Man U 3- Leices 1 post match thread.

[mugshot]

Nugent (Advanced role)

Kramaric (Supporting role)

 

Next game please.

 

I was thinking the same, take off Ulloa for Nugent...Nuge did really well when he came on

[Webbo]

I think we have to persist with Ulloa and Kramaric. Nugent's not as bad as some say but he's not good enough to keep us up. Ulloa will get goals if he gets the supply, Kramaric is just feeling his way into the league and will get better. Nugent's been a good impact sub in the last 2 games.

[Clever Fox]

The partnership is not the problem it's the service. We've got to play wingers on both wings. Albrighton and Mahrez then we might get some service to the strikers.

[Claridge]

I agree about Vardy and Drinkwater, but not Morgan. Who are you going to play instead? And he has a great understanding with Was,

I Wish he understood that ducking in the 6 yd box is not what any centre half in the world would of done today.

[ADK]

Nugent would have been more effective in the system we were playing first half trying to contain them. More physical and able to win the odd free kick and throw in. Kramaric was wasted often being in space but when we had 20-30% possession and either hoofed or passed back towards Schwarzer he had no use. The one time he got the ball he worked space for a pass to Vardy in the box. Then he was subbed when we brought on genuine creative players. 

 

I don't know our player's fitness levels but the lack of creativity is hardly a surprise when you play a midfield 4 of Schlupp Drinkwater King and Vardy. These are probably the 4 least creative players to play in this formation possible. King and Drinkwater are statistically our 4th and 5th best central midfielders. Away at OT vs a larger midfield comprised of superstars it was a total mismatch.

 

I don't think Hamer deserves to be dropped and Schwarzer made a mistake for the second goal and it's probably not a coincidence that we concede from a corner for the first time since Schmeichel was injured due to panic in the defence and an own goal. In my opinion you don't meddle with the goalkeeper unless you have to as it takes time to build an understanding at the back, something we had clearly managed going by our recent goals record. 

 

Albrighton and Cambiasso both gave us the missing ingredient of creativity when they came on allowing us to avoid scoreline embarrassment although United were happily cruising by this point.

 

The only positives are the results elsewhere, the lack of injuries or red cards and probably De Laet who was solid if unspectacular at left back. Wasilevski was excellent but we already knew he was in form.

[Thrill Bert Fox]

James available next week.. Thank God... Is Mahrez back in time???

Agree with the james comment but I don't think Mahrez would have been missed as much if pearson had played the 2 natural replacements for him in Albrighton and Knockart (one on the bench at the start and the other did not even make the bench!) it's mid field and defence for me where the real problems are - we are too exposed down the wings and Wes in the centre has not really played that well. If Was had not been there in recent weeks we would have been dead and buried long ago.

Need a quality midfield ball winner along side Cambo and if we do have Huth he needs to replace Wes not Was which I fear pearson will do. Then find us a left back please.

With the right midfield set up and strengthen the defence we might be able to provide some service to the forwards

[st albans fox]

How do people think ulloa and krama are are going to get service if we play two wingers? It's no good having players out wide if you can't get the ball to them. And they then need support infield to link up play and support. You can't just give it to them and say 'there you are - now go and get a cross in'. With two in the midfield it ain't gong to happen when teams you are up against are mainly three in the middle. So to have three in the middle to give the player in possession an option, you can't have both ulloa and krama upfront. Nuge can play the deep striker who is, in effect, in midfield. Not sure I saw evidence today that krama can although that could have been our tactics which were wrong.

We look far better balanced with Hammond holding and two around him breaking forward. Nigel wants to play with wide men so that means we need to have twelve men on the pitch! (Three at the back?)

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Didn't expect anything out of the game today so not too fussed, however several things really grating on me and heres a few points:

1. Vardy gets a start again? Not just a start but ahead of Albrighton? On the Wing?

2. Drinky and King. Wow.

3. I counted in the first half (got bored by the second) - pretty sure there was ONE pass to Kramaric feet all half and he created a through ball for Vardy with it.

4. Point number 3 has made Ulloa look sh*t, and is already starting to make Kramaric look sh*t. Noticed in the match thread people already saying 'Kramaric, what a waste of £9m' - these people clearly don't understand the game. Service, service, service.

