[Coops73]

Good result obviously but the amount of defenders we had on the park was a joke and I found it really frustrating to watch, I had the feeling we were going all LVG and that gave me the fear, a better team would of torn us a new one, I just don't get this 3 centre back shite, it just doesn't work for us in my opinion.

Dobby MOTM for me, Jones is a fecking accident waiting to happen and Bailey looked like a shadow of his early season self.

But hey! A wins a wins a win and we're 5th with games in hand so I'm going to sit down to my Sunday roast, albeit a little pissed and enjoy the rest of the footy today.

 

[Bobcat]

Job done, but we looked really clueless after Mata went off. I can see the reasoning behind putting on an extra defender, but with the team we had today, we had no one who took any offensive responsibility once we made the sub.

 

[SteveW]

As someone else said, they had brought on two attacking players, so they way our defence was playing we were not going to bring an attacking player on.

Come on. We went to 6 at the back and handed complete control of the midfield to Boro. Had we kept something close to a decent shape we wouldn't have been under half as much pressure. Instead they had all the time in the world to put balls into the box.

Boro were doing nothing until we decided to let them have all of the ball.

 

[RedMaestro]

 

[TheReligion]

Come on. We went to 6 at the back and handed complete control of the midfield to Boro. Had we kept something close to a decent shape we wouldn't have been under half as much pressure. Instead they had all the time in the world to put balls into the box.

Boro were doing nothing until we decided to let them have all of the ball.

They did nothing with the ball either.

It was only a Smalling error that gave them a goal.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I'm not Mourinho's biggest fan but United just won away 3-1 on a lunch time kick off after playing and winning Thursday evening for the Europa League. Plus you had a depleted squad and yet people still moan. Bring back the champagne football from the past three years. It was a typical pragmatic Mourinho win. Not only that, now you can sit back and relax watching City vs Liverpool.

Well said.

 

[GailSpaceWynand]

I was happy after the match.
Not so much anymore; this place is toxic on Matchdays!

 

[Hugh Jass]

Folks i dont mean to sound pretentious when i say this and this will be my last post on the subject.

If this match were at home and we were winning two nil at the 70, he would have brought on Martial. But because the match was away from home, its a completely different kettle of fish psychologically. Away from home be it in Europe or the league is tough and we have to grind out wins like we did today.

You saw in the Champions league Barcelona conceded four in PSG and then scored six in the nou camp. Why didnt they score six in PSG? They didn't because they were away from home and thus PSG had an advantage (in France). But then in the return leg, Barca had the home advantage.

The point I am trying to make is that every match away from home in this league is tough because the team at home has an advantage. We have to grind out wins. Now we have quality which improves the chances of scoring, but we still have to be smart, which IMO Mourinho was in bringing on Rojo.

If you had said that we would in 1-3, I would have bet against you given the situation (We are missing players, tired and away from home). So its a very good win and you can expect more of the same away from home in the future.

 

[itso 7]

Good spirit from the lads today but I think the Mata sub invited more pressure on us than necessary. We lost that important link between attack and midfield but all the same a good three points to win.
Our back three though wasn't impressive because I think we need a defender who is better on the ball so from the three that started I think one of Jones/Smalling should make way and if Jose doesn't trust Blind then maybe take a chance with TFM? Saw this against Chelsea too, we simply lose too much in the build up particulary if they have Fellaini ahead of them.

 

[Handré1990]

Agreed.
We win 3-1, away and people are complaining.
Last season, we'd have lost this game, after dominating possession.

I'm dumbstruck.

Yeah, it's so strange. Guess it might be the standards are getting higher, I wonder who we have to thank for that.

 

[edcunited1878]

Everything was so underwhelming in the end that it wouldn't matter to me at all. That approach sucked all the joy and emotions out of me by the end.

So you were about performance rather than result? Approach is to defend your lead. They made a double substitution, what would you have Mourinho do?

 

[SteveW]

I'm not Mourinho's biggest fan but United just won away 3-1 on a lunch time kick off after playing and winning Thursday evening for the Europa League. Plus you had a depleted squad and yet people still moan. Bring back the champagne football from the past three years. It was a typical pragmatic Mourinho win. Not only that, now you can sit back and relax watching City vs Liverpool.

It's not about style of play etc. It's just about winning. His tactics turned an easy win into a nail biter. Its not pragmatism. It was a poor tactical decision that invited them back into the game. It was completely unnecessary.

 

[Nate Dogg]

Smalling and in partucular Jones do not inspire any confidence, sincerely hope we see the back of them this summer!

 

[Mr. Meeseeks]

I was happy after the match.
Not so much anymore; this place is toxic on Matchdays!

Yea. Its starting to get worring. I used to love this place. Always gave me a smile. Now I get the instinct to avoid it after matchdays. That was a fecking fun match to watch. Then this place rained on the parade. Why cant you lot be like the away fans who gave the team a standing ovation today. And you can see what it meant to the players

 

[DevilRed]

We never controlled the match.

Tired or not, you need to control a football match.

lots of talk about strikers.

