[esmufc07]

The Christmas period isn't about playing free flowing football, it's about grinding out results when teams are start to look tired and lethargic (See Arsenal and Liverpool). There's a big 2 weeks coming up where we need to pick up maximum points, and hope City can perhaps slip up v Spurs and possibly another team. No-one knows how City are going to react to their first adverse results of the season.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

Do you people not get bored of moaning week in week out. I feel sorry for your partners. Most of you probably don’t even have one with the amount of moaning you all do.

 

[Ban]

We were lucky, they had a lot more of the ball and put De Gea to work a lot more than we did their keeper.

I don't remember their one decent chance. As for more of the ball what does statistic say?

 

[Marcky411]

Anyone laughed so hard on the last corner we played with Rashford and Young ?

Not really, rubbed my eyes, couldn't believe what I saw, nearly burst into tears.

 

[minoo-utd]

Considering the result against City and how the players were low in confidence I take a win like this one in a heart beat, people need to stop moaning when we win, what would you say if we drew the game? Yes the performance was bad but the win is crucial. On to the next game which will be very tough.

 

[rednotled]

Didn't play particularly well but good performances from Mata and Shaw.
And De Gea (again) thankfully.
If Rashford's thunderbolt had gone in the last 10 minutes would've been a lot more comfortable.

hohum - at least we won. Silver linings and all that...

And McTominay played pretty well too.

I'm not sure how I can say all that and then wonder where the hell our midfield was for most of the night..?

Confused, flat but glad we won.

 

[wr8_utd]

I just find it a struggle to enjoy our matches anymore or atleast when Pogba isn't playing. It really says a lot that 3 of your best players in a home game against an average team were a full back, a centre back and a keeper.

 

[drdoityourself]

I can't see any plan in the passing or the movement of our players. A very poor game and worrying signs.

 

[donkeyfish]

With 4 or 6 points in the next two games, we'll be on schedule for a 84 or 88 point season. I get that we're 11 points behind and played some dire games lately, but it's difficult for me to not be quite happy with our season.

 

[Jazz]

As it wasn't on TV I couldn't see the match, but the aim of this game was to win. Very very important considering everything's that gone on.
I'm going to be thankful for that, and hope we get through this period.

 

[el3mel]

Not really, rubbed my eyes, couldn't believe what I saw, nearly burst into tears.

Reminded of a similar hilarious corner we played against Olympiacos at OT in Moyes season, was Giggs with someone else.

 

[AshRK]

Well to be fair well done flicks can speed up the game and unlock the defences, if people want better attacking football then such are going to be needed, not every is going to come off as well.

I understand but doing flicks for the sake of it becomes idiotic. Sometimes keeping simple can lead to more goals.

 

[Witchking]

Yeah they look so fecking good coached that they're 2 points above relegation zone.

Yes, they seem better coached and they came to Old Trafford and had majority of the goal scoring chances. People will be disappointed when a team can Bournemouth comes home and makes us look like chumps.

If they are just 2 points off the relegation zone, how come they were much better than United?

 

[King Eric 7]

We're a bit stuffed in midfield. Herrera off form, Pogba suspended, Matic playing through injury and needing a rest, Fellaini injured, no Carrick either. There's no real cohesiveness when we have to chuck in McTominay into a makeshift midfield with Matic who could have done with the day off. One more result to grind out until Pogba is back.

 

[Tony Babangida]

Flat, low-energy performance. Hangover from the loss at the weekend. At least we won. We won't keep getting lucky if we continually invite pressure though, I was dreading that free kick flying in at the end.

Pleased Lukaku scored, he didn't really celebrate which makes sense given the derby.

 

[notcool]

Dross again.

The reasons being the low morale of the squad, the winter being tough and the absence of Pogba to help us counter-attack.

It was a good performance. The game became about defending the one goal lead and we did that well.

 

[whatwha]

Zzz. Apart from a couple of chances and a nervy moment, that was a really dull game. We are shit to watch without Pogba.

Poor old Sir Alex must have fallen asleep in the stands.

MOTM Jones I suppose.

 

[Ban]

Yes, they seem better coached and they came to Old Trafford and had majority of the goal scoring chances. People will be disappointed when a team can Bournemouth comes home and makes us look like chumps.

If they are just 2 points off the relegation zone, how come they were much better than United?

What chances? Can you number them

 

[milemuncher777]

I am tired of this same old 4-2-3-1 hoofball we are playing. Dreadful match, we have seen that nearly every other formation suits this team better than this, no Pogba no other formation, same old dross. Bournemouth played football and were dangerous, we played hoofball and scored a good header from Lukaku. Positives 3 points, negatives to many to mention, like in the LvG days Big Dave saves the day, definitely MOM.

