[Still ill]

I really, really doubt it's a Mourinho problem. Maybe it is.

But tonight got me thinking a lot about this team. It looks like on a player quality level, we are just not good enough. We have decent players, good players but very few excellent or world class players.

They can't hold the ball well, they can't pass, they can't dribble, they struggle to control games.

I think Jose has dragged this team along.

Oh Lord, not tonight. He, along with his players, had a shocker tonight, second half particularly. Protect what you have or take the initiative, that was his choice in the second half and his message couldn't have been clearer. I'm so disappointed with him tonight.

 

[Arruda]

If that ball had gone in there would at least have been 50 bans on here tonight.

That would ease the pain I guess.

 

[Janson]

They were certain to get a goal with the way we were playing in the second half

Not really, defending a 2-0 lead is percentage wise much easier than scoring another.

 

[Tincanalley]

Boooooo

Absolute shit on a stick performance

we are brutal.

Buzz off

 

[Arruda]

There's provoking someone and there's shouting racist abuse at a player. The first is somewhat allowed but shouldn't be, the second should ensure the player is never allowed to play professionally again.

Do you actually know if that happened? A bit of a serious accusation to throw on someone, irrespective of how cnut the guy might be anyway.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Oh, I wasn't poking fun. Sorry if it was misunderstood. I've had a warning off a moderator for my post as well so I apologise again if it's been misconstrued.

I have fond memories of the Europa League from when we were in it and considering what it's done for teams like Chelsea and Sevilla in recent years it's clearly a great tournament to win. I've just been joking with a United fan I know this week that it would only be right for a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford to get you to the final. That's all.

I said earlier in this thread that I hoped you'd do well tonight and make the final, I stand by that.

You got a warning for that post? Seriously?!

Think I better count to 10 a few times then.... if I posted what I think about that performance, I'd probably be banned.

 

[NK86]

All down to Mourinho? Sure, he has his share of faults but I can't wrap some things round my head. Is it the fault of the manager when players can't retain the ball, can't keep possession for the shortest possible time, can't pass well, can't dribble, etc?

Maybe it's time to face reality: many of our players are just not good enough.

It is definitely the manager who is at fault for inviting pressure by asking the team to sit deep the last 30 mins. You see how we set up and it is clear as day we had 9 men behind the ball with Rashford hovering near the half way line for the last 30 mins.

On a different note, no way should Rashford be our starter if Jose intends to hoof the ball to our striker from the get go. He is not good or strong enough as a striker who can hold up the ball. So either Mourinho finds a way to play to our strength (which is what we all want since playing out from the back is much better to watch and we have better control of the game) or he buys a striker who can lead the line with his current tactics.

 

[Janson]

How much valium have you taken!

I've been watching a dodgy stream on my phone, might have missed something.

 

[wolvored]

We are poor? What game are you watching?

We were poor! What game were you watching?

 

[Ali Dia]

Buzz off

If you're happy after that then good for you. We are shit and we should have lost, at home, to that, in the most important game of the season.

 

[Im red2]

Oh, I wasn't poking fun. Sorry if it was misunderstood. I've had a warning off a moderator for my post as well so I apologise again if it's been misconstrued.

I have fond memories of the Europa League from when we were in it and considering what it's done for teams like Chelsea and Sevilla in recent years it's clearly a great tournament to win. I've just been joking with a United fan I know this week that it would only be right for a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford to get you to the final. That's all.

I said earlier in this thread that I hoped you'd do well tonight and make the final, I stand by that.

All is good, no problem.

 

[prtk0811]

We are a

I really, really doubt it's a Mourinho problem. Maybe it is.

But tonight got me thinking a lot about this team. It looks like on a player quality level, we are just not good enough. We have decent players, good players but very few excellent or world class players.

They can't hold the ball well, they can't pass, they can't dribble, they struggle to control games.

I think Jose has dragged this team along.

