Was the problem as simple as....

[Alan_C]

Their pitch looked awful. Far from conducive to a fast flowing silky football. Add that to the overly sized changing rooms knocked our boys off of their stride.


Or we are in a rut and basically until we can field a team with two mobile central midfielders who have the ability to pass, or at least not give the ball away. The players that can get us our of the rut, namely Ruiz, Berbatov, Duff and Reither will be far too busy making up for and covering for those that can't do their jobs adequately. They simply can't drop so deep to get the ball, pass between each other then get into the box on their own.

All bar Degagah we started the same team that drew at the Emirates. The same manager the same players the same tactics, we even gifted them a start yet the performance and result were far different.

[ffcbulgaria]

Berbatov can't ever make up for slowing down our play to no extent let alone making up for others.... I simply cannot comprehend what some people still attempt to say...

[Alan_C]

Berbatov can't ever make up for slowing down our play to no extent let alone making up for others.... I simply cannot comprehend what some people still attempt to say...

Berbatov is not all to blame. You won't see the best if him from outside the box. He needs to play up front and be supported. Yes drop him if he fails at that but first of all lets get him in the box and pass balls to him.

[ffcbulgaria]

Berbatov is not all to blame. You won't see the best if him from outside the box. He needs to play up front and be supported. Yes drop him if he fails at that but first of all lets get him in the box and pass balls to him.

However you suggest he has to make up for others? When was the last time you saw him doing it?

Ruiz is mostly making up for his mistakes and he does win the ball back a lot of times. Riether is doing his job and even more. That leaves Duff to be the only one who could add more? :D

[Alan_C]

However you suggest he has to make up for others? When was the last time you saw him doing it?

Every time he drops deep to get the ball. Take him out of the team replace him with Petric and he would drop too deep too.

We can't quickly and accurately get the ball to our attacking players.

[nose]

everything has to go through berba, thaat is part of the problem. on one occasion in the first half we were 3 on two (the only time) ruiz in possesion, berba peels right but is marked , kaka free on the left in a great position, ruiz  passes foolishly to berba who loses it instantly.
whilst berba is in the team sulking and brooding his way round the pitch, these errors will continue, kaka may have missed or messed up, or being in free space in the man utd penalty he may have got an attempt on goal....

[ffcbulgaria]

get the ball to our attacking players

OUR WHAT?

i mean, if they drop deep then who's left up front to even get the ball to?