[Firas United]

Disadvantages : embarrassing result as title holders - poor performance from a lot of players as they were not serious on the pitch (e.g. Rashford and Martial ) - we will be under pressure as we are out the media will picture the Carabao Cup is more important than UCL

Advantages : very good performance from Scott McTominay and he deserves more chances to improve ... it's obvious that this kid has very good abilities

Good performance from Luke Shaw who is insisting that he deserves spot in the starting formation

Less matches so we have a chance to focus on the more important competitions

 

[AXVnee7]

As with the form at the moment all 3 of them teams could beat us and that could have a far bigger affect on mood right now it can just be put down to one of those days.

For the bigger picture we need to keep CL spots due to sponsors targets i think we will get a few players in Jan and cement 2nd place but go for a CL semi as we can beat the Euro teams counter attacking.

Im not happy its one less trophy but at least its the lesser one and we only won it last year.

Though some of our young players need to stop hiding and hoping Pogba will lay it on a plate every time.

That’ll be it now, secure 2nd and push on in the CL as you say. We do have the FA cup but it’s just very disappointing to be out of contention of a cup under the circumstances in which we lost tonight. But as mentioned earlier it’s not going to define our season and there’s still plenty to play for.

 

[AngliaRed]

Its a micky mouse cup that clogs up our already busy fixture list!

That being said, a very strong united side went to Ashton gate and got outfought, outclassed and beaten. No excuses really!

Oh well, bring on another potential banana skin at Leicester Saturday night.

 

[redzer]

Shocking performance from all over the field to be fair.

The two goals we conceded were awful from a defensive point of view. The two were as a result of failing to track the run of your opposition player. Schoolboy stuff from Blind and McTominay and no way should either of allowed a shot on goal as a result.

Very very poor going forward and the team has to have a really long look at themselves as a result. At the end of the day this is Bristol City and they had more shots on target and more corners then us.

Expect a draw against Leicester this weekend.

 

[DenisIrwin]

Apparently, according to Laura Kuenssberg, we decided not to continue in this competition.

 

[montpelier]

I do tend to care quite a lot less than last year - we weren't in the Champions League last year.

Might be an empty argument given our chances in the CL but we are still in it & the 1st XI does need resting from these Noddy Cup games (I'm ignoring that all the forwards played tonight, )

Want to see us do better than that on Saturday though, that's for sure.

 

[Firas United]

Beside this poor result and our poor performance, last year we won this competition people around the world be like : silly competition and it doesn't count.

This year we are out same people be like: Carabao Cup is more important than champions league

 

[bosnian_red]

Well if you don't believe that they are a concern then you may be one of our fans that is overrating our players and burying your head in the sand. 'Sqwaka' might say they have been fine, but the reality is they don't deliver good performances on a consistent basis. It is like 1 in 3 or even 1 in 4 good games and that just isn't good enough for me, your expectations may be lower however. Obviously at their age you do expect a little bit of inconsistency, but not to the degree that these two are.

I'd say both have been pretty understandably inconsistent all things considered and nothing all all that is something that should be a big worry. Do you forget how inconsistent Ronaldo was when he was growing up? Or how Rooney would go months without scoring and also his touch going to shit plenty of times while developing? It's standard. Especially when you play in a team with a very disjointed attacking set up. Who are the main players in our attack? Whenever we play, on the pitch, it ends up being Rashford or Martial. Pogba plays a huge part but has been out for a lot of this season, and he's pretty much our only source of creativity. He played today sure but shit happens. Lukaku is a player who should be around his prime, and our 75m striker but he definitely isn't a striker that is a creative player or will bring the best out of the others with link up play. Today, 36 year old just back from ACL surgery Ibra played, and he played like a pub level footballer. So again, hardly ideal circumstances.

When you're in a team that doesn't really have a clearly defined attacking set up, constant rotation in formations/players being picked, key players like Pogba being out for a long time and resorting to 0 creative players in midfield, what exactly do you expect from young attackers like Rashford and Martial? Ronaldo and Rooney still had experienced world class players around them like Giggs, Scholes and Van Nistelrooy. Don't underestimate the impact that has on them.

 

[Eriku]

Well we're not even close to being good enough to win the league or CL so the only thing we can focus on winning is the FA Cup. Don't really get how chucking away a great chance to get to the semis in one cup so we can concentrate on being in the 3rd round of the other is something to be positive about.

