01 Feb 2015 10:21:48
The result was good yet could and should have been more conclusive. LvG put out a very attacking team and yet Rooney in midfield is not convincing. Playing such an attacking team is good but perhaps a little unbalanced yet in the second half Januzaj was crossing to a box where we had only one player in. I felt Rojo looked solid at the back and it was good to see Januzaj play well. What has happened to Jones because yesterday he looked indecisive at key moments which would get punished against a better team? Perhaps it is because LvG has taken corner duties off him.
After a satisfying first half we were all anticipating putting them to the sword in the second. I would like to know what the team talk was because the play in the second half led to a sense of frustration. I watched the demeanour of the players close up and it looked to me like some were not putting in 100% in the second half, almost the job was done in the first half we can pass it around until we get another chance attitude, surely not saving themselves for the next game? It wasn't all of them and Januzaj played at my side of the ground and it was good to see that his confidence had returned. I noted Januzaj was crossing to only one player in the box and wonder if that was an indication of them not busting a gut to get in there.
We have more difficult challenges ahead and I don't think a central midfield of Rooney and Blind will cut it at West Ham. I have seen a few take a swipe at McNair on here yet when he came on at right back yesterday I thought he did well. He looks like a Manchester United player to me just not in the centre of defence.
Good post Red Man - I just think the players were exhausted, it was the same against Hull & Newcastle at home. We dominate the game but then stop in the second half when the other team should be shattered, we are the ones shattered.
This is also why we don't have men making those runs into the box or providing options with players on the ball. Herrera needs to play.
Maybe they were tired, but I would be stunned if that was the case. These are players who are used to playing twice a week and travelling all over europe during a season. I severely doubt any double training sessions are tiring them out to the point that they can't manage a whole game.
I suspect it has more to do with the way LvG wants to control the game, and has decided to use controlled possession to take the sting out of the game and ensure the victory. Remember the last time we played them they scored 4 in the second half because we left ourselves too open. It makes perfect sense to make sure that it doesn't happen again and the half time orders were to consolidate and stay solid and not over commit.
Beast
I debated this with those around me and I don't think they were shattered I actually think it was their motivation, it looked like some of them thought they had done enough in the first half attitude. 75, 329 of us had paid to be entertained and there were a couple around me who were not best pleased with the second half effort. It is at that point in the second half where I was disappointed at LvG's stance on not coming to the technical area. Some of them needed a word shall we say.
I really think it would be interesting to know what Giggs is doing other than bringing the bag of balls out for the pre game warm up. He knows the culture but is he too close to some he played with to tell some home truths? Overall happy to win but frustrated in the second half
Beast
On Herrera, yes I am wondering why he isn't playing. He moves the ball well and whilst isn't the dominating midfield player we need, he does add pace to our play. I wondered whether the situation outlined in reports in the press have affected him more than we know.
So now we know, LvG commented
"Then I have asked them to kill the game because when you remember the game in Leicester we didn't kill it but I think we killed the game too much because we have played more balls backwards than forwards.
"We have to learn - it's also a process - that you keep patience, you don't take risks but when the pass is available you have to play forward without risk."
I am not very happy that the manager of Manchester United is telling the players to "kill the game" at half time at OT against the bottom placed club. That smacks of fear given what happened at Leicester and for me is the wrong message. Kill the game away at Liverpool is one thing, not at home to Leicester.
Shappy & Red Man - maybe you are both right, I watched it on the box and it is different. There was definitely a change in approach, first half Rooney was everywhere wanting the ball (not that he did much good with it, but he was busy), ADM was making unselfish runs as well, this changed second half. It went back to Rooney & Blind both picking the ball up off the CB's and no runs into the box (ADM especially slacked), RVP & Falcao were both exhausted I think and the only ones with energy were Blind & Januzaj from what I could tell. Passes got sloppier which is a sure sign of fatigue as well.
I imagine we will be pushed for the full 90 against West Ham so we can get a better idea then whether its fitness or strategy that is to blame. But I have enjoyed several of our first half displays at home this season only for the second half to be very slow and dull affairs - it needs to change really.
Something is certainly not right with Herrera, whether its match fixing allegations, not settling in the UK, not getting on with the gaffer, who knows, but he looks good whenever he plays so I think its more to do with the manager than Herrera's personal issues, otherwise his performance would be poor. This isn't anti-LVG as he is entitled to drop players for whatever reason he likes, I just hate seeing quality players wasted, especially Rooney being wasted and disrupting a lot of our play because of this foolish decision to play him deep.
I don't think Herrera is the best at implementing LvG's style.
We all say how much better the team is at moving the ball forward when he plays, how he like to play on the front foot and how he makes the team more fluid in the final third.
Yet LvG wants control and the ability to keep the ball. Does that not suggest that Herrera is taking too many risks with the ball and maybe giving it away in positions LvG doesn't want us to be losing the ball in.
If LvG has said something like this to Herrera and he is still doing it then obviously he hasn't been listening to LvG, if that is the case are you really surprised LvG has dropped him?
Its possible Shappy. But Rooney gave the ball away more in one half than Herrera has all season and still was kept on.
If it is because Herrera can be reckless with the ball and LVG doesn't like our players trying to be creative I don't understand why he would sign him, or what the point in football is? I hope you are wrong otherwise we will be bored stiff throughout this LVG period.
01 Feb 2015 15:07:05
Red Man - "I am not very happy that the manager of Manchester United is telling the players to "kill the game" at half time at OT against the bottom placed club".
Totally agree. My first thoughts exactly, when the words came out of his mouth. I forgot we were playing Leicester, and not Real Madrid.
01 Feb 2015 15:10:11
Just on the Giggs thing. Does anyone else think that the fact that he doesn't leave his seat, is down to LVG giving instructions that he wants the staff to remain on the bench with him?
I find it hard to believe that Giggs wouldn't go down to the touchline a bit more readily, to shout a bit of encouragement if nothing else, unless he was being specifically told to remain in his seat.