well done Moyes

Maybe he can start working on his tactics when setting us up against teams, enough playing a rigid 4-4-2

Yesterday was not a rigid 4-4-2. Adnan and Nani were constantly interchanging and Rooney and RVP were dropping off.

I said yesterday. if we can maintain that performance for the rest of the season then we should make the Europa league spots.

Well done Moyes

Rooney was an AMF for large chunks of the game. Nothing like a 4/4/2

btw - where is W&R with his 1 star? Has the modem in his car broke?

Rooney still way off his best, his touch yesterday was awful, almost everytime we attacked he lost possession.

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6 points off of 1st having played 3 of our hardest games. Not a bad position to be in.

Maybe he can start working on his tactics when setting us up against teams, enough playing a rigid 4-4-2

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Your definition of 4-4-2 must be quite different from mine Arab because yesterday we did not play anything like a rigid 4-4-2.

And JSPC, well said.

however, we could (against a better team would) have been 3-0 down at half time because every time sunderland attacked they were through on goal. that needs to change
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Correct.

Yesterday was not a rigid 4-4-2. Adnan and Nani were constantly interchanging and Rooney and RVP were dropping off.
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And this is how it should be! Januzaj, Nani, Kagawa and even Welbeck offer us greater fluidity/flexibility when they start in the 'wide' positions, and I think that's the way forward. Far less predictable. Ideally, Young and Valencia shouldn't start together: that's too one-dimensional.

it was a 4231, nani and adnan were very narrow with Evra and rafael providing most of the width.

I think this is moyes' preferred formation but it relays on 2 things:
1) attacking players that are flexible and comfortable when out wide but that can come inside and link up. Unfortunately Valencia can't do that and Nani has been injured. I think now that Nani is back we will see this formation more often.

2) Fullbacks that can attack, be creative and link up well. Again Rafael ha only just returned and Moyes does not seem to trust Fabio quite as much. Smalling and Jones do not have the attacking capabilities to do this job. Hopefully Rafael is too injured and will back after the international break.

Valencia is becoming a parody of himself, as soon as he came on, the first thing he does is tear down the wing and try to drive the ball across, hitting the first defender in the process.

When Valencia produces the type of performance like he did against Leverkusen, he's a very useful player to have when we need a more direct option but as far as being first choice goes, it has to be Nani.

Nani brings something completely different to the team, a genuine flair, attacking threat. He may have his moments near the box but at least he gives it a go and semi-uses his head. With Valencia all you see is, him just wacking it somewhere in the box, total disregard for where anyone is.

Nani actually makes things happen and he tracks back just as much as Valencia.

It seems like Moyes is happy to sacrifice the width on the left and I think that is a pretty good tactic. 2nd half, Nani stayed wider and I think that helped us get back into the game.

When Welbz came on, he was almost central too...

btw - I thought evra put some good crosses in too... Maybe working on that on the training ground?

Well Valenica did cut inside, beat a man and set up RVP only for him to miss so maybe he CAN do this when asked?

Well Valenica did cut inside, beat a man and set up RVP only for him to miss so maybe he CAN do this when asked?
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I seem to remember the Valencia of a couple of seasons back - before he had his slump in form.- being far more confident in terms of carrying the ball inside. He'll need to do that again, I think, to fit into the system we might end up playing to suit Rooney, RVP et al.

comment by Clockwork Red (U4892)
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I don't ever want to see Welbeck on the wing, he is actually useless there. All he can do is run with the ball in a straight line.
If Rooney and RVP have another poor game I reckon he should get a chance up top!

With Valencia all you see is, him just wacking it somewhere in the bo
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did no one see Valencia's pass to RVP? He is cutting into more central positions under Moyes and it is starting to pay off.

I really beleive that Moyes is slowly but surely changing our style and tactics and also working on each player's weak spots. Time will tell, but i think it will start to show more and more.

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There is no doubt the pressure was on, yesterday... 3 losses in a row would have been hard to swallow

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Not really, the last time United lost 3 games in a row in the Premier League Ferguson went back on his decision to retire.

Damn you Adnan

Sorry jsp I never rate articles as its pointless.
You are clearly clutching at the last available straws to defe nd Moyes.
It was obvious Rio, Young and Valencia were never gonna start. Hardly groundbreaking stuff from him
The only positives were that he played Januzaj.