[bosnian_red]

Thought he was one of the very few who actually played well, along with Van Persie? Always looked to do something positive with it, passed it quickly, won the ball back often. Not his fault that the wingers or forwards couldn't finish. He had 146 touches of the ball, 3 shots, had the most key passes or whatever, and generally did all he could. Was a bit sloppy at the start but overall he would probably get like a 7/10 at least if the result had been a draw or a win, but since everyone else missed their chances people criticize him.

 

[pseudo_canadian]

I thought he was just OK. Nothing horrible but didn't do anything special either.

 

[Ballache]

I thought he played well, he's obviously not a #6 but he was ok IMO.

 

[Señor]

Poor by his standards but one of the better United players today. The problem is he's not a holding midfielder and the only one we do have is 35.

 

[Ringo 07]

He was forcing passes into our centre forward all game long. Most of them didn't come off but at least he was forcing the issue.

He's been excellent in the big games, too. That last sentence is just total bollocks.

He has been excellent recently but the jury is definitely still out

 

[Brophs]

He was trying things, most of which didn't work out, but I certainly wouldn't go as far as to say he played well.

 

[Wowi]

I don't think he had a poor performance as such, he's just not that good when played that deep. He needs to be further forward and have more freedom.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Should not be playing as a DM, far better as an AM/CM. Not a great performance from him, although he's dropped off these last three games.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Should not be playing as a DM, far better as an AM/CM. Not a great performance from him, although he's dropped off these last three games.

All games where Carrick has been missing unfortunately.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

All games where Carrick has been missing unfortunately.

We can't keep using that as an excuse. We're a team of eleven and should be capable of more than what we've witnessed these past three games.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

We can't keep using that as an excuse. We're a team of eleven and should be capable of more than what we've witnessed these past three games.

He should have also made sure he had a proper backup for Carrick, this summer is going to be vital on that count. The obsession of Rooney in midfield. Then god help us RvP in midfield.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

He should have also made sure he had a proper backup for Carrick, this summer is going to be vital on that count. The obsession of Rooney in midfield. Then god help us RvP in midfield.

They key is realising which player we should sacrifice in the situation we find ourselves in, and our manager hasn't responded well. We should have played Blind as a DM, Young as a LB, and allowed Herrera to play further forward. Stop playing Herrera as a ******* DM! LvG was poor, today.

 

[Wowi]

They key is realising which player we should sacrifice in the situation we find ourselves in, and our manager hasn't responded well. We should have played Blind as a DM, Young as a LB, and allowed Herrera to play further forward. Stop playing Herrera as a ******* DM! LvG was poor, today.

Blind was utter shit in DM against Everton though, so Herrera is probably the best alternative. Sadly.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

They key is realising which player we should sacrifice in the situation we find ourselves in, and our manager hasn't responded well. We should have played Blind as a DM, Young as a LB, and allowed Herrera to play further forward. Stop playing Herrera as a ******* DM! LvG was poor, today.

Yet he is supposed to be a tactical genius, unfortunately he has not come across Tony Pulis before. That'll teach him.

 

[Blue always red]

I thought that looked incredibly like a Cleverley performance. Nothing bad, but nothing stand-out. Like Clev though, he's only 1 outfield player out of 10 and it shouldn't all rest on him. He also was caught high up a few too many times but that's what happens when you shoehorn players into positions they are unfamiliar with.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Blind was utter shit in DM against Everton though, so Herrera is probably the best alternative. Sadly.

I would have risked Jones there tbh. Ander is too good at other things to be wasted as a DM.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I thought that looked incredibly like a Cleverley performance. Nothing bad, but nothing stand-out. Like Clev though, he's only 1 outfield player out of 10 and it shouldn't all rest on him. He also was caught high up a few too many times but that's what happens when you shoehorn players into positions they are unfamiliar with.

I think the trouble with Ander is that he would want to get things going and try to create stuff, so then he goes forward and then has to rush back as you can't trust Rooney and co. to cover your back. He is trying to do two jobs at once.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Blind was utter shit in DM against Everton though, so Herrera is probably the best alternative. Sadly.

No way, dude. Blind has been poor, however, Herrera is quite simply... handicapped when playing as a DM. Push him further up the pitch and he's a completely different player.

 

[the hea]

Another descent performance but needs to be played furter up the pitch to get the most out of him.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

No way, dude. Blind has been poor, however, Herrera is quite simply... handicapped when playing as a DM. Push him further up the pitch and he's a completely different player.

WBA didn't actually create that much, so he probably did his job as DM reasonably well. However he is just wasted there and it takes away from the teams attacking threat. It has to stop.

 

[Wowi]

I would have risked Jones there tbh. Ander is too good at other things to be wasted as a DM.

Definitely agree that he's wasted in DM, but I can sort of understand why LVG plays him there with Carrick out. Not sure if playing Jones there would've helped, as I think our general ball retention would've suffered from it, but it would've been worth trying something at some point during the second half.

 

[Blue always red]

I think the trouble with Ander is that he would want to get things going and try to create stuff, so then he goes forward and then has to rush back as you can't trust Rooney and co. to cover your back. He is trying to do two jobs at once.

