Manchester United, that didn't last long. Seven up

[George2Loose]

His pedigree and handling of the media are the main reasons he's been given more time and also ofc because he's following Moyes not Fergie

[nirvana]

Interesting how poor the quality is in general this year.

Amazing that Man U have been able to maintain a top 4 position for so long and lose, relatively, so few games.

Found their football yesterday to be worthy of derision though, just so far from what they once were. Could bank on an attractive, attacking style even when not at their absolute best

Could have written the last couple of lines about Arsenal as well tbf

[Pawprint]

The most disappointing thing about the season is that we've had so much possession in games, yet never looked like turning the screw on any of the opposition.

I think there has only been 4 games where the opposition have had more possession, and we won 3 of those (Home to Everton and Away to Saints and Arsenal).

With the attacking options we have in the squad, we should be turning >60% possession into more shots on target, but the players seem more concerned with keeping the ball (actually, I change that to not losing the ball) than they do about taking risks in the oppositions half.

That partly stems from last season where the confidence of the whole squad took a massive knock, but you have to question LVG's 'philosophy'.  Players like Falcoa, Di Maria, Blind, Rojo, Herrera and Shaw should have all been arriving at the club high on confidence and in a position where they have little to lose.  (Based on last seasons performances).

Yet none of them have got anywhere close to showing what they are capable of doing.  RVP looks a shadow of the player he was two seasons ago, Rooney has been forced to play out of position.

It's painful to think that De Gea is not only out best player this season, but is about the only one who has improved.  Ashley Young actually did look okay as a let wingback earlier in the season, but when he's playing as an out and out winger, he just doesn't cut it.

We've got too may square pegs for round holes.  Perhaps injuries have limited some tactical decisions in games, but the cup tie against The Gunners was just another example of LVG making changes that limit his options towards the end of a game.  Bringing Carrick and Jones on at half time (which must have been because of injuries) was just ridiculous, and goes back to my previous comment about not taking risks.  If Shaw was injured, drop Young to left back and bring another attacking player on and let's go for it.

But we invited pressure onto ourselves, gave away any momentum and then got undone by an individual error from a player that should never be playing right back in a back four.

We've got to give LVG time to get everything in place.  He goes on about how important a Top 4 finish is, but we're not playing with the confidence of a Top 4 side, and with our run-in, I think we will come unstuck on a number of occasions before the season is out.  Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are showing much more momentum heading towards the finish line, we could easily end up 6th/7th.

[tikay]

What a wonderful goal by Rooney.

[DropTheHammer]

I preferred the celebration; i had no idea he boxed Phil Bardsley and got KOd!

It's on YouTube

[George2Loose]

That was more like it!

[david3103]

Is LVG a Blonde?

Yesterday's performance was so much more positive, sharper, goals and goal attempts from midfield players, and we've discovered a role for Falcao as a low impact late substitute.

A few questions I'd like to ask LVG...

Why is it that when we have genuinely tricky and fast wide men, we currently choose to deliver the ball to them via three or four other players?

Why do you change the team every week?

Why doesn't someone explain to the midfield that they are expected to get at least close to the opponent's penalty area in numbers?

Why do we currently look behind us for options for a pass before looking forward?

Were you ashamed a couple of weeks ago when we turned an attacking free kick into a pass back to the goalkeeper in three or four passes? We weren't winning at the time.

What the fuck is your plan for Falcao?

at least we can go down fighting next weekend.

[david3103]

Decent start 

[tikay]

Not seen Man U play so assured, fluid and confident for a very long time.

Really good game to watch, too, no hanky panky.

[david3103]

Sharper and more positive throughout. Job half done, We Go Again in the second half

[Karabiner]

Good first half to watch.

Hoping for more of the same but with half a dozen red cards too this half

[tikay]

Good first half to watch.

Hoping for more of the same but with half a dozen red cards too this half

One already!

Amazing.

[tikay]

Must be one of the shortest appearances ever, 25 seconds.

[david3103]

Nice to see a cameo performance from Stevie G.

[TightEnd]

Nice to see a cameo performance from Stevie G.

as a neutral, that is comfortably the funniest moment in football for many a season