01 Feb 2018 19:14:49
So everyone here rates our back 4 from last night?
Valencia
Jones
Smalling
Young.

2 midfielders and 2 shambles of defenders.

1.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 21:38:30
How many goals have we conceded this year? Shambles.

2.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 21:53:43
How many times they get found out by good sides.
Spurs
Chelsea
Arsenal had 30 odd shots, there crap finishing saved us.
City walked through them.

3.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 20:39:19
How many did we score last night.

4.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 20:52:45
Part of the reason pogba isn't suited to a 2 man midfield. with that lot behind them.

5.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 20:58:46
I know we've got a good defensive record, But against the Top teams We struggle, Fergie thought Jones and Smalling, would take over from Rio and Vidic, But nowhere near that standard, they make too many mistakes and not really comfortable with the ball at their feet, as it showed when Spurs pressed them last night, As for the 2 fullbacks, Fergie bought them as attacking wide players, Valencia to replace Ronaldo (Yeah), They are not able to defend when put under pressure, they'll get pulled around in the Champions league, it's just not their instinct to read trouble, We wouldn't of been happy with Giggs and Beckham fullbacks, I know the game as changed but uve got to be able to defend, That 4 won't win you Big Trophies.

6.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 22:56:46
So pogba struggles because he can only play in a midfield 3, the players around him are not good enough and that lot behind him?
Should maybe get a player who can play well regardless Leahy?

The fact is our defensive record is pretty good even if our defenders haven't got fancy names .

Our cm yesterday was terrible, not bad players but very poor .

Switch it around maybe they struggled with that lit in front of them?
Even tho they cost a lot of money and have fancy names they never played well yesterday .
Probably Tony fault, because he use to be a winger and been at the club a while .
Pogba subbed after an hour and getting a bollocking on the pitch .
Jose saying today Sanchez never played or done what he was asked?
First time since he come to the EPL he never had a shot in a game? Strange stat .

Team game tho, average day at the office move on .

7.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 23:25:39
The defence against weak times is fine but we are not wanting to be judged against them. When it comes to the top teams we are consistently found out in midfield and defence. (Arsenal are not a top team) . Against Liverpool we resorted to parking the bus. This is not the Utd way. Against Spurs last night we should have lost by three or four.

Our midfield does not dominate against against the too teams and this obviously puts pressure onto our defence. Smalling is not good enough. Tony V is not and never will be a top right back although I admire his work ethic and professionalism. Jones has the potential but by now should be consistently reliable. He is not.

Luke Shaw is good enough and needs to be left to make the position his own. City just bought Laporte. He is a top defender. Walker is a top defender. City spent big and have a very solid base. When our defensive basis is really solid and we find a counterpoint for Pogba then we will fight them.

8.) 02 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 23:59:37
In the summer there was big long thread on here about aurier being the best right back in the epl .

People don't always appriciate what they have and any fancy name is better.

9.) 02 Feb 2018
02 Feb 2018 08:44:15
Defence has overall been quite food this year.

Jerd, relevance of the goals scored against spurs when criticising the defence?

10.) 02 Feb 2018
02 Feb 2018 09:54:53
Angle
Because our cm and attack had a pretty off day .
But people are obsessed with having a go at the same players .
Excuses after excuses for a fancy name but the moment a player like Jones (who has been very good ) has one iffy game he is thrown under the bus .

11.) 02 Feb 2018
02 Feb 2018 10:02:51
I find it funny how people slate Valencia for being a former midfielder, yet I expect everyone would jump at the chance to sign David Alaba to sort out our left back problem. Who himself is a former midfielder.


Many players switch positions throughout their career, sometimes it is to adapt to a change in their ability such as losing pace, sometimes it to adapt to a change in the footballing landscape. Like playing a winger as a wing back to accommodate a formation change or a shift in football tactics.

Many great full backs were wingers earlier in their careers, Roberto Carlos and Dani Alves as obvious options. Some full backs move the other way, take Lahm for example moving into midfield in his thirties.

Valencia since he has adjusted to the full back position has consistently been one of the best right backs in the league over a 4-5 year period. Yes occasionally he makes a mistake like all footballers do every weekend, I don't think it's fair to blame every mistake he makes on him having previously been a winger.

I don't think any of the criticism is fair to be honest. In a world of money grabbing footballers Valencia has shown great loyalty. He had a serious injury, he fought hard to come back from that, was then asked to change his position and rather than sulking he just got on with it, and worked hard. He never gives less than 100% for the club and he even sacked his agent citing he had no need for one as he doesn't want to leave the club.

He should be one of the few players we aren't critical of.

12.) 02 Feb 2018
02 Feb 2018 10:21:39
Shaps
Good post but Tony has been at the club a while and people are a bit bored off him.

13.) 02 Feb 2018
02 Feb 2018 10:26:42
jred, one iffy game?

14.) 02 Feb 2018
02 Feb 2018 11:01:03
Jred if its any consolation, and it helps dry your eyes, Valencia is the only one that's decent in his position. The other 3 are terrible.

15.) 02 Feb 2018
02 Feb 2018 12:37:17
Fax
Dry my eyes? I'm not crying over one game and spitting my dummy out because we lost a game.

16.) 02 Feb 2018
02 Feb 2018 12:57:07
Jred it was an important game against a top 4 rival. We win we push them back.

17.) 02 Feb 2018
02 Feb 2018 13:03:19
Completely agree jred. I think the defence has been very solid. But people going mad again.

18.) 02 Feb 2018
02 Feb 2018 13:38:19
Not sure anybody could name a mistake Jones has made this season before Wednesday, but we all know on here people are judged on their last game.