[endless_wheelies]

With all the pre-match hype that comes with playing against the Champions, LVG's current job security and the accusations made of player commitment it's not surprising that all this combined with the Chelsea squad's weakened and mentally fragile state meant that we put on a somewhat improved performance compared to the last couple of weeks.

The tragedy is that this draw probably sets us far further back than a 5-0 loss would have done.

 

[Ixion]

Rooney and Herrera should both have scored, Mata and Martial hit the woodwork and we should have had a penalty for handball. We just needed a little luck.

 

[Michael T]

Looks like that result means LVG is safe for now. I think it's going to be a very interesting January transfer window.

 

[prath92]

we should have got 2 penalties easily. Better performance but whats the use.

 

[Sigma]

Em! can we predict the next few games then?

0-0
0-0
0-0

We're one one of those runs that you think surely must end soon by law of averages, but you might be right

 

[ants7]

Am I mistaken but was that the first decent cross, either from the flanks or dead ball that we witnessed

Pretty much, I'm afraid.

 

[Dr. Funkenstein]

However he did move Martial over when he was toying with Ivanovic for Memphis, who looked short of confidence from the off. If he'd put on on the right, I could see it but...

Martial had stopped toying anybody on that wing for 15 minutes, looked like he didn't have the legs anymore.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

Martial had stopped toying anybody on that wing for 15 minutes, looked like he didn't have the legs anymore.

Don't get what goes in Depay's head when he watches Martial on the wing. He must surely see that Martial creates panic because he runs at the defenders, but Depay just fecks about when he comes on.

 

[Ash_G]

I think most of the players were knackered to be fair. I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt that blind and darmian needed to come off.

When you say we should have gone for it more I just don't really see how we could to be honest. You saw with the Matic chance how vulnerable we could be to a counter as it was and Chelsea were sitting very deep with the two holding players in midfield so we didn't have much choice but to go wide most of the time.

We just don't have the quality needed to break down defences consistently.

I think we could have gone for it without being too open, i.e. Herrera/Rooney moving a step back and moving Martial more central and stretching them centrally. Might have worked, might not have but for me BFS was clearly knackered and Martial clearly our most dangerous threat. We could have overloaded the left side with Martial drifting there and Depay/Mata on that flank and tried to run in to the box more where we were having some success. Instead he moved Martial left when he was clearly causing problems from the left.

I agree we lack incisiveness in the final third but LVGs choices don't help there either and if he wanted to avoid having to cross so much he could. You can't remove it entirely but you could tuck Martial/Depay in more, or go with Martial leading the line giving the threat in behind rather than Rooney who will naturally work it wide.

 

[Red-Jeff]

I liked the Memphis sub even though it didn't work out. Ivanovich was obviously tired but had been fairly efficient dealing with Martial after being beaten in the beginning, it made sense to bring on a fresh, strong, and pacey player that likes to take on his man at that point. Memphis just didn't perform as well as needed.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

How bad is Ivanovic Though. Jesus christ, dont chelsea have any u21's they could play instead at RB?

Should've flipped Azi to his natural position and kept the LB they sold right back to Spain. And used Ivanovich as cover at CB.

But what do I know...

 

[Kostur]

I can't get my head around how the feck can anybody be content with a 0-0 at home against a this season's fecking laughing stock. Especially when we're in a run of 8 consecutive nonwins. Nonwin is not even a word.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Today showed once again we aren't capeable of scoring goals under his tenure, despite meeting a bottom of the league unmotivated Chelsea who were 2nd best to every ball. A theme that has been running since his arrival, theres two paths our games usually fall under.
Option A) We come out flat, no tempo, conceed, can't score. Lose.
Option B) We start well, opposition dig in for 25mins, we can't score, game ends 0-0.

Today was B.
More of the same, we will never be a decent attacking outfit or even mediocre under this man. Short term form can be forgiven, coaching us to being utterly toothless & inept is not.
He has to go.

 

[Sultan]

I thought the shackles were off today. The energy in the team was good. The first 25 minutes was probably the best I've seen Unted play for a long time. Second half followed the same pattern of the past 18 Months, although not to the same level. We were not creating much in the penalty area and Scheinderlin being the biggest culprit with his defensive mindset.

I've not seen a worse Chelsea team in a long time.

 

[Asger]

1,16 goals per match this season. Please, for the love of god, get rid of that fraud.

(Enjoyable first half, shit as usual second)

Its not that easy.. No team with some brain would want to buy Rooney from us.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

I thought the shackles were off today. The energy in the team was good. The first 25 minutes was probably the best I've seen Unted play for a long time. Second half followed the same pattern of the past 18 Months, although not to the same level. We were not creating much in the penalty area and Scheinderlin being the biggest culprit with his defensive mindset.

