[MDFC Manager]

Those stepovers really took me back and reminded me of a certain Portuguese winger we used to have. I'd much prefer having Dalot behind a true right winger with them both running riot down that right flank.

Do you think we actually need a wide player who drifts inside instead, and let Dalot run the wing from fullback?

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Those stepovers really took me back and reminded me of a certain Portuguese winger we used to have. I'd much prefer having Dalot behind a true right winger with them both running riot down that right flank.

We need a RB who can defend first and foremost.

He's going to be OK going forward but defending is what we need our defenders to do best.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Yeah its pretty incredible stuff.

Was very apprehensive about the game before hand but thankfully Ole knows what he is doing and we came away with a great result.

Team effort from Ole to the coaches and then the players who are clearly responding.

We rode our luck a bit though. I didn't enjoy seeing Palace get round the back quite so easily a couple of times and better finishing from Schlupp and Townsend would have seen us in trouble.

 

[thesheriffjw]

Impressive performance in my opinion.

Palace have been playing very well of late and their front 4 have caused massive problems in recent weeks. City and liverpool can testify to that.

Clearly, the change of approach from ole has worked wonders. Utd are in title winning form. Just a shame it happened too late

 

[Shiva87]

In fact, if Chelsea win their game in hand, we're back in 6th.

Seriously, feck Mourinho.

Thats not a practical view. Chelsea, Arsenal and United have a bunch of top 6 games before Chelsea play the game in hand.

For us, it's now in our hands. We play both Chelsea and Arsenal in the run in, and if we beat them both and better their other results, well be 4th.

Have to take it week by week from here on.

We've done the catching up that we had to.

 

[Cockney Phil]

Lukaku is defo an enigma. General play ability is pretty poor for a pro and then scores two good goals. He’s huge, dwarfed their centre backs but doesn’t use his presence to bully people. He’s like a skinny boy gone big, and his mind hasn’t adjusted. He has bursts of energy and then looks seriously exhausted. He can make great passes but the ball pings off him to start opponents counter-attacks. Indeed oppos play off him, he doesn’t play on them. Against sides like Palace he is simply lethal but against better sides he looks unsettled. I guess he’s a bit of a manger’s, nightmare certainly is for me.

Sanchez tried hard again but he looks spent. In over a year he’s done nothing to justify his salary or even show glimpses of what he was, looks like Arsenal turned off the light when he left. There was no surprise he was subbed for Rashford who has recovered from an injury that ruined his game but 3 days before. That reflects badly on Sanchez. Fred is a mystery. At one point Shaw was telling him where to be positionally, very strange.

I would restore Young as a winger while he can still kill defenders for speed. McT was excellent yesterday, even bullying our overrated reject into getting a card. Young had a good game except for his lapse, but then every member of the defence had one lapse in that game. The defence made mistakes but Palace could not exploit them. Even with the passengers our sense of superiority was only ruffled once. Hodgson and his assistant were visibly distraught at how to counter us. This was perhaps a more telling victory of Ole-Phelan’s ability than any game thus far. They dealt with the injuries, deployed youth but without unbalancing the squad, and they shifted tactics almost like changing gears through the game.

Outstanding performance.

 

[lysglimt]

Thats not a practical view. Chelsea, Arsenal and United have a bunch of top 6 games before Chelsea play the game in hand.

For us, it's now in our hands. We play both Chelsea and Arsenal in the run in, and if we beat them both and better their other results, well be 4th.

Have to take it week by week from here on.

We've done the catching up that we had to.

And there is a North-London derby in the weekend

 

[DomesticTadpole]

And there is a North-London derby in the weekend

Before the Burnley game I would have said Spurs would beat both Chelsea and Arsenal. That result at Turf Moor has knocked the stuffing out of the team and the manager.

 

[joseph5227]

Lukaku scored two goals，very powerful.

 

[Siorac]

Thats not a practical view. Chelsea, Arsenal and United have a bunch of top 6 games before Chelsea play the game in hand.

