Many Are Called. Few Succeed. Manchester United: Beyond the Promised Land

Lille 1 - 0 United

My problem with our latest defeat was not the actual result, it wasn't the fuckin formation either nor was it the fact that we played poorly. I can accept losing and I understand that we have no divine right to win every game let alone any game. You win some, you lose some thats football.

My gripe is after the embarrassing loss to Middlesbrough on Saturday, after the 'hairdryer' SIr Alex would undoubtedly have given them, after the press coverage of that loss, the brutal criticism from their captain and the 'promises' of we'll bounce back, i woulda thought that the players pride would have been hurt. But fucking hell! It wasnt to be. It seems we have players at the club who dont even care about their pride as long as they get £x 000 a week wages!

When we went 1-0 down where the fuck was the urgency in our play to try and get the goal back? Where was the character of the players? They were all quite happy to just play this fuckin pass the ball a 100 times and get no where in the game! No one was willing to make that extra burst into the box, no one was prepared to try and grab the game by the scruff of its neck. Everyone was shirking the responsibility, leaving it up to someone else or at least hoping someone else would do it.No one tonight showed any heart or any desire to want to win the game.

What ever happened to 'looking into the players eyes to see if they have that fire'? The talent is most definately there, but the question I guess is do they really want it? Because judging by the last 2 performances the answer is plain and simply NO!

The formation? I cant be arsed to repeat whats been in the news which has been said by every tom, dick or harry, because we all agree on it. But if we're gonna play this 433 away from home then at least play the damn thing properly! Want to stay true to our world reknowned attacking game? Watch bloody Barca and Lyon and see how they play it! Want to be a solid, efficient unit? Watch bloody Chelski and see how they do it! Dont just make the stuff up without having a plan or purpose.

How many times was Ruud isolated on his own? How many times did Ruud have to win a header only to see it booted back upfield by the Lille defenders? There was bit of play in the first half where Ruud had the ball back to goal about 25yrds out, Ronaldo and Rooney were out wide almost hugging the touchline. The camera pans back a bit and all you see is Smith, Fletch, Richardson, O'shea and Silvestre all standing there without making any sort of move foward to give Ruud options. No one was willing to give that penetration or that foward burst.

Ahh. Well its not all doom and gloom. We've been in situations before and we're gonna get outta this fuckin slump we're in. I just hope our players buck up before the Chelski game. Oh and in other news, Sir Alex celebrates his 19th season in charge of the devils this coming week. Well done Alex. This, however is gonna be his toughest challege yet in recent years. 2 more of such lacklustre performances and its gonna be the exit for Sir Alex.

"United's flag is deepest red; It shrouded all our Munich dead; Before their limbs grew stiff and cold; Their heart's blood dyed it's ev'ry fold; Then raise United's banner high; Beneath it's shade we'll live and die; So keep the faith and never fear; We'll keep the Red Flag flying here;

"Then raise United's banner high; Beneath it's shade we'll live and die; So keep the faith and never fear; We'll keep the Red Flag flying here;

"We'll never die, we'll never die We'll never die, we'll never die We'll keep the Red flag flying high; 'Cause Man United will never die."

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