[Parma Dewol]

Gutted. What a missed opportunity. Didn't show any urgency in the first half, played into Hull's hands and, in the end, we were lucky they didn't get a winner on the break.

So many poor performances, too. Mhiki had an off day, Pogba was ineffective for long periods, we didn't need three in midfield, wasn't happening for Rashford, and Zlatan seemed to forget the meaning of the offside rule. So, so frustrating.

When Jones pulled up injured I thought it might have made sense to take him off, drop Herrera deeper and go on the offensive big time by bringing on another forward. It was time to go gung-ho, but we went like for like by bringing on Smalling, which in turn meant Martial couldn't get off the bench.

If anything, that performance revealed exactly why we're sixth in the table.

To top it all off, we left after the full-time whistle, jogged back to the car and, five minutes into our drive, the tyre burst. Completely flat. RAC took over two hours to get to us. Had the car dropped off at a local garage well after midnight and checked into a hotel. Back to the garage this morning, new tyre on, and then finally back home. Might have been a fun little adventure after a win, but after that pathetic draw it was no fun at all.

 

[EyeInTheSky]

Most disappointed I've been this season to be honest. Not sure where to start so I didn't bother logging on.

If Mata put that sitter in (I dispute it was a great save because the keeper was already in position and it was hit at him), then we would all be praising Jose for yet another miracle substitution. The way the season is going we will get more chances but FFS we need to take them.

One thing I don't like is the chopping and changing from game to game. We seemed to have fixed the midfield aspect of this which is why I think AH has improved but we need need a consistent 11 not just the midfield. We should be able to do this now since we don't have injury plagues like we used to. I much prefer playing the same 11 and seeing whats what then giving someone else a chance from the first team if certain players are not up to it. Then if that is not working look for an external/transfer option. I don't like the constant changing of players and not letting the team know each other when it counts. If someone wasn't "Amazing" in one game to replace them in the next is disturbing the flow (I am thinking of Martial here).

What do you think we can/should do?

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Finally got to watch it.
Positives -thought Jones was excellent until he went off, MOM for me
Rojo did well

Don't understand the Rooney for Carrick sub, why wasn't Martial playing from the start and why wasn't he brought on, we need that spark

Disappointing, failed to take advantage of a great opportunity to close the gap.

Side note, Niasse gets booked then commits two more bookable offences but stays on the pitch

 

[Jaxdan]

Not much to say that hasn't already been said. Pretty pathetic and disappointing display that felt like a two hour waste of life to watch. We should have won 2-0, 3-0, and then could've lost 0-1. Although the manager deserves criticism when due, I'm not pinning this on Jose. The team was in position to score goals and should have. Piss poor finishing across the board pretty much.

 

[Redguern]

If Mata put that sitter in (I dispute it was a great save because the keeper was already in position and it was hit at him), then we would all be praising Jose for yet another miracle substitution. The way the season is going we will get more chances but FFS we need to take them.

One thing I don't like is the chopping and changing from game to game. We seemed to have fixed the midfield aspect of this which is why I think AH has improved but we need need a consistent 11 not just the midfield. We should be able to do this now since we don't have injury plagues like we used to. I much prefer playing the same 11 and seeing whats what then giving someone else a chance from the first team if certain players are not up to it. Then if that is not working look for an external/transfer option. I don't like the constant changing of players and not letting the team know each other when it counts. If someone wasn't "Amazing" in one game to replace them in the next is disturbing the flow (I am thinking of Martial here).

What do you think we can/should do?

It's interesting to compare United and Chelsea here. Both teams had new managers. Both came off the back of underwhelming seasons. Both had decent squads but with clear issues. Neither squad has had significant injury issues this season. Yet here we are at the start of Feb with us languishing in 6th and Chelski run-away Prem leaders...

