[Tincanalley]

Yes, Absolutely would say that. But we have the squad but the ball circulation style prevents it.

Tika taka takes time.

 

[prtk0811]

You did nothing in those 15 minutes. We were far better than you in the first hour, more than 2 goals better

Needless to say smalling is a pretty shit defender. uefa did great banning bailly and jones

 

[jesperjaap]

Only the first game of the season and we wont play a better side even without Ronaldo starting. I can say not been overly excited by our summer transfers before they have played.
On this showing, barely seen Lindelof and its obviously far too early to judge but on what I have seen so far I really dont think we have improved quality wide at the back with him. Young, in a different league, country and culture etc. First goal looked offside, not that he played it, caught ball watching, just doesnt look that bright to me. Im concerned as I thinkw e really needed a world class centre back to partner Bailly as we already have the numbers, time will tell but not sure Lindelof is that player whasoever on the little I have seen of him.
Matic I havent been excited about but he looks like he could be a good signing, solid base in midfield that brings a bit of pyhsicality we have been missing for a long time.
Lukaku will get goals, he always has done, is he the cut throat quality striker we need, I dont think so, when he is on it though he will do well.

I think our signings give us physical presence and both a more compact team defensively and more fluidity in the final thirtd with Lukakus mobility over Ibrahimovic.

I think we will be up there in the premiership this season, we can domiante and bully a lot of sides in the league. Though Madrid were by far the better side until they tired, considering how good they are we didnt do badly, more positives than negatives. My initial thoughts are we have a more compact and better shaped side than last year. I still think we need a quality signing or two and Im still concerned our back four may not have been improved at all and for me our defensive record last year was more to do with the way we played than the players that played. If Miki, Pogba and Rashford can perform consisently this year we will be there or there abouts in the title race I think which is obviously an improvement on all the other years post-Fergie, so I think we are going in the right direction even it isnt how I would like us to.

 

[giorno]

Our finishing is letting us down since last year.

It wasn't just finishing. You had a couple decent chances, a couple half chances(one could have been huge if not for lukaku mind) and one colossal one. We scored two goals, hit the bar twice, had a couple more decent chances, one huge chance and a bunch of half chances.

Even in the the last half hour you had a couple decent chances and a huge one with rashford. We had the huge chance with asensio and a couple more chances. All in all, i think there was more than 1 goal difference tonight. Wasn't a massacre by any means and you were the better side in the last half hour

 

[prtk0811]

Tika taka takes time.

It takes Will, not time.

 

[giorno]

We were camped in your half and if Lukaku put his header anywhere other than strsight at the keeper it wouldve been 1-1, how was that nothing?

Lukaku's wasn't an easy chance by any means, and that plus Pogba's deflected shot from just inside the box were the only chances you created, and neither was a big chance. If you want to go that route, if Bale doesn't put a tap in over the bar from 5 yards, if Casemiro doesn't hit the bar, etc...

 

[prtk0811]

It wasn't just finishing. You had a couple decent chances, a couple half chances(one could have been huge if not for lukaku mind) and one colossal one. We scored two goals, hit the bar twice, had a couple more decent chances, one huge chance and a bunch of half chances.

Even in the the last half hour you had a couple decent chances and a huge one with rashford. We had the huge chance with asensio and a couple more chances. All in all, i think there was more than 1 goal difference tonight. Wasn't a massacre by any means and you were the better side in the last half hour

The 352 system intialy set was vunrable , was surprized to see mourinho playing that nowing madrid's strenghts on the wide areas, and the passing range

 

[E-mal]

No he doesn't, and it's incredibly obvious this is the case, watch literally any game for us and compare it to the players around him.

No it's a case of a hugely successful manager knowing what he wants from his players. Martial might well flourish in a different system, but Mourinho does what he thinks is best for the team, and if that is having wide players who work hard with the mentality he wants then it's up to Martial to adjust, not the other way around.

Some fans are so desperate for a player to succeed they don't see these obvious weaknesses.

Perhaps you are right and then you will agree that the label on Jose been a defensive coach is totally justified as there is no way a player like Isco has more work rate than Martial but Zidane chose him ahead of the more defensive Vasquez for example.
Lets agree to disagree.

 

[giorno]

Casemiro onside btw, Smalling plays him on

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

We didnt lump it at him at all, its just the parrots and sheep who keep repeating that drivel all the while missing what he actually contributed.

He definitely controlled at least one on his chest, but I agree we didn't send it long to him over and over again. It should be clear to anyone without an agenda that Fellaini's best work tonight was with the ball at his feet.

 

[tombombadil]

I thought Madrid were the better team. They had the better intensity and were classy on the ball.

I think Madrid acclimatised better to the heat. They practiced in 38 degrees weather in Spain in preparation while it was raining everyday in Manchester. United suffered in the heat and it showed because we found it difficult to match the intensity and pace of Madrid.

