₦airaland Forum

Celta Vigo mean business in their coming Europa game against us. They rested about six or seven of their regulars in the league game they are currently playing against Bilbao.

SIRcumalot:
I hope you're not the only that sees that pogba sized hole in our midfield.

Jose can setup Herrera, Fellaini and Carrick to stifle the opponent attacking moves but who engineers our own attacking plays?

I hope his ready for the Swansea game.

As much as Pogba over does things in matches, we missed him today because of his well tailored passes he used to loft behind centre backs.

Micki isn't fully adapted to EPL games. He was so poor in that match losing possession or getting dispossed anyhow. I hope he improves next season.

elampiro:
Rashford only knows about run run run. He couldn't contest for balls to try to win some and bring others into play.

That's part of what IBRA brings into the game. Rashford still needs to learn that but he's good when we possess the ball. Though he's still young but he needs to start learning fast.

Chelseafan1:
Show me that of Herrera....i know dt one has 1 or 2 reds.

Herrera has 5 yellow cards and 1 red card which was due to 2 yellow cards in a match in EPL.

Kante has also missed a game due to his accumulated yellow cards which was also a suspension.

Chelseafan1:
Kante marks and tackles clean with sense, Herrera own na strong head and agidi

Spot the difference.

Lol.... Marks and tackles clean with nine yellow cards in EPL.

That was a good game by the coach and the players yesterday. Mourinho was like playing a game of Chess with Conte's tactics and subs. It's like reading every move of your opponent and knowing how and what you are going to do to neutralize it.

I am especially happy for Hererra. Ever since the beginning of the season he has been improving his performance even after JM thought that he'll be more usefull in the deeper positions in the midfield. He reads the game so well that his interception in the league is so high. I had no doubt in his ability after watching him after DM failed attempt to bring him. He plays for the team with so much passion. He is like a local lad. Whe he makes those thru balls to open a defence, i love it die. It's just like Carrick. Next season is going to be a better and more interesting season for him. He keeps on shaming one canopy analyst who saw nothing good in him.

I believe this team is just a couple of players most especially attacking players away from being a top team again.

Rashford is still learning and needs to learn fast. I have watched him over time and I believe he know that there are times he shouldn't go for power but to look for an angle to place the ball. This wasn't about yesterday's game.

GGMU.

joeace2020:
That was a ploy. A ploy to tell the world ' see my players are running out of steam traveling and playing almost every day. that's why we struggle so hard so don't blame us for this 1-0's and 0-0's' When the real truth is that we suck in attack because Ibrahimovic won't just do the simple job!

How was that a ploy? If he's going to lose/draw a match and still give an excuse of fatigue, he'll definitely still give it. I don't believe giving Rojo the banana makes up for any excuse. You need to give your body what it craves for at a point in order to keep up with the level you are.

Is he the first united player to request for something to munch during a match?

raumdeuter:
Did you flog them 10-2

Which kind logic be this?

League competitiveness is quite different from Europe's.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is first player to complete 1,000 passes in opponents' half this season in the Premier League

The extent of Paul Pogba's growing influence in the Premier League can be revealed in statistics showing the Manchester United midfielder as the top flight's top passer in opponents' halves this season.

Data courtesy of EA SPORTS shows that Pogba, 23, is the first player to complete over 1,000 passes at the attacking end of the pitch in the current campaign.

The France midfielder returned to Old Trafford last summer in a £89million move from Juventus – and there have been some questions about him finding his feet back in England.

But it would appear that Pogba is certainly beginning to exert himself from midfield for United.

He outshines Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and David Silva, of Manchester City, in the passing stats in the opposition half.

Pogba has managed a pass completion rate of 83.05 per cent in the territory of the teams he has faced, clocking up 1,029 successfully picked-out balls.

The 1,000-mark was passed in United's 1-0 win over Watford earlier this month – and comes in spite of Pogba's team having played a game less than their rivals.

He also missed his side's first game of the season as the paperwork on his world-record transfer went through.

On occasions over his 37 appearances for United, Pogba has looked the midfield powerhouse that a man with a combination of his physique and talent should be.

And these latest stats give an indication of how influential he can become as Manchester United expect Pogba to hit his peak.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4268342/Manchester-United-star-Paul-Pogba-tops-PL-passing-stats.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Funlordmaniac:
Raphael varane from real madrid! Moves have already begun!

Let's be realistic here. Varane won't come here. His agent will only use our interest in him to get him an extended lucrative contract with Real Madrid the way they did for Sergio. Mind you, Pepe is already 34 yrs old.

More so, how many centre back does Madrid have that they'll now allow a defender like Varane to go just like that? It ain't gonna happen. Even if it is going happen, we should be ready to break another world record.

