I've seen many posters on here talk about how last season we lost our way in the league in the December period due to a supposedly crazy injury crisis.
As an investigative reporter I looked into this as something didn't seem quite right....
Here are my findings. You'll see that our sides weren't all made up of fresh faced academy kids who didn't know how to count to ten let alone control a football. I'm. Im not denying we had a large number of injured players. The numbers don't lie. But we pretty much always (bar one game) had more than enough to win at least one game in that month.
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Game 1 - West Ham home - 0-0
DDG
Darmian McNair Smalling Blind
Morgan Bastian
Mata Fellaini Lingard
Martial
Game 2 - Bournemouth away - 2-1
DDG
Varela McNair Blind CBJ
Carrick Fellaini
Mata Lingard Depay
Martial
Game 3 - Norwich home - 1-2
DDG
Young Jones Smalling Blind
Carrick Fellaini
Depay Mata Martial
Rooney
Game 4 - Stoke away - 2-0
DDG
Young Jones Smalling Blind
Carrick Herrera
Mata Fellaini Depay
Martial
Game 5 - Chelsea home - 0-0
DDG
Darmian Smalling Blind Young
Bastian Morgan
Mata Herrera Martial
Rooney
So as you can see there it's not the patched together youth teams some people will have you believe. Yes, the defence in the Bournemouth game was dodge so I'll give you that but the front 6 was strong and Gaal still had the likes of Jones, Young and Morgan on the bench.
So next time someone tells you the December injury crisis derailed our season please show them these line ups which are more than good enough to have won at least one game in December.
Fin
The great December injury crisis myth
posted on 2/12/16
comment by ManUtdDaredevil (U9612)
posted 22 minutes ago
Ah, my bad, quoted the wrong person
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You haven't just let yourself down MUDD, you've let your family down too.
posted on 2/12/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 2/12/16
TBH I definitely mentioned the injuries, we were just a couple of points of the title at the season, unfortunately the injuries kicked in and then soon after the crowd turned...
We never recovered from it.
posted on 3/12/16
The injuries definitely played a part though, Its not just the fact that you didnt have great options on the bench but a lot of those players in those starting 11 robb has failed to mention were just returning from an injury so werent sharp or match fit.
I do agree though that there are no excuses in football, Rodgers often rolled out the "Sturridge isnt fit so its hard for us" excuse which was total bs.
However, this is also the exact reason why I feel Jose isnt doing well and why robbs constant excuses for him is amusing. Yes your players may be missing chances but that doesnt excuse where you are in the table or absolve mourinho from blame. In our season with Kenny in charge we hit the bar or post 37 times that season, a record that no one has come close to. But we finished 7th or 8th and he lost his job.
Id have a lot more respect for Robb if he didnt always defend mourinho and make excuses for him when he doesnt deserve it.
posted on 3/12/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 3/12/16
Never seen him say any of the mistakes Jose has made, not once and I read the boards quite a bit.
I've seen him say he's said Jose has made mistakes though, but never any of these mistakes. Only excuses.
posted on 3/12/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 3/12/16
Robb has had an absolute NIGHTMARE here 😂😂😂 things are bad when hafi pops in with random comments which actually make more sense than what you are trying to say 😂😂😂
posted on 3/12/16
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 20 hours, 24 minutes ago
comment by ManUtdDaredevil (U9612)
posted 22 minutes ago
Ah, my bad, quoted the wrong person
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You haven't just let yourself down MUDD, you've let your family down too.
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Don't judge me
posted on 4/12/16
Mourinho 1 league win in last 8