[Gopher Brown]

When we lose it highlights just what a mess our squad is in.

We play with such a lack of urgency at times it’s like a pre-season game. No-one in midfield is taking any responsibility to try and create anything. It’s always through the middle too. We have all of these supposedly wide players but none of them can cross properly, and none of them can go down the line and deliver a good ball.

It’s all well and good fannying around with ‘inverted wingers’ but all it does is clog up the penalty area.

When Pogba and Sanchez aren’t at it, which let’s face it is most games, we look utterly clueless.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Not angry more. Maybe because it wasn't affecting the outcome much expect addind a trophy. Still the summer will be depressing though. Ending the season with a defeat leaves a sour taste in the mouth till the next one. Of course the players don't care at all and will be busy with their national teams/holiday. Only us -fans- pay the price for this.

Think the players are bothered. Nobody wants to lose. However Lingard as mentioned luck. Maybe Chelsea did get some luck, not sure where, the penalty was fair. You win goals by scoring goals, it was bad finishing that lost us the game. Too many players up front had off days and as usual the game started slowly for us. Why is that a constant with this team? To me that is coming from the manager. I have said loads of times that you cannot keep coming back in games, somebody will have your number.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

People saying we played well and berating Chelsea's performance are the same one that would call Mourinho a master tactician for doing the same thing.
We bsrelb created anything from open play. We dominated the mudfuelm but we hardly out their defence under any pressure.
Can't remember Courtois making any mesninmean save.

I try not to call out typos, but I’m loving this new ‘mudfuelm’ word. This squid could use a bit more of it.

 

[Roosney]

Bizarre you weren't / aren't gutted we lost. I don't understand that mentality at all.

For five minutes I was a bit pissed off at the result yeah but for the last few weeks I think the players haven't given two fecks and we are terrible to watch so losing a cup final really doesn't get to me the way it should.
Maybe the loss ruffles things a bit, hopefully.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

For five minutes I was a bit pissed off at the result yeah but for the last few weeks I think the players haven't given two fecks and we are terrible to watch so losing a cup final really doesn't get to me the way it should.
Maybe the loss ruffles things a bit, hopefully.

I’m the same. This defeat has been in the post for ages. We’ve been absolutely hapless for a while. When you expect to lose it doesn’t sting too badly.

 

[fergieisold]

So Mourinho is saying that Chelsea didn’t deserve to win today. I can’t agree with his point and wish he’d be man enough to admit his failures.

Do you think they deserved to win? I'm not sure. We were comfortably the better team but Chelsea put in a great defensive performance.

 

[NLunited]

Thought that Chelsea was the better team, if we had won this way it would have been a masterclass by Mourinho according to some. They defended well and showed quality when on the ball.

Rashford had a poor game, Martial looked better when he came on. I think that Shaw or Blind should start over Young, because he's not that effective in attack.

Our team worked hard, Sanchez, Lingard and Herrera trying to make something happen. It was difficult and we got a bit unlucky with the penalty and Pogba's header.

Both coaches know how to restrict the other team from creating good chances, so you know it was going to be difficult once we went behind.

It still looks like we are lacking something in the attacking third, the same problem we had under LvG, where we struggle to break down defences. Although now we are worse at keeping the ball and positional play.

It seems Mourinho relies on the players to find solutions, but it's not working. It doesn't help when he picks players like Jones and Smalling over others who are better at passing.

I don't have a problem with Pogba playing deep. He's big and strong, he should be able to do his part defending. It's helpful to have him there during build up as well.

I think our midfield is sorted, but we could use another attacking midfielder. We definitely need a top central striker and a right winger. Willian comes to mind, but he's a bit old.

Would like to see a more dynamic set up, we have the players for it (Martial/Rashford, Lingard, Sanchez, Shaw, Pogba). We need to sort out our attacking play or we will struggle next season to break down teams again.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Mourinho got Mourinho'd yesterday. Simple as that really.

Chelsea scored and sat back. Allowed us to have the ball and apart from the last say 10-15 mins, they were in control of the game.

We had no answers. Too predictable!

 

[killerboi2]

I don't agere with Mourinho and all the other people agreeing with him that we deserved to win, spinning this tale that we played much better and were just unlucky or whatever.

What actually happened was - Conte realised in the 2nd half the he could park the bus and we wouldn't be good enough to break them down. I feared it would work once I saw what was going on and unfortunately it did. Our only good chance came from a set piece (Pogba missed header), the rest were half chances.

Chelsea also created better chances than us from open play. If Hazard wasn't so greedy and had released the ball earlier in some of those breaks, more people would have saw just how bad we were.

