24 Sep 2018 11:44:24
Sanchez has got to be dropped at this stage. He should have been dropped a long time ago but he offers absolutely nothing at the minute. I think martial definitely warrants a run in the side too. He wasn't amazing against young boys but he earned his shirt for the next game in my opinion. Jose comes out and says before wolves that he won't start because he played 90 mins in midweek, why not, Sanchez was fresh and was tripe against wolves, martial is a young fit not, why can't he play 180 mins of football in a week. I'm no Mo Farah but I used to play 1 80 minute rugby match after another when I was 21.
DROP SANCHEZ IMMEDIATELY, HE CURRENTLY OFFERS LESS THAN NOTHING.

1.) 24 Sep 2018
24 Sep 2018 12:37:38
Both Sanchez and Lingard should be line for being dropped. Sanchez has been marginally better, but that isn’t saying much. Both players play too narrow and congest our attacking play. We need players who can stretch teams and open up space for Lukaku and the midfielders.

2.) 24 Sep 2018
24 Sep 2018 12:38:01
Sanchez at least looks bothered.

3.) 24 Sep 2018
24 Sep 2018 15:28:49
Ross -

I've written a lot about balance in my posts recently and that's what we need to find if we are to improve.

It's depressing to consider that we are not even in October and a title challenge is already looking about as likely as pigs flying. This is simply unacceptable.

Whilst I've argued for patience we must not lose our ambition. Blind faith will not fill the trophy cabinet and there must come a point where we have to say this is simply not good enough.

Perhaps the most chastising problem of our current predicament is the form of Alexis Sanchez. Snatched from under the noses of City and paid a kings ransom this was the player deemed capable of taking us to the next level sadly this has not yet materialised.

I honestly believe there is a team in there somewhere or at least better than we're seeing at the moment but we must find a balance if we are to perform more consistently.

Having watched us for over two seasons under Jose I see no development in terms of style or patterns of play. Lindelof and Bailly have yet to establish themselves. I have no idea what role Fred was signed to perform. Sanchez is often deployed so deep he's unable to influence the game. We still have no recognised or consistent right sided forward. I don't see where we're going or what he's trying to build.

I actually think Sanchez's current form in on Mourinho. I'm so glad we didn't sign Fred because I think we'd have seen exactly the same thing. Sanchez comes alive in the final third. He needs to play in and around the box with players in support so he can play quick one twos and look for through balls. He rarely collects the ball in dangerous situations and when he does he's often isolated with only a hopeful long ball or cross into Lukaku being his only option. He doesn't have the strength or power to run with the ball from deeper areas and carry us up the pitch. For Mourinho's style we need ball carriers in the wider areas that can run with power and pace opening up space for others. Conversely Pogba also needs runners to play the ball forward or to open up the space in midfield for him to gallop into.

At the moment we're a horrible little halfway house. We have power players such as Pogba who wants to play the ball forward quickly or carry it through midfield and Lukaku that thrives off crosses interwoven with smaller more diminutive players such as Lingard, Sanchez and Fred that like to play more intricate short passes the result being we do neither and nobody seems to know their job or understand their role.

Maybe a solution to this problem would be a change of system.

3-5-2 gives us stability at the back and options going forward. In Shaw and Dalot we potentially have two young, powerful wing backs that can provide natural width, open up the pitch, carry the ball forward and put crosses into the box. Sanchez can play upfront next to Lukaku where he has more options around him and we get him on the ball in more dangerous areas. His best football in a Utd shirt came in pre season where he played up front. If he doesn't improve then we get Rashford or Martial in their favoured position. The CB's have cover providing us the defensive stability we require.

If Jose sticks with 4-3-3 as I expect he will I fear we'll see more results like yesterday and yet more inconsistency. I've actually liked the midfield trio of Matic, Fellaini and Pogba but one player missing can't just bring the house down.

Let's see what the next match brings. Defeat to West Ham in another tough looking fixture will have the vultures circling yet again.

4.) 24 Sep 2018
24 Sep 2018 15:28:49
Ross -

I've written a lot about balance in my posts recently and that's what we need to find if we are to improve.

It's depressing to consider that we are not even in October and a title challenge is already looking about as likely as pigs flying. This is simply unacceptable.

