10 Feb 2015 21:57:47
Liverpool and Spurs both look a level above us at the minute, Arsenal are better as well. It's a blessing we don't have Europe in a way, because given a level playing field I would be very worried for CL (maybe even Europa).
It's all about game management for those 3, and we can't discount the Saints. So something needs to click sharpish, let's hope it starts tomorrow.
They are far from a level above us beast, i don't know what teams you are watching, arsenal were very lucky against Leicester and got away with a win.
liverpool are on a run but tottenham were poor today to many balls given away and didn't try take the game to liverpool. yet again spurs can't deliver against one of the top teams.
we have arsenal, spurs at home and liverpool away all games i am confident of winning.
nothing needs to click our strikers just need to start finishing. the past few games we are missing far to many chances.
Yes I think we need to get rid of 5 more players in the summer.
1.rvp liked him a lot but 31 now needs to go.2.mata, not showing what he did at Chelsea and might still get a good transfer fee for him, 3.young not curling the in the top corner like he did one time, 4 and 5 rafel and smalling injuries and not full filling the potential they were supposed to.
Beast, at the risk of giving you more fuel for your fire, Liverpool and Spurs recently have improved having changed their systems. Just saying
10 Feb 2015 22:38:13
As much as I agree with you that we need to improve, this level above that liverpool and Spurs are at has them less points than us having played a game more and we got 4 points against them both a couple of months ago without conceding.
Thing is, even if we click tomorrow people will still say "its ONLY Burnley at home. We are expected to beat these types of teams. "
10 Feb 2015 22:51:08
I can't help but think that with European football and more games we might have got a few players more game time thus building up some sort of form. Would give players more of a chance to prove themselves too. At the moment it feels like LvG is changing the team week in week out to keep players happy.
11 Feb 2015 08:28:25
Personally I think Southampton will eventually fall away as will Spurs. Liverpool and Arsenal worry me very much though. Momentum is everything in football and we must gain as much of it as we can in these next three games.
Don't agree with leahy at all.
I'd keep all of RVP, Mata, Young, Smalling and Rafael next season.
RVP because he still has scored 9 goals, is a LVG favorite and hasn't got the service he needs. I'd throw Falcao out, he just like Hernandez is limited to the box. Keep him for 1 more season and let him leave then.
Smalling has been decent enough and could be a good squad player at best.
Play Mata and Herrera in midfield and then see. Both together are very very good.
Young gave in some brilliant performances and I'd have him over Valencia.
Rafael would be my likeliest choice to leave but when fit he's a world beater.
11 Feb 2015 09:44:15
When Rafael is fit and at the top of his game he is not a world beater; his positional awareness is improving but needs to improve more, he flies into to many tackles and needs to learn when to stay and when to go. When he isn't on top form he couldn't beat an egg.
SPB - Spurs beat Chelsea and Arsenal recently?
I have watched a lot of Arsenal, Spurs & Liverpool over the past couple of months and they look much more like teams now (Arsenal have been torn apart with injuries this season as well).
I do think more games would have benefited us with a different manager, but we look very unfit as it is, the manager also wants to "teach" the philosophy to our players so the training ground is best for that to happen imo. Less games this season has been of benefit to LVG's methods, but sadly it hasn't worked yet.
I do think more games would have helped with teamwork though, if we play attacking expansive and fast football tonight then its a good sign.
11 Feb 2015 11:41:35
It's not an exact science I know but league position isn't indicative of current form. On the form table we are 7th or 8th with the teams around us excluding city all reeling us in like an old bream. Going into tonight a couple have gained around 10 points in that period, granted with one more game, but still, and it doesn't help that they are all easier on the eye. Our defence and attack always seem to get the blame for having a very weak midfield and both would benefit if it improved just a touch. I reckon Rohans idea is worth consideration based on the alternatives, it's not ideal but Valencia in midfield would add pace power and tackling and his positional sense is no worse than Rooneys or Fellainis, he may even venture further forward if he's not right back . Di maria is in desperate need of a player to play quick passing with(Herrera), and Falcao decent providers (Di Maria playing off Herrera and Rooney up front).If he knows what they are likely to do there is no one better. Right now he is always coming off his back foot when he should be on his front.
RVP, Fellaini and now Wilson are quality impact players. Two peneth.
Beast - they have beat both at home, other than the 2 results at home spurs haven't been convincing enough for me to suggest they will be one of the 6 teams competing for the top 4.
they concede to many goals and i think goal difference may be a big factor this year for the teams in and around the CL places.
personally i think chelsea, city, united and arsenal will get the top 4 places.
out of all the games against the top 4 challengers we have left, the only one i'm not conviced we will win is chelsea away. city arsenal and spurs at OT and liverpool away i am confindent we will win all those games.
but even if we do play attacking football and win 5-0 people will still come on here and say its only burnley we should be beating them, its a no win situation.
people are moaning about the lack of attacking football, but every game we create a lot of chances where we should be scoring,
spurs away we missed a shed load, even the draw at OT against chelsea we missed chances. city away were were controlling the game up until smalling got sent off.
every week people come on here and slate LVG but the fact is we are playing far better football than last year, it might not be attack, attack, attack but we are getting results.
we have lost 1 game in 17 games. since november 2nd we have lost 1 game conceded 9 goals in the process. what is the problem if we are getting results
i suppose the big test is coming up for us,
Man Utd v Tottenham Sun 15 Mar
Liverpool v Man Utd Sun 22 Mar
Man Utd v Aston Villa Sat 4 Apr
Man Utd v Man City Sat 11 Apr
Chelsea v Man Utd Sat 18 Apr
Everton v Man Utd Sat 25 Apr
if were in the top 4 by the end of the everton game we will still get everyone moaning about the football.
nice attacking football doesn't always win u games, and so what if LVG has a plan b and changes playing possession football it obviously works because were in a great position.
lets see how many come on here after the game slating the manager yet again, even if we win 4-0.
ild love to know what manager people think we should have got, not one person has said we should have got such and such a manager. LVG was the best man for the job, no one was slating him in the world cup for the way holland played when they destroyed spain.
11 Feb 2015 12:59:59
"people are moaning about the lack of attacking football, but every game we create a lot of chances where we should be scoring" - spb
Every game? I could count on one hand the games that this has applied to. I could count many more games where we've managed to score a goal or two from the only two chances we had all game.
Noucamp - my argument is that people want attacking football but we attack more than enough to score plenty of goals.
its taking them chances that's let us down, not the way we are playing
SPB - We are just on opposites sides of the see-saw here mate. We see things completely differently, our chance creation is beyond poor in my view.
I just think our performance needs to improve drastically. Our key rivals (it still hurts saying this), for CL places are getting better the longer the season goes on, we are stagnant, or even going backwards.
Tonight will be tricky, Burnley have done well attacking recently and whilst we should dominate the ball, I hope we mix it with them tonight.
11 Feb 2015 15:35:11
spb, my argument, mate, is that only in a handful of games have we had numerous chances. The majority, we've only had one or two, but luckily we've taken them. That won't always be the case.
Well hopefully we all have a reason to post something positive after tonight,
would make a change :)