For us, it's now in our hands. We play both Chelsea and Arsenal in the run in, and if we beat them both and better their other results, well be 4th.

Have to take it week by week from here on.

We've done the catching up that we had to.

True, but still, feck Mourinho.

 

[StrettyEnder07]

Big shout out to McTominay who got a hell of a lot of abuse on here for United giving him a new deal, thank christ someone gave him a new deal as we would have been fooked without him last night. Forward balls constantly, pressing, chasing, tackling, interceptions, won every header and was brilliant, fair play Scott lad, superb performance, MOTM for me, best player on the park last night.

Fred, jesus...........you don't want to throw him under the bus, hope he can turn it around but he looked like a little lost schoolboy last night, some of it was hard to watch! Not sure he will be seen much for the rest of the season.

 

[TRUERED89]

My god, what a performance from such an underwhelming line up on paper, was very apprehensive before the game. I was really impressed with McTominay, he had a Carrick'esq type game and I hope he continues improving. Luke Shaw my MOTM closely followed by Lukaku (2 excellent finishes), Pogba was decent managed to get another assist for Young.

Sanchez again was Mr. Invisible (must be Torres in disguise), Fred was poor first half, got much better in the second, but I'll cut him some slack because he's barely played under OGS. Overall considering the circumstance and 5 first XI players missing, this has to be one of if not the best performance under OGS, he's a genius!!

 

[minoo-utd]

If we got Ole a month earlier we would be 3rd by now I reckon. And it's all down to him, and the way he sets the team mindset to go to games, he knows it and he can take us back to the glory. Now he got my full support specially after the injuries we have and he still can find ways to grind results. Top four and Job is Ole's but for me if he even doesn't succeed to get top 4, it won't be his issue IMO.

 

[Schmeichel=God]

As Ole said, if you dont shoot, you dont score. what a video that was And im sorry for dragging science into the picture; but every action has a reaction. If it hadnt been for Lukaku having the sitter, the general donkey touch nature and THAT pass, he might have not scored those two goals. Every road leads to Rome, and i dont care if youre invisible or shit in 89 minutes during a game, if you can win it by being excellent in one, then im all aboard.

Its the name of the striker, if you dont score youre shit, if you score once then thats your job, score two and we are satisfied, score three and its all because of youre team mates.

Nice point; and who can argue with that result yesterday? (me it seems )

It's just I agree with that to the extent that on the flip side it forms the basis of my opinion.

To me that type of goal return isn't sustainable. Yet, for each time Rom fails to link play/hold it up/buy a foul/recycle the ball either in general transition or as a counter target when we need to get out, his shortcomings put additional pressure on the remaining 10 players. That's the action and reaction for me, that we avoid with someone of better technical quality.

The thing is i suppose we're yet to see what Lukaku can really do in Ole's Utd going forward. Lukaku can obviously see a pass which is something I never really noticed from him. He's decent aerially when the header is on. Evidently he has a few decent snapshot finishes in him (as his PL goal tally supports). And so, just as someone else made the point that if he's satisfied playing a team role, i.e. no longer being the undroppable general, then with Ole working on his game I suppose he can certainly be of benefit.

I think we just need to ensure we purchase a couple of decent creative wingers to free up Rashford/Martial/Lukaku as the striking options.

Just a side thought I wonder who Ole likens to who from his experience of Ferguson utilising Yorke/Cole/Teddy/himself! Is Lukaku more of a Teddy or an Ole?! I'm off to watch Sheringham videos now!

---------

CHEEKY EDIT/REPLY: (Because I only have 5 comments a day )

No chance

One of the most intelligent strikers in PL history.

He's nearer Cole in chances missed and converted but Cole improved no end by 99

Glad you said it. I just didn't want to insult the man any further. Sheringham's quality, movement, aerial ability at that age with that lack of pace added beautiful balance to our strike force.

Is there an argument for him being an Ole even more than Cole....a poacher, given that he seems to more often than not come good when it finally falls for him in the box?

