[12OunceEpilogue]

Was working throughout. Seems like same old story from what I've read.

We're playing much better than we were under Van Gaal but one annoying aspect remains: if we concede a goal you struggle to believe we can score two unanswered goals back. We are at least making the chances, but our poor finishing has been infuriating this season and the stats back it up.

 

[Ban]

Was working throughout. Seems like same old story from what I've read.

We're playing much better than we were under Van Gaal but one annoying aspect remains: if we concede a goal you struggle to believe we can score two unanswered goals back. We are at least making the chances, but our poor finishing has been infuriating this season and the stats back it up.

Today it didn't happen but with Jose it seems to me we can score after we concede and we push for it unlike last season. Happened vs Palace and Boro. I'm sure there are some other games, can't remember it though.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

When was the last time we were unbeaten for as long as this?

What is it now 17 games?

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

Frustrating 2 points to drop, but better than a loss.

The team and McLuckerson continue the unbeaten run, which is good

Cracking goal from Rooney, who now gets to own the record in style.

 

[TheNewEra]

Joses team selection was good, but awful chance conversion.

Getting the right players next window will push for the title.

 

[Sylar]

So didnt see the game, but based on twitter and some of the sensible posters on here, it seems that the performance was decent, we created chances whilst restricting them, but the big problem that has plagued us, were either not hitting it on target or not converting the number of chances were creating.

If that is the case, another striker (chica/ole type) is needed. Basically in between Rashford and Zlatan in terms of maturity.

 

[Android1974]

Absolutely staggered with suggestions we played poorly.

Serious question: can a team with 25 shots have played poorly?

 

[TheNewEra]

So didnt see the game, but based on twitter and some of the sensible posters on here, it seems that the performance was decent, we created chances whilst restricting them, but the big problem that has plagued us, were either not hitting it on target or not converting the number of chances were creating.

If that is the case, another striker (chica/ole type) is needed. Basically in between Rashford and Zlatan in terms of maturity.

What's needed is a player than can probe between the lines, play long diagonals, and a player that can finish clinically.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Serious question: can a team with 25 shots have played poorly?

Not to me. However I suppose you could say a can a side who had 25 shots but only one goal have a poor game. If we had scored one more then we would be right up Liverpool's backsides and everyone would be really bullish.

 

[Sylar]

What's needed is a player than can probe between the lines, play long diagonals, and a player that can finish clinically.

Is the last thing needed much more than anything else given we are at least creating 10 good chances per match it seems? And not just half chances, but genuine ones where we are failing to be cool enough in front of goal.

As I said I havent seen todays performance but that comment is based on a lot of games this season (first Stoke and Burnley games come to mind). It seems when Zlatan and Mata doesnt score (and give us the lead) the others really arent stepping up.

 

[TwoSheds]

Serious question: can a team with 25 shots have played poorly?

Yes. The intensity was poor. Strolling around as if we were 1-0 up not down. Pleased with the point in the end, didn't think we'd get it.

 

[Android1974]

Herrera superb? He was all over the place without really influencing the game. Maybe you are using "who ran the most" methodology.

Herrera looks tired lately, he had too many games.

 

[Winrar]

We seriously need to improve our finishing, creating chances but not putting them away has been the theme of our season, we've thrown away so many points at home because of our indecisiveness in front of goal and we can't pin these games as just "one of those days" any more.

That goal at the end though, what a way to break the record in style. Saved us a point, too - could've been much worse not capitalizing at all on Liverpool's home loss.

 

[Sandikan]

One of the first games this season I haven't watched, due to being at my league 2 team's game.

But looking at the stats looks like this season's story of missing plenty of chances.

For most of the game Stoke were recording 0 shots on target, yet leading!

Thank goodness we at least pulled a draw out. Would have been sad to lose the chance to capitalise at all on Liverpool's incredible home loss!

 

[itso 7]

Watching City boss Spurs with a Toure - De Bruyne - Silva midfield makes me angry and confused as to why Mourinho felt Fellaini was necessary against Stoke.

 

[RedElf]

We had them on the ropes yet we still struggle to find the net, thank heavens for wonder free kick from Rooney. Is it me or is Zlatan starting to look leggy and tired?

 

[Art]

That is the game vs stoke at home.

 

[Ban]

That is the game vs stoke at home.

Ups.

Mods please delete this. I was surprised he said it was the best performance.

