[krazyrobus]

I think many of you are getting carried away. Martial was good, nothing more than that. Beside a well-worked assist and some decent hold-up play, what did he do?

The decision making, the timing and weighting of passes. Those minor things are the difference between a good scoring chance and forcing players out wide or offside. Young players get those small executions wrong very often.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Martial looks like a real deal. Depay pisses me off at times. Rooney with the best game in ages.

 

[Sunny Jim]

The decision making, the timing and weighting of passes. Those minor things are the difference between a good scoring chance and forcing players out wide or offside. Young players get those small executions wrong very often.

Add to that his off the ball movement. Dont understand why some see a winger in him.

 

[togg]

I rarely take age into account when I value a performance. I agree that he looks a composed finisher with good movement, but it was still Sunderland at home, in a game which we dominated from start to finish.

What? In this league?..goodness..ok...argument dissolved.

 

[Tincanalley]

Funny to recall now the excitement in here with Mata arriving by chopper as the choice of the Frozen One. He played superb today. It shows the pragmatism of LVG that he deploys so effectively the 'legacy' signings, none more so than Juan. So many players in the team now can deliver the Scholes-like lazer beam switch cross. With many in the team comfortable on the ball you kind of get spoilt, and maybe that (combined with too many video games) is why so many people moan about first touch whenever someone doesn't control it. Great win, great to be top of the league.

 

[Will Singh]

Missed the match because the misses dragged me to B&Q but it was fun checking my phone and when Rooney scored me shouting "ROOOOONEY" in the paint section!

 

[RedRonaldo]

Good game today. Great possession football with total domination. 3 goals and clean sheet, top of the league. Few good points to note:

- with Valencia at right back, our attack look more balance with Mata cutting in from the right, hence good performance from Mata.
- Martial has been a real threat the whole game, what a big talent. His all round play is excellent. MOTM performance.
- Rooney finally score, thanks to Martial, and looks like he is getting better.
- Young is better than Memphis, who scored his first goal in the league
- Damian has a good game at left back.
- De Gea finally got his first clean sheet in the league. Nice leg saves too.

 

[buckooo1978]

first the positives....

- Martial fantastic, strong, fast, good passer and he looks totally at home as our number 9
- good that despite disappointing performance from Memphis he still grabbed a goal
- Rooney despite lumbering a bit looked better as the game went on and liked his link up play in the last 20 mins
- not many centre half players can pass the ball like Blind
- Young again improved our attacking play
- Schweinsteiger again showing why he should be our captain - came on, took control and more attacking than Carrick/Schneiderlein
- Darmian more attacking on left (cos against Sunderland?) and Valencia pushing on gave us better balance
- top of the league!! woohoo
- 4 clean sheets and another 3 goals!

and the negatives
- we were so boring until Blind opened the game up - cool when we are winning but we will draw too many games
- took us about 60 minutes until we really played well - we toyed with Sunderland for long periods after that
- picking Carrick and Schneiderlein is overkill - far too defensively and it was great to see Bastian popping up on the left wing when he came on
- Martial.....far too reliant on this kid at the minute - when he went down in first half I shat myself
- bit disappointed Periera didn't get a run out but I suppose Phil Jones reintegration is more important

 

[sammsky1]

Top of the league. Savour it lads. We are back where we belong.

It was not the most spectacular performance. It did not need to be, we got the job done and left enough in the tank for Wednesday.

In the space of a week United have scored nine goals. Nine. If we continue with that output we stand a great chance of winning the title.

Sunderland are not a great side, and we may have huffed and puffed at times. Still with Smalling looking a boss, Blind maturing into the Rijkaard role, Martial leading the line fabulously and plenty of midfield options, things are looking up.

But... but ... where will the goals come from? or summat like that.

 

[Nik70]

It has to be said: Sunderland are awful.

So are Newcastle and we couldn't beat them. Great performance today.

 

[siw2007]

Easy straight forward win for us is just what we need with two big games coming up. The first half was quite boring with very little chances being created but was quite pleased to see Sunderland's time wasting tactics backfiring on them as we got the goal before half time. Second half we notched it up a gear and killed them off in minute and apart from a brief spell after we scored, were in total control.

Don't think there was one bad performer on the pitch as everyone made a contribution but I thought Mata in the second half was pulling the strings, while Martial played a relatively complete performance in his position. i'm sure there will be sterner tests starting with Wolfsburg mid week.

Also, was I the only one who thought it was funny that we opened the scoring in the 49th minute (first half) and doubled it in the 46th minute (second half). It probably happens quite a bit but thought it was still amusing.

 

[gooDevil]

It has to be said: Sunderland are awful.

Worst Sunderland team in ages, though last year runs close.

After the second we cruised in 2nd gear. Otherwise its 4 or 5-0.

