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LIVE BLOG: Manchester United v Manchester City

March 25, 2014

Brad

Follow @bradcantona on Twitter.

CONFIRMED LINE UP: United vs City

PICTURE: The Wrong One

596 Comments

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John March 26, 2014

Gary Neville (brother of our great great coach Phil Neville incase if you don't know ;) ) FAMILY COMES FIRST!! BUT, he seems to have remembered he is a pundit and requirement of his job after fuck all from moyes, and his brother and company. :)

Another journo who is outright biased is Martin Samuel of Daily mail who bashed/bashes everyone else but moyes!!!!! His reason is 6-year contract plus British Passport. :) :)

And he is a top sports journo. :)

"The worrying thing is people think the right answer is just to go and chuck another £150million at it," Neville said.

"But it's almost like you've got to know what's wrong with the soup before you throw more ingredients in to make it better - and at the moment I'm not quite sure where you'd start.

"The defence does not push up the pitch, they're not front-foot defensively, while in midfield you need pressure and drive and they haven't got that.

"They are not risk-takers in midfield so the passing is slow at times. Ryan Giggs is the first midfielder, in the Olympiakos game last week, that I've seen pass the ball forwards.

"Up front I think they've got good players, but it's where you fit them in and how you position them together. Moyes has got some work to do in working that out over the next few months.

"The idea that United need to spend a load of money is very well. They've got money, but they have spent £80million already on Zaha, Fellaini and Mata in the last eight or nine months.

"City have spent £100m and people in this area say they have spent a load of money, well United have spent a load of money as well.

"So it's not going to be a case of just throwing a load of money at it. They've got to get the actual signings right and get the recruitment right."

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wayne barker March 26, 2014

wasn't a good performance but don't think anyone has put it into context,didn't mean fuck all to Utd except pride and everything to City.None of the fans want the Europa League so i'm sure the players want it less.The Bayern game means everything so i'll wait to see what happens there.
This is just normal on here this season nearly 500 hits,hundreds of comments by the same few posters who always show up to dominate negative threads

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John March 26, 2014

Derby is a derby! Only Moyes lovers/united haters neglect the defeat against Liverpool and City. And on both occassions both clubs would have thrashed us 5+ goals.

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John March 26, 2014

Fans go to OT to watch attractive football, to get entertained, to support their team but when they are fooled by Glazers and then again by THE CHOSEN ONE.....................it hurts!! Human nature........

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/watch-manchester-united-fan-slam-3286369

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wayne barker March 26, 2014

you're just a troll idiot i've told you don't address me,i'm just putting the game into context,that's the 3rd time in a row they've beat us at OT twice before while Sir Alex was in charge

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John March 26, 2014

Did I address you psycho??!!

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John March 26, 2014

Be careful of the wounded wild beast which is a drunk animal......................nice talking to true united supporters.........until next time.............cheers!! Next Tuesday hopefully ;) :D :D :D

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Blacksocks March 26, 2014

I think we are all agreed that for whatever reason, things aren't working out under David Moyes and there seeems little prospect that they will do.

A short term replacement would be needed until the end of the season, bringing back Phelan and Muleensteen would seem obvious for me.

But a long term sucessor would need to be found. There are a number of very good candiates who could be available in the summer.

Klopp
Simione
Hiddinck
Blanc
Ancelotti

All of the above are proven at the top level to some extent. Of those current PL managers there are a few who might consider themselves candidates.

Bruce
Hughes
Martinez
Picotto

And finally a few wild cards

Giggs
Keane
Scholes
Ferguson

My choice would be Klopp.

