I dont think so at all. I think its our first choice, hence why he loves Ashley Young, Lukaku and having a team of tall players. Crossing the ball is plan A while intricate clever passing to craft a chance isnt even plan D
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I dont think so at all. I think its our first choice, hence why he loves Ashley Young, Lukaku and having a team of tall players. Crossing the ball is plan A while intricate clever passing to craft a chance isnt even plan D
I dont watch enough of the reserves, but would promoting Bohui or Chong be a good idea? Bench Lukaku for a few weeks, start Sanchez and Martial up top.
I dont know. I disagree with this.
I have seen enough of Mourinho-football to know that he hates giving up possession and exposing his teams to counters/transitions.
And in todays football there is not a better way to expose yourself to transitions than to cross the ball into the box against an established defense. Which is proven by these stats btw. We actually gave up possession 30 times just by crossing the ball.
I just dont see this being part of Mourinhos grand plan. I am pretty sure that he like all other modern managers of today firstly wants to attack the space between CB and CM and between FB and CB. But we dont seem to be able to accomplish this.
So what I do think it that it accentuates our lack of offensive cohesion. And that buck stops with Mourinho himself.
Why do you think Mourinho has assembled the largest squad in the league with Lukaku as his striker? Why do you think he plays a former winger at fullback who usually has good crosses, but at the very least will put plenty of crosses into the box? Why do you think Mourinho has spent more time talking up Fellaini and McTominay than any other manager?
I dont see any explaination other than that he wants us to be scoring more in the air than we are. I think thats clearly the direction we've been moving in for a while.
And I would assume that with it not working out very well, Mourinho's next step is getting more players to play the ball in and more players good in the air. And to keep working at it till its done better.
Don't know what to tell you beyond saying crosses are absolutely a staple of Mourinho's football since he's been here. I however don't know if he's the one telling Ashley to ignore short passing options to spam crosses every chance he gets but what other conclusion can you draw when we need a goal and he has Lukaku and Fellaini standing at the far post on every attack?
It is pathetic when you see those clips of Lukaku. I feel sorry for the guy trying to play at a club like Manchester United. But it is the fault of Jose for picking him up as always when he has better options.
Well, I obviously am not privy to the inner mind of Mourinho, but if I would hazard a guess I would say that it has much more to do with our defensive setup than how we perform offensively.
Which I guess is the main criticism one can have of Mourinho. He has put a squad together to defend first and foremost and the attacking part of our football comes secondary.
I maintain that crossing the ball is not the main objective of our offensive play though. For the reasons I stated earlier. I mean, our own defensive play consists of trying to keep the opposition on the outside, defend spaces and make them cross the ball. From which we can counter.
It stands to reason that its not Mourinhos objective to do just this offensively.
Im not defending Mourinho at all btw, I want him the feck out of OT next summer. But its because of him not managing to apply his "philosophy"; not by labeling it as something that it is not.
van Gaal would’ve given Mason Greenwood a go who’d have been class for 7 games then understandably go through a rough patch and be hated forum wide
I guess my point is that its more of a consequence of us failing whatever offensive plan we do have, instead of saying that its the plan to begin with. If that makes sense.
I hate that he becomes the focal point of the team when he plays. He’s not good enough for Manchester United to be building around him, we stop playing football and start hoofing and crossing constantly with no results to show for it - it’s ludicrous. Our best attacking sequences come from neat interplays on the left side but no it’s much preferred we go the other route apparently 
mental.
I also don’t know whether to laugh or curse when he throws his arms up in the air or shows dissatisfaction at team mates whilst being a handicap to the team.
mental.I also don’t know whether to laugh or curse when he throws his arms up in the air or shows dissatisfaction at team mates whilst being a handicap to the team.
If we have the players we have because Mourinho wants us to defend well, then he's clearly doing an even worse job. We're bad at it. Last season we had one of the worst records in the league with regards to conceding from set pieces.
