[Mciahel Goodman]

Manchester United now relying on a 35 year old. SAD ( as Donald Trump would say)

We've been relying on him all season. And it isn't just Zlatan, we missed Pogba, Herrera and Mata going forward.

 

[Stookie]

At least my prediction of 0-0 was bang on.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Mark lawrenson was doing co commentary on Irish radio, he was doing post match analysis. As of 5 mins ago he said the players still on the pitch with all the coaching staff.

That is the type of nonsense we would on my American hs team.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Fair play to WBA. Pulis came, played to his strengths and watched as we folded when asked to produce something else. Fletcher and Evans were great for them today.

Utterly foreseeable results given the players missing, the way we played and how they did too.

Mkhi and Carrick weren't great but the quality around them wasn't either.
Martial and Rashford had bright sparks but often lacked the final quality. The latter of which is not good enough to start for us yet.
Lingard worked his socks off in the first half but offered little in the second.
Rooney was Rooney.

A couple of further points.

Mourinho post game BBC interview:
He didn't criticise. He was objective. West Brom played their cards, asked us to break them down, for the 11th time this season, we couldn't.

Who was to blame for today's result?
It wasn't the manager at fault today, yet again it was a clear lack of quality within the squad and a failing to capitalise on clear cut chances (we've missed the most by far this season). There's nothing new there. We'll drop more points like this before the season is out too. Tactically, we're actually quite sound - unbeaten in x games and I can't think of too many games where we clawed a point from defeat (ie it's not luck). That all said, Mou has been wrong tactically on a number of occasions (Watford, City first half, Chelsea away games both to name but 4) but no more so than any other manager this season, arguably less to be fair.

1 last point on the stats of the game:
75% possession when Rashford (the striker) is picking the ball up on the half way line when you're already attacking a West Brom wall of 11 men behind the ball, with Fellaini and Lingard having most of the other possession while Mkhi and Carrick underperform and Martial sparks but fails to ignite is still shit possession - not quite 75% of anything like decent or threatening possession. Most of us would have anticipated this before the game. The realisation sucks but what could management do?

 

[Full bodied red]

Got to believe that it's not a problem of our guys not trying hard enough.

I reckon we've just got to the point where they now have a mental, psychological block about playing at OT these days.

Throw in negative tactics from teams like Burnley, Bournemouth and WBA who make absolutely no attempt to even try to score, let alone win, and those psychological pressures just get worse and worse....

 

[Shimo]

Argh is all I can say. We are at a point where we just need to go for it but, we don't.

Time to put all our eggs in the Europa basket and pray because top 4 is a pipe dream with the fixtures we have coming up.

 

[LFC-Fans]

Argh is all I can say. We are at a point where we just need to go for it but, we don't.

Time to put all our eggs in the Europa basket and pray because top 4 is a pipe dream with the fixtures we have coming up.

It's not a bad basket to be fair...

 

[Rajma]

Our forwards are all dumb bastards, how often does the ball go across the front of goal and they all just stand there waiting for the cut back.

The amount of times these guys would have tap ins if they fecking moved.

Spot on, was banging regarding this to my friend too and said Chicha would have came out with 2 goals from this game.

Modern (or just thick) strikers for you.

But what frustrates me more is that coaching staff does feck all to amend that. Infuriating.

 

[markhrad]

I think he has come to the opinion that some of the players are too timid, especially the likes of Martial. He likes players who give their all and have a bit of a nasty streak. His sides are never nice. Carrick is too nice, Smalling is too nice.

I am really curious about Martial's psychological make-up. He appears unemotional which makes him look like he does not give a damn. I'm sure that's not the case but I wish that he had some form of ruthless streak to go along with his quietness. He has immense potential but we cant keep saying that over and over again. He has to start realizing it.
I really cant fault Mourinho for today's frustration. We completely dominated the game, our attackers just did not do their job. It was not about tactics, our guys did not kick on target enough or put themselves in the right position in the box.
Funny enough, the latter is the one thing I like about Mata.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Spot on, was banging regarding this to my friend too and said Chicha would have came out with 2 goals from this game.

Modern (or just thick) strikers for you.

But what frustrates me more is that coaching staff does feck all to amend that. Infuriating.

We had all our available strikers out there, bar Rooney. We don't know what the coaching staff said at half-time. It might be that they don't listen or are not capable of carrying out basic instructions.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I am really curious about Martial's psychological make-up. He appears unemotional which makes him look like he does not give a damn. I'm sure that's not the case but I wish that he had some form of ruthless streak to go along with his quietness. He has immense potential but we cant keep saying that over and over again. He has to start realizing it.
I really cant fault Mourinho for today's frustration. We completely dominated the game, our attackers just did not do their job. It was not about tactics, our guys did not kick on target enough or put themselves in the right position in the box.
Funny enough, the latter is the one thing I like about Mata.

For all Mata is criticised at times he would have got himself in the box.

 

[Verminator]

The Theatre of Draws.

