentality when new players come in. We lost that when we sold Rio, Ever, Hernandez Vidic. As for Leicester, u can go thru my old posts. I've been bringing them up constantly as an example of how important mentality is and as an indictment of Spurs and Liverpool and Arsenal in that same time. They didn't have a core of PL winners but they had heart. Our team lacks both. The latter is fixable from within and also why I'm so harsh on some of the cafes beloved players.

Manager has not under performed in the way the players I'm frustrated by have. If City weren't having a record breaking season we might still be within shot of the title.

I think it's because you decided to pick on one specific sentence in my original post and then continue to throw replies tit for tat ...but it sounds like we may have a similar opinion here. But that's the problem here - posters get so blindly hung up on phrasing and completely ignore the point being made even if theyre on a similar plane. So here's my big picture opinion :

I want Jose to do better through the season. 7 losses - three to promoted sides - and an awful end to the CL, sour some bright spots and are not acceptable for this club or a manager of his caliber. But big picture if we seal a FA Cup and 2nd, I will also admit progress. So while disappointed, I stand behind the manager for another season. I knew what he was , flaws and positives , when he signed and accept them bc of his pedigree and overall results .

I do not stand behind some of these players in the same way. The also need to do better but I am more critical of them because I don't see enough anger or passion. I am of the opinion that unless a player has the talent of Messi or Ronaldo he shut the feck up and follow the managers instructions . When Ibra, Etoo Drogba etc have done so in the past, it just highlights a generational gap - people today are too soft. Perhaps that's Keano level ignorance of complex human emotions but whatever . Seeing a player like Kane turn out to be such a giant pathetic ego maniac is kind of symbolic. I'm grateful we haven't had any public outbursts as such (then again the leaks last year were rank) but it's still clear that mentality is an issue w players. We could have had a care taker manager today, doesn't matter who , but you can't excuse a performance like Tonite. Just compare the attitude versus BHA players. So unlike Jose, some of these chumps have been around giving us less than enough for more than two seasons. For me they're under a more critical spotlight. Some, I do not think they can become perennial winners and want out. Others need to mature and come to grips with what it takes.

So there you have it. Hope my feelings are a bit clearer. It's not black and white .

Well I largely agree with you. The reason I decided to bring that point up, is that we have just as many title winners as City. Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Young, Carrick, and De Gea while City have only two starters in Fernandinho and Silva (who barely featured since the turn of new year due to personal issues).

On the whole a lot of it is down to the money in the game, and especially in our club where we’re happy to pay well above the going rate for some utter dross we have in the squad that even the likes of Fellaini can go public and dictate terms ffs how they wanna be getting paid in the horizon of £100k+ a week.

However, it’s a two way street you might be saying Inter squad has never shown same heart and desire they had during Jose’s rein before his arrival and after he’s left the club, meaning players can switch on under right manager and vice versa.

In my opinion we simply have been hiring ‘has beens’ who failed to move on with times, who no longer capable of bringing the heart and desire out of players by employing their old methods. However, that is no shame since very few managed to stay on top of the things throughout their careers.

 

[Berba's_Flick]

Neville says the match showed that Mourinho had lost faith in some of his players. Or is it the case that those players have lost faith in Mourinho?

If the former, those players will presumably go. If the latter, ought Mourinho to go?

In either scenario the players will go. Mourinho has the boards backing and righty so

 

[ken11]

Borey snorey Man United

LOL

 

[ken11]

Man Utd players think they're better than the players from teams in the bottom half of the table.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Man Utd players think they're better than the players from teams in the bottom half of the table.

They probably are in most cases, but it doesn't mean you don't have to put the effort in. If that lesser side works really hard there is a good chance they will beat you. Our lot want the points, but are not willing to to sweat blood to get them.

 

[Melville]

Exactly we know who will take the spotlight for poor performance. Fellaini needs to leave. United can't depend on lucky just like the match against Arsenal.

 

[GiddyUp]

Neville says the match showed that Mourinho had lost faith in some of his players. Or is it the case that those players have lost faith in Mourinho?

