[Tyrion]

It would be interesting to compare that to Rooney's.

 

[VeevaVee]

While we did look pretty solid (apart from one moment where it looked like they might get us with a fast attack (I've said many times this season that we seem most susceptible to those as our defence gets pulled all over the show, but never actually do it to the opposition ourselves any more), they were ours for the taking if we would only attack with a bit more vigour.

Rooney was woeful. Like really woeful. There was a moment in the 43rd minute where he was on the edge of the box and had a couple of close passing options which he could've done with one or two touches. Instead he dillied, then he dallied, then did the shittest pass ever right next to the defenders leg and lost the ball. Absolutely sums him up at the moment.

We should have won that, we were by far the better team but held back by being ultimately toothless.

Put Martial in #9 it would have been a different story.

This is exactly my sentiments. I said the same thing to my Dad - that if Martial was up front we would've probably done them, as it would've potentially livened things up in that area.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

It would be interesting to compare that to Rooney's.

 

[Kylar Stern]

we were the better team and should have won. Some of the comments in here read like we were facing Villa and not a City side that have been scoring 5 and 6 in their last league games.

 

[Tyrion]

Thanks.
Those stats are incredible.

 

[Mockney]

I get the frustration that we haven't capitalised on the home advantage, but remember this is a side who we'd been consistently losing to at home since 2011, before LVG arrived. We've gone from 0 points in three games (with a lot of goals shipped) to 4 points in two. It might not be the instant tranformative progress people want, but it is, undoubtedly, progress.

 

[gza the genius]

I genuinely thought everyone played well bar Rooney. Like others have said, Martial up top and I think we would have won it.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Thanks.
Those stats are incredible.

Incredibly bad. LvG has had a run in with the press as well when someone has asked about his performances. The press can see how he is playing and that the fans are not happy and LvG is dismissing it.

 

[Gerald G]

Our defenders bossed the match and our midfielders were good. Martial was really good going forward but Mata & Rooney were poor. We've got to drop Rooney now and bring in Memphis or Young, surely?

 

[CLARiiON]

I am finding it hard to decide between which of the following was worse - Manchester derby or Hitman Agent 47??
Rarely see such boring football from teams assembled with so much money.
Total shots (combined): 12
Shots on target (combined): 2
For neutrals, it was horrible. Martial was good, De Bruyne was horrible.

 

[Americano]

Solid performance from us. The goal wasn't there but the organization and squad cohesion was, which is a good sign going forward. We made it through a difficult October only two points off, which is fantastic.

We were very organized and in control, I enjoyed that part of it. Some people will call the solid team play and passing "boring" but it will be the foundation of future success. I am convinced we will continue to improve.

 

[ice-bionic red]

Martial is our main guy now. Mental I know as he's so young but he is.
It's clear the team is set up to accommodate Rooney. I've said this for so long but I was certain LVG would be the man to drop "any" player if they are not playing well! It's scandalous actually.
Everyone was very good today apart from Rooney. I don't care if he runs alot to help out his defenders or clears a few corners he's our feckin striker and he's not effective!
Schneirderlin and Rojo were the standouts. Fantastic performances from those two

 

[Nik70]

Definitely two points dropped, were the better team throughout the game. Pleased with the way we played though, dominated but couldn't finish.


Only if we had a decent midfield to support Wayne, he's all alone up there doing it on his own. White Text

If only Wayne could play well....

 

[hbgreg]

It was all Schweinsteigers fault.

 

[milemuncher777]

I thought both team cancelled each other out and performance wasn't bad as people are making out to be. But I feel If we'd been little more adventurous we'd have managed to nick a win as City were without their two top players and hardly threatened entire game.

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Definitely two points dropped, were the better team throughout the game. Pleased with the way we played though, dominated but couldn't finish.


Only if we had a decent midfield to support Wayne, he's all alone up there doing it on his own. White Text

Best use of white text: The award goes to …

 

[Cpt Negative]

Well, I think it's clear the players have been told not to shoot from outside the box.

Wrong tactics, wrong subs

 

[Twigg]

Well, I think it's clear the players have been told not to shoot from outside the box.

Wrong tactics, wrong subs

I'd have thought the same but

Van Gaal said this after the match.

'I have said at half-time "We can shoot from outside the box. Why you don't shoot?".'

I honestly thought the lack of shooting was a management decision. Turns out its not. Rooney especially used to have a hell of a shot on him, but seems to hate shooting now.

 

[eggwithsideburns]

I feel ok about the result and we were the better team but its strange how we don't seemed arsed bout scoring, there was a few times when we wanted to break but no one was running up for support. We don't take enough shots either.

Also, its been said many times but Rooney offers very little on the pitch. It was a really good defensive performance by us so its hard to pick on Jones but he needs to improve in certain areas. If only he had Blinds brain.

 

[Adisa]

Well, I think it's clear the players have been told not to shoot from outside the box.

Wrong tactics, wrong subs

Read the post match conference. LVG said he specifically told them to shoot.

 

[Sereques]

If we had a decent striker, we would have won. Someone like Saha. LVG made a big mistake letting RVP go

 

[Sereques]

Well, I think it's clear the players have been told not to shoot from outside the box.

Wrong tactics, wrong subs

Ah....... the part where we blame LVG for everything. Nice.

 

[Cpt Negative]

Read the post match conference. LVG said he specifically told them to shoot.

