[The Bloody-Nine]

Once.

You really do start to wonder just who is actually watching the match.

 

[el3mel]

Anyway, I'm happy we're done with this awful game and this terrible stadium this early during the season. It's better we draw this game now than to get it during the second half of the season when every point will really matter.

 

[van Nistelrooy]

Once.

Oh yeah! My recollection of the game is muddled already.

 

[Deleted member 101472]

Yea agree. Its all about the next game.

Not really bothered what you think.

But for the record seeing as you put it out there.

We play sloppily bad and drop 2 points and because I demand improvement and a better performance, its me who is the non-United fan? Really?

You sir have a big wooden spoon and are moving it in a circular motion.

You probably think we should finish the season with 115 points.

 

[Dominos]

Sad to say this, but this will be symptomatic of our play this season against the stronger teams, and part of the blame will lie with Mourinho. Our biggest problem by far last year was our attacking front 3, in both creating chances and scoring them. All we did to improve was replace a pretty good striker (Ibrahimovic) with a slightly better one. We did nothing on the wings - all we have there is promising talent but no genuine top class attacking talent to win games for us. Mata, Rashford, Martial and Mikhi are all currently second tier attackers, whilst our rivals have players like Mane, Aguero and Hazard who are top level attackers.

We really did need to sign someone who can actually dribble well and stretch play, even someone like Mahrez who's a natural dribbler would've been a help I feel in giving us a different option. It doesn't help either that our full backs aren't playing well at the moment either and not giving us any attacking width (expected of Darmian, but not from Valencia).

Have to agree, said all summer our attack was the problem last season, and all we did was replace Zlatan.

However, blame for this game probably lies with the centre backs.

 

[manichester]

We couldn't cross a road

 

[ti vu]

Sad to say this, but this will be symptomatic of our play this season against the stronger teams, and part of the blame will lie with Mourinho. Our biggest problem by far last year was our attacking front 3, in both creating chances and scoring them. All we did to improve was replace a pretty good striker (Ibrahimovic) with a slightly better one. We did nothing on the wings - all we have there is promising talent but no genuine top class attacking talent to win games for us. Mata, Rashford, Martial and Mikhi are all currently second tier attackers, whilst our rivals have players like Mane, Aguero and Hazard who are top level attackers.

We really did need to sign someone who can actually dribble well and stretch play, even someone like Mahrez who's a natural dribbler would've been a help I feel in giving us a different option. It doesn't help either that our full backs aren't playing well at the moment either and not giving us any attacking width (expected of Darmian, but not from Valencia).

I agree that we need to improve our wing play. Clearly Mourinho was also bold that the supposed fourth signing should be a player for the wing.

However, I don't think Maghreb fit the profile. Rashford, Martial did well this game but the type of wide player we need is different. To be specifically, it's Valencia in the first half of Darmian rare moment of good attacking intention, with better cross.

 

[stepic]

No need to play 433 against Stoke. They played as defensively as any of the other teams. Tbh I think we should only be changing tactics for the other top 4 teams.

 

[NotQuiteManc]

Crap defending. Bailly had a day off. Lucky we still have Smalling and Lindelof.

 

[Grylte]

Still annoyed that the ref stopped our attack in injury time, when a defender was on the ground fake holding his head. The moment the ref stopped the play, he was back up, and everything was fine.
While in first half, one of our players were down, holding his head, and they were allowed to attack and almost score - amazing save by DDG by the way!

How 9% have voted Pogba as MOTM, is just shocking!
What did he do, except losing the ball all the time? Did you like his new hairdo and colour?

 

[Jim Beam]

I agree that we need to improve our wing play. Clearly Mourinho was also bold that the supposed fourth signing should be a player for the wing.

However, I don't think Maghreb fit the profile. Rashford, Martial did well this game but the type of wide player we need is different. To be specifically, it's Valencia in the first half of Darmian rare moment of good attacking intention, with better cross.

Autocorrect agrees.

