[dalriada]

Slow start, large parts were scrappy but still won 3-0. Beautiful

On a side note and probably an unpopular opinion but please sell Fred while we can still get close to what we paid for him.

He's the type of player who needs a string of games to get his confidence up, not one who will give you his best from the bench. With Pogba and Matic looking like the main two now, he won't won't get that run of games.

He's come on tonight, made a few misplaced passes, got a yellow card and slowed our game right down with endless side passes.

It will be an unpopular opinion, I think. Don't weaken our midfield just when we've cracked it. Matić looked jaded and needed resting. The yellow against Fred was a foul but never a yellow, not even by the measure Moss was using in the match. Fred's performances did improve dramatically when he had a run of games, though.

 

[alexthelion]

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Another record for Ole.

 

[macheda14]

Right at the end. He might have hurt his ankle

Damn that would suck, especially with Southampton next.

 

[arthurka]

Another record for Ole.

Post match interview he was not happy to only win by 3 goals. He said all games should have won by a bigger margin.

 

[dalriada]

He gave interview after the game? Good news.

Good interview as well. Looks and sounds like a convinced United player, and I don't think it was an act. Whatever has happened over the lockdown, I think we're seeing a much humbler, more mature Pogba than we saw before his injury.

 

[tjb]

Well they are though... Its a match sharpness thing. Also, it was a full second XI... How often should we expect a full second XI to be brilliant? They've done well in most of the games they've been picked to do well in anyway (cups and EL)

You are right in that, but i expect them to be able to replicate the first team's performance but at a reduced level. I'm specifically talking about Mctominay filling in for Matic and Pogba, particularly Matic. Because the plan at the end of the day is for Mctominay to replace Matic in the first xi.

However, what I've seen when he has played is that both Pogba and Fred have had to take up the DM role to facilitate his lack of positional awareness in our build up play, which handicaps both players. Particularly because Mctominay is not a creative influence. When then happens is that we take longer bringing the ball out of defence or we play it long to the flanks or centre forward, both of which are risky options. In essence, he needs to improve.

 

[pascell]

Post match interview he was not happy to only win by 3 goals. He said all games should have won by a bigger margin.

Rightfully so, we should've had 5/6 tonight and more vs Bournemouth and Brighton.

 

[SirScholes]

We looked off the pace but I do think villa need to take a lot of credit for closing down fast and not allowing us to get going it’s not all about us being poor

we showed our class at the end of the first half where we almost walked the ball into the net

 

[TrustInOle]

Anyone listened to Richard Keys after the game? Guy is an absolute donkey along with Andy Grey. How are them two still on TV?

 

[noodlehair]

Good job we got rid of Solskjaer and brought it Pochettino like loads of people wanted or imagine the mess we'd be in right now.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

Winning easily even though you look half a step behind the action for the first half hour is a good sign, regardless of the opposition. It seems to happen more often when you can field class players together...hopefully no one else cops on to this strategy.

 

[Sandikan]

Gutted Martial hit the bar, that would have topped a really strong second half off, even without hitting top gear.

Good news is that we could again rest players so can go at Southampton like a dog eating hot chips.
Chelsea and Leicester should be getting a bit twitchy.

 

[Redfrog]

RMC in today's match, Pierre Ducrocq, must have been the most ignorant, moronic, ill-informed commentary I have ever witnessed .

I'm French Paul and RMC are poor. So unprofessional. At least I can watch all the premier league for free as it is in my contract with internet.

 

[Adamsk7]

Great win after a rocky start. Got in to gear after the first goal and cruised from then on. The second half was so easy that even the players on the field were getting a nice rest!

 

[Andycoleno9]

Rightfully so, we should've had 5/6 tonight and more vs Bournemouth and Brighton.

Every goal counts now. One goal can maybe be difference between going to Leicester for the win or draw.
Can't blame him for that. He must rest best players and put players like McT and James who are not bringing goals and creativity in team

 

[dalriada]

You are right in that, but i expect them to be able to replicate the first team's performance but at a reduced level. I'm specifically talking about Mctominay filling in for Matic and Pogba, particularly Matic. Because the plan at the end of the day is for Mctominay to replace Matic in the first xi.

However, what I've seen when he has played is that both Pogba and Fred have had to take up the DM role to facilitate his lack of positional awareness in our build up play, which handicaps both players. Particularly because Mctominay is not a creative influence. When then happens is that we take longer bringing the ball out of defence or we play it long to the flanks or centre forward, both of which are risky options. In essence, he needs to improve.

