[tjb]

Our first half was really good imo. Constant attacking, but couldn't break down newcastle, especially as we were trying too hard for the cross. Matic getting a bit tired in the second half exposed us to the counter. One major factor I took from today, Varane and Maguire together means that teams wouldn't be able to match us a home; they allow us to push up the pitch due to their ability to deal with aerial duels, so quick, long ball counters are much harder to do. What's also clear is once Sancho, Greenwood and Rashford learn to play with each other, we are going to have constant wing threat. Sancho can get himself in behind those defensive blocks and that will help us going forward. And of course, Ronaldo showed the matchwinner he is. Any situation, good or bad, he's your man.

 

[Jazz]

The team did well to come through it to be honest. The performance was never gonna be great. Too much attention and expectation on Cristiano which cannot be helped. However, our players must have felt nervous thinking they don't wanna feck up today of all days. They will relax hopefully now that this is out of the way.

 

[RetroStu]

I hope when everyone is fit we go with htis -


----------Ronaldo----------
Pogba-----Bruno------Greenwood/Sancho
....Fred.....McTom-----

Our CM is not ideal but we look fairly solid with Fed and McTom.

 

[abailey123]

Lingard genuinely looks like a new signing. Sharp and energetic when he came on and he could give us a real option this year. Took his goal well.
Ronaldo outstanding - welcome back.
This is going to be some season

 

[Crashoutcassius]

If we score 4 when we play bad and then mostly play well over the season we will be ok

 

[::sonny::]

De gea 7
Bissaka 2
Varane 7
Maguire 5.5
Shaw 5.5
Matic 5.5
Pogba 7.5
Magnifico 7
Greenwood 7.5
Sancho 7
Ronaldo 10
— Lingard 7.5

Toons
Woodman 0
Hayden, Lascelles, Clark 5
Manquillo 6.5
Ritchie 6
Almiron 7
Longstaff 6.5
Willock 6.5
Joelinton 6.5
St. Maximin 6.5

 

[Volumiza]

Don't want to get too carried away lads but I'm pretty confident we're winning the quadruple and going unbeaten all season with Ronaldo scoring 100 goals and Pogba getting 100 assists

I’m with this guy.

 

[villain]

Just getting back from the match now, definitely losing my voice tomorrow
Atmosphere was amazing, wow.

 

[Spoony]

If only we had a top quality no 6. We'd win the CL.

 

[Judas]

I don't think we were great today, but we won 4-1. If we can play like that and still come away with a scoreline like that, I'll take it.

Our midfield is well below the level needed obviously.

I'm extremely excited about what's to come, with Rashford and Cavani still to come back too.

BUT if only we'd replaced Matic in the summer, oh the potential we could have.

 

[tjb]

Horrible side to play against and we did look vulnerable through the middle on the counter but in the end we had too much firepower, Ronaldo had everyone stepping up like he was a human power grid and bagged a brace, no way he wasn't getting on the score sheet today.

Thing is, people may be making too much of that weakness. It may hurt us against top 6 opposition and today it did hamper us a bit in the second half, but I don't think it will pose much of a problem if we are able to dominate the game like we did for large periods of this game, particularly in the first half. I think that dominance came more from having two defenders who could handle themselves accordingly in duels, making long balls simply an assured loss of possession. Thererfore forcing them to try and play through our initial press.

 

[skc_18]

Glad that Ronaldo got his goal and got the weight off his shoulder.
One player who amazed me this season so far is Greenwood. Constantly trying to create something. He is undroppable now.

 

[JG3001]

I don't think we were great today, but we won 4-1. If we can play like that and still come away with a scoreline like that, I'll take it.

Our midfield is well below the level needed obviously.

I'm extremely excited about what's to come, with Rashford and Cavani still to come back too.

BUT if only we'd replaced Matic in the summer, oh the potential we could have.

Agreed, I know some fans on here call it greedy, but I just think signing a decent CDM/CM would have been enough, for cover if nothing else. We’ve signed a world class forward and defender, with a top prospect on the wings.

Our attack is stacked and defence is very good. I think someone like Neves would have been sufficient. As it stands, we’ve only got 2.5 players in that area (Matic being the half). Unless we change formation which is unlikely.

