[Ali Dia]

I have said for years that we lack creativity in midfield. And years later having endured Moyes and Van Gaal, we still lack creativity in midfield.

How can these high paid managers not see this. And that the only football brain we have in that area comes in one body alone - Mata - a willing Spaniard, who lets face has his best years behind him and is not seen as one of the better Spanish midfielders. Pogba is a glorified defensive midfielder who's indisciplined on and off the pitch and is a total waste of space (unlike Mata) Lukaku is bang off form because he gets no service. We are a mess. A concoction of lots of failed philosophies and it is a travesty that our club is in the state that it is currently in.

We offered absolutely nothing from the middle tonight. Pogba was good but we are still sorely lacking in there. Hopefully
Fred can step up eventually but I have very little confidence in our transfer strategy currently so that could easily go either way. Hopefully he comes good as we are shockingly short of ideas in there.

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

Juve were in full control and pretty much walked the match in their second gear with ease. That was an easy match for them, probably one of their easiest this season. Some down half Serie A teams gave them more trouble than what we did tonight.

We were shite.

I’m not happy but the second half we put them under pressure. Again, not happy but the hyperbole in this thread is (as usual) over the top.

For feck sake I wish Pogba’s shot went in so this thread could have been readable.

 

[mazhar13]

70% of Old Trafford showed their true colours tonight. They were an absolute disgrace. All they did was come in to watch and support Cristiano "I am a slave" Ronaldo. Well, I hope they're happy with what they saw.

 

[Canagel]

I’m not happy but the second half we put them under pressure. Again, not happy but the hyperbole in this thread is (as usual) over the top.

For feck sake I wish Pogba’s shot went in so this thread could have been readable.

We just rallied but they were never under real sustained pressure. It just seemed better to you because it was an improvement on the abysmal 1st half. Juve were in cruise control and weren't troubled aside from Pogba chance.

 

[WR10]

He only got injured during the international duty. He hasn’t had a look since Derby game.

Was around the time Valencia became fit and ready for selection again. Naturally, Valencia got a few games where Mourinho slowly realized Valencia is way past it. Dalot then got injured when Valencia was essentially dropped/surgery. Dalot is portuguese and will have absolutely no problem being on Mourinho's good boy list.

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

We just rallied but they were never under real sustained pressure. It just seemed better to you because it was an improvement on the abysmal 1st half. Juve were in cruise control and weren't troubled aside from Pogba chance.

Fair point, I guess. What a bummer.

 

[Ish]

We were fairly easy to play against, IMO.

Overran in midfield, with Mata neither here, nor there & Matic being atrocious.

We never pressed them, so they enjoyed lots of possession under little pressure in the first 2 thirds of the field, with our deep defensive line.

Their movement all around, and fluid front 3 (of sorts) caused us lots of trouble.

We lost or gave away possession continuously through either no passing options (no movement!) or just poor decision making/passing technique.

Sandro and Cancelo dominated out wide. Rashford played against someone as fast and as strong as him, so he was nullified. Martial either kept giving the ball away or never really had enough ball on the front foot to be isolated against Cancelo to really have an impact. Both poor. The less said about Lukaku, the better.

Young is not a fullback, especially not at this level.

 

[Canagel]

Fair point, I guess. What a bummer.

In all seriousness it was one of their easiest games this season. Bonucci the CB has been real suspect before this game and I was reading on twitter that of the 6 goals they've conceded this season he's had a part in 5 of them. We hardly tested their weak areas and some small serie a teams cause more problems than we did.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

I like Dybala’s tattoos. They look like the kind I would get; a straight line.

 

[WR10]

Watched some extended highlights of the game. Usually, whenever I watch a game back again we actually look better than I first thought. We were worse. The only reason we ever looked to be in the game was because Juve basically shifted down a gear into Neutral. They were cruising. We didn't press them back. They just stopped playing the playing the football they were playing in the first 30 minutes. Even with them basically allowing us to play football - we were useless. Lukaku is insanely garbage. How has no one in the backroom realized he's not actually a football player yet?

 

[dwd]

70% of Old Trafford showed their true colours tonight. They were an absolute disgrace. All they did was come in to watch and support Cristiano "I am a slave" Ronaldo. Well, I hope they're happy with what they saw.

Okay then.

