Manchester United

Fellaini is becoming comical. Herrera light years ahead. Carrick was fantastic.

Surely our best XI would include Rooney, Herrera, Di Maria, Carrick and Blind. Hopefully we can see them all play one day.

I don't think it is fair to say Fellaini is comical. He is just simply a role player at a big club. For instance, you clearly can't start Fellaini and Mata at the same time and expect that to go well. We have to do it right now because of some injuries.

Even the most role-playing "not ball player" in the premier league should have a better touch than Fellaini.

I've coached 12 year olds with better touches than him.

Not on the chest you haven't. Most useful torso in football.

I agree, but the first touch I was referring to was the feet as this is what it means in general.

I don't think his touch is necessarily that bad, just his decision making is horrendous. 

Hopefully we can kick on with another win tomorrow. 6 on the trot is a good achievement for any team, even more so for one that is under performing. I can picture us spanking someone by 5 or 6 goals in the near future when we pull it all together.

One of the few positives about the Villa game is that we are still third. LVG had mentioned a few weeks ago that he was not going to buy any defenders in January as he thought he had enough cover. I bet he does not think that now. Evans was the worst player on the field, cost us the first goal and gave Villa another two chances. Mata was not far behind him. Has been lots of talk in the last few weeks than Mata is on the way out and after last night it won't surprise me. When he drifts out of a game he almost disappears. Not strong or quick enough.

We could have bolted in but everything was so pedestrian. Very few penetrating passes and quite predictable. 

I know it takes time to sort out a  team that was so poor last season but once this is done the haters will hate us even more.

A better performance last night but still not nearly good enough to beat the top two. Evans and Jones not good enough although Newcastle were poor for 60 mins of the game. Mata might have supplied two of the goals but against better sides I think he will struggle for pace and strength. Should have scored 4/5 and for Jones to give a soft penalty away was stupid.

Although not firing on all cylinders it shows the difference between LVG and Moyes ---- all the players that started the game except one were there last season.

Bale for De Gea? Surely that'd be crazy talk?

Signing Bale would be a very strange move. Completely not needed.

Another 3 points thrown away, but in the second half we were very lucky. 

If LVG can't see that players like Jones and Evans are not up to this standard then we are in trouble. I know there are defenders yet to come back from injury but it is embarrassing to watch these two. Must be the most overrated defenders in the league. Could have been 2 up at half time but were outplayed in the last 45 mins. We need to get Herrera back in the midfield, push Rooney up ( although he is great in the midfield) and drop Mata, who once again disappears for large parts of the game.

Another poor performance. We have to buy some decent defenders as Smalling, Evans and Jones should be playing in a division below this league. They don't pass well, their positioning is poor, they ball watch and in my book they don't have any football brains.

There must be some clubs we could pay to take them. I know he has been injured, but the minute Herrera came on  we looked more like we would win.

Amazing that you read the articles written by football jurnos who praise two or three players and then you see the comments of the fans and you wonder which game the jurnos were watching or how much they know.

As I said a few days ago, the only good thing is we are still third.

You don't think that maybe the fans are just as bad?

On the whole I agree with you though, 99% of the footballing media just pump a pre-determined narrative no matter what actually occurs on the pitch. 

I don't see why anyone would expect the football media to know anything more than the fans. The fans watch the same games as everyone else. If I want to know how well a Manchester United player played, I log onto RedCafe and look at their player ratings.

I don't understand how Stoke can do the same thing for every one of their corners and we still couldn't handle it. It was pitiful and painful to watch as the likes of Shawcross and Crouch started to look like geniuses.

Also, Crouch spends the entire game with his arms up in everyone's faces pushing them away and the second someone touches him he has a massive moan. Was really ticking me off.

I don't believe in playing Rooney at CM. Rooney's best position is as a striker. He should play there. We shouldn't move our best player out of his best position just to accommodate whichever of RVP or Falcao who decides to play mediocre that day.

Coupled with the fact the Herrera is simply a fantastic player who should't be on the bench.

Finally I'm over the whole three at the back thing. Three Cbs who aren't competent on the ball is infuriating.

Can't wait for the return of Blind and Di Maria.

I agree with almost all except Rooney has the luck to have the football nous to play anywhere and I believe it is the midfield he will end up in.

If you are going to change the front two then Wilson should start instead of the two mentioned. Falcao  has the reputation but does look like he needs a few more games after his injuries.

Really?

What do you do for a job? Whatever it is, I expect you to be better at it than me... because you do it for 40 hours a week more than I do!

The Football media watch the same games as us, yes, but they also get paid to analyse and come up with their content for many hours outside of the actual games... if someone paid me to do that I'd be a better analyst than I am, I tell you that much!

