Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - See Mod Warning in OP, 09/11

kryogen

beno619 wrote: »

Yesterday was his beat performance of the season. Still he's playing far below his level again I think hell be cut slack because he got the goal in the end.

I don't believe he's contributing enough though he probably did more than Drogba yesterday.

He is getting sharper each game, I agree with you. I just think we are unlikely to see him again in the form of 2012 and maybe that will be used as a stick to beat him with, he will suffer the consequences of being ridiculously good that year and be held to that standard. From what I see he is doing a good job for the team right now even if he is not lighting up the league with individual brilliance week in week out, he had a disaster of a season last season with injury and then the world cup, he is still find his form again.

He is getting fitter and sharper each game, I have no doubt he will hit a purple patch sooner rather then later as the whole team continues to improve.

Any news on Falcao actually? Would be great to have him back for the City game

Vic Vinegar

kryogen wrote: »

Any news on Falcao actually? Would be great to have him back for the City game

Falcao has a bruised shin apparently, probably won't be out for too long.

kryogen

Bombleswizzum wrote: »

Falcao has a bruised shin apparently, probably won't be out for too long.

I won't even ask about Phil "The Glass Man" Jones

Panthro

beno619 wrote: »

Yesterday was his beat performance of the season. Still he's playing far below his level again I think hell be cut slack because he got the goal in the end.

I don't believe he's contributing enough though he probably did more than Drogba yesterday.

Drogba is 36 and a third choice striker soooo..

Mars Bar

kryogen wrote: »

I won't even ask about Phil "The Glass Man" Jones

Shin splints

That's a toughie for him.

The_Kew_Tour

Bring on City!!

Rooney back is massive lift.

madcabbage

Rooney has to start against City in my opinion. Badly missed in big games.

RobbingBandit

Overhead kick from Rooney again and all is forgiven, Michael Carrick in the Michael Owen role of scoring an injury time winner wouldn't go amiss neither.

Rob Thomas

Hi. I'm a long time reader of this thread but this is my first posting here!

My tuppence is that a certain amount of confidence is coming back into the play and the new signings are clearly beginning to bed in so the performances are slowly getting better. There is plenty of work still to be done and I'm sure there will be setbacks from time to time but a lot of money has been spent, and, together with a decent January/next summer windows, (addressing the obvious positions we need strengthening in), i think it's a minimum from VG to expect that we should start next season as one of the favourites for the major competitions again. Top 4 is odds on on this season, the ability to focus on the league games and getting a purple spell from Falcao and RVP will mean we will easily squeeze out Liverpool and push Arsenal for 3rd. I think the top two are already nailed on.

No-one should underestimate how confidence took a knock during the Moyes reign and it takes time to banish the general negativity that surrounded that time.

While results/points might not appear much better than this time last season, clearly the intensity is coming back and there is a fluid gameplay, not the confusion of last year. This time last season the Chelsea game would have finished 1-0, the belief was not there to chase down teams and get a late equaliser. Several times the team accepted the result 10-15 minutes out and that, for me , was the hardest part. I don't see that anymore thankfully.

In terms of players, its still short in certain areas: I think Mata needs to do more. His stats are strong on paper but if he is to be credited for his performances for Chelsea in the past, then equally he has to be judged now at that high level and he is not influencing and dictating games like he did in those seasons. We need more from RVP too but I genuinely think he is getting sharper and last season and the WC certainly slowed him down a bit, but he is still a fantastic player and very committed its obvious to MU. I'm not as worried about him.

Nothing too controversial there I suppose but I have to start somewhere!

ericzeking

Thought Mata played well for the time he was on, clearly worked hard and emptied himself...he laid on a sweet disguised pass early on which if it finished in the net we would not be having this conversation, cant remember who took the shot. Mata does a lot of good work receiving and moving the ball in attacking areas, it can't be all goals and assists. They were a lot more ineffective players on the pitch than him.

Delighted Fellaini is proving so many wrong, he was a real force yesterday. Really like the guy and we need his physicality.

