The Man Utd Thread

[Loik V credern]

De Gea is not in the provisional Spain squad is he ? So I guess generally they've been trying to cheer him up the last few days, and that was a 'thanks for that performance despite probably being a bit down', but there is a noticeable togetherness so they'd react like that anyway. That fighting team spirt seems to have emerged from nowhere, was it there as much under any manager since Ferguson? It seems a bit of the Mourinho seige mentally us against the world. 

 

Looking at the table I thought Spurs were lower...January onwards will be different with post work cup fatigue but I will be disappointed if top 4 isn't secured with Liverpool and Spurs not getting better. 

[feltmonkey]

It was nice to see Maguire put in a good performance on his return, and to have that big moment when he blocked what would have been a certain equaliser by Bowen.  

 

I don't think he's suddenly going to be a key member of the first team again though, he showed all the weaknesses to his game at various points. He dived into a tackle on the halfway line and missed, causing us a problem. He had the ball played over him and couldn't turn or chase quick enough and had to be bailed out by De Gea. He spent a lot of time looking for forward passes before turning and playing it sideways to Martinez. Later, after he had presumably been told by Ten Hag to play it forward, he started hitting aimless long balls.

 

However, as the game went on, he also showed his strengths, and played a massive part in the rearguard action that the last half an hour became. When we're under pressure, he's always going to be in there where it most matters, defending. He's going to block, and he's going to head things away. He headed away a lot. No forward is ever likely to beat him in the air because of his strength and aerial ability. He may not be really suited to the kind of football Ten Hag wants to play, but on form, he's a great man to have in the team when you're up against it. The longer the game went on, the better he got, capped by his game-saving block, although truth be told he didn't know much about it. Perhaps that means his luck is changing. I hope so.

[ckny]

 

 

Donny lives!

[feltmonkey]

I think we've accepted that we're going to finish second and have to play an extra time.

 

What is Bruno doing shoved out to the right?

[feltmonkey]

Garnacho! 

 

Hell of a finish as well.

[fatbob]

Garnachooooo!

[feltmonkey]

Well this gets interesting now. Do we hold them at arm's length for a bit and look to double the lead on a break? That 2-0 scoreline suddenly looks much more possible.

[feltmonkey]

Well, we're halfway to the result we need, but it's taken a miraculous/jammy save by De Gea to keep us there. Sociedad aren't naive enough to get sucked in for us to hit them on the break.

 

Eriksen is having a bit of a stinker, and Van De Beek hasn't been in the match at all. It's tricky, because you don't bring Fred or McTominay on to control a match, but what other options are there if Eriksen comes off? I think there's no point keeping VDB on there if he's looking so bloody disinterested, especially when we've got Bruno sacrificing himself for the team on the right. If we're unsure about risking Rashford, Elanga or Pellistri could be options on the right with Bruno moving into the centre.

[5R7]

ive got no idea what those subs were right now...

[feltmonkey]

We've gone 3-3-4.  

 

I kind of love it.

[feltmonkey]

It's really not working though.

[5R7]

well...lump it long it is...oh dear

[feltmonkey]

Holy shit Maguire up front!  

[5R7]

so we got second, have to play two other games, against a team from the champs league, whereas real go through, after a bullshit pen call in the first game...yeah...ok.

 

why exactly do the team who dont do well enough in the champs league get to have another go. They should just be out.

[Fry Crayola]

Money, dear boy.

[feltmonkey]

Well, we didn't create enough on the night. It all got completely chaotic in the second half with Sociedad's gamesmanship, our bizarre formation, and the ref falling for everything they did. Ultimately the whole group has been decided by a ridiculous penalty decision in the first game against Sociedad, and a bunch of awful missed chances in the easier games.

[feltmonkey]

Today's match is another one of those ones that are on Sunday afternoon, but not on TV anywhere. Annoying. 

[ckny]

Donny and Garnacho keep their places. Bruno suspended. Maguire still benched.

 

Just spotted Ronaldo captains. Not sure that sends the right message.

[5R7]

1 hour ago, feltmonkey said:

Today's match is another one of those ones that are on Sunday afternoon, but not on TV anywhere. Annoying. 

have you considered..."the internet" ...

[feltmonkey]

I have access to BT, Sky, and Amazon Prime so I never really have to find a stream. As a result, the times when I do have to result in me finding ones that are either plagued with pop-ups, drop out after a couple of minutes, or both. I'll spend the entire 90 minutes failing to find something watchable. I've come to accept that navigating the high seas for football streams is just not something I'm capable of.  

[5R7]

the drop out is your isp

 

and this is a shocking start!

[5R7]

ffs. i should have just gone the gym instead of watching this shite

[feltmonkey]

2-0 down already? I don't think I'll bother trying to find a stream.

[teddymeow]

I've had to take my 5 year old daughter to a birthday party and I thought I was in for a poor afternoon.

[Dark Soldier]

Fucking glorious stream on my IPTV. 4k, the works.

 

20 minutes in and wish I never bothered.

[Nicky]

to be fair to villa. their first goal was really good and their second the freekick was excellent. i dont think we've been particularly shite, villa don't look as tired and have more of a thing to prove.

[feltmonkey]

Hooray, a complete fluke own goal to put us back in the match.  

[feltmonkey]

So, has Ming's had two yellow cards but no red? Wasn't he booked for the scuffle with Ronaldo?

[5R7]

[JPL]

I haven’t had chance to watch it today, so what went wrong?