I've not seen a worse Chelsea team in a long time.

Think Schmidfield tired badly in second half, not surprising really. Mata and Blind also tired. However, the attacking intent was still there. One should not ignore the fact that Chelsea, however poor they were with the ball today, are still one of the best park the bus sides. Chelsea could have scored through Matic, very similar to Norwich, from a counter because we went for a goal and lost our defensive shape. We need to sort this out.

 

[Sultan]

Think Schmidfield tired badly in second half, not surprising really. Mata and Blind also tired. However, the attacking intent was still there. One should not ignore the fact that Chelsea, however poor they were with the ball today, are still one of the best park the bus sides. Chelsea could have scored through Matic, very similar to Norwich, from a counter because we went for a goal and lost our defensive shape. We need to sort this out.

I'm not liking Schneiderlin's first movement to pass back or sideways.

 

[mattsville]

It's almost pointless judging players now during a clearly failed management regime, the only thing that stood out was there were lots of niggly fouls, from Herrera, Schneiderlin, Rooney should have been red carded, not mentioned, 3 yellow cards, unnecessary cards, shit from a badly managed and organised team, again not mentioned.

 

[Jippy]

I thought the shackles were off today. The energy in the team was good. The first 25 minutes was probably the best I've seen Unted play for a long time. Second half followed the same pattern of the past 18 Months, although not to the same level. We were not creating much in the penalty area and Scheinderlin being the biggest culprit with his defensive mindset.

I've not seen a worse Chelsea team in a long time.

Agreed, apart from the fact we created that big chance for Rooney to nick it at the end. We did at least keep going and I don't believe we settled for a draw.

 

[sammsky1]

Rooney and Herrera should both have scored, Mata and Martial hit the woodwork and we should have had a penalty for handball. We just needed a little luck.

I'm getting fed up that LVG keeps getting blamed for our appalling or unlucky finishing. Yes he was wrong to release Hernandez and Januzaj, but that aside, we have had enough clear chances to have won at least 3 of our recent games which would have put us close to top of the table.

I still maintain like I did months ago, we are just an excellent transfer window away from being a top side and it's tragic for us that the budgeted di Maria and Falcao plan failed so miserably.

Get in Vardy and Mehraz type players this January followed by Stones and Kane next summer and we will fly

 

[VorZakone]

The 04/05 Chelsea side would annihilate this Chelsea side.

 

[sammsky1]

Rooneys miss at the end and the handball by willan that was not given make this an easy victory.

Rooney has regressed so badly, that was a certain goal just 2 years ago

 

[sammsky1]

The 04/05 Chelsea side would annihilate this Chelsea side.

The 04/05 United team of kleberso, Djembax2 and Bellion would probably smash our current team too!

 

[Attila]

I'm getting fed up that LVG keeps getting blamed for our appalling or unlucky finishing. Yes he was wrong to release Hernandez and Januzaj, but that aside, we have had enough clear chances to have won at least 3 of our recent games which would have put us close to top of the table.

I still maintain like I did months ago, we are just an excellent transfer window away from being a top side and it's tragic for us that the budgeted di Maria and Falcao plan failed so miserably.

Get in Vardy and Mehraz type players this January followed by Stones and Kane next summer and we will fly

Which games are these?

 

[Lentwood]

What a massive, massive shock that when some of our senior/better players return from injury, we suddenly looks loads better!

You can argue until the cows come home about tactics/signings/who's fault it is that we are no longer challenging for trophies but one thing that I believe is an absolute certainty is that this squad of players, if kept RELATIVELY fit, would have beaten Bournemouth and Norwich as a minimum and we would be top 2/3

We aren't as far away as some would have you believe. A top forward, a top winger and maybe 3 more good squad players (CM, CB, Attacker) and we would lay down a serious challenge next year

 

[sammsky1]

I thought the shackles were off today. The energy in the team was good. The first 25 minutes was probably the best I've seen Unted play for a long time. Second half followed the same pattern of the past 18 Months, although not to the same level. We were not creating much in the penalty area and Scheinderlin being the biggest culprit with his defensive mindset.

I've not seen a worse Chelsea team in a long time.

If the shackles were off, then it's the team that were rubbish today, not the manager?

Our schmidfield lacks creativity, I don't like this double pivot thingy. Makele, Vierra nor Keane never needed a partner.

I think schneidelien needs to,improve so a more creative player like Hererra can play aside him

 

[spwd]

If the shackles were off, then it's the team that were rubbish today, not the manager?

Our schmidfield lacks creativity, I don't like this double pivot thingy. Makele, Vierra nor Keane never needed a partner.

