[NotoriousISSY]

I felt the Young substitution finished the game. We were controlling the game.

Their second goal was a sucker punch, completely undeserved...but we've been doing that all season.

 

[Raoul]

We can say the same about Rooney. Now 2 games in the row as striker and only one shoot at the goal.

Rooney is the only one of our current lot I'd keep. He needs to play upfront as lone striker which will free up another spot for a midfielder or attacker to support him. Having each of RvP, Falcao, and Rooney in the squad is quite destabilizing in that Van Gaal feels the need to play at least two of them (sometimes all three) to utilyze them. That shouldn't be the case. We need one, world class striker and better midfielders to support them.

 

[Empire]

Exactly, I would rather watch us having a go - like today, than have total possession with no attack. Today the attacks just didn't quite happen. However, as our goal showed. When it works, it is a joy to watch.

Today is what LVG means by balance. You play with 5 attack minded players and 5 defensive minded players and the chances are you will get caught out, because the 5 attacking players will lose focus on their defensive duties. You could argue the way Shaw played we had 6 attack minded players today, 7 when Valencia came on.

I just think today luck was not on our side. But credit to Swansea defensive display.

'luck'

I don't think our defending was uncharacteristic of our defence and I don't think our attacking was uncharacteristic of our attack, we weren't unlucky, our problems are more than the shape we play.

 

[Vooon]

First I think Swansea winning this was totally fecked, it's the kind of shit that inevitably goes down on FM once or twice a season.

Second, I think we played well and pretty entertaining football, especially during the second half and were in total control most of the match.

Third, there are a few obvious issues: we're quite vulnerable in defense, McNair had a shocker once again, Shaw didn't mark his man on their first goal, but looked good going forward. We need new blood in defense, a RB and a rock solid CB. In attack we need to drop RvP, while also keeping Falcao off the pitch, they both look totally finished at this level. RvP two season ago would have scored two or three goals today, he's totally lost it. I think RvP was our main problem today, not the team overall. The solution points towards letting Rooney play up front, and maybe let Fellaini muck about around him, Wilson hasn't exactly looked convincing so far. We definitely need at least one new forward this summer.

Add to that our CM issues the team still needs a lot of work regarding the squad.

 

[buckooo1978]

unfair on us....felt we were the much better side and poor defensive control and finishing as well as a slice of bad luck cost us

unlucky lads

 

[Kag]

Why are Falcao and RVP getting so much flack, Rooney was just as poor as them, hardly in the game, its the tactics deployed by LVG that should be questioned not the players. Stop using Fellaini as a target man and we will turn things around

Because they're slow and shit, that's why. Van Gaal should be questioned for playing them, not for their terrible form. Rooney is a much better striker. He runs, at least.

 

[markhrad]

Rvp's finishing was disappointing but otherwise he did not play as badly as some say and the reason why he is not subbed is because he can score at any time with or without assistance.
My biggest problem with the game is that towards the end we kept lumping the ball up towards Fellaini, using him as a big target, whilst during our numerous corners the ball was constantly hammered low towards the goal ( di Maria again and again ) thus not making use of Fellaini's height.
A goal or two from our corners would have changed the complexion of this game completely.
I don't care what strikers we bring in, if our midfield creativity remains the same they also will not score many goals.

 

[finneh]

Progress compared to Moyesy?

There's a difference between accepting the inevitable and gambling. Today in my opinion was the latter, last season in my opinion was the former.

 

[Moriarty]

Exactly, I would rather watch us having a go - like today, than have total possession with no attack. Today the attacks just didn't quite happen. However, as our goal showed. When it works, it is a joy to watch.

Today is what LVG means by balance. You play with 5 attack minded players and 5 defensive minded players and the chances are you will get caught out, because the 5 attacking players will lose focus on their defensive duties. You could argue the way Shaw played we had 6 attack minded players today, 7 when Valencia came on.

I just think today luck was not on our side. But credit to Swansea defensive display.

I might be more inclined to your point of view if our attacking players had actually tested Swansea's goalie once or twice. All this bloody tap-dancing around the opposition penalty area is frustrating, especially when the ball ends up back at the half way line. Rooney has forgotten how to shoot, preferring to play fancy flicks which more often than not get cleared. Valencia no longer shoots and neither does Young. After Herrera scored, everything we sent towards their goal was in the air and was easily picked off. Van Gaal certainly has his work cut out.

 

[Sultan]

The way I see LvG wanting to play his team to play is what I would call regimental.

