05 Aug 2014 09:35:50
Just putting my pennys worth in about last nights performance.
For 53 minutes (up until the Rooney goal) I thought Liverpool were by far the better side.
The two goals completey changed the game.
One thing I did notice was that at least there is a bit of fight and character back in the team unlike last season under Moyes.
On the plus side I thought Shaw had a good game and as he gets fitter and stronger will only get better. He's going to be a top player wether he plays in a 4 man defence or as a wing back.
I thought Rooney played well in patches and I think he's going to have a good season with RVP up top if he stays fit?
Now the down side. for me the three center backs last night are not good enought to play that system. Evans looked very poor and his passing was dreadfull. We definately need a top center half, maybe even 2?
Now the midfield, I have seen a couple of posts on here saying Darren Fletcher has looked great on this tour and he's back to full fitness. Yes he is but if anyone thinks that Fletcher is the answer they are mad. United still need a world class midfielder to help out Herrera in that central area because in the first half Fletcher was terrible.
All in all I thought it was a good tour and it's given the platyers lots of confidence going into the new season.
It's now upto LVG to tell Woodward what players he wants and what players he doesn't want so hopefully in the next 2-3 weeks we will see some movement on the transfer front?
Im crossing my fingers and toes that the two players we bring in are Vidal and Hummels.

1.) 05 Aug 2014
Simmo, very similar post to mine mate. I was struggling to stay awake until 12:30am, then by 3am I couldn't get to sleep :)

2.) 05 Aug 2014
Simmo - I don't think anybody is suggesting that Fletcher is 'the answer'; but I do think that if we're unable to sign the right player he'd do a decent job in the midfield until January.

He looked tired yesterday - but it's worth noting that he played more than any other player over the course of our pre-season. When he came off against Liverpool he'd played 225 minutes in 5 days in conditions very different than he's used to.

3.) 05 Aug 2014
Redseven

If he can't cope with 5 pre-season games then how is he going to cope in a full premiership season?
The midfield is WEAK and had been for 3 seasons.
Signings are desperately needed, that team will not break into the top 4.

4.) 05 Aug 2014
Simmo. Playing one game a week in the rain is a little different than playing 3 in the space of five days in 30 degree heat - especially as when the tour began he hadn't played a game since the end of last season.

I'm not disputing the fact that our midfield is weak - but think you're being harsh on Fletcher given that this is his first proper pre-season in three years.

5.) 05 Aug 2014
The quick turn around won't of helped 2 games in 2 days. fletcher has been very good just had one of those games where most things he tried didn't quite work. we do need another cm but if he plays like he did against real madrid then he is good enough for first team. On another note the passes to the wing backs most of the night didn't give them a chance de gea main culprit but so were a lot of our cbs.

6.) 05 Aug 2014
R7, it's not about being harsh mate. MU are not a charity. There shouldn't be any sentiment, if you aren't good enough then you aren't good enough. Fletcher is good back-up, but that is it.