[Vida5Nick]

Our defence still looks suspect. Few moments of brainfarts that could have them score.

Usual suspects like Pogba and Zlatan did well but special mention has to go to someone else.

Bailly. What a beast.Every ball into our box he snuffed out. Havent seen that kind of defensive play since Vidic. Just made his home debut but playing like Vidic in his prime.

Now to find our Ferdinand and thats CB sorted

 

[Isotope]

Got back from the game about a hour ago and all I can say is Wow, the atmosphere, attitude and confidence. Fans, players and Manchester United!!

You're one lucky SOB . Must be buzzing to watch and be part of this new United era. It must be great for the fans, as the ticket price finally match the entertainment; and watching all those new world class players.

 

[.Rossi]

I could cry I'm that happy!

 

[NinjaZombie]

I remember us conceding possession to Southampton at home when Fergie was manager, and how I complained about it to a friend of mine.

After dominating possession for two years with Van Gaal and having nothing to else to show for it, I'll happily take 3 points even if we lose the possession battle.

Mourinho is right. This club needs to win football matches. That's the most important thing.

 

[Insanity]

Good 3 points. Performance was nothing to write home about.

 

[Friction]

I had to watch the game on replay, but I have to say, it was brilliant. The atmosphere looked and sounded really hyped. The players played very well, even though it's still early, it looks like they are starting to work together well. Even Fellaini has been playing well. It must be the hair dye!? Pogba had a good game, despite a few errant passes. Zlatan continues to prove all the doubters wrong. Definfinitely MOTM for me. We played better today than we have in 3 years, and I'm starting to be genuinely excited and looking forward to matches again! Next weekend can't come soon enough!

 

[caid]

Still a bit disjointed but we've started well, were actually scoring goals which makes a nice change.
Think theres a fair bit of fine tuning to be done still but a good start all the same.
Been surprised by just how good zlatan is in the air. He looks like the kind of player who'll love the whole aerial thing of the PL and the extra height in the team really helps a lot.
We look so much more dangerous from corners and free kicks and a lot more comfortable when we give them away, its nice.

Pogba looked a level above any midfielder we've had in about a decade. The difference even in one match was very, very obvious.

Also think rooney has been quite good so far but im guessing im in a minority of one on that (we do need more pace up front mind you)

 

[Mani]

Overall an it was an good performance from our side,2 goals,clean sheet,defended well as an unit,are we are giving too much space on either side of the box for the opponent to put in the easy cross.And with Mata and Rooney both love to play centrally where as our attack from right was only from Valencia,Rashford/Lingard on the right would have given us balanced attack from right side as well, which also would have controlled their attack from left.Yeah It's early in season and Jose would have started to take note on those.Also we started to look threatening from those corners and crosses that all getting into the box.Well earned 3 points.

 

[KM]

Overall an it was an good performance from our side,2 goals,clean sheet,defended well as an unit,are we are giving too much space on either side of the box for the opponent to put in the easy cross.And with Mata and Rooney both love to play centrally where as our attack from right was only from Valencia,Rashford/Lingard on the right would have given us balanced attack from right side as well, which also would have controlled their attack from left.Yeah It's early in season and Jose would have started to take note on those.Also we started to look threatening from those corners and crosses that all getting into the box.Well earned 3 points.

I think with the height we've in our team, it's definitely a tactic for us to go narrow and allow the opposition team to put crosses in.

 

[krazyrobus]

DDG - It's like back in the days when VDS was a spectator with Vidic and Rio in front of him.

Shaw - Getting back to his best, good match, solid defensively, good driving forward.

Blind - Didn't put a foot wrong the entire match

Bailly - Made a few mistakes here and there being cute but mopped up most things comfortably.

Valencia - Solid and good going forward, Ibra should have given him an assist.

Mata - Drifts central too much leaving Valencia a lot of work to do.

Fellaini - Not too much wrong, but not a standout performance

Pogba - Some stray passes, great driving forward.