They are the same players who hold the ball well under lvg. Mkh is a train wreck who looses the ball too much and lingard too

 

[wolvored]

Not really, defending a 2-0 lead is percentage wise much easier than scoring another.

We were at home though. We looked the away side against a giant for most of it

 

[Tincanalley]

I know this is the match thread. But for those who support Manchester United - Yess. We are in the final, mission achieved. We are at the end of a very tough season. I am delighted. Of course Celta Vigo gave it everything. We were not brilliant by any stretch, but Rashford and Felli did brilliant to score that goal. It was not all spit and polish, but the point is United got there. Psychologically there was too much hanging on this game for it ever to be a walk in the park. Let's look forward to the final.

 

[The White Pele]

United are like that cocky twat on FIFA who stops playing and you still struggle to score against.

 

[GM K]

It is definitely the manager who is at fault for inviting pressure by asking the team to sit deep the last 30 mins. You see how we set up and it is clear as day we had 9 men behind the ball with Rashford hovering near the half way line for the last 30 mins.

On a different note, no way should Rashford be our starter if Jose intends to hoof the ball to our striker from the get go. He is not good or strong enough as a striker who can hold up the ball. So either Mourinho finds a way to play to our strength (which is what we all want since playing out from the back is much better to watch and we have better control of the game) or he buys a striker who can lead the line with his current tactics.

How did u know he asked them to sit deep? Just because they played deep?

 

[robinamicrowave]

I'm not sure how much faith Mourinho has in this team to get the job done. He's been very conservative in so many games this s

You got a warning for that post? Seriously?!

Think I better count to 10 a few times then.... if I posted what I think about that performance, I'd probably be banned.

I imagine someone reported it and the mods just followed the rule book. Tensions are running high and me, being a neutral, posted a joke at what was probably not the most appropriate moment considering the game's just finished. Not to worry, though.

 

[Tincanalley]

If you're happy after that then good for you. We are shit and we should have lost, at home, to that, in the most important game of the season.

Are you a United fan? Couldnt see from a quick look at your profile. Nice to see that you are a musician. No hard feelings, I'm off to celebrate.

 

[GM K]

We are a

They are the same players who hold the ball well under lvg. Mkh is a train wreck who looses the ball too much and lingard too

Passing the ball side ways for half a game is not how to hold the ball.

 

[Ali Dia]

Are you a United fan? Couldnt see from a quick look at your profile. Nice to see that you are a musician. No hard feelings, I'm off to celebrate.

I'm a united fan and that was a painful performance. Enjoy the celebrations!

 

[Parry Gallister]

That was painful, in all respects.

Onwards. Also

 

[Ramshock]

Loyalty after sulking his way through a season? Not a chance.

Who says he was sulking Dr Phil?

 

[bugmat]

Lucky...again... we should be better than this but we're in a final so it counts. We now need to WIN that final because Ajax will be coming to play ball.

 

[RedFish]

To do that you need the right personel. Italian teams traditionally so good at protecting a lead/ killing off a game. Honestly, i don't think we'll ever be able to do it consistently , it's just not in our DNA. In the years leading up to our CL in 99 we got better at it, Porto away IIRC, etc so I suppose it can be done but we like to do things the hard way, as tonight shows!

 

[ManUnitedCanuck]

No you meant it was going to extra time funny

Not what I meant at all, i was talking about in added time

 

[Summit]

Not what I meant at all, i was talking about in added time

We've removed all of our pace from the side...we won't be able to counter...going to be a long extra time

Ok

You understand the confusion though surely?

 

[carvajal]

Congratulations on the final, it is always a pleasure to see Celta fail. I think that with that squad United could play better, but at least today the important thing was to secure the final.

 

[The Mitcher]

Clearly they haven't heard of the hexagon

Mind blown.

 

[MrSingh2002]

Who says he was sulking Dr Phil?

Sergio Romero said so.

 

[Ramshock]

Sergio Romero said so.

Cool story hermano

 

[ManUnitedCanuck]

Ok

You understand the confusion though surely?

