[KM]

Fellaini half chance and rashford on his weaker foot who never looked like he was going to score.

I'm never negative but i won't needlessly overlook everything either, we were poor tonight.

Weak foot or not, a striker scores that 9 out of 10.

 

[lewwoo]

I just struggle to get excited by the way we play. There is no creative spark there. I really hope this game wasn't a sign of things to come again this season. I will give them the benefit of the doubt as it was madrid and still pre season but it really doesn't get my pulse racing.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

So many of the comments in here read as though people are just posting general shit based on their preconceptions rather than what actually happened in the game.

Surely you should find a way to make those exact words a sticky at the top of every post-match thread?

 

[MadMike]

Bad first half, better second. Deserved win for Madrid. My points...

- Their fullbacks were a cut above in supporting the attack
- Pogba had a bad match on the big occasion, again. While Matic was great.
- Smalling the standout in defence. Lindelof needs to improve.
- Fellaini was a danger from the moment he came on and very positive.

I'm still struggling to see why we start with Lingard on the left ahead of Rashford and Martial. It does my head in.

 

[Camilo]

You got the feeling Madrid could have had us whenever they wanted. When they wanted the ball they got the ball. Then again they are the best team in the world. No team shows the importance of good attacking fullbacks more than Real do - I can't believe we're not in the market for a new left back at least...

Glad we kept going. Defense looked a bit wobbly, but I know we'll be fine there - Jones and Smalling are great players if our Scandinavian flop doesn't sort himself out. Pogba looked somewhere else, Herrera couldn't get near them, but Matic looked comfortable. Mkhitaryan is just not at the races and should be benched. Fellaini did what he does, and I've no problem with that, and Rashford was good. Lukaku will be great this year.

 

[el3mel]

Nothing much to say. Quality wins.

Last 30 minutes were very good. Excellent performance from Matic and Fellaini. The later was the one who revived us in the game. After he joined the field all of our long balls have been dangerous.

No team in England will be of the same threat on us as Madrid anyway. I'm optimistic about the season but we need a winger who can beat his man.

 

[BarstoolProphet]

Very good first 15 minutes and the last 30. We were annilihated the rest of the match. Overall very happy with our response after their second goal.

 

[MadDogg]

Pogba was the worst player, though Lindelof and Smalling could give him a run for his money in that department. It's becoming irritating that he can't be subbed out of a shite performance.

Err, what? Smalling was comfortably our best defender and one of our best overall.

 

[Saf94]

The biggest problem is that we make a few signings every summer and people expect us to be right back at the top, Fergie days level again. Football isn't played on paper, yes we spent money but if you actually look at the quality of the squad we're still a long way away, progress happens linearly, we won't just go 6th to 1st/2nd and QF/SF in Europe over one summer.

Real Madrid, 2 times CL winners in a row, destroyed Juventus. Why is anyone surprised we were dominated? What did people expect, for us to go toe to toe with them? If Barca, Bayern and Juve can't beat them why would we?

 

[Dyslexic Untied]

Were you watching the game by any chance? We choose to defend and attack on counter in the first half. Only for the first 10 minutes we were decent, after which we were overrun. Mourinho has some amazing players on his disposal but he just don't want to step out of his comfort zone which is ultra defensive, counterattacking football.

There is a difference between choosing to defend and being forced to. The first ten minutes showed what our intention was. Actually carrying out against a Real who turns it on is another matter. 'Defensive tactics' was not the reason we lost today.

 

[KM]

Lingard started as a left wingback. We don't have anyone in that position apart from Darmian. It didn't work out but I can see the reasoning.

 

[Giggsy92]

Matic was good considering his disrupted pre-season. Didn't think Lindelof was that bad but I do wish we'd spent that £30m on a left-back instead.

 

[r3idy]

Put into the context that this is THE team in Europe over the last three to four seasons, it shows we are still some way off competing at the very highest level. Not a bad showing all things considered. Still think we are missing that magic player be it a magic number ten or whatever.

Where Madrid play the football nice and close we often broke with just one player then our player had to check and stop his run.

Positives
- Good spirit to get back in the game.
- Miki showed he is better as the central player rather than wide left or right.
- Rashford looks better as a left sided forwarded than wing back

Negatives
- Long way off the cream in Europe (Think we will be much closer in EPL)
- Smalling can't head for toffee

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

Not bad overall given we're still getting match fit for when the real stuff starts this weekend. I am very encouraged by Matic though was a little surprised I was more impressed with what he did with the ball himself than what his presence allowed more exalted company around him to do. Smalling and Darmian both looked good to me while Fellaini and Rashford (sort your finishing young pup!) impressed when they came on. DDG is great.

Pogba had some good touches but was erratic, same goes for Mkhi. Herrera and Lukaku were too quiet for my liking and Lingard looked out of his depth. Our attack hasn't clicked just yet with our lack of threat on the left in particular looking all too obvious. I'm a little concerned at the pressure on Shaw to come into LB firing in his pre-injury form, without that we're asking Rashford or Martial to do it on their own as none of our other LB or wing options look up to the task.

