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LIVE BLOG: West Brom vs United

March 8, 2014

Daniel Stapleton

Follow @danstapleton89 on Twitter.

CONFIRMED LINE-UP: West Brom vs United

Moyes singles out Rafael for praise

142 Comments

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dannysoya LOVES USAIN BOLT March 8, 2014

Yeah I think we've all come to the conclusion that the team is much more fluid when one of the big two are playing. However their egos mean that we have to start both to fulfill all righteousness. Will not be surprised if one of the two walk away in the summer.

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GingerPrince18 March 8, 2014

Thanks Moyes. Hope we keep the same kind of line up for our next game. Get them playing together and they will finally click together. Good performance. Its been a while. Liked the line up. Good substitution and great efforts from our players. Constantly pressing when we dont have the ball. Even RVP tackled all of their back four. Be careful now Robin, you could get sent off and the media and haters will twist the knife saying you are dishing out even though you worked your socks off!.

Finally just and honest opinion. Dont see Rooney and RVP clicking together. They just can play together. They are moving in the same space most of the time. Maybe Moyes will find out how to accommodate both of them or he just have to make his mind up and drop one of them. Dont wanna take anything away from this victory. Whole team deserves that. Some might argue its just WBA, but they are pretty decent team at home and plenty of good teams lost points there this season. Evan SAF did not get 3 points last season there.

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Paschal Agwunobi March 8, 2014

Pls, My prayer is that. Moyes should stick with the guys that played today against Liverpool...cos he might decide to start shite players like Cleverley, Young and Valencia, and if he does; then doom awaits us. Dear Moyes, sell young valencia and cleverley..we will be perfect without those 3

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samuel - united WE stand March 8, 2014

Gary - agreed. It wasn't a flawless performance, improvements still need to be made, still think united more quality in that central mid ty o consolidate the attacking power but it is a basis, a platform to start with and.. Let's hope moyes doesn't have his syndrome of picking the wrong players in the wrong system. With kagawa, RVP, rooney, januzaj, kagawa, welbeck and nani (has someone locked him up or something) you have that unpredictability to unlock defences.. Now stick with those players, call tony pulis to pick up young at the end of the season.. Shift on the average players, those that will retire, will retire.

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AntiScouser March 8, 2014

@GingerPrince18

"Evan SAF did not get 3 points last season there."

Can't you see how stupid that argument is? SAF had 23 more points this time last season. You somehow curiously omitted that. It was his last game and it was meaningless. But don't let facts stand in your way, carry on deluding yourself.

It's West Brom, not Barcelona.

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Only 1 Utd March 8, 2014

Imo we need to get rid of either Rooney or Rvp to start to rebuild a new team and with Rooneys recent renewed and lucrative contract if one of them leaves I'm 95 percent sure it will be Rvp.

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Only 1 Utd March 8, 2014

@ AntiScouser
He was being sarcastic mate jeeez...

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Paschal Agwunobi March 8, 2014

Pls! I never want to see anything like Cleverley, young or Valencia near our line up. But my fear is that Moyes may decide to start them against Liverpool.

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Greeny1982 March 8, 2014

much better today, looked alot more fluid going forward in the 2nd half but its looking like most fans suspicions were right about accomodating all of our big players,really hope we can play a settled side until the end of the season, maybe Vida back in for the scousers and City but Fellaini and Carrick looked solid in midfield

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ashtheking March 8, 2014

West brom are no small club, agreed they are no Barcelona but they managed to hold Chelsea, arsenal, Liverpool . And they were the same team who got 3 points from us , so how are they a weak team. It was just we were good today and we deserved three points. Now it's upto moyes to select the same line up In next game.

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Koketso Brian Kupe March 8, 2014

@gary

It was a very comfortable performance and very encouraging to see some of the players having fun on the pitch.

As for the team selection, well I only have two games to judge but it seems Moyes goes with this line up when he feels the opposition will be more inclined to sit back and might prove hard to break down. Against a team that will attack us I have full confidence he will revert back to the young+valencia+cleverly combination hoping to "make it difficult" for the opposition and "nick a goal". I could be wrong, but we'll find out soon enough!

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Ezzerguru March 8, 2014

A good line-up and a huge improvement. Some good football and movement in the second-half. Admittedly WBA have become a poor side since they got rid of Clarke, but we looked like we were capable of playing like a United side again.

