I've not been on the chav board but I imagine that if anyone ever posted on there, Fabregas would be taking quite a beating. I mean, they all know he only plays well until January but he's not even playing well now.... He's got no hope. Londons would have started that thread
He's started slowly but will get fitter and sharper. I'm sure he will anyway, he's had a summer off which will hopefully reap benefits as the season wears on. Yes, he's more like a 32 in reality so not many years left but I think he'll have a good season. Way too soon to write him off.
BTW apart from one time when he was caught out of position I thought Shaw was excellent. Defensively his movement was sound, won every tackle and was very good going forward. He's getting better and better with each game.
I said this when we gave him a big new contract and no one listened to me. He's been past his best for a few years, and has been gradually getting worse and worse. It was a huge mistake on our part not taking Chelsea's 25 million and avoiding having to pay his ridiculous wages. Smoking and binging on junk food, combined with a bad attitude will take years off your career and so it's proving. I honestly think Rooneys best days where when he was 18-23, since about 24 he's been less and less effective, and these days he's pretty much a passenger. Fergie who watched him train daily knew this, hence why he was happy to sell before he left, which says it all to me. Thanks to the board and David Moyes we are now being forced to pay an average player superstar wages for the foreseeable future
My take on the game (in my usual long winded style the Mafia players on here know and love): Initial thoughts during the game: At the start of the game I was amazed at how open it was, I expected Club Brugge to be a lot more defensively minded the first leg. I knew within the first 5 mins that I expected us to score a number of goals. Even when they got their goal I wasn't that concerned, I'd be a lot more worried if it was a cagey affair and we went into the last 15 minutes 0-0 or 1-0 up. Result: Great result in the end and should comfortably go through to the group stages. Team performance: Overall nice to see us play such attacking football, although it must be said the opponents allowed us to, which we don't typically get in the league (although Newcastle might oblige this weekend). We missed a number of chances so should have scored more. Our defense was tested more than in the 2 league games so far and we had a few frights there, but hopefully this causes them to sort that out. Many promising individual performances and a couple of worrying ones, detailed below: Individual performances: Romero: Not tested that much like the previous 2 games, but looks solid enough and certainly better than I expected in these 3 games. Plus side is he hasn't played much at all for ages so should still improve and get sharper, downside is when he gets tested more some flaws may be revealed that we haven't seen yet. But overall would be happy with him as #1 if DDG leaves. Smalling: Smalling was immense. He was my MOTM along with Memphis until Memphis assisted the last goal to add to his brace, which edged it towards him. Smalling was just breaking down attacks all over the place, composed and looking the real deal. Of course he needs to keep that up but these 3 games and his performances last season shows we have a really top class CB on our hands if he keeps this up and stays injury free. I honestly believe his performance last night was as good as anything we saw from the Rio/Vidic years. Blind: I can see why LVG likes him in central defense. Yes he has some obvious flaws like a chronic lack of pace and aerial ability, but his positional play and defensive skills make up for this remarkably, and his distribution from the back makes a huge difference. The composure he adds in both defense and in attacking build-up play is lightyears away from our usual panicky state at the back. I fully expect him to get slaughtered by a pacy or battering ram forward during some games, but for the vast majority of games I'd be more than happy with him there, which I didn't see myself saying a few months ago. I expect Rojo to take over as CB but he's a very good option there imho. Darmian: We finally have a right back that we can trust to defend and attack properly without worrying that he's a brainfart away from a red card. Very good decision maker and knows when to attack and when to defend, very very impressed with him and the new signing I'm the most impressed with so far (compared to my initial expectations). Shaw: Has been a lot better so far this season, good in attack as with our previous left backs, but actually defends well and can tackle which is a welcome change for us. He was caught out positionally a few times but recovers quickly and plays a big part up and down that left wing, I expect him to become a top class left back if he continues like this as he will get better positionally & with his decision making over time. Schneiderlin: Looks very solid and has certainly helped us out to be more solid defensively. Not as good as he was at the Saints yet but he will improve as he settles in, I was impressed at how often he found himself in acres of space last night when receiving the ball, especially in the first