 

[Cantonaaa!]

Delighted with the result! Couldn't watch the match as I was driving home, but from what I gather Martial and Darmian were excellent. Good times! Top of the league!

Also. 11/11 in the lineup prediction

 

[littlepeasoup]

I actually really liked Darmian at left back. Obviously he wasn't as pushed defensively as he could have been against a virtually non-existent Sunderland attack, but I think that was his best game in an attacking sense.

 

[ants7]

While beating Sunderland at home is not anything to get fired up about, it's still good for confidence. We need ourselves to be in the best position (in the table, mentally and pshysically) to get through the next fixtures which are not going to be a walk in the park.I think we did great to get ourselves that boost.

I really don't know what to make of Memphis. It isn't for the lack of trying but somehow things just are not happening. Yes he got the goal but still. Hopefully things can only get better for him.

Rooney had to be helped with the ball over the goal line by defender to get that goal. So that was fun. Nowhere near as good as he should be.

Blind/Mike- excellent again. And what a pass from Blind for the opener. Wow!

Martial - not bad at all for a 19 year old, eh?

 

[gooDevil]

Like I said after 15 minutes, complete domination of the ball, a win was inevitable playing like that against that opponent.

 

[El Zoido]

I didn't watch the game but there's an unbelievable amount of bitterness towards us on the BBC text updates page. One guy even said 3-0 was a poor result! Also more comments of "if United are top it goes to show how crap the league is" and we've been hearing that one for years. Pretty pathetic.

 

[Sereques]

Interesting part was as at match day 3 when City was scoring freely and people were moaning how LVG plays negative football and prevent our players from expressing themselves. Matchday 7, City scored 13, United scored 12.

Oh I will throw "Otamendi makes City champions by default" in there too. Bottom line, fans are fickle and they know nothing about football. Still early days though but whatever happens from here doesn't change the point.

Weldone LVG's worst United side in 40 years.

 

[Nik70]

While beating Sunderland at home is not anything to get fired up about, it's still good for confidence. We need ourselves to be in the best position (in the table, mentally and pshysically) to get through the next fixtures which are not going to be a walk in the park.I think we did great to get ourselves that boost.

I really don't know what to make of Memphis. It isn't for the lack of trying but somehow things just are not happening. Yes he got the goal but still. Hopefully things can only get better for him.

Rooney had to be helped with the ball over the goal line by defender to get that goal. So that was fun. Nowhere near as good as he should be.

Blind/Mike- excellent again. And what a pass from Blind for the opener. Wow!

Martial - not bad at all for a 19 year old, eh?

To be fair to Rooney he played well today. Still room for improvement but his best league performance this year I thought.

 

[Ixion]

Just got back. Not an amazing game but pretty comfortable, I thought after the City result we might come out all guns blazing but it was a quite subdued performance and atmosphere. We got into quite a few good positions down the flanks but our deliver was poor. Great from Blind for the first goal and Martial for the second. Martial is going to be a star.

 

[Rich_H_1989]

Didn't see the game today as of course in England we are still in the dark ages and live football at 3pm on a Saturday is a no no.

Sounded like first half we were poor but that goal just before half time was crucial? Second half we barely needed to get out of second gear which is great.

So was Martial quality today? Honest opinions please... He got 2 assists but no goal in 90 minutes? Shocking! Not up to scratch and not his enough...

Top of the league despite not having played great whilst before last weekend City were champions elect. Not bad that Mr LVG not bad at all. By the end of the season maybe we'll all be believers?!?

Only real shame today was Liverpool winning.

 

[spontaneus1]

Only real shame today was Liverpool winning.

Not if it takes some of the pressure of Rodgers.

 

[Eckers99]

Awful first half, compounded by LvG playing it too cautious with the defensive midfielders. Schneiderlin and Carrick is total overload of one paced players and shouldn't play together unless we're away to top opposition. We needed Herrera to add some energy.

Scored at the right times and Sunderland were terrible.

 

[marlowe78]

It was just the result we hoped for. Nearly all of the possession, many solid chances, and a pasting of relegation-level opponents.

I was frustrated with our lazy approach in the first half but to be honest, I've gotten a bit used to it as part of LVG's gameplan. I think this game reinforces the fact that Carrick and Schneiderlin completely hamper our attack when played together. Neither player was bad, in fact Schneiderlin played very well, but until Memphis scored we were really missing an incisive ball into the deep areas and struggled to get out of the middle third. I was a bit worried that a bad pass would lead to Sunderland suckering us on the counter but luckily they were unmotivated and looking for a 0-0 draw.

Martial continues to impress with his range of skills, today showing excellent holdup reminiscent of RVP and great creativity in making the scoring chance for Rooney. Very happy for Memphis that he scored his first goal in the league, just needs some work on his touch and decision making. Smalling and Blind dependable in the back, yet again.

