Manchester United Banter Archive March 01 2015

 

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01 Mar 2015 17:29:59
Just regarding yesterdays post about making a mistake losing Pereira. I don't necessarily think it would be a mistake losing him as I have watched reserve games and he has not really stood out. He has some good qualities but I think he wouldn't make much of an impact in the first team. I think Pogba was a different situation. He was head and shoulders above others in reserve games and In my opinion he did deserve a chance in the first team.

my question to other posters is do you think letting Pereira go would send a bad message to others in the youth and reserve teams?

Believable3 Unbelievable0

01 Mar 2015 17:57:35
Not really. McNair and Blackett have signed new deals. They have had game time as has Wilson so I think the youngsters will feel if they play well enough they will get a chance.

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01 Mar 2015 22:33:11
I agree with that AJH but what about our other young midfielders hoping to break through?

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01 Mar 2015 14:47:57
Where has my really long post from yesterday gone? I don't think I did anything wrong in it.

Aside from that, guys do you not think that Mata should start a vast majority of home games? Teams like Sunderland come to us and sit deep and play on the counter, to beat them you need players that can thread through passes and create chances. Mata for me should be involved in the vast majority of these home games against the 'lower' clubs as I think we would break teams down much more easily.

Believable2 Unbelievable0

{Ed002's Note - If it had stuff about formations in it I would think one of the Eds deleted it if it wasn't on the "teams and formations" page. You can always remind Ed004 that is where your posts pretty much all belong.}

02 Mar 2015 04:06:39
You should prepare for your difficult games by playing your regular 11 in easy(on paper) games so that get used to each other and gain confidence.

There is no point in playing Mata against Sunderland at home and then chucking in Herrera when we go away to City or Chelsea. I would much rather play Herrera against Sunderland and allow him to blend into the team.

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01 Mar 2015 14:34:19
So the scousers looked unbelievably good against city and are only two points behind us. Gcu, when i said they'll compete for cl spot earlier in season, you ridiculed my post. Are you still of the same opinion or have you altered your view?
I think Rodgers, as much as we all like to ridicule him, is showing that he's an excellent manager.

Believable8 Unbelievable8

01 Mar 2015 14:52:36
I'm a Liverpool fan and Rodgers is not an excellent manager. We have failed on all fronts. And Liverpool would be much higher in this abysmal league had we never played such piss poor football at the start of the season implemented by Rodgers. We were woeful for six months. Whether we finish in the top 4 or not it has been a poor season. And defensively we are criminally the same after 3 years under his tenoiur. We have a truly great midfield prospect in Emre can having to assist are our worst defender who is Rodgers first choice in skrtl. It had taken him six months to go back to a system of football that suits our players that we were previously successful with.
And not to forget he is dreadful media wise and man management of players.
He is a great coach but a poor manager.

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01 Mar 2015 16:36:53
Nomid

lol what is this love affair with Liverpool.

I think our managers poor system and some of his decisions has brought everyone back into it and have posted that a 100 times. The football we have played away from home against inferior teams is criminal, needless to say having I think 3 total shots at home against southampton and losing did not help either.

If they do get into the top 4 it is our fault and not that they are great. Whilst we were on this undefeated streak everyone talked about we had one way in against QPR and in reality dropped points with all the draws away from home.

The game at Anfield is going to be huge and let's see if LVG has the mettle to handle it. After all the last manager was criticised for being unable to win away from home at a top 4 club.

Needless to say we have an away fixture next weekend and it is probably one of the better away fixtures for us as they like to attack and that should open up the pitch for us.

April is brutal with home game against city, away against chelsea and then away against Everton. We need 6 points from those 3 fixtures and very hard to gauge us after yesterday. I would be confident of our chances against the scousers but with this manager i have no idea what we will be served and what to expect.

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01 Mar 2015 16:55:52
Liverpool played well today, but City were tactically awful. They made the same mistake against Barca and lost in a sililar way.
That same liverpool side were made to look average against the Turkish footballing giants Beşiktaş the other night.

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01 Mar 2015 17:20:25
Sam

No argument, the scousers have turned it around and playing much better after a very poor start.

Unfortunately we can't seem to get out of 3rd gear away from home and in this league to finish in the top 4, you have to win games away from home against the bottom half and granted every once in a while, one of them springs a surprise but our undoing if we finish outside the top four is our negative slow football and way too many draws.

We are a much better team in a 442 but LVG hates it and playing that way is not his way. Anyways it has the making of a interesting last 11 games and we will need some help along the way as I do not believe we will get there on our own.

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01 Mar 2015 17:25:09
GCU,

Are you just picking numbers from thin air? Why do we NEED 6 points from them 3 games? Is that just a magic number you made up? What's to say the teams around us won't drop points before then, we could lose all 3 of them games and atoll finish top 4 or we could win all 3 and not finish top 4.

