Who cares what a bunch of disinterested hacks have to say when you can get the skinny direct from those to whom it matters most? Well, good news – Football Burp’s very own Jonny Forumer, lurker extraordinaire, is here to collate choice message board analysis so you can get the lowdown from the people who really know what they’re on about. Take it away, Jonny…

Morning folks, Jonny Forumer signing in. “I can’t understand our defending, I just can’t get to the bottom of it at all. It’s making it difficult for us.” – Sir Alex Ferguson is none the wiser as to the reasons for his Manchester United side’s consistently slow starts to matches, witnessed again last night as Portuguese side Braga raced into a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes. But can the Old Trafford faithful work it out? I hung around online Red Devils joint Red Cafe listening in on folk’s theories…

That’sHernandez…

Coincidence

Cold_Boy…

That’s what I am thinking too and also a bit of complacency.

Cause after going down we defend pretty well.

Kid Cunto…

Teams are coming out and attacking us from the get go, and a lack of concentration from kick off.

RK…

Random variation and this causing a circle of lower confidence in our defence and higher confidence in the opposition’s attack.

Sunny Jim…

Witchcraft. mark my words.

Irwinwastheking…

I think it seems to be more a collection of individual errors rather than a team problem. We need to cut them out, and become a bit more ruthless in defence.

That said, our coming from behind like a United team of old has been most enjoyable.

Sylar…

Think from the kickoff against Chelsea, we should take the ball and boot it into our own net. Then we can actually start playing.

ghaliboy…

Adjusting our system to a more technical formation with no safety net provided by wingers tracking back. Defenders getting attacked from different zones and in general defending in different and more dynamic areas.

pocco…

Really? We’ve conceded from out wide tonight twice. What is dynamic or different about those attacks?

ghaliboy…

In general. Different zones and different formations. The first goal was a cross out wide and a one on one finish. Not really much you can do there. If the attacked gets to the ball and finishes it’s a goal. The line wasn’t very well organised there..

The second was nobody again tracking the ball receiver and hitting a first time finish.

Sultan…

With constant success, motivation, lack of respect for the opposition and over confidence finds it’s way to your mindset. Once the opposition score all these issues are ticked off, and they suddenly remember they have to play football to win a game, and not just turn up. It could also be just a big coincidence opposition scoring first in games. However, It’s not just the starts, we have been well below par for most of the season, but somehow managed to outscore the opposition in most games.

marjen…

Due to van Persie and Rooney being absolutely superb, largely.

Our offensive firepower is frightening. And it seems to click. We need to rectify the defensive issues. All will be better when we get a proper backline settling, with four defenders fit and constantly playing together.

Vidic was clearly unfit when he started the season, Rio’s a bit on and off at this stage really, Carrick’s not a CB, and De Gea looks rattled due to the goalkeeping merry-go-round. Add to that Evra still having these lapses of concentration, and the end result is we’re looking shaky as hell.

One positive note on conceeding early: No more zombie football.

Annihilate Now!…

Mind Games.

After 20+ years, the mind games that SAF has played has finally transfered onto the pitch. We simlpy allow our opposition to take the early advantage (using a simple equation of goals = lack of opposition ability + percieved threat / performance of our players) thus giving them a false sense of belief and security, before then dazzling everyone and winning the game, an in turn further breaking our oppositions spirits. Not only do we win the on field battle, but we win the mental battle as well.

It’s simple maths really.

scholesy legend…

We like a challenge.

Can you think of a reason for United conceding so many early goals? Have your say in the comments section below…