[QuackQuack]

Has anyone actually enjoyed a game of football under LVG?

For the right reasons!

Ive enjoyed our last two premier league matches, I'm sure there are plenty of others who have.

 

[Scorpy]

All it proved that some of our first team squad are not up to it. That is a big worry. Carrick, finished. Rooney, finished. Fellaini, not good enough. Memphis, not good enough. Excuses in press conference from LvG, same excuses.

It was a makeshift starting eleven to give playing time to as many fringe players as possible. We still had chances to win the game and Boro were always going to get some chances on the break mostly thanks to Carrick's lack of presence in midfield - again. I was annoyed when we lost the game, but seeing some of the reactions on here I'm starting to wonder whether some people are taking the piss.

Thought Fellaini was good, although I don't think he even has a position for us. Showed some great touches and close control.

Carrick and Rooney's shitness this season is not exactly news as well. Memphis is starting to get into their category, which is a shame.

 

[Borys]

Out of curiosity, do you think that the style of play is the problem? Personally I don’t think any switch would’ve helped us with the players we have. Just very little threat up front.

 

[Tyrion]

What a fecking waste of time. Play those extra 30 mins for nothing.

Absolutely appalling throughout the game. Created nothing and deserved nothing. feck winning the possession stats

That's what you thought but we actually got 56%.
Showing Barcelona how it's done.

 

[UnitedinRed]

Ffs guys. Had he played the likes of Schweinsteiger and Herrera you would have had a meltdown pre match

We lost a league cup game and gave some of the kids a go. Its hardly the catastrophic failure some are painting it as.

 

[Mutter Merkel]

Ffs guys. Had he played the likes of Schweinsteiger and Herrera you would have had a meltdown pre match

We lost a league cup game and gave some of the kids a go. Its hardly the catastrophic failure some are painting it as.

It was shambolic, and saying otherwise is pretty delusional. It also demonstrated that Rooney can't even do it against a championship side. Our captain is beyond finished, but he's played every game.

 

[JustAFan]

Ffs guys. Had he played the likes of Schweinsteiger and Herrera you would have had a meltdown pre match

We lost a league cup game and gave some of the kids a go. Its hardly the catastrophic failure some are painting it as.

We need to stop pretending each game is happening in a vacuum. The portrait LvG is painting is not very good. Time for someone to step in and explain if he wants to continue setting us up to play like this then he won't make the new year. No uncertain terms get us playing better or get the feck out.

 

[bosnian_red]

Out of curiosity, do you think that the style of play is the problem? Personally I don’t think any switch would’ve helped us with the players we have. Just very little threat up front.

Not really... Just little parts of the tactics. Very few players taking risks in their runs forward or passes. We go to cross the ball so much but how often is Rooney the only player in the box? When we start losing we tend to create more as we actually throw players forward and aren't afraid to commit players in the box. Also our crossing is dreadful for the most part.

 

[UnitedinRed]

It was shambolic, and saying otherwise is pretty delusional. It also demonstrated that Rooney can't even do it against a championship side. Our captain is beyond finished, but he's played every game.

Delusional

It was the league cup. We've had far, far worse happen to us in this and its had very little impact on anything. I wouldn't get too worked up over it.

 

[UnitedinRed]

We need to stop pretending each game is happening in a vacuum. The portrait LvG is painting is not very good. Time for someone to step in and explain if he wants to continue setting us up to play like this then he won't make the new year. No uncertain terms get us playing better or get the feck out.

I doubt sacking him has even crossed the minds of anyone with the power to do so.

I think he might, just last until the new year, as far away as it is.

 

[UnitedinRed]

Not really... Just little parts of the tactics. Very few players taking risks in their runs forward or passes. We go to cross the ball so much but how often is Rooney the only player in the box? When we start losing we tend to create more as we actually throw players forward and aren't afraid to commit players in the box. Also our crossing is dreadful for the most part.

