13 Feb 2019 09:17:11
So here we are, the morning after the night before. What did we find learn last night?

For me we learned that we don't have the strength in depth in this squad to play the way Ole wants us to play. Once we have a couple of key injuries the players coming in aren't able to play at the same pace or intensity.

The injuries to Martial and especially Lingard killed our chances last night.

People will point out PSG had two of their starting forwards out for the game. However, players being out before the game allows you to plan. Players getting injured mid game can leave you up the creek without a paddle.

We also learned that poor Refs aren't limited to the EPL. Last night the Ref got the game all wrong, handing out yellow cards like sweets at a kids party first half, but he completely lacked consistency. Kimpembe should have been sent off twice for clear yellow card fouls after his early booking. I won't say that a player not being sent off cost us the game, but a lack of consistency from the Ref certainly didn't help our cause. Further compounded by him sending Pogba off at the end.

Speaking of Pogba, Ed001 said yesterday on the page that the problem with Pogba is he only does the pretty stuff that looks good on YouTube. That he doesn't knuckle down and do the dirty work. He is right of course, and against a team of the quality of PSG his lack of dirty work meant we lost the midfield battle. He needs to learn that to be remembered as one of the best you have to win the biggest prizes, that doesn't happen unless you roll your sleeves up and get stuck in.

There is a silver lining to last night though, now we will get to see how Ole gets this group of players to react to a bad result. Can he lift them and get them firing. Chelsea up next, and I don't think we could have asked for a better moment to play them. They look wobbly and we could get a very good result against them if we play to our potential. If Ole can get the right reaction from the players then it would be another tick for him to get the job full time. Now we will see if he is the right man for the job.

{Ed001's Note - there is one other thing, PSG, every time I see them (except for one notable exception in the Champions League against Liverpool) play better football without Neymar in the team. So I would not use that as a stick to hit the Man Utd team with, as him being out is as much a help as it is a hindrance to them.}


1.) 13 Feb 2019
13 Feb 2019 09:35:55
"The injuries to Martial and especially Lingard killed our chances last night"

This could be a great opportunity for Chong. If AM and JL have muscle injuries it could be 4 weeks minimum.

I loved watching Mata play, he was a magician, unfortunately it's all past tense. Same for Sanchez.

Ole could do a lot worse than giving Chong a couple of starts in the next month. He'll be hungry and I dare say will give the ball away less than Sanchez and will cover more ground than Mata.


2.) 13 Feb 2019
13 Feb 2019 09:46:43
The second half would have been a sobering experience for the players last night. PSG really taught us a lesson last night in how to punish mistakes and in simple ball retention in the oppositions half. The amount of times verratti could easily play through our press was so frustrating.

We learnt what we've known from this team under most managers post fergie. We are a pretty poor team when we have the ball at our feet, we are much more suited to sitting back and hitting teams on the counter. That can only take you so far at the elite level where teams can keep the ball so effortlessly.

PSG are no arsenal, they will be able to restrict the amount of counter attacks you can have, whether that's through fouls or not losing the ball in silly areas.


3.) 13 Feb 2019
13 Feb 2019 10:12:49
Last night was set up for Pogba to show he is one of the best in the world. A game he should have taken by the scruff of the neck, as all great players do. He was sadly lacking in that regard. Another flat-track bully?


4.) 13 Feb 2019
13 Feb 2019 10:17:00
For me this summer is massive in terms of transfers in and out. Surely Rojo Valencia Jones Darmian Mata Sanchez and Lukaku have to go. Personally there is a couple more i’d ship out but that won’t happen. We need a world class centre half possibly 2 but we can’t afford 2 if we strengthen other areas. Another fullback is a must. Another top drawer central midfielder and a right winger

Kouilbaly, Varane, Umtiti, Alderwield or Skriniar
Ndombele, Veratti, Saul or Neves
Jayden Sancho.


5.) 13 Feb 2019
13 Feb 2019 13:17:46
Psg have conceded twice as many goals per game when neymar is playing.