Our away form has not been good enough and we need it to improve.

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01 Mar 2015 17:30:48
GCU

The last manager was pilloried for not winning at a top four club, LvG has already won at Arsenal.

Not sure which away fixture next weekend you are looking at but I thought it was the home FA cup game on Monday, unless you mean Newcastle away this Wednesday evening?

Everyone is looking at the Liverpool away fixture but actually the key could well be the home league game against Arsenal.

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01 Mar 2015 17:45:24
It was an excellent game to watch, played with pace and technical skill. Liverpool looked excellent going forward and their goals were beautifully taken. Coutinho's passing and shooting were noteworthy. When was the last time we had someone scoring from outside the penalty area? Both teams are way ahead of us in respect to overall team development.

In order to have a chance at beating them we are going to have to work out how to close down all those midfield spaces as well as defend securely. We cannot expect to win again if we concede as many chances as we did at OT - and in any event they are a better team than they were at that stage. As we all know an away match in midweek in Turkey, or anywhere in Europe, is not indicative of a team's league form.

Meanwhile I am sure the Beast will be glad to note that according to one unreliable and probably baseless report, LVG is loving his time at United, has spoken to the Glazers about his development plans for the club, and wants to stay for 5 years!!!

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01 Mar 2015 18:12:08
Shawthing, don't spread that rumour about LvG and 5 years. The Samaritans Helpline has just gone into meltdown.

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01 Mar 2015 18:41:04
gds2

I would expect nothing less from you, what a Sunderland home win got you again going.

Six points or we get to watch champions league without being a participant. I will wager with you on that and we can get someone to hold the cash, i need some summer spending money :)

Take a look at the other teams around us and instead of being a hopeless romantic and optimist they have a much easier run in and they will not be dropping points and we have by far the toughest fixture list out of all of them.

Redman

The home game against Arsenal will be of little consequence if we don't get out of April with some wins. They have a much easier schedule than us and Wenger always gets there and this year will be no different.

Someone should put up the points tally of the last 10 PL games for us and the chasing pack, that might help the eternal optimist on this site lol

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01 Mar 2015 22:19:22
GCU,

Calling people eternal optimists and being defensive about everything because people have a different opinion to you is very immature and doesn't really help your argument. Your posts sound like we are 11th in the league and desperately struggling in every game. We have only conceded more than one goal on 4 occasions this season, we have won a lot of games despite playing well and have actually looked better in the last 2.5 games. I think you want us to finish 7th so you can say I told you so, should have kept moyes.

That bet is pointless that you are suggesting, what I was saying is that your 6 points from 3 games is your opinion not what we need as it's impossible to know that yet. I thought I would give the site a go again after a short break but it's the same old nonsense. We played well yesterday, lvg did everything people have been asking him to do, so where is all the praise?

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01 Mar 2015 23:10:12
Cgu. It is definitely not love affair with Liverpool as i hate everything about them. But it is the total blinkers people have about them just because they're Liverpool. They have played very well recently. The sooner we open our eyes and learn from other teams the better.

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02 Mar 2015 07:10:34
Nomid, some people find it impossible to give our own team any credit, so they are never going to give anyone else credit. I think most people regard the standard of the EPL as disappointing this season, but in reality I think it is the "big " teams that have not been at their best. But the so called passed, or smaller teams have improved.
It, in my opinion, shows a bit of arrogance when people post about "easy wins" against lower teams. On their day, the Burnley's and Leicesters of this league can be very good. And everyone knows these teams "up their game" when against top teams, especially against United.
Perhaps a little more respect would not be out of place. Without the 'also rans', we wouldn't even have a league.

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01 Mar 2015 09:19:51
Solid win against a very defensive team

We seemed to pick up after Evans was booed for passing back to DeGea after a corner in the first half followed by a vociferous Attack, attack, attack chant. We started poorly and I felt Evans showed he was a weak link. Whenever they got Defoe on the ball Evans was poor, in fact at one point it seemed they made more of an effort to close Evans down when he had the ball than anyone else, a mistake waiting to happen. Rojo didn't look comfortable as a left back who needs to overlap, his crossing is poor and It is good to see Herrera start, a good link player.

So we started poorly but improved as the first half went on. We were surprised at the DiMaria substitution because he seemed to improve as the half went on. His pace did concern Sunderland. As someone said to me at least he is trying to do things, he isn't hiding it just is going wrong for him. We knew something was going to change at half time because LvG walked off at the break with his arm on Januzaj shoulder deep in conversation.
Saying that I saw signs of something improving in the second half, Januzaj caused problems in almost the Robben role.

