[Eto'odinho]

We have a lot of deadwood in the team yet and if last window was any indication he wants to clean the team up for good.

Kindly enlighten us on them. He is the manager and he has a first team squad of more than 18 players, his job to effectively utilize it and this also includes minimizing the detrimental effects of any "deadwood".

People insulting Van Gaal should get a life. Without him we would have been further down the table.
It says it all really the fact that in spite of having players of the calibre of Rooney and Di Maria he thinks our best chance to score is to lump it forward to Fellaini.

I agree personal insults are undignified and uncalled for but that doesn't that LVG is immune to criticism. I like how then go on to pretty much contradict yourself afterwards

 

[Feed Me]

Surprised at the flack Fellaini's getting, I thought he was one of our best.
He seems to get shit for being a key player. It is not his fault that everyone is going through him.

It's not his fault that our manager opted for such pre-historic tactics at the end of the game.

 

[thelemon]

Fellaini and Jones badly need to go.

 

[Feed Me]

Subs were weird, putting Valencia, Young and Mata is fine, just not sure why we subbed Shaw who looked good and how on earth did RvP stay on the pitch I don't know. His substitutions were much, much worse this season though.

If anything, I think this was a first game when I saw some progress for a long time.

We deserved to win this so I don’t think it was that bad.

What progress did you see?

I can't remember a Fabianski save...

 

[Kag]

3-5-2 wasn't any worse than the diamond especially when we had Young as LWB. The results and not performances are key.

And that's kind of the point, nothing we can do will lead us to consistent wins yet many on here were convinced Herrera in midfield and Rooney up top in the diamond would do that.

I said back then our problems are more than the shape or players out of position however most posters will forget that and now have a different shape in mind with a different combination of players, the same thing happened last season.

Results are key, of course. I think Herrera in midfield and Rooney up top - although not necessarily in a diamond - will lead us to consistent games. One game away at Swansea isn't a great enough sample size to write that theory off, however.

 

[Heinzesight]

Also I die inside thinking we have Mata on the bench but we continually use Fellaini

Makes me want to weep. By all means bring the cnut on for the last 5 minutes...but he's wank for 90 minutes and its embarassing that we are playing this style of football.

 

[Kag]

What progress did you see?

I can't remember a Fabianski save...

Somebody said this in the match thread but I think there was a lot more openings today than before. We created space around their box and occasionally looked to get in behind their defence.

Van Persie consistently fecked these moves up, leading to a lack of outright chances, but I do think there was progress in our football up until the 18 yard box. It's not amazing, but it's better. Baby steps and all that.

 

[Judge Red]

Saw this result coming. Wouldn't mind but I see more like it ahead on a regular basis. The only surprise is when we do avoid dropping points away from home this season.

 

[BUGGS]

Why can't we give a player a rating of 0? Plenty out there today

 

[Feed Me]

Somebody said this in the match thread but I think there was a lot more openings today than before. We created space around their box and occasionally looked to get in behind their defence.

Van Persie consistently fecked these moves up, leading to a lack of outright chances, but I do think there was progress in our football up until the 18 yard box. It's not amazing, but it's better. Baby steps and all that.

Well that's a problem, because he plays no matter what...

 

[Isotope]

Subs were weird, putting Valencia, Young and Mata is fine, just not sure why we subbed Shaw who looked good and how on earth did RvP stay on the pitch I don't know. His substitutions were much, much worse this season though.

If anything, I think this was a first game when I saw some progress for a long time.

We deserved to win this so I don’t think it was that bad.

It's still the huff and puff football with no TOP team should do too much. This is like watching the 90's German league. No excitement, just plain dull.

 

[Verminator]

It's not his fault that our manager opted for such pre-historic tactics at the end of the game.

True.
Judge him on how he does what is asked of him, not on how he is used.

 

[Kag]

Well that's a problem, because he plays no matter what...

It's a massive problem. Forgive my lack of decency, but he might injured, right?

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I'm just saying 3-5-2 wasn't the problem, back then everybody wanted the diamond and then they wanted Rooney up top and Herrera in the middle, talking as if the solution to our problems was that simple but now it will be something else.

It helps, but not when we have no strikeforce when most of the chances land at RvP's feet and the defence is gash.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

The amount of floated balls into Fabianski's hands either from corners, free-kicks or in open play was criminal.

Shame that until they scored the deflection, we were totally in control and dominant (Young helped change the game for a bit too). Completely lacking in bite though.

Ultimately Swansea found it pretty easy to score a couple whilst we had to scrap and struggle just to get a shot off.

I was amazed Young didn't start tbh.

 

[Yorkeontop]

We werent terrible - at least by our standards these days. Watching us "defend" and I wouldnt begrudge Louis of going 352 even if its not as effective as he'd want.