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Nice point; and who can argue with that result yesterday? (me it seems )

It's just I agree with that to the extent that on the flip side it forms the basis of my opinion.

To me that type of goal return isn't sustainable. Yet, for each time Rom fails to link play/hold it up/buy a foul/recycle the ball either in general transition or as a counter target when we need to get out, his shortcomings put additional pressure on the remaining 10 players. That's the action and reaction for me, that we avoid with someone of better technical quality.

The thing is i suppose we're yet to see what Lukaku can really do in Ole's Utd going forward. Lukaku can obviously see a pass which is something I never really noticed from him. He's decent aerially when the header is on. Evidently he has a few decent snapshot finishes in him (as his PL goal tally supports). And so, just as someone else made the point that if he's satisfied playing a team role, i.e. no longer being the undroppable general, then with Ole working on his game I suppose he can certainly be of benefit.

I think we just need to ensure we purchase a couple of decent creative wingers to free up Rashford/Martial/Lukaku as the striking options.

Just a side thought I wonder who Ole likens to who from his experience of Ferguson utilising Yorke/Cole/Teddy/himself! Is Lukaku more of a Teddy or an Ole?! I'm off to watch Sheringham videos now!

No chance

One of the most intelligent strikers in PL history.

He's nearer Cole in chances missed and converted but Cole improved no end by 99

 

[DomesticTadpole]

If we got Ole a month earlier we would be 3rd by now I reckon. And it's all down to him, and the way he sets the team mindset to go to games, he knows it and he can take us back to the glory. Now he got my full support specially after the injuries we have and he still can find ways to grind results. Top four and Job is Ole's but for me if he even doesn't succeed to get top 4, it won't be his issue IMO.

I think Ole listens to his coaches as well, there is a great interaction between them all. Mike Phelan will be a great sounding board for him.

 

[Litch]

We won with so many changes. Great attitude from all the players. Two great goals from Rom and Sanchez worked hard up front. Fred took time to settle but this time on the pitch can have only helped. Same for Dalot.

 

[Peter Brewer]

A good squad is not simply a collection of interchangeable individuals that are all STAR 9/10 skilled performers but a collective of individuals that can hold a ship steady when things aren't at their best.
Brilliant performance and camaraderie despite the terrible form of many.

McTominay will be crucial to the squad moving forwards. Solid, dependable, tired late on and can even wind up star players!
But really impressed. Continues to add forward passing to his game and just needs to work on losing his man when marked tightly via more one-touch maneuvering play and creating space.

Still would give Sanchez more time under Ole. Effort and passing is there but seems to not know his team and players - I think he's still stuck in Arsenal mode as you can see he is constantly playing balls and making runs like he did at Arsenal but the problem is his reading and others reading what he's going to do.
Fred was atrociously nervous and off-pace with fear 1st half and playing safe but least best passes; Grew into 2nd half and was all action later on. Needs time and we will have a player worth a solid squad place. Loved that play down the picth 2nd half where crossed from the left.
Young once again shows why he's a brilliant player's player. You can tell how important he is in this dressing room despite a few mistakes.

Lukaku will become a **** hero if he stays.
Terrible at times mixed with genius sublime finishing.
I can tell he's been working hard on build-up decision making but he isn't quite there just yet.
Just needs to work on better one-touch play and he'll be fine.
Will definitely leave him to work and improve in the summer but I hope we keep him if he's willing to stay as a squad player.

Defence a bit wobbly 2nd half.
Overall how it used to be; tough win away 3rd half of season with injuries and plenty of squad rotation
Garner looked like a lost lad that had won a competition! bless

Excellent summary. Plusses and minuses on all the right players. Without all the unnecessary negative characteristics. You Sir are a joy to read.

 

[OldPop]

Not only that the ordinary attack and the midfield were in ruins and had to be filled with reserves, DDG and Pogba make their worst effort in a long time.

It is a miracle that we make three goals and win. They are great heroes all, even those who played worse because they still worked so hard and Ole because he can bring dead bodies to life again.

