Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - See Mod Warning in OP, 09/11

kstand wrote: »

The funny thing is that if he had been able to play Feillaini up where Rooney was and Rooney in front of a midfield trio with Herrara and Carrick, we would have had lots more joy and an outlet to knock balls up to in Feillaini.

Fellaini was played deeper as Pelle won every single aerial duel and it was so easy for them. So Carrick was moved to McNair position, Herrera in the midfield and Fellaini as DM to contest the aerial balls. Not sure that worked tough.

Giggsy11 wrote: »

Fellaini was played deeper as Pelle won every single aerial duel and it was so easy for them. So Carrick was moved to McNair position, Herrera in the midfield and Fellaini as DM to contest the aerial balls. Not sure that worked tough.

I thought Carrick was dropped back so we could stay with a 3 man central defense?

homerjay2005 wrote: »

Knocking balls up to Fellaini is Moyes, Pulis and hoof-ball speak.

I hope we never go down that route. And in saying that, for the height of him, Fellaini is very poor in the air and can be dominated alot.

Yeah - not pretty - but when you haven't got horses you plough with asses.
Feillaini isn't related to a central midfielder but he can hold the ball up and be a nuisance so it would have ben an option to play him further up field. As it was, we were knocking long balls up anyway and getting cleaned out and unable to hold the ball up and bring players into the game coming from midfield. Rooney cut a very frustrated figure for a finish.

Danye wrote: »

I really hope we never have to resort knocking balls up to Feillaini.

He was poor last night. For where we all want the club to be players like him should be squad players, at best!

In last nights game, we were knocking the ball long anyway we were that poor. So having him up there to hold the ball up would have given us an outlet at least. Right now the tactics aren't working and we have injuries.
I would sincerely hope that Woodward was bluffing recently when he said no signings in January.

Are there any right wingers out there we have been linked with does anyone know?
There had been a link with Xhedran Shaquiri but he's left footed and it would make little sense going for him with Di Maria in the squad. Same goes for Depay, plus the jury is out on him. How about Yannick Bolasie? Been very impressed by what I have seen of him in recent weeks, looks very powerful and quick, would be available and the price would be right I think.

The run of wins is great but if the performance v Liverpool is half as bad as last night or the first half v Arsenal we won't win the game.

You just know that Liverpool will be up for it and will play quicker, slicker football than they have to date, they always raise a few levels v United. We've struggled with that intensity in the past. It's also Sod's law that they will get a positive result somehow tonight and that will be a boost for a Sunday. If they don't, then they will have nothing to lose Sunday anyway so it's up to Utd to set the tempo early in the game.

For me it will be a good indicator of the reinvigorated character and spirit under LVG we are constantly being told about. In the past 2 seasons Utd have rolled over in most of the big games v City and Liverpool. You would hope there will be a big performance Sunday to show the fans they genuinely have a sense of what these games mean to Utd supporters.

I hope, with the injuries we have, LVG doesn't set out to contain the game for a draw and hope to nick a goal. That strategy simply does not work for Utd teams. Although maybe a draw would not be the worst result in isolation, the reality is that our slow start to the season means we need to win these games rather than not lose them.

bucketybuck wrote: »

Thats not really addressing the problem though. Hoofing long balls to Fellaini isn't exactly what I mean by being creative in central positions.

No but it would have been a better option last night for us. One thing I found extremely frustrating was that the central mid players repeatedly didn't show for the ball from our defenders - meaning we lumped the ball long anyway. It was completely shapeless and clueless.

Anyone know if there are any reserve games scheduled this week, would be an opportunity to game some games time to guys coming back from injury rafa, falcao etc etc

Nuts102 wrote: »

We played Liverpool last season and we expected a hiding and they delivered, this year it's the opposite and beating them would be massive putting 10 points daylight between us.

I think to a point you have to take the injuries into account when conidering where we are. It's not pretty but Van Gaal seems to have brought a unity and will to win we haven;t seen in awhile. Once we get rid of injuries and move to 4 at the back i can see football improving and us pushing for the top 2.

If we keep this run going into the New Year, get players back fit and start to fully understand and embrace LVG's methods and tactics I can genuinely see us possibly winning the league.

Remember Arsenal in the '97/'98 season I think, after Christmas? Yeah well that's going to be us this season!

Danye wrote: »

I would say the same about Rooney as well, apart from 1 or 2 games.

Rooney busts a gut and actively tires to get involved even if his isn't having a blinder.

Mata looked happy to remain hidden last night especially during the first half. Rooney will often be the fastest player on the pitch who covers most ground. Mata doesn't have that pace and his work rate isn't exactly amazing.

Its a shame because I had high hopes for him but he's been poor for a long time now and his goals and assists have been making up for it.

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Mata is never going to play well with Rooney and RVP in front of him. None of them have any pace and he won't have runners stretching the defence for him. In his best season at Chelsea he had Drogba, Hazard, Oscar, Lampard etc in a 433 making runs into the box playing dynamic football.

The issue here, however, is that it's utterly pointless having a player that looks so poor unless certain conditions are met within the team. He is not good enough to build the team around, so I can see him heading home in a year or two.

The excuses have to stop. Rooney and RVP ahead of him means nothing in terms of him playing well.

kstand wrote: »

Are there any right wingers out there we have been linked with does anyone know?
There had been a link with Xhedran Shaquiri but he's left footed and it would make little sense going for him with Di Maria in the squad. Same goes for Depay, plus the jury is out on him. How about Yannick Bolasie? Been very impressed by what I have seen of him in recent weeks, looks very powerful and quick, would be available and the price would be right I think.

Very good player but end product not quite good enough for a team looking to move back up teh table along with City and Chelsea. Maybe bring Nani back, he has played well for sporing in the Champions league.