I think schneidelien needs to,improve so a more creative player like Hererra can play aside him

I believe Sneiderlin needs to play every game possible with Herrera and they will both improve.

 

[VorZakone]

I believe Sneiderlin needs to play every game possible with Herrera and they will both improve.

If the shackles were off, then it's the team that were rubbish today, not the manager?

Our schmidfield lacks creativity, I don't like this double pivot thingy. Makele, Vierra nor Keane never needed a partner.

I think schneidelien needs to,improve so a more creative player like Hererra can play aside him

Seriously guys? Schneidelien and Sneiderlin

 

[spwd]

Seriously guys? Schneidelien and Sneiderlin

I did mine on purpose because of his

 

[GeneralGattuso]

Much better today I thought, started playing and creating chances, high press, attacking intent - everything except score. Chelsea parked the bus. We tired badly in the 2nd half, the players coming back form injury and those who played the Stoke game were noticeably poorer in the 2nd half, but you can't sub half the team. Chelsea had a couple good chances though, so our defending needs to tighten up again but that's going to happen when you push for a goal - at least we were pushing for a goal! If this gives LVG more time, then we still need to see a great improvement from this.

 

[sammsky1]

Seriously guys? Schneidelien and Sneiderlin

I just can't be arsed, these players deserve nothing from me . Screw the lot of them!

 

[Woodenlung]

Chelsea were dire and we still couldn't win. That's all I'm taking from this game.

 

[sammsky1]

I believe Sneiderlin needs to play every game possible with Herrera and they will both improve.

Agreed brother!

 

[PieCrust]

One ok performance with no result doesn't save LVG's job for me. He was gone before this match regardless of the outcome.

People getting WAY to comfortable over a single match in 18 months of shit. Let alone this single match was a 0-0 draw.

LVG still needs to be out. He lost his chance a couple of months ago with his unwillingness to adapt his tactics.

 

[Sultan]

If the shackles were off, then it's the team that were rubbish today, not the manager?

Our schmidfield lacks creativity, I don't like this double pivot thingy. Makele, Vierra nor Keane never needed a partner.

I think schneidelien needs to,improve so a more creative player like Hererra can play aside him

There was definitely less emphasis on possession today.

To correct this team we need a centre-back. Shaw back to his best from injury. A box to box midfielder to partner a defensive midfielder. Right winger, and a centre forward. Most importantly let players be adventurous and play to their strengths. Most importantly LvG to keep the shackles off.

Glazers will need to invest another few hundred million just to keep United as an elite club.

 

[MZX7]

It's all a matter of weighing up the pros with the cons, on the plus side he has improved some players, and played some of the youngsters, but maybe some of this was forced on him through sheer lack of options, he has also imo played a blinder with DDG, but on the cons side he has totally mismanaged the squad and sold players he never should have been allowed to, he has also inexplicably not had faith in our two brightest youngsters (Wilson and Januzaj), and most crucially of all he has had them playing some the worst football I have ever seen as a United fan.

If he was a young guy who might be here for 10 years + I could see some point in keeping him, but he is going in 18 months max, and I just think he has failed us in too many areas to be persevered with now.

He's building a great foundation for the manager to come. Januzaj is on loan and is gaining some valuable experience. I've never rated Wilson highly but he's on loan too. Plus we have Martial, Depay, Darmian, Shaw, McNair, Borthwick-Jacskon, Lingard, Pereira, Powell, Herrera, Blackett, Keane, Varela and Rojo who are all 26 and under. That's a great talent pool for any new manager to tap into. We are on the right track. It's slow but surely not a failure.

 

[sammsky1]

There was definitely less emphasis on possession today.

To correct this team we need a centre-back. Shaw back to his best from injury. A box to box midfielder to partner a defensive midfielder. Right winger, and a centre forward. Most importantly let players be adventurous and play to their strengths. Most importantly LvG to keep the shackles off.

Glazers will need to invest another few hundred million just to keep United as an elite club.

Am posting this and a reply in january tranfer thread as we are debating that right now in there

 

[Amir]

Rooneys miss at the end and the handball by willan that was not given make this an easy victory.

By the time of Willian's handball, we needed De Gea to make a double save. By the time of Rooney's miss, we were lucky Matic missed.

It was a better performance, but the bottom line is we still didn't create more than a poor Chelsea side.

 

[Sultan]

Am posting this and a reply in january tranfer thread as we are debating that right now in there

There's not much quality available in January.

 

[GloryHunter07]

At last, a bit of effort!

Still can't buy a goal. What's the average now, less than 1 per game?

Can't help but feel it's too little too late

22 goals in 19 games. Close enough.

Im seriously worried about 4th place now.