Martial - Mixed bag, Ibra should have put his delightful pass away, but should have score himself on 2 occasions

Rooney - That first touch from Pogba's hard pass in the box was Berbatovesque! Solid performance, great cross, good assist. Didn't slow our attacks this time.

Zlatan - Hope this 65 year old keeps making a mockery of everyone saying he is too old to play in the pl.

Overall - solid performance, no one played outstandingly to the best of their ability, probably 6 or 7 out of 10 for everyone on the pitch. Mou ethos fully in action that winning is the most important thing. However, if we are going to play compact and spring counter attacks them again having Mata, Rooney on the pitch makes zero sense. Promising situations died because only Martial and after him Mkhi had raw pace up front.

 

[Adisa]

To be fair we've not had many good performances since he retired.

Yep. But we had a couple of good performances under Moyes and LVG. That's in the past now however.

 

[Mani]

I think with the height we've in our team, it's definitely a tactic for us to go narrow and allow the opposition team to put crosses in.

It's definitely a team tactic atm to protect the box, with lesser teams it wouldn't be an issue but against superior teams it would be an issue and yes over the course of time it's going to improve with defined role for Shaw/Valencia to cut those crosses getting in.I already started to dream about his Inter team defensively superior and well oil'd machine and yes he's going to make us one similar to that.

 

[AnOutOfTowner]

The really strange thing is that we have signed 4 players and they all look like quality.

its got to be a first i think, where a team signs four players in one window and all four perform greatly.

 

[Roosney]

That was one heck of a performance, still buzzing after a good night's sleep.
Southampton were dangerous at times and with a bit more class they could have scored, but overall our performance was quite dominant and had that flair we've been missing last three seasons.

All new signings had good games as did everybody else. Maybe Mata went a bit missing after a bright start but still an ok game.
Edit: what up with the font size change

 

[CS@SG]

its got to be a first i think, where a team signs four players in one window and all four perform greatly.

Have yet to see Miki perform "greatly".

 

[The_Order]

The really strange thing is that we have signed 4 players and they all look like quality.

Apart from Rojo, we haven't signed any players that haven't been quality. Its just that in the past 2 years, we've been managed by a lunatic who plays people out of position and favours 'Hoarder's Football'. Imagine what Di Maria could have been under Mou....

 

[CS@SG]

Apart from Rojo, we haven't signed any players that haven't been quality. Its just that in the past 2 years, we've been managed by a lunatic who plays people out of position and favours 'Hoarder's Football'. Imagine what Di Maria could have been under Mou....

and the great Mou made the same decision like the lunatic, to play Mata at right winger/forward, Valencia at RB, Bind at CD. Such a lunatic.

 

[Natener]

I remember us conceding possession to Southampton at home when Fergie was manager, and how I complained about it to a friend of mine.

After dominating possession for two years with Van Gaal and having nothing to else to show for it, I'll happily take 3 points even if we lose the possession battle.

Mourinho is right. This club needs to win football matches. That's the most important thing.

Agree on that. Though I'll say even though we were sitting deep and conceding possession, I hardly felt we were going to throw away the game at any point. There was a huge sense that we were well in control. Compare that to our countless high possession games last season or even City's Sunderland game, we were much more comfortable last night.

 

[The_Order]

and the great Mou made the same decision like the lunatic, to play Mata at right winger/forward, Valencia at RB, Bind at CD. Such a lunatic.

Blind as CD is down to two factors, his dadaptability to the role and Smalling still coming back from injury

Valencia as a RB was a thing waaay before LVG, he has had a few cameos there for years.

Mata is an unfortunate sacrificial lamb to accommodate the bewildering handicap that is Rooney.

I have yet to see Ashley Young being played as a striker or Phil Jones taking corners, or Nick effn Powell being brought on to get us crucial goals, still time mind you.

 

[CS@SG]

Blind as CD is down to two factors, his dadaptability to the role and Smalling still coming back from injury

Valencia as a RB was a thing waaay before LVG, he has had a few cameos there for years.

Mata is an unfortunate sacrificial lamb to accommodate the bewildering handicap that is Rooney.

