[SirFergie]

Are you watching bt sport? Owen Scholes and rio just listed the players lvg let go. The team it makes is probably better thsn the team we now have...

It's total bollocks. Vidic left before LvG got here. Cleverley and Evans were shit.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

LVG blaming the refs against PSV and tonight for the exit.

Is he? I despair.

 

[sunama]

On MUTV they are saying the Premier league could lose places for Europe, 4th spot might not be good enough for next seasons.

So, we'll get 3rd.
No bother.

 

[arthurka]

Young Kids great.. Old dutch manager rubbish....

 

[Lyricist]

Is he? I despair.

Well he was being interviewed and was obviously still affected by the situation. Seemed to struggle a bit for answers so he ended up blaming the refs to shield the players and his concept. It seemed half hearted but yeah he was blaming the refs, kinda just so he was saying something.

 

[shabadu84]

Don't understand why we can't take that type of approach into the 'easier' PL matches and save the caution for the tougher fixtures. Most teams don't have the quality to punish sloppiness like Wolfsburg did.

 

[#07]

Shocking performance. Who comes out of that with credit? Martial maybe?

Our midfield was non existent. Something that was predictable pre-game, given Basti and Fellaini's lack of mobility. In defence it offered no cover, in attack it moved the ball at a snail's pace.

Defensively we were all over the place. Every Wolfsburg attack looked like it could lead to a goal. The set piece defending was a s-t show. Really, really poor.

In the end we got what we deserved. In an average group we showed ourselves to be below average. Over half a dozen games you can't quarrel with that.

 

[Infra-red]

Varela, McNair, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson back 4 at the weekend...

 

[SalfordRed1960]

Didn't see the game, so can only go on the commentary that is online. Looks like we put in a reasonable performance but we're let down defensively (oh what a surprise, you focus on attack as you must win and you leave spaces) and sounds like Schweinie had a poor game.

In addition, it appears we didn't take our chances, which seemed to be quite a lot.

Wolfsburg also sounded pretty good, with nice interplay, quite a few chances as well.

I got a feeling maybe an equalizer a lot earlier and it may have swung our way, which maybe would have been hard on Wolfsburg as they are better than PSV.

 

[There'sOnlyOne]

I will never forget that Nick Powell for Mata substitution. Never.

 

[Bilbo]

Honestly don't know what to make of all this.

Going out of the CL is more often than not the most crushing night of the season. Tonight it doesn't feel that bad. That's a good thing right? Well no, it isn't.

It doesn't feel that bad because I just witnessed United being involved in an entertaining game of football, and that is not something I should be taking as a positive. The fact that it rarely happens is why my pendulum has finally swung towards the camp that want rid of Van Gaal.

For perspective this is the first time I have ever wanted one out in 30 years - I even wanted Moyes to get more time, but not this guy. I just don't see the progress, and when you are serving up football this dull it HAS to come with results.

Nice to see some of our kids emerging and looking promising. Do we credit Van Gaal for that? Who knows whether it would have happened anyway. Bringing on Powell is possibly the most bizarre substitutions I can recall.

Where do we go from here? We defend well but we can't score, we look threatening but we defend like amateurs. Why are we finding it so difficult to put them together? Are our players that bad? Is it Van Gaal's fault?

The buck has to stop with the manager. He has been given everything anyone could possibly need to succeed, and it just isn't happening. I fully expect him to see out this season, but he hasn't done enough to earn another one unless we win the league IMO

 

[Mockney]

Yeah, apart from Nani and Rafael none of those players mentioned deserved to stay (Januzaj doesn't count)

Things seem a bit grim atm, and I'm not pretending I'm happy at getting rid of all our strikers, but it shows a staggering lack of patience and foresight to moan about a very new and very young side not being as good as some of the older established players it's being built to replace.

They were literally listing players they played with as if they're still as good as they were 5 years ago!