What are the differences? Conte appears to have settled on a system and a group of players more quickly than Jose did. Chelski have 6 outfield players with 20+ PL appearances already. We only have 2 (Pog & Zlatan). Overall, they've had 19 players appear and us 23. There's definitely been less continuity at Old Trafford, although we seem to be more settled now in terms of personnel and system. You have to accept there'll be some rotation, given that we have been and will continue to be playing two games a week for quite a while...

In terms of productivity, we've averaged more shots per game than them, yet they've scored 48 and we've only bagged 33! Take a minute to consider that stat - they've scored 50% more than us, playing with three centre backs and two holding mids every game. We've only scored one more goal so far this season than Bournemouth and Palace ffs. That is the problem. Whether it is a symptom of a poor system or poor finishing it is clearly not good enough.

Until the goals get scored (and all our forwards, including Zlatan, share the blame here) then we will not break top 4. There are another 8 PL games between now and our match v Chelski in April where we play bottom to mid-table clubs and should be picking up max points in most. If we do that then the CL places are realistic but that will only happen if we get back to averaging something like 2 goals per game, not the 1.43 we are on at the moment

 

[CS@SG]

even Matic managed 7 assists already this season......

It's interesting to compare United and Chelsea here. Both teams had new managers. Both came off the back of underwhelming seasons. Both had decent squads but with clear issues. Neither squad has had significant injury issues this season. Yet here we are at the start of Feb with us languishing in 6th and Chelski run-away Prem leaders...

What are the differences? Conte appears to have settled on a system and a group of players more quickly than Jose did. Chelski have 6 outfield players with 20+ PL appearances already. We only have 2 (Pog & Zlatan). Overall, they've had 19 players appear and us 23. There's definitely been less continuity at Old Trafford, although we seem to be more settled now in terms of personnel and system. You have to accept there'll be some rotation, given that we have been and will continue to be playing two games a week for quite a while...

In terms of productivity, we've averaged more shots per game than them, yet they've scored 48 and we've only bagged 33! Take a minute to consider that stat - they've scored 50% more than us, playing with three centre backs and two holding mids every game. We've only scored one more goal so far this season than Bournemouth and Palace ffs. That is the problem. Whether it is a symptom of a poor system or poor finishing it is clearly not good enough.

Until the goals get scored (and all our forwards, including Zlatan, share the blame here) then we will not break top 4. There are another 8 PL games between now and our match v Chelski in April where we play bottom to mid-table clubs and should be picking up max points in most. If we do that then the CL places are realistic but that will only happen if we get back to averaging something like 2 goals per game, not the 1.43 we are on at the moment

 

[Jaxdan]

It's interesting to compare United and Chelsea here. Both teams had new managers. Both came off the back of underwhelming seasons. Both had decent squads but with clear issues. Neither squad has had significant injury issues this season. Yet here we are at the start of Feb with us languishing in 6th and Chelski run-away Prem leaders...

What are the differences? Conte appears to have settled on a system and a group of players more quickly than Jose did. Chelski have 6 outfield players with 20+ PL appearances already. We only have 2 (Pog & Zlatan). Overall, they've had 19 players appear and us 23. There's definitely been less continuity at Old Trafford, although we seem to be more settled now in terms of personnel and system. You have to accept there'll be some rotation, given that we have been and will continue to be playing two games a week for quite a while...

In terms of productivity, we've averaged more shots per game than them, yet they've scored 48 and we've only bagged 33! Take a minute to consider that stat - they've scored 50% more than us, playing with three centre backs and two holding mids every game. We've only scored one more goal so far this season than Bournemouth and Palace ffs. That is the problem. Whether it is a symptom of a poor system or poor finishing it is clearly not good enough.

Until the goals get scored (and all our forwards, including Zlatan, share the blame here) then we will not break top 4. There are another 8 PL games between now and our match v Chelski in April where we play bottom to mid-table clubs and should be picking up max points in most. If we do that then the CL places are realistic but that will only happen if we get back to averaging something like 2 goals per game, not the 1.43 we are on at the moment

Good points made. I'll add Chelsea also doesn't have the distraction/added wear of European football.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Good points made. I'll add Chelsea also doesn't have the distraction/added wear of European football.

