22 Oct 2015 01:43:06
Not really sure what some of the negative posts are about tonight, what were people expecting from a tough away game in the freezing cold of Moscow with the crowd not going quiet all night, it is a tough place to go and anyone expecting us to go out and attack in numbers like we did against Everton needs their head testing.

Even the great Sir Alex used to say that drawing your away games in the group stage was fine, he used to go and play for draws (I think people have forgotten that) , win your home games, draw 1 away game and that's your 10 points and safely through, any other points are a bonus and could help us to win the group.

I am assuming the people that wanted us to play like we did against Everton would have been happy if CSKA picked us off and were 3-0 up after 30 minutes because 'at least we had a go'.

Good to see us come back from a goal down again, we were in control of the game until that break, a silly error from the wonder kid and no following up from a world class save from Dave and we are suddenly behind and they have something to hold on to. It was always going to be difficult from then to get the balance right between going for the equaliser and making sure we didn't concede again and I thought we got that spot on, didn't panic and created the chance which was a fantastic header from Martial. Can anyone remember the last goal we scored direct from a Valencia cross? I was struggling to think of one.

All in all, definitely satisfactory, a win would have been fantastic but was always going to be tough, a draw is a good result and bring on the Derby on Sunday. I would expect to see Juan Mata refreshed and starting the game, good that we have options to be able to give the attacking players are rest.

Have to mention Lingard who I thought did really well again, I know he has talent but I never thought he would make it at united but watching him these last 2 games he has fit in well, his passing is excellent and his work rate is brilliant, the only thing he is lacking at the minute is that end product, I can see why LVG rates him as he has all the abilities of an LVG player. Fantastic of LVG to trust him to play tonight after Saturday and he didn't disappoint, good to see LVG using our youth and hopefully he will get the best out of him.

1.) 22 Oct 2015
22 Oct 2015 02:37:15
So you don't think that Moscow were there for the taking? Should we have actually thrown a smallest piece of caution to the wind we would have got 3 easy points in my opinion.

2.) 22 Oct 2015
22 Oct 2015 06:34:01
GDS

I agree with most of your post except Mata perhaps and a point is a decent result. A couple of comments though, our goal was a good header yet watch his movement to get into that position. He left the wing and created his own space and finished. I know you support Rooney but I am seeing a declining player who isn't creating space or holding the ball when it does come to him, then usually needs multiple chances when he does get them to score. We are wasting Martial out wide. Last night they put two on him to negate his pace and effectiveness and if he can get past them he would be crossing to a static Rooney. I think Martial plays centre forward and Rooney fights for his place.

On Mata I am not sure LVG will risk him against City, mainly because down their left is the pace of Sterling and the full back which could leave Darmian exposed like the Arsenal game.

Lastly although a decent result I must admit to becoming concerned at the endless recycling of the ball, I found myself willing a player to go forward into a space that might create danger, only to see them turn back and pass across the line. It seems like we are trying to tire the opposition out to take advantage in the last 15 minutes of tired legs, yet modern footballers are far fitter than in days gone by, perhaps that is a flaw in our tactics.

3.) 22 Oct 2015
22 Oct 2015 08:32:59
GDS

I have always said a draw away in CL is a decent result. I was disappointed with the fact that we created very little with the volume of possession against a team that is not that tough.

I think we were short of idea in the final 3rd and looked too static imo.

4.) 22 Oct 2015
22 Oct 2015 08:49:33
There is too much "on paper" talk for my liking. So what if Russia is a tricky place to go. You play the team in front of you and they were rattled, they created very little as well.

Yet again we were overly cautious. We lack ideas and despite CSKA doing very little they could have easily come away with the win. Another poor performance.

Leeds were a good team in the 70's, does that mean Elland Road is a really tough place to go? The middle of Uzbekistan is a tough place to go, does that mean we should struggle against an Uzbeki team?

5.) 22 Oct 2015
22 Oct 2015 09:23:11
Red Man,

I am starting to see why jred left the site, I didn't mention Rooney in my post deliberately because I wasn't interested in a Rooney debate and you mentioned him 3 times in your reply, people are obsessed and make everything about Rooney.

From the replies I am guessing most people read the first paragraph of my post and decided to argue, any thoughts on what I said about Lingard?

Were people not happy to come back from a goal down, was a draw not satisfactory? Lots of disagrees to quite basic comments.

6.) 22 Oct 2015
22 Oct 2015 09:53:25
Redman

The telling sign was how many times Smalling, Jones and later on blind were forced to make runs up the pitch and find a telling pass to the forwards. the midfielders for me did not move enough and make themselves available in our build up play.

You like many here blame Rooney because he had very little influence in the game but the build up play and service was anaemic, slow and very cautious were we passed up on a trying to make a tough forward pass and just recirculated at the back. How many time did DDG have to kick it upfield?

Someone should post how many forward or positive passes were made by the midfield trio, I think that will not be very appealing.

7.) 22 Oct 2015
22 Oct 2015 17:51:18
Very well spot on post GDS2. I agree with everything you have said. A draw away on a champions league match isn't the end of life. We are 2 points off 1st place and a win at home against CSKA moscow pretty much confirms our qualification I think. Saf used to go for an away draw or a likely scappy 1 Nil win. He did that in most of his games away in the UCL so am surprised with the criticism of the team and LVG. My only issue is that Martial shouldn't be sacrificed in the wings to accommodate Rooney. Martial became September player of the month playing Central so i think LVG is not spot on shifting him to left wing. His goal last night moving central for the header is enough prove and testament to how dangerous the boy is when played central. Overall a good and hoping we spank those City persons on sunday. Anyone notice 9 thousand Emptyhad at city stadium? Ridiculous

Andy Piece.