[Hed Zitin]

Good as it gets.

Carrick and the CB's proving me wrong. They had those Spurs youngsters on toast.

No doubt we won't hear a whiff from Glaston.

 

[Fully Fledged]

Well good for you. I haven't avoided the CAF like you have and guess what? We were subject to opinions asking for big spending in the summer as we have no alternatives and that "the talent genuinely isn't there", strikers past their best, poorly balance midfield... That the team is so poor they can't even challenge for top 4... It's so depressing these people keep complaining about our team and not examining the root cause.

Today the first half showed we can play like a united team! Hope this keeps going.

You missed out the part where it was all SAF's fault.

 

[strandty]

I know its only one game but with LVGs comments about Di Maria being let go if he doesn't feel comfortable, does today show that we wouldn't necessarily miss him? He is a world class player but he is being shoe-horned into our side and we seem to look for him for inspiration if somethings not going well. Today we had a group of players who played great collectively, we worked for each other and controlled the game and it was a pleasure to watch!

 

[mazhar13]

I really regret missing the first half. It must have sounded very entertaining and enjoyable.

The second half, though, made me slightly, slightly disappointed. We got quite sloppy on the ball and, whilst we were very well-organised defensively along with possessing the energy and tenacity to close down Spurs' players, we became quite lazy and careless on the ball. The number of times I saw Fellaini lose the ball in the middle during the second half disappointed me, and we were too reserved. I wanted to see us dominate possession and force Spurs to chase the ball for much of that half, but Eriksen and Kane dropping deeper did help them in retaining more possession than during the first half along with their defenders being much more aggressive than before. Still, though, I'm happy with the way we saw the match off. We defended with composure and confidence, and we left the Spurs players frustrated throughout the match.

Speaking of Spurs and aggression, I really hate how they defend so mindlessly. They're so reliant on fast, strong, energetic players trying to win the ball as fast as possible. There's no proper shape, no organisation, and no good reading of the game from their players. It's all too gung-ho, brawny, and mindless for me. No wonder they concede goals and struggle to get more wins with the quality they have on the attack. I really preferred the way we pressed Spurs in an organised, intelligent, and tenacious manner.

I'm very happy to see Pereira get a run out for the last 15 minutes in this match. He looked quite comfortable out there and was very good on the ball. He also played quite a few good passes and was well-settled into the first team. He looks like he's already gelled with the first team, which is great to see.

LvG read the game well and he had spotted their weakness in covering the channels between the FBs and the CBs (mainly because Bentaleb and Mason usually don't track runners in the box). Fellaini was always looking for that specific run in the box.

Fellaini has always been like that when playing in an attacking role. He's been running the channels as an attacking player since his days under Moyes at Everton. It's the reason why, at Moyes' last season at Everton, they were playing some good football as Fellaini would create the spaces for Mirallas, Pienaar, Baines, and Osman to exploit through the middle with their quickness, directness, creativity, and pace. He also did this against Arsenal and Newcastle in the last two matches though not to a great effect.

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

Fellaini has always been like that when playing in an attacking role. He's been running the channels as an attacking player since his days under Moyes at Everton. It's the reason why, at Moyes' last season at Everton, they were playing some good football as Fellaini would create the spaces for Mirallas, Pienaar, Baines, and Osman to exploit through the middle with their quickness, directness, creativity, and pace. He also did this against Arsenal and Newcastle in the last two matches though not to a great effect.

I agree, my point was that it was nice to see us trying to take advantage of his movement in the final third. Today we intended to hit them there, in the first goal everybody's trying to create this opportunity for Fellaini. It wasn't just hoof balls towards him in the back post.

You should definitely watch the first half, we got a lot of things right. And you are spot on about Pochettino's tactics, i expected he would do better at Spurs after his last season.

 

[NL Max]

I know its only one game but with LVGs comments about Di Maria being let go if he doesn't feel comfortable, does today show that we wouldn't necessarily miss him? He is a world class player but he is being shoe-horned into our side and we seem to look for him for inspiration if somethings not going well. Today we had a group of players who played great collectively, we worked for each other and controlled the game and it was a pleasure to watch!