 

[Rightnr]

I like to keep it realistic but if City and Liverpool weren't so consistent all season, we could have been challenging for a title with this kind of form, given that we're barely dropping points even with so, so many changes.

 

[Hughes35]

Absolutely superb. Really a fantastic result under the circumstances.

I haven't read this thread or the player performance threads yet but I thought Mctominay was very good. I think he might surprise a few and go on to have a very good career. It's the first time I've seen adventurous passing from him and it really added another dimension to his game.

 

[Schmeichel=God]

We've done the catching up that we had to.

In unbelievable time I will add.
Just to bring attention to this once more: http://solskjaertabellen.com/
After the years of blasphemy with the way managers had us playing, I'm still coming to terms with the extreme change.
Immense credit to Ole.

Before the Burnley game I would have said Spurs would beat both Chelsea and Arsenal. That result at Turf Moor has knocked the stuffing out of the team and the manager.

Me too. Ironic that we used to say we don't do things the easy way. Well, for once in 5 years we're storming away making it seem easy...and yet, we're still not allowed to do things the easy way. Thanks Spurs.

Getting those two late goals at OT against Burnley has become even more a coup now. Truth be told in the scheme of things they were a massive two points dropped and it had the power to rile us up. So how much more so would Tottenham's losing to Burnley destabilise them!

Everything is falling for Ole in the Ole vs Poch stakes. I would love it, just love it...if Spurs finished 5th and us 4th...just to complete the demonstration of why we should go for Ole!

Big shout out to McTominay who got a hell of a lot of abuse on here for United giving him a new deal, thank christ someone gave him a new deal as we would have been fooked without him last night. Forward balls constantly, pressing, chasing, tackling, interceptions, won every header and was brilliant, fair play Scott lad, superb performance, MOTM for me, best player on the park last night.

Fred, jesus...........you don't want to throw him under the bus, hope he can turn it around but he looked like a little lost schoolboy last night, some of it was hard to watch! Not sure he will be seen much for the rest of the season.

McT absolutely. He might have gone out on loan had Fellaini still been here. For me he was our most outstanding player yesterday. The aggression throughout, the forward passes. Mix this with his height and we have a young Matic here. So pleased for him. Yesterday he blatantly came of age. Now the challenge is toward consistency.

And Shaw...what a vein of form he is in. The confidence and aggression in his game also. It's like all of a sudden he knows what to do without being plugged into the motherboard of Mourinho.

Lukaku is defo an enigma. General play ability is pretty poor for a pro and then scores two good goals. He’s huge, dwarfed their centre backs but doesn’t use his presence to bully people. He’s like a skinny boy gone big, and his mind hasn’t adjusted. He has bursts of energy and then looks seriously exhausted. He can make great passes but the ball pings off him to start opponents counter-attacks. Indeed oppos play off him, he doesn’t play on them. Against sides like Palace he is simply lethal but against better sides he looks unsettled. I guess he’s a bit of a manger’s, nightmare certainly is for me.

Sanchez tried hard again but he looks spent. In over a year he’s done nothing to justify his salary or even show glimpses of what he was, looks like Arsenal turned off the light when he left. There was no surprise he was subbed for Rashford who has recovered from an injury that ruined his game but 3 days before. That reflects badly on Sanchez. Fred is a mystery. At one point Shaw was telling him where to be positionally, very strange.

I would restore Young as a winger while he can still kill defenders for speed. McT was excellent yesterday, even bullying our overrated reject into getting a card. Young had a good game except for his lapse, but then every member of the defence had one lapse in that game. The defence made mistakes but Palace could not exploit them. Even with the passengers our sense of superiority was only ruffled once. Hodgson and his assistant were visibly distraught at how to counter us. This was perhaps a more telling victory of Ole-Phelan’s ability than any game thus far. They dealt with the injuries, deployed youth but without unbalancing the squad, and they shifted tactics almost like changing gears through the game.

