[bleedred]

Fair point, but City are much better than Arsenal and won't be cut open so easily. We certainly weren't outclassed; we couldn't get any momentum because we were chasing the ball most of the time. We didn't press the ball as well today as at The Emirates.

I know this is not an excuse for our loss, but pogba would have atleast helped us a bit in our transition from defence to attack.

Games between the top 6 will be usually scrappy like it was today. City got the rub of the green, I am not saying they didnt deserve it.

That's why I didn't read much into this game. We lost and lost the chance at the title. But to be fair, Huddersfield was far worse than today and that is what I feel we may regret more than this.

 

[bdspeedy]

What other manager is out there? For the last several years the list of "better managers" suggested by members on this site has been a long one. Moyes, Laudrup, Pep, Benitez, Giggs, Villas-Boas, Rodgers, Conte, Martinez, Klopp, Simeone, Koeman, Pochettino, Tim Sherwood and a dozen more. I'm not sure we would be any better off with any of them. I have no idea what several of them are doing lately.
We are in a good place now. Lets back the manager and our team. Hopefully with most of our top guys coming back soon we'll have another nice run of form. We may not catch citeh, but we are certainly better this year then we have been in years and should go deep into the Prem and champs league.

 

[GwilDor]

Oliver wasn't going to give it after he didn't give the one on Jesus. I thought that it was soft and he got both decisions right.

So, since we're comparing the two situations. Was it weak and soft by Oliver to not book Jesus then?

 

[Chekhov]

They're slightly better at football.

 

[The Brown Bull]

Its obvious we went for the wrong manager and they got the better one.

Could not agree more.

 

[Strachans Cigar]

I hate blaming the ref, so let me first say that i definately think City deserved the win today. My point is i think the refs generally grant Pep's style an advantage. They play possession-oriented attacking football, attacking with many players. This potentially leaves them open for counter attacks. However, they mitigate this by being VERY intensive in their defensive work the first few seconds after losing the ball. Often they make professional fouls to stop a counter attack when they have no other chance. What bothers me, especially today, is that the ref allows them to make these professional fouls again and again without it having any consequence. This makes their approach much less risky, and as such the refs favour them.

Bugs the feck out of me that one. Guardiola has been at it since his Barca days. Refs need to wise up and start brandishing some cards and put a stop to it.

City are already in a position of artificial privilege, therefore don't need any extra help from the officials. Cheating cnuts.

Speaking of which, Herrera was booked for simulating in the penalty area today. Why wasn't Jesus when he did the same beforehand?

 

[Tom Van Persie]

Its obvious we went for the wrong manager and they got the better one.

Even if we wanted to get Pep then he was never going to join us. He was always going to City after Bayern. His friends from Barcelona were already there on the City board and he knew he would have unlimited money to spend in the transfer market. I don't think he wanted the challenge at United tbh.

 

[Giggsyking]

At the end of season 2015-2016 we and city finished with the same amount of points. They signed Pep we signed JM. 1½ year later after spending the same amount of money, you all can see the difference. I'm not saying we are bad, but they are much more better than us and its all because of the effect of the manager.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

I've waited a bit on commenting here, to get a bit perspective.

1. I do think Mourinho's tactics have the potential to provide results in single games, but i would prefer him to find a different approach. Generally when approaching the game i'd think Pep's approach instill more confidence in his players. Saying "we'll do what we do best, good luck to the opposition stopping us" instills belief in their own style and what they can do, whilst saying "we need to change what we do, to stop the opposition" kind of does the opposite. That being said, i do believe Mou can change approach to somewhere in between if he gets a team he believes to be good enough.

2. I hate blaming the ref, so let me first say that i definately think City deserved the win today. My point is i think the refs generally grant Pep's style an advantage. They play possession-oriented attacking football, attacking with many players. This potentially leaves them open for counter attacks. However, they mitigate this by being VERY intensive in their defensive work the first few seconds after losing the ball. Often they make professional fouls to stop a counter attack when they have no other chance. What bothers me, especially today, is that the ref allows them to make these professional fouls again and again without it having any consequence. This makes their approach much less risky, and as such the refs favour them.

3. I'm really freakin' annoyed about the Pogba red card, i definately think he could have made a huge difference today, especially in the first half. Our ability to keep the ball was horrendous.