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ashtheking March 26, 2014

Wayne

I get your point but still you don't lose like this. First half was good and boys wanted to do well but I don't what hit them in second half.they just refused to perform and that's bad. Also I would have liked us to be playing Europe. We will have good squad and could have given the exposure to young players in Europa league. I wanted to see how moyes handles that pressure. He needs European footballa dn we also need it. Imagine at the end of the season we win the Europa league, wouldn't you take it, yes I will. Honestly no excuse for such dull second half performance

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Paschal Agwunobi March 26, 2014

Dela, I guess you are in your teens, cos u don't see the writing on the wall..SAF is great, we all know that, but he made a grievious mistake appointing moyes. That appointment was out of sentiment cos that clown has nothing ,I mean absolutely nothing in his CV to qualify him to manage such a massive club, he appointed a clueless fool, and should admit he made a mistake and sack that imbecile. No one Is bigger than this club, even SAF said so. Our board is filled with even bigger fools, cos uptill now,am surprised this clown still has a job, he should be sacked , afterall liverpool did same till they got Rogers, even chelsea have been doing it, same goes for city.if u want to be successful, avoid sentiments in hiring certain people for certain jobs

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Mav March 26, 2014

I mean damn, everyone is in a tizzy lol.

This is the way I see it (not that it matters)

Moyes will be gone at the end of the season. He is ha Omg a disastrous time of it BUT more importantly there are no signs that this could improve. The glazers are business men. Though they do not care about the club they care about money. A shit club means reduced revenue. They have to realize this

Around December I think despite the poor start we were only 5 points off the top? Close enough to stick with Moyes to be honest. 2014 has been a shit show but at that point there was no one who could come in an replace him.

Currently, we are too far gone and again there is no one to replace him. Sacking him now will make no difference BUT keeping him gives him a fair shot of showing some potential which I think is commendable in some respects from the Glazers. We all know it isn't going to work anyway as we are going to be thumped by Bayern and at least one more loss in the league away to Everton.

My point is, keep calm and carry on friends. I think he is gone come seasons end.

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Gary Mitrovic March 26, 2014

Wayne, I wouldn't hold your breath on the Bayern tie, I think it will be more of the same as what Liverpool and City dished out. I would be very pleasantly surprised if we're still in it after the first leg. By the way what has happened to Tommy? Haven't heard his insight on anything since the Liverpool game. Would like to hear his opinion on the two forgettable games against Liverpool and City.

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John March 26, 2014

suckdaroot, Old Oswestry, United Kingdom says: (Just for a smile at hard times :( !!)

"The press are doing everything they can to get this man sacked. This must not happen. All football fans must unite to keep this man in his job. David Moyes's unique methods will help bring continued success to 19 other clubs. Has one man ever had such a positive impact on English football? Sir Alex only brought success to 1 club." :) :)

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Opeyemi Onasanya Adedayo March 26, 2014

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/managers/david-moyes/10709107/31-reasons-David-Moyes-must-leave-Manchester-United.html so sad to share this with fellow Man Utd fans.. This guy hsould please leave our club now !

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ashtheking March 26, 2014

Mav

Yes 2014 has been real shit. We were doing fine and just were 5. Pts behind like you said. Don't know what hit our team and manager.

As far as moyes getting sacked, before the Liverpool game I said moyes has 10 more games to show whether he has the capability to manage united next season and so far he is again failing. But I am honestly in doubt whether the board will give him the sack at the end of the season let alone now. I think he will be our manager come next season also. If era remain is shit next season also then yes board will give him the sack. Now I doubt.

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wayne barker March 26, 2014

ash I don't want fuck all to do with the Europa league Thursday game's doesn't the winner end up playing around 30 games? Just total dogshit and plays havoc with the domestic season.I agree apart from the first 10 mins thought Utd played well in the first half,just stating facts though mate game meant everything to City.
Gary don't know what's happened to Tommy mate,a lot of people come and go on here maybe he just got tired of it

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John March 26, 2014

First he bemoaned fixtures, then bad luck, then he cried conspiracy over officials... now he says City are the team he aspires to! How the muddled musings of Moyes have deflated fans and left him on the brink.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2589812/First-bemoaned-fixtures-bad-luck-cried-conspiracy-officials-says-City-team-aspires-How-muddled-musings-Moyes-deflated-fans-left-United-boss-brink.html

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Gary Mitrovic March 26, 2014

It's like Gary Neville said last night though, throwing a huge amount of money at the situation isn't necessarily the right thing to do. The whole winning nucleus of the side was in place, but needed major addressing in central midfield and a bit of tweeking else where but nothing drastic. Now all of a sudden the entire team needs changing in just over half a year since the arrival of Moyes. Can anyone seriously see Moyes turning this around next season? Our expectations have lowered so much that next season we'd be celebrating fourth as a huge achievement. We're just delaying the inevitable.

