[Rory 7]

People have spent the last two years saying he needs to play no.9 - he's running out of excuses

No people have spent most of his career saying he shouldn't be played left wing or CM.

 

[Dirty Schwein]

Annoying watching the game. Seemed toothless in attack. Everything apart from that was decent. Chicha added some urgency and I hope he starts next game.

 

[eggwithsideburns]

We were unlucky not to get a goal and the win. We started of promising and it looked like we really were up for it, but in the end it turned out to be a frustrating day.

I think before the season started that most people had the feeling we were short in the attacking department and its turning out to be all to true.

 

[space]

We should have won easily, had 3 or 4 very good chances.

 

[Barca84]

he's completely right on all the points though

No he isn't. He's wrong about absolutely everything and he's clearly one of those feckers you can have the joy of being next to at a match hurling abuse for 90 minutes. Not too many of them left these days thank God but the odd neanderthal still limps on. He's a Grade A tosser.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Watch the fecking replays. How the hell wasn't it offside? Rooney was further forward than the defender when the ball was played forward.

Watched the replays now hundred times, how can anyone state that it was clearly offside, maybe he was marginally but the player who would have played him onside was on the opposite side to the linesman and hidden by Rooney. The decision could easily have gone either way but to you of course it was blindingly obvious that he was offside

 

[Name Changed]

Watched the replays now hundred times, how can anyone state that it was clearly offside, maybe he was marginally but the player who would have played him onside was on the opposite side to the linesman and hidden by Rooney. The decision could easily have gone either way but to you of course it was blindingly obvious that he was offside

He was either offside or he wasn't. And he was. It's as simple as not. But of course you say it wasn't offside, after just admitting that he was marginally offside.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Watched the replays now hundred times, how can anyone state that it was clearly offside, maybe he was marginally but the player who would have played him onside was on the opposite side to the linesman and hidden by Rooney. The decision could easily have gone either way but to you of course it was blindingly obvious that he was offside

It was marginal, yes, but the linesman did his job properly and disallowed it. It could have gone either way. However the decision is correct. If we are bleating about a correctly disallowed goal then it is masking the fact why could we still not score from all the so called pressure we had?

 

[Ixion]

It was offside but if it hadn't been given I don't think Newcastle would have been up in arms about it as it was very close.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

It was offside but if it hadn't been given I don't think Newcastle would have been up in arms about it as it was very close.

Like we shouldn't be up in arms that it was disallowed.

 

[RedRover]

I'll say what I did after the Tottenham match and then the Villa match.

To slow to move the ball forward
Results in opposition easily getting into a strong defensive shapee
United Make life hard for themselves trying to break down 11 men.
End up passing the ball around the edge of their box
Possession is lost
***After 60mins***
Get the ball out wide
Cross as much as possible
Obviously no established headers in our attack
Possession lost

I think that's spot on. it's frustrating how slowly we move the ball.

There's also a permanently massive gap between our midfield and attack with nobody to link up play.

We look good in defence - very solid, but have little threat going forward or any end product. The midweek game highlighted the problem - they came to play and didn't sit back and we looked a much better side. But the fact is Most sides will sit back and we have to be good enough to break them down.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

He was either offside or he wasn't. And he was. It's as simple as not. But of course you say it wasn't offside, after just admitting that he was marginally offside.

It was marginal, yes, but the linesman did his job properly and disallowed it. It could have gone either way. However the decision is correct. If we are bleating about a correctly disallowed goal then it is masking the fact why could we still not score from all the so called pressure we had?

Yesterday hadn't seen the replays but I'm not bleating about a disallowed goal which could have gone either way -we've had goals given that were offside and onside goals that were not given.
We had plenty of chances to score and should have won easily. but if the goal had been allowed which no-one can deny it could easily have been given, the match would have been different and Rooney wouldn't be getting the flak he has.
Having said that we do need to sign a top class forward

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Yesterday hadn't seen the replays but I'm not bleating about a disallowed goal which could have gone either way -we've had goals given that were offside and onside goals that were not given.
We had plenty of chances to score and should have won easily. but if the goal had been allowed which no-one can deny it could easily have been given, the match would have been different and Rooney wouldn't be getting the flak he has.
Having said that we do need to sign a top class forward

We definitely need another forward. Rooney is better off a main striker if he likes it or not. It is very rare that he hasn't played second fiddle to a more prolific striker.

