One if the many annoying things about Saturday is the narrative, which might benefit ironically next season, is that united are back and they’ve learned how to beat us.
United were no more than the support act, the entire tragedy was City being brilliant everywhere bar the two boxes, in 20 minutes before halftime we should have scored 2 possibly 4 more. Twenty minutes after half time we conceded 4 from 3 efforts.
All talk of a weakened team is a red herring. The fluid front 3 did united in old trafford and for 45 minutes ripped them to shreds. They played a back 4 and two holding midfielders and couldn’t remotely cope with our movement. If we can replicate that regularly then only poor finishing from us can stop us destroying sides.
One continued area of concern for me is the type of goal we have conceded of late, certainly since Vinny came back?
That clipped inswinging cross between our two centre backs has found Vinny and Otamendi wanting, which is a surprise because it should be a question of aerial prowess and not raw pace doing us over the top.
That suggests a positional or communication issue between the pair.
I do feel we have missed Stones and his ability to pass through into the midfield, rather than Vinny being pressed more effectively and passing more regularly to the full back positions?
The ball seems to be kicked longer a lot more by Eddy of late, which might be as a result of all this?
Defending set pieces so high doesn't give our keeper much of chance if someone connects.
I haven't watched the TV highlights and likely I won't - as a 'neutral' what did you think of the various penalty appeals on Saturday?You guys were unlucky to lose.Football is cruel like that.It shoudl have been 4 or 5 nil if not for the missed chances. I was supporting you guys too!
Utd have to be one of the jammiest teams around!No particlular skill or play.
Frustrating to see the damage done by the clipped in crosses from Sanchez on Saturday. Having watched him closely up until January as we were expected to sign him, that is almost his trademark and 9 times out of 10 it doesn't come off. We should have been well prepared and able to deal with it.
I haven't watched the TV highlights and likely I won't - as a 'neutral' what did you think of the various penalty appeals on Saturday?
The irony is Sterling didn’t even start up front Bernardo did, but he want fast enough to put pressure on the back 4 of United, when he switched up front it was much of his pressing that caused United all the problems, he forced them into mistakes leaving us chance to attack, just a pity he left his shooting boots at home.Peps dying out for another clinical goal scorer, like someone said earlier a Muller or Lewandowski as well as Aguero.
We should've been 4 or 5 up by HT.
At elite level football in the biggest games we can't waste chances like Raheem did on Sat.
I've stayed off here after the game till now to think about this but the main thing we are lacking in is concentration, once one goes in, heads go down and more follow.
However it was a freak result, even PEG knows that, 9 times out of 10 we beat them comfortably.
Was why we were in for Sanchez. Few could understand it at the time but very clear.Peps dying out for another clinical goal scorer, like someone said earlier a Muller or Lewandowski as well as Aguero.
We should've been 4 or 5 up by HT.
At elite level football in the biggest games we can't waste chances like Raheem did on Sat.
I've stayed off here after the game till now to think about this but the main thing we are lacking in is concentration, once one goes in, heads go down and more follow.
However it was a freak result, even PEG knows that, 9 times out of 10 we beat them comfortably.
They upped a gear in the 2nd half.
We dropped a gear in the 2nd half.
Apparently Ashley 'the chopper' Young gave a Churchillian speech at half-time.
While we drunk some Horlicks at half-time.