Exactly, and that is exactly what he should be doing. LVG is stifling his creative flair and because being creative is his natural tendency, he ends up being out of position which harms our back 4. Really strange to be honest.

 

[Wowi]

No way, dude. Blind has been poor, however, Herrera is quite simply... handicapped when playing as a DM. Push him further up the pitch and he's a completely different player.

Sure, but how does that help the DM issue? Blind had a mare there last weekend, so you can understand why LVG wants to try something else - what's the alternative then?

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Sure, but how does that help the DM issue? Blind had a mare there last weekend, so you can understand why LVG wants to try something else - what's the alternative then?

Unfortunately it's Michael Carrick.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Sure, but how does that help the DM issue? Blind had a mare there last weekend, so you can understand why LVG wants to try something else - what's the alternative then?

Blind has generally been better at home, than he has away. We also probably would have known how WBA would have set up, and how we'd have had a good proportion of the ball which reduces the responsibility of the DM, with regards to defending. Therefore, we should have played Blind as a DM and Herrera further up.

It's not coincidence that we're suffering from creativity issues ever since Herrera has been handed more defensive responsibilities (and Carricks injury).

 

[Di Maria's angel]

WBA didn't actually create that much, so he probably did his job as DM reasonably well. However he is just wasted there and it takes away from the teams attacking threat. It has to stop.

With LvG, you just never know. He could end up in goal, next week.

 

[Orton]

Has LVG stripped all the creativity out of him?

 

[bosnian_red]

Definitely agree that he's wasted in DM, but I can sort of understand why LVG plays him there with Carrick out. Not sure if playing Jones there would've helped, as I think our general ball retention would've suffered from it, but it would've been worth trying something at some point during the second half.

Yeah, he's probably the best one at it with Carrick out, been very impressed with his performances as the holding midfielder both in terms of passing the ball around and defensively, problem is he's our best creative midfielder for the other 2 spots as well. Having another one like him in style and play would help immensely (Gundogan, while not being the same, is a creative and all round midfielder so he'd be great). Carrick is a huge loss, but I'd say Herrera would be almost as big of a loss if he got injured.

 

[stu_1992]

Wouldn't single him out in this game. He did ok, still had some nice passes (set up Van Persie for one of his chances). It's really not his role though, and it severely limits his effectiveness. Mata also doesn't work as well in that wide role without Herrera playing closer to him.

 

[bosnian_red]

WBA didn't actually create that much, so he probably did his job as DM reasonably well. However he is just wasted there and it takes away from the teams attacking threat. It has to stop.

I think he was one of the few who did his job really well. Won the ball back the few times they tried going forward, created a few chances, had almost 150 touches and generally controlled the game. Nobody can put any blame on him for us missing our chances or Mata/Di Maria/Rooney/Young/Blind/Valencia wasting so many promising opportunities to put in good crosses or make the decisive pass.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I think he was one of the few who did his job really well. Won the ball back the few times they tried going forward, created a few chances, had almost 150 touches and generally controlled the game. Nobody can put any blame on him for us missing our chances or Mata/Di Maria/Rooney/Young/Blind/Valencia wasting so many promising opportunities to put in good crosses or make the decisive pass.

We had plenty of chances, but cannot hit the proverbial elephants arse with a mile wide banjo. Getting in the way of your own players shots doesn't help either.

 

[izec]

Has LVG stripped all the creativity out of him?

Of course he has, just like he would do it and did it with every player, except the striker.

 

[RedStarUnited]

Has LVG stripped all the creativity out of him?

Played DM today.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Played DM today.

It is almost like he wants to do something creative, then knows LvG will have his guts for garters so goes back into his DM role. Ander is not a DM. However our forward players should have been capable of putting the ball in the net.

 

[izec]

Same will happen with Pogba, no need to buy him if he gets taken away his best assets. Herrera played DM, but he still doesnt play like he used to. I hope we buy a solid CM next to him, so that he can be more creative again.

 

[Ekeke]

He was fairly good, couldnt take many chances because of the role he was playing.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Same will happen with Pogba, no need to buy him if he gets taken away his best assets. Herrera played DM, but he still doesnt play like he used to. I hope we buy a solid CM next to him, so that he can be more creative again.

If it is all about don't take risks, then he, as you say, is wasting his time buying the exciting players we would like. Could imagine telling a George Best or Lionel Messi not to take a risk, just keep possession. Yes you can have possession but let the players do something with it.

 

[NoLogo]

We are really missing his attacking contribution when he has to play this deep.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Playing a creative player as DM made sense, as we were never going to do much defending. Let's be honest, he wasn't great. Fairly crap in the first half but was better after half time. Reminiscent of his underwhelming early season displays. Obviously still settling in. He's allowed to have a bad game, every now and then.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Playing a creative player as DM made sense, as we were never going to do much defending. Let's be honest, he wasn't great. Fairly crap in the first half but was better after half time. Reminiscent of his underwhelming early season displays. Obviously still settling in. He's allowed to have a bad game, every now and then.

It might have worked if he had proper midfielders round him, instead he had Wayne Rooney in full slump mode and then somehow RvP ended up there as well. He was then isolated from Mata who was on the wrong side and who he has a good understanding with. Come back soon Michael and yes he is allowed a bad game now and then.