 

[Asger]

Rooney is the only one of our current lot I'd keep. He needs to play upfront as lone striker which will free up another spot for a midfielder or attacker to support him. Having each of RvP, Falcao, and Rooney in the squad is quite destabilizing in that Van Gaal feels the need to play at least two of them (sometimes all three) to utilyze them. That shouldn't be the case. We need one, world class striker and better midfielders to support them.

I agree If we would have to keep one of them I would choose Rooney. But we need to stop this diamond nonsense. It can't be a
coincidence against Burnley and Preston that we played better the last 20-30 minutes when we used inside wingers( Young and Di Maria).

 

[wiz4231]

Because they're slow and shit, that's why. Van Gaal should be questioned for playing them, not for their terrible form. Rooney is a much better striker. He runs, at least.

Rooney was shit too, what is your point. If Rooney plays like that for the next 5 games you will be saying the same about him, he's slow, shit and in terrible form. Unless the emphasis gets put on our strikers and they become the target men in the team they will continue to be poor. Using Fellaini as a target man, shifting the focus away from them is not helping them, when you start to realise that you will understand why theyre in such poor form.
Over the years we have had wide players looking for the main man upfront, the striker and you 'reap what you sow' it pays dividends to do so, our strikers over the years playing with these tactics have scored a shit load of goal but now their not because the attacking emphasis is not on them

 

[Seveneric]

Lol. Deserved. Guess fans know how the other teams must feel now with United getting away with being crap/mediocre for so long and still getting results. The one time they play well, they lose.

 

[roseguy64]

RVP our lowest rate player. Sums up the result since most of our best chances fell to him. Couple years ago he'd have scored a couple of those.

 

[Lawman]

Where was all these chances we missed today?

 

[Lawman]

I felt the Young substitution finished the game. We were controlling the game.

Their second goal was a sucker punch, completely undeserved...but we've been doing that all season.

Young is in the running for our man of the match!

 

[Kostur]

My biggest problem after today is that we've basically had a pretty good team out there, on paper that is. Got rid of useless Falcao, Rooney played up front, Herrera in midfield, Blind, ADM as a left midfielder with a lot of freedom to do whatever, Shaw and later on Valencia and Fellaini for the 'if nothing else works' tactic. Probably the only real improvement we could've started with (and that's thanks to hindsight) is Mata for RVP.

And still feck all has happened, one big fecking nothing. Very good goal from us then two stupid goals conceded, then then zilion percent possession rate and shitty attacks that were executed mostly from the wings with a bloody cross. Injury crisis is long gone, we've been 'bedding in' for 6 months now and there's still no real improvement.

 

[legball]

We were quite decent and good on the eye, but ultimately, we lost. That's why I've never had any problem with the so called "luck" we had when we won games playing shit. If we had played like retards and won the game today, I'll have been happy. We lack characters, I don't understand why we couldn't atleast keep the lead for 2 minutes, it was a disgrace.

 

[Jazz]

We can say the same about Rooney. Now 2 games in the row as striker and only one shoot at the goal.

Yep. Don't know why Rooney is getting a pass from most. People crying out play him up top, but that hasn't worked yet. I actually think one of our big problems is having to play the 'big names' even when they're not performing, and that includes RVP, Rooney et al. I don't know if it's sponsor-related why we have to play them, but it makes things more difficult. No matter what we do on the pitch, the strikers need to perform - regardless of formation or what not. Sick of them stealing a living now.

 

[Winrar]

We've had plenty of luck in other fixtures (e.g. Burnley home) but didn't here. Too bad.

The real problem is that the injury crisis looks to be over but we haven't improved a whole lot from when we were.

 

[Jazz]

Also would be nice to have the calm Carrick back...

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Young is in the running for our man of the match!

I'm not sure how. We reverted to aimless crossing and Di Maria was completely anonymous at that point.

Didn't think Shaw was doing a bad job and his presence was pulling Di Maria away from the congested centre.

The game really got messy after that sub for me. Quality of football reverted to shit.

 

[gooDevil]

Another 7 months and we might start winning games away from home. Patience, lads, patience.

Would be worth it if it were on offer.

 

[Lawman]

I'm not sure how. We reverted to aimless crossing and Di Maria was completely anonymous at that point.

Didn't think Shaw was doing a bad job and his presence was pulling Di Maria away from the congested centre.

The game really got messy after that sub for me. Quality of football reverted to shit.

Was already shit we get to the final 3rd and have no idea or plan (shite)

 

[SalfordRed1960]

'luck'

I don't think our defending was uncharacteristic of our defence and I don't think our attacking was uncharacteristic of our attack, we weren't unlucky, our problems are more than the shape we play.