Like what the feck? The league - oh wait that's already gone.

If our team is as shit as you guys believe, we'll have a fight on our hands to stay in the top 4. If City are as all-conquering as people would have us believe, there's no point in trying for the EFL Cup anyway, so why the fuss?

Anyway, we've just had a couple of months where we had no Pogba, and he has (in the few matches we saw him back before the red) made us look way better than he did today, in this somewhat mish-mash of a side, so I reckon we might actually do better in the league and other cups going forward.

 

[minoo-utd]

Who needs sex when I get fecked by Darmian and Blind every week

Both should be f.. ... Gone.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

There is no system for them to fall back on so they will be inconsistent by that very nature.

Liverpool have an attacking structure and triggers as do Chelsea under Conte. Arsenal don't which is why their team is so inconsistent as well. As I said already, we saw what happened when Sterling had no instructions. Give Pep Martial and he would be on the Ballon D'or shortlist.

People forget Drogba never had a world class season till Mourinho left.

If you believe it's all tactical based, then we will have to agree to disagree. But one thing I will say (and this isn't necessarily aimed at you) is that our fans are overrating too many of our players. Simple fact is, we have too many that are rather inconsistent or just mediocre and that is why we are a considerable distance away from being a top team in Europe again.

For the record, I don't agree with the Pep and Martial comment at all. Martial will never be consistent enough to ever win a trophy like that in my honest opinion.

 

[Aresma7]

It was obvious that the Bristol players wanted this more. These cup games are usually a lot harder because the opponent has more energy. At least Mou can not use the fixture excuse anymore and we can focus on PL & CL

 

[davidmichael]

Games like tonight are where you play Gribbin, Gomes and Tuanzebe because they’re young, fearless and hungry and much like Rashford did a couple of years ago are much more likely to be up for it on a cold Wednesday night against a Championship team.

 

[edgar allan]

The one major positive is at least now we don't have to endure Jose's tactics over a 2 leg game with city. I just couldn't endure the negativity.

 

[PlayerOne]

We're never winning a league title while Martial and Rashford are starting, as harsh as that sounds. Just far too inconsistent and don't deliver enough. Compare them to Sane and Sterling who are on the wings at City, they rarely have 2-3 bad games in a short spell. Our two have them on a regular basis.

The same Sterling and Sane who were poor last season? Martial and Rashford are far from our biggest problem at the moment

 

[snk123]

If our team is as shit as you guys believe, we'll have a fight on our hands to stay in the top 4. If City are as all-conquering as people would have us believe, there's no point in trying for the EFL Cup anyway, so why the fuss?

Do you realise the difference between cup games and a league? If so, do you know that City do not have an advantage of 11 points in the EFL cup? This was a perfectly winnable competition for all even if we had Barca and Real as the semi finalists. And we lost to Bristol fecking City.

 

[edgar allan]

The same Sterling and Sane who were poor last season? Martial and Rashford are far from our biggest problem at the moment

They are a big part of our problem to be fair, just far to raw and inconsistent.

 

[Eriku]

Do you realise the difference between cup games and a league? If so, do you know that City do not have an advantage of 11 points in the EFL cup? This was a perfectly winnable competition for all even if we had Barca and Real as the semi finalists. And we lost to Bristol fecking City.

Just satirising everybody's despondency over City's marauding side, mate. Yes, I recognise that it's a different kettle of fish.

Do you realise that two of the other trophies on display are CUP trophies? Why are they so much less winnable than this one, where we'd only be facing elite EPL sides for the remaining matches?

Before you ask, YES, I realise that we're likely far off winning the Champions League... then again, I'd have said the same about Liverpool in 05, or Porto the year before that. At any rate I never get too worked up about getting knocked out of the League Cup prior to the semis... which are a double-header that would certainly not help keep us fresh for the other cups, which I definitely would prioritise over it.

 

[Darkhorsez]

Usual meltdown I see. Listen, don’t get me wrong everytime we lose - he hurts like hell. But we can’t win them all. That was a tough away fixture and usually these teams raise their games and the bigger team really have it all to lose. We didn’t play up to standards we can play at but they played extremely well -well done Bristol. Let’s not be sore loser and not give credit to opponents. Would have loved to play City in the next round but it’s not to be. We just need to play better and that starts with the Leicester game. Happy to see Pogba back.

