[Sandikan]

Dreading next Sunday.

We used to press teams and attack on the break at pace, what has happened?

Backfired playing Maguire, but doesn’t explain his lack of a brain. Horror show.

Rashford being back will help massively on the break point. But who knows how we've gone from a team looking decent, and being 2nd, adding quality signings, and then dropping a few gears.

 

[The Oracle]

Last season:
Scored first vs Liverpool... lost 4-2

This season:
Scored first vs Leicester... lost 4-2

Progress made:
Zero

 

[elnorte]

It seems like there has been so many times where we've rescued a result or Ole has been saved by a big moment or individual piece of brilliance. Today once again it looked like Rashford's unexpected equaliser could change the match in our favour. Except this time it wasn't to be and it's becoming increasingly unlikely that the manager will turn it around on this occasion.

 

[Esquire]

Bruno looks to be the biggest victim of Ronaldo coming in so far.
We seem to have tweaked the tactics to have Bruno quite high up, which seems to have left the centre midfield even more exposed than before.

Bruno has a free role effectively and runs back so he is not the problem for me. But you are right he has a huge gap to cover since he is so high up effectively playing as a second striker almost feeding Ronaldo as his main objective. Yes Matic and Pogba was not a good combo today (actually Matic wasn’t bad today, feel Pogba was worse) but it is still shocking to see how we let the Leicester midfield control more of the game. We can’t string passes together to prolong possession and we can’t prevent counter-attacks. This is very worrying.

 

[Esquire]

Dreading next Sunday.

We used to press teams and attack on the break at pace, what has happened?

Backfired playing Maguire, but doesn’t explain his lack of a brain. Horror show.

We have not really pressed hard after Ronny came. You would have seen that today too.

 

[Sandikan]

Bruno has a free role effectively and runs back so he is not the problem for me. But you are right he has a huge gap to cover since he is so high up effectively playing as a second striker almost feeding Ronaldo as his main objective. Yes Matic and Pogba was not a good combo today (actually Matic wasn’t bad today, feel Pogba was worse) but it is still shocking to see how we let the Leicester midfield control more of the game. We can’t string passes together to prolong possession and we can’t prevent counter-attacks. This is very worrying.

I don't think we can give Bruno a free role, now that we have Ronaldo there.
It puts too much on the mid.

We seem to have the problem that Pogba and Matic are the best passers, but just get absolutely run out of town by even moderate midfield opponents.
Whereas Fred and McTom cover a lot more ground and shut the space down, but can't play it.

Add in both of McFred being out of form this season, and we have a problem.
Pogba has hit his best ever assist numbers, but from a different positon too, one we really need Rashford in.

We need a genius manager to work this out basically.

 

[Sandikan]

We have not really pressed hard after Ronny came. You would have seen that today too.

Did we press that much last season? Cavani of course does more than Ronaldo to say the least, but we're no City or original Klopp Liverpool.

We cut our main pressing out after that initial burst of Ole's management, when we lost half the team with muscular injuries!

 

[LoneStar]

We will wait till the end of the season to fire him. If the new guy or the interim coach gets a decent result or two, he'll get a five year contract. Then he'll want to create his own team. 2 years later, we'll fire him and do this again.

Rinse and repeat.

 

[Ixion]

The first 11 games in Mourinho's infamous 3rd season went 5 wins, 4 defeats and 2 draws.

First 11 of this season, 5 wins, 4 defeats, 2 draws.

 

[Fox_Chrys]

Thank you agent Maguire and also Ronaldo for deciding to not bother, we needed the win.

 

[Esquire]

Did we press that much last season? Cavani of course does more than Ronaldo to say the least, but we're no City or original Klopp Liverpool.

We cut our main pressing out after that initial burst of Ole's management, when we lost half the team with muscular injuries!

That’s true I will give you that point. With all these young speedsters I don’t know why we don’t press more. But if I was Ole I would say feck it and will start Cavani next game. We do need to pressure teams from the front b/c we are just so poor in midfield and we can’t control games. So try to create turnovers higher up the pitch.

 

[Huge-fan]

Have you seen liverpool vs city match last one, you can tell easily the difference.

 

[United Hobbit]

Has he said anything yet after todays "showing?"

 

[Sandikan]

That’s true I will give you that point. With all these young speedsters I don’t know why we don’t press more. But if I was Ole I would say feck it and will start Cavani next game. We do need to pressure teams from the front b/c we are just so poor in midfield and we can’t control games. So try to create turnovers higher up the pitch.

I wonder if it's possible to have Ronaldo and Cavani together.
It'd probably need a back 3.

Something like


De Gea
Lindelof Maguire Varane
Wan Bissaka Shaw
McFred
Bruno
Ronaldo Cavani


Potentially weighing up WB as the right sided centre back, and trying to coach Sancho to be the RWB in the right games.
Rashy can play up front when one of the front 2 isn't on it.

I reckon Conte would do similar to this if he came in

 

[Sandikan]

Has he said anything yet after todays "showing?"

