Ahead of this game i hovered between optimism, hopelesly misplaced obviously and trepidation. The optimisim came because there have been signs, here and there, that we may be slowly turning things around. And I haven't been that impressed with Chelsea when I have managed to see them this season, there nowhere near City's level for me. The trepidation came because as inadequate as our midfield has been this season, our defence has been even worse. When it's been really put to the test, it's generally been found wanting. Who can forget that drubbing at the boo camp, where with almost our most experienced back four we were found sadly wanting.
I should have known better really, we won't do anything until we get that back four sorted out. I'm slowly coming around to the view that we are going to have buy a centre half, the world and his dog knows we need a new left back, the way Rafael performed yesterday, we might have to add right back to that. I've read the pundits going on about how much we are missing Rooney and Van Persie, but the top two of Januzaj, our best player again, and Welbeck did alright. I fail to see how Rooney and Van Persie would have altered things when we conceeded three goals as softly as that.
It had all started so brightly, as Chelsea hardly saw the ball for the first ten minutes. Young had a great chance not long into the game but couldn't beat Cech. Januzaj was causing the home defence all kinds of problems and Carrick and Jones were more than holding their own in the middle of the park. And then they got that first goal and we got our usual slice of misfortune at Stamford bridge as Etoo's strike took a slight touch that sent it past the diving De Gea.
I wouldn't say United's response was emphatic, but we were more than still in the game. Then we conceeded a terrible goal on the strokeof half time that brought memories of the shocking defending we saw at the Etihad. You can't get away with defensive shoddiness like that against the big boys, you can't get away with defending like that full stop. It's just a killer for the rest of the team, when they have to work so hard to oen the opposition up and then we just gift the home team goals.
It got worse as not long after the break more comical work at the back saw Etoo claim a hatrick. If there was ever a fight back on, doubtful, there surely wasn't now. United's head didn't go totally down, they kept going, but how much of that was down to Chelsea settling for a result, that they hadn't really had to work hard for, who knows. Moyes brought the ineffectual Young off for Hernandez, moving our most dangerous player to the left. I suppose it worked, the Mexican got the late consolation goal. But I would have sooner seen Januzaj stay in the middle.
So where do we go from here, fuck knows.The cry will go out for reinforcements, but who, what position, short term stop gap, or long term planning. We all know we need a top class central midfield recruit, but is that going to make that much difference to the rest of the season when we defend as we have at City and Chelsea, not to mention the numerous cluster fucks we have seen at the back all season long.
Broken record time, throw a few of the kids in, write the season off, fourth is a big ask now, the title defence went at home to Tottenham. and see whether they sink or swim ahead of whatever business we do in the summer. If he can stay fit, lets see Jones given a run at centre half, bring Michael Keane back from Derby and give him a go at right back and maybe a few starts at centre back. I'd love to see Powell come back, but playing regularly for Wigan is probably better for his development. There can be no harm in keeping Jesse Lingard at the club and giving him some starts on the left, he'd have more to offer than Young. Giving youth a go would be a shot in the arm, and hopefully the crowd would accept that we'll lose a few, whilst we might actually see some exciting energetic football along the way.
It won't happen, I know that, but you can but dream.
I should have known better really, we won't do anything until we get that back four sorted out. I'm slowly coming around to the view that we are going to have buy a centre half, the world and his dog knows we need a new left back, the way Rafael performed yesterday, we might have to add right back to that. I've read the pundits going on about how much we are missing Rooney and Van Persie, but the top two of Januzaj, our best player again, and Welbeck did alright. I fail to see how Rooney and Van Persie would have altered things when we conceeded three goals as softly as that.
It had all started so brightly, as Chelsea hardly saw the ball for the first ten minutes. Young had a great chance not long into the game but couldn't beat Cech. Januzaj was causing the home defence all kinds of problems and Carrick and Jones were more than holding their own in the middle of the park. And then they got that first goal and we got our usual slice of misfortune at Stamford bridge as Etoo's strike took a slight touch that sent it past the diving De Gea.
I wouldn't say United's response was emphatic, but we were more than still in the game. Then we conceeded a terrible goal on the strokeof half time that brought memories of the shocking defending we saw at the Etihad. You can't get away with defensive shoddiness like that against the big boys, you can't get away with defending like that full stop. It's just a killer for the rest of the team, when they have to work so hard to oen the opposition up and then we just gift the home team goals.
It got worse as not long after the break more comical work at the back saw Etoo claim a hatrick. If there was ever a fight back on, doubtful, there surely wasn't now. United's head didn't go totally down, they kept going, but how much of that was down to Chelsea settling for a result, that they hadn't really had to work hard for, who knows. Moyes brought the ineffectual Young off for Hernandez, moving our most dangerous player to the left. I suppose it worked, the Mexican got the late consolation goal. But I would have sooner seen Januzaj stay in the middle.
So where do we go from here, fuck knows.The cry will go out for reinforcements, but who, what position, short term stop gap, or long term planning. We all know we need a top class central midfield recruit, but is that going to make that much difference to the rest of the season when we defend as we have at City and Chelsea, not to mention the numerous cluster fucks we have seen at the back all season long.
Broken record time, throw a few of the kids in, write the season off, fourth is a big ask now, the title defence went at home to Tottenham. and see whether they sink or swim ahead of whatever business we do in the summer. If he can stay fit, lets see Jones given a run at centre half, bring Michael Keane back from Derby and give him a go at right back and maybe a few starts at centre back. I'd love to see Powell come back, but playing regularly for Wigan is probably better for his development. There can be no harm in keeping Jesse Lingard at the club and giving him some starts on the left, he'd have more to offer than Young. Giving youth a go would be a shot in the arm, and hopefully the crowd would accept that we'll lose a few, whilst we might actually see some exciting energetic football along the way.
It won't happen, I know that, but you can but dream.
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