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NBI Red 21 March 26, 2014

@ John - top post of comments from GNev, every fan should that 100 times. He is critiquing the set up, the use of players and the tactics and its bloody 100% spot on, finally the GNev breaks ranks and speaks, no more United ambassador position for him but he has the balls to say it and the integrity not to give a fuck about any backlash from Club insiders. Well done Nev about time.

One area we are canning it and ahead on all fronts, United pundits are the best on TV no question. GNev and Scholes, best analysis you'll hear. The way Scholes tore Arsenal MF a new one and shot Fellani's wig off was a thing of beauty. Well done lads! At least some United pride restored!

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Fletch™ March 26, 2014

This day just gets better and better:

https://twitter.com/FletchTM/status/448852585458302976/photo/1

ManUtd just followed City on Twitter.

Honestly. Anyone got Massimo Cellino's phone #?

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Paschal Agwunobi March 26, 2014

I only see 'motivation' comments here, pls can anyone tell me when the board are going to sack this clown. His time is up, such a mid-table disaster coach appointed by SAF out of pity. He's not upto it, we will end up worse than liverpool if that clown is allowed to carry on till next season. I keep praying for the sack, cos his negative tactics is terrible, watching top sides mauling us without mercy. We are now a team that gifts every opponent 3 points consistently.SACK THIS IMBECILE CALLED MOYES, and our players will be motivated by it. Am sure they know the mid-table clown is so clueless, no sensible player will want to play for' Moyes the clown'

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Gary Mitrovic March 26, 2014

I normally don't even watch the build up to games now or the analysis after, but Scholes made me change that last night. It was refreshing to see someone who didn't pull no punched and was blunt in his assessment of teams or players. Scholes was also questioning Moyes's tactics when he saw the team and said he was surprised Valencia was playing wide becsuse of the lack of width or pace in the side. Within ten minutes of the game Moyes switched Mata centrally and left Cleverely playing on the right wing for the entire first half. I doubt Scholes will ever be a regular pundit on sky, but it was nice to hear his opinion last night compared to the usual dross that is conjured up from twats like Jamie Redknapp and Graham Souness - absolutely clueless the pair of them.

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Ian Nichol March 26, 2014

Still trying to come to terms with last night's game. It was excruciating being there. We were outplayed and out thought in every department. Yes the players have to take some responsibility but for how much longer can the Board continue with Moyes as a manager. Please please dont let him mis-spend £100m/£150m this summer. Its like putting Dracula in charge of a blood bank!
He just does not have the tactical intelligence, capability and experience to successful manage a team of UTD's stature.
All organisations get selection decisions wrong but they accept they have made a mistake and dispense with the individual's services quickly to minimise damage to the organisation and its reputation.
In my view there is enormous reputational risk in keeping Moyes. The UTD name is turning into a joke.
I dont like the MEN but this just shows the extent to which Moyes has damaged our club.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/random-moyes-excuse-generator-david-6877533

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NBI Red 21 March 26, 2014

Fucking hell - United now following City on twitter after the game, this Club is a bloody joke! http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-united-start-following-man-3287419

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NBI Red 21 March 26, 2014

Hey guys some of our comments are on here - http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-united-fan-reaction-supporters-3286554

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Gary Mitrovic March 26, 2014

Well we aspire to be like City now, so following them on twitter is only natural.

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NBI Red 21 March 26, 2014

Jesus, the mirror has attributed ROM quotes, including mine, to other United fansites, I think all the quotes are actually from ROM, a bit rich that.