 

[0161_UNITED]

I’m the same. This defeat has been in the post for ages. We’ve been absolutely hapless for a while. When you expect to lose it doesn’t sting too badly.

Hmm, I was actually hoping to win that one. Are you putting this one on Mourinho, the players, or just a holistic failure?

Certainly the shine on Mourinho is fading, but, in my opinion, the quality of the players is questionable, too. When I say quality here, I mean the whole gamut- the technical, mental & psychological and physical ability - the whole package.

Smalling, Jones, Young and Valencia have been here for ages. How good are they? Queue a debate, when at this point, there should be no debate.

The youngsters should be progressing, but it’s daunting now. Rashford lols stalled, and Martial seems to be undervalued by Mourinho.

It’s still kinda messy.

 

[el3mel]

Think the players are bothered. Nobody wants to lose. However Lingard as mentioned luck. Maybe Chelsea did get some luck, not sure where, the penalty was fair. You win goals by scoring goals, it was bad finishing that lost us the game. Too many players up front had off days and as usual the game started slowly for us. Why is that a constant with this team? To me that is coming from the manager. I have said loads of times that you cannot keep coming back in games, somebody will have your number.

The problem is, even while possessing the ball and attacking, despite 2 chances I don't think we looked like scoring at all. Conte outsmarted Mourinho in his own game.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Do you think they deserved to win? I'm not sure. We were comfortably the better team but Chelsea put in a great defensive performance.

They shut out a team that’s scored one goal in their last three games (now four) so it’s not as though they did anything particular impressive.

 

[tony54]

Can we all agree Jones is League one standard. Talented but thick as pigshit

Agreed, we should have had Bailly playing. Jones switched off or probably wasn't aware of the danger because he was wrong side of Hazzard.

 

[Class of 63]

Can we all agree Jones is League one standard. Talented but thick as pigshit

If our best centre-back(and by some distance) is only League One standard we've got serious problems, though it might explain Jose's negative tactics.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

If our best centre-back(and by some distance) is only League One standard we've got serious problems, though it might explain Jose's negative tactics.

Must have forgotten that clearly Smalling is our best CB.

 

[Class of 63]

Must have forgotten that clearly Smalling is our best CB.

Most likely to stay fit doesn't, or shouldn't make him our best CB

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Most likely to stay fit doesn't, or shouldn't make him our best CB

I’d say him being the best CB is more down to him being the best CB and not down to just his fitness record since recently every CB has been fit and there has been only one constant.

 

[Class of 63]

I’d say him being the best CB is more down to him being the best CB and not down to just his fitness record since recently every CB has been fit and there has been only one constant.

And yet the England Manager, who knows one or two things about playing CB has picked the perma-crock Phil Jones in his World Cup squad over Smalling. What's that about ?

 

[Crimson King]

Neither team deserved to win it was a fecking shit match. One team just camped in their box and the other just looking like they've never played together before.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

And yet the England Manager, who knows one or two things about playing CB has picked the perma-crock Phil Jones in his World Cup squad over Smalling. What's that about ?

Probably the reason most people are rinsing Southgate a manager who has won nothing yet Jose’s first choice pick is Smalling even when Jones is fit.

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

I don't agere with Mourinho and all the other people agreeing with him that we deserved to win, spinning this tale that we played much better and were just unlucky or whatever.

What actually happened was - Conte realised in the 2nd half the he could park the bus and we wouldn't be good enough to break them down. I feared it would work once I saw what was going on and unfortunately it did. Our only good chance came from a set piece (Pogba missed header), the rest were half chances.

Chelsea also created better chances than us from open play. If Hazard wasn't so greedy and had released the ball earlier in some of those breaks, more people would have saw just how bad we were.

Agreed. And he brought off Hazard with still 4-5 minutes (of injury time) to play just to emphasize that he wasn't afraid at all. A little bit of provoking if you like, given the history between him and Jose.

It was one of those games where the first goal proves to be crucial because it allows one team to play their favourite game while the other is forced to take more risks on the pitch. But the truth is we didn't offer much, we never attempted to change the matchups in the midfield and tip the balance of the game. Always with two holding midfielders, with Pogba constantly trying to attack the areas of Fabregas' defensive responsibility and not achieving much and with Lingard/Martial having little to no room to manoeuvre.

