[Godfather]

We'll soon slip to a place in the table that reflects our performances. 6-7th. You can't get away with being shite for long. It catches up with you eventually.

It'll catch up with van Gaal as well.

Got that feeling as well tbh. Everyone around us is playing better football atm. Arsenal look to get into form. Southampton play better football all season. City and Chelsea of course as well. Top 4 will be a hard hard fight.

 

[Revan]

That's because he is not a fecking wingback. He is a fullback who would be devastating on the left flank with Di Maria as the winger.

LVG needs to change the formation or I fear we will never win a trophy at this rate.

Attacking-wise he was the same last year too. Only one assist last season for example.

At the moment I would prefer Blind there (and obviously playing with 4 at the back). He seems our only player who can play as a wingback/fullback and can make a decent cross.

 

[Offside]

A few weeks ago we were comfortable in 3rd and looking like pushing the top 2, then Van Gaal decides to change back to the 3-5-2 formation and we are dogshit and back into a huge dogfight for top 4.

Really clueless management today. All season we have been dodgy anyway. Away from home we have been fecking shit every week. Now our home form is suffering and we finally get a reality check that we aren't safe in the top 4. Disgrace today and I saw it coming as soon as we realised it was going to be the same, wretched formation.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

Karma for the fluke win in their place, I suppose.

I am not going to throw more abuse towards Blackett, but perhaps we could've used Shaw's injury(?) as a time to have a go at changing formations with Blind at LB and someone else on. It's not like they were threatening down either flank at the time...

 

[pseudo_canadian]

Great post

I'm glad you liked it.

 

[Adam-Utd]

If we continue playing 3-5-2 we will not finish top 4.

We will have control over matches but never create chancesm and will end up drawing way too many games. LVG need's to see this isn't working, hell even Giggs needs to speak up?!

 

[Isotope]

He was not playing in midfield. He replaced di Maria and played up top. How is that a logic to use for him to replace any midfielder. If anything, that perhaps proved we should just start him ahead of a striker and then keep going route 1 from start to finish and hope that we Everton our way into the top 4.

He provides outlet for crossing, alternative for our attack, and steel in our midfield.

Since he's off, we won 1, drew 3, lost 1 in the league. When you compared that to our 6 (?) winning streak when he's available, you have to hold your hands up, and admit Fellaini does make a difference.

 

[lesclaypool]

To be fair, this has been coming.

Today we needed to move the ball a lot quicker. Unfortunately, Mata, Rooney and Di Maria ALL didn't perform particularly well. And also unfortunately, we were playing a pretty good side.

Glad to see Blind back - I think he grew into the game. Di Maria was reminiscent of Giggs in his latter days in that he was trying all sorts of things but they just wouldn't come off.

As for the Shaw substitution, I think he'd been hobbling around for a while.

 

[ForlansHair]

For the future yes. For now, I don't know what to say. Very good defensively but attacking-wise he seems completely lost.

I don't think it's all his fault. He's so isolated in this formation, no one to overlap and no one to come inside. His only option 80% of the time is to run down the wing into a blind alley and either a) turn around and pass it back or b) try and cross it for Di Maria (!!) to head home

 

[RedSRM]

If we'd won today we'd be looking nice and secure in the top 4. But now we are right back in the shit. Arsenal will get better(as Wenger mounts his classic top 4 charge), Liverpool can't go back to being as bad as they were before and Southampton show no signs of falling apart.
LVG has pissed around with the lineup far too much for me. Yes we've had injuries, but why leave Rooney in midfield when we have Herrera, Blind and Fellaini? Why drop Falcao from the squad? Why play so many attacking players? More attackers doesn't = more goals. We had no shots on goal.
Right now it looks like we've lost the plot.

 

[bleedred]

Tactically outwitted.

Players playing out of position. Blind with his passing skills and defensive quality should have been in midfield alongside Carrick. Rooney, Mata and ADM in from of them.

Getting sick and tired of this formation. Looks so defensive, The Wingbacks are easily neutralized by opposition just by doubling up on them. There is no overlapping runners for the wingbacks to pass to and they just go centrally, where schenderlin was always there to pounce on.

 

[NK86]

Well everyone did. Only Blind actually played a decent final ball throughout the whole game.

Hence why I don't feel it's worthy blaming Valencia for that, otherwise I'd have to be consistent and blame everyone too.

Yes but just because he ran a couple of times with the ball does not mean he had a good game. No one had a good game. Everyone, bar maybe Blind and to a certsin extent Smalling and Jones were rubbish.

 

[Globule]

Also, considering the amount of stick I've given him, I should point out that Valencia was really good today. A much more positive performance from him, to the point where I was excited when he got on the ball. More of that please.

 

[Nate Dogg]

LVG is to blame, he is really pissing me off with a number of his decisions.

If Guardiola becomes available this summer then we should replace lvg with him.

 

[sewey89]

Southampton have outplayed us twice now. But I think this forum is massively underrating them. They're a very, very good team.

