[Raoul]

Because we needed a goal ?

There was no guarantee he would've scored one.

 

[Mersault]

Di Maria, Mata, Rooney, Januzaj isn't enough?

To beat a man at pace, someone who can dribble, and progress our movement. Yeah, there's only Di Maria there. Januzaj maybe. But if we had two attacking outlets like Di Maria we'd stop with the 352 and be relentless. Mata or Rooney don't beat people with their pace and dribbling. Nor does anyone else in the side, bar the Argentine.

 

[kouroux]

There was no guarantee he would've scored one.

There are guarantees in football, only percentages and we have a bigger chance of scoring with him present than any other player in the team.

 

[Sultan]

Villa set out very well to negate the system. The game was crying out for wingers early on in the game. They just congested the middle negating Mata and Rooney.

 

[Raoul]

There are guarantees in football, only percentages and we have a bigger chance of scoring with him present than any other player in the team.

I'll leave those decisions to the manager. RvP didn't look like he was going to score and LvG probably thought Wilson's legs would work against a 10 man Villa.

 

[Verminator]

And this posession football is sometimes really boring when there is no penetration. Everyone keeps playing easy passes and after about 2-3 mins of this it still ends with someone having to play a hoof ball. Apart from Rooney (and Hererra) no one seems capable of doing anything creative.

Saved me typing this.
200m quid of forward talent Is no use if you play it back for the less skillful players to twat it 50 yards.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I think LvG actually managed to outsmart LvG today.

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

Considering all the players we were missing today, i believe things could have been worse for us. I wasn't surprised with the selection of 3-5-2, you can't blame the manager for sticking with a formation that has brought him wins against stronger teams. I was surprised with the line up though and especially with the utilization of Carrick in the back three. We didn't have Blind and Fellaini, who played as a CM against Liverpool, wasn't available either. And i don't think that LvG sees in the training sessions from Fletcher anything better than what we've been seeing on the pitch thus far this season.

I was expecting Carrick to start in the midfield today, the role of the holding midfielder is pivotal in this formation. Fletcher can't control the tempo, pick the right passes at the right time or switch play like Carrick and Blind. And above all he doesn't have the legs to provide cover for his teammates when we have possession in the opponent's third. The big chance AV had in the first half was created from the space Fletcher was supposed to cover and the foul that led to the goal we conceded was also given away by Fletcher who couldn't get behind the ball in time. This vulnerability of ours kept Rooney away from the opposition box too. For the first time i saw him worrying more about to cover the spaces behind him rather than trying to link with the attackers.

We also missed Fellaini today and we missed him a lot. We relied on his ability to press the first attacker and regain possession in the midfield areas to get our six previous wins. What he offers on the pitch, no other United player can do it and it is important for the manager's plans. We couldn't press to steal the ball in advanced areas and keep AV deep when they went down to ten men. Lambert changed the system, AV started playing the ball wide and they have players who can run with the ball. Since we couldn't press to get the ball we followed them all the way down to our half and then tried to start an attack again. That's the main reason we didn't create any good chances when AV dropped deeper and played more narrow.

These were the two biggest problems today imo. It would have taken a RvP or a Falcao special or perhaps a Di Maria solo to get all three points. Unfortunately for us it didn't happen. We have four very interesting fixtures ahead of us, a big test for the players and the manager.

 

[Kag]

I said it before the match and the team only confirmed my thinking. Van Gaal bleats on about team balance and so forth, yet every team he has put out in recent hasn't been balanced whatsoever.

The formation is wank and hasn't contributed to a good performance yet. We need to revert back to a four man defence and build the team around players that are prepared to speed up the game. Mainly Rooney, Di Maria and Herrera.

 

[Jed I. Knight]

You do realise that we are one of the most in-form teams of the league?
We are in 3rd place and virtually nobody expected us to be in this position, on December.
LvG is a great manager, but today, his subs didnt work out.

Of course I do. The results have been fantastic as of late, but that doesn't mean our overall play has been particularly impressive. We've been winning not mainly because of our great play, but because we've been far better than our opponents at converting chances into goals (or, we have a better goalie). Even today, you could argue that we converted the only decent chance we were able to create.

The point is that's not a sustainable way of winning matches, and more matches like today where we lose points will follow unless we improve our attacking play.

 

[Sandikan]

I don't care about the point.

Watching us play is painful. We lack...everything. This is not a team that enjoys football, even a little bit. Soul destroying stuff every week.
Mr. Pompous van Gaal hasn't changed a single thing. Apart from making us play that awkward 3-5-2.

Come on. If you can't see the difference from Moyes to Van Gaal, it's a bit worrying.