 

[Florida Man]

Juve are just a much better team so I didn’t expect us to look solid and attractive. We obviously could have played with more intent, but you just know tgat a Mourinho United team isn’t going to take risks attacking heavily when they have to think about counter attacks. It’s a shame because there were enough times where we had the ball in their box and no one makes a run. Not gonna score on a 2v4 especially against Italians.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

How to defend Manchester United: Overload the right side of your defense to nullify Shaw and Martial. Feel free to leave no one on the other side and allow Ashley Young to cross freely into the box all day, because God knows he's not gonna hit a good one. He'll most likely just float it over everyones head. Rinse and repeat.

Also, shocking we didn't make a change. We played better the second half but really could have used some fresh legs the last 15 minutes at least. Matic and Lukaku were awful. Same goes for Young. Rashford didn't get a chance to do much. Mata was better second half. Pogba and Lindelof probably our best players, along with Shaw. Martial was energetic but couldn't quite get anything to come off. Sad thing is he was still probably our best attacker.

Ugh.

So true. Imagine having a genuine threat from the right. Would free up space on each side giving us an extra dimension of attacking threat. Right now, you can clog up our left side and our right does feck all with the space it does get.

 

[Florida Man]

So how we feeling about Saudi Arabia now? Looking a little more attractive now eh?

 

[SER19]

Surprised *not really, to see the negativity and so much gloom. Juve dominated us completely in first half theyre right among the very best and you could argue a group years in the making is at its peak now, like united 2008. Top side, but we were better side second half. Not as dominant as them but still edged it. If we get through group while improving no team will knock us out easily. Juventus may well win it. Did people expect that wed suddenly be among the elite?

Last 3 games weve looked unified and im looking forward to weekend which truly is a must win

 

[Bastian]

Surprised *not really, to see the negativity and so much gloom. Juve dominated us completely in first half theyre right among the very best and you could argue a group years in the making is at its peak now, like united 2008. Top side, but we were better side second half. Not as dominant as them but still edged it. If we get through group while improving no team will knock us out easily. Juventus may well win it. Did people expect that wed suddenly be among the elite?

Last 3 games weve looked unified and im looking forward to weekend which truly is a must win

Agreed.

So how we feeling about Saudi Arabia now? Looking a little more attractive now eh?

Why, because we lost to a better team? Is that why being owned by a dictatorial regime should be desirable? I think the Glazer's are cnuts but really. We might as well sign Lockheed Martin as our shirt sponsors if we're going down that route.

 

[Mitser]

As most have said, Juve look top quality.
We've definitely got players that can play at that level but still a way off them as a team/squad.
I haven't checked the odds yet, but i'm likely to have a punt on Juve for the comp.

 

[The Boy]

From a neutral perspective I don't think it was as bad as many here seem to think. But when its your team, the emotions are much stronger.

First half was poor, though their goal was a bit lucky in the way is bounced back to Dybala, though he took it well. You were over run in midfield though I think this was partly due to Ronaldo popping up all over the front line and drawing players towards him and so leaving gaps for the other Juve forwards.

Your possession was poor and I lost count of how many times the ball was given away needlessly. But to go in at half time only 0-1 down after playing like that wasn't bad.

The second half you pressed more higher up the pitch and forced Juve into making more mistakes, Pogba found some much better passes into space, particularly from left to right, picking out Young a number of times. Thing is I don't thing Young is quite good enough to take advantage of that. DDG made one excellent save from Ronaldo and both Pogba and Martial came close to scoring. Towards the end there was real sustained pressure from United, I think Mata played well, Lindeloff had one of his best games for Utd so far containing Juve on the break on a number of occasions. Unfortunately both Matic and Lukaku were off the pace.

The best thing was that the team never stopped trying, heads never dropped and they pushed and pushed right up to the final whistle. This was no repeat of the match against Brighton, nor was it a Mourinho defensive display as we've seen against top six sides in the past. The team attacked and tried especially in the second half but were let down by off form players and sloppy possession.

 

[The Boy]

Sorry forgot to add, I couldn't understand why you made no substitutions, some fresh legs when you were chasing the game like that could have really helped

 

[Florida Man]

Why, because we lost to a better team? Is that why being owned by a dictatorial regime should be desirable? I think the Glazer's are cnuts but really. We might as well sign Lockheed Martin as our shirt sponsors if we're going down that route.

