Imagine not being encouraged by that second half

Originally Posted by Tiberian

The second half was better, started to get into Madrid, rattle them a little and impose our gameplan.

Can not ignore that it was predicated on hitting Fellaini/Lukaku on diagonals and playing from there. I do worry that the reliance on these long ball tactics will restrict the development and progression of a style that is more likely to be effective at that level.

For now we should be begrudgingly grateful that we have a plan B when things aren't working out.

We don't have the personnel to compete like for like with Real Madrid. Neither did Juventus in the CL final.

If anything, the fact that we didn't start Fellaini should placate the anti Mou crew.

You know on Sunday when everyone was saying we have nothing to fear re: Arse and Chelsea. What does anyone have to fear about us from last night?

Originally Posted by Cream

For now we should be begrudgingly grateful that we have a plan B when things aren't working out.

We don't have the personnel to compete like for like with Real Madrid. Neither did Juventus in the CL final.

If anything, the fact that we didn't start Fellaini should placate the anti Mou crew.

Or we should he concerned he turned to him the moment it all went to shit .... and even more concerned that it worked

Real or Madrid or Burnley, the concern is that we'll be reverting to this style on a regular basis this season when the chips are down. It was acceptable as a first season means to an end, but I don't want to see it much this season, however effective it might be.

I hope this crop of players has more to it than that.

Originally Posted by TheFatGoth

You know on Sunday when everyone was saying we have nothing to fear re: Arse and Chelsea. What does anyone have to fear about us from last night?

No premier league team would get anywhere near Madrid tbf. As Mourinho said we won't be playing anyone of that standard in the league

Roll on Sunday

Originally Posted by ScholesScoresGoals2

No premier league team would get anywhere near Madrid tbf. As Mourinho said we won't be playing anyone of that standard in the league

Roll on Sunday

Spurs would give them a better game imo.

Originally Posted by TheFatGoth

Spurs would give them a better game imo.

Spurs that got rolled by Genk?

Originally Posted by TheFatGoth

Spurs would give them a better game imo.

The same spurs who got taken apart by City and Roma?

Originally Posted by TheFatGoth

Spurs would give them a better game imo.

Lol.

You've got one more season with Kane, Alli and Pochettino. Enjoy.

100k pw wage cap.

Originally Posted by andyroo

It's a penny farthing. Doom is the front wheel obviously.

Hopefully he'll go over the handlebars and his face will break the fall.

Encouraged by us finally not looking like cannon fodder once we got Big Felli on and into the mixer?

Originally Posted by Tiberian

The second half was better, started to get into Madrid, rattle them a little and impose our gameplan.

Can not ignore that it was predicated on hitting Fellaini/Lukaku on diagonals and playing from there. I do worry that the reliance on these long ball tactics will restrict the development and progression of a style that is more likely to be effective at that level.

Definitely hear what you're saying Tibs but their offside goal also came from the very same long, diagonal...

Plenty of work to be done and the season will spend on whether we can get a wide man in, or at least give Rashers a go on the right and or Martial on the left. As for the lb position, I can only think Darmian is a stand in until Jose kicks Shaws arse into shape.

Originally Posted by Billy Redface

Or we should he concerned he turned to him the moment it all went to shit .... and even more concerned that it worked

Real or Madrid or Burnley, the concern is that we'll be reverting to this style on a regular basis this season when the chips are down. It was acceptable as a first season means to an end, but I don't want to see it much this season, however effective it might be.

I hope this crop of players has more to it than that.

the issue with fellaini is mostly aesthetic. if he was mark hughes we'd be fizzing it in to his feet or chest. because it's fellaini we mostly aim for his chest and can put more loft on it to buy us more time to join up, after all we don't have flying wingers ...

the real issue with fellaini for me is that every time he comes on we look far more effective because we are no longer with one up front on his jack jones, yet instead of focusing on that people just whine about how ungainly fellaini himself is ...

the formation is crap, and it will be until we have an out and out goal machine at 9 with pace either side of him. it's not our best formation even then though, as was proven when we had ruud van nistelrooy in the side - the best striker i've ever seen in the shirt.

i worry less about fellaini, and more about how much more effective he is than herrera, how much more effective he is than our 9; I worry that instead of playing a 10 (mata or mhiki, presumably) in this shitty formation, mourinho is trying to give pogba space to flit between 10 and inside left when he advances, and that when he does we are nowhere near fluid, let alone automatic, and invariably have to search for a pass and give it away cheaply, getting turned round high up the field ...

People complaining about Mou bringning Fellaini on....

Herrera did literally £#%&! all, again...

Fellaini comes on and immediately does the things that Herrera should be doing.. wins the ball, puts his foot in, makes a nuisance of himself, actually passes the ball to a team mate, creates chances for team mates

If players like Herrera didn't go hiding so often then perhaps Mourinho wouldn't need to rely on Fellaini anymore.

Originally Posted by saffers

We have come a long way lads.

It is going to be a special season.

Saffers

Originally Posted by andyroo

Spurs that got rolled by Genk?

Spurs even lost to a united side who pre-december were addicted to draws, even in games they had 10 clear chances...

Originally Posted by TheFatGoth

Spurs would give them a better game imo.

They'd get dicked 4-0.

Devvoed we lost by an odd (offisde) goal to the best team in Europe in a friendly. May aswell give up and go home

Originally Posted by Switching Off

Devvoed we lost by an odd (offisde) goal to the best team in Europe in a friendly. May aswell give up and go home

Originally Posted by AK14

People complaining about Mou bringning Fellaini on....

Herrera did literally £#%&! all, again...

Fellaini comes on and immediately does the things that Herrera should be doing.. wins the ball, puts his foot in, makes a nuisance of himself, actually passes the ball to a team mate, creates chances for team mates

If players like Herrera didn't go hiding so often then perhaps Mourinho wouldn't need to rely on Fellaini anymore.

Totally agree. We all hate the daft lanky @#%&! but he was good when he came on and Herrera was £#%&!ing shocking.

Originally Posted by Vedder

Totally agree. We all hate the daft lanky @#%&! but he was good when he came on and Herrera was £#%&!ing shocking.

this is true. it is not a reason to play fellaini. it is the reason we need to play better football.