I agree and I don't think it is bad to adapt a bit to the other teams. Although today I thought we should have attacked them in our defending. Pressing high as a unit to stop them playing. Mourinho has done it before, but he didn't today. Park the bus is always a decent tactic against Pep teams, but when we needed the win high pressure can reward us more.

I am not sure it would have made a big difference with Pogba playing the way we did. These tactics would not have suited him either.

 

[Giggsyking]

Even if we wanted to get Pep then he was never going to join us. He was always going to City after Bayern. His friends from Barcelona were already there on the City board and he knew he would have unlimited money to spend in the transfer market. I don't think he wanted the challenge at United tbh.

What a pity! then we should accept the fact that they will be playing a much better football than ours for a long long time.

 

[The Brown Bull]

We gave away two bad goals but our own goal was also thanks to a defensive error.
The ref was poor.
We created a great chance to equalise which was foiled by great goalkeeping.
We would have been better with Pogba but I'm not sure if the result would have been different.
Our tactics were pretty primitive if not downright embarrassing.We were outplayed comprehensively .
Lukaku need to be dropped.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

What a pity! then we should accept the fact that they will be playing a much better football than ours for a long long time.

I doubt Pep will be there that long. I still think he'll leave them at the end of his contract and go for a new challenge.

 

[bleedred]

At the end of season 2015-2016 we and city finished with the same amount of points. They signed Pep we signed JM. 1½ year later after spending the same amount of money, you all can see the difference. I'm not saying we are bad, but they are much more better than us and its all because of the effect of the manager.

Its not as easy as you say.

Pep inherited a squad with Kompany, Silva, KDB, Aguero and fernandhinho, who form the core of their squad and remain critical to this day. He spent on top of this. City had the best squad in the league even before he took over and they were just under performing.

Compare that to Jose, with Rooney, Depay, Bastian, Schniderlin etc.., We haven't had a stable core players since 2013 because of three different managers, whereas Pep just walked into an already well established squad and added on top of it.

 

[Gary_Walsh_Nou_Camp_Hell]

All 3 goals were from mistakes. Yes United surrendered possesion (but probably not much option against this city team) - for all the ball they had they created relatively little.

Another day United could have knicked this and people would say it was a jose master class.

City are a miles better team but today there wasn't much in it, certainly no need for doom and gloom

 

[Giggsyking]

I doubt Pep will be there that long. I still think he'll leave them at the end of his contract and go for a new challenge.

I hope so, its our only hope he leaves the league, otherwise it will be a nightmare to us.

 

[GwilDor]

I agree and I don't think it is bad to adapt a bit to the other teams. Although today I thought we should have attacked them in our defending. Pressing high as a unit to stop them playing. Mourinho has done it before, but he didn't today. Park the bus is always a decent tactic against Pep teams, but when we needed the win high pressure can reward us more.

I am not sure it would have made a big difference with Pogba playing the way we did. These tactics would not have suited him either.

I think we agree on what approach we should have had. I just think we would have been a lot closer to that approach with Pogba on the field. The reason i think Pogba would have made a huge difference is i think our transitions would have been A LOT better. Pogba has a great ability to keep the ball, while at the same time (often) keeping momentum. Of course he plays this to the limit, so he also loses the ball in transition a few times. But i think today it would have given us more posession and forced City to hold back just that little bit.

 

[Donsangre]

the run of stuffy lucky goals these are scoring is unbearable

Whats luck? Lukaku with his dimensions lost the air ball in the first case and gifted in the second then when we had a chance fecked it up. They played better, we had no control, no tactics and no organization.

 

[Zoo]

 

[Salus Populi Suprema Lex]

All 3 goals were from mistakes. Yes United surrendered possesion (but probably not much option against this city team) - for all the ball they had they created relatively little.

Another day United could have knicked this and people would say it was a jose master class.

City are a miles better team but today there wasn't much in it, certainly no need for doom and gloom

I agree with much of this. The double save from their keeper prevented us getting a draw, after the ball fell kindly to them twice after deflections for their goals. Yes, they were better and had much more of the ball, as they do against every team, but in these huge games it's small things which can make all the difference.

Bottom line is we are improving: second and in the league and in the Champions League knockout phase. However, we still have some way to go, if we're to challenge for the biggest prizes. It's a work in progress and will take time. Remember Jose has only been here under a season and a half. I think we'll be better again after the next two transfer windows. We also have several key players out just now. We can be optimistic that we're getting better.

 

[Giggsyking]

Its not as easy as you say.