One thing I haven't heard mentioned anywhere is RVP for the drogba goal...without his touch the ball goes straight to DDG...IMO RVP is in no mans land...not attacking the ball and in the keepers way...his normal position for corners is further out.

BloodBath

Welcome to the forum Rob. Good first post.

Agree 100% on all of it.

ericzeking wrote: »

One thing I haven't heard mentioned anywhere is RVP for the drogba goal...without his touch the ball goes straight to DDG...IMO RVP is in no mans land...not attacking the ball and in the keepers way...his normal position for corners is further out.

Not really his fault though. It's pretty standard to have players on the posts. I doubt De Gea was going to get to that regardless.

Will I Amnt

ericzeking wrote: »

One thing I haven't heard mentioned anywhere is RVP for the drogba goal...without his touch the ball goes straight to DDG...IMO RVP is in no mans land...not attacking the ball and in the keepers way...his normal position for corners is further out.

Had this argument with a mate yesterday, there wasn't much RvP could do. He didn't have the best starting position for defending the near post but it would be incredibly harsh to be slinging the blame his way.

bedrock#1

ericzeking wrote: »

One thing I haven't heard mentioned anywhere is RVP for the drogba goal...without his touch the ball goes straight to DDG...IMO RVP is in no mans land...not attacking the ball and in the keepers way...his normal position for corners is further out.

From what I remember from the last two years Raf was always on the near post for corners and RVP was in the position that Raf took up against Drogba. RVP's clearing headers from that position just advanced of the near post were a staple of the last two seasons.

Giggsy11

homerjay2005 wrote: »

would ye go for a sneaky low bid for Vidic in January?

i know its not going to happen, but its something that came up in prematch discussions yesterday.

wouldnt be a bad short term solution, especially if Moyes got the Inter job

I think you didn't check how he is doing for Inter. At least his start was awful and he was dropped from their last serie A game.

Also if we are planning to play high line then Vidic is not the answer.

homerjay2005

newballsplease wrote: »

How stupid would that make the club look in fairness?!

Non runner

Not stupid at all. Vidic left because of Moyes.

Do Chelsea look stupid for bringing back Drogba?
Teddy Sheringham went back to Spurs.

And theres many other examples of players returning.

ericzeking

bedrock#1 wrote: »

From what I remember from the last two years Raf was always on the near post for corners and RVP was in the position that Raf took up against Drogba. RVP's clearing headers from that position just advanced of the near post were a staple of the last two seasons.

Exactly and yesterday he was not in that position,ahead of the near post, outside the 6 yard box....he wasn't on the post...he wasn't doing anything except obstructing the keeper and diverting the ball away from him.
Anyway, that goal was a catalogue of defensive errors, and I wouldn't blame any one player solely, it was just something I thought was worth mentioning.

The_Kew_Tour

so with another big game coming up can we get a result against City?

Dare I say get 3 points?

With Rooney, Falcao and Herrera to come back I think we can feel we least have some chance.

Will Fellaini be picked to keep Silva quiet I wonder?

BloodBath

We're lacking leadership at the back to organise that defence. Someone needs to stand up and take control of the situation.

It is madness that the biggest aerial threat was marked by one of the smallest guys on the pitch.

I'm sure Van Gaal and the coaches will highlight these errors and the team will learn from them.

I think we will struggle against City. We're losing the home advantage and Aguero will have fun with our defence.

I doubt Fellaini is the man to mark Silva either. Fabregas isn't as mobile as he is so it was an easier task for the big man. Stick him on Toure instead and let the faster guys worry about Silva.

Lord TSC

homerjay2005 wrote: »

Not stupid at all. Vidic left because of Moyes.

Do Chelsea look stupid for bringing back Drogba?
Teddy Sheringham went back to Spurs.

And theres many other examples of players returning.

I don't see why we would go back for him and look for another short term fix tbh (and that's ignoring his recent form for Inter and the fact he wasn't exactly a stable base last season).

We should be going for a top level striker, not a cheap one based on form from 2 years ago...

EDIT: *Defender. Not striker...typo...