I think it’s gonna happen sooner or later so I’m just accepting it now. Also, Lockheed is an organization that specializes in successful attacks that bring destruction to it’s opponents. We could use a little of that in our game. And just think of all the next Messi’s we could buy. And City go back to being our lapdogs. I believe in this dream.

 

[NinjaZombie]

Sorry forgot to add, I couldn't understand why you made no substitutions, some fresh legs when you were chasing the game like that could have really helped

Because Jose has given up. He's just looking to get sacked now. Guy wasn't given his cbs in the summer and has been on a strop since.

 

[Bastian]

I think it’s gonna happen sooner or later so I’m just accepting it now. Also, Lockheed is an organization that specializes in successful attacks that bring destruction to it’s opponents. We could use a little of that in our game. And just think of all the next Messi’s we could buy. And City go back to being our lapdogs. I believe in this dream.

A company profiteering of murder and injustice, perpetually lobbying for increased military spending (with the lovely side effect of a militarised police in the US). A commercial front of US imperialism and its lapdogs. I just mentioned that because it would feel similar to being "owned" by the Saudi regime. What you describe as a dream. Like some have said on here, if that happens, I'm done. The one good thing about that rumour is that it made me realise things could be so much worse..

Excuse the off topic.

 

[ash_86]

Poor first half. We were very nervous and gave Juventus so much respect AGAIN!!! I think the Spurs game affected Jose mentally where he let the team lose right from word go and we still ended up losing 3-0. Every game since then it's been cautious first half or until we conceded and then panic button mode. It all comes to Jose not trusting his side to open up and go full rambo for most of the game. Second half we were much better and forced Juventus back. Need to find the balance between going full defense and full attack.

 

[nainaisson]

Why, because we lost to a better team? Is that why being owned by a dictatorial regime should be desirable? I think the Glazer's are cnuts but really. We might as well sign Lockheed Martin as our shirt sponsors if we're going down that route.

Money talks. I'd support the Eye of Sauron as United's owner if he/it put money in the club. Nothing is worse than being owned by a parasite that's only interested in bleeding the club dry and exploiting the club's brand to make as much money as possible.

 

[The Boy]

Money talks. I'd support the Eye of Sauron as United's owner if he/it put money in the club. Nothing is worse than being owned by a parasite that's only interested in bleeding the club dry and exploiting the club's brand to make as much money as possible.

I don't get this narrative, yes the Glazers are questionable owners and don't necessarily put the club first, but in terms of spend over the last five years according to Transfer Markt, your net spend is -550,09 million Euros that's second only to City who come in at -640,92 million Euros. The next closest is Arsenal at -281,08.

This is hardly the work of stingy owners. You've just spent it really badly and having different owners won't change that, though a DoF might.

 

[Florida Man]

A company profiteering of murder and injustice, perpetually lobbying for increased military spending (with the lovely side effect of a militarised police in the US). A commercial front of US imperialism and its lapdogs. I just mentioned that because it would feel similar to being "owned" by the Saudi regime. What you describe as a dream. Like some have said on here, if that happens, I'm done. The one good thing about that rumour is that it made me realise things could be so much worse..

Excuse the off topic.

Oh I’m aware they’re a bunch of cnuts. Although I’m not against that kind of takeover personally, the original post was mostly for humor due to how shit we were.

 

[99withaflake]

I don't get this narrative, yes the Glazers are questionable owners and don't necessarily put the club first, but in terms of spend over the last five years according to Transfer Markt, your net spend is -550,09 million Euros that's second only to City who come in at -640,92 million Euros. The next closest is Arsenal at -281,08.

This is hardly the work of stingy owners. You've just spent it really badly and having different owners won't change that, though a DoF might.

I'll help you with the narrative.

Manchester United may have spent a lot of money on transfers over the past few years, and they may have spent it badly, but their owners have still taken more than 1 billion pounds out of the club.

This is money generated by the club which should be invested back into the club, in the form of transfers, staff, training facilities, marketing and media spend, the scouting network and upgrading the stadium.

It would be nice to have owners who continue to allow the club to spend their own money on transfers, whilst NOT taking a billion out of it.

Make sense?