 

[red4ever 79]

Terrible result, awful team selection to start that got even more bizzare with the subs. Taking MIki off really? Not sure what goes through Mourinho's mind when he pisse* around dropping Carrick and no Martial.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Herrera looks tired lately, he had too many games.

That's why the summer will be important, a replacement for Carrick and I think another midfield to rotate with Herrera or Pogba. It has to be someone good who either comes into the side or someone that the quality won't drop and fits in with the way we play if a backup. At the moment we make changes and it disrupts the flow of the team.

 

[Ban]

That's why the summer will be important, a replacement for Carrick and I think another midfield to rotate with Herrera or Pogba. It has to be someone good who either comes into the side or someone that the quality won't drop and fits in with the way we play if a backup. At the moment we make changes and it disrupts the flow of the team.

This. Deep lying playmaker if we can find a quality one or at least a DM who is good at passing and a box to box CM for the summer.

 

[AXVnee7]

Atleast the 250 will hopefully draw attention away from the players this week. So glad we have a mid-week game.

 

[Ban]

From the official page:

Not happy with point

“Of course I am disappointed. Again I say many times, a draw is a good result when the opponent is better than you and a draw is a good result when you are being dominated [by the opponent] and in the end you manage to leave with that point. But when you are the team that chases the result, the team that creates the chances, the team that misses the chances and on top of that you score only an own goal, then obviously I cannot be happy with a point.”

Rooney record

“The achievement is wonderful – it stays in the history of our club I think for many, many, many years for sure. But I think it’s time now for him to enjoy and for everyone to forget it and let it go.”

Good team spirit

“Nothing wrong with the spirit. Nothing wrong with the connection between the team and the fans. Everybody believes until the end but you have to be really strong to believe when you start the game and you start immediately missing chances and some of them quite easy chances. And on top of that, you score an own goal – I don’t know who scored the goal, if it was Mata, if it was De Gea. I can’t even decide which one scored. So it’s hard but again the spirit is fantastic and I think it’s very important.”

Keeping Stoke at bay

“David [De Gea] didn’t touch the ball. The defenders did exactly what we trained during the week – to keep Peter Crouch always far from goal. Obviously Peter is not dangerous outside the box, he’s dangerous inside the box but I don’t remember him touching one step in the box except one situation in the second half. Even corners where they are very dangerous they didn’t have many or if they had one or two max.”

Dominant display

“We were very dominant. It would be a football crime if we lose the game. But I’m not happy because I keep not understanding how we miss so many chances every game.”

 

[InfiniteBoredom]

Jose should make training just basically pumping balls to the players from every angles possible and have them finish it.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Yes. The intensity was poor. Strolling around as if we were 1-0 up not down. Pleased with the point in the end, didn't think we'd get it.

What game were you watching? We definitely weren't strolling around, the intensity was by and large fine but the criticism could be aimed at the quality of chances we created as well as the overall poor finishing which has been a factor for the last few months.

 

[JohnnyKills]

Stoke away is always difficult, probably the hardest away match we've got outside the top seven teams. So in isolation it's a decent result.

Performance was good too (very good at times) and the euphoria of a late goal and keeping the unbeaten run going will give the players a lift.

But feck me we are terrible at finishing. Mourinho should be looking at what we're doing in training and make a change because it's happening every week.

Rooney is gone as a footballer as well, goal or not. Now he's got the record he should be put out to pasture and never seen again in a league game.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

From the official page:

Not happy with point

“Of course I am disappointed. Again I say many times, a draw is a good result when the opponent is better than you and a draw is a good result when you are being dominated [by the opponent] and in the end you manage to leave with that point. But when you are the team that chases the result, the team that creates the chances, the team that misses the chances and on top of that you score only an own goal, then obviously I cannot be happy with a point.”

Rooney record

“The achievement is wonderful – it stays in the history of our club I think for many, many, many years for sure. But I think it’s time now for him to enjoy and for everyone to forget it and let it go.”

Good team spirit

“Nothing wrong with the spirit. Nothing wrong with the connection between the team and the fans. Everybody believes until the end but you have to be really strong to believe when you start the game and you start immediately missing chances and some of them quite easy chances. And on top of that, you score an own goal – I don’t know who scored the goal, if it was Mata, if it was De Gea. I can’t even decide which one scored. So it’s hard but again the spirit is fantastic and I think it’s very important.”

Keeping Stoke at bay

“David [De Gea] didn’t touch the ball. The defenders did exactly what we trained during the week – to keep Peter Crouch always far from goal. Obviously Peter is not dangerous outside the box, he’s dangerous inside the box but I don’t remember him touching one step in the box except one situation in the second half. Even corners where they are very dangerous they didn’t have many or if they had one or two max.”

