Think we should have a thread to discuss our players'/manager's performances at the World Cup. Day 4, and so far:

- LVG and RVP spot on tactics by LVG to combat Spain's boring and now defunct Tik Taka football. RVP was in glorious form. That header That anticipation for his second Hopefully a sign of things to come next season.

- Chicha: Came on as a second half substitute v Cameroon. Had one fantastic opportunity in front of goal to score, but fluffed the chance. Been the story of Hernandez's form and confidence issues. 2 season's ago, he would have buried that with a header, rather than opt to shoot. Not a starte for Mexico anymore.

- Welbeck and Rooney: Welbeck had a very solid game. brought pace and energy to the England team. Bursting runs to the Italy box and looked threatening everytime he had the ball in the final 3rd. Hold up play and ability to trap the ball was as good as always. Rooney on the other hand was frustrating as always in a major international tournament. Provided a good assist though for the equalizer.

-Kagawa: Had a quited game and was limited in his influnce. Didn't provide any impact, every ball he tried to counter with was either too long or was intercepted easily. Meh

Today Valencia will play against Switzerland.

Actually that Japanese coach is adopting a style similar to moyes. Very defence oriented. The transition from defence to offence was too slow.

And kagawa was playing as if he was playing here for us under moyes (when mata or adnan are not in the side) The only player who exchanged one-twos with him was Honda and that too happened just once I think. So not at all surprising he looked out of sorts. That same ol' case as far as Kags is concerned of the entire team on an entirely different wavelength than his.

They are a missing a trick their I reckon, Should have based the play around him, should have devised a system to optimise his game, and without a doubt, he should be bloody played in that middle. Even in that inferior side, he is allowed to play only on the left.

valencia btw was nowhere to be seen on the pitch.   

Every time the commentator shouted VALENCIA and when I looked in anticipation , the camera zoomed in to show another Valencia, Enner that is.

Agree about Kagawa.

Valencia was pretty quite apart from the chance he created in injury time.

Evra gave a good cross to Griezmann that hit the bar.

Reports in Spain are that De Gea is out of the rest of the group stage, he wouldn't have played anyway.

Valencia was annonymous, seemed to have been playing a more defensive role.

Evra had a solid game imo. Not to knock t but it was against a bunch of journymen thugs.

Busby Babe wrote:Agree about Kagawa.

Valencia was pretty quite apart from the chance he created in injury time.

Evra gave a good cross to Griezmann that hit the bar.

Reports in Spain are that De Gea is out of the rest of the group stage, he wouldn't have played anyway.

A shame about DDG. But yeah I agree, politics meant that even if Casillas scores 5 own goals, he's place in the team will still be secure.

^Yeah, pretty shocking the only reason he's going to a world cup is because Valdes got injured, when in fact he (De Gea) should be starting.





From United's twitter account, I think they've done better before I think the Belgium one is the best though

Spoiler:

nice one ^

Nani was quite poor today imo and the whole Portuguese team too.  

So heavily dependent on Ronaldo, they want him to create everything which is not the type of player he is he doesn't get involved heavily in build up play, give him service, he'll finish it. They as might as well play with no wingers too, if they are only putting two players in the box unless the cross is inch perfect it's going to go to a German player.

Maybe, I'm being too harsh because Germany are very good side, and Pepe stupidly got sent off, what a tool. Let's see what they do in the rest of tournament. I must admit, RED has a point, patience is running out with Nani he was probably their most threatening player today attacking wise, but I think that says more about how poor Portugal were.

totally agree.  I will put the blame on the coach though. Paulo Bento, they were simply clueless today,, lacking discipline to the very extreme. And he has failed in his duties to instil cohesion among the players IMO.
Nani was playing as if he wanted to impress the whole world or something and in doing so he didnt give a fek about the team. they will get K.O ed in the group stage itself. Ghana is way better collectively.

Cluelessly bumped into his own player, who was in a better position. Summed up his afternoon.

A bunch of individuals, no teamwork at all.

Fellaini with a good header, he didn't even have to elbow the player in the face to win it! Gave Belgium another dimension just by being on the pitch. A few more performances like that and we might actually get a decent fee for him

Unfortunately, no Januzaj. Hopefully we see him at some stage during this World Cup.

Fellaini bossed haha.... just 25 or so minutes on the pitch but easily the MOTM
 and now we know why he is so ineffective for us. He is never a CM or DFM by any means, 2 positions for which he was recruited by his former boss the late scrub who walks the earth by the name of moyes.

Yea I agree to that, hopefully he will have a couple of good games and we can hence attract interests.  

If Belgium wouldnot have won today, their supporters would have ridiculed that coach for not deploying Adnan even as a sub. But lucky for him, fellaini come to the rescue.  Cant understand why Januzaj cant find a place in that squad even as an impact player in 2nd half. He would have played really well today if he was given a chance

Impact sub Fellaini. Did well to get Belgium back in the game. Shame that Januzaj was an unused sub.

Hernandez came on as a sub again. Feeding off scraps and didn't have time to impose himself on the game again. Moyes destroyed his chances of being a WC starter. No game time= poor form.....

Rvp with another goal v the aussies.

Lvg and rvp go marching on

Casillas has been awful this tourno, ddg has to start from now on.

LvG was forced to make the substitution, but he still had to substitute the right player on. Great call to bring on Depay when most would have brought on Lens. Also, allowed the Dutch to change to 4-3-3 which helped them.

RvP misses the next match, harsh booking imo. I thought his head might drop like he did for us this season, but he's a different man under LvG, chasing everything down, he was also the first man to run into the box for the penalty ready to clear it against both Australia and Spain.

As for Spain, Casillas with more mistakes in his last 3 competitive matches than De Gea all season. De Gea's time has come, unfortunately he is injured though.

What was the point of Mata and DDG going, or some of the other players for that matter, when Del Bosque just selects players based on favouritism?

I hope we get to see atleast Mata for their final game now that they've got eff all to play for.

England, never thought we'd get out the group in the first place, so though it's disappointing, it's not surprising. There's still a chance but a small one.

Second goal was a straight from a goal kick, similar to Klose's goal in the 4-1.

Rooney got his first world cup goal, but not enough in the end. Hodgson reminds me of Moyes

I don't like him, but Rooney was by far England's best player tonight.

That POS Gerrard on the other hand....

Shinji benched

Gone from worse to worse for him and Hernandez

Not surprised by his exclusion, he was awful against ivory coast. So many misplaced passes and was disposessed a lot too.

I'm optimistic he will flourish under lvg

Gerrard you cursed POS

my god....

that back line is horrible tho Suarez first goal was exact same as Balotelli

Jagielka caught ball watching, doesn't pick up the run and wide open header

Man Utd players with the second highest amount of World Cup goals currently

Spoiler: