[bond19821982]

It just means that they fear us since they want to defend a lot. We should have taken the lead on a corner, there is something there.

Ofcourse, hope we are bit adventurous in the second half. That City team is there is for talking like Arsenal, PSG,Chelsea.

 

[Jim Beam]

We are a better team, but Rashford needs to wake up.

 

[cyberman]

We are as negative as them with Fred and McTominay.

Bith managers seem to have set their teams for a boring draw.

Not really. At least they get about the pitch and we do, at times, play great football with them as a tandem so you can say killing the game isnt necessarily our intention. They arent picked just for 1 game as obviously as Pep has his midfield.
All Citys midfield are doing are sitting in and playing passes back and forward to Stones.
Plus Peps side seems to have given up all attacking intent in the league this season.

 

[Giggsy13]

I’m sure at some point Pep will abandon having 2 DMs and take off one of Rodrigo or Fernandinho to go for it.

 

[TommiHelm]

Both teams are literally playing the exact same tactic/formation. Two defensive midfielders completely nullifying the attacking midfielder in the opposition team. I'm pleased with our performance to be honest. Could easily nick a win if it continues like this. So could City though.

 

[A-man]

I like how we take the Pep approach to football and take tactical fouls on Sterling every time he gets the ball.

 

[stu_1992]

Cautious half by both teams. We've both had chances, although I'd have to say that City's were more dangerous. Still though a draw is fair so far. We're looking dangerous every time we have a corner so perhaps an avenue to exploit.

 

[kouroux]

It’s the right way but we are just drastically bad at it, we move the ball so slowly and rarely ever want to pass forward.

when we get it right though we can do it well like the play on the right today.

we just clearly don’t work on it for deem it important.

Yes but how often do we see that play, it also involved a bit of luck from Bruno tbh.
I don't mind as a concept, but not all the time and defo not when they're close to the box

 

[M Bison]

Building from the back as a concept, is seriously starting to piss me off. It's asking for trouble

Agree, 100%. It breaks down consistently when it goes to AWB too, which isn’t solely his fault, we have very little to go forward to.

I think we’d be better punting it over the full back and using Rashfords pace to get in behind. We’ve not got the quality to play out from the back imo.

 

[VP89]

My HT thoughts:
- AWB is not playing well, but I don't want to be too negative on our defence when it's 0-0.
- Bruno tries to force the issue but he needs to also take care of the ball better than he is. When he mis-places passes in the final third its more forgiveable than in our own half.
- Greenwood and Rashford need to proactively press a lot more than they are.

City are slow today, they are sluggish, and I think had even point 3) above been implemented from minute 0, we might be a goal up. If City come out and continue to be ponderous, I don't want us to wait for them to make an unforced error. Rather, I would want Ole to identify we should be pressing higher than we are and going at them because they look like they can give away all 3 points. It's at OT and we both look equally cautious.

That said it's not a bad 45 minutes, we are matching them on the pitch which is a compliment to us or a reflection of how they've fallen from 2 years ago. Depends which way you see it.

 

[kouroux]

I listen to Talksport and the old timers on there go ballistic about it. They always say why ask a player to do that when they are not capable of doing it. That defenders should be capable of defending first.

They go way OTT on the other side of the argument. It has its merits but not all the time IMHO

 

[vanrooney]

The reason Rashford and Greenwood are invisible is by design.
This formation freezes them out, we are playing not to lose.
Real manager would put Martial in the game.for one of McT or Fred, heck even Pogba.

It’s a typical top game and tactically spot on by ole. We had enough chances to score and at 1-0 the game opens up. Pogba should have left the ball for Greenwood for example and it’s a goal

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

its rather funny to see how insanely obsessed you are with having a go at Martial every chance you get, while Rashford and greenwood are either getting a free pass or is used as another excuse to have a go at Martial.

if martial was out there in the first half performing like Rashford and greenwood, you’d have gone mental.

It's a strange one. People definitely have their favourites who they tend to go easy on, but the fact is they're all inconsistent players who can play extremely well, very badly or somewhere in-between. For me Mason has looked ok in terms of the runs he's made, though he's done little with the ball, and I want much more from Rashford despite the scarps he's been fed on.

On recent performances Martial would not have done any better in this game.

 

[GifLord]

 

[Borys]

Rashford doesn't trust himself on the ball in those tight games. He should be making more runs in behind (or maybe he is, just ignored?).

 

[Andre Kagawa]

Can't watch. What's funny with Sterling's hair?

 

[sparx99]

pretty dull first half , very cagey but at least we haven't conceded any silly early goals. Our final ball has let us down. A little more care needed (or luck) city look poor defending our corners.

It’s fine but I can’t handle how cowardly we are. We are at home and really the only chances we’ve had have been some half chances from the corners. We are just like Burnley or anybody else playing City.

