[DomesticTadpole]

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.

Is Martial in the French squad. If not, at least he has a couple of weeks to get some fitness work in. Mata will be having a rest as well.

 

[GailSpaceWynand]

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.

How and why is it such a poor tactical decision to bring on a defender when you know the players are tired? Our fixture list being what is it is I was happy with the 3-1 today. Pragmatic, slow tempo and sensible football without piling on unnecessary pressure on yourself. SAF would have done the same.

 

[SteveW]

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

Pragmatism should mean doing what it takes to make sure of the win. What he did today was invite Boro back into the game. It was a poor tactical decision and based on how the game panned out Jose would probably admit he got it wrong. He'd actually got it very right up to that

 

[evil_geko]

People raving on about tough fixture list...you would think that we are the only club to have this amount of games throughout season...

 

[redshaw]

Good win.

What was pleasing is we had three of our attackers against only 3 defenders often. We had a lot of space and could've got lots more goals.

We have to learn to maybe not smother the opposition and keep coming up against a two banks of four and getting frustrated.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

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.

Middlesbrough have not been that bad defensively, it's the fact they don't score that's put them in this position. It was never going to be a slaughter.

 

[itso 7]

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.

Yeah which is why I wasn't overly critical but I felt that there is some promise in playing a back three but its current make up, two of the three being not so good on the ball, there are improvements that can be made because I think this is what we will use in the upcoming tough fixtures.

 

[sammsky1]

That after a 3-1 win....

Its nuts. With fans like this, who needs scouser's?!

I thought it was some very good tactical innovation. Worked a treat too.

And I really enjoyed the game mainly because of a successful nail biting finish

 

[SteveW]

How and why is it such a poor tactical decision to bring on a defender when you know the players are tired? Our fixture list being what is it is I was happy with the 3-1 today. Pragmatic, slow tempo and sensible football without piling on unnecessary pressure on yourself. SAF would have done the same.

Going with a back six and no midfield piled heaps of unnecessary pressure on the team. He should have kept control of midfield and snuffed out the fame instead of giving Boro all the time in the world to launch balls into our box

 

[Slavkov]

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.

When we create chances and do not win everybody here is whining. When we created enough chances, scored 2 goals and almost did not allow a single chance against us because Smalling's howler was not a chance, and then close the game down because of tired legs, then everybody here whines as well. We won like 10 games 1-0 with the most talented attack in United's history in 2008-2009. I guess that most of the posters here would whine as well back then. I completely agree with you most of the posts here leave me flabbergasted....

 

[Nate Dogg]

Scousers losing today will top off a good weekend!

 

[Sly]

Pragmatism should mean doing what it takes to make sure of the win. What he did today was invite Boro back into the game. It was a poor tactical decision and based on how the game panned out Jose would probably admit he got it wrong. He'd actually got it very right up to that

I didn't say it wasn't a poor tactical decision, i just said that it's typical Mourinho pragmatism. He has failed plenty of times with this approach (there are many examples with United this year, i don't even have to about his career historial) and he hasn't changed. It's kinda like the bring on Huth as a desperate sub for the attack, just at United it's Fellaini. He's very stubborn, so i doubt he will admit he got it wrong.

 

[evil_geko]

Going with a back six and no midfield piled heaps of unnecessary pressure on the team. He should have kept control of midfield and snuffed out the fame instead of giving Boro all the time in the world to launch balls into our box

This exactly, but some people will swallow anything Jose serves and call it tactical mastery.

And some pointing 3:1 win, come on now, that result is far from what the game was about now was it, people are talking about what happened on the pitch not statistics.

 

[Prometheus]

Don't WUM.

I'm sorry. I couldn't resist.

 

[GailSpaceWynand]

People raving on about tough fixture list...you would think that we are the only club to have this amount of games throughout season...

In England? I think we are.

 

[Slavkov]

Going with a back six and no midfield piled heaps of unnecessary pressure on the team. He should have kept control of midfield and snuffed out the fame instead of giving Boro all the time in the world to launch balls into our box

I do not agree with you. I think we were comfortable, they just poured long balls in and they did not have a single chance created. I think Jose was spot on and would rather trust him than most of the tactical geniuses here...

 

[DomesticTadpole]

People raving on about tough fixture list...you would think that we are the only club to have this amount of games throughout season...

Difference is that they do not get screwed over by the TV companies. I would have been happy for a 4 o'clock k.o. and not being on TV. Also the F.A. quite happily rearranging games for teams to help them, but not us.

 

[stretford_oslo]

 

[evil_geko]

In England? I think we are.

And we also have one of the biggest depths with players also, too bad Jose was always shite with rotations.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

In England? I think we are.

We are. Chelsea and Liverpool were never in Europe and Liverpool messed up both cup competitions. Spurs and Arsenal messed up Europe, so all they have is a one leg semi-final. We are still in Europe and won the EFL Cup as well. City don't have Europe any longer, so they just have their one leg semi final as well.

 

[horsechoker]

 

[Catt]

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.

Difficult to know what to say when people post stuff like this.