The point is, "needs to improve". That's part of the development and progress of players. As a team, we still need to improve, but we've come a long way. Some of our players are not the finished article, they need to work on aspects of their game.
From tonight's match, Shaw is making some great runs but needs to work on making them count, James needs to work on his decision making when he races forward and McTominay needs to improve defensively (assuming you're right that that the plan is for him to replace Matić, which I think is not a given). AWB needs to improve his delivery into the box, which he's doing. But I think they know this, so does Ole and the coaching staff.
Personally, I'm optimistic about all of them, and there's only two or three players, of those we are seeing regularly on the bench, that I have serious doubts about, and I think most people know who they are.

 

[Betson]

Never really got out of 3rd gear yet unlucky not to win by 5 or 6 , the team now even not at full pelt is playing at a much higher level than the team that started the season.

Look real quality is attack , Rashford may not be his sharpest yet in front of goal but his build up and assist play is top notch since the restart. Martial looks a different player , very fired up and eager to get involved , he was very good for the 2nd goal.

Greenwood lets his shooting speak for itself , phenomenal finisher and still only 18 , potential unlimited.

And with Bruno and a renewed Pogba we finally have a bit of quality in midfield.

But we still need to see out these few remaining games , complacency is our enemy.

We were off the pace a bit tonight but it did not matter , that won't be the case in all the games we play from now on.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Villa started brightly which is fully expected for a team playing at home battling relegation. We took a while to get into it but once we got the peno - lucky imo - we looked comfortable. Greenwood scored at a brilliant time and that completely deflated Villa.

I thought we totally controlled the second half and should have easily had another goal or two minimum. Good outing in what was a potentially tricky game. The mood and positivity around the place is just brilliant. Having watched the Spurs game beforehand, I can't express just how happy I am that we have moved on from the Jose era.

 

[Glorio]

For those watching on Sky sports, Evra and Keane though ... Love the banter and how they play off each other like good cop and bad cop

Also Roy seems to have a lot of time for Evra. I think Sky pairs them because Evra does seem to have the cheek and charm to get away with taking the mickey out of Keane more than most would.

 

[Dante]

For those watching on Sky sports, Evra and Keane though ... Love the banter and how they play off each other like good cop and bad cop

Also Roy seems to have a lot of time for Evra. I think Sky pairs them because Evra does seem to have the cheek and charm to get away with taking the mickey out of Keane more than most would.

Good shout. They really work well together.

Devil on the left, angel on the right. Each whispering in Kelly Cate's ears.

 

[Get In Scholesy]

Stayed in second gear, did the minimum and got the maximum for it. Professional performance.

Pogba my MOTM.

 

[utdalltheway]

Another record for Ole.

In the years since SAF left we’ve set all sorts of records. This is a record we want to have.

 

[arthurka]

For those watching on Sky sports, Evra and Keane though ... Love the banter and how they play off each other like good cop and bad cop

Also Roy seems to have a lot of time for Evra. I think Sky pairs them because Evra does seem to have the cheek and charm to get away with taking the mickey out of Keane more than most would.

The cheeky look Evra got from Keane after Keane had gone on about Pogba not wanting to be a leader on the pitch but maybe on social media..

 

[moodyred]

17 and counting

 

[dogwithabone]

Total control.

We are no longer scraping by against the weaker teams having conceded the majority of possession. Bar odd flurries from our opponents we are bossing games start to finish. Just need to find that ruthless streak that turns 3-0’s into 5 and 6 nils in the way City do.

We are close, very close, to being a side capable of mounting a serious assault on the PL next season. I’ve heard some pundits say we are miles away from City and Liverpool, that’s nonsense ! We aren’t there yet but to say we are miles away is ridiculous.

 

[.Phil1968]

Great to see the lads enjoying their football again . Some lovely moves in the second half and as Ole said we should have had a few more.
Hopefully carry it on Monday night.

 

[Mr. Meeseeks]

Anyone else think that was a clear pen? The defender sticks out his leg, misses the ball because Bruno was turning with the ball and he trips Bruno from behind. People on here were actually saying that it was a foul to the Villa defender

 

[mazhar13]

Anyone else think that was a clear pen? The defender sticks out his leg, misses the ball because Bruno was turning with the ball and he trips Bruno from behind. People on here were actually saying that it was a foul to the Villa defender

You're not alone. Konsa committed and got caught out. The only reason that looks contentious is because Bruno brought his foot down on an outstretched Konsa.

 

[tjb]

The point is, "needs to improve". That's part of the development and progress of players. As a team, we still need to improve, but we've come a long way. Some of our players are not the finished article, they need to work on aspects of their game.
From tonight's match, Shaw is making some great runs but needs to work on making them count, James needs to work on his decision making when he races forward and McTominay needs to improve defensively (assuming you're right that that the plan is for him to replace Matić, which I think is not a given). AWB needs to improve his delivery into the box, which he's doing. But I think they know this, so does Ole and the coaching staff.
Personally, I'm optimistic about all of them, and there's only two or three players, of those we are seeing regularly on the bench, that I have serious doubts about, and I think most people know who they are.