I will add the point that they will therefore be more rested.
Another point, I think that is what you have just said.

 

[ManUchosenbosslvg]

But that's what you get when you sign Mourinho. He has his ideal team and his 3 or 4 regular replacements, after that not much moves unless there's some kind of serious disruption. As I've said before, you don't drop Zlatan and you don't sub him. Playing virtually every minute of every game he's available for is part of the deal.

I've noticed he doesn't put pressure on defenders quite a much as he did early in the season which is understandable, as you say José isn't renowned for keeping players fresh

On the contrary I think he runs players into the ground. During his last league win with Chelsea I remember him thanking Costs and Fabregas for playing with injuries. I feel players like Hazard, Matic, Costa were so poor last season as a result of his attitude to resting players and playing while injured.

From what Terry says this week Mourinho wouldn't even talk to you if you were Injured. You can see why players are put in a tough position after his reaction to Chris and Shaw informing him they were carrying knocks.

 

[MattyB1986]

What I saw last night was the same story I have seen all season. When teams set up to play sit back and counter against us we don't have any ideas on how to break the lines down, we try to play neat intricate passing but it's always too slow so we get frustrated and then resort to direct football up to Zlatan.
The problem is when teams set up like Hull did last night we don't stretch them wide and then cut inside, everything is always through the middle or pass to Valencia who is doing awesome at RB but crossing is not his strong point.
The issue is when teams set up like Hull do against us we don't play with natural wide players, everyone always wants to drift inside and we play way too slow for central attacking sometimes.
Plus our goalscoring has been atrocious this year if Zlatan doesn't score it looks like nobody else can find the back of the net, we need goals all throughout our attacking 3, which is a concern.

 

[golden_blunder]

There were times last night where they literally strolled through our midfield. We dropped a bollock spending so much on pogba

No overlapping runs on the wing

Ibra was awful

Passing in general was shocking

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

Very glad to see some good, rational posting here. I feared the worst when I checked in today.

I am as frustrated as the next guy, but I sure enjoy watching this team a hell of a lot more than any of the last 3 years ( I know that is not a high bar!). I have enjoyed watching Jose put his stamp on the team (his handling of Rooney has been great, besides subbing him and not Martial yesterday), and there is obviously a lot more to go in that regard. I will enjoy the ride and am excited to see how it turns out.

On the game, I just cannot believe, Pogba, Rashford and Mata missed those chances. I thought Jones was the best player on the pitch and Rojo looked good again.

Bring on the weekend.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Very glad to see some good, rational posting here. I feared the worst when I checked in today.

I am as frustrated as the next guy, but I sure enjoy watching this team a hell of a lot more than any of the last 3 years ( I know that is not a high bar!). I have enjoyed watching Jose put his stamp on the team (his handling of Rooney has been great, besides subbing him and not Martial yesterday), and there is obviously a lot more to go in that regard. I will enjoy the ride and am excited to see how it turns out.

On the game, I just cannot believe, Pogba, Rashford and Mata missed those chances. I thought Jones was the best player on the pitch and Rojo looked good again.

Bring on the weekend.

I think we all over analyse and see problems that aren't as big as we think they are, especially when we are disappointed. The one problem I would point out and it is the big glaring problem is as you say putting the ball in the net. United have had a lot of poachers over the year, ones who snap up the little chances. RVN, Chicharito, Ole even Tevez. Yes Beckham, Ronaldo might have got the spectacular, but we had players who could get the bread and butter goals, even going back to Yorke and Cole. We don't seem to have that now.

 

[ghagua]

It's interesting to compare United and Chelsea here. Both teams had new managers. Both came off the back of underwhelming seasons. Both had decent squads but with clear issues. Neither squad has had significant injury issues this season. Yet here we are at the start of Feb with us languishing in 6th and Chelski run-away Prem leaders...