 

[Ban]

After that spell when we couldnt get the ball in the 1st I was worried. Had a decent 2nd half I thought and after they went 2-0 we had 2 chances, Lukako over the goal and Marcus 1 on 1. Overall not as bad as I thought it will be against an incredible Madrid side. Grinds teeth.

 

[Wal2Fra]

Rashford looked so clinical throughout ore-season, really expected him to bury his 1 v 1.

Madrid may be the best side in the world but they are also the most frustrating. Constantly on the floor (Isco was the worst for it!) The ref says nothing about the constant falling and rolling!

Not a bad performance all round. As the starts moving we will get better and I think we showed that we can compete.

 

[Devil81]

2-1 against Madrid and we could have snatched a draw for extra time in the last ten minutes.

That's the best team in Europe at the moment, in fact they are light years ahead of most teams. I'm actually pretty happy with the performance.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Bit of a mixed bag. Thought it might get ugly when RM went 2-0 up and they looked capable of adding more, but good to see Lukaku bounce back and score after his earlier miss. Matic looks like a very shrewd acquisition, a few points for Mourinho to ponder in both a negative and positive sense. Fellaini looked a threat when he came on - reminded me of John McEnroe in his heyday after he got his head injury bandaged up - and Smalling played well, looked more secure than Lindelof but early days for the Swede yet. Pogba still needs to do a lot more, Mkhitaryan started off well then faded a bit, although he played a few decent through balls.
Overall, no complaints about the result though, Real were the better team, always looked dangerous. Isco was excellent, best player on the pitch by some way.

Jose said before the game that he wanted to give Lindelof more time to settle in, unfortunately the bans have forced his hand a bit. Give the lad time.

 

[Fer]

We played 352 and 442 in the the 1st half. Then, we started with a 433 and at the end we changed to 4231 with Fellaini behind Lukaku.

We missed a lot of chances, but we had a decent 2nd half.

We definitely need wingers, Micky and Mata are better behind the striker, and Rashford as striker... Lingard should not start.

I would like to see a 4231 formation with an exciting winger like Gelson Martins or Dembele.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Bad first half, better second. Deserved win for Madrid. My points...

- Their fullbacks were a cut above in supporting the attack
- Pogba had a bad match on the big occasion, again. While Matic was great.
- Smalling the standout in defence. Lindelof needs to improve.
- Fellaini was a danger from the moment he came on and very positive.

I'm still struggling to see why we start with Lingard on the left ahead of Rashford and Martial. It does my head in.

This. A huge source of their attacks and Lingarrd and Mickey T did not stop them.

 

[Wisdom]

Real Madrid was not 100% coming into this match. they lacked match fitness nor were they in form.

I think it was a good game overall but in my opinion Real Madrid perhaps deserved to win this match atleast by 4-1 and the result can really delude someone in this situation who haven't watched the match. Benz and Bale are so wasteful still it's unbelievable.

All in all I still believe Man utd came in fully fit for this match hence they had a longer pre-season but quality shined

 

[Rado_N]

Surely you should find a way to make those exact words a sticky at the top of every post-match thread?

Feels like pissing into a tornado at this point.

 

[Ramshock]

"embarrassing"

which bellsniff said that?

 

[#07]

The most concerning thing about this performance was it showcased a lot of the old frailties.

In preseason we have made decent decisions in the final third, we have had a good composure and that has led to goals. Tonight that all went out the window. It just goes to show there's a difference between practice and real life. As a manager how do you solve it? You can train it all you like but if the players can't take training pitch form into real games what do you do?

The chances we missed last season, the chances we missed tonight, that cannot go on. The old Man Utd could play badly and win by taking the chances when they came. Arguably that should've happened tonight, especially as we weren't that bad.

 

[Rado_N]

which bellsniff said that?

A few dozen of them in the match thread.

 

[Shark]

Poor performance from the obvious aside, I think we did well enough to be actually quite excited at where we're heading as a team as a whole. If Jose can raise the level of players that really should be getting their act together and performing to a higher level, we will go far this season. Mhiki, Pogba, Shaw and Martial all come to mind here. If the inconsistency continues, it'll be a season similar to last unfortunately.

 

[Redondo_Pirri]

Good game all, see you in the UCL

 

[AgentP]

Overall a good game from us. Matic looks class. Lindelöf had a shaky first half but seemed to improve in the second half. Haven't seen the replay of Isco's goal so I'm not sure who is to blame for it. Pogba, Herrera and Lingard were underwhelming. Mkhi is going to be a different player for us compared to last season. Lukaku's goal made up for his miss and that offside. His first touch looked spot on against Real. Fellaini and Rashford made a huge impact after they came on.

P.S. My score prediction was spot on and got 10/11 in the line up prediction. Had Rashford instead of Lingard which is how we should have lined up imo.

