[RDCR07]

It could be worse, we could be Chelsea.

We will be once we lose at Everton next match.

 

[Cristiano_RAFC]

Started with the wrong midfield. We needed Schneiderlin in there along with either Carrick or Schweinsteiger. Not both against Arsenal. We should have started a counter attacking game and soak the pressure but in stead we gave them plenty of space in midfield and they punished us. I was worried with our midfield from the start and unfortunately this is how it has turned out.

 

[Lennon7]

I'm all for bringing Valencia on at right back. A bit of pace and strength on either side is what's needed to even slightly contain Walcott and Sanchez in this game.

 

[Shamwow]

Sort your fecking heads out players, you're getting shown up by a bunch of bottlers and a 19 year old is the only one who doesn't deserve any criticism.

 

[Will Singh]

Remember when Ronaldo and Rooney tore them apart on the break?

That's the way we should have played this match tactically.

That was under SAF, under LVG it's bore them to death with possession!

 

[Sigma]

We'll win 4-3

 

[berbatrick]

Oh, and Arsenal (Cazorla, Ozil, Sanchez, Ramsey, Walcott) have been amazing.

 

[Reckless Full Back]

it is ok to lose one game

It's not about the loss. It's about how crap we are playing and keep slow passing the ball when 3 goal down.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Definitely. And its been so bad that we may be able to write it off as an aberration/tiredness.

Doubt many will take such an outlook though.

But it's also our first real big test of the season. I think it would be remiss to just write this off as a freak... we clearly need to a) learn from this and b) accept we're probably not quite as good as we thought we were 24 hours ago.

 

[BringNaniBack]

Look forward to requoting this in a few seasons.

Well if its being requoted in a few seasons due to him doing well then he wouldn't be overrated anymore. Right now he is and he was before we signed him. There wont be any need to requote anyway, he will be an OK player, nothing more.

 

[LazyRed-Ninja]

These type of games require players playing in their natural positions. Young at LB was a gamble and Darmian unfortunately has a shocker on the right. Midfield os getting overrun and we lack that killer bal to set up our attackers. 3 goals in the second half, very very unrealistic, but strangers things have happened.

 

[mav_9me]

Remember when Ronaldo and Rooney tore them apart on the break?

That's the way we should have played this match tactically.

Agree. Won't blame LVG for going with the usual game plan of taking control of possession but sitting deep and counter attack may have been the better option, which is always the case against arsenal.

 

[Acole9]

Nice to see the Rooney haters brigade are out in force in large numbers as per usual. He has been poor but there's been four or five who have been worse this match!

 

[Dobba]

I want Rooney to stay on.

Hi Wayne.

 

[RRCE]

The result may be a foregone conclusion, but the second half will be a big test of character for the team. I expect a couple of changes at hard time. It's time for LVG to make some intelligent tactical changes and the players to show some pride and play for the crest.

 

[christinaa]

I like Darmian but this has been his worst game.

 

[Jazz]

Just want to see us play with some pride and get something. Anyway, good lesson to learn for the rest of the season imo. We better not repeat this shite.

 

[LazyRed-Ninja]

But it's also our first real big test of the season. I think it would be remiss to just write this off as a freak... we clearly need to a) learn from this and b) accept we're probably not quite as good as we thought we were 24 hours ago.

Liverpool at home despite their form was also a test to be fair.

 

[Needham]

We'll win 4-3

Agreed that Arsenal won't score again. What Utd do is another matter.

 

[Striker10]

Arsenal were good and the finishes was clinical - so for them it's one of those days where they're going in. We need to halves much better. I'm disappointed at the lack of someone on the touchline telling the players to calm it down. To keep repeating mistakes is stupid.

 

[Zexstream]

We haven't even shown "great character" FFS.

 

[montpelier]

more mobile than us, quicker than us, passing better than us, hungrier than us and they've finished well

Memphis, Carrick, Schweinsteiger all horribly bad, Rooney & Mata very marginally better than that

horribly bad is kind on Memphis

 

[criticalanalysis]

I sense a 3 5 2 here?