2 years is not all that long to be out of first, at least by general standards, but tell me that it felt like we would get back there? Come on United!

 

[Organic Potatoes]

Cheers:

• Three goals again from open play in a league match. Can you believe it?
• Our new young forwards playing like full-grown men.
• Rooney off the mark in the Prem.

Jeers:

• NBC announcers still cannot get Memphis's name right.
• The cameraman not staying focused on the woman leaning over to talk to Giggs after the whistle.
• Those taquitos I ate last night.

 

[ChaddyP]

Anyone see the lady rolling a blunt. Would love a gif of that

 

[Nucks]

Interesting part was as at match day 3 when City was scoring freely and people were moaning how LVG plays negative football and prevent our players from expressing themselves. Matchday 7, City scored 13, United scored 12.

Oh I will throw "Otamendi makes City champions by default" in there too. Bottom line, fans are fickle and they know nothing about football. Still early days though but whatever happens from here doesn't change the point.

Weldone LVG's worst United side in 40 years.

Last years side was worse than this years, and Moyes side was worse still (a year off the title and age caught up to us all at once).

 

[Nucks]

To be fair to Rooney he played well today. Still room for improvement but his best league performance this year I thought.

Rooney looks like he's forgotten how to play as a striker. His instincts have completely changed, probably from being played anywhere but as a consistent striker over the last few years.

Playing triangles in the attacking third of the pitch and his default instinct now, is to move into outlet space, not attack the space behind the defenders. I saw at least a couple examples where he played a 1-2 with someone and the return pass was into space behind the defender and Rooney went literally in the opposite direction. He shifted laterally or backwards into space.

He's thinking like a play maker, not a goal scorer.

Rooney 5 years ago, was a predator. Rooney now, wants to be a creator.

 

[Croftona7]

Good game today. Great possession football with total domination. 3 goals and clean sheet, top of the league. Few good points to note:

- with Valencia at right back, our attack look more balance with Mata cutting in from the right, hence good performance from Mata.
- Martial has been a real threat the whole game, what a big talent. His all round play is excellent. MOTM performance.
- Rooney finally score, thanks to Martial, and looks like he is getting better.
- Young is better than Memphis, who scored his first goal in the league
- Damian has a good game at left back.
- De Gea finally got his first clean sheet in the league. Nice leg saves too.

Couldn't agree more with every word of this

 

[Mciahel Goodman]

Rooney has lost a bit of pace, his passes are off, everything is just not right at the moment. It's definitely evidence of a decline that started about two years ago, imo at least.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

Anyone see the lady rolling a blunt. Would love a gif of that

Was wondering about that myself. Or is rolling tobacco a common thing in England?

 

[OldTrevil]

Anyone see the lady rolling a blunt. Would love a gif of that

A blunt! it makes sense now, I was wondering what fully took her attention off the game. I should have known with the licking too

 

[Ole's_toe_poke]

The last two weeks have been the most impressive. We've always done well in big games under Van Gaal. The last two weeks are games that we've struggled with. Beating Sunderland and Ipswich with no fuss and beating Saints after going behind and being outplayed for 20 mins, suggests that we've made giant steps forward.

 

[Silva]

I'm pretty sure she was just rolling a ciggy.

 

[dsch]

Those taquitos I ate last night.

Should have stuck to the potatoes.

Anyone see the lady rolling a blunt. Would love a gif of that

 

[eggwithsideburns]

Rooney did quite well today. Hopefully he is improving, he definitely suits the number 10 role better.

 

[zlatan_ish]

It has to be said: Sunderland are awful.

Yup, they really are. No quality anywhere.

 

[sammsky1]

Between Darmian and Martial for Man of the Match, Smalling was solid as usual and Rooney seemed a different player after the second went in - he's a much better player when he has more forward runners and is afforded the luxury of self expression.

I enjoy dominating possession, I just feel that with a little more tempo and urgency in the first 15 minutes to push for a breakthrough, this philosophy could enable us to challenge for the league title. We look dominant and threatening when we have a lead, and teams are forced to push forward in numbers.

I think that will come once the squad is more used to the philosophy and each other. Lets not forget how many new players we have at the club, many whom are also in there first or second season in English football.

I have no doubt that after xmas, we will see super slick, super fast possession based football, with the ball pinging around like a pinball. And its at that point when we will demolish teams if we can get the first goal.

 

[littlepeasoup]

The two Irish chaps sitting to my left at the game today missed all 3 goals. Went in early before half time and came out late, and then left well before the end.

 

[Loublaze]

The two Irish chaps sitting to my left at the game today missed all 3 goals. Went in early before half time and came out late, and then left well before the end.

Idiots really