Everton v Man Utd - Sat 17th Oct - 15:00

[The Iron]

JT has just seen the result.

 

[Smudge]

Im a big believer in mentality and attitude can be everything in football. Today showed exactly why. I believe completely that we lost that game today before we even walked onto the pitch, because everything about our attitude today was negative. The team selection first off, leaving out Deulofeu, who has had a hand in 4 of our last 5 goals, and Kone, without whom Lukaku has generally looked isolated and shit. We left them out in favour of Lennon and Naismith, because of Martinez' cowardly assertion that we need to fear United, so better play two players out wide who are going to defend and work hard rather than attack. And I believe that negativity was felt across the whole team. Even before the first goal, we never looked like ever scoring. And the thing that gets me the most when we're so negative like this is that we're shit at the back. We always look liable to concede, so why in the world would you forego scoring goals (something we are good at...) in favour of playing a way that we cant? I dont think United's first goal should have stood, there was a blatant push from Rooney in the box, but point is, it did stand and its the 3rd game in a row we have conceded from a corner. Again, learning from mistakes? Our set piece defending is absolutely fucking diabolical, nearly as bad in fact as our own set pieces, which we never fucking score from. Knew as soon as that went in we were screwed, because our whole attitude was negative, so what the hell do you do when you go behind? By comparison, how many times have we heard Van Gaal going on after United have got beat that they had all the possession and were the better team? United are terrible at the back, and Arsenal showed last week exactly how to beat them and thats to get the lead. We came out doing the exact opposite, and by giving them that early lead (followed up by some of the worst marking you will ever see just 4 minutes later for 2-0) that was always going to be it, and they could play exactly how they wanted to play, keeping hold of the ball, and knowing full well they had something to hang on to now. The changes and the fightback came far too late, and we did have one or two chances at the start of the second half, only for Jagielka to then concede possession in pathetic circumstances and gift Rooney a one on one. Cheers Jags, ritual humiliation complete. First time Ive ever voluntarily left a home game before the end, because oiur performance after the 3rd goal was probably even worse than the first half, because we completely gave up. Every single player on the pitch, with the exception of Kone just did not want to know today and fucking humiliated themselves and all of us. There were actually dickheads behind me walking back to the car who were actually saying 'well at least we had a go second half.' No, we didnt. Even discounting the 3 goals they scored, United still had a lot more chances than we had, and that says it all. You can forgive losing games to a better side, silly mistakes costing you goals, bad reffing decisions, all three of these happened today and if that had been all that happened, you have to just accept that. But the overall attitude of the manager and the whole team was sick. There are absolutely no excuses for that.

Also while typing that, Ive just seen the 3rd goal again. What exactly the fuck is Howard doing? Did he have a stroke?

 

[Stevencc]

Arsenal showed us up because we inexplicably played a midfield two of Schweinsteiger and Carrick. No mobility = very little protection for the back four. Our defence is actually pretty solid and far from "terrible".

It seems Van Gaal has learnt his lesson in terms of that midfield pairing, thankfully.

 

[Christian Slater]

I think Carrick has been off this season. I can't think of a game he's played where he wasn't sloppy.

 

[Mr. Scruff]

