[Speak]

Fact is we've shown we can compete with the likes of Chelsea and City but also we can play like that and still come away with the points.

We're still a bit off getting back to the top but with injuries i'd take any point we can get

I'm pretty sure anyone in the league can compete with anyone else.
I always find this comment strange.

Leicester showed they can compete with us too. Not really sure what it proves really, when we're 13 points behind Chelsea.

 

[Mickeza]

It's about being positive and not a negative cribby arse. I am generally enjoying our football this season. One game we play boring stuff but get a win after isn't something that's an issue for me.

Strange, I think it's more about people having currently fixed positions and using whatever they can to justify that position. I'm glad you're enjoying it, from my perspective the opening three games and today were every bit as bad as anything last season, and when you throw in losing the last 30 minutes against Leicester 4-0 and the MK Dons result, I'm not too sure what this improvement is, bar beating QPR and not being smashed by City. Then again I never really understood philosophy at University so it's unsurprising that LVG's is going way over my head.

 

[Minimalist]

I'm pretty sure anyone in the league can compete with anyone else.
I always find this comment strange.

Leicester showed they can compete with us too. Not really sure what it proves really, when we're 13 points behind Chelsea.

You can't be that daft?

You can't understand why some are encouraged that in comparison to last seasons results (City for example) we looked more competitive?

 

[Ringo 07]

Januzaj needs to go on loan for a year. He's miles off the level needed and kept losing possession by trying to beat his man. Di Maria was awful but hopefully was just a blip. Rooney was pretty awful too. Luke shaw was outstanding. We did well to get a win today and needed a bit of luck to get 3 points.

 

[Speak]

You can't be that daft?

You can't understand why some are encouraged that in comparison to last seasons results (City for example) we looked more competitive?

City aren't as good as they have been in the last few years. And we weren't even that good.
"We showed we can compete with City." Well, so did West Ham, I guess.

 

[Natener]

Off manutd.com.

Van Gaal hails important victory
Louis van Gaal hailed the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday as a “very important three points” as the Reds go into the international break on the back of a victory that ends a three-game winless streak.
The Dutchman was once again forced into making compromises in defence due to injuries and suspension, but van Gaal was pleased with the way his side “killed the game” after finally breaking the deadlock on 67 minutes through substitute Juan Mata.
“In the first half we gave only one chance away and it was a miscommunication between McNair and Blind,” van Gaal told MUTV, referring to a missed chance for Cystal Palace’s former Reds forward Fraizer Campbell. “But in the second half we scored and that is the most important thing.
“After that, we tried to kill the game, we had to kill the game for the first time. So I am very happy. In spite of the fact we killed the game, we created a lot of chances. Rooney could have scored, Mata could have scored for the second time and van Persie also. We did it well because three points was very important. Now we have an international break after a victory, which is always better.”
The game-changing moment came with Juan Mata’s introduction from the bench as he replaced Adnan Januzaj. The fruitless forward forays of Januzaj and Angel Di Maria, who was also replaced in the second half, summed up the stubborn opposition Neil Warnock’s side put up.
“For [Di Maria] it was difficult because the space was very small. That was difficult for every player, but especially if you are a player who likes to dribble with the ball. You have to dribble through a lot of players so it was more of a passing game. We did that in the first half very well but didn’t score. Then in the second half we did score.
"They were defending and not attacking, but they have very quick strikers and you have to always pay attention to that. You have always one moment and that moment came in the first half and it could have been a goal for Palace with the lob over De Gea. OK, we were lucky that time, but I think we deserved to win."
And Mata was the man who provided the long-awaited breakthrough. “He didn’t change the formation or the style of play but he scored, and that’s always the most important thing. When you score, you win the game. Because of that we won. So I am happy with that.”

His idea of "killing the game" is quite different from my own interpretation.

 

[Jazz]

Can't imagine Rooney is actually happy playing in midfield. He will be watching RVP and wondering how he is still in the side.

Yep. I don't think he's happy playing there. Feel like that might cause a bit of tension in the dressing room.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Yep. I don't think he's happy playing there. Feel like that might cause a bit of tension in the dressing room.

It will if RVP is untouchable. Rooney has had to move position to accommodate Robin, even though at the moment he can't hit an elephant backside with a banjo.

