[Pogue Mahone]

Nah. We couldn't keep the ball well. And all we did just launch it up front like the old Stoke. Even DDG didn't bother to build the game from the back. It was a fecking shite performance.

Nonsense.

 

[Son Of Sam]

No realistic

Realistic?
Kante scored from the same distance in the second half and decided the tie. What do you mean by realistic chance?

 

[Rams]

Although the red card effected game in a big, the truth is that Chelsea are a much better side anyway. We're still a few players short from really competing against the likes of Chelsea.

 

[Acole9]

At least it was an improvement on our league display against them. That was humiliating, this wasn't.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I would rather watch someone like Herrera who puts the effort in and will work for the whole game, when he gets the chance. We all loved players like Keane, Scholes etc for their commitment. That is not allowed now. Midfielders are obviously supposed to just allow players through and not even breath on them anymore. The refs have to allow some physicality in the game.

 

[prtk0811]

Any youngster here who thinks Mourinho's style is not in keeping with how "United Play" needs to thoroughly watch our old-school Arsenal encounters and full seasons under Fergie; Feisty, combative and a real War of attrition and finesse.

Why not just sub carrick on. Fellani offers nothing what so ever.

 

[legball]

I think Jose got his tactics spot on, the attitude of the players was spot on too, the red card definitely changed the game, and even then, I think we could have used the ball a bit better as we looked really good whenever we did, don't know why we kept launching it back at them aimlessly. But like everything in life, only the winner gets talked about, we still need a big game win & the team really need to fix up for the rest of the season.

 

[prtk0811]

Realistic?
Kante scored from the same distance in the second half and decided the tie. What do you mean by realistic chance?

I am not being cynical i am being realistic about how far we are from our formet standards even with spending so much cash

 

[Mourinhonista]

Thought United were piss poor with the ball at their feed. Didn't know what to do or more precise in the second half how to take it off Chelsea. Chelsea created chance after chance and we couldn't even come out of our own half. Disgraceful stuff. We only relied on individual brilliance. That's just not good enough!

Why oh why did Mourinho take Mkhitaryan off, he's our best attacking threat and a very good ball carrier. Someone has to calm Herrera down, yes, the ref's decision was harsh, but after seeing the first yellow he should have been more careful, especially after the ref had given out his final warning to better not foul Hazard again.

I'm really frustrated with the game. Chelsea looked the real deal, they were so much better than us, couldn't believe what the feck i was watching. Mourinho has a huge job on his hands, we're far away and today, he and the club underachieved.

 

[RooneyLegend]

We went out with a plan on how to stop them, which kind off worked, but had no plan on how to go on the attack ourselves. The first 15 mins our plan sort of worked, after that Hazard turn you could feel the momentum of the match started to shift and we resorted to fouling Hazard out of the game. What is disappointing is just how much we felt we needed to adjust our team to get a positive result. The attitude of going out there to stay in the game rather than win the game is really frustrating.

 

[Infra-red]

Gave it a go for half an hour but the Herrera sending off killed it. Can say what you want about it being a harsh second yellow but he was daft enough to do it. We kept going but didn't have enough creativity on the pitch to create anything other than the Rashford chance.

So, it's pretty much all about the Europa League now.

That's a fair assessment. It was a good game for 30 minutes. Oliver is weak, Herrera is stupid and Conte, Mourinho, Costa and Rojo are all cnuts (albeit ones who are good at their jobs).

 

[Orc]

But for De Gea we would've scored about 4. Score line doesn't reflect how the match went.

 

[Canucantona20]

wonder what would have happened if Martial and Ibra played.

 

[Sassy Colin]

How does Young score so highly? He was an embarrassment to the team this evening. I was wavering between 1 and 2 but plumped for a solid 1 rather than a slightly marginal 2.

 

[Son Of Sam]

I am not being cynical i am being realistic about how far we are from our formet standards even with spending so much cash

We are very close, mate! We were playing away without some of our big players.

How do you think Chelsea would have fared at Old Trafford without Costa and Hazard and then losing Kante to a red card in the 35th minute?

Answer on a postcard, please.....

 

[Jazz]

I would rather watch someone like Herrera who puts the effort in and will work for the whole game, when he gets the chance. We all loved players like Keane, Scholes etc for their commitment. That is not allowed now. Midfielders are obviously supposed to just allow players through and not even breath on them anymore. The refs have to allow some physicality in the game.

And I love that about Ander as well. Unfortunately, refs are untouchable at this moment, and there's nothing players or managers can do about it. Therefore, you just have to be clever about things.
Anyway, on to Thursday

 

[FreakyJim]

We are very close, mate! We were playing away without some of our big players.

How do you think Chelsea would have fared at Old Trafford without Costa and Hazard and then losing Kante to a red card in the 35th minute?

Answer on a postcard, please.....

