16 Aug 2014 16:20:35
Here's my happy happy joy joy assessment.

People saying Rooney played well either didn't watch the game properly and just saw that he had scored or have some real messed up idea of what a forward is meant to do in a game, (aside from score) and what constitutes playing well for our captain and great hope!

He finished his chance well, but he was roaming too much again, so we had nobody upfront, he gave the ball away very often yet again, there were at least 4 occasions where a simple lay off was on for a dangerous attack and he under hit the pass awfully, almost every time he had the ball this happened. Decent freekick and good finish, he did nothing else the whole game.

Still he wasn't the worst player by any stretch of the imagination. It was better than what Mata did, I maintain he is too slow for our pitch, it is just too big for him and he needs too much time - he is only suited to certain games and with certain pacy players around him, basically a luxury player we can't carry at the minute with such little movement upfront and out wide. He hasn't impressed me all of pre-season either, just like Sneijder during the world cup didn't.

Hernandez is still lost in 2011, his value is diminishing by the second.

Fletcher gave the ball away so often it was unbelievable, he went missing a lot and towards the end looked like he was hiding a bit as well.

Herrera - did nothing, still waiting to see this amazing prospect play, as I missed the easy friendly against LA Galaxy that seems to have had everyone salivating. He has shone glimpses, but thus far I am far from impressed.

Young & Nani - not worth the decay on my keyboard typing about them

Janujaz - reminded me of Ronaldo when he first came over, great with the ball, but bad decision making - still something special.

Fellaini - Can't blame him if LVG resorts to old school tactics, stupid elbow, (some tactical genius LVG is deploying 80's hoof it tactics).

Back 3 - weren't really challenged, some silly mistakes and poor slow build up play, but that isn't their strengths. Can somebody tell LVG that if we play 3CB's they need to move forward with the ball, we looked like Carrick & Cleverley were playing back there, the return of the crabs?

LVG - glad to see the old 4-4-1-1 was worked on in our friendlies, wait there it wasn't, we put all of our eggs in a 5-3-2 basket with the most injury prone set of players the world has ever seen and weakest part of our very weak team being relied upon. No passion, no energy (both LVG and the players), is this what we have been pinning our hopes on, where was the mad genius sorting out the shambles, at least Moyes's eyes told a story when the plan was being blown up in smoke, it was almost like he didn't know what to do?

First game and things can only improve, I just hope people crawl out of LVG's backside now and realise that he isn't a genius, he is just very self assured and good at what he wants to do, the problem is one magic 5-3-2 formation doesn't fix all illnesses and we are on life support already.

He needs players, our support, but we also need to stop raving about him so much until it's deserved.

1.) 16 Aug 2014
Beast everyone including LvG is aware that we require players. and not just players. world class players.


That however does not justify today's loss but let's just hope it serves as an eye opener for Eddie Woody and he gets the players LvG wants.

2.) 16 Aug 2014
Herrera was the only player I saw that played a forward pass Fletcher what can you say he was decent but lacks a Toure stature we have got the old Young back he must of went on holdays in the pre season Jones was good but two defenders are needed Shaw coming back will be good but a right wing back is needed and Vidal

3.) 16 Aug 2014
The biggest thing that's wrong with the club at the minute is the supporters! It appears to be a comp at whom can rip them to bits the most. Stop complaining and get behind the team! It's our time as fans, to help the lads get confidence back! There playing with fear because every mistake is being analysed by people like yourself whom haven't got a clue!

4.) 16 Aug 2014
I thought Herrera played pretty well, I agree with everything else. We are forcing the 3-5-2 and many out of position just to accommodate Mata, who is smart and technical but not dynamic enough physically.

5.) 16 Aug 2014
What a waste of 5 minutes I will never get back in my life reading this rubbish. I was at the game, yes it wasn't pretty but do you really think that you are more experienced than lvg or for that case Moyes last season. I am as disappointed as the next supporter and have been a season ticket holder for the past 30 years or so. I have seen the bad times under sexton, big Ron, and early fergie days. Seen the best times under fergie and then the lows of last season. We have 3 weeks to buy and then 9 months to put today right. Honestly your negativity is getting me down. Have some faith please

6.) 16 Aug 2014
Boca you are wrong mate I think the fans are loyal all last season and today our fans inside the ground were brilliant BUT the club and players should no we are not happy with what we are seeing if nothing is said then everyone just plods along thinking it is ok

7.) 16 Aug 2014
Boca I tend to agree with you mate, we have played friendlies away and won them all and looked really attacking at times and confident again, then we come home, play against Valencia at OT and revert to last seasons football and the same today.
I think when we play at home the players are scared to make a risky pass forward incase it gets intercepted because the fans start moaning and groaning like last season, mentally they know they played terrible at home at times last season and fans getting on there back for every intercepted pass won't help them gain confidence in wanting to chance it.

8.) 16 Aug 2014
Boca - I'm not their counsellor, I'm a paying supporter and voice my concerns to fellow supporters. I don't rip into the players or abuse them in the changing room or from the stands and I doubt they care much about what people like me have to say, or even know. So the problem is most definitely with the players and staff, not the supporters.

I think supporters are the only ones coming out and saying what the problems are, everyone else seems to be in denial or taking their sweet time to sort them out for some unknown reason?

I'm sure LVG knows we need players, but didn't he say our current crop are good enough a couple of weeks ago? So we don't believe what we hear him say we are meant to believe what we want him to think? Doesn't make sense.

We have had plenty of time to correct the mistakes that we are making, it is basic stuff. LVG has made the wrong decisions thus far, I hope he walks the walk now and lives up to this top billing we are desperate to give him.

Apparently it takes no time for a transfer to be completed, let's hope he is correct as we have several days to do what he says can be done in one of them!

9.) 16 Aug 2014
Not true Zidaniel. we are using the 3-4-1-2 so as to accommodate Rooney, RvP and Mata in their best positions. That and LvG clearly doesn't have enough faith in his defenders to play 2 at the back all the time. Mata can be accommodated in a 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-5-1, 5-3-2 so you're just plain wrong there mate.

10.) 16 Aug 2014
16 Aug 2014 18:48:13
Think herrera played well. Thought when he was subbed we sat back again. Not the ideal start but the team is weak hopefully that is put right. Maybe you should look at things as half full rather than half empty? you may start enjoying things a bit more. Support your club 1 game doesn't equate to a disaster.

11.) 16 Aug 2014
Andy, if LvG gets the two defenders that he wants (Benatia and Rojo), then we will still play three at the back. Question will be Jones, Evans or Smalling at RCB. LvG will chop and change formations during the game, but he needs the correct personnel to play the way that he wants to. We are severely lacking 3-4 good players plus Shaw and Van Persie.

12.) 16 Aug 2014
Beast

post little, read a lot.

that was some post, I was unable to see the match, I going by your excellent report, just glad I read your insight before I watch the highlights. let's hope we get the necessary signing we need, roll on to the next game.

13.) 16 Aug 2014
Thanks Byron - I'm sure things will change, but it will not make for pleasant watching I'm afraid.

14.) 17 Aug 2014
Andy, fair play on your argument there. I was just too lazy before to lay it out the way you did, meaning that Mata can be an attacking mid and both Rooney and RVP can be strikers. Guess I was just down on Mata today, because he needs to play in that attacking mid, or #10 position, and he did not have a good game today.