It was enjoyable. We took on arguably the best side in the world right now and beat them in their own back yard.
While we all enjoy days like that however there is a hint of annoyance not from that game but from previous games.
I know you’re not going to be at your best every game and all games are different but if we showed half of that attitude and intensity against the likes of Sheff Utd, WBA and Palace we would be far closer to City.
I know football doesn’t always work like that but it wasn’t just attitude it was decision making, speed of thought etc. that were all so much better.
Martial put in his best game of the season, Rashford looked sharp and worked hard whereas against Palace last week he looked like he could not care less. Bruno was also more disciplined in possession and wasn’t conceded possession non-stop.
The reason why Liverpool and City have been so good in recent years is that they’ve been at it against all levels of opponent and Ole needs to instill this in the players and we are going to be the real deal.
Reflecting on the City game
posted on 10/3/21
I think the biggest problem we have, when the opposition are compact, is the over reliance on Bruno. When he doesn't have the space to fully influence the game, we look bereft. Maybe if Pogba hadn't got injured, we'd have picked up a few more points.
posted on 10/3/21
comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - A Beekers Dozen (U2958)
posted 6 minutes ago
I think the biggest problem we have, when the opposition are compact, is the over reliance on Bruno. When he doesn't have the space to fully influence the game, we look bereft. Maybe if Pogba hadn't got injured, we'd have picked up a few more points.
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This pretty much sums us up.
We can be devestating on the counter but if you let us have the ball and sit back 7 or 8 times out of every 10 times we struggle. Only an early goal solves that issue.
This is the difference between us and City. They don't struggle against these teams. They win most of them at a canter.
We really don't seem to have changed anything either which is worrying. Fully expecting a horrible game Vs Westham at the weekend. Milan may come to defend too but not so sure on that as I don't watch them.
posted on 10/3/21
Football's " ....a funny old game ... ".
Beating city away from home was always on the cards - although I was surprised it happened with Rashford in the team.
But consistency of performance only comes from having a group of players that have genuine individual and collective football intelligence - and not just a top level skill set. United are currently set up like a 'cup team', and in cup matches the result is often determined by an individual being sublime or ridiculous. That may work in winning cups (where 'weaker' squads can best 'stronger' squads) but it won't work in a league campaign.
That's how Liverpool and Leicester succeeded with average individuals but strength in consistency of team performance. United, in contrast, have both better players AND weaker players.
posted on 10/3/21
"Beating city away from home was always on the cards - although I was surprised it happened with Rashford in the team."
You mean like last season when we beat them again and Rashford started and scored the winner?
posted on 10/3/21
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 4 minutes ago
"Beating city away from home was always on the cards - although I was surprised it happened with Rashford in the team."
You mean like last season when we beat them again and Rashford started and scored the winner?
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Ignore him. He's constantly coming out with this sort of nonsense.
Rashford's record in the big games is handsomely the strongest at the club too. In fact it's not even close. Often scores against City and Liverpool. Winners in Paris twice. Great record Vs Chelsea.
These football 'fans' who don't rate Rashford are clueless
posted on 10/3/21
comment by Glazers_Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 19 seconds ago
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 4 minutes ago
"Beating city away from home was always on the cards - although I was surprised it happened with Rashford in the team."
You mean like last season when we beat them again and Rashford started and scored the winner?
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Ignore him. He's constantly coming out with this sort of nonsense.
Rashford's record in the big games is handsomely the strongest at the club too. In fact it's not even close. Often scores against City and Liverpool. Winners in Paris twice. Great record Vs Chelsea.
These football 'fans' who don't rate Rashford are clueless
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It would be worth at least politely disagreeing with IAmMe if he did the minimum of constructing an argument, but he rarely deviates from the formula of unsubstantiated statement + claim that all those who doesn't recognise that as self-evident are ignorant.
posted on 10/3/21
IAmMe's 'rating players formula' is basically as follows:
Any player who comes through the academy = Bad
Any player who has ever played for Arsenal = Bad
Any player who is British (who hasn't come through the academy) = Good
Any centre forward who is over 6ft = Good
You then have the group of players who are foreign and haven't come through the academy, and haven't played for Arsenal. Havent quite figured this one out yet but it seems to be some kind of lucky dip.
posted on 10/3/21
I thought we all ignored IAmMe?
Anyway, I think the issue is, without Bruno and Pogba, we don't have the creativity to carve open compact sides. When one is out, the other has to shoulder all the creativity. Neither Fred, Matic, McTominay, Beek, or our wide players offer what they can. I do think we have improved.
City have a squad to manage, and while they did have games off due to covid, I do think it's helped them as they have had that rest and have come back stronger after that break. No other team has had a break.
We on the other hand know what we lack and need them addressed. Otherwise we'd have another season where we're better but still not close enough.
posted on 10/3/21
that was an enjoyable game for the neutral. which is almost never the case when you play a big game.
i thought city only had half chances really but foden had a couple where had he tried a difficult volley he might of scored. but because your defense was right on him he had no chance to shoot once he took the ball down. anyway well done, ole seems to be getting the team moving in the right direction.
just my opinion but i didn't think rashford had a particularly good game as others seem to think.
posted on 10/3/21
I think you're over estimating the performance.
From 10 minutes to half time we were absolutely fecking garbage, only the defence and martial were doing well.
From half time to like 55-60 we were decent and the city started to control again.
We did improve in the second half but the amount of misplaced passes was nothing short of shocking.
Still amazing victory though.