[Red_Beans]

@Cassidy

Having 2 midfielders injured and having no one to replace them except our best striker feels like a lack of depth to me. Especially if we want to challenge on several fronts.

I agree that if Rooney had converted that early chance it would of changed the game. But at that stage Chelsea were still loose. It's after they tightened up I wish we could of done better

 

[Catt]

If Jose continued trolling our rivals and winning trophies all of us would be ecstatic to let him do that forever.

As would you guys and the only reason you feel the need to disagree is because you arent in that position.

No. Going back to Saf last seasons we had some bang average preformances yet won the league in 2011/13. And there was plenty not happy with the way we played. If we played like you do against the top teams at O.T I wouldn't be happy. You need to win titles but you also want entertainment in the long run.

 

[Sandikan]

We were alright. Didn't offer anything where it mattered. Falcao is shite.

He must be thinking it's typical. Frozen out, then gets thrown in against the league leaders away!

He's worked hard, but it obviously hasn't happened

 

[Bwuk]

Falcao is hopeless. It's like playing with 10.

Herrera is very good and Rooney isn't a midfielder. Not starting Di Maria is wrong, he can see things others don't.

 

[Bloxy]

I would have taken 1-0 at the bridge 6 weeks ago. We are playing well even with 4 players out, we played our game, but obviously lacked the quality in key areas.

I'm happy with our football.

 

[Cassidy]

@Cassidy

Having 2 midfielders injured and having no one to replace them except our best striker feels like a lack of depth to me. Especially if we want to challenge on several fronts.

I agree that if Rooney had converted that early chance it would of changed the game. But at that stage Chelsea were still loose. It's after they tightened up I wish we could of done better

We didn't just have 2 midfielders out.
Herrera replaced Carrick anyway and had a very good game, Rooney played in Herrera role. We didn't have to play Rooney there, we could have put Di Maria in and dropped Fellaini deeper. We could have put Valencia in midfield and played Rafael RB. We could have also played Periera (prob too big a game to drop him in it though)
LVG trusts Rooney to do a good job in midfield, which we have seen through out the season, I don't think it shows lack of depth, especially with our performance and the number of players we had out.

 

[VeevaVee]

He must be thinking it's typical. Frozen out, then gets thrown in against the league leaders away!

He's worked hard, but it obviously hasn't happened

He's not even been frozen out as much as he should. He still seems to get way more game time than he should. When he comes on as a sub when we're winning I tell myself its good to rest whoever is coming off but still sigh heavily on the inside.

 

[Tarrou]

Credit to Chelsea, they had their game-plan, they stuck to it, and they got the win. You can't say they didn't deserve it. And they absolutely deserve the title too.

I'm excited for this team though. We can still improve but we're already playing well and dominating matches. We're a good team again, finally.

 

[Nozzy]

People really think we won't take Everton, to the cleaners? Away with you.

 

[Red_Aaron]

Oohhhh Mourinho is soo clever, what a tactician! Where did he get the idea to keep everyone behind the ball and man mark our danger men? Visionary

When our injury news came out I was concerned it would see us change shape and be a bit more negative but we didn't at all, we approached the game in the same way which is really encouraging. I thought we were excellent for the most part and had rvp been fit enough I'm convinced we'd have got at least a point.

The subs were confusing but LVG has too much love from me at the moment to complain about.

Can't wait to play arsenal they'll at least be brave enough to take us on and the winner will take 2nd place

 

[Sylar]

I dont think we were "mourinhod". if we were, we wouldnt have had chances to equalise (well Rooney should have hit the target in the first half when it looked like he scored). Falcao hitting the woodwork and Rooneys free header going over were other chances as well. Added to the fact their goal came from a foul on falcao which left a few players out of position and lead to a piece of magic from Oscar and lovely finish from Hazard.

I think our Subs killed our momentum (again its happened). It was like we stayed with the same system but with weaker players for the system in their position which was mind boggling. Bringing on Di Maria was fine imo. But then bringing on januzaj at the same time was a mistake.

Its a shame, we played well and didnt deserve to lose especially to a goal like that. We need to bounce back against Everton and hopefully have a few players back (if not all) by then.

 

[Judge Red]

The players shouldn't be discouraged by today. Considering the run of games, it was inevitable that points would be dropped somewhere along the line. They've done a fantastic job over recent weeks and this wasn't the same as the defeats last year when we weren't able to compete.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

I haven't seen one person slating shaw

In the match thread.

