People are going to get on me, but I think this was pathetic from us. I actually delayed posting here because I thought I might be overreacting but two days later I am feeling pretty much the same way. I'm not trying in any way to diminish the goals (Mikhitaryan, Rashford, Pogba, and Ibra were all superb in creating them), it's how lackluster the starting XI was that got on my nerves.
In the last few minutes of the first half, I asked someone I was watching the game with where all of this 'depth' is that people keep going on about. We have players in the squad with a lot of career minutes and who have won things but their current quality is another matter. Against a Championship side - and a very poor one - I could count about 3 players (Mikhitaryan, Rashford, and Herrera) who I thought acquitted themselves and even then, that's being generous. I rate our overall performance as a 4 out of 10 and would give the squad element maybe a 1 or 2.
The shocking thing is that the squadies are themselves backing up players whom we think aren't of the right quality. And these backups themselves offer no alternatives to the regulars, they are just kind of 'there,' names on a roster sheet. Like was mentioned in this thread, these players are getting paid serious money while offering little or nothing at all to the team.
So many poor performances and sub-par players. Where do we start?
Martial - I feel he should be nailed on for the starting XI but a disgusting performance from him. Showed absolutely no interest in a game that he should dominate. What was he playing at?
Smalling - had a good aerial game but keeps betraying the fact that he's not as good as we think he is. Shits himself whenever the opponents have an odd-man advantage in the box. Makes the backline look chaotic whenever he's in it.
Young - has a good worth ethic, and that's about it. Actually kind of hilarious to see him trying to play Valencia's role. Has no business playing FB for a full game.
Darmian - I'm now sold on the idea that reincarnation exists and dogshit can be brought back in the guise of a footballer. Not even worth the ink needed to write him into the lineup sheet. Can't believe I had hopes he'd take the RB position from Valencia.
Carrick - will always be one of my all-time favorite United players. Time is up for him, though. Drifts in and out of games, struggles against the better teams. His game is becoming restricted to spraying passes onto the wings a la Rooney.
A few of you might remember when we poked fun at Chelsea after they brought on their big names to beat our reserve players in the League Cup during SAF's last season. Well, this weekend we had to bring on over a 100 million in talent to beat Blackburn, which IMO deserves just as much ridicule. It looks like another clear-out is coming, but you wonder how much of one because we're targeting Grease Man for another 100 million. With Jose rightfully wanting to play rough in selling our players, my guess is that we'll be stuck with a few of these until their contracts expire.
I'll end with some positives. We came from behind, which is encouraging. Pogba showed us another glimpse of the player he can be. I liked Rashford's performance, thought he was energetic and took his chance superbly. And we're through to the next round. Chelsea away...*pulls J&B out of desk drawer*