Agree with all of that, but reference to 'luck' was aimed towards a deflected shot that DDG would probably have saved, a fabianski flap that didn't find a United foot. I don't think we were unlucky, I thought we had no luck which we probably needed because of what you stated.

 

[Sandikan]

am I one of the few who is surprisingly relaxed about today?

Yeah we lost, but we're going for top 4 not the league.

Win the next game, back on track.

Surprisingly we've only lost 5 league games so far. Has felt like more, but maybe that's reading stuff on here.

Mid March to Mid April is going to be critical. We could really struggle with the run of games. City at home, followed by Chelsea and Everton away back to back is madness.

 

[Winrar]

am I one of the few who is surprisingly relaxed about today?

Yeah we lost, but we're going for top 4 not the league.

Win the next game, back on track.

Surprisingly we've only lost 5 league games so far. Has felt like more, but maybe that's reading stuff on here.

Mid March to Mid April is going to be critical. We could really struggle with the run of games. City at home, followed by Chelsea and Everton away back to back is madness.

It's the silly draws that have been doing us this season. It's sort of like the 10/11 season except we don't have an impeccable home record. (good but not as good as that season)

 

[Raw]

 

[Sandikan]

did anyone else have a sinking feeling when reading the stuff about us being the league's most in form team...was never gonna end well

 

[saivet]

 

[Hostekule]

Don't like the his answer to the last question on how much better we can get. We need to improve a lot more than just our finishing. That said an overall decent performance relative to our recent games. Progress.

 

[Raw]

did anyone else have a sinking feeling when reading the stuff about us being the league's most in form team...was never gonna end well

It depends how many games you go back. In 15 games United picked up the most points (not so sure after today though). But in the last 5 or 6 we're definitely not the most in form team. Arsenal is.

 

[Roosney]

I've been telling myself for the last couple seasons that a result doesn't matter too much as long as we play good football. I need to stop lying to myself.

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

RVP our lowest rate player. Sums up the result since most of our best chances fell to him. Couple years ago he'd have scored a couple of those.

I think he's useful as a squad player going forward (whether he'd be happy with that status, and whether we'd be willing to pay his wages to suit a reduced role, is another matter), but he's just not good enough to be starting regularly. A shadow of the player he was, but still capable of brilliance every now and then -- thus, squad player.

 

[Kakeru]

am I one of the few who is surprisingly relaxed about today?

Yeah we lost, but we're going for top 4 not the league.

Win the next game, back on track.

Surprisingly we've only lost 5 league games so far. Has felt like more, but maybe that's reading stuff on here.

Mid March to Mid April is going to be critical. We could really struggle with the run of games. City at home, followed by Chelsea and Everton away back to back is madness.

Nothing to feel relaxed here. How can you feel that way?

When you're in a race, regardless of the objective, losing points is always a problem. Looking at the table, we are not out of the woods yet; on the contrary, we are getting into trouble with our shit away form. We are in late February now, and our failure to sort out our away form is unforgivable.

We shot ourselves in the foot with that stupid crap about pointless possession and so few genuine attempts on goal. Has everyone on the team forgotten that winning games must go through rifling the ball into the net and that odds are better when you hit it often?

 

[ItsEssexRob]

Progress compared to Moyesy?

What was the result in the same fixture under Moyes, didn't he lose there too?

 

[Raw]

What was the result in the same fixture under Moyes, didn't he lose there too?

He won 4-1 away (first game of last season). Also won 2-0 at home but lost 2-1 to get knocked out of the FA Cup 3rd round.

Funny how our last 3 games against Swansea ended up being 2-1 losses!

 

[ItsEssexRob]

Good performance from the players (mostly) ruined by unbelievably stupid tactics...am I allowed to call Van Gaal an idiot yet? How long does he have to carry on acting like one before people will accept it might not be some kind of pointless act?

Also, getting pretty sick of our first substitution in most games being wasted rectifying a very obvious mistake with the starting line up. It's embarassing how often this has happened this season.

Funny how this was exactly something I was thinking. Seems to always be McNair involved one way or another as well.

 

[togg]

it's interesting, for the first time I see a guy a bit bewildered, a bit doubting. Not the triumphant Van Gal we know, the rhetoric of past success....which usually mean future success from his point of view. It's almost, looking at his body language, listening to his words, that we have a guy who is starting to worry.....

 

[Rob Bowman]

Yeah this is just frustrating... our two striker system is just a waste with stationary strikers. We have got to change things up. Clearly this is not working. 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3... the nomenclature makes little difference to me but please let me see Mata, Herrera, Blind, and ADM on the same time so we can see some passing and some chances.