2017 Pre Season | Sampdoria vs Manchester United

[WoodysWallet]

I think Utd will be the hardest to beat this season but will still have the most dysfunctional attack out of the top 6. Need to get 30 more goals from somewhere

We had the most dysfunctional last season. With the inclusion of Matic and the pace of Lukaku, I just think we're on the brink of getting it right.

Once the balance is sorted, we've basically got two choices for every position barring a player to match Pogba obviously.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

Some possible observation. When Jones, Bailly and Tuanzebe came on we finally started to play much better. Could be that us being more solid at the back allowed us to create better chances going forward. Either way I think Jones and Bailly should start against West Ham. They have looked very solid together.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Great preseason. One of our best regarding the kind of matches we played. The players should be fit enough for a fast start in the league since we don't have any hard matches till gameweek 7 as I remember.

That's what people should be looking at. They will be fit. Do people think Bayern won't be ready. It is about fitness. Last season's was a disaster for preparation.

 

[prtk0811]

I think Utd will be the hardest to beat this season but will still have the most dysfunctional attack out of the top 6. Need to get 30 more goals from somewhere

Relax not in one game we played our main balanced line up all together which we will all season.

Yes but we do lack creativity in the final third.

 

[notcool]

I hate you, Juan. I bloody hate you.

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Should anyone take any notice of people who think Mata is a nothing player?

Was that the same guy … he must be a WUMer

Only Jones and Bailly IIRC

Strange he played the whole game then

 

[the hea]

Valencia, Darmian, Herrera Fellaini, Martial and Rashford had a good game the rest not so much.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Aside from Matic theres no noticeable upgrade.
Zlatan cancels out Lukaku
Rojo out injured cancels out Lindelof.

Matic will be a great purchase but I don't see this team scoring 30 more goals in the league. It's still a distance away from top 4 let alone the title.

Except you aren't accounting for improvement from players along with regression to the norm in terms of expected goals vs. what we actually scored. I expect Martial, Rashford, Mkhi, and Pogba all to better this season to various degrees. And just looking at it statistically we should be more fortunate in front of goal than last year even if we hadn't have bought anyone.

You can't look at football as a rigid sport, it's fluid. One improvement can cause improvements throughout.

 

[Lennon7]

Valencia, Darmian, Herrera Fellaini, Martial and Rashford had a good game the rest not so much.

I stopped watching at half time but Mkhi was having a blinder. What happened?

 

[the hea]

Bailly is our best defender. By far.

There is something wrong with Blind.

I think Jones is on par with him but unfortunately he can't stay fit.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Valencia, Darmian, Herrera Fellaini, Martial and Rashford had a good game the rest not so much.

Matic? Mata with the winner? Don't forget Matic.

 

[el3mel]

That's what people should be looking at. They will be fit. Do people think Bayern won't be ready. It is about fitness. Last season's was a disaster for preparation.

People look too much into these games. If we care about the result we won't change the whole midfield at the start of the second half. The many changes made in these games disturb the rythme of the play. That's very normal.

 

[Devil may care]

As with most of these games the second half limped along due to al the changes, but Martial pepped it up towards the end. I'd say Valencia was comfortably our best players, that RWB role is ideal for him and the system suits the less technically gifted strikers we have as there's always a partner close.

 

[sglowrider]

Bailly is our best defender. By far.

There is something wrong with Blind.

Dutch Carrick -- takes till January before he warms up. His GPS certainly needs some syncing or realignment.

 

[the hea]

Matic? Mata with the winner? Don't forget Matic.

Ohh ye forgot about Matic he looked veryimpressive despite it being his first game.
Mata took the goal well but besides that he did nothing of notice. Pretty much sums up his whole United career that sentence.

 

[GifLord]

Is there a gif of Maya's goal available - @GifLord ?

Sorry guys im

for the last 30min

 

[Maradona10]

Things learnt-

• Carrick's time is up
• Lindelof needs time
• Matic looks fantastic
• We will play two formations in the season either 3-5-2 or 4-3-3.
• Eric bailly and phil jones are our two best fit defenders.

I think there is a need for an experienced defender like pepe for a season just to teach all the young defenders we have. Just like blanc came in for a year.
Perisic would be an ideal fit in both the formations. I do not think we will sign him though. Valencia looked good as a winger and i think Mou plans to maybe use him in the position and sign aurier for RB. Carrick looks finished and although fellaini is decent i think we need a young player who we can mold into an "8". Herrera and Matic will do the 6 better than Carrick, herrera as a 8 is less effective i think rest is sorted. We should have a better season than last year easily, but we are a couple of really good players short of title challengers yet.

 

[Catt]

wanting him
sold because he doesn't have pace

Usain Bolt is free so...

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

Sorry guys im

for the last 30min

Best it happens pre-season, eh?

 

[MrSingh2002]

When everyone is fit.....

3 5 2
De Gea
Lindelof Bailly Rojo
Valencia Matic Shaw
Fellaini Pogba
Lukaku Martial

4 3 3
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Rojo Shaw
Matic
Fellaini Pogba
Mkhitaryan Lukaku Martial
​

 

[MZX7]

Bailly is our best defender. By far.

There is something wrong with Blind.

Maybe he can't see...

 

[Eckers99]

Someone called Mata a nothing player here.

That's not entirely true. He actually said he can be a nothing player at times. And, in truth, he can. But then he'll pop up with a goal. As the poster should've learned by now!

 

[Catt]

@Red Katie would probably chip in if you want to crowd source it

Tots! Love Bailly!!

 

[Stactix]

We had the most dysfunctional last season. With the inclusion of Matic and the pace of Lukaku, I just think we're on the brink of getting it right.