What are the differences? Conte appears to have settled on a system and a group of players more quickly than Jose did. Chelski have 6 outfield players with 20+ PL appearances already. We only have 2 (Pog & Zlatan). Overall, they've had 19 players appear and us 23. There's definitely been less continuity at Old Trafford, although we seem to be more settled now in terms of personnel and system. You have to accept there'll be some rotation, given that we have been and will continue to be playing two games a week for quite a while...

In terms of productivity, we've averaged more shots per game than them, yet they've scored 48 and we've only bagged 33! Take a minute to consider that stat - they've scored 50% more than us, playing with three centre backs and two holding mids every game. We've only scored one more goal so far this season than Bournemouth and Palace ffs. That is the problem. Whether it is a symptom of a poor system or poor finishing it is clearly not good enough.

Until the goals get scored (and all our forwards, including Zlatan, share the blame here) then we will not break top 4. There are another 8 PL games between now and our match v Chelski in April where we play bottom to mid-table clubs and should be picking up max points in most. If we do that then the CL places are realistic but that will only happen if we get back to averaging something like 2 goals per game, not the 1.43 we are on at the moment

It doesn't help that Mourinho leaves out players who can help the team just to teach them "tough love" as some people call it. Mkhitaryan the first half of the season, and now Martial is getting similar treatment. Game against Hull was the perfect game to use Martial. His close control when running with the ball could have opened up the packed defense.

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

I think we all over analyse and see problems that aren't as big as we think they are, especially when we are disappointed. The one problem I would point out and it is the big glaring problem is as you say putting the ball in the net. United have had a lot of poachers over the year, ones who snap up the little chances. RVN, Chicharito, Ole even Tevez. Yes Beckham, Ronaldo might have got the spectacular, but we had players who could get the bread and butter goals, even going back to Yorke and Cole. We don't seem to have that now.

Very good point. If rumors today are correct, it sounds like this will be a priority for Jose. I think Rashford can be a pure scorer, but his current form in that department is disconcerting.

 

[Drz]

I guess I should not really be angry. Can't even be bothered to elaborate.

 

[predator]

We struggle against teams that set up to sit back/counter us and the worrying part is that we aren't showing many signs of improving our approach to such set ups.
I can't believe how deep teams play against us at old Trafford though. There's no excuse for us not beating Hull but I genuinely do believe some teams play differently against us. However that has to go down as good managing from certain managers imo.

I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one more similar 0-0 at OT this season against a low table club.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Very good point. If rumors today are correct, it sounds like this will be a priority for Jose. I think Rashford can be a pure scorer, but his current form in that department is disconcerting.

Probably doesn't help that City have now got Jesus who has given the whole team a lift. This team is weary and probably needed a lift and we haven't done it.

 

[TheReligion]

If Mata put that sitter in (I dispute it was a great save because the keeper was already in position and it was hit at him), then we would all be praising Jose for yet another miracle substitution. The way the season is going we will get more chances but FFS we need to take them.

One thing I don't like is the chopping and changing from game to game. We seemed to have fixed the midfield aspect of this which is why I think AH has improved but we need need a consistent 11 not just the midfield. We should be able to do this now since we don't have injury plagues like we used to. I much prefer playing the same 11 and seeing whats what then giving someone else a chance from the first team if certain players are not up to it. Then if that is not working look for an external/transfer option. I don't like the constant changing of players and not letting the team know each other when it counts. If someone wasn't "Amazing" in one game to replace them in the next is disturbing the flow (I am thinking of Martial here).

What do you think we can/should do?

It's all fine margins and has been all season but when you look at the bigger picture it's too much of a coincidence to be bad luck.

We have dropped points at home far too easily. Burnley, Stoke, West Ham and Hull all should have been bamkers and you can add Arsenal and Everton to that list to make it even more astonishing.