I think we should persist with Falcao up front. He's hungry, works harder than RVP and has been getting himself in some great positions. His first touch is a bit average at the moment but I still think he's lacking full match fitness. 

I agree that Evans has to go. His passing in particular is absolutely horrible. Every time he receives the ball he looks like he is going to shark bricks and than usually ends up putting a long ball in the corner which is crap when our strikers are best with ball to feet.

Di Maria is sorely missing. He is the one player in our team that just wants to run at oppositions. He gets teams back pedalling and has the ability to beat players. I personally like Rooney in CM. He's still not able to dictate the tempo of a game quite like Scholes could, but his ball retention and passing ability is fantastic. 

Yeovil fans v Man U

Ha ha. Our result was as good as your one against the Nix reserves.

Until LVG can see that defenders like Smalling and Jones are not good enough we will never do well.

They were not the only non performers as apart from  De Gea ( he did not have much to do) the only players that can hold their head up today are Valencia, Blind Herrera and Carrick. The rest were embarrassing.

Leggy you defend your club better than your whole back four do.

Leggy, harsh to blame the centre backs in a 1-0 loss when Mata, Rooney, Di Maria and van Persie between them create next to nothing. Valencia was the only functioning attacking outlet.

I understand what you say about Mata etc. and I agree, however the two defenders are really not good enough. I have been saying this for a few seasons as well.  That goes for Evans also.   Fact is if you do not concede any goals you cannot lose.

Think most people would agree with you there.

But if you don't score - you also can't win. 

So if the defenders let in one goal, but the attackers are up to fudges, it's harsh just focusing on the defensive fragility. 

If you want a successful team you have to start at the back.  If you drew every game you would probably not get relegated and stay  in the EPL.

Not much point in having the best strikers in the league and scoring 3 every week if you are going to concede 4.

But if you score 2 and concede 1, then you get 3 points   :)

Nah I know what you're saying Leggy, just think your superstars up front could do with a bit of blame too.

My second  post said exactly that.

David Moyes - 21 Matches for 37pts

Louis van Gaal - 21 Matches for 37pts

Hmmm....

Context though. 37pts last year was only good enough to be in 7th at this point of the season. Now its good enough to be 4th.

Only conceded two more goals than Chelsea but have scored 12 less. Issue is more the misfiring attack.

So going on that theory then Brendan Rodgers is a goneburger!

I think United wanted van Gaal all along but knew he wouldnt be available until Mid Season. Moyes didnt stand a chance and I think he knew it 

Was at the game yesterday & haven't watched the tape yet so opinions based on memory...

Southampton were well drilled, kept their shape/compactness to make it difficult to break down but Uniteds forwards didn't do enough off the ball to try & move them around to create space etc. Thought Uniteds play was just to slow, too many miss placed passes, poor delivery/final ball 

Smalling, Jones - These two are just not good enough in their decision  making, positional sense & awareness, distribution & about everything else !.  

Shaw - His position is one I probably take the most interest in & have been dissapointed in what (little) I've seen of him so far this season. Understand & making allowance for injuries etc but have not been overly impressed in: his movement off the ball ( sometimes seems as if once he's made a  pass thinks his job is done & doesn't offer himself or try to move the opposition).His energy, pace, attacking threat aren't there for me yet.

Blind - Did ok considering coming back from injury & position asked to play in....(I'd rather Carrick play at CB over Jones/Smalling ! & have Blind & Herrera in midfield.)

Mata - should have scored & on another day takes (some) of those chances. Innefective 1st half.  ok'ish in 2nd half. 

Rooney - Average

Di Maria, Van Persie - poor by their standards

Other thoughts:

Eventhough  we didnt win or even get a home goal to cheer it was a great first experience at Old Trafford for my 2 x kids. From the crowd, the atmosphere, seeing the teams arrive etc they loved it all.

Some costs for comparism:

Upper East Stand (behind goal where Southampton scored)

1 x Adult ticket £40 

2 x U16 tickets £13 each

(member price include £5 of standard price)

1 x car park £10 

Programme + monthly magazine £6

Singha beer / Bulmer Cider : £4

Cheers

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Agree with just about all you said, especially Shaw. I know he is young but 28 million was a joke. Mata is the one that really bothers me. He is very slow and not strong enough. My best line up would exclude him. $8 for a beer............................... way too much.

Needs more Herrera and Blind

Could not agree more.

Have I sold you that Rooney shouldn't be playing CM yet?

Swap Rooney and Di Maria from the start it would've been a different game.

Wilson coming on didn't add spark Di Maria being moved to comfortable positions added that spark.