I have yet to see Ashley Young being played as a striker or Phil Jones taking corners, or Nick effn Powell being brought on to get us crucial goals, still time mind you.

Yeah, there are "reason" for every decision the great Mou made.

 

[SSSSnake]

United have their swagger back. Big personalities, big game players and exciting football. I found myself on the edge of my seat again last night. I really have to hand it to Jose. He's brought the right players in and done some good work in the training ground. Just hope he will stay for many years!

 

[R'hllor]

We were outstanding tonight. Anybody saying any different just hates Maureen (I used to be one of those).

If you think so. It wasnt best since SAF left thats for sure.

 

[redspoony]

I think if people are going a bit OTT, they're entitled to it after the dross we've watched over the last 3 seasons.

If this had been a performance under SAF it would have been a routine 2-0 win, maybe we could have been a bit better at either end of the pitch, and that is what people want - we've been starved of wins like this.

We had a spell in LVG's first season (Spurs, City etc, that run) where we looked great, but that aside, good performances were the exception as opposed to the rule. The fact that last night there was some purpose to our play, some swagger in the players and a manager on the touchline as opposed to in the dugout looking at his notes all added up to what felt like what should be a normal United performance.

For those waxing lyrical about last night, go for it, I'm one of you and I'm sure better things lie ahead.

For those looking down their noses at the reaction - live a little. We looked like Manchester United last night, and it's been a while since we could say that.

 

[lysglimt]

Apart from Rojo, we haven't signed any players that haven't been quality. Its just that in the past 2 years, we've been managed by a lunatic who plays people out of position and favours 'Hoarder's Football'. Imagine what Di Maria could have been under Mou....

We have signed good players - but when was the last time we signed 4 players and 3 of them were arguably our best players in the first matches they played. Pogba was superb last night - Bailly has been our best player so far and Zlatan..is Zlatan. That never even happened during Ferguson

 

[togg]

There is so much money in the Premier League now, allowing the so called 'lesser' teams to buy well and big, that the days where top teams smash lower teams, I believe, is over. Better players spread all around, good managers, improving tactics - is making every team possible winners regardless of opposition. Considering our pre-season, that was a very good performance against a Southampton side that is very well organised and pretty strong.

 

[Ixion]

What formation did we finish with, it was a bit weird I couldn't tell if we had three at the back of if one of the CBs was playing slightly ahead of the others.

 

[kafta]

Watched the post-game coverage, and I was thinking I don't remember the last time I watched some analysis of us without one mention of De Gea. Even when they were discussing our squad and title chances, not one mention of him. So much quality in the squad now, its really fantastic work by Jose and the club.

We're gonna get so much better still, next game can't come soon enough!

 

[diarm]

Whats most pleasing for me is that there is a gradual improvement with each match. Even within this match -- the fluidity was exponential from 1st half to 2nd half.

But what has been very obviously is the verticality of our play. One-two paces and we are in the opponent's half. This has been very consistent from the very first pre-season match.

Words

 

[SirScholes]

Watched the post-game coverage, and I was thinking I don't remember the last time I watched some analysis of us without one mention of De Gea. Even when they were discussing our squad and title chances, not one mention of him. So much quality in the squad now, its really fantastic work by Jose and the club.

We're gonna get so much better still, next game can't come soon enough!

That's a great point to be honest

 

[golden_blunder]

Yeah, there are "reason" for every decision the great Mou made.

Dissenter in the ranks

 

[SirScholes]

Charity shield, tick
Away game, tick
Home game, tick
Still a couple challenges left for Jose, one being how the team play against the big teams like chelsea and city and the other top six challengers pool/spurs
And how the team reacts after a defeat (hopefully it won't happen)
Can't have asked for anymore, and the team will only improve once our signings are embedded and the style of play is perfected.
I'm becoming a Fellaini fan...what on earth

 

[MrBest]

I think we were a bit sloppy in posession but considering its the 2nd game and we missed a pre season match, fitness is still being huilt up.

