Said yesterday on the match thread, Man Uniteds CB situation is no better than Liverpools.

Harsh on Valencia though, probably the best fullback in the prem, or atleast he's in the discussion.

Why didn't United just resign Evans (better than anything you have now ?)Could have challenged Pool for VVD (Money no object) Christ, Spurs signed Davison Sanchez in the summer with zero competition... Young & raw but still better than anyone at OT. But Instead you got into a big dlck competition with city for a player you didn't need.. bizarre

Valencia is ok at defending his area, but he doesn't offer much in attack. Not decisive enough, most of the time takes too long to cross and if he does, it never beats the first man.

Young since he's right footed playing on the left side will always go inside and cross.

No, our defence is not the issue. The midfield is where the issue is.

It has been for the last six years.

I think that there are issues throughout the team in fairness. Defence needs some strengthening and the midfield and attack looks unbalanced.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 20 minutes ago
No, our defence is not the issue. The midfield is where the issue is.

It has been for the last six years.
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True. What did you make of Shearer's assertion on MOTD that Jose does not trust the centre halfs on the ball? There definitely if no flow from the back to the front.

Not quite sure how defence is the main issue when we regularly fail to score or force the opposition keeper to make many saves, conceding 1 or 2 goals away from home is to be expected, however not scoring for a team like Man Utd with the players we have is not acceptable. Creativity from midfield and fluency is attack is obviously the problem, added to our manager often making it harder for us by picking the wrong formation for certain games

comment by Kamikaze Blue (U7450)
posted 15 seconds ago

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 20 minutes ago
No, our defence is not the issue. The midfield is where the issue is.

It has been for the last six years.
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True. What did you make of Shearer's assertion on MOTD that Jose does not trust the centre halfs on the ball? There definitely if no flow from the back to the front.
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I think that he trusts Bailly, but he has obviously missed a lot of the season. Smalling and Jones obviously aren't great on the ball. Lindelof was/is supposed to be and I think that Jose is treating him with kid gloves this season. I guess he is hoping to pair him with Bailly long term, but so far he hasn't looked up to the job. I think that he needs to beef up a bit to be fair.

What did you make of Shearer's assertion on MOTD that Jose does not trust the centre halfs on the ball?

...................................

I don't get then UK MOTD.

It shows how well Mourinho has done results wise when you look at the team. Transfer wise he's not done that well though.

Spurs and Liverpool comfortably better sides with but Mourinho has done very well to grind out more points than both of them.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 33 seconds ago
What did you make of Shearer's assertion on MOTD that Jose does not trust the centre halfs on the ball?

...................................

I don't get then UK MOTD.
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He made the point that the CBs didn't take up positions to receive the ball from DeGea, and said they were doing what they were told. Forces DeGea to go long.

It shows how well Mourinho has done results wise when you look at the team.
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Really? That team doesn't look to shabby to me, i personally think he should be doing better than they have been.

Although our defence isn't as good as it could be, it's well down the pecking order in terms of issues we have.

Having Bailly back fit and sharp will help a lot but he really needs a better partner than Smalling, Jones or Rojo beside him.

If Lindelof was able to find his feet, he's somebody I would like to have in the team because he is an intelligent ball playing CB who should in theory improve the way we build out from the back.

He made the point that the CBs didn't take up positions to receive the ball from DeGea, and said they were doing what they were told. Forces DeGea to go long.

.................

Not sure I would agree with that. I put it down to Smalling in particular not having a football brain and being utterly useless at passing.

Jones actually does have the ability to bring the ball out of defence and pass the ball.

Both Valencia and Young were not making them selves available for a pass out from Dave. And when they did it went back to him via Smalling or Jones.

Defense is not, on its own, the primary issue.

Yesterdays problem was line up.

But the overall problem is poor direction resulting in a poor, unbalanced squad.

united started yesterday with only two defenders (good ones, but still only two). They had two ageing wingers as stand-in full-backs, and consequently no wingers. Excacerbating the problem of supplying Lukaku.

Add to that starting an away game with weaknesses like martial and, especially, lingard at one of the most difficult grounds in the country, is asking for trouble.

Knew united would struggle with that line-up in that game. Although i did expect a narrow victory.

matic made a pass yesterday that was worthy of veron at his best. In any period between 1993 and 2006 i would have staked my house on that pass resulting in a genuine goal attempt. Not when i saw martial on the end of it. Knew it was going nowhere.

the club is in a period of mis-direction. The squad lacks completeness, cohesion, character and (unsurprisingly) direction

comment by AFCISMYTEAM (U14931)
posted 6 minutes ago

It shows how well Mourinho has done results wise when you look at the team.
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Really? That team doesn't look to shabby to me, i personally think he should be doing better than they have been.
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They have a host of mediocre players and a couple of genuine quality.

De Gea
Sanchez
Pogba
Martial

Nobody else is really that great and Pogba has been poor for a while.

Our defenders are all poor on the ball and this is a major issue for us. None are comfortable on the ball being pressed, although we also have an issue in that none of our midfielders show for the ball.

We have so many deep routed issues it's not as simple as saying it's the defence, the midfield or attack. Not even as simple as buying new players.

No, our defence is not the issue. The midfield is where the issue is.
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Think the midfield setup is the issue, not the midfield itself. We all can see a midfield 2 of Pogba and Matic doesn't work.

Our defenders on the other hand. We need to do what City did and invest in some quality full backs and maybe one defender. Look at the difference its made with City.

Also, excuses for Pogba about the midfield 2 thing. Yes it's an issue and we won't get the best out him in this role. However he has to shoulder the responsibility for being utterly tripe in possession, lazy in defensive duties and all round bad performances.

Pogba hasn't been great and he really needs to pull his finger out his ass and work harder, that I agree with.

Also having Lukaku upfront with the trio of Martial, Sanchez and Lingard or Mata who like to play quick passing doesn't seem to work. Just seems so unbalanced. Better off having Rashford up front.

Think the midfield setup is the issue, not the midfield itself.

...................

No it is the midfield itself. We just don't have the quality.

Matic isn't very good, Pogba is up and down, and Jose won't play the only other propper midfielder. All the rest are forwards and Groot, whom it is hard to put a finger on what his best position is.

Defensive set up

2 wimgers at fullback, pogba and Lingard in CM and 3 forwards is hardly a defensive set up

Defensive set up

2 wimgers at fullback, pogba and Lingard in CM and 3 forwards is hardly a defensive set up.
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Our full backs hardly ever attack as much as they should. Also the deep defensive line means a lot of the time they spend more time in their own half than the opposition.

comment by Man in Black (U21752)
posted 22 minutes ago
Defensive set up

2 wimgers at fullback, pogba and Lingard in CM and 3 forwards is hardly a defensive set up


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You could have 11 Messi's and Jose would find a way to make us defensive.