[crossy1686]

What? You realise that Darmian was playing a centre-back today, right? Nevermind that he was one of the best players on the pitch, even Ole noted that.

I must have missed it, I honestly hardly ever saw him, it was Jones making the last ditch tackles and stuff. I didn't think he was all that. He got caught out of position a few times and Dalot had to bail him out. Maybe Solskjaer was trying to build his confidence? He has had a rough time over the last few years.

 

[EwanI Ted]

I must have missed it, I honestly hardly ever saw him, it was Jones making the last ditch tackles and stuff. I didn't think he was all that. He got caught out of position a few times and Dalot had to bail him out. Maybe Solskjaer was trying to build his confidence? He has had a rough time over the last few years.

I thought he was one of the better ones on the pitch to be honest. Both him and Jones were doing last ditch stuff because they had opposition runners coming from midfield unmarked, which is a problem even against limited opposition.

 

[Gungne]

As there was 9 changes to the team I didn't expect to much. I was hoping for a fun game, and that some of the players stepped up. But no...

Fred and McTominay was both big disappointments, again. So fare Fred has not have a single good match for United.

 

[Melville Red]

Uh. City wanted him and I don't get this. Lots of great players have come from Ukraine and russia. Vidic and Kanchelskis for two.

Yes, but not many Brazilians or any other nationality actually queues up to actually play there now do they? That is of course unless you are not good enough to play in the Western European leagues. As for City wanting him, do you believe everything you here in the media? Vidic was from Serbia and Kanchelskis was born in The Ukraine but played for Russia.
I’m 100% sure had city wanted him they would have, it was probably a rumour put out by his old club and his agent to get as much money for him as possible. Woodward is just the sort to fall for that crap. But why we were ever interested in him is beyond me.

 

[Gary_Walsh_Nou_Camp_Hell]

I hear what you're saying, but Reading are nearly a league 1 team. We lost the midfield battle mainly because of this fella, his awareness is absolutely horrendous.

He's new to English football. Playing in a 3 with 2 youngsters who are also lacking match practice. In a team that's made 9 changes.

Yes Reading are shit and Fred didn't have a great game - but nobody played particularly well.

Just give him some time and maybe it won't work out but not every signing can start amazingly well. For example, Evra and Vidic needed a decent amount of time before we saw their ability.

 

[Bestietom]

Fred and Pereira were disappointing in Midfield.

 

[rollingstoned1]

Yes, but not many Brazilians or any other nationality actually queues up to actually play there now do they? That is of course unless you are not good enough to play in the Western European leagues. As for City wanting him, do you believe everything you here in the media? Vidic was from Serbia and Kanchelskis was born in The Ukraine but played for Russia.
I’m 100% sure had city wanted him they would have, it was probably a rumour put out by his old club and his agent to get as much money for him as possible. Woodward is just the sort to fall for that crap. But why we were ever interested in him is beyond me.

Not true, from D costa to willian a lot of players from South America join clubs in Russia and Ukraine as a stepping stone who then go onto play for some of Europe's best clubs. There's quite a big list of them over the years and it is not surprising considering how much talent is really there in those places that can escape through the holes in the net.
The City interest in Fred was quite well publicized, as was their interest in Sanchez. it's not like we haven't signed players City have wanted before. We are a bigger draw than them so saying 'I'm sure if they wanted him they would have signed him' is lazy and someway off the mark. Quite a few clubs across Europe were monitoring him so he isn't exactly some pub player who isn't good enough to even cast a glance at, just because you may not have known much about him.
I know where they were born but my point was those 2 initially played for clubs that according to you only second rate talents who can't make the grade go to.

 

[Foxbatt]

I thought he was one of the better ones on the pitch to be honest. Both him and Jones were doing last ditch stuff because they had opposition runners coming from midfield unmarked, which is a problem even against limited opposition.

He had a good game. He even was involved in the attack too. He could have an assist too if we had scored from his pass. Darmian is a good footballer but he has not had his chances at United with Jose. He is going to go to Italy and he will play for a big club there and good luck to him.

 

[minoo-utd]

What’s that got to do with how he performed yesterday?

Not only yesterday though.

 

[Maplered]

You've never ever watched a match that Mueller was involved in.

I did he was a pure poacher

 

[RooneyLegend]

I did he was a pure poacher

True but he was technically on a different level to Lukaku.

 

[Foxbatt]

I did he was a pure poacher

Are we talking about Gerd? He was not only a poacher but can dribble too. He has a very low C of G and that helps him a lot too. Technically he was brilliant and has great vision. I have seen play many a times.

 

[reds_fan_aus]

A bit late to cover this - but a little curiosity on my part. Was watching highlights of the game and saw the bit when Sanchez was in OLG's seat and he asked him to move. What do you think he was whispering to him? Something along the lines of "I know your'e getting paid a little bit more than me every week but the guy who sits in that Chair determines whether you get to play or not next week - so, do yourself a favour and move."

 

[Synco]

I did he was a pure poacher

From what I've seen: He was likely the best poacher ever, but not a "pure" poacher (in the sense that his game was restricted to that role or that particular set of abilities). In quite a few games his movement was closer to a Rooney or Griezmann type of player, although no comparison works 100% and his role could vary a lot from game to game.

