Manchester United FC

You're just jealous of those league titles I have the same number of PL medals as Gerrard

Oh wow how original.... if Gerrard wanted to be a glory hunter he could have easilly moved teams and got a PL medal...

If Gerrard had wanted a PL medal all he had to do was control a square ball vs Chelsea last season.......................

(21-09-2014 15:12 )whorelover Wrote:  Both penalties came after Leicester fouled a United defender, the refereeing has been a joke.

Free kick and then a booking for simulation, but the penalty only made it 2-3. We still shipped 3 more goals to a workmanlike Leicester team.

Second penalty wasn't a foul on Blackett at all. The guy barely brushed him, he gave up his space and let the guy waltz through and then committed the double sin of giving away the penalty AND getting sent off. I know he's young but the mistakes he made today were so fundamental.

The only silver lining is that Van Gaal has got to spend some serious times on the defending. No use scoring great goals if Leicester City can put 5 past you! Thankfully with Evans injured and Blackett suspended Rojo will have to move inside and partner Smalling with Shaw in at left back.

Is it just me or has the art of good defending disappeared from modern football. The current generation of defenders just seem unable grasp some of the basics.

(22-09-2014 00:09 )Matt77 Wrote:  

(21-09-2014 15:12 )whorelover Wrote:  Both penalties came after Leicester fouled a United defender, the refereeing has been a joke.

Free kick and then a booking for simulation, but the penalty only made it 2-3. We still shipped 3 more goals to a workmanlike Leicester team.

Second penalty wasn't a foul on Blackett at all. The guy barely brushed him, he gave up his space and let the guy waltz through and then committed the double sin of giving away the penalty AND getting sent off. I know he's young but the mistakes he made today were so fundamental.

The only silver lining is that Van Gaal has got to spend some serious times on the defending. No use scoring great goals if Leicester City can put 5 past you! Thankfully with Evans injured and Blackett suspended Rojo will have to move inside and partner Smalling with Shaw in at left back.

Is it just me or has the art of good defending disappeared from modern football. The current generation of defenders just seem unable grasp some of the basics.

Defending as we expect it with direct tackling is a lost art these days. Coaches train full backs to play more as wing backs to play the ball out from defensive positions these days. They are seen more as the start of the attack than part of the defence. Thats great but when they are caught out of position it leaves the centre backs more vulnerable to the oppositions strikers.

(22-09-2014 06:53 )bytor Wrote:  Defending as we expect it with direct tackling is a lost art these days.

Nathaniel Clyne of Southampton is the best tackler in the Premier League this season with 21 successful tackles out of 22, followed by Gaël Clichy of Man City with 17 out of 18.

The only Man Utd player with a higher than 75% success rate is Jonny Evans with 7/9. Tyler Blackett has managed only 5/11, Wayne Rooney only 3/9 and Robin van Persie 1/8.

(22-09-2014 00:09 )Matt77 Wrote:  Free kick and then a booking for simulation, but the penalty only made it 2-3. We still shipped 3 more goals to a workmanlike Leicester team.

Second penalty wasn't a foul on Blackett at all. The guy barely brushed him, he gave up his space and let the guy waltz through and then committed the double sin of giving away the penalty AND getting sent off. I know he's young but the mistakes he made today were so fundamental.

The only silver lining is that Van Gaal has got to spend some serious times on the defending. No use scoring great goals if Leicester City can put 5 past you! Thankfully with Evans injured and Blackett suspended Rojo will have to move inside and partner Smalling with Shaw in at left back.

Is it just me or has the art of good defending disappeared from modern football. The current generation of defenders just seem unable grasp some of the basics.

Yeah, the sloppy defending for the Cambiasso goal was ridiculous, I can't believe I was laughing at Liverpool on Saturday . First Smalling heads it upwards than out, then he and Blind go for the same ball, Rooney can't clear, they have a shot and score from the blocked effort.

Whilst I think it was a foul, an experienced defender would know that type of challenge would come and would've been more stronger, the rush of blood meant he tried to get it back and ended up giving away another penalty as well as being sent off. I rate Evans better than I do Smalling, had the former stayed on maybe it wouldn't have been as bad. I'd like to see Rojo as CB and Shaw playing, I hope he doesn't revert to 3-5-2.

As for defending....most defenders seem to try to contain and cut out passes than actually get the ball. Tackling seems to be last resort nowadays, doesn't help when you're likely to get a yellow card for a tackle-even if isn't dangerous and in some cases, you get the ball. I saw some good challenges yesterday from Kompany and Mangala.

I think most Man United fans who were watching the game when Evans dropped to the ground injured the fans knew Dodgy smalling was going to come on how on gracious earth did Smalling worth 10million only ferguson knows I do not support man utd but the game was good entertainment but clearly showed Man United need to invest in defenders in january otherwise relegation looms even if your front 5 consist of Falcao, Rvp, Rooney, Mata and Di Maria

We needed to invest in solid, quality defenders before the summer and we still need to now but I'm hopeful that Shaw, Blind and Rojo will provide some defensive steel for us. Evans is probably our best defender atm but at best ranks as cover for the first team. Smalling just does not cut it at all for me. Saying all this, I still think we will win more than we lose. Liverpool, City and Spurs are having their rocky moments too in losing games you would expect them to win.
I never once thought we would win or even challenge this season but I do want to see improved performances on the pitch and some confidence from the squad.

look on the bright side it is technically better to lose 5-3 than 2-0, had you not signed falcao and di maria you would probably have lost 4-1 yesterday