We are difficult to beat and that is positive but I'd say there's a distinct lack of cohesion with the front players. Part down to form and part due to Mourinho. He keeps chopping and changing things and clearly isn't happy with how we are set up. Defence and midfield is pretty much guaranteed but the wide players are in and out. This must make is very difficult to build up an understanding.

 

[Shuriken]

Spoiler: Manchester United blow it?

Post-match talk with Peter Staunton and Kris Voakes – who is a reporter for United at goal.com, for those who don't know.

Voakes also wrote an article shortly after the match: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/683/...cterless-plain-pathetic-man-utd-show-why-they

Worth a listen and a read. I don't know about you, but for me this was our most depressing draw this season… thus far.

 

[gerdm07]

I wasted 1 1/2 hours of my life last night. Ugh.

 

[gerdm07]

Mkhitaryan is supposed to be occupying that position yet he's never there.....

This is what bothered me most of the match. Maybe Mkhi is being told to play more central and let Valencia be the only wide man. However, I would have really liked Mkhi to receive the ball on the touch line as much as Valencia. He has the skills to get past a man if isolated enough or create some good things.

Valencia is a very good RB but it's not good for anyone if we are relying on him to do most of the crossing from the right.

 

[edcunited1878]

There weren't many overlapping runs in support of the player will the ball or overlapping runs to create an overload in the final third. The box was so congested resulting in few threatening passing lanes and most shooting lanes were blockable.

I thought Lingard could have done a job getting on the end of balls over the top and making runs throughout the final third to open space for himself or others.

Once United went with Pogs and Ander as the two center mids, the game opened up more. But the lack of width in the final third and inability of the United players to get to the endline and cut the ball back into the box or into space is concerning to me.

Also, Niasse should have been sent off 100%. That's unacceptable. It was equally shocking that Rashford stayed on the full 90 and Niasse wasn't sent off.

 

[parisite]

I wasted 1 1/2 hours of my life last night. Ugh.

Presumably you did something useful at half-time then.

 

[Maradona10]

I am so sad, i was convinced we were gonna beat hull and then in another two weeks would be in top 3. These draws are just killing us. I do hope mourinho stays beyond the season. We really are cursed, i am happy with your efforts @Lucky McLuckerson but we need even better anti curse that has been placed on us. I just hope somehow some way we can sneak into top 4. If we dont, i dont think we will get the signings we want.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I am so sad, i was convinced we were gonna beat hull and then in another two weeks would be in top 3. These draws are just killing us. I do hope mourinho stays beyond the season. We really are cursed, i am happy with your efforts @Lucky McLuckerson but we need even better anti curse that has been placed on us. I just hope somehow some way we can sneak into top 4. If we dont, i dont think we will get the signings we want.

Maybe we need @lucky McWinnerson?

 

[sunama]

Pissed away first half of season when Mourinho decided not to play Mkhitaryan, now he has issues with Martial who can open up tight defenses. We could have done with the 3 points with everyone bar City dropping points.

This sort of post (of which there are many) screams desperation.

Miki, who many fans believed was the best player in the World (or something similar), did play yesterday and he didn't score.
The players in our team who could've scored a goal against the Park The Bus tactic, were Ibra, Pogba, Mata, Rooney (yes, even him) and Miki. And all these players did play.
So, now you say "Martial", because he was the one attacker who did not actually play. Had he played, people would be screaming the name of the 1 attacker left out.

IMO, the man who would most likely have made a difference in yesterday's game was Fellaini. Yesterday's scenario was tailor made for him. The chaos and panic which he brings into the opponent's penalty box is...effective.

 

[sunama]

Maybe we need @lucky McWinnerson?

Hehehe.
In fairness, with McLuckerson, we have lost only 1 game. The problem are the draws @ OT.

 

[Fully Fledged]

If Mata put that sitter in (I dispute it was a great save because the keeper was already in position and it was hit at him), then we would all be praising Jose for yet another miracle substitution. The way the season is going we will get more chances but FFS we need to take them.