Quote? I never heard anything like this, he said he had to adapt to the PL and the country.

Di Maria stated he wants Manchester United to be his last club in Europe before he moves back to Argentina, I doubt one patch of bad form is going to change his mind. He's in a new country and still settling in, I'm willing to give him time.

 

[littlepeasoup]

Some thoughts:

Was easily the most pleasing half of football we've played in 2 seasons (the first half, not the second). The second half was a decent, controlled and professional display.

Spurs were pretty abject, and their passing was all over the place. Taking nothing away from the way we moved the ball about today though. Breath of fresh air.

In some ways it's lovely to not see David de Gea as MOTM for a change.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

"Lads... It's Tottenham"

 

[The Mitcher]

"Lads... It's Tottenham"

 

[LeftyBlaster]

"Lads... It's Tottenham"

Amen.

 

[Nights]

Wondering where pocco is on a day like this.

 

[WR10]

It was actually beautiful to see that we completely and utterly dominated a midfield in a game. We have a proper midfield for the first time in years. So much so that spurs had to make a change 30 minutes in because our midfield was so intense.

 

[suheilsworld]

WOW!! I have needed nearly 12 hours to calm down before I post here

Absolutely epic performance by all the players.

• De Gea - Finally we could give him a day off
• Valencia - Reliable and strong at RB. Doing a great job till we buy someone in summer
• Smalling - He was Rio-esqe yesterday. Winning aerial duels and marauding forward with those runs. Kept Kane quiet
• Jones - was Jones. Putting in those hard tackles and working well with Smalling and Carrick
• Blind - I have had my doubts about him at LB position but he was so good. Easily one of our best passers along with Carrick and worked wonders with Ashley. Shaw may be the future but when Carrick is fit, we need to play him at LB
• Carrick - keep this man injury free. Cool as an iced cucumber. He is really a calming influence and a true quarterback the way he controls everything. He continues the recent run of players scoring goals against their former club. Hope Ashley is reading this!
• Fellaini - a man reborn and on a mission to prove all his doubters wrong. He has been a revelation and great finish to cap it off
• Young - Another one who is having a brilliant season. LVG's faith has rejuvenated his performances and is a constant threat with his runs past defenders and skipping players
• Herrera - It is high time LVG realises that he cannot keep him out. He might turn out to be our next Carrick. Massively underrated by the world, picked on by our fans when going gets tough but an invaluable asset when on song. His touch is so silky and he is great under pressure. Lovely partnership with Mata
• Mata - Great game and good awareness as usual. Still needs to add goals to his play and might be the only one in danger of his place when Di Maria is back
• Rooney - Captain fantastic! I doubt LVG will even think of taking him out of the strikers position and playing him anywhere else. Like LVG's comments that it was Rooney who was involved with the pre-match meeting with players and he was the one who most-likely fired up everyone.

Optimistic about Liverpool game but we need to be consistent and not let this turn out to be another false dawn

 

[carlosp]

WOW!! I have needed nearly 12 hours to calm down before I post here

Absolutely epic performance by all the players.

• De Gea - Finally we could give him a day off
• Valencia - Reliable and strong at RB. Doing a great job till we buy someone in summer
• Smalling - He was Rio-esqe yesterday. Winning aerial duels and marauding forward with those runs. Kept Kane quiet
• Jones - was Jones. Putting in those hard tackles and working well with Smalling and Carrick
• Blind - I have had my doubts about him at LB position but he was so good. Easily one of our best passers along with Carrick and worked wonders with Ashley. Shaw may be the future but when Carrick is fit, we need to play him at LB
• Carrick - keep this man injury free. Cool as an iced cucumber. He is really a calming influence and a true quarterback the way he controls everything. He continues the recent run of players scoring goals against their former club. Hope Ashley is reading this!
• Fellaini - a man reborn and on a mission to prove all his doubters wrong. He has been a revelation and great finish to cap it off
• Young - Another one who is having a brilliant season. LVG's faith has rejuvenated his performances and is a constant threat with his runs past defenders and skipping players
• Herrera - It is high time LVG realises that he cannot keep him out. He might turn out to be our next Carrick. Massively underrated by the world, picked on by our fans when going gets tough but an invaluable asset when on song. His touch is so silky and he is great under pressure. Lovely partnership with Mata
• Mata - Great game and good awareness as usual. Still needs to add goals to his play and might be the only one in danger of his place when Di Maria is back
• Rooney - Captain fantastic! I doubt LVG will even think of taking him out of the strikers position and playing him anywhere else. Like LVG's comments that it was Rooney who was involved with the pre-match meeting with players and he was the one who most-likely fired up everyone.

