| Reflections... 10:30 - Aug 31 with 527 views | boroughblue |
That no one asked for, I'm aware...
Now the dust has settled, I've calmed down, and can once again take the emotions away and reflect properly. What happened yesterday? And as a wise man in the form of Paul Cook once said: What did we learn about ourselves that we didn't know before KO?
First half:
Firstly, a really enjoyable watch, and a great game of football. We more than matched them, limiting them to half chances on the whole with one good save from Scherpen, as well as having some very good chances of our own.
We moved the ball well at times, and played with great confidence on the ball an a clear identity in what we were trying to do, and in my opinion it was clear everyone knew their roles. The only thing that was getting me at times was that the front four occasionally wanted to many touches when the ball came into them when they were trying to hold the ball up, leading to us losing the ball on a couple of occasions and being back under pressure.
Enciso's chance the best of all, and one that he really should be taking, we would have paid the price in the cruelest way possible if Rashford feet were one size up.
Maeda's chance was a great move too, and you can't really ask him to do much more from there in terms of getting his effort on target and forcing a save.
Davis- 1-0:
What a great goal. Fatawu excellent, what confidence to go to OT and take on a LB like Luke Shaw like that and drive into the box. What a brilliant finish from Leif too, delighted for him. arguably a deserved lead.
From here, you could feel the nerves and un-ease of the OT crowd, we had them exactly where we wanted them, and looked well set to get in at half-time 1-0 up. How different things could have been.
Having said that, Leif has to score that second chance, that really would have tested the resolve of Man United and their fans. We'll let him off to an extent, as the one he took was an incredible finish.
1-1:
As GON said, turning point number one. Poor Nacho, feel for him. But we all knew as soon as he lost that ball there was only one outcome. How frustrating to give them and the crowd that lift before half time. At least a year on after his transfer, the budgies can finally have some sort of laugh at our expense over the whole thing, bless em.
HT:
What a game of fine margins, things could have been so different. On another day we could have come in 2, maybe 3-0 up, but not to be. Losing Emmerson at half-time doesn't help either.
Second half:
now the start of the half was interesting, they are attacking the Stratford end, now with some renewed confidence. We had a storm to weather, and it did feel like a goal was coming. I thought we were defending well enough, but did feel we needed to get our foot on the ball and/or consider making some changes.
2-1:
I plead the 5th regarding the goal itself.
Now this is, as we all know, the big changing point, and there are theories to what happened next.
Did we capitulate?
Did our midfield get over run and our defence exposed?
Did we lack emotional intelligence as GON says?
Did Man U get the bit between their teeth and their quality shine through, with their fans fully onside and behind them for the first time in the day?
For me, yes to all, and I think its important that we maybe accept bits of all here for a balanced view.
3-1:
Now I must admit, my memory is slightly hazy of the minutes between goal 2 and 3, as I was moaning to the cat about goal 2 (as it was the only thing that wouldn't walk out the room as I moaned!)
Emotional intelligence - In that moment between the goals, it really felt like as a team we needed to get together and have words to the effect of 'For 5 minutes, we just sit tight, don't let this game get away from us. Be tight and compact, don't let them in behind us.'
This was truly the moment that killed us in the game.
4 and 5-1:
I think what shouldn't be lost in this period of the game is how much world class talent Man United have, and the fact they are full of confidence at this point with the crowd now fully behind them.
Yes we were over run and not at it, and again as GON said we 'lost our way', and that's for us to improve on. But this is the Prem, the talent we are against is something else.
5-2:
Yay, goal.
So back to my original point: What did we learn that we didn't (or maybe did know) about ourselves before Kick Off?
-We are so much more ready for this than we were two years ago, despite yesterday, I still have faith that we are ready for the battle to stay up.
-Enciso, what a player. Still in awe that we have him.
-The team have an identity, already know what their roles are, and are fighting for the club.
-The midfield was overrun for most of the game. But let's be honest, Nunez and Lukic will not be the deep pairing for much of the season. We have Luis and Matusiwa to return as well as a World Cup winning new signing to integrate into the team.
-DoS is not a right back. Can he do a job there? Yes. Should he be starting there in the Prem? No.
-Bench could do with some quality added.
Lets see what we can do in the market between now and Tuesday, but I am still much more confident with us compared with two years ago.
If you read this far, fair play to you, not sure I would have done! |  | | |  |
| Reflections... on 10:39 - Aug 31 with 454 views | Guthrum |
The only point I might slightly disagree with is about O'Shea. I think he is good enough to play there in the Prem. It's not like Rashford ran riot down their left, most of ManU's joy came down the middle and diagonal balls out to Mbuemo on the right. |  |
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| Reflections... on 10:39 - Aug 31 with 450 views | farkenhell |
A good summary. Didn't mind reading that at all. | | | |
| Reflections... on 11:24 - Aug 31 with 303 views | billlm |
| Reflections... on 10:39 - Aug 31 by Guthrum |
The only point I might slightly disagree with is about O'Shea. I think he is good enough to play there in the Prem. It's not like Rashford ran riot down their left, most of ManU's joy came down the middle and diagonal balls out to Mbuemo on the right. |
Mainoo was a pain, |  | | |
| Reflections... on 13:57 - Aug 31 with 178 views | farkenhell |
| Reflections... on 11:24 - Aug 31 by billlm |
Mainoo was a pain, |
He was very good second half wasn't he. | | | |
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