[sunama]

A team of 6-footers, it’s a travesty that we concede from set pieces.

I'm afraid it's been like that for a while.
We have such tall players but these oafs can't head the ball if their lives depended upon it.
In today's match, we definitely needed Fellaini. He'd have added fight in our midfield and raised the fighting spirit of our own players.

I think Valencia was the only player today who looked like he wanted to fight. The rest of the players, worked hard, but didn't show fight.

It does seem though that if any team (be it Huddersfield, Newcastle or a Championship side), turns up and decides to fight, they will beat MUFC. Unfortunately, in the "fighting" games, like today and Huddersfield, we were missing the one player who we have who is designed to combat players who want a fight - Fellaini!

 

[jackofalltrades]

We have Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal at home plus City away. The first 3 could save or sink us for a top four spot.

 

[Sarni]

It seems you cannot have a balanced discussion here after a loss because the same people crawl out of their caves shouting 'inept performance', 'disgusting' and 'Jose and all our players need to go'.

I don't know how we were not 3-0 up by the time they scored a goal out of nothing. Actually I do know, we are quite crap at finishing off chances and have been for a while. The all round performance was not bad, we seemed in control for vast majority of the game but our attackers really need to have more composure or we will have way too many of 'just not this day' games. It's not the end of the world before the league is gone anyway and we should be able to get to the finish line without losing top 4 but ultimately if we are to win something with this group, they need to score when presented with a chance.

However we were definitely not 'completely outplayed' by Newcastle and this was far from horrible performance.

 

[Baby Groot]

Is that the league gone then?

Probably unless we got a mircle some where.
But even if City lost the rest we would manage to lose as many.

 

[Garethw]

What utter nonsense. Our team is in last place for distance covered from the whole Premier league. We definitely lack the work rate either because of lack of desire or having shite fitness levels.

It’s tactical mate. We cover the least amount of ground because Mourinho wants it that way.

He wouldn’t let the team do something he didn’t want for twenty plus games in a row. He’d be ripping them to shreds in the press, dropping them etc.

We have to accept that this is what he wants.

It’s hard to accept, but this is what we are stuck with as Jose is too stubborn too change.

 

[LoneStar]

Also how is it that our players look tired, when high pressing teams like City and Liverpool seem to cope up with their styles just fine? You would think that our low work rate would be an advantage to us at this time of the season.

 

[Water Melon]

Been saying for a while we hope he builds a team. How much more money does he need, How many more years? His tactics are ancient, football has moved on to a high pressured fast paced sport.

If I were Woody, I'd not have extented Jose's contract this season. People were saying that we are second because we spent less than City, and not because Jose is worse than Pep. Let us see what will be the excuse if we drop below second place. I hope Woody will be ruthless. I'd start looking for a new manager now, and if are again out of title race early next season, I'd let Jose go. For now it looks like we are not getting the best from his signings too. Sometimes enough is enough.

 

[diplomat]

It seems you cannot have a balanced discussion here after a loss because the same people crawl out of their caves shouting 'inept performance', 'disgusting' and 'Jose and all our players need to go'.

I don't know how we were not 3-0 up by the time they scored a goal out of nothing. Actually I do know, we are quite crap at finishing off chances and have been for a while. The all round performance was not bad, we seemed in control for vast majority of the game but our attackers really need to have more composure or we will have way too many of 'just not this day' games. It's not the end of the world before the league is gone anyway and we should be able to get to the finish line without losing top 4 but ultimately if we are to win something with this group, they need to score when presented with a chance.

However we were definitely not 'completely outplayed' by Newcastle and this was far from horrible performance.

We played one of the worst teams in the Premier league, who hadn't won at home for the last 4 months. That is shocking enough in itself.

 

[Hugh Jass]

It seems you cannot have a balanced discussion here after a loss because the same people crawl out of their caves shouting 'inept performance', 'disgusting' and 'Jose and all our players need to go'.

I don't know how we were not 3-0 up by the time they scored a goal out of nothing. Actually I do know, we are quite crap at finishing off chances and have been for a while. The all round performance was not bad, we seemed in control for vast majority of the game but our attackers really need to have more composure or we will have way too many of 'just not this day' games. It's not the end of the world before the league is gone anyway and we should be able to get to the finish line without losing top 4 but ultimately if we are to win something with this group, they need to score when presented with a chance.

