Post match thread

[blacky]

He need more time. He has been out a long time and isn't back to his best yet. I would judge him in three, four months time, not now, because it isn't fair to do that.

He was one of our best player if not the best player in the first half and the way he set up Gerrard just outside the box shows how good he is.

He is a good player just not good enough if we want to win the title. I don't think we have ever seen the real Harry Kewell. His best days were in a leeds jersey.This is the player you are talking about. Sure he gives us balance and is the best winger we have but I doubt very much we could count on him staying fit for the season. I think the left and right wings are area's we need to spend big money on next summer!!

[kurtangle01]

Coming into this a bit late and I said what I thought earlier about the match but I thought I'd try and offer a response, as feeble as it may be, to DJS and some of the oter members criticising selection.

Perhaps Rafa kept the same team today because he felt that if he'd made say...4 changes and we'd lost there would have been loads more criticism dumped upon him for his rotation policy. By keeping the same team and losing he could argue that he didn't want to change a winning team.

He's still getting criticised anyway though. It seems that in some peoples eyes he can't do anything right. Who'd be a manager, eh?

[kurtangle01]

Kewell was out of his depth today.

Should have 'risked' Babel

Babel was superb when he came on. I was certain that shot from the edge of the box was in the minute it left his foot.

[Kilteragh]

Babel was supeb when he came on. I was certain that shot from the edge of the box was in the minute it left his foot.

Yeah. It was the only time in the whole match that I shouted positively or in hope. The rest of the shouting involved the words "for ****'s sake", "****in' Manc *******" and "stop ****ing shooting Riise".

[Joe King]

Heres what a lot of us are trying to say

WE WERE CRAP, OUTWITTED
We resorted to inpatient football- hoof tactics which we never succeeded in as we didn't win either first or second balls.
Played Kuyt and Riise- those two should be shot or even better sold

Why do some people believe we can win the title? We are a god awful distance behind, the teams ahead of us look better and much stronger than us and most importantly the experience of winning the title and what it takes to play and beat the rivals. Something we haven't done in a long time. Until we and the Liverpool team realise this, we will never ever win the title again. Gone of the days of the 70s and 80s.

[blacky]

Heres what a lot of us are trying to say

WE WERE CRAP, OUTWITTED
We resorted to inpatient football- hoof tactics which we never succeeded in as we didn't win either first or second balls.
Played Kuyt and Riise- those two should be shot or even better sold

Why do some people believe we can win the title? We are a god awful distance behind, the teams ahead of us look better and much stronger than us and most importantly the experience of winning the title and what it takes to play and beat the rivals. Something we haven't done in a long time. Until we and the Liverpool team realise this, we will never ever win the title again. Gone of the days of the 70s and 80s.

Daft comment. They may not be good enough but their commitment could not be questioned. It's obvious for all to see that there are area's that need improvement including left back which is why Rafa tried to sign Heinze. We need to be patient. It will take time and we will win the title under Rafa.

[kurtangle01]

We resorted to inpatient football- hoof tactics which we never succeeded in as we didn't win either first or second balls.

That was part of the problem today. We needed to show a bit of patience and composure at times and hold on to the ball and work some openings. We got to eager though and tried to rush things.

We needed someone like Lil Luis aswell who could produce the unexpected. We miss him in matches like today and should be looking to sign someone of a similar ilk, imho.

[Joe King]

Daft comment. They may not be good enough but their commitment could not be questioned. It's obvious for all to see that there are area's that need improvement including left back which is why Rafa tried to sign Heinze. We need to be patient. It will take time and we will win the title under Rafa.

You really think so? The season has been hot and cold for me. Not championship form, ah well, there's always next season

[Joe King]

That was part of the problem today. We needed to show a bit of patience and composure at times and hold on to the ball and work some openings. We got to eager though and tried to rush things.

We needed someone like Lil Luis aswell who could produce the unexpected. We miss him in matches like today and should be looking to sign someone of a similar ilk, imho.

Not really. He lost the balls more and stopped the pattern and rhythm more times than not. We needed Benayoun in the middle and Babel on right to test Evra but hindsight is a brilliant thing.

[kurtangle01]

Not really. He lost the balls more and stopped the pattern and rhythm more times than not. We needed Benayoun in the middle and Babel on right to test Evra but hindsight is a brilliant thing.

It's all about opinions I suppose. And you know what they say about opinions. They're like arseholes, everybody has one and they're all full of ****e!

[Joe King]

It's all about opinions I suppose. And you know what they say about opinions. They're like arseholes, everybody has one and they're all full of ****e!

I love that

[Joe King]

Jocky was spot on about Gerrard- most times than not, I found him too deep with Jefe high up. Was this Rafa doing it or Stevie's heart ruling over head?

[blacky]

You really think so? The season has been hot and cold for me. Not championship form, ah well, there's always next season

Man I am as dissapointed as you. I just have faith in Rafa. I'm not a member of the RCDNW brigade but I believe in his vision. He is not infallible and makes mistakes but today I could not fault his team selection we just were not good enough. There is a 15 year era of premiership success at united that will be hard to overcome but with time and squad improvements he will do it. He toppled BArca and Madrid so we need to believe he will do the same in the premiership. YNWA

[Joe King]

Man I am as dissapointed as you. I just have faith in Rafa. I'm not a member of the RCDNW brigade but I believe in his vision. He is not infallible and makes mistakes but today I could not fault his team selection we just were not good enough. There is a 15 year era of premiership success at united that will be hard to overcome but with time and squad improvements he will do it. He toppled BArca and Madrid so we need to believe he will do the same in the premiership. YNWA

With BAAA lenica he inherited a fantastic squad who went to two Champions League finals. They lost to a very good Real Madrid and on penos to Bayern. Here, he has had a **** squad, low on confidence but I have been disappointed more with more than half of his signings. Thats what he will be judged on. For me looking at it, he has improved in the league standings and how we have finish third instead of fourth but we want to be top or at most second. This season I thought the Scum would be the team to beat and its still is the case. We haven't done that, I don't think we will win the title. We might be closer than other seasons but I dont think we will win it. I thought Arse will suffer which they haven't since Henry left and Chelsea will suffer during the ANC. Grant or most importantly Arnesan will have money to spend so it will interesting to see whether he does improve in his critical areas.

[Sir Bob]

I think perhaps the biggest difference not only today but compared to he other 3 title hopefuls is our defence's lack of ability on the ball. Without Agger we don't have 1 defender comfortable on the ball. Sami and Carra are old fashioned stoppers, great defenders but very limited on the ball. Whilst Vidic isn't great on the ball, Ferdinand can be very effective. Arsenal have both Gallas and Toure whilst Chelsea have Carvalho.

But its at full back where the comparisons are even worse. We don't have a decent attacking full back. Finnan and Arbeloa are ok but don't in truth pose much of an attacking threat. In days gone by we had Chris Lawler, Phil Neal and Steve Nichol. Great defenders but good on the ball as well. We don't ahve anyone in their class or to compare with Evra, Clichy or cole. we break down countless times with poor distribution from the back. JAR is of course the worse culprit but he's not alone. Top teams can drop deep, leaving any of our defenders as the free man knowing that more often than not, possession will be lost.