[C'est Moi Cantona]

We all know that. But when objectively speaking this is still better than the results we are getting with the other style, I don't see how much stock can be placed on it.

He can't set the team up to score and not concede. The squad is obviously capable of it though.

No it's not, and the reason is he is only breaking from his 'other style' because he has been so heavily criticised, this isn't the start of a whole new approach this is mere break from the norm imo, so as such it renders this performance utterly meaningless, personally i'd rather he stick to what he believes in and if it fails then he admits it and goes.

 

[Esquire]

I've said this before, if we want to play more open attacking football, we need to reinforce the defense. All we have is Smalling and he can't cover the defense all by himself.

Mike was crazy last night too but you can't blame it all on him. Fellaini was absolutely hopeless defensively (aside from heading balls out against set pieces) as he is just too slow. Blind is always just going to be an average CB (as he is clearly a stopgap until we get a top passing CB in). Darmian needs to settle and is completely overwhelmed by the PL competition.

Our mids completely went missing 2 second half. Morgan is not justifying his 25m price tag and needs to be paired with a equally dynamic enforcer (like he was with Wanyama). My biggest issue is why we can't ever seem to get the balance right. The fact that we play a more expansive game offensively shouldn't automatically preclude us from being solid defensively. It's either all or nothing (Sheff Utd or Newcastle Utd) type of pick your poison game plan. I would have thought this balance is more a product of coaching more than anything else?

 

[pauldyson1uk]

Better than 0-0.

Better entertainment , I will give you that, but nothing else,but there was many thing wrong with that match.

 

[dcullivanio]

What has happened to Schneiderlin. He just goes missing for long periods of the game. He seemed like he was going to be a dominant defence midfielder at one point. Not necessarily steaming into tackles every two minutes but constantly involved with harrying, tackling and interceptions. He is just being bypassed too often at the minute.

That said, despite the result, it was good to see a game with some excitement. It makes me truly realise that the excitement of match watching is incredibly important to me as a fan, not just the results. I don't particularly subscribe to the 'I'd rather be in the bottom half playing attacking football' thought process, but completely understand it. Although the draw, and the manner in which we surrendered the game, were disappointing, all in all it was a much more entertaining game. After a run of watching utter dross I was glad of the game as whole.

As I've said previously, it only emphasises how poor our defence actually is, despite the good record this season, when the whole team isn't solely geared to defend.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Better entertainment , I will give you that, but nothing else,but there was many thing wrong with that match.

The Lingard- Rooney - Martial with Herrera behind then was exciting. The problems started behind them. Morgan had a real off night and Fellaini was hopeless. They left the defence completely exposed. LvG has decimated this squad and I hope Carrick or BFS is back for Sunday. I never want to see Fellaini again. Did he say anything about Carrick by the way?

 

[The United Irishman]

Brilliant match, was very entertaining, but our defence really has went to shite! That is the lowest I've rated Smalling this season but I do think the penalty decision against him was a bit harsh. Darmian is like Jekyll and Hyde does something wonderful then balances it back out by fecking something simple up! Was very satisfied with our attacking play though and long may it continue.

 

[Rado_N]

Better entertainment , I will give you that, but nothing else,but there was many thing wrong with that match.

Oh yea definitely, it was a million miles from good, but it wasn't boring.

 

[Miscemayl]

After this, I know for a fact that I prefer boring af 1-0 wins than this.

No one will remember this game in a few weeks but the 2 points dropped could have some significance come end of the season.

I don't blame LVG for that, Smalling had a horror game but there's zero reason before hand to not start with him.

The misses were annoying but without the needless penalty, we would still have won.

This explains why we have been so fixated on possession. We can't defend!

To be honest, no one thought Smalling was that great until this season and perhaps our style of play is what made Smalling look great. Go back to our traditional attacking style and the flaws in Smalling's game come back.

And it's not the first time he had a horror game when we play in an attacking style.

 

[Trigg]

I'd much rather watch games like that then the crap we've been putting out in recent weeks/months. Now we just need to play like that and win!

 

[Ixion]

If we play like this each week we would win more than 3 games in 18 or whatever that awful record was. Anyone who thinks this proves we shouldn't play attacking football needs their head checking and remember how many games we've won recently.

 

[sincher]

It was bearable to watch for once. We should have more confidence in playing both Martial and Rooney up top more often; they can cause teams problems. Schneiderlin and Herrera did well. Fellaini was poor, and we miss Luke Shaw badly.