One thing I don't like is the chopping and changing from game to game. We seemed to have fixed the midfield aspect of this which is why I think AH has improved but we need need a consistent 11 not just the midfield. We should be able to do this now since we don't have injury plagues like we used to. I much prefer playing the same 11 and seeing whats what then giving someone else a chance from the first team if certain players are not up to it. Then if that is not working look for an external/transfer option. I don't like the constant changing of players and not letting the team know each other when it counts. If someone wasn't "Amazing" in one game to replace them in the next is disturbing the flow (I am thinking of Martial here).

What do you think we can/should do?

It would have been 1-0 against the bottom team in the league.
But that can work both ways. If the shot they had that left DDG just looking behind him had gone in instead of bouncing off the post we could have lost twice in a week to the bottom side in the league.

 

[ghagua]

This sort of post (of which there are many) screams desperation.

Miki, who many fans believed was the best player in the World (or something similar), did play yesterday and he didn't score.
The players in our team who could've scored a goal against the Park The Bus tactic, were Ibra, Pogba, Mata, Rooney (yes, even him) and Miki. And all these players did play.
So, now you say "Martial", because he was the one attacker who did not actually play. Had he played, people would be screaming the name of the 1 attacker left out.

IMO, the man who would most likely have made a difference in yesterday's game was Fellaini. Yesterday's scenario was tailor made for him. The chaos and panic which he brings into the opponent's penalty box is...effective.

Yea, I'm desperate because we are 6th in the table. We had a chance to gain ground on the other teams, but yet again we came up short. So, everyone is desperate when they mention a player that you do not agree with, but then you forward a player who could have made a difference. Thinking you're right and everyone else is desperate, that's intelligence right there!

 

[SachinJ22]

IMO, the man who would most likely have made a difference in yesterday's game was Fellaini. Yesterday's scenario was tailor made for him. The chaos and panic which he brings into the opponent's penalty box is...effective.

Fellaini doesn't bring anything different to the attack, in fact he would made the attack more slower.

 

[sincher]

Fellaini is one of the players in better form just now, would have been perfectly reasonable to play him IMO.

 

[Dr. Funkenstein]

I think we all over analyse and see problems that aren't as big as we think they are, especially when we are disappointed. The one problem I would point out and it is the big glaring problem is as you say putting the ball in the net. United have had a lot of poachers over the year, ones who snap up the little chances. RVN, Chicharito, Ole even Tevez. Yes Beckham, Ronaldo might have got the spectacular, but we had players who could get the bread and butter goals, even going back to Yorke and Cole. We don't seem to have that now.

Zlatan scores about as many goals as RvN at his best, and scores the important ones and is the one who creates chances.

The problem is creating enough chances against a parked bus. Zlatan is two forwards for the price of one but you can't expect Zlatan to open up the defense with brilliant passes and flicks, and finish them. And out and out finisher would make it even harder to create chances, because you've got to create everything with 9 players, a player like that usually costs a lot of possession, and he will crowd the box even more waiting for a sitter to tap in.

What's needed is two wingers who can get past a defender, often round the outside and keep the full width of the pitch, a centre forward who can play with his back to goal (already there) and an intelligent midfield. Pogba has tunnel vision, he has no idea what's going on in his peripheral vision or behind his back, it's impossible to move the ball around quick enough with a player who has to take time to observe the situation every time he has turned his head, or worse, his body. With a real playmakers brain like Iniesta's combined with training attacks so players don't have to react to another's idea but can start moving into position proactively it would be raining chances because the ball would move around a lot quicker. For counter attacks you can relie on players like Zlatan and Mhki, and hope Pogba doesn't get in the way with a turn, but to counter attack you generally have to score first.

 

[Sandikan]

Fellaini and Martial were two impact players we could have used last night when things were getting desperate.
Rooney came on at half time, and you'd be hard pressed to have noticed him.

You have to ask whether a team who have drawn 6 or so home games, including to some absolute pony deserve top 4.