 

[simplyared]

First half we were shambolic. Painful to see an opponent coming to OT and take us by the scruff of the neck like they did. Can't remember seeing that so blatantly anytime before over the years. 2nd half we had a go. I wouldn't blame the players for the effort put in, they tried all they could. But in one way that just made me realize how far we really are from competing at that level and how much we are lacking in so many departments. Certainly hard to swallow for us fans but thats the reality of it!

 

[Sultan]

Juve were on a different level in every aspect of the game. We were just were chasing shadows most of the game. Only DeGea, Pogba and surprisingly Lindelof came out of the game with some credit.

 

[The Boy]

I'll help you with the narrative.

Manchester United may have spent a lot of money on transfers over the past few years, and they may have spent it badly, but their owners have still taken more than 1 billion pounds out of the club.

This is money generated by the club which should be invested back into the club, in the form of transfers, staff, training facilities, marketing and media spend, the scouting network and upgrading the stadium.

It would be nice to have owners who continue to allow the club to spend their own money on transfers, whilst NOT taking a billion out of it.

Make sense?

perfect sense, but it doesn't change the fact that hundreds of millions have been spent investing in the club and the team, plenty has been spent on staff, the training facilities have been updated, much has been spent on marketing and media as well. Yes, the shareholders have taken money out of the club, though not a billion into their own pockets, much of that has been spent servicing the debt.

I understand why people are not fans of the Glazers, I'd hate them as owners, but they run Utd like a business and in all businesses that are publicly traded shareholders take dividends from the profits.

I was questioning the narrative that the Glazers don't spend on United and new owners would change that. But if your complaint is they've only spent half a billion on players rather than one and a half billion, then fair enough!

 

[KomodoBadger]

What a shit season.

 

[Sereques]

Poor Jose, if only he had Maguire and Alderweireld, he do have crushed Juventus.

 

[mazhar13]

Okay then.

Sorry, my mood got turned off when I saw 3 United monkeys invade Old Trafford to worship Cristiano.

 

[fishfingers15]

Juve were on a different level in every aspect of the game. We were just were chasing shadows most of the game. Only DeGea, Pogba and surprisingly Lindelof came out of the game with some credit.

Agreed about Lindelof and Pogba. Lindelof especially.

 

[Lay]

Technically and tactically inept.

 

[SER19]

Agreed.



Why, because we lost to a better team? Is that why being owned by a dictatorial regime should be desirable? I think the Glazer's are cnuts but really. We might as well sign Lockheed Martin as our shirt sponsors if we're going down that route.

Yeah, lost to a top juventus side in what ended a tight game. Please let Saudi arabia pump billions into the club so we can be super great again. That's the team i want to support

 

[SER19]

What a shit season.

Poor Jose, if only he had Maguire and Alderweireld, he do have crushed Juventus.

Technically and tactically inept.

Meltdown club. Middle post in particular is appalling

 

[BigWillprunier]

At this point I think I'd rather start one of the kids with no first team experience over Lukaku, he offers absolutely nothing.
We could make excuses for his deficiencies when he was scoring 1 in 2.5 but he's not even close to being a goal scoring threat now.
His lack of basic football skill is so massively highlighted in games like this, I won't go into detail as we all know what he can't do.
Until we have a striker that our attacking players can play off we will always look limited, I feel sorry for the likes of Martial, Rashford and dare I say it even Pogba having to play with Lukaku.
We all had that fella when playing Sunday league or whatever that we thought fecking hell he's shit, I imagine Rashford and co think of Lukaku like that.
Yes Bonucci and Chiellini are top defenders but they basically had a night off last night.

TL; DR
Please let us sign a striker in January or asap, I'm starting to think Glen Murray is an upgrade at this point.

 

[Tony Babangida]

Agreed.



Why, because we lost to a better team? Is that why being owned by a dictatorial regime should be desirable? I think the Glazer's are cnuts but really. We might as well sign Lockheed Martin as our shirt sponsors if we're going down that route.

I'm actually surprised Woody hasn't sorted us an official weapons partner yet. Utd branded tomahawk missiles etc.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

But we don’t have any depth do we. The guts of 200m on Pogba and Lukaku. We’d need to spend another 400m to get to where we need to be.

Well in a way this is what Jose is getting at. We have spent loads, but we don't get the best. A club this size and reputation should be getting the best players. Lukaku is not the best on anyone's planet.