5. Thats three appearences for Kramaric and obviously with no service he has no goals - his confidence must already be on the slide, the longer this lack of service goes on the worse it will get.

6. Sign someone who can give service. Please.

7. Do other teams in the Prem make so many changes to the starting line up literally week in week out? Genuine question because I havn't really paid attention but seriously, pick the best team, or as close to it as you can get, and stick with it (this is how football use to work). Anyone who says 'yeah, but he doesn't know who the best team is' should be saying 'what? Really? It's February tomorrow.'

8. Jesus ****ing christ, I liked Mahrez before, but I didnt realise how critical he was to our squad.

9. I can't wait for Mahrez to come home.

10. I don't want Nige out, I really don't. But please buddy, stop picking your buddies. I'm literally watching us bring a CB in on loan and I already know that if he replaces anyone, it will be Was - our best CB by a country mile.

11. Vardy has had his chance now. It's February.

Think that will do for now.

Great post generally spot on

Although Vardy will come good just not in this formation and needs to be benched at present

[Ross 'LCFC' Turner]

It's all well and good keeping a winning side, but the side that started today ( bar Waselewski) where loosing 1-0 before Albrighton and Nugent where introduced. The pair of them changed the game again today and both should of started.

Kramaric looked so out of his depth again today, not helped by our long ball, but Nugent did a job on Blind at the home game and should of been in there again today - everything good for United came through Blind!

Poor tactics from Pearson, easiest game United will have all season, it was like a training attack v defence game.

Andy King continually in the middle of our midfield is a laughing stock, he has no pace, no strength, isn't particularly creative, he offers nothing! He wouldn't get in Derby or Bournemouth's side so why he's playing in our midfield at Old Trafford when Hammond & Cambiasso are on the bench is embarrassing.

[BlueSi13]

6-6 on aggregate...I'll take that

 

They go through on away goals though.  Sack the board.  

[Frank to be]

I thought the lads did well to keep the score down, this was Man Utd not Barnsley

 

We scored a good goal and looked competitive 2nd half against a much better team

 

Can't expect to win them all, onwards and upwards

[1993fox]

very lucky the relegation rivals all lost today too

[WardyisPukka]

Didn't expect anything out of the game today so not too fussed, however several things really grating on me and heres a few points:

 

1. Vardy gets a start again? Not just a start but ahead of Albrighton? On the Wing?

2. Drinky and King. Wow.

3. I counted in the first half (got bored by the second) - pretty sure there was ONE pass to Kramaric feet all half and he created a through ball for Vardy with it.

4. Point number 3 has made Ulloa look sh*t, and is already starting to make Kramaric look sh*t. Noticed in the match thread people already saying 'Kramaric, what a waste of £9m' - these people clearly don't understand the game. Service, service, service.

5. Thats three appearences for Kramaric and obviously with no service he has no goals - his confidence must already be on the slide, the longer this lack of service goes on the worse it will get.

6. Sign someone who can give service. Please.

7. Do other teams in the Prem make so many changes to the starting line up literally week in week out? Genuine question because I havn't really paid attention but seriously, pick the best team, or as close to it as you can get, and stick with it (this is how football use to work). Anyone who says 'yeah, but he doesn't know who the best team is' should be saying 'what? Really? It's February tomorrow.'

8. Jesus ****ing christ, I liked Mahrez before, but I didnt realise how critical he was to our squad.

9. I can't wait for Mahrez to come home.

10. I don't want Nige out, I really don't. But please buddy, stop picking your buddies. I'm literally watching us bring a CB in on loan and I already know that if he replaces anyone, it will be Was - our best CB by a country mile.

11. Vardy has had his chance now. It's February.

 

Think that will do for now.

Agree with most of this - especially Vardy and Kramaric points 

 

System is wrong for AK40 - he was dropping back into the midfield in the first half WTF? pretty sure he wasn't asked to do that back in Croatia - either stick up top and leave him there or dont play him at all and play Nugent instead

 

Its criminal Nigel continues to ignore Albrighton - anyone remember the last time Ulloa scored with a header?? Arsenal at home? 