In the end, as both teams tired, United could have at least gotten a draw but it wasn't to be. Madrid were better, but the gap isn't that big and the weather played a part. Not to mention Madrid were lucky with the first goal although it was probably deserved as I thought they had the edge in the early exchanges.

 

[Im red2]

Them scoring a lovely goal with skill of Isco and our response being to bring on a tumescent lump to lob balls to sums up the gulf between the teams in terms of personnel, we had a 10 minute period where we got into it a bit more but the lack of guile and skill in the attack is evident.

Gotta agree, our players seemed to me to be less intelligent than the Madrid players. A couple of examples. 1. Pogba through with support on both sides, he shoots. WTF. Why not put teammate in?. 2. Herrera wins a fight for the ball and is through, then comes (offside )Lukaku and fecks up the move. Brains are also a part of football.

 

[Devil may care]

Mourinho 's desision making was 6 at best .

Agreed, the starting line-up was fine but not using Martial or Mata made us into a 1 track offense and Real soon settled into dealing with it.

Because the managers default mode is that way mate. Am sure you will agree with me that if Pep or Zidane where to be the ones in charge of our team Fellaini wont be the player to come in.
I respect what mourinho has done in the game but am not a fan of how he sets his team up or his idas about breaking the opposition defence.
May be am a football purist but here is hoping we have a successful season.

I know man, watching that felt like watching LvG's second season, just hollow.

 

[prtk0811]

Casemiro onside btw, Smalling plays him on

 

[Devil may care]

Gotta agree, our players seemed to me to be less intelligent than the Madrid players. A couple of examples. 1. Pogba through with support on both sides, he shoots. WTF. Why not put teammate in?. 2. Herrera wins a fight for the ball and is through, then comes (offside )Lukaku and fecks up the move. Brains are also a part of football.

We are clearly well drilled defesnively but we don't look like we do much in ragrds to offesnive movement, our players reactions in key offensive positions is often poor.

 

[ivaldo]

Lukaku's wasn't an easy chance by any means, and that plus Pogba's deflected shot from just inside the box were the only chances you created, and neither was a big chance. If you want to go that route, if Bale doesn't put a tap in over the bar from 5 yards, if Casemiro doesn't hit the bar, etc...

Which was far more than you created, seeing as you barely had the ball in our half, so how do you include that 15 minutes as being better than us?

If Rashford finished his one on one, if Lukaku didn't have a brain fart and left Herrera to the ball, if Lukaku finished the easy chance from the rebound etc. As I say, you were the better team, but not by the extent as was being made out.

 

[tombombadil]

He definitely controlled at least one on his chest, but I agree we didn't send it long to him over and over again. It should be clear to anyone without an agenda that Fellaini's best work tonight was with the ball at his feet.

Agreed

 

[prtk0811]

Agreed, the starting line-up was fine but not using Martial or Mata made us into a 1 track offense and Real soon settled into dealing with it.



I know man, watching that felt like watching LvG's second season, just hollow.

Mkh is a train wreck. Lvg would have dropped him always same mistakes.

352 set up was asking for trouble, Ball circulation can not hapen without mata is proper philosophical implementation of theoritial aspect of football.

 

[ivaldo]

Casemiro onside btw, Smalling plays him on

No he doesn't, his knee is further forward, but it was close and you can't begrudge a decision either way.



Still offside though

 

[ivaldo]

Mkh is a train wreck. Lvg would have dropped him always same mistakes.

352 set up was asking for trouble, Ball circulation can not hapen without mata is proper philosophical implementation of theoritial aspect of football.

He's not a train wreck, he's just not a wide player. Looked so much better when he went inside.

 

[tombombadil]

One thing that worries me is how our key players respond in big games. Pogba, especially seems to suffer in big games. It seems like he tries to win it on his own and ends up playing badly.

 

[shabadu84]

I think the steps forward are there, though there are still some obvious needs. When you look at the starting lineups, we had 3 players who have been with the teams for a long time (DDG, Valencia, Smalling) while most of the rest are 2 years or less (Darmian, Matic, Pogba, Mkhi, Lingard, Lukaku, Lindelof). Compare that to the Real team where probably only Casemiro fits that bill, with everyone else having been there for a long time. Give us some time and I think it will gel more.

Still MUST get the LB situation sorted quickly or we will always be tasking the likes of Rashford and Martial with trying to beat 2 and that's not going to be sustainable.

 

[ivaldo]

Absolutely spot on from Mourinho.

 

[prtk0811]

He's not a train wreck, he's just not a wide player. Looked so much better when he went inside.

He is a train wreck who looses the ball in high press because he tries to go direct than pass it and make the run.

We can not play a cam all the time so he has to play on the wing.

 

[Cnaiür urs Skiötha]

I predicted a 1-2 for Real and so it happened.
Overall this result reflects the game quite well.
We had 3 new players to include whereas Real played a team knowing each other and that showed especially the last 25 minutes in the first half.
We improved massively with Rashers and it has to be said Fellaini.

