He did gave the ball away quite a bit today. But sometimes I think you just have to live with that for guys like Mane. He's very direct so will often take on two or three players. So sometimes, he beats the first guy but draws a guy out of position while a third guy manages to poke it away. When that happens, it is okay, because he still created some havoc. At times, it's frustrating and you just want Mane to hold up and wait for support. But today, I thought that the way Man U were playing we needed someone willing to take on defenders, even if it meant losing the ball.
Just got through to where I picked up the match live this afternoon [about 40 mins in], and I must say that, although it isn't a great match for the neutral, it's a fascinating tactical battle. Saints are deservedly the better side.
His confidence, touch and timing are a little off, but I can't deny his effort. I certainly can't think of him as poor. To me, poor suggests he's not bothered, whereas he was putting in his usual all-running, all-tackling shift.
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/eng...chester-united-at-old-trafford--in-pictures#2 Some photos from match....look out for the little rodent (not Rooney ).
For no reason that I can fathom, Charlie Nicholas is invariably positive about Saints when there's a half-decent reason to be. Very atypical of the general pundit. Which is why I often look for his comments.
Man U. set up so defensively. They actually did a good job of playing the tactic, but it left them with very little going forward. The whole game, I was just thinking "What a waste of Schneiderlin." You don't need 10,000 defenders when you have a talent like that.
I just checked my Instagram timeline and it's just full of all of the Saints players posting this photo. Smells like team spirit...
In hindsight, I believe the big decision that Van Gaal got wrong today was removing Fellaini. It may have been forced upon him, I don't know, but if it was tactical then it was wrong, They lost height in defending, and we know the result of that. In comparison, Saints have a few tall and very mobile players who all did their jobs very well indeed. Have to say, on reflection, that Bertrand was outstanding as well, in defence.
You cheeky little bleeders!!! Who gives a monkey's though??? What a day. I was watching my son's hockey match with radio 5 in my ear piece. My son's team came from 1 nil down to win 4-2, but the best moment was late in the second half of the hockey when there was a stoppage and then suddenly some middle aged chap on the side of the pitch punched the air with a loud, "Get in there Charlie!!!!" I was one who said I didn't know why but was never sure about us signing Charlie. I realised why now; I didn't realise that he's a ****ing legend!!!!!!! Charlie, Charlie Austin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ps. I've played three games in a row now. Any chance I can have a rest from the match thread? = smilie = joke
Watching the Saints chariot 9H-AHA on its way home, it just overtook the the Cherry wagon VLM Fokker 50 OO-VLP over Birmingham!