 

[NJM78]

3 points vital but rubbish to be quite frank, possession is nothing without actually doing anything with the ball. LvG persists now to play Di Maria wide left and completely nullify his game, Januzaj on the right who has simply lost any resemblance of confidence he had last season. Rooney who once again tries but simply isn't good enough in that position. Then we get the continued game time for van Persie who isn't providing anything and when he does have an occasional bit of good play he will blatantly be greedy and never look to pass.
This was a really poor Palace missing two of their best players. I'm quite concerned by the Arsenal and Southampton away games coming up to be honest. Are we just going to try to pass the ball to death in our own half hoping to nick a goal. He keeps saying he is teaching their brains, I rather he teach them how to shoot on target or pass the ball forward, no one runs into space to help another player or to provide a give and go it is so static and pedestrian and to have a 60m superstar look like Luke Chadwick with black hair really sums up how the manager is not playing players in their best positions.
I can handle the fact we are besieged with injuries and defensive brain farts what I cant get my head around is wasting the attacking talent we have at our disposal.

Positives - 3 points, Clean sheet (second in three games) plus Shaw, Carrick and Fellaini played well and Mata showed us glimpses of his best play.

Tough decisions for van Gaal but I'd like to see him play Rooney and Falcao up top with Mata in the hole.
Di Maria, Carrick and Blind in a midfield three. With Fellaini, Van Persie etc making impacts from the bench.
Very much doubt it will happen though.

 

[Jazz]

It will if RVP is untouchable. Rooney has had to move position to accommodate Robin, even though at the moment he can't hit an elephant backside with a banjo.

I don't know but we seem to be sacrificing our midfield a bit by trying to accommodate both these guys. It just can't go on, LVG or the club or whoever needs to bite the bullet and make a decision. Hate to say it as well but I felt like the team looked more 'together' when Rooney was out.... but irrespective, a decision needs to be made for the good of the team.

 

[bosnian_red]

Off manutd.com.


His idea of "killing the game" is quite different from my own interpretation.

It's killing it in the sense of seeing it out Barca style. We went for a second but could get it but most importantly kept the ball so we didn't give away a chance.

 

[the hea]

I feel people are being way to negative here. We had 2 defenders available for todays game both who are 19 and has only started a handfull of games for us yet we kept a clean sheet a won the game. It was clear that Rooney and Fellaini had instructions to play deeper and protect the defence. If we would have had a more settled defence available I think we would have started with Herrera instead of Fellaini and Rooney would have played further up the pitch.

 

[lysglimt]

I don't understand how people can use the Word horrible, awful etc of our performance today...granted it wasn't a very good performance offensively. But with 4 central defenders out Palace (who actually are good on the counter) created 1 chance in the entire game.

Defensively it was very solid - and we controlled the game completely. Offensively it was static and poor - but let's not make it worse than it is.
Those claiming it was our worst performance of the season ? Where were you when we played Leicester - or Swansea.

 

[Ballache]

We played much better against both Arsenal and Chelsea. Happy with the 3 points.

 

[montpelier]

I'm glad we won and it's a good win because of how many defenders we don't have available.

 

[DevilRed]

Understand we are a makeshift team but we really should have gone on to try and score another goal at least. Especially at home. Having said that, we got the 3 points and are looking much more formidable in our home form. Definite improvement on last year. Now if only we can recapture the away form of 12/13...

 

[Jazz]

Understand we are a makeshift team but we really should have gone on to try and score another goal at least. Especially at home. Having said that, we got the 3 points and are looking much more formidable in our home form. Definite improvement on last year. Now if only we can recapture the away form of 12/13...

Yep. Starting with the game away to Arsenal....

 

[jem]

Januzaj needs to go on loan for a year. He's miles off the level needed and kept losing possession by trying to beat his man. Di Maria was awful but hopefully was just a blip. Rooney was pretty awful too. Luke shaw was outstanding. We did well to get a win today and needed a bit of luck to get 3 points.

And Mata? Credit when it's due, etc. etc...

 

[TwoSheds]

"Moyesian performance". Jesus Christ, it was night and day. We played a team with two midfielders and two 19 year olds in defence, Fellaini in midfield, and yet we never seriously looked like conceding, kept possession really well and created a few chances in what was a must win game. Moyes never demonstrated any ability to get players such as Fellaini or Rooney to pass the ball to their teammates with regularity and you've only to watch the transformation of Michael Carrick to know we've got a proper manager again.

