Better performance tonight, though to be fair that doesn't take much after Sunday's disaster, Herrera was my man of the match i thought he did well tonight. Zlatan was a bit of the pace and his passing tonight was poor but he did play a big part in Mata's goal, no doubt we get either Liverpool, Arsenal or Leeds away in the next round. There is still room for improvement as City were the better team in the first half but at least we won and we are through so i'm happy tonight.

Being a bit picky and taking to account how poor Zlatan had been, I thought he just over hit the pass and made Pogba go out wider with that chance, making it easier for the keeper. Had Rashford got that flick from Zlatan, that too would have been a fine, fine goal.

I hope we get leeds in the draw.

Then Liverpool in the semi.

Let's knock out all our foes in the cup

I don't. I hate Leeds.

We'll probably get the Pool or W'Ham.

Well you were half-right Main thing is, we're at home.

Hopefully payback for trashing our bus.

That's a cracking draw, not a weak tie really. I know Leeds are in the Championship, but there isn't any love lost between them and Liverpool, Hull v Newcastle should be very interesting whilst Arsenal v Southampton is another gem. Southampton are just starting to come into some form. As for us and West Ham, never a dull moment over the past couple of years.

Wot's happened too the thread ...... Mandarin tonight ?

Jeez Sleeper, you make me go WTF more than anyone else on DS. I never understand what you're trying to say. Do you want to take Ninny out for a chinese, eat fruit... what?

I will take that win, good to get into the next round, and a home draw again as well.

Sorry MP, was talking about Dude ............... I'd love to take Ninny for a ruby, ........ But Joey was my first love on this thread mate !

Ah right, no worries... The Dude is never far away from this thread, don't worry .... I guess you mean Joey Boswell? Would be nice if her and the others returned....

For the locals amongst us, when the camera panned across the away end tonight, did anyone else count their blessings?

http://www.joe.co.uk/sport/mancheste...nsteiger/94292

I think it's very sad that Schweinsteiger has been completely bombed out like this. Does anyone outside the club know exactly that he did wrong in Jose's eyes?

I am here, sorry I was out tonight, and just caught up with the match highlights!

I'm beginning to feel a little concerned about the situation with Mkhitaryan.

I've read some (unsubstantiated) rumours that Mourinho wasn't 100% in favour of signing him, and his almost complete lack of action so far inevitably makes you wonder what the deal is, barring his time out injured.

Mourinho's publically saying that he still needs time to settle, but how's he likely do that if he never plays?

I fully expect a fair few departures over the next two windows, but I'd hope that he won't be one of them.

It is a shame as he doesn't even seem to be getting the chances that Kagawa did, and he was sadly misused somewhat.

Miki needs games, and I hope to see that he does, he is certainly talented enough.
It doesn't help that there are a lot of people competing for a similar sort of position in the team, we have Martial, Mata, Lingard, and Memphis, as well as him all trying to get into the team in the wide roles, so some people will always be disappointed to miss out.

What's Kagawa got to do with anything? Different player, different manager, different squad.

I know that we have other players, and that they can't all play in every game. However, Mkhitaryan has barely played at all, and Martial, Depay and Lingard have hardly made themselves undroppable, have they?

Depay has hardly been used either, so it is just a case of wait and see with Miki I think, if we are still in a similar situation come the new year, then I would be very worried for him.

I only used Kagawa as he also came from Dortmund, and was a very talented player (Player of the Year in Germany, as I think was Miki), but was not used all that often, I just hope to not see history repeat itself, as Miki is surely too talented a player to just be left out of the team, and then eventually be sold elsewhere.

Depay has been at the club for over a season. He's had some chances, and has been pretty underwhelming. Anyway, that underlines the point. He's not blocking Mkhitaryan's chances of playing.

Kagawa is utterly irrelevant. He also played a fair bit and was underwhelming, on the whole. It was no huge surprise when he was sold. My original post was trying to provoke some responses regarding Mkhitaryan getting next to no time on the pitch as yet, when we're virtually in November.

As I said initially, I'm a little concerned.

It is concerning, and he deserves a run in the side, as he looked very good in his brief appearance against Hull, so I don't see why he has almost reached Schweinsteiger levels of non appearances since.

Seeing as the next match is against Burnley, it might be a good match to ease him back into the team.

Yeah I'm disappointed he hasn't featured heavily in the team. I was really looking forward to him making his mark and playing regularly.

There's is just no pleasing you sometimes, is there? TBH I thought he slightly over- hit it too but most of the blame lies with Pogba. It was a decent save by the keeper, but he should have buried that.


I've read a few of those reports as well but I'm not as concerned for two reasons;

1) Jose has played just about everybody else, including expendables like Rojo, Depay Young and his old nemesis Mata. Hell, even Schneiderlin got a run out the other day and I thought he was finished. I don't think he's playing them all with the January transfer window in mind so it suggests to me (along with his criticism of Shaw but later playing him) that Jose is quite capable of putting the club's needs before his own personal feeling towards a player and will play Miki when he's ready.

2) A few of the rumours I've read suggest that Miki unfortunately isn't the world's mentally strongest character and needs softly-softly man-management. If that's true he definitely needs time but it's also debatable if he has the right stuff to be a success at United anyway and even though it would be sad to see him leave it might be best for all concerned.

Would really love to see him have a run in the side though.....

He wanted to come. It's not like the Di Maria situation.

Di Maria never really wanted to leave Madrid, and if he had to, then PSG were clearly his next choice. Madrid wanted the money (perfectly reasonably), and he was happy to take the massive wages. It then became apparent that he was a massive flake, and was just looking for the first opportunity to get to Paris.

Mkhitaryan is different. He alienated a lot of people in Dortmund, by really pushing for the move. I can understand, if he's struggling to get used to the place, but that could be helped by giving the bloke some minutes. He doesn't have to start every game, but the fact that he so rarely even gets on as a sub is what concerns me.

Still, Mourinho knows his current state of mind and physical condition far more than I do, so hopefully there's nothing to really worry about, and it's just a matter of time.