Not sure what Rooney offers, would love him to be dropped .. imagine Miki there? In the 15 mins he played he showed mpre enegry and ability to take a player on than fatty has shown in the last 5 years.

Pogba was a beast. Some mistakes but considering this was a top 10 team and its his first game back after 2 months, i see him running that midfield like Yaya did for City.

Gutted that Rashford is not getting mins. Ibra right place right time and hes done that for 20 years! Hopefully Rashford can learn a thing or 2 off him. But seriously, Rashford or Rooney? We all know that Rashford is much better.

Overall pleased with the display, we need to keep building ourselves up but much better football than we have been used to for several years.

Key point: we have now scores 10% of the goala we scored in 38 games last year. Thank god Gaal is gone!

 

[Stretford End Phil]

I think we were a bit sloppy in posession but considering its the 2nd game and we missed a pre season match, fitness is still being huilt up.

Not sure what Rooney offers, would love him to be dropped .. imagine Miki there? In the 15 mins he played he showed mpre enegry and ability to take a player on than fatty has shown in the last 5 years.

Pogba was a beast. Some mistakes but considering this was a top 10 team and its his first game back after 2 months, i see him running that midfield like Yaya did for City.

Gutted that Rashford is not getting mins. Ibra right place right time and hes done that for 20 years! Hopefully Rashford can learn a thing or 2 off him. But seriously, Rashford or Rooney? We all know that Rashford is much better.

Overall pleased with the display, we need to keep building ourselves up but much better football than we have been used to for several years.

Key point: we have now scores 10% of the goala we scored in 38 games last year. Thank god Gaal is gone!

Kind of sums it all up - agree with you. I also think there has been a 100% turnaround in our feelings - a sea change.

 

[Tincanalley]

I am happy with the win, but not happy with the way they play.

It is at Old Trafford, but I saw Southampton bringing the ball to us, at our own half, again and again, again. For a long period in 2nd half, they were dominating the match, while we just sat deep. Why are we not dominating them? Bring the to them, attack and attack in their own half. I do think the home fans deserve better.

The defense has been defending vert narrowly, when the opponent is in possession in our half, all 4 of the defense will basically station in the box, leaving the wide men to or wingers.

Yea, well we didn't overwhelm them completely. They are still a decent team, with some very dangerous and committed players. I thought overall the defence had good shape, but of course it was not perfect. Opposition being strong is a plus. Having things to improve is a plus. Home fans seemed happy enough.

 

[Dans]

"Manchester United have never lost a Premier League game at Old Trafford when leading at half-time."

I'm very surprised that record has survived through our last 3 years

How many times have we been in the lead at half time in the last 3 years? I'll bet it isn't many........remember a Van Gaal team used to pass opponents to death before scoring in the last 10 minutes.

 

[BigBebe]

It is funny how some people are complaining that we did not dominate possession after the endless zombiness of the last couple of seasons.

We have now won two fixtures which last year, we managed to lose. It is great to get back to enjoying our football instead of being numbed by queasy dread.

 

[Fergus' son]

Pogba was amazing.

Ibra was shite apart from his header, Rooney esque performance.

 

[Trigg]

Pogba was just fecking brilliant. He must have had about 15 dribbles last night and got past his man, more often than not it was turning defence into attack too. Something we've not been able to do since Ronaldo days.

Players like Valencia and Felli look like completely different players. Shaw brings balance to our defence, we missed him so much last season. Even Rooney is playing a bit better.

The only niggle I have is I don't think Mata and Rooney should play together. We need another playing either in the #10 or out wide who has a bit more pace but other than that cracking start to the season. Bet De Gea was bored last night :P

 

[Scarecrow]

Blind and Martial are the only trace of LvG's foundation tonight. This is Mourinho's side.

I wasn't serious. When we hired him a lot of people assigned Bayern's recent success to him and his foundations. Which didn't really agree with.

 

[BootsyCollins]

Watched the game again this morning, and tried to watch Fellaini specially.
What a game he had! If he can continue like this i would not mind him starting every match.
I think i even have to give him my MOTM.