[always_hoping]

The worst news to take out of today's match as the main objective was avoiding any more injuries before the cup final.

"McTominay and Fred are possible doubts for Europa League final. Solskjaer said: 'Unfortunately Scott had to come off and Fred doesn’t look great while he’s walking now, but we’ve got eight days.'

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

The worst news to take out of today's match as the main objective was avoiding any more injuries before the cup final.

"McTominay and Fred are possible doubts for Europa League final. Solskjaer said: 'Unfortunately Scott had to come off and Fred doesn’t look great while he’s walking now, but we’ve got eight days.'

Mctominay & Fred being missing really isn’t that bad tbf. Both are crap. Getting Maguire fit is much more important.

Matic Pogba
Bruno
​

 

[King7Eric]

More focus needs to be put on the players' attitudes in this match than their abilities. For so much of the match, they looked very comfortable, yet despite the comfort, they would attempt difficult or heroic actions so casually that you wouldn't be surprised by the poor execution in the end. Then there was the lack of willingness to engage, defensively, from certain players, like Luke Shaw. This became even more apparent when McTominay came off and Pogba moved to the midfield, which is when we basically lost control of the match.

If anything, when you see a team that can destroy teams 9-0, 6-2, 4-0, etc., and then lose 3 of the last 5 matches, you have to question their mentality and whether they're willing to give their all. Even Ole referred to their attitudes in his post-match comments:

I think anyone who actually focuses on the game and doesn't jump to conclusions based on results will understand Ole's comments. It was the same against Pool too I felt, after we went ahead we tried so much fancy stuff, it's like we wanted to prove how much better we were than the opponent, same as today.

I personally wouldn't read too much into these results going into the final as the players will be razor focused on that game. But I must say the players need to improve on this aspect of their mentality if we seriously want to challenge for the league next season.

 

[Dominos]

Don’t blame a couple of defensive errors for this result.

We had all that possession and did nothing with it.

No urgency and no real threat up front as a result of stodgy build up play and non-existent movement.

Static players passing to static players, going nowhere and hoping for a lucky breakthrough or a bit of magic from Cavani or Greenwood.

The Fulham goal shouldn’t have mattered, because we should have been 3 or 4-0 up by then.

Once McT went off, we looked like a rabble and fell apart.

There is no such thing as a routine win with this team. We should be creating more chances and scoring more in games like this - we played with enough intensity and clearly aimed to move the ball quickly which is better than most games - but even then the lack of quality and cohesion in our play costs us.

 

[Oranges038]

That second half was a chore, I think Lee Mason blew up a few seconds early because he couldn't be arsed delaying his retirement by having to go through another minute of it.

Games like tonight make you realise how much this team needs a midfielder that can get hold of the ball and dictate the play. I know a lot of people think this team needs a proper dm, but it also needs someone like Modric or Kroos that can get the ball down and control the tempo if the game.

Fred and McT are decent shield players but their passing and awareness is nowhere near good enough. Fred's first touch always seems to take him in the wrong direction and closes off opportunities to pass. McT has barely got a first touch and his passing is awful.

 

[Coops73]

Err.. you did? You said we're in the final of the EL as if that's an indication that we're well coached/managed. It's not.

So you think you could coach/manage a team to the Europa league final? You think you could coach/manage a team to 2nd in arguably the hardest league in world football?

Ok, you may be a plumber, banker, prostitute, whatever, this isn’t what you’ve trained or been forced to do your whole life but have a fecking word with yourself, the utter arrogance on here of some to think they could do a better job than the likes of Ole or Carrick or Phelan or McKenna with these players is unreal.

 

[always_hoping]

Mctominay & Fred being missing really isn’t that bad tbf. Both are crap. Getting Maguire fit is much more important.

Matic Pogba
Bruno
​

I highly doubt Maguire on crutches at the moment will be fit to play next Wednesday and neither of Tuanzebe, Bailly are like for like replacements.

One of the best things about Villarreal is their midfield, its full of energy and they play the high press, giving the opposite little time and room on the ball. They will look exploit Pogba if he's played in the pivot instead of left wing and Matic is very slow in both movement and reaction.

