Post-Match Reaction Thread | Manchester United 2-3 Blackburn Rovers
by Gene Um on Dec 31, 2011 3:21 PM GMT
in Manchester United: Premier League
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Three massive points dropped. That is the big picture consequence of today's shocking defeat by bottom of the table Blackburn Rovers. Much of the hard-work and the disciplined grind it took to close the five point gap on leaders Manchester City has been undone. And all of this was done on the 70th birthday of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Ugh. To say this is incredibly disappointing is a massive understatement but after losses that gut me this much, I'm never one for the right words.
Injuries have obviously ravaged the club and the fact that Anderson appeared out of nowhere shows how well (and frustratingly) the club conceals their injury/illness situation. United came out in a funky lineup (more on this later during our tactical review) and it was almost as if the method of the lineup choice involved a dartboard. But none of this should excuse United's horrendous performance. We are not going to cry over poor fortune. We are not Arsenal.
Yakubu crashed the party in the 16th minute when he converted from the penalty spot after Dimitar Berbatov was ruled to have dragged down mountain of a man Christopher Samba in the box. Just after the break, Yakubu once again struck and United were shockingly down two goals. However, literally just seconds later during the 52nd minute, Berbatov pulled one back and it was game on. And then 10 minutes after back, Berbatov struck again leveling the match -- it appeared likely that United would soon score again and take all three points. It wasn't to be.
I don't want to pile on David de Gea because much of the criticism of the Spaniard this season has become lazy, tiresome, and exaggerated. However, his command in the box is lacking at times and it certainly was at Old Trafford today. Blackburn's winner was the result of him failing to clear a cross after he weakly flapped at a cross from the corner. He had done so similarly on a previous corner as well. The last time though, 20-year-old Grant Hanley headed home the winner in the 80th minute to punish his mistake.
As always, vent here in this thread than take it out on your loved ones, friends, or pets. What are your immediate reactions? How concerned are you about this setting us back in the title race? Share your thoughts below.
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I've been a big advocate for de Gea but...
I’d like to see Lindegaard between the posts vs. Newcastle and City.
However, this rotating of goalkeepers is doing de Gea, and possibly the club no good. Pick a No. 1 and stick with him.
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De Gea needs the 6-month at the sidelines
Just like Lindegaard did. Look how good a goalkeeper Lindegaard is now.
No De Gea is 20
He needs games. This will all benefit him in the end. Whqt Fergie has to do is decide if De Dea’s development will hamper our title bid enough (I think it already has IMO)
by Sweet science on Jan 1, 2012 2:43 PM GMT up reply actions
Appalling result...
Just as we were starting to close the gap on City this happens. There’s no excuse. We made Blackburn look good today. Another embarrassing result at Old Trafford. How many times are United supposed to respond? First the City defeat, then the Palace defeat, then the CL exit. Now this.
I give up, this season is a write off already.
by Ilias on Dec 31, 2011 3:48 PM GMT via Android app reply actions
I was a fan of De Gea too...
…now I officially hate all Spanish men.
The pre match support for Kean from Sir Alex suggests that Fergie deliberately let this one slip away.
All the great work throughout December, undone
De Gea – Spanish (meh)
Carrick and Jones – Great in midfield, outmuscled in defence (by Yakubu alone)
Evra – Currently suffering from lapses in concentration level.
Nani – Usual wastefulness not backed up by his occasional brilliance this time round.
Hernandez – MIA
Rafael and Park – Who would play a full back and a winger at the centre of midfield?
Welbeck and Anderson – Decent
Berbatov and Valencia – Brilliant
Interesting fact: I remember a pundit mocking Arsenal’s bench midway through our 8-2 thrashing, saying that their squad numbers add up to more than 200. I think the sum of our bench squad numbers today is more than 200 too.
Words cannot express about what I think about the travesty I just witnessed
But i’ll give it a try: it was a piss poor match. Although we controlled the ball for most of the game, we really weren’t aggressive on our attack until the 2nd half and our GK was poor at best today. It was just a game that gave you a horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach.
That’s all i’m going to say because I don’t want to disect this game any further because its making me very frustrated. I just want to put this match behind me and focus on the game on Tyneside on the 4th.
