dee25

It doesn't sound like Shaw to Utd is a done, done deal. From the quote above it looks like we're still in the race and very much determined to sign him. If anything that's encouraging.......fingers crossed.

Does it bother anyone else that he always dribbles or runs with the ball with his head down? His goalscoring record is impressive (especially this season) but I don't think he's on the same level as Augero, Suarez or Cavani. Those are the kind of strikers that 50m pounds will get you.

I'm delighted for him that he's been able to pop up with those two vital goals but being honest I think he's been the worst out of the 3 strikers - although I think that has more to do with the fact that he doesn't suit our style at all. I don't know if he should continue to start, but I think he now deserves to be 2nd choice behind Eto'o.

#bestfansintheworld

Already looking every bit like a winning midfield pair!

If we somehow manage to pip L.pool to the title, this gif HAS to be posted on rawk.

I've been very impressed with him in these last couple of games. Extremely impressed. However, there's still a lot he needs to improve on. Very much hoping Mourinho can work with him on his offensive skills. Oscar and Hazard are both so talented but they need a lot coaching. Just hope Mourinho can get the best out of them.

Honestly, Swansea are really there for the taking. If we end the game with anything other than 3 points then.....just don't fuck this up chelsea.

I completely agree with @Joker10 and with what @remains of the day said. This Atleti team is a very, very organised, drilled and settled side. While the other three teams are still adjusting and adapting to a new system, tactics, coaching methods etc these Atleti players have mastered Simeone's system so they don't have much weaknesses to exploit. There are question marks as to whether they have the depth to compete on two fronts ( I don't think they do) but anyone who thinks this tie will be only slightly more harder than PSG will be very surprised.

You watch them tons and think they're the weakest of the four teams? To each his own I guess.

I think this is such an underestimation of Atleti. You're in for a surprise.

Major blow. PSG looks very comfortable. Think Mourinho needs to make a change. I would switch azpi to right back bring on ashley cole. We need more attacking variation.

Well judging by the number of times he was brushed off the ball in his own penalty area in the 1st leg......I definitely can't wait either!

I'm not going to quote the whole thing but I'm just going to say that this whole "he wasn't willing to fight for his place" narrative is one of the most overused football cliches that needs to be put to death - a slow painful death. People who tend to throw around statements like that often times use it as a way to deflect responsibility from their club and onto the departing player. I'm not saying you're doing that, you at least acknowledge that Lukaku's decision is understandable. I just think that none of us really know what transpired between Lukaku and Mourinho that led to him requesting a loan so I think to say that he wasn't willing to fight for his place is a gross assumption. Secondly anyone who has played a team sport and done so while competing at a high level will know that in order to "fight for your place" requires that you actually do have a place in the team that's worth fighting for. Young players need to be given reassurances that the club/management values them otherwise they're not going to feel that there's actually a place for them in the team and if they don't feel valued and validated then how can they then be motivated to keep on fighting? I also think your point about Mourinho not doing reassurances is absolutely not true. Marco Van Ginkel and Kalas have already said they received reassurances personally from Mourinho and your other point about the possibility of Mourinho being pissed at Lukaku is just wild speculations. Imo the club needed to have brought in a top class centre forward. They couldn't bring in the one they wanted, fair enough but the mistake they made was putting their faith in Torres (once again) rather than taking a punt with Lukaku. A strike force of Eto'o and Lukaku would have put us in a far better position for a title challenge. Although I agree that had Lukaku stayed he definitely would have gotten a chance but that doesn't really make a difference to him because he's gone on to do well at Everton at any case. The one who is at disadvantage from Lukaku being out on loan is not Lukaku..... it's us.

I think the result is not a hard one to overturn and I also think we have enough talent in the team to do so. But the way we've been playing all season - our decision making in the final third, the fact that we struggle to create clear cut scoring opportunities except on the counter and that we lack composure in front of goal....I think it's going to require individual brilliance and/or gift goals for us to advance. We're capable of that but that's not something you can bank on.

I find it very hard to believe that Lukaku would have requested a loan if he had been reassured by the playing staff that he and Eto'o would be the main striking options. I'm guessing the plan was to offload Ba and for Lukaku to be behind Torres & Eto'o in the pecking order. If that's true then I don't blame him for walking. Why should he accept being behind Torres? He's already gone out on loan, did well and now he should be 3rd choice? Bringing in Eto'o as a stop gap was the right decision. Firstly, it's a low cost signing and secondly Eto'o brings a different skill set from all the other strikers. So it was a good decision to bring him in as a stop gap but after a successful loan spell at WBA, the club needed to have shown faith in Lukaku. There's no reason why our striking options this season couldn't have been Lukaku and Eto'o and I don't believe for a second that Lukaku would have had an issue with that.

For some reason I just can't see Liverpool winning the title. Yeah they're on an amazing run; they have a fantastic strike force and strong belief in the camp but I think they'll stumble. A team that finishes 21 points from the top one season doesn't just leap frog to claim the title the season after. Can't see them beating City next weekend nor can I see them beating us.

Liverpool have now been awarded 12 penalties. That's the most any side in the league has received. After that is City with 7. And a lot of the penalties Liverpool have gotten have been decisive moments in matches.

It's not like his technique is awful. It isn't. It's just that he has absolutely no attacking instincts or flair. Like Alex said, he has no idea what to do with the ball - when to take a second touch, when to cross it first time etc. His movement is quite good but his use of the ball and just general decision making against teams like stoke is terrible. If Mourinho is dead set on him being his 1st choice right back, that's fine but then he either brings in an offensively strong left back or replaces Ramires with a more technically proficient player. A major part of our problem this season is that we're trying to break down a 10 men defensive wall with iva on the right wing, Ramires in central midfield and Azpi on the left wing. So our attack is literally just Hazard, Oscar and Willian - occasionally Lamps might provide some good support by making runs into the box but that's not enough. We need far more attacking variation.

Basically. Looks like the general consensus among utd fans is that a change in formation is needed. Very possible the club might decide to offload Van Persie.

oh wow his son is the spitting image of him! A mini-matic that one.

Sweet mother of Joseph. Iva....subbed??? Lord take me now cos I've seen it all. Never mind he's still on.

More concerning to me is that Willian, Schurrle and Salah haven't started one game together. Regardless, I think we should just wait to see how the match pans out before moaning about the lineup.

Meh, I still think it was the right decision to sell him. I don't think Mourinho's system or style of play is one that allows players like Mata to excel. I rather have the 37 million, which can be put towards strengthening weak areas than a talented, unhappy player wasting away on our bench. Funny thing is that for months many kept on pushing the "Mata only took us to 3rd place" narrative to diminish his performances last season but yet it's entirely possible we might finish 3rd again. Ironic.

Now 3 goals in his last two games. Looks like he's just beginning to find his groove.