Lambert on Rodriguez off for me. Don't think I've heard Rodriguez mentioned at all in the commentary. Osvaldo and Lambert partnership was just getting going.
In all honesty we've looked like the home team today. An excellent half, spoilt by being cut open by a very accomplished move by 3 world class players followed by a small dip in confidence. Lovren man of the half. Same again please.
Well I thought we might be able to run at them like West Brom did, but they seem to have pulled themselves together at the back. Probably calls for Rickie after all then.
Feeling very hard done by after the first half. Ossy's miss followed seconds later by their off side goal! Ahhhh
Ref blows at 1.56 of stoppage time after a 30 second stoppage for a free kick... I don't know why they do that!? A pretty good half from us, I can see room for improvement though. Wanyama much improved and Clyne making Januzaj look very ordinary. I think there's room for Luke to push on - Rafael is not always switched on defensively and I think this is an area we could target. I still feel we could get something out of this.
Well a decent enough performance for the most part, United's goal was marginally offside (if you are offside as much as United are you're bound to get lucky eventually, but it's a good example of the kind of decision other teams don't get) but the defence should have done better anyway. Osvaldo's chance was the sort that he should really score. I think we just need to keep the pressure on their defence and we'll get another big chance which hopefully will be taken. Highlight of the half for me was probably Fellaini trying to tackle Wanyama and bouncing off, though he did cause Wanyama to flinch which is more than anyone else has managed yet!
JWP for me, too early to give up a presence in midfield, which is probably the place where we're having the most success. JWP on fairly early, then Rickie on for the last 25 to get him and Dani in the box looking to get on the end of JWP's deliveries. If they don't get another in the first 20 United will probably start to shrink back, problem is that will only exacerbate the threat they pose on the counter getting behind us, which pretty much seems to be their gameplan anyway.
DTLW - I can't open the sopcast one direct from Wizi because it says starting with SOP not recognised. Are you doing something clever?
I think Rodriguez is our Welbeck, in that he gets a lot of undeserved criticism. True, he's not done that much in an attacking sense (though who has, really? This is United we're playing after all), but he's done a lot of pressing and good defensive work.
Well Jay is playing off Dani a fair amount but also occupying the left flank, if we brought Rickie on for him we'd probably have to shift Davis over to the left, losing a presence in the centre of midfield. Rickie certainly drops deep but I've never believed that he adds weight to our midfield, certainly not defensively at least.
Can't really complain. Shame as that was a great save from Boruc. Saints played pretty well, and have no complaints about tactics. Just a very nice pass and some bad luck. I don't really understand MP's love of Rodriguez, but on the other hand Lambert can't play every game. This was a good game to try Rodriguez, as Man U will look to score and he could get behind. Hopefully Rodriguez is at least gaining experience from all this and might emerge a better player.
