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Post by Dave on Feb 28, 2015 22:59:40 GMT
Falcao's MOTD highlights consisted of getting knocked off the ball and fouled for the pen.
Did a piece on his movement as well, always wanting the ball to feet, no movement in behind.
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Post by matt on Feb 28, 2015 23:09:14 GMT
It wasn't a great win, yet we saw glimpses and the global scheme of what LVG is trying to build at United. I don't know if LVG will be successful, but my guess is that we will all thank him regardless for placing the first bricks of a revolution at OT.
A football with more possession, more tactical solidity, more collective and high-tempoed pressing, less of the careless attacking football and a more clinical team. Yes, this may not be obvious to everyone right now, and I too am frustrated with some of the shit we have seen this season. But as I said before, I am willing to give LVG time if the basis is built properly. Don't only think about domestic success, see the bigger picture within a European scope: England is falling behind in Europe, and unless we adjust our football and find the right balance bewteen domestic and continental competitions, Manchester United will fall behind as well.
It's too early to judge LVG for right or wrong, that's all I am saying. But my understanding of football tells me we might thank him one day.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 23:10:24 GMT
Think Gullit might have a point, he ain't got the legs to make those same runs atm. Might come with more fitness and acclimatisation but he wion't be here by then, I wouldn't have thunk
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tr0y
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Post by tr0y on Feb 28, 2015 23:21:50 GMT
I like what you've said there matt and I completely agree.
We've all been pissed off at the performances this season and rightfully so, we have been far from good enough. Having said that, I'm 100% with van Gaal and I DO think he'll get it right. He's no mug and it's far too early to say he's the wrong man.
I too think he's building something, or at least setting the foundations for something very exciting. I could be wrong, very wrong, but we need to trust him. To clear it up, trusting him and supporting him doesn't mean we can't criticize him but it does mean all this 'Louis out' stuff that I've seen from some fans(albeit the minority), needs to stop because he is going nowhere.
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Post by Dave on Feb 28, 2015 23:28:34 GMT
Aye Ed.
I agree Matt, the patient and possession play we'll have to get used to but the last two games the possession has been much further up the pitch and much more pressure on goal than we've been seeing previously. We have seen some absolute dross so this is an improvement even if it still is a little disjointed.
Some good signs going forward, long may it continue.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 23:37:09 GMT
There's always people who hate possession based football, a large chunk of UK folk still think Barca are boring bastards to watch. It's just not the football culture here, so I expect the moaning to continue no matter what.
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Post by GoonBurgerLarson on Mar 2, 2015 0:25:52 GMT
]A football with more possession, more tactical solidity, more collective and high-tempoed pressing, less of the careless attacking football and a more clinical team. Yes, this may not be obvious to everyone right now, and I too am frustrated with some of the shit we have seen this season. day. I agree and disagree with this statement. What I would agree with, is your analysis of that the team is now playing a barca esque, high possession, high pressing game. If I remember correctly, this is exactly what we was calling for during the last few years of Fergies reign, this was a time when we could barely edge the possession stats, with a weak midfield consisting of Cleverley, Carrick, Ando, Park and Kagawa. Oh, and an ex retiree who was playing everyone else off the field, it was tragic to say the least. I'm sure any would remember this time with the run of games we would only just edge 1-0. Like I said above, I remember clearly people asking for the change in tactics, some exact quotes of ' I would be happy with some dropped points, as long as we are showing progression towards a better playing style ' - and things of this nature. Well, this time has come, we are having some patchy results, but, as you said Matt, we are definitely moving towards a different style, one that will bare it's fruit in the near future I'm sure. So this is the point I disagree with you. You say this playing style and progression may not be obvious to some, I say, it's incredibly obvious. We are smashing every team in possession, we are keeping the ball with relative ease, with (IMO) Blind and Herrera making a very nice central, if a tad lightweight for EPL, midfield pairing. From LVG comments, it seems clear that he wants a new CM during the summer, someone in the mould of strootman, or strootman himself if he sorts his fitness out. KS was integral to LVG in the national team, so I see no reason for Louis not to want him here, injuries aside. I digress, yes, our results aren't always positive, but we are missing a piece in the puzzle before we really see this new style pay off (forever optimistic). A piece that I'm sure we will find either within our current squad, or, during the window. Right, off to work. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 8:22:33 GMT
Caught a rerun of the game late as I couldn't watch it on Saturday. I personally thought it was a very good, dominant performance besides the opening 20 minutes or so. As a few have mentioned above, with a better striker than Falcao we'd have put 5 past them. There was definite progress in our performance last week vs Swansea despite losing and the progress continued this week. Dominant possession, more emphasis on moving the ball forward, I think the crowd were a little unfair booing the odd backwards pass as the majority of the passes were made with intent. If you're playing a possession based game you don't just pass the ball forwards for the sake of it, there has to be a viable option. Of course you have to take risks to break down the defence but I think we did that, particularly in the second half. Sunderland were completely worn out chasing around shadows all day which is why we saw more chances created as the game went on. I actually thought it was a really enjoyable display to watch, despite it taking us so long to get the breakthrough. Van Gaal's plans are as clear as day now (if they weren't before).