Darmian Smalling Blind

Mata Rooney Carrick Schweinsteiger Young

Fellani Martial

??

 

[Irrational.]

I'm at work so not able to watch the game. Are we really as bad as the scoreline suggests?

I'm calling on the spirit of Crystabul for us to get something from the game.

Also, how the f*ck did this team lose to Chelsea?!

 

[An Irish Red]

I dread the thought of Valencias positioning in this second half...

 

[Riz]

Wouldn't blame van Gaal for the back 4 selection. I wanted Darmian at RB because he's our best 1 vs 1 defender from the options to play there, sadly he's being ripped a new one.

Louis has to take the blame for the midfield though, it's the worst pairing we could have opted for against Arsenal.

I hope but doubt this is the final straw that leads to Rooney being dropped.

 

[Jazz]

We will be once we lose at Everton next match.

C'mon be a bit positive

 

[SinghofSteel]

it is ok to lose one game

Nothing to do with losing, it's the way in which we're losing which is absolutely disgraceful. There is simply no excuse for the way we collapsed. Players AND the manager need to take a look at themselves for me.

 

[SirFergie]

Its not about losing a game. This is embarrassing. If we lost 3-2 then by all means yes. But we haven't even played football the first half. Just standing and watching.

Agreed. It's the fact that it's been easy for them and we don't remotely look like getting close to make a tackle. We're not challenging them at all, they've got acres of space to move into and an infinite amount of time to pick the right pass. Should be 4-0.

A shocking performance and yet another before an international break. A bottle job is what I'd call it to be honest.

 

[DevilRed]

ARSESTANBUL

 

[BD]

We've been poor but Arsenal have been ridiculously good. Normally it might be 1/2-0 with a hope of coming back into it, but Arsenal have been the best I've seen them in a big game in absolutely ages.

 

[Scarecrow]

I want Rooney to stay on.

Me too. He looked better in the last 15 minutes, plus there are a few players that deserve to go out more than him.

 

[RonaldoVII]

Fellaini and Valencia coming on. Should be Schneiderlin too.

 

[Cooksen]

No Schinderlin FFS

 

[NessunDorma]

Without wanting to sound like a deluded Kopite, we need a bit of the old Fergie spirit here, and a comeback mightn't be beyond us. Fight 'em like our survival as a club depends it . . .

 

[SuperiorXI]

Is one of their players wearing different coloured boots? Christ on a fecking bike.

 

[RDCR07]

I can't believe we are this short in depth. One injury to Shaw and it changes everything. An injury to Mata and we are down to reserves playing for us.

 

[Red Shorts]

Fair play to Arsenal, they have been absolutely brilliant; the best performance I have seen against us this season, and they fully deserve to be 4 or 5 up. We haven't turned up, simple as that.

 

[finneh]

Truth be told we've been blown away. We expected to walk out and have 65% possession and be able to walk around and dictate play. Van Gaal clearly felt this would be the case also with selecting the slowest central midfield partnership in years.

Unfortunately we've come up against a wounded team who've rallied around their manager after everyone's calling for his head.

It's managerial naivety for me. I don't rate Schneiderlin as a footballer, but he had to play to give us legs in the midfield. Likewise I'm not a huge fan but I'd probably have played Fellaini in the role he enjoyed towards the end of last season. Not because he's fantastic but because he'd have caused then problems.

Sometimes you have to look at the opposition as well as yourselves, a game at the Emirates is one such situation.

 

[christinaa]

Now we shall see if LVG is a capable manager - those that manage to make a difference in the second half. Few of them around = Mourinho / Guardiola

 

[Scorpy]

Schneilderlin should be coming on for Carrick and Valencia for Darmian/Young. Putting Fellaini on would be pointless, as we'll play 45 minutes of hoofball.

Hopefully Martial stays on, he's been the only bright spot. He did brilliantly to create his chance, but didn't really see where he was shooting the ball, so credit to Cech for his positioning. Martial did it well and was unlucky.

 

[buckooo1978]

can't understand Van Gaal's tactics at all - he played it right last year and we were fortunate to win

the approach today has been ridiculous

lets play for pride in this second half lads