I've always been adamant that Moyes is the wrong man, but I'll be happy to be proved wrong and will gladly hold my hand up if he turns it around.

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Gary Mitrovic March 8, 2014

Koketso, I would be amazed if Young and Valencia are recalled to the starting line up against Liverpool. We have produced one of our best performances of the seasons and coasted to a 3-0 win in the end. Don't fix it if it's not broken. No need for us to be tense going into the Liverpool game as our season is over. We should be fighting fire with fire next weekend. My only concern is Carrick and Fellaini being over run with the lack of mobility in the middle of the park.

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Only 1 Utd March 8, 2014

The only good thing about this season is I think it has become quite obvious who should and shouldn't be part of Man Utds future. Also imo Young, Cleverley and Valencia are not even good enough back ups so should be let go.

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UnitedFaithful March 8, 2014

Good game,scored 3 without having to get out of 2nd gear,gives you hope that how good the team can be if the attacking players continue to gel even though we haven't got the right foundation behind them but feel they should be playing with more confidence than they are right now.
Fellaini had a good one hope he can step it up a notch or two in a high tempo game where he won't have the freedom to go forward at every opportunity.

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GingerPrince18 March 8, 2014

@AntiScouser

If you dont understand what I am trying to say, dont resort to call me stupid. Saying other people stupid will not make you any smarter. Thank you and this is the last time I will address you as I am not going to resort to a keyboard warrior like you calling other people stupid because of your inability to understand my post. It is not wrong to call me by moniker if you have something to argue. That is the point of having a moniker anyway.

I am just going to enjoy our rare victory. You can call me any names under the sky that you want but It will not take my pleasure of enjoying our team victory.

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samuel - united WE stand March 8, 2014

Koketso and gary - it is a test isn't it? Is moyes brave and courageous enough as a manager to actually go for the victory and worry later about stifling the opposition.. If young and valencia return then clearly the man has not learnt his lesson.. The key here is, it is possinle to still form a solid, compact defensive base and yet find enough balance to get forward and prove a threat with quality players.. However, with average players, they are predictable and one dimension.. People try to claim young and valencia are played to bring "defensive" balance.. But how often have we seen young and valencia snooze away as an opposition nips in and carves out a chance or score?.. Basically, even the defensive side of the game, young and valencia are clearly lagging behind.. Why not just instruct quality players to also put in the shift and be organised off the ball?.. Moyes needs to realise, the risk taker in football benefit more than a negative mind.. Like I said, we will see in the upcoming games if moyes has learnt.

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GingerPrince18 March 8, 2014

Fair play to Moyes. He promised he is gonna take a look at our young CB and he started both Jones and Smalling today which was the big difference today. Quicker back line will be able to handle any counter attacking threat. Way to move forward. Smalling and Jones was outstanding. Smalling just need to learn how to be more composed on the ball and find a team mate. Other than that he has all the defensive quality of a proper CB. Shame he had to play RB though at times when Rafael is out injured. Hope Rafael is back now, we need him for the remainder of the season. Rafael and Fellaini played really well today.

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losomanutd March 8, 2014

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10685038/David-Moyes-could-sell-Robin-van-Persie-to-make-a-statement-of-intent-about-Manchester-Uniteds-future.html

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ashtheking March 8, 2014

Samuel

Well said. This maybe moyes last chance to show whether he has learnt or not. Bar injuries the line up should remain the same. Max he could bring Evans for jones. That's it. If he decides to bring back vidic, rio,young,giggs then sorry he has not learnt and may never learn. Kagawa in those 15 mins did more than what young or tony v do in whole 90 mins. Let's see what line up he picks against Liverpool

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tallestreD March 8, 2014

3points and 3goals with a clean sheet. Good start to the weekend. Roll on the next opponents.

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losomanutd March 8, 2014

With Van Persie, United suffer the same problem and his lack of pace and mobility make Moyes’s team pedestrian and lacking the variety required to break down even the most limited opponents.

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tallestreD March 8, 2014

I still think though Welbeck and Kagawa are the most mobile in the attacking sense. They free up space and position themselves well. The team just lacks movement. We need to be quicker than this.

