The old Man Utd Thread

[fatbob]

I can't actually believe how shit we've been today.

It was the defence that has been exclusively woefull, going forwards we were fine. Pat had a good match, and Rooney was ace.

Thats not to take anything away from Porto, who play a good game of football.

A draw was fair, its going to be interesting for the away leg, can't wait.

[Guest]

OOPS

[SuperCat]

Jeeeeesus. You guys get the easiest draw possible and yet draw 2-2. Lucky you didn't draw Barca.

[phresh]

Don't you think it's a bit risky trolling before you've even played?

EDIT: @ Disciple

[Chooch]

To me it seems like Disciple doesn't even really support Liverpool. He trolls that thread as well when they get beat.

[redbloodcell]

When are you getting the other half of your defence back?

[DC]

Jeeeeesus. You guys get the easiest draw possible and yet draw 2-2. Lucky you didn't draw Barca.

Porto were great to be fair.

[fatbob]

Jeeeeesus. You guys get the easiest draw possible and yet draw 2-2. Lucky you didn't draw Barca.

Did you watch the game?

Porto were amaze.

[Liamness]

When are we going to keep a clean sheet at OT? Still, it's not the end of the world... just got to go and beat porto... at home. Oh dear.

[oli]

Well that wasn't a great result really, and unfortunately it could have been worse. I think next week will be a massive uphill struggle and if we don't improve between now and next Wednesday we have pretty much no chance of going through

[fatbob]

Well that wasn't a great result really, and unfortunately it could have been worse. I think next week will be a massive uphill struggle and if we don't improve between now and next Wednesday we have pretty much no chance of going through

I dunno, i'm still confident of winning there, when do we ever make it easy for ourselves?

[McFly]

At least we didnt lose, so many stupid errors its like a we're packing a whole years worth into the last few games.

Personally i wanna win the Premership over the European cup, it'd be so good to crush Liverpools dreams but both would be amazing obviously.

[Trigg]

Did you watch the game?

Porto were amaze.

I didn't think they were amaze, when given that much space most teams will create chances like Porto did. We defended like school boys at times with Evans been the worst culprit in the back four. Scholes and Carrick were fecking woeful and I was particular disappointed with Scholes' contribution. The midfield was wide open all through the game and we just sat off them and let them play on the edge of our box. Unbelievable really.

In this kind of form we'll struggle against Porto in Portugal, fuck we'll even struggle against Sunderland at the weekend if we keep this shambles up. Wish Rio would hurry the fuck up and get fit too, he's the calming influence in the back line and the one that organises the team - we need him back very very soon!

Least Rooney and Ronaldo are playing well, the only positives at the moment.

[Mr Do 71]

Rooney was amazing last night.

[Trigg]

Rooney was amazing last night.

He was, with very limited support as the midfield was very poor yesterday.

[oli]

Scholes seemed to be out of sorts last night, misplaced passes all over the shop. I thought Fletcher was one of our better players, for the second time in the last two games.

[Guest]

What was Gary Neville doing for that last goal? He knew Mariano was behind him, so why did he run towards the ball? O'Shea was there for cover, so it made absolutely no sense.

[Timmo]

I don't know why I'm in this thread but he was going for the cross, obv. O'Shea's nod took it over him. If Neville watched the guy at the back post then the guy in the middle was free. Who was right back at that point? If you want to blame anyone, blame them.

[milko]

Neville was the right back.

[Trigg]

Neville rightly went to challenge O'Shea's man in my eyes as O'Shea wasn't very well positioned if I remember rightly, unfortunately O'Shea got a touch and it went over the head of Neville and and went to the back post. Slack defending from both O'Shea and Neville.

[Guest]

Neville rightly went to challenge O'Shea's man in my eyes as O'Shea wasn't very well positioned if I remember rightly, unfortunately O'Shea got a touch and it went over the head of Neville and and went to the back post. Slack defending from both O'Shea and Neville.

But O'Shea was obviously in a better position as he got the touch. Add that to the fact that Neville running forward left a huge gap behind him, it was totally the wrong thing to do.

Anyway, it's all too late now. They were pretty poor all over the pitch to be fair, except for the odd one or two that have already been mentioned.

I think this Champ's League campaign is probably over for us now. I can't really see us being any fresher by next week and even if Rio is back, he'll be a bit rusty. I doubt we'll manage to stop them scoring at home with their physical, attacking style of play.

All I can hope is that we score more than them and do what no other English club has done; beat them at home. Fingers crossed.

[Timmo]

Neville was the right back.

Of course he was, I was confused. If you watch the replay again though Neville had to move across as the cross was headed straight for the unmarked guy in the middle before O'Shea got a touch.