 

[Toad]

Because others are as bad or worse and we started well. It is not surprising. The PL top fights in recent times have been more of a competition on who plays more crap than others.
City this season is an anomaly.

That’s very true actually.

 

[dronesoul]

Rojo at fault for two conceded goals, although sloppy pressuring from the others probably made it worse.

Lindelöf was balanced, switching between being aggressive and calm just as needed. Made a few bad decisions with some over optimistic runs forward and some shaky passes, but that's expected for a ball playing CB used in build up. Probably got instructions from Mou to try and make offensive plays more often than the other CBs with worse feet than him. So naturally he'll make more of those mistakes overall.

I really liked the drive of Romelu. Glad to see his energy on the ball and his confidence somewhat restored, even though he didn't score.

Zlatan? He was Zlatan as usual. Looked rusty and equipped with a pretty bad touch at times, which I can tell you (and I have followed his entire career) is unusual to see. Not the worst player on the pitch and surely better than last time. Not the best player on the pitch either. Ripped Bristol a new one with a fierce free kick but meh, he should've dominated more against physical players like them.

Rest were shit. Except Rashy, Rashy was decent and I can't blame the lad for becoming frustrated really.

But shit, yeah. Most of them.

 

[Toad]

I hope she just wants to cuddle.

A rather short cuddle

 

[Toad]

With our luck as United fans at the moment, she probably just wants you to rub her feet...

While she farts...

And talks about Pep Guardiola...

Don’t worry mate, weren’t that far off, expectations were too high, I feel like I’m back too soon

 

[minoo-utd]

We would have had one foot in the semis if Rashford had squared it to Lukaku.

This. Every time i remember that ball it makes me very angry at him, really Jose should give him a hairdryer for this, he was so careless.

 

[snk123]

Just satirising everybody's despondency over City's marauding side, mate. Yes, I recognise that it's a different kettle of fish.

Do you realise that two of the other trophies on display are CUP trophies? Why are they so much less winnable than this one, where we'd only be facing elite EPL sides for the remaining matches?

Before you ask, YES, I realise that we're likely far off winning the Champions League... then again, I'd have said the same about Liverpool in 05, or Porto the year before that. At any rate I never get too worked up about getting knocked out of the League Cup prior to the semis... which are a double-header that would certainly not help keep us fresh for the other cups, which I definitely would prioritise over it.

No matter how you put it - there is still no excuse. Our manager takes this super seriously has won it the most and proudly reminded us time and time again of that after last season that he had won 3 trophies (even the Community Shield).

We will face an elite EPL team in the FA Cup anyway and the Champions League is a long shot you know that.

 

[Stubble]

So much for the 'deep' squad. Without Matic, Valencia, De Gea etc we're pretty crap.
We even missed players today of the 'calibre' of Lingard, Fellaini and Mata. Far too many squad level players and very few 'game changers'. When's the last time a Utd player took a game by the scuff of the neck in the way a Hazard/Sanches/Aguero etc can

We desperately need a couple more creative world class players and also to formulate some type of consistent attacking strategy that doesn't hinge on the individual brilliance we don't have enough of..

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

The same Sterling and Sane who were poor last season? Martial and Rashford are far from our biggest problem at the moment

I never said it was our biggest problem. But it's still a big problem. You cannot have those two deliver one good game in 3 or 4 and expect the team to win trophies.

 

[AlwaysRed66]

How could we lose when we played Martial & Rashford (the greatest attacking pair in the league according to many on here, & Pogba, who is the reason we haven't been winning lately due to his absence. Three completely overrated players. I think the fame might be going to Rashford's head, as he seems to be getting worse, & Martial only turns it on when it suits him. The manager is most at fault with his negative play.

 

[Eriku]

No matter how you put it - there is still no excuse. Our manager takes this super seriously has won it the most and proudly reminded us time and time again of that after last season that he had won 3 trophies (even the Community Shield).

We will face an elite EPL team in the FA Cup anyway and the Champions League is a long shot you know that.

Exactly, Mourinho would even include the Community Shield in his trophy count. Good for him and good for the lads that need to get that winning DNA back, but I'm not buying it and I have every right to not feel too gutted about us being out of this tournament.