 

[GledTheRed]

I rushed doing the garden to get sorted for this, wished id have taken my time then proceeded to watch the grass regrow.

 

[mav_9me]

I highly doubt Maguire on crutches at the moment will be fit to play next Wednesday and neither of Tuanzebe, Bailly are like for like replacements.

One of the best things about Villarreal is their midfield, its full of energy and they play the high press, giving the opposite little time and room on the ball. They will look exploit Pogba if he's played in the pivot instead of left wing and Matic is very slow in both movement and reaction.

There is no chance of winning if we play Pogba in midfield 2 against Villarreal

 

[cyberman]

I highly doubt Maguire on crutches at the moment will be fit to play next Wednesday and neither of Tuanzebe, Bailly are like for like replacements.

One of the best things about Villarreal is their midfield, its full of energy and they play the high press, giving the opposite little time and room on the ball. They will look exploit Pogba if he's played in the pivot instead of left wing and Matic is very slow in both movement and reaction.

Villarreal are slow im midfield. Basically slow all over.

 

[Blood Mage]

Fecking embarassing, our home form is scandalous and we need to sort it out next season. Cavani's goal was also offside as Bruno didn't touch the ball so Fulham should have won!

 

[Betson]

Very disappointing to see us limping to the end of the season , Ole actually seemed quite upset with the players after the match , I think he realizes it cannot be just turned on and off if the players think they can just phone it in until the Europa league final.

 

[UDontMessWith24]

Very disappointing to see us limping to the end of the season , Ole actually seemed quite upset with the players after the match , I think he realizes it cannot be just turned on and off if the players think they can just phone it in until the Europa league final.

He grazed it watch the rotation of the ball

 

[amolbhatia50k]

No it hasn’t, twats on here think they know it all. We’re so poorly coached we’re in the Europa final and potentially finishing 2nd in one of the toughest leagues in the world.

You think you know it all.

My word, 2nd place give us a trophy for it already. Europa League final for Manchester United is no great shakes - see our run in, it's a poor tournament.

 

[simonhch]

Falling over the line like we do at the end of every season

Except last season where we won a critical, winner takes all, last game of the season game against the team in third, away, and won.

Who cares about the result. This has been an exhausting season. Playing at low intensity now, sowing up second, it’s all good.

Let’s hope Maguire is fit for the final.

 

[Strelok]

Fecking embarassing, our home form is scandalous and we need to sort it out next season. Cavani's goal was also offside as Bruno didn't touch the ball so Fulham should have won!

He did touch the ball, very slightly but he did.

3:18

 

[Okey]

He did touch the ball, very slightly but he did.

3:18

Yep. I doubt that ball reaches Cavani the way it did if it didn't get a little flick, and only the slightest flick is required. Anyway, poor result to welcome the fans back with. I'm worried about us stumbling into the coming final without a winning momentum. But hey, beat Villareal and all is forgiven. We simply have to win that game to build into next season.

 

[UpWithRivers]

Both seasons are over. Our players are playing for nothing in the league, you can tell by the performances of both. It's a fair comparison.

In so much as Bill gates loosing a tenner and me being the same I guess so.

 

[bsCallout]

In so much as Bill gates loosing a tenner and me being the same I guess so.

Are you being intentionally obtuse?

Irrelevant to how our seasons went comparatively, they are both over in the league. Nothing to play for. Pointless. City went one better and lost.

 

[Swearing Budgie]

Standard end of season collapse under Ole

 

[pascell]

Both seasons are over. Our players are playing for nothing in the league, you can tell by the performances of both. It's a fair comparison.

Liverpool game the same? Same standard of performance from us in both games, wonder if we'll all say 'it was only the EL anyway' if Villarreal turn us over next week.

 

[mitchmouse]

Are you being intentionally obtuse?

Irrelevant to how our seasons went comparatively, they are both over in the league. Nothing to play for. Pointless. City went one better and lost.

one slight difference: City have won two trophies so far...