RobertKK

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

so with another big game coming up can we get a result against City?

Dare I say get 3 points?

With Rooney, Falcao and Herrera to come back I think we can feel we least have some chance.

Will Fellaini be picked to keep Silva quiet I wonder?

Yes is my answer to your three questions.

City have lost the same number of games as we have and it could be argued that United are improving.
For example, before the West Brom game we hadn't scored after the 63rd minute. Now we are doing it and rather late at that.
Now it is time to start winning away, at the Etihad would be a good place to start...

spiralism

We havent got an away win in months, lets not get too ahead of ourselves here. First game aside we've looked very good at home, away we've struggled and badly. A point would be a hell of a result. Dont think we've it in us yet, we're definitely improving but it's very hard to go there and get anything

Cantona's Collars

We owe City a beating.Feck it,I'd take a 1-0 win for us on Sunday.

duffman13

zerks wrote: »

We owe City a beating.Feck it,I'd take a 1-0 win for us on Sunday.

I think everyone one of us in here would take that

GavRedKing

zerks wrote: »

We owe City a beating.Feck it,I'd take a 1-0 win for us on Sunday.

chelsea would love that too.

Bleating Lamb

Welcome to forum Rob Thomas and as you said while not controversial your first post made plenty of sense;).

Regarding the poor efforts defensively for corner we conceded at Rafael was meant to mark Drogba for that one and reacted v slowly altogether when it was taken.
LVG should have had RVP who is taller and a better header of ball on the likes of Drogba or Matic and the smaller Rafael on post.
Like in the old days,Fergie always had Paul Parker and Irwin on posts as they weren't the tallest.

PS- as an irregular poster myself Rob Thomas you may find on this forum if you disagree with a chosen few regular posters views its not appreciated;)
.....and don't worry lads all the non regular posters feel the same:)....but might be afraid to say it!

Cantona's Collars

GavRedKing wrote: »

chelsea would love that too.

QPR to shock the world and beat ye.:pac:

Bridge93

zerks wrote: »

We owe City a beating.Feck it,I'd take a 1-0 win for us on Sunday.

You should be working for Sky with an insight like that!

Cantona's Collars

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Welcome to forum Rob Thomas and as you said while not controversial your first post made plenty of sense;).

Regarding the poor efforts defensively for corner we conceded at Rafael was meant to mark Drogba for that one and reacted v slowly altogether when it was taken.
LVG should have had RVP who is taller and a better header of ball on the likes of Drogba or Matic and the smaller Rafael on post.
Like in the old days,Fergie always had Paul Parker and Irwin on posts as they weren't the tallest.

PS- as an irregular poster myself Rob Thomas you may find on this forum if you disagree with a chosen few regular posters views its not appreciated;)
.....and don't worry lads all the non regular posters feel the same:)....but might be afraid to say it!

The Moldy Gowl

Or, perhaps just don't post stupid stuff.

Will I Amnt

The big difference between the City game and the Chelsea game will be that City have a couple of forwards that will make sh*te of that defence if they're not on top of their game. We were lucky that Chelsea's attack was somewhat blunted in Costa's absence.
I'm dreading what Agüero may do...

The Moldy Gowl

zerks wrote: »

Great header. If robin dd that, we would e jizzing our pants

kryogen

Rob Thomas, welcome.

ps - You are an amazing singer

Bleating Lamb

zerks wrote: »

To be fair Zerks all those stills illustrate is how badly Rafael reacted to the movements of a 36 yr old striker!

Cantona's Collars

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

To be fair Zerks all those stills illustrate is how badly Rafael reacted to the movements of a 36 yr old striker!

RVP was badly positioned & Terry also ended up free in the area.Rafael had no business marking Drogba there who has done this kind of thing for years.

Cantona's Collars

Bridge93 wrote: »

You should be working for Sky with an insight like that!

Just need a silver suit with super tight pants.:pac::pac:

homerjay2005

as a sign that passing stats for an individual player can at times be the most useless stat around, Rojo had the most passes of any player yesterday (71) and Smalling completed the most (62).

what it does show tho, is that Chelsea sat back, put 10 men behind the ball and left us have it in our own half, then picked us off in the counter attack.

