[togg]

I was at the game today. In amongst the watford fans but the united fans were loudest until the second goal so credit to them for that.

United were really good for the first 2 thirds of the pitch, but the final 30 metres it was all too easy to defend. Small passes and no movement, and then eventually a diagonal ball to valencia. Watford werent really that good, a lot of long balls that were easily defended, the issue came when we didnt defend them well.

Watford played a very high line as well, the pace from Martial and Rashford was null and void when they play deeper rather than at least one bear to Zlatan. Any time he did get the ball he had to wait for support which then gave watford time to get back.

Its a shir result. But the performance wasnt that bad. Just a few tactical tweaks and we arent far off where we want to be

Great to get a fan's view from the Stadium..thanks for that and........great to hear some positiveness amongst the sea of gloom

 

[RoadTrip]

Again Pogba. Even if you don't want to admit that Fellaini was good or not please at least admit that the large holes both Pogba and Rooney leave are ridiculous

Pogba has been poor.

Fellaini simply isn't a central midfielder. He's a 10 or at best a forward midfielder of a 3. He can't play in a two.

As much as Rooney isn't performing I don't think you can put it on him there. It should be either of Fellaini or Pogba holding that space (the one positioned on the other side of the field the ball is).

 

[UnitedBoy]

Anyone else notice how clinical these "lesser" teams are against us? It's been that way much of the last 3 seasons, most of them take out some decent finishes with just 1 chance!

 

[revel911]

We need to balance our midfield a bit Carrick/Herrera or Carrick/Pogba will work much better. Problem is Pogba, Rooney and Martial have been very poor. Our tactics have been too rigid, something LvG was criticised for.

I feel Pogba will never work in a 2 man midfield

 

[revel911]

Anyone else notice how clinical these "lesser" teams are against us? It's been that way much of the last 3 seasons, most of them take out some decent finishes with just 1 chance!

They wasted 2 open chances beforehand

 

[Vashu]

It was a turtle race. And we've lost it. Great job by Mourinho, a true tactical masterpiece.

 

[Billy Jim]

Maybe Mourinho's style really is outdated?

 

[revel911]

Pogba has been poor.

Fellaini simply isn't a central midfielder. He's a 10 or at best a forward midfielder of a 3. He can't play in a two.

As much as Rooney isn't performing I don't think you can put it on him there. It should be either of Fellaini or Pogba holding that space (the one positioned on the other side of the field the ball is).

It's all 3 of them. We can't have Pogba and Rooney both being poor and both being allowed to do what they want. We need Herrera in there to hold that space.

 

[Tribec]

Another post match thread where people focusing on the same players wondering why they are still in the team. Since we beat Southampton, with the exception of De Gea, a case could be had against everyone as to why they are still in the team. All of them have been poor, we've had no real stand shows from anyone, Rashford and Miki brief cameo's at Hull have been it, but apart from the goal today, Rashford seemed to me to be off his game, wasn't able to get the ball under control nor beating his man.

The midfield has been a sticky point for us for years, it's not been truly strong enough since before Fergie left, we all know that. We've papered over the holes, we need to get rid of a lot of our midfielders and start again.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I feel Pogba will never work in a 2 man midfield

It won't, he will always leave his midfield partner exposed. Needs to be in a 3.

 

[horsechoker]

Another post match thread where people focusing on the same players wondering why they are still in the team. Since we beat Southampton, with the exception of De Gea, a case could be had against everyone as to why they are still in the team. All of them have been poor, we've had no real stand shows from anyone, Rashford and Miki brief cameo's at Hull have been it, but apart from the goal today, Rashford seemed to me to be off his game, wasn't able to get the ball under control nor beating his man.

The midfield has been a sticky point for us for years, it's not been truly strong enough since before Fergie left, we all know that. We've papered over the holes, we need to get rid of a lot of our midfielders and start again.

We've done that, mainly under Van Gaal. I think the only survivor is Carrick from the Ferguson era.

 

[Mr Chutney]

Just got back from the game, unfortunately had to sit that shower of shite through in the Watford end!

Why oh why Memphis depay!?