 

[AdnanRED]

Still annoyed that the ref stopped our attack in injury time, when a defender was on the ground fake holding his head. The moment the ref stopped the play, he was back up, and everything was fine.
While in first half, one of our players were down, holding his head, and they were allowed to attack and almost score - amazing save by DDG by the way!

How 9% have voted Pogba as MOTM, is just shocking!
What did he do, except losing the ball all the time? Did you like his new hairdo and colour?

Bare in mind aswell that when Pogba got fouled and then DDG made that save that was the corner that lead to there goal. Stupid ref.

 

[Jim Beam]

Still annoyed that the ref stopped our attack in injury time, when a defender was on the ground fake holding his head. The moment the ref stopped the play, he was back up, and everything was fine.
While in first half, one of our players were down, holding his head, and they were allowed to attack and almost score - amazing save by DDG by the way!

How 9% have voted Pogba as MOTM, is just shocking!
What did he do, except losing the ball all the time? Did you like his new hairdo and colour?

That save from DDG was second half and we conceded from the corner. That's what is even more frustrating about it.

 

[newsdevil]

I think a title winning side would have won the match today. lukaku would have put the ball in the back of the net and we would win 3-2. Miles ahead of last year (would have lost) but concerned that we aren't strong enough to win the title.

 

[Grylte]

Bare in mind aswell that when Pogba got fouled and then DDG made that save that was the corner that lead to there goal. Stupid ref.

That save from DDG was second half and we conceded from the corner. That's what is even more frustrating about it.

Ah yeah, i thought it was first half, but you are right!
Was actually on the phone with a guy who wanted to buy my car, during big parts of the match....
Why woild anyone call a person during a football match?

 

[UnitedBoy]

Disapointing from pog and rom for that miss.

Expected nothing else from Darmain and Jones. They are always capable of that type of performance

 

[ghagua]

Team looked short of energy today. Terrible defending for both goals. Lack of creativity is something to look at.

 

[GM K]

As was mentioned above, I think he thought Stoke would offer more in midfield and they didn't. Maybe he should have played Mata, make sure we are ahead and then when Mata comes off at his usual 65 minute, bring Herrera on. Either that give Matic a rest, we didn't need both in this game. There will be games when we will. Nothing they did could account for the awful defending and Lukaku missing sitters or again the awful crossing and corners or freekicks.

Good points but easy to see some things with the benefit of hindsight. Who thought Herrera would be so poor? And Dermian too. And who would have thought Jones and Bailly who have been two of our very best, be so crappy?

I'm going to blame the international break here plus Jose not sticking to his winning line up (but you've got to 'pity' a manager who has so many unused talents in the dressing room. He'll always be tempted to give them game time even when the results don't require so. But Jose needs to be really careful here. One of the reasons we were so average last season was the frequent changing of line ups)

 

[fellaini's barber]

I honestly think some of the bottom table teams are much better crossers than us. How Mourinho saw fit to go into the season with Darmian/Valencia as fullbacks still baffles me. And adding only one attacking player to our team last season. I hope he knows what he's doing

 

[TMDaines]

Have to agree, said all summer our attack was the problem last season, and all we did was replace Zlatan.

However, blame for this game probably lies with the centre backs.

Buying more players doesn't necessarily improve your attack. I'm far more interested in us having more effective coaching, strategy and tactics going forward than buying even more players. We've got a superb squad already, many members of which will probably go on to demonstrate that they had relatively low offensive output last season.

 

[DevilRed]

Not the end of the world, but you'd think if we didnt have internationals we would have fared better.

Jones disappointing today with that critical error. Honestly needs to consider whether playing 2 matches in a row for england is more important than his club career.

We get to see Lindelof midweek. Hopefully Victor starts bedding in and lives up to the expectation of being the longterm partner for Bailly.

 

[el3mel]

Not the end of the world, but you'd think if we didnt have internationals we would have fared better.

Jones disappointing today with that critical error. Honestly needs to consider whether playing 2 matches in a row for england is more important than his club career.

We get to see Lindelof midweek. Hopefully Victor starts bedding in and lives up to the expectation of being the longterm partner for Bailly.