 

[carlosp]

Oohhhh Mourinho is soo clever, what a tactician! Where did he get the idea to keep everyone behind the ball and man mark our danger men? Visionary

When our injury news came out I was concerned it would see us change shape and be a bit more negative but we didn't at all, we approached the game in the same way which is really encouraging. I thought we were excellent for the most part and had rvp been fit enough I'm convinced we'd have got at least a point.

The subs were confusing but LVG has too much love from me at the moment to complain about.

Can't wait to play arsenal they'll at least be brave enough to take us on and the winner will take 2nd place

I thought we played well, only downside was Falcao.

If we beat Arsenal, we are still one point behind them so it's not to say that we will end second, unless Chelsea beat them of course. If they draw we would still be three points behind.

 

[Red_Aaron]

I thought we played well, only downside was Falcao.

If we beat Arsenal, we are still one point behind them so it's not to say that we will end second, unless Chelsea beat them of course. If they draw we would still be on same points and I can't see us ending second as we have a worse goal difference.

The arsenal game is still a way off yet, I expect them to drop points before then (they won't beat Chelsea for instance) whereas I can't see anyone troubling us at the moment

 

[Catt]

People really think we won't take Everton, to the cleaners? Away with you.

We have to win that now and as I haven't seen much of Everton lately not sure what to expect. But if we play like we have we shall win.

 

[carlosp]

The arsenal game is still a way off yet, I expect them to drop points before then (they won't beat Chelsea for instance) whereas I can't see anyone troubling us at the moment

I'm not so sure, Arsenal are playing well. Also we still have to play them so we can lose that game, though I can't see it, or a draw would suit them too. They also have games left that they will probably win(except our game of course).

 

[FC Ronaldo]

Not sure if anyone has posted this so apologies if they have already...

Louis Van Gaal: Proud Of My Team! Post match press conference -

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Not sure if anyone has posted this so apologies if they have already...

He was rather disgruntled. Good to see.

 

[carlosp]

Not sure if anyone has posted this so apologies if they have already...

Louis Van Gaal: Proud Of My Team! Post match press conference -

Thanks

 

[Dobba]

Oh I do love us having a manager who treats the media with the complete contempt they've earned again.

 

[nick2004]

LVG was self-serving when he said that we were the better team.

No we weren't. Chelsea was better than us. They just had a different game plan than ours, and they executed it brilliantly. They beat us fair and square and they never looked like they are going to lose. We did lose.

Unfortunately we also saw that Mourinho is a much better manager that LVG. I like LVG and I like the football we are playing and I hope he will stay for five or six years. But Mourinho is better, this is the truth.

 

[Acole9]

We deserved a draw at the very least from the match. van Gaal was right the performance quite possibly was the best of the season, it's just a shame that the score line didn't reflect that. I think today showed how far we've come over the season and with a few good quality additions in the summer we will certainly mount a challenge for the title next year.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

LVG was self-serving when he said that we were the better team.

No we weren't. Chelsea was better than us. They just had a different game plan than ours, and they executed it brilliantly. They beat us fair and square and they never looked like they are going to lose. We did lose.

Unfortunately we also saw that Mourinho is a much better manager that LVG. I like LVG and I like the football we are playing and I hope he will stay for five or six years. But Mourinho is better, this is the truth.

Are you an Orc alternate? Serious question.

 

[Hit It]

You could tell LVG had a word with McNair at half time to pass the ball forward and not to De Gea all the time which he rectified after the break. I'm becoming more convinced that he will be a key player for us in years to come.

As for the match, we played some good stuff but we were missing that final ball in their half of the pitch obviously because they played so deep. I just hope other sides don't start using the same tactics as Chelsea did today because its very frustrating to watch.

I also think we could have got a little closer to Terry and Cahill rather than just spraying balls to the wingers. I think Jose was happy with us just doing that because he was confident they could deal with the crosses coming in as we have no real height apart from Fellani who was being man marked by Zouma and Matic. Had Rooney put that early chance away, Chelsea would have come looking for a goal which might have opened them up a little.

 

[pierrethesnack]

LVG was self-serving when he said that we were the better team.

No we weren't. Chelsea was better than us. They just had a different game plan than ours, and they executed it brilliantly. They beat us fair and square and they never looked like they are going to lose. We did lose.

