Edited for accuracy

Fabio, Wellbeck and Obertan apart, it was practically a team of United regulars.

Leeds' game-plan was absolutely spot on today and highlighted just why Simon Grayson is so highly regarded in my view.

Leeds looked like a XI that played together every week. Everybody in the side knew their role and executed it perfectly. Man Utd on the other hand, seemed to lack any sort of understanding and it looked like a team that had been hastily put together. Leeds turned the game into a L1 scrap and, other than a lack of pace down the flanks in the first half, gave Man U little opportunity to do anything.

I was fearing a good hiding today. Leeds haven't been playing that well in recent weeks and if anything, this game has been something of a distraction. Best case scenario I'd have taken a proud 1-0 defeat, with a replay being the achievement of the decade but fair play to the team. Paddy Kisnorbo, Johnson and Killkenny in particular were all outstanding.

No.





Yep, never said it wasn't. But the performance certainly wasn't one of a Premier League side aiming to win the League and do well in Europe. Chelsea's own poor season is the only thing that has covered up the cracks in our pretty awful season so far. We simply must not lose to City in the League Cup.

Obertan and Welbeck were our two worst performers, not that you can pick a good one really. Brown was done for pace all the time, but made some super tackles. Fabio was probably our best, but that's like been the best mililitre of milk in a three week old bottle.

I can't believe how bad Utd were today, maybe they thought they just had to turn up? Leeds deserved it, fair play.

Just got back. I agree. They passed well against inept Wigan but the other two games I've been to recently - Fulham away and today they were useless. Leeds looked phsically stronger and only Rooney seemed able to stand up to them. Maybe a bit of upper body conditioning is required?

For about the third time in a month Berbatov stood on the edge of the 6 yard box and watched a good cross sail past him. Any other striker in the world (even school boys) in that position would assume the defender might miss it and move forward. But no he just stands there, the defender misses it and he's two yards short of a tap in. He has his moments and looked good against Wigan but he's not a proper striker.

If Rooney and Vidic go to Real, United will get relegated next season.

I can assure you that today they put on a master class compared with how thet played at Craven Cottage a couple of weeks ago!! (Still sh**e today though).

Gutted about today. Can't believe Ferguson thought that midfield was suitable for an FA Cup game vs Leeds. No fight in Utd's midfield compared to the Leeds midfield who were quite rightly putting it about and controlling the middle of the park. Only good thing to come from today is that we should put a stronger team out now vs city.

Well they aren't are they? Unfortunately football doesn't work on how many fans you have or how exciting the pre-match is. It goes on what you do on the pitch.

This year we have been poor in games i'll admit (utd, spurs, pompey), but we have been equally good in games as well (villa, chelsea, burnley - who have all beaten you this season but not us btw). We're in this league because our football has been good enough to get us here and then keep us here. Leeds (we outclassed them both times we played them in the league btw) are where they are because they have been e (as are Newcastle, Norwich, Southampton and many other 'big' clubs.

Don't like it - go and watch a sport where your crowds and 'fan excitement' counts

5300 yesterday, toddle off.

I'd hope I'd have more numbers at my funeral.

What was the score? Ah yes, we won 4-1.

Our crowd dropped by about 10k. (hull brought around 900 rather than the 3k they brought in the league) Villa's by about 15k.

Crowds mean jack.

I see United fans are now changing their tune. Let's face it though, your 'team of kids' is essentially 3 inexperienced players, who have all played Champions League.

The irony is that we will be playing with a mainly 'second' team as we may well be missing:

Ireland
Toure
Adebayor
SWP
Lescott
Onouha
Richards
Johnson
RSC

Most of those listed haven't been available to Mancini since he arrived.

I'm dreading the City game.

Worst possible result for City was Utd losing perhaps? Full throtle in League cup now, should make a great spectacle!

I don't share that view. We don't need United to "go easy" on us. We will control what we can.

Even though we are unable to call on pretty much half of our squad, no matter what team United puts out, it will be reported as United's 'kids' against City's strongest team.

TBH I think a demolition of Leeds United would have been the worst possible result. If they had gone into the semi games on the back of a wonderful performance then they could have gone into this weeks game with confidence and without pressure.

