Manchester United 2014/2015 Premier League Season (+ CC & FA Cup)

https://twitter.com/ALindegaard/status/524311900281008128

Oh Anders, what a man

Looking back I think its not that bad of a result honestly speaking. Reasons I am saying this are.

1. WBA this season is not at all a punching bag of sorts for teams and they have been especially good at home.
2. 12 points from 8 games. Thats bad. True. But if we take a closer look, its actually 10 points from last 5 or even further closer 7 points from last 3. And the last 3 has been against west ham, everton and wba. 2 in form teams and 1 originally good but right now shite kinda team. So We have got 7 out of possible 9 from them. That as per me is not at all bad. and is quite good actually. Its first 3 matches we were shite, as we got only 2 points there against real scrub teams.
But from thereon the graph has only gone up( the leicester result was kinda once in a blue moon freak, which we can dismiss as an exception)
So the thing is We are on the right track.
But the next 4 games are indeed the biggest test. And I am back to being once again optimistic (for chavs) after the night sleep.

The defence and LVG starting the tame RVP is what cost United these three points.

First goal Shaw runs up to press Berahino (?) but Blind is too far behind to get back in time and they score a nice goal from outside the box, nothing Rojo could've done. Second goal Jones keeps them onside on a counter and they score. Any other shots they had?? Because I can't remember any

On the offensive front United played without a CF because RVP is so crap. Rafael and DiMaria played some nice crosses into the box but he got nowhere near them because he is so lazy. Lvg should continue with this formation but have Falcao there instead of RVP

I don't know if we watched the same game because I thought Januzaj and Jones had good games especially Jones bar that mistake. No standout player this game but thought Rojo was pretty solid. Oh and Mike Dean did good to not fall for their dives

I have to mention though, I felt United lost the ball needlessly with some awful passes and dwelling on the ball. Need to sort that out before next week. But barring the result thought United played well

i just hope ander is fully fit for chelsea next week, because the ribs clearly effected him today....i could tell about 5 mins in he wasn't right

No Costa and perhaps no Remy for Chelsea Sunday

Costa is meant to be back early November, so he just happens to be coming back the game after we play them. Think Mourinho is lying and he'll back for our game, him or Remy will play against us imo.

heard Di maria and Herrera are doubtful and there goes our chances of getting something out of this.

Club is confident Di Maria is fit, will just take scan for precaution, but he should play. Herrera should be fine too.

We should have never played Herrera against WBA. That was again a selection blunder. He played with a chest guard or something ffs. I mean why the hell LvG??? Why rushed him ?

I wish some of our fans (not on GL) would man up and stop acting like p***** when it comes to this match.

Yeah Chelsea are a strong team, but we're not gonna be no push overs either. They'll be concerned with some our star players too.

With the fans behind the team on Sunday, I'm certain our players will raise their games for it.

Just had to get that point out there.

Agreed, RED.

The Everton game we dominated them for 60 mins, the last 30 mins makes the game seem closer than it was. We could have been 3-0 up by half-time.

We've won our last 3 home games, the only home game we've lost at home this season was Swansea while we played a different formation and basically a different team.

We actually played better than Chelsea, in both games, last season and have an actual midfield now. We might lose, but we're not QPR to think they'll roll all over us.

Exactly.

As long as
1. Our defense dont commit silly mistakes and can hold firm (keep shape) especially phil Jones - I am worried about him. A needless tackle in the box and a resultant penalty was a hallmark of Jones's game last season when we faced big sides. So he has to be extremely careful here. No lunging challenges from behind and ffs stay back at all times. You are not a midfielder anymore.

2. ADM and Herrera (fully fit one, not the WBA one ) are available to play.

3. RvP and mata especially the latter are not in the first 11.
RvP i believe is a big game player. (That wonder goal he scored against Spain in the WC for instance ) So wont blame if he is picked again.

I AM CONFIDENT of getting a result here. Dont give a damn about whoever plays for them on the other hand. yea bloody bring on Costa !!!

Tbh, if we have to play one of Mata or RvP, I'd rather it be RvP too. He is still capable of one moment of magic. Mata is not only not playing well, but his confidence is really low.