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GingerPrince18 March 8, 2014

@tallestreD

Great observation mate. I like Welbz and Kagawa movement with and without ball. They find those pocket of spaces.

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UnitedFaithful March 8, 2014

The last couple of games should be used to bed in new players and finding a constant starting XI so that some good can come out of this season,if the tinkering continues next season that performances will continue to be disjointed.Love Vida to bits but his inclusion in the team will only be a stop gap change that won't have any bearing on the team's future.Better give the rest opportunities to prove their worth so in the long run DM can be confident on where his players stand and how much improvement is needed.
Main worry is if the noises coming out of the club are true and United brings more than 3 players they will have to give them a reasonable amount of time to get adjusted the playing style and the PL.So obtain as much stability as we can from what's left in the season and and be ready to bring new players to the positions we need reinforcing.

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UnitedFaithful March 8, 2014

As much as I love Sir Alex he relied too much on the old guards to get us over the line,I can't fault him for picking them cos at the end of the day he delivered but in the long run he didn't have the chance to field younger players who were touted as the successor of the veterans.Bar Rafa I don't see any player who was bedded in properly in positions they were bought in for.No one could have forseen how the seniors have let the club down but Sir Alex should have made those young ones ready for first team.He left things in a way the DM had to start from a clean slate while that is a good thing in a way but it blurred the line between the players ready for the first team and the players who aren't,no wonder Moyes had to rely on our aging players at the start.

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UnitedFaithful March 8, 2014

As much as I love Sir Alex he relied too much on the old guards to get us over the line,I can't fault him for picking them cos at the end of the day he delivered but in the long run he didn't have the chance to field younger players who were touted as the successor of the veterans.Bar Rafa I don't see any player who was bedded in properly in positions they were bought in for.No one could have forseen how the seniors have let the club down but Sir Alex should have made those young ones ready for first team.He left things in a way the DM had to start from a clean slate while that is a good thing in a way but it blurred the line between the players ready for the first team and the players who aren't,no wonder Moyes had to rely on our aging players at the start.From the team's perspective those players are completely new to the team because of their involvement or lack of.

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WeAreUnitedd March 8, 2014

Rafael was man of the match for me, SMalling and Jones close second.

A good display, if we keep this group together then Ithink they can gel well, remember this was their second game together so unless Moyes decides this was a win so we need to change then I will let the time-excuse go through.

It's a shame that we can't cope with both RVP and Rooney out there. It seemed that when RVP was subbed, everyone raised their standards, even Mata started looking much better.

The disappointment of the game was Rooney, although he scored and I think assisted one, I think the lad needs to be our leader up front or in the bench, of course with the 300k, he will be in the field which unfortunately could mean selling RVP just after 2 seasons.

This will not make us go backwards but it would be a shame after such a big impact in his first season and how he loved this team, we'll see what will happen, but RVP and Rooney don't work.

Kudos also to Moyes for figuring out the subs, Kagawa was brilliant ans Welbeck Ithink rested his case with a very great dispayy and a goal.

Next is Liverpool, lets keep the same squad, probably Vidic will be back, but keep the same team.

PS. We really need to get rid like @samuel said, the likes of young valencia and ando + fabio gone, and bring the lieks of pereira Powell zaha lingard in + ADD 2 MIDFIELDERS,

I think fellaini will do a good job, but we need 2 more midfilders.

NOW lets be happy and concentrate on the next game

peace.

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Koketso Brian Kupe March 8, 2014

@Gary
If we're honest on current form itd be more akin to fighting an inferno with a camp fire. Sticking to the line up is what WE would do. However the last time fellaini came in with a great peformance he was inexplicably replaced by cleverly the following game with our manager claiming he had long since made the decision to play cleverly the following week. I certainly see similarities in his approach this time round. Despite our thirst for vistory as fans we must remember for David Moyes at this stage of the season having run out of excuses a draw against possibly the leagues most in form team is a good result and ion past experiences that is exactly what we're likely to see.