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trevor knightsmith March 26, 2014

NBI Red 21 :

They've used one of mine also, cheeky bastards or what ?

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NBI Red 21 March 26, 2014

Very cheeky and then to attribute some ROM quotes to other fansites! But I guess it shows ROM rules! Which is cool. We are definitely the most interesting bunch on the internet. It's about time the media started reporting our views.

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NBI Red 21 March 26, 2014

Some hilarious posts on twitter - http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-united-v-city-moyesout-3286834

Agree with the post re Moyes body language, players look at the bench and see this guy sitting with his head in his hands, SAF or any other manager worth their salt would look and probably be shouting blue murder.

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AntiScouser March 26, 2014

@NBI Red 21

"Juan Mata has won more matches in Old Trafford in a Chelsea shirt than in a Manchester United shirt. "

This one actually stings when you read it.

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mjcRED March 26, 2014

@ Wayne

Given the consistency of shite performance after shite result. The majority on here are responding with their hearts in utter incomprehension at how far we're allowing this man to drag us down. Some spotted the signs early, others gave him far more time than was deserved. The rate at which things have gone down the shitter with barely anything to suggest a direction has been even hinted at has led the majority of sensible minded supporters of the CLUB to the horrible end-game that we're lurching towards now. This isn't North Korea and we will not follow A MANAGER blindly when every shred of evidence categorically points to him being out of his depth.

We seem to be breaking unwanted records game after game and yet you feel that burying your head and sheer and utter denial of the facts that have been evident from the beginning of the season is the approach that a proper United fan should take? When is the right time for a proper United fan like yourself to get concerned? After another season, 2 seasons or 3 seasons of bland, unambitious one paced football?

Where the fuck do you get off thinking that your comments and views are the only ones worth listening too.....

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Koketso Brian Kupe March 26, 2014

@Gary

For me we need to lose a few more games before the end of the season to avoid europa league. If we're stuck with moyes then avoiding the extra games is our ticket back into the top 4. Arsenal have a good team but a thin squad and they can never seem to avoid injury over the course of a season courtesy of fielding 8-9 metrosexuals (minus flamini etc). Liverpool are slighty different, they rely more on a "system" than personel.

I'm no longer holding my breath on the subject of a change of manager. If transition was a valid excuse this season then it is even more plausible next season with an overhauled squad. Iv said before than moyes is exceptionally cunning in the way he downplays poor form+results and exaggerates small victories. This also applies to insistence that united have a "long term plan" which is why he was given a "long term contract" such a comments conveniently masks the the lack of progress.

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Gary Mitrovic March 26, 2014

Koketso, no need to worry on the Europa league scenario. Everton are over the hill and out of sight, and despite Tottenham's well documented troubles all season they have remained above us all season. Hull or Sheffield United will be guaranteed a Europe league spot should they play Arsenal in the FA cup final (assuming Arsenal quality for the champions league) so no need to worry. Seventh place is not even even safe as the chasing pack of Newcastle and Southampton still have to play us on their own turf.

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NBI Red 21 March 26, 2014

@ Koketso - spot on Moyes is a cunning bastard, look at that quote before the City game where he said he does not actually take any blame for the performances this season as he has done everything right. He is desperate to save his own ass by trying to pin everything on the players, computers, refs, bad luck, it's pathetic. But he made clear in that interview that he does not actually believe he has done anything wrong hence nothing to learn. He talks shit and lies for the camera making his snide excuses on one hand and blaming others and talking himself up on the other, yet people think this guy is humble, honest and decent because of the way he poses and smiles helplessly.

At Everton he was an excuse a minute convincing fans they could get no better, now he is trying to lower our expectations and blame the players for where we are - I am not having that! But unfortunately some United fans buy his bullshit.

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NBI Red 21 March 26, 2014

Sell all our players, keep Moyes. Or. Keep our players, kick Moyes.

