12 Aug 2019 16:02:12
I decided to watch the game again.

The first half we made so many mistakes as a team and individually, maybe this was down to nerves and the tactic.

Defence in the first half looked very shaky and I feel the gap to the midfield was far too big and was at times in the second half, against the better teams this will hurt us.

Luke shaw needs to work on his positional play but apart from that the defence in second half looked very comfortable most of the time and played the ball out which I was very happy with.

The midfield needs work, and I don't mean bringing players in, they need to work on shape and there distance between the defence and themselves, when they are close enough together to break down play and pass between themselves it completely changes the options for a pass in both directions. I feel in the Second half they was much closer together but still strayed from there shape far to easily.

The attacking players were fabulous and really decided the game, they were running in behind, chasing balls and linking well with each, I have to eat some pie and say I think martial and rashford can become 20+ goal scorers this season but let's see how it plays out.

It felt so good to wake up this morning knowing we won 4-0,the squad seems Together like the old fergie times. Now I'm not expecting to much but I know we are in for some exciting games this year.

Credit to ole and the players for changing the atmosphere of the club.

1.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 18:27:27
Good post Big V.

2.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 19:25:34
Great result but not a great performance. We had luck with two of their shots hitting the post and they controlled midfield far too much. The penalty came at the right time, if deflated them and with an improved defence we managed to keep the lead until they had to commit and push forward and it left grass in behind. With players like Rashford having room in behind makes him dangerous, as long as he can finish.

Our midfield for probably 60 minutes was all over, neither getting tight or working together when we had the ball. I have no idea why Pereira was given a new 5 year contract, they must be seeing something in training that isn’t obvious on the pitch. Against a good midfield, especially away, we would have been swamped, given existing players not sure what the answer is unless a Garner steps up.

Harry Maguire, not a leader is some eyes, but very assured, looks a leader to me, there will be tougher tests but both he and AWB had excellent debuts.

The game planned out just right for us, but it could easily have been different in the first half. We got the breaks and are very dangerous on the counter, it would be different if the opposition score first and we have to chase. We all would have taken the scoreline.

Lastly I liked the way the team got together after the goals, didn’t see that as much last season.

3.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 23:12:23
Maguire strolled it.

4.) 13 Aug 2019
13 Aug 2019 12:20:38
Jeez Red Man. Fed-up with this "they hit the post twice". So what!?! Analyse and criticise as much as you want. Goals count. United scored four. Chelsea scored zero. It was the first game of the season. A new (and maybe first for some period of time) philosophy, starting line-up and season of hope and expectation and the players adapted to these factors extremely well in a significant top-six match-up that could seriously derailed the start to the season.

So much to celebrate and be optimistic about. Rashford and Martial play together and score. Daniel James, a superb moment of emotion. Five academy players starting. AWB. Maguire. Superb counter-attacks. Better pressing. Early signs of quality play from the centre-backs. So much to celebrate. Despite this you bemoan our good fortune, lack of midfield, a new 5-yr contract and the most irritating comment that Magiure will face bigger tests as if to suggest he may fail. Also why (by others) in other posts is he being compared to Lindelof instead of the chuckle brothers and sick note? That's the improvement that matters.

Equally - with a glass half-full - if Abrahams shot was going in DDG may have been able to save it, likewise Emerson's. A positive outlook would be that very few goalkeepers can save powerful shots that are only going to hit the woodwork.

All these ifs, buts and maybes are ridiculous. A result does not have to correlate with possession or shots on/ off target. Only goals. Ironically I don't remember such a critical analysis of United's 99 Champions League victory! If possession and efforts were so important in that match we never would have completed the treble. Football very often defies logic, and maybe you would enjoy games such as Sunday a lot more if you stopped trying to find some where there is none.

Could I suggest you buy half-pint glasses in the future - that way you don't need to fill them up!

5.) 13 Aug 2019
13 Aug 2019 13:53:50
Bad Red Devil

Let’s start with Maguire, I was one of very few on here who championed him, so I won’t take lectures from the new fans of his.

If you prefer to watch with very red tinted specs, so be it. I am objective and reviewed the game I saw rather than the one that has grown and grown in stature the more it gets talked about on here. I said the other day, I think we will start brightly and fade as the season goes on, the midfield with Pereira in isn’t going to get us in the top three, outside chance for 4th.

Perhaps I am an old fart, but it means I have watched us for over 50 years and will say what I see, I don’t aim to say nice sweet things to court favour with the Mr and Mrs Positive who can see no wrong. Oh and I wouldn’t have given an analysis of the Champions league final because I walked 5 miles back to the centre of Barcelona and got very drunk on Las Ramblas, knowing like anyone else we had been very lucky.