I thought the whole backline were comfortable but that could partly be down to Sunderland being more than a bit shit but they did a good job. Really liking Rojo, if we can find a quality partner for him we'll have one of the best central defensive pairings in the premier league imo (even though he played at left back). Smalling and Evans were comfortable and Valencia was his usual consistent self.
Even though I'd like to continue to speak about positives I can't help but vent my frustration at the performances of Falcao and Di Maria yet again. Falcao runs about, tries to put a shift in but he does absolutely nothing to benefit the attack. No runs in behind, too weak and too slow, I'm also not that confident that if he was provided with a multitude of chances he'd convert them. The biggest disappointment remains Di Maria and he was rightly taken off at half time. Don't know what to say about him, he's just not impacting on any games like he should be. I think people are right we do have to allow him more time to adapt, 1 because we paid so much money for him and 2 because we saw glimpses earlier on in the season of what he can do. He just doesn't look up to it right now. The pace and physicality of the game is completely doing him in for me but I'm sure he'll learn to adapt to it eventually, expecting to see much more from him next season. His replacement was a different kettle of fish though.
Haven't seen much praise for him but Januzaj was excellent in the 2nd half. Sure he was a little wasteful at times but as soon as he picked up the ball you expected something to happen, I thought the left back for Sunderland couldn't handle him at all. Not scared to take chances and take a risk, running at defenders, troubling the goal keeper with shots on goal on a couple of occasions, a few decent crosses in there. I just thought he was great, it was like the Adnan that burst onto the scene last season and he'd definitely be starting against Newcastle instead of Di Maria for me.
Despite the midfield duo being a little lightweight they're developing a great relationship. I think they'll struggle as a 2 in some of the bigger games but against a side like Sunderland there were no issues whatsoever. Herrera is the one always looking to move the ball forward, he's full of energy and constantly on the go, it's no surprise for me that we've looked a more lively side in the opposition half in the last few games while he's been a starter, he's surely done enough to keep his place in the side right now. I expect when we come up against City and Chelsea again we'll revert to a 3 man midfield with maybe Rooney dropping back in there to provide the combativeness as you could see an inform Yaya Toure for instance making life very difficult for a midfield of Herrera and Blind. I think that the future formation of this side is a 4-3-3, it's what Van Gaal prefers to play if he has the options and if you add a Pogba-esque central midfielder in there with Herrera and Blind we'll have a midfield with the quality we haven't seen for a number of years.
Young again showed he's a changed player under Van Gaal, played in his preferred position further forward he showed that the change of position isn't what has breathed new life into him but the change of manager as he carried on in the same vein. His crossing is much better than the last couple of seasons and at the moment he's comfortably the best crosser of the ball we have.
Rooney did as Rooney does, consistent to the end, nothing spectacular. Scored 2 goals, 1 being a very well taken penalty. He's always going to give 100%, he's never going to play dreadfully bad and he has the quality to produce those moments which win you games, I suppose you can't ask much more from him at the moment.
It was a good performance from us and I'm convinced that if we see this level of performance for the rest of the season we'll definitely achieve a top 4 finish. Who knows...with City only 5 points in front now and with them having to come to Old Trafford yet, there's a chance we could bag 2nd place yet!
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Post by Jerry Koh on Mar 2, 2015 11:09:17 GMT
Really good analysis Jamie, but to me our performances are still something to be worried about. I mean, yeah, in the second half we played much better and gained a deserved win, but if we gave a performance like that at Anfield or even against Tottenham at home, I doubt we'd get a result at all. Despite the star-studded names in our attack, we still struggle to penetrate the opposition's defence. Sometimes we pass it about the middle too much and for too long, like Arsenal, sometimes someone well play a poor ball and the opposition will intercept it and gain possession. And of course this has been established before, but are defending can be really shocking at times. Not just from Evans, who is taking more than his fair share of stick, but from other players too. Look at the callous back-pass Smalling made to De Gea in the first minute of the match, and also the way we lost the ball around the 7th minute mark, leaving Connor Wickham to have a crack.
However, we are getting results, which is the most important thing, and I still believe we can secure wins against BOTH Tottenham and Liverpool, although we undoubtedly need to step it up a bit. Performances from the likes of Shaw, Rojo, McNair and Herrera have been really encouraging too, and I believe they are settling in well at United. Although Rooney isn't a goal machine in the mould of Costa or a player with world-class skill like Messi or Ronaldo, he is still a fantastic player and has been one of our best players this season. I doubt we can catch up with City.... finishing in 3rd place will satisfy me. Now we've got to get a result at St. James Park, before the fixtures against Arsenal, Spurs and the Scousers!
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Post by Dave on Mar 2, 2015 11:25:21 GMT
That's the spirit Jamie :lol:
Your analysis is spot on for me, Carrick's on his way back as well to help out midfield so good news there as we have some tough games coming up. You can only play who's in front of you and against the top teams this season we've matched them up pretty well for the most part, I'm more worried about slipping up at Newcastle to be honest.
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Post by Mani Khatra on Mar 2, 2015 17:05:23 GMT
Jerry our play is more suited to playing the top teams as they will be more open Aswell. LVG will adjust it so we dont be to open as we did against tgem earlier in the season
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