We need our midfield strengthening badly.

Pogba and Herrera cannot play every match. Unfortunately we do not have adequate replacements in reserve. Carrick was very good today. But this must be his last season in football.

I think if Rashford had put away 2 of his chances we would have turned this into a rout.

That was the difference today IMO.

 

[prtk0811]

To All the fans Slamming the defensive reactive approach to the death and to all the fans accepting that side. Take a chill pill, We all know and appreciate each others concerns. Lets just stay together and stay positive and happy that we won 3 points and bring some optimism around the site.

 

[GailSpaceWynand]

Good spirit from the lads today but I think the Mata sub invited more pressure on us than necessary. We lost that important link between attack and midfield but all the same a good three points to win.
Our back three though wasn't impressive because I think we need a defender who is better on the ball so from the three that started I think one of Jones/Smalling should make way and if Jose doesn't trust Blind then maybe take a chance with TFM? Saw this against Chelsea too, we simply lose too much in the build up particulary if they have Fellaini ahead of them.

For a makeshift squad trying to defend a lead away from home, I think we did pretty well. This is not our first 11 nor is this style the staple. We didn't want pretty, we wanted to grind out a result.

 

[evil_geko]

So you were about performance rather than result? Approach is to defend your lead. They made a double substitution, what would you have Mourinho do?

Anything but putting on all freaking defenders we have and invite pressure on us, you can also defend result by controlling a match, and with 7 defenders, you can't control shit.

That approach against one of the worst teams offensively in the league is indefensible and small time.

 

[Sly]

It's not about style of play etc. It's just about winning. His tactics turned an easy win into a nail biter. Its not pragmatism. It was a poor tactical decision that invited them back into the game. It was completely unnecessary.

It's typical pragmatic Mourinho. He has always been like that. Plenty of games this year where that approach led to a sour ending and yet he doesn't change, you guys should get used to it.

 

[edcunited1878]

Jose did everything he possibly could to throw away that game with his tactics. Seems obsessed with getting as many centre halves as possible onto the pitch at the moment. Hope to fck he snaps out of it soon

As someone else said, they had brought on two attacking players, so they way our defence was playing we were not going to bring an attacking player on.

Should have done a similar double sub with Mkhitaryan and Martial, showed that lot!

 

[SteveW]

Yea. Its starting to get worring. I used to love this place. Always gave me a smile. Now I get the instinct to avoid it after matchdays. That was a fecking fun match to watch. Then this place rained on the parade. Why cant you lot be like the away fans who gave the team a standing ovation today. And you can see what it meant to the players

These kind of posts are just as bad. Disagreeing with tactics isn't raining on anyone's parade. We're all delighted to win. Shouldn't mean we can't honestly discuss what we're watching

 

[DevilRed]

It's typical pragmatic Mourinho. He has always been like that. Plenty of games this year where that approach led to a sour ending this year and yet he doesn't change, you guys should get used to it.

I think with defensive/midfield reinforcements next year, we will be able to keep clean sheets away from home. Then Mourinho's tactics will look like strokes of genius.

Its the 3 points that matter at this stage of the season. That and we were severely short handed.

Hopefully we build momentum. I wouldnt mind scoring 2 goals every game and the shutting up shop. Its almost definately going to guarantee you 3 points.

 

[100]

You have to laugh at the fact that Boro came away with 1 yellow and it was for kicking the ball away

 

[edcunited1878]

Anything but putting on all freaking defenders we have and invite pressure on us, you can also defend result by controlling a match, and with 7 defenders, you can't control shit.

That approach against one of the worst teams offensively in the league is indefensible and small time.

Did you not see the bench prior to the match? It's all United could field and the situation called to defend!

 

[Fully Fledged]

3 points but we made it harder then we needed at the end. Why would we sit deep when they had 2 tall strikers and no pace. We should have kept a higher line and made them try to run behind the lines.

 

[Nate Dogg]

What has happened to Bailly, he is soo erratic and just seems to give feee kicks away when there is no need.

 

[King.of.Red]

Yea. Its starting to get worring. I used to love this place. Always gave me a smile. Now I get the instinct to avoid it after matchdays. That was a fecking fun match to watch. Then this place rained on the parade. Why cant you lot be like the away fans who gave the team a standing ovation today. And you can see what it meant to the players

agree. sometimes I dont understand with some posters here. it was fun match to watch for me too. we get 3 points today, that is the most important for us. hah, whatever, I am very happy right now.. thanks Jose and all players for today's win!

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Should have done a similar double sub with Mkhitaryan and Martial, showed that lot!

Depends how fit they actually are. If one of them had injured themselves then people would moan about that as well.

 

[RedTillI'mDead]

We are only 6 GD behind Liverpool. It's a shame we couldn't roll over a team like Middlesbrough and close that gap further, but in context it's a great result, +2 GD away from home, a good rest for some of our key players, a good goal for Lingard.

The negative tactics were a result of so many games thrown away so for all the nonsense of one of two on here about rather attacking and losing, I'll happily take a win and positive momentum.

