[criticalanalysis]

He was pretty poor yesterday - I think we got away with one.. His passing was really poor at times, and against a team that really didn't put up too much fight, he looked harried.

A proper footballing 6 will be needed come the summer, plus someone to compete with Herrera and Pogba for starts.

Agree with this but I think the same thing would have happened had Carrick play instead i.e Fellani in front of them is the problem.

We did miss Carrick but he would then have Herrera in front of him coming to the ball, making himself available for it off it etc. If Herrera had another 'Herrera' in front of him instead of Fellani, I think he'd be able to play the 6 pretty comfortably to a(n unnatural but) good standard.

Yesterday Fellani should have been the deepest. Against teams like Middlesborough, Fellani is capable of shutting down danger and recycling possession. Herrera imo was wasted playing deepest imo.

 

[Oneunited26]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

One of our own

And some fan's don't by saying we need an upgrade lol, sounds like some think he needs to score 25 goals a season. Not that he wins the ball, dictates the game to allow Pogba to do his natural game, practically the engine of the team, and his passing game really keeps us moving

 

[Invictus]

 

[DomesticTadpole]

And some fan's don't by saying we need an upgrade lol, sounds like some think he needs to score 25 goals a season. Not that he wins the ball, dictates the game to allow Pogba to do his natural game, practically the engine of the team, and his passing game really keeps us moving

Some just want a shiny new toy all the time. Bet some on here had their Christmas presents on Ebay still in their wrapping paper.

 

[Yagami]

I thought he was crucial to our non-stop onslaught against Middlebrough with his excellent first touch under any amount of pressure and his excellently timed interceptions as well as his always effective pressing. He played some nice passes, too. Reading complaints some had of his performance after said game surprised me.

 

[Oneunited26]

Some just want a shiny new toy all the time. Bet some on here had their Christmas presents on Ebay still in their wrapping paper.

Yeah haha, for me the priority is, a new anchor man, maybe a striker and more depth for our defence, still our midfield needs a little more depth. Jose will want replacements for fellaini, morgan and bastian, as carrick, herrera and pogba will need more help, if Martial does excel or Jose still has more time for him, doubt we will need a new attacking winger

 

[Bojan11]

Awful so far. Letting players past him and too slow in his general play.

 

[izec]

Looks lost today. Needed a break it seems, now bleeding, take him off

 

[Amar__]

Awful so far. Letting players past him and too slow in his general play.

He is miles better than both Carrick and Pogba. And many other players. At least he is trying to play football, other two are either nowhere to be seen or when they receive the ball they try to go for the final ball immediately.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Diabolical so far.

Needs to pick it up. Maybe needs a break.

 

[Classical Mechanic]

Bring Fellani on. Hererra is getting physically bullied in there.

 

[WyoManU]

I have to agree. He has been woeful today. Can't pass, can't dribble, lunges in for tackles and misses most of the time.

 

[Sylar]

Would take him off for Mata tbh. Against 10 men, we should just play 4231 now.

 

[prath92]

Think it's one game too many for him.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

Think it's one game too many for him.

Yeah agreed. I'd bring Mata on, we're against 10 men. Don't need as many men in midfield.

 

[Traub]

His worst game of the season so far. Expected to happen sooner or later, definitely in need of a rest.

 

[Lawman]

A bad one for him today looked knackered we got away with it onwards and upwards.

 

[Joga Bonito]

Much better in the second half

 

[ivaldo]

Looked knackered yet was still there to press for the 2nd goal. What a bloke.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Much better in the second half

He was a lot better in the second half, but think he is running on empty. Just looking at his face he looks exhausted. Hope he gets rested for the F.A. Cup to get ready for the Liverpool game.

 

[berbatrick]

Despite looking completely tired, his performance actually lifted after out goal. 5/10 overall.

 

[#07]

Even when he's below par Ander manages to make key interceptions e.g. The assist for Ibra's goal.

Finished the game with a black eye thanks to being stamped on, which he didn't even get a free kick for!

 

[Classical Mechanic]

He was a lot better in the second half, but think he is running on empty. Just looking at his face he looks exhausted. Hope he gets rested for the F.A. Cup to get ready for the Liverpool game.

FA Cup next week, perhaps Mou can give him a weeks holiday back in time for the Hull game.

 

[Joga Bonito]

He was a lot better in the second half, but think he is running on empty. Just looking at his face he looks exhausted. Hope he gets rested for the F.A. Cup to get ready for the Liverpool game.

Agreed.

Looked knackered yet was still there to press for the 2nd goal. What a bloke.

Indeed. Actually am interested in seeing his tackles/interceptions stats for this game, always seems to make his presence felt defensively.

 

[DWelbz19]

He wasn't bad at all today, but he needs a game or two rest. He's absolutely relentless in his pressing and that style will take its toll.

 

[mu4c_20le]

He improved in the second half and delivered a lot of dangerous forward passes to Valencia, when WH pushed forward. Proved that he was still the right man to have on the field when protecting a lead, instead of always going for the Fellaini option.

 

[Grunge]

Had a tough game no doubt but so did most of the lads today. Players on both sides looked tired but Herrera kept on working admirably imho.

 

[Invictus]

Indeed. Actually am interested in seeing his tackles/interceptions stats for this game, always seems to make his presence felt defensively.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Joga Bonito]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Cheers, just as I figured.

 

[Amar__]

Assisting while winning the ball.

 

[Devil may care]

Iffy in the first half but really important in the second half and never stops running.

 

[bosnian_red]

Looked tired in the first half but became more and more important as the game went on. What a season he's having.

 

[criticalanalysis]

Mourinho needs to rotate, trust his squad and/or bring in others.

It's just like Matic and Fabregas as Chelsea. Unstoppable and brilliant duo but we all know what happened there..

 

[Irrational.]

Compared to his usual high standards, he was very poor today. He must be knackered with the amount of graft he's put in over the past 6 games.

Lets hope he's fully rested for Liverpool

 

[Ixion]

Very important part of the engine that keeps the team ticking over.

 

[kundalini]

There was a 5 min spell at the end of the first half when he looked as effective as I would do in the Man United midfield. Admittedly, he was the victim of some heavy challenges during that spell, from which he probably didn't recover until the 2nd half.

 

[Footyislife]

There was a 5 min spell at the end of the first half when he looked as effective as I would do in the Man United midfield. Admittedly, he was the victim of some heavy challenges during that spell, from which he probably didn't recover until the 2nd half.

You mean when he got clobbered in the head and was bleeding? Some people just need to calm down and stop judging things by the minute. He had a good game despite being tired, and got the assist for the second goal. Filled up the stat sheet and played with more energy than any of our other midfielders. He's had a great stretch of games.

 

[Dinghy]

He lost the ball 2-3 times in just a couple of minutes and that's what most people will remember for the rest of the game.

 

[Dobba]

Go home and put your feet up Ander. Job done.

 

[Brightonian]

He lost the ball 2-3 times in just a couple of minutes and that's what most people will remember for the rest of the game.

Yep. For most of it he was actually basically his normal self. Of course everyone struggles to break down a ten-man side; you could ease off and look like Xavi for 90 minutes if you wanted to, but you won't win the game. Instead you have to constantly put yourself into uncomfortably tight situations on purpose, and as a result your football gets a bit scrappy and error-strewn at times. Overall, he played really well.