When teams defend so deep and are so ultra negative it is difficult, their keeper was taking over 30 seconds deliberately to take goal kicks from the second minute of the game and was not warned until well into the second half. In these games the first goal is the game changer and so it proved. They argued for 3 or 4 minutes and whilst I now know about the wrong man sent off it is often a tactic used to unsettle the penalty taker. Well done to Rooney who took the ball and stood near the centre circle to keep himself out of it and keep his focus. Then he took the penalty and kept it low which was right for such a tall keeper.
There was booing when Falcao was taken off, I didn't understand that decision having just won the penalty, nor did I like LvG taking off Rooney and putting Fellaini up front. Strange decisions for me.

I was pleased with the result and the performance, there are signs of something after yesterday. Whatever LvG utterings have been the team are playing and trying for him. The stats are interesting, 74% possession, 30 shots with 10 on target. We should have scored more and goal difference could be key. Often overlooked but our defence has been more solid as the season has gone on but we need to find more goals, perhaps score early to settle us. Overall the improved performance particularly in the second half gives hope we can build on it.

Believable6 Unbelievable2

01 Mar 2015 09:57:27
Just out of interest Red Man where did you get the 30 shots stat from?

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01 Mar 2015 10:07:17
Bbc sport has it down as 30 shots 10 on target

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01 Mar 2015 10:10:14
Also I think you hit the nail on the head Red Man when you say Januzaj played similar to Robben yesterday. Very good comparison. Surely he will own a spot in the team next week.

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01 Mar 2015 10:12:25
Jmb

It's on the BBC sport website underneath the game report and widely reported elsewhere

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01 Mar 2015 10:23:07
Okay mate. Just asking because I checked the stats on the English Premier League website and it said 21 as did Livescore.com

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01 Mar 2015 11:33:14
I also think young had a good game. I don't what lvg has done to him but he's turned him around. Most wanted him bombed out last summer, myself included, yet now he's looking like a good squad player.

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01 Mar 2015 12:42:25
I ares with all of that. I think Januzaj is better on the right than on the left and did what de maria could not. I personally would like to see shaw and Young on the left hand side and Rafael and Januzaj and valencia/rafael/mcnair on the right .

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01 Mar 2015 13:53:36
I agree with what you have said Redman . Our build up at is very slow and catious scared to give the ball away until that Evans incident. I still think we look disjointed at times . With scousers looking strong we could miss out on top four .

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01 Mar 2015 17:14:44
I agree with everything you said there except about Di Maria he was once again terrible and the fact he got a gift of a ball from Rojo just before half time and completely wasted it proves he did not improve at all. The game changed around 60 mins when the players finally started using Januzaj who had been free for 15 mins prior to that. I rarely criticise LVG but I think he should have pulled back the substitution when we went 1 nil up and Sunderland went to 10 men because it just wasnt needed anymore. Falcao did really well to win the penalty and could have been an opportunity to build on that and gain a bit of confidence, because regardless if he's staying or not we still have a long way to go until May and we need everyone firing.

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01 Mar 2015 08:24:46
Glad we got the 3 points yesterday and hopefully we can kick on and win the big games over the next few weeks.

I think the best news from yesterday was that Michael Carrick was back on the bench. Even though some people criticise him, we are a much better side with him in the team.

Believable3 Unbelievable1

01 Mar 2015 11:49:38
I agree with you, also I think if we keep the same side for a few games maybe tweaking 1 or 2 not 5 and 6 we would gel and kick on a lot more, and get some continuity.

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01 Mar 2015 06:39:40
Although we saw yet another lacklustre display (especially the first half) I couldn't be more pleased for both getting the three points and for Wayne netting for the first time in a while. Plaudits must also go to young Januzaj who was awesome and for that fantastic Berbatov-esque touch of class from Falcao.

Having said that I would like to address a few issues I picked up regarding LVG's man management style. Firstly, like many have said I feel Falcao should have been given longer on the pitch to build on his moment of brilliance and it must have been demoralising for the lad not to have stayed on the park.

Secondly, I feel yesterday's game was the final nail in Juan Mata's coffin and I think he will be gone this summer. To be left out time and time again is one thing but to be brought on with five minutes to go against ten men is a slap on the face to the lad. Why even bother?

Thirdly, Angel Di Maria being hooked at half time is a shocking decision. Fair play Januzaj was immense but Di Maria is struggling big time as it is and to take him off at half time is embarrassing. To make matters worse LVG said in his conference afterwards that the team were 'better off without Di Maria'. What kind of signals does that send to the player? Why couldn't LVG have spoken to ADM during the week and tell him that it would be best for both parties if he was left out this week rather than embarrass the lad?

Great three points though I suppose.

