I still think he can. Mata/Drogba were fantastic in Chelsea's winning season. And I think he can do the same with Rooney.
PL W FA Premier League
Manchester United 3:1 Burnley
Post-match discussion
Wed, 11 February 2015
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
Our most used passing combinations in this game was in order:
Herrera to Mcnair
McNair to Herrera
McNair to Di Maria
Evans to Rojo
Rojo to Evans
Rooney to Evans
Rooney to Smalling
De Gea to Evans
Evans to Di Maria
Rojo to di Maria
Our 11 most used passing combinations involved at least one defender.
Herrera to Mcnair
McNair to Herrera
McNair to Di Maria
Evans to Rojo
Rojo to Evans
Rooney to Evans
Rooney to Smalling
De Gea to Evans
Evans to Di Maria
Rojo to di Maria
Our 11 most used passing combinations involved at least one defender.
Absolutely terribly performance in the first half, the second half was only slightly better imo. It was just infuriating to see Wayne fecking Rooney drop so deep, he just doesnt have the skill set to be the "anchor" of the team I just dont understand van Gaal's thought process here. RvP will never be dropped under LvG it seems but I really would like to see Rooney get a chance to play upfront again along with Wilson coming in, its just the sensible thing to do imo! When we get the result most of the time the performance doesnt matter but i am very concerned as to what we're going to do against the top teams that we'll be playing towards the end of the season.
I'm glad I did not wake up to watch this, judging by the reaction to our performance.
Thought it was a pretty entertaining game actually and we were kinda good going forward in the second half as we had wingers... First half from us was tumescent though. Burnley played well on the other hand so it's not like it was just boring as hell like some of our games.
Only Januzaj and Di Maria wanted to make things happen, and the latter only intermittently. There was too much fobbing off of responsibility in the game. It was mostly just sideways passes and hesitation because hardly anyone had the balls to take a risk.
We played the second half with 4 centrebacks, 4 number 10's and 2 strikers on the pitch. That says everything. There was no cohesion whatsoever.
Credit must be given to Burnley, they pressed us in the first half like a pack of wild dogs, we couldn't handle their pressing. In the second half, they couldn't keep up their energy levels and we took full advantage. @Dante you do know Di Maria and Januzaj are wingers primarily! Rojo at left back was forced or who would you have played there? It's fine to complain but we do have a habit of exaggerating simple things at times.
Mata is not good enough. He doesn't have a future here, he is as bad as the rest of the big names because he too lacks pace and penetration. Januzaj was very inconsistent yesterday but he showed glimpses that his swagger was back.. he needs time to develop. I'd gamble on him to see if it can all come together.
Not many are calling for LVG to be sacked, however (and rightly so) many are saying the performances aren't good enough, the team selection is awful and our tactics are mondaine.
We could easily have been 2 or 3 down by half time, it was far from relative ease.
There's no excuse for it.
Van Gaal could easily have selected a side with greater balance, but he opted for the shoehorning approach instead.
We have 3 solid midfilders who seemingly have a law against tem playing together.
t.
Blind
Herrera and Fellaini in a midfield 3 would be so great
t.
Blind
Herrera and Fellaini in a midfield 3 would be so great
Yes, but that means dropping two off Falcao, RVP or Rooney, never going to happen.
Whilst I appreciate the positivity, people aren't saying we should be higher up the table.
The issue is we look poor in almost every game, our manager is making dubious decisions every game. We aren't improving at all and we're very lucky to be in that third spot and if things stay as they are then we won't be in the top 4 for long as we'll get found out.
If we'd performed well in most games without all the dodgy decisions from LvG but stood on the same points, there'd be a hell of a lot less complaints.
And our LVG points out that RVP played well...
Specsavers might be the next appointment our manager needs to make.. Before that I see no changes on the horizon..
Specsavers might be the next appointment our manager needs to make.. Before that I see no changes on the horizon..
Evans has to go.
He should be banished from the first team ala Anderson.
His only purpose from now until the end of the season should be to stand in the wall during free kick practice.
I htought he was going to be a monster of a centre back when he first came through. He's now sooooo bad its beyond a joke.
Dreadful
He should be banished from the first team ala Anderson.
His only purpose from now until the end of the season should be to stand in the wall during free kick practice.
I htought he was going to be a monster of a centre back when he first came through. He's now sooooo bad its beyond a joke.
Dreadful
I think Evans is only in the squad by virtue of being a fit senior defender. He won't be anywhere near the team next term.
