Man U 2 - Leices 0 Post match thread.

[volpeazzurro]

I don't feel it's all doom and gloom.  Ndidi is a kid from another country and has done incredibly well. His opposition today, Pogba, Matic and Mata,  how much did they cost and why? Perhaps a bit of a reality check is required? For sheer experience reasons I think James and Drinky would work well together but let's not forget that when this young kid got thrown in last year, we were really down on our uppers and looking like relegation fodder. 

 

Maguire is a Rolls Royce, how many so called big teams are kicking themselves now? I could point out faults today but can't fault the commitment. Even Shakespeare who I've aired my doubts about made fathomable substitutions. We lost to a better team.

[SecretPro]

I'd like to see us starting with Okazaki far less to be honest. Slimani should have been on from the start today, in fact in any game where we are sitting deep, lumping it forward and trying to make the most of set pieces or games against physical sides. No idea why we started with Shinji today. I hope to god when Nacho is fully fit then Shinji will be a fixture from the bench only. 

 

Please don't get me wrong, this isn't Shinji bashing, im just saying his abilities are limited. Hassling and 'putting a shift in' are attributes which are open to interpretation far too much for my liking and not really what I'm looking for in a number 10. He spends far too much time tripping over his own legs, everybody else's legs and just generally rolling around on the floor. We need better than that now. 

 

I like him, he's a good back up option and he's a good energy to have coming off the bench late in games. I don't think he's a starter 

[RODNEY FERNIO]

6 minutes ago, Struwwelpeter60 said:

How many choices  in midfield did Ranieri have, at this point, last season?

No Mendy, no James, no N'Didi.

And this season we don't have any

international fixtures.

The club does not have international fixtures and when Ranieri was in charge we lost 4-0.

International fixtures are for international teams ... don't you realise this ? 

 

 

[volpeazzurro]

15 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

Just got back. Typical Old Trafford quiet until they score.

 

Yet again, just like Arsenal, central midfield ain't good enough. James looked good against a poor Brighton side but overrun so easy against better sides. 

 

Mahrez was our best player and, in fact, our only attacking threat.

 

Thought the back four were pretty sound. We conceded two sloppy goals - yet again. When will I feel confident when we're defending corners??

In fairness, James is not a miracle worker. If you set up James and a kid (Ndidi) against an expensive experienced 3 in Matic, Pogba and Mata, what do you reasonably expect!  It's not always about the fault of our players but sometimes the quality of the opposition. James did well as did the majority of the others if not all? The game played out to quality and form. United will experience easier opposition than us.

[nnfox]

I thought it looked a little bit like we turned up today with no expectation of getting a result and it showed.

 

That said I wasn't totally disappointed with the performance.  Morgan was very good and Maguire was very very good.  For large parts of the game I thought defensively we were pretty sound although I sensed it was a matter of when and not if they would score.

 

I wasn't surprised that we lost but disappointed to lose by a soft goal from a corner and an offside.  Utd were clearly the better team.

 

We could have made more of our chances.  Goal scoring opportunities in games like that are few and far between,  we simply can't afford to miss.

 

Thought Gray was good when he came on - very positive but needs to understand that he doesn't need to try and score wonder goals every time he gets the ball.  Playing for the team will take his career much further than playing for himself. 

[Izzy]

21 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

Just got back. Typical Old Trafford quiet until they score.

 

Yet again, just like Arsenal, central midfield ain't good enough. James looked good against a poor Brighton side but overrun so easy against better sides. 

 

Mahrez was our best player and, in fact, our only attacking threat.

 

Thought the back four were pretty sound. We conceded two sloppy goals - yet again. When will I feel confident when we're defending corners??

Thought you lot made quite a bit of noise today. Came across pretty loud at times on the box.

 

Typical OT tourists in only found their voice once they scored it seemed. Embarrassing how many of them were just there taking photos and then leaving early. Horrible club and horrible fans...

[David Lowe]

It will be difficult to judge where we are at from these first four matches. Brighton we expect to beat and Arsenal/Man Utd/Chelsea we expect nothing.

[Blue ROI]

8 minutes ago, David Lowe said:

It will be difficult to judge where we are at from these first four matches. Brighton we expect to beat and Arsenal/Man Utd/Chelsea we expect nothing.

I'd agree with that with the exceptiom of chelsea. 

 

We'll need to get some kind of result I feel result against Liverpool or chelsea at home. 

 

If they go badly wrong  the pressure intensities for shakey. 

[The Horse's Mouth]

Think our best bet is Liverpool considering our recent history, have no hope for Chelsea 

[Bazly]

I think, after three games, ts safe to say we wont be winning the league this season.

[Fox92]

27 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

Thought you lot made quite a bit of noise today. Came across pretty loud at times on the box.

 

Typical OT tourists in only found their voice once they scored it seemed. Embarrassing how many of them were just there taking photos and then leaving early. Horrible club and horrible fans...