 

[FreakyJim]

Any words of wisdom and promises of better times on twitter from our great players yet? I'm sure they're working hard and will respond in manner. Can't wait for the next game!

 

[marlowe78]

It's September and I've already had it.

 

[sunama]

Pogba needs to stop worrying about his hair and start worrying about his performances.

Indeed. He certainly has a massive swagger, which is fine if you can back it up on the pitch. However, on the pitch he is pretty average.
He had one good game for us and after that has been poor (not average, but poor).

Glastonspur was saying that Pogba would need to prove himself before he got into Spurs' midfield. I am beginning to agree with his assessment.

 

[Vashu]

Just got back from the game, unfortunately had to sit that shower of shite through in the Watford end!

Why oh why Memphis depay!?

You could name more than half of the team in same manner...

 

[Livewire1974]

Maybe Mourinho's style really is outdated?

This. His style has never evolved, which is why many of us were against him being hired in the first place.

 

[Reynoldo]

It could be worse...we could be Stoke I suppose

 

[Tribec]

We've done that, mainly under Van Gaal. I think the only survivor is Carrick from the Ferguson era.

We may have got rid of some of our midfielders from Fergie's last season and LVG did a good job of doing that, but to be fair what quality has been brought in to replace apart from Pogba. We've paper over holes with above average players, rather than buying good players.

 

[RoadTrip]

Indeed. He certainly has a massive swagger, which is fine if you can back it up on the pitch. However, on the pitch he is pretty average.
He had one good game for us and after that has been poor (not average, but poor).

Glastonspur was saying that Pogba would need to prove himself before he got into Spurs' midfield. I am beginning to agree with his assessment.

Yeah don't get me wrong, we need some swagger and arrogance back in our team. I thought we would have that with Ibrahimovic and Pogba but sadly right now only the former is giving us that.

 

[ChaddyP]

Don't even go there, brutha.
We all know how LVG played and it was terrible. LVG sucked the life out of any joy I had from football. Even winning the FA Cup could not save him - he was that bad.

This was worse.

 

[mu4c_20le]

Stop the world, I want to get off.

It took Louis five matches into the season before we unraveled at Leicester. I expected a much longer honeymoon under Jose.

 

[revel911]

Just got back from the game, unfortunately had to sit that shower of shite through in the Watford end!

Why oh why Memphis depay!?

How is anything his fault? Especially when we keep playing him wrong.

 

[bubbles_]

Needs to start putting some brains into the team. All physicality at the moment.

 

[Mr Chutney]

How is anything his fault? Especially when we keep playing him wrong.

I was referring more to the fact that he was the go to man to try and change the game! fecking mental!

 

[Borden]

Can't wait for Mata's blog.

 

[OLLY ORANGE]

I thought fellaini was one of the better players today but I still think he's one of the main problems. He's just not mobile enough and just not quick enough with his distribution. Against high pressing sides we just lose our composure when he's on the ball which gets us all flustered.
I agree with playing Carrick or Blind deeper with Herrera or Fellaini in front depending on the opposition with Pogba higher again.
Sides like the dippers are gonna run us ragged if Fellaini is isolated on his own in the middle.
The other problem is shoe horning Rooney into the side. It's pretty embarrassing how everyone can see his inability to create the number of chances that is needed at this level but all the managers are seeing something different.
What was Wayne's thinking of standing over the ball when Ibrahim hit the second half free kick from the left hand side. The position he took up could only mean he could take the free kick with is left foot. Absolutely pointless positioning with someone so weak on his left foot. Would rather of seen Valencia standing there than Rooney. So frustrating when we needed a spark.[/QUOTE]

 

[revel911]

I was referring more to the fact that he was the go to man to try and change the game! fecking mental!

We keep making the same mistakes with our subs since the last days of Fergie where instead of fixing the problem we just keep throwing on more attackers

 

[PitchFork]

Did anyone else feel that Young was an upgrade to Valencia at RB?

Not quite but I know where you're coming from. I did think, watching Young, that we have been giving TV too much credit at RB. Young didn't fair much worse or better imo. The noticeable difference between the two is Young can cross the ball over the defenders instead of into their shins.