Pep inherited a squad with Kompany, Silva, KDB, Aguero and fernandhinho, who form the core of their squad and remain critical to this day. He spent on top of this. City had the best squad in the league even before he took over and they were just under performing.

Compare that to Jose, with Rooney, Depay, Bastian, Schniderlin etc.., We haven't had a stable core players since 2013 because of three different managers, whereas Pep just walked into an already well established squad and added on top of it.

Maybe, but its marginal. He inherited a team with no goalkeeper, one functioning center back (Otamendi), no left back, no right back, no wingers except Raheem, and one functioning central midfielder. I still think that we should have performed better today.

 

[VorZakone]

That's crazy.

 

[Jacko21]

More fight shown in the tunnel than on the pitch it seems.

 

[bleedred]

Maybe, but its marginal. He inherited a team with no goalkeeper, one functioning center back (Otamendi), no left back, no right back, no wingers except Raheem, and one functioning central midfielder. I still think that we should have performed better today.

Kompany?.

They had shit loads of fullbacks, who were all released. (Navas, Zabaletta,Kolorov,clichy,sagna). Even Jose didn't have fullbacks and is currently playing wingers.

One functioning midfielder?. What about Silva and KDB?? or are they wingers?.

As I mentioned in my previous post, the spine of their team has been consistent for nearly 5 years. Kompany, Fernandhino, Silva and Aguero.

Compare that to the squad Jose inherited, I would say only DDG and perhaps to a degree Smalling are the only constants. That's a hell of a lot of overhaul compared to city. Both had similar amount of deadwood to clear out and both did a good job of it.

But Pep had way more quality at his disposal than Jose did for several reasons. I dont think anyone can disagree on that!

 

[TMDaines]

A frustrating day at the office.

I think Mourinho got the team selection wrong. The strategy was play to direct from the back, but we lined up with personnel unable to really implement that. De Gea is not a good distributor of the ball. Smalling ain’t the best passer and neither is Rojo. Lindelof should have been in from the start. He’s got a good eye for a pass and has the ability to make it too. He’s come on a long way from his first games for us and I was very happy to see him come out for the second half after calling for it.

Taking off Rojo and not switching to a back three was another error at half time. City were essentially playing like that, even if not so on paper, so we could have matched up well. It’s a fallacy that the number of forwards or attack-minded players that you have on the pitch is representative of your attacking intention or likelihood to score. We needed to get a semblance of control further back to enable our other attackers to get chances. I would have taken Rashford or Martial off.

Our only answer to try and find more goals was to throw more forwards on, and it had no discernible effect. It’s a bit of a hallmark of a crap manager just to put more and more strikers on to get a goal. We ended up with Lukaku, Zlatan, Rashford, Martial, and Mata being hoofed balls with no semblance of any forward shape. I still maintain that Zlatan looks miles off the pace and it is doing neither us or him any favour to attempt to regain his sharpness in the first team. There’s no shame in finishing off your rehab in the U23s, it is why it exists.

Looking at the squad more widely with Pogba out, we missed a player to run from deeper and be confident of playing the ball on the move. Mkhi could have well been an option, but he’s clearly out of the reckoning if he couldn’t even make the bench again. I think his time is done, sadly.

City were interesting today. They were very conservative in possession. Compare them and Arsenal who just flung men forward and shots at goal. City always ensured that they had three or four men behind the ball when it was in our final third and this made counter-attacking so much more difficult. It was a very structured performance where forwards were expected to attack and press, their midfielders redistributed the ball, and defenders limited our opportunities to break. The tactical fouling was masterful too. After an early yellow for Walker, there was no real reason not to stop any potential breaks at source as fouls were not awarded bookings.

We actually defended very well on the whole. Chances conceded were limited and City were little more effective at creating ones of any real quality than we were, despite the vast difference in possession and style. It’s utterly infuriating to gift two great chances from terrible defensive errors at set pieces. We’ve conceded one goal at home in the league from open play in all of 2017, so it should have been tough for City to win here, but they’ve done so in a game where neither side was at their best. I don’t think either side had much in them creatively today.

I’m actually more positive now than I was before the Watford game. I thought we’d struggle in the two away matches, but we got two good wins. I feared City may put in a comprehensive performance against us, but it didn’t happen. City are on an incredible run but the gap between us isn’t that great. We gifted two gilt-edged chances, our centre forward had a mare, we had a manager making all the wrong decisions, we had our key player out, and still lost by only the odd goal - and not unjustly.