Optimistic about Liverpool game but we need to be consistent and not let this turn out to be another false dawn

Great post, Mata was my only concern though as he was getting bumped off the ball but he had a few good moments too. Valencia dud good but miss Rafael with his variety in that spot.

 

[Winrar]

Can't believe we actually lost to them twice in a row at home before today.

 

[suheilsworld]

Great post, Mata was my only concern though as he was getting bumped off the ball but he had a few good moments too. Valencia dud good but miss Rafael with his variety in that spot.

I think the thing with Rafael is that firstly he is inconsistent and secondly he has been injury prone. LVG probably wants someone who can play day in day out and stay injury free so that they can portray his 'phi-lo-sophy' on field. Valencia, although not sparkling in his performances, he is still solid and injury-free. I miss Rafael's runs down the flank but at this stage of the season and the fixture list, I will take simple things done effectively over flair any day!

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Superb result and the first half was a great watch (bar Jones).

Still trying to evaluate which was the biggest factor;

10 united players playing very well
Or
Spurs being as bad as Hull were
Or
A combination of both

Up there with the Hull performance as the best that we've played over 90 mins this season. Still rate the movement and demolition of Leicester (before the freak show) as the best moments in a game though.

 

[noodlehair]

First United game all season that I've genuinely enjoyed.

We actually looked like we were hungry, not labouring around, or playing in spite of any stupid instructions or system. I also like how we saw a weakness in the Spurs side and just went for it relentlessly...there's been none of any of this all season, which in a way is actually extremely annoying.

Spurs were shite butthe difference between this and other games we've played against shite teams, is that we actually looked convincing, rather than just less shite.

I hope we can keep it going rather than it being a one off. I still think we'll struggle to get anything at Anfield either way...but it would mean I'd think we have a chance of turning City and Arsenal over.

Can't believe we actually lost to them twice in a row at home before today.

We thrashed them in both of those games though, to be fair...we just waited until we were already losing to do it...but then in the past that tactic always used to work against Tottenham.

 

[Crumpsall Red]

Brilliant to watch yesterday ..... LVG don't you dare throw Di Maria straight back in to the team.

 

[Trizy]

Just home in Ireland from my trip over with my girlfriend, we were in the north-east quadrant where Rooney celebrated, such a brilliant view of all goals!

Away fans sang pre-kick off but I didn't hear them once then for the 90 minutes and our fans were in some fine voice.

First time back in Manchester since 2009 vs Arsenal and what a fecking game it was, I evny you mancs living there!

 

[Flying_Heckfish]

We need to find a way to fit Mata in, because he is so useful in games like this. He has his weaknesses (which we all know about) but going forward he is immense.

I echo the sentiment here, very pleasing to see the team attack from the start with intensity and real intent, rather than dicking about for the first half. It was important to get a win and we acted like it, really brave.

We will need to be brave next weekend, that's for sure.

 

[Brightonian]

First United game all season that I've genuinely enjoyed.

That's surely just a daft exaggeration though.

