18 Mar 2018 19:41:50
Was discussing our team last night and looking back over the season, we started great fast, attacking and scoring goals. Then we were making lots of chances but failed to convert, at the back we were very tight conceding very few goals. Now move forward a few months, we can't pass the ball, don't create, playing this long ball and are poor at the back. We have bought Sanchez and blooded McTormey. In fairness to Lukaku he is trying every game and has 25 goals even with such a poor service. What has gone wrong, we should be more efficient now, more used to each others game and have a settled team and style, but no.

1.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 20:12:36
Did we start fast and attacking, watch those games again if you can as I think you have it wrong?

We had brief moments in those games against weak teams where we were very clinical. Virtually every team we scored 4 against lost their manager or were without a manager. It was an easy start and the final score flattered our performances. We deserved to win in those games, but the goals came in brief bursts, not on account of good fast attacking style to our play. It has been the same type of performance all season, sometimes it works. We have not been fast and attack minded.

The only two exceptions were against West Ham and Burton, where we looked brilliant.

2.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 20:22:57
United of last 2 seasons has been about somehow getting the 1st goal. First few matches this season we finished the matches strong with goals coming in counter attacks after 80th minute. I wasn't excited as much as others because I could see the similarities from the season before in which we started great with Ibra and company. But this time the plus point was that our counter attacks were more swift and players had better understanding.
Then came the Stoke match where Jose had to make changes to the winning unbeaten team because he is such a tactician and we lost, with some fight I might add. Few matches of getting over the line and then the disaster against Liverpool which just shattered the players confidence in themselves and their teammates.
This is not a team of winners (past few seasons) as Jose himself has pointed out they never recovered and few losses here and there were no help. On the other hand watching City destroying teams might have had an effect also. The tactics didn't help either.

3.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 20:51:02
@sailor

A draw at Anfield is a disaster? How?
I agree we haven't been absolutely dominant in games but we are better and more consistent than all other teams in the league bar City.

This is a team of players who lack character and the personality to want the ball and take players on. They are too happy to stroll and pass sideways than take risks. You can see by Jose's answer about McTominay for eg. He said he had his worst game but he never stopped trying, never stopped doing the basics of positioning right and never stopped trying to get the ball forward early. His execution was off but you could see he had the right idea. Its the same with Lingard imo and Lukaku (even when he doesn't score he creates chances and holds it up for his teammates), Bailly (when fit), Mata and Matic and to an extent Rashford.

This is what is lacking from the others imo. Just take the example of Pogba. He has all the natural talent in the world a midfielder could need yet his application is so poor. He forgets to get the basics right that McTominay does. He fails to build the foundation first on which he can then build. Martial looks average, casual and comfy far too often.

4.) 19 Mar 2018
19 Mar 2018 07:59:41
Redfaith/ Ken. A draw at Anfield at present is a very good result. But when we went to Anfield earlier in the season, Liverpool were playing badly and shipping a lot of goals and we were playing well. But mourinho chose to park the bus.
That game changed our attacking style (whatever style we had! ) and the season stuttered from that point.
Have you forgotten the gutless performances against City, Spurs, Huddersfield, Newcastle, burnley at ot, and seville away and home. Stoke away was also a game where we showed we had no guts.
People are mentioning passion, pressing, working hard to make space and to win back possession. Non of these are characters of this United side, I'm sure you agree on this. Whose fault is this? Who is the person at the club in charge of getting the players to play with passion and work hard for the cause? Once you've answered this question, you realize the manager we have is not all he's meant to be.