[#07]

Not to win the league it isnt

Why? Its generally how we've done it over the past 20 years.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

I hope that time will return soon where our fans, players and most importantly manager will realise and appreciate the fact that we are Manchester United, we shouldn't be playing like this. But I suppose we no longer live in an age where traditions mean anything. Honestly would rather see us lose if we at least try to win, rather than playing like this and getting a point.

Yip.

It doesn't mean gung ho but got to play to our abilities and we didn't.

For those saying "it's a good point, away to Liverpool"... no it's not, this isn't a good Liverpool side, we could have got all the points. City will go for the win in these games.

Never been a fan of Mkhi (lot of fan boys in his thread). He's not a kid, he needs to man up or get lost. Looks like the people saying he looked good for Dortmund because of the competition (other than Bayern) were right.

 

[wolvored]

Good game from us overall. I'm very surprised that you never looked like you wanted to win. Judging by this game, it is utterly baffling that we haven't been better against much worse opponents than you.

Other teams aint as scared as us/mourinho

 

[madzo2007]

The way some people are getting on in here makes it sound like we got hammered 3-0. Form goes out the window in these kind of games, plus it was an early kick off after an international break it was always going to be slow and dull

 

[Ibi Dreams]

So only teams that win deserve to win? Yeah, no.

They weren't good enough to score a single goal against us, so how were they good enough to deserve to win?

 

[R'hllor]

fecking coward! You wanna park a bus, fine, you wanna be defensive, great but at least set it up with purpose, what on earth was that!? Moment we win a ball as result of good defensive work we hoof it towards abyss like some non league team, just feck off.

Martial out instead of Young says it all, playing with number 10 who is recently a black hole when it comes to balls etc. I know JM is a landlord to majority here but please dont talk shit with making Afro and Pogba missing as reason for playing this way, it would be same either way.

 

[Andycoleno9]

I disagree with most of you. Yes it was boring. Yes, we didn't play football. BUT , the way how we defended was really excellent. They had one clear chance and maybe 2 half chances. It was not like our bus parking games before. I wish also that we play football in these matches but i am not a coach. Jose knows the best.
Also titles are won exactly like this. Point on hard away games and 3 points on other games. Again i am a little bit worried with our away big games form and performances but this is joses way. If we win title, it is all good.

 

[haram]

That young Gomez lad spoke very well there. Has he been involved with England yet? Looks a player.

He played well today but he's really not that good.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

We've got feck all without Pogba. The ball goes from defence to midfield, and then it's back to the opposition. There's nobody in the middle who can hold the ball from the press like Pogba can.

Everything Mkhi touches results in losing possession.

Darmian is the Tom Cleverley of defenders.


Every time the crowd roared, Liverpool got a free kick. They're well trained in playing for foul, it seems. Smalling makes one foul with Coutinho with his back to goal just over the half way line and gets booked. Wijnaldum makes at least 4 fouls, 2 which stopped counter attacks and 1 a clear stamp on Herrera and gets nothing. Clear dives from Salah and Coutinho, clear playacting from Lovren, there was feck all in the 50/50 which got Young booked, Can went down holding his head when Darmian actually caught his own player. We were never getting a win from that game anyway, but Liverpool certainly won the ref over from the beginning.

 

[Cloud7]

We hoof the ball far too frequently for a team that isn't actually any good at creating something from those aimless long balls

 

[Theonas]

What are you on?! If we win the league it will absolutely justify this approach.

Today our players were poor which made it all look worse than it was.

No it wouldn't. I don't know about you but I think the likes of Manchester United, just like Real, Barcelona and other top teams, should aim to be the best. When you consider our resources and status on the global stage, we should look to be on the same wavelength as other European elites and play them toe to toe. Winning the league alone does not make you that, it simply makes you the best of the bunch. Of course it is great considering where were the past 3 years but long term, it is not enough.

 

[Barnslig]

Fowler and Schmeicel are being interviewed at the touchline after the game on Norwegian TV and the remaining United fans are chanting «you`re a wanker» at Fowler

 

[ZupZup]

Too many players were beyond poor today. Darmian, Mkhitaryan, Herrera, Lukaku...