"something's gotta give"

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

A fantastic match and we did well to keep the score down as Leicester bossed most of the match.

 

[Ixion]

Every game the opposition is putting out midfields that embarrass whatever duo we decided to stick out there, usually with "lesser" players (based on reputation).

 

[Mike Oxard]

Now is not the time to panic. Not great today, but not all bad. Rashford back and scoring, Maguire back (not great, I know) and we have won a lot of games like this one when we’ve been played off the park, but today was just one game too far. We were kidding ourselves thinking that we had any chance of challenging for the Title. All the post Ronny hype and a couple of good results against poor teams does not a Title challenger make. We are still only 18 months into a 5 year journey. We will get better. I honestly think that we’ll win next week against Liverpool and Ole will be safe for a while, which is a positive thing in my view.

 

[OrcaFat]

We will wait till the end of the season to fire him. If the new guy or the interim coach gets a decent result or two, he'll get a five year contract. Then he'll want to create his own team. 2 years later, we'll fire him and do this again.

Rinse and repeat.

I think you are wrong. He will be sacked barring a pronounced upturn in performances and results. I don’t think he’ll make it to Xmas.

 

[Kinky Melinky]

Now is not the time to panic. Not great today, but not all bad. Rashford back and scoring, Maguire back (not great, I know) and we have won a lot of games like this one when we’ve been played off the park, but today was just one game too far. We were kidding ourselves thinking that we had any chance of challenging for the Title. All the post Ronny hype and a couple of good results against poor teams does not a Title challenger make. We are still only 18 months into a 5 year journey. We will get better. I honestly think that we’ll win next week against Liverpool and Ole will be safe for a while, which is a positive thing in my view.

I honestly think you've been drinking the koolaid. Liverpool are going to tear us a new one.

 

[NewGlory]

Ole didn't have courage to sub Maguire (who was horrible and literally creates the first two goals for them, was also bad during the third one) or Ronaldo (who was not horrible but clearly bad and should have been subbed with Cavani). That is not even being good or bad manager or tactician or any of that, that is simply spineless lack of leadership.

It pains me to say this but Ole needs to go. Unfortunately he won't be sacked soon enough. We will lose to Atalanta, Liverpool, City and maybe after that he will be sacked. Maybe

This is terrible. He is like headless chicken completely helpless and ignorant on what to do. After MacFred cost him ton of points he played Matic and Pogba in midfield but managed to make the horrible choice with playing Maguire 90 minutes and still lost disastrously

This is just sad

 

[Asger]

It seems like there has been so many times where we've rescued a result or Ole has been saved by a big moment or individual piece of brilliance. Today once again it looked like Rashford's unexpected equaliser could change the match in our favour. Except this time it wasn't to be and it's becoming increasingly unlikely that the manager will turn it around on this occasion.

We also are the best in the world making individual piece of brilliance mistakes. I can't see these players care much, after all they get shit load of wages.

 

[The Brown Bull]

Now is not the time to panic. Not great today, but not all bad. Rashford back and scoring, Maguire back (not great, I know) and we have won a lot of games like this one when we’ve been played off the park, but today was just one game too far. We were kidding ourselves thinking that we had any chance of challenging for the Title. All the post Ronny hype and a couple of good results against poor teams does not a Title challenger make. We are still only 18 months into a 5 year journey. We will get better. I honestly think that we’ll win next week against Liverpool and Ole will be safe for a while, which is a positive thing in my view.

Oh my God.
Words fail me.

 

[lex talionis]

The manager has cracked and the squad is broken. Absent change at the top, we’re zombies for the rest of the season.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Ole didn't have courage to sub Maguire (who was horrible and directly gave them first two goals, was bad during the third one) or Ronaldo (who was not horrible but clearly bad and should have been subbed with Cavani). That is not even being good or bad manager or tactician or any of that, that is being simply spineless lack of leadership.

It pains me to say this but Ole needs to go. Unfortunately he won't be sacked soon enough. We will lose to Atalanta, Liverpool, Citi and maybe after that he will be sacked. Maybe

This is terrible. He is like headless chicken completely helpless and ignorant on what to do. Fater MacFred cost him ton of points he played Matic and Pogna in midfield but managed to make the horrible choice with playing Maguire 90 minutes and still lost disastously

This is just sad

What must Bailly be thinking when it is obvious that Harry is struggling and he still doesn't bring him on. Instead he messes about with other areas and actually made it even worse.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Not many teams would cope without their first choice midfield pairing

 

[Ixion]

I'm not sold on the idea we have the best squad we've had in years. We have a non-existent central midfield and the depth in the squad in multiple areas is abysmal. People bang on about whatever front 4 we put out there being amazing yet we barely create anything.

 

[Hammondo]

The first 11 games in Mourinho's infamous 3rd season went 5 wins, 4 defeats and 2 draws.

First 11 of this season, 5 wins, 4 defeats, 2 draws.