Edit: a number of errors

 

[Salus Populi Suprema Lex]

A frustrating day at the office.

I think Mourinho got the team selection wrong. The strategy was play to direct from the back, but we lined with personnel unable to really implement that. De Gea is not a good distributor of the ball. Smalling ain’t the best passer and neither is Rojo. Lindelof should have been in from the start. He’s got a good eye for a pass and has the ability to make it too. He’s come on a long way from his first games for us and was very happy to see him come out for the second half after calling for it.

Taking off Rojo and not switching to a back three was another error at half time. City were essentially playing up like that, even if not so on paper, so we could have matched up well. It’s a fallacy that the number of forwards or attack-minded players that you have the on pitch is representative of your attacking intention or likelihood to score. We needed to and get a semblance of control further back to enable our other attackers to get chances. I would have taken Rashford or Martial off.

Our only answer to try and find more goals was throw more forwards on, and it had no discernible effect. It’s a bit of a hallmark of a crap manager just to put more and more strikers on to get a goal. We ended up with Lukaku, Zlatan, Rashford, Martial, and Mata being hoofed balls with no semblance of any forward shape. I still maintain that Zlatan looks miles off the pace and it is doing neither us or him any favour to attempt to regain his sharpness in the first team. There’s no shame in finishing off your rehab in the U23s, it is why it exists.

Looking at the squad more widely with Pogba out, we missed a player to run from deeper and be confident of playing the ball on the move. Mkhi could have well been an option, but he’s clearly out of the reckoning if he couldn’t even make the bench again. I think his time is done, sadly.

City were interesting today. They were very conservative in possession. Compare them and Arsenal who just flung men forward and shots at goal. City always ensured that they had three or four men behind the ball when it was in our final third and this made counter-attacking so much more difficult. It was a very structured performance where forwards were expected to attack and press, their midfielders redistributed the ball and defenders limited our opportunities to break. The tactically fouling was masterful too. After an early yellow for Walker, there was no real reason not to stop any potential breaks at source as fouls were not awarded bookings.

We actually defended very well on the whole. Chances conceded were limited and City were little more effective at creating ones of any real quality than we were, despite the vast difference in possession and style. It’s utterly infuriating to gift two great chances from terrible defensive errors at set pieces. We’ve conceded one goal at home in the league from open play in all of 2017, so it should have been tough for City to win here, but they’ve done so in a game where neither side was at their best. I don’t think either side had much in them creatively today.

I’m actually more positive now than I was before the Watford game. I thought we’d struggle in the two away matches, but we got two good wins. I feared City may put in a comprehensive against us, but it didn’t happen. City are on an incredible run but the gap between us isn’t that great. We gifted two gilt-edged chances, our centre forward had a mare, we had a manager making all the wrong decisions, had our key player out, and still lost by only the odd goal - and not unjustly.

Good post, and I agree with much of it. I think you're being a bit too hard on Jose. He went with four up top to get the win, but it turned out we couldn't get much possession and resorted to hitting it long. When push comes to shove, City are a better side, and, but for the fine margins you mentioned we could have gotten a 2-2 and then Jose would have been praised for making the best of a tough match. We aren't far off being a very good side, but we aren't there yet.

 

[TMDaines]

Good post, and I agree with much of it. I think you're being a bit too hard on Jose. He went with four up top to get the win, but it turned out we couldn't get much possession and resorted to hitting it long. When push comes to shove, City are a better side, and, but for the fine margins you mentioned we could have gotten a 2-2 and then Jose would have been praised for making the best of a tough match. We aren't far off being a very good side, but we aren't there yet.

But just putting more men up front doesn’t make you more likely to get the win or even score. The final ten minutes were a bit silly with four centre forwards playing in a ten yard circle, all not working that hard to get back onside and we had no width to even get crosses in.

We need a proper, right-footed, right-sided winger in our squad.

 

[Escape Goat]

Our only answer to try and find more goals was throw more forwards on, and it had no discernible effect. It’s a bit of a hallmark of a crap manager just to put more and more strikers on to get a goal.

A tad harsh; that's how the treble was won.

 

[Salus Populi Suprema Lex]

But just putting more men up front doesn’t make you more likely to get the win or even score. The final ten minutes were a bit silly with four centre forwards playing in a ten yard circle, all not working that hard to get back onside and we had no width to even get crosses in.

