Greenlizard0 Weekend Football Thread ** spoilers ** [13th March - 18th March 2015]

[fez]

Our defence today was fine for the most part and I'd even say Smalling did well to drive forwards into space a few times and open up some of the pitch. We completely took our foot off the pedal in the second half but we were very good in the first half while Spurs were quite poor.

The was more pace about the way we moved the ball, our shape was good and we hunted in packs to get the ball back.

So you want an in-experienced player to come on when there is still a chance of a come -back?

I just don't see a huge amount of value to a young player from giving him 10 minutes when the team is just sluggishly seeing out the game. I suppose it gives them a bit of a feel for the PL but 90% of games will be nothing like that so its not really going to do much for them in my opinion.

 

[FrankJH]

I just don't see a huge amount of value to a young player from giving him 10 minutes when the team is just sluggishly seeing out the game. I suppose it gives them a bit of a feel for the PL but 90% of games will be nothing like that so its not really going to do much for them in my opinion.

Maybe you are thinking of it the wrong way round - saving the player coming off from a potential injury (or - not in this case - red/2nd yellow)

All the starters today need to be wrapped in cotton wool - I would even suggest the club stop them joining up for the internationals (I cant see it happening though). Every single one will be crucial for the next 9 games, last thing Utd need is for anyone to get an injury /another suspension.

 

[BaZ87]

Would have preferred a draw but a Utd win might prove to be 2nd prize. Even if we win tomorrow, a Spurs win today would have left them right on our tails and they've a far easier run-in than Utd.

 

[cm1179]

the only positive is that we do have what could be a favourable run in now for the rest of the season. our GD took another walloping.

 

[CliffyG]

Bloody Spurs, can never rely on them.

 

[BaZ87]

6 points is probably too big a gap now. Your next 4 are very winnable but winning all those will only get you back in touch and then you've got Southampton away, City at home and Stoke away to follow.

 

[sigma]

The was more pace about the way we moved the ball, our shape was good and we hunted in packs to get the ball back.

Yeah, I'll give them that, it was a much, much improved performance. It is easier when 3-0 up against a half asleep team mind. Still, I'm happy. It's going to be a while before we're back to full glory so hopefully we can build on this.

 

[cm1179]

6 points is probably too big a gap now. Your next 4 are very winnable but winning all those will only get you back in touch and then you've got Southampton away, City at home and Stoke away to follow.

if you and united drop points, it's on. arsenal have been frustratingly consistent in bagging 3 points.

 

[BaZ87]

if you and united drop points, it's on. arsenal have been frustratingly consistent in bagging 3 points.

It's the amount of points that they'll need to drop that's the issue. Going into the 3 games I mentioned Spurs are going to need to be 3 points (at least) clear which would mean making up 9 points in the next 4 games. That's hugely unlikely and still might not be enough.

 

[cm1179]

today showed we're not ready for champions league to me anyway. mason and bentaleb aren't smart enough to handle a midfield like the way united set up today.

townsend doesn't offer enough, eriksen was absent. can't knock kane too much as he got zero service and dier and vert need to form a better understanding. dier whimped out when rooney was running at him when he should have stood firm. walker hasn't looked the same since he returned from injury and in all honesty, i thought lloris was sub par for all of the goals. as well placed as they were he didn't seem sharp.

 

[cm1179]

dier is promising but he shows players too much respect at times and certainly did today. he needs to bulk up and get stuck in. he should've been firm with rooney but for his goal but he bottled it.

we were pap all round though. seen keowns analysis on motd2 of united forming triangles and it was clear to see and it worked effortlessly, we just couldn't get the ball and when we did we weren't focused and just gave it back. keown also made a comment along the lines of lvg hadn't noticed and would have to watch the video! i don't know if he's on the wind up or just inept.

mason and bentaleb have the energy to break up triangles but townsend and eriksen didn't pull their weight. dembele came on and should've gone in a deeper role imo as united had it nailed.

we had zero luck though. kane had one shot on target from memory and that was at the death and it went through ddg but he pretty much sat on the ball. would've gone in on another day.

**** poor performance. we need a deep lying playmaker andvert needs to stamp some authority on the back 4, we've shipped a lot of goals.

 

[Robbo]

Enjoyed the game yesterday, I wasn't expecting much but it was a significant improvement, even if Spurs were abject, we didn't give them a way back into the game.

Can we build on this? Hope so.

 

[Calpol]

Enjoyed the game yesterday, I wasn't expecting much but it was a significant improvement, even if Spurs were abject, we didn't give them a way back into the game.

Can we build on this? Hope so.