half, has very good off the ball movement. Carrick: Age is creeping up on him and did not have a great game. Remains to be seen how he goes the rest of the season but I think he may rotate with Bastian S for most of the season and I think he'll get fewer games than the German. Mata: Has played well overall during our 3 matches, links up a lot of play and dovetails well with Darmian who gets forward while he cuts in. I still prefer Mata in the no.10 role but can see why LVG plays him on the right; I think it's a combination of (A) he plays well there and we don't have a top class right winger (Pedro maybe), and (B) LVG wants someone with pace and goal threat through the middle especially as Rooney does not have real pace. Memphis: What can you say about this guy? Has offered glimpses of what he can do before but he really turned it up here. What impresses me is his attitude, looks very confident yet not over cocky, I think he'll settle very quickly and his pace and goal threat will play a big role this season & in the future. Hopefully he can be our Hazard. Can't see LVG moving him back to no.10 except for the odd game after this performance, tough on Young but that's how it goes. In the games that Young does play Memphis will probably be in the no.10 role but have license to roam. Januzaj: Is always going to give the ball away at times and make silly decisions which will hopefully improve over time, but certainly adds pace and a goal threat to our attack, and has that X factor. Impressed with his work rate last night, better than I expected. Again I think I understand why LVG is playing him in the no.10 postition (see Mata comment); he wants pace and a goal threat. Januzaj is a lot quicker than Mata, he is kind of the middle ground between Mata and Memphis. Not as much of a goal threat as Memphis but pacier and more of a direct threat than Mata, and he links up play better than Memphis but not nearly as well as Mata. So I can see him continuing there and Memphis on the left, but other guys like Rooney, Fellaini and Herrera will also play in the no.10 position at times I expect. Looks like LVG will keep him now and hopefully he steps up and becomes a big player for us. Personally I like Adnan on the right wing, but his lack of defensive covering may count against him there with LVG. Rooney: Really struggling, looks off the pace so far this season and seems to be the weak link of our team at the moment. We have seen him go through patches like this before so let's hope he snaps out of it, personally I think he will... But as our captain and highest earner we really need him to pull his weight (pun intended). Hernandez: Hernandez looked lively so hopefully LVG is brave enough to play Chicharito instead of Rooney if he is off form and that will make him up his game more. Very good backup striker and offers something different to Rooney. Fellaini: Made a huge impact when he came on, they just couldn't deal with him. I don't care one bit if we lob balls up to him when required, it's extremely effective and football is about winning, the opposition fans will howl and complain but I don't mind I think no.10 is his best position and he may play there quite a bit, I think Herrera is more likely to play the deeper midfield role along with Sneiderlin, Bastian S and Carrick. Will be interesting to see how Fellaini copes in the deeper midfield role if LVG plays him there, but at times he seems ponderous and doesn't have the passing game to play there imho, I'd rather him be up top and bring players in around him.
I can't work out why Fellaini isn't starting if I'm honest, even if it isn't always pretty, it's so effective. Teams just can't handle when balls are lumped forward to him
Agree with it all bar Mata. Love the guy and think he's brilliant but last night he was anonymous. As the game was played at such a high pace, he was often a little behind the rest. A one off is no big deal mind.
Yeah he wasn't taht good last night, that's why I just said he's been good overall for the 3 games. He got bullied off the ball so many times last night, or got herded away from dangerous areas, I don't see that happening to our other smaller players like Januzaj and Herrera though?
Same here mate. I reckon ITV will do well with the highlights now Sky have lost the CL footy. I might let the livpl board know seeing as they're so infatuated with Depay
Ahh, the old Bulls Eye thing "this is what you could have had but never mind you've got a Bullies pen and Cheque book holder (Firmino)"
RAWK Meltdown @RAWK_Meltdown Aug 18 (Depay scores his 2nd v Brugge) Just a **** ashley Young.... (Depay scores his 2nd v Brugge) One man team RAWK Meltdown @RAWK_Meltdown Aug 18 (Depay scores his 2nd v Brugge) ****it we got Firmino#Flop RAWK Meltdown @RAWK_Meltdown Aug 18 (Fellaini scores Man Utd's 3rd goal v Brugge) The pact with Satan still exists. RAWK Meltdown @RAWK_Meltdown Aug 18 (Fellaini scores Man Utd's 3rd goal v Brugge) thats a ****ing disgrace RAWK Meltdown @RAWK_Meltdown Aug 18 (Fellaini scores Man Utd's 3rd goal v Brugge) They are the luckiest team in the world RAWK Meltdown @RAWK_Meltdown Aug 18 (Fellaini scores Man Utd's 3rd goal v Brugge) jammy twats! RAWK Meltdown @RAWK_Meltdown Aug 18 (Fellaini scores Man Utd's 3rd goal v Brugge) United are ****ing miserable #meltdown
