[MAME DIOUF 32]

Would've taken 2-1 before the game but it ended up feeling disappointing. When you remember we're only two players short of a first choice side, it's concerning.

 

[Robertd0803]

3 points and another Lukaku goal. Regardless of anything else wasn't expecting him to celebrate against West Brom anyway.
Could do without the whole coasting and then going on to hanging on within a matter of moments which seems to becoming common place lately.

 

[Tosicsleftpeg]

Really don't understand why people aren't happy?? Ok scrappy win but we need to remember..

Recently lost to city, so need to gain momentum again...

Missing our best player..

We have been in fantastic form but city are just crazy..

It's Xmas...

All in all for me it's a solid win. Downsides were Herrera bring absolutely abject

 

[noodlehair]

Rashford played well, set up Lukaku's goal. Rashford needs to play with confidence and take his man on more often. No idea what you're on about.

He really didn't. He set up the goal well and has it in him to produce moments like that, but of late, all he wants to do when he picks up the ball is slow the game down and take on situations by himself...except he's not good enough to beat players or create chances from a standing start. Our other forwards, particularly when we play on the break, pick up the ball on the move and everything they do, whether it comes off or not, is instant. Rashford gets it and the game has to stop while he decides what he wants to do, which will often end up being a silly bit of skill which he has left so long to do he is never going to create any space or beat his man. He shouldn't be in the team playing the ay he is at the moment. Contrary to all the claims on here, our forward players are actually pretty good, and even the weakest of them in Lingard, is in pretty good form. Rashford at the moment is the worst of them, barring Mhikitaryan who is presumably dead. We can afford the luxury of giving players in this area of the pitch a boot up the arse when needed.

Defending set-pieces has been an issue for a while, going back to last season actually. Mourinho has made adjustments regarding men on the posts and changing the assignments but the results aren't there at the moment in this regard. 4 goals conded from set-pieces this season. The last few goals from set-pieces aren't due to poor marking but rather poor reactions to balls dropping in the box.

The last few goals have been goals any team in the top three divisions would be ashamed to concede. We have a pretty good defensive unit over all, and teams with far less able defenders and who are far less competent defensively, manage to defend these situations better than us with relative ease. There really is no excuse for it to keep happening.

West Brom were poor and we were in complete control after the second goal. I think the team felt the game was in hand and was trying to conserve energy given the upcoming schedule. Even after their goal, we had the far better chances.

Yes but as mentioned, there is a line between being conservative, and throwing away the game. We certainly didn't have the far better chances afte rtheir goal. We started panicking as we always do in these situations, which is all the more reason not to be so amazingly lapse as to unecessarily put ourselves in such a position. We're not the sort of team who can comfortably see out a one goal lead.

No one is against fair criticism but it's remarkable how some people have almost nothing positive to say about how the team is doing despite the great start to the season we've had

Plenty of people have had plenty of positive things to say regarding this season so far, as over alll there have been plenty of positives to point out...the main negative (apart from the few weeks where everyone decided to pretend we were much more boring than we are) is how good another team has been.

There just wasn't much positive to take from our performance today, and this thread is about today's game. It wasn't even a case of us grinding out a win against a team who played well like it was for example with Bournemouth or Southampton. This was us lowering our level in order to grind out what should have been a very comfortable win against a team who played actually quite amazingly badly.

The only positive really (apart from Matic who I thought was excellent), is "well at least we won anyway"...but that definitely needs to not become a theme, because it'll just mean that sooner or later (sooner) the "we won anyway" bit wont happen.

If there's one thing we can't afford to do this season, it's risk dropping points against opponents who don't even turn up.

 

[Trophy Room]

Without Pogba, I'm just happy to win to keep up. Sometimes we expect too much.

 

[Giggs86]

After 18 games. We'd be in touch with the leaders in almost any other season.

Crazy to think that some people complain while we're only one point off at this stage from our 07/08 season, when we were comfortably the best team in Europe.

Just imagine where we'd be now if Pogba hadn't been injured/suspended this season.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

With the players we have we should be playing a lot better football.

When we put out attacking sides, our defense has a brain fart, no composure. and we end up playing hoofball, totally ignoring the front players. When we put a defensive side out, we have a complete lack of creativity and running up front and no idea how to get the ball to the guys up front. Just don't get what the feck they do all week between games. We play like strangers most of the game.

Some really shocking performances from many players today.

Another week gone and we are still second, long may it continue, but I hope we find some form as it is pretty shit at the moment. Imho, we have not played well since the dross we showed at the scousers.

