[antohan]

Should have gone for Cavani instead of Lukaku.

Not aimed at you but NO SHIT SHERLOCK

Always baffled me that Mourinho didn't go for him (at United or Chelsea before that, despite regular links). Does everything he looks for both as centreforward and player (attitude/workrate).

He was immense for PSG post Ibra, would have likely ended as another frustrating and futile summer saga but could and should have arrived after WC2018.

 

[Rooney1987]

Listening to Ole, he just mentioned the team didn't get to train today, couldn't find a pitch because of COVID and had to stay in the hotel.

 

[Devil may care]

We are nervy seeing games out as it's new territory for this team to be actually competing for the league, main thing is we got the job done, the only thing for me is I felt Ole should have made a change a bit sooner as we were getting ragged, Matic on for the last 20 minutes would have been my choice.

 

[The Oracle]

Really pleased with the win.

Delightful goal by Pogba.

 

[MattyLT]

To me, the biggest positive today was how well the midfield pairing of Pogba + Fred was working. On paper, that should be the optimal choice as for quality, and it's one that should work on balance as well. So it was nice to see it actually working out in practice. Hopefully, we'll see more of that going forward.

 

[FrantikChicken]

This is the type of game that would have ended in a draw a couple of seasons ago.

Although we're not smooth sailing, we're now seeing these out and getting the 3 points.

The progress with this team is obvious and I'm certain that Ole knows how to continue progressing this team to be even better

 

[justsomebloke]

Honestly, I think they've had some horrendous fixtures recently which is when they've picked up form. If they continue playing like this, they'll stay up easily.

I like them too. But let's not get carried away here - they were outclassed for 70 minutes. There were long stretches where they struggled to get out of their own half.

 

[FrankDrebin]

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JC.

 

[The Brown Bull]

Delighted with that. Great goal by Pogba. We are better when Cavani is in the team.

 

[justsomebloke]

Anyone else get the feeling the internal balance of the team is shifting? There's been a few games now where Pogba's been not only better than Fernandes, but also more influential. Suddenly, it's looking like it's not just one player carrying us any more. And we'll be the better for it.

This game was I think also a reminder that we're still vulnerable defensively when we play as offensively as we did today, with both CMs and both full backs much more offensively involved than usual. Fulham created quite a lot despite being outplayed for long stretches, and it wasn't down to individual bad performances in the defence. Not too far behind in shots either.

 

[FrantikChicken]

Anyone else get the feeling the internal balance of the team is shifting? There's been a few games now where Pogba's been not only better than Fernandes, but also more influential. Suddenly, it's looking like it's not just one player carrying us any more. And we'll be the better for it.

This game was I think also a reminder that we're still vulnerable defensively when we play as offensively as we did today, with both CMs and both full backs much more offensively involved than usual. Fulham created quite a lot despite being outplayed for long stretches, and it wasn't down to individual bad performances in the defence. Not too far behind in shots either.

Imo they created a lot because our team (as they often do) kept making very simple errors and giving the ball away in positions and situations where that really shouldn't be happening. When we managed to avoid making mistakes, we had them pinned in their half without much of a problem

 

[Isotope]

Anyone else get the feeling the internal balance of the team is shifting? There's been a few games now where Pogba's been not only better than Fernandes, but also more influential. Suddenly, it's looking like it's not just one player carrying us any more. And we'll be the better for it.

This game was I think also a reminder that we're still vulnerable defensively when we play as offensively as we did today, with both CMs and both full backs much more offensively involved than usual. Fulham created quite a lot despite being outplayed for long stretches, and it wasn't down to individual bad performances in the defence. Not too far behind in shots either.

That's why, if Pogba leaves, we need another playmaker in this team. It's impossible for one player to be the only source of creativity for the whole season. Not with this schedule, or if we compete in many fronts.

 

[Eric's-collar]

Reading the comments here, with the amount of rubbish players n a clueless manager we have, god knows how we're top

 

[Wumminator]

Absolutely bloody brilliant.

 

[giggsysupforit]

After the first few weeks of the season if anyone said we’d be top of the league, six points ahead of Liverpool in January it would have felt like fantasy stuff. For United to win the league this season is going to take a lot of these nervy moments, and for a few big players to step up, but why not? Doesn’t feel out of the question, for the first time since Fergie left...

 

[Robbie Boy]

Anyone who thought this was going to be a stroll was kidding themselves. These are the tough games where grinding out results is so important. The wins against these and Burnley were huge and in another season we come out with 2 points and not 6. We have a fighting spirit and a winning mentality about us now and it's great to see.

The last 15 were far too nervy, though. We easily could have conceded and it had shades of Southampton last season about it. We need to be stronger when seeing out games or it'll come back to bite us.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Reading the comments here, with the amount of rubbish players n a clueless manager we have, god knows how we're top

Can you quote these comments? Madness if people in this thread are saying those things. My guess is that you're being wildly hyperbolic.