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Mark Haslam March 26, 2014

I really dont know what to think anymore. The one thing we do know is that the stewards was guarding the Chosen One banner last night. It seems the fans are starting to turn. I really want Moyes to succeed, I really do but I dont think as fans we understand how the team that won the league by 11 point have declined so drastically. There are 659 million United fans out there around the world to impress and I think Moyes has got it wrong. You can just see on his face its too big for him. And his comments to the media are making it worse. No United fan wants to here our manager say we want to aspire to the same level as City. We are Manchester United. United need a strong confident manager. like Fergie who's first Interview mentioned hes come to knock Liverpool off there Perch. Moyes is far from that and he certainly isn't cut from any cloth fergie is related too. I actually thought Moyes was going to burst out in tears last night. Do we as fans trust Moyes and the back room staff he has replaced. Is he seriously going to take United forward. And will the board actually trust Moyes with an open cheque book in summer? I hate to admit it but its clear I'm starting to turn. I think hes doomed!!

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dannysoya LOVES USAIN BOLT March 26, 2014

WOW what a great excuse Wayne. This game didn't "mean" anything to the club so therefore we can excuse the shower of shite that performance was. You have your head so far up your ass, you can't even think straight anymore. EVERY time you come on here and deride fans for expressing frustration at the fucking shambles this season was compared to last. It is totally impossible for you to understand why 99% of United fandom is irritated and disappointed with a shockingly horrible season. You think you're better than everyone else and you come on here and attack fans who had the guts to express their frustration with the terrible season we've had after we beat the mighty WEST HAM and OLYMPIAKOS.

If it were left to you, you'd want all United to keep singing and pretend like we're still top of the league because we're all deluded cunts that can't see beyond our noses right? FUCK OFF please. This season has been garbage and David Moyes is to blame for most of it. END OF STORY. He better have a masterplan in place for the summer or he's gone by December.

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Ian Nichol March 26, 2014

Mark Haslam here is the evidence to confirm Moyes is quite rightly doomed!!
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/mar/26/david-moyes-manchester-united-dead-man-walking

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NBI Red 21 March 26, 2014

why is he still walking!

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Matthew Fairclough March 26, 2014

Let's be honest, the game last night was an utter disgrace and however much we can chatter on about player motivation etc the fact is that the change in our fortunes has come as a direct result of Moyes' introduction to the club. I would be happy to stand by the guy if I saw us struggling but felt we were slowly making progress and moving in the right direction. As it is all I see is a floundering team who know where they want to be ("as good as City"), but don't have a manager who has the tactical nous or philosophy to get them there.

As such, I feel that Moyes needs to go - he has to go. I need a concerted effort from everyone who can possibly be arsed to sign this petition and to try and spread it as much as possible - on social media or whatever other way you might want to use...the more people sign this, the stronger and more unified voice we will have outside of Old Trafford. Hopefully that'll translate onto fans inside the stadium and they'll start voicing their displeasure towards the Moyes regime. We already saw evidence of that happening last night for the first time... It seems that Moyes will be hard to get rid of - there are some powerful people supporting him - but as much pressure from as many different sources will hopefully rid us of this utter loser.

Please sign and share

https://www.change.org/petitions/manchester-united-and-david-moyes-manchester-united-must-sack-david-moyes-at-the-end-of-the-season

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samuel - united WE stand March 26, 2014

NBI - for all of moyes shortcomings and clear limitation, he is a master manipulator and it will take some with a no nonesense mentality to spot it.. His ability to milk situation, every desperate scrape of a crumb of victory and it is portrayed as some of grand feast of which all man must adore, suddenly we are on mythical charge towards the bountiful land of gold.. One average pathetic victory against relegation candidates and he exaggerates it..

After every defeat, he rolls out his metronomic dull lines, talking about "how big a rebuild it is" and "how the club stick by their manager through tough times.. In a cunning way, trying to emotionally guilt trip fans to stand by his inadequacies. He grovels, mopes, comes up with delusional gabbage that surely anyone mentally unstable would scratch their head.. He genuinely believes he could be the new fergie, somehow with a long enough time, he'll blossom into a memorable genius.. Moyes has been living in a fantasy all season and there is only one way this is going to end and it will be with an embarassing sacking that will tarnish his reputation in the game, this charade will not end in anything else.