We'll improve and i'm convinced we'll finish in the top 4. We were very underwhelming today though, its hard to find a positive. Valencia maybe?

 

[Irrational.]

To regurgitate my spiel from the matchday thread:

Southampton played this game to perfection, Koeman deserves a lot of credit. A young manager who plays good, expansive football the right way, open to ideas.

LVG on the other hand, is far too stubborn with his philosophy and why he persists with the 3-5-2 I have no idea, even when every one is fit. Why play with three CBs when they're only playing with one striker?

Even his subs are shocking. Why wasn't Falcao on the bench, yet we had McNair/ Blackett and Evans there? We then resorted to long balls up to Fellaini, like a League Two side.

Blackett is just not good enough for our first team yet, period. Horribly exposed for their goal.

Man of the match has to be Schneiderlin. What a player. Carrick/ Mata/ Blind/ Rooney never really stood a chance.

With Liverpool squeezing out victories and Arsenal in the ascendency, clinging onto fourth place is looking like a challenge. Even with all the big-money star names, we just aren't good enough, sadly.

 

[DevilRed]

Southampton have outplayed us twice now. But I think this forum is massively underrating them. They're a very, very good team.

We'll improve and i'm convinced we'll finish in the top 4. We were very underwhelming today though, its hard to find a positive. Valencia maybe?

Agree with you that Valencia was surprisingly good today. Outside of his crossing, he really took on players and surprised me with a few of his moves.

We just find it hard, outside of Valencia and Di Maria, to beat defenders one on one.

 

[pseudo_canadian]

At least we have QPR away and Leicester at home coming up. We're pretty garbage but those two are abysmal, you would imagine we should get the 3 points.

 

[CallyRed]

There is just no urgency in our build up play and the lack of pace is damaging.
Southampton deserve to be where they are, very good side.

 

[NK86]

He provides outlet for crossing, alternative for our attack, and steel in our midfield.

Since he's off, we won 1, drew 3, lost 1 in the league. When you compared that to our 6 (?) winning streak when he's available, you have to hold your hands up, and admit Fellaini does make a difference.

How is his absence the reason for us creating zero chances the whole game? Also some of the games we won with him were far worse than we played today. Like the one against Arsenal and Soton away.

 

[Rezyuz]

Before everyone rages and rants on lvgs formation and subs...

1. Rooney, Di maria, RvP, Carrick were all shockingly bad. Formation, has nothing to do woth these 200k salary players not being able to control a ball, pass one correctly or not shoot like a 5 yr old (looking at you here mr 75mil...)

2. Rvp was acting like a twat against his teammates. This diva behavior has to stop, and that dirty tackle crossed the line. He had to be taken off. Herrera sub was fine.

3. Blacket sub was fine also, blind created a lot for the team and shaw was clearly out of shape. But wilson should have come on for Carrick.

4. Mata just missed huge huge chances. Nothing to do with formation and subs either.

Everyone bar 1-2 failed today. Blame all, and not 1. Lvg might be the one to put them on the field, but its really rooney, rvp, mata, carrick, di maria to look at when shit is going wrong in the simple basics.

Lvg just failed to realise that he should have changed to a 433 after he conceded and opted for long balls as southhampton just shut all down so he brought on fellaini.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

In the hindsight, the Netherland's 3rd place in WC is causing us a lot of troubles.

It is the exact cause of the problem, because he did so well with it he thinks he is the great tactical genius and will not change it. The way he brings up the Spain game again and again is beginning to grate on my nerves. We have to change formation or we will just be hoping not to concede every game.

 

[togg]

Southampton have outplayed us twice now. But I think this forum is massively underrating them. They're a very, very good team.

We'll improve and i'm convinced we'll finish in the top 4. We were very underwhelming today though, its hard to find a positive. Valencia maybe?

Yes they are a good team....who lost, what was it, four or five of their best players in the summer...but still manage to be 3rd in the league? We spend 150million and seem to be going backwards. There is something not right here!

 

[ivaldo]

You say that as if there were targets for a final ball. When you pass pass pass without any system whatsoever eventually one of them will be a final ball.

But there was, Valencia found himself in some great positions, as did others, di maria had two great opportunities in behind but poor control and misjudging the flight of the ball ruined it. It was smash and grab from Southampton today.

 

[Offside]

At least we have QPR away and Leicester at home coming up. We're pretty garbage but those two are abysmal, you would imagine we should get the 3 points.

We won't beat QPR away.

 

[sewey89]

Agree with you that Valencia was surprisingly good today. Outside of his crossing, he really took on players and surprised me with a few of his moves.

We just find it hard, outside of Valencia and Di Maria, to beat defenders one on one.

Agreed, we're lacking a lot of pace. And its really killing us. Makes the decision to take Shaw off even more bizarre.

