Man Utd Thread:

[beer baron]

Chelsea at the weekend should be fun 

[johnneycool]

Didn't get to see the game last night, how is Rojo getting on? Expert Robbie Savage was tweeting on the BBC web site that he was struggling.

[AZOffaly]

I thought he was ok, but probably looked happier with the ball than without. Himself and Jones were very far apart for the second goal, but that was really Rafael's fault.

[Maroon Manc]

Better performance last night, controlled the game, dominated possession which meant we finished the game the stronger team. Only conceded 2 chances last night and West Brom managed to finish them brilliantly. We looked a bit more solid against set pieces although I don't think we conceded a corner.

Both goals came from players getting caught out of position. Shaw took a chance he shouldn't have and for the second goal Di Maira, Blind, Jones, Rojo & Rafa all made mistakes. If Di Maria had held his position it wouldn't have led to the rest of them making mistakes.

Were going to concede plenty of goals for the next few months, were playing far higher up the pitch, it takes time to get it right and lack of games isn't helping.

Rojo worries me, hopefully Evans is back soon. Blind is a utility player for imho, get himself in the wrong position far too often. As much as I like Mata, I'd get rid. Try and swap him for Strootman in January or persuade Valencia with their new found wealth to buy him back.

Plenty of positives from last night, we'll get beat by City & Chelsea though as I can't see LVG changing the tactics and playing more negatively. I'd expect us to be winning games consistently by December, we'll have had more time to work on the system and players returning from injuries.

[Shrewdness]

What we need to see from now on is for Radamel Falcao to start scoring goals on a consistent basis. Daley Blind has scored the same amount of goals as Falcao. The Colombian has come with the reputation of being one of the world's top strikers. Now he needs to show us why that is.. I believe he will.

[AZOffaly]

He's not played a lot though, has he? Seems to always be off the bench.

[Shrewdness]

I take your point AZ, but when he gets more starts, which should be from now on, we need him scoring regularly. His career record suggests he will.

[thewobbler]

Optimism is rife everywhere with United supporters these days. The pragmatist in me just keeps seeing an unbalanced team, spearheaded by out of form players, and facing an extremely tough run of fixtures ahead.

The fun factor of seeing 7 goals per game will soon give way to concerns about how far off CL footba this approach takes them.

First calls for LVG's head by 1st December, with the chorus arriving by Christmas.

[beer baron]

Optimism is rife everywhere with United supporters these days. The pragmatist in me just keeps seeing an unbalanced team, spearheaded by out of form players, and facing an extremely tough run of fixtures ahead.

The fun factor of seeing 7 goals per game will soon give way to concerns about how far off CL footba this approach takes them.

First calls for LVG's head by 1st December, with the chorus arriving by Christmas.

It sure is and i don't know why,i think Utd have been pathetic pretty much all year and i'm delighted i got lucky that the 1 game i went to was the Qpr game where we played well albeit we were let.
This apparent philosphy of Van Gaals isn't apparent to me yet and seems to be a bunch of lads hoping the like of Di Maria and Rooney will pull out a piece of magic.
I really hope things improve soon with a full squad seemingly getting closer. At the same time i can see it getting worse before it gets any better with the upcoming fixtures. Lets hope i'm wrong and we give some of the good sides a game at least.

[02]

Why change the habit of a lifetime, good to see Fergie taking responsibility when things go wrong: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29712012

[seafoid]

Why change the habit of a lifetime, good to see Fergie taking responsibility when things go wrong: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29712012

As Private Eye said about Terry Leahy of Tesco (very similar to Fergie including what happened after he left )

"Like most great leaders he is modest but relentless in taking credit for success and modest to the point of reticence in not taking the blame for anything at all."

[Boycey]

I see United are having Victor Valdes train with them

From Official Website

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has offered the 32-year-old former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes a chance to complete his rehabilitation from a knee injury and to work his way back to fitness with the club.

Valdes, a free agent, will have his recovery supervised by the United medical staff before training with the first team, as he bids to regain full fitness.

[rodney trotter]

Van Gaal worked with him twice, during his 2 spells with Barca, gave him his Barcelona debut. He could be a useful addition if they offer a contract.

[thewobbler]

Why change the habit of a lifetime, good to see Fergie taking responsibility when things go wrong: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29712012

When we are talking about Fergie we are talking about a football manager with few if any peers.

As such there are few if any people qualified to pass a negative judgement on him.

People can look to point fingers at him all they like. But as the same side he took to a league title was a shadow of itself 6 months later, and is now utterly decimated, he can and should point out (from a most elevated position) that the problems were not created by him, but by his leaving.

[beer baron]

I see United are having Victor Valdes train with them

From Official Website

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has offered the 32-year-old former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes a chance to complete his rehabilitation from a knee injury and to work his way back to fitness with the club.

Valdes, a free agent, will have his recovery supervised by the United medical staff before training with the first team, as he bids to regain full fitness.

Any chance he can play in defence?