[Tom Van Persie]

Blaming Bruno is amazing to me. That pass to no-one near the end after a break away is one that would work fine if our receiving player, the intended one, had maintained position and not decided by default to go backwards rather than forward. Was that AWB?

Basic footballers now score and assist as many goals he does. Never change caf.

 

[Rajma]

Take it you'd prefer us to be losing

I prefer us moving forward with our general game and not being stuck in this never ending cycle of shitiness.

 

[mitchmouse]

Look at City's midfield options, then look at ours. That is not training, that is personnel.

I expect all PL players to be able to hold the ball under pressure and to be able to pass.

 

[PoTMS]

If only we could swap Fred for someone like Partey.

 

[christinaa]

Let's all be miserable while winning a derby match. Why even be a fan...

You're so right!

 

[Sandikan]

Both can be, and in fact are, true statements.

City are battering us, but we’ve looked fairly decent in defending their attacks.

I'd look up what the word battering means.

Having less of the ball doesn't mean we're getting battered.
They haven't had a great chance yet, and we've had a fair few breakaways.

 

[Bobski]

Lindelof and Maguire are having a fairly easy game so far, Jesus doesn't worry them at all, can't hold the ball up, not amazingly quick, just a poacher waiting for a mistake or a tap in.

Quite a comfortable half, nothing difficult for Henderson, Mahrez the threat but De Bruyne has been neutralized.

 

[FreakyJim]

good first 15-20min but pinned basically in our own box after that

would be a miracle if we don't concede

 

[Red00012]

Baffling. We really haven't.

Ya you’d swear we were going to be dominating the game . Up 1-0 they’ve controlled the game but they’ve created feck all so far . Need to see out the 1st 15 mins now and not do a Everton on it

 

[Sandikan]

Let's all be miserable while winning a derby match. Why even be a fan...

I was delighted by that first half, then read some of our "Internet fans" nonsense, and am truly amazed.

 

[Judas]

City's options to come on and change the game are ridiculous. So much danger just in reserve.

Long long 45 minutes to come.

 

[horsechoker]

Tweet

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Are we allowed a penalty these days?

Do our players have to be beaten down with a cricket bat before ABUs will say "that's contentious but I think United deserve the pen"?

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Decent enough half. Started the game on the front foot and, as a result of that, won a penalty.

City have been dominant but that was to be expected. We just need to just have a bit more composure when we win the ball back. There have been times when we've passed it around and have got into good positions but too often we're rushing and giving it away.

Going into the second half we just need to relax a bit more. We'll get opportunities to counter, as we have done so far. We just need to make them count.

 

[AndyMUFC]

Very much what we've had in these games recenty. Fantastic start, defending well and looking a threat on the counter.

Could definitely do with keeping the ball a bit better second half if we wanna come away with three points though.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Mctominah would want to wake up with his passing.

I would still take a draw.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Both can be, and in fact are, true statements.

City are battering us, but we’ve looked fairly decent in defending their attacks.

They haven't created a huge amount and it's not like Henderson has had to make a string of world class saves but, and this seems to be what we always say, we need to stop giving the ball away. This City are nowhere near as good as they were 2 years ago, we'll get lots of counter opportunities, just need to cut out passing errors and keep the ball to give ourselves a breather now and then.

 

[James35]

Doing well considering 75% of our first team would never start for City. Maybe not even get on their bench.

 

[Sandikan]

I feel like all the whiners on the matchday thread need some banning from the Caf if we pull off a result today.

We've basically been playing the exact same way for the past two years against City and doing a good job at it and yet people complain non stop.

I would love to volunteer to be a mod for the day. I'd ship out 50% of the clowns on here.

 

[Amadaeus]

Championship teams would manage to put together more passes than we, simply unacceptable. However as always the plucky result will likely gloss over total lack of coaching. Hope you guys enjoy watching this on a consistent basis.

That is what I am seeing as well. If the result stays the same without any improvement in the second half, you can not say we deserve to win this. we were just lucky with Jesus sloppy foul.

If it wasn’t for the penalty, the scoreline would have most likely be 0-0 again

 

[Cast5]

Let's all be miserable while winning a derby match. Why even be a fan...

