[Paul_Scholes18]

I thought we started well. Poor goalkeeping and our lack of quality up front the did cost us the game. Although I think we did overall match City well.

 

[Livewire1974]

Our best player by a distance tonight. I’m not a big fan of his but you really think he’s the one holding us back!?

Yes. Great players improve average players.

 

[fergieisold]

Is Roy Keane having a stroke? Literally no idea what he’s on about.

 

[Random Task]

I am jealous of City and I hate myself for it. Can’t believe I am saying that. Pep is the Fergie of the current era.

We are so fecked.

Reported!

 

[Compton22]

I don't know how any of the owners or board of directors can look and see that gulf in class between us and City and not be motivated to do everything in their power to close the gap.

Actually I do know, they only care about what goes in their back pocket.

 

[UnitedChampionsAgain]

So that was the big reaction to the Everton shambles. Zero shots, zero quality and too many still in jogging mode. Clear the lot out, I'm done.

 

[King Eric 7]

Gutted to lose this game. To say we need a decent transfer window is an understatement. What with DDG off form, we are currently fecked in every part of the field, from the front right through to the GK position, although I will keep my faith with Dave in goal.

 

[Thiagoal]

I am jealous of City and I hate myself for it. Can’t believe I am saying that. Pep is the Fergie of the current era.

We are so fecked.

He will feck off within two years... hopefully

 

[RedDevil@84]

Pep is the Fergie of the current era

Not really. Has spent loads of money with backup players costing a fortune. And in his own words, will not be around long. He says 2-3 years is kinda ideal. Beyond that it is difficult to motivate players to keep going year after year.

 

[fergies coat]

We could do with a prime Roy Keane in that dressing room. There’s not one single leader in this team.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I thought we started well. Poor goalkeeping and our lack of quality up front the did cost us the game. Although I think we did overall match City well.

I have always loved DDG, but he seems to pull off one good save a game, then lets soft goals in. I don't know why, but maybe we should be looking elsewhere. His head just seems all over the place. Play Romero for the rest of the season.

 

[Canagel]

What a schooling.

Ole, lingard and rashford out of their depths.

 

[Devil may care]

On Sunday the lack of effort was appalling, tonight the effort was there and we even put together one or two decent moves, but the lack of quality in the frontline, the non existent fullback threat and the fact only one of our CB's can pass the ball out from the back was glaringly exposed.

 

[Full bodied red]

My first visit to OT was in 1957.

We beat Villa 4 - 1

I don't think I've ever felt as low as I do tonight - not because of tonight's result; not, even, when Denis scored to relegate us.

But because we are light years behind City, who have now beaten us at OT three matches in a row.

Watching us the past few weeks - Arsenal, Wolves, PSG first match, Barca, Everton, and now City - has been painful. Not just the results, but the abject, pitiful way we've lost those matches.

God knows where we go from here.

 

[Betson]

I'm surprised at how angry people seem with this performance and how low the player ratings are. We tried today and most players had an okay game, we were just outclassed by a better team.

I think the anger is at the whole situation we find ourselfs in rather than this single match , in and around half a billion spent , highest payroll in Europe etc etc and yet routinely outclassed. Just not good enough for a club with our tradition and our size.

 

[FootyGirl88]

Roy Keane I love him he makes laugh

 

[48 hours]

Keane full of hate for our lack of closing down whilst Nev tries to claim the players were tired

 

[el3mel]

Since I had to not watch the second half, the players will escape my slaughtering today, except De Gea as I watched the goals.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Gutted to lose this game. To say we need a decent transfer window is an understatement. What with DDG off form, we are currently fecked in every part of the field, from the front right through to the GK position, although I will keep my faith with Dave in goal.

Starting to think DDG is a big part of our problem, letting in soft goals and his distribution is abysmal which affects our attacking side.

 

[siw2007]

Can’t complain about the effort, we tried hard, tactically it was good. When Sane came on, City went up a level and showed their class. In the end we just weren’t good enough.

 

[Gopher Brown]

I don't know how any of the owners or board of directors can look and see that gulf in class between us and City and not be motivated to do everything in their power to close the gap.

Actually I do know, they only care about what goes in their back pocket.