Manchester United are now the most successful club in English football having won 42 major honours.

Liverpool just removed this from their twitter bio with 41 major honours.

That was a good game to watch yesterday. Southampton coning back into the game made it more interesting and entertaining. It also made it a good final match and not a one sided match.

I'll take that win as a good win, though we weren't at our best. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy final for us but i knew we'll edge Soithampton with enough experience we have in our team.

Two reasons why i felt it won't be easy for us were;

1. Southampton have had a good run in the EFL Cup and in the process eliminated Arsenal and beat Liverpool (home and away). Up until that final, they didn't conceed a goal throughout. Particularly, i watched them against Liverpool home and away, they were impressive and i mentioned it here that time.

2. The second reason was that i knew tiredness will creep in because this is our fourth game since on the 16th meaning fourth game in 11 days. While Southampton played their last game on the 11th. That's about 15 days of rest. They were very fresh and it showed in their game, they were full or running stretching our full backs to the extreme. They later tired out towards the end of the game when our experience counted as a team.

People saying Smalling should be sold. Please, who should we buy and at how much should we buy the better defenders? I'm not saying we shouldn't buy, but what if we buy and later find out that they are not better than the ones we sold? City have bought how many defenders now? Have they bettered City's defence? I wouldn't want us to experience such. Bailly that we bought expensively has been on poor form of recent. Should we also sell him? He was equally guilty for the first goal yesterday. Also, a Southampton player outpacing him on a run into our box. Smalling was still the better of the two yesterday. With Mourinho, I believe they'll improve.
All our defenders were just lethargic yesterday.

Nevertheless, that was a good win. Looking forward to more cup finals.

GGMU!

WE ARE ALWAYS PRESENT IN UCL FC

joeace2020:
Assnal... What a waste of Champions league slot

Waste ke? When they get CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE every year.

Manchester United have already had more shots on target this season (146) than in the whole of 2015-16 (144) in the PL. [Opta] #MUFC

Kagawa10:
Dumbo, even Fellaini passing chart showed he wasn't playing as a no 8! As simple as abc!

I don't depend on formation charts which is often misleading because often times, it isn't the same tactic that's played on the pitch. I watched the match myself and everyone who watched the match knew Fellaini played as a no 10 apart from your faulty eyes who had difficulty watching the match in the first place!

Stop lying. Your no 10 that was playing more to his right side instead of passing centrally to our attack. Which kain no 10 be that? Your number 10 who should be passing forward would rather pass backwards. Was he try to assist our players against DeGea? And you are saying he played as our number 10.
Please, stop following live texts or radio commentary.

I've exposed all your lies against Herrera in that match. Nothing more to say. I'm done with this.

Kagawa10:
Tess1, let me ask you this..

In the match yesterday, is it the same starting tactic that finished the game? Answer the question and it will expose how dumb you've been all this while!

Stop engaging me with your foolishness if you know nothing or didn't watch our match.

Now I know you be olodo rabata. Player's heatmaps and passing position will always confirm the position a player played most in a match, reason why i complemented the starting formation pix with the pix of where Fellaini made his passes from. The two pics are in total agreement of his position in the formation.

Kagawa10:
lmao!

Who's watching games through charts btwn you and I?

Even his passing chart shows he wasn't playing as a no 8!

You watched the game with your open eyes and saw how we lumped the ball at Fellaini and you still proceeded in your foolishness to think Fellaini was playing as a no 8 with the few 20 passes he made? Dumbo!

The BLIND ONE, it is you who should prove what I've posted wrong with contrary charts not ranting about and triple posting because your blood is hot. Herrera who played deeper even had more central passes than your Fellaini whose passes were more of right sided passes.

I'm adding another question to the ones you've not been able to answer. How many balls were lumped at him when he only had 4 aerial duels in the opposition box?

Bring out your facts not what you and imagining

PietroRico:
exactly, the city game incidentally is what exposed Fellaini and brought Herrera to the fore.


State the complete midfield 3 let me see who you'll leave out

You forgot to mention the Watford game which was the immediate match in PL after Man City defeat. It was also Pogba-Fellaini midfield. He also had a great game according to him.

That guy doesn't watch our matches.

Kagawa10:
Lmao!

It was only you who saw Fellaini playing in the central midfield! A player who had less than 20 passes and was used as a launching route was playing in the central midfield according to your faulty eyes?

I chose not to answer you because it was a foolish question worth no time of mine!

We'll see whose eyes are faulty now.

I told you that we played 433 but you insisted that we played 4231 with Fellaini playing as a no 10 while Pogba played beside Herrera but not ahead of him.

The first pix shows our team formation on that day which was 433 as against your phantom 4231.