However we were definitely not 'completely outplayed' by Newcastle and this was far from horrible performance.

This. People lose their shit when we lose. Best avoid this place for a few days after we lose.

 

[Garethw]

The only positive for me today was Lukaku. He was fantastic.

He held the ball up, brought others in to play and all his performance lacked was a goal.

He really looks as though he’s working on his weaknesses.

 

[GlassCityRedFan]

It's disingenuous to keep blaming the defense for the anemic production on offense, especially since this defense is statistically one of the best in the BPL. Teams have discovered a long time ago that a suffocating press will disrupt United's offense. Notice how the teams that do this well usually end up with either a win or a draw against United? One-touch passing and incisive thru-balls past the defense is how you beat that, and that's what's missing.

 

[Sarni]

We played one of the worst teams in the Premier league, who hadn't won at home for the last 4 months. That is shocking enough in itself.

It is, we should do much better than this and this should be a comfortable win for us but because of inept finishing and some odd defending for a few seconds we didn't. It happened in the past too and it will happen again in the future. We lost to a Blackburn team that hadn't won for ages at home while conceding 3 and we had all sorts of odd losses in the past too.

I wouldn't blow this out of proportion. Shit happens. It's not really like we have this stuff happening to us on a regular basis anyway. The last time we lost to a mediocre team was Huddersfield long time ago.

 

[Viral United]

I think you're exaggerating.

May be I am, and I hope you are right.

 

[Garethw]

This. People lose their shit when we lose. Best avoid this place for a few days after we lose.

A loss is a loss. Shit happens to even the very best teams. It’s the manner of the defeat and the fact that it is the same issues week after week that are holding us back that are pissing most fans off at the moment.

What exactly are we paying Mourinho for at the moment? We look like a lost bunch of strangers on the pitch.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

It is, we should do much better than this and this should be a comfortable win for us but because of inept finishing and some odd defending for a few seconds we didn't. It happened in the past too and it will happen again in the future. We lost to a Blackburn team that hadn't won for ages at home while conceding 3 and we had all sorts of odd losses in the past too.

I wouldn't blow this out of proportion. Shit happens. It's not really like we have this stuff happening to us on a regular basis anyway. The last time we lost to a mediocre team was Huddersfield long time ago.

Same shit as the Spurs game. Maybe all this shit we should be bringing a doctor in. We have been less than attractive in most games, but have got through them. We are being found out and the poor lads are obviously tired from all that not running around.

 

[Infra-red]

A team of 6-footers, it’s a travesty that we concede from set pieces. Our players don’t just seem to have an aggressive battering ram that goes after the first ball. I dunno what Jose’s coaching crew do in training.

That performance was abysmal.

Our midfielders are mostly big units, but none of our defenders are particularly good in the air.

Terrible performance, agreed.

 

[Jig1234]

Lukaku was superb. But we need to address Mourinho abysmal tactics and formations.

- Why does he persist with the two chuckle brothers at CB?
- Why does he bottle big matches and always go for hopeless Ashley Young?
- Why did he sign Sanchez to move an in-form Martial to the Right-wing.

It's his second season and our football is awful. it's slow, boring sideways football. All he has done is assemble an XI that looks good on paper but in reality it's rubbish. He has this amazing front four and can't get them to function positively at all.

I'll be amazed if we hold on 2nd place with Liverpool bearing down on us.

Can someone tell me how many games we have won, when conceding first? - It feels like if we concede we will lose, possibly draw. I can't remember us winning from a losing position that often under Mourinho.

 

[dogwithabone]

Nonsense. Their keeper played well and made a good save against Martial.
If you think we could have won 6.1 you are delusional.
Yes we created a bit more that a normally abjectly hopeless newcastle team but they deserved the win as we never matched their intensity or workrate

Well we will agree to disagree. I just don’t know how you can measure work rate and say in a 1-0 scoreline that one team worked obviously harder than the other.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Lukaku was superb. But we need to address Mourinho abysmal tactics and formations.

- Why does he persist with the two chuckle brothers at CB?
- Why does he bottle big matches and always go for hopeless Ashley Young?
- Why did he sign Sanchez to move an in-form Martial to the Right-wing.

It's his second season and our football is awful. it's slow, boring sideways football. All he has done is assemble an XI that looks good on paper but in reality it's rubbish. He has this amazing front four and can't get them to function positively at all.

