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The old Man Utd Thread

ThePixelbarks

By ThePixelbarks
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Plissken

Plissken

Posted
Posted

Disclaimer: Burnley fan who was at the game.

None of the defence can come out with any credit really. Van Gaal is wedded to his 3-5-2 but the players put out there today cannot play it. Something has to give. Jones, Evans and Blackett are not comfortable with the system at all. Jones and Evans are decent enough, talent wise. Blackett is bloody awful. I've never seen a team give away the ball so much, including slicing it out of play so many times.

What doesn't help is the wing backs are Young and Valencia. Both of them have clearly been told to stay on the touchline. Literally, that is their default position. The problem is, with the three defenders lacking in confidence, they are in no position to rescue a misplaced pass. Also, with Blackett and Evans unsure how far forward to roam (they got little cover from the other players in midfield) then the more well drilled pair of Arfield/Trippier and Taylor/Mee were handling pretty much everything thrown at them until the second half, when everything when down the right flank.

Fletcher was alright, I thought. When Clarets cleared the ball, it generally fell to Fletcher, being the spare man over from Burnleys midfield four. Mata was a huge disappointment, I thought. Van Persie and Rooney are quality, just the way they move, you can see they are a cut above. Di Maria moves around the pitch the same way. The difference between a good player and a superstar is sometimes hard to quantify, but you can just see the quality.

Added to this, you have the problem where the mediocre players seem to have this mindset that they are Manchester United, and therefore entitled to everything. Blackett repeatedly couldn't get used to the idea that Arfield would try to close him down or tackle him. At one point Phil Jones headed the ball out for a throw in. It went two feet over Arfields head and Jones, Blackett and Young all claimed the throw. I collapsed in hysterical laughter at that.

If Van Gaal persists with that 3-5-2, then I think he's heading for a world of pain.

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Bleeders

Bleeders

Posted
Posted

Blind will offer more than Fletcher I feel. Attacks usually start with him, where as I felt Fletcher wasn't offering any outlet yesterday. It was long ball after long ball after long ball.

The likes of Rojo and Blind will be used to a 3-5-2 system, which will help I believe. Also, Shaw will come in for Young (with any luck). Rafael on the right (for Valencia) and both will hopefully offer more than Valencia and Young. When fully fit, a midfield two of Di Maria and Herrera looks pretty good. I didn't think Rooney, RVP or Mata had a good game yesterday, we don't move the ball quick enough these days. It's all very labored, which gives opponents time to get men behind the ball.

I stand by my opinion that Evans is only as good as the player next to him. With Rio or Vidic coaching through the game, Evans was decent enough, but injuries aside, he has been fucking dreadful in the last couple of games.

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phresh

phresh

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Posted

So, however much Rojo cost (£16m?) + National free for a year?! :-o

Loan deals are getting crazier and crazier, I thought Reina's was bad at Liverpool.

I think this was to do with paying less than the release cause and Sporting only owning 25% of the player. This way Sporting got a better deal than getting a higher transfer fee and Nani has the potential to increase his value playing for Sporting rather than staying on the bench at United.

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feltmonkey

feltmonkey

Posted
Posted

I wish Kagawa well, I hope he rediscovers his form, because he's a fantastic player to watch. United fucked up royally in the way he was treated at the club. We acquired one of the most technically gifted and imaginative players in the world for a bargain fee and proceeded to play him completely out of position or leave him out, seemingly just to avoid upsetting bigger-name players. It should have been Rooney OR RVP up top with Kagawa behind. Even when one of them was injured Moyes would not pick him as a number ten. It was maddening at times last season. Then we signed Mata, of course.

I'm not even convinced that Mata is definitely a better player than Kagawa, but he was always going to be picked ahead of him because of the price tag.

I'm sad he's gone, but it's better that he's back playing rather than turning out for our reserves.

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LiMuBai

LiMuBai

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Posted

What's all this Falcao to United business on twitter? Oh that's right, we really need an experienced quality centre back or a dynamic centre mid, but no. Let's buy another striker to go with all of the other attacking talent we can't fit into the team. Unless it's just so that City can't buy him?

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Bleeders

Bleeders

Posted
Posted

Has to be nonsense, £55m for a player we don't really need. Never stopped us before I suppose and apparently RVP has been due an operation for some time.

I'd much rather spend that money on defensive or midfield reinforcements.

I'm calling BS on this one, and he'll be at City

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Steely

Steely

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Posted

To be fair, (40+) his value vs age (28), 12M to take him on for a year isnt a bad bit of business I recon.

Not a signing you are really crying out for but still! From the little I have actually seen of him, he could flourish in the prem! You know once you start playing football again that is.

Also with all his injuries woes last season, you would hope for some kind of appearances stipulation in that deal... if not it could be a massive gamble/waste!

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