Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2016 - Mod Note in OP, 13/9

Rayne Wooney

Schneiderlin fcuked up for the goal, a good game otherwise but I doubt Jose will tell him much about that with him being a big part of the match losing goal.

Manutd_4life

Flint Fredstone wrote: »

Can we not just write Rojo off as an asset?

He is beyond average imo and really should be sold. Would much rather see Fosu Mensah

NoviGlitzko

I don't like being overly harsh on our players because I get attached to them, but Rojo may just have put in the worst full back performance I've seen in my life. Couldn't pass, couldn't defend, couldn't attack.

bangkok

Depay did nothing to force his way into the team either, a wild shot that went 40 yards over the bar and wide was the highlight

bangkok

bangkok wrote: »

Depay did nothing to force his way into the team either, a wild shot that went 40 yards over the bar and wide was the highlight

I heard he turned up to the game in a fiat and was wearing a shirt and tie surely grounds for starting the next game

NoviGlitzko

bangkok wrote: »

Depay did nothing to force his way into the team either, a wild shot that went 40 yards over the bar and wide was the highlight

He was good enough when he came on I thought, unfortunately when we needed a good ball in that moment where he lampooned it over the bar is what we'll remember. Pity.

xabi

RobertKK wrote: »

Juan Mata is writing a poetry book, hopes to have it out for Christmas.

Poetry in motion tra la la la la.

bmcc10

Shame Carricks not a few years younger need a player similar to him to control midfield

Hank Scorpio

Depay was poor when he came on, 2 speculative shots when the ball was on to Zlatan, and a poor free kick at the end. Not that anyone else was better mind..

niallo27

xabi wrote: »

Poetry in motion tra la la la la.

We're the best football team in the land.

Cookie_Dough

niallo27 wrote: »

We're the best football team in the land.

You're in the wrong place. This isn't the Liverpool thread....:rolleyes:

Unearthly

Cookie_Dough wrote: »

You're in the wrong place. This isn't the Liverpool thread....:rolleyes:

At least though their club gave me a smile this morning. For some reason Sky showed what were the most asked questions on Google in relation to Liverpool with the top one being 'when did Liverpool last win the premier league' followed by the presenter awkwardly pointing they haven't won it yet

Cookie_Dough

Unearthly wrote: »

At least though their club gave me a smile this morning. For some reason Sky showed what were the most asked questions on Google in relation to Liverpool with the top one being 'when did Liverpool last win the premier league' followed by the presenter awkwardly pointing they haven't won it yet

:):)

Mantis Toboggan

Flint Fredstone wrote: »

Can we not just write Rojo off as an asset?

More of a liability really!

The fact that he's still getting a game gives me hope for myself.

TheDoc

NoviGlitzko wrote: »

He was good enough when he came on I thought, unfortunately when we needed a good ball in that moment where he lampooned it over the bar is what we'll remember. Pity.

Maybe this is what it's like for the Rooney defenders, where they feel we cannot see the good things.

In 30 minutes Memphis provided more injection and vigor then Martial or Mata had done the previous 60.

I vividly remember a lovely little one two that in the end he should have slid into Zlatan but took on the shot. He had a few nice interchanges, and also from one of our corners made his way back to stop a counter attack with a good tackle.

A good cameo for his first minutes of the season, that may not force his way into the team, but should force his way into the Watford matchday squad. Will be step by step with him for a while to get his confidence back.

But I wouldn't take issue with him getting the nod over Martial, who was again totally abject and he just needs to be withdrawn for a bit.

The last problem I thought we would have coming into this season was issues with our wide players.

Flint Fredstone

Meh-mphis.

sReq | uTeK

Flint Fredstone wrote: »

Meh-mphis.

Think people are being overly critical about a 25 minute cameo when he's not played in 1 game all season and would clearly be lacking in match fitness and rhythm.

From what I seen he wanted the ball. He didn't shy away from the game. Yes he had a few shots skied but so did pogba and there was no moaning at his shots.

In one instance he broke his absolute bollix to get back from a corner and win the ball at his own corner flag

tayto lover

AND before you come looking let me say this -- Stephen Kenny is not leaving Dundalk :pac:

Flint Fredstone

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

Think people are being overly critical about a 25 minute cameo when he's not played in 1 game all season and would clearly be lacking in match fitness and rhythm.

From what I seen he wanted the ball. He didn't shy away from the game. Yes he had a few shots skied but so did pogba and there was no moaning at his shots.