You didn't enjoy Rooney totally dominating Newcastle and scoring a brace despite playing the middle of the park in our commanding 3-1 victory? You didn't enjoy us thrashing Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford? You didn't enjoy us utterly steamrolling Hull, winning 3-0 with 76% possession and 15 efforts on goal to their 2? Or battering QPR with a new look attack clicking beautifully and Di Maria both capping excellent performances with their first goals for the club, and us not conceding a single serious goalscoring opportunity?

We've not managed to get into a rhythm and put in consistently great performances this season, but there've been plenty of individual brilliant games. If you didn't enjoy any of the above (and there were plenty of others I didn't mention too), then why the hell do you watch football at all?!

 

[pocco]

Wondering where pocco is on a day like this.

I gave credit where it's due in the LVG thread. I hope this continues, but are you suggesting that this one game has proven the doubters wrong? We finally played in a way that we should have months ago and look at the result.

Anyway, I'm still buzzing about the game so I can't be bothered to argue about this and what has gone before. We were great and, believe me, I'm as happy as anyone. I'll be ecstatic if LVG proves me wrong in the long run because that means we are back on track, which is what matters.

 

[MDFC Manager]

I gave credit where it's due in the LVG thread. I hope this continues, but are you suggesting that this one game has proven the doubters wrong? We finally played in a way that we should have months ago and look at the result.

Anyway, I'm still buzzing about the game so I can't be bothered to argue about this and what has gone before. We were great and, believe me, I'm as happy as anyone. I'll be ecstatic if LVG proves me wrong in the long run because that means we are back on track, which is what matters.

Good man.

 

[Brightonian]

I gave credit where it's due in the LVG thread. I hope this continues, but are you suggesting that this one game has proven the doubters wrong? We finally played in a way that we should have months ago and look at the result.

This game was not exactly the massive departure from the promising but ultimately unrewarding performances that we've been putting in for the last few months. Take away that early goal, and this could easily have turned into another game where we dominated possession and territory but couldn't make the necessary breakthrough. We added some crucial tempo and directness, and most importantly we produced that tempo and directness for a long enough period to produce a few goals and put us properly on top in the match.

But the building blocks for a performance like that have been accumulating for a fair old while now - the competent possession play, the increasing number of avenues of attack in our locker, the growing workability of a playing style which can accommodate both Fellaini's directness and the more pass-and-move attacking of players like Mata, Herrera and Rooney. A number of yesterday's key players, notably Herrera, Young and Fellaini, have all spent the last couple of months becoming noticeably settled parts of our starting XI.

Tl;dr: This was a progression, not a departure. We've been edging closer and closer to a performance like this since January.

 

[Will Singh]

I can't remember the last time I had that feeling when watching UTD in that first half!!

We ripped Spurs apart and to put our chances away like we did topped it off.

The question is why can't we do that every week?

 

[Matty7]

Has anyone got a full match highlight link? First game I've missed all season and it's the one game we play really well in!

Edit: found the link in the Man Utd videos thread!

 

[markhrad]

Our excitement should be tempered. The result was great and much needed because any position within the top 4 is now within reach but I really do not think our midfield was that great. Carrick yet again was the only one with vision. His through ball to Fellaini was beautiful and its what RVP and Falcao have been dying for all season. When Carrick returned the last time he gave RVP a similar beauty. Mata and Herera still were not creative. Rooney's goal showed good composure on his part but lets face it he was rather lucky to get through the bunch of defenders at the top of the 18 yard box. It was not due to a fancy piece of dribbling skill.
Without Carrick the game could have had a far different result despite our possession of the ball.
Right now I want results no matter how we play but come summer I want a creative midfielder.

 

[matt23]

Well I only saw the highlights but its nice to see so posts please with the style on top of the result. Hopefully yesterday will be the turning point, I think one of the most obvious improvements from last season is the confidence for big games, playing pool next week could be fantastic for momentum.

 

[carlosp]

Act

Superb result and the first half was a great watch (bar Jones).

Still trying to evaluate which was the biggest factor;

10 united players playing very well
Or
Spurs being as bad as Hull were
Or
A combination of both

Up there with the Hull performance as the best that we've played over 90 mins this season. Still rate the movement and demolition of Leicester (before the freak show) as the best moments in a game though.