Dominant display

“We were very dominant. It would be a football crime if we lose the game. But I’m not happy because I keep not understanding how we miss so many chances every game.”

Cannot argue that the finishing should be a lot, lot better and we would then have more points. It must be frustrating for him as it is for us.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Crap result. Stoke offered absolutely nothing going forward and we somehow managed to make our dominance count for sweet feck all.

And can Jose not field a team with 10 attacking midfielders again? The pace of rahsford and martial was missed bigly.

 

[jem]

Two points lost thanks to Mata.

You're really going to lay all the blame for the loss at the feet of Mata? Moronic.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

Love to know were the 5 mins came from. Thought the same when watching Liverpool vs. Swansea. You could say at least consistency, but I think there should be some transparency. 3 mins for subs, where were the other 2 mins?

 

[TwoSheds]

What game were you watching? We definitely weren't strolling around, the intensity was by and large fine but the criticism could be aimed at the quality of chances we created as well as the overall poor finishing which has been a factor for the last few months.

The one where we were strolling around tbf. Didn't agree with the Mata, Zlatan, Mkhitaryan front 3 and it proved to be just as ponderous as I thought it would. But even when we got Rashford on we still looked leggy. Him and Lingard were the only ones making proper runs. Herrera and Zlatan looked tired and Fellaini, Rooney, Mata and Mkhitaryan just didn't look focused. Poor tempo even 10 minutes from the end. Blind too didn't really get forward much though I don't know if that was maybe on Mourinho's instructions.

 

[bdspeedy]

Has anyone else noticed that we haven't allowed a goal from open play this year? Only the Mata OG and the pen last week.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

The one where we were strolling around tbf. Didn't agree with the Mata, Zlatan, Mkhitaryan front 3 and it proved to be just as ponderous as I thought it would. But even when we got Rashford on we still looked leggy. Him and Lingard were the only ones making proper runs. Herrera and Zlatan looked tired and Fellaini, Rooney, Mata and Mkhitaryan just didn't look focused. Poor tempo even 10 minutes from the end. Blind too didn't really get forward much though I don't know if that was maybe on Mourinho's instructions.

I can understand we definitely looked ponderous but I don't think we lacked intensity and that was clear from the fact that we had control from midfield. Valencia practically played as a right winger so I'm not sure if there were any instructions from Mourinho on Blind staying back, Pogba likes to drift onto the left quite a bit so perhaps there wasn't as much room to get forward particularly when Rashford came on.

 

[AXVnee7]

Anything on the omission of Martial? No idea how he'd have performed today, but it's very strange that he didn't at least make the bench. Hopefully he is being rested for the EFL game.

 

[BIGbadBOO4]

I heard during the game that United players run the least in the league. Does not surprise me at all. We never seem to make moves, players wait for the ball to be played to feet. Lingard seems to be the only one who consistently moves off the ball. Herrera and Mata do to a degree but in last 20 mins no one but Lingard was moving.

 

[TwoSheds]

I can understand we definitely looked ponderous but I don't think we lacked intensity and that was clear from the fact that we had control from midfield. Valencia practically played as a right winger so I'm not sure if there were any instructions from Mourinho on Blind staying back, Pogba likes to drift onto the left quite a bit so perhaps there wasn't as much room to get forward particularly when Rashford came on.

Passing slowly and not making good runs is surely the definition of poor intensity? The defence was fine like you say, no complaints about them. For me, every midfielder should have been looking to get the ball to Rashford's feet when he was free and instead they were playing possession football.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Frustrating draw.

We create plenty of chances, but don't convert. It's going to cost us a top 4 finish.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Passing slowly and not making good runs is surely the definition of poor intensity? The defence was fine like you say, no complaints about them. For me, every midfielder should have been looking to get the ball to Rashford's feet when he was free and instead they were playing possession football.

I don't think we passed slowly and we certainly got forward well particularly from Valencia. The crossing/final ball was really bad though in the 2nd half. We also were encamped in their half for a large proportion of their game and got the ball back generally fairly well which other aspects of a definition of "intensity".

All in all in the grand scheme of things it was the finishing that was the main issue.

 

[Reynoldo]

The draw is becoming more frustrating now that the City - Spurs game is going to end in one too.

 

[pacifictheme]

Two points lost thanks to Mata.

Can only assume sarcastic or mental.