₦airaland Forum

Kingtom, if I had the time and skills, I'd have dug out my posts on that particular match. I think Lana1 complained on that day too but we won the match. If I get chance, I'll try to find out the exact match.

KingTom:
me sef I'm confused I only remember a 4-0 win against Wigan in the FA cup

That's why I mentioned I can't remember that particular match but I guessed it to be Wigan. And I also said we won that match but our display was pathetic. The scoreline wasn't were my emphasis was on, it's on the display.

KingTom:
3 points against Wigan ke? ^^^^

Not in the EPL. Is EPL the competition we played last season?

When I say things, it's usually something I've observed over a long time that keeps repeating itself and one that if care is not taken, will clear a path for more anguish showings in future.

Last season, I can't remember correctly but I think it's in a match against Wig :Pan. In that match I complained how we played so disgustingly despite that we won. Some people said 3 points was all that matters, but in the next two matches that followed after that match, we played poorly and drew those matches.

I complained also how Mourinho set up to defend from the beginning against City in the returning match last season, saying at least we'd have tried to take them on before judging if should defend or not. Same applied to the Arsenal match, the returning leg that is. Mourinho's second plan is usually defend, defend, defend. Against INFERIOR sides, any fear that things are not going fine, Mourinho locks up the shop. I'm not saying it's a wrong tactic, but not against inferior sides and so early in the game. If it's against top sides, it's understandable, but coming with a defensive mindset against a mediocre Stoke beats my imagination.

Below is an article that buttressed all I've observed and written here in the past, and I didn't read the article beforehand (it's posted today) or personally know the writer to know these things.

Mourinho was right in saying that
Manchester United did not win last season but that is not why the 1-0 victory over Southampton could end up telling a lot about whether they can finally win the title again. There was a crux issue in this match that could well be the key to their entire campaign.

Because, buried in all of the comments and fully justifiable controversy about the Romelu Lukaku chant, there was a rather revelatory statement from the Portuguese.

“We had opportunities in the first half to score the second goal and then the game is different,” Mourinho said. “Lukaku and [Ander] Herrera, too, and if we’d done that I would have brought on [Anthony] Martial and [Jesse] Lingard and go for a different result.”

Instead, he went the same way he nearly always does, and looked to lock things down against an inferior side that United had been dominating.

It stood out all the more this season because Mourinho’s attack have been so free-scoring… when they have got that second goal in games against West Ham United, Swansea City and Everton. Those sides collapsed, but also because United finally had the confidence to really go for it, to let players like Martial really play.

[b]While it would obviously be an exaggeration to say that the nature of those wins made the supposed high level of those performances somewhat illusory, it doesn’t mean that they didn’t exaggerate United’s actual level. This is also why there remain some doubts about the side’s true standards right now, why some still aren’t getting carried away with a properly impressive return of five wins and one draw from six games.

There remains the slight feeling that circumstances in a short sample of games played into their hands, and meant events allowed people to overlook remaining questions with the team. One of them was evident in this Southampton match, and in Mourinho’s comment. In an era when goal averages are at a high, and the norm is expansive football, why does one of the game’s best managers and one of the Premier League’s best teams rein it in when it comes right down to it? Why still close it down? It did seem to put United under unnecessary pressure, and the three points in doubt, and that against a side that has now failed to score in 10 of their last 13 home games. The wonder is still how that will play out in the long term, when Manchester City and Chelsea genuinely play a more open game - and appear to be making more chances.

Martial arguably personifies this entire issue. Sure, the stats might state he’s played every second game this season, but he has only started one league game - and that is United’s priority. Given how brilliant he’s looked, how much he elevates United’s attack, the question is what he has to do to start… other than seemingly changing his name or his entire game, so that it is based on defensively responsibility rather than attacking risk?

It comes right down to a philosophical view, really. At 1-0, do you have the trust to go for it, or the caution to rein it in?

The question could well decide the title - and it came close to deciding this game[/b]

This was why I've not been carried away by our performances. Yes, we can only win what's in our front, and we've improved a whole lot when compared to last season, and this team is more better than the previous ones; but my fear is the way we're going to play when we meet top teams. Will Mourinho set up to defend from the start instead of falling back to that plan at reasonable time during the match or in the scenario we're one man down? Are we going to resort to locking up shops even against inferior sides we'd be confident enough to attack and destroy? This is why I don't see us favorites, our philosophy against other teams will convince me of that, for now, it hasn't.