 

[Hester_manc]

You forgotten Istanbul 2nd leg. Definitely our best half

That is a long time ago now

 

[Gasolin]

I’m sure at some point Pep will abandon having 2 DMs and take off one of Rodrigo or Fernandinho to go for it.

Rodrigo for Foden in my opinion. It would be best if we could score before that, but we have Martial too.

 

[Footy van de Geek]

This means nothing though. Not every 0-0 is boring and not every 3-3 is entertaining. In England this derby is definitely the one I enjoy the least. I enjoy our matches with Liverpool generally more, actually.

Liverpool vs United is the worst two games of the season. Too much riding on it.

They're usually pretty tight games like this, or one team very occasionally has an epic day like Juanfield or their 1-4 at OT in 2009.

 

[Dec9003]

We did alright, but we really need to get the ball into the players that can make something happen more consistently. Greenwood was that deep he basically ended up in midfield at times, be brave and put him upfront, so he can actually get shots away.
Pogba did pretty well, again though he’s not really getting the ball in places he can be dangerous.

 

[Gasolin]

It’s fine but I can’t handle how cowardly we are. We are at home and really the only chances we’ve had have been some half chances from the corners. We are just like Burnley or anybody else playing City.

Nonsense, we play exactly how we should play: disciplined. Burnley doesn't have those chances we have, and doesn't press City like we do.

 

[HowYouDoin]

It’s fine but I can’t handle how cowardly we are. We are at home and really the only chances we’ve had have been some half chances from the corners. We are just like Burnley or anybody else playing City.

Yup. Small time manager. We are just like Burnley.

 

[Member 113277]

Bruno’s passing has been shite

Doesn't matter, though, he will produce at least one good one to put someone in. He is a risk taker and that means a higher failure rate than safe passers.

 

[GMoore23]

This made me laugh after that underwhelming first half

 

[bsCallout]

Great first half taking into account how poor we've been this season in the first half of games.

The important thing is that we must show the same quality in the second half that we often have.

Pogba looks great so far in what looks like a LM position. I think Greenwood needs to be pushed more central.

Our worst player by some margin is AWB, again. Starting to change my opinion on him as our RB for the future.

 

[eire-red]

Need to get Rashford, Greenwood and Pogba on the ball more. Bruno working really hard, but we need get him the ball in attacking areas.

Bit shaky at the back, but doing OK other than that. Still feels like City have another gear in them.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Agree, 100%. It breaks down consistently when it goes to AWB too, which isn’t solely his fault, we have very little to go forward to.

I think we’d be better punting it over the full back and using Rashfords pace to get in behind. We’ve not got the quality to play out from the back imo.

They’re clearly pressing him tactically like most teams do and it does fall apart with him which is his and also not his fault.

 

[Devil may care]

Very cagey from both sides, I imagine Guardiola will liven up his midfield at half time which will either see us really under the cosh or it'll open things up for us.

 

[Giggs' right foot]

We really are focussing first and foremost on the defense - seems like Ole will settle for a draw, with the possible luck of a Fernandes-masterclass to maybe grab a narrow win.

Fear an imminent Foden-sub.

 

[calodo2003]

Building from the back as a concept, is seriously starting to piss me off. It's asking for trouble

We seem to luck out a bit from the back, especially down the right. We can pull off some blinders certainly, but it feels somewhat sketchy at times. We just don’t have the on the ball quality right now to be committed totally to it. It will catch up to us.

 

[Judas]

This game is 100% there for the taking.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Ole wouldn't of missed an open goal.

Who sets up the corner plans? Who left demba Ba on his own? Who left Fred on? Who set up with 5 defenders & 2 DMs & left them on when we needed 2 goals?

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Rashford doesn't trust himself on the ball in those tight games. He should be making more runs in behind (or maybe he is, just ignored?).

Have you seen his record in these games though?

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

Yup. Small time manager. We are just like Burnley.

Burnley were three down at half time against this lot.

 

[Dante]

Feck me, that Sky Sport Boxing presenter... she hits almost every single one of my fetishes.

Just need to see her barefoot now.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

They go way OTT on the other side of the argument. It has its merits but not all the time IMHO

I agree. Think it is more, that players cannot seem to realise when it is safe to play it out from the back and when to just welly it to safety.

 

[groovyalbert]

Rashford doesn't trust himself on the ball in those tight games. He should be making more runs in behind (or maybe he is, just ignored?).

I think Rashford struggles to know what sort runs and positions to take with Greenwood on the pitch, especially when they're leading the line.

Rashford either needs to be out wide or given free-range up top. His game doesn't really suit having a partner.

 

[Footy van de Geek]

They’re clearly pressing him tactically like most teams do and it does fall apart with him which is his and also not his fault.

But it's out fault as a club.

We paid a good amount of money for a RB that many coaches target as our main weakness.

 

[Superunknown]

Feck me, that Sky Sport Boxing presenter... she hits almost every single one of my fetishes.

Just need to see her barefoot now.

A man needs a name.