@samuel
I completely agree with you. Another thing moyes can't seem to understand is that ball possession is a form of defense and this line up is capable of having it in abundance. It boggle the mind that he should rely on a formation that pins its hopes on counter attacks when valencia, young and cleverly all have the football intelligence of a walnut. Cleverly can't move past anyone. Valencia can't couldn't deliver a ball if he founded Fedex and young is too busy preparing for his post football career as a stunt man. Young+cleverly also have a way of merely "looking busy" without the ball. Young assumes his hunchback stance and merely occupies space while cleverly invites ppl to run at him. With United in possesion all I see cleverly doing is making passes expecting someone else to take the bull by the horns which is ironic because before he gets the ball he's pointing to his own toes as if to say "imma bout to tear shit up".

Another observation I would like to make is the calmness and confidence fellaini+mata+januzaj are adding to the team. Through their own shortcomings young, valencia+cleverly stink of nervousness and apprehension. They are well aware that they're playing for their futures and their indecisiveness is damaging. The commentator spoke of how United showed signs of their old "swag" today. Trust me when I say there would be no such "swag" with those 3musketeers on the field.

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Zana March 8, 2014

The performance was very promising and tactically Moyes was spot on!!this was our most positive response so far this season.

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Koketso Brian Kupe March 8, 2014

Excuse he typos. Its not easy being dyslexic at this time of day

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NairobiRed March 8, 2014

Rooney and RVP can play together, what they can't do is be partners as strikers. RVP should be first choice and if rooney has to play, play him in midfield like fergie did. Anyway, we can all get giddy from beating ateam that didn't press and was content in staying back and containing our attack. A good measurement of this attacking lineup could come when we face liverpool and city. Sadly, I feel tis team will get dismantled next week and won't face either pool or city.
Welcome back Valencia, Cleverly and Young,the 3 players you can bet your money on to be available when we least need them.

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Zana March 8, 2014

Hope David Moyes can finally learn from mistakes and do inspire his team to further success.this could be the turning point and finally we see the light at the end of this absolutely dark tunnel.

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iamMatty March 8, 2014

losomanutd says:
With Van Persie, United suffer the same problem and his lack of pace
and mobility make Moyes’s team pedestrian and lacking the variety
required to break down even the most limited opponents.

.
Like seriously? Listen even rooney's agent will tell you that rvp is a better striker than rooney.
Rooney behind him stiffles his game most times than not, and stops the team playing a proper no10 behind our no9.

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NairobiRed March 8, 2014

@iammatty
True that, Moyes can't drop RVP if he's fit, he is the only world class player we have, he also can't drop Rooney coz he seems to have promised him player/coach/advisor so he could sign for united. Quite the fix he has put himself in.

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Zana March 8, 2014

Points to be considered"Moyes have learned many lesson this season"
1.Rafael should start ahead of anyone as right back"providing he is fit"
2.Fellaini linking with mata was quite reassuring and this should evolve during time of training and upcoming fixture.
3.Januzaj should play instead of Young at any time.
4.predictable players like Valencia and Young should be used as substitute unless they evolve to be less unpredictable.
5.Phil Jones and smalling are our future center back after Vidic departure and the former should not play as right back unless there is an emergency situation.
6.It was very interesting to see kagawa and mata playing together and the manager should be audacious enough to give these two more chances.
7.Rooney is much more comfortable when Fellaini is in the midfield things should be constructed from there.
8.Welbeck is a man of every occasion but he needs to gel in well with Mata and Januzaj.love this man

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iamMatty March 8, 2014

Good result from the team, I still expect more tho.

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iamMatty March 8, 2014

Kudos to dear old davey for becoming more positive and adventurous with his team selection.

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DeGeaWeTrust March 8, 2014

When you do not pick guys like valencia and young, who offer nothing in the forward end of united's attack, and are quiet average when it comes to defensive duties, its a better performance. When it comes to the hold up of the ball, they do lose it allot. 3 0 is a very impressive result, considering we drew 5 5 last year, and like this term, we do not have much to play for. So 3 0 is a great result, now when it comes to offloading players, valencia and young should be on top if the pile of players leaving, which I feel we do not even need them, when you have mata janazaj, and zaha I feel could still make the break through, why keep players who are not playing well? and really effect the way united play.

