[justboy68]

I was mightily impressed with Darmian in that half. He was flawless defensively. His key positioning saved us a few times early on.

 

[BW.k]

Darmian looks like he's been here since ages!

 

[Relevated]

Why doesnt Valdes even have the United suit.

 

[United22]

Not an amazing half by any standards. Only two good things to arise from it is Darmian and Walkers OG. Rooney once again playing like a pub striker (dunno what he was doing fumbling with that chance), Mata getting bullied out wide and Schneiderlin has shat him self and is losing the ball a lot. Move Mata central, get Depay out wide and get Herrera in

 

[marlowe78]

We looked much more certain after the goal, that was some luck we needed. Memphis has shown some brilliant turns of foot. Darmian and Carrick have been superb.

The main problem ATM is our buildup, as usual. We are relying too much on Mata to carry the ball deep and he gets pushed back like a ragdoll anytime he's confronted by the fullback. I know that Mata is better in possession but you have to take on the man in front of you in order to gain that key corner area to get the crosses off. Take Mata out for Herrera and play Memphis on the wing 2nd half. It would make us far more dangerous.

 

[0161_UNITED]

Memphis has looked the business, and Darmian is a breath of fresh air after a season of Valencia. Romero has been fed to the wolves and looks shaky. Kane was immense for the first 25 minutes or so, he's the real deal.

 

[DWelbz19]

Damian and Smalling have been fantastic. The other have been meh at best. Need to stop giving away the ball. Especially Morgan and Mata. Rooney looks unconvincing up front

Agreed. Would take Schneiderlin off for Ander, or push Memphis on the wing, Young hasn't had the best game against Walker.

 

[Red Dreams]

I'm convinced we're playing 4-4-2, not sure I'm a fan of it though.

We are playing 4-4-2...which only works with a solid ball winner and fast attacking wingers.

We need to dominate midfield more.

 

[RuudTom83]

I'm missing the game, but it sounds like LVG's brand of football from the comments.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Think the Rooney critcism is harsh. His movement has been good, he is link up play has looked promising if rusty. Case in point the curling cross from deep aimed toward Memphis.

Starting to feel more confident about him leading the line this season. Its easy to forget how good he can be as lone striker.

He did very little. Almost messed up a sitter as well. Walker saved him big time. The cross field pass was good.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

We look all right,lousy start but grew into it aftet the goal. We neee more pace im the attack and herrera should come in and thats not a joke. We miss a link between 2 mids and the attack.

 

[nick2004]

Looks good!

We have more points than any other team in the league, more goals for, zero goals against!

And we haven't even started shooting yet! Imagine!...

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Are people really saying Rooney's been shite? Fecking hell. He's probably give the ball away once, which was near the end of the first half. Other than that, he's link up play, one touch passing and hold up play has been good.

Anyway, I'm glad we're winning but we need to up the tempo. It's too slow.

Positives:

Memphis plays the game with ease

Darmian looks like he could be our right back for years to come

Rooney looks sharp

Second half, I would honestly think about putting Valencia on for Mata. If Van Gaal's not going to play him behind the forward, then he shouldn't be playing, in my opinion, especially with the way we're playing now. Last season it wasn't too bad because he had Herrera to link up with, but when he's got no one to link up with, he lacks that burst of pace to go past a player.

 

[Cee90]

We've been sluggish in the first half, also I really don't understand our need to constantly pass it back to the keeper when we can make an easy clearance upfield. Possession philosophy?

Hopefully the second half is better.

 

[hbgreg]

Is "play Mata centrally and Memphis out wide" the new "play the diamond"?

 

[Irrational.]

Kane, Pedro, Oblak and Ramos is the only way we're winning the league this year.
White text - but it's true!

 

[Sunny Jim]

Depay needs to go out wide.

Mata in central.

Pedro in for Young.

Herrera in for Schneiderlin or Carrick.

You speak too much sense. Van gaal doesnt like that.

 

[BW.k]

Tidy first half. Should look to kill the game off before '70 mark.

 

[Jed I. Knight]

I'm convinced we're playing 4-4-2, not sure I'm a fan of it though.

Yes, it's an obvious 4-4-2 shape. I don't see how anyone can claim anything else. Rooney and Memphis are both much higher than the midfield four, and the two of them are responsible for the first pressure alone. In any variation of 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, the wide midfielders are much more involved with the first pressure.

