So the point of this is? That refs make mistakes? It goes both ways, every team has incorrect calls going for/against them.

That fans will support their own team and take the "lucky" calls, even if it's a mistake? Whether fans agree it's a mistake or not, it does not change the result.

And if you want to talk about supporters and civil discussion, I've seen more than a few cases of people jumping into other supporter threads and getting burned. It's not limited to here, and pool supporters are not exempt from doing it either.


First time in a league game, but he's suffered 4-0 before in the CL (2x)

Not sure if it's limited to liverpool, but it seems like classic ABU mentality - if it's a call for United that they don't like then all the "ref sampah" / "FA belongs to United talk comes out".

If it's a call against United, all they do is laugh and say good ref / finally / etc.

Nobody wants to drop by to have a "civil discussion" when the call is unlucky for us or goes against us

Thank god he did not come to United to replace LvG.

Imagine if he pulled the "I'm nearing the end of my career" BS this early in his 1st season here.. puke blood

I got to admit, the concerns some people (including me) had about Mou being overly defensive and killing young players looks pretty off the pace so far.

Maybe. Sometimes it's good to sub a player out (get a better player on, or take pressure off them), other times it's good to leave them on the pitch (if they can handle the pressure and learn from it, or if a tactical/formation change is more important).

Carrick also had a bad game, and he's 35 i.e. sub him out and you save him for another day.

Once Carrick came off, the bench did not have any CM available to replace Pogba.

Aside from a few games early this season, has he ever looked like a proper CM for us or anyone else?

Especially one that can provide enough cover and control while the 4 guys in front attack a pool team that can be dangerous on the counter and pressed us enough that Carrick struggled to do anything of note in the 1st half?

JM has generally brought him on as a sub to try and have more height and numbers for aerial play (attacking and/or defensively), but I don't think anyone would say he came on this game to help our defending.

Or to put it another way: If he had come on as a sub for Pogba to partner for Herrera in CM, do you think anything would have been gained?

If Bastian or another specialist CM had been on the bench and you say sub, that would be tempting to agree to.

He is still only 23 and can learn and improve from this

Good thing his big bro Zlatan came to the rescue, hopefully he learns from this.. especially when it comes to defending set pieces

Agreed. He's got a good passing ability, but I don't recall him being noteworthy in terms of interceptions, marking, or tackling. If anything his style of play (likes to take on players and adventurous passing) makes it risky to have him in a defensive role in case he concedes possession at the wrong place/time.

Not as risky from a card-collecting point as Fellaini or Scholes, but not a strong defensive player either.

And looking at his performances in Euros and for us this season, it seems playing him as a DM is not ideal.

His best form generally seems to have been since Carrick and Herrera were there to provide defensive cover and he could float in the middle and try to unpick opposing teams.

Surely JM will look to get a DM in the next 6 months, since Carrick is the closest we have to one and he's 35

He was a CM or a DM, but it seems both LVG and JM were not impressed enough by him to give him an extended run in the starting 11.

On top of that, it seems even his teammates indicated they didn't see anything about him that was better than the guys he replaced. Considering he replaced Anderson, Fletcher (after serious illness and 2 years out), and Cleverley.. .that sounds pretty bad.

Surman sent off for 2 yellows (not sure what the 2nd yellow was for), but if this was a European game it could be 9 v 10 by now

Mings step on Zlatan, and Zlatan's elbow

No need for another AM, rather get a DM/CM since Carrick is on limited time and Basti is surely heading out after this season. Left with Herrera / Pogba / Fellaini as central midfielders. 3 guys for 2-3 spots in the starting 11 is way too thin.

We already got Mata/Mkhitaryan/Martial/Rashford being used in AM positions, and that is ignoring Lingard - let's assume he's just a sub/squad player and assuming Rooney leaves after this season.

Might happen, but would be surprised if it's in the next 2 games. Maybe after Herrera returns from his 1 game ban and/or after Zlatan is back.

Reckon the line ups at this stage will be based on training performance but also heavily influenced by suspensions, injuries, and rotation for upcoming fixtures.

Carrick didn't come on = probably being saved for Europa, but now that Herrera is banned for our next domestic game I wonder if that will change.

Bastian is really only being drip fed a few minutes here and there @ no hope.

Better hope we sign at least 1 strong CM in the next window, then we will have a good alternative to cover for Pogba next season.

Obviously striker situation is about managing suspensions and injuries at the moment.

Defenders = it was a surprise that Bailly didn't play at all, guessing either he is being saved for Europa or his training form has been less than impressive.

Darmian and Young played tonight presumably to remove some rust from their game in case they're needed soon and to rest Blind/Shaw for upcoming games.

33, salary would not be cheap, and not exactly setting the league alight.

Even if we wanted to take a City player, surely it would not be him.

Agent just using our name to stick it to City

Not just Pogba.

Zlatan also been copping some flak for only scoring goals and not doing enough outside of that.

Next 2 games no Zlatan, no Herrera, and probably no Pogba.

Going to be interesting to see how the team handles it.

Regardless of his goals/assists for the season, some believe the minute he drops levels at all = should be benched to give others a chance.

Don't forget Martial, if he has recovered.

He's happy to open fire on anyone who is not in his mold - which is basically most of the world.

Suspect he's looking at it from the perspective of his time at the club and our glory days, no context at all to SAF retiring and everything that has happened since.

Not that he would be quiet if SAF was still manager anyway, given their falling out

Just looking at the transfer activity that's happened since JM came in and the squad selection choices....... it's going to take awhile for JM to shape the squad into tip-top shape.


Actually our history against clubs like that is a bit iffy even under SAF.

Plus is a club that got some good results vs European giants in CL, given our injuries and suspensions we can say it was job done, next.

Underlying theme of the season is we create a lot of chances but wasteful finishing means we don't enjoy the benefits.

Need a striker that kills it in efficiency.

Drogba 2.0 incoming?

just like a few seasons ago it was if City win the CL and Pool win the Europa but both finish outside top 4!! End up neither won, City didn't even make the final - let alone both winning.

Media requirements for an "article" these days are really a joke.

If either / both clubs were in finals or at least semis then it would be excusable.

QF1 1st leg not even played yet

All speculation and rumours at this point anyway.

Media these days are a joke, the golden rule of wait for contract signing pics/clubs to announce rule still applies