Lumiere_Blanche wrote:As long as
1. Our defense dont commit silly mistakes and can hold firm (keep shape) especially phil Jones - I am worried about him. A needless tackle in the box and a resultant penalty was a hallmark of Jones's game last season when we faced big sides. So he has to be extremely careful here. No lunging challenges from behind and ffs stay back at all times. You are not a midfielder anymore.

2. ADM and Herrera (fully fit one, not the WBA one ) are available to play.

3. RvP and mata especially the latter are not in the first 11.
RvP i believe is a big game player. (That wonder goal he scored against Spain in the WC for instance ) So wont blame if he is picked again.

I AM CONFIDENT of getting a result here. Dont give a damn about whoever plays for them on the other hand. yea bloody bring on Costa !!!

My thoughts exactly regarding the match

RED's idea about playing Jones in midfield, I'd like to see happen. I'm not sure if LvG sees him as an option in midfield though.

As a last resort, I would love to see him there. Have Smalling partner Rojo at CB. I have a feeling LVG is going to surprise us with the line up on Sunday.

but smalling was pathetic against Leicester. So its again a risky proposition.

And also in the long run if we indeed want to invest on Jones's career here, I believe we should stick on him as a CB. If on the other hand, the plan is to offload him when we bring in more established names in the near future ( like its expected) then may be its worth a try. His game is suffering IMHO thanks to not using him in one position consistently (especially positioning as a stat is taking a major hit it seems).

Isnt this enough for Chavs

Problem is Carrick is unfit, so we lack options. I read that Ramires and Mikel are injures, I'm not sure if it's true but if it is Fabregas is a weak link defensively in that midfield.

matic ?

EDIT:
oh you mean in our midfield ?

Fabregas-Matic
Oscar

No? Just compare what Herrera/Ramsey do defensively compared to Fabregas

yea.
may be thats their only weak link then. But matic is a beast.

Theres also another thing. A dfm combination of carrick and blind I think offers very less pace wise. A valencia would have been perfect there hence. But alas.. Once we are wanting for the muttonhead he ends up being injured and unavailable.

Was gonna post this on the Mata thread, but since the stat relates to all our attacking players I'll put it here:



This is not assists but 'final four attacking events in a move to contribute towards Attacking Contribution this allows for the shot plus the previous three attacking events (pass, take-on or ball recovery)'

For other teams the highest is:

Man City - David Silva
Chelsea - Fabregas
Southampton - Tadic
West Ham - Downing
Spurs - Eriksen
Liverpool - Sterling
Everton - Baines
Arsenal - Ramsey

I think you can notice a pattern here, that players that play in a similar position to Mata are the ones that are most involved in attacking moves in their team. Arsenal's is Ramsey but that's probably due to 4-1-4-1 formation they play and Everton's is Baines (lol) but probably due to Barkley being out too. Okay, Di Maria is the main guy for us, but Mata really should be at least second. I know it's just stats, but you can see it in the match that he's not getting involved enough and the statistics back it up.

Also, no surprise to see RvP last, doesn't get involved enough either. Herrera is also quite low, but it's probably not him being the in the final third a lot to be involved in the last 4 moves.

will van gaal surprise all of us by benching rvp and starting mata. or even worse starting both.

mata - to prove his worth (and to prove to the world that mounjo was wrong, he will sure be pumped up if he play,) the problem will be his confidence and form though
van persie - well since its van persie.

So many Mourinho questions ffs

Van Gaal says Falcao picked up a knock, on Friday, in training, and thus is a doubt for tomorrow. James Wilson, played for the reserves Friday night, you'd think he'd pull out of the squad to make the bench on Sunday if true. So hopefully this is van Gaal trying to pull a few mind games of his own. Would give him an excuse to carry on with 4-3-3, which he called our best performance of the season. Really hope Falcao makes it though, even if we have to play a diamond.

Although this part is a bit interesting:

"It is difficult because we are playing [games] already, that’s difficult but we have played him because I like the way he was playing so we play with two strikers. Now I have to choose between two strikers, even three because [James] Wilson can also play, the younger player."

Basically confirming 4-3-3?

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2014/Oct/radamel-falcao-a-doubt-for-chelsea-clash.aspx