Whilst I've argued for patience we must not lose our ambition. Blind faith will not fill the trophy cabinet and there must come a point where we have to say this is simply not good enough.

Perhaps the most chastising problem of our current predicament is the form of Alexis Sanchez. Snatched from under the noses of City and paid a kings ransom this was the player deemed capable of taking us to the next level sadly this has not yet materialised.

I honestly believe there is a team in there somewhere or at least better than we're seeing at the moment but we must find a balance if we are to perform more consistently.

Having watched us for over two seasons under Jose I see no development in terms of style or patterns of play. Lindelof and Bailly have yet to establish themselves. I have no idea what role Fred was signed to perform. Sanchez is often deployed so deep he's unable to influence the game. We still have no recognised or consistent right sided forward. I don't see where we're going or what he's trying to build.

I actually think Sanchez's current form in on Mourinho. I'm so glad we didn't sign Fred because I think we'd have seen exactly the same thing. Sanchez comes alive in the final third. He needs to play in and around the box with players in support so he can play quick one twos and look for through balls. He rarely collects the ball in dangerous situations and when he does he's often isolated with only a hopeful long ball or cross into Lukaku being his only option. He doesn't have the strength or power to run with the ball from deeper areas and carry us up the pitch. For Mourinho's style we need ball carriers in the wider areas that can run with power and pace opening up space for others. Conversely Pogba also needs runners to play the ball forward or to open up the space in midfield for him to gallop into.

At the moment we're a horrible little halfway house. We have power players such as Pogba who wants to play the ball forward quickly or carry it through midfield and Lukaku that thrives off crosses interwoven with smaller more diminutive players such as Lingard, Sanchez and Fred that like to play more intricate short passes the result being we do neither and nobody seems to know their job or understand their role.

Maybe a solution to this problem would be a change of system.

3-5-2 gives us stability at the back and options going forward. In Shaw and Dalot we potentially have two young, powerful wing backs that can provide natural width, open up the pitch, carry the ball forward and put crosses into the box. Sanchez can play upfront next to Lukaku where he has more options around him and we get him on the ball in more dangerous areas. His best football in a Utd shirt came in pre season where he played up front. If he doesn't improve then we get Rashford or Martial in their favoured position. The CB's have cover providing us the defensive stability we require.

If Jose sticks with 4-3-3 as I expect he will I fear we'll see more results like yesterday and yet more inconsistency. I've actually liked the midfield trio of Matic, Fellaini and Pogba but one player missing can't just bring the house down.

Let's see what the next match brings. Defeat to West Ham in another tough looking fixture will have the vultures circling yet again.

5.) 24 Sep 2018
24 Sep 2018 15:48:12
So good they posted it twice 😂😂😂 (only joking)!

To be honest I have no idea what's wrong just my thoughts poured out in writing. I'll have changed my mind by tomorrow, it all makes for good discussion if nothing else. The great thing about football is there's always another game just around the corner.

6.) 24 Sep 2018
24 Sep 2018 21:44:48
Haha great post dlib.

I really don't know either and my opinions change day to day. There seems so many issues at times.

Valencia is past it imo, fantastic servant to the club he had been but he offers nothing attacking wise and can also be questionable positionally in defence. Dalot is the present aswell as the future.
Smalling and lindelof are just not good enough as a partnership. The likes of smalling might have worked with an alderwerield or someone of the I'll. Our cbs are being babysat by Fellaini who had been doing a good job. In the 1st Fellaini sat and protected lindelof but 2nd half was pushed further forward and lindelof was exposed.
Shaw has done nothing wrong thus far and has been one of our better performers.
I'm not convinced on Matic at the minute and haven't been since the 2nd half of last season. I know he has had an injury so may be excused.

Fellaini is a necessary evil as a starter for the min as he is making our cbs look better than they actually are.

Pogba should be bossing games, he has everything in his locker, I'm not his biggest fan and think he could do much better but at the same time he's often one of the only bits of class.

Sanchez is muck. All he seems to do is get in people's way and lose possession when he does get the ball.

Lingard is not much better. Perhaps resting on the laurels of last year a bit too much.

Lukakau. I am loathe to say too much negative about him but he's kind of expected to be the only 1 to score our goals lately, needs some help, better service and definitely the occasional rest.