Manchester United v Everton. Saturday 23rd April @ 12.45.

[Allezfan]

I've only listened to it, but sounds about right. It seems like we went there with very few attacking ambitions or ideas. If that's the plan then, given that no team has had a shut out at Old Trafford this season and our defensive record hasn't been that impressive, the goal was always going to come. It's true that offence is the best form of defence. West Brom got a point there by having a go at them. We came back from a hopeless position against them earlier in the season by taking the initiative. Fabio, Evans and O'Shea were there to be attacked, if we had the balls to go for it.

West Brom got a point because Van Der Sar throw the ball into his own net, ffs. And they're literally the only English team to go there this season and not lose.

 

[Brownie]

The disappointing thing is that we really didn't have anything to lose in this game and we've still not tried to attack in the slightest. In addition it was a relatively weak United defence and centre mid and we put them under no pressure at all. A perfect opportunity to have a go at them and we still play for 0-0.

 

[harry]

A disgusting lack of ambition in the second half there.

I don't care about being resilient and having commentators patting our head, we'd rode that first half and were coming into it in the second when our players all took about ten steps back when there was no reason to. We invited United onto us and we all know what happens when you do that.

United were the better team and deserved to win so the result is a fair one but we should have done much better.

spot on, we have nothing to play for, we could have tried to give them a game. so negative.

 

[billycopper]

We were scared to commit from the off.

Making the change to put Anichebe on to hopefully hold the ball up and bring the midfield in to support didnt work because...he cant do that.

We had plenty of chances to counter but we never got forward.

Came for the draw.

Not too fussed to be honest. Its just a bit bad on the two centre halves who had a blinder.

We could have started with Coleman and Gueye either side of Beckford and packed the midfield with Neville, Osman and Rodwell. If we'd run at them with pace, we'd have caused them all sorts of problems. We were on a hiding to nothing going there and it couldn't really effect our league position, so what did we have to lose?

 

[bluebloodinmyveins]

Beckford cant play as a lone striker. He's a goalscorer, thats pretty much all he does.

Bily? I'm lost for words as to how bad he is at times. He has so much talent, but no effort or know-how. He looks like a guy who was never taught any tactics, he was just told to go out there and play. Problem is he goes out there and watches others play around him.

Cahill Simply not fit.

Anichebe. Not good enough simple. Would rather have kept Vaughan. At least Vaughan will run and run.

 

[kenada_blue]

I've only listened to it, but sounds about right. It seems like we went there with very few attacking ambitions or ideas. If that's the plan then, given that no team has had a shut out at Old Trafford this season and our defensive record hasn't been that impressive, the goal was always going to come. It's true that offence is the best form of defence. West Brom got a point there by having a go at them. We came back from a hopeless position against them earlier in the season by taking the initiative. Fabio, Evans and O'Shea were there to be attacked, if we had the balls to go for it.

We just looked a bit scared.

We've been bummed on the counter all season, and the back 4 have been shaky.

Moments aside where Nani and Valencia battered Baines and Hibbo - we were solid at the back and Jags looked back to form.

BUT - the midfield didnt want to move forward or were scared to. They were a rigid 2 banks of 4 for 80% of the game. Bilya just looked lost and sadly enough should be sold. Coleman wasnt given much to run on to either. Neville and Rodders were very comfy in possession and limited hoofing it, but their movement was stiff.

And up top...it didnt work. The game for us cried out for a Yak or Saha to hold the ball up due to how deep we played. We never had that and Vic offers nother...Cahill did little either. We had plenty of counter chances...just no one commited to help out.

We should've had a peno...but we cant complain and bang on about that and the ref. United dominated that game.

 

[TX Bill]

The disappointing thing is that we really didn't have anything to lose in this game and we've still not tried to attack in the slightest. In addition it was a relatively weak United defence and centre mid and we put them under no pressure at all. A perfect opportunity to have a go at them and we still play for 0-0.

spot on, we have nothing to play for, we could have tried to give them a game. so negative.