Much happier with that performance than say the Everton one where De Gea had to pull out the superman stuff to avoid us getting roundly thrashed.

 

[OneUnited24]

I'm pretty sure anyone in the league can compete with anyone else.
I always find this comment strange.

Leicester showed they can compete with us too. Not really sure what it proves really, when we're 13 points behind Chelsea.

Compare our performances from the start of that now and even todays results is an improvement.

 

[siw2007]

It is great to get a win despite it being a rather uninspiring performance. It is sometimes difficult to really get going in these types of games where the other team are very defensive and well organised. Apart from a few silly moments we coped well in defence as the returning Michael Carrick and the ever improving Luke Shaw put in very solid displays. Was also impressed with McNair who is really looking the part and might continue to have that position after the international break.

It was difficult game for our forwards with the lack of space but it was disappointing that none of them really got the better of their markers. Januzaj was especially poor as he was well and truly shackled by their left back, Di Maria put in a good effort but just couldn't provide that inspiration and RVP looked lethargic again. It was a bit of luck, but credit to Mata who got the goal in what was a tight game.

 

[NessunDorma]

Like watching paint dry in the main. But at least we won.

 

[The Red Thinker]

Don't try and compare us or put us on a level with Chelsea. We're a whole class below Chelsea at the moment. We got a draw in a game they should have buried at 1-0 and had chances to do so but didn't. Chelsea are also top of the table with 29 points out of 33. We are sixth with 16 out of 33.

I was referring to your overreaction. Aww Bless.

 

[Mister Ed]

Januzaj needs to go on loan for a year. He's miles off the level needed and kept losing possession by trying to beat his man. Di Maria was awful but hopefully was just a blip. Rooney was pretty awful too. Luke shaw was outstanding. We did well to get a win today and needed a bit of luck to get 3 points.

I find this sentiment a bit weird, I agree we didn't play a good game but some of you are massively overreacting. We had more than 70% possession, the entire game was us footballing on Palaces half, we could easily have scored more, Matas ball on the post, Rooney missing a few good chances, Fellainis header that was cleared on the line, not to mention we should have had a stonewall penalty from that situation were a palace defender just pulls Fellaini down with his 2 arms around his neck to prevent him from heading the ball in goal (would also have been second yellow for the guy). While Palace only had that one chance that came from a misunderstnading between Blind and McNair. Like I said I agree we didn't play a good game, the pace was too slow and we didn't break Palace defence down enough but we could have easily won this game with 2 or even 3 goals difference and it would have been deserved. So I find it really weird that people say we did well to win this game, this game was always ours to win and considering the chances and dominance it is no surprise that we did. Was it good, no, but despite that we were the better team by a countrymile and we should have always won this game considering our chances and we did. Ok 1-0 might not be a big result, but it is 3 points just the same as winning here with 5-0 and we didn't deserve to win with 5-0 but we did deserve to win and we did. So in that respect I really don't understand all the complaining. Not every game is a good game, but we deserved to win and we did, last season under Moyes we would end up drawing this kind of games, remember Fullham ? On and up, no need to to criticse every little detail of our performance today and have a go at everybody who disappointed today...

 

[Trizy]

After getting out and clearing my head after the match I got to thinking that result wasn't as bad as people made it out to be, there's always these 1-0 results against poor opposition even for the best teams in the world but the fact we did it with a lone striker (Rooney was basically a CDM) with four 19 year olds (Shaw, Januzaj, McNair, Wilson) and finishing the game with 3 midfielders in the back 4 I think we done alright.

Hopefully we'll have Rafael, Jones and Falcao back after the break, we've yet to field our best XI not to mention getting them to play week in week out together.


De Gea - Hadn't much to do, was his usual self and kicking was good.

Valencia - Even for a poor winger playing as a RB he was more wank than usual.
McNair - Apart from that miss communication with Blind he was solid enough and good in his burst forwards (space created by Carrick) and usually good in his passing.
Blind - Hadn't much defensive work to really do if we're being honest, passing was on point though and was nice not to see wasteful passes from the back (The Rojo Hoof!)
Shaw - Solid as a rock, brilliant runs and my MOTM, he's an absolute gem these past few games!