 

[LDUred]

Shaw looked like Rooney 2008 version when he set up Ronaldo.

 

[Okey]

Top of the league! The buzz...

 

[Ferguson’s Hairdryer]

Back to what matters until early October. Gosh I really hate the international break.
Very good result, last season was the type of match we drew or won drastically at the last minute which while entertaining when it happens week in week out almost was what lead to us drawing so much.

What I love with Ronaldo, is in the future if we’re in a situation like vs Southampton, when many of our players and possibly even manager see it as a point gained he will see it as 2 points lost and he’s drive and frustration at not winning will spread to our other players

 

[sp_107]

Where was Cavani?

 

[Drainy]

Where was Cavani?

Injured. Missed training most of the week

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Where was Cavani?

Picked up a knock in training.

 

[Acheron]

What I love with Ronaldo, is in the future if we’re in a situation like vs Southampton, when many of our players and possibly even manager see it as a point gained he will see it as 2 points lost and he’s drive and frustration at not winning will spread to our other players

Yup, he's raising the standards which was long needed in Manchester United.

 

[Coleyoscar]

Yup, he's raising the standards which was long needed in Manchester United.

He scored at nil-all and he scored at one-all. It's one of the things I always loved about him - he was always there to score the vital goals. Phenomenal.

 

[Red Dreams]

Thought we played very well against a well drilled Newcastle team.
Schooled in diving like the Scousers.
Time wasting from the start.

Great goals from Ronaldo.
His movement and anticipation are top drawer.
Bruno's goal was brilliant.

And Lingards goal after another beautiful Pogba assist.

 

[The Mitcher]

De gea 7
Bissaka 2
Varane 7
Maguire 5.5
Shaw 5.5
Matic 5.5
Pogba 7.5
Magnifico 7
Greenwood 7.5
Sancho 7
Ronaldo 10
— Lingard 7.5

Toons
Woodman 0
Hayden, Lascelles, Clark 5
Manquillo 6.5
Ritchie 6
Almiron 7
Longstaff 6.5
Willock 6.5
Joelinton 6.5
St. Maximin 6.5

How can you give Bissaka 2? When their left back was worse.

 

[Red Dreams]

My one concern is that I think Cavani is pissed off about giving up the shirt. No matter what has been said.
Hope he comes around soon.

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

Maguire is a massive liability. 40 yards out of position for goal. Last season that would have been 0-1 or 1-1.

Are you talking about when Maguire dove in like a U10 player and gave his man a free run at goal? Or when he tried to keep up with his man and ended pulling both of his arms to stop him from getting away? Maguire just doesn't read the game very well, has no pace, and gets turned easily. I would have liked to have seen Lindelof paired with Varane but that will probably never happen. The problem with our CB pairing was not having someone who would attack high balls and command the box - Varane now does that. I'm not here to pile on Maguire, we needed a CB and we got a good one, but getting the pairing right is the real trick. Maguire + Lindelof wasn't magic, and Maguire + Varane isn't either. This is probably an unpopular/daft opinion but I think the Varane + Lindelof pairing would work better.

Hope I'm wrong!

 

[Random Task]

My one concern is that I think Cavani is pissed off about giving up the shirt. No matter what has been said.
Hope he comes around soon.

What makes you think that?

He offered the shirt to Ronnie without any persuasion from the management by all accounts, so he can't be that pissed off.

 

[Gary_Walsh_Nou_Camp_Hell]

Are you talking about when Maguire dove in like a U10 player and gave his man a free run at goal? Or when he tried to keep up with his man and ended pulling both of his arms to stop him from getting away? Maguire just doesn't read the game very well, has no pace, and gets turned easily. I would have liked to have seen Lindelof paired with Varane but that will probably never happen. The problem with our CB pairing was not having someone who would attack high balls and command the box - Varane now does that. I'm not here to pile on Maguire, we needed a CB and we got a good one, but getting the pairing right is the real trick. Maguire + Lindelof wasn't magic, and Maguire + Varane isn't either. This is probably an unpopular/daft opinion but I think the Varane + Lindelof pairing would work better.

Hope I'm wrong!

I'm no Maguire fan but this seems insane to me.