 

[Name Changed]

Yesterday hadn't seen the replays but I'm not bleating about a disallowed goal which could have gone either way -we've had goals given that were offside and onside goals that were not given.
We had plenty of chances to score and should have won easily. but if the goal had been allowed which no-one can deny it could easily have been given, the match would have been different and Rooney wouldn't be getting the flak he has.
Having said that we do need to sign a top class forward

I wasn't disagreeing with anything you said other than when you said the goal was onside. I agree with the rest.

 

[Name Changed]

We definitely need another forward. Rooney is better off a main striker if he likes it or not. It is very rare that he hasn't played second fiddle to a more prolific striker.

I have doubts as to whether he'll be that good as number 9 also.

 

[Fully Fledged]

This cracked me up.

He's right though.

 

[Parma Dewol]

Did anyone else think our delivery from out wide was abysmal? I haven't yet watched the highlights but it seemed we were moving the ball really well on the flanks and Darmian, Mata, Memphis and Shaw were all repeatedly getting to the byline or a great crossing position, only to spurn the opportunity. Even our delivery from corners (we had loads of them) seemed really poor.

Can't argue with the fact that we're suffering a minor goal drought, but quality of delivery is going to have to improve to change that.

 

[Sandikan]

I actually agree we need a world class No. 9, the worry I have is if Rooney cannot perform the 10 role now either. Also he really wants this scoring record. Will he try to score when it would be better to pass to the No. 9?

it looked like 20 goals to beat Charlton's record would be a given, being only 30 this season. But now I'm very much thinking back to Owen only needing 10 more goals to get the England record at 27.
The way Rooney's going he's not going to make it.

What I don't understand, is that last year, we had VP and Van Gaal still brought in Falcao, who no one could have imagined would flop so ridiculously. Therefore, the plan was obviously never to play Rooney as a 9 then.

So what changed so massively to not only play him as the 9, but to literally have nothing else as an option there.
I don't think he wants Hernandez for even a second, but we're sort of forced there.

 

[stepic]

Rooney is terrible as a 10 too. Just pings the ball out wide. Yay.

 

[El Zoido]

it looked like 20 goals to beat Charlton's record would be a given, being only 30 this season. But now I'm very much thinking back to Owen only needing 10 more goals to get the England record at 27.
The way Rooney's going he's not going to make it.

What I don't understand, is that last year, we had VP and Van Gaal still brought in Falcao, who no one could have imagined would flop so ridiculously. Therefore, the plan was obviously never to play Rooney as a 9 then.

So what changed so massively to not only play him as the 9, but to literally have nothing else as an option there.
I don't think he wants Hernandez for even a second, but we're sort of forced there.

He'll get there. Injuries ruined Owen but Rooney goes through enough purple patches to be worth at least 10 a season. Assuming we qualify for the CL I can see him hitting 15 for the season.

 

[Sandikan]

He'll get there. Injuries ruined Owen but Rooney goes through enough purple patches to be worth at least 10 a season. Assuming we qualify for the CL I can see him hitting 15 for the season.

I thought he'd very comfortably get 20+ this season, and often popped into the anti-Rooney threads to defend him.

But this start is shocking.
Just looks like a really unfit out of shape old bloke right now.
Almost like we're facing the Gerrard situation Liverpool faced, but way too early.

 

[jem]

This cracked me up.

You know i have my moments where i'll swear at the screen, but it's a bit embarrasing to see a grown man that angry, particularly after a relatively benign draw to newcastle. Maybe having kids has mellowed me out.

 

[Dr Fink]

He can definitely take corners. His delivery has been very good mostly. Our corner delivery now is miles better than it's been since RVP was taking them in 12/13.

Then how come 90% of them didn't make it past the first man? Mata should take them on the right. I want him to do well, but he looked way, way off the pace after that body check 25 mins in. A lot learn.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Out of 11 corners, 2 didn't beat the first man when they should have as there was no near post run.

A couple of the corners he took were played to the man running the near post, and each time the runner was doubled up on, so don't really count.

Not sure how you've calculated 90%

 

[Rich_H_1989]

The offside decision was correct but it was marginal. I think (and I'm not sure because they seem to change the rule so often) the rule is that you are considered offside if any part of your body with which you can play the ball is past the last defender.

That's the rule I as I used to understand it.

Now... It's very very close as to whether Rooney's feet are in line with the defender. But he's leaning forward and therefore his chest (which he can play the ball with) is offside.

Having said that what a silly rule if that's still correct. Because of course as an attacker your body will be leaning forwards as you run. Meanwhile as a defender you would be going the opposite direction.