It somewhat reminded me of our first visit to SB under LvG when we lost 1-0 by a goal from Hazard again which was the product of a defensive mistake... again. After that, we had something like 70% possession but you could tell that we were not going to score even if we played until sunset. I can't remember Mourinho claiming that we United deserved to win that day. I don't want to bash the manager with this, i'm just saying that we've spent four consecutive seasons watching attempts to turn United into a good and solid defensive unit that will win football matches by being more clinical and ruthless in the finest of details. It's not going very well and yesterday was a big disappointment for me not only because we lost our only chance to win some silverware but mostly because our last performances against City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham had me believe that we were getting somewhere. And even if i don't agree with the cries about "the killer of youth" and "the enemy of flair", i can understand the frustration among the fanbase. We'll see what happens next season.

 

[Class of 63]

Probably the reason most people are rinsing Southgate a manager who has won nothing yet Jose’s first choice pick is Smalling even when Jones is fit.

Yeah because he's usually been match fit, but if both are fit to play, they both play.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Yeah because he's usually been match fit, but if both are fit to play, they both play.

Not true, Jones made a mistake earlier in the year and disappeared only to be taken back out a few months later. He wasn’t injured. He’s also been fit the back end of the season and we’ve seen Rojo,Lindelof and Bailly all get games but again only one constant. That is that it’s Smalling and partner. Reason being Smalling in Jose’s eyes is our best CB.

 

[Class of 63]

Not true, Jones made a mistake earlier in the year and disappeared only to be taken back out a few months later. He wasn’t injured. He’s also been fit the back end of the season and we’ve seen Rojo,Lindelof and Bailly all get games but again only one constant. That is that it’s Smalling and partner. Reason being Smalling in Jose’s eyes is our best CB.

Do you seriously believe that if all our centre-backs had been match fit all season that it would be Smalling and AN Other ?

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Do you seriously believe that if all our centre-backs had been match fit all season that it would be Smalling and AN Other ?

Proof is in the pudding since at varying times they’ve all been fit and it’s been Smalling playing. Same as last year.

 

[Garethw]

Do you seriously believe that if all our centre-backs had been match fit all season that it would be Smalling and AN Other ?

Yes. Smalling is Mourinho’s number one. If we buy anyone in the summer it will be to partner him.

It’s blatantly obvious that Mourinho does not rate Bailly at the moment. He’s going to have to grab any opportunity he gets next season with both hands if he wants to stake a claim as a first choice player.

 

[Class of 63]

Proof is in the pudding since at varying times they’ve all been fit and it’s been Smalling playing. Same as last year.

Yes, as i've said previously probably because he's managed to stay match fit as even his Mother would admit of all our centre-backs he's quite comfortably the worst we have on the ball. Hot potato springs to mind.

It was Bailly and AN Other last season, even Daley Blind played more than Smalling, yet Blind hasn't had a look-in this season, so how often Jose picks the players is neither here nor there in how he rates them.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Yes, as i've said previously probably because he's managed to stay match fit as even his Mother would admit of all our centre-backs he's quite comfortably the worst we have on the ball. Hot potato springs to mind.

It was Bailly and AN Other last season, even Daley Blind played more than Smalling, yet Blind hasn't had a look-in this season, so how often Jose picks the players is neither here nor there in how he rates them.

He’s not going to play a player over others he doesn’t rate now is he?

Also this myth that he is horrendous on the ball is just that, a myth. Is he Rio, no he is not but it’s not like anyone we have is miles better than him. Gets ball comfortably, gives ball comfortably. What else is it people want from CB’s? Beat 3 people then split their opposite CB’s with a slide rule pass setting up the goal?

Again Smalling has comfortably out performed all our other CB’s this year as at points the lot of them have looked really shaky. Bailly might be the most talented but as of yet he hasn’t put it all together. Jones might be another one who has talent but his reading and understanding of the game has never been there and maybe all the injuries have really hampered his development and well Rojo is Rojo. Someone who had a month of good form who was anointed as brilliant due to it. This season Smalling easily the best CB and not just because of injuries to the others.

 

[caid]

Chelsea looked pretty comfortable from 1-0 up. The only player on the field who looked like scoring yesterday was Hazard. Should have made attacking subs earlier probably.
Not surprised. 2nd half of the season we've looked pretty poor overall. Very much 2 steps back to the form of the previous season really.

 

[togg]

I beginning to think that even Mourinho sees the writing on the wall. Having swanned in declaring his respect for the footballing traditions of the club set as a standard by Ferguson himself, a man Mourinho greatly admires, even he must see he's failed considerably to even try to uphold them. I don't see much changing next season. We'll get some new signings, they'll need time to adapt, especially if they are recruited from foreign leagues, one or two will probably fall out of favour with Mourinho and the whole borefest style of football will become the norm again. Unless some miracle happens inside his egotistical narcissistic head I just can't see him changing enough to make that much of a difference.