We're screwing ourselves, as it'll be odds on we'll have to do something amazing in that back to back Arsenal/Tottenham away combo.

With Chelsea home and City away, and now only 15 games left we're going to have to work some wonders, even if on the face of it we're "Only" 5points off 2nd.

 

[Sandikan]

Zlatan scores about as many goals as RvN at his best, and scores the important ones and is the one who creates chances.

The problem is creating enough chances against a parked bus. Zlatan is two forwards for the price of one but you can't expect Zlatan to open up the defense with brilliant passes and flicks, and finish them. And out and out finisher would make it even harder to create chances, because you've got to create everything with 9 players, a player like that usually costs a lot of possession, and he will crowd the box even more waiting for a sitter to tap in.

What's needed is two wingers who can get past a defender, often round the outside and keep the full width of the pitch, a centre forward who can play with his back to goal (already there) and an intelligent midfield. Pogba has tunnel vision, he has no idea what's going on in his peripheral vision or behind his back, it's impossible to move the ball around quick enough with a player who has to take time to observe the situation every time he has turned his head, or worse, his body. With a real playmakers brain like Iniesta's combined with training attacks so players don't have to react to another's idea but can start moving into position proactively it would be raining chances because the ball would move around a lot quicker. For counter attacks you can relie on players like Zlatan and Mhki, and hope Pogba doesn't get in the way with a turn, but to counter attack you generally have to score first.

After the days we used to moan we played wide too often, we've gone the opposite approach now.

There's too much intricate to feet stuff in central areas, when we'd all love to stretch teams wide.

Miky and Martial should be a terrific combo out wide, but we can't seem to ever start more than a game in a row with the pair.

Rashy is nowhere near as effective out there as through the middle, and Mata needs to be central.

It's so confusing with so many good players

 

[Maradona10]

Maybe we need @lucky McWinnerson?

I dont know, we just need a fecking break though. Its saddening that we are 6th and fail to capitalize every opportunity we have. Considering our last 4 games will be against spurs,chelsea arsenal and city we really need to get a move on and win 8-9 games till these games come around. Someone needs to tell jose to sell his soul to the devil like fergie did.

 

[Fully Fledged]

Fellaini is one of the players in better form just now, would have been perfectly reasonable to play him IMO.

He made the difference at the weekend. If he hadn't broke the deadlock would we have scored the other 3?

 

[EyeInTheSky]

It would have been 1-0 against the bottom team in the league.
But that can work both ways. If the shot they had that left DDG just looking behind him had gone in instead of bouncing off the post we could have lost twice in a week to the bottom side in the league.

completely irrelevant.

so is the rest of your post because we had the chances before that happened so the game would have changed. You can't ignore all our dominance and chances so that you can fish out their one chance in injury time or whenever it was.

 

[Frank Grimes]

I wasted 1 1/2 hours of my life last night. Ugh.

Did you have a wank at half time?

 

[iHicksy]

One of the major problems I saw from the game and this transverses other games as well, is that Pogba is picking up the ball next to our CB's and not getting into dangerous areas. I know some will see this as eagerness to get on the ball, but he simply can;t effect the game from this position.

I think he's very positionally unaware and would be much better deployed further up the pitch. I lost count of the amount of times he was dicking around in the semi circle when our CBs had the ball, moving out wide and throwing his arms around in supposed exasperation but there was no reason to give him the ball there.

His tackling showed up his rashness which really needs working on, if he loses the ball he seems to foul the next player in his eagerness to make amends, but this also points to his lack of football maturity. Miki had a poor game and we really need to give Ibra a rest or play him in a two with Martial or Rashford running off him. Rooney had another cowardly display when he came on, he simply hovered around the areas you would expect a 10 to occupy but instead of making something happen (the 10 is after all the creative outlet) he just passed it back to whoever was closest.
I don't think he has any confidence to run with the ball or beat a man and he doesn't even turn to check for runners so is completely pointless as a 10 nowadays.