Shocking from us last night and I struggled to not turn it off. Thouroughly irritating and I'm just relieved I didn't make the trip to the game as originaly planned. I cannot bear the thought of Jones and Evans being here beyond this season they are comical. Smalling gets a temporary repreive for his goalscoring exploits last night but he's not going to be doing that every other game and he remains another liability - feck me we have some issues at the back.
Losing faith in Falcao - an atrocious first touch and bullied all night. Looks finished. RVP little better.
Problems all over the park but somehow we remain top 4 and have a chance at the cup. Baffling but we are at least difficult to beat and that can't be all luck.
Losing faith in Falcao - an atrocious first touch and bullied all night. Looks finished. RVP little better.
Problems all over the park but somehow we remain top 4 and have a chance at the cup. Baffling but we are at least difficult to beat and that can't be all luck.
I think his survival in the squad is directly linked to the viewers his attractive missus brings into MUTV
To start by being vaguely positive - the 2nd half wasn't too bad and I thought we actually looked like scoring during it, ADM had a good 45 there too.
But.. what do you say about that 1st half... absolute shite in every aspect and to be leading at HT was a bit incredible.
and what else?
1) The front 2 can both go for me, neither of them is doing enough to help the team or deserve a place in a 'top top side'.
2) I don't mind Rooney in MF, though he can pass well, he also can't for some of the time it seems. Good point about his discipline in the position being good. Well done, Wayne
3) with 4-4-2 the players seem to know what they are supposed to be doing and equally what other people are supposed to be doing. Also, we seem able to move the ball in a forward direction a bit more regularly
4) Januzaj - catch 22 of him needing to be playing to progress but also being inconsistent (that's kind), he's brilliant at finding the wrong option isn't he? not convinced, atm
We plod on.
But.. what do you say about that 1st half... absolute shite in every aspect and to be leading at HT was a bit incredible.
and what else?
1) The front 2 can both go for me, neither of them is doing enough to help the team or deserve a place in a 'top top side'.
2) I don't mind Rooney in MF, though he can pass well, he also can't for some of the time it seems. Good point about his discipline in the position being good. Well done, Wayne
3) with 4-4-2 the players seem to know what they are supposed to be doing and equally what other people are supposed to be doing. Also, we seem able to move the ball in a forward direction a bit more regularly
4) Januzaj - catch 22 of him needing to be playing to progress but also being inconsistent (that's kind), he's brilliant at finding the wrong option isn't he? not convinced, atm
We plod on.
Most positive thing about the performance is that LVG is being exposed a spoofer.
Brutal when written down but would have expected at least Rooney - Herrera to be listed (was that #12?)
You really don't like him.
Was it just the way it came across on the radio, or did the atmosphere start to turn last night? Thought I heard boos on a few occasions.
It's from the 442 stats center. These were the only united combinations listed so could have been.
No, and a lot of people are copping on.
It's the bizzare team selections thats annoying people more than anything.
Yep. It's quite concerning that the management haven't realised that we're playing better once we make subs and change the system in pretty much every one of the last 10+ games we've played. We're almost always utter dross for the first half of games and then we pick it up once we've made some subs. Yet we keep persisting with the same thing week after week. De filosofie is gebroken.
Can a win be a loss?
LVG's teams and style of play seem to be set up not to lose the games, rather than going out to win them.
Rooney in the middle slows everything down. There is only ADM and Januzaj (a bit last night) that play with pace.
This type of football is unacceptable. I came away from OT really down last night.......after an undeserved 3-1 win.
Rooney in the middle slows everything down. There is only ADM and Januzaj (a bit last night) that play with pace.
This type of football is unacceptable. I came away from OT really down last night.......after an undeserved 3-1 win.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Smalling a 10 
Which proves he has no idea what he is doing, a spoofer. Check out Spurs and Southampton, both with new managers and both playing decent football. Currently, we are a disaster waiting to happen.
I dont give a shit how we play as long as we finish in the Top 4. Next season will be when I criticise our performances. Results is all that matters this Season as far as I'm concerned. Another 3 points in the bag and up to 3rd.
I still think everything comes down to him not trusting the defence. Whether his set up to therefore protect it is correct is a talking point, but the reason we aren't releasing the rest of the team to attack is down to that.