That's on the players. Martial is completely free to do what he likes within his position, Mata and Memphis can often be found in field, Rooney could literally be anywhere and van Gaal clearly encourages the centre backs to get forward.

I imagine its doing his nut in at times.

 

[acnumber9]

People saying Boro at home....

Leeds/Crawley/Crystal Palace.

We haven't won this cup for ages. It's a shame we're out but this happens when you play youngsters/fringe players.

I knew it wouldn't take long for this shite line of thinking to be trotted out. If we're going to compare games under Van Gaal to the past 20 years it isn't going to end well.

 

[Tyrion]

Youngsters let down by seniors. Cost them minutes / game time and a chance of a trophy.

Annoyed we are out, because it was a really good chance for a trophy, we saw what the 2006 league cup win did for us and our young players.

A shocking trend of a poor slow first half continues.

Forget his declining football ability, I need to know why Rooney is captain? What does he actually offer as a captain, I dont see him talking to our players, organising, being a leader. Its just a bicep prop for him.

Lee Mason is a human Homer Simpson. Except Homer turned out to be a good referee when he booked Lisa for diving.

The match day thread should go in classics. Hilarious fun.

I've never thought of Rooney as a captain. He's quick to appeal for things and shouts when passes played to him miss but that's it.

 

[EmPeeKay]

Disappointing result. I honestly don't think we deserved to lose and thought we were quite unlucky. On the other hand when chances are at a premium, we need to take them. There is still a bit of deadwood in this squad and it showed tonight.

We need to move on, concentrate on the next game and field a strong lineup because Crystal Palace will be no pushover.

 

[UnitedinRed]

I knew it wouldn't take long for this shite line of thinking to be trotted out. If we're going to compare games under Van Gaal to the past 20 years it isn't going to end well.

Well, probably not, seeing as it is our most successful period ever. In that time though, we rarely did anything in the League Cup.

It served a purpose for us. A chance to try a few youngster and identify dead wood. Occasionally they would have a good run but more often than not, when we got further, we tend to bring more of the first team in.

 

[Kakeru]

I dont get this whole "Its only the league cup". We havent won a trophy since Fergie left, this was a great chance, and we all saw how the LC win in 2006 was a boost esp to the younger players.

Its a missed opportunity imo.

This. Whether this is the League Cup or the FA Cup, I wish we Manchester United start giving those cups the same amount of respect that teams from other leagues give to their own domestic cups.

 

[Chorley1974]

It was shambolic, and saying otherwise is pretty delusional. It also demonstrated that Rooney can't even do it against a championship side. Our captain is beyond finished, but he's played every game.

Shambolic, ffs get a grip.

 

[justboy68]

This. Whether this is the League Cup or the FA Cup, I wish we Manchester United start giving those cups the same amount of respect like teams from other leagues respect their own domestic cups.

I think most countries don't even have a League cup. If they do there's certainly no one who gives a shit about it. It's an opportunity to give the youngsters/ squad players a run out and little more. The FA cup though I agree. It pisses me off how long it is since we've done anything in it. Way overdue.

 

[kps88]

I agree with this. Carrick and fellaini should never be our midfield pairing. They were just too immobile to do the job.

They were never our midfield pairing.

 

[Mutter Merkel]

Shambolic, ffs get a grip.

How can you laugh at that? You don't think tonight was a total embarrassment to our club?

 

[Tosicsleftpeg]

I don't think we were "awful" but what do I know? There's always a massive over reaction every single time we lose a game of football. It was an open game, end to end at times and in the final minutes, we did have 2 clear cut chances to win it, we had 2 clear penalties not given, about 5 weak shots straight at the keeper. We were not terrible at all, Boro were just very well drilled, determined & fought until the end, they deserve a lot of credit. It went to penalties & our senior players, like much of the game, failed woefully.