You’re not going to play away at Anfield and win if the players are so off their game. I don’t have too many problems with the approach but the players need to show some composure and the ability to hurt Liverpool on the break. We showed neither which is disappointing.

 

[I_live_cement]

With the players we have, we should have created more.

You can't blame Mourinho for the players constantly losing the ball and playing with no urgency.

 

[Fener1907]

All the talk will be between two camps on this one - the kind who see shit Anfield performances as inevitable but the point being a good one, and those who see it as an ominous display with regards to the rest of the season. As irritating as it undoubtedly was to watch, the former is more realistic.

That said, bollocks to the performance. Negative tactics are understandable, but the inability to put together successive passes was irritating to say the least. The team can be defensive, there isn't a problem with that, because letting Liverpool run rampant and have a workhorse have a field day is definitely unacceptable. However, in doing that, it shouldn't mean that the attacking ability is so badly compromised. There needs to be a more acceptable balance there.

When it's all said and done, the bigger picture is more important here, and it is a point that goes towards a great start to the season. Liverpool will moan and claim their moral victory, and they're welcome to that whilst sitting in sixth and being eight points off the pace.

 

[SuperiorXI]

I get that playing defensively has its merits but you could at least trouble that Liverpool defence a bit? They've been leaking this season.

We should have tested their defence a lot more I feel. Our attackers were just not on their game today.

 

[Member 5225]

Why is everyone so surprised, a solid draw away to our most fierce rivals after a gruelling international break. I’ll take the draw and continue our unbeaten start to the season. Can’t win them all!

 

[whatwha]

Lindelof MOTM

This.

 

[R'hllor]

Only positive is that all that pre match bullshit by Sky went to shit after FT, cnuts.

 

[cfkane]

Missing important players through injury and others coming back from international duty. Away at Anfield. Not a bad point.

 

[Zexstream]

Still unbeaten, a point away to Liverpool is always a good result.

My only concern was the lack of chances for Lukaku, but overall we managed to keep Liverpool quiet enough that they only managed a draw with us. These sort of games are not about form but more about who has the crowd behind them and the passion of the players.

 

[Ban]

I can't imagine that adding Fellaini to that team would have changed our approach. It might have made it more effective, sure, but the intent was never there to dominate in the way @Devil may care describes.

Possession wise we would have been better.

 

[diarm]

He played well today but he's really not that good.

Fair enough. I haven't seen him play that much. Was impressed with his interview though. Seems to have a good head on his shoulders.

 

[Isotope]

Would another 200m transfers make us play better?

 

[elisha27]

We have produced a performance similar to this almost every time we've played this fixture in the last ten years. The only exception was LVG's league match in his first season.

I don't know why the managers of this club consistently set up to play Liverpool like they're Barcelona, season in, season out, completely disregarding their actual form or relative strength. Mourinho is a coward.

 

[Ephrem]

This is what I hate when it comes with Jose. But with Pogba and Fellaini out I can see why he choose that approach and hopefully he won't work the same against all top 6 sides especially away . If that's his approach then we won't be challenging anywhere near for the title.

Been saying this for a while but Micky needs to be upgraded. He is not good enough as a starting number 10 for us .

A new number 10 and a LB if shaw is not up to the mark ( looking like that way ) should be our priority next summer. Hope we can Nick Sanchez from Arsenal for free

 

[Minimalist]

Aye. Bit shocked by the moaning. But, then again, that’s more fool me. Been muppets all week saying they expected no less than three points. As though they’re completely obliviious to our record in this fixture. Plus people ALWAYS fecking moan after every single game we don’t win. Standard.

Some of us were happy to get a point and still feel it was bad enough a performance to talk about.

 

[Offside]

A point there isn't a bad result but it's still disappointing. When yous see what City did at Chelsea last week it's hard to praise us. Liverpool are bang average and we have been scoring goals for fun, the lack of any attacking intent is just frustrating and dull.

It's early in the season and a chance to make a statement - tactics were absolutely pathetic if I'm being honest.