In one instance he broke his absolute bollix to get back from a corner and win the ball at his own corner flag

He wasn't great, he wasn't bad. Just meh for me. Pogba was the same.

TheDoc

Thought it was interesting that the formation provided to the press at the game was a 4-3-3, and the pre-match routines were all very clearly a 4-3-3.

Then during the game it was very much a 4-2-3-1.....

I say interesting, it was pretty infuriating, and I don't understand how Mourinho could watch it and not be barking at the midfield to sort it out. Nevermind the players themselves grasping what was happening and fixing it

adox

I think Pogba is causing more problems than he is solving. Hopefully Jose gets the balance sorted out soon.

Cantona's Collars

So,have we sacked Jose yet and put Rooney in charge?:p

TheDoc

adox wrote: »

I think Pogba is causing more problems than he is solving. Hopefully Jose gets the balance sorted out soon.

He should look to a midfield three of Fellaini, Pogba and Hererra. Have Fellaini sit and let Pogba and Herrera work box to box.

Feels like we keep having pedestrian first halfs until Jose enforces a 4-3-3 onto the second half and we pick it up. Just do it from the start.

Need to stop worrying about conceding goals as the first port of call, cause that is what it feels like at the moment.

Flint Fredstone

adox wrote: »

I think Pogba is causing more problems than he is solving. Hopefully Jose gets the balance sorted out soon.

Everybody looking forward to him in a free role yesterday and he ended up playing as deep or deeper than the other games.

TheDoc

Flint Fredstone wrote: »

Everybody looking forward to him in a free role yesterday and he ended up playing as deep or deeper than the other games.

Was just trying too hard. Understandable to be honest, there is massive pressure there and he was acutely aware the team was below par.

Few times he was shouting and roaring at the team to step it up.

Just trying to much. Hopefully as the team gets more settled and performances rise, he gets more comfortable.

One of the few times I agree with Scholes. We didn't buy Messi to beat four players and score. Needs a game or two pure back to basics and just become the platform for the front 3/4 to function, then he can start to bring his added value with drives from deep or from centre midfield.

Lord TSC

I also think the complete lack of width really killed the players in the middle. None of the wingers were really offering much, and Rojo and Darmian did not help either. Speaking of Rojo

https://twitter.com/SquawkaDave/status/776499184107216896?s=09

Rojo's game by numbers vs Feyenoord:
0/4 successful crosses
0% tackle win rate
0% aerial duel win rate
2 fouls

adox

TheDoc wrote: »

He should look to a midfield three of Fellaini, Pogba and Hererra. Have Fellaini sit and let Pogba and Herrera work box to box.

Feels like we keep having pedestrian first halfs until Jose enforces a 4-3-3 onto the second half and we pick it up. Just do it from the start.

Need to stop worrying about conceding goals as the first port of call, cause that is what it feels like at the moment.

Yep that would be my midfield choice out of what we have available.
Depends whether Jose will change his system though.

Call Me Jimmy

Is there anything to be said for the size of the pitch yesterday? It looked tiny (that's what she said).

Overall very bad performance. I was wary of the pogba move and continue to be. He will come good, I'm sure Mourinho will get what he wants from him soon enough.

Ibra is a bigger signing at the moment because you get a sense when he's on the pitch the players up their game.

adox

Also I still think there is a hesitancy in Utds play(hopefully just a curable hangover from the last 3 years) that makes the team look slow, both in movement and speed of thought. Its maybe what makes Bailly stand out more.
He doesnt get everything right and makes mistakes but he just commits fully to what he intends to do and makes his decisions quick.

TheDoc

adox wrote: »

Yep that would be my midfield choice out of what we have available.
Depends whether Jose will change his system though.

Probably going to think Watford away is a tough one, so stick with the 4-2-3-1 for some solidity.

But definitely at a point would like Mourinho to have us impose ourselves on others, and let opposition worry about dealing with us. Especially at home.

It's ok to conceed goals, as long as we win.

The team actually looks pretty solid when in defensive shapes, but we just don't move into attacking patterns quick enough.

Hopefully it's just a timing thing until everyone is comfy with the defensive shape, but I'd say it wasn't in that bad a shape after Van Gaal.

adox

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Is there anything to be said for the size of the pitch yesterday? It looked tiny (that's what she said).

Overall very bad performance. I was wary of the pogba move and continue to be. He will come good, I'm sure Mourinho will get what he wants from him soon enough.