Outstanding performance.

Good comments there. It would have been interesting to see what have happened had Young and Dalot started in opposite positions (which is how I would have started them). Dalot showed plenty of endeavour however, and Young besides his error was well at the races as usual. What I do rate is that Ole saw the need to make that change (Bailly for RB and Young RW) and Palace suddenly weren't ready for it. It released Young from the late pressure and probably confused Palace's left side a little. For Young to still be headless chickening it about and grabbing a goal, at that age, at 90+ is superb.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Finally managed to watch the whole match avoiding the result.

Good performance, eight away wins in a row for the first time ever in our history.

Lukaku and Shaw pick of the bunch. Pogba Young and McTominay good although no-one played badly. Shaky start from Fred but improved as the match went on, even Sanchez made some good passes.

Sloppy for the goal conceded , could have cleared it two or three times but overall the defence played well and DDG didn't have much to do.

Give Ole the job now!

 

[youmeletsfly]

Big shout to Palace's home fans, the atmosphere was very nice.

Our away support has been great again.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Big shout to Palace's home fans, the atmosphere was very nice.

Our away support has been great again.

They are good but need more than one song. The Wan Bissaka one is great though.

Ours are better.

 

[Needham]

Absolutely superb. Really a fantastic result under the circumstances.
I haven't read this thread or the player performance threads yet but I thought Mctominay was very good. I think he might surprise a few and go on to have a very good career. It's the first time I've seen adventurous passing from him and it really added another dimension to his game.

Yeah he stepped up. Little bit of authority and arrogance about him, his passing not bad at all when he relaxes.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Yeah he stepped up. Little bit of authority and arrogance about him, his passing not bad at all when he relaxes.

OK but long term he's not what Utd need nor are we going to be successful with.

Rice and Longstaff are way ahead. Garner looks a much better prospect.I'm sure there are others out there

 

[Needham]

OK but long term he's not what Utd need nor are we going to be successful with.
Rice and Longstaff are way ahead. Garner looks a much better prospect.I'm sure there are others out there

At pure elite level, perhaps. But is he a potential beast squad entity, maybe. Wouldn't write him off until we've seen more.

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

Very happy with that win!
Two excellent finishes from Lukaku, but otherwise he was a carthorse. But, crucial goals and as long as scores a few I guess we'll have to accept his overall flaws.
Sanchez is no longer a footballer.
Fred was hit and miss, to be expected.

Crazy how we've had such an incredible run under Ole (haven't lost a league game) yet are in danger of being fecking 6th AGAIN.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

At pure elite level, perhaps. But is he a potential beast squad entity, maybe. Wouldn't write him off until we've seen more.

I'm willing to give him time but looking at the level we need: Carrick,Matic,Ndombele. I'd say he's nowhere near that nor do I think he will be. I'd love to be wrong on the ' academy prospect makes good,' story but I suspect that's what a lot of the hype around him is.

 

[Raw]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Check out our average positions, it's no wonder Shaw was dead on his feet towards the end. Having to play both LB and LW while Sanchez is too busy towards the middle.

 

[StrettyEnder07]

I'm willing to give him time but looking at the level we need: Carrick,Matic,Ndombele. I'd say he's nowhere near that nor do I think he will be. I'd love to be wrong on the ' academy prospect makes good,' story but I suspect that's what a lot of the hype around him is.

This McTominay were talking about? I did think that we needed two midfielders this summer but now I would just go for a Neves/Ndombele to have fight with Matic with McTominay providing back up for Herrera and Fred (if he comes good)/Gomes as back up for Pogba, more than happy with that.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

This McTominay were talking about? I did think that we needed two midfielders this summer but now I would just go for a Neves/Ndombele to have fight with Matic with McTominay providing back up for Herrera and Fred (if he comes good)/Gomes as back up for Pogba, more than happy with that.

I don't get the hype around Neves

 

[Mihai]

The only negative was Pogba's tribute to Arouna Kone.