Believable8 Unbelievable2

01 Mar 2015 07:41:25
JMB, we won 2-0, and created a lot of chances which has been an issue. I agree than criticising players in public is not on but perhaps ADM needs a kick up the arse. Perhaps LVG has spoken to him privately and is getting nowhere. As for subbing him at half time, it's not an stretch to say it had a huge impact on the game.

Several posters have been calling for Januzaj to be sold, and slagging him off. All these players are talented but some are struggling for form. he is a great example of someone who is now getting back to the standards we neeed

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01 Mar 2015 08:18:06
Subbing him was a good move as he was terrible. The public statements afterwards is unnecessary and could have been handled differently. I would have personally said he tweaked something and we were just taking precautions.

I think it is a blessing the at jones, RVP are not available for selection. Both on the defensive and offensive fort have a terrible impact at the moment. I will tae smelling anyway over jones, terrible reader of the game and positioning for a cd.

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01 Mar 2015 08:49:22
I thought taking ADM off was a good decision. He was having a shocker, Januzaj came on and had a huge impact. Surely that is a positive move by the manager.
I am not trying to get into the whole LvG debate again because it has been done to death. But he is damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't.

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01 Mar 2015 08:57:20
Di maria has been shocking all season apart from the first few games. He's been a total waste of money and his attitude seems terrible too. So lvg did the exact right thing by hauling him off at half time. Di maria needs a big kick up the arse and needs to be reminded of the privilege of playing for United. Sadly, i think that doesn't mean much to him. He always looks so unhappy. Get better or get rid!

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01 Mar 2015 10:03:15
I agree Di Maria was shocking yesterday as he has been all season but why not just leave him out? His perfomances over the last few games have hardly justified a spot in the starting eleven.

Also would you see Wenger, Mourinho or Pellegrini slam any of their players post match? They would all protect their own.

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01 Mar 2015 10:40:30
Players like Di Maria needs confidence, its all upto Di Maria whether he wants to give his all for Manchester United or play awful.

I think players like Di Maria and Falcao need a year to settle in the english league because they are used to warm weathers and playing in less demanding leagues.

Next year we will know if Di Maria is a flop or a success.

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01 Mar 2015 11:07:39
JMB,

If LVG had just left him out I guarantee you would have been on here saying that was the wrong decision. He is trying to play him into some form, yesterday he was terrible and deservedly brought off for januzaj, a big decision and lvg showing he's not afraid to make that decision for the team, so a lot of credit where it's due?

No post from beast after a win where we played exactly how he has been wanting us to play, maybe still looking for a stick to beat the manager with who got it right yesterday. Rooney coming off at the end seemed strange but with 5 minutes left, 2-0 up and a game on Wednesday it wasnt really an issue.

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01 Mar 2015 13:38:30
GDS2 - I missed the game yesterday unfortunately, a rare 2 day session which I am paying for now (I have agreed to do Karaoke tonight as well, I hate my drunk self). Managed to catch MOTD this morning though, didn't tell me much about how we played. That game was a banana skin, so I'm pleased we got the points.

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01 Mar 2015 17:31:58
JMB must have missed Mourinho single handedly blaming Hazard for a loss because he didn't defend. This LVG nit picking is growing tiresome, I think one of the Eds said last week about some players need an arm round the shoulder and a quiet word an d sone need a good kick. I believe ADM needs his criticism to be publicised because his body language suggests he's not really bothered about MU long term as he sees himself elsewhere, so by attacking his public profile he will need to start putting the shifts in to raise his "star power" to generate the bids (All speculation but that's how i'm seeing it) and if he comes back stronger will people say it was a stroke of genius??? Whos to say.

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01 Mar 2015 05:40:41
This United is not taking any risks, it's obvious from the manner that we play. We are great is possession, but we seem not to attempt a risky pass in the final third. Now if we compare this to pre season, we were taking risks, there were great team play goals.

Now I do not see one touch in final third, back heels, scooped up ball etc. I guess in pre season players were able to express themselves, now as the time has gone they are getting accustomed to lvg and his way. We seem not entertaining but we look disciplined.

I hope the summer window will allow lvg to get players of his likings. IMO we need some players with great ball control in tight areas, that will be a key to open up defenses, as of now we are afraid to carve openings.

Ps did anyone felt confused when Rooney gave the armband to Evans? I would have loved if de gea was the one to act as captain in place of Evans.

Believable2 Unbelievable0

01 Mar 2015 04:05:16
Juan Mata is capable of that 20 goals a season mark if played to his strengths.

We need player(s) who is very difficult to stop by a single defender both physically and with his skills, can unlock other attack minded players.

Believable0 Unbelievable1

01 Mar 2015 10:06:04
I agree Mata is capable but not in this team. We play in a way that Mata would be suffocated. He will go in the summer if LVG is still here and we will regret it.

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