United 3 - 1 Burnley

DDG

McNair Jones(Smalling) Evans Rojo

Di Maria Blind(Herrera) Rooney Januzaj

RVP Falcao(Wilson)

Not a good performance. Again. It's becoming a bit of a habit now. Burnley were better than us during the first half and were really unlucky to be trailing by half time. We scored 6 minutes into the game when substitute (yes, substitute) Chris Smalling(yes, Chris Smalling) headed home. Burnley immediately drew level with an excellent build up and a brilliant header by the impressive Ings. Despite all the efforts by an admirable Burnley side, it was United who scored the second when Chris Smalling (yep...) leapt over the Burnley defenders and scored his second. 

It wouldn't be a United game nowadays without a couple of brilliant De Gea saves. Indeed, De Gea managed to save a shot from point blank and was pretty solid throughout. I thought McNair and Rojo did quite well, especially the former, while Smalling had his best match this season. Apart from scoring the goals, he was our best defender. Meanwhile, his partner at the back, Evans, was absolute wank today. I remember a time when this guy used to play better than Rio or Vida but he seems to have regressed this season. It hurts to say this, because I loved Evans of two seasons ago, but I think his time at United will soon be over. He's become our worst central defender. Rojo, Smalling and Jones are better and I expect us to buy one or two central defenders during the summer.

At the middle of the park, Blind had to be substituted half an hour into the game. I don't think it's anything serious though so he should be available for our next match. His replacement, Herrera, had a decent game. He was tidy in possession and managed to calm things down at the times when Burnley were all over us. Di Maria had a really good game today. I'm sure he created our 2nd and 3rd goal and I think the initial cross that lead to our first goal was his as well. Not sure on that one though. I've given Angel some stick lately because I know he is capable of tearing any defence apart. He managed to give plenty of headaches to the Burnley defenders today, especially during the second half. So well done Angel.

RVP scored from a penalty but was anonymous throughout the game and so was Falcao. I'm absolutely sure Falcao won't be signed during the summer UNLESS he scores a hat trick in every game until the end of the season. That's obviously never going to happen. You'd expect a player of Falcao's quality to be a constant pain in any defender's arse. In reality, Burnley's defence dealt with him easily. RVP isn't any better at the moment. Both are off form and I'm not entirely sure they'll ever hit top form again. We'll see. 

I read a tweet that said "We're turd and we're third". That basically sums it all up. We've been playing shit all season long yet we're in third place. I wonder what would have happened had our players played to their maximum potential. Thing is, is it the players' fault that they're playing so bad at the moment? Or does the problem lie in van Gaal and the philosophy he's been blabbing about since summer? 

Meanwhile, Preston await in the 5th round of the FA Cup. I honestly don't know what to expect.