 

[Antisocial]

Just landed after a 9 hour flight - as the plane took-off the game had just entered 4 minutes of injury time and judging from the Match Day thread we were getting destroyed and looking helpless at the mercy of the mighty West Brom, so right now I'm just relieved the team held-on and I can relax

 

[Ramshock]

 

[Foxbatt]

I know that Lukaku scored a goal but to me he is not in the class of what we need. We need a player with better ball control. We need players who can control the ball and look up and see the options. The same with Rashford. It seems all the praise has gone to his head. He is not passing when he needs to and trying to beat everyone on his own. He seems to put a fast cross in all the time, when he needs to float them in sometimes. Liverpool thrashed Bournemouth while we struggled against them. We seem to struggle against everybody now and though we win, we are just hanging on for dear life. It does not matter if it is City or West Brom. It is the same kind of defending and trying to hang on. With City we lost and fortunately we won yesterday.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

I know that Lukaku scored a goal but to me he is not in the class of what we need. We need a player with better ball control. We need players who can control the ball and look up and see the options. The same with Rashford. It seems all the praise has gone to his head. He is not passing when he needs to and trying to beat everyone on his own. He seems to put a fast cross in all the time, when he needs to float them in sometimes. Liverpool thrashed Bournemouth while we struggled against them. We seem to struggle against everybody now and though we win, we are just hanging on for dear life. It does not matter if it is City or West Brom. It is the same kind of defending and trying to hang on. With City we lost and fortunately we won yesterday.

But failed to beat West Brom and Everton at home.

Point taken;you're a Liverpool fan, nothing wrong with that

 

[Marcky411]

Amazing stuff from us. We should count or blessings that we get served this end-to-end stuff on a weekly basis.

Everyone who doesn't agree are moaners and not proper fans.

 

[Foxbatt]

But failed to beat West Brom and Everton at home.

Point taken;you're a Liverpool fan, nothing wrong with that

Everton is not going to be easy meat for us now due to the arrival of Big Sam. We should be putting these teams to the sword and not hang on for dear life. If Liverpool can put these teams away we should be doing the same as we are much better than Liverpool or anyone else apart from City.

 

[Marcky411]

Firstly 3 points. I am really getting tired of coming away from games with the positive being 3 points. Play in second half really poor, extremely tired of pointless hoofball especially just giving the ball away to the opposition and helping them in building momentum.
I really hope this is Mourinho's way of conserving players energy levels for this busy, busy period. Another positive, Pogba back, no Herrera on the field and maybe we can go back to changing formations and attacking with purpose. I hope to one day see a Utd game again where we are not hoofing the ball and after scoring one or two goals sitting back and inviting pressure.

 

[kouroux]

You are an imbecile. Everton is not going to be easy meat for us now due to the arrival of Big Sam. We should be putting these teams to the sword and not hang on for dear life. If Liverpool can put these teams away we should be doing the same as we are much better than Liverpool or anyone else apart from City.

Football isn't as simple as that, there are we beat easily that Liverpool struggled against just like the opposite. What matters is the standing, we didn't hang on for dear life, that was the Arsenal game.

 

[Marcky411]

We had no Pogba and it was only in the last 15 minutes that we sat back. Why is this so difficult to understand?

I understand parking the bus or maybe for a better words, closing up shop but every time we do it we look so shaky at the back and look like conceding at any moment. The ball gets pointlessly hoofed away with no attempt to control anything or even launch a counter attack.
If we closed up shop, sat back and controlled games no one would mind but this shaky defending and hanging on to the final whistle against weaker teams is very frustrating.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

You are an imbecile. Everton is not going to be easy meat for us now due to the arrival of Big Sam. We should be putting these teams to the sword and not hang on for dear life. If Liverpool can put these teams away we should be doing the same as we are much better than Liverpool or anyone else apart from City.

They are like 18 points behind City and have been trashed by a few teams. The Everton reference was about us putting 4 past them or did you forget? We'll beat WBA comfortably at home so I don't know what point you're making...but I'm the imbecile???

PS: I could report your insult but it would be dignifying it but in future....

 

[Ashley R1+O]

Second half was a little ropey but I always felt quite good about the result. Another 3 points was needed to keep chasing City and we got it.

 

[Darkhorsez]

They are like 18 points behind City and have been trashed by a few teams. The Everton reference was about us putting 4 past them or did you forget? We'll beat WBA comfortably at home so I don't know what point you're making...but I'm the imbecile???

PS: I could report your insult but it would be dignifying it but in future....

They are like 18 points behind City and have been trashed by a few teams. The Everton reference was about us putting 4 past them or did you forget? We'll beat WBA comfortably at home so I don't know what point you're making...but I'm the imbecile???

PS: I could report your insult but it would be dignifying it but in future....

Great response - some people are just on a mission it seems. Your reference to Liverpool fan though can be taken as an “insult”

 

[Inigo Montoya]

I understand parking the bus or maybe for a better words, closing up shop but every time we do it we look so shaky at the back and look like conceding at any moment. The ball gets pointlessly hoofed away with no attempt to control anything or even launch a counter attack.
If we closed up shop, sat back and controlled games no one would mind but this shaky defending and hanging on to the final whistle against weaker teams is very frustrating.

I think that was the most frustrating thing yesterday. But wn you look at our side: Herrera,Smalling,Rojo,Jones don't put their foot on the ball but would rather hoof it into row Z. It works when we need to defend first but fails miserably when we have to counter attack.

We also should have been 3 goals ahead but failed at the other end too. It doesn't inspire confidence

 

[simplyared]

A scrappy win. Agree with another member who said it was like watching a friendly, especially in the first half. Exactly my thoughts. Like many others just cannot understand why they switch off and invite the opponent back into the game. Certainly can't be tactical. I hope!!