[kamaran]

my 2 pence:

We were grinding out victories with poor performances right upto the Liverpool game. Although we weren't playing great up front we had a solid back 4 who were letting very little through, unfortunately that back 4 foundation is gone and were struggling because of our vulnerabilities.

O'Shea has done his best but constantly looks out of place, Evans is a good player but he's no Ferdinand and lacks the ability to take the ball forward, Neville is unfortunately well of the pace.

I don't think we will get back to our consistent match winning form until Rio is fit or at the very least Rafael or Wes Brown return.

[oli]

my 2 pence:

We were grinding out victories with poor performances right upto the Liverpool game. Although we weren't playing great up front we had a solid back 4 who were letting very little through, unfortunately that back 4 foundation is gone and were struggling because of our vulnerabilities.

O'Shea has done his best but constantly looks out of place, Evans is a good player but he's no Ferdinand and lacks the ability to take the ball forward, Neville is unfortunately well of the pace.

I don't think we will get back to our consistent match winning form until Rio is fit or at the very least Rafael or Wes Brown return.

How far are Brown and Rafael from returning? It's a shame but it really looks like the Neviller is past it now

[Trigg]

Of course he was, I was confused. If you watch the replay again though Neville had to move across as the cross was headed straight for the unmarked guy in the middle before O'Shea got a touch.

Thats how I saw it too tbh. I not watched it again but O'Shea seem to be slightly out of position and looked like the cross was going to bypass him onto the striker that O'Shea should have been marking. Neville tucked in like he should do in those instances and left a man at the far post unmarked. Sometimes it works out for you sometimes it doesn't.

Had O'Shea not got a touch it would have gone to the player before it got to the eventual scorers, then questions would have been asked why the right back wasn't tucking in on the cover.

Just one of them things. Should have been defended better before the cross came in, time after time we gave them space and let them turn and face out back four. Which is bloody ridiculous.

Anyway like Jon1 says, its in the past. I would write us off just yet, we do tend to do things the hard way. Its not impossible for us to go there and win, dispite what history says. Plus, Porto will have to decide how they play, I'd imagine they won't be as adventuous in the return leg when they have something to protect. Man Utd are best when they know they have to go out and win, and thats what we have to.

Have a little faith Jon1. I know its difficult, but just this once eh!?

[Trigg]

How far are Brown and Rafael from returning? It's a shame but it really looks like the Neviller is past it now

No idea, but I think Wes Brown as been a massive loss for us. Such a solid right back and probably the best on the books at this moment in time.

[Hawkeye]

But O'Shea was obviously in a better position as he got the touch. Add that to the fact that Neville running forward left a huge gap behind him, it was totally the wrong thing to do.

In hindsight yes, in football theory no.

The fullback would be expected to come in when both centers have been pulled out towards the other flank. The cross was intended for the man he went to mark. The touch by O'Shea (who was out of position, marking space and not a man) is what caused the problem. Neville did the right thing covering for O'Shea, it was O'Shea poor positional sense that caused the fullback to come in to cover that lead to the free man at the back post.

[Guest]

Have a little faith Jon1. I know its difficult, but just this once eh!?

Hey, I've been very restrained lately ...but you know what I'm like!

[Guest]

In hindsight yes, in football theory no.

The fullback would be expected to come in when both centers have been pulled out towards the other flank. The cross was intended for the man he went to mark. The touch by O'Shea (who was out of position, marking space and not a man) is what caused the problem. Neville did the right thing covering for O'Shea, it was O'Shea poor positional sense that caused the fullback to come in to cover that lead to the free man at the back post.

I know what you're saying, but I still find it a bit strange. All 3 defenders (O'Shea, Vidic and Evra) were on the left side of the pitch, so for Neville to come running over too seems a bit like suicide, especially when he'd seen the player running in behind him. I suppose that's where theory and practise don't match.

I suppose O'Shea being out of position left Neville with a difficult choice to make and he made the wrong one.

Why we didn't just keep possession and run it into the corner for the last 5 minutes I'll never know.

[fatbob]

Least Rooney and Ronaldo are playing well, the only positives at the moment.

Ronaldo wasn't!

He lost possesion at almost every turn, the first goal came from his mistake again.

Come on though, you're all acting as if we were knocked out, it was a draw.... we have a depleted team and aren't playing well, against a team who was playing brilliantly.

We're a good team, and should be able to beat them, we've beaten better teams under these circumstances.

People critacising every single aspect of our performance is strange to me, the game seemed incredibly open to me, and we were often just as threatening as them going forward and had the lion's share of possesion and chances in the second half, we almost won the game, but for two defensive errors and some great Porto play.

Our frailty is in defence at the moment, I can't put my finger on why except for the huge amount of injuries we have (although we had similar problems on our clean sheet run).

I'm sure we'll pick up.

Cheer up.