 

[Ramshock]

So many of the comments in here read as though people are just posting general shit based on their preconceptions rather than what actually happened in the game.

Thats basically it!

 

[AdnanRED]

We really need to be cut throat infront of goal, especially the lukaku and rashford chances.

The Lingaard thing really makes no sense since Rashford can defend just as well as lingaard and is way better going forward, I am also not too keen on Mkhi on the right he doesnt seem to have blistering pace and think he is better behind the striker but then again we want to play Pogba there.

I really liked what Matic offered and we need an LB who is reliable urgently.

On the positives:
-Atleast we never got battered like Juve or Bayern.
-Hopefully this proves we need a few more signings to compete with the bigger clubs.
-Lost without Bailly and a new CB partnership.

 

[NoLogo]

The biggest problem is that we make a few signings every summer and people expect us to be right back at the top, Fergie days level again. Football isn't played on paper, yes we spent money but if you actually look at the quality of the squad we're still a long way away, progress happens linearly, we won't just go 6th to 1st/2nd and QF/SF in Europe over one summer.

Real Madrid, 2 times CL winners in a row, destroyed Juventus. Why is anyone surprised we were dominated? What did people expect, for us to go toe to toe with them? If Barca, Bayern and Juve can't beat them why would we?

Agreed. Real is the best team in the world right now and we never were more than outsiders against them. Also we need to remember that building this team out there took the better part of a decade and started when they bought Ronaldo and Kaka and success wasn't really a constant companion on their way until now. This team went through a lot of iterations to find the balance and load of quality they have now.

Still I would like us to get more technically and tactically smart palyers in the squad and we desperately need some quality FBs on both sides.

 

[bosnian_red]

De Gea - Class as always, thank feck we have the likes of herrera and mata who he's really close with, because it's amazing he's been happy to stay at United for so long despite being one of the top 2 goalkeepers in the world and United being shit in the last 4 seasons.

Valencia - One of the few who did well I thought. A few careless passes but generally held down that side well as always.
Lindelof - Definitely seems like a John Stones type in that he's better on the ball then at actually being a defender. Hopefully he adapts quickly, but he wouldn't be starting for me if all are fit.
Smalling - Did pretty well actually. Though he's sloppy at times with his positioning.
Darmian - Did alright as always. It's a weak position for us but he fills in decently.

Matic - MOTM for us, looked by far our best midfielder out there and defended well.
Herrera - Ran a lot but not his best game.
Pogba - Started brightly, fecked up a counter and then went to shit for the rest of the game. You expect a lot more from him. Outclassed by Isco, modric and Kroos today.

Lingard - He's a mid table player at best, no idea why he's starting in cup finals like this.
Mkhitaryan - Inconsistent like he was last season. Some moments of class, some sloppy, some invisible.
Lukaku - Meh. Missed a sitter, scored a slightly easier chance, some decent moments of hold up play and some really dumb moments.

Overall... bit shit overall. Yes Madrid are a level or 2 above us. Doesn't excuse some of those periods of play like the 15 minutes after their first goal. As a collective unit we still leave a lot to be desired and there wasn't so much in terms of actual cohesive play which was a problem last season. We got back into the game by making it a scrap and throwing fellaini on there to have big players in there.... That's not what we should aspire for even if it's effective at times.

 

[Fracture90]

There is a difference between choosing to defend and being forced to. The first ten minutes showed what our intention was. Actually carrying out against a Real who turns it on is another matter. 'Defensive tactics' was not the reason we lost today.

And we choose to, because everytime we had a ball at our feet we were hoofing it upfront instead of building the attack from the back.

 

[golden_blunder]

Kenny Cunningham the only one speaking any sense on rte panel

 

[littlepeasoup]

There’ll definitely be a few of our lads who will be disappointed in themselves and their performance.

Positives for me, Matic was really very good and I think Lukaku will get 30 goals this season for us, he just seems to score whoever he’s playing against.

 

[Ramshock]

A few dozen of them in the match thread.

Only a few dozen? shocked

 

[Agni]

Still can't cross. Still shite at set pieces. Another frustrating season on the cards unless someone steps up or we buy an attacker.

 

[P-Nut]

I don't think that was too bad. Shouldn't come as a shock to anyone that we were second best to the best team in the world right now.

Kept ourselves in the game and could have nicked a draw from it.

Pogba won't have as bad a game all season.

And it confirmed quite a few things we probably already knew.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

There just doesn't seem to be any creativity in this team which is a bit of a mystery with players like Mkhitaryan and Pogba on the field.

If Jose didn't have this tactic of not really having his lb commit it'd be much better but honestly I can't really see how you drastically improve this team without getting rid of fan favourites like Valencia and Herrera.

It's just all very bland and boring and constantly making poor choices.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Rashfords first touch was poor for his chance which meant he had to use his weaker foot. Should have went to the left hand side.