Yeah, I completely agree on this. Mourinho has done a terrible job at implementing the football we (at least me) was expecting him to bring. Our defensive organisation has sucked, even having the most physical squad in the PL. We have also failed to implement any kind of effective counterattacking football. The Lukaku and Matic transfers he needs to take responsibility for.
Its why Mourinho has to go now or at least in the summer IMO, I just find it unnecessary to label him with narratives that are not correct when there is plenty to criticise him for.
There’s nothing wrong with crosses if it’s well worked with plenty in the box to drag the defenders around rather than hit and hope type of thing with one static Lukaku on the far post hoping it somehow magically lands on his head.
Interesting stat: Lukaku had 20 touches during the entire game against Crystal Palace at home. At fecking Old Trafford. Martial was second "worst" for United with 51 touches.
I am probably Lukakus worst critic; I dont think he has what it takes to play #9 for a counterattacking side as we are trying to be today.
That said: 20 touches from our #9 at home cannot be blamed on him. It is what he should have had in the penalty area alone in itself.
If Mourinho cant man up and admit that we are doing something fundamentally wrong and try to do something about it, he should be let go now. Immediately. I have always been on the: lets replace him in the summer bandwagon but shit like this is just ridiculous.
I am probably Lukakus worst critic; I dont think he has what it takes to play #9 for a counterattacking side as we are trying to be today.
That said: 20 touches from our #9 at home cannot be blamed on him. It is what he should have had in the penalty area alone in itself.
If Mourinho cant man up and admit that we are doing something fundamentally wrong and try to do something about it, he should be let go now. Immediately. I have always been on the: lets replace him in the summer bandwagon but shit like this is just ridiculous.
You're not going to touch the ball if you're not going to work your arse off and move a little bit. Lad is the most static striker I have ever seen for us. Makes me laugh remembering people saying Zlatan was static after seeing such shite served by Lukaku. Zlatan was dropping deep in midfield to get the ball and create for his teammates. This lump doesn't even bother moving in the final third.
People literally over reacting because of that one touch near the half way line. What else did he do wrong yesterday? Our delivery is still poor, the width is poor, we have zero wingers, our fullbacks were Darmian and Young. He had one real chance.
When he occupies both opposition CB’s and creates the space for Jesse at the edge of the box he doesn't get any sort of credit for it. When he drifted to the right he did all the right things. Out of all performances I dont see how yesterday is what makes people mad.
When he occupies both opposition CB’s and creates the space for Jesse at the edge of the box he doesn't get any sort of credit for it. When he drifted to the right he did all the right things. Out of all performances I dont see how yesterday is what makes people mad.
Part of this is defo on Lukaku. Its naive to think that he is not instructed to stay up high and try to keep the opponents back-four low first and foremost though. Its tactical. And thats on Mourinho. I am ashamed of stats like this. Imagine Ruud having 20 touches in one game at Old Trafford.
I dont like Lukaku and what he brings to the team at all; but this is essentially correct. He should not be blamed (OK, a ltb) for the way we setup and play. That blame should be appropriated elsewhere.
I agree that he is asked to help pin the opposition defence back, especially the CB’s. Ibra would pull into midfield all the time and it really didn’t work for us.
I'm fine with him staying high up. That's not the problem. The problem is he doesn't even try to move his arse a little bit in the final third. He's standing still waiting for the ball to hit him and thanks to his first touch it goes straight to the opposition.
You should be ashamed of these stats, because your top striker is that shite compared to other strikers around.
I ensure you, Lukaku is the only player in the entire squad that doesn't deserve any kind of excuses given to him. Earlier people were excusing him for not getting service, then he followed it by missing almost a sitter every game. He doesn't move, his control is terrible, his touch is horrible and he's not even that clinical much in front of the goal to force us to endure all these shite qualities.
I can't see any manager who wants free fluid attacking football wanting such a striker who disturbs 80% of entire plays with his first touch. Can you see Lukaku do a one touch one two play with someone else ? Impossible.
You know why he defends Mourinho that much in every interview ? Because he knows that he's done for once Mourinho leaves. Mourinho is the only one saving him. The next manager will throw him out of the window after the first few chances.