What also pleases me? jones and smallen both played at CB, the huge concern I have had for united, is the players who must take the reigns for ferdinand and vidic, with vidic off to inter, ferdinand on the verge of retirement either this summer, or next summer, we need players to take their place. In theory jones and smallen are like for like replacements for ferdinand and vidic

jones - has all the tools vidic at his best had, aggression, great in the air, he can score goals, and goes hard in for the tackle

smallen - his style resembles ferdinand, a different style to jones, brings the ball from defense, he can bring calmness to the defense

So they could replace ferdinand and vidic, but they have the tendency to be sidelined for long periods, so we will need a CB this summer

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Rukky E. Atebefia March 8, 2014

Moyes's learning from his mistakes and that a good thing to see. Just attack that's we do- the line up was spot on, hope he sticks with 80 percent of it to the end

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UnitedFaithful March 8, 2014

This front four should be given time to gel,with the right blend of players behind them and with a instilled work ethic this line up can be our best until new transfers commence next season.

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Unagi March 8, 2014

Win is a Win.

Happy about that.

Still this is one step. We were all happy after Crystal Palace...

This was warm up now hope United makes statement of aspirations with 3 next games :)

The weekend is much better :)

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OAldiall March 8, 2014

http://www.m.101greatgoals.com/blog/man-united-boss-david-moyes-confirms-shinji-kagawa-will-feature-a-lot-more-for-rest-of-season/

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ashtheking March 8, 2014

People always say we have been playing boring football then I will say same applies for Chelsea . God damn they are boring to watch, it would be a shame if they win the league at the expense of city. I don't care who wins the league but it would be bad if the boring Chelsea wins the league.

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ashtheking March 8, 2014

Spurs giving up. I don't mind that. If we manage to get even 4 pts from Liverpool and City game then we may very we'll be in reach to be in top 5. Even top 4 could be possible if we beat Liverpool . More than Liverpool I can see arsenal stumbling and we could be fighting with them than Liverpool .

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Gary Mitrovic March 8, 2014

I'm generally not one for giving refs abuse, but Michael Oliver just made an horrendous decision. That wasn't even a penalty, let a alone a straight red, absolute joke of a decision. There is no way we're catching Arsenal,11 points behind with 10 games to go. One step at a time, it was a good win today but let's not get carried away.

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DeGeaWeTrust March 8, 2014

But? the problem is, will Moyes go right back to valencia and young in the big games? which is a worry. Some of our worst results this season, have been when valencia and young have both started. You pile cleverly into our midfield, it gets worse. What Moyes must realize is? when you play valencia and young, our CM becomes isolated, and we lack flexibility in defense and attack, and teams can carve right through us, Yes it worked at times last season when we won the league, but times have changed. We have to move on, if they were playing well I can understand, but they are not playing well. At-least with janazaj and mata, we have better means of holding onto the ball, and we look far better creatively, along with the fact we are not to ridged. So Moyes first lesson if he wants to learn anything, is stop playing both valencia and young, that will be a start

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DeGeaWeTrust March 8, 2014

Gary - I had to make a couple of comments, that I do not want be seen by one of those fans who only comments on here when the team is struggling, which many think gives me the ammo to bash Moyes. I have given him credit, happy with the result, but I am still worried he will convert back to valencia and young, which has been the route of our problems in terms of attacking sides, and getting overrun

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Gary Mitrovic March 8, 2014

Degeawetrust, I think we're all worried about it. They are are obviously going to make appearances again this season in one way or another, but if they're starting at home to Liverpool I don't see how anyone could defend that decision. We've just put in our best performance in a long time, so it's obvious in they you go with the same team for Liverpool. Fuck worrying about what Liverpool can do, we can hurt them as well. They're vulnerable at back despite their brilliant attacking play this season. Fight fire with fire. I don't want no cautious approach.

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DeGeaWeTrust March 8, 2014

Gary - it is not about attacking or cautious approach, its ball retention. Valencia and young do not hold onto the ball enough, and their defensive ability's are not that good anyway. They are too ridged, we never really had ridged wingers. Becks giggs sharpe kancheslkis offered more to united than wing play football, they were great footballers that is without adding the fact they were match winners, valencia and young are neither match winners or great footballers. And you add the fact they play too wide, especially valencia, that leaves the middle 2 very isolated. With mata and janazaj, they play closer to the middle 2, and they hold the ball better, we do not look outnumbered, it never helps rooney is not great on the ball, so a combo of valencia young and rooney is not a great combo for ball retention