Manchester United (Red Devils) | Special Thread

[Rutashubanyuma]

45 min United continue to probe, Di Maria collecting possession from Jones at inside-right, and with Van Persie drawing men away, opts not to find him but to shoot, dragging wide of the near post. Meanwhile, Mark Turner reckons we might enjoy seeing Roberto Mancini poleaxed.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

4.47pm 16:47
Half-time: Manchester United 0-0 Southampton

 

[mfarisayo]

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Well my analysis suggest utd needs Herrera to break the resistance of Southampton. Who to replace then? I suggest Valencia is too predictable

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

As I said early UTD is missing RADAMEL upfront there were a number of half chances which he could have converted. But again injury seems to conspire to keep him out of the loop once again.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

An interesting first half, that, but one that failed quite to ignite. after an excellent start, Southampton found themselves unable to win the ball high up the field, or to pass their way there, so spent the majority of time defending - very well. Though United gradually improved, finding more space as the half progressed, they failed to create a single suitable chance. They weren’t blunt enough to demand a change, but if Ronaldo Koeman doesn’t alter something, it’s hard to see the balance of play changing.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Half-time email, with Enna Coooper: “Didn’t the the Go-Bots come after Transformers, whereas Sensible Soccer took the Kick Off template and improved on it? Chronologically speaking, wouldn’t the more appropriate grunge comparison be that Sensible Soccer was the Mudhoney to Kick Off 2’s Green River?”

Ah, 90s grunge. Once we were happy pretending to be unhappy pretending to be happy pretending to be unhappy.

 

[mfarisayo]

 

[mfarisayo]

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

49 min Southampton win another corner on the right, Dowd warning Smalling, and again he and Smalling grapple as the ball arrives in their yard, Smalling there first to head down. United clear, but they’re under pressure here.

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6m ago17:05
48 min We see footage of Smalling all over Pelle - he’ll do well to keep getting away that, and in the meantime, United break with Di Maria, pulling right. He slides into the path of the onrushing Van Persie - or tries to, instead directing it behind him.

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7m ago17:04
46 min Southampton begin well again, the ball rick o’shea-ing of Di Maria’s shin and allowing Ward-Prowse some space. Right of the box, he shoots low, forcing Smalling to block, and it’s a corner. It comes to nothing, Carrick relieved when the ball flies over Fonte’s head as well as his, but Saints come back, a cross from the left aimed at the unmarked Pelle, Shaw dhalsimming into a block as he swings his left foot at it hard on the swivel. Excellent defending.

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9m ago17:02
46 min And off we go!

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

54 min Lovely from United, forced by Southamton’s harrying to move the ball quickly from centre to left, where Shaw can’t progress - the closing down has been exceptional so far. United keep possession, though, and Carrick sweeps wide to Shaw, whose low cross is slammed into touch close to halfway.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

56 min More passy-passy from United, fairly whatever, until Shaw and Di Maria manufacture an overload and the latter’s low cross is cleared.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

57 min Could someone please confirm that Sadio Mane’s dressing room nickname is Sassassadio, and he has a terrace chant to match? Thanks.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

57 min Blind aims a low pass into Van Persie, who flicks up - or whose touch flicks up - thusly facilitating a hook over the shoulder for Di Maria, skidding into space. Pursued by Clyne and Gardos, he doesn’t quite move the ball into space, and Gardos does excellently to nip it away from him.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

58 min Van Persie loses possession to Fonte, so wallops him across the back of the knees, earning a booking.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

UTD ought to quicken the pace of the ball or a third draw in a row stares at them.

 

[Wacha1]

imefanyaje?

Then unajiita weye ni mchabiki wa Manure . .... ... .... khe khe khe kheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[Mc Tilly Chizenga]

Game humu wadau

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

61 min Di Maria slams over a flat cross from the left, right-footed, and Rooney stretches hard, only just missing his connection. The flow of play is rather like that in the first half.

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2m ago17:18
61 min Herrera, shirted, replaces Van Persie, grimacing.

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3m ago17:17
60 min Southampton try to bring on Tadic, only to discover that he doesn’t have a shirt. Chuckles and consternation in equal measure in commentary.

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3m ago17:17
60 min Talking of nicknames and Southampton, it is an outrage that Adam Lallana has not a terrace chant to Crocodile Rock nor Gypsy Woman.

 

[mfarisayo]