 

[Mugiwarared71]

de Gea - poor distribution today. A couple of saves and couldn't do much for a goal conceded

Smalling and Lindelof - more nervous than usually, lost quite a few headers in the area, should do better in this regard

Shaw - fantastic going forward in the first half, quite good in defence

Young - could cost us a lot as his mistake led to a goal conceded, but made up for it in the end with an excellent goal

McTominay - very strong outing. Reliable in passing, good in fighting for the ball, didn't make many mistakes. Respectable deputy for Matic

Fred - atrocious in the first half, but much better in the second. Made one key pass for Sanchez' header (which went wide)

Pogba - best ball winner in the team today, controlled the tempo. Had a chance to score with a header, made an assist for Young

Dalot - played as a RW, didn't impress much, although made one key cross to Pogba. Didn't make noticeable mistakes either

Sanchez - didn't contribute much, earned one dangerous FK and had a half-chance with a diving header. Invisible more or less, doesn't deserve to start the next match

Lukaku - scored two great goals (showing good first touch both times), gave a pass to Pogba who then provided an assist to Young, had two more chances to score from crosses. MotM

Rashford - didn't do much but was visibly better than Sanchez when subbed him.

Bailly - was reliable as a right back

Garner - didn't contribute as only came on on 90th minute, but debut is always a good thing.

Bailly was right back ? thought it was more of a centre back three and he was on the right hand side and a double up of bailey and Young on Zaha , making young push up a bit more Basically with wing backs .

 

[HaliRed]

I'd love to know who said that.

Steven Caldwell. Played in the premier leagues for a few years, and had 12 caps for Scotland. Then he moved to the MLS and finally became a pundit on Canadian TV. The whole TSN crew is awful.

They speak as if their audience are clueless about football.

EDIT: Already answered a few times. Apologies.

 

[Cantonaaa!]

Or sign a few quality players and win the Quadruple! Come on we are United, think big and then some.

I was joking. Totally agree.

 

[Satissh12]

As always the Solskjaer Table for those that are wondering if Ole is worthy of the job: http://solskjaertabellen.com/

What this table also tells us is we've drawn against two inform teams in Liverpool and Burnley, which isn't that bad..

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

Yes I'm too tough on him here. I evidently can't cope with Lukaku scoring goals

I just find it hard to accept that two nice finishes gives a man a high score, whilst we forget about the remainder of his all round performance: the sitter, the general donkey touch nature of the man, that pass.

His overall body of work throughout a run of games is what dictates my opinion of him.

Maybe I am inhumanely harsh because the first goal in isolation is top quality striking. The second, many would sky. But put him in these situations again and do we expect him to repeat the feat? For me he's just such an untidy footballer who makes a mockery of his physicality/frame and further in my opinion sorely lacks the technique required of a Utd striker. It's too random, too inconsistent.

If he could score two every game in exchange for woefully linking play and looking like a combination of Bebe & Ali Dia at all other times...then I'll sign on the dotted line.

His job is to score goals and he's done that, twice. Anything else is a bonus and barring a red card or own goal he gets a good score, even if the rest of his play was underwhelming.

 

[Shipperley]

No complaints at the result really, better team won. Thought we stood a shot at equalising for a period there but for some reason Roy changed the left back and about a minute later we conceded down that side. Very odd move I thought.

I was also disappointed with Roy's lineup generally, the midfield should have included Kouyate to counteract your physical threat with Pogba and McTominay in there and Max Meyer really should be starting games for us playing slightly ahead of Luka and Kouyate with a bit more license to go forward. He made a real difference when he came on I thought, but Roy seems to have a love affair with Jeff Schlupp.

And just for the record guys, having to play a £75m striker and someone on £400k a week is not an injury crisis! We missed Mama Sakho and AWB big time last night. That first goal doesn't happen with AWB playing at right back for a start. Ward and Kelly are nowhere near the standard of those two and even just a couple of injuries will always hurt a club like us.

Still, bigger fish to fry for us starting at Burnley on Saturday.