Fellaini - Not as good as the past three games, kinda killed some attacks by taking the sting out of it, was a slight threat to Palace.
Carrick - Good for his season debut in midfield, actually forgot how good his passing was.
Di Maria - Wasteful both from a live ball and dead ball, played out of position.
Januzaj - Shocking, had 1 decent how in the first 5 and after that all he did was lose the ball.


Rooney - Brilliant back tracking and won back good possession, wasted in CM/CDM though.
RVP - Shades of his old self in the build ups but not given enough support up front to be productive on the goal front. Needs a #10 behind him.

 

[Sultan]

We had more than 70% possession, the entire game was us footballing on Palaces half

Sideways and back passes. Basically pointless possession.

 

[Ash_G]

I'm not a fan of this system with Fellaini/Rooney pushing high, or even where Fellaini is closer to RVP and Rooney deeper. I think we're not making the most of the wide players who are ending up isolated and our play is to slow. I just don't get why we need to send Fellaini up the pitch as quick as we do. If LVG thinks we need his hight/strength then personally I think LVG should drop one of the strikers as Rooney isn't a better cm then Herrera imo.

 

[Sereques]

I find this sentiment a bit weird, I agree we didn't play a good game but some of you are massively overreacting. We had more than 70% possession, the entire game was us footballing on Palaces half, we could easily have scored more, Matas ball on the post, Rooney missing a few good chances, Fellainis header that was cleared on the line, not to mention we should have had a stonewall penalty from that situation were a palace defender just pulls Fellaini down with his 2 arms around his neck to prevent him from heading the ball in goal (would also have been second yellow for the guy). While Palace only had that one chance that came from a misunderstnading between Blind and McNair. Like I said I agree we didn't play a good game, the pace was too slow and we didn't break Palace defence down enough but we could have easily won this game with 2 or even 3 goals difference and it would have been deserved. So I find it really weird that people say we did well to win this game, this game was always ours to win and considering the chances and dominance it is no surprise that we did. Was it good, no, but despite that we were the better team by a countrymile and we should have always won this game considering our chances and we did. Ok 1-0 might not be a big result, but it is 3 points just the same as winning here with 5-0 and we didn't deserve to win with 5-0 but we did deserve to win and we did. So in that respect I really don't understand all the complaining. Not every game is a good game, but we deserved to win and we did, last season under Moyes we would end up drawing this kind of games, remember Fullham ? On and up, no need to to criticse every little detail of our performance today and have a go at everybody who disappointed today...

Spot on, this was the game I saw. The rest of the stuff in this thread, I do not understand.

 

[mattsville]

Very frustrating, the 1st half was littered with mistakes in posession, a lack of confidence and nobody offered anything in the final third, players were running around like they didn't have a definite plan or idea how to break them down. We were never under pressure defensively throughout the game so we should have done much better with all the possession we had, Rooney was atrocious in everything he did, his body language was very poor too.

 

[Empire]

I never said that I expected us to be top of the table right now. But for me, bottom line is that at this point in the season: we should be playing better than we are and winning these kind of games more convincingly. I'm pleased with the 3 points because we needed that more than anything. But with players back in 2 weeks; I will be expecting a huge improvement against Arsenal.

My point is that Arsenal and Palace are completely different tests, the former will attack whilst the latter parked the bus trying to get a 0-0, we played Palace not unlike how Mourinho or Ferguson would, we stepped it up later in the second half not long prior to the goal but Palace were tired from chasing the ball so it was the right time.

We dominated possession and we had plenty of shots on their goal whilst limited theirs, this is what Mourinho was doing last season, it's a process. The only way we could have performed better is by creating clear cut chances in which case it could have been 3 or 4 goals but when we do that we will be hitting title challenging form, that is possibly a few months away.

There is (loads of) room for improvement but we are heading in the right direction I think, Arsenal will attack us so we can exploit that space, quite a lot of the games after that will be against teams that park the bus and it's going to be more of the same.

 

[Godfather]

Some of our players deserve to be dropped. RvP lacks energy and looks old as feck these days. Everything Adnan tries looks half hearted. Fellaini, as physically imposing as he can be is not able to carry the ball forward much at all. Add to that our injuries in defence and our constant change of formation and the result is only logical.
Still, important 3 points at the end of the day.
I really hope for a comeback of Herrera, the good Di Maria, Mata, some of our defenders and the diamond after the international break.