I didn't think Smalling had a horror game at all. If anything he keeps having to cover for the shortcomings of other defenders.

 

[dwd]

Four shots on target was it?

 

[Kevin]

He did one thing that led to Rooney goal other then that no much

Put it on a plate for Fellaini's massive bullhead with a peach of a cross using his weaker foot.

 

[Ixion]

Four shots on target was it?

Yes but Lingard and Rooney had clear cut chances they put over/wide so it's a bit deceptive.

 

[Crossie]

Four shots on target was it?

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/959654/MatchReport

Team Match Statistics
NUFC | United
14 | Total Shots | 12
6 | Shots on Target | 4
84% | Pass Success | 80%
53% | Aerial Success | 47%
7 | Dribbles | 10
28 | Tackles | 22
54% | Possession | 46%

 

[Dr. Funkenstein]

Very unlucky not to get the three points. Smalling has been a liability since november. Rooney was lively and did some good stuff, but certainly wasn't great. Nevermind the waisted chance, things like that happen and goal keepers are there to force a shot wide, but just too many inaccurate touches and passes for a MotM.

 

[Red Devil 26]

It's incredible how when put under pressure, our possession game and defensive shape goes to shit. Shows that we're not actually very good at either.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Very strange game. We played well away from, Rooney scored two and Smalling cost us 2 points through some terrible defending.

Another poor result against a relegation battling team. Newcastle are woeful.

 

[Coxy]

An awful game for you guys (again). You should not be drawing at that place - not where they are.

You really need to get rid of Van Gaal - your team IS good enough to do better than this, but not in this 'philosophy'. It's strange - teams aren't scared of you anymore - the aura has gone. I live in Derby and everyone here thinks they have a good chance of beating you in the Cup...

 

[Rams]

Without going in to too much detail, I believe we have too many mediocre players who just aren't cutting the mustard. To be frank I think we haven't got a prayer to make it in the top 4 this season. We'll be lucky if we even manage to qualify for the Europa League. Harsh, but true in my opinion.

 

[Rood]

any links to the official post match presser? and I dont mean the brief TV interviews, looking for the longer post match comments which are usually much more interesting but often get missed

 

[Pexbo]

Just me or does anyone else really like Sissoko?

 

[The Brown Bull]

Just me or does anyone else really like Sissoko?

He has burning pace.

 

[The Brown Bull]

An improvement without a doubt.Rooney returning to something like his best form the main plus.This game surely ends all debate about our defence being excellent or even good.At the moment we have a top keeper, a better than average CB (Smalling) and the rest are undependable at best.

 

[iBoss]

Just me or does anyone else really like Sissoko?

He's an average player.

 

[Rood]

any links to the official post match presser? and I dont mean the brief TV interviews, looking for the longer post match comments which are usually much more interesting but often get missed

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/watch-frustrated-louis-van-gaals-7170262

 

[Shimo]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/watch-frustrated-louis-van-gaals-7170262

Thanks. That was a good post game presser after a game like that

Many people, self and LVG included, are on Fellaini's back for a poor game especially the finish but, glad he pointed out how the Newcastle boys sat around on the ground handling the ball and yet it was Fellaini who did nothing that ended up with a foul and a yellow basically reducing his effectiveness rest of the game.

 

[Rood]

Thanks. That was a good post game presser after a game like that

Many people, self and LVG included, are on Fellaini's back for a poor game especially the finish but, glad he pointed out how the Newcastle boys sat around on the ground handling the ball and yet it was Fellaini who did nothing that ended up with a foul and a yellow basically reducing his effectiveness rest of the game.

those post game pressers are always worth watching but they rarely get much attention as everyone focuses on the quick tunnel interviews that they do for TV which are usually pretty shit in comparison

 

[Shark]

Attacking football or not, that was a disgusting end to the match. To make matters worse, it was a fecking defender, plus a deflection. Doesn't get any worse. Talk about missed chances coming back to haunt you..

 

[Fully Fledged]

Where did this idea that we were amassing loads of 1-0 wins come from? We have had a grand total of 4 1-0 wins all season.
Spurs and Villa in the first 2 matches, CSKA at OT in November and Sheffield United at the weekend.

This idea that yes we are boring but at least we are winning 1-0 is just not true.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Discounting the 1-0 win over a 3rd division side in the cup we've won like 1 of the last 9 or so games, and I'm getting pretty pissed off now.
The game would be good if you were a neutral but not for the fans of the team who threw away a 2-0 & 3-1 leads, coupled with our continued horrific form in general, it feels like a kick in the bollocks.

