Martial played a through ball yesterday where you would hope Herrera or BFS were making it, preferable to Martial and not Rooney. I can't imagine Martial is the o ly one allowed to express himself. It's not what I am seeing. And Mata and Herrera haven't been good for the most part. When they are you can see the difference immediately. These two are key to our attack and van Gaal is giving both plenty of game time as we all hoped he would but where's the link up play we saw last season, even if the team was poor these two always provided something for us to enjoy. I'm not seeing it right now. Obviously you know I don't buy into the van Gaal restricts us stuff.
You're basing all this on 1 through ball from Martial? What about the through ball by Herrera against CSKA that cut open the defence and led to our equaliser? This is literally the first time that anyone has suggested this. Not a peep in the 15 odd games played so far. So I could not disagree m0re about Mata and Herrera and I fear they are now the next patsies. At some point we're going to run out of ppl to blame and the last man standing will have to shoulder the responsibility.
Are they performing at their best? Is Herrera successful linking midfield and attack, is Mata supplying balls into the box or any kind? They're not. I'm not blaming our slump on them nor Memphis or Rooney. I'm blaming the collective. I don't see players as ******s who must be directed in everything they do. So blaming the manager entirely doesn't wash. There's little issue elsewhere on the pitch either so something's working.
I didn't see the game yesterday so can't comment on Herrera's performance. I've seen every minute he's played in every other game this season and he hasn't been poor in any of them. I remain convinced that he will be dropped for the next game and Rooney will keep his place, despite being poor in all but one game this season, but moved to the 10 so Martial can go back to 9. I'll be pleased to see Martial back up top but also very disappointed as it will mean the manager is either weak or season ruiningly stubborn.
Herrera gets a pass simply because he's well liked. Same with Mata, Rafaal and a few others over they years. Players who are not popular are easy scapegoats, Rooney, Nani etc. In reality they have plenty of bad games but usually have enough about then to contribute. Recently that's become less apparent. On form Mata and Herrera can take any defence apart by themselves.
What do you mean by successfully linking midfield and attack? Or supplying balls into the box? They are both capable. The problem is they, like the rest of the team, are playing at a snail's pace. They are passing sideways and back because our strategy is to play in front of defences. This isn't of their making. These are tactical decisions made above their heads. There is a difference between identifying that the problem lies with the collective, and actually blaming the collective. Depay, Rooney, Herrera, Mata, Young, Schweinsteiger, Carrick? It can't be everyone's fault mate. The problem lies with the collective but it's because of the tactics. And I know I keep saying this, but our tactical approach to games, this cumbersome possession football will expose an open and naive defence, but is toothless against a well organised group of tight defenders bcos they'll be happy for us to play in front of them. Players aren't ******s UIR, but they're not the manager. If as you say it's not working on the pitch, and if it is a collective problem, then surely the manager should be up out of his chair directing them? Surely at some point during the 8-9 poor games where we've seen the same thing, you'd expect him to be out of his seat telling them where he wants them to be or giving orders to his players? IF you're right that the way we're playing is down to the players and not him, surely he'd be there on the touchline? But the fact he sits there, not saying a word suggests that the way we're playing is to his instructions and and his tactics.
Shocking. You really are blinkered mate. There's no other way to describe it. Your sweeping statements about other people's opinions is getting more and more ridiculous with every post. You've not once criticised Herrera all season, but now their's a hint he may be dropped and you're sowing your seeds early to defend the incompetent bafoon in charge.
Treble, you have literally no idea what the player do in training. Nor do I. But I asked for someone to show me some evidence of a coach teaching a team to play slow, and be poor and clueless in attack. Herrera is in a role where he picks the ball up from midfield and starts our attacks. Or at least he should be. He's not likely to take anyone on but he's clever enough that he doesn't need too. This is the pace in attack I think you were referring too the other day. Mata isn't giving him an option, one he always had last season, and kf Mata does get the ball, he's not looking to come in field and get a shot away. Mata is a goalscorer at the end of the day, that's his biggest attribute but he's also got to create chances. Put it this way, of next game, Mata and Herrera came out and played to the best of their abilities they transform our attack. When both are in form.they interchange with each other, take out complete midfields on 1 or two passes and score/assist a bucket full. Mata slowly walking off the pitch yesterday summed his season up so far. Herrera's miss and how he was a little fortunate not to get a red showed how hit and miss he's been. I'm not questioning anyol players commitment, simply form.
I've criticised him a few times and Mata also. And what's the hint he may be dropped. And for who? This is the frigging issue ffs. Bar one, they are all out of form, 9 attacking players and one, 1 is in form. That's a pretty big ****ing problem regardless of who you are and whatever style you play. If you think Mata or Herrera are playing well, you see them as worse players than I do. Herrera especially is a genuinely top class player who I expect more and better from.
Mata and Herrera are still linking up well with each other and in fact are interchanging a lot more. Linking with the attack is proving more difficult however as we don't currently have one.
We'll have to agree to disagree. I think Herrera has been decent to excellent in the majority of games he's played for United. This season he's had one bad game, yesterday, which I didn't see but am prepared to accept he was gash for argument's sake. Rooney has been gash in every game bar a hat trick against a pub team but his place seems to be set in stone. It's bizarre and it's naive to think the other forward players won't eventually get fed up with how the team is selected. Basically UIR either you're right and the rest of the football world is wrong or you're not the most knowledgable football aficionado to have walked the planet.
I'm not seeing it Diego. I can see then trying it but its not coming off. A sure fire sign of a player or players out of form. Fair point with the last sentence. Though they are part of said attack too.
Always have to don't you. Decent to excellent. Just no. He's far far better than that. As is Mata. Decent is what Young does when he's playing well. Decent is how you describe Henderson on form. Herrera is better than decent. Referring to this seasons games. Last season once settled he was excellent. That's not the Herrera we see just now.
He was dropped for his movement last season (not staying where he was told to), he is a very intelligent footballer who needs to be allowed to use his brain on the pitch. He has definitely been more restricted this season.
This is Herrera own opinion on things at United. It's from last season but gives us a bit of an insight.
He's been out of form so he's obviously going to be less effective. He's also been playing one role primarily. Last season he played quite a few. Herrera talks about van Gaal putting the team ahead of individualism. Of course some will claim that's restricting but is it not one of the fundamental basics of football, its a team game?
Of course, that was what made Fergie the best there has ever been. Football is a team game and I can't count the number of average (**** according to opposition supporters) players that played in Fergie's well oiled machine and won many, many medals. However, Fergie picked/used average players in a position he knew they could do a job then left them to do that job, he trusted them.
