Nottingham Forest - Manchester United

[DeesideRed]

Absolutely shocking today. It really was. We have no plan except chuck it into the channels but we're not even good at that - most of the time gets cut out.

A weakened united....today started with 4 genuine class players.....de gea, fernandez, Eriksson and caismero. 3 in CM. We play 2 and give their actual class players the freedom of nottingham.

2 unpopular opinions from me today -
Steve is a really great man manager but very poor tactically. We need better tactics to stay up and he doesn't seem able to deliver. Potentially a top number 2 but thats not going to happen.
My other unpopular opinion....MGW does not have the physical attributes to be a top player. Not fast, not strong, doesn't have short distance turning or acceleration. Good player, unfortunately held back in my opinion.

So his tactics last season were poor also?

How about, we were beaten by a team that spent £250M last season alone and that isnt including the many other players who were already on their books?

Yes today we were made to look like schoolboys playing against men. That is the gulf between us smaller, less attractive sides and the big 6.

But I am sick and tired of seeing and hearing the same old negativity week after week after week. 

Today was the 4th time Utd have beaten us this season. Nothing to do with tactics or formations, just a field full of international superstars with far greater skills, experience and flair than any player wearing the Garibaldi.. It's about time some of you stopped making out we are something we aren't. We are a newly promoted team with a squad full of new players with the exception of a few. Bournemouth and Fulham, who went up with us already had squads from the PL. We didn't. In fact we didn't even have a squad!

How many of you said at the start of the season, you would be happy if we finished the season in 17th place? We are one place away from 17th with only goal difference separating us from that spot. Either make your minds up what you want or be careful what you wish for!

For me, the biggest let downs have been those that have come in with a massive fee attached. Awoniyi, MGW, Wood, Lingard (wages alone). They have simply not produced.

Easy now. It's just my opinion. Last season the tactic worked..... quite possibly because of djed spence and yates being fit. And anyway, nothing is ever perfect and yes, there were aspects of last season that were starting to become concerning that are actually ignored because ultimately we did get promoted. We definitely didn't score enough goals last season or dominate opponents enough but whatever, we got promoted. 

We currently don't have the pleasure of a djed spence or a fit yates. So in my opinion the system needs to change somewhat. Also, our defense cannot hold out in the same way this season, yes due to the quality of the opposition. 

Steve seems to be able to get something extra out of the team when there's basically nothing to lose. The run last year from bottom.... until  we were on the cusp of automatic and we then hit a wall....although again, we got over the line somehow - though benefited from some fair luck in the playoffs, which is absolutely fine by me!

This year, we went on a good run, again when we basically had nothing to lose. Now, and for past 10 or so games we've had something  to lose and gone completely shocking again!

Tactics are not simply about formation.... But about how you go about things within that formation structure. What opponent to press and when. How high up the pitch to defend. Blah blah blah. 

I'm grumpy. We've played united 4 times this year and rolled over for them every time way more than the other top teams. Really grates because my united supporting mate is lacking his usual entitled arrogance and seems to pity us!!

There is the Djed factor but its more that it was a 3-4-3 whereas in the Prem its been very much a back 5 as we're trying not to concede and then leaving a 2 in midfield being overrun.

We were better 4-3-3 with 3 yard dogs in midfield. The team seems setup around MGW who for me, just doesnt score / create enough to warrant this.