Ibra is a bigger signing at the moment because you get a sense when he's on the pitch the players up their game.

Ibra is by far the most suited forward we have to lead the line.
I know he has been criticised on here by some about being wasteful but I have to say I have been hugely impressed by him since he arrived.

The_Kew_Tour

That was poor last night.

But we have played worse. Not as doom and gloom about the last 2 games

This is going to take some time to fix

Son Of A Vidic

Once again, last night's game reinforced my opinion that Rojo is the worst defender I've ever seen wearing a United jersey and I'm going back to the Ron Atkinson era on that. I was shocked and a bit worried that Jose didn't ship him out, but hopefully now he has to realise the guy is completely useless. After one United attack last night he was walking, yes walking back from the opposition half and young Rashford was back defending an attack where Rojo should have been.

Then we have the number 7 jersey, this jersey is a very special number for Man United and it has been worn by great players through the years - Best, Robson, Cantona, Beckam, Ronaldo. So how in f***ks name was that waster Memphis, ever given the jersey? The number 7 jersey is worn by players who have earned it, not by this dope that can't even put a decent free into the penalty area without blasting it 30 yards over the bar. He's another one I was hoping to see moved on during the summer, a complete waste of space. I couldn't careless about the very occasional, insignificant nice touch and for God's sake, can someone at United please take the number 7 jersey of him.

Last night's game was complete rubbish and I think Jose is falling on his own sword in some respects. Because it seems he mistakenly thought he could reform gobshytes from the LVG era, guys like Rojo & Memphis and actually make them decent contributors. And I'll certainly rest a lot easier, when he moves on wasters and replaces them with his own hand picked players.

Jayop

I actually thought depay was OK when he came on. He linked the play and showed attacking intent a few times. A player who's frozen out and looking to impress takes that volley on, a player who's comfortable with his place in the squad plays it across. If that flew in he'd be getting massive praise but because he Mis-hit it he's getting slagged to the high heavens. The only thing he actually did badly imo was over hit the free kick near the end. It happens.

Pro. F

Memphis was fine as far as I'm concerned.

It was a very dissapointing result and poor performance for the team overall. But it's hard to know what to make of it really, given how many changes there were to the team.

I wish Martial had had more time playing up front. He is more suited to it than Rashford for that 433 and Rashford looks more suited to playing wide than Martial.

The only thing that really bothers me is how no midfielder sprinted back to help out the defence for the goal. I really, really, hope Jose isn't going to be like LVG with regards to having the team looking sluggish and unfit.

Jayop

Aye the whole standing off is more concerning than individual players. We really need to start getting into players faces when they have possession.

v3ttel

The outcry from people's performance about Memphis just goes to show that people are often blinded by their preconceived notions of a player, rather than objectively looking at performances.

He did ok when he came on. He was certainly no worse than Darmian, Rojo, Pogba, Schneiderlin, Martial, Young, Rashford (or Lingard and Mkhitaryan on Saturday).

But no, it's the "dope" that came on for 20 mins (of the last 180) is the real key issue to highlight and moan about, rather than the other 9 players who played for more minutes and were arguably worse....

The whole teams performance is a concern, not ****ing Memphs.

TheDoc

Pro. F wrote: »

Memphis was fine as far as I'm concerned.

It was a very dissapointing result and poor performance for the team overall. But it's hard to know what to make of it really, given how many changes there were to the team.

I wish Martial had had more time playing up front. He is more suited to it than Rashford for that 433 and Rashford looks more suited to playing wide than Martial.

The only thing that really bothers me is how no midfielder sprinted back to help out the defence for the goal. I really, really, hope Jose isn't going to be like LVG with regards to having the team looking sluggish and unfit.

I thought at a point Martial and Rashford had switched, Rashford picked up the ball on the left whilst Martial was in the middle and I thought "oh hear we go, good shout"

Then it just transpired to be the general flow of the movement : /

Rashford doesn't look as strong and neat as Martial when playing back to goal, and at present Rashford looks more confident running at people.

So it feels like an obvious switch to make. Maybe in the cup we might see Martial more central.

There will be a point where a blip in form turns into a crisis of confidence ala Memphis

Pro. F

TheDoc wrote: »

I thought at a point Martial and Rashford had switched, Rashford picked up the ball on the left whilst Martial was in the middle and I thought "oh hear we go, good shout"

Then it just transpired to be the general flow of the movement : /

Rashford doesn't look as strong and neat as Martial when playing back to goal, and at present Rashford looks more confident running at people.

