Well what some of us feared would happen, came to pass last night. The first time in a while that we played a half decent team, we got found out and in the game a lot of us cared the most about. I'd have took a FA cup winning season over a top four place playing the dross Van Gaal brand of football we've been treated to for most of the season.
What made it worse was that you just knew a half decent United team playing proper United football would have done them. They were the better team and deserved the victory, but why did they seem to hang on at the end when we were down to ten men and our confidence was on the floor lumping long balls to Fellaini.
I didn't care for the staring line up, he plays Fellaini for his aerial ability, but then doesn't really play him far enough forward to really hurt their back line. And to be fair to Fellaini, just what was the point of that. Needless to say that is completely contrary to how United should be approaching any game of football as far as I'm concerned. Van Gaal actually tries to use Fellaini exactly how Moyes would have done if he thought he could have got away with it. These two seasons post Fergie, are just getting more bizarre by the minute.
Some reds thought United played well in the first half, I didn't really share that opinion. They hadn't played as badly as I feared they might, but Arsenal played the more controlled constructive football. One of the main problems for United was when it landed at Fellaini's feet, moves just stopped or went sideways as he just hasn't got the game to see, never mind play any kind of creative pass. Di Maria was better up to a point and Young was alright, without ever really looking like he had it to beat his man.
The middle of the park was one big fat nothing though. Blind was slow, games like this really show him to be the average squad player he is. Personally I didn't think Herrera was any better, yes he has more attacking instincts, but he doesn't really make things happen or have any dynamism. Still I wouldn't have took him off at half time to replace him with Carrick, unless Rooney had dropped back into a number ten or attacking midfield role with Wilson going up front. Blind and Carrick in midfield with Fellaini in front was mind bogglingly negative. I wasn't that taken with Shaw going off unless he was injured, as that just wasting an attacking change later on. His substitutions have been the worst I have ever seen from a United manager, they're diabolical.
As to the winning goal, well it had to be Welbeck to punish the back pass, I had a good view of that and Welbeck was not favourite for that ball. But he had the pace and the alertness to get there and then to finish it off. There's only arguably Wilson at our club that could have duplicated their winning goal, none of our experienced forwards would have got near to beating De Gea to the ball.
The sending off was nuts, I've noticed the worse Di Maria's form has gone the more he has been throwing himself to the ground in recent weeks. I didn't actually notice him grab the referee's shirt at the match, but that just compounded that awful dive. Januzaj's dive late in the game was just absolutely inexplicable, brain dead in fact.
De Gea Saved our blushes with a couple of outstanding saves during the second half, but the fact was that Arsenal never truly went for our throats. If we end up in a similar position against City, Chelsea or even Liverpool for fuck sake, I dread to think what would happen.
Predictions for Sunday anyone!
What made it worse was that you just knew a half decent United team playing proper United football would have done them. They were the better team and deserved the victory, but why did they seem to hang on at the end when we were down to ten men and our confidence was on the floor lumping long balls to Fellaini.
I didn't care for the staring line up, he plays Fellaini for his aerial ability, but then doesn't really play him far enough forward to really hurt their back line. And to be fair to Fellaini, just what was the point of that. Needless to say that is completely contrary to how United should be approaching any game of football as far as I'm concerned. Van Gaal actually tries to use Fellaini exactly how Moyes would have done if he thought he could have got away with it. These two seasons post Fergie, are just getting more bizarre by the minute.
Some reds thought United played well in the first half, I didn't really share that opinion. They hadn't played as badly as I feared they might, but Arsenal played the more controlled constructive football. One of the main problems for United was when it landed at Fellaini's feet, moves just stopped or went sideways as he just hasn't got the game to see, never mind play any kind of creative pass. Di Maria was better up to a point and Young was alright, without ever really looking like he had it to beat his man.
The middle of the park was one big fat nothing though. Blind was slow, games like this really show him to be the average squad player he is. Personally I didn't think Herrera was any better, yes he has more attacking instincts, but he doesn't really make things happen or have any dynamism. Still I wouldn't have took him off at half time to replace him with Carrick, unless Rooney had dropped back into a number ten or attacking midfield role with Wilson going up front. Blind and Carrick in midfield with Fellaini in front was mind bogglingly negative. I wasn't that taken with Shaw going off unless he was injured, as that just wasting an attacking change later on. His substitutions have been the worst I have ever seen from a United manager, they're diabolical.
As to the winning goal, well it had to be Welbeck to punish the back pass, I had a good view of that and Welbeck was not favourite for that ball. But he had the pace and the alertness to get there and then to finish it off. There's only arguably Wilson at our club that could have duplicated their winning goal, none of our experienced forwards would have got near to beating De Gea to the ball.
The sending off was nuts, I've noticed the worse Di Maria's form has gone the more he has been throwing himself to the ground in recent weeks. I didn't actually notice him grab the referee's shirt at the match, but that just compounded that awful dive. Januzaj's dive late in the game was just absolutely inexplicable, brain dead in fact.
De Gea Saved our blushes with a couple of outstanding saves during the second half, but the fact was that Arsenal never truly went for our throats. If we end up in a similar position against City, Chelsea or even Liverpool for fuck sake, I dread to think what would happen.
Predictions for Sunday anyone!
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