Unfortunately we also saw that Mourinho is a much better manager that LVG. I like LVG and I like the football we are playing and I hope he will stay for five or six years. But Mourinho is better, this is the truth.

Oh.. time to close the thread, then

 

[nick2004]

Are you an Orc alternate? Serious question.

No. Are you a WUM?

 

[mungy]

LVG was self-serving when he said that we were the better team.

No we weren't. Chelsea was better than us. They just had a different game plan than ours, and they executed it brilliantly. They beat us fair and square and they never looked like they are going to lose. We did lose.

Unfortunately we also saw that Mourinho is a much better manager that LVG. I like LVG and I like the football we are playing and I hope he will stay for five or six years. But Mourinho is better, this is the truth.

Bollocks, they where lucky and we dominated, with a full squad with Carrick in the middle and Rooney up front we'd have won. Makes me sick in the stomach listening to posters like you churning out this kind of bollocks.

Great game, great atmosphere we out-sung them and deserved a draw at the very least.

 

[Wayne's World]

After that performance, we will be the team to take that title off them next season, we aren't far away and LVG's system is really starting to click.

 

[WyoManU]

LVG was self-serving when he said that we were the better team.

No we weren't. Chelsea was better than us. They just had a different game plan than ours, and they executed it brilliantly. They beat us fair and square and they never looked like they are going to lose. We did lose.

Unfortunately we also saw that Mourinho is a much better manager that LVG. I like LVG and I like the football we are playing and I hope he will stay for five or six years. But Mourinho is better, this is the truth.

I'm a hopeless cynic, but you take the cake. We were the better side. Yes, Mourinho got his side to play negative, stale and boring football at home, again. This time it worked. It did not work well at all for him in the CL. They were made to look fools playing that way.

They may have conceded the ball and space more to be defensive, but we still had overwhelming possession and created far more chances. They took the one good chance they got, that was the difference. Aside from that, we were the better side. You may not know this, but this is, after all is said and done, a game. As such, it is for entertainment. I am damned proud to support a side that goes for the win in most situations. I could never stomach Mourinho as our manager making tactical decisions like he has today. Congratulations to them for winning the title. I am more proud of the massive strides we have made this season and now am really looking forward to another strong summer transfer window and coming out of the blocks at full speed next season.

 

[Brightonian]

Of course its sour grapes. The very fact the entire post was about us and not about your team playing well is telling. Im also bemused at people suddenly talking about 'expecting a loss' the Chelsea vs United thread was the most bullish ive seen in years!

Really? I can't speak for others, but:

Before our injuries were revealed:

Chelsea will win this one. We look really good again but they're still the better side, and Stamford Bridge under Mourinho is pretty much as impregnable as it gets. Plus Mourinho loves to play against sides who try to dominate possession and territory, because it gives him license to play the pragmatic, counter-attacking football which is his real forté.

And after our injuries were revealed:

Everyone needs to chill out a bit. The Caf was vastly overrating our chances in this fixture anyway. We've been on a good run of form but Chelsea are still the better team by some way and they're absolutely untouchable at Stamford Bridge. Plus we're a possession-centric team and Mourinho eats those for breakfast.

And it's really not sour grapes, because as you've mentioned it was a really pleasing performance from us, and as you can see I was expecting a loss anyway, even before we lost key players to injury. I didn't post about said pleasing performance because, surprisingly given our default negativity, the Caf was already full of it, and as a rule I try not to bother just writing the same thing everyone else is writing. It goes without saying I thought we were excellent and I'm basically as pleased as you can be after a defeat.

The opinion about the way Chelsea approach CL knockout games under Mourinho is one I've held since PSG last season - I always support the English teams in the CL bar Liverpool, and I've found it intensely frustrating watching Chelsea set out as if they're the weaker team when they're not. And it just occurred to me that the way they play these big PL games (us today, Liverpool last season) is actually linked with the way they seem to undervalue themselves against European opposition in my opinion.

 

[Tincanalley]

That's pretty honest. Fair enough.

I'm a thick and thin man myself.

