Man Utd Thread:

[magpie seanie]

Let's all blame the guy signed from Maidstone for £1.2m and make excuses for the guys signed for £89m from Juventus who was schooled by a Liverpool reject! Smalling is limited and clearly struggling in this team where he is being asked to do things he can't do, especially when partnered with Jones. Pogba is supposed to be one of the top players in the world and he's robbing his wages in terms of his effort. Souness was absolutely spot on.......no clue what to do or where to be when United haven't the ball and for all his talent and athletic ability his return attack wise is slightly disappointing. Playing Pogba in that role is so stupid it's beyond belief. Getting away with it most of the time doesn't change that. You don#t get away with it against the good teams and occasionally the average teams.

So in summary the manager is clearly failing to get his players to adapt or adapt his system to his players.

I'm very keen to know what Smalling is being asked to do that an international centre back on a professional contract shouldn't be expected to have the capacity to do.

He's being asked to take the ball out and play more difficult passes than he would have done previously. This is because the midfielders are not asked/expected to take the ball off the CB's and do this job.

[DuffleKing]

I really don't think that's true. Opponents have identified that jones and smalling are brutal in possession and are letting them have it and working to close off the simple out pass into midfield for them.

Neither can cope and, like Sanchez for spurs (who is getting the same treatment), they're confidence is affected by the mistakes they're making and other parts of their game are falling apart.

[Minder]

The defence was unlocked enough, Martial has a one on one to basically kill the game was way too casual, he sticks that and it's a different game.
Lukaku was better holding it up but when you don't have the support runners from mid field I.e. Lingard and Pogba to join in it means for very little.
Pogba should never have started clearly injured how he lasted so long is beyond me. Alexis has to play centrally and if that means Lingard goes to the wing then fair enough.
Poor display but the players should have worked this one out themselves, it is becoming clear that playing  Smalling and Jones together is no longer workable.

No issues with his fitness and subbed for tactical reasons according to Jose

[blewuporstuffed]

What a performance from Jonjo!  lorded the mid field today.

Outstanding anytime I see him play.. better than Henderson?

I seen someone on twitter say about Shelvey, 'he has everything, but is just missing something' sums him up pretty well.

[AZOffaly]

What a performance from Jonjo!  lorded the mid field today.

Outstanding anytime I see him play.. better than Henderson?

I seen someone on twitter say about Shelvey, 'he has everything, but is just missing something' sums him up pretty well.

That Liverpool chant when Shelvey played for them.. " Johnjo Shelvey looks like a thumb "

[brokencrossbar1]

I will tell you what he is missing...a brain!!!  He has all the natural talent to be a top class no 8 type midfielder but he is dumb as f**k. He plays games like yesterday 2-3 times in a row and then disappears

[mouview]

Jones is as bad as Smalling, carthorse. Pretty soon the bright lights of Madrid will begin to twinkle from afar to Pogba's agent.

[TabClear]

I will tell you what he is missing...a brain!!!  He has all the natural talent to be a top class no 8 type midfielder but he is dumb as f**k. He plays games like yesterday 2-3 times in a row and then disappears

What BC said.

And he is a bit too fond of the Hollywood ball as well (Cant think where he learned that from..). Great on certain days like yesterday when they come off but can give a lot of possession away as well. Alonso/Pirlo were the masters of this, they could ping balls 70 yards to feet when they wanted to but very rarely did unless there was a good reason and the pass was on. Played the percentages, just kept possession with simple passes but always keeping the team moving and liable to make the killer pass if the opportunity arose. Shelvey, much like Gerrard when they would have played together at Liverpool is always looked for that final ball. 

[Cunny Funt]

Only saw highlights, it seems the Newcastle goalkeeper had a dream debut the sitter missed by Sanchez proves he was bought while bang out of form.  Jose interview afterwards didn't seem to care too much about the defeat was more focused on praising Newcastle for fighting so hard for their win something he will need from his own players in the champions league if they are to progress to the Quarter final.

[magpie seanie]

Why would he care. He got a nice extension so he'll get a huge payoff when they have to sack him.

[stew]

Only saw highlights, it seems the Newcastle goalkeeper had a dream debut the sitter missed by Sanchez proves he was bought while bang out of form.  Jose interview afterwards didn't seem to care too much about the defeat was more focused on praising Newcastle for fighting so hard for their win something he will need from his own players in the champions league if they are to progress to the Quarter final.

United had plenty of chances and did fight, they should have won the game but didnt, I will blame Mourinho for plenty but not that.

Liverpool pushing for second now, it will be an interesting race the top four this year with the top spot already all but claimed.

[Captain Obvious]

Losing to Tottenham,Chelsea and Manchester City away from home can happen and not much to be said about it when a top 4 team beats another top 4 team but losing to Huddersfield and Newcastle as Manchester United have done this season is unacceptable.

As the old saying goes hard work can beat talent when talent doesn't work hard.

[TabClear]

Losing to Tottenham,Chelsea and Manchester City away from home can happen and not much to be said about it when a top 4 team beats another top 4 team but losing to Huddersfield and Newcastle as Manchester United have done this season is unacceptable.

As the old saying goes hard work can beat talent when talent doesn't work hard.

Dont be getting ahead of yourself now  3 into 4 isnt going to go

[Cunny Funt]

VAR looking a bit dodgy again, Mata looked onside. United not playing well and didn't deserve a 2 goal lead anyway.

[Cunny Funt]

One of those vintage break away goals for United 2-0 now.