07 Dec 2013 18:24:13
Where to start?
The first point is that any team without Rooney, Carrick, and with an unfit RVP could struggle. Having said that I do worry that the team seem bereft of ideas and are playing at a tempo that is so unlike Utd of old.
Can you put all the blame on Moyes, definitely not, however I believe he has made his life a lot more difficult than he needed to by sacking all the backroom staff. What he should have done is to have kept them at least for one season to utilise their knowledge of the players and thrir experience.
I remember Graeme Souness talking about when he took over Liverpool and he said he tried to change things too quickly. The old motto if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Now let us look at the team.
Irrespective of what anyone says about this team winning the league last year, it didn't the team that won the league last year was not playing today and in fact has not started that many games together this year. It also was able to utilise Paul Scholes for a few crucial games.
The other teams all strengthened considerably and that is showing.
My fear now is that the team are so lacking in confidence I cannot see them being able to alter the situation sufficiently this season.
My other concern is that, maybe and there is no way of really knowing this, is that the supposedly harder training regime means that they don't, with the exception of Rooney who has undoubtedly improved seem to have the energy left to impose themselves at the end of a game.
Individually
DDG fine not at fault for the goal
Evra, caught out of position too often and headed the wrong way for the goal
Vidic & Evans ok
Rafael fine
Jones energetic but needs a ball playing midfielder for him to work in midfield
Cleverly ok but not inspiring
Januzaj good but got knocked off the ball quite easily sometimes
Nani no improvement
Hernandez busy but needs better service
RVP poor but understandable given lack of playing time recently
Subs
Zaha better than Nani but too little time to impact.
Valencia no better than Rafael
Anderson reasonable energy but lacking confidence it appeared
Tactically we cannot continue to play 442 against teams who play 5 in midfield and expect to create space and or chances, especially when our wingers are not good enough and are central midfielders are not the strength they once were, especially without Carrick.
I believe sadly that the top 4 will be (not necessarily in order)
Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea. I think we will end up 5th and Spurs will be 6th.
I have supprted Utd since they were in the 2nd division and I am not going to stop now, but I would rather lose 6-5 going for the win at the end than clinging on for 1-1 or 0-0.

1.) 07 Dec 2013
I agree with the 5 in midfield with a midfield as weak as ours we have to start playing 3 in the center. Also stop playing wellbeck on the wing he's been poor recently. About players though I have to disagree with vidic and evans. Vidic shouldn't be playing 3 games in a week. Evans looks uncomfortable on the ball when passed to just wants to pass it on a lack of composure. Jones and clev were far to close on the pitch not once did they show to pass out from the back which then led to long ball bolton tactics. Which suited newcastle. Anderson atleast showed for the defence and drove forward. Think your alil unfair on nani he wasnt great but zaha did absolutly nothing when he came on. Although I think him and adnan should have switched wings. Adnan tryed to take on the world and went down looking for fouls if rafa wasnt tired he should have been subbed. Moyes tactics are strange valencia has played well recently but gets dropped. Yet welbeck was awful against spurs but started against everton. Well titles over and without a lot of luck so practically is top 4. Personally i'd rather not finish in europa league as u can tell with liverpool the lack of a unwanted distraction is giving positive results. Hopefully moyes will see that money needs spending in jan value in the market shouldn't be a issue when your in our position. Hopefully the results will pick up else moyes may lose players in the dressing room if he's not careful