 

[Attila]

Good performance and win. I enjoyed the game surprised at the amount of complaining on here

 

[Shuriken]

Another good performance on away turf, with a partly rotated squad as well. Nice.

Until we were up 0–2, that is. Then we just invited a bit too much pressure, at the time it felt a little unnecessary, considering we were in good control before our second goal. Luckily, we were gifted with the 1–3 goal to finish it off. Moments before, an equaliser from Middlesbrough felt as inevitable as ever, and I'm sure the majority of you felt the same way…

I don't think we have the defensive qualities to defend fragile one-goal leads the way Mourinho wants and has had success with in the past. Surely, he must've noticed this by now.

For a manager that seems to care and talks about playing the right way, the Manchester United way, apparently it only applies when we're chasing a match. Once we're up, we abandon the method by throwing it out the window.

I'm not sure whether it's Mourinho's instructions or if it boils down to the mentality of the team. For me, the Manchester United way is to keep on going, or at least try to continue controlling the match as much as possible, all the way to the final whistle.

 

[evil_geko]

Difficult to know what to say when people post stuff like this.

As is to understand constant Jose defenders.

 

[GailSpaceWynand]

Yeah which is why I wasn't overly critical but I felt that there is some promise in playing a back three but its current make up, two of the three being not so good on the ball, there are improvements that can be made because I think this is what we will use in the upcoming tough fixtures.

We have long needed a ball-playing Center-half but I think we should go for one established name this summer. Considering defence being more team-work and cohesion-related, I'm surprised we have no experienced guys back there. Luiz has done well in that capacity.

 

[RedTillI'mDead]

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.

I do not agree with you. I think we were comfortable, they just poured long balls in and they did not have a single chance created. I think Jose was spot on and would rather trust him than most of the tactical geniuses here...

I think Mourinho genuinely thought game won, shut up shop make it hard for Middlesbrough and at same time rest Mata.

I think he probably sadistically liked the idea of parking a bus against a team that would usually park the bus at Old Trafford. Feel the frustration!

 

[Mr. Meeseeks]

As is to understand constant Jose defenders.

For a team with so many injuries, we did alright. Better than alright in fact

 

[Wumminator]

That was only the fifth time in the league all season we've scored three or more btw.

 

[GailSpaceWynand]

And we also have one of the biggest depths with players also, too bad Jose was always shite with rotations.

okay then.

 

[DevilRed]

Something still needs to be done about the finishing though.

Just look at every other team in the top 4. Presented with those chances they would have buried the match in the first 20 minutes. Similar to what spurs have done to soton at home minus harry kane.

Its hard to understand why we find it so difficult to score goals. We create a shitload of chances every match.

 

[SteveW]

I do not agree with you. I think we were comfortable, they just poured long balls in and they did not have a single chance created. I think Jose was spot on and would rather trust him than most of the tactical geniuses here...

You thought that was comfortable? Why the hell was I so nervous then?

My nerves could barely take it. Game was easy until we we gave up midfield and went to the back 6. Completely unnecesarry at 2-0. Should have just went to a 5 and kept our shape and the ball and closed it out.

 

[GailSpaceWynand]

I think he probably sadistically liked the idea of parking a bus against a team that would usually park the bus at Old Trafford. Feel the frustration!

His last-minute antics would add weight to that claim.

 

[prath92]

People are complaining? We didn't have ibra pogba Herrera mkhitariyan in the squad, who are some of our best attackers and we still won 3-1

 

[NecssryEvil]

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

This was me too. There seems to be a lot of posters that think it is a contest to see who can come up with the most divisive comment after games.

 

[Wumminator]

People are complaining? We didn't have ibra pogba Herrera mkhitariyan in the squad, who are our best attackers and we still won 3-1

Again.

Fifth time we've scored more than two goals in the Prem.

Are they our best attackers? I really liked this team today.

 

[Mr. Meeseeks]

Any GIFs of the Lingard goal yet? That was a pretty good solo goal

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Apparently we have no dignity in Manchester United since this defensive and cowardly approach is even possible to think about.

I knew Mourinho was a coward, but not this big. I really hope Woodward and the board call Mourinho and say that's the absolutely last time he even thinks about having 2 DM and 7 defenders on the pitch at the same time.

I would rather have played the offensive football and lost 4-2 than this shite, I just saw.

I am and has never been the type "to win at any cost". You have some standards, you have to fulfill.

If this cowardly approach continues, then I can't wait for the day, Mourinho is gone.

Not shocked he has been banned, his comments in the match thread were just has bad.

 

[The Brown Bull]

Good win in the circumstances.

 

[itso 7]

We have long needed a ball-playing Center-half but I think we should go for one established name this summer. Considering defence being more team-work and cohesion-related, I'm surprised we have no experienced guys back there. Luiz has done well in that capacity.

I agree with that but I think we have more immediate needs in attack and holding midfield that I doubt there would be any funds left over for a huge CB signing. Mourinho simply has to take a leap of faith with either Blind or a youth player if he is going to persist with a back three in the short to medium term.