We're an average team that got found out in one of those high intensity PL games that make you realise top flight football has still got some guts and passion.
I don't agree with this theory that we bottled it. I saw a team trying hard last night (all bar MS) but we just have too many players that are just not of the right quality. DDG and Martial delivered. Rashford's a young lad whose time will come but there are question marks over everyone else that started.
Schneiderlin winds me up more than any other and epitomises, for me, the state of affairs at our club. Never have I seen him break out of a jog, busting a gut, having a go at someone, demanding the ball, getting riled, even fecking smiling or something. Nothing from him. You'd swear he wasn't that bothered and his first half performance strolling around the pitch whilst Mark Noble et al were giving it their all was disgraceful. In a team devoid of leadership he was head and shoulders above the rest for his lack of it. I don't see a way back for him
Blind is a good footballer and reader of the game with good ball skills but simply not built to play CB properly. He was targeted last night and it was a simple tactic that worked. He got bullied and brilliantly so.
Rojo, as we all know, is not good enough. A trier but doesn't look premier league.
Valencia as above. Served us well but no more than a journeyman
Herrera couldn't stand the heat last night. Such an underwhelming signing what is it that he actually does well? No physicality, limited passing, poor tackler constantly giving fouls away. He's been found out in this league.
Smalling looks shaky and lacking in confidence again possibly due to the deficiencies of the rest of the back four? I still think he's class and with better and more reliable defenders alongside him is worth sticking with
Mata I'm undecided about. Blood and guts games like last night aren't for him as he's another who is simply not built for it but he does work his socks off and he's always got a bit of skill on tap as per the goal.
Rooney worked hard as ever an above average performance in a very ordinary team. Captain by default only he is no on pitch leader for me and if we're looking to progress next year surely we need to be looking higher than squeezing an ageing front man into the number 10 slot?
Unfortunate for us to come up against a West Ham fired up for their last game at Upton Park but if we have any thoughts of winning the EPL or the CL again we need far more quality in our team to cope with such occasions. What would happen if this team found itself in a CL semi against Real Madrid doesn't bear thinking about.