We need a proper, right-footed, right-sided winger in our squad.

I meant he started with a front four and was seemingly determined to take the game to City. However, once the match kicked off we couldn't get the service to them.

Certainly agree with you about the need of a right winger.

 

[Z1L3]

Maybe, but its marginal. He inherited a team with no goalkeeper, one functioning center back (Otamendi), no left back, no right back, no wingers except Raheem, and one functioning central midfielder. I still think that we should have performed better today.

How? With only two central midfielders, and one of them playing injured, no replacements on the bench; how? And against a team that overcrowds the midfield with fullbacks and striker dropping deep, how? It's so easy to sit in an ivory tower and demand more and better (just like the grand majority of know-it-all pundits), but please do suggest how.

The team did what they could; limited City to virtually no chances from open play, created a few chances of their own, and it just didn't work out because of a few defensive mistakes / lack of luck. This idea that somehow just wearing a certain shirt gives players or teams super human powers, and if they lose a game everyone has to be fired, it makes no sense.

 

[Denis79]

We didn't deserve anything today. We can point fingers at Mou, Lukaky, Oliver or whoever it won't change the fact that the better team won.

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

A frustrating day at the office.

I think Mourinho got the team selection wrong. The strategy was play to direct from the back, but we lined with personnel unable to really implement that. De Gea is not a good distributor of the ball. Smalling ain’t the best passer and neither is Rojo. Lindelof should have been in from the start. He’s got a good eye for a pass and has the ability to make it too. He’s come on a long way from his first games for us and was very happy to see him come out for the second half after calling for it.

Taking off Rojo and not switching to a back three was another error at half time. City were essentially playing up like that, even if not so on paper, so we could have matched up well. It’s a fallacy that the number of forwards or attack-minded players that you have the on pitch is representative of your attacking intention or likelihood to score. We needed to and get a semblance of control further back to enable our other attackers to get chances. I would have taken Rashford or Martial off.

Our only answer to try and find more goals was throw more forwards on, and it had no discernible effect. It’s a bit of a hallmark of a crap manager just to put more and more strikers on to get a goal. We ended up with Lukaku, Zlatan, Rashford, Martial, and Mata being hoofed balls with no semblance of any forward shape. I still maintain that Zlatan looks miles off the pace and it is doing neither us or him any favour to attempt to regain his sharpness in the first team. There’s no shame in finishing off your rehab in the U23s, it is why it exists.

Looking at the squad more widely with Pogba out, we missed a player to run from deeper and be confident of playing the ball on the move. Mkhi could have well been an option, but he’s clearly out of the reckoning if he couldn’t even make the bench again. I think his time is done, sadly.

City were interesting today. They were very conservative in possession. Compare them and Arsenal who just flung men forward and shots at goal. City always ensured that they had three or four men behind the ball when it was in our final third and this made counter-attacking so much more difficult. It was a very structured performance where forwards were expected to attack and press, their midfielders redistributed the ball and defenders limited our opportunities to break. The tactically fouling was masterful too. After an early yellow for Walker, there was no real reason not to stop any potential breaks at source as fouls were not awarded bookings.

We actually defended very well on the whole. Chances conceded were limited and City were little more effective at creating ones of any real quality than we were, despite the vast difference in possession and style. It’s utterly infuriating to gift two great chances from terrible defensive errors at set pieces. We’ve conceded one goal at home in the league from open play in all of 2017, so it should have been tough for City to win here, but they’ve done so in a game where neither side was at their best. I don’t think either side had much in them creatively today.

I’m actually more positive now than I was before the Watford game. I thought we’d struggle in the two away matches, but we got two good wins. I feared City may put in a comprehensive against us, but it didn’t happen. City are on an incredible run but the gap between us isn’t that great. We gifted two gilt-edged chances, our centre forward had a mare, we had a manager making all the wrong decisions, had our key player out, and still lost by only the odd goal - and not unjustly.

Great post. Thanks for taking the time.

 

[bond19821982]

Our tactics were wrong from minute 1. Silva and KDB got lot of time and space and Jose didn't bother to change it atleast during half-time. 442 with 4 forwards against the best midfield in the league was never going to work.

City was there for taking and DDG just had to make one save (conveniently ignoring the saves after 85 mins since the game was very open by that time)

One game where I thought, Jose would go with his tried and tested method, he completely changed the line up and made it too attacking.