Spurs wasn't bad to be honest, the lads were just all over them like bad hive and they had no room to manoeuvre. Every time they got the ball, they were under pressure.

The second half was different, the lads knew they had a three goal advantage and they just had to maintain the lead. That allowed Spurs to have a bit more possession.

 

[Kag]

Our excitement should be tempered. The result was great and much needed because any position within the top 4 is now within reach but I really do not think our midfield was that great. Carrick yet again was the only one with vision. His through ball to Fellaini was beautiful and its what RVP and Falcao have been dying for all season. When Carrick returned the last time he gave RVP a similar beauty. Mata and Herera still were not creative. Rooney's goal showed good composure on his part but lets face it he was rather lucky to get through the bunch of defenders at the top of the 18 yard box. It was not due to a fancy piece of dribbling skill.
Without Carrick the game could have had a far different result despite our possession of the ball.
Right now I want results no matter how we play but come summer I want a creative midfielder.

Van Persie and Falcao haven't made movement like Fellaini made yesterday all season. They're largely shite, and I'm stunned that people are still making excuses for their inability to control a five yard pass (Falcao) or their inability to work the opposition back line (Van Persie).

Rooney was fabulous yesterday, as was our midfield. Our midfield controls football matches week after week, yet the tempo of our passing has been an issue; plus the geriatric forwards we've tried to crowbar into the side for six months have inhibited through ball opportunities.

Yesterday was better in that the tempo increased, which allowed for as good a midfield performance we've seen in years. And that isn't an exaggeration. We dominated Spurs in every department.

 

[redevil2]

You missed out the part where it was all SAF's fault.

Quiet! The extent to which some people on here have blamed/condemn/accused/demeant/belittled... Sir Alex how he left an aged disfunctional team for his successor to painfully manage is disgusting. These same people were enjoying the glory SAF had brought for so many years and yet they had the gut to tell us, they thought SAF was arrogant, tunnel vision, made wrong signings for years etc. Baiscally to them, anything wrong under the sun nowadays was Fergie's fault and players' talent is not there etc. very painful to read them!

 

[noodlehair]

That's surely just a daft exaggeration though.

You didn't enjoy Rooney totally dominating Newcastle and scoring a brace despite playing the middle of the park in our commanding 3-1 victory? You didn't enjoy us thrashing Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford? You didn't enjoy us utterly steamrolling Hull, winning 3-0 with 76% possession and 15 efforts on goal to their 2? Or battering QPR with a new look attack clicking beautifully and Di Maria both capping excellent performances with their first goals for the club, and us not conceding a single serious goalscoring opportunity?

We've not managed to get into a rhythm and put in consistently great performances this season, but there've been plenty of individual brilliant games. If you didn't enjoy any of the above (and there were plenty of others I didn't mention too), then why the hell do you watch football at all?!

The Newcastle and Hull games were snore fests against teams who offered nothing and the Liverpool game was a terrible performance from both teams which could easily have been 3-0 the other way if you'd swapped the goalkeepers round.

The QPR game was good, but it was QPR.

Calling any of those games "brilliant" is the exact daft exaggeration you speak of. Not sure what these plenty of other games you've not mentioned are.

Barring QPR, yesterday was the first time we've looked like an exciting team this season, without losing 5-3 to Leicester. When we've won games coomfortably previously this season (and it's not happened often), it's been with slow, methodical football, which has usually left me waiting impatiently for the game to end so I can get on with my weekend.

Last season was much better for excitement...albeit it was also horrible on so many occasions. Also I don't think we played as well as yesterday in the whole of last season either.

 

[Brightonian]

The Newcastle and Hull games were snore fests against teams who offered nothing and the Liverpool game was a terrible performance from both teams which could easily have been 3-0 the other way if you'd swapped the goalkeepers round.

The QPR game was good, but it was QPR.

Calling any of those games "brilliant" is the exact daft exaggeration you speak of. Not sure what these plenty of other games you've not mentioned are.