 

No service into the box pretty much all season is criminal again! Schlupp can't do it all on his own

 

Everyone knows the way vardy plays now - on the shoulder of the last man - not stuck out wide tracking back and taking corners FFS Nigel! Yes id take 5 mil but the guys confidence is completely shot due to the shite man management of Pearson and playing him out of position no wonder he looks a shadow of the player he was last season!

 

 If we don't go for it next week against Palace which is our genuine chance of three points this month forget staying up - we'll be cut adrift and pretty much gone come the Hull game 

[Captain...]

Positives today are that off the ball we looked pretty good, United didn't really cut us open unfortunately we gifted them goals with sloppy mistakes.

Negatives are that on the ball we were woeful first half couldn't string 2 passes together no creativity no clue just rushed hit and hope balls forward.

We were so much better with Albrighton on and an extra man in midfield and put a few moves together, but Pearson got his selections the wrong way round we should have started with the team that finished, except Krama for Nuge and if we are losing you finish with a very attacking line up but we started with 3 strikers on the pitch and ended with just Nugent up front in his own, you don't start with 3 strikers at Old Trafford with a lightweight midfield.

RDL didn't do badly but every move on the left broke down when he got the ball as he has no left foot. Rather have Konch there despite his flaws.

[theessexfox]

Didn't follow that much but we lost to Man United and our relegation rivals lost to beatable sides so it hasn't been the worst day for City, not too fussed it's all about next week. (I know team selections were slightly baffling but let's move on) 

[inckley fox]

Great post generally spot on

Although Vardy will come good just not in this formation and needs to be benched at present

 

Which formation will he come good in?!

[veezeeblue]

need a creative attacking midfielder - been saying this for months

need to get pairings right

 - Ulloa needs Albrighton

 - Kramaric better with a player like Nuge

need Mahrez back

 

really need to beat Palace

 

having said that it's still an 8 team dogfight at the bottom 6pts and very few goals separate us from 13th

 

all to play for

[chapero82]

Cambridge marked Di Maria out well... Cambridge FFS I have not seen once this season where we have man marked one guy like teams do to us, that is one im not understanding, I don't see any of our players actually marking anybody

[Harry - LCFC]

Overall it hasn't been too bad a day. I looked at the fixtures a few days ago and expected us to move further behind, that hasn't happened so I can't be too unhappy.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I have not seen once this season where we have men naked on one guy 

 

Fair enough if that's your preference, we're all for equality on Foxestalk - but I don't think playing skins is within the rules of the game.

[JadeFalcon]

in reply to nobody in particular.... i'm not bothered by the loss... i fully expected it.... what i didnt expect was what came out on the pitch wearing our ****ing blue shirts... shower of disinterested pisspots who couldn't put together 2 ****ing passes

[foxes_rule1978]

Thankfully everyone else near the bottom lost, we are only 3 points from survival with some very winnable ganes coming up...

[The Doctor]

Fair enough if that's your preference, we're all for equality on Foxestalk - but I don't think playing skins is within the rules of the game.

Ithought we were shirts anyway?

[benpicko]

So is the same cycle about to happen again? Nugent doesn't start for a few matches, always coming on as a sub and improving what was up until then an absolutely useless performance, everybody begins pretending they like him again, he starts a few matches and suddenly, wow, we look decent how incredible, but then he misses a sitter or two and everybody calls for his head

[Hollism]

As bad as we played today - ironically we weren't that far away from getting a point.

 

If Man U's first goal had been rightly call offside and Nugent had just flicked that ball an inch or so further away from De Gea' s outstretched hand (I would have put money on Nuge scoring). Would have been 2-2 and we'd all have been well happy (would have been undeserved as it happens but just sayin').

You're wrong mate. United could have scored another 3-4 in the second half if they could be arsed, and if they'd have gone in at HT with a one-goal lead rather than a three-goal lead, then they would have.

The score line is pretty irrelevant to me. We can't go to OT expecting to get anything, but the performance was woeful. We played like a team that hadn't won all season. Our lads were all scared shitless, and I was genuinely surprised to see we had more than 20% possession.

For the first time ever, I'm actually beginning to doubt Pearson. There can be excuse for not starting Albrighton, especially since every time we got the ball we tried to get it as close to their corner flag as possible before ****ing it up one way or another.