The Official Manchester United Thread [Vol 4]
Discussion
Fair points but I think many are looking at our players and then looking at Chelski, Citeh and even Liverpool and thinking 'Well they've got good players and look like a good team'. We just don't. I feel like we grind out every win. Its great that we win but its dire viewing, it really is.
30 shots from us is not good either, 30 shots and not a singe goal?
30 shots from us is not good either, 30 shots and not a singe goal?
Would it have hurt to keep Falcao on for another 10 mins or so after the goal ? Presumably Fellaini was the plan B for a bit of hoof ball but since we where now a goal up with the opposition down to 10 men it didn't make sense to me. That said a lot of LVG subs over the season haven't made sense to me. Also I've watched games where Falcao has made the runs but the midfield haven't attempted to pass the ball forwards, it always seems to go backwards.
SignalGruen said:
Would it have hurt to keep Falcao on for another 10 mins or so after the goal ? Presumably Fellaini was the plan B for a bit of hoof ball but since we where now a goal up with the opposition down to 10 men it didn't make sense to me. That said a lot of LVG subs over the season haven't made sense to me. Also I've watched games where Falcao has made the runs but the midfield haven't attempted to pass the ball forwards, it always seems to go backwards.
Couldn't agree more. Fellaini was up stripped off when Falcao won the penalty. I think LVG felt he "had" to make the switch. If strikers don't get the supply they go hunting for the ball (OPTA stats anyone). Always a sure sign that something's not right. anniesdad said:
Couldn't agree more. Fellaini was up stripped off when Falcao won the penalty. I think LVG felt he "had" to make the switch. If strikers don't get the supply they go hunting for the ball (OPTA stats anyone). Always a sure sign that something's not right.
Let's not go too far in defending Falcao. It is true that he has to come back hunting, but none of that explains the following:-(1) Awful first touch. He makes Rooney look silky.
(2) Dreadful ability to hold the ball up. He loses it upwards of 70 per cent of the time.
(3) Failure to score any tap-ins. Rooney gets them, Fellaini gets them - why doesn't he? He is not a "lucky" striker, and they are worth more.
(4) Championship standard passing. He almost always makes the other play stretch or go off balance to receive the past (assuming it is close enough for them to even try to latch onto it).
I think there is a good striker in there somewhere, but he has a lot of weaknesses in his game. Players like that are great when on form and bloody useless when off form - see also RVP.
ORD said:
Let's not go too far in defending Falcao. It is true that he has to come back hunting, but none of that explains the following:-
(1) Awful first touch. He makes Rooney look silky.
(2) Dreadful ability to hold the ball up. He loses it upwards of 70 per cent of the time.
(3) Failure to score any tap-ins. Rooney gets them, Fellaini gets them - why doesn't he? He is not a "lucky" striker, and they are worth more.
(4) Championship standard passing. He almost always makes the other play stretch or go off balance to receive the past (assuming it is close enough for them to even try to latch onto it).
I think there is a good striker in there somewhere, but he has a lot of weaknesses in his game. Players like that are great when on form and bloody useless when off form - see also RVP.
The lad earns £265K a week, so I don't have too much sympathy for him. (1) Awful first touch. He makes Rooney look silky.
(2) Dreadful ability to hold the ball up. He loses it upwards of 70 per cent of the time.
(3) Failure to score any tap-ins. Rooney gets them, Fellaini gets them - why doesn't he? He is not a "lucky" striker, and they are worth more.
(4) Championship standard passing. He almost always makes the other play stretch or go off balance to receive the past (assuming it is close enough for them to even try to latch onto it).
I think there is a good striker in there somewhere, but he has a lot of weaknesses in his game. Players like that are great when on form and bloody useless when off form - see also RVP.
But I do have some...1. Confidence...I don't think he has lots of it at the minute. Regardless, I see many more players that have a worse first touch than Falcao. Some of his close quarter play is very good.
2. He's not 6'2", the game is quite physical with lots of contact, players getting away with pulls, knocks that imbalance players. Easier to imbalance you when you're not overly tall.
3. Not getting the rub of the green, besides I don't see Fellaini scoring too many tap ins, nor Rooney recently. I agree great if you have a lucky striker though.
4. I don't see any evidence of that at all.
anniesdad said:
The lad earns £265K a week, so I don't have too much sympathy for him. But I do have some...
1. Confidence...I don't think he has lots of it at the minute. Regardless, I see many more players that have a worse first touch than Falcao. Some of his close quarter play is very good.
2. He's not 6'2", the game is quite physical with lots of contact, players getting away with pulls, knocks that imbalance players. Easier to imbalance you when you're not overly tall.
3. Not getting the rub of the green, besides I don't see Fellaini scoring too many tap ins, nor Rooney recently. I agree great if you have a lucky striker though.
4. I don't see any evidence of that at all.
Oh, don't get me wrong, he is not surrounded by players with a good first touch! In fact, I think quite a lot of Utd players have a very poor first touch and that this is one of the reasons that we have no fluidity going forward. But I do have some...1. Confidence...I don't think he has lots of it at the minute. Regardless, I see many more players that have a worse first touch than Falcao. Some of his close quarter play is very good.