Anyway, it's one of those really isn't it? We have been on the right end of those decisions and the wrong end.

Having had time today to reflect on the game I guess we have to be pleased that we've had another clean sheet and we are still undefeated... But that doesn't mean the performance on the whole wasn't good enough! And we had a great chance yesterday to win the game and take maximum points from our first 3 games.

We started very well yesterday. In fact in the first 10 minutes I thought we may see 3/4 goals. We moved the ball with tempo and got in behind Newcastle. But they then grew in to the game and generally after that they were pretty comfortable.

The last ten or so minutes were much much more like the united of old. We camped out in their half and at least kept the pressure on. But I never really felt like that goal was going to come. Krul had very little to do all day and it wasn't like he made any worldies in the last few minutes.

Special praise to Colloccini though I think at times our lack of movement made it easier for him. But he was very solid and didn't put a foot wrong.

 

[Oaencha]

I think that's spot on. it's frustrating how slowly we move the ball.

There's also a permanently massive gap between our midfield and attack with nobody to link up play.

We look good in defence - very solid, but have little threat going forward or any end product. The midweek game highlighted the problem - they came to play and didn't sit back and we looked a much better side. But the fact is Most sides will sit back and we have to be good enough to break them down.

We only looked genuinely dangerous going forward last season when Herrera and Mata linked up. Sadly, for whatever reason LVG doesn't want them to play together this season.

 

[RedRover]

We only looked genuinely dangerous going forward last season when Herrera and Mata linked up. Sadly, for whatever reason LVG doesn't want them to play together this season.

Indeed. Herrera should be starting for me.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Do we have any players who can cross well when they are with the ball (not dead ball). And I mean get at least 60% of the crosses not to go above everyone's heads.
Shaw and Depay seem so terrible when crossing.

 

[MrSingh2002]

Do we have any players who can cross well when they are with the ball (not dead ball). And I mean get at least 60% of the crosses not to go above everyone's heads.
Shaw and Depay seem so terrible when crossing.

Young

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Beckham

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Young

He is hit and miss. Remember Fulham game when Moyes was here?

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Beckham

He was a genius. Could put the ball on a sixpence.

 

[Litch]

3 bloody games in. People need to grow up and have some patience.....

 

[Lewis.no.9]

3 bloody games in. People need to grow up and have some patience.....

but the things we saw finally click last season after "having patience" all last year too (i.e Herrera and Mata's chemistry) gets broken up for no apparent reason this year when we are struggling for goals. So every year we have to be patient?. Van Gaals only got 3 years. Presumably he wanted to win something at this club surely?. And if he never thought that was realistic then we sure as hell shouldnt have appointed him manager.

 

[pierrethesnack]

3 bloody games in. People need to grow up and have some patience.....

The whole point of the forum is to discuss things. If you come in here and expect page up and down with posts like "We need to be patient" " Yes, mate we do need time", then you're in the wrong place.

 

[Barca84]

The whole point of the forum is to discuss things. If you come in here and expect page up and down with posts like "We need to be patient" " Yes, mate we do need time", then you're in the wrong place.

Oh the irony.

 

[pierrethesnack]

Oh the irony.

Nope.

 

[Barca84]

He's right though.

Nope. He's wrong on every count. He's graduated with a first class honours degree from the University of fecking wrongness. Captain fecking wrong, head of the army of wrongness.

He's also a complete twat obviously and more often than not can no doubt be heard shouting "you fecking cnut" at our own players

 

[acrebo]

We look good in defence - very solid, but have little threat going forward or any end product. The midweek game highlighted the problem - they came to play and didn't sit back and we looked a much better side. But the fact is Most sides will sit back and we have to be good enough to break them down.

It was the same last season. Our improvement in form towards the end coincided with playing a handful of decent teams who attacked us and left gaps for us to exploit. We were able to control those games and take advantage of these teams committing players forward.

As soon as we reverted to playing 'lower' sides who set themselves up more defensively, we struggled again.

He'll get there. Injuries ruined Owen but Rooney goes through enough purple patches to be worth at least 10 a season. Assuming we qualify for the CL I can see him hitting 15 for the season.

15 goals in all competitions for the leading forward in a side that should be competing on all fronts is below average. If Costa, Aguero or even Giroud hits <15 goals this season then they'll be disappointed with their contribution.

 

[Barca84]

Nope.

Yep.

Chiding someone for posting their view on things on the basis that this is a forum for discussion and to not expect full agreement is, indeed, hugely ironic.