 

[kouroux]

I'll leave those decisions to the manager. RvP didn't look like he was going to score and LvG probably thought Wilson's legs would work against a 10 man Villa.

An out of form RVP gives me more hope of scoring than Wilson ever will.

 

[RexHamilton]

I agree with many on here who have said that we're lacking pace and that Valencia is too predictable and all of that. But the thing that annoyed me for the last half hour was the lack of drive, the lack of pressure on Villa's goal.

We did it for about 2 minutes with about 15 minutes to go and got about 5 corners in that time. If you keep that kind of pressure on you will eventually get and take a chance. We didn't. The commentators said a coupld of times how United were renowned for getting late goals, but the difference is, if we needed a goal with 10 minutes to go, we spent the entire ten minutes in the opposition box. We don't do that at the moment. Whatever about pace and creativity, we need determination and drive to keep the ball in the opposition box for as long as possible and create something out of nothing.

 

[Sultan]

Too many pointless passes for the sake of possession. They could achieve the same result of passing to wing backs with 5 passes than take a dozen passes getting the ball to the same players.

 

[buckooo1978]

poor enough first half and lacking cutting edge...... I felt LVGs changes were too cautious and maybe should have replaced Fletcher with a more attacking option

we lacked intensity in the last 20 mins and Di Maria looked rusty

a frustrating result

also it was a game where you could say no-one played particularly well maybe bar Young

 

[An Irish Red]

On the bright side, at half time I thought we could still win. It's been a long time since I've felt so positive. Under Moyes if we went behind we were beat and that was that.

Still though, the 3-5-2 needs to never be used ever again.

 

[FreakyJim]

Come on. If you can't see the difference from Moyes to Van Gaal, it's a bit worrying.

I honestly can't. We hoof it as much as last year, if not more. We're as slow as last year, if not slower. We're as clueless defensively. We create very little.
Ok, we're a bit luckier and we've got some decent new players. And we try to pass the ball more. Backwards.

 

[Acole9]

Why should he have stayed on ?

I don't know I was just wondering because I was only following the game on skysports website so I don't know whether it was due to tactical reasons or perhaps an injury.

 

[grahamo]

I hate to say it but Fletcher was crap. If he didn't give the ball away he passed it backwards. Poor old Mata was completely out muscled. Herrera would have had a field day today.Hindsight is great. Great to see Falcao do so well. He's only gonna get better.

 

[Ødegaard]

Playing Fletcher...
Carrick CB instead of DM/CM...


Not a lot to pick on, but Fletcher is a real liability these days and this should be his last game for us.
Talents should get the nod ahead of him now.
He can still have a role at United, I just don't feel like it's a player role.

 

[Tompo]

Disappointing match and result.

The outlook is positive though, Di Maria will help with our obvious lack of creativity, and Falcao looks ready to start scoring.

Only looking like one or two signings off being a very good side again.

 

[Henrik Larsson]

Subs worked out awfully, but it´s only 30% of the reason we lost. First 45 minutes was very poor, no intensity at all. Playing 11 vs. 10 for 20+ minutes and not taking advantage is inexcusable.

RVP was funny, I had a feeling maybe he would be rested for today. Mata was sacrificed at the start of the season while RVP kept on playing everything, Van Gaal was looking to balance that out. Rooney got subbed last week, now it was RVP's turn. Shame it didn't work out, LvG looks like a fool and he knew it, you could see it in his face.

Falcao was on his last legs after the goal. But still, with Di Maria on, with Rooney, Mata, Wilson, Falcao on the pitch, you must win 11 vs. 10. If you want to challenge for the title, that is. 1-1 is not a bad result though, frustrating as it felt.

 

[Get In Scholesy]

It was a flat performance throughout the 90 minutes. I thought Carrick being shifted into midfield would give us more of a concise passing rhythm but after we went to 10 men we insisted on playing the ball to the wing backs aside from trying to pick a pass to our strikes through the channels.

I keep telling myself its two points dropped but I would rather have that 1 point than going home with zero, this is Van Gaals first taste of the festive period, we were never going to get 12 out of 12 points. 8-10 points during this period is a good return. The performance was still disappointing and annoying to watch for 90 minutes

 

[Get In Scholesy]

Not for the first time. The difference being that in recent games he's contributed a vital goal or assist and been a passenger for the rest of the game. When he doesn't pop up with one of those vital contributions, then you barely notice he was on the pitch.

Let me get this straight. So what you're saying is...contributing with a vital goal or assist in a football match qualifies someone to be a 'passenger'?

 

[sunama]

I know people are crying out for more signings, but I think our main issue is the system.