Yes it was our best 45 minutes in terms of intensity for some time. That was good to see. I couldn't pin point what made the difference - a combination of Carrick and Herrara looking a more progressive partnership than Blind/Herrera, Mata's quicker decision making and Spurs allowing quite a lot of space to Fellaini seemed to make for chances which we managed to take. Spurs were quite poor. I thought we might get a tough afternoon but they offered little and obviously made a few mistakes too. No doubt that the pace of United play was a step up from what we have seen for much of the season - even Smalling was looking to drive the team forward which was actually quite good to see. Next Sunday will be different affair.

 

[fez]

Yes it was our best 45 minutes in terms of intensity for some time. That was good to see. I couldn't pin point what made the difference

We made space for ourselves by passing the ball much quicker and by having players overload areas of the pitch. We made triangles all over the pitch and switched the play to the wings when there was space. We played in between the spurs lines as well which is something we have rarely done this season.

If you look at our formation before now its quite often been very spread out and uniform so the other team is never at a numerical disadvantage. If you play the ball as slowly as we have done in the past other teams can regroup easily and just fall back into their own defence and make it almost impossible to penetrate. Mata made a big difference and Fellaini played well. Blind is handy in DM but slows things down and doesn't take the chances that Carrick did. With Herrera, Carrick and Mata we had a lot more guile and energy to our midfield. Young has been good all season pretty much so it was no surprise that he played well again.

 

[Calpol]

We made space for ourselves by passing the ball much quicker and by having players overload areas of the pitch. We made triangles all over the pitch and switched the play to the wings when there was space. We played in between the spurs lines as well which is something we have rarely done this season.

If you look at our formation before now its quite often been very spread out and uniform so the other team is never at a numerical disadvantage. If you play the ball as slowly as we have done in the past other teams can regroup easily and just fall back into their own defence and make it almost impossible to penetrate. Mata made a big difference and Fellaini played well. Blind is handy in DM but slows things down and doesn't take the chances that Carrick did. With Herrera, Carrick and Mata we had a lot more guile and energy to our midfield. Young has been good all season pretty much so it was no surprise that he played well again.

Yes, I tend to agree with all of this. Although it still depresses me that we havent got better options than Young or Fellaini, both of whom I don't rate as good enough at the top level. Fair play to Fellaini in that he too k his goal well and he is clearly a handful for defenders. I find it slightly disappointing that Januzaj isn't challenging Young more for a start.

 

[fez]

Yes, I tend to agree with all of this. Although it still depresses me that we havent got better options than Young or Fellaini, both of whom I don't rate as good enough at the top level. Fair play to Fellaini in that he too k his goal well and he is clearly a handful for defenders. I find it slightly disappointing that Januzaj isn't challenging Young more for a start.

Fellaini isn't the sort of player who is going to look great if the team isn't playing well but yesterday when everyone was clicking he was very effective. Young is looking as good now as he ever has done. Perhaps better. I think he is playing really well this season.

 

[The Running Man]

Was a good result for surem but spurs really didn't turn up. Their assist for rooneys goal kinda confirmed what result they were looking for. Well played rooney though.

Have to show rvp and Falcao b the door im afraid . Overpaid and just not good enough is how they currently x stand.

 

[FrankJH]

Fellaini isn't the sort of player who is going to look great if the team isn't playing well but yesterday when everyone was clicking he was very effective. Young is looking as good now as he ever has done. Perhaps better. I think he is playing really well this season.

Fellaini still gave away a few too many stupid free kicks(which could be punished this weekend coming) - fine give away one or two to find out the ref's tolerance level etc, but he kept on doing it which was a little frustrating (and complaining about it too).

He also gave away the ball a few times in silly areas, which again fortunately were not punished - and I still think his goal yesterday was nearly identical to the one which he turned back on vs Arsenal and ended up giving possession away. Well taken none the less yesterday, just shows his frustratingly inconsistancy from one game to another.

Not sure why he was credited for "a good part" in the Carrick goal either as if it was a defining connection to assist the goal, rather than its own (soft) blocked shot it actually was.

As the commentary suggested however, so lucky Jones didnt conceed that own goal within the 1st two minutes, as it could and probably would have been a totally different game if that had gone in.

Not sure we can play anything like that at Anfield, and for sure the defence and De Gea will be challanged a lot harder and more consistantly through out the match but even if the performance level is similar I will be (moderately) happy

 

[Purdy]

Not sure whether to be happy Shelvey is potentially playing against us or to fear him, should be hilarious either way

 

[Stewy]

He's an angry alien.