But yes it could have backfired, but it didn't and we are finally out of 6th. Hopefully we can keep up the push. A loss or draw for Liverpool and we'll have a chance to get into 4th. Hopefully Arsenal also slip up.

 

[Seanus]

Loved Jose's celebration at the 3rd goal (can't post a gif as a newbie)-there's a massive guy at the back of the tunnel who sh*ts himslef a la Winterburn when Di Canio got sent off for pushing over the ref S Weds v Arsenal

 

[Red_toad]

These kind of posts are just as bad. Disagreeing with tactics isn't raining on anyone's parade. We're all delighted to win. Shouldn't mean we can't honestly discuss what we're watching

Some posters clearly are not happy with the result, they want it all and have very unrealistic expectations. Hardest league in the world, very very few easy games in a season. Our players have played an awful lot of games and Jose is still getting results, by whatever means possible. I'm all for it, if we win stuff and get that top 4 finish.

 

[shield]

Would not have mind seeing TFM. If we need energy then he has bags of it. Why even have him on the bench if he is never going to be used.

Think today's match was the perfect situation to use him. We needed an extra destroyer in midfield more than an extra defender.

 

[Mr. Meeseeks]

These kind of posts are just as bad. Disagreeing with tactics isn't raining on anyone's parade. We're all delighted to win. Shouldn't mean we can't honestly discuss what we're watching

Fair enough. I just think worring about tactics just saps everyones energy after a win. It certainly did for me. Just be happy. As the post I quoted says, that incessant need to find something to criticise is toxic and just makes us depressed, which makes the team depressed. Especially when we have won. Clearly something worked. How many times did pure luck get us through with Fergie? That shit comes from belief and cheering your team until the end

 

[evil_geko]

Did you not see the bench prior to the match? It's all United could field and the situation called to defend!

That is just the problem, he didn't have to make those subs, his subs literally made the match worse and invited the pressure.

We are talking about the freaking Boro here, bloody hell, we should be winning that easy even with playing whole second team with our depth.

 

[edcunited1878]

Depends how fit they actually are. If one of them had injured themselves then people would moan about that as well.

Yep. Martial isn't fit to start or play 60 minutes. Mkhitaryan needed a rest after his injury comeback and like Martial, could start today or give 60 minutes. Play with what you have, give your team a chance to win and Jose did just that.

 

[Slavkov]

These kind of posts are just as bad. Disagreeing with tactics isn't raining on anyone's parade. We're all delighted to win. Shouldn't mean we can't honestly discuss what we're watching

Well it is. I also stopped reading most of the posts. I can cite like tens of matches under Fergie when we barricaded in the last minutes to protect the result. When Boro threw Gestede in and started pouring long balls that was a reasonable thing to do from Jose. They did not create a single chance had it not been for Smalling's howler. Instead of being happy with a great day of results for United everyone here is whining like we were going to get relegated. A great number of the posters here are writing ridiculous things. From what everybody writes about tactics formations substitutions different gameplans, and so on I am starting to think that Ancelotti, Heynckes, Fergie, Guardiola, Mourinho are all writing in this forum. Those experts are talking like they have won the lot 3 times. It is really ridiculous. Instead of celebrating an important and emotional win whic everybody in the team dug deep to get most of the guys here are whining...I am totally flabbergasted and find that pathetic. No offense meant but...

 

[Everest Red]

Smalling and in partucular Jones do not inspire any confidence, sincerely hope we see the back of them this summer!

Make room for one established defender by selling one. No more 22 year old prospect CBs, please.

 

[Will Singh]

It will never change, some people are never happy.

Im made up, we managed a hard fought win with a makeshift side after playing a ridiculous amount of games on the bounce.

Thank god for the international break.

Exactly my thoughts, and not to mention the congested fixtures we have coming up.

3 points in the bag happy days!

 

[Nickosaur]

Folks i dont mean to sound pretentious when i say this and this will be my last post on the subject.

If this match were at home and we were winning two nil at the 70, he would have brought on Martial. But because the match was away from home, its a completely different kettle of fish psychologically. Away from home be it in Europe or the league is tough and we have to grind out wins like we did today.

You saw in the Champions league Barcelona conceded four in PSG and then scored six in the nou camp. Why didnt they score six in PSG? They didn't because they were away from home and thus PSG had an advantage (in France). But then in the return leg, Barca had the home advantage.

The point I am trying to make is that every match away from home in this league is tough because the team at home has an advantage. We have to grind out wins. Now we have quality which improves the chances of scoring, but we still have to be smart, which IMO Mourinho was in bringing on Rojo.

If you had said that we would in 1-3, I would have bet against you given the situation (We are missing players, tired and away from home). So its a very good win and you can expect more of the same away from home in the future.

Well said mate.

 

[edcunited1878]

That is just the problem, he didn't have to make those subs, his subs literally made the match worse and invited the pressure.

It's who he had available. And Boro just subbed their most physical and most talented/fastest/quickest player. They both caused problems against a tired and weary side.