"No Character" / "They Don't Care"

[AshRK]

Hats off to our players but let us not forget that first half was unacceptable. But kudos to players. Brilliant job.

 

[JG3001]

Yep, our first XI should not contain players who put in MOTM performances like that.

The Herrera criticism is harsh, however the goal scored doesn’t take away from the fact that Smalling is a goal liability from game to game, and would argue definitely needs upgrading.

Generally I’d think we’d just all love to know the reason/s we swing from one performance extreme to the other so often.

 

[Crimson King]

But why? They were working too hard before HT if anything, it was clear they cared. They were just going about everything the wrong way. As soon as they refocussed their efforts on what they actually needed to do, they were there.

I guess in hindsight I can agree with you, but at the time I was just do angry we were getting a thrashing I mistook City's ability and domination for a lack of effort from our players.

We were properly rattled looked lost for the last part of the first half. Saying they didn't care was obviously harsh though.

 

[Nick7]

Hats off to our players but let us not forget that first half was unacceptable. But kudos to players. Brilliant job.

and that was rectified by the second. You don't think Mourinho and they players didn't realist that?

 

[kouroux]

2 away game in a row that the team turns things around from 2-0 to 2-3, maybe this is the start of something

 

[TMDaines]

I guess in hindsight I can agree with you, but at the time I was just do angry we were getting a thrashing I mistook City's ability and domination for a lack of effort from our players.

We were properly rattled looked lost for the last part of the first half. Saying they didn't care was obviously harsh though.

Yeah, first half we were dreadful. City were more comfortable with the ball before they scored and then after too. The players were then trying too hard to get back into it and going about it the wrong way.

There has been other days when I have questioned how much we want it compared to the opposition, e.g. Huddersfield away, but not today.

 

[SER19]

There have been many games in recent years that have had a similar and often predictable pattern. The first half today was one of the most uninspiring I have ever watched.

Games like this go a long way to prove doubters of attitude, like me, wrong. Doing it on the big stage makes ones like palace away, Chelsea recently and more under Jose feel more like a pattern.

I’m hoping it’s a milestone win

 

[Inigo Montoya]

It's great in hindsight but we still lack a leader coming through.

Hopefully Pogs can take up the challenge

 

[Canagel]

I would like to know why it takes for us to go 1/2 nil down before reacting and standing up to be counted. Just start games like we did in 2nd half and no-one will complain.

 

[EyeInTheSky]

Can this now please be put to bed?

Didn't we do this already in very difficult circumstances losing to chelsea and 2-0 down in the second half away at palace? This game went almost exactly as the home game vs city for me. Horrendous individual mistakes at set pieces. If it was not for that we would have had 2 wins in the bag vs this lot.

Imagine what we can do with actual full-back and an upgrade in Midfield which it looks like we are going to do.

 

[podurban2]

What more would you want from him out of this game?

Consistency.

 

[bosnian_red]

2 away game in a row that the team turns things around from 2-0 to 2-3, maybe this is the start of something

Just hope Mourinho takes notice and goes more attacking from the off instead of being cautious until we concede... It's the one thing that needs to change with him. He's great at in game management, always has been. It's the set up from kick off which is the most frustrating.

 

[Carolina Red]

Consistency.

What’s that even mean? He was one of our best players (in both halves) today.

 

[GaryLifo]

one swallow does not make a summer

The night I spent on the beach my girlfriend in 1999 disagrees with this statement...

 

[Hercules]

I fecking love Sanchez, could easily see his determination. Jose must have said harsh things at HT. I was thinking it'll be 3-0 or 4-1 after the first half but that second half, well it was something special.
In an away game against the title winners where they could seal it. 2-0 down at HT, showing this character, I'm now looking forward to the next season.

 

[Random Task]

What’s that even mean? He was one of our best players (in both halves) today.

Herrera hasn't had a great season by his own high standards, I wrote him off myself as a player destined to be sold come the end of the season, but he was brilliant today. Far and away his best performance of the season, he was literally the only United player to come out of that first half with any credit. He got lost amongst a crowd of outstanding performers in the second half, but his performance was just as good as any other United player. Showed a lot of heart too.

Hopefully this showing will set him up for a resurgent run of form for the rest of the season. A fit and firing Ander Herrera is a classy player indeed.

 

[pocco]

I love all of em. However, Herrera, Smalling do not belong in a starting XI.

I think it's more than that, sadly. Today emphasised how far away we are, which sounds crazy after we won. Whilst we improved in the second, City threw it away a bit by going into cruise control.

 

[podurban2]

What’s that even mean? He was one of our best players (in both halves) today.

Tbh that’s more regarding him as a player rather than this match alone. Herrera was motm for most, I still think it’s time for us to move on.

 

[westmeath]

Have to admit I posted a few of this type of comment in the match day thread after second goal, it was just so hard to believe that was their best effort