v Manchester United (H): Post Match

[ChesterDave]

**** weekend really.

Woke up to a million and 1 YNFA posts being liked on Facebook. I've seen more from bitters mocking us that celebrating their first back to back league victories since October.

Oh, and to top it all off I logged in to an online credit card account to find out that 1) I didn't have DD set up as a backup as I thought I had and 2) I hadn't paid the ruddy thing off as soon as the bill came through.

Late fee and black mark on credit file

Now its time to go to work. **** loads in and trainees learning the ropes today. And a ****ing bitter in the office who will be waltzing around like he has two todgers

[Yozza]

Long day ahead today - hard work trying to avoid talk of football...

[I, Ravel Morrison]

Woke up thinking it was a bad dream.

Clowns.

Tell me about it. Woke up and went, "****, it happened."

[Fierce]

One loss is not a reason to change the formation that has seen us out perform almost the entire league in the last 12 games

[-V-]

The formation is fine, there are flaws in every system but its up to us to perfect it.

The biggest issue is why we are wasting Raheem at wing back. What a waste of talent. Brendan usually realizes these things eventually so hopefully he figured it out towards the end of the game yest

[Darkon]

Yeah, although Sterling's not been to his best, he is clearly much more effective up front where he can use his pace/acceleration and make free runs. He is not what's needed on RB, and would rather we use another player there and move him back up with Sturridge and Coutinho.

[captainfog]

Marcovic, Sterling and Lallana have all, to varying degrees, looked anonymous at wing back. Its because we don't have the players to play there. None of them are wing backs and they look lost and wasted. Shame Ibe got injured because whilst still not ideal he is probably is most suited to that position.

I also think we sometimes get overrun in midfield with three at the back. Traditionally the middle of the three would move forward and join midfield bit Skittles can't do that. Sakho and Can are both bringing the ball forward, but its not really working. When we get pressed this formation and these players can't cope.

[Shaggy]

Tell me about it. Woke up and went, "****, it happened."

Yep same here. How horrible is that feeling. I awoke with a stubborn morning glory, absolutely desperate for a piss, and then had the "oh ****, they beat us" feeling. What a terrible start to the day.

[wiw]

One loss is not a reason to change the formation that has seen us out perform almost the entire league in the last 12 games

The formation is fine, there are flaws in every system but its up to us to perfect it.

The biggest issue is why we are wasting Raheem at wing back. What a waste of talent. Brendan usually realizes these things eventually so hopefully he figured it out towards the end of the game yest

Do you not think it is a problem if two teams in a row have managed to completely nullify and dominate us for the majority of first half? The only difference between Swansea and United was the fact that United scored when on top. The Swansea game could've been very different and it feels like this defeat was coming. Not every team will be as well drilled as United were but if you're looking to beat top teams you can't be so predictable. They knew exactly what our weaknesses would be well in advance because we set up and played exactly how they expected us to.

I think Sturridge generally needs someone playing closer to him than either Coutinho or Lallana managed yesterday, the problem we have is the alternatives (Balotelli and Lambert) just aren't good enough or fit our style. I'm really surprised we haven't seen Sterling up there with him more.

[captainfog]

Do you not think it is a problem if two teams in a row have managed to completely nullify and dominate us for the majority of first half? The only difference between Swansea and United was the fact that United scored when on top. The Swansea game could've been very different and it feels like this defeat was coming. Not every team will be as well drilled as United were but if you're looking to beat top teams you can't be so predictable. They knew exactly what our weaknesses would be well in advance because we set up and played exactly how they expected us to.

I think Sturridge generally needs someone playing closer to him than either Coutinho or Lallana managed yesterday, the problem we have is the alternatives (Balotelli and Lambert) just aren't good enough or fit our style. I'm really surprised we haven't seen Sterling up there with him more.

Same happened away in the EL and against Southampton. You could probably find a few more examples in our recent run too.

[danperkins]

Think we're all taking our scolding today. Gotta take it on the chin though. Not quite sure if it is easier or harder to deal with as United actually deserved it & were better than us?

Agree with what many are saying, Sterling at RWB just doesn't work. He's been woefully out of form for awhile now & playing him in that position isn't doing us or him any favours. Lucas back in the side is absolutely vital. Our formation has been found out unfortunately & any high pressing side will have some joy against us playing that formation. In saying that, we have looked knackered of late so it's making the formation look that bit more fragile in recent games.

Can needs to be rested, guy can hardly run & is having a bad run of form of late. Moreno for me, just had a ****e game. He's making the same mistakes he did when i watched him for Sevilla, but i wouldn't worry about either Can or Moreno...they'll be fantastic next season IMO & for me both have been so much better than i expected this season...especially Can.

That defeat has been coming, we've hit a bad run of form of late and at the worst time. Was bound to happen and unfortunately it happened at Anfield, in a crucial game against a United side gathering pace.

It's made things so much harder for us & the Arsenal away game IMO is going to be a tough one. We have to at least take something out of it.

[danperkins]

Do you not think it is a problem if two teams in a row have managed to completely nullify and dominate us for the majority of first half? The only difference between Swansea and United was the fact that United scored when on top. The Swansea game could've been very different and it feels like this defeat was coming. Not every team will be as well drilled as United were but if you're looking to beat top teams you can't be so predictable. They knew exactly what our weaknesses would be well in advance because we set up and played exactly how they expected us to.

I think Sturridge generally needs someone playing closer to him than either Coutinho or Lallana managed yesterday, the problem we have is the alternatives (Balotelli and Lambert) just aren't good enough or fit our style. I'm really surprised we haven't seen Sterling up there with him more.

[Carras_Shin_Pads]

Yeah, although Sterling's not been to his best, he is clearly much more effective up front where he can use his pace/acceleration and make free runs. He is not what's needed on RB, and would rather we use another player there and move him back up with Sturridge and Coutinho.

I think he's best when he has to take players on at close range with trickery, time and time again i see him picking the ball up in midfield and running the half with it and just running out of ideas / pace when he gets to the 18 yards - usually having dribbled past several players

[Red_Polo]

Think we're all taking our scolding today. Gotta take it on the chin though. Not quite sure if it is easier or harder to deal with as United actually deserved it & were better than us?

Agree with what many are saying, Sterling at RWB just doesn't work. He's been woefully out of form for awhile now & playing him in that position isn't doing us or him any favours. Lucas back in the side is absolutely vital. Our formation has been found out unfortunately & any high pressing side will have some joy against us playing that formation. In saying that, we have looked knackered of late so it's making the formation look that bit more fragile in recent games.

Can needs to be rested, guy can hardly run & is having a bad run of form of late. Moreno for me, just had a ****e game. He's making the same mistakes he did when i watched him for Sevilla, but i wouldn't worry about either Can or Moreno...they'll be fantastic next season IMO & for me both have been so much better than i expected this season...especially Can.

That defeat has been coming, we've hit a bad run of form of late and at the worst time. Was bound to happen and unfortunately it happened at Anfield, in a crucial game against a United side gathering pace.

It's made things so much harder for us & the Arsenal away game IMO is going to be a tough one. We have to at least take something out of it.

Agree with that. I think the ups and downs in form we see with our younger players is pretty inevitable, the problem is we're needing to depend on them so much because Lovren, Balotelli and Lallana as our more experienced signings collectively haven't done nearly enough.

[Tee]

Win at Arsenal (we are due a win there tbf) and yesterday will be forgotten.

We just need to make sure we do not lose at the Emirates.