They’re all gutted, hilarious some of the replies in here.

 

[RedorDead21]

I prefer us moving forward with our general game and not being stuck in this never ending cycle of shitiness.

We couldn’t keep the ball against the press 10 years back

 

[Pexbo]

I’d hope so. How old is your dad?

72, still quicker off his line than De Gea though.

 

[kidbob]

He's an amazing young player, I'm with you if he comes on. He's having a great season as well.

Hopefully our own young lad comes on and finds his shooting boots. But yeah Foden is excellent, one of the best talents in the World for me. I even made a post about him being a future best player in the World contender. Although if Mason gets his shit together he can too for me.

 

[JTW95]

good first 15-20min but pinned basically in our own box after that

would be a miracle if we don't concede

We need to find that pressing we had at the start again. I dont mind being pinned if we can actually cause trouble on the counter be we don't look dangerous from them at all and City know they can commit more men.

We need to start pressing them in their half again and forcing some mistakes.

 

[Stookie]

It’s the hope that kills. Another half of defending is no good for my ticker.

 

[Falcow]

If I could be so bold as to add to the recent misery posts in this thread......everyone giving the ball away bar Maguire and Shaw, makes it tough to win a game as a result.

 

[FrankDrebin]

No one expected easy or us to dominate possession but there is a real problem with our passing ability. We should be able to keep the ball and use it better when we have it, in fact we were able to against City multiple times last year with the same players.

Our play is so open though. I question Fred's and McTom ball retention alot but they ,and their teammates, have got little choice today with our set-up. There's far too much distance between our players. They need to get more compact while simultaneously make quick space to receive a pass.

 

[horsechoker]

Doing well considering 75% of our first team would never start for City. Maybe not even get on their bench.

75% of most teams would never start for City. PSG, Bayern who else could claim to have a team as strong as them?

 

[Random Task]

No chance are we getting battered. They're winning the passing, whoopie.

They haven't looked that dangerous and not had that many chances. We can let them pass it around the midfield all day. That's not getting battered.

What worries me is how often they find space in between our CB's and FB's. Shaw and AWB need to tuck in slightly for the second half as City will, eventually, take advantage of that.

Beyond that I'm fairly happy with that showing. I'd imagine Ole won't too displeased either.

 

[mitchmouse]

Sad thats how he tries to stay relevant these days

someone still employs Keys? have they got the other lump too?

 

[tomaldinho1]

Tweet

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Is he suggesting it wasn't a pen??

 

[Gopher Brown]

Incredibly frustrating to watch us repeatedly attempt to casually pass the ball out from the back like a we’re fecking 2008 Barcelona, only to lose it within 20 yards of our goal.

It’s going to cost us in the second half.

 

[M Bison]

Keys on bein sports having a meltdown

What’s his take on things?

 

[laughtersassassin]

I'm happy with winning but isn't the point to improve.

 

[Leftback99]

This is what has cost us in big games, our central midfield's inability to play on the ball. City's can hold off tackles, pick out passes and move the ball forward, yet people want to blame our attack.

I'd say most games the lack of ability on the ball of our midfield stands out. It's a bigger problem than the CBs.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

I was delighted by that first half, then read some of our "Internet fans" nonsense, and am truly amazed.

I don't why they bother tbh.

 

[Raredaredevil]

How is Dean Henderson playing? I forgot we are still unbeaten away. If we beat City, oh wow.

 

[Moiraine]

Richard Keys on Bien Sports making Penalty award controversial, slating referee’s appointment as well as calling him red supporter.
This guy seriously want to gain cheap publicity by bringing these about United.

 

[bsCallout]

I expect all PL players to be able to hold the ball under pressure and to be able to pass.

Yet we have two that can't. These players aren't making simple passes right in front of them, its not like they're trying difficult passes that might fail, they are messing up basic passes. That has nothing to do with tactics.

 

[SinNombre]

Yep let's bench that guy that's carried us. No what he needs is a few games off which should've been given weeks ago but now we can't afford to bench him because we have big games coming.

Give him a few weeks rest so he can actually contribute to the team again. He hasn't been carrying the team for a few weeks now, and is actually proving to be a detrimental recently.