 

[Jerch]

The most important thing is we got a 3 points. There are no easy matches in this league. I think we were not as bad as some are saying here, we have the possesion and didn't given away to many chances. There only big chance came from our mistake at the back. I know it wont be easy with this back four and i'm glad we got the points.

About the players Shaw was fantastic, Mata was really good to. I hope Di Maria will find form on the wing because he disappointed me the most and i agree with some of the posters that some players should be dropped (RVP, Januzaj) but this is work for the next game.

 

[Mad Winger]

I didn't see the game, but reading the comments I can sort of picture what it looked like. I have to say this:

1. Did we not see this type of game often under Fergie? The opponent parks the bus, we struggle to create clear-cut chances, but eventually score a goal and win 1-0. It's hard to beat physical PL teams that park the bus.

2. Under Moyes, we would almost DEFINITELY have lost/drawn this sort of game.

 

[villain]

I didn't see the game, but reading the comments I can sort of picture what it looked like. I have to say this:

1. Did we not see this type of game often under Fergie? The opponent parks the bus, we struggle to create clear-cut chances, but eventually score a goal and win 1-0. It's hard to beat physical PL teams that park the bus.

2. Under Moyes, we would almost DEFINITELY have lost/drawn this sort of game.

I said the exact same thing...
A win is a win, 3 points is 3 points
quite frankly I don't care how we get them at this point.
We're clearly in transition so any win is a good win as far as i'm concerned.

 

[WR10]

Half arsed performance that got us a win. We'll take it. The lads needed a breather after City and Chelsea and before Arsenal.

 

[Dylan94]

I was referring to your overreaction. Aww Bless.

If you think that my statement of fact was an overreaction then your the one that needs the blessing: not me.

 

[ThanksBoss26]

Not pretty but a vital three points. I'll take that.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

After getting out and clearing my head after the match I got to thinking that result wasn't as bad as people made it out to be, there's always these 1-0 results against poor opposition even for the best teams in the world but the fact we did it with a lone striker (Rooney was basically a CDM) with four 19 year olds (Shaw, Januzaj, McNair, Wilson) and finishing the game with 3 midfielders in the back 4 I think we done alright.

Hopefully we'll have Rafael, Jones and Falcao back after the break, we've yet to field our best XI not to mention getting them to play week in week out together.


De Gea - Hadn't much to do, was his usual self and kicking was good.

Valencia - Even for a poor winger playing as a RB he was more wank than usual.
McNair - Apart from that miss communication with Blind he was solid enough and good in his burst forwards (space created by Carrick) and usually good in his passing.
Blind - Hadn't much defensive work to really do if we're being honest, passing was on point though and was nice not to see wasteful passes from the back (The Rojo Hoof!)
Shaw - Solid as a rock, brilliant runs and my MOTM, he's an absolute gem these past few games!

Fellaini - Not as good as the past three games, kinda killed some attacks by taking the sting out of it, was a slight threat to Palace.
Carrick - Good for his season debut in midfield, actually forgot how good his passing was.
Di Maria - Wasteful both from a live ball and dead ball, played out of position.
Januzaj - Shocking, had 1 decent how in the first 5 and after that all he did was lose the ball.


Rooney - Brilliant back tracking and won back good possession, wasted in CM/CDM though.
RVP - Shades of his old self in the build ups but not given enough support up front to be productive on the goal front. Needs a #10 behind him.

Agree with most of what you wrote except Valencia was OK and RVP was not - Rafael Falcao and Jones are the 3 want to see back together with Herrera and Mata starting - hopefully we'll be in better shape injury-wise after the international break

 

[Gannicus]

We'll all take the ugly win and move on to the next match, but it's frustrating to see us have so much trouble breaking down a parked bus. It took a player of Mata's quality to score, which is a pretty scary thought as our strikers/forwards are getting no good looks on goal whatsoever. And on the few occasions they do their finishing is very poor.

We've got problems everywhere, amigos.

 

[buckooo1978]

Slow and predictable in attack.... This is exactly the kind of game we drew or lost under Moyes

RVP was good, Rooney sloppy, Di Maria out of sorts, Januzaj awful, Valencia solid but useless in attack, Fellaini impressive again, Shaw MOTM and Carrick did well

We looked very predictable and I kept thinking how great Nani would have been today - he can frustrate but think he would have been a massive improvement on Adnan

Would like to see Carrick and Herrera behind RVP at 10 with Falcao at 9