The team had little balance to begin with tbf bcos he decided to play Fellaini with Schneiderlin in a midfield where we lacked any creativity, against a side that offered zero threat going forward. Go figure that one out. This also resulted in forcing Rooney to drop deep so he wasn't a proper 10. Mata should have played as the nmber 10 to begin with and Rooney up front. Rashford should have played on the right. What's embarrassing is that there was clearly no game plan. Whether we were playing Barcelona or Aston Villa, our approach would have been the same. I loathe the sight of the guy tbh. He has no empathy with the club, players or fans whatsoever.
Can't wait to hear LvG tell the press how difficult these games are, how Villa were solid, hard to break down, how we defended well etc etc etc etc
I have I have always frowned at our central midfield pairing for a couple of games now. We have 3 holding midfileders and one box to box. A good coach will always start with Herrera and one of carrick, scheniderlin or schweinstergger. I really don't know how that is difficult for lvg to understand, if he thinks Herrera is not good enough then he should have signed another box to box rather than having 3 holding midfielder (sorry Fellaini is not included because I really cannot understand his role, he should only be used sparingly depending on opposition). As if playing 2 holding and slow midfielders is not enough, he prefers to play lingard in the hole which further complicates things more than it already is. I think LVG doesn't understand the qualities of a no 10, to him the first priority is pace while vision comes next. That was why at the beginning of the season he played Memphis in the hole. Very soon he will play rashford or martial in the hole now that Rooney is back.
Tbf Herrera has a knock so it was fine to rest him. Was Carrick available? If so he should have played. BUT tbh against Villa he could have played 4-4-2 today (without Fellaini) and we would have been fine. It's called a fcking game plan. He has none. It's the same tripe regardless. No purpose to ANY passage of play. If we have a an opening so be it, otherwise just keep playing pretty triangles ad-infinitum until you do.
From the man with the P45 - View on the overall display "It was not our best performance, of course, you have seen it for yourself. I think we played too slowly and it was also difficult as they were playing very defensively and very compact. So then you need quicker play, quicker ball speed and so on. We created in the first half enough chances to finish with two goals and then the motivation also with the players of Villa shall be less and the game is more easy. It is not like that - we didn't finish and, at the end, could have drawn and I think that is also not good." Rashford's smart finish "It was also good movement, I have to say, as he runs for the first ball and then cut off because there was no space for that. Antonio Valencia was very good to see that and he [Rashford] scored a very good and important goal." Rooney performance "That pass [in the build-up to the goal] was fantastic. He did a lot of switches. I think he played a very good first half but, in the second half, you could see he was tired. He was losing the ball [several times] in a row but that's also logical when you're not playing for two months and not training for two months. It is difficult to adapt to the rhythm of the Premier League." Villa came close to equalising late on "We could also have scored with Memphis when there was also the save by the goalkeeper and the post. We have to finish much earlier. We could have done that and then the motivation of Villa is less than ever. You can finish the game but, now, still the motivation was there and Villa could have scored also."
Results were inconsistent but attitude, ethos and the manner of our performances (good and bad) was nothing like Van Gaal's. Fergie may have been a lot of things, but he was never a coward.
I think Mata is toast in the summer. Wonderful left foot but so slow and clearly never going to be played in a position that hides his lack of pace.
I thought Chelsea were crazy to get rid of Mata and thought it was quite a coup for Man U to get him . Funny how what a person thinks will happen and what actually happens can be a mile off . I do feel Mata is a special player that needs to move to get back on track .
I dunno - probably depends on the manager we bring in. Not even convinced Mourinho's arrival would mean he must leave - he ditched him at Chelsea as he wasn't defensive enough, but given he can adapt his style to the club he could well keep him in a more attacking set up for us.