Yep, right after you said extra time...was just meaning it would be a long 6 mins if we had nothing to try to go forward.

 

[Android1974]

It is definitely the manager who is at fault for inviting pressure by asking the team to sit deep the last 30 mins. You see how we set up and it is clear as day we had 9 men behind the ball with Rashford hovering near the half way line for the last 30 mins.

Look, believe it or not, Mourinho just said in the press-conference that he didn't manage to push the defensive block up the pitch, the players were worried with the slight result then.

 

[NK86]

How did u know he asked them to sit deep? Just because they played deep?

If the manager knows he has to get his players higher up the pitch, he did a piss poor task of in-game management as he replaced 2 attackers with a DM and a CB, albeit the CB sub was kind of forced on him due to the Bailly red card. What did he actually expect when he made those subs?

 

[GM K]

If the manager knows he has to get his players higher up the pitch, he did a piss poor task of in-game management as he replaced 2 attackers with a DM and a CB, albeit the CB sub was kind of forced on him due to the Bailly red card. What did he actually expect when he made those subs?

They were already playing deep before then. They were losing the ball - they couldn't keep it. They showed little intelligence with the ball. If I were the manager, I would rather want to preserve the scoreline. My point is: has it occurred to you that he knows these boys are just not good enough to play the type of football he wants? Just saying.

You may also be 100% right. Maybe he has completely lost it. I just don't like to assume without the actual facts. It will be interesting to know what was going on in his mind.

 

[GM K]

Lucky...again... we should be better than this but we're in a final so it counts. We now need to WIN that final because Ajax will be coming to play ball.

It was no luck. The better team won over two legs.

 

[NK86]

They were already playing deep before then. They were losing the ball - they couldn't keep it. They showed little intelligence with the ball. If I were the manager, I would rather want to preserve the scoreline. My point is: has it occurred to you that he knows these boys are just not good enough to play the type of football he wants? Just saying.

You may also be 100% right. Maybe he has completely lost it. I just don't like to assume without the actual facts. It will be interesting to know what was going on in his mind.

If it was just this one match, I could perhaps accept the premise of your point. However Jose is known for his teams to absorb pressure after scoring a goal. When we need to get one more goal to put the tie to bed, we revert to just sitting deep without any efforts to play football. Have you forgotten "Boring, boring Chelsea" under his hay days?

 

[Treble]

That was a bad performance in what was one of the most important games of the season. It was the same vs Soton in the cup final. Not sure what to expect vs Ajax then.

 

[GM K]

If it was just this one match, I could perhaps accept the premise of your point. However Jose is known for his teams to absorb pressure after scoring a goal. When we need to get one more goal to put the tie to bed, we revert to just sitting deep without any efforts to play football. Have you forgotten "Boring, boring Chelsea" under his hay days?

I don't think that is entirely correct. How do you explain the fact that his teams have scored the highest number of goals in many seasons?

Jose plays based on his perception of his team viz a viz his opponents. I suspect he is not very confident about this team in player quality terms. Strangely, many fans seem to be.

Again, let me repeat that you may be right. My doubt only stems from the fact that the typical Jose team, even when they sit back to absorb attacks, are always very deadly going forward. This team is sadly weak going forward. If we are going to judge based on Jose's past, then we have to do so entirely. When his teams sit back, they strike with venom. If this current team is not doing so, then he has either lost his mojo or he simply lacks the right personnel for his preferred way of playing. Perhaps a last alternative is that he is trying to change the way he plays but he's making a mess of the attempt.

 

[prtk0811]

Passing the ball side ways for half a game is not how to hold the ball.

When you are in a lead , that's how you hold the ball and not invite flurry of pressure for giving opposition the confidence and ball to come back into the game. We should learn to differentiate between the positives and negatives of certain style and use it to our advantage, lvgs methods did have huge positives to and throwing them away is arrogance and naiveity.

 

[prtk0811]

We were poor! What game were you watching?

Posted it before 60 mins.