I don't think Lindelof would have done any better in this second goal, though, even if in his form. Ironically, I think Smalling would have defended it better than anyone in our current list of defenders since he's the only defender we have that's good in the air. The problem is he's in everything else.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

Bailly and Jones had brainfarts, and cost us with their goals.

Herrera was invisible - maybe not the game for him. Surprised we didn't go with the same formation as in previous 3 matches and just go with Mata.

The team will learn from today. I'm not worried. We need to make sure we win every game from now going into that Liverpool game in October.

 

[RedCoffee]

So irritating pissing about with a winning team. Why oh why can't managers stick with a winning formula. What was wrong with Mata and Blind. FFS!

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Highlighted again (not that I needed reminding) that we are desperate for a couple of top full backs. So important in the modern game.

 

[Nytram Shakes]

probably a fair result! shame Jones had a bad game he has been so good since Mourinho took over. We still played some good stuff going forward.

I wish Mourinho didn't have to make a fool of himself everytime we don't win, i get its a diversion tactic away from the result, but he just comes across as such a prick!

 

[Deleted member 101472]

So irritating pissing about with a winning team. Why oh why can't managers stick with a winning formula. What was wrong with Mata and Blind. FFS!

You have to remember that a lot of the times managers base decisions on more than just who played well the last game. Perhaps blind and mata weren't as good in training, maybe they were carrying something very minor. I want to keep the winning team on the field as often as possible but there are just too many factors that make that unlikely. Rotation is key to any successful team, but one thing it does do is lets the manager see who's capable of slotting in and who decreases the overall quality.

Having just come off the international break, I think we have to give the lads a pass. A draw at Stoke away on match day 4 isn't a bad thing.

 

[Randall Flagg]

Non foul on Fletcher.

Stopping play in dying seconds for defender feigning injury.

Drop ball dictated by Stoke.

Meh, nothing too much wrong

He had to stop play for potential head injury. Then the norm is stoke give the ball back to us.

Ref did little wrong

 

[Offside]

I'm still pissed off that Mata didn't take that free-kick at the end.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Why did all four of our defenders decide to have simultaneous shit games?

 

[Fully Fledged]

I'll take drawing with Stoke in Stoke.

We are scoring goals. We aren't going to win every game but we are taking chances that we didn't last year.

 

[::sonny::]

Not surprised of two goals suffered, we have terrible defenders

 

[GazTheLegend]

Still annoyed that the ref stopped our attack in injury time, when a defender was on the ground fake holding his head. The moment the ref stopped the play, he was back up, and everything was fine.

Yeah that was fecking outrageous. Then Diouf doesn't give us the fecking ball back where we had it, and instead punts it to de gea!!!!!!!!!!!! I was livid

 

[redspoony]

We'd have drawn that last season...

 

[Fully Fledged]

We'd have drawn that last season...

We lost so It's a plus.

 

[Al-T]

Had we played this game last week on the back of beating Leicester, I believe we would have won.

The way the Autumn schedule is disrupted by International breaks is a pain in the arse.

 

[RaptorSlo]

We obviously missed Fellaini.

 

[Fully Fledged]

We obviously missed Fellaini.

He would have made a difference for their second goal.

 

[BusbyMalone]

Supremely frustrating game. Stoke played like it was their cup final as expected and we were far from our best. Our crossing from wide positions was pretty woeful; something we really need to improve on.

Lukaku probably should have done better with that chance from Martial. Still top of the table so no need to be too pessimistic. A draw away at Stoke isn't the end of the world, but would have really made a statement with a win here.

Oh, and why don't Mark Hughes sit the feck down. The whinging twat.

 

[noodlehair]

Pathetic performance.

Looked like the whole team had gone out on a day long piss up on Friday.

Usually when you draw at Stoke it's a decent point, but when you can't beat a team who concede a goal because one of their players decides to stop in the centre circle and have a chat after losing the ball, in a game of such quality that this doesn't even come as a surprise, it doesn't say much about your own performance.