21 Feb 2015 17:34:51
Hi Guys
I'm a 51 year old man who has supported United for 45 years.I have seen many changes to our Club over the years but the 1 thing that doesn't change is how gutted I feel when we lose.I accept that even the greatest teams and sportsmen/women all lose occasionally.Recently defeat seems more likely than it ever it has done.I know people will say that's only our second defeat in 20 but let's be honest we havn't exactly played sides off the park.
We just don't seem to have the flair in our play anymore.We don't frighten sides like we used to with pace and power.We used to enter the tunnel in matches and go 1-0 up because of who we were.Thats not there anymore.The worrying thing is that I don't think we will get that aura back anytime soon.
I don't think sacking the manager is the answer but he really needs to look at his so called philosophy and work out what suits the individuals we have.We have turned world class players like Angel Di Maria and Falcao and made them look very ordinary.If I sound down at the moment its because I am I love United and always will and maybe I have been spoiled over the last 20 years or so but as I said in the beginning I was around when we were not winning everything.
Still there's always next week.
21 Feb 2015 18:05:11
Bazza. I agree wholeheartedly. Beast and some of the others have been warning about this. While the more optimistic posters have been more patient.
One thing for sure is that we have players with incredible ability and they're not performing anywhere near their best. This is partly the system and partly lack of confidence. There is also the added problem of settling into a new country, speaking a foreign language etc. All these are factors.
Personally, i wish lvg drops the two strikers and pack the midfield. We have creative midfielders in the shape of mata and hererra. I watched liverpool play with three at the back and 5 midfielders and one winger, markovic, and only sturridge up front. They control games playing with this system.
Lvg is obsessed with trying to accommodate rvp and rooney in the team. Rvp is not worth a starting spot at present.
This is the time we need our manager to manage and our players to stand up and be counted.
21 Feb 2015 18:06:34
Bazza, you are a year older than me and been supporting them for 4 more years. I know how y feel and despite how difficult this year has been I thought we played better today. We were more direct a little less pedestrian an it looked promising. I know we lost but this formation looks much better than the others. I just think we need to select the best players for it and persevere. I can't s Fellaini as a No 10 and I thought Shaw should have stayed on, perhaps play Young at RB instead of McNair Valencia. The worry is that we continue to pick payers who are clearly out of form; RVP is a shadow of his former self.
Hey ho, things could ne worse, like me you will remember the Sexton years. losing 6-0 to Ipswich was a particular highlight.
21 Feb 2015 18:19:54
I agree we actually did play better today, we didn't deserve to lose. But the same traits I have seen all season are still there.
Did we look any better than we did the first game of the season today?
The goal reminded me of what we used to be like, but that was it over 90mins. We literally look like an old Stoke City this season, we don't scare teams anymore as Bazza said. Swansea quickly gained confidence in a game we would have taken with ease even under Moyes (in fact we did). Again LVG neglected to adapt to the game and didn't capitalise on the very poor Swansea play.
Luck runs out and we have been riding it most games this season. For once I am not angry, just frustrated.
21 Feb 2015 18:22:32
RVP looks to be injured.
I have maintained we will not make top 4 for a few weeks now after becoming completely disappointed with the type of football he has us playing. Teams seem to score with almost no possession against us and todays result is worse than most realise.
We have 3 more games that we need maximum points and then a stretch of 5 or 6 where a point might look like a good result.
Too many mares in my opinion to lesser teams to get top 4.
21 Feb 2015 18:23:19
NM, given the form of RVP and Falcao you are probably right. Let's play Rooney up front with Mata at 10 or 3 C
21 Feb 2015 18:26:56
I agree about playing one with one forward and packing the midfield.
The game against Hull earlier in the season, we packed the midfield. We controlled the game and played good football.
21 Feb 2015 18:52:28
These are testing times for LVG and the bubble that we are playing good football would have burst.
I can expect some wholesale games in the next game.
What I would do is this:
Rafael at RB. McNair needs a lot bedding in. Valencia is an apt deputy.
Smalling at CB. He's better there than Jones wins more headers and his passing range this season has been better too.
Rojo at CB. No issues there.
Shaw at LB. No issues.
CM:Blind
CM:Herrera
Both these CM have earned it.
LW:Young. The only player who could put in a decent cross ATM. Immense to our team. He deserves to start a lot more.
RW: Mata. He slows down play and won't get past players but he could at least put in a cross.
Rooney. CF.
Wilson. CF. RVP and Falcao have been utter garbage all season. The welbeck and chicharito we dumped would have better.
Another thing, I would start giving Pereria some games, partly because he is somewhat untested and I think he could be difference with the vision and ability he has.
21 Feb 2015 18:58:26
Agreed Ajh and Sam. We always seem reluctant to play the extra midfielder. Why?
Barca played all teams off the pitch playing with 5 midfielders and in a lot of these games they didn't even have a recognised striker.
Midfielders create chances and that's where the modern game is going. We seem to want to play three mids against most teams who are playing 5 in midfield. Is it any wonder we struggle?
My frustration is that since we were beaten twice comprehensively by Barca, we didn't alter tactics as a club. We carried on playing with two wingers and we didn't buy the top midfielders that became available. We're paying the price for that now.
21 Feb 2015 19:40:05
I don't see how you can criticize the manager when the players don't perform. There were 3 or 4 occasions today when ADM was in space on the left and failed to cross soon enough or well enough. When you pay 60m for a player you're entitled to expect better. Similarly, with RVP. He's paid 200k per week for heaven's sake. Is it the manager's fault if he plays without energy or skill, squandering the few chances that he gets? Only to the extent that he keeps picking him. (He'll probably be injured for the rest of this season, so now LVG's hand will be forced)
My criticism of LVG is that he's not prepared to sick to his guns regarding formation and persists with giving certain players a chance to prove themselves even if that means being unbalanced.
21 Feb 2015 19:42:05
My issue with the team and management this year is a lack of consistency.be it the message that LVG puts out, the system that he is playing and the players that he picks.
I appreciate that injuries have dictated a bit on this but it still feels like we are at the start of the season trying to work out what is the best team.LVG even said this recently yet was spouting on about needing 10 weeks at the start of the season.
If there is a long term view on system, players needed for that system then I am behind the manager. If not then I think we need someone who does have that. be it a Klopp/Ancheloti etc.
We can't afford, and we don't want to be another Liverpool who were in the wilderness for years.
I will keep the faith. just give us something to truely hang onto.
21 Feb 2015 21:41:00
I cannot see Ancelotti leaving Madrid any time soon and Klopp has just signed a 5 year contract with BVB, the way they have stuck by him this year he is not the type of character to move on, I suspect he will stay with them for a very long time. Who does that leave, Guardiola, Mourinho, Simeone, Conte, Blanc, the list isn't that big for a manager with the experience and charisma to manage United and the majority of those on the list will not be available.