 

[ravi2]

Poor, flat performance... I have never seen the ball passed back to the keeper since the 80's.
We could buy Hummels in the summer but I dont think even that would have saved us today.
Why 3-5-2 when everyone is fit?

 

[Solius]

I can't express in words how inexplicably shit that performance was. I want to shove a sharp stick up my nose and poke my brain until I hit the spot that makes me forget that match ever happened. Absolute f*cking garbage.

 

[sewey89]

We won't beat QPR away.

We will. Bet ya.

 

[vibe]

From frontrunners for 3rd to having the top 4 race almost out of our hands. Arsenal will most definitely leapfrog us and we have to rely on Southampton losing form again if we want to get CL football.

Which I don't even know if I want anymore. Can you imagine this United side playing PSG or Barca? Might as well save ourselves the embarrassment.

 

[pseudo_canadian]

We won't beat QPR away.

Ya, probably too optimistic on my part.

 

[NK86]

At least we have QPR away and Leicester at home coming up. We're pretty garbage but those two are abysmal, you would imagine we should get the 3 points.

I expect us to struggle to break both of them down and somehow winning by a jammy goal or piece of individual brilliance, all while persisting with this 3 at the back. Then LvG using that to further this philosophy shit he peddles and stick with 3-5-2 the rest of the season.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Before everyone rages and rants on lvgs formation and subs...

1. Rooney, Di maria, RvP, Carrick were all shockingly bad. Formation, has nothing to do woth these 200k salary players not being able to control a ball, pass one correctly or not shoot like a 5 yr old (looking at you here mr 75mil...)

2. Rvp was acting like a twat against his teammates. This diva behavior has to stop, and that dirty tackle crossed the line. He had to be taken off. Herrera sub was fine.

3. Blacket sub was fine also, blind created a lot for the team and shaw was clearly out of shape. But wilson should have come on for Carrick.

4. Mata just missed huge huge chances. Nothing to do with formation and subs either.

Everyone bar 1-2 failed today. Blame all, and not 1. Lvg might be the one to put them on the field, but its really rooney, rvp, mata, carrick, di maria to look at when shit is going wrong in the simple basics.

Lvg just failed to realise that he should have changed to a 433 after he conceded and opted for long balls as southhampton just shut all down so he brought on fellaini.

I know I like Herrera but he should have started, ADM in midfield and Rooney up front. He was more worried about Southampton. That shouldn't be how it is.

 

[diarm]

Rooney: "I felt we deserved to win the game to be honest..."

That is a terrifying lack of awareness. How do we hope to improve when our captain is satisfied with that? Roy Keane would have been tearing people apart in that interview.

 

[Kidders]

Simple solution, just change formation, our current squad is crying out for 4231, just like, um ? Southampton, Chelsea and City !

 

[Ludens the Red]

No shots on target.

Playing a back three at home against a team with one striker.

Playing 4/5 players out of position every game.

Never dropping or subbing the quite clearly hideously inconsistent Rooney.

Passing the ball sideways repeatedly to beef up possession statistics.

Several grossly unfit players.

270 million pound squad, easily the worse most costly team in the history of the game.

I don't know what's happened to Di Maria, I can only imagine he's been infected with the complete and utter incompetence of his team mates.

I think Top 4 is looking too much to ask of this side (as ridiculous as that sounds) They need to get the basics right, like passing the ball forwards properly, running past players, having shots on target etc. Start them with baby steps.

First things first though, this back three nonsense needs to be stopped, LVG can be as stubborn as he wants but he needs to realise that if he continues to play 352 he won't have a job in the summer.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

At least we have QPR away and Leicester at home coming up. We're pretty garbage but those two are abysmal, you would imagine we should get the 3 points.

We struggled against both of them this season.

 

[shabadu84]

As pointless a performance as we've seen in years

 

[Globule]

Before the knee jerks floods this thread completely...

Am I concerned about our run of poor form in the new year? Yes.

Am I concerned about the style of play? Yes

Am I going to lose it? No. We are still in good position to finish with CL qualification this year, as was the target that most of us have at the start of the season.

Southampton came with a clear plan, and they executed it to perfection.

If any of Di Maria's touches was better in the 1st half, and Mata actually finished some of the chances on his plate, it would be a different outcome.

Today's match was just one of those days.

How many 'just one of those days' are we going to accept before we realise that it's actually 'Just the way we are.'

Our form before Christmas was good, but even then we didn't really play any better. It's not just bad luck, it's the way we've set ourselves up, and probably an indictment of some of the players too.

 

[Roman Bellic]

We have the same number of points we had last season at this stage, it is safe to say that if Liverpool,Arsenal,spurs and everton played like they did last season we would be 8th and with 150 million spent (without actually getting a reliable CB,RB and CF) that is just sad. We were clueless today,our worst performance of the season.

The only positive thing we can say about this game is that we are currently 4th (which is our aim) as this is our rebuilding season , but how long are going to keep consoling ourselves with that one ? Arsenal and Liverpool are currently in form so that might not even last long.