Spurs - please do us a favor. They are beatable. Just go physical and they will cry like babies.

 

[Jagga7]

Just got back. We were thoroughly dominated, Silva rang rings around us today. They are just a far superior team, we had absolutely no answers. The amount of time we would just play short passes between our cbs and eventually kick it long was pretty infuriating, we really don't have any style of attack.

 

[Nevilles.Wear.Prada]

But do you think they would lose 4 games from now? Serious ?

And we win all 4 to capitalise and close the gap. Lol when did we ever did anything so easy and straightforward. The league is done. We could give them a good run for their money though.

 

[VeevaVee]

Expectedly crap approach. I know our team isn't as strong as theirs, but we play better football when we play football. We saw that for 2 minutes today.

 

[WyoManU]

So much vitriol. Let's be honest, they are a much better side. But who cares, really? I will always be a United fan. Man City are only having their moment because the club was bought by, essentially, an oil rich middle eastern country. They spend, spend, spend to guarantee results (which to be fair in the bigger picture of European football they have failed at miserably) in an attempt to show their world power. In the end you can only laugh. All that money taken from their countries own coffers to spend on British football. United still tries to promote youth and has a soul and only spends what they have earned through generations of hard work. You guy are missing the bigger picture. City will always be a tainted club now. We have made more than a handful of bad decisions since SAF left but at least we back a club with history and respect.

 

[Harry190]

Towards the end, with the whole corner and holding the ball thing, I couldn't for the life of me understand why the other players, after Young, didn't go in and break them in half. That's what you do when there's two minutes left. You force that ball out or scare them.

 

[Salus Populi Suprema Lex]

What was the last away side to have 65 per cent possession at Old Trafford? It can't have happened often.

 

[phunky]

Towards the end, with the whole corner and holding the ball thing, I couldn't for the life of me understand why the other players, after Young, didn't go in and break them in half. That's what you do when there's two minutes left. You force that ball out or scare them.

This makes me wonder what Keano would do if he was on the field. I could imagine him chasing after Sterling like a mad man before barging him off the field into the advert boards, and then tearing into his colleagues for standing around hands on hips looking on like pansies.

 

[Tapori]

The most disappointing player bar Lukaku and injury-acknowledged:
Matic.

His passing (lack of) essentially cost us the game; Ponderous, slow in thought, unimaginative and completely devoid of intelligence.

The amount of times during transitions or in possession Matic had Herrera run in space or Lingard ahead or 2 options on the wings in space, Matic simply either didn't see a quick simple pass or -worse- decided repeatedly to do his best impression of combining "The Crab" technique with Peter Ebdon.

In trying to be bold Mourinho missed a trick; With Pogba out, play one of Martial or Rashford, and have Mata and Lingard drop/interchange regulalrly into midfield.
Mata with one pass nearly changed the game and his intelligence and passing was sorely missed.
And and in-form Mikhitaryan would have made the required difference and I would expect Ozil too would have been excellent in making crucial decisions considering how little we saw of the ball.

Special mention to Herrera; really drove the team and I won't hear a bad word against him.
-
Oh Lukaku: Ignore your defensive mishaps no problem, but his lack of nous in his build up play and attack via his awful finishing (THAT chance too) and the other 3 occasions:
When Mangala out-thought him
When he was put through by an excellent tantalising Lingard through ball and he couldn't finish better
When he turned on the left and drove into space only for his awful second touch to ness the move up.
Other terrible touches and poor decisions in attack

When you play as the lone striker where you see hardly any of the ball you have to make the right decisions on the rare chance you get the ball; everytime he made the wrong calls and his right calls were still terrible.

Most worrying is Mourinho - ever the pragamtist - has far too many options and is not making the right calls in favour of doing his "I will trust under-performing players because in the end my faith in them will be rewarded by loyalty, desire and form" is not doing those players any favour.

Lukaku has to be dropped and Rashford Martial tried up-top
Matic has to have a rest (played far too much for my liking and Mourinho has to trust McTominay or what is the point of having him come through.)

Ashley Young, Valencia, Herrera, Lindelof (top passer), Smalling and Rojo had excellent games esp. Smalling who I thought was excellent and I even saw him pass better!

So big decisions for Mourinho and he'll have to show ruthlessness and fairness; mata simply has to play if we don;t have Pogba as no-one else really can dictate our attacking play with crucial smart right passes. That pass to Martial simply delicious.