 

[FreakyJim]

The worst 442 I've ever seen. Slow, static, shit.
What have we been doing the whole summer I really don't know.

 

[DiceRoller]

Young the other stand out.

Is rarely being able to get past your man stand out?

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Rio's got a nice tan going.

 

[Red Dreams]

Rooney is been fine. As the season goes on he will get fully in stride and have a superb season.

 

[Eriku]

Looking good. Was wondering whether this would turn into one of the frustrating affairs where we can't create anything significant, but we've been pegging them back for the most part since our goal.

Schneiderlin seems to have a habit of being caught on the ball by a defender coming from the back though. I wouldn't say that based off today alone, but it happened every match I saw with him in pre-season.

Depay looking nippy. Wouldn't bank against him scoring.

 

[mitchmouse]

In many ways, so like last season. Slow build up and far from the excitement United are famous for. That said. midfield does look a bit more solid and Darmian is a proper defender. By far our best playes so far. There was an interesting piece about him in (I think) the Times on Thursday: he hates his girlfirlend smoking in the house (good) and keeps the place absolutely spotless (to the extent that he is slightly OCD, it seems). This 45 mins shows that although there were one or two nice passes from Rooney, we are lacking a forward - and the more I think about it the more I want Zlatan - and we need a top top-class CB - as if we didn't know that. Oh and did anyone notice idiots BT showing the scoreline as United 0 Spurs 1, presumably because Kyle Walker scored!

 

[poisson]

Just put Herrera on and take Carrick off and I think we'll be fine but who knows? I just want to win tbh - don't care how at the moment.

What??? Carrick has been our best player in the middle. Take him off and we'll collapse!

 

[rover]

romero won't be a problem as a shot stopper. room for improvement in decision making to move the ball around though

 

[Freak]

at Rooney needing the defender to finish for him.

 

[Stack]

pereira will come in for young. & still think chicharito will have a role in this game as well

I wouldnt mind seeing Young switch to the right and Mata come off with Pereira playing on the left.

 

[XdanielredX]

Tidy first half. Should look to kill the game off before '70 mark.

More like underwhelming and disjointed.

 

[Escobar]

Memphis is a winger. Young same old, just doesn't do enough or something productive

 

[Man-United]

Regarding thread marks, is it possible to hide those? They come up fast so it's impossible to be on the caf while watching this on the legal stream.

 

[Leg-End]

Darmian at RB looks already like a huge upgrade, absolutely brilliant defending ability.

 

[Clas Sified]

I really want Chicha to come on for Rooney in the second half. We need his energy among the Spuds CBs. They're making mistakes without proper pressure, Hernandez would tear these defenders a new one.

 

[FortBoyard]

Kane, Pedro, Oblak and Ramos is the only way we're winning the league this year.
White text - but it's true!

You named youself correctly.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

Romero has been decent if I may say so.

 

[Stack]

Just put Herrera on and take Carrick off and I think we'll be fine but who knows? I just want to win tbh - don't care how at the moment.

Carrick has been playing really well.

 

[swooshboy]

Not a bad half after a slow start.

Darmian is a brick wall. No one has had the better of him yet. Winning everything. Attacks sensibly. Impressive start. Schneiderlin has been very good defensively. Not so good with the ball, some poor passes, but that will come with sharpness. Young and Memphis have done well too. A couple of times I thought Memphis should have passed rather than trying a shot, but he is looking confident. His touch and turns are great.

Rooney is putting in his usual lottery performance. Some very good touches and linking up, then some godawful ones. I don't think he did badly for the goal. The ball was played in to him with some real force, and had a short bounce on it. He could have ballooned it over quite easily. It was a difficult ball to deal with.

Surely a world class striker would have put that away first time.

 

[Mibabalou]

I thought Memphis looked good, really pressing defensively which has led to a few turnovers deep in their half. On the ball he's been decent but made some good runs and passes.

Schneiderlin has lost it a few times but he's won it back at least the same amount.

I think the worst thing has been out formation. To most of us if we took off Young and played Herrara in a 4-3-3 with Memphis left and Mata right I think we would look a lot better.

Hopefully he gets some time along with Schweinsteiger.

 

[Jonnymufc]

Can't believe criticism of Schneiderlin, exactly what we need in the middle of park, physicality. Also has won the ball about 8 times. He's gonna be immense for us.

Overall, much better after the goal but we need to be much more aggressive. Definite pre-season feel to it.