I'm optimistic but wary. We have a first xi that can do a lot of good things already. What seperates City and Liverpool from us is that even when they rest their best players, they have others in reserve that can replicate those performances. If our goal is to be the best, we have to take that into consideration because we cannot play our first xi every game. We have a system ( even though there are people that will claim otherwise). In this system, one midfielder provides support to the defence by dropping into defence and becoming a 3, while the other provides an option( Bruno sometimes) to the Build up back 3 which makes it easy to get the ball into midfield. Both Pogba and Bruno provide good passing options for Matic Macguire and Lindelof because they have good positional awareness. Essentially it gives us a build up shape of 3313. The back 3 being Matic Lindelof and Macguire, the three after that being AWB Pogba and Shaw, the one being Bruno ( who sometimes swaps with Pogba) and the front 3.

When Mctominay plays as a DM, his lack of positional awareness means that he comes deep really late and hence forces Lindelof and Macguire to look for passing options in higher areas of the pitch ( which requires incisive passing) or move it out quickly to AWB or Shaw ( which also requires good passing from all 4). What tends to happen is that Pogba is then force in to fill that void, which prevents him from being in creative positions quick enough ( it's the same thing that happened when he played in a two with Herrera).

In the 8 position, he fails to provide the positional awareness and touch that Pogba or Fernandes can use to provide passing lanes for the build up back 3. Even though AWB and Shaw could shift to a more narrow position to provide that support, a. we ask them to provide width and attacking presence b. neither of them are creative enough to break opposition lines either. This is why our defenders look frustrated when looking for passing options, forcing them to take forever in moving the ball up the pitch or are forced to go back to De Gea who passes long.

These are the primary reasons why we have found it difficult to break down deep deep defences. My problem with this us now is that one injury to Pogba or Matic could lead to that happening again. Even if Mctominay could provide the very basics in regard to the build up, it would allow us to perform in a similar way to the way that we do now.

 

[lex talionis]

A weak opponent but we’re finally decimating weak opponents on a regular basis.

 

[TheNewEra]

I won't be happy until Pogba signs a new contract, keeping him is as important as Sancho this summer... going to be a big month for the club.

Good performance all round.

 

[Mr. Meeseeks]

You're not alone. Konsa committed and got caught out. The only reason that looks contentious is because Bruno brought his foot down on an outstretched Konsa.

Glad others saw it that way as well. Helps me keep my sanity for a little while longer.

 

[tjb]

Good job we got rid of Solskjaer and brought it Pochettino like loads of people wanted or imagine the mess we'd be in right now.

People blame managers for way too much. Imagine expecting a front 6 of Fred, Mctominay, Lingard, Pereira Rashford and Martial to create consistent chances and control games every game. For most of our season, that was our best xi.

In our current xi, you could make the argument that Rashford and Martial have been our worst players in the front 6, Whereas they were far and away the best prior.

 

[Tom Cato]

First 20 minutes Villa heaped too much pressure on, I don't think Fernandes goal was a penalty.

Martial didn't seem too happy to be subbed, shades of Rooney throwing his boots being stroppy when he was subbed!

Pogba I'm happy he got his goal, well deserved.

I actually loved seeing that from Martial. He looked unhappy because he is so hungry to score goals and he knew he should have had one. He cares so much that even the team winning comfortably or his own amazing performance cant overshadow his own disappointment in himself for not scoring.

 

[RollieOle]

Good job we got rid of Solskjaer and brought it Pochettino like loads of people wanted or imagine the mess we'd be in right now.

Norwegian PE teacher, got Cardiff relegated, only here because he scored a tap in, not cut out for management.......

 

[giggslover]

Slow start, large parts were scrappy but still won 3-0. Beautiful

On a side note and probably an unpopular opinion but please sell Fred while we can still get close to what we paid for him.

He's the type of player who needs a string of games to get his confidence up, not one who will give you his best from the bench. With Pogba and Matic looking like the main two now, he won't won't get that run of games.

He's come on tonight, made a few misplaced passes, got a yellow card and slowed our game right down with endless side passes.

Does anyone know what his yellow card was for?? Went back to take a look but didn't see an "incident" worthy of one...

 

[always_hoping]

Get in 17 unbeaten!

46 goals scored and just 6 goals conceded in that run.

 

[Berbasbullet]

46 goals scored and just 6 goals conceded in that run.

Madness!

 

[Red00012]

It’s a pity OT isn’t full and a few thousand at our aways aren’t able to enjoy this.

 

[mu4c_20le]

Norwegian PE teacher, got Cardiff relegated, only here because he scored a tap in, not cut out for management.......

playing down his contributions in order to have a go at him was my favourite