Becauee we have **** loads of injuries. That's why we have a patch work 11 right now... The teams a mess again through injuries. Like this every season going back years. Pain in the arse. Anyway. Our finishing is atrocious. these are pro players. No excuses for their finishing. 19 chances, no goals. Seriously not good enough. Haven't read the thread but I am guessing its all van Gaals fault players were missing easy chances. Usual.
It's the players' fault that Fellaini was playing at 10, Mata was out on the wing, McNair was at right back, Blind at left back and that we played two DCM (three if you include Fellaini) against West Ham at home. Apart from that the team was set up beautifully by the manager!
Guess what Mata's position is. Its not number 10. Have you seen Mata play at 10? I suspect only rarely. There's a reason for that. Mata made his name at Valencia and Chelsea on the right. Because that's his position. McNair as RB was weird considering he subbed him in the first half the last time he did it. Suppose it was a second chance. Basically he had to reshuffle the defence. Probably due to injuries....
Only one was (McNair). Smalling CB, Blind CB, Darmian LB. Darmian can play both flanks and has done for club and country.
Tbf Van Gaal told them all to play in their proper positions, but those snidey bastrds just went and played there instead
In answer to this, I was actually pleased tbh. I didn't see the game or his performance, nor do I think it was the substitution we needed, but fair play for giving him a chance.
I am not talking about where they can play, I am talking about best fit for. With the players we had available we should have gone with Darmian RB, Blind LB with Smalling and McNair at CH, the positions they play best in.
I thought he did well under the circumstance's, he got forward well and defended ok when he had to (except twice when caught up the field and Darmian covered him from LB). I have been waiting to see him and was pleasantly surprised.
I didn't even know he was back from RM tbh. It is good to see bcos if he turns out to be good, then we won't need Young or Valencia there as back up.
That is a shocking post. Even by your standards. FWIW Mata played on the left at Valencia. But his best position is still as a playmaker at number 10.
Could have but keeping the CB pairing is important. I'm quite pleased that we have had the same 2 in almost every game.
Mata at 10 is spoken about but rarely happens. Im going to suggest football managers who see him 5 days a week know he's not a number 10. And yes, left at Valencia. Who says his best is number 10 and who's played him in that position for more than the odd game? Nobody.
Most managers including those who've managed him for club and country know he's a versatile player. He was playing at number 10 for Chelsea as much as he was on the right during the 2 seasons he won the club's player of the year awards. It's like saying Rooney is better on the left bcos Fergie played him there for 2 seasons during 07-09. They're just versatile players but their most effective positions are elsewhere. Whichever way you cut it mate, Mata at number 10 is a no-brainer to Fellaini
van Gaal isn't missing the chances but he is responsible for the fact we have only two strikers in the squad. It's not hindsight to say letting the experience and goals of van Persie leave without a replacement was just mad. He's also had the option of keeping and using James Wilson and has not done it so the goals problem is his responsibility, yes. We need to buy in January, I can only assume we have someone lined up or letting Wilson go on loan is nothing short of suicide as we won't last the rest of the season with two strikers, one of whom is already 'injured'. Nor will we have any success of any sort, including the magical fourth spot we're all so very happy with. Or not happy in most cases.
That was a mighty schoolboy error. I can't think of a reason why you would have a team like Man United with only two strikers. Chelsea has the same problem. Even City (discounting Bony here). What is wrong with investing in solid strikers? Is that going out of fashion or something?
Seems like it doesn't it. There's also the small matter that the quality of strikers is very low. lewa and Aguero are the best two by miles.