I thought Lingard & Perreira gave very good account of themselves, Fellaini played well. I fear for Memphis, he's struggling to do the basics, such as bringing the ball under control. He can't pass & doesn't take on his man, his crossing is poor, he's basically offering nothing, I know he needs time to settle, but he's not showing anything worthy of perseverance right now. And Rooney was just Rooney, past his sell by date, now that Young is back, maybe LVG can drop him. I thought it was an entertaining game, very open, but we didn't win, which means, we were "awful" & it's the fault of the manager. I don't understand this logic at all.

Great post summed it all up

 

[stu_1992]

Didn't see the game because of work. Sounds piss poor though. The whole penalty situation is ridiculously shit. If only there were a few more Bastians in the team.

 

[Wumminator]

How can you laugh at that? You don't think tonight was a total embarrassment to our club?

Not at all.

 

[acnumber9]

Well, probably not, seeing as it is our most successful period ever. In that time though, we rarely did anything in the League Cup.

It served a purpose for us. A chance to try a few youngster and identify dead wood. Occasionally they would have a good run but more often than not, when we got further, we tend to bring more of the first team in.

I don't see how or why that would matter. We didn't even use it for that purpose this year. It was a bloody strong team we put out tonight with what could be described as one youngster playing more than 45 minutes. The shite we endured tonight is also not in isolation. It's an almost weekly occurrence and Van Gaal's answer to our struggles continues to be to throw Fellaini up front and hope for the best. This despite having two other strikers on the pitch. One of them actually good and stuck out wide so we could enjoy the spectacle.

 

[Chorley1974]

How can you laugh at that? You don't think tonight was a total embarrassment to our club?

No, we've seen far worse.

 

[GimmeAKitKat]

Coming up to 300 player ratings. Rooney has a 2.8 average and im not even thinking that's harsh.

Martial must be cursing himself for joining a team that doesn't have the balls to drop a guy who currently wouldn't cut it at Sunday League.

Memphis needs to grow up, and quick, even Lingard and Pereira are so far ahead of him in decision making. Every time he gets the ball im now expecting him to run himself into a cul-de-saq, and every single time, he does.

And is Mata carrying an injury or something? Why isnt he playing. Subbed at Arsenal, Subbed/sub both games for Spain, 45mins at Everton, rested at CSKA, 67mins at City, Rested again today.... i know he aint the energizer bunny but feck me.....he's got legs and he's 27. He didnt take part in the last 10 minutes of a game during October.....if anyone in that team is going to help exploit tired defenders with some creativity its him.

 

[Listar]

Coming up to 300 player ratings. Rooney has a 2.8 average and im not even thinking that's harsh.

Martial must be cursing himself for joining a team that doesn't have the balls to drop a guy who currently wouldn't cut it at Sunday League.

Memphis needs to grow up, and quick, even Lingard and Pereira are so far ahead of him in decision making. Every time he gets the ball im now expecting him to run himself into a cul-de-saq, and every single time, he does.

And is Mata carrying an injury or something? Why isnt he playing. Subbed at Arsenal, Subbed/sub both games for Spain, 45mins at Everton, rested at CSKA, 67mins at City, Rested again today.... i know he aint the energizer bunny but feck me.....he's got legs and he's 27. He didnt take part in the last 10 minutes of a game during October.....if anyone in that team is going to help exploit tired defenders with some creativity its him.

Its a league cup mate. Mata is first team, wouldn't have expected him to start. Especially Lingard is doing alright but his love-in with the bar is starting to get frustrating.

 

[GimmeAKitKat]

Its a league cup mate. Mata is first team, wouldn't have expected him to start. Especially Lingard is doing alright but his love-in with the bar is starting to get frustrating.

Fair point, and if he had been playing 90 mins at all this month i wouldnt mind so much, but he's not playing, he's had a month long rest pretty much.

And when your 0-0 and going nowhere against Boro at home in a deciding cup game, why bring Ashley Young on at Left back when Mata is infinitely rested and sat there ready to try and open up the defence.