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Mav March 26, 2014

Can you stop posting that stupid link to the petition. Those petitions do nothing.

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DeGeaWeTrust March 26, 2014

What makes Moyes so incompetent and it does not even count at this level, is he could not see a possible vision in how united played Saturday, the partnership kagwa and mata were starting to forge he just decides to dump kagwa on the bench again for guys like cleverly. Clearly 4231 was the best system for this squad, so he decides hey lets bench kagwa, play cleverly who is so out of form. Play the most ridged 433, with carrick fellaini and cleverly, how does that make sense? when all 3 of them play to deep, why play 3 deeplying midfielders? and hey lets play mata out of position. It goes beyond incompetence. Money will not solve this clubs problem, when the manager picking the team is playing players out of position. It does not matter how much money you have, when a manager does not know what he is doing, when the team he had Saturday seemed to have an identity, he throws it away

How was playing this 11 going to work
De Gea;
Rafael, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra;
Carrick,
Cleverley, Fellaini;
Mata, Welbeck,
Rooney

Cleverly and fellaini are not great at dictating a football match, welbeck and mata are shackled out wide, and rooney is isolated

Look at the team saturday esp the midfield and attack
fellaini fletcher
young kagwa mata
rooney

There was better ball control, because guys like mata and kagwa could get on the ball, you play players out of position, you get burnt

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Gary Mitrovic March 26, 2014

The club just need to put Moyes and everyone involved with the club out of their misery. It's going to get nasty if they let it go on any longer and I personally don't want to see that.

I read an article yesterday how Moyes wrote a personal letter to an elderly, life long supporter of the club who had just lose her husband who she attended games with. Moyes didn't release this story to the media in anyway, and it was a nice touch and shows the humility of the man. He no doubt is more distraught than anyone at the failings of the club and himself this season, let us end it now before it turns into a poisonous atmosphere.

Emotions are running high at the minute, so the feelings are very raw. I will never hold anything against Moyes personally, but I don't want him as manager of Manchester United no more. The people who appointed him should take the brunt of the blame for handing the job to an under qualified manager.

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KevlarD March 26, 2014

As I have stated often I will have no complaint if Moyes is let go at the end of the season or even shortly before the end of the season, BUT I don't think he is the main issue. I have heard over and over again about the lack of tactical nuisance but I'd like to know what exactly he should be doing differently with the personnel available. This is an open ended question I'd like to hear good ideas on how to get the best out of this United squad.

I have felt for sometime we have lacked certain aspects to our team that made us vulnerable. We don't have midfielders who can close down space and put pressure on the ball or defenders who like or excel at defending higher up the pitch. Dot take my word for it, ask Gary Neville/Paul Scholes who said the same thing. We don't have midfielders who look for forward balls often enough and we are slow in the build up of our attack. Don't take my word for it, ask Gary Neville/Paul Scholes who said the same thing.

For me our defense is our biggest problem. Rafael is an energetic fun player to watch. BUT I don't see the same quality I saw last season. Jones has done well, Smalling has been ok at times, Evans has been injury prone and the other defenders are probably on the way out. This area needed freshening up for awhile and instead of buying a proven quality player we have brought in talented youngsters. Many still may have a great career with United but they aren't the level we need right now. Lately we have looked to address our midfield problem with the acquisition of Carvalho and the chase for Kroos, Reus, or one of the many other cms we have scouted or been linked to.

Now you could argue this is down to the manager to fix and I agree. United has needed refreshing for sometime and considering we bought one player and sold no one last summer tells you a lot. I believe Moyes wanted to give ever player a chance to prove they are United quality. Many won't trust MOyes to rebuild the squad effectively, and I don't blame them but I still believe given time he is capable of building a competitive squad. He did so at Everton with limited funds and given time to adjust I think the will do the same here. But no matter who the manager is, the squad needs refreshing this summer.