 

[justsomebloke]

I have never played goalie before, but on that Bailey deflection, was there nothing De Gea could have done? It was a relatively slow ball but he froze just hoping it would go wide. Is there any chance he could have dove and got fingers on it had it been more on net?

I love De Gea and whats he's done for this club, but the last few seaons hes starting to 'hope for a miss' rather than react. I could be way off base.

I don't think de Gea has any chance on a deflection of that force and from that distance.

 

[The Irish Connection]

Fair play to pogba! Great goal to win the game. He’s been good the last few games, well done.
So stressful though.
Let’s keep it going reds!

 

[RedDevil@84]

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Huh what? What were the club authorities doing? Thought such stuff are planned well in advance.

 

[RedDevil@84]

We are better when Cavani is in the team.

This has been obvious for 10 games at least.

 

[Kyonn]

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We had many similar performances during that 98/99 season, too.

We're winning the treble!

 

[justsomebloke]

I like Ole's post-match comments of late; he's happy to identify aspects he isn't happy with rather than getting carried away with the good results.

I agree. He focuses on the positives when things go badly, and on areas of improvement when they go well. Which shows good judgment. Although I'm sure it's maddening for reporters (and sometimes for viewers too).

 

[justsomebloke]

Fulham have been giving plenty of it to all the top teams lately. A good old fashioned ugly win on the road. What the hell were our CBs doing on their goal? Great strike from Pogba and a nice bit of Diego Costa type aggression from Cavani.

The CBs were playing a good offside line. Which Wan-Bissaka ruined.

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

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[Robbie Boy]

This has been obvious for 10 games at least.

Yup.

 

[TwoSheds]

Positives - 3 points, top of the league, amazing goal from Pogba, Fernandes did quite well and Cavani got a goal.

Negatives - defence looked dodgy, Greenwood to an extent and particularly Martial are really in poor form right now, slow, sloppy start again, and think Ole could have been more proactive.

 

[justsomebloke]

Awful game, we got 3 points that is all but ,when are we going to start with hard crossballs in front of goal for Cavani to nick in.
I have missed it for years.(hard crosses) I belive Rashford is god for that task.

If United is going to win the league they have to show who is the boss in games like today. They nearly messed it up in the end.

What are you talking about? They totally outclassed Fulham for 70 minutes.

 

[The Irish Connection]

Tough game. 3 points. Happy with that. Shaw was immense.
Some improvements needed

• Maguire needs to get better at offensive headers
• Greenwood needs to support AWB more
• Martial was useless

Maguire has been absolutely shocking with headers. He’s missed about 5 good headed chances.

 

[Robbie Boy]

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Eh? Only 94 ever in the history of the PL? Sounds extremely low.

 

[UnitedChampionsAgain]

The first season in a long long time when we havnt been crucified by injuries and we're challenging for the league.
Makes a hell of a difference!

 

[Berbasbullet]

The CBs were playing a good offside line. Which Wan-Bissaka ruined.

Neh not really, looks at Rios analysis on it.

 

[justsomebloke]

Good win. Too bad city paid off VAR and the ref against Villa.

Nah. Correct decision there, I think. Once Mings takes the ball, offside ceases to apply.

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

Huge win. Proud they got it over the line. What a strike by Pogba

Ole waiting was too long on subs again, we needed fresh legs a lot earlier than that. Everyone could see it.

Fred was awesome today, all over the place. So fun to have Cavani on the team.

 

[justsomebloke]

Neh not really, looks at Rios analysis on it.

How so? If Wan-Bissaka had been on line with the CBs, Lookman would have been offside. Simple fact.

 

[justsomebloke]

We clearly deserved to win but why oh why aren't we making subs in the last 20 minutes when they're running through our midfield ?

If we are going to win the league we have to get the forwards back into form or re-energised - only Cavani is performing and that won't be good enough to keep us up there IMO.

That attacking right side is becoming a real problem and surely it's time to try DVB, Mata or bring in Diallo asap

Not sure what the solution on the right is, but I'm pretty certain it's not DVB, Mata or Diallo.

 

[Berbasbullet]

How so? If Wan-Bissaka had been on line with the CBs, Lookman would have been offside. Simple fact.

Try and find Rios analysis, he describes quite well how it’s the centre backs (mainly Bailly) fault.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Nah. Correct decision there, I think. Once Mings takes the ball, offside ceases to apply.

yes right decision, but the rules are stupid. They dominated the game.

 

[always_hoping]

United under Jose drew with Liverpool 0-0 in Anfield in 2016. The next league game United was hammered 4-0 by Chelsea

In 2017 United drew with Liverpool 0-0 again in Anfield the following PL game United lost 2-1 to Huddersfield

Tonights win directly after drawing 0-0 in Anfield is another example of the progress made.

 

[littleman]

Eh? Only 94 ever in the history of the PL? Sounds extremely low.

Yeah it's interesting

Napkin math
Say league began 92, so, 28 years
38*28=1064

Any team that has stayed in PL since inception has played ~1064 games

94 is a very small count, but not surprising I guess