Can`t believe it`s our attacking "talent" that is letting us down. Our defence is as good as anybody (except Southampton) even though most of our defenders have been injured all season so far. We just can`t create and score as we should
Thoughts on the reasons why Diego? Credit to Southampton's well organised defence today, but I als put it down to a couple of failings on our part... 1) When we went forward, not enough of our players tried to get into the box or behind Saints defence. Rooney being the prime example, but also Carrick never went beyond the half way line. Normally that's understandable but considering Blind was there to sit back, we ended up with far too many holding back. 2) Secondly, when we did get into the final third, the final ball, the knock downs, the one-two's didn't quite find our players. But then, had we got 1) right then 2) would have been more likely to be sorted. That's my thoughts but interested to see what you think?
It's actually all started going wrong since Fellaini got injured. A lot may dispute his influence, but he gives us some much needed size and strength in the team. We where on a 6 game winning streak before his injury
Wrong set up today in my opinion, di Maria is not a striker and was wasted, rooney and Mata get in each others way and tend to both hold back. Carrick did sit back as you say but he had to because Blind kept going forward when he was supposed to be centre back. As you know, i am a big fan of Herrera, but without bias i can say that today he made better runs into the edges of the area (beyond the strikers) than any other midfielder in the short time he was on but by that time our "strikers" had gone off. In short, we need to play with two strikers, di Maria and Herrera should both start, I would hate to pick the team but LvG gets well paid so should do it well. I love Mata but would sacrifice him for Herrera who is more mobile and i think Carrick is more than capable of playing through balls if the strikers find space.
Agree with most of this apart from the dropping Mata part. It really made no sense to play Di Maria up top, when we have 3 recognised world class strikers all available. I feel if we had switched Rooney and Di Maria around we would of had more success. Di Maria whilst being a natural winger is very effective as a central midfield player, he proved that for Real last season. He's never played striker before.
Would love to have both Herrera and Mata in the team they link up really well together but, the only way to do this is to drop Valencia and go with a back four (Rafael providing the width on the right).
Surely this has to be done anyway? Anyone can see it does not work, whether Valencia stays as a plain old right back or Rafael comes in (or preferably we buy an actual right back) we have to switch to a back four. We've been ****e for four games now, bang average. We need to stop making excuses for the bloke, it's not like he hasn't got a massive squad to pick from. Why play Di Maria as a striker and not have an actual striker in Falcao even in the squad? Why have a midfielder like Herrera sat on the bench and play a forward like Rooney in midfield? Shaw is a full back, play him as one. None of it makes any ****ing sense whatsoever.
I said that the Saints match will be a real test of where we are. So it proved. The lack of any cutting edge and penetration was painful to behold. And the return of the players from injury instead of making the team better has made thinsg worse as it now presents LVG with a dilemna of selecting and leaving players out. And he is not doing a good job of it is he? Yesterdays selction was baffling. Di Maria was off the pace. Rooney was ineffective in a withdrawn role in midfield. Mata was beavering away but hardly made an impact. We have hardly made any progress from last year and that's a disappointment after having spent so much money. People are waiting for the Saints to fall away. They are in for a massive surprise. United's away form has been very poor right throughout the season. It is as poor as it has been good last season. If we cannot win most of the home matches, then I cannot see us finishing anywhere near the top 4. This is not being dramatic after a defeat. This is a realistic assessment of our situation.
Weve lost our first game in 11, to the side with the best defence around. Players coming back from injury take time to get up to speed too. The selection insane though. No need to panic yet. Dount there ever will. Far too many people waiting to jump on anything right now. I suspect some are waiting to say, told you so, in regards to moyes. We are miles away from last seasons moyes debacle. Miles.
Just to play Devils advocate, but don't you have the exact same amount of points after 21 games as you did under Moyes last season? And your position of 4th is mostly due to the under performance of two teams who were playing very well at this point last season (Liverpool and Arsenal, who were keeping pace with Chelsea and City this time last year) and who are playing badly so far. I cannot speak to your improvement performance wise, as I have only seen United play twice this season, but points wise, you are bang on where you were.
Very observant old chap, I can't see any tangible improvement but that may be down to the coach playing 3-5-2
There is an improvement but, aside from dross like yesterday for which there is no excuse, we have drawn way too many games. It's all very well saying we haven't lost in eleven but how many were draws? Too many. He needs to buy a centre half and a right back, asap, and go back to a back four. Then he needs to sort out the front five or six and accept that they all can't play every game. This refusal to ditch three at the back is what's leading to him getting some justified stick. Right now we could easily play 4 4 2 with who we've got but a 4 3 3 is probably better. Di Maria will not be able to play centrally though. It's not like it's new to him mind, stick him out wide and he can do damage from there, they're all in each others space.
I think you should stick Rooney up front to be honest. Did he not win the golden boot (or finish second to Drogba) the season you had him in the No.9 position. Scored more than 20 odd goals. RVP and Falcao are both injury prone, but could easily be rotated with Rooney when/if they are fit. a front 4 of Januzaj, Mata and Di Maria sitting behind Rooney cold work
Our 2 worst rivals to help us get a CL place FFS! To be honest we need most of the challengers to keep their inconsistency. Arsenal, Spurs and the RS. Everton was there last season but again thank goodness they've slipped this season. In addition we would need to beat them too as I cannot see United not dropping points thoughout the rest of the season.
Exactly. Young instead of Januzaj if fit, although when he gets an injury it tends to set him back six months to square one! Herrera and Carrick/Blind behind those three, although right now I would play Blind at centre half alongside Jones (probably. Best of a bad bunch).
Yeah forgot about Everton, AND Spurs. Delete Southampton and insert Everton, Spurs and Liverpool and those are the 6 (with Chelsea and City) that finished above you last season. So one could argue that it is a drop in form of Everton, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool that has resulted in your a more favourable position for United, who seem to be, results wise at least, on a par with last season.
I would have been unhappy with three draws never mind 2 draws and 1 defeat. Yesterdays match could have been a draw and the St marys match could have been a defeat. The disappointing thing is that our points tally DOES reflect our peformances so far. Yes, the horrendous number of injuries could be used as an excuse but Moyes could be said to have been unlucky in that he had more teams playing with greater consistency against the lower teams. With the same number of points he was 7th whereas LVG is 4th and in a CL place. It is interesting that this result (tribal rivalry and expected gloating apart) is probably the worst for the RS's CL chances. If Arsenal and Spurs are shoe in to compete for the 3rd and 4th places too every one behind need the Saints to lose points. As I said I dont see it happening and they may well end up in 3rd.
As an alternative to this, I would even play Carrick alongside Jones at centre half with Herrera and Blind at CM. Right now Carrick or Blind have to be better bets than any of our centre halves. Once we've found replacements Evans and Smalling can quietly leave. I've just about still got time for Jones. Just.