If the former, those players will presumably go. If the latter, ought Mourinho to go?

Not really, outside of De Gea there is not one player in this squad that is more important to the club then Mourinho. We all see the limitations of these players so Mourinho deserves some slack and allowed to get shit done. He is the closest manager in mentality to Ferguson, it's just that our lack of attacking impetus is letting us down. We need some maturity and guile going forward but a lot of our players are not brave enough.

 

[bward99]

I am not even surprised by the result, too many points dropped this year yet again! Teams play against us thinking they can pick up points... the games watched under LVG and moyes are no different to now. It kills me to say the scouse b******* and city play more attractive football then us! Too many prima donnas! no heart, desire, fight or creativity in our team. We massively lack leaders on the pitch, we need someone like a vidic or keane whos going to give us a kick up the arse on the field. Although i agree with jose's comments, i do not believe this should be brought out in the media it should be kept behind closed doors. Big improvement needed next year, i hope we can challenge for the title properly where as this year weve been happy to scrape 2nd place. Not good enough at all, changes needed.

 

[redmanx]

It was infuriating to watch the players walk around in the last 10 minutes in the opposition half, doing the same things over and over again. And the lack of urgency in our play in the 15-20 minutes before that was quite appaling too. Something about this team's mentality just doesn't sit right, and it can't all be down to bad coaching.

None of our outfield players tonight had the sort of attitude I expect to see from Manchester United players, desire, guts, willingness, passion, spirit, and in truth there's been very little of any of that for some years now. I cant think of an era from the early 60s, when I began supporting United, to SAFs final season when our players and teams lacked attitude and consistently failed to perform like the current bunch; I cannot believe Mourinho doesn't try to motivate the present lot, (and why should they need motivating?) they simply don't seem to respond, and if that's because they don't like Mourinho then they should grow up, and fast, and lets face it, Jose has achieved more in football than all of them together! The preening and posing has to stop, they're footballers not pro wrestlers or any other type of poseurs, and they get well paid for it. Most of us supporters would sell our children to play just once for Manchester United, without pay, and it galls me to watch performances like the one against Brighton and so many others. Busby, Docherty, Atkinson and Fergie would never have put up with these performances or the players woeful attitudes and Jose should start cracking down hard, because its not just Manchester Uniteds future they're compromising but his too!

 

[Isotope]

None of our outfield players tonight had the sort of attitude I expect to see from Manchester United players, desire, guts, willingness, passion, spirit, and in truth there's been very little of any of that for some years now. I cant think of an era from the early 60s, when I began supporting United, to SAFs final season when our players and teams lacked attitude and consistently failed to perform like the current bunch; I cannot believe Mourinho doesn't try to motivate the present lot, (and why should they need motivating?) they simply don't seem to respond, and if that's because they don't like Mourinho then they should grow up, and fast, and lets face it, Jose has achieved more in football than all of them together! The preening and posing has to stop, they're footballers not pro wrestlers or any other type of poseurs, and they get well paid for it. Most of us supporters would sell our children to play just once for Manchester United, without pay, and it galls me to watch performances like the one against Brighton and so many others. Busby, Docherty, Atkinson and Fergie would never have put up with these performances or the players woeful attitudes and Jose should start cracking down hard, because its not just Manchester Uniteds future they're compromising but his too!

But if the WHOLE team was collectively doing it, maybe it's not the players.

 

[redmanx]

The players know it doesn’t matter what they do out on the field tonight there is no way they will be replacing Lukaku, Sanchez, Lingard, Matic, Pogba etc for the FA Cup final. They might just be lucky enough to get a few minutes.

Theres this thing called "Professionalism" which is sadly lacking in too many of our players of late, rather than sulking they should be trying to give the manager reason to pick them instead!

 

[Marcky411]

Theres this thing called "Professionalism" which is sadly lacking in too many of our players of late, rather than sulking they should be trying to give the manager reason to pick them instead!

Fully agree if we were dealing with a manager which can be influenced to play you if you perform well, e.g Sanchez been totally crap (the chilian Rooney, way past his prime) undroppable.