Easier said than done.

You'd much rather try and stay on an equal footing with them and try the old smash and grab.

Going for it out of the gate I think wouldn't have been the smartest as they'd have opened us up easier than they already had been. They'd have battered us.

I can't argue with Moyes approach to today's match at all.

My only wish was that the players had played a bit better.

 

[wabisabi]

hope: gueye and some good defending, goal keeping
less: billy, awful passing, billy, anichebe, giving thme the ball with every third kick, billy and billy.

 

[kenada_blue]

Beckford was lost today mate i agree about anichebe and cahill though,i think we were scared to attack them today

I disagree..it was a unratable 1st half from him. He had about 3 touches, was clattered into by Ferdinand at all times and had no support. Wrong type of tactics with him and it didnt work.

And it didnt work with his replacement either. Just didnt work as a whole

 

[billycopper]

West Brom got a point because Van Der Sar throw the ball into his own net, ffs. And they're literally the only English team to go there this season and not lose.

The result was 2-2. West Brom came to us with attacking intent and walked all over us. Wolves, West Ham, Bolton, Villa and Fulham have shown that if you take the game to United, they're vulnerable. Blackpool and Birmingham have given them a game too. We showed too much respect.

 

[harry]

I have never seen beckford win a header or hold the ball up from a howard hoof, so why do we keep doing it. We give the ball away everytime howard kicks it, why doesn't moyes or round tell him to stop?. we must learn how to play from the back with players moving into space to keep the ball or we will never go to old trafford and win. This is also the reason we are so bad in europe.

 

[Brownie]

Easier said than done.

You'd much rather try and stay on an equal footing with them and try the old smash and grab.

Going for it out of the gate I think wouldn't have been the smartest as they'd have opened us up easier than they already had been. They'd have battered us.

I can't argue with Moyes approach to today's match at all.

My only wish was that the players had played a bit better.

If we were trying to avoid relegation or competing for the title with United I would agree with you, but we're not.

Also I can count on one hand the number of teams that have gone to Old Trafford and nicked a 1-0. It does not happen. The only teams that have had any success there are the ones that attack.

 

[wabisabi]

I have never seen beckford win a header.

doesn't win em because he never jumps for em mate.

fair point though. he likes a ball to run on to and if they're gonna play him should give him the kind of service he can prosper from.

i do think he's been learning his prem trade this season and will improve next.. not that that's much solace for me today.

 

[bluejock]

All things considered, one defeat in our last eight is pretty decent form still, especially given the players who are out.

Granted, the performance today was not good enough but what we have to do now is pick it up from next week. Wigan away is a good place to start, we normally do quite well there.

I'm staying positive we can finish above the lovables.

Forza Evertonia, Up the L4 Azurri

 

[billycopper]

We just looked a bit scared.

We've been bummed on the counter all season, and the back 4 have been shaky.

Moments aside where Nani and Valencia battered Baines and Hibbo - we were solid at the back and Jags looked back to form.

BUT - the midfield didnt want to move forward or were scared to. They were a rigid 2 banks of 4 for 80% of the game. Bilya just looked lost and sadly enough should be sold. Coleman wasnt given much to run on to either. Neville and Rodders were very comfy in possession and limited hoofing it, but their movement was stiff.

And up top...it didnt work. The game for us cried out for a Yak or Saha to hold the ball up due to how deep we played. We never had that and Vic offers nother...Cahill did little either. We had plenty of counter chances...just no one commited to help out.

We should've had a peno...but we cant complain and bang on about that and the ref. United dominated that game.

If the midfield are sat on top of the back four then it's going to take someone running the length of the pitch to score on the break. Unless someone in the midfield has the vision and composure to play that ball, we're just chasing aimless punts into the corners. I agree that we need to get bodies up and down the pitch much more quickly. If you noticed when we had Donovan he'd keep up with the play ready to put away any rebounds. We just don't seem to have the same energy or desire to do that.