Our opponents this season have been weaker so far

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Not many teams would cope without their first choice midfield pairing

We can't cope with our first choice midfield pairing.

 

[OrcaFat]

Now is not the time to panic. Not great today, but not all bad. Rashford back and scoring, Maguire back (not great, I know) and we have won a lot of games like this one when we’ve been played off the park, but today was just one game too far. We were kidding ourselves thinking that we had any chance of challenging for the Title. All the post Ronny hype and a couple of good results against poor teams does not a Title challenger make. We are still only 18 months into a 5 year journey. We will get better. I honestly think that we’ll win next week against Liverpool and Ole will be safe for a while, which is a positive thing in my view.

I agree to a point.

But the expectation must have been to put up some sort of challenge, to still be in it by March-ish. Now, it’s only 4 points after 8 games and, yes, if we beat Liv, it will look pretty good again. But, rationally, it’s more likely that we lose to Liv. Then it will be 7 points back after 9 games. And, whilst we have hung in there, we’ve been disappointing since the first day of the season. By the end of November, it will be no shock if we are 10 or 12 points off top. I think he gets sacked in that eventuality.

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

Yea of course you'll blame the players not the manager who picked an injured defender who is just returning.

The correct answer is “both”.

 

[NewGlory]

What must Bailly be thinking when it is obvious that Harry is struggling and he still doesn't bring him on. Instead he messes about with other areas and actually made it even worse.

It was terrible. If we started with Bailey and Lindelof (not our best defense) and subbed Ronaldo with Cavani when it became obvious that Ronaldo wasn't having a good day, we very likely would have won this game 2:0 or 2:1.

This one is 100% on Ole and shows just how inapt he has become. Breaks my heart

 

[bonothom]

Are we still believing "Ole's at the wheel". We have a world class squad managed by a League One manager. Anyone that still believes we'll be challenging for the title is deluded. We are already out of the title race and are in a fight for 4th. It's pathetic.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

The decision to pick Maguire and keep him on was shocking. Lead directly to all 4 goals. Shocking from the coaching staff and the manager

 

[OrcaFat]

I'm not sold on the idea we have the best squad we've had in years. We have a non-existent central midfield and the depth in the squad in multiple areas is abysmal. People bang on about whatever front 4 we put out there being amazing yet we barely create anything.

I totally agree. We have some very good players but if you are shit in CM (as we are) you will lose often (which we do).

 

[Esquire]

Now is not the time to panic. Not great today, but not all bad. Rashford back and scoring, Maguire back (not great, I know) and we have won a lot of games like this one when we’ve been played off the park, but today was just one game too far. We were kidding ourselves thinking that we had any chance of challenging for the Title. All the post Ronny hype and a couple of good results against poor teams does not a Title challenger make. We are still only 18 months into a 5 year journey. We will get better. I honestly think that we’ll win next week against Liverpool and Ole will be safe for a while, which is a positive thing in my view.

That’s a very optimistic way of analysing the current situation. We were trending down for a number of games now. We may not be true title contenders even with Ronny but there is no way, I mean NO WAY with this collection of talent we can be this disjointed. You don’t need analytics to tell you that we have problems both offensively and defensively. We are not balanced. Our tactical adjustments are poor in-game. Our performance have even really, really poor. On this basis I don’t know how you can say we can win against Liverpool who are now firing on all cylinders.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

It was terrible. If we started with Bailey and Lindelof (not our best defense) and subbed Ronaldo with Cavani when it became obvious that Ronaldo wasn't having a good day, we very likely would have won this game 2:0 or 2:1.

This one is 100% on Ole and shows just how inapt he has become. Breaks my heart

Cavani wasn't available. Someone said he would bring up that Cavani and Fred couldn't play, well it didn't effect Liverpool having their Brazilians missing. Other teams across Europe are going to need to cope with it.

 

[GreatDane]

My wife's norwegian and even she thinks Ole has to go.

 

[Fortitude]

But it's an unbalanced squad with no defensive midfield. Would Usain Bolt win the 100 metres with one foot, no matter how good the rest of him is?

Unbalanced with the current manager who is bereft of ideas and not bold enough to compensate with off the cuff ideas. It's a serviceable enough midfield to do far better than it is and I believe other managers would make a better go of using what we have cohesively as opposed to constantly trying the same things over and over and wondering why they never garner different outcomes.

Aside from that, the midfield we have is down to the manager, so the above paragraph could be seen as a moot point if we're being cynical.

Another thing to add would be the instructions given to Bruno have constantly hindered the midfield as he is so often nowhere to be seen when needed because he's so far up the pitch.

It's a litany of errors from top to bottom no matter how it's looked at.

 

[Red_Aaron]

The absolute state of the goals we conceded today and indeed all season. We are a defensive shambles.

Defending is an entire team job and at the moment we're clearly a disjointed side. I think we've enough quality but the balance is all wrong and changes to the line up, maybe the shape need to happen.

With the amount of quality we have in attack they'll be some big names left out but Ole needs to be strong because it'll be him that ultimately pays the price