01 Apr 2017 18:31:56
Up to this point I have been quite content with the managers decisions despite a lack of results. But today is a perfect example of where Jose struggles. He has little to offer in terms of offense of inspiration. He can organize a defense well but he doesn't seem to know what to do when we need a goal. Him criticizing the four attacking players is complete bull. They were attacking four against eight the entire match. Jose blames them for not scoring but I blame Jose for putting two holding midfielders and making it nearly impossible for us to match up with West brom in the numbers game in the attacking third. Carrick and Fellaini never even approach the box and when they do they aren't attacking threats. Young and Valencia were both mediocre wingers back in the day, that doesn't mean they can provide any threat from fb. Finally, the crossing. I could complain that our attack is predictable and offers little diversity, but the truth is that we get the ball into good areas but have to real problems. First hour Crossing is as poor as any I've ever seen and second we have only one striker in the box. This will never be successful and it's on Jose to realize that. Injuries and suspensions aside, mourinho set us up to draw against a lesser team. And THAT is why we won't reach the top
Four. And this is on him.

1.) 01 Apr 2017
01 Apr 2017 19:10:06
Even the American commentator on my stream, knew enough to state we didn't need two holding midfielders against a team with WBA's limited ambition.

2.) 01 Apr 2017
01 Apr 2017 19:35:10
so your midfield would of been what from today's squad? if you're going to critisize his decision making at least offer you're opinion on what you would of done differently?

{Ed004's Note - I think it is hard to criticise Jose today. He was working with limited resources. How would the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, City and Spurs cope missing arguably 3/4 of their best players (Ibra, Pogba, Mata and Herrera - not even including Smalling and Jones).
Though my biggest concern now is how poor our fullbacks are and how poor we are at crossing. In today's modem game the width comes from the full backs. Realistically Martial, Rashford and Lingard should be able to play quite narrow and not have to worry about the wings because a fullback will be bombing down it. Now Valencia has had a great season but he has offered very little quality crossing wise. I think that is why we have been seeing links with Semedo and mainly Mendy (this week). Games like today we should be able to play with 1 holding mid (Carrick/Herrera/New signing?) and 2 centre backs with everyone else pushed forward. Occasionally a winger could drift wide to create an overlap with a full back but I was really disappointed the amount of times we could've got to the byline and ended up coming inside to a crowded area. Probably the closest we got to scoring was when Young got to the byline}

3.) 01 Apr 2017
01 Apr 2017 20:24:31
Where was Shaw, was he injured. It's time to give him a go at left back.

4.) 01 Apr 2017
01 Apr 2017 20:25:17
It's not just today, we have put a few performances like that in this season .

5.) 01 Apr 2017
01 Apr 2017 20:38:12
Ed004 somehow I believe that your sense will be lost on many posters.

Too many times this season we have created ample opportunities without putting them away and jose will still get the brunt of the criticism.

For me, the players have to do better plus I believe we are still a couple of players short of having that really quality and cutting edge.

I have still been impressed with mourinho and I feel that had the players put away their opportunities then we would be in a much different place in the league right now.

I also felt we missed ibra today. A couple of balls went into the box in the first half and nobody was there, that is exactly where ibra pops up.

{Ed004's Note - Today was a game crying out for Ibrahimovic in and around the box however he has been a massive reason why we have drawn so many home games as well. Our away record has been so good imo because teams don't sit back all game whereas at home we are really struggling to put away teams and create chances. I think it's a mix of lack of quality and composure as well as luck.

I think we really need to address both fullback positions. We just seem to have absolutely no quality out wide and we rely on Martial to beat 2/3 players when he gets the ball. I think we should start playing Rashford on the right and allow him to come inside more and have him partnering Valencia. If you play a holding midfielder and Pogba + Mkhitarian that should be enough creativity through the middle but Martial needs help on his side and if Jose doesn't rate Shaw we need to sign somebody this summer}

6.) 01 Apr 2017
01 Apr 2017 21:07:15
I completely agree with you ed004. That would bring good balance to the squad. I think Rashford will be at his most effective playing on the wing at this moment. Maybe in a couple of years he turns into a CF.

{Ed004's Note - At the very least it will help him develop his overall game}

7.) 02 Apr 2017
02 Apr 2017 09:50:19
completely agree about the fullbacks. There has been zero service from the left and sporadic quality form Valencia all season. We need half a new team in the summer.

8.) 02 Apr 2017
02 Apr 2017 08:11:39
Ed. I agree totally. I've been saying all season that we need width. Width from fullbacks and width from a winger.
I wrote this a month ago and said most top teams play with at least one quality winger, check out Chelsea and they have Hazard and Pedro playing in that position. One of the posters replied that they are not wingers!
Struth.
The days of Willie Morgan running up and down the wing might be gone, but modern wingers still offer width and the better ones can also come inside and create havoc. We don't have a winger. We have players that are not wingers played as a winger. It doesn't work.
I said few months back that both of our fullbacks need replacing. Valencia has done well defensively but has offered very little in attack. Left back position is not even worth talking about as it is non existent. I'm not a Shaw admirer, in fact I think he has done incredibly well to come back from the injury, but the truth is that his first touch is terrible and he does everything at 100mph. So he'll lose the ball often and unfortunately will pick up frequent injuries.
On the shopping list, left back (Rose) right back (somedo), centre back (anyone is better than Jones and smalling), holding midfielder (plenty of choice) attacker (greizman) and a winger (Perisic or costa) . I will also get Chicaritto back at United. He would've scored 20 goals this season.
Outgoings, Shaw smalling blind rooney, Carrick (with a heavy heart) and possibly Martial if his attitude doesn't improve soon.
We are a long way away from winning the league but I know mourinho is the right man and he has ambitions. If we want to win the league again, then the above purchases have to be made.

{Ed004's Note - I agree with the majority of what you have written. It seems odd that we are sitting with the 3rd best defence in the league yet badly need a right back, CB (to partner Bailly and replace Blind and one of Smalling/Jones preferably Jones) and a left back. I am an admirer of Shaw and hope he stays but we need competition for him so we are not left stranded next year again. I also agree that Valencia has done a fantastic job defensively however doesn't offer enough going forward anymore. Lastly, Mourinho wanted another cb last summer and tried again in January so a centre back will come in. I agree with Semedo but not Rose - don't think he is plausible so hopefully we look at Mendy and Tierney. For centre backs I'd look at someone who is dominant in the air and decent on the ball. Ideally Laporte but I fear he is city bound so maybe Manolas? Not great with centre backs.

I would keep Carrick for a year but reduce his game time. I'm really hoping we sign Fabinho. Alternatives would be Carvalho, Perriera (Porto) and maybe Kessie (cause half of Europe is watching him and few people seem to rate him?). I'd keep Fellaini and integrate Adreas next season. I reckon Mkhitarian might be more effective playing alongside Pogba in a midfield 3 with a holding mid against weaker teams at home with Herrera coming in vs top teams. I think we are fine out wide Rashford, Martial, Mata, Mkhitarian and Lingard can all play wide and have sufficient pace but they just don't get anywhere near enough support. I think a clinical attacker will be bought and hopefully Griezmann is that player. I'd expect that to be us in the transfer window. A rb, cb, lb, Cdm and attacker is going to cost a fortune in this market but would love us to secure Mbappe. He's seems to be a once in a generation talent. Additionally I think a lot of players will leave such as Darmian, Blind (I think), Smalling/Jones, Rooney, Young, and Januzaj while quite a few have already left}