Player Ratings

comment by Dragonage (U19794)
posted 1 minute ago
'As I said I felt he used the ball okay',
That much is evident.

"but kept being caught too far forward (hence his three professional fouls in their half)."
United was trailing and had to push to salvage something. And Blind was making a calculated risk by going more up. Normally when a line moves forward, the line behind (this case the defenders - cb's) moves closer to close the gap. I saw that Rojo is decent in manmarking, but not very good in zonal marking. Or at least his anticipation and reaction was poor when the first goal fell.

"let his man get in behind Shaw too often and simple got outmuscled and outfought more often then not."

Blind is not a defensive midfielder but a controlling midfielder. In this regard he lacks the tenacity to retain the ball, especially when his physique is not up to it, but this shouldn't come as a surprise.
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1)
2) in the first half? He was lucky not to have been sent off usually you'd get booked for each of them.
3) then he isn't what we need, is he? Carrick does a better job at controlling the game, we lack pace and power in the middle still imo

I like blind, I think he had a shocker today though.

comment by Wing_Genius_John_Aston (U19099)
posted 3 minutes ago
Another thing I find strange is the fact we attack like a team but we certainly dont defend like one.
Its like the front players are giving the license to do b#gger all in the defensive work.
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I think we need to pressure the ball more, when we do we look good and control the game, equally their second goal happens today when we did that.

"in the first half? He was lucky not to have been sent off usually you'd get booked for each of them."

If you get a first yellow early in the game you tend to play with more caution as a player. Luck is a factor, but not always the main aspect in this. (Intelligent decisionmaking)

"then he isn't what we need, is he? Carrick does a better job at controlling the game, we lack pace and power in the middle still imo"

Are you the coach of Manchester United? How do you know what we need? As I explained earlier, lvg has the philosophy to dominate game with possession / score more goals than you concede. van Gaal also said that he does not like defensive midfielders in it's purest (limited) form. Now, if you were to have a player next to Blind who's a box to box with the same intelligence then you won't invite so much pressure on yourself in the midfield. Herrera had a poor game and imo he was the one not aiding the midfield sufficiently enough to defuse danger. You might say that Blind is not the killer defensive player, but you can not blame him for the poor shape of players/position/team.

So guys please remember that Blind is a controlling player and Judge him accordingly. (And I thought he was not very good today too)

comment by Busbybabes - Bítch (U19985)
posted 21 minutes ago

People are criticising Blind for the goals as usual. Last season we were playing 2 in his position and we didn't look much less fragile than we do this year so I'd say the problem isn't him. Imagine putting Carrick the Crab solo in that role? Maybe Fellaini could play there but he isn't that great at passing.
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Well I haven't blamed him for the goals, one was Shaw and he other was a mix of Rafael, Jones and Rojo.
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I don't get your argument then busby.

You've listed who you think we're to blame for the two goals, and west brom only had 2 shots, so it argues against your case mate.

The fact is you can't have one DM in their against a midfield 3.

Blind was overrun at times, but as for letting his runners go are you shocked??

Any 1 player up against 3 is gonna do that, he can only go with one player at a time.

Bench: rvp and Mata
In: Falcao and Rooney

Di Maria, Falcao and Rooney.. workhorses with such great skill.

------------------de gea--------------

Rafa---------jones---Rojo ----shaw

----------------Carrick--blind------------

-------------------Herrera----------------

--------Rooney---falcao-------di Maria --

Also, it's sad to see how minnows raise their games against us in a bold fashion. The fear factor is gone, but that is understandable, but now it seems the respect (quality wise) is also gone.

CBs are the main concern than Blind, by some distance as well. Its always comes down to them. Rio and Vidic used to mop up wingers who beat our FBs for ages.

Its usually CBs who should cover if a winger beat a FB. Its difficult for a DM to track a winger who beat a FB when he is running at pace. CB should be in a better position to anticipate and deal with it.

All our CBs are reactive CBs. Only Smalling has the slightest idea how to anticipate danger. all others only knows how to react to danger.

I said at the start of the summer that signing a top quality CB should be THE priority. We didnt address that and now it is hurting us big time.

Woodward should be contacting all the agents of top CBs during these days so there is a top CB at united at 1st of January.

Haven't seen any interviews yet of Rojo, but does he speak/understand English?

-----------------de gea--------------

Rafa---------Smalling---Rojo ----shaw

----------------Carrick--blind------------

-------------------Herrera----------------

--------Rooney---falcao-------di Maria --