Once the balance is sorted, we've basically got two choices for every position barring a player to match Pogba obviously.

Indeed I still think the quality is lacking though. Rashford/Martial will most likely blow hot /cold throughout the season.
If UTd could get a 15 goal winger who could cross & actually take dangerous corners, could be in for a title challenge without that it will most likely be a battle for top 4 unless one of our current attackers decides to have a world class season.
Trumps president, anythings possible though.
Excited for the new season, I just want to see Rashford turn into a young Rooney, without the baldness.

 

[el3mel]

When everyone is fit.....

3 5 2
De Gea
Lindelof Bailly Rojo
Valencia Matic Shaw
Fellaini Pogba
Lukaku Martial

4 3 3
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Rojo Shaw
Matic
Fellaini Pogba
Mkhitaryan Lukaku Martial
​

Err.. Herrera ?

 

[Raoul]

When everyone is fit.....

3 5 2
De Gea
Lindelof Bailly Rojo
Valencia Matic Shaw
Fellaini Pogba
Lukaku Martial

4 3 3
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Rojo Shaw
Matic
Fellaini Pogba
Mkhitaryan Lukaku Martial
​

Herrera ?

 

[Android1974]

When everyone is fit.....

3 5 2
De Gea
Lindelof Bailly Rojo
Valencia Matic Shaw
Fellaini Pogba
Lukaku Martial

4 3 3
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Rojo Shaw
Matic
Fellaini Pogba
Mkhitaryan Lukaku Martial
​

We know Mourinho likes Fellaini, but not that much.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

We know Mourinho likes Fellaini, but not that much.

He likes Herrera more.

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

If we go 3-5-2 often I can see Young taking that LWB role. He's a better option than everyone we have there. Sadly he has no left foot. But short of signing another player I think he'll get a lot of games.

 

[SqueakyWeasel]

That's not entirely true. He actually said he can be a nothing player at times. And, in truth, he can. But then he'll pop up with a goal. As the poster should've learned by now!

To be fair it was a but more derogatory than you give him credit for:

What does Mata do? He's such a nothing player at times.

 

[MrSingh2002]

Err.. Herrera ?

Herrera ?

We know Mourinho likes Fellaini, but not that much.

Personally I now see Herrera as a CDM due to his great performances there last season however I would start Matic ahead of him there and also back Fellaini as a better box to box midfielder than Herrera.

Herrera is clearly a very good squad player but just isn't a first name on the teamsheet for me. We'll see soon if he is for Jose.

 

[Raoul]

Personally I now see Herrera as a CDM due to his great performances there last season however I would start Matic ahead of him there and also back Fellaini as a better box to box midfielder than Herrera.

Herrera is clearly a very good squad player but just isn't a first name on the teamsheet for me. We'll see soon if he is for Jose.

You'd be in the extreme minority if you think Fellaini is worthy of starting ahead of Ander.

 

[MZX7]

Lukaku is a wrong purchase?

Yes, I believe he is. He is good and might get 20 goals though. But, I don't think he'll single handedly be the reason for us challenging for the title like Van Persie did in Fergie's last season.

Wish we could have gotten Griezzman.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

Personally I now see Herrera as a CDM due to his great performances there last season however I would start Matic ahead of him there and also back Fellaini as a better box to box midfielder than Herrera.

Herrera is clearly a very good squad player but just isn't a first name on the teamsheet for me. We'll see soon if he is for Jose.

I think you'll be the first person I've ever seen do so. I'll take Herrera over the Big Belgian in any position apart from emergency hoof target.

 

[Hojoon]

That was a classic preseason game. Decent first half but the second half died for a while due to the number of substitutes coming on.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

You'd be in the extreme minority if you think Fellaini is worthy of starting ahead of Ander.

He is saying Fellaini is a better box to box midfielder?

 

[el3mel]

Personally I now see Herrera as a CDM due to his great performances there last season however I would start Matic ahead of him there and also back Fellaini as a better box to box midfielder than Herrera.

Herrera is clearly a very good squad player but just isn't a first name on the teamsheet for me. We'll see soon if he is for Jose.

Herrera isn't a DMF. He was used here because we have no other option only but he's a clear b2b midfielder. Even when playing as a DMF it was clear he loves to rush forward when there are occasions. His best position is b2b and he's clearly better than Fellaini in this position in almost everything.

He's far from being just a squad player also.

 

[wolvored]

Like others have said, scoring loads of goals is the problem. If we can win more than the other top teams 1-0 or 2-1 we can still be champions, but I cant see many 4/5-0 scorelines for us. Still way too slow to attack compared to the others as well. Martial and Rashford look exactly at the same level they finished last season to me. We havent played to Lukakus strengths either. The litmus test will be on Tuesday, when were playing against a strong Madrid side now they have had time to play a few games, and Ronaldo will be back.

 

[WoodysWallet]

Personally I now see Herrera as a CDM due to his great performances there last season however I would start Matic ahead of him there and also back Fellaini as a better box to box midfielder than Herrera.

Herrera is clearly a very good squad player but just isn't a first name on the teamsheet for me. We'll see soon if he is for Jose.

I must admit that if Herrera is to play in a three with two top class specialists of their position, he needs to show us his own class more consistently.

Fellaini could be a good shout for that third spot. He's got a knack of popping up with that important goal, and his passing has impressed me throughout this tour.

 

[Ban]

Yes, I believe he is. He is good and might get 20 goals though. But, I don't think he'll single handedly be the reason for us challenging for the title like Van Persie did in Fergie's last season.

Wish we could have gotten Griezzman.

I don't think Griezmann would do that too.both of them though.
As for Lukaku scoring 20, 30 goals surely helps.