Manchester United Banter Archive December 19 2014

19 Dec 2014 17:51:38
Could Fellanis not being in contention for the Villa game be a blessing in disquise if Herrera plays

19 Dec 2014 18:32:11
He needs to be starting every match IMO

I am all for Ander starting for us, gives us the impetus needed. However Fellaini has earned his place in the starting line up and has done really well. So I won't be too harsh on him to be honest.

Deeps.

19 Dec 2014 21:29:04
I think Fellaini had a couple of decent games but he's been really poor in the last two, yes he can tackle and break the play up a bit and his chest control and height are very useful, but the amount of times he's given the ball away cheaply is astonishing, he can't pass a ball and it's put us in danger. We would be punished by better teams like Chelsea and city.

Pretty certain he kept fabregas quiet

RedAndy probably wasnt around during the city and chelsea games

Fellaini was poor in the first half against Liverpool but did improve in the second. His lack of manoeuvrability stood out no more so than for the tackle he was booked for when he was turned and beaten easily. He has also been careless with cross field passes and that is a dangerous habit in midfield. I don't think he has earned a place in the team and for me his is a position we must strengthen in.

Like i said the other day i'm pretty baffled why herrera isn't playing every week, fellini has bn decent but these past 2 games you can see his major flaws, his passing is not to clever at all , especially across field, and his mobility isn't the greatest either, you can't knock him to much because he gives his all to the team and u can only play with the abilities you've got . but herrera has a lot more abilities and therefore should be starting every week in my opinion, we look a far better team with him in it . if he buys strootman who do you guys think will make way ?? and where will blind play also ?

Redman

Completely disagree and we missed fellaini today big time, you just can't get passed the moyes thing. BTW he was man of the match for me in 2 of our six game winning stark and then there ddg. I hope we have him for Newcastle.

GCU

On the contrary it is you who can't get past the "Moyes thing". You brought up Moyes which is interesting after the chiseling away you have been doing at LvG recently. I assessed Fellaini based on what I have seen, particularly live in the flesh at OT last week. Common consensus around me was that Fellaini was a liability particularly in the first half last week and was nowhere near mobile enough plus his passing was poor.
Fellaini is a decent premier league player offering some good attributes, chest control, physical presence and heading but is not the long term answer for me in our midfield. Rather than the poor incumbent in the managers seat last season it has everything to do with what I see in front of me. I don't think he gets around the pitch quickly enough and that will cost us particularly in bigger games if we stick with him. It wasn't Fellaini's fault he was bought by a useless coach, I don't hold that against him, why should I, but the question is whether he is good enough, the answer to that is in front of you.

Redman

To the contrary I see things on a very balanced way. I never thought either is the messiah as you make one to be and the other to be some imbecile. We are playing rubbish football and even last year our possession stats were always in the 60's and 70's but very little end product and this year is no different.

Fellaini is what we missed yesterday as no one could receive the ball in that area between the defense and midfield of Villa and all we did is knock it back. why on earth was fletcher in the team is beyond me and to make a halftime substitution just goes to show he got it wrong.

James Wilson needs to learn that as a striker you can't have your back to the goal all the time and just knock it backwards to the guy who passed it to you and as a striker try and receive the ball and turn forward, so bringing him on for RVP was of no consequence and actually made it worse for us.

LVG's substitutions left me amused and miffed and moving young basically nullified all our creativity in the last 15 minutes with a man advantage.

The difference is last year you faulted the guy for everything and this year you are so accommodating LOL. I know you have watched united for 35 years so what, our football is not good and if you can't see that then you need to watch it for another 35 years and maybe something in that head of yours will light up and allow you to see things with a neutral view and call it as it is.

You seem to take offence with anything negative said about LVG but the reality is his track record with players is not great and well documented about the fall out at every club he has been and I expect the same at United sooner or later and do not see him as a long term manager.

GCU

You brought Moyes into an assessment of Fellaini.
I will accommodate someone who has a CV like LvG who also has had to come in and repair the utter mess of an undermined team that was left after last season. I have as you say watched United for 46 years but that included the end of the Busby era and we are experiencing similar issues after appointing a manager with totally insufficient experience as we did when Sir Matt first retired. No the football isn't good but I believe we have to give LvG time. I don't see him as the long term manager either and I wanted Klopp

Redman

The reason I bring up Moyes is because we are almost playing the same way with the exception of few moments of individual brilliance but that is what you would expect from a team that has added 6 players for 150 million and fellaini being in form and rooney looking super fit and working his ass off (hats off to him given all the history).