Im a big believer in mentality and attitude can be everything in football. Today showed exactly why. I believe completely that we lost that game today before we even walked onto the pitch, because everything about our attitude today was negative. The team selection first off, leaving out Deulofeu, who has had a hand in 4 of our last 5 goals, and Kone, without whom Lukaku has generally looked isolated and shit. We left them out in favour of Lennon and Naismith, because of Martinez' cowardly assertion that we need to fear United, so better play two players out wide who are going to defend and work hard rather than attack. And I believe that negativity was felt across the whole team. Even before the first goal, we never looked like ever scoring. And the thing that gets me the most when we're so negative like this is that we're shit at the back. We always look liable to concede, so why in the world would you forego scoring goals (something we are good at...) in favour of playing a way that we cant? I dont think United's first goal should have stood, there was a blatant push from Rooney in the box, but point is, it did stand and its the 3rd game in a row we have conceded from a corner. Again, learning from mistakes? Our set piece defending is absolutely fucking diabolical, nearly as bad in fact as our own set pieces, which we never fucking score from. Knew as soon as that went in we were screwed, because our whole attitude was negative, so what the hell do you do when you go behind? By comparison, how many times have we heard Van Gaal going on after United have got beat that they had all the possession and were the better team? United are terrible at the back, and Arsenal showed last week exactly how to beat them and thats to get the lead. We came out doing the exact opposite, and by giving them that early lead (followed up by some of the worst marking you will ever see just 4 minutes later for 2-0) that was always going to be it, and they could play exactly how they wanted to play, keeping hold of the ball, and knowing full well they had something to hang on to now. The changes and the fightback came far too late, and we did have one or two chances at the start of the second half, only for Jagielka to then concede possession in pathetic circumstances and gift Rooney a one on one. Cheers Jags, ritual humiliation complete. First time Ive ever voluntarily left a home game before the end, because oiur performance after the 3rd goal was probably even worse than the first half, because we completely gave up. Every single player on the pitch, with the exception of Kone just did not want to know today and fucking humiliated themselves and all of us. There were actually dickheads behind me walking back to the car who were actually saying 'well at least we had a go second half.' No, we didnt. Even discounting the 3 goals they scored, United still had a lot more chances than we had, and that says it all. You can forgive losing games to a better side, silly mistakes costing you goals, bad reffing decisions, all three of these happened today and if that had been all that happened, you have to just accept that. But the overall attitude of the manager and the whole team was sick. There are absolutely no excuses for that.

Also while typing that, Ive just seen the 3rd goal again. What exactly the fuck is Howard doing? Did he have a stroke?

How and what exactly?

Only Arsenal and Spurs have conceded less so far this year, both by 1 goal and we had one of the better defensive records last year too.

The idea that United are shit at the back is a hangover from when Van Gaal first took over when we lost our two starting Cb''s, had a major injury crisis and switched systems. In reality it's long become nonsense and defence is in fact our major strength. We've been very solid for nearly a year now.

The main reason for that is that Smalling is just a beast, again put a star striker in his back pocket yesterday. It's gone way past a run of form now, he needs to start getting the credit as the best defender in the league he is. Not a weakness in his game at all. Put him with Jones and it's even better as the two suit each other down to the ground. Despite Jones being an idiot, it's a strong Cb partnership, Blind is great there when we play weaker teams and need the extra attacker.

Then we have Shaw and Darmian as a really decent set of full backs, Blind, Rojo and Valencia are good cover.


Despite the clamour for us to sign a CB this summer I think developing what we have got in the absence of a proper top class player available was the right option and we are pretty strong there especially with Schneiderlin sitting in front.

You can point to the Arsenal game but it's only the second time we've conceded more than two goals in a year and we dont shift two often much either . We just got caught that day by a mixture of bad tactics and Arsenel being amazing. Their attacking players are that good they could do that to any team.

The rest of your post is really a little ranty and not particularly accurate.You lost to the better side plain and simple. It's not that your players werent up for it they just got dominated by the better side. The homer ref blowing every time a blue shirt hit the deck had nothing to do with it either.

 

[Smudge]

What a pile of shit that entire post is. I was about to waste my time responding to each point individually. Then I realised it's all shit and I'm not wasting my time arguing with someone who thinks that ref was a homer and Smalling is the best defender in the League.

The only bit that isn't shit is that you were the better team, which if you actually read what I've wrote instead of getting irate about one comment on your defence, I also said. I'm just more concerned about our own performance so of course I spent 2 paragraphs ranting about that and only one sentence saying United were better.

 

[smat]

Welcome to I Love TFF Circa 2005!

 

[voltage]

First half very movimented but Everton, despite having most ball possession, seemed fearful after the first United goal. The beginning of the second half was the best moment for Everton but their defense failed and United could define the victory.

 

[Nilsson]

What a pile of shit that entire post is. I was about to waste my time responding to each point individually. Then I realised it was actually corrent and I was an idiot for saying United's defence is terrible.

 

[johnnytodd]

We were shit beyond belief united were clinical without needing to be that good.

Grim!

 

[Smudge]

Do you go to bed with a Phil Jones duvet? Jesus wept...

 

[Stevencc]

Chris Smalling.

 

[Smudge]

The Phil Jones PJs then? The ones that have this all over it?

 

[Stevencc]

The Phil Jones PJs then? The ones that have this all over it?

Please! I don't want to have nightmares.

 

[JimJams]

Or wet dreams.

 

[Stevencc]

Or wet dreams.

My Schweinsteiger curtains are usually to blame for that one.