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Great response - some people are just on a mission it seems. Your reference to Liverpool fan though can be taken as an “insult”

It wasn't. They have 2 players who would make the difference in our side: Salah and Coutinho. We don't have the midfield dribbler now that Mkhi has decided to retire! Those 2 can turn an attack very quickly. I admire those 2 but when they are nullified, Liverpool look pretty bad

 

[Darkhorsez]

It wasn't. They have 2 players who would make the difference in our side: Salah and Coutinho. We don't have the midfield dribbler now that Mkhi has decided to retire! Those 2 can turn an attack very quickly. I admire those 2 but when they are nullified, Liverpool look pretty bad

On the boldest part. Agree with Salah and Coutinho -excellent players. It will be interesting if Salah can keep it going.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

On the boldest part. Agree with Salah and Coutinho -excellent players. It will be interesting if Salah can keep it going.

He's matured in Rome. He can keep it going but Liverpool won't be able to keep him

 

[Marcky411]

I know that Lukaku scored a goal but to me he is not in the class of what we need. We need a player with better ball control. We need players who can control the ball and look up and see the options. The same with Rashford. It seems all the praise has gone to his head. He is not passing when he needs to and trying to beat everyone on his own. He seems to put a fast cross in all the time, when he needs to float them in sometimes. Liverpool thrashed Bournemouth while we struggled against them. We seem to struggle against everybody now and though we win, we are just hanging on for dear life. It does not matter if it is City or West Brom. It is the same kind of defending and trying to hang on. With City we lost and fortunately we won yesterday.

I agree, I know he has PL experience etc, but type and style of player Morata would've been the better fit (before I get shot down for this, I know, he too isn't lighting up the skies but can be forgiven seeing it is his first season PL). I am sure if and once Zlatan gets back to full fitness and gets to play he will only highlight Lukaku's short comings, ball control, vision for a pass, playing quick one-two's etc. On a positive Lukaku can only learn from him.

 

[Hasawi Red]

Genuinely have a hard time working out why people do this. Do you just not really enjoy football?

I do actually and i appreciate it very much, however, it is depressing to watch a team play slick football right after United's terrible displays. I don't mind it as much as i would have if we didn't have 4 terrible years in both style and results only if by the end of they year we are sitting 2nd or 1st with a good run in the Champions League.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Without creating many chances it was a comfortable win until we invited unnecessary pressure.
Smalling and Matic were the better players.

Be glad when Pogba's back because the link between Matic and the front players Lukaku/Rashford/Mata was not there

 

[Esquire]

We had no Pogba and it was only in the last 15 minutes that we sat back. Why is this so difficult to understand?

Equally, why is it so difficult to understand that spending all this money we should not be over reliant on one single player to determine whether we have a good day or otherwise? Or that is it so difficult to understand in every single game where we are ahead 1-0 we absolutely freeze and desperate defend our way through the last 15 minutes against vastly inferior opposition?

 

[colica77]

Did Rojo got booked at the end of the game 90+5, watched the end 20 times and havent seen that moment. Any help, can they fix that at premierleague site, how to contact them to fix it ? Thx

 

[Foxbatt]

Just because we say that other teams are playing better in most circumstances it does not mean that I am a supporter of another club. I wanted United to win and to win handsomely. Not hang on for life with all hands to the pump against a bottom 3 team.
I, for one do not believe that Jose tells his team to hoof up the ball when we are 2-0 up. It is the players who do this. Jose is not the one to let the other team have control of the game. By hoofing it up the other team gets the control. We need players up front who can hold the ball. This is the biggest issue we face. None of the three can hold the ball at all. Attacking players they may be.

 

[haram]

Just because we say that other teams are playing better in most circumstances it does not mean that I am a supporter of another club. I wanted United to win and to win handsomely. Not hang on for life with all hands to the pump against a bottom 3 team.
I, for one do not believe that Jose tells his team to hoof up the ball when we are 2-0 up. It is the players who do this. Jose is not the one to let the other team have control of the game. By hoofing it up the other team gets the control. We need players up front who can hold the ball. This is the biggest issue we face. None of the three can hold the ball at all. Attacking players they may be.

Dont go around saying "Liverpool beat Bournemouth 4-0" then when they have just failed to beat West Brom at home. Give it a rest.

 

[Sandikan]

he should be , but perhaps he has offended lord mourinio in some way or has not paid proper homage , same as mhki who has lost his place to Lingard who should not be even on the cleaning staff at old trafford . Enjoy your days at old trafford Jose because if you think this shitttt is acceptable in the long run while city build a dynasty of tactically brilliant football you are very very much mistaken.

What were you thinking when Lingard scored that goal against Watford the other day?
Or scored v Arsenal? Or scored yesterday?

Or is your post as ludicrously obvious a wind up as it seems?

 

[Bestietom]

Heart stopping again. Thank God Pogba is back now. Really hope we add a little bit of magic on the RW and a top playmaker in January.