Man Utd Thread:

[stew]

Both Pogba and Rooney deserved red cards as did a Liverpool player, I can only hope Pogba learns from this game because he was far too hyped up and was awful.

Fair play to Fellaini, I was delighted for his contribution and as usual Valencia have us a masterclass performance.

Dojo bailed out Jones more than once and United need a big strong, pact center back who can win everything in the air.

Mourinho saw a weakness in Liverpool as he brought on Felkaini, the two headed monster in himself and Ibra caused Liverpool fits.

Forget Rooney, get Martial And Rashford on with Ibra and go 4 3 3 the rest of the way, go for it week,in and week out, few draws and that should be enough to get the job of CL football sorted.

[AZOffaly]

What Liverpool player deserved a red card?

[Boycey]

What Liverpool player deserved a red card?

Presumably Firmino, I wouldn't have thought any of them worthy of reds. Rooneys maybe, it looks horrible in that slow mo (what doesn't) but in real time he was a fraction late and I genuinely don't think he went to do him any harm. Not that it would have any consolation to Milner?? had his leg been broken.

[AZOffaly]

If Firmino had been sent off for that collapse by Herrera after pushing him in the chest, it would be brutal. Especially as it was Herrera that pulled him back in the first place. You could send him off for dangerous play mind you. Every time he smiles he blinds the defender nearest.

[Billys Boots]

This long-ball stuff is nonsense - teams can play in a way that draws the defence out to allow long passes in behind (that's hardly hit-and-hope).  There are numerous ways in which teams can play skilfully and creatively, employing long-passes without becoming agricultural. 

[AZOffaly]

This long-ball stuff is nonsense - teams can play in a way that draws the defence out to allow long passes in behind (that's hardly hit-and-hope).  There are numerous ways in which teams can play skilfully and creatively, employing long-passes without becoming agricultural.

Yep.

[magpie seanie]

Red cards are handed out too handy nowadays. Rooney's one didn't look great in slow mo but wasn't dangerous.

[AZOffaly]

Imagine Souness and Robson flying into tackles with these refs

[Billys Boots]

This long-ball stuff is nonsense - teams can play in a way that draws the defence out to allow long passes in behind (that's hardly hit-and-hope).  There are numerous ways in which teams can play skilfully and creatively, employing long-passes without becoming agricultural.

Yep.

I can appreciate that the percentages say that keeping the ball is the best way to avoid conceding, and that 10 5-yard passes are the best way of advancing 50 yards without losing the ball.  But, there's really nothing like seeing a team advancing up the field to close-down the opposition 'fannying about' only to see them rocked back on their heels by a long ball into space (especially if it's not your team).   

[Maroon Manc]

It was a free kick to United with the supposed bad challenge by Rooney. Look at where the ball went and look at what Milner was doing. Rooney tried to make contact with the ball and just missed whilst Milner stuck his leg out trying to take Rooney down whilst making no attempt to win the ball or even follow it. It was a poor decision by the ref and I'm amazed its very few have picked up on it.

As for the long balls, I've got no issues with it at all. I'm sure if Fergie had a player like Fellaini in his squad he'd have used him. Mourinho didn't buy him and he's hardly building a team around him. I've looked forward to matches the last 3 months as we've played some very good football,

The only issue I have with Mourinho yesterday is bringing Rooney on, he was appalling when he came on. He saw plenty of the ball in very good positions and did nothing with it apart from one decent cross.

[Gmac]

Couple of things from yesterday's game one is Rooney looked terrible way to slow on ball and losing it constantly looks like he's done to me, Valencia is a good player but his final ball is bad a lot of the time and his lack of a left foot is killing  Utd , he ends up delivering the ball into the box most of the time and gets blocked or can't cut back to his left foot

[nrico2006]

Couple of things from yesterday's game one is Rooney looked terrible way to slow on ball and losing it constantly looks like he's done to me, Valencia is a good player but his final ball is bad a lot of the time and his lack of a left foot is killing  Utd , he ends up delivering the ball into the box most of the time and gets blocked or can't cut back to his left foot

Thats one of the biggest things I took from the game - Rooneys constant losing of the ball and his snail like movement.  Towards the end, he had the ball a few times 30 yards out while facing a defender, and his now lack of ability to even try and go by that defender makes him so predictable as he tries to flick the ball 5 or 6 yards to his right to make room for a shot, but everybody in the world can see it coming and he is nearly always blocked.  That period was crying out for Rashford.  We had too many static players on the pitch together.  As for Valencia, he has been brilliant but again is predictable due to having only one foot which enables a defender to place themselves to his right side which more often than not results in him hitting a wee chip cross in that has zero power therefore puts far more pressure on the players in the box to try and get the power on the header.

[stew]

Couple of things from yesterday's game one is Rooney looked terrible way to slow on ball and losing it constantly looks like he's done to me, Valencia is a good player but his final ball is bad a lot of the time and his lack of a left foot is killing  Utd , he ends up delivering the ball into the box most of the time and gets blocked or can't cut back to his left foot

Valencia, along with De Gea and the Albanian lad are the three best players United have this season, well, besides the big Swede that is.

[Boycey]

Couple of things from yesterday's game one is Rooney looked terrible way to slow on ball and losing it constantly looks like he's done to me, Valencia is a good player but his final ball is bad a lot of the time and his lack of a left foot is killing  Utd , he ends up delivering the ball into the box most of the time and gets blocked or can't cut back to his left foot

Valencia, along with De Gea and the Albanian lad are the three best players United have this season, well, besides the big Swede that is.

Tell me more about this Albanian lad 

[magpie seanie]

At least Rooney is trying this last while. The legs are gone though. He tried to create spaces for shots but hadn't the power in his legs to shoot. I thought he was worth a punt at the time and certainly it was a game where Carrick was not really needed. In hindsight I guess it would have been better to play Rashford. I wouldn't slaughter Jose over it compared to some of the ridiculous sh1t he was at in Aug/Sep/Oct.

On the Rooney/Milner incident - amazed that there was only 4 minutes added with all the subs and the amount of time Milner was down for. There's no doubt Milner was trying to influence the referees choice of card (yes, Herrera did the same later with the drink driver). It's not even talked about any more....it's accepted as part of the game. Refs are having a bad season but carry on like this makes their job harder.