He regularly says that we need to attack quicker but I don't believe he means it

 

[Burrow]

Any way to transfer the stadium ban from Mourinho to Rooney..?

 

[UnitedinRed]

He regularly says that we need to attack quicker but I don't believe he means it

So much deception.

Did you know van Gaal was previously a Spy for the Russians? 32 years undetected.

You've never heard about this because van Gaals just that good at deception.

 

[Adisa]

He regularly says that we need to attack quicker but I don't believe he means it

Well your tag line suggest there's no point arguing with you.

 

[siw2007]

A decent performance in which both teams cancelled each other out. Our first half display was disappointing, where we didn't create anything and City had a few sniffs. Second half we took total control and we were very unlucky not to win the game. Overall, defensively we were top notch and we largely played well in midfield but we were poor in an attacking sense as Rooney offered no presence and once again looks off the pace. A point is not a bad result at this time as we remain within touching distance of Arsenal and City, though being away City may claim that the draw suited them better.

I don't agree with this notion that it is a bad result because they didn't have Silva and Aguero and were there for the taking. City are the team in top form and super confident, came off the back of a superb win against Sevilla. On the other hand we had a gruelling a tiring draw in Moscow followed by a long flight back, which resulted in less preparation time for today's game. Yet they still couldn't beat us, which is a testament to how well our player applied themselves today. It was a missed opportunity for them just as much as it is for us.

Nonetheless, I'm quite relieved to get this game out of the way with and am looking forward to a less pressured game against Middlesbrough midweek, where we can hopefully see some of the younger players.

 

[bosnian_red]

He regularly says that we need to attack quicker but I don't believe he means it

Of course he means it, and we've had plenty of performances where we did play quickly. Against a city side who defended very deeply all game though its impossible to play quickly, especially when the players we have at our disposal can't really do it. Martial, Herrera can, Mata can pass it quickly if he has people making runs, but Rooney doesn't do that. Van Gaal said he still wants to sign one more player with pace, and that's all that's needed. Bring in someone who is capable of playing on the right and running in behind, so we have Memphis, young if needed, and the new guy on the wings, mata in the middle and martial up front.

 

[Lennon7]

we still aren't firing on all cylinders yet. im sure i wasnt the only pessimist going into this game

Maybe not playing as well as we could be, but I'm very happy with some of our results so far this season. The only really shit one has been Arsenal.

 

[ants7]

If it was an away game - I would be very happy. But we were at home and they were missing two key players. The result - one shot on target. Sorry, but can't be happy with that.

Defensively, very good. I really did not expect us (Rojo) to keep KDB so quiet.

Ok, one point is better than none but I still put this one down as a missed opportunity and us not taking advantage we had.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Post match interview:


Post match presser:

 

[bosnian_red]

Maybe not playing as well as we could be, but I'm very happy with some of our results so far this season. The only really shit one has been Arsenal.

Overall I'm pretty pleased with the performances as well. The arsenal one was shit, but since Martial has come in, we've looked pretty good going forward. A comfortable win against Liverpool and Southampton scoring 3 goals in both, a very good performance for most of the game away to Southampton which is always difficult, comfortable cup game win, beating Wolfsburg in the champions league... Even in the PSV game where we lost, we were by far the better team and just were unlucky. A draw away to Moscow is decent... It's really just the Arsenal game which was shite, but shite performances happen now and then. We've controlled every other game this season and been the better team in them all just like today, so you really can't complain too much. The attacking play will come with time.

 

[Tyrion]

Incredibly bad. LvG has had a run in with the press as well when someone has asked about his performances. The press can see how he is playing and that the fans are not happy and LvG is dismissing it.

I couldn't believe it when I heard Rooney had a pop at the press over criticism about his performance. Firstly, that's what they're there for and secondly, they were barely saying a word! He should have been reading the Caf if he wanted criticism. Finally the press have noticed and this may actually put pressure on LvG.

 

[adamwest]

Satisfied with the performance and the result.

 

[Lawman]

Really winnable fixtures all the way up to Xmas lets get a run going lads.

 

[crappycraperson]

I don't really get how City can be absolved of being less adventurous than us because they were missing their two best players (who are probably the two best players in the league to boot) while we were somehow abysmal for not creating enough. You realise we don't have Silva & Aguero either? If City's free flowing attacking football, so coveted by many on here, is entirely contingent on those two players, then our lack of it is surely not the failure of our management or tactical set up, but purely our failure to buy Silva and Aguero?

Basically...https://www.redcafe.net/threads/we-must-buy-the-next-messi.401797/

They were away from home too. Even Fergie with some of the best United sides set up defensively away from home against top 4 sides. I also don't buy your argument about Aguero + Silva here. If we we were missing Martial and Mata due to injury, I think people would understand us not being an attacking threat.

 

[Rado_N]

Louis is there a sense of frustration with not winning today?

No.

Why the fecking hell not?

 

[Mockney]

Louis is there a sense of frustration with not winning today?

No.

Why the fecking hell not?

Tbf, he said the complete opposite in his post match interview. Isolated responses to questions from a non-native English speaker aren't always truth nuggets.

 

[ChaddyP]

LVG made a big mistake letting RVP go

what

RvP has been Dog feces at Ferner. to get what we got for him with those wages we literally robbed them. Getting rid of Rvp was probably one of the masterstrokes of the summer.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Pellegrini also for what it's worth...