Why were we hoofing the ball up in the last 20 minutes, when Villa were a man down.
Play the ball through the field and eventually one of our quality strikers will latch onto the ball and score.
If we are in the last 5 minutes, by all means - start hoofing.

Another point is Fletcher - if most of the Caf can see he is done, why did LvG start with him? He was like a dear caught in headlights at times. He was smack back in the middle of the pitch (arguably the most important outfield position) and to have our worst player occupying that spot is silly.

BTW, since Carrick returned, this is the first game we did not win.

 

[kouroux]

Subs worked out awfully, but it´s only 30% of the reason we lost. First 45 minutes was very poor, no intensity at all. Playing 11 vs. 10 for 20+ minutes and not taking advantage is inexcusable.

RVP was funny, I had a feeling maybe he would be rested for today. Mata was sacrificed at the start of the season while RVP kept on playing everything, Van Gaal was looking to balance that out. Rooney got subbed last week, now it was RVP's turn. Shame it didn't work out, LvG looks like a fool and he knew it, you could see it in his face.

Falcao was on his last legs after the goal. But still, with Di Maria on, with Rooney, Mata, Wilson, Falcao on the pitch, you must win 11 vs. 10. If you want to challenge for the title, that is. 1-1 is not a bad result though, frustrating as it felt.

I think only truly deluded people were ever serious about challenging for the title this season.

 

[Sied]

Let me get this straight. So what you're saying is...contributing with a vital goal or assist in a football match qualifies someone to be a 'passenger'?

No, but I'm not sure how I can say it much clearer than in my OP! He is a passenger in the game EXCEPT for his goals or assists. My point being that even when he does pop up with one of these game changing contributions, he still looks quiet for the rest of the game. You just don't know when it'll happen. Probably the reason LVG left him on today.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I know people are crying out for more signings, but I think our main issue is the system.

Why were we hoofing the ball up in the last 20 minutes, when Villa were a man down.
Play the ball through the field and eventually one of our quality strikers will latch onto the ball and score.
If we are in the last 5 minutes, by all means - start hoofing.

Another point is Fletcher - if most of the Caf can see he is done, why did LvG start with him? He was like a dear caught in headlights at times. He was smack back in the middle of the pitch (arguably the most important outfield position) and to have our worst player occupying that spot is silly.

BTW, since Carrick returned, this is the first game we did not win.

Don't think he had any choice to start Fletch, with Herrera injured and Fellaini ill. I don't think he will make that mistake again. If Fletch can't cope with Villa now he will never cope against the top sides.

 

[Bebe]

To be honest it's still a great feeling to be frustrated about drawing an away fixture we should have won. Feels like Manchester United,expecting to win every game.

 

[Wumminator]

Decent enough away result. Let's get three points next game now.

 

[Sheikhy]

Can't understand why RVP was subbed and Mata played on. Mata in away games is really pointless, I don't know why LVG can not see the obvious.

Sack LvG, Sign Dex.

 

[thegregster]

LVG post match interview.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

LVG post match interview.

Pretty fair assessment there.

 

[Hed Zitin]

I like him. He knows we are far from where he wants us to be.

 

[Tompo]

Pretty fair assessment there.

Yeah, every time he talks sense.

That's pretty much exactly what I was thinking, and those that are complaining about his philosophy being all about possession I hope you can see from this interview that he is very well aware that we are nowhere near creative enough. He isn't stupid.

 

[markhrad]

I have not forgotten that when he first came he said he would give everyone a chance to prove themselves. Well he kept to his word and I get the feeling with some of these matches that he is trying to prove a point and maybe to justify some severe future cuts and the addition of even more new players.

 

[pocco]

I like him. He knows we are far from where he wants us to be.

He needs to sort it out then instead of repeating himself. Or is he just waiting to spend another £100mill? Because every man and their dog can see that he's holding us back with some of his decisions right now.

 

[Sam]

He needs to sort it out then instead of repeating himself. Or is he just waiting to spend another £100mill? Because every man and their dog can see that he's holding us back with some of his decisions right now.

I don't think he had a good day today, but this is utter nonsense. Holding us back? feck me. He's the one thats trying to take us forward.

 

[Wumminator]

I don't think he had a good day today, but this is utter nonsense. Holding us back? feck me. He's the one thats trying to take us forward.

You what? He's just got us 7 wins and a draw since the start of December

Sorry. Meant to quote the guy before you

 

[togg]

He needs to sort it out then instead of repeating himself. Or is he just waiting to spend another £100mill? Because every man and their dog can see that he's holding us back with some of his decisions right now.

Yeah...like Chelsea, Man city, Barca...real...he has to spend money to keep up. It's the way football is. He doesn't have top or near top players in most positions and whether fans like it or not...that is what he is going to have to do.