It is not a Moyes or LVG thing but more about the quality of football we are watching. It is a rudderless approach and week in week out he talks about us not being good but where is the solution and fletcher starting is definitely not the solution.

What I loved about fergie is when we were bad he would say we will get it right and we did the next game. Fergie would do wonders with this team as we are a lot better than this and ones ego should not be driving the agenda as if he has a point to prove. The pL is not the german, spanish or dutch league and the sooner he realises that the better off we are. Mourinho seems to get it or even Pellegrini.

GCU

We watched several years of rubbish football under SAF but we won and that hid a lot. The last league title was won playing poor but winning football with RVP scoring winning goals. I pay to watch it at OT so expect it to improve and like his predecessor if he fails he will probably get the same fate at some point, that point is likely to be further than Moyes given LvG's pedigree

19 Dec 2014 08:34:16
Bizarre as it sounds, I'm hoping the Scousers beat Arsenal this weekend. They are all over the place and I don't see them making the top 4, a win would give Rodgers some respite which would be great, the longer he is there the worse it will get for them.

Our priority this year is to cement a top 4 place, preferably top 3. Right now, Arsenal look the most likely challengers so I'd prefer them to drop points. It's also interesting to see Spurs starting to make their way up the table. A very intriguing 2nd half of the season awaits us.

19 Dec 2014 12:10:44
I do think arsenal will complete the top 4 alongside us, city and Chelsea. Either an arsenal loss or a draw would be fine for me! Would be nice if the top 2 started dropping points too. We have to make sure we win first though!

I don't think either team is a threat. Arsenal will finish fourth like always, and Liverpool will struggle to make Europa League. Personally I hope that Arsenal spank them, they fire Brendan (I'm my biggest influence) Rodgers, and they realise that the pickings to replace him in January are slim. I've Scouse friends who think they will bring in Klopp or Simeone. I can't wait until they see that the real options are Pulis or wheeling out Dogleash once again.

I'd hate them to get Pulis he would make them play well dogleash or rafa for me, or keep rodgers he's rubbish would be just as good

Pulis is an excellent mid level manager, good at keeping a team competitive and working with limited resources. He isn't, however, a manager like Klopp or Simeone that can compete for the big trophies. I would love for Dogleash to come back again, even if just for the rest of the season.

How do you know Pulis isn't capable of challenging for big trophies? He's never been at a club where that was realistic.

Are you serious? You could make that claim about Sunday league managers too. Pulis has been managing in the EPL for years, and his team's always have the same characteristics: strong, difficult to break down and a bit dirty. This is exactly what a club focusing on staying in the league looks for, but top teams need more. The man is 56, it's not as if he's suddenly going to start blossoming as a manager.

Moyes is a much better and younger manager than Pulis, and he couldn't cope with the step up to a top club. Top class managers will always find their way to a top club, the fact that Pulis never has speaks volumes about his ability. Does anyone here honestly think the man who presided over some of the worst football in EPL history at Stoke is capable of winning a league or in Europe?

You said, "he isn't, however, a manager like Klopp or Simeone that can compete for the big trophies." I asked how you know this.

If you had said he isn't likely to be able to compete then maybe I would agree. It was simply the definitiveness of your statement that I objected to.

19 Dec 2014 17:38:42
Sorry, Tony. Unless they were playing a Ku Klux Klan XI, and even then I'd have to think about it, I could never wish to see that mob win a game of football.

Liverpool is of no consequence this year. I am watching the spurs and hope they have a few bad results.

Liverpool vs Aliens to save the earth and I would rout for the Aliens to win

Deeps.

Ah come on Stevie, I take the point but even you must have wanted them to beat Blackburn all those years ago. Sometimes it's for the greater good

There is no way I would want to risk going there as with a good defence to start you can do anything, I think many would be surprised at him
Only drawback is could he play the football they expect

19 Dec 2014 19:58:55
I Couldn't care less who gets 4th as long as we finish above them, but I'd prefer to see that lot in turmoil more often than not. (Sorry ed01)

19 Dec 2014 20:23:09
Sometimes, I abstain :)

The biggest joy I get in football besides united winning is liverpool losing whoever the play

AJH
Sorry but reading the first sentence was enough for me.
Liverpool = Our number 1 rivals.
Its nearly as good a feeling watching that mob lose than it is watching United win.

Whoever wins between Liverpool and Arsenal will get a boost, particularly Liverpool. There is s long way to go so a boost at this time of year could push one of them to the top four. Personally I think a draw would suit us best, second an Arsenal win.