 

[mitchmouse]

He grazed it watch the rotation of the ball

it was hilarious hearing Souness's explanation of how he "couldn't have touched it" when it clearly moved off its trajectory

 

[fergieisold]

Mctominay & Fred being missing really isn’t that bad tbf. Both are crap. Getting Maguire fit is much more important.

Matic Pogba
Bruno
​

That would be a disaster. There's no intensity in the CM position at all. We really need at least one of MCT or Fred to be fit.

 

[mitchmouse]

I think anyone who actually focuses on the game and doesn't jump to conclusions based on results will understand Ole's comments. It was the same against Pool too I felt, after we went ahead we tried so much fancy stuff, it's like we wanted to prove how much better we were than the opponent, same as today.

I personally wouldn't read too much into these results going into the final as the players will be razor focused on that game. But I must say the players need to improve on this aspect of their mentality if we seriously want to challenge for the league next season.

trouble is, we heard that at the end of last season.... and the one before that

 

[mitchmouse]

I highly doubt Maguire on crutches at the moment will be fit to play next Wednesday and neither of Tuanzebe, Bailly are like for like replacements.

One of the best things about Villarreal is their midfield, its full of energy and they play the high press, giving the opposite little time and room on the ball. They will look exploit Pogba if he's played in the pivot instead of left wing and Matic is very slow in both movement and reaction.

Said this before, but if the injury is as first described he won't make the Euros let alone the Europa...

 

[hubbuh]

So you think you could coach/manage a team to the Europa league final? You think you could coach/manage a team to 2nd in arguably the hardest league in world football?

Ok, you may be a plumber, banker, prostitute, whatever, this isn’t what you’ve trained or been forced to do your whole life but have a fecking word with yourself, the utter arrogance on here of some to think they could do a better job than the likes of Ole or Carrick or Phelan or McKenna with these players is unreal.

Oh my fecking God, calm down you absolute whopper. Jesus Christ is Ole you're fecking first born or something? I said he's got us to second in the league which shows he has done a good job this season and has given us a platform moving forward. The point was that using the fact we've gotten to the EL final is meaningless because it is. Mourinho got us to the final, won it and was sacked a year later, Sarri won it with Chelsea and was sacked immediately after. The squad is laden with quality far beyond any other team in the competition so sorry but no, I don't see Ole getting this United side to EL final as a managerial achievement. Boo bloody hoo.

 

[mitchmouse]

Oh my fecking God, calm down you absolute whopper. Jesus Christ is Ole you're fecking first born or something? I said he's got us to second in the league which shows he has done a good job this season and has given us a platform moving forward. The point was that using the fact we've gotten to the EL final is meaningless because it is. Mourinho got us to the final, won it and was sacked a year later, Sarri won it with Chelsea and was sacked immediately after. The squad is laden with quality far beyond any other team in the competition so sorry but no, I don't see Ole getting this United side to EL final as a managerial achievement. Boo bloody hoo.

Not only that... but the fact Ole and his team are better than anyone here doesn't actually say very much!

 

[mitchmouse]

People can say what they like, the fact is we were awful last night - and not for anything close to the first time

 

[Judas]

So you think you could coach/manage a team to the Europa league final? You think you could coach/manage a team to 2nd in arguably the hardest league in world football?

Ok, you may be a plumber, banker, prostitute, whatever, this isn’t what you’ve trained or been forced to do your whole life but have a fecking word with yourself, the utter arrogance on here of some to think they could do a better job than the likes of Ole or Carrick or Phelan or McKenna with these players is unreal.

This argument is and always will be silly. If no one could ever judge anything they couldn't do better themselves then this place wouldn't exist for a start. It's such a defensive and childish way of looking at it.

 

[Craig Ward]

That would be a disaster. There's no intensity in the CM position at all. We really need at least one of MCT or Fred to be fit.

I agree.

I think playing Pogba in the final is criminal to be honest. He's not a winger and he's hopeless from DM.....

Rashford needs to play LW, Pogba can be an impact player if needed. He was awful again.