Happy new year everyone!!
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by Bradley James McEachern on Dec 31, 2011 6:28 PM GMT reply actions
That was appalling
Berbatov’s penalty couldn’t have been more obvious… Or any closer to the referee.
Phil Jones might as well have been watching that second goal with me on the couch because that’s all he was doing. Can’t get caught on your heels in your own box, particularly if you’re a defender.
And finally, someone needs to teach De Gea how to be decisive and really go for a ball when he has decided to commit to it. It looked like he was trying to conjure a spell rather than grab that cross.
We had control of the game even when we were down, and just completely lost focus in the defensive third.
"Can Manchester United score? They always score... Peter Schmeichel is forward... Beckham, in towards Schmeichel- it's come for Dwight Yorke. Cleared... Giggs with a shot- SHERINGHAM!"
Everyone certainly has a right to be livid
I certainly still am.
However, for anyone willing to write off the club (our fans included), have you learned nothing from the club’s history?! Much of the club’s foundation is built on it’s resiliency. There are certainly things to be alarmed and concerned about but anyone willing to give up on the league title when we’re at worst, 3 points off the pace at the halfway mark and on a 90-pt pace for the full season…. I don’t know what to say to you then.
Editor-in-Chief for The Busby Babe | SB Nation Soccer Contributor
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Some Thoughts...
Cannot understand the initial lineup presented. Is SAF and the team taking opponents too lightly? If United was playing a team like Fulham I wonder if Rooney/Giggs would have played. And why play Rafael in midfield and Carrick at CB? There must be some tactical reasoning that is beyond me because I fail to understand the team strategy sometimes.
De Gea was poor today and Anders feels like the better keeper to me at the moment…. I want to see him between the pipes every start at least until he’s given up a goal don’t you think?
A tough three points to drop but losses come during the long course of a season and hopefully City gets bit with one of these down the road too (tomorrow would be nice).
I didn't watch the match
& if im being honest, I have no care to go and watch the extensive highlights. Seen the goals
But I think people are forgetting our horrid injuries. Vidic, Rio, Smalling, Evans. That is our four best CB’s out. Hence playing Carrick at CB. SOmeone suggested why Rafael was CM when Carrick was CB?
You really want Rafael up against the Yak, challenging for high balls in our box. Coz I sure as shit wouldn’t
Nothing we could do about Yakubu really
Samba and Yak were too much for any of our players to handle (Jones could only handle one and he couldn’t handle Yakubu without Carrick’s help… heck, not even both of them could handle Yakubu together)
I didn’t like the idea of Rafael in the centre of the pitch too, but I kind of understand Sir Alex’s intent to overload either one of the flanks (to break through the 10 man defence). I don’t think he anticipated Yakubu being a menace to Carrick which resulted in him not being able to really dictate the match with his passing.
Perhaps it would be better for Jones to man mark Yakubu and Carrick to assist him occasionally, freeing Carrick to go up the pitch in the meantime. But take nothing away from Jones, he was superb as our marauding defender last night. 2 shots on goal only to be denied by his own teammates, he really is our X-factor lately.
Can't believe im about to say this
But take nothing away from Jones, he was superb as our marauding defender last night. 2 shots on goal only to be denied by his own teammates, he really is our X-factor lately.
First & foremost he is a defender. And the team conceded three goals. I would be hesitant to say any defender that has conceded three goals superb….
Big sigh…. SOrry Phil….. Still love you
by Sweet science on Jan 1, 2012 5:23 PM GMT up reply actions
An Attacking Defender - Phil Jones
You can consider him to be a better David Luiz haha.
We all have high expectations for all of our players, and certainly Carrick and Jones have to share the blame for the 2nd goal. In Jones’ defence though, he’s played 3 different positions with no stable partnership established in his first year with us. Fans could be forgiven if they’re willing to give him a break for his defensive shortcomings.
But at a club like Manchester United
Locked in battle for the league against a team of City’s calibre….
There is no room for forgiveness
by Sweet science on Jan 3, 2012 10:48 PM GMT up reply actions
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