Well its a pretty thin old wafer you are looking at there; Manchester United have a long tradition of playing decent football, and this is a good reason for pride. It is a value stated by the club and players and supporters for half a century. If Manchester United stopped having those values they would stop being Manchester United, and you wouldn't know who you were playing against.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

I'm pleased even if we lost cause this was one more step in building our team and way of playing.
We were better for the most part, just didnt have the cutting edge especially in the 1st half. They sat deep, defended and gave us a lot of space but we couldnt take advantage partly cause they were well organised at the back and we lacked that final pass that would kill them off.
I feared we would loose the ball in the mid, get caught and concede and unfortunately that happened.
Our heads didnt drop though although they started the 2nd half a bit better, but we got back into it and were dangerous but couldnt score.
I think overall we were unlucky not to get at least point.
I'm pleased too cause we looked good despite the fact we missed Carrick and Blind. I hope they'll be back, esp. Carrick for Everton.
This just confirmed once more we do need a new CM as a backup for next season, maybe even 2, so we dont end up mixing it with Rooney in midfield (although he played a good game imo)

one more point. This just proved to me once more why I didnt want Mourinho as our manager, you play at home against your rival who is ravaged with injuries and you play defensively, trying to nullify them and trying to hit them on the counter despite the great team you have. Sure, he gets the results and plenty but if there ever was a United way I sure wouldnt want it to look like that....
They set up today like a weaker team trying to knick a win against a tougher opposition.
And its Chelsea ffs with all those good players.

I think with a few additions we look good for the next season.

 

[prarek]

LVG was self-serving when he said that we were the better team.

No we weren't. Chelsea was better than us. They just had a different game plan than ours, and they executed it brilliantly. They beat us fair and square and they never looked like they are going to lose. We did lose.

Unfortunately we also saw that Mourinho is a much better manager that LVG. I like LVG and I like the football we are playing and I hope he will stay for five or six years. But Mourinho is better, this is the truth.

Mate its time to stop posting. Had Rooney scored that goal from a Shaw pass or had De Gea saved from Hazard it could have been a different story. The margin for error was very small. Its the small details that won/lost the game. Chelsea won fair and square i agree.

 

[Tincanalley]

LVG was self-serving when he said that we were the better team.

No we weren't. Chelsea was better than us. They just had a different game plan than ours, and they executed it brilliantly. They beat us fair and square and they never looked like they are going to lose. We did lose.

Unfortunately we also saw that Mourinho is a much better manager that LVG. I like LVG and I like the football we are playing and I hope he will stay for five or six years. But Mourinho is better, this is the truth.

*Rude expression witheld. Rather mild smile*. Mourhino is not a much better manager than LVG.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Without wanting to illicit rage in here, many of you are acting as though this was the absolute strongest Chelsea side possible and you guys played us off the park and should've won by 5 goals.

We had a near 40 year old striker up top and a CB in midfield. Our own injuries forced us into these tactics and we played to Mourinho's instructions flawlessly.

You guys should be delighted with a few things in that match. Shaw and Herrera in particular. Both were brilliant.

Hang on a minute, you were only missing Costa and played Zouma instead of Willian to combat Fellaini.

 

[stevoc]

LVG was self-serving when he said that we were the better team.

No we weren't. Chelsea was better than us. They just had a different game plan than ours, and they executed it brilliantly. They beat us fair and square and they never looked like they are going to lose. We did lose.

Unfortunately we also saw that Mourinho is a much better manager that LVG. I like LVG and I like the football we are playing and I hope he will stay for five or six years. But Mourinho is better, this is the truth.

fecking hell are you a WUM?

 

[Sarni]

LVG was self-serving when he said that we were the better team.

No we weren't. Chelsea was better than us. They just had a different game plan than ours, and they executed it brilliantly. They beat us fair and square and they never looked like they are going to lose. We did lose.

Unfortunately we also saw that Mourinho is a much better manager that LVG. I like LVG and I like the football we are playing and I hope he will stay for five or six years. But Mourinho is better, this is the truth.

Why couldn't he beat the inferior manager at OT then, in a game where we were completely out of form and struggling massively?

 

[ItsEssexRob]

Hang on a minute, you were only missing Costa and played Zouma instead of Willian to combat Fellaini.

No.. Remy too, we were down to having a 37 year old as a lone striker.

 

[Orc]

Hang on a minute, you were only missing Costa and played Zouma instead of Willian to combat Fellaini.

No.. Remy too, we were down to having a 37 year old as a lone striker.

This.

We were missing our first and second best strikers.