Man Utd v Everton. 5th October at 12.00.

[streeky]

Jesus christ, by improving every match we should be able to keep a clean sheet come April. Every man and his dog who watched that will be laughing their tits off at that comment. Him and Rodgers sound like a pair of weapons after they get beat

your right chris come out and tell it like it is Roberto this sugar coating rubbish is embarrassing

 

[marty mcfly]

They have options in midfield and attack, who are fit, we don't. So are we all saying the defence was fine then?

Whenever Stones plays the defence has always been fine. The Jags and Distin partnership just doesn't suit Bobby's style.

 

[BlueToff]

Yes, i posted about that specific pass in the hibbert thread.

Hibbo (who was solid all game imo btw), made NO EFFORT to get the ball from besic. He watched it treacle out of play. They countered us off the throw whilst we slept and howard is forced into an equally bad decision as hibbo

Yeh i remember it mate - I was screaming for him to latch onto that - or at least press Shaw into knocking it out. That's when Browning should have been brought on, as he'd have at least tried to get onto that pass.

 

[nsno-chris]

Fair enough. But tbh, losing 2-1 to man u in the manner that we did (missing a peno and de gea world class saves), isn't worth of Roberto saying to the world that his team was poor today etc. It would have such a negative effect surely? We weren't as bad as we could've been at all.

Now if we had lost 4/5-1 and capitulated after their second goal, i'd want him to own up, but not at 2-1.. it could've been very different

It took us till 30+ minutes to have a shot on target, and we only put them under pressure in the last 5/10 minutes because they wanted the win so much that they fell deeper and deeper. It was an awful team display. Saying that your team played good, when clearly they neverm is a slap in the face to every person who travelled to OT today. Well thats my opinion anyway

 

[BlueToff]

Whenever Stones plays the defence has always been fine. The Jags and Distin partnership just doesn't suit Bobby's style.

Totally agree. He calms the defence down because they all know he's got the nerve and, more importantly, skill to play it out of defence. And that if he makes a mistake, he'll recover (like with RVP earlier).

 

[Abraders]

It took us till 30+ minutes to have a shot on target, and we only put them under pressure in the last 5/10 minutes because they wanted the win so much that they fell deeper and deeper. It was an awful team display. Saying that your team played good, when clearly they neverm is a slap in the face to every person who travelled to OT today. Well thats my opinion anyway

Our overall 90 min performance was bad, but our second half performance was MUCH BETTER from Everton compared. Obviously Roberto needs to sort this out though, we want to be firing on all cylinders from the start, not chasing the game at the end.

Also, i didn't go to the game and kudos if you made it, but it's always different on TV to watching it at the ground. You see different angles etc that changes your opinion and view of the game.

edit; also, had we equalised and even snatched a winner at the end instead of those beastly saves from De Gea. Would you say we were 'lucky' and we played awful due to only having our first shot at 30 minutes?

I personally think most people would say we weathered the storm for 45 and took it to them at the end of the game, and it was a masterclass from roberto and the players

 

[BlueToff]

It took us till 30+ minutes to have a shot on target, and we only put them under pressure in the last 5/10 minutes because they wanted the win so much that they fell deeper and deeper. It was an awful team display. Saying that your team played good, when clearly they neverm is a slap in the face to every person who travelled to OT today. Well thats my opinion anyway

We did play better though mate. the last half an hour especially. Both goals came at awful times today as we were just picking up confidence on both occasions.

Fine margins. But yeh, Bobby needs to sort it and make sure we beat Villa. It'll be a very tough game.

 

[streeky]

Right that's enough negativity from me. BESIC.... best game so far for us .kept his head whilst on a yellow for 3/4 of the game looked like he got fitter/stronger as the game went on, superb fitness levels. go besy

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Howard was an absolute joke again today, what on earth is he rushing out of his box for when he's not going to lash the ball into the stands? Does he not have a brain? If he hits is down the line and it falls to their player he's miles out of the goal. Half a minute later they'd scored.

Hibbert was fine, as were the other defenders. Baines didn't look confident on that penalty and it showed.

Barry and Besic in particular played well, McGeady was pants and Pienaar isn't fit.

Lukaku was pathetic first half but grew into the game while Naismith was very good.

What in Martinez playing at right now though seriously? Is Howard undroppable? Eto'o was sat on the bench and we needed a goal, regardless of what Osman did when he came on, that sends out completely the wrong signals.

Concerned here like, however a fair result would've been a draw, for sure.

 

[Abraders]

Right guys, good chat with you all, shame about the result and injuries though - but i have to leave, travelling back to Leeds for uni.

Speak to you's later!

coyb.

 

[stu f]

I thought we played well today, just lacking creativity in the final third. Stones was class, Hibbert did well and took up some great positions going forward. He's not Coleman, but I've not got a problem with him playing. Besic gave us something different in midfield, always looking to go past the player and attack the space. Peinar caused a lot of problems, until he tired. Despite previous comments, we mixed it up, with Baines in particular looking for the channels and Lukaku. Indeed, one 'Fabregas' ball over the top should have brought at least a shot on target from Lukaku. We scored a brilliant goal and had several shots saved or blocked. From my vantage point high up behind the goal, I even thought McGeady did OK, but don't think he will ever be good enough. Rom was poor, but I still have faith in him
Bottom line, utd now 4th, and their fans were just happy to come away with 3 points

 

[mrb85]

Stones played Falcao onside. Jags should of screamed to get him in line. They won a ridiculous amount in the air today, them, if on form would of sunk us.

Every team gets the better of us in the air.

 

[marty mcfly]

Loads of positives today including I believe there's been some sense made of the whole pre season debacle considering we looked very fit for the whole 90 minutes today, hopefully Martinez's physio qualifications have come in handy, not a huge positive but it makes the whole Europe affecting games argument a bit less credible. Baines (bar penalty miss), Naisy, Besic, Hibbert, Osman and Stones all did well today I feel. The one overhanging negative however I feel is Howard, he's just racking up mistakes week after week. Shocking from him for their second today, didn't leave the defence any time to settle themselves and again was reluctant to come for crosses. In my opinion he can't be too many mistakes away from Joel getting a game. If Cardiff aren't looking like getting promoted by January I'd love us to go for Marshall, we saw the difference today between two keepers; one wisn points for their team and the other costs their team points. Not good enough.

Screw that we should be in for Marshal no matter. He really impressed last season.

 

[BlueToff]

Howard was an absolute joke again today, what on earth is he rushing out of his box for when he's not going to lash the ball into the stands? Does he not have a brain? If he hits is down the line and it falls to their player he's miles out of the goal. Half a minute later they'd scored.

Hibbert was fine, as were the other defenders. Baines didn't look confident on that penalty and it showed.

Barry and Besic in particular played well, McGeady was pants and Pienaar isn't fit.

Lukaku was pathetic first half but grew into the game while Naismith was very good.

What in Martinez playing at right now though seriously? Is Howard undroppable? Eto'o was sat on the bench and we needed a goal, regardless of what Osman did when he came on, that sends out completely the wrong signals.

Concerned here like, however a fair result would've been a draw, for sure.

Agree with most of it. Think he was torn between bringing on Ossie and Eto'o (i know that sounds stupid), but Osman did well and Hibbo needed taking off.

Besic was very good and that 2nd half was the best we've played in a while. Just didn't have enough quality - mainly due to injuries.

 

[DrEFC]

I'm either being an idiot here and got myself confused about the point you're trying to make, or we've mixed up what we meant.

Our team, fit with Coleman Mirallas etc, would have destroyed Man U today no questions asked.

People were saying they didn't get the better of our defence, which they did, twice.