As it is Man United will be under more pressure and lacking in confidence, so that could impact negatively on their performance.

TBH it'll be better for Citeh that if they have won the CC, they've done it properly, and not because United CBA to face up to them properly.

No it won't, I have read numerous times about City not having their first choice centre backs and other injury concerns. So it will only be like that in your mind. As for Utd's side, until we know who is playing we can't comment.

It was a shame Fergie didn't go to the post match interview after the game. Sore loser or what ?

I think you are wrong. United have been playing about 3 youngsters in each round and the press have been claiming that United's team is 'full of kids', Fergie's Fledglings etc..

:1gt7l9cw

Interesting you say that. United appear to have struggled in some games this year where they have come under pressure, which is unusual for them. As a result, I think any added pressure may make it more difficult for United. Normally, the United teams have thrived on the pressure. I am not sure that's the case anymore. There's a collective psychological change at United. The players don't appear as battle-hardened, resilient and as confident as they have been in previous years. Maybe I am wrong. Will be interesting to hear what the knowledgeable United fans think - Karlos, RedTez, Nemanja and others.




Agreed.


I won't be bold and say we will win though. I am never confident of us winning any game. I honestly thought we would be beaten by Boro at the weekend. We are second favourites for this game IMO.

Fully deserved by Leeds, the best team won. I fear a dicking at City to be honest as our midfield will get shown up for what it is. Welbeck, Brown and Gibson weren't very good yesterday and Berbatov laboured around. We need to bring in an energtic midfielder. I would have loved us to get Ramsay seeing what hes doing at Arsenal.

I dont think you can single those three out to be honest fella. Nobody turned up. The only one who showed anything was Valencia, and his final ball was mediocre at best.

When's Hargreaves back? Where's Fletch?

I'd say the "kids" that we have chosen in the Carling Cup so far are Welbeck, Macheda, Obertan, Gibson, Anderson, Fabio and Rafael.

Sure, a few of them have played CL and all have played PL, but they're still only youngsters. However, despite what Fergie has said previously, he cannot play that side, because it won't beat City.



Before, we knew that if in doubt, we could give the ball to Ronaldo and 8 times out of 10 he would score a goal to get us a draw or more likely a win, the team always had confidence in him getting something. This season we rely on Rooney, and his ability to pull something from nothing isn't as good as what Ronaldo, which aint something to be upset about, Ronaldo was a freak.

Rooney liked playing alongside Ronaldo. They both read each other's game perfectly, and together they created just about everything that was good about United. Rooney liked playing alongside Tevez too, and his partnership with Berbatov just aint working. Berbatov is by far one of the best players on the ball in the League, but he doesn't fit into the United system with Rooney, he always wants one or two touches too many IMO. Unfortunately, I think we should cut our losses and say goodbye to him.

Another major loss for United since we lost Ronaldo is pace. Evra and the da Silvas apart, we have a shocking lack of pace in the side. Many times this season when we've tried to hit on the break (previously one of out biggest strengths), but we've tried to use Carrick as the breakaway. Although you can always rely on Carrick to keep the ball, he isn't going to sprint up to the other end of the field in a matter of seconds. So this season, we've tried to pass our way out, and with our awful passing so far this year we often lose it and put ourselves back under pressure.

Fergie claims he has £60million to spend, well he needs to buy a striker and a creative midfielder. Ideally, he'd sign David Silva, but as a cheaper alternative, somebody like Milner from Villa could be just as effective. He's somebody that puts 110% into every game, he can play anywhere along midfield, and he'll do all the running and hard work that we lost when Tevez left. Not only that, but he can hit the ball too.




As it's two legs and we're at home second, I think we are probably just about favourites, as long as we don't get stuffed at Eastlands. If it was a one legged tie, I'd put you as favourites.

ATM I even think AC Milan will chuck us out of Europe too.

Physically, Hargreaves is ready to return to full training. It's mentally where he isn't ready. So nobody really knows how long he's going to be out for.

I think Fletch was just dropped as "unrequired" for Leeds. If fit, he must play v City.

Other problems include O'Shea and Ferdinand. Both long term injuries with no clue as to when they could be back. Without Ferdinand, we miss pace at centre back, as we found out to our cost yesterday.