 

[The Boy]

I think that none of Mctominay, Pereira and Chong are going to make it. Playing them is a waste of time.

Give them all a chance, they are young and learning their game. Matches like the Reading one will be very useful to them in the long run. I think they all have huge potential especially Pereira and Chong.

 

[Gordon S]

Watched the game last night, and i don’t think we were quite as bad as been made out here. Lots of positives,

Won
Clean sheet
Players rested
Much needed minutes for a lot of players
Sanchez and Lukaku building momentum
We learned that Darmian isn’t crap as a cb
A debut for Chong, looked decent enough even if nerves might got the better of him.
No injuries (afaik)

 

[CA_vampire]

Give them all a chance, they are young and learning their game. Matches like the Reading one will be very useful to them in the long run. I think they all have huge potential especially Pereira and Chong.

Perreira is 23, McTominay is 22... that's not very young. Chong is 19 and that's young, but he seems too weak to become a top player in Premiership. And we need top players, not average players.

Anyway, that's my opinion only. Certainly, it's a good idea to use them in a few cup games. But I don't think that any of these guys will bring us to the next level and make us a top European side. And that's our goal, isn't it? We need a couple of world class players. We are rich enough to buy a dozen of average players. The world class players is the main problem, how to get those.

 

[Melville Red]

Not true, from D costa to willian a lot of players from South America join clubs in Russia and Ukraine as a stepping stone who then go onto play for some of Europe's best clubs. There's quite a big list of them over the years and it is not surprising considering how much talent is really there in those places that can escape through the holes in the net.
The City interest in Fred was quite well publicized, as was their interest in Sanchez. it's not like we haven't signed players City have wanted before. We are a bigger draw than them so saying 'I'm sure if they wanted him they would have signed him' is lazy and someway off the mark. Quite a few clubs across Europe were monitoring him so he isn't exactly some pub player who isn't good enough to even cast a glance at, just because you may not have known much about him.
I know where they were born but my point was those 2 initially played for clubs that according to you only second rate talents who can't make the grade go to.

I’ll hold my hands up then. I am the first to admit I don’t know much about foreign football, however Fred has a very long way to go before he convinces me that he is suitable for United.

 

[Melville Red]

Watched the game last night, and i don’t think we were quite as bad as been made out here. Lots of positives,

Won
Clean sheet
Players rested
Much needed minutes for a lot of players
Sanchez and Lukaku building momentum
We learned that Darmian isn’t crap as a cb
A debut for Chong, looked decent enough even if nerves might got the better of him.
No injuries (afaik)

And don’t forget Reading are struggling in a league below us. Our fringe players should really dominate against any club from a lower division, they failed rather miserably in achieving that.
Still at least we didn’t do a Leicester or Fulham, but then again we are the richest club in the world and our reserves should reflect that.

 

[Verbalkint]

Fred and Pereira were disappointing in Midfield.

Definitely, both gave the ball away so many times. I think they showed glimpses of their attacking prowess though, maybe they need more time on the pitch and with the team. Safe to give them the benefit of doubt.

I watched La Liga highlights this morning - Sociedad vs Madrid. Guess who was having a whale of a time ? Adnan Januzaj
Was happy to see him do well.

 

[Gordon S]

And don’t forget Reading are struggling in a league below us. Our fringe players should really dominate against any club from a lower division, they failed rather miserably in achieving that.
Still at least we didn’t do a Leicester or Fulham, but then again we are the richest club in the world and our reserves should reflect that.

That would be the dream!

Tell me, when was the last time you witnessed a United team made up of fringe players completely dominate against a championship team?

 

[Sandikan]

A bit late to cover this - but a little curiosity on my part. Was watching highlights of the game and saw the bit when Sanchez was in OLG's seat and he asked him to move. What do you think he was whispering to him? Something along the lines of "I know your'e getting paid a little bit more than me every week but the guy who sits in that Chair determines whether you get to play or not next week - so, do yourself a favour and move."

He looked to handle it absolutely perfectly. Making a light hearted joke of it, gently tapping him on the shoulders affectionately, and Sanchez looked a little embarrassed but took the funny side.

Imagine Jose in the same position!
Carrick was sat next to him wasn't he? Why didn't he say something?

 

[M Utd]

And don’t forget Reading are struggling in a league below us. Our fringe players should really dominate against any club from a lower division, they failed rather miserably in achieving that.
Still at least we didn’t do a Leicester or Fulham, but then again we are the richest club in the world and our reserves should reflect that.

Good points from both of you. We would have all loved a 7-0 like spurs produced but it just wasn't the case. I think some may well be reading too much into a single game. Some are writing off players based on a single game which I think is odd.
The real reality is that we won and we are through. I doubt very much in 2 or 3 months anyone fully remembers the game let alone decide it's discussion worthy.

 

[Melville Red]

That would be the dream!

Tell me, when was the last time you witnessed a United team made up of fringe players completely dominate against a championship team?

Er, 19?? No hang on a minute. I’ll get back to you on that.