The second pix buttress the fact that we played 433 with Fellaini's passes drifting more to the right and in centre midfield rather than centrally in the final third of the opposition. He has very low passes because he was piss poor with his passes with almost half as backwards passes.

The third shows that you lied by saying that Zlatan had to go deep in the midfield to get passes from Herrera. Whereas out of ten passes made to Zlatan by Herrera, 7 of those passes where received by Zlatan in the final third.

The fourth pix shows that your phantom no 10 man Fellaini only made 1 pass to his striker Zlatan in the 56 mins he spent on the pitch. Also note where Fellaini made the single pass to Zlatan.

We can now see that you are the BLIND ONE here. Now bring out your facts to prove that Fellaini played as a number 10 in the 4231 formation you saw.

Kagawa10:
If you couldn't see that Pogba was almost playing as a no 6 in the game, then you need your eyes gouge


BTW, one of Pogba's best game was alongside Fellaini in a midfield 2. which was his first match.

Pogba was almost playing as a no 6. Is there anything like that? Why then was going forward?

You've not given me your proof that Fellaini played as a number 10 in that game and how Pogba and Herrera played beside each other meaning we played 42321.

Pogba had one of his best games with Fellaini in our midfield and Fellaini is no longer starting with him. The same midfield that looked so sluggish and bereft of creativity then.

You have proven time and time again that you don't watch our matches and this is another confirmation. It's either you follow live text or you listen to radio commentary.

Kagawa10:
Gini?

I'm just saying the truth as it is. A good replacement will be surely needed in the summer. Only few looks as good as Kante this season. Even the Bakayoko guy doesn't look that impressive to me..

What truth? The one you said the last time that Fellaini played as a number 10 and that Zlatan had to ho deep to collect passes from Herrera.

Kagawa10:
Who started the insult if not you? Better get off your victim card game, it won't work with me.

Fellaini was used as a no 10 in front of a 2-man midfield. Kapish!

Fellaini didn't play no 10. We played 433 which is a 3-man midfield. He played to the right of Herrera. You are now implying that we played 4231 when we all know that the system doesn't get the best out of Pogba because of his defensive liabilities.

Kagawa10:
Will you shut up! Who doesn't know that Pogba and Herrera are often deployed in front of Carrick whereas Pogba was deployed beside Herera in a 2-man midfield yet a doofus like you is still contesting the notion.

It's when your lies are being exposed that you descend to the point when you start insulting.

So, what formation was played against Stoke where Pogba was played in a 2-man midfield on Saturday? Also, where did Fellaini played?

eph12:
From your facts Hererra had over 100 forward passes, which is admirable yes. Which of those passes created chances for any of the forward players? Fellaini was pushed forward and because of that they were all in a haste to float the ball up bypassing the midfield. I can't blame Fellaini for that, i blame Mourinho instead.

Go back and read my post and come and tell me where I posted that Herrera had 100 forward passes. Also, where did I blame Fellaini for being pushed forward?

You don't even know the genesis of the whole argument and you jumped in. Go back and read from where it started.

I like Herrera because he is hardworking but that creativity you're castigating Fellaini for Herrera lacks too. By the way Fella has never been know to be one to use the ball with his feet often. Prefers the ball in the air and probably Jose is happy with that.

The bold answers the first sentence and it says it all. I don't need any further response.

Kagawa10:
Carrick controls the midfield and makes more penetration through the middle than Herrera who relies on Pogba dropping deep for him. It's like you don't know that both Pogba and Herrera played in front of Carrick whereas Pogba had to be flatly aligned with Herrera! It's even stupid to compare Herrera to Carrick!

As for Fellaini, he did his job as a launching route and won most of his duels, what's more? What did Herrera do with all the space he had in the world? it wasn't even like Stoke threatened us all day!

This is really hilarious.

So when Carrick is playing with Pogba, he'll be freed but when he's playing along Herrera, he'll be glued together with Herrera.

So the 433 has different tactics and system for Herrera-Pogba and Carrick-Pogba combo. A very silly assertion.

Kagawa10:
What's this one saying? How many of Herrera's passes were made to Pogba who was just a yard in front of him and you called that forward passes? Lmao!

Only an ignorant fellow would see Herrera's display yesterday and liken it to what Carrick does on normal basis. For crying out loud, our midfield had all the time in the world and wasn't pressed but rather Stoke camped in their half yet we did nothing throughout.

The same question goes back to you that since Carrick has been starting for us this season, tell us in which game he passes more to other players than to Pogba and Herrera who are closer to him than any other player. You expect him to be launching the ball upwards the way you saw him do it under your canopy.