 

[LouisDanGaal]

Look at the players down the right hand side of this page for rating. Just look at them. That team does not deserve to get through to the next round, but we were missing 6 or 7 starters or subs, I think playing at that tempo with all of our players fit we could have easily stayed in the competition. Losing tonight isn't what cost us, accepting poor results when we had more players fit is the real problem. We should be beating PSV in both games, Taking a win at CSKA too, but we left it all on the line in the hardest game away against Wolfsburg. Terrible champions league performance this season, but not tonight.

 

[Manny]

What's he saying?

Both him and Owen are talking absolute bollocks about how all their mates are better than this lot of very young players. They even mentioned Cleverley FFS! And players like Vida who'd decided to go before LVG got here.

Yeah that was a stupid comment but before that he made a great point about leaders and direction.

I'm not expecting a Keane but too many players looking around at he other for direction. I'm guessing he meant the likes of Fellaini, Darmian even Smalling to an extent.

Compare that to Rio's time (VDS, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Scholes). All had the ability to affect the game depending on what was happening in the match.

Looking through our team it only looks like Schweinsteiger, Carrick, Blind and Mata can do that. There is a serious lack of footballing intelligence and composure in this current side which stood out tonight.

 

[pacifictheme]

No it wasn't. Most of them are past it, one of them was Cleverley and some of them weren't even players LVG let go!

Cleverly would get in our side at the moment. Hes playing well for everton and his main strength is passing and keeping possession.

Nani, welbeck, kagawa, nani, cleverly, hernandez. I'd have all of them in the matchday squad, most of them in the team to be honest.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Varela, McNair, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson back 4 at the weekend...

 

[dogwithabone]

It was a valiant effort but it's a heck of an ask when you have Varela, CBJ, Lingard, Powell, Martial. Depay on the pitch together - talent but not enough nous and experience to get the job done.

Conceding two goals within minutes of scoring ourselves sort of shows a lack of collective guidance and experience,

 

[pacifictheme]

It's total bollocks. Vidic left before LvG got here. Cleverley and Evans were shit.

Cleverly walks into our team at present. His strength was possession football and hes playing well for everton.

All we fecking do is pass the ball. He'd be like Xavi.

Welbeck, Nani, Kagawa, Hernandez.

 

[Red Dreams]

It was a valiant effort but it's a heck of an ask when you have Varela, CBJ, Lingard, Powell, Martial. Depay on the pitch together - talent but not enough nous and experience to get the job done.

Conceding two goals within minutes of scoring ourselves sort of shows a lack of collective guidance and experience,

Bastian was missing when we needed him.

 

[Red Dreams]

Cleverly walks into our team at present. His strength was possession football and hes playing well for everton.

All we fecking do is pass the ball. He'd be like Xavi.

Welbeck, Nani, Kagawa, Hernandez.

I agree. Cleverly is playing well for Everton.

 

[Jazz]

I will never forget that Nick Powell for Mata substitution. Never.

Reading on the injury thread that Mata might be injured...

 

[mu77]

scored 1 they scored 4 - no balance and it went shapeless with about 40 mins left.

 

[diarm]

Amazing to think in a match of this significance that for whatever reason, we finished it lined up like this:

De Gea
Varela--Blind---CBJ--
Carrick
Fellaini Smalling
--Powell---------------Lingard
Martial Memphis​

 

[SalfordRed1960]

The youngsters are making me excited about the future, Lingard, Martial, Varela, and CBJ(plus the likes of McNair, Perriera, and Wilson are all extremely talented, very impressed with CBJ tonight.

You missed Shaw, Depay, and Powell. Our Youth are still 3 to 4 years from hitting their peak. The issue is Rooney, Schweinie, Carrick and Mata probably have 1 or 2 years in them.

 

[sunama]

One thing which Owen said in the CL show.
He said right now we have DDG as our world class player.
If we don't show intent to become a force again, we may lose DDG in the Summer. In which case we won't have any world class players left.

PS. Yes he did mention Rooney. But he was very diplomatic. He said Rooney is world class. When he is on form. But he hasn't been on form for a while.