Martial on incredible form gets benched yet Mourinho talks about operating on meritous style.

Wura27:
Can someone pls tell me what changed in our game between first half and now? I dont get why we r playing so bad.

U guys should not criticize Mourinho, if d team was playing well he sure would not have brought in defenders.

It would have been the usual Martial

That's the typical Mourinho for you. We're just saying the truth. When under pressure, he opts for defensive pattern. Nothing else. Mhiki and Mata should have left since and our wingers come in to press this Southampton, but no, we resort to Stoke City defensive pattern all over again.

codedguy1:
And Mourinho reacts with Chris smalling a defender!

He will never change.

The guy is clueless.

Hererra continues last season's curse.

See empty net missed.

Mourinho is clueless. Like defending by 70th minute? Against Southampton? I've seen it all. SMH

Mhiki off for Smalling. This Mourinho na mad man.

Commenter just reaffirmed my stance, United need two men upfront.

Gabbadiani the terrorist enters. Wahala dey.

Mata was removed and a DM (Hererra) was brought in to replace him on the wings.

No RWer at all. God save us.

Fellaini just saved us from a goal bound header.

We missed a good chance there

Tvegas:
I said it long ago the guy is not on form. We need Griezzman in January abeg. He will score a goal or provide assist and cover up his wastefulness.

Griezmann can't come on January, big clubs don't sell their main man like that. It's to be end of the season.

The way Mhiki loses possession is alarming.

Mata and Mhiki both at the AM position, and the wings left to rot. No winger to stretch or disturb the Southampton defence.

I won't be surprised to see us draw this match.

Same thing that happened against Everton. We're totally dominated but managed to score many goals to cover up the obvious cracks.

Mourinho should give Mhiki and Mata the Martial treatment. Martial deserve to start ahead of those snails.

JayKayMaybachz:
Am not sure he overlooked that position. The ish was not getting the right player for that position. Cos we need a Winger doesn't mean we go sign any average joe

He did. Apart from publicly chasing an impossible target in Bale at the last minute, which RWer were we ever linked with?

We're here during the holidays praying for rumors to link us with a RWer but none came up till Mourinho saw Bale.

He refused to buy players for our RW and LB and it might cost him this season.

JayKayMaybachz:
City sef dey struggle against Palace

Mtchhhhheeeeeeew.. Like I said, We need RW

Lingard can play that RW better than Mata. Since Mourinho decided not to fortify there out of his ignorance, he'd give Lingard a chance at that position instead of focusing on the LW.

Our midfield is just so porous. Southampton are just having field day slicing us through the midfield. Mhiki putting another shitty display. No pace in our attack. Lukaku isolated up front again with Mhiki providing no help is chasing down opponents with him.

Mata almost invisible. I don't believe that Rashford can't play together with Martial. Switch to 3-5-2 and bring in Martial with Mhiki or Mata booted out or still, try out Mata at 10 and bring Lingard in to the wings with Mhiki substituted.

Mystic1:
Hin go rust for sideline.

Don't be deceived. That nigga has been with us since Mourinho disappointed him last season, he's just into a new skin waiting for us to start losing for him to go back to his main moniker.

joeace2020:
Lol the ghenghen pressing that leaves Liverpool players exhausted by January? Abeg nor use laugh kill me. That style doesn't work here across over 50 games in a season. Mourinho's style may not be the most appealing but it has one thing written all over it. Win and Move on!

Man City's ghen ghen pressing is more enjoyable than Loserfools'. They ain't about only pressing. They use the ball well, hardly lose it and got good defence too. Loserfools na just running upandan them sabi.

Mystic1:
Please who has seen Nyabinghi? I just remembered the guy now sef. Bet he's on the sideline bidding his time which will never come.

I thought it's only me that had thought about this in the past. LMFAO.

joeace2020:
How can we score only 4 goals??...Too low! Mourinho out! Sell Pogba, Sell Martial! Shambolic performance.. ... If we ever score 4 goals again I'll stop supporting United. If we score anything less than 4, ill hire an assasin and send him to Old Trafford. Unacceptable!

We go sell Old Trafford join.

chrisley024:
Well let's see how it fares in epl. One thing I'd like our team to learn from his is the pressing from everyone.