 

[Nucks]

Coming up to 300 player ratings. Rooney has a 2.8 average and im not even thinking that's harsh.

I didn't see the game, but I am sure Rooney was poor.

However, claiming he deserved a 2.8 is silly. If you have any idea who people vote in these rating systems you'd be shaking your head.

I'd guess the vast majority of his ratings are 0. Really? A 0? This is what happens when you give people who are outraged a platform to express their view.

"THIS IS OUTRRRRR(rolling R to go with shaking jowels)RRRRRRAGEOUS I HATE ROONEY, HE PLAYED BAD, ZERO FOR YOU ROONEY!!!11111!!!!"

The entire rating system is therefore laughable and cannot be taken seriously. The opposite is also true, people who like a player, want them to succeed will inflate their score as well.

 

[Jaap]

This thread should only be reopened on the next day if we lose.

Talk about overreacting.

 

[Listar]

I didn't see the game, but I am sure Rooney was poor.

However, claiming he deserved a 2.8 is silly. If you have any idea who people vote in these rating systems you'd be shaking your head.

I'd guess the vast majority of his ratings are 0. Really? A 0? This is what happens when you give people who are outraged a platform to express their view.

"THIS IS OUTRRRRR(rolling R to go with shaking jowels)RRRRRRAGEOUS I HATE ROONEY, HE PLAYED BAD, ZERO FOR YOU ROONEY!!!11111!!!!"

The entire rating system is therefore laughable and cannot be taken seriously. The opposite is also true, people who like a player, want them to succeed will inflate their score as well.

Rooney was actually good today compared to his usual performance. That is because he finally managed to keep the ball and also offered more than Wilson after he came on. However a missed penalty make it a bad day at the office.

 

[Geordopolous]

Rooney's penalty wasn't even bad haha some of you people I swear

 

[Shimo]

2nd half and extra time we showed signs. Still that means we wasted a whole 45 minutes trying to play keep ball without creating any chances. One of these days someone will tell LVG the game can actually be won in the first half if we actually try go at teams and get a goal or two, otherwise risk even more of what happened today, which is decide to turn it up a little without any reward.

Thought it was a real mistake playing Fellaini deep with Carrick, was such a waste. Perreira was invisible in the first half and Fellaini was outside the box half the time giving us no target. Although I think Fellaini was to me MOTM, he at least tried to drive us forward.

Really do hope LVG sees that Rooney up top is just not working, he is badly out of form and it is destroying our ability to get good scoring chances. His captain must not play and he must not play this weekend. It will do the team good and it might even do Rooney some good knowing he needs to step up.

 

[Livewire1974]

We should have scores but you were impressed?

We created some good chances and should have scored. The last chance from Martial was telling for our night, the ball just went the wrong way. A couple of handballs that should have been penalties also. Overall, I was happy with what I saw tonight from us, and Boro were very very good defensively.

 

[Livewire1974]

It must be the first time since SAF we have pressed properly at 90 minutes, and at the end of extra time. There was a belief and aggression in the side. This is very positive. Needs to be built on though. We need to see more of it.

 

[Green_Red]

We've gone out to worse teams on worse performances than that in the past..

 

[LeftyBlaster]

People saying we shouldn't be getting worked up since we've lost to poorer teams in the past need to remember that the way we played is so representative of LVG's reign here. And it should bloody well concern you that we can't create anything against Boro, never mind not winning.

 

[Blue always red]

Feckin hell man, you would've thought we still had Clev, Ando, Nani and co at the club the way some people are talking about another squad clear out. Mental.

 

[Kakeru]

We've gone out to worse teams on worse performances than that in the past..

Tonight's performance is symptomatic of the whole LVG tenure. So I don't want to hear shit with that excuse, and I don't give a shit. The way we play is totally unacceptable, especially with the older guys on the side.

 

[ken11]

Lads. It's Middlesborough.