 

[UDontMessWith24]

It wasn't just finishing. You had a couple decent chances, a couple half chances(one could have been huge if not for lukaku mind) and one colossal one. We scored two goals, hit the bar twice, had a couple more decent chances, one huge chance and a bunch of half chances.

Even in the the last half hour you had a couple decent chances and a huge one with rashford. We had the huge chance with asensio and a couple more chances. All in all, i think there was more than 1 goal difference tonight. Wasn't a massacre by any means and you were the better side in the last half hour

You mean one offside goal difference

 

[Infra-red]

Probably applies to fans too if your an example of a United fan.

Do what I do, use it as an opportunity to put the moaners on ignore. It's a pretty good forum if you can avoid the 10% of moaning morons who post constant crap.

Yeah, if only we could all be top reds like you.

It's simple, the reason we don't attack is because of Mourinho's defensive tactics which border on cowardice, wingers essentially playing deep enough to be fullbacks.

I can understand why he does it with Calamity Jones and Chris Charisma Smalling playing at the back, but if it's the same story next season he'll lose me as one of his supporters.

 

[prtk0811]

Pogba has ability , but lacks intelligence

 

[ivaldo]

He is a train wreck who looses the ball in high press because he tries to go direct than pass it and make the run.

We can not play a cam all the time so he has to play on the wing.

Ultimately he is a central player who played his best football playing centre and was bought on those performances. He looks one of the best players on the pitch as soon as he goes centrally.

That's fine, when we don't play with a #10 we bench him and play Martial/Rashford/Mata/Fellaini/Lingard, when we do he's a starter every time.

 

[prtk0811]

Ultimately he is a central player who played his best football playing centre and was bought on those performances. He looks one of the best players on the pitch as soon as he goes centrally.

That's fine, when we don't play with a #10 we bench him and play Martial/Rashford/Mata/Fellaini/Lingard, when we do he's a starter every time.

So we definately need a winger , a creative one.

 

[ivaldo]

So we definately need a winger , a creative one.

If Mourinho decides to play 4-3-3 then yes, I would like to bring another in.

 

[RooneyLegend]

You could see the difference in level between the two sides, that shouldn't exist between the richest and second richest side in the world. We need to sort ourselves out.

 

[tombombadil]

I think the steps forward are there, though there are still some obvious needs. When you look at the starting lineups, we had 3 players who have been with the teams for a long time (DDG, Valencia, Smalling) while most of the rest are 2 years or less (Darmian, Matic, Pogba, Mkhi, Lingard, Lukaku, Lindelof). Compare that to the Real team where probably only Casemiro fits that bill, with everyone else having been there for a long time. Give us some time and I think it will gel more.

Still MUST get the LB situation sorted quickly or we will always be tasking the likes of Rashford and Martial with trying to beat 2 and that's not going to be sustainable.

Agreed about the need for leftback but the issue is Shaw is out until end of the year.

Pogba has ability , but lacks intelligence

I feel Pogba lacks emotional intelligence. Maturity. He really needs to learn that. Football wise, he is excellent most of the time.

 

[ivaldo]

Perhaps you are right and then you will agree that the label on Jose been a defensive coach is totally justified as there is no way a player like Isco has more work rate than Martial but Zidane chose him ahead of the more defensive Vasquez for example.
Lets agree to disagree.

But going forwards Isco still works harder than Martial, he's constantly on the move, cresting space whereas at times Martial is literally waiting for the ball. He isn't Ronaldo or Messi or even Hazard, he needs to pull his weight.

You think Zidane with this side against Madrid would try to go toe to toe? If he did he would get hammered.

 

[Grunge]

Would have been nice to win but Real were the better team, as expected.
Great, intense warm-up for the Premiership for which, based on the pre-season & today's match I think we are defo in the hunt!
We have improved our squad & team plus young players are more experienced & seem hungry for success.

 

[shabadu84]

Agreed about the need for leftback but the issue is Shaw is out until end of the year.

Isn't it until September?

 

[izec]

We should be fine for a PL fight with another player maybe coming in. We are far away from the European top teams though, still need a few years steady progression til we could have a chance against this sort of calibre

 

[tombombadil]

Isn't it until September?

Physioroom has him returning on 17 Sept. Assuming no delays etc. By the time he has match fitness, it'll be end of October. A good run in November seems more realistic.

 

[shabadu84]

Physioroom has him returning on 17 Sept. Assuming no delays etc. By the time he has match fitness, it'll be end of October. A good run in November seems more realistic.

Yeah agree, he won't jump right into match fitness. Encouraging to see he's been involved with training already though, can't return soon enough.

 

[tombombadil]

Yeah agree, he won't jump right into match fitness. Encouraging to see he's been involved with training already though, can't return soon enough.

Would love to see Rashford/Martial cutting in with Shaw overlapping.