 

[rpitchfo]

Amazing to think in a match of this significance that for whatever reason, we finished it lined up like this:

De Gea
Varela--Blind---CBJ--
Carrick
Fellaini Smalling
--Powell---------------Lingard
Martial Memphis​

 

[Untied]

The Times football correspondent Henry Winter: "That was very bad. The previous times Manchester United went out of the Champions League at the group stage it was against teams like Barcelona in 1994, with players like Romario in their side."

2012? Basel, Benefica and Otelul Galatrisjahrk? And I'm not being paid.

 

[Lennon7]

I'm glad I haven't read anyone say "at least we can focus on top 4 now"

Are we just going to keep scraping top 4 to quality for the champions league, just to do shit in the actual competition? fecking hell. Our champions league record since the 2011 final has been dire.

 

[goin4glory]

The damage was done in the home tie vs PSV. The complete lack of urgency in the final 30mins was mind boggling since a draw would result in us having to win away at Wolfsburg which would always be our toughest game, honestly don't think the team had a clue how bad that result was for us.

 

[Crossie]

On MUTV they are saying the Premier league could lose places for Europe, 4th spot might not be good enough for next seasons.

Not for next season but the one thereafter. @Mrs_Smoker started a dedicated thread monitoring the situation after every match day. https://www.redcafe.net/threads/italy-vs-england-vs-germany-uefa-coefficients-race.407674/

 

[Di Maria's angel]

I'm glad I haven't read anyone say "at least we can focus on top 4 now"

Are we just going to keep scraping top 4 to quality for the champions league, just to do shit in the actual competition? fecking hell. Our champions league record since the 2011 final has been dire.

Our transformation into Arsenal is nearly complete.

 

[Acole9]

Very disappointing result but it was a far more entertaining match than I've seen us play for the last few weeks. It was incredible the way the group changed completely over the course of the 90 minutes, just frustrating that every time we scored we couldn't hang on for barely any time at all.

The only real positive to take from tonight was the young players stepping up when some of the more so called senior ones went hiding.

 

[sunama]

Oh and just to really hammer home the point that we can't score goals (we scored 1 goal tonight, the other was OG), Ronaldo scored 4 today.
There are players out there who on their own, can score almost as many goals as our entire team, put together.

 

[Catt]

Varela, McNair, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson back 4 at the weekend...

Have no words for that.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Varela did okay, thats all I have to say thats positive about that game.

 

[Raw]

Varela did okay, thats all I have to say thats positive about that game.

Borthwick-Jackson did well too.

 

[Wan]

Cleverly would get in our side at the moment. Hes playing well for everton and his main strength is passing and keeping possession.

Nani, welbeck, kagawa, nani, cleverly, hernandez. I'd have all of them in the matchday squad, most of them in the team to be honest.

Cleverley? You gotta be joking right?

Hernandez wanted out and he wouldn't get in ahead of Martial. And he's no good on the bench being unhappy which in turn affects his form. Can see that for the past couple of seasons with us.

 

[syrian_scholes]

You missed Shaw, Depay, and Powell. Our Youth are still 3 to 4 years from hitting their peak. The issue is Rooney, Schweinie, Carrick and Mata probably have 1 or 2 years in them.

So we should replace them in those 1-2 years with 4 good players+1-2 forwards, I still think the club's future is looking bright even after today.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

Is he? I despair.

He wasn't just blaming refs that's a bit of a stretch.

Sure he mentioned the ref in PSV and he thinks Mata should not have been classed as offside as he wouldn't have got to the ball. He wasn't saying we lost because of the ref.

 

[Siorac]

The Times football correspondent Henry Winter: "That was very bad. The previous times Manchester United went out of the Champions League at the group stage it was against teams like Barcelona in 1994, with players like Romario in their side."

2012? Basel, Benefica and Otelul Galatrisjahrk? And I'm not being paid.

Or 2005. Benfica, Villarreal, Lille.

So yeah. Our group stage performance was pathetic but Winter is spouting rubbish here. There's no need for stupid hyperbole when criticising us, the plain facts are damning enough.