[Jazz]

First of all, happy with the 3 points. We look good for the most part at this early stage - but we also look like we'll be going up another level as the new players (except Ibra) settle in. Imagine once that happens we'll probably give most teams an arse kicking.

Only disappointment is not seeing Rashford given a go - even for the last 10 minutes. Imagine Rashford, Miki, Poggers, Ibra, Martial (once he gets his head fully engaged) all together on the pitch at the same time. Creativity, power, pace all in there

 

[Rado_N]

You have to give credit where it's due, Van Gaal has laid some great foundations yet again.

 

[bosnian_red]

Also to add on, Rooney played a lot better then the last game. Touch and passing good throughout and didn't slow everything down or get in the way. Very good assist as well. Promising signs, hopefully.

 

[spwd]

Great to have Shaw back too, like a new signing, well and Valencia the way he's played so far and I've been one of his biggest critics, also Fellaini was and is looking good too.

 

[top1whoisman]

Someone please post the Zlatan & Pogba interview here!

 

[Godfather]

Really enjoyed watching us today. Our players taking others on. Pog was incredible. Zlatan is a beast. As are Shaw and Val. And also, Fellaini looks like a different man. Still think we sit a bit too deep at times.

 

[DevilRed]

 

[humdinger]

Isn't it nice to enjoy football again?

 

[DomesticTadpole]

If only we had uncle Pat back too, imagine those three together!

Uncle Pat would die in this league now.

 

[Ban]

Anyone has Zlatan and Pogba's interview?

 

[AR87]

So in a pre-season and 3 games Mourinho turned Fellaini into the DM that Moyes and LVG couldn't or didn't believe he could be.

Shaw was class today. Thought he totally dominated his side and added so much to our attacking play. Same with Valencia.

Zlatan.

Pogba's going to be a beast.

Mata was great, but I think his defensive mistakes were the result of following his man into the box, LVG's man-to-man preference, and giving too much space in front of the box as a result rather than sticking to Jose's zonal preference.

 

[Glideman]

I really enjoyed that! we looked so strong and tall

 

[77]

Think de Gea needs to pull his finger out of he's going to win player of the year again

 

[17 Van der Gouw]

Better.

...still think we have a long way to go and a lot of adjusting to do.

 

[Red Dreams]

Also to add on, Rooney played a lot better then the last game. Touch and passing good throughout and didn't slow everything down or get in the way. Very good assist as well. Promising signs, hopefully.

better players around him most importanly a brilliant manager.

 

[sunama]

It's great having "power" individuals in Zlatan and Ibra - they are just in a league of their own.

So good, that he is like having 2 players on the pitch

 

[HabeasC]

Great that we're playing football again. Will be good when Rashford gets some more opportunities.

 

[Stormsurfer21]

Very pleased with this performance and the best is yet to come!

 

[Sunny Jim]

Fellaini was excellent. He'll be overlooked by fans and pundits alike this season in favour of our star players, but it looks like he'll have a fantastic season.

Martial however, needs a goal for confidence. What's encouraging though, is that he's getting into the goal scoring opportunities, just needs to finish them kff now.

I must admit...i was very crtical about him but feck me very good performancwe.

 

[Red-Man-Walking]

Good to hear Jose is planning rotation come September.

 

[sunama]

You have to give credit where it's due, Van Gaal has laid some great foundations yet again.

GRRRRRRRR....

 

[The Stain]

Mou saying he wants to give more players a chance, can't wait for September. Same lineup next game.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

Still lots of work to do. Contrary to some views on here, Southampton actually cut us up quite easy, so that is a concern.

The quality of the new buys is very clear, Bailly still a bit rash, but the other 3 were very good. If Micky was on for Rooney, with Mata behind Zlatan, it would be a pretty dangerous attack.

Nice to see some nice quick attacking play near the end, but first half was pretty much like the last 3 games, very poor.

Nice to see Valencia take on his man again, been missing that. Shaw is going to only get better. Lots to look forward to.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

 

[OneUnited24]

Next time you pass!

 

[NYC]

I only watched the first 50, but SOuthampton looked pretty good. Better chances in general...