 

[wolvored]

Martial is no longer a youth player - he is 21, so should be expected to perform. If he can't perform, then he should be sold...not loaned.
Miki needs to step up, as he is at his physical peak, so there simply is no excuse.
Rashford is young, so he needs to be given leeway.
Mata and Ibra are our top scorers, so they need to be kept on our roster.

To be honest with you I did think that myself about the two of them. Are they overhyped? Should Martial be sold? Then I think of Pogba, Keane and Zaha for example. Perhaps giving Martial a season at a lower club could turn him into a Keane, or maybe show hes a Januzaj, either he can improve, or not. Mata is our 2nd top scorer with 6 in all competitions, so hes not doing it enough either. Thats why we need to buy the best goalscorers we can. Someone who can also create for themselves.

 

[markhrad]

For all Mata is criticised at times he would have got himself in the box.

That is why I like Mata as an option off the bench, when we need a goal

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

Top 4 is gone!! What a load of bollox. Win our games in hand and we're level on points.

This was never going to be an easy transition, Jose has stopped us losing games like today, we're 19 unbeaten in the PL and just lacking the cutting edge up front, which I am sure he will sort in the summer.

Give it a rest mate. We are toothless, Top 4 is long gone. You can't get in the Top 4 with 2 or 3 shots on target at HOME. This isn't a one off either.

 

[Rajma]

We had all our available strikers out there, bar Rooney. We don't know what the coaching staff said at half-time. It might be that they don't listen or are not capable of carrying out basic instructions.

You mught well be right, however, I'm leaning to believe that it's not the case.

If your statement would hold we would at least see Rashford or Martial attempting those runs at the near post or anticipate from time to time at the back post when there's a hustle in the box.

Players are just passing on simple tap-ins. Crazy.

That's bread and butter for every forward worth their name in the history of football with few exceptions.

Unfortunately, it never happens -everyone's ball watching waiting for the cut back, which also is more difficult to score.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

You mught well be right, however, I'm leaning to believe that it's not the case.

If your statement would hold we would at least see Rashford or Martial attempting those runs at the near post or anticipate from time to time at the back post when there's a hustle in the box.

Players are just passing on simple tap-ins. Crazy.

That's bread and butter for every forward worth their name in the history of football with few exceptions.

Unfortunately, it never happens -everyone's ball watching waiting for the cut back, which also is more difficult to score.

In the Manchester Evening News they said at one point during the game that Ashley Young was telling Rashford what he should be doing and still he didn't. I think in the case of him and Martial they are still young and relatively inexperienced so it is easy for their confidence to be knocked. Where a Zlatan will just plug away and eventually score, even when he isn't playing well.

 

[buckooo1978]

I think he has come to the opinion that some of the players are too timid, especially the likes of Martial. He likes players who give their all and have a bit of a nasty streak. His sides are never nice. Carrick is too nice, Smalling is too nice.

its a funny one.... id be prepared to give Marital the benefit of the doubt down to lack of consistent game time and second season syndrome....

the likes of Rooney/Young etc..... thanks very much but goodbye....we need fecking animals

 

[Fitchett]

The attacking problems are several:
1. We are so predictable, ponderous and slow.
2. We are afraid of losing the ball, so play safe uninspiring passes, which are obvious.
3. We very rarely actually got into the penalty area today - just kept playing the ball outside the 18 yard box.
4. Players not attacking the ball in the penalty area, whether on the ground or in the air.
5. Not working the goalkeeper enough (today Ben Foster made two good saves, that was all)
6. Not shooting on target.
7. Giving the opposition all the time they need to get themselves organised and in defensive positions.

Today was a typical performance from last year's Van Gaal team - maybe not so surprising with Zlatan and Pogba missing.

We really must work out an effective way of playing against teams that park the bus, for too many have pulled off their aim of coming away from Old Trafford with a point. Introducing pace and unpredictability to our attacking play and actually attacking the ball in the penalty area would be a good start, to drag opposing teams out of their comfort zone at Old Trafford.

 

[freeurmind]

The team was far too static in the first half. Not enough movement to try and pull players out of position, All our players are always just watching the player with the ball. We missed those runs Zlatan often tries to make in behind. Also why was Fellaini sitting so deep. West Brom were showing no ambition, he should have been getting forward at every opportunity. Second half was better but as usual, they couldnt find the way through.

 

[Fitchett]

BBC website has a heat map on their match report, which clearly illustrates how we rarely got into West Brom's penalty area, despite having 75% possession.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39390123

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Total Control, WBA defended well, DDG almost nothing to do.

But same old problem, instead of spreading the play to stretch them, everyone decides to play on the left hand side and yet again our supposed RW doesn't play on the right and clogs everything up. We need space, so frustrating .

 

[dirkey]

Spot on, was banging regarding this to my friend too and said Chicha would have came out with 2 goals from this game.

Modern (or just thick) strikers for you.