I'll be amazed if we hold on 2nd place with Liverpool bearing down on us.

Can someone tell me how many games we have won, when conceding first? - It feels like if we concede we will lose, possibly draw. I can't remember us winning from a losing position that often under Mourinho.

BBC are saying it is one out of nine games. Drawn three, lost five.

 

[Catt]

Pretty much that Newcastle wanted it more.

That's not good to hear.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Same shit as the Spurs game. Maybe all this shit we should be bringing a doctor in. We have been less than attractive in most games, but have got through them. We are being found out and the poor lads are obviously tired from all that not running around.

We should have won 3-1 today if we had taken our chances. Then Smalling makes an error. On another day we would win 3-0.

Thought we were poor the first ten minutes, but then came into it. Much better in the second half, bar the goal. Last ten minutes was poor though.

 

[Greck]

A team of 6-footers, it’s a travesty that we concede from set pieces. Our players don’t just seem to have an aggressive battering ram that goes after the first ball. I dunno what Jose’s coaching crew do in training.

That performance was abysmal.

News at 10: Loading a team with tall players doesn't guarantee set piece dominance.

Hope we don't hamper ourselves in the near future by loading ourselves with immobile stiffs

 

[edgar allan]

[QUOTE="Jig1234, post: 22155227, member: 100151"

Can someone tell me how many games we have won, when conceding first? - It feels like if we concede we will lose, possibly draw. I can't remember us winning from a losing position that often under Mourinho.[/QUOTE]

On the TV coverage today for Jose it was in the region of 1 in 31 away games i think. Pretty pathetic figures.

 

[Red_toad]

Where to sart after that joke of a performance.

Team attitude lets pass the ball back before we pass it forward, we make nothing happen by pressing the opponents into making a mistake.

Lukaku does nothing for the team, every 9 in the league with a quarter of his price busts a gut to get to the ball first trying to at least make the defender commit a foul. Complete liability.

Midfield Matic looks knackered another liability.

Pogba has lost his swagger and looks upset with where he is being asked to play another liability.

Smalling and Jones thanks but not good enough on the ball and a mistake waiting to happen. Liabilities.

Jose our once special one has become the broken one far to stubborn to adopt tactics to the players strengths.

Manchester United once a team to be feared now a bunch of pussies outfought and made to look clueless.

I have watched every minute of every game this season and see nothing to be excited about.

You must be a body language guru if you can tell without actually talking to him that he's upset at where he's asked to play.
As he's a midfielder and wanted to join United, I'd have said he was very happy playing for us. He just turned in a terrible performance, possibly injured or just out of form... But then again I'm not body language expert...

 

[DomesticTadpole]

We should have won 3-1 today if we had taken our chances. Then Smalling makes an error. On another day we would win 3-0.

Thought we were poor the first ten minutes, but then came into it. Much better in the second half, bar the goal. Last ten minutes was poor though.

We didn't though. Just think they came out thinking it was a certain win and that they would score anyway. Then Newcastle score and they had difficulty upping the gears. They should come out in top gear at the start.

 

[Sarni]

Same shit as the Spurs game. Maybe all this shit we should be bringing a doctor in. We have been less than attractive in most games, but have got through them. We are being found out and the poor lads are obviously tired from all that not running around.

No, Spurs game we were terrible in and would have lost that 10 times out of 10. We have been bad against quality sides this season and this is a real problem we will need to address.

 

[Jig1234]

[QUOTE="Jig1234, post: 22155227, member: 100151"

Can someone tell me how many games we have won, when conceding first? - It feels like if we concede we will lose, possibly draw. I can't remember us winning from a losing position that often under Mourinho.

On the TV coverage today for Jose it was in the region of 1 in 31 away games i think. Pretty pathetic figures.[/QUOTE]

Wow! - If you're playing against Utd, that's basically all you need to say in the team talk. Try and score first and we will get a win or draw.

 

[edgar allan]

Well we will agree to disagree. I just don’t know how you can measure work rate and say in a 1-0 scoreline that one team worked obviously harder than the other.

Yes lets agree on that.

If you compare Shelvey's performance to Pogba's I would suggest that it is very easy to compare, although to be fair I have seen more effort than Pogba's in pub 5 aside games
To be fair I don't doubt Smalling's, Youngs, Valencia's Jones, Mata's effort......they try their best,it is just that they are not good enough.