Pogba looked ok, not his level, but it's reasonable since he just game to the squad. Think Mourinho should drop Rooney/Fellaini and either start Morgan with herrara or get a new DM.

Saints are a good team... They lose managers and key players, but always still play good football.

 

[Michael T]

Oh my God - the potential!

Would have liked to see us convert a third to increase our chances of remaining top of the Premier League come the end of the weekend, but so much more satisfying to watch compared to last year. Finally, we're back. Great debut from Pogba, and 'oh my word' - Zlatan Ibrahimović! Sit back and enjoy the weekend.

 

[Nickosaur]

Another point I just thought of - Bailly and Blind didn't stand out much tonight, and I think that's because of Pogba and Fellaini in front of them.

Fellaini especially, because while Pogba was spraying passes and knocking it past players, Fellaini did a quietly effective job at shielding the back four. I mean, that was a really fecking good performance from bogbrush.

 

[The Stain]

Told ye. Would have been 3-0 only for Pogba. Phhhhhhhhf.

Fecking Pogba! lel

 

[matherto]

Nice to have some of the old swagger back in our play. Ibra, Mkhi, Martial, Pogba all had moments of class, even Valencia took someone on and then delivered a decent cross.

I only saw the second half and the penalty killed the game but from all accounts Southampton actually started the brighter and they really didn't seem to have too much trouble carving through us despite being utterly shite. Against a better team we'll get punished. We need 4-3-3 with Rooney fecked off completely and two of Ander/Carrick/Morgan/Fellaini/anyone but Rooney alongside Pogba.

Felt like a standard SAF win that a few years ago we took for granted. Nice to have that feeling back almost.

 

[Munkehboi]

Zlatrick was on Paul FFS

 

[squidoo]

Have to say to those that think Fellaini is reborn..an awful lot of his performances were excellent last season but he was the scapegoat.

 

[Chip]

Underwhelming first half, brilliant second half. The penalty came at a fortunate time and closed the game. After that, I think we could easily have won 4-0.

Once the team really gels, I think we could be in for some brilliant football.

A few things I took from the game:

- Martial is getting closer to hitting form, and I think he'll be a great asset to our attack once he really gets going.

- Antonio Valencia is absolutely brilliant, and if he keeps up this form, I doubt we could find a better right back.

- As brilliant and Vidic-esque as Bailly can seem at times, I think he seems to be quite a liability at times. Could've easily cost us a goal at the end with a rash, miss-timed challenge. But I think this is natural when you take his age and playing style into account - just look at a young Rio Ferdinand, and to a slighter extend John Stones at this stage. I think he might cost us a goal or two and get send off this season, but he's hopefully going to be a brilliant centre half anyway!

 

[broccoli]

Pogba is really mind blowing. I knew he was good but to come and play like this on his debut? ffs

 

[Scarecrow]

LVG laid the foundations for this. Let's not forget.

 

[VeevaVee]

Football!
It's so long since we've played it.
Powerful and creative.
My heart was fluttering like when @Di Maria's angel sees that girl he's stalking.

Zlatan and Pogba looked brilliant. Exactly what we've needed.
Bailly lived up to his reputation as a diamond in the rough and looks to have a lot of potential.
Valencia also played very well. Hope he proves a lot wrong over the season (me included).
I'm loving how attacking him and Shaw are, who also had a very good game.

The best part is that we've still got more gears. That and it seems like our new players really want to be here and do well.
A good day.

 

[Perrick Dubois]

Next time you pass!

Hahah that was brilliant wasn't it. Great squad we have going.

We're rusty, we're fighting hard an we're winning by sheer graft. We haven't even got out of first gear yet and that is an excellent sign. Every player has a purpose, has a hunger and a fight. We're winning games by playing football and playing football better than the other team. None of this shortcuts with possession and neutralizing the opponent.

Jose is playing puppet master exactly the way I thought he would. Roll on next week!

 

[Maroo]

Towards the end, Pogba was ragging the Saints players

 

[Tiber]

Poor old saints haven't even got a mention in the post match coverage yet

 

[spwd]

Isn't it nice to enjoy football again?

Very very much so, feck you vangle!

So good, that he is like having 2 players on the pitch

Next time you pass!

Great pic