Thanks for that last sentence, reminding me of what I stated in my previous post. As you said, though, cups are different to the league and are always winnable, so which way do you want it? Because you can't have it both ways.

 

[arthurka]

That interview with Jose just did my head in.. no Jose we were not the better team and they were lucky.. Congratz to Bristol. Ship some of those deadwood players away.

 

[Raoul]

How could we lose when we played Martial & Rashford (the greatest attacking pair in the league according to many on here, & Pogba, who is the reason we haven't been winning lately due to his absence. Three completely overrated players. I think the fame might be going to Rashford's head, as he seems to be getting worse, & Martial only turns it on when it suits him. The manager is most at fault with his negative play.

We obviously can't win all of them. And besides, who cares. Its a relatively pointless cup.

 

[minoo-utd]

Disadvantages : embarrassing result as title holders - poor performance from a lot of players as they were not serious on the pitch (e.g. Rashford and Martial ) - we will be under pressure as we are out the media will picture the Carabao Cup is more important than UCL

Advantages : very good performance from Scott McTominay and he deserves more chances to improve ... it's obvious that this kid has very good abilities

Good performance from Luke Shaw who is insisting that he deserves spot in the starting formation

Less matches so we have a chance to focus on the more important competitions

I don't know but for me this cup and F.A cup was the only chance for us to lift a trophy this year considering it's a bit impossible to catch city in the league and it's hard to win the C.L with this team yet, so hopefully we focus on the F.A and give it a real go now, but talking about resting players actually not convincing imho that's their job, they should give their maximum effort every time they are on pitch unlike today. The less is better.

 

[Irish Jet]

The lack of intensity in the first half was disgraceful.

People can sugar coat it all they want - We've been flat for four straight games. It's very concerning.

Also the second time that a lot of our squad players have let us down - With Basel being their last test. Darmian, Blind and Rojo have had shocking games nearly every time they've appeared.

Martial and Rashford are still too inconsistent - You never know what you're getting with either. Not that I think we play to their strengths anyways.

 

[Sassy Colin]

I thought Shaw played well, I think he will get more opportunities and will have a future at United.

Martial was scintillating.

Pogba was class.

But it felt like almost an exhibition match, where we went to entertain the locals rather than necessarily win.

 

[BobbyManc]

Don’t worry mate, weren’t that far off, expectations were too high, I feel like I’m back too soon

Sounds like it was her expectations that were too high

 

[sammsky1]

Head coach Lee Johnson has overseen a remarkable - bordering on unprecedented - turnaround during the past nine months. Having endured a run of 15 defeats in 19 games, including a club record eight successive losses, the 36-year-old's job looked under serious threat - as did City's Championship status. But, backed by owner Steve Lansdown, Johnson has since transformed the Robins into genuine promotion contenders, currently third in the table and now having won nine of their past 11 matches in all competitions. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42334221

.

Think squad were complacent about Bristol's mentality and form. I was even abit startled at how big and loud their crowd was: our team underestimated their passion and capability.

 

[EricTheKingTheKing]

Well played by Bristol, sorry Jose, you're wrong, we weren't the better team.

Once again we don't create enough clear cut chances in front of goal. Impotent is the word that comes to mind.... and no, i'm working just fine

Pogba while being our only creator, needs to do something about his tackling otherwise he's going to get another red.

You've got some work to go Jose, that attacking threat is piss poor.

 

[Baby Groot]

Exactly, Mourinho would even include the Community Shield in his trophy count. Good for him and good for the lads that need to get that winning DNA back, but I'm not buying it and I have every right to not feel too gutted about us being out of this tournament.

Thanks for that last sentence, reminding me of what I stated in my previous post. As you said, though, cups are different to the league and are always winnable, so which way do you want it? Because you can't have it both ways.

A agree 1 game cups should not count.

 

[minoo-utd]

When we can see a consistent performance from Martial and Rashford, and specially Rashford he needs someone to advice him that he is still young and absolutely done nothing he should put the fame and this attitude aside and act like a professional academic Man.Utd player ffs the way he looked today saying awful lot about him.

 

[PlayerOne]

We obviously can't win all of them. And besides, who cares. Its a relatively pointless cup.

I really don't think Jose sees it as a pointless cup, he put on a very strong team and he kept talking about winning it last season. I have no doubt he wanted to win it again, this is a blow for him