[OverratedOpinion]

I must say Darmian really is an issue, basically every single time he receives the ball he takes one touch and then passes it backwards.

 

[Murder on Zidanes Floor]

With Herrera on the pitch Matic isn't doing much. Little defending to do, height is not being used offensively and he's much less involved. I understand why

Darmian was in line with Jones and Valencia. Bailly hung back and played the winger onside. Even if he was too high up a simple cross shouldn't result in a goal because the defender, Bailly, should have gotten there first.

Fair enough, Bailly is at fault as well but my opinion on Darmian isn't going to change, he's one of the weakest and most limited players we have had.

 

[DavidDeSchmikes]

From that gif of our goal, looks like Stoke No.18 is playing Rashford onside

 

[DevilRed]

Haven't seen the replay, if Bailly was playing him on then maybe I'm harsh on Darmian.

Bailly was playing him on. But we should know that their only outlet is to that right flank.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Have a feeling we're going to miss Fellaini in this game.

Why? They haven't bullied us. It's that we defended badly for their goal and we cannot take set pieces or crosses properly.

 

[AkaAkuma&]

United's left flank has been exposed, we are weak at the left when defending.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

Phil didn't attack the space and cover what's in front of him that is why. Same defending as Zouma did on the other end that also resulted in an own goal is good defending while Jones was static.

Fair enough and far be it from me to argue with Rio about defending but if Bailly isn't half asleep and/or Darmian gets closer to his man we don't concede. To be honest it was poor from all three so I shouldn't split hairs.

 

[criticalanalysis]

My issue here is Darmian was too high and Fletcher was teeing up that pass for an eternity. Absolutely no anticipation or nouce from Darmian to start shifting over towards the wingers direction so he can close him quicker. By the time the ball is played he is ball watching, tried putting his hand up for offside and is now to far away to make up any ground.

Pathetic.

Darmian was in line with Jones and Valencia. Bailly hung back and played the winger onside. Even if he was too high up a simple cross shouldn't result in a goal because the defender, Bailly, should have gotten there first.

At first I was of Murder's opinion but having looked at the replays, it's somewhere inbetween.

In those situations you have to expect the worst and best case scenarios. Worst being he's onside and best being he's offside; he should have been busting a gut to close down that space rather than jogging across.

Bailly was the biggest offender but that's Darmian game in a nut shell there. He does the minimal, which in this case is playing a 'good' offside (to his knowledge) and is content with that but he should be doing more and thinking further ahead.

 

[charlenefan]

I must say Darmian really is an issue, basically every single time he receives the ball he takes one touch and then passes it backwards.

And the one time he didn't we won a corner and scored. He's either under instruction or has zero confidence in going forward

 

[Duafc]

This Pot Pasta ad is really getting on my tits.

 

[Random Task]

A couple of goals just may liven this game up somewhat because that was dire.

 

[AXVnee7]

Really annoyed we conceded. To this lot of all teams.

 

[Godfather]

Need a much better second half that much is sure.

 

[Maradona10]

Bailly really got us in trouble, he played everyone onside. Good reply from us, now what happens in second half will show that if united's attitude and mentality has changed from last year or not. Big second half to show if we are there or not. Some might thinks its too early for all this stuff but we need to prove this is not the united of last year that drew one too many and just couldnt get past stubborn teams.

 

[Red Dreams]

Blind for Darmain.

 

[AkaAkuma&]

And the one time he didn't we won a corner and scored. He's either under instruction or has zero confidence in going forward

But his defending has also been pretty shite man. Even if he is not going forward atleast defend properly

 

[Nick7]

From that gif of our goal, looks like Stoke No.18 is playing Rashford onside

There were two or three players playing Rashford onside.

 

[The Brown Bull]

Darmian isn't great but Bailly & Jones are to blame for their goal not him.
MKH & Matic were class for our goal.
Great to equalise so soon.
Drive on now!

 

[OverratedOpinion]

And the one time he didn't we won a corner and scored. He's either under instruction or has zero confidence in going forward

Even if he has very little confidence in his ability I would rather he showed a little impetus now and then. At least give them the idea that there is some threat there.

 

[el3mel]

It's not just the goal, but Stoke are focusing all their attacks on Darmian's side who's supposed to be defensively minded but they're getting past him easily with their long balls.

 

[Kill 'em all]

Our team clearly lacks the attacking threat out wide good fullbacks would bring to a team.

 

[whatwha]

Bailly fecked up. And we need better FBs.

Thank feck we equalized. Still think it will be a miracle if we get 3 points from this shitty game.

 

[Harry190]

That Choupo-Moting jinx.

Had to be him. Worst attacking player in the league for me.

 

[BringNaniBack]

We might as well play Smalling at left back. He'd at least defend well, and we wouldn't be missing anything from an attacking sense as Darmian offers feck all anyway.

Exactly. We really need to get the left back situation sorted ASAP. I would honestly play Ashley Young there when fit, he is our best option. If not him then stick with Blind.

 

[red4ever 79]

Felt like Van Gaal was back in charge. Poor first half.

 

[Offside]

Felt like Van Gaal was back in charge. Poor first half.

Wouldn't go that far.

 

[Skills]

Indi

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Our team clearly lacks the attacking threat out wide good fullbacks would bring to a team.

That's our problem, because we don't have wingers in the strict sense of the word, you would want your fullbacks providing the width and threat.

 

[DavidDeSchmikes]

There were two or three players playing Rashford onside.

I'm listening to the game on the radio, and they were saying Rashford looked offside.

Edit, They've now said he wasn't offside

 

[Traub]

Why? They haven't bullied us. It's that we defended badly for their goal and we cannot take set pieces or crosses properly.

It's going to be a tight game, and I think we can win using our usual Plan B.

 

[Nick7]

Hoddle calling Zouma and Wimmer "Zimmer"

 

[Drifter]

The clock is back. Clock fans

 

[edcunited1878]

Fair enough and far be it from me to argue with Rio about defending but if Bailly isn't half asleep and/or Darmian gets closer to his man we don't concede. To be honest it was poor from all three so I shouldn't split hairs.

Yeah, I agree with you...it's crap defending all around and it was a gift for Stoke who have done feck all

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

The clock is back. Clock fans

 

[Sassy Colin]

Thank heavens for Tag Heur

 

[DomesticTadpole]

We've no use for you now, but thanks.

 

[2 man midfield]

Pogba is fecking class

 

[Snow]

At first I was of Murder's opinion but having looked at the replays, it's somewhere inbetween.

In those situations you have to expect the worst and best case scenarios. Worst being he's onside and best being he's offside; he should have been busting a gut to close down that space rather than jogging across.

Bailly was the biggest offender but that's Darmian game in a nut shell there. He does the minimal, which in this case is playing a 'good' offside (to his knowledge) and is content with that but he should be doing more and thinking further ahead.

Darmian should not be critized for 'doing the minimal'. That's ludicrous. No player would be playing for Mourinho with that mentality. Darmian always tries hard and can't be faulted for that, similarly for Fellaini who gets his criticism but not for the lack of trying.

Bailly made two critical CB errors in a few seconds and it cost us a goal. Whatever mistake led up to the goal, be it the poor corner that led to the counter and then corner and the inability to press the Stoke players after not clearing the ball properly, that should all have been rectified by fundamental defending from our back line and 3 out of 4 defenders did that.

 

[Escobar]

How do we get him up to speed though. If we get ahead, he may leave him on to get his minutes up.

In a game that we are more likely to win

 

[pseudo_canadian]

Pogs