Manchester United (h) 17Dec2023

[Tatterdemalion]

Been miles off it for weeks and the results are disguising the performances… until today.

Yes I agree, and in seasons under other managers I think we would struggle, but I'm confident our 2nd half will be a lot better than our 1st, which really was not bad.

[labourRed]

I don't think that's true. I think we have a great chance of winning the league. We do need to be a little better in the 2nd half, but it's not like we are out of the running. If we are where we are playing badly, chances are we'll be better 2nd half.

Points on the board but performances have been woeful. We haven't played like champions over the course of the first half of the season. Unless we unlock some magical tactical shift but I don't see it.

I'd drop Szoboszlai buts thats unlikely with the Gravenberch injury. I'd move Salah into the center but he's off for a month. We've got a chance to sign someone in January to make a difference but I dont see that happening either. I'm all ears but I don't see and change in fortune.

FWIW, fourth or higher represents decent progress but it's a shame it's a season City are off the boil.

[Exiled_red]

Frustrating thing for me is that United are awful, and we're really poor today, we just played down to their level, they really were there for the taking, but we could barely string 2 passes together.

[BobTheCharmer]

The draws are going to kill us. We don't lose many but the draws are far too frequent.

[Kenneth]

Reminded me of Baros today, head down went nowhere.. no end product.

That is him though, but it’s still a net positive. He gets the ball up the pitch.

[Tatterdemalion]

FWIW, fourth or higher represents decent progress but it's a shame it's a season City are off the boil.

Yes, but I have belief we win the league this season.

[Exiled_red]

The draws are going to kill us. We don't lose many but the draws are far too frequent.

A draw is almost as bad as a defeat, 2 points dropped vs 3 points dropped, particularly when you likely need 90+ points to win the league

[Tribute]

A draw is almost as bad as a defeat, 2 points dropped vs 3 points dropped, particularly when you likely need 90+ points to win the league

That’s United’s first draw - it’s all wins or all losses before then. That’s why they’re higher than they should be. Draws kills every side’s position…

[BG1973]

Lack of creativity. I think we either need a false 9 or a 10, without either I think we'll be scrapping for wins all season.

I'd start with Gakpo for Nunez.

[Exiled_red]

Also what was with all the long range shooting, most of it was awful

[labourRed]

Yes, but I have belief we win the league this season.

Hope. It's what kills you.

[Kenneth]

Also what was with all the long range shooting, most of it was awful

A good idea in principle, their keeper is proper dodgy, but we were shooting without finding the space to shoot. We ran out of ideas.

[Tatterdemalion]

Hope. It's what kills you.

We're half way through and we can do it. We're not firing on all cylinders but neither is anyone else.

[Exiled_red]

A good idea in principle, their keeper is proper dodgy, but we were shooting without finding the space to shoot. We ran out of ideas.

We had 34 shots only 8 were on target...

[pondus]

Diaz has been absolute garbage lately, in hindsight we should have started Gakpo out left, and Dom has not been great in the past few games. Never thought I’d say this but we missed Mcallister today. On another day we might have scored a couple, but the scummers worked hard and defended well. Think we’ll beat the arse now and celebrate Christmas top of the league, but really hope we can try to build and strengthen in January as we might have a chance to win the league this year.