Yeah was on train back and couple of their fans said we were loud. That's good.

[Poakey]

Thought we were very loud today.

[biggs]

I'm not sure how people see 5 in the middle set up as 4-5-1 as a feasible option to hold out against good teams with our current squad

 

We are holding on with 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 yes 4 in the middle and last two big matches we were winning 3-2 and we're at 0-0. To say United gave Schmeical more grief in the first 60 min when compared to the final 20 to 30 minutes after the change is wrong.

 

The Arsenal match he changed back and forth which only created a deeper mess the players had to deal with.

 

 

 

 

[Guest Col city fan]

1 hour ago, desertfox2 said:

He's not getting worse. He's playing with a worse partner in a midfield 2. James has been out for 2 years and In that time the difference between him and DD has increased massively. That's the reality. Hope that James can close that gap now that he's fit. Maybe he can but he will have to get to a level we have never seen him perform at yet as Drinky got way better in the time James was injured. 

I'm glad someone has said it. Ndidi is what 20? It makes a massive difference who is he playing alongside. It's no coincidence Ndidi is looking poor (he is, I'm afraid) playing alongside a worse midfielder than Drinkwater.

[Guest the fox]

If only I had a gray agenda, I would really be savoring this overreaction ,riyad got the same treatment from posters here and then some. 

 

I guess "heavy is the head that wears the crown" is a bit true, when you are expected to do big things, you will have people that demand a lot and others that are read to take a bite out of you so they can say "I told you so"

[PAULCFC]

34 minutes ago, Bazly said:

I think, after three games, ts safe to say we wont be winning the league this season.

Stranger things have happened!I'm quite confident of a European place!

[chicagofox]

22 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

It's no coincidence Ndidi is looking poor (he is, I'm afraid) playing alongside a worse midfielder than Drinkwater.

You can't say that.  Matty James was better than Drinkwater three seasons ago, don't you know?

[Suzie the Fox]

18 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

I'm glad someone has said it. Ndidi is what 20? It makes a massive difference who is he playing alongside. It's no coincidence Ndidi is looking poor (he is, I'm afraid) playing alongside a worse midfielder than Drinkwater.

It probably isnt a coincidence but you also have to look at N'didi personal performance today, he made some bad decisions, poor tackles and seemed to be 'in the way' alot.  Its ok for him to have a bad game NO ONE is perfect, but i think it unfair to say he was due to who he partnered on the pitch. 

 

Maybe DD is better but i dont think anyone can blame James today for N'didi's performance. 

 

 

[Guest Col city fan]

7 minutes ago, Suzie the Fox said:

It probably isnt a coincidence but you also have to look at N'didi personal performance today, he made some bad decisions, poor tackles and seemed to be 'in the way' alot.  Its ok for him to have a bad game NO ONE is perfect, but i think it unfair to say he was due to who he partnered on the pitch. 

 

Maybe DD is better but i dont think anyone can blame James today for N'didi's performance. 

 

 

Yep, I do agree with that too.

[Guest Col city fan]

8 minutes ago, chicagofox said:

You can't say that.  Matty James was better than Drinkwater three seasons ago, don't you know?

Oh yes, when we sat rooted to the base of the division for three quarters of the season.

 

[fuchsntf]

This post has nothing really to do with this one single game.

I refuse to go manager or player bashing...

 

We arent a Manchester utd, nor an Everton even, but our present and  future midfield will suffer,

if we dont start playing with 3 midfielders.

Very few teams including the great teams could survive at the top, playing with basically 2 WBs and

2 midfielders, where neither of them can hold the ball.Drinkwater wouldnt make any difference as a simple

exchange. If we played  ...James, DD, Ndidi ...might be an improvement, but we need one to hold and the other to drive

forward. 2 cms aint good enough and wont get  the job done. I want Mendy, DD and Iberro to get fit, then we chose from

DD, James, Mendy, Ndidi, Iberro, with 3 automatic choices, with the other 2 guarranteed subs.More so against top teams.

I dont like capitulation mentality before a ball is kicked.I want a team set up with confidence and ready to play football.

Not TRYING to take the game to the opposition. Not gung-ho but over 90 minutes attempt to get on the front foot, and go

in with a positive mindset. Today James (last season DD) had no chance, because 2 midfielders aint enough.

Albrighton/Gray/Mahrez in  playing 2 of them in the same team in such a set up against Team like Manu with their

midfield is totally wrong. I dont want us to play to the opposition.

After the title I never expected a great turn around and top 5 guarrantees, but so far, we have not gone any step

further. Our buys are not being used to any advantage, or show of trust.Too little gametime, even allowing for injuries.

Mendy Iberro, Nacho, Slimani, Musa ,we should he as a club confident and show confidence in giving 3 from 5 of

these players real gametime. Get off the loyality card...Just an example ....whats so wrong with...

 

Simpson Mcguire  Huth/Amartey Fuchs/Chilwell

                         Mendy

James/DD.............Iberro........ Ndidi

         Mahrez/ Slimani /Nacho/Vardy .