Let me tell you now if you don't know that Fellaini isn't a no 10 but a SS or no 8. That's the best way to deploy him, not as a player expected to fashion out chances for the forward. Blame Mourinho for playing him as a no 10 instead of using him as a SS or no 8. And yes, Fellaini played as no 8 under Van Gaal and was far better than the useless Herrera last season and if Fellaini was to play as a SS, he needs the midfield to have a lot of control as well creating for him and the more reason, Carrick should have played instead of 'the no progressive' Herrera!

You don't need to tell me that he's always useful aas a SS because I already know that since his Everton days. A no 8 that'll always slow down the midfield and be safe-passing? More so, if Fellaini is going to play as a SS, how then does he need the midfield more to create for him? He'll rather need more of crosses from the wings cos he thrives more with his head than his feet's.

It's even quite funny when you expect someone who was hardly on the ball and used as a launching route to be the creative force when the likes of Mkhi, Mata, Pogba and Herrera did nothing with all their touches!

Stop spouting bullshite!

The 27 passes he got, what did he do with it? He'll rather safe-pass backwards. Why then should they continue passing to him when they knew he'll still pass them back to them. Why is it that almost 50% of his passes were backwards which he couldn't even complete? That's what you should answer. It's no longer Herrera launching up the ball and passing backwards.

Kagawa10:
You dey mind dem?

Our midfield looked clueless yet Fellaini was blamed when he was played as a no 10? We my have dominated possession due to the way Stoke played but we did nothing with it. Herrera's route was to launch the ball high up, pass backward or pass to Pogba who goes looking for Mkhi on the left or Ibra who had dropped far deep or moved to the left in order to get more on the ball!

Liar! Liar!! Liar!!! Your hatred for this guy knows no bound. Always praising and finding excuses for the cluelessness of Fellaini and see no good in Herrera's good performances.

On the bold. Herrera pass stats;

Total successful passes 102/110
Total Forward passes 67/74
Total backward passes 13/13
Total long passes 4/7
Total short passes 98/103
Square passes 22/23
Backpass 1/1
Chances created 2

How was it that Herrera's only route was to launch the ball up and pass backward when he only attempted 7 long balls and only 13 of his 110 attempted total passes were backward passes?

Fellaini played 56 mins as an attacking midfielder.

Total successful passes 23/27
Total forward passes 10/11
Totsl backward passes 10/12
Total short passes 23/27
Total Square passes 3/4

We can now see that your Fellaini was the one not doing anything in the attacking midfield position where he was supposed to be creating for Zlatan. His pass stats has also shown to us that when he passes forward ten times, he passes backward ten times. What does this tell you? He couldn't even complete his attempted backward passes which is so simple to do. I have said it that he is only useful with his aerial ability which isn't the main quality of a midfielder.

People kept blaming Fellaini when he was hardly on the ball and was only utilised when the ball were launched to him. Besides, he did okay with the little touches he had. Maybe he should have dropped deep to play as a no 8 but we don't know how Mourinho asked him to play. I wonder why people are not hammering on those that had lot of touches and did nothing with it.

Why will any sane footballer keep on passing to him when the passes they made to him were being passed backwards? He couldn't even attack with the passes they made to him. They pass to him, he passes back to them and runs into the opposition box expecting what? Herrera has played where he played yesterday and he has excelled there many times this season.
You want Fellaini to drop deep to do what? To cause a penalty? Didn't you even read or hear where his former team mate at Everton said they didn't always want him anywhere near their 18-yard box?

That's why I kept hammering on a midfield of Carrick and Fellaini because Carrick wouldn't have done a Herrera and would have dictated the play provided he wasn't marked which wasn't the case today and Fellaini would have been involved a lot more.

Lol! He'll even be worse with Carrick. Thank God you are not our coach. The midfield will be so sluggish like when snails and tortoise are engaging in a race.

SMH!

Fellaini and movement and awareness in the same sentence? The same movement and awareness that has given away two penalty kicks this season.

Yes, he created another option for us in the game when he came on because we decided to adopt the ROUTE ONE option when our players didn't make use of the chances created through the midfield (at least 3). Route one is always our plan b when things are not going on, nothing more than that. At that time Liverpool were trying to defend their one goal lead which is natural.

Saying Herrera is only a workhorse with no creativity, no movement, no awareness which Fellaini has. But Herrera that doesn't have these was able to have 5 tackles, 4 interceltions, 4 recoveries and created a chance. He even made one through ball from the back, i think to Valencia. There were a couple of such incisive passes he made to Valencia.

He didn't do anything better than Carrick in that match but carrick didn't make a single interception or recorvery and the only tackle he attempted he lost it in the match.

Though i'm not surprised by all these because an unrepentant hater will never see anything good in Herrera even when he continues to shame you in every minute he has played this season.