And, to be honest, I can't argue with him. To pick an incident which had me utterly gobsmacked, there was a point early in the second half where a Burnley player was attacking the edge of the area, holding the ball. Two United defenders closed him down, and were shepherding him away to the (our) left. Suddenly, from his position as RCB, Smalling comes galloping into the picture to try to tackle someone who already had two United players on him - leaving another Burnley player completely unmarked just to the right of our penalty spot. If the one on the ball had a clue, the easiest pass in the world would have split our defence because none of them seem to have the faintest idea where they should even be standing in the first place, never mind how to them defend.
That example is Smalling, but they're all at it, game after game. That defence means that you can't afford to have your midfielders in attacking positions, and you can't afford to play high risk passes, because the moment you lose the ball, your opponent can make our entire back line shit themselves and fall over with one aimless ball over the top.
I would like to think that with a trustworthy defence, LVG would be playing the systems and football we all want to see.
And, to be honest, I can't argue with him. To pick an incident which had me utterly gobsmacked, there was a point early in the second half where a Burnley player was attacking the edge of the area, holding the ball. Two United defenders closed him down, and were shepherding him away to the (our) left. Suddenly, from his position as RCB, Smalling comes galloping into the picture to try to tackle someone who already had two United players on him - leaving another Burnley player completely unmarked just to the right of our penalty spot. If the one on the ball had a clue, the easiest pass in the world would have split our defence because none of them seem to have the faintest idea where they should even be standing in the first place, never mind how to them defend.
That example is Smalling, but they're all at it, game after game. That defence means that you can't afford to have your midfielders in attacking positions, and you can't afford to play high risk passes, because the moment you lose the ball, your opponent can make our entire back line shit themselves and fall over with one aimless ball over the top.
I would like to think that with a trustworthy defence, LVG would be playing the systems and football we all want to see.
Here is my issue. I want top 4 and CL next year... Absolutely crave that. So I agree results are paramount, however...
My concern right now is how embarassing CL would be for as we look right now. I watched Burnley... *Burnley*... for Heaven's sake, boss us around Old Trafford for the first 45 mins last night. There is no way we are going to save a shred of dignity against any of Europe's elite how we are playing right now. How do you think the likes of Bacelona will feel about seeing Evans and Smalling in the back line with Rooney as DM... do you think they could stop laughing long enough to score 10 is the only over and under I can envision.
Am I off here?
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Ings made mincemeat of Smalling 1st half but Chris gets a 10 mark for scoring twice.
Funny old game
Funny old game
We were bossed in the EPL last season too, but put in very good performances in the UCL. Different type of game, I actually think the whole LVG posession game would work very well in the UCL too
Well glad someone think so...
Herrera only came on at about the 40 minute mark.
Man of the Match
Runners-up
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27%
Angel Di Maria
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9%
David de Gea
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6%
Paddy McNair
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5%
Ander Herrera
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4%
Adnan Januzaj
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1%
Phil Jones
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1%
Marcos Rojo
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1%
Wayne Rooney
Player Ratings
Total Average Rating
Highest Rated Player
Lowest Rated Player
Compiled from 517 ratings.
Score Predictions
501,14,23
- Man Utd win
- Burnley win
- Draw
Detailed Results
- 27% Man Utd 3:0 Burnley
- 19% Man Utd 2:0 Burnley
- 10% Man Utd 4:0 Burnley
- 10% Man Utd 3:1 Burnley
- 9% Man Utd 5:0 Burnley
- 8% Man Utd 2:1 Burnley
- 5% Man Utd 1:0 Burnley
- 3% Man Utd 4:1 Burnley
- 2% Man Utd 0:0 Burnley
- 2% Man Utd 1:1 Burnley
- 1% Man Utd 5:1 Burnley
- 1% Man Utd 1:2 Burnley
- 1% Man Utd 0:1 Burnley
- 1% Man Utd 3:2 Burnley
- 1% Man Utd 0:5 Burnley
- 1% Man Utd 4:2 Burnley
- 0% Man Utd 5:2 Burnley
- 0% Man Utd 1:4 Burnley
- 0% Man Utd 5:4 Burnley
- 0% Man Utd 0:2 Burnley
- 0% Man Utd 0:4 Burnley
- 0% Man Utd 2:2 Burnley
Match Stats
- Man Utd
- Burnley
- Possession
- 57% 43%
- Shots
- 11 13
- Shots on Target
- 7 3
- Corners
- 5 8
- Fouls
- 15 8
Referee
Kevin Friend
Man Utd Lineup
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replaced by Chris Smalling
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replaced by Ander Herrera
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replaced by James Wilson
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