PBP: FAC - Everton FC vs Manchester United FC - Apr 23, 2016 [R]

Well if you read, yes.

 

Missed the first half for working on a project. My stream was sketchy and my electric flickered in the second, so I honestly don't have a good idea of how the flow of the play went. I caught the last 20ish pretty well and thought we looked great. I'll have to re-watch it later once some recordings have gone up.

In case people don't know:

www.reddit.com/r/footballhighlights

by 8 hours after the match they usually have all the days recaps and the whole match.

 

If you thought the last 20 minutes was great, then the first half was the best you saw since the game City at Wembley in the Community Shield with the combo of Nani Rooney and Cleverley.

 

This is how I feel right now:

 

I reckon it is because LVG doesn't want to break up the Martial / Rashford / Lingard front three (which is kind of understandable) but still wants to fit Rooney in. The fact that we know LVG doesn't rate Herrera and Schneiderlin as highly as most of us makes the CM ahead of a single-pivot an option in LVG mind.

Think it worked OK first half, but Rooney/Fellaini/Carrick as a three does not have enough energy to play two halves and there were better options on the bench.

At least LVG is not benching Rashford for Rooney which was the bigger fear.

 

Sucks to be you, Hombre....

 

DDG 49% edges Martial 42% for fans MotM vote on MUTV.

 

i dont think youre being fair unless youre commenting in general. he played guys for clear chances 3-4 times today with those long diagonal balls.

 

Van Gaal: The Wembley verdict
Louis van Gaal spoke to MUTV, BBC and in his press conference after Manchester United's thrilling Emirates FA Cup semi-final win over Everton. Here are the key points from those interviews...

Reflections on the match
It’s fantastic when you see the joy in the eyes of the players. But also for the fans, because I think we deserved to reach the final. We were the better team in the first half and had so many chances - we could have finished it much earlier. It was an exciting game for the neutral fans and we are lucky that we scored in the last minute, but we deserved to win. I told [Chris] Smalling he was a lucky guy because now we can smile! He played a very good match. Both teams showed a lot of passion and will to win, so I’m very happy that we were the winners.

Pressure of a semi-final
I think the pressure was also for Everton. I think tomorrow when you see the other semi-final, the pressure is very high for every player because every player wants to play in the final, so it is always in my eyes the same. It is not different.

On matchwinner Anthony Martial
He could have scored in the first half when he was in the same situation, so I told him at half-time to shoot low into the corner – and he did that! It was a fantastic finish. I think he can do much better [in the future] because I see a lot of things that he can still improve and he shall improve. Only by training and by playing can you improve. Also, when you are playing at a higher level then you improve. When you are older you know all the things shall happen again. Then you have experience and you can decide much better in the same situation as before.

Can Martial become like Cole or van Nistelrooy?
I don't think that he is a striker; he is more of a wing player, but maybe in the future. But I don't think so - he is a different type of player to van Nistelrooy and the other examples of United strikers.

On goalscorer Marouane Fellaini
Fellaini is a player who wants to perform what we have agreed and I like that. He is also good with his head at set-plays – both for and against us – because we have a small team and he can help us.

On David De Gea
Yesterday we had an exercise with penalties. 20 penalties we have taken - Sergio Romero saved one and David De Gea zero. But today was the most important!

Will Wayne Rooney stay in midfield?
It is dependable on where my players continue. I have explained it also last week. At this moment I think that [Marcus] Rashford does a very good job in the striker's positon and now Wayne can contribute to the team more in midfield. I have seen today a great Wayne in midfield. It is not the first time he has played in midfield. Last year he also played in midfield, then your colleagues said he should play in the strikers' position. Maybe you remember that?

Prospect of an FA Cup final?
I like it very much because as a player, manager and staff member, you do everything to win a title and we are very close now.

 

The arch is red tonight!

 

He is funny dude.

The journalist are so stupid. I wanted a couple of questions on Depay and Carrick with Schneiderlin replacing him.

 

Did you see Rooney hug Memphis and Schneiderlin and then ignores poor Sergio Romero?

 

An English football journalist asking a relevant or pertinent football question? That will be the day, lol... It still amazes me how sensationalist the English press is: thought it was pretty bad in the US, but they've got nothing on the Brits.

 

Nah.

That's just a graphic of Rooney's passing.

 

No matter what you say about his tactics or starting XI. He seems to be a great human being. No after what happens between now and July I wish him the utmost success.

 

Very entertaining game. If only more were like it.

 

Rooney on United reaching the FA Cup final.

 

Mike looks worn out to me, exhausted, really. I don't think he ever reached top speed yesterday, especially when moving toward his own goal (and top speed was definitely needed). He appears mentally and physically spent.