Yes, that ghen ghen pressing will take us to enviable heights if Mourinho can teach all our players to adopt it.

raumdeuter:
Still early. They need more time to gell. Sane Sterling and Jesus I still see glints of immaturity in their game

You're right, it's too early to judge. Some teams can even unravel from February, but I Just love the movements of the team. They play out from the back to attack.

Sterling has always been immature, he has the talents but not the mental strength and determination to get to the next level. Jesus is still young but he's strong and fearless. I'm most impressed by Sanë. The guy plays with so much confidence and hardly gets dispossessed.

I felt pity for Gundogän, just coming from injury and then he's back injured for no fault of his. I wouldn't blame the guy that injured him coz he got the ball too and had no malicious intent.

Well, the rival me wishes more injuries to KDB and Jesus which will force Pep to switch to one-man forward and deprive Aguero of any sustained supply of delicate passes. More injuries to that team.

larride:
I'm telling you, we might not be where we want but obviously we have moved away from where we are before. there's massive improvement in this team.

Gaal was too obsessed with useless hoarding of possession without useful application of the possession.

Too tactical for my liking. Useless tactics for that matter. He was just the twin brother of Moyes, just a bit better.

I'm in awe of this City side. The scoreline doesn't do favour to the game this City players are playing. Pep has got this team, whether first or second eleven, playing like the Barcelona of his stint at Barcelona.

Their sleek passes, movement and 1-2s has Pep's tactics written all over it.

During the half-time analysis, they just took time to show how many minutes City passed the hell out of Bromwich before scoring. I mean, they couldn't even touch the ball till it ended into their net. The exquisite passes and movement are just amazing.


Gabriel Jesus is an absolute steal. Save for bad form or bad luck, this team might win the EPL

JayKayMaybachz:


https://therepublikofmancunia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/DKB5aS8WAAAyEKu-1024x585.jpg

Matic's heat map against Everton. Ninja was practically everywhere dictating our midfield like Pogba.

raumdeuter:
No be una fault, when una dey lose under Van Gaal or draw last season na 3 weeks one page for this thread dey use full

Now una dey win, everyone don show face, Pray say make una lose like 5 games in a row so you can see the real fans. All my Man utd friends who pretended they were no longer football fans have been revived

Egbon, hiding in shame sometimes doesn't mean you're not a true fan o. I think I've said it before here, that during Moyes' ill-fated reign, I became fed up with football entirely. Till today, I can't even remember what happened during the second half of that season coz I stopped watching United matches totally.

It got so bad that I no dey even check Livescores.com. I mean, why check it when I know a sad news awaits me? United match go dey go on, I go dey watch SoundCity.

To go to the pub and flaunt my jersey while watching matches was a herculean task for me coz I knew I'd come back disgraced. It wasn't easy for us United fans worldwide.

It's during that era that I came to respect Assanal fans worldwide, coz o couldn't understand how they could cope for years without heartache.

Sometimes I imagine if that time was now when club trolling, fights and partying dey at the zenith, walayi, I for hibernate go offline go hide.

You no see as Pătaki and his evil sidekick, Elfeminine, disappeared after Everton loss last season with the impending news that they'll be meeting their Customer dada ni, Bayern Munich in the Champions League, putting the final nail on their coffins?

True fans or not, sometimes shame can make you hibernate.

hensben:
Manure fan are afraid of me.

Your case is getting beyond redemption if you're now laughing at your posts which are drier than a desert.

You're too dense to realise why peeps are being cautioned to ignore you or avoid you like a plague. That's coz they're allergic to your chronic, acute, irredeemable, incurable, irreversible, permanent, inexplicable, burly, capacious, chock-full, colossal, commodious, considerable, copious, crowded, enormous, extensive, fat, full, gigantic, heavy-duty, heavyweight, hefty, huge, hulking, humongous, husky, immense, jumbo, mammoth, massive, mondo, monstrous, oversized, packed, ponderous, potruded, roomy, sizable, spacious, strapping, stuffed, substantial, super colossal, thundering, tremendous, vast, voluminous, walloping, whopper, whopping stupidity!!

No human sane or insane is afraid of you, the only thing they're afraid of is that your itsy, tiny, infinitesimal intelligence is in a vegetable state and there's no cure, spiritual or physical, in sight.