Greenlizard0 Weekend Football Thread ** spoilers ** [10th - 11th January 2015]

[FrankJH]

This one was wrong because there were no major incidents and fairly regulation stoppages. There was just 2 minutes added in the Arsenal - Stoke game which had 3 subs and a goal as well as more fouls and other stoppages too. The only times you see 5+ minutes added are usually when there's been a big injury, 4/5 goals or another major incident that stopped the game for a period.

I wasn't paying complete attention but enough to make me question where the 5 minutes came from and as yet I've seen nobody come up with anything to justify it. I thought I must have missed a big injury or something because 5 minutes was way ott.

Its just as valid to have a few minor incidences (its not like a sub is anything "major" , but still has to be allowed for) than one major one

 

[manic111]

Not quite true. Didn't Manyoo only have their first shot on target in the 85th min, when Rooney scored in this match?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30065812

Well short of an own goal, yes. But you can't say that not scoring an own goal is luck.

 

[FrankJH]

The only thing that matters in you deserving a win is the scoreline or if the ref had an influence on it. It was 1-0 and the ref didn't, therefore deserved nothing

In fact he assisted you by allowing Smalling to take out one player every corner/set piece

and Tadic was a little lucky to remain on the pitch (after the goal but even so).

I still think it was down to Utd being a little unlucky that Southampton didn't concede, any other day Rooney, Di Maria, Mata could each have scored decent chances.

 

[manic111]

I still think it was down to Utd being a little unlucky that Southampton didn't concede, any other day Rooney, Di Maria, Mata could each have scored decent chances.

And how is that down to luck? If you have £120m worth of talent and they don't finish a chance, it's not unlucky, it's poor.

 

[Purdy]

and Tadic was a little lucky to remain on the pitch (after the goal but even so).

I still think it was down to Utd being a little unlucky that Southampton didn't concede, any other day Rooney, Di Maria, Mata could each have scored decent chances.

I'm sure they'd have taken a couple of penalties to offset a maybe sending off.

Its not down to luck if you can't finish, maybe if you're on a garbage pitch. It wasn't another day, therefore deserved nothing

 

[nemtizz]

Only watched the last 20 mins. What did Tadic do to 'deserve' being sent off?

 

[Shamikebab]

We deserved nothing today, just as Southampton deserved nothing in the reverse fixture.

 

[FrankJH]

And how is that down to luck? If you have £120m worth of talent and they don't finish a chance, it's not unlucky, it's poor.

Its down to luck because the quality of the players involved have successfully finished similar chances in the past (multitudes of times)

 

[Purdy]

We deserved nothing today, just as Southampton deserved nothing in the reverse fixture.

Yep

 

[MacMiniBoy]

rooneys frizzy fake her freaks me out man

 

[FrankJH]

I'm sure they'd have taken a couple of penalties to offset a maybe sending off.

Its not down to luck if you can't finish, maybe if you're on a garbage pitch. It wasn't another day, therefore deserved nothing

What penalty?

 

[Andybtsn]

Tadic dared to score at OT. should have walked tbh.

 

[Shamikebab]

Its down to luck because the quality of the players involved have successfully finished similar chances in the past (multitudes of times)

Frank, you are just making yourself look silly and you clearly have no idea what luck is.

 

[Craterloads]

Don't know if I'm simply being over critical of united but they haven't played good creative football for a while now. It just seems like its sidewards and backwards all the time, and on numerous occasions have my hands on my head shouting "what are you doing"

I don't get that when watching other teams like Chelsea, City, Arsenal or even Liverpool.

They played much better after going down, and have in spurts played good football but the majority of the time its sidewards.

Perhaps its just an imbalance in the team that needs addressing?

 

[LOAM]

Defended really well? Let's face it, defending a team that is 90% two players crossing who can't cross is not exactly difficult, and they nearly screwed that up (Forster missing an easy cross)

The fact MU were poor shouldn't detract from the fact that as a team Southampton defend really well. They have the best defence in the league remember.

 

[Purdy]

What penalty?

You know every set piece where Smalling was fouling the man he was marking? Yeah, those ones.

 

[nemtizz]

Tadic deserves a knighthood for his goal and celebration IMHO.

 

[Moothead2]

Its down to luck because the quality of the players involved have successfully finished similar chances in the past (multitudes of times)

That isn't luck. The only times you could argue luck in football are things like bobbles just before shooting or deflections landing to the feet of a striker running through on goal. Otherwise it's just ineptitude.

 

[FrankJH]

You know every set piece where Smalling was fouling the man he was marking? Yeah, those ones.

The same kind of defending that nearly every other team relies on you mean?

Yeah ok

 

[Stewy]

So here we are, halfway through the season and... I am struggling to see what Van Gaal's 'philosophy' is supposed to be? I mean, we don't play good possession football, we don't play quick counter-attacking football, we barely create any chances, we are defensively laughable, what is this 'philosophy' supposed to be? Playing a 3 at the back formation that looks **** every time it's played and then playing pointless and ponderous football... is this a 'footballing philosophy'? I know that results have been a bit better than last season but have we actually played well this season at all? Even one game? We're still awful which, considering the money that has been spent and the squad we've got, is just not good enough.

Thoughts? Frank?