I take it you didn't watch the game. Because that's not what we played today.

 

[ants7]

Somebody surely reminded Lingard that he is Lingard not Lingardhino he was few games back

That shot from Rashford was Ronniesque. Love the lad.

Clean sheet. 3 points. and I really don't understand why some hate Jones. Lad's injury-prone, yes, but he has become a monster under Jose.

 

[Jazz]

The Christmas period isn't about playing free flowing football, it's about grinding out results when teams are start to look tired and lethargic (See Arsenal and Liverpool). There's a big 2 weeks coming up where we need to pick up maximum points, and hope City can perhaps slip up v Spurs and possibly another team. No-one knows how City are going to react to their first adverse results of the season.

Absolutely this.

I'm sorry, but the Christmas schedule is excessively brutal. It's for another thread but there needs to be a re-think on this by the relevant authorities imho. This league is too physically intense to then add on more games in such a short period of time. Just too much for the players.

 

[redom]

Important to bounce back with a win but the performance wasn't encouraging going into a busy period, hopefully it was just a hangover from the City game and we can improve quickly.

 

[FootballHQ]

LVG will be getting hard on at those stats, 2 shots on target against Bournemouth's 8.

 

[esmufc07]

Absolutely this.

I'm sorry, but the Christmas schedule is excessively brutal. It's for another thread but there needs to be a re-think on this by the relevant authorities imho. This league is too physically intense to then add on more games in such a short period of time. Just too much for the players.

Yeah, part of me loves the festive period but there is definitely a downturn in the quality of football we see and there is an adverse affect on players fitness (I think there was a study that showed it was the time most players picked up injuries, though I could have just made that up).

Should finish the weekend before Xmas and resume in the new year. Not necessarily calling for a long winter break, but 4 games in 10 days is just ridiculous.

As you say though, probably a discussion for another thread.

 

[JustAFan]

3 points but nothing memorable about this game.

 

[van der star]

Slightly concerning that most people are picking our defenders as their MOTM choices for a home game against Bournemouth. Don't know what else can be done to get our attack to gel.

 

[KirkDuyt]

Shite match but after the blow on sunday a win's a win.

 

[Ban]

Slightly concerning that most people are picking our defenders as their MOTM choices for a home game against Bournemouth. Don't know what else can be done to get our attack to gel.

It happens.

 

[Eriku]

The Christmas period isn't about playing free flowing football, it's about grinding out results when teams are start to look tired and lethargic (See Arsenal and Liverpool). There's a big 2 weeks coming up where we need to pick up maximum points, and hope City can perhaps slip up v Spurs and possibly another team. No-one knows how City are going to react to their first adverse results of the season.

That's my thinking. Surely City will stumble at some point, and the Christmas schedule is the best time for it, with no let-up.

 

[Marcky411]

Another fairly abject display. We simply aren't that good and when Pogba is out the lack of quality shows. But, we have managed to get some breathing room in the race for a top 4 spot with both Arsenal and Pool dropping points so that can be seen as a positive.

Aren't you supposed to look up the table and not down, are we now aspiring for a top 4 finish? I would've preferred City dropping some points but Pool's draw was nice.

 

[van der star]

It happens.

I want to agree with you, but it's become the norm, rather than the exception, lately.

 

[Nate Dogg]

So after 1 good game against Arse, Lingard was back to being shit.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

Nice to get 3 points. Was not great, but we took the fight and got the 3 points. Improvements in Lukaku and he needed the goal. Still a lot to improve with us. Mctomminay and Jones did really well. Shaw did ok, but feel they did beat him far too easy a lot of the time.

 

[Witchking]

What chances? Can you number them

Yes. 9 to 14 according to the BBC. 2 to 7 on target again according to the BBC. All numbered for you.

 

[Marcky411]

Great performance, everyone was brilliant.

Missed the game​

 

[Offside]

We need to buy an attacking player.

 

[Trophy Room]

Sluggish performance. Fully expected. Last few seasons we would've lost. Progress imo.

 

[Ban]

Yes. 9 to 14 according to the BBC. 2 to 7 on target again according to the BBC. All numbered for you.

I asked you to number me the chances. Not quote the BBC

 

[drdoityourself]

So it's December and January the team is excused from playing good football because of a hectic schedule. It's December 13th and that excuse is coming a little early.
The team is excused from playing good football early in the season when it hasn't gelled.
After that the frequent international breaks provide an excuse.
The team is excused from playing good football from March through May when it's business end of the season and it's all about getting over the line.
The team is excused from playing good football away from home.

Sorry but this team is full of excuses, never a sustained period of good football.

 

[Ban]

I want to agree with you, but it's become the norm, rather than the exception, lately.

It hasn't.