[Inigo Montoya]

I suppose Zlatan will be given a well deserved mini break.
I would send Lingard on an extended break but he is the type of player that should play in the Carling and FA cup.

Not any more, it's the EFL Cup

 

[Escobar]

But Mason was just useless, this was pretty bad and he lost his bottle....but on the bright side West Ham lost!!!

What's the difference? Both got obvious calls wrong that had a huge influence in the game

 

[Dobba]

Bilic saying that Jones should've been the one getting the red card in that situation

I'm surprised anyone manages to pick out a single word the monotone twat says.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Due to "the way he attacked the ball" and because "Feghouli usually doesnt do things like that". No, but he talked plenty about the offside goal.

But on this occasion he did!

 

[Festive Sandvich]

You work with what you're given. Mike Dean has a shocker in our favour today, just as Lee Mason did against us the other day. What encourages me most was our reaction to both. Last season we would've failed to ramp it up against a 10 men West Ham with LvG, and at no point demonstrated the constitution to keep going and going again against a determined Boro trying to hold on to a 0-1 with the ref helping out every step of the way. Feels like Jose is getting that Fergie mentality back in to what has, for the last 3 seasons, been a pretty much bollockless squad.

 

[OLLY ORANGE]

A quality result especially after the busy Xmas period.
I agree with Jose the side doesn't look like a title challenging side but does look like a side that can win the next game. Things look promising and we are now starting to look like our old selves.
Onwards and upwards. Enjoying my footy again.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

What's the difference? Both got obvious calls wrong that had a huge influence in the game

Mason didn't have that much influence on the game mate- we won, move on!

 

[Rado_N]

Bilic to get away with criticism of the ref do we think?

Don't get me wrong, he's right, but gotta be consistent.

 

[Festive Sandvich]

You work with what you're given. Mike Dean has a shocker in our favour today, just as Lee Mason did against us the other day. What encourages me most was our reaction to both. Last season we would've failed to ramp it up against a 10 men West Ham with LvG, and at no point demonstrated the constitution to keep going and going again against a determined Boring trying to hold on to a 0-1 with the ref helping out every step of the way. Feels like Jose is getting that Fergie mentality back in to what has, for the last 3 seasons, been a pretty much bollockless squad.

Boro - not boring, goddammit auto-correct!

 

[Escobar]

Mason didn't have that much influence on the game mate- we won, move on!

Eh? What were you watching? And surely you wouldn't have played cool if we lost the game

 

[December_16]

What's the difference? Both got obvious calls wrong that had a huge influence in the game

Well, I'd say Mason's boo boo was a more straightforward feck-up, because it's an legitimate goal disallowed, a direct impact on the scoreline, which, you know, determines the outcome of the game. Meanwhile, giving a harsh red doesn't automatically impact the scoreline. And I still don't think Dean gave a wrong card. He certainly had his reasons why Ferghouli's lounge was deemed dangerous.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

A quality result especially after the busy Xmas period.
I agree with Jose the side doesn't look like a title challenging side but does look like a side that can win the next game. Things look promising and we are now starting to look like our old selves.
Onwards and upwards. Enjoying my footy again.

Er...not quite the free flowing football of old but we'll get there

 

[Festive Sandvich]

Mason didn't have that much influence on the game mate- we won, move on!

Just because we won doesn't mean the refereeing performance was any less crap, oppo fans will seize on today's failures while conveniently forgetting Mason's horror show.

 

[RedElf]

Good subs by JM, ground out a result against a stubborn team.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Eh? What were you watching? And surely you wouldn't have played cool if we lost the game

If but and maybe? We didn't, so move on...my final word on the subject pal. If you want to live in the past that's your right.

 

[WyoManU]

Definitely rode our luck today. Mind you, we were well due to have some calls go our way. The red card was never a red for me. Ibra's goal was also pretty blatantly offside. DDG saved us from embarrassment right before we went ahead.

I know we have played a lot recently but our energy levels and pace was horrible today. West Ham have had the same run of games as us so it should equal out, but they clearly looked the more energized, even after being down a man for the lions share of the match.

Really disappointed with a couple of our guys. Darmian just doesn't look the part. Herrera looked knackered and was not effective at all. Lingard also was pretty poor. Mkhi was a bit flat. To be honest, it wasn't until we put Rash and Mata on that we looked dangerous. It was a relief to se Rashford take on his defender to force their defense out of shape. Prior to that we were very reminiscent of LVG's United. Wonderful play by the young lad and great awareness and composure to slot that pass onto Matas foot after doing the hard work.

Well, we went through the festive period in splendid form and have clawed our way back into top 4 reckoning. Our next league match is titanic...

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Jose saying in his press conference that because they are tired in the first half they were trying to complicate things, instead of keeping it simple. Trying to play it through a crowded centre and taking one too many touches.

 

[spwd]

With him and Lee Mason we should have a fecking vote for worst ref in the league

Don't forget Atkinson.

 

[Alexrad]

Brilliant by Mourinho today, bringing Mata and Rashford on was spot on! Still makes me laugh how many people were desperate for us to get rid of Mata just because he doesn't defend well, he is a little maestro not a defender and he scores alot of valuable goals from midfield!

Thought Herrera looked tierd today but the team almost picks itself now. Where does Rooney play when he is back?

Is that a serious question? Somewhere in China hopefully.

West Ham is starting to look like a pretty good team again and some other teams will have very hard time getting points of them in second part of the season. On top of that we looked so tired...Herrera, Pogba, Ibra...they played so much lately and we have no proper backups for them. Replace any of them with current subs and we look so much worse. Having all of the above in mind these 3 points are massive.