Thing is - we don't have a Hazard. No one from our team comes close to that.

 

[Laphroaig]

Bizarre. I don't count that as a loss. We might well have gone through with a fair ref. Our lads did well. We can obviously go toe to toe with the "best" team in the country at their home. We're very close to something good again. Finally.

 

[Jazz]

But for De Gea we would've scored about 4. Score line doesn't reflect how the match went.

De Gea is a part of the team and it's his job to stop goals from going in, so of course the score line reflects how the match went.

 

[Paxi]

I had to post to say how disappointed I am in the referee. Never 2 yellows.
1st one. No. Hazard simply runs into Herrera. What should Herrera do as he stands his ground. Roll out the red carpet and say
"Ooh here you go, I'll be getting out the way. On you stroll." Pathetic from the Ref.

The second was even worse; Yes Hazard had been fouled multiple times, but that challenge was not a yellow esp. a second yellow. You cannot use previous challenges from different players to call it.
Ruined the entire game. If anything when a player is on a yellow Refs usually are more cautious issuing second helpings. He is terrible.

We setup initially brilliantly with Jose matching Conte and we had the surprising edge. Conte in his post match admitted "We couldn't play," because we pressed brilliantly. Ruud "Sexy Football" Gullit was even impressed.
And so they did the trick of getting a man sent off because they couldn't live with that in your face approach for the whole match. Chelsea believe me, will be found out next season if they don't come up with a plan B. Kante is a top player, but he met his match today before the Red.

Any youngster here who thinks Mourinho's style is not in keeping with how "United Play" needs to thoroughly watch our old-school Arsenal encounters and full seasons under Fergie; Feisty, combative and a real War of attrition and finesse.

Either challenge was debatable. All this "But Herrera should have..." is ridiculously harsh. You want him to play like a ghost? You would hate to watch Keane i guess.
Refs subsequent decision to not dish out more yellows for worse tackles, showed that in his mind he knows he got it wrong.

So pleased for the lads; Playing against Chelsea is not easy and esp. after our tight run of games, and with 10 men we played brilliantly. De Gea will be absolutely disgusted with himself. Was wrong footed for a split second and lost a bit of reach to save that one. Inches.

Is the forum full of kids, because I can't see why the digs at Young and Co.
Almost every player worked their socks off.
Fellaini for once in midfield and under pressure, didn't foul like a pillock.
Young shackled Moses brilliantly.
Jones, Rojo and Smalling did very well in defence, all covering each other. A back 3 will become a serious option with the addition of a better centre back in the Summer.
Valencia was a man possessed.
Rashford. So close. He will get even better.

However one man has to take a long hard look at himself: Pogba.
I remember the "Baby Elephant" thread and I am afraid that Pogba has to do more; Not because of his pricetag, just in comparison to other players in making the right decisions on the pitch. He was vocal but wasn't leading on the pitch. He needs better tactical awareness. All too often goes for individual tricks when a clever simple pass or simple rifling shot would do much more damage.
Needs to go away to the Lake District in the Summer and study in solitude.

His shot on that edge of the box was shocking; They are the match defining moments.
As was the amount of times we had a break on and he made the wrong decision.

Overall, I am really heartened by the performance. So pleased that the lads who came in did a good job and that we adapted and used different tactics to nullify Chelsea.
I am confident that with just a few tweaks and signings we will be able to play a number of different ways next season and mount a serious push on all 4 fronts.

Onwards to Europa; We simply have to win, as our league form is far too erratic for us to finish 4th.
Plus I'd love to travel to Sweden.

Special Mention: Fans. As a Manc in London, our guys were brilliant especially the Red Flag chant at the end. Superb.

Top post mate.

 

[wolvored]

Although the red card effected game in a big, the truth is that Chelsea are a much better side anyway. We're still a few players short from really competing against the likes of Chelsea.

Yes agree with that. We havent got an Hazard or a Willian who can beat players at will with a lot of end product. Our equivalent Miki is a step down, and Martial is too inconsistant.

 

[VanGaalEra]

I just want to come in and laugh at that Welbeck wanting 6th place team to be knocked out of the FA Cup thread.

Made me feel much better.

 

[Ban]

Yes agree with that. We havent got an Hazard or a Willian who can beat players at will with a lot of end product. Our equivalent Miki is a step down, and Martial is too inconsistant.

Micki isn't as good as Hazard but he's not a step down. Especially compared to Willian.
We need a pacey, good winger tho, that's for sure. We don't have a proper winger in the team anyway.

 

[Paxi]

Jose clearly wanted out of the cup. Didn't really bother to throw the sink at the end

Not really sure about this. Why would he want out of the cup if we would only have two extra games to play at a neutral venue?

 

[2 man midfield]

Bizarre. I don't count that as a loss. We might well have gone through with a fair ref. Our lads did well. We can obviously go toe to toe with the "best" team in the country at their home. We're very close to something good again. Finally.