 

[Class of 63]

Shelby is not the most talented person in the world but I'll give him one thing, he plays with heart and guts all the time. Sometimes it pays off and it did today.

He's inconsistent, but he's got a football brain, a range of pass and a he can be a nasty so and so when needed, not T4 starting level maybe, but he'd be a decent squad player for most of the top sides, with quotas him being English more so.

 

[Denis79]

I think we've only won one of the ;ast 20 matches when we conceded first....Or something like that....

Which says everything about the this team and players.

I can take a loss if we fight. Those stats say alot.

 

[utdalltheway]

6 shots on goal vs 3 to them.
We controlled them but our finishing was shite - and it has been for a while now.

 

[UnsungHero]

The game today was dreadful, Moyes tier.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

He's inconsistent, but he's got a football brain, a range of pass and a he can be a nasty so and so when needed, not T4 starting level maybe, but he'd be a decent squad player for most of the top sides, with quotas him being English more so.

Thought Jose would turn us into a nasty team. He hasn't, we are still a patting kiddies on the head side and saying we have to up our game side. Heard the latter before. I just hope they realise the F.A. Cup would be nice and do not let Huddersfield play like last time we went there.

 

[Jig1234]

BBC are saying it is one out of nine games. Drawn three, lost five.

Alarming. Big issues at play. In in second season I still can't understand why he signed Pogba, or Sanchez or why he persists with this system. Nothing makes any sense I don't see any cohesion on the pitch all I see is predictable passes, players taking too many touches it kinda feels like he signed Sanchez and co to build a team of individuals, not a team that know how to play for each other.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

6 shots on goal vs 3 to them.
We controlled them but our finishing was shite - and it has been for a while now.

Remember they should have had a penalty. We could have been behind earlier than we were. Yes we had chances, but no composure. They play like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders instead of being made to feel they are the best and not treat the ball like a hot potato.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Alarming. Big issues at play. In in second season I still can't understand why he signed Pogba, or Sanchez or why he persists with this system. Nothing makes any sense I don't see any cohesion on the pitch all I see is predictable passes, players taking too many touches it kinda feels like he signed Sanchez and co to build a team of individuals, not a team that know how to play for each other.

It isn't a team, it is just eleven random players. What is our style supposed to be?

 

[Yagami]

Remember they should have had a penalty. We could have been behind earlier than we were. Yes we had chances, but no composure. They play like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders instead of being made to feel they are the best and not treat the ball like a hot potato.

I think many are forgetting this. They were the better team and deserved the win.

 

[Coops73]

Wank performance, I have no idea what’s happening with Pogba but he’s been shit lately. We’re struggling and I can’t get my head around why.

 

[hn4manunited]

Most of the complaints in this thread are valid.

Defense was shaky with Smalling and Jones. That pairing is not working in this particular moment. Maybe Smalling and Rojo for a bit.

Midfield is destabilized by pogba not doing his job leaving Matic too much to do. If our midfield are doing their job, most of our plays will be in our opponent’s half. We don’t have discipline and structure to keep the ball in their half. When they regain possession, we’re scrambling because pogba is nowhere to be found. Our attacking 4 are scrambling to get back to help Matic and our defense. It should have been Matic and pogba side by side keeping things in front of them.

Our offense seems to be creating chances but missing chances is hurting us. Our attackers are too hot and cold. Martial can be as cool as cucumber in some games and then other games, just look predictable and lack of composure when presented with a chance. With our midfield in shambles, these 4 up front are never gets to have a comfortable situation to attack. Always tracking back in a scramble to bring ball back into opponent’s half. It’s understandable if we were playing a top six side but way too much scrambling for a bottom half of table team.

Lastly, the level of energy and desire compared to the intensity of our opponent. We need to up our level. I can see some facial expressions that looked like our players may be annoyed by Alexis fussing at them during the game but if they would stop moping and get on with it with the same level of intensity of Alexis, we would at least potentially perform with better energy.

 

[Jacob]

Bailly needs to hurry the feck up. Waste of a salary.

 

[antsmithmk]

Didn't catch the game today. Reading various threads on here it seems the blame lies with...

The entire defence
Matic
Pogba
Lukaku
Mourinho