01 Mar 2015 09:19:51
Solid win against a very defensive team

We seemed to pick up after Evans was booed for passing back to DeGea after a corner in the first half followed by a vociferous Attack, attack, attack chant. We started poorly and I felt Evans showed he was a weak link. Whenever they got Defoe on the ball Evans was poor, in fact at one point it seemed they made more of an effort to close Evans down when he had the ball than anyone else, a mistake waiting to happen. Rojo didn't look comfortable as a left back who needs to overlap, his crossing is poor and It is good to see Herrera start, a good link player.

So we started poorly but improved as the first half went on. We were surprised at the DiMaria substitution because he seemed to improve as the half went on. His pace did concern Sunderland. As someone said to me at least he is trying to do things, he isn't hiding it just is going wrong for him. We knew something was going to change at half time because LvG walked off at the break with his arm on Januzaj shoulder deep in conversation.
Saying that I saw signs of something improving in the second half, Januzaj caused problems in almost the Robben role.

When teams defend so deep and are so ultra negative it is difficult, their keeper was taking over 30 seconds deliberately to take goal kicks from the second minute of the game and was not warned until well into the second half. In these games the first goal is the game changer and so it proved. They argued for 3 or 4 minutes and whilst I now know about the wrong man sent off it is often a tactic used to unsettle the penalty taker. Well done to Rooney who took the ball and stood near the centre circle to keep himself out of it and keep his focus. Then he took the penalty and kept it low which was right for such a tall keeper.
There was booing when Falcao was taken off, I didn't understand that decision having just won the penalty, nor did I like LvG taking off Rooney and putting Fellaini up front. Strange decisions for me.

I was pleased with the result and the performance, there are signs of something after yesterday. Whatever LvG utterings have been the team are playing and trying for him. The stats are interesting, 74% possession, 30 shots with 10 on target. We should have scored more and goal difference could be key. Often overlooked but our defence has been more solid as the season has gone on but we need to find more goals, perhaps score early to settle us. Overall the improved performance particularly in the second half gives hope we can build on it.

1.) 01 Mar 2015
01 Mar 2015 09:57:27
Just out of interest Red Man where did you get the 30 shots stat from?

2.) 01 Mar 2015
01 Mar 2015 10:07:17
Bbc sport has it down as 30 shots 10 on target

3.) 01 Mar 2015
01 Mar 2015 10:10:14
Also I think you hit the nail on the head Red Man when you say Januzaj played similar to Robben yesterday. Very good comparison. Surely he will own a spot in the team next week.

4.) 01 Mar 2015
01 Mar 2015 10:12:25
Jmb

It's on the BBC sport website underneath the game report and widely reported elsewhere

5.) 01 Mar 2015
01 Mar 2015 10:23:07
Okay mate. Just asking because I checked the stats on the English Premier League website and it said 21 as did Livescore.com

6.) 01 Mar 2015
01 Mar 2015 11:33:14
I also think young had a good game. I don't what lvg has done to him but he's turned him around. Most wanted him bombed out last summer, myself included, yet now he's looking like a good squad player.

7.) 01 Mar 2015
01 Mar 2015 12:42:25
I ares with all of that. I think Januzaj is better on the right than on the left and did what de maria could not. I personally would like to see shaw and Young on the left hand side and Rafael and Januzaj and valencia/rafael/mcnair on the right .

8.) 01 Mar 2015
01 Mar 2015 13:53:36
I agree with what you have said Redman . Our build up at is very slow and catious scared to give the ball away until that Evans incident. I still think we look disjointed at times . With scousers looking strong we could miss out on top four .

9.) 01 Mar 2015
01 Mar 2015 17:14:44
I agree with everything you said there except about Di Maria he was once again terrible and the fact he got a gift of a ball from Rojo just before half time and completely wasted it proves he did not improve at all. The game changed around 60 mins when the players finally started using Januzaj who had been free for 15 mins prior to that. I rarely criticise LVG but I think he should have pulled back the substitution when we went 1 nil up and Sunderland went to 10 men because it just wasnt needed anymore. Falcao did really well to win the penalty and could have been an opportunity to build on that and gain a bit of confidence, because regardless if he's staying or not we still have a long way to go until May and we need everyone firing.