 

[MIC_FIN]

"HE'S DONE IT AGAIN:

Man United version:



Arsenal version:

Bricktop would be proud xD

Great game today. Few sloppy mistakes, but overall was a fantastic performance, against a team who rarely left their own penalty area. We needed that creativity to break down stubborn defences. Today it paid off.

Great return for CR7, Bruno on point. Well done Jesse and Co.

 

[Highfather_24]

Watching Ronaldo play for us is just magical. Makes me fall in love with football again. Truly a special time.

Probably my favourite player in United right now, and I have so many. I think this is the happiest I have been watching United post SAF.

 

[Ole's screen]

Change Matic for McTominay and we're pretty much there in my opinion.

 

[Offsideagain]

Just watched Ronaldo’s post match interview on You Tube but couldn’t hear most of it for the constant chanting of his name and some muppet with a bloody big drum bashing the shit out of it. Do they allow drums into OT now Like some second division club?

 

[El Zoido]

Amazing day today. Was in the Trafford before the game, Viva Ronaldo every five minutes. Get to the stadium, Viva Ronaldo nonstop. Getting a beer at halftime and the whole place was booming. Guy is an absolute hero. I saw more Ronaldo shirts than any other player combined. What a day.

 

[Globule]

Disagree some. We were constantly probing and camped outside their box the entire game, even if you aren’t creating a ton of clear cut chances it becomes a matter of time.

We dominated possession, but I don't think Newcastle looked to be struggling to contain us too much. Particularly in that first half, when it was a lot of sideways passes outside their 18 yard box until the attack broke down. Plus we still gave away a few opportunities where we looked stretched at the back.

That's not to say it was a bad performance, not at all. I meant it more in a positive sense - I feel that we could have been more dominant, creative and penetrative and that I'm excited for when it all comes together.

 

[r3idy]

Are you talking about when Maguire dove in like a U10 player and gave his man a free run at goal? Or when he tried to keep up with his man and ended pulling both of his arms to stop him from getting away? Maguire just doesn't read the game very well, has no pace, and gets turned easily. I would have liked to have seen Lindelof paired with Varane but that will probably never happen. The problem with our CB pairing was not having someone who would attack high balls and command the box - Varane now does that. I'm not here to pile on Maguire, we needed a CB and we got a good one, but getting the pairing right is the real trick. Maguire + Lindelof wasn't magic, and Maguire + Varane isn't either. This is probably an unpopular/daft opinion but I think the Varane + Lindelof pairing would work better.

Hope I'm wrong!

it will be unpopular because it is fundamentally wrong

 

[Juansar_07]

Some great pics these mate, keep' em comin!

 

[Prodigy24]

I'm 30 years old but I feel like a kid again. Feels like life has taken the backseat and all I'm thinking about is this team and what we can achieve this season. Need to watch some highlights again.

 

[Charlie Foley]

Brunaldo woah woah woah
Brunaldo woah woah woah
They come from Potugal
They'll score a bucket full

(Repeat)

Never repeat this chant to anyone ever anywhere

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

We dominated possession, but I don't think Newcastle looked to be struggling to contain us too much. Particularly in that first half, when it was a lot of sideways passes outside their 18 yard box until the attack broke down. Plus we still gave away a few opportunities where we looked stretched at the back.

That's not to say it was a bad performance, not at all. I meant it more in a positive sense - I feel that we could have been more dominant, creative and penetrative and that I'm excited for when it all comes together.

Yeah I mean we lacked a little execution but my point is just that it’s always going to be difficult when a team wants to sit that deep. Very rarely are those teams just going to be ripped apart from the start. But watching us today against that low block was a far cry from a couple years ago where if it wasn’t Pogba coming up with a worldie pass we never looked like we’d break anyone down.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Just watched Ronaldo’s post match interview on You Tube but couldn’t hear most of it for the constant chanting of his name and some muppet with a bloody big drum bashing the shit out of it. Do they allow drums into OT now Like some second division club?

You’re a cheery little soul. We did win you know

 

[Mentality Monsters]

Just watched Ronaldo’s post match interview on You Tube but couldn’t hear most of it for the constant chanting of his name and some muppet with a bloody big drum bashing the shit out of it. Do they allow drums into OT now Like some second division club?

Miserable bastard