This game showed our defence for what it is, average, questions need to be asked over just how good Smalling actually is, when not protected 24/7, playing in an attacking style his defending has been wank.

This myth that we want entertaining football has been debunked, we want to win, contact Mourinho now, get him in, in the summer if he doesn't want to take a job midseason, but arrange it all behind the scenes now. fecking pronto like.

 

[acrebo]

Thanks. That was a good post game presser after a game like that

Many people, self and LVG included, are on Fellaini's back for a poor game especially the finish but, glad he pointed out how the Newcastle boys sat around on the ground handling the ball and yet it was Fellaini who did nothing that ended up with a foul and a yellow basically reducing his effectiveness rest of the game.

Yeah I mentioned this to a mate of mine at the time. Fellaini was stupid to keep going into challenges so enthusiastically but the Newcastle players played Dean so easily, falling over when Fellaini got near them.

As for the 'challenge' that got him booked. Two Newcastle players lying on the ball, one of them holding onto it, and he Fellaini goes to get it one Newcastle player literally throws himself to the ground in front of him. Annoyed me.

 

[Ixion]

This myth that we want entertaining football has been debunked, we want to win, contact Mourinho now, get him in, in the summer if he doesn't want to take a job midseason, but arrange it all behind the scenes now. fecking pronto like.

If we played like we did last night every week we would win a lot more than 1 game in 9.

Ugh the people trying to act like last night proves we shouldn't be playing attacking/entertaining football are pissing me off. Felliani puts that header away and we win 4-2. At least we were in a position to be winning away from home with minutes to go instead of playing out dour draws where we know we're not going to win.

 

[BennyBlanco]

If we played like we did last night every week we would win a lot more than 1 game in 9.

Ugh the people trying to act like last night proves we shouldn't be playing attacking/entertaining football are pissing me off. Felliani puts that header away and we win 4-2.

But he didn't and we didn't win, thems the facts, it wasn't like Newcastle couldn't have gotten another goal either, the tackle by Linguard on their RB was a dead cert penality, that instantly springs to mind.
Infact everytime they came forward our defence looked to be having serious heart palpitations last night, and we should be reminded this was a shit team, who've been forlorn in the goals department and hovering on the edge of the relegation zone.

If you want grand entertaining games and finish 5-7th, then thats your personal choice mate, but the reality is this club needs to win first and foremost. Thats the reality of the matter.

 

[LazyRed-Ninja]

We'll finish below Chelsea.

That would be quite an achievement, finishing under the league leaders.

 

[Dr. Funkenstein]

As for the 'challenge' that got him booked. Two Newcastle players lying on the ball, one of them holding onto it, and he Fellaini goes to get it one Newcastle player literally throws himself to the ground in front of him. Annoyed me.

I said it in other topics too, that's obstruction, indirect free kick in the box. At the least.

 

[Fully Fledged]

That would be quite an achievement, finishing under the league leaders.

I'm not sure what you are saying here. Are you saying that Chelsea are leading the league? Or are you saying that you expect them to win the league?

 

[WR10]

We severely missed a Carrick/Schweinsteger. They know exactly how to take the sting out once were ahead

 

[gerdm07]

I watched this morning and my only real conclusion is we are not a top 4 team. We are much too sloppy with the ball and have too many inconsistent players to make the top 4. Maybe with some luck, we will be 5th or 6th.

I question the PK called on Smalling as Mitrovic (sp?) was grabbing him by the neck. Anybody would react to that by wrestling him to the ground.

I'll say Rooney was pretty good the last 20 minutes but not the whole match. I only need to point to his lackluster effort 1v1 with Collicini, his weak left footed shot, and his unwillingness to use the left later. That's not a striker in good form no matter if he scores a PK and almost a sitter from 20.

 

[Jazz]

I enjoyed that game last night - was gutted we conceded the 3rd goal. If I'm on that pitch I'm thinking and shouting to my team mates - "none of those feckers are getting by us - we are not throwing this away". How can so many professionals be in the team and not have any bloody resolve to see out the game?

I can only guess that the pressure is too much for our players. I guess it's difficult when you wake up everyday and hear everyone having a dig at how boring and useless you are as a team plus the instability surrounding the manager's position. That I guess will play havoc with your decision making and you just overdo everything.
We needed Roy Keane out there. For all the criticism about our play and what not, our mentality is letting us down. We need some proper kick ass bastards out on the pitch.

Bloody gutted with the result I am..