 

[Feed Me]

It's a massive problem. Forgive my lack of decency, but he might injured, right?

Then Falcao comes in.

Out of the frying pan into the fire.

£500,000 a week between them.

Wage thieves.

 

[Borys]

What progress did you see?

I can't remember a Fabianski save...

The thing is, we have had worse games which we've won. The result makes people think it was shit game from us, and I don't think that's true.

 

[sunama]

So depressing to watch. How can we have so many great attacking players and create so few chances and end up playing hoof ball to Fellaini?

This is the question which needs asking.
At the start of the season we got Falcao, Herrera, Di Maria, to work with Rooney, RVP. Most people were saying that we would leak lots of goals but score loads.
This is not happening.

 

[Kag]

Then Falcao comes in.

Out of the frying pan into the fire.

£500,000 a week between them.

Wage thieves.

I'd flog the pair of them. Falcao is gone, though. Certainly.

 

[dsch]

It's a massive problem. Forgive my lack of decency, but he might injured, right?

With any luck. We're blowing through supposedly world-class strikers like tissues.

 

[Henrik Larsson]

This was bound to happen, we got very lucky against West Ham. The other day Burnley outplayed us at home for big parts of the match. We played well in the second half, they scored, we lost our shit. No leadership, no determination. Very frustrating, but it's what you get when you play like pussies.

 

[Ivor Ballokov]

Disappointing result, and honestly I felt we didn't deserve to lose that game. We played some nice stuff in the first half, particularly for the first goal. And then had full control of the game to be hit totally against the run of play. What is disappointing is our reaction after that. Before that you felt that it was just a matter of time before we finally get a second goal. Yet instead of accepting we conceded and getting right back to how we were previously playing and getting that goal, we instead start lumping the ball about, something that really is only effective on the counter, not against packed organised defenses. After that point, you just got that feeling that we were never going to score, and we created very little chances.

Ignoring the result, I liked the look of this team for the most part. Balance wise it feels better than having Rooney in CM and trying to plug Falcao and RVP into the one team. So hopefully we stick with it next game despite the result. Though I would play Mata instead of RVP, with Rooney leading the line. Would be nice to see Rafael back aswell.

Sensible post.

 

[Feed Me]

The thing is, we have had worse games which we've won. The result makes people think it was shit game from us, and I don't think that's true.

Even if that's the case, the performance was average at best. There were no outstanding features to it.

Other than results, no one seems to be able to say anything positive about Van Gaal's impact. And it's not as though the results are so good that he can sit comfortably. We're looking unlikely to get in the top four.

 

[Jev]

I think we deserved better today. I'm disappointed with our reaction to going behind but generally I thought we did better than we have in most games and had more purpose and pace to our attack.

Still not good enough, obviously, but we've played worse in many of the games we've won.

 

[diarm]

So frustrating. I'm trying but can't remember a save Fabianski was asked to make apart from our excellent goal.

Watching Manchester United lump long balls up at centre backs and Fellaini is absolutely heartbreaking. It's like watching Ireland under Charlton, but less fun.

Van Persie was incredibly poor. I don't mind that you're out of form but after playing like a drain for 75 minutes, they had scored and were looking dangerous again. Van Persie gave the ball away poorly just outside our area and instead of chasing to win it back, he turned a walked back up the pitch. Inexcusable and not Manchester United standard.

Why is Falcao on the bench ahead of Wilson? What does Falcao give us that Van Persie doesn't to change a game? A worse first touch? Wilson could have come on and added pace and the willingness to have a bloody shot.

What formation are we playing when he takes Di Maria off for Mata? Does anyone know? Did the players? Does Van Gaal?

 

[Raees]

Thoughts..

Keeping the ball under pressure

Done better in this regard today. Herrera was instrumental and he gave Blind much needed support. Lots of movement in front of the defence which gave them plenty of passing options and allowed us to transition from GK to midfield pretty effectively and effortlessly.

Less reliant on Di Maria

He was invisible today and yet we still looked the superior footballing side, which away at Swansea is no mean feat. It is a team we always struggle against and they make us look like footballing dinosaurs but we were outplaying them before the Shelvey goal.

Full backs..

Decent depth now everyone is back from injury. None of them are top notch but they're solid enough. Shaw needs to up his game when dealing with crosses though, he switches off far too often. None of them can cross the ball though, it needs work.

Ancient attack..

Shockingly bad and our strikers are the main culprit for this defeat. They are so toothless in possession, they saw enough of the ball but didn't turn on it and run at defenders. They're as dangerous as Phil Jones. Need to get rid and get in some modern day strikers in the mould of Aguero/Costa/Suarez.