But what frustrates me more is that coaching staff does feck all to amend that. Infuriating.

Oh yeah? Interesting. What does the staff do in training pray tell? Be good to know, since you clearly have inside knowledge of the training.

 

[Rajma]

Oh yeah? Interesting. What does the staff do in training pray tell? Be good to know, since you clearly have inside knowledge of the training.

Never did mention I've got the inside knowledge? Based on the evidence you see on the pitch that's a natural conclusion for me.

 

[Will Singh]

Frustrating but 1 points better then 0!

 

[red_john]

Same old. Very frustrating to watch. Im sure these draws will turn into wins next season.

 

[Livewire1974]

That is the type of nonsense we would on my American hs team.

In English please?

 

[Gopher Brown]

I think it's a mental problem we have from too many seasons of mediocrity. Players taking a touch too many, making the wrong run, unwilling to take chances. Poor decision making. This is the result.

 

[dirkey]

Never did mention I've got the inside knowledge? Based on the evidence you see on the pitch that's a natural conclusion for me.

That's what I mean. You've zero idea as to what Jose is coaching them. He's probably just as frustrated as we are. He even mentioned being irritated with the forwards today. So to claim it's a coaching problem with absolutely no evidence is wrong in my opinion.

 

[gavdim2002]

So much for the overhyped attacking pace - without the company of the necessary finesse and footballing brain it gets you absolutely nowhere against even an average well organized side

 

[djdhrubs]

Unfortunately this is what I feared would happen when I heard Mata was out yesterday night. I don't have confidence in the starting 11 today to produce many chances.

Made the trip to OT and was most looking forward to watching Mkhi and Martial but they ended up being the biggest disappointments. That said, no need to sub Rooney on for anyone, unless bringing off a defender. That was a mistake.

Lingard seemed to be our biggest hope of making a breakthrough in the first half, but I don't remember him doing much 2nd half. Similarly Rashford seemed to grow into things late on, without my actually thinking anyone would score.

Sigh.

 

[ghagua]

Shite. We choked again today.

 

[klayton88]

When was the last time we were last on MOTD?

 

[stepic]

Shite. We choked again today.

We didn't choke. We only had 3 shots on target. Just not good enough to break down a well drilled defence, again.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

What is the narrative now? Mental toughness of players still?

 

[stepic]

Jason mohammad was having such a cry about joses interview on BBC 5 live after the game, honestly the question from the interviewer was idiotic and deserved that response. 'Cancelled eachother out', '2 teams evenly balanced'? Lol what? Maybe think about what you're going to ask first if you can't handle a spiky response.

 

[Dinghy]

Fellaini as MoM is a bit funny as he probably replaced Pogba today. Pogba would have been slaughtered on here for a performance like that. Zero chances created, whilst missing a big chance. Feck sake, Pogba's been ridiculed on here in matches where he's created 3-4 clear cut chances for others to miss. And some people say the pricetag doesn't matter when they make judgements...

 

[sunama]

To be honest with you I did think that myself about the two of them. Are they overhyped? Should Martial be sold? Then I think of Pogba, Keane and Zaha for example. Perhaps giving Martial a season at a lower club could turn him into a Keane, or maybe show hes a Januzaj, either he can improve, or not. Mata is our 2nd top scorer with 6 in all competitions, so hes not doing it enough either. Thats why we need to buy the best goalscorers we can. Someone who can also create for themselves.

Regarding Martial. I honestly do not believe that a player at age 22 (which is what he will be next season), should be loaned out. You loan out young players to get first team experience.
There is no point in loaning him out, when he is already getting first team football.
If the manager thinks he is shite, then sell him.

I still say that Miki needed to step up today, as he was our senior attacker. You can't criticize Rashford (due to his age).

Mata: 6 goals and the 2nd highest goal scorer. This is an embarrassing stat, but once again, our senior players need to step up.

I do wonder if this is a mentality or if we can buy our way out of this problem. Over the last 2 seasons, our attackers were brain washed to not take risky chances, but how do you explain Miki, who was not affected by the LVG philosophy?

The worry is that we go out and spend £200M on Neymar (or similar) and they also fall into the trap of not scoring goals, making us even more reliant on a 37 year old Zlatan (as he will be next season). What do we do then? Beg Ibra to stay, till he is 38 because no other (younger player) is able to score goals in a MUFC shirt?

Maybe hire RvN as a coach and ask him only to work with our attackers. Perhaps this is a cheaper/better solution.

 

[sunama]

Jason mohammad was having such a cry about joses interview on BBC 5 live after the game, honestly the question from the interviewer was idiotic and deserved that response. 'Cancelled eachother out', '2 teams evenly balanced'? Lol what? Maybe think about what you're going to ask first if you can't handle a spiky response.

I just saw that on BBC and it was brilliant.

"2 teams evenly balanced. You think so?"



75% possession.
18 attempts on goal vs 3
Evenly balanced?

 

[The Brown Bull]

We suck.