 

[Dazzmondo]

Again Pogba. Even if you don't want to admit that Fellaini was good or not please at least admit that the large holes both Pogba and Rooney leave are ridiculous

Fellaini was in the wrong position for both of those also. Fellaini's been one of our better performers this season but every midfielder was at fault in those pictures

 

[CS@SG]

We keep making the same mistakes with our subs since the last days of Fergie where instead of fixing the problem we just keep throwing on more attackers

I thought Jose was always praised for this quick fix of situation in match.

 

[revel911]

Not quite but I know where you're coming from. I did think, watching Young, that we have been giving TV too much credit at RB. Young didn't fair much worse or better imo. The noticeable difference between the two is Young can cross the ball over the defenders instead of into their shins.

Which equals more chances and less counter attacks.

 

[legball]

I can't put my finger on any one thing that is wrong with the team, that's because everything is wrong with the team right now. There's no part of the team that is functioning like it should. I don't know why managers arrive at United & suddenly become scared to make big decisions, what does Mourinho have to lose if he does the right thing & drops Rooney for a start? Guardiola has done it with Yaya Toure at Man City. It's not going to solve all the problems, but it will help, big time. Wayne Rooney is now past it, he slows down play & doesn't have the imagination for a #10 role.

Then, what does it really take to coach a Manchester United team to become competent in passing the ball? I mean, this must be rocket science. We are so bad at passing, it's painful to watch. How can you do anything worthy on a football pitch if you can't find your teammates? Even less talented teams seem to do this well, but our massively overpaid players can't, let's not even go into how they take 100 touches before misplacing the pass! What will it take to get these players to move the ball around quickly & accurately? I don't know but I know it won't take a midfield 3 of Fellaini, Rooney & Pogba to do it.

We look like a group of players lacking basic football training & that is a very sad indictment on Jose Mourinho. It's decision time for Mourinho, and it's time for him to reinvent himself a bit, that's what top managers do. There's too much focus on power & grit, we need our most intelligent players on the field of play, first, we need a midfield that can keep the ball. Carrick has to start, Schweinsteiger has to be called back, these 2 players have something the team is lacking in midfield now, control. The midfield three has to be Carrick, Herrera & Pogba or Carrick, Schneiderlin & Pogba. Fellaini hasn't played bad, but i feel it's a bit unbalanced with him there, it's not a natural role for him especially when we don't have the ball. The front 3 has to be Martial & Mhki out wide, with Ibra as 9. Let's have some brains & runners out there. Then lastly, Mourinho MUST now decide how he wants us to play, the team needs proper coaching, there has to be a clear plan and these things are lacking now. It's decision time.

 

[revel911]

I thought Jose was always praised for this quick fix of situation in match.

Against Hull, it was spot on. Not today

 

[PitchFork]

Lose a game 3-1 to Watford, the performance isn't that bad, just a little unlucky that the players didn't perform.

Which equals more chances and less counter attacks.

But with Tony we get more corners for Rooney to cock up

 

[CS@SG]

So Rooney was playing midfield again?

 

[Hugh Jass]

I have entered into a catatonic state of numbness after watching that. Whatever about creating chance after chance and getting unlucky, that I can take. But we barely created any. Just getting fed up at this stage.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Jose's post match presser:

 

[Antisocial]

Was this after the match?

That post was referring to a pass I think that was way too long for anyone to catch - probably the only thing critical said about Rooney during the match.

 

[Oneunited26]

It won't, he will always leave his midfield partner exposed. Needs to be in a 3.

What is pogba's 2 central partners? a clumsy oaf playing next to him, and a player once again performing awfully. I thought maybe jose has got the best out of rooney in a way scoring creating goals, but its back to square one AGAIN now. When people said david moyes has set us back they were not kidding, his lasting lingering legacy rear its ugly head again and it has some power over the managers who keep picking them, rooney getting that contract extension he's first choice, fellaini playing every week who is not a CM player. The club also has a thing for very slow players in our team, fellaini, mata, rooney and zlaten in one team. I still have hope Jose can turn this around we have to, because if Jose can't turn this around, who the hell can?