Barring QPR, yesterday was the first time we've looked like an exciting team this season, without losing 5-3 to Leicester. When we've won games coomfortably previously this season (and it's not happened often), it's been with slow, methodical football, which has usually left me waiting impatiently for the game to end so I can get on with my weekend.

Last season was much better for excitement...albeit it was also horrible on so many occasions. Also I don't think we played as well as yesterday in the whole of last season either.

Well, you're entitled to your opinion I suppose. I enjoy watching United win by 3 or 4, especially against Liverpool (and even against QPR!) I don't need us to play the perfect game to enjoy watching. Which is good, because the Spurs game was great but by no means perfect, and not nearly as far ahead of some of the other performances I've mentioned as you suggest.

I particularly like the fact that you've discounted the Newcastle, Hull and QPR games because they were against teams who didn't offer any challenge. As opposed to Spurs yesterday who looked like they might tear us apart at any moment...?

 

[SirBobbysCombover]

I have to say the result was superb but the spuds really were very poor, watched the game twice now and the spuds just let us walk over them. On a positive note this result should give us some momentum going into the dippers game which we needed to believe we can get a result from the council house.

 

[Rozay]

Sadly missed this game, I was at a family thing and being out of The country, couldn't even sneak away and Sky Go. Sounds like I missed our best performance for 3 or 4 years.

 

[Nights]

I gave credit where it's due in the LVG thread. I hope this continues, but are you suggesting that this one game has proven the doubters wrong? We finally played in a way that we should have months ago and look at the result.

I was simply pointing out that usually don't see any posts from you if we win, yet virtually immediately after a loss, you'll be right there with a negative LVG comment (or three). Other posters have commented on this also.

Yet, last year, with Moyes, it was a different kettle of fish.

I hope that I'm wrong, and I actually see some constructive comments from you about United rather than every post being some form of LVG bashing.

 

[POF]

This game was not exactly the massive departure from the promising but ultimately unrewarding performances that we've been putting in for the last few months. Take away that early goal, and this could easily have turned into another game where we dominated possession and territory but couldn't make the necessary breakthrough.

Totally agree. Just like the criticism was over the top in previous games, the praise is way over the top for the Spurs game. Very good performance. United controlled the game but there wasn't a glut of chances created in this game. With the current United style, getting the first goal is crucial. It was the single biggest difference between this game and the Arsenal FA cup game.

 

[markhrad]

Van Persie and Falcao haven't made movement like Fellaini made yesterday all season. They're largely shite, and I'm stunned that people are still making excuses for their inability to control a five yard pass (Falcao) or their inability to work the opposition back line (Van Persie).

Rooney was fabulous yesterday, as was our midfield. Our midfield controls football matches week after week, yet the tempo of our passing has been an issue; plus the geriatric forwards we've tried to crowbar into the side for six months have inhibited through ball opportunities.

Yesterday was better in that the tempo increased, which allowed for as good a midfield performance we've seen in years. And that isn't an exaggeration. We dominated Spurs in every department.

That is the only thing you said that was not an exaggeration. By the way RVP is constantly looking for the through pass. You often see his hand waving in the air asking for it to be delivered.

 

[gerdm07]

Our excitement should be tempered. The result was great and much needed because any position within the top 4 is now within reach but I really do not think our midfield was that great. Carrick yet again was the only one with vision. His through ball to Fellaini was beautiful and its what RVP and Falcao have been dying for all season. When Carrick returned the last time he gave RVP a similar beauty. Mata and Herera still were not creative. Rooney's goal showed good composure on his part but lets face it he was rather lucky to get through the bunch of defenders at the top of the 18 yard box. It was not due to a fancy piece of dribbling skill.
Without Carrick the game could have had a far different result despite our possession of the ball.
Right now I want results no matter how we play but come summer I want a creative midfielder.

I agree. I need to see more of the same to start believing again. I too think Rooney was lucky more than good on the goal.

The pressure is still on lvg because if we lose sunday we fall out of the top 4.