 

[hubbuh]

I know Mourinho will take the lion's share of the blame for that, but individually we were below par pretty much all over the pitch. Badly weighted passes throughout, half-hearted, loose tackles. We had absolutely no zip to our play. Young and Mkhi are both too flowery, neither are in any way bullish enough to cause trouble against a side like Liverpool and Mkhi in particular just does not have the right mentality for these sort of fixtures.

Herrera has been out of the side so it feels harsh to criticise him but he epitomised our performance today. Off the pace and disjointed. Decent result but mentally it feels like a step backward. Our first real test and we were fortunate to come away with anything.

 

[The Brown Bull]

Woeful performance by us. Only DDG ,Matic and possibly Smalling played well.
Why so negative against a poor Liverpool side?

 

[Random Task]

Can't complain with a point away at the game raisers of Dipperville. Yeah we offered very little in the way of attacking intent, but at the same time we didn't look like conceding either. So long as we continue to dispatch the smaller teams in the manner in which we have been all season long, then we're still well in with a shout at the title.

People need to remember one amiable fact, Jose Mourinho knows precisely what it takes to win a league title. His defensive attitude in the tough away games is necessary if you ask me, wait until we get them back to OT. It will be a different game entirely.

Good point well earned from the lads.

 

[Peanut Butter]

Any Utd fan moaning about a point away at Anfield, which takes us top of the league, when Liverpool desperately need a win, deserve David Moyes as manager.

This is how Jose wins titles. You don't win every game 4-0.

Unbeaten, just two goals conceded and we're into October.

I love this team.

 

[AshRK]

He is not good enough to start for sure but it's not his fault he is asked to do so much.
He ain't fooling anybody, we know what he can and cannot do. If the players cannot displace him then they're the ones who should feck off out of the club.

I get what you are saying but if we are to compete ar the highest level we must buy or have players who cause problems to our opponents. He is square pegs to hole sort of player, we have to look beyond him.

 

[vidic blood & sand]

United sucked the passion out of this derby, but after an international break, and liverpool fired up to get something for the fans, overall i'd say it's not a bad result.
Most disapointed by our dreadful passing and movement. It was as if we knew the result before full time.

 

[Hawks2008]

We're top of the league.

City still have to play so it won't last long.

 

[PlayerOne]

While we did have important players missing, I feel it would not have made any difference to have Pogba or Fellaini playing. The set-up today doesn't give you a real chance to attack or take risks going forward.

It played out like last seasons game and Liverpool were so much better last season, that's why I find it annoying

 

[King7Eric]

fecking drama queen. Remember O’Shea’s late winner at Anfield? We played champagne football that day, didn’t we? Oh wait...

And how many times did we play with that kind of game plan those days?? In a space of 1 year we've already this twice at Anfield, once at Etihad and at Stamford Bridge. Playing defensive or shite because the other team is better is different, approaching the game with the sole mindset to get a point is embarrassing for Man Utd. I don't remember many games under SAF when we had 1 shot on target, even if we were playing a bit conservatively. Moreover the fact is we are a better side than those dippers but still we play like this. That's what irks me.

 

[RedIke]

I'm torn!

First let me say it's a decent point. Decent enough in the grand scheme of the year. 20 points and no loss so far is great.

Buuuuuuuut.......
feck me that was brutal. I understand the manager and the approach. But I still feel the team was way too passive, and allergic to any forward pass. It was painful. They huffed and puffed, but United did less. And that for me was a problem. Ref bad, Mikhi bad, Rom bad, Rash bad, Lingard meh. Thank the high heavens for Dave.

 

[Fooza]

Would another 200m window can make us play better?

Throw in 1billion, Mourinho will probably still park bus away from Anfield. Will he ever change, that's the question.

 

[ZAGREB RED]

Only positive is that United didn't lose. No attempt to play any football, save for the slick move that set Lukaku up in the first half. Dreadful really, just because you set up to keep it tight surely doesn't mean you can't try to get at the opposition when you have a bit of possession. Especially against a team with a mediocre back four and keeper like Liverpool. United smothered Liverpool and themselves, second half you wondered if they might come out a bit more, especially in the closing stages but United retreated more and more as the game went on.

 

[Broad Street Bullies]

We should have tested them more. The attacking play was pathetic after the break.