2. He's not 6'2", the game is quite physical with lots of contact, players getting away with pulls, knocks that imbalance players. Easier to imbalance you when you're not overly tall.
3. Not getting the rub of the green, besides I don't see Fellaini scoring too many tap ins, nor Rooney recently. I agree great if you have a lucky striker though.
4. I don't see any evidence of that at all.
Rooney - OK to poor, varying from game to game.
Valencia - poor
Fellaini - diabolical. Not even Championship standard.
Rojo - very poor.
Smalling - diabolical.
etc etc.
It is pretty depressing to watch a match and wince every time a player receives the ball in the fear that he will mis-control it to an opponent.
Falcao should be a lot better at holding the ball up. Rooney is streets ahead of him and probably about the same height and weight.
Remember Keano's initiation when players signed for Utd, he'd fire the ball into them in training and if they didn't control it, he would tell them "Scholesy would have trapped that, you're not good enough..."
edit: It's noticeable you didn't mention the Spaniards ( Mata, Herrera, De Gea(!) ) as I think it's fair to say they have got a good first touch.
edit: It's noticeable you didn't mention the Spaniards ( Mata, Herrera, De Gea(!) ) as I think it's fair to say they have got a good first touch.
Edited by anniesdad on Monday 2nd March 15:19
anniesdad said:
Remember Keano's initiation when players signed for Utd, he'd fire the ball into them in training and if they didn't control it, he would tell them "Scholesy would have trapped that, you're not good enough..."
edit: It's noticeable you didn't mention the Spaniards ( Mata, Herrera, De Gea(!) ) as I think it's fair to say they have got a good first touch.
Mata is a class act in that respect (and similar technical skills). It is a shame that he is woefully slow and a liability when we don't have the ball. I don't think I would play him much, despite thinking he is excellent in lots of ways.edit: It's noticeable you didn't mention the Spaniards ( Mata, Herrera, De Gea(!) ) as I think it's fair to say they have got a good first touch.
Edited by anniesdad on Monday 2nd March 15:19
Herrera is technically sound. Nothing special, but sound. He is probably one of the best players in the Prem not to have been getting games, to be honest.
ORD said:
Mata is a class act in that respect (and similar technical skills). It is a shame that he is woefully slow and a liability when we don't have the ball. I don't think I would play him much, despite thinking he is excellent in lots of ways.
Herrera is technically sound. Nothing special, but sound. He is probably one of the best players in the Prem not to have been getting games, to be honest.
Mata is a lot like Fellaini imo, in that to get the best put of him there has to be a certain amount of focus in the players around him playing to suit his style. When it's all working both are fantastic, on the off days they have real off days. Herrera is technically sound. Nothing special, but sound. He is probably one of the best players in the Prem not to have been getting games, to be honest.
I'm surprised Herrera hasn't been played as much as he should, he's a good solid player.
anniesdad said:
ORD said:
Let's not go too far in defending Falcao. It is true that he has to come back hunting, but none of that explains the following:-
(1) Awful first touch. He makes Rooney look silky.
(2) Dreadful ability to hold the ball up. He loses it upwards of 70 per cent of the time.
(3) Failure to score any tap-ins. Rooney gets them, Fellaini gets them - why doesn't he? He is not a "lucky" striker, and they are worth more.
(4) Championship standard passing. He almost always makes the other play stretch or go off balance to receive the past (assuming it is close enough for them to even try to latch onto it).
I think there is a good striker in there somewhere, but he has a lot of weaknesses in his game. Players like that are great when on form and bloody useless when off form - see also RVP.
The lad earns £265K a week, so I don't have too much sympathy for him. (1) Awful first touch. He makes Rooney look silky.
(2) Dreadful ability to hold the ball up. He loses it upwards of 70 per cent of the time.
(3) Failure to score any tap-ins. Rooney gets them, Fellaini gets them - why doesn't he? He is not a "lucky" striker, and they are worth more.
(4) Championship standard passing. He almost always makes the other play stretch or go off balance to receive the past (assuming it is close enough for them to even try to latch onto it).
I think there is a good striker in there somewhere, but he has a lot of weaknesses in his game. Players like that are great when on form and bloody useless when off form - see also RVP.
But I do have some...1. Confidence...I don't think he has lots of it at the minute. Regardless, I see many more players that have a worse first touch than Falcao. Some of his close quarter play is very good.
2. He's not 6'2", the game is quite physical with lots of contact, players getting away with pulls, knocks that imbalance players. Easier to imbalance you when you're not overly tall.
3. Not getting the rub of the green, besides I don't see Fellaini scoring too many tap ins, nor Rooney recently. I agree great if you have a lucky striker though.
4. I don't see any evidence of that at all.
I would be happy to that front 6 in a 442 rolled out again for a few more matches. Rooneys so much better further forward, youngs found some decent form and Herrera looks great in the middle. Give Adnan a run instead of ADM too.
The back 4 I dunno, we still don't seem to have settled on that except for Rojo and Valencia.
The back 4 I dunno, we still don't seem to have settled on that except for Rojo and Valencia.
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