Chelsea also won 2/3 of the aerial battles and we played into their hands by lumping it forward long almost 70 times.

Rayne Wooney

Mata has played the exact same in every game for United imo, the fact is he gets not too far off 100% pass accuracy every game and is consistently in the most passers of the ball, we know Mata is well capable of all kinds of defence splitting balls but he's not doing them at all at times or nearly enough

When you look at all that I think it's a system problem rather than a Mata one, I can't see Ozil, Silva or Gotze doing more in our team when our system is still in it's infancy.

We have had a very poor style of play the past 3 or 4 seasons, yes we won a league title in one of those seasons but we weren't looking to the future at all

In summary I think we will get the same Mata until the system starts to really work, sadly by that time Mata could be on his way out of the club because I think Rooney will go back in when he's fit.

Bleating Lamb

zerks wrote: »

RVP was badly positioned & Terry also ended up free in the area.Rafael had no business marking Drogba there who has done this kind of thing for years.

Agree Zerks,that basically what I said in my original post,a lot of people love Rafael but to me he can be a headless chicken at times,both attacking and defending,he put in an excellent cross for Wilsons headed chance yday,but apart from that he did little else in the other 93 mins of game!
Big problem in the defence this season is that no one is calling the shots on corners and free kicks like we had in previous years.

2moreMinutes

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

To be fair Zerks all those stills illustrate is how badly Rafael reacted to the movements of a 36 yr old striker!

To be fair, it also illustrates how basically everyone except Shaw appeared to fall asleep with Smalling looking particularly caught offguard.

DM_7

Close Carrington

https://twitter.com/AlexShawESPN/status/526853066784784384

homerjay2005

rooney apparently is injured and a doubt for Sunday.

what the f*ck is happening behind the scenes in our training? our players are made of glass.

Nalz

We need Rooney big time next Sunday

glued wrote: »

Mata does work hard. You've just bitten off and chewed the typical Sky Sports-Mourinho fed rhetoric.

If Van Persie had put away that chance away Mata laid off for him a lot of people would be creaming about him, and the over critical wouldn't be hopping of the keyboard as much

Will I Amnt

Trilla wrote: »

We need Rooney big time next Sunday



If Van Persie had put away that chance away Mata laid off for him a lot of people would be creaming about him, and the over critical wouldn't be hopping of the keyboard as much

And the disguised chip to Di Maria, don't think there was anybody else on the pitch that could have pulled that off so perfectly.

Timmyctc

Will I Amnt wrote: »

And the disguised chip to Di Maria, don't think there was anybody else on the pitch that could have pulled that off so perfectly.

Di Maria probably could have, but then who'd he have passed it to? :pac:

homerjay2005

Ron Vlaar badly exposed for both QPR goals tonight.....not the type of performance a potential signing should be giving.

Nalz

Timmyctc wrote: »

Di Maria probably could have, but then who'd he have passed it to? :pac:

Fellaini, obviously

Timmyctc

Trilla wrote: »

Fellaini, obviously

Sure Fellaini would be out cleaning the jacks.

kryogen

Timmyctc wrote: »

Sure Fellaini would be out cleaning the jacks.

I thought he wouldn't even be doing that? Worst signing eva 4 real

Timmyctc

kryogen wrote: »

I thought he wouldn't even be doing that? Worst signing eva 4 real

Wait, no. Its Mata now.

Hope ur ok hun.

shadowcomplex

One player I really wished we signed in the summer is Alexis Sanchez , I'd say we were in for him aswell but he wanted a London club , he would very much be a Lvg type player too , can you imagine him and di Maria on either side in a 433 , is there any other right sided player we could go for as good scores as many goals and is available , robben is probably even better but he's too old now and settled at bayern , perhaps cuadrado ?
I'd say mata is def gone in the summer , Rooney will be our number 10 and Januzai his understudy , I reckon a move for Vidal or more likely strootman is most def on the cards