He came back to play for the same manager that sold him, and you think he speaks the way he does because he’s afraid the next manager will bin him?
Yes he's.
I'm fully expecting him to end at Everton again 2 years max from now. We'll lose money in him too.
Again: I think the Lukaku and Matic purchases were the beginning of the end for this Mourinho-reign. Lukaku will be a decent back-up striker for us if he would accept that role under a new manager. Which he will not I would guess.
I guess I rather blame Mourinho for putting his stock in Lukaku than Romelu himself for just not being good enough. Thats not really his fault to be fair.
I personally dont think Lukaku is afraid or scared. I dont think he returns to play for Jose again if he was that insecure about his place as a leading striker.
Tbf he seems to have a very high opinion of himself. Which is fine if he can back it up by performing.
I agree that him being non droppable for Mourinho is even more frustrating than his form on the pitch. Mourinho is persistent on fecking up the entire selection just to give his favorites 90 minutes ago.
He believes in himself and I do think he is dedicated and wants to keep improving. He has never come across as arrogant to me.
He's made me appreciate Wayne a hell of a lot more.
I did not say that and I actually agree that he seems really dedicated and his mentality should really rub off on some of our other players. My point was that I dont see him accepting a role as a back-up striker or rather: not being first-choice. That is not deragatory in the least. I commend such attitude.
But that also means that he needs to leave; because he is not good enough to begin with.
More like he has turned into him lately, only without the classy moments. Unbelievably shit form and he doesn't even score anymore either. Pretty useless player nowadays sadly.
I think he has a lot to offer. I dont like the way a lot of fans are treating him.
Why would you play him when we were playing better with Martial, Rashford up top
He offers nothing .. Rashford came in for 20 mins and finally looked like scoring ..
he needs to earn his spot up top.
He offers nothing .. Rashford came in for 20 mins and finally looked like scoring ..
he needs to earn his spot up top.
That is fecking embarrassing.
Main striker for Manchester United and you've got 12 league goals in 12 months whilst regularly starting every week.
He has to be sold when Mourinho is sacked. Has to be
Last season even though he didn't perform particularly well at times you could at least justify his exclusion based on the fact that he was a relatively strong - if not phenomenal - scorer. He was generally getting around a goal every two games, which is fairly acceptable for a top striker even if you'd like them to improve on that.
Now that's gone out the window though. He's not scoring and without goals I just struggle to see what he offers. Not versatile enough to play elsewhere in the team, and not involved enough in the game to justify his low tallies.
Now that's gone out the window though. He's not scoring and without goals I just struggle to see what he offers. Not versatile enough to play elsewhere in the team, and not involved enough in the game to justify his low tallies.
Don't like the way fans are treating him?
He's scored 12 league goals in 12 months, he hasn't scored a single goal at Old trafford for 8 fecking months!
And that's just focusing on his goal scoring, his actual performances have been even worse.
He deserves all the criticism he's getting
He offered us a lot last season. All of a sudden people are calling him trash and awful. This sentiment was not shared after the Chelsea game at OT was it? Everyone loved him then. All of a sudden he is being made a scapegoat for everything.
I have missed games this season. Do I think he is out of form? Yes. I do not think he is shite and awful like most people want to claim now.
we are far better with a fluid attack between any 3 of Martial, Sanchez(ST), rashford, lingard.
He's been fecking appalling this season. Absolutely appalling. You must have missed most of the season if you can't see that.
And yeah he was good last year against Chelsea at home, genuinely the one big game he's done well in since he arrived almost 18 months ago so of course you pick that one out.
Last season he was fine, it wasn't anything that would blow anyone away but he scored at a decent rate and his performances were ok. But that was a long time ago. It's not like he's "suddenly" been made a scapegoat.
Like I said he's gone 8 months without a goal at home, 11 games without a goal at all. These are inexcusable stats.
He was good against Liverpool at home. He was good against Arsenal away. Besides the point. Do people think he has become garbage over the summer? Was he garbage at the world cup?
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