LVG - shit substitutions, tactics

Took off all the wrong players, wasted subs and kept RVP/Rooney on throughout. Shocking. He needs to pull his finger out and stop experimenting now. The team is crying out for James wilson up top, Young on the left.

Blind
Herrera Di Maria
Januzaj James Young​

 

[GaryLifo]

We may still just about be in the top four, but I think we'll soon be out of it, and we won't be getting back in.

It's eerily similar to the shite we had to put up with last season. Watching so-called inferior teams get results against us week after week.

I dread to think what the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, City and Spurs will do to us. I don't even want to think about the away game at Anfield either. We'll be below all those sides come the end of the season, and maybe even Southampton too.

6th or 7th... great.

 

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

I thought we played some great football actually, we didn't have too many big chances though but i liked how we combined well and used the midfield.
Unlucky with the Shelvey goal, someone should have closed him Down, but a deflection on that shot and there was nothing De Gea could do. I thought a draw was a fair result, but that's football.

I also thought it was a clever move from Monk to put Montero on in the last part of the game to push us back and create pressure, he seems to be a decent manager.

 

[Sultan]

Dysfunctional United

His choice of substitutions are generally bizzare. I can't state how much I dislike him playing Fellaini upfront. He'll blame Herrera, luck and balance.

 

[Nik70]

Good performance. We deserved to win that. No coincidence that with Herrera in midfield and Rooney not we dominated.

 

[Nik70]

Van Persie out

Chicharito in


Fellaini/Chicharito could be the new Heskey-Owen.

Chicharito is a joke. RVP wasn't that bad today.

 

[Borys]

Even if that's the case, the performance was average at best. There were no outstanding features to it.
Other than results, no one seems to be able to say anything positive about Van Gaal's impact. And it's not as though the results are so good that he can sit comfortably. We're looking unlikely to get in the top four.

I agree, just it's better than it was a few weeks ago. He seems to be making some sensible decisions at least, and we did produce better football today, even if it was only average it’s still progress.

 

[Feed Me]

Good performance. We deserved to win that. No coincidence that with Herrera in midfield and Rooney not we dominated.

Christ!

Fabianski didn't have a fecking shot to save after we went behind.

Have our standards really fallen that much?

 

[Nik70]

I agree, just it's better than it was a few weeks ago. He seems to be making some sensible decisions at least, and we did produce better football today, even if it was only average it’s still progress.

We were better than average. The problem is for all the possession we aren't creating many chances. That's a worry.

 

[Sultan]

I actually now enjoy watching under 21's more than the first team.

 

[Nik70]

Christ!

Fabianski didn't have a fecking shot to save after we went behind.

Have our standards really fallen that much?

Yes I agree. We aren't creating chances as I mentioned in another post. We were virtually camping on the edge of their big box for most of the second half though.

 

[Freak]

I honestly don't think our players understand what they are supposed to do. It's the only explanation to the performances.

 

[Empire]

It helps, but not when we have no strikeforce when most of the chances land at RvP's feet and the defence is gash.

That's my point, the diamond comes with its negatives too and that is exposing the defence more.

RVP was poor hitting the target only once in 7 but so was Rooney who only took three shots all game getting the target once.

 

[wiz4231]

Falcao isn't past it like many have said, as you can see in this system that LVG insists on non of our strikers are quality, we are not playing to their strengths. Rooney and RVP were hardly in the game because its the same tactics were using week in week out barely getting a result and calling it progression, today it failed and I hope to see a change.
We need to stop playing with Fellaini as a starter at #10, use him as a plan B but for god sake stop hoofing the ball to him on every occasion and look to play it into the strikers. We have enough quality to not have to resort to these tactic, its appalling, disgraceful to utd. Yes sure Fellaini will contribute to the odd goal here or there, when 90% of forward play is aimed at him he should do but when are we going to put the emphasis back on to our strikers like we did for years that made us successful.
If anything today was more than sufficient proof that we do not need to resort to this hoof ball tactic, 1 dimensional and obvious style of play, the only goal we scored Fellaini was not in and around the box, we didn't hoof we played football how its supposed to be played.
LVG is proving to be out of his depth, stubborn, naive, to have all this WC talent and playing like this is a disgrace. Something drastically needs to change and its should start with LVG and His philosophy, if he cannot accept the utd way, he should leave, coming to utd being stubborn to prove there are other ways to play are not doing anyone any favours. I have enjoyed watching utd play the utd way for years, there's no need to change that.
Bringing Young on for Shaw stunned me, why would he do that, especially after last week, if anyone should have gone off it was Fellaini, using him tactically was not working we needed to change that and bring Rooney into the game....Giggs looked pissed and I hope he was, Giggs got it right last week and this week LVG was trying to prove a point, he let himself down, the team down and the fans be doing so