Just look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who haven’t had a sniff of success in 12 years, or a title in 17 years.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

On Sunday the lack of effort was appalling, tonight the effort was there and we even put together one or two decent moves, but the lack of quality in the frontline, the non existent fullback threat and the fact only one of our CB's can pass the ball out from the back was glaringly exposed.

They definitely put more effort in, but that cannot cover up the lack of quality.

 

[minoo-utd]

7 losses in last 9. first time since the 1962. Ole first numbers with us here front of you.
You just can't to lose these number of games you just can't it is not acceptable.

On the other hand, Pep said: "it doesn't matter if we lose a game we play to win we just have to win"

More brave, takes risks, play fecking football.

Just hope we take notes.

 

[wolvored]

Positives We got our one goal on target again. Well done. We kept the score down to a less cringeworthy defeat.
7 defeats out of 9 now.

 

[Swearing Budgie]

After 20 fantastic years we are getting our cannupins

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

We huffed and puffed but we were never really in that game.

It's not just the goals, it's the speed/quality of City's inter-passing (the touch of most of our players is shocking for a professional footballer), their movement with and without the ball (we're so static with and without), their running before and after scoring (compared to ours which was intermittent).... everything really which is depressing.

I dont really want to diss Ole given he's not been there that long, but he has to sort his subs out.... if it's not working, change it, sooner.

De Gea isn't suddenly shit but whatever the reason is recently, maybe time to cash in, play Romero (see how Henderson progresses) and use the funds towards new players.

And as sad as it sounds, I think there are a dozen players I'd happily sell/allow to leave - unfortunately it won't happen. Romero/Henderson for goalie, three new defenders, two new midfielders, two attackers.

So many things wrong.... We'll be lucky to be challenging in three years time.

 

[KristianMackle]

Just as expected, we were nowhere near them.

Few things:

• Perreira is not a starter.
• De Gea needs dropping.
• I admire Fred's energy but gives the ball away far too often.
• We need a striker
• Young should be given away to Huddersfield tonight. For free.
• This needs to be a big summer for us

 

[Irwin99]

Such a lack of quality but at least there was some effort. Lindelof played pretty well. Shaw with another booking for the same offence as the other 11 times

Rashford and Lingard up top

Just not seeing anything with Perreira at all. Even when Mctom was slated on here all the time you could see he was in the team to do a job. Perreira- I have no idea what he contributes.

 

[Smithy89]

We were crap again, plain and simple. We worried them once, otherwise they had nothing to do.

2/3 max from that 11 should be starting next season, facts.

 

[King Eric 7]

Starting to think DDG is a big part of our problem, letting in soft goals and his distribution is abysmal which affects our attacking side.

He is currently, but long term I'm keeping the faith because he's been our best player post SAF year in year out. He's having a mare right now and it's costing us badly but I just think he needs a reboot. As for his distribution, I don't think that will get better but his other attributes (when playing well) more than make up for it.

 

[Pughnichi]

City so far ahead of us it’s almost laughable. They’re calm, composed, and measured in everything they do. They have awesome technical ability that enables them to create more time and space for one another. Not his fault today and not one I’m using as a scapegoat but in comparison, did Lukaku control the ball at all in his brief cameo. Balls forever bounce off him and escape that extra yard which means he now has more to do under increased pressure. That’s throughout the squad as well. 10 out 10 in

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

The reality is they are a million miles ahead of us.


That’s the scary part as we look nowhere near that level.

 

[Scholsey2004]

There was some spirit tonight and they put up a fight at least. 7 losses out of nine though....

 

[fallengt]

I have genuinely resigned to the fact that it's just our turn to be shite no matter what we do. We were at the top for so long and rode our luck countless of times year after year after year under Fergie, so it's only natural the footballing gods are punishing us a bit these days.

The worst part is Glazers still pursing this business model and hope shit somehow sticks on the wall one day. Appointing manager after 2 months trial when they could just have waited. There was literally no pressure whatsoever.

Anyone tells me with a straight face these people have any long term plan for this club, I'd bust a gut laughing.

 

[SuperiorXI]

Fecking balls on this lad to show up to the post match interview with a daft clown hat on

 

[Swearing Budgie]

Can’t complain about the effort, we tried hard, tactically it was good. When Sane came on, City went up a level and showed their class. In the end we just weren’t good enough.