Sadly, we will need MCTom/Fred against Villareal - they wont control the game or be world beaters with the ball - but they will break up play. Our defence without Maguire needs all the help it can get and Pogba wont defend. He cannot play centrally in the final

 

[bsCallout]

Liverpool game the same? Same standard of performance from us in both games, wonder if we'll all say 'it was only the EL anyway' if Villarreal turn us over next week.

Liverpool was an awful performance. What does that have to do with a game against Fulham? The season was over for both of us in the league.

 

[bsCallout]

one slight difference: City have won two trophies so far...

Did the point completely go over your head too?

 

[King7Eric]

trouble is, we heard that at the end of last season.... and the one before that

We had a fantastic end to last season, culminating us qualifying for the CL. The one before that granted it was terrible but that bulk of that team, the likes of Lukaku, Sanchez, Herrera, Lingard, Smalling, Jones etc are no longer here.

The thing in terms of measuring progress is that people go into extremes at both ends. We beat Roma 6-2 or Leipzig 5-0 and people claim this team is going places. And then we don't win a few matches, we are suddenly not progressing.

If you want to measure progress by points, we have 5 more than last season with a game to go, and one position higher, with a final to come.
Man City are 2 points higher than last season with a position higher, with a final to come, having won the League cup like last season. If you want to take points and league position as the only metric, then can we claim that City haven't made much progress either from last season? Or have we made as much progress as City?

And no I'm not claiming we have had as good a season as City or any of that nonsense, but taking each respective team in isolation with respect to their position last year, it stands to reason that if City have made progress, then so have we. The only issue is they were already much farther ahead than us and we have loads of catching up to do, for which, more than anything we need proper recruitment.

 

[Infra-red]

Disappointing that we're crawling over the line rather than finishing with a flourish. When all is said and done, we'll probably finish a couple of points ahead of Chelsea (so bad they had to sack their manager) and maybe three ahead of Liverpool (suffered a historic collapse). You'd rather be ahead of them than behind them, but our recent performances have taken the shine off somewhat.

 

[pascell]

Liverpool was an awful performance. What does that have to do with a game against Fulham? The season was over for both of us in the league.

Same exact tepid performance, which isn't the first this season, this is how we play if we don't get a moment or two of magic from the attacking players to bail us out.

 

[bsCallout]

Same exact tepid performance, which isn't the first this season, this is how we play if we don't get a moment or two of magic from the attacking players to bail us out.

Hyperbole at its finest. Your agenda reeks.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Hyperbole at its finest. Your agenda reeks.

It isn’t hyperbole though. Thinking it was a season end friendly is burying our heads in the sand.
The same Issue was still apparent; the inability to lift ourselves when a team decides to play against us. You’d hope that they can lift themselves for a final but from being very confident after Roma, it is now very balanced.

Maybe that’s a good thing but I now worry that the weight of expectation will manifest itself with a performance that’s restricted and tense.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Disappointing that we're crawling over the line rather than finishing with a flourish. When all is said and done, we'll probably finish a couple of points ahead of Chelsea (so bad they had to sack their manager) and maybe three ahead of Liverpool (suffered a historic collapse). You'd rather be ahead of them than behind them, but our recent performances have taken the shine off somewhat.

Second is confirmed mate!

Liverpool and the rest is their problem not ours

 

[bsCallout]

It isn’t hyperbole though. Thinking it was a season end friendly is burying our heads in the sand.
The same Issue was still apparent; the inability to lift ourselves when a team decides to play against us. You’d hope that they can lift themselves for a final but from being very confident after Roma, it is now very balanced.

Maybe that’s a good thing but I now worry that the weight of expectation will manifest itself with a performance that’s restricted and tense.

It's reality that the game was meaningless to the players. You can create whatever illusion you want that will motivate them to fight to the end in that sort of game but the reality is they just won't have been that bothered. Just like City players against Brighton.

Absolutely mess of people making out this is some big drama because weve had a bad week after a disruptive and congested schedule with otherwise pointless remaining games.

The agenda is boring. Support the manager, he's here next year. Oh and a reminder that he barely got any support in the window last summer unlike some managers.