 

Morgan again failed to organise his  defence.

I dont want to start to get on his back, CS must see his best days are gone.1 of the legends, but.....

If Huth comes in ,he hits the ground running...great,!! If not   bench.My own opinion he can still do the job..

 

It looks like I might have a downer on Albrighton, no far from it , he fits also in the  /...and or thought.

 

If we play Chelsea with the same approach and set up, I will question CS approach to games.

I am sure Vardy and Mahrez are the players to do the job,

so picking any of the other forwards will also  depend on our midfield success.

I love the man,sorry  but this tactic with Okazaki, cant be our future major plan..

I can still see different permatations from the above mentioned so no hard musts...

I would also take the mentality that the 1st 3 subs are a full part of the gameday team, game injuries permitting.

I will stay bullish on this stance of...we need  3 out and out midfielders on the pitch, with thoughts that none  will

play 38 games. Because of injuries I reckon James has seen more minutes than expected, plus him and Ndidi alone

cant be the answer, we need  Iberro, DD, Mendy to get fit ASAP and playing.

If the gods could be kind and looking for the near future this would be a team I would put out,

forgetting past injury + transfer baggage.

 

Schmeichel

Simpson  Huth  Maguire  Chilwell

      Ndidi   Iberro    DDrinkwater

       Mahrez  Vardy  Nacho

 

My 1st 3 subs would come from...Albrighton, Slimani, Gray, James

putting Musa, Mendy, Okazaki, Morgan, Amartey Fuchs down to game/season  needs.

 

 

[chicagofox]

5 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

Oh yes, when we sat rooted to the base of the division for three quarters of the season.

 

Yes but he was still better, innit

[fuchsntf]

1 hour ago, Blue ROI said:

I'd agree with that with the exceptiom of chelsea. 

 

We'll need to get some kind of result I feel result against Liverpool or chelsea at home. 

 

If they go badly wrong  the pressure intensities for shakey. 

CS  wont and neither should he, feel any OTT pressure until November, unless this squad are not producing anything for him and club.

Not forgetting even last season, we thought it would get easier by middle of October....so called easy games ...They werent!!!

Until end of October  and transfer business finished and new players, bedding in,He should have a serving Grace period.

Myself at the moment I want to see More imagination when playing the big teams,

today Bournemouth were a good and positive example. I Dont want survival only , against the big boys.

Losses I will take but, not in todays translation of method or thought. Today wasnt the loss but the lack of forward movement.

[Kitchandro]

We worked hard today but looked out of our depth. That's the saddest thing about today, how far we've regressed in 18 months. I know we keep going on about it but almost all the signings we've made haven't improved the team one iota.

 

Without Kante we get overrun in the midfield and our defence is beaten for quality and pace too often. James, as much as I like him, does not have an effect on games, he doesn't win the ball, nor is he creative. He doesn't look good enough, certainly not in a 2 anyway. Ndidi is quality when he gets going but he couldn't get into the game either.

 

Mahrez put more of a shift in today and looked dangerous - but let himself down badly with excessive selfishness in possession. He had the ball in several decent positions at the edge of the box but chose to shoot from unreasonable angles instead of trying to pick out a better placed teammates. Gray was similarly frustrating when he came on. Had we done better in those positions, the result may have been different, but make no mistake we were second best for the majority of the game.

 

The first 15 minutes were good but after that we stopped pressing and looked scared. We were pinned in our own half for the next 75 and only Schmeichel's brilliance and some determined defending kept us in the game.

 

We are badly lacking in quality and it's a bit of a concern. The spine of our title winning team is looking old or likely to leave soon, with 1 or 2 exceptions, and if we're not careful we're going to be left with a very sub-standard squad. The central midfield lacks a ball winner, which means we need to play 3 in the middle against better teams; straight away sacrificing a position either up front or at the back. I've no idea why we've not tried to replace Kante with another ball winner, it is essential to the way we like to play. Everton couldn't get Kante so they got Gueye, who was second to him in the tackling/interception stats. We should have done something similar.

 

Because of our poor recruitment we have a squad full of players who aren't good enough, and a midfield of players without specific roles. We're giving new deals to players who aren't equipped to play in the first team and I'm really concerned as to what our long term strategy is.

 

We're in desperate need of a defender with a bit of pace, a midfielder who wins the ball and another who can use it well when they get it (at least to compete with Ndidi and Drinkwater, the latter of which is 'injured', may leave and has had poor form for quite some time).

 

And even after those prorities, we've got about 5 defenders, 3 midfielders and 2 strikers who aren't up to the job and need replacing ASAP.

[jon1bc]

'Gray needs game time'

'He can fill Mahrez's boots'

Well what boll*ck that that is. The more he plays the more convinced I am that he's not ready. 

Ndidi was awful too

We are lacking composure in midfield.

Kasper is magic