I am really pleased that for an average wage of 200k per week our players made an effort.

Well done lads!

 

[Lentwood]

I watched that game with the cold apathy of a neutral so let me give the (many) uneducated posters on here a breakdown of what just happened and what we just saw....I'll start with an assessment of how our players performed.

De Gea - has clearly had his confidence shaken by the World Cup and a number of mistakes this season. Looked like he was torn between going with his hands and his feet for the goal and that split second cost him the save. Also, woeful at playing out from the back, every time he does short, he puts us under pressure. When he goes long, we're just giving the ball straight back and better sides will keep it

Young - not very good. Doesn't deserve the abuse he has been getting but is past it now. Offers nothing going forward and that allows teams to play against us with such confidence, pushing full backs high and wide to support the attack

Darmian - not very good

Smalling - despite his known flaws with the ball at his feet, Smalling is actually one of our 'better' players in that at least he has some standout abilities. Good in the air, strong in the tackle....prone to an error, can't pass out from the back

Lindelof - see Smalling....but in reverse. Not useless but I still question is raw defensive ability at the top level

Shaw - actually one of our better players at retaining possession and is OK defensively but I feel that he is just short of the level required in both boxes.

Fred - put him out of his misery....just not good enough and looks terrified in possession

Pogba - wasting his time at United. Too good and too talented to be surrounded by no-hopers. It doesn't help him and at this stage, where we are right now, I don't think having a player like Pogba necessarily helps us either. We need steel, consistency, grit and determination....not talented mavericks...you add those once you've built your foundations, not before.

Pereira - see Fred

Rashford - I am actually starting to resent Rashford....possibly not our worst player but the disparity between his actual ability and the mythical ability he is credited as having by some posters and pundits is so big it frustrates me. The commentators talked him up as if he were Pele or Ronaldo in the first 20mins...we kept hearing how dangerous and sharp he looked...can somebody please tell me...when?! How?!

Lingard - pointless. Completely, utterly, absolutely pointless. Could be a good '15th man' type player you keep around for League Cup games and to play 10-15mins here and there but as a starter....my word so far off what is required it's scary

Now in terms of the City team, what the aforementioned morons of this forum may or may not have noted is that City, unlike United, can actually string two passes together at pace. I will say this once.....THIS IS NOT BECAUSE OF TACTICS! THIS IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BETTER PLAYERS WHO THINK QUICKER, REACT FASTER AND ARE TECHNICALLY SUPERIOR.....sorry, had to get that out of my system. Whereas City move the ball between the Silva's, Aguero, Sterling, Gundogan and Fernandino at pace, we see Fred, Pereira, Lingard and Rashford stumbling, fumbling and panicking as we shuffle the ball side-to-side, backwards and then.....hoooooooof straight back to the opposition

What I saw tonight was a United team play with endeavour and effort and discipline but simply get outclassed. As I ST holder at United for most of the noughties/early 2010s...I know well what this looks like as it was basically every team that came to Old Trafford to face United. On the odd occasions we did get our foot on the ball or find ourselves in a dangerous position, it came to nothing because one of our 'lesser lights' inevitably gets on the ball and misplaces a pass, fluffs a cross or takes too long and has to go backwards.

Can I ask nicely that if you think Ole is to blame, please bugger off and support City/Liverpool/Chelsea. We don't need 'supporters' like you...it's you lot who helped hound out Jose and LvG and continuously misdirect your anger at the wrong people, in doing so letting the real culprits (Ed and the Glazers...duh!) off the hook

It's going to take a full restructure and a minimum of 3/4 windows to fix this. Take the heat off our managers and direct your ire at the boardroom!

 

[hobbers]

Rashford coming at people for not running for their team mates. Sounds like he's got a few in mind.

 

[SuperiorXI]

Rashford saying they will never call each other out? They need to fecking call eachother out day in day out. Christ.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

He is currently, but long term I'm keeping the faith because he's been our best player post SAF year in year out. He's having a mare right now and it's costing us badly but I just think he needs a reboot. As for his distribution, I don't think that will get better but his other attributes (when playing well) more than make up for it.

Depends what Ole wants from his goalie. If he wants him to start the attacks then he could be in trouble. It is no good if he is just going to hoof it downfield. He has to be able to pass it out or throw it out.