Nex PL game is in 13 days, plenty of time to refresh. We will surely play mostly 2nd string in the 2 cup games. Once EL is back and games get congested again we might be in trouble...St. Ettiene fixtures fall in kinda favorable time but for the rounds after that we will have issues...I hope Jose is looking for some backups in January transfer window.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Just because we won doesn't mean the refereeing performance was any less crap, oppo fans will seize on today's failures while conveniently forgetting Mason's horror show.

Since when did Utd fans give 2 shits about opposition fans' opinions?

We were hated because we won, we are laughed at when we have lean seasons. We'll be hated again when we start winning again. I know what I'd rather have.

Opposition fans can take a flying feck!

 

[royboy16]

Jose talking about the effects of fatigue in his interview.

Some of the numpties in the match thread would do well to listen.

I know its always tough over the xmas period but I hope we don't burn out come end of march.

 

[togg]

People seem to forget we used to grind out results like this with Fergie as well, especially during a very busy period. The schedule is pretty killing, every manager and even the players say that. Against a team we haven't done well against recently I thought it was a brilliant win. Having said that, there really does have to be some inquest in the officiating this season. The red was bad, but Zlatan's offside goal was borderline ridiculous...the linesman was right in line with them. Of course I'll take the goal, but if that had been against us I would have been livid.

 

[OutOfTowner]

This was a bit of an ugly win no doubt but it was always going to be a difficult match, especially away to West Ham. Some don't seem to realise that even decades ago when we were had terrifying squads we would still have difficult periods around this time when we would scrape results when we looked certain to drop points. But it was accepted that it was necessary during a difficult and busy period that we would we would need to win ugly if it meant totting up the points and keeping us going. Getting through this busy schedule would always set us up nicely for the run-in. The circumstances may be slightly different but it still the case this season. Get the points first and foremost.

 

[Fingeredmouse]

A lucky win for the first time in a long time in a very tricky fixture. Momentum building and the team spirit to overcome bad luck against 'Boro and take advantage of good luck this evening is extremely encouraging.

 

[sunama]

15/15 points for the 5 games played during the holiday period. Incredible!!!

What's surprising is that the leading teams are all very competitive this season. Even though we have won so many games in a row, we are still in 6th.
Imagine if we'd have been managed by LVG or Giggs - we'd have been toast!

BTW. Thank you Mike Dean.

 

[The Brown Bull]

Always nice to beat the Hammers as I can't abide them.
For once this season we got the benefit of a poor ref.
Not a great performance but a good result.
DDG's save at 0-0 was vital.

 

[markhrad]

Ugly game, ugly atmosphere and tired players across both teams, under those circumstances all I care about is those crucial 3 points.

Totally agree. Not worried about the standard of play today, we all know that we can play much better.

 

[Ban]

I'm surprised anyone manages to pick out a single word the monotone twat says.

Come on,he's a fun guy although he is speaking bollocks.

 

[Pavl3n]

Extremely pleased with the subs.
There were a couple of long balls that Zlatan couldn't catch and I thought Rashford would have gotten them. 3 min later He was on.
Referees were a joke.

 

[Swearing Budgie]

We're gonna win the league!

 

[Ban]

Fever of 38,5, feeling like crap but this win made my day. Great subs by Jose. What a gane on 15th,I'm already nervous.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Fever of 38,5, feeling like crap but this win made my day. Great subs by Jose. What a gane on 15th,I'm already nervous.

Get well soon.

 

[Jed I. Knight]

Great second half, and I really think Mourinho made the difference there. What a change compared to the last couple of seasons.

 

[Rake]

Shit performance really but we got the 3 points and that is what matters. DDG saved us big time.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Great second half, and I really think Mourinho made the difference there. What a change compared to the last couple of seasons.

Exactly. LvG would take a fullback off and put another fullback on. Jose goes all out attack. Yet even when Smalling came on we still got another goal and could have had more.

 

[sammsky1]

As a London red, went to the game. Very weird experience watching the game surrounded by foul mouthed cockneys furious at the referee! Decided not to tell anyone I supported Manchester's United and so was hard to retain my excitement when we scored and eventually won.

All the main incidents happened at my end: I was in line with the red card and it looked very harsh even in real time. Cockneys understandably went nuts and think i heard the 'cnut' word around 1000 times over the next few minutes. I also was as amazed as they were at Jones rapid recovery. We looked tired, out of rhythm and ineffective in first half, despite playing with an extra man.

Mourinho's introduction of Mata and Rashford changed the game. Rashford in particular was immense and it was a real joy to watch him close up. He's a big lad, with an amazing turn of speed and yet also has very fast feet and can zig zag through defences - he will hopefully become a monster of a striker. DDG also made some amazing saves.

Again, I was in line with Ibra for the 2nd goal and you could see day light between him (and a few others) and the last West Ham defender. The Linesman was in the perfect position so I dont know how he missed it. But in reality, by them we were waltzing through West Ham's defence at will and a second goal was just a matter of time.

Happy with the result and I think we'd have won without the ref's ridiculous decisions. In the end, wish we could have scored a few more to help our goal difference.

 

[Ban]

Get well soon.

Thanks mate.
Hopefully its a one day thing.

 

[kouroux]

Bilic saying that Jones should've been the one getting the red card in that situation

Bilic has gone senile since they have turned to shit. Last season his interviews were great and very interesting, now it is just depression.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Bilic has gone senile since they have turned to shit. Last season his interviews were great and very interesting, now it is just depression.

It's the hair I tell you.

 

[Sandikan]

Bilic.
Can't see his ugly mug without thinking back to his disgraceful cheating that denied Blanc a World cup final appearance