Not this again, please.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

But for De Gea we would've scored about 4. Score line doesn't reflect how the match went.

and if my Aunty had balls she would have been my Uncle.
If the game had not had a bullshit red, I think we could have won, our defense played pretty well tonight.
Without the red , Mikhi would have stayed on.

 

[MadDogg]

Smalling needs to be stripped of captaincy.

Smalling isn't a great captain, but who is? Who in this team shows real leadership ability? Maybe Zlatan, but you don't give the captaincy to somebody who is in their first season and may not even be here for a second.

One of our other players (Rashford I think) recently said that Smalling never stops talking on the field, so he obviously is doing more leading and organising than is obvious from us on watching from the sideline and on tv.

He's certainly no Keane, Rio, Vidic, Neville, but he's arguably the best option in a sea of bad options. It's stupid to bash him for that.

 

[Orc]

De Gea is a part of the team and it's his job to stop goals from going in, so of course the score line reflects how the match went.

Meh. Seeing a lot of people here and Mourinho himself saying that they're "proud" of the team and it was a close match. In reality our players were extremely wasteful and we really should've won by multiple goals.

The score makes it look closer than it was.

 

[Isotope]

Nonsense.

Ok Boss. But don't you agree that we could have kept the ball and attack better? we're only one man short, and it's 10 against 11.

 

[Rightnr]

But for De Gea we would've scored about 4. Score line doesn't reflect how the match went.

Yeah, it's annoying how both teams get to play their goalies. Puhleease.

 

[Sassy Colin]

But for De Gea we would've scored about 4. Score line doesn't reflect how the match went.

So had we not had a goalkeeper, you'd have scored more?
In which case, Rashford scored too.

 

[m1y2]

I think Jose got his tactics spot on, the attitude of the players was spot on too, the red card definitely changed the game, and even then, I think we could have used the ball a bit better as we looked really good whenever we did, don't know why we kept launching it back at them aimlessly. But like everything in life, only the winner gets talked about, we still need a big game win & the team really need to fix up for the rest of the season.

sensible post

 

[Full bodied red]

I'm not really too disppointed - I wanted us to win, but never really expected it.

We also played better than I expected - I was so proud of the way we scrapped and defended. And with a bit of luck and without Oliver, we might have scraped a result.

Herrera ? First yellow might have been worth a yellow, might not have been. Second yellow wasn't worth a yellow. But Herrera got it for stupidity for giving Oliver the chance to do it. We had a thread a couple of weeks ago about why do we give away so many stupid, needless free kicks. That second yellow was exactly the stupid needless free kick that we were talking about. No danger, defence all in position, and Herrera does it again. Stupid.

But I'll look on the bright side. No way, NO WAY, will Chelski beat us three times in the same season - so our home match over Easter will be a good result for us, and I'd rather Top 4 than a Cup Semi-Final.

 

[Flying_Heckfish]

Very unfair comment, toilets are useful for something.

 

[wolvored]

I think after they scored Lingard and maybe Mata should of been bought on. We wasn't creating anything anyway and we might as well gone for it as we had nothing to lose.

 

[syrian_scholes]

Thought United were piss poor with the ball at their feed. Didn't know what to do or more precise in the second half how to take it off Chelsea. Chelsea created chance after chance and we couldn't even come out of our own half. Disgraceful stuff. We only relied on individual brilliance. That's just not good enough!

Why oh why did Mourinho take Mkhitaryan off, he's our best attacking threat and a very good ball carrier. Someone has to calm Herrera down, yes, the ref's decision was harsh, but after seeing the first yellow he should have been more careful, especially after the ref had given out his final warning to better not foul Hazard again.

I'm really frustrated with the game. Chelsea looked the real deal, they were so much better than us, couldn't believe what the feck i was watching. Mourinho has a huge job on his hands, we're far away and today, he and the club underachieved.

I get you missed the sending off then?

 

[Isotope]

Although the red card effected game in a big, the truth is that Chelsea are a much better side anyway. We're still a few players short from really competing against the likes of Chelsea.

Other than DDG, I don't think Conte would swap any of his players with ours.

 

[MadDogg]

But for De Gea we would've scored about 4. Score line doesn't reflect how the match went.

From memory only one of his saves in this game was anything to really take note of, and even that wasn't truly amazing.

 

[Catt]

But for De Gea we would've scored about 4. Score line doesn't reflect how the match went.

Next time we'll make sure to play without a goalkeeper.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Meh. Seeing a lot of people here and Mourinho himself saying that they're "proud" of the team and it was a close match. In reality our players were extremely wasteful and we really should've won by multiple goals.

The score makes it look closer than it was.

By the same logic, United should be 2nd in the league.
You don't get a goal unless it goes in the net.