So it feels like an obvious switch to make. Maybe in the cup we might see Martial more central.

There will be a point where a blip in form turns into a crisis of confidence ala Memphis

They did switch for a little while in the second half, but then Martial went off.

The sooner this Martial on the wing business is over the better as far as I'm concerned. But then I thought the same with Hazaard at Chelsea, so I suppose I should just be patient and trust Jose.

bennyl10

Mail reporting(I know)

Smalling needed a police escort after struggling to produce a urine sample last night..

Don't know if means anything bad..

TheDoc

Pro. F wrote: »

They did switch for a little while in the second half, but then Martial went off.

The sooner this Martial on the wing business is over the better as far as I'm concerned. But then I thought the same with Hazaard at Chelsea, so I suppose I should just be patient and trust Jose.

Hazard was always a wide left though, its how he came to Chelsea's and our attention. They had a wealth of options to play at 10(assuming you mean Hazard should have been #10)

He is running a minor danger of being seen only as a wide left, which not only makes his transfer fee a bit dubious, but also stalling his development for a season or two.

Still very early days for him, but the ability and promise he showed, I'd say we would all prefer he was getting some minutes in his actual position to learn.There is definitely an argument down the line of playing two up top, someone alongside Zlatan. Our midfielders and wide options should easily allow us play a 4-4-2, but that seems to be taboo in the Premier League at the moment.

I remember when Fergie was sticking with the 4-4-2 I was hankering for a 4-2-3-1 because I thought it was the bees knees. After seeing it under Moyes, Van Gaal and Mourinho(early days) starting to maybe come to learn its not all I got cracked up about. It's a very defensively solid formation but has some glaring issues when attacking.

Cookie_Dough

bennyl10 wrote: »

Mail reporting(I know)

Smalling needed a police escort after struggling to produce a urine sample last night..

Don't know if means anything bad..

Presumably it was just a random drug test and because he couldn't go on request the police had to stay with him to ensure he didn't tamper with the future sample...

Pro. F

TheDoc wrote: »

Hazard was always a wide left though, its how he came to Chelsea's and our attention. They had a wealth of options to play at 10(assuming you mean Hazard should have been #10)

Yeah, but you see quality players doing whatever they want in smaller leagues. I thought at Chelsea he would have to play centrally to fully reach his potential, so he surprised me in that regard.

TheDoc wrote: »

Our midfielders and wide options should easily allow us play a 4-4-2, but that seems to be taboo in the Premier League at the moment.

I remember when Fergie was sticking with the 4-4-2 I was hankering for a 4-2-3-1 because I thought it was the bees knees. After seeing it under Moyes, Van Gaal and Mourinho(early days) starting to maybe come to learn its not all I got cracked up about. It's a very defensively solid formation but has some glaring issues when attacking.

Yeah, Fergie was a genius. No doubt.

adox

bennyl10 wrote: »

Mail reporting(I know)

Smalling needed a police escort after struggling to produce a urine sample last night..

Don't know if means anything bad..

Storm in a pee cup!

Pro. F

bennyl10 wrote: »

Mail reporting(I know)

Smalling needed a police escort after struggling to produce a urine sample last night..

Don't know if means anything bad..

I know in athletics and MMA that once the tester calls to an athlete, they have to stay by their side until they are able to piss. They stay with them for however long it takes. Seems very strange that the police would have anything to do with it though.

Edit: Maybe the police were planning on giving the team bus an escort and so they had to give a seperate escort to Smalling in some car with the tester.

Rayne Wooney

City started out with a more attacking formation and have reaped the rewards. Pep has hit the ground running sadly.

It would be nice to see something new tested, Mourinho talked up the United attacking way in the summer, we've already less goals than the 5 teams you'd call rivals this season.

bangkok

Pep has actually surprised me by how quick he has changed city. they are the team to beat this season no doubt still with Kompany, Gundogan to come into the team

Jayop

adox wrote: »

Storm in a pee cup!

Wayhaaaaay!

Also agree that Rashford looks more dangerous out wide and drifting in.

bangkok

also to think we spent 16m on rojo and gave sporting lisbon Nani for the season for free.... the mind boggles

Korat

That was a piss poor performance. There's still too many duds in the squad so Jose has a lot of work to do to try get something out of them.