 

[Class of 63]

He’s not going to play a player over others he doesn’t rate now is he?
I've read that six times and its still going over my head

Also this myth that he is horrendous on the ball is just that, a myth. Is he Rio, no he is not but it’s not like anyone we have is miles better than him. Gets ball comfortably, gives ball comfortably. What else is it people want from CB’s? Beat 3 people then split their opposite CB’s with a slide rule pass setting up the goal? Yes please

Again Smalling has comfortably out performed all our other CB’s this year as at points the lot of them have looked really shaky. Bailly might be the most talented but as of yet he hasn’t put it all together. Jones might be another one who has talent but his reading and understanding of the game has never been there and maybe all the injuries have really hampered his development and well Rojo is Rojo. Someone who had a month of good form who was anointed as brilliant due to it. This season Smalling easily the best CB and not just because of injuries to the others.

But him staying fit has helped, yeah ?

Lets be honest we've got 5 solid honest 7/10 centre-backs, none are outstanding, none are shocking, we've probably got the best depth in that department in Europe, but if we are to get back up to the next level we'll need at least one 8/10, and preferably two, with proper coaching we might get one of the current players up to an 8/10(probably Bailly), but we'll need to bring at least one in

 

[Gary Byrne]

Yep. And I'm not even sure who to blame for that. We play with zero fluency and attacking threat. There is no plan out there. Every player just roams around trying to create something on their own. Jose needs to take a hard look at himself instead of throwing the players under the bus.

Hi Liverpool fan here I must admit that was terrible by both teams especially Chelsea. Have to say loved watching utd. In the 90s and the early 2000s . Sir Matt must be turning in his grave
Regards

 

[Class of 63]

Yes. Smalling is Mourinho’s number one. If we buy anyone in the summer it will be to partner him.

It’s blatantly obvious that Mourinho does not rate Bailly at the moment. He’s going to have to grab any opportunity he gets next season with both hands if he wants to stake a claim as a first choice player.

I'll have a sportsman bet with you that's not the case.

 

[Garethw]

I'll have a sportsman bet with you that's not the case.

Well I want you to win that bet mate, but to me it looks like Mourinho doesn’t rate Bailly.

It’s time to move on from Smalling and Jones, but I expect both of them to be key players for Jose again next season.

 

[Josep Dowling]

It was the complete lack of cohesion for me. I know there may be nerves being a cup final but how many misplaced passes were there in the second half? We are not talking difficult passes either.

Our first half performances all season have been awful. We never wake up until the second half, that has to come down to Jose’s cautious style as I can’t see what else it would be.

 

[Ralph1386]

Well I want you to win that bet mate, but to me it looks like Mourinho doesn’t rate Bailly.

Then why did he even buy him.

 

[el3mel]

Mourinho excuses for not playing Bailly have been pretty lame tbh. Something has happened. He had full trust of him earlier but since the derby, Bailly seems to have dropped out of selections for lame excuses like World Cup.

 

[Class of 63]

Well I want you to win that bet mate, but to me it looks like Mourinho doesn’t rate Bailly.

It’s time to move on from Smalling and Jones, but I expect both of them to be key players for Jose again next season.

Not sure what's happening with Bailly, he was flying before he went the ACoN last season, but for whatever reason he hasn't been able to get back up to speed since.

Smalling at right-back, and Jones in midfield ?

 

[Williams1960]

Definitely not a deserved loss. You really think we played worse than Chelsea, Who mustered one shot on target from open play, and scored from a mistake?

First half wasn’t great, but we still had all the ball. And second half they were penned in. I don’t like our football, but that’s not a match we deserved to lose. Not by a long shot.

And this is also a Chelsea team that just beat Liverpool. CL finalists Liverpool. So taking isolated results to prove a point is just daft.

A Liverpool team about to play the cl final and have one eye on that!

We did deserve to lose when we pretty much did not play first half. Chelsea did. They got the goal and dominated the first half .

Second half we were better but had to.

We certainly did not deserve to win the game .

 

[Tom Foster]

I see there’s people still posting on here that we played well.
It only appears that way as, once Chelsea scored, the game was over.
Their whole tactical preparation would have been based on getting in front as quickly as possible, and then shutting up shop, knowing full well that our forwards are rubbish. They let us have the ball from then on.
Anyone else notice that when they had us hemmed in our corner flag with 10 minutes to go, they were all laughing, knowing full well that we we’d run out of ideas and energy.