Yeah, he was never going to make the step up. The only way that was happening is if you lowered your standards and settled for less.

Do you honestly think Mourinho would have played him? If not for injury he'd have probably been sent on loan. Google tells me he's 21 this December, so yeah he'd probably go on loan, but I don't think he was ever going to make it with Rashford there.

You needed to sign a striker long before Fletcher was sold and Wilson was injured. Like I said, there needed to be someone in between Zlatan and Rashford. It takes the pressure of both. It takes the pressure of the aging striker and the young striker. Someone like Griezmann would be ideal. From my POV, I hope you don't get him.

To be fair to Batdude, plenty of others who were on this chat who have now left were arguing last season that they didn't need another striker when I and others argued that they were well short up front... and batdude at the time said that they should try and sign another goalscorer... Granted, Batdude did talk himself round to the opposite view point by the summer, but plentky of man united fans of this forum argued there was no need for another striker this time last season when it was clear that it wasn't the case.

I only remember him arguing that a strike force of Zlatan, Rashford, Wilson, and Fletcher, were good enough, and that if the transfer window ended with those as the front four options, he'd be happy. That it'd be good enough for the league and Europa League, and "up there with any of them". I don't remember other, departed Man United fans arguing similar.

Part of my argument was on the assumption that Man United would play with one striker, and that Rooney would be a midfielder, and Martial would be played out wide. Rooney has been played up front a few times when he featured, but Mourinho seems to have reduced his squad role.

They always needed to sign someone else, unless they didn't have high expectations this season. Zlatan and Rashford on their own weren't going to be enough, and I don't think Mourinho would have considered Wilson.

Fair do's.... I doubt that there would be many teams fighting for champions league who would be content with man uniteds current strength up front.

Zlatan was always as much of a statement signing as Pogba in terms of their brand

Well I did argue they only needed to sign one striker, in between Rashford and Zlatan, on the assumption they'd be playing with one up front. Then someone like Wilson or Fletcher can fit in as the fourth choice if it's really needed, or Rooney or Martial can cover there if they have to. But three established first team strikers would've been enough, I think.

With the way they played against Arsenal, having a top striker in his prime would've won that game, I think.

I wonder why Martial isn't given a go at playing as the main striker at any stage...

Purely a guess, but he's probably considered the best option on the left? Maybe if they signed a left winger he'd have gone in the middle. Either that or they think that's his best position and that his future is as a wide player. Inside forwards are quite popular now.

Strikers, schmikers I say. At Liverpool, we have three in the first team squad. None of them start regularly and they total zero league goals between them in a season where we've already hit 30 goals!

Finally it may be true, we might be able to see Miki play in Thursday's match!

Spurs going out of the Champions League, I am not too sure if that is a good thing for us, as that might mean that they will put more emphasis on their Premier League campaign.

Spurs are out of UCL but are still in the Europa league which I think they would want to win desperately. I don't know if United are that interested as they showed no intentions against Fenerbahce in their last game.

What are people thinking about tonight's match?

Can we get a win that we need to somewhat make the last match an easier one?

If we approach it in the right way we should win the game though it depends how much the players want it to be honest. I think we should go all out to win the Europa League as it is arguably our best way to get into the Champions League next season and we have never won the Europa League would be nice to win it and complete the set of European Trophies.

Yes, until we can find a good run of results in the Premier League, then this will be an option that we need to take very seriously indeed, as since it has got that reward, it has taken on a whole new level of importance for the clubs competing in it, ourselves included.

Romero, Valencia, Jones, Blind, Shaw, Carrick, Pogba, Mata, Rooney, Mkhitaryan, Ibrahimovic

De Gea, Rojo, Fellaini, Herrera, Lingard, Memphis, Rashford

And what a difference he made. Our movement up front today has been mesmerising at times and Miki has been a huge part of that. Credit to Mouriniho for managing him so well through a difficult period.

However, as good as Miki and Rooney have been, Zlatan and Carrick have been my stand-outs. Zlatan for once again demonstrating the true meaning of world class. He has been mostly shite today and yet still provided an assist and another crucial pass to lead to the second goal. Might as well say he got an assist for the third as well.

As for Carrick, what can I say. Simply a superbly classy and reliable squad man. As much as the arse-licking Robbie Savage went into orgasm over Rooney's reverse for Mata's goal, it all came from Carrick putting pressure on the defender. If only he was a few years younger....

Four now! Great goal Lingard. Can't believe the super-dour Paul Scholes actually called it right.

Fantastic match to watch. They all played well.

Thoroughly satisfying performance and result.

Rooney, Ibrahimovic and Mata linking together very effectively, ably supported by Pogba and Carrick. With the latter maintaining balance and equilibrium.

Now to find consistency, but nonetheless, a big, fat tonight.

I have to turn the volume down when Savage is on, he makes my ears bleed.

Great result tonight with some really good football, we just have to get a point now.

Very pleasing result, and this should give us confidence going into the next two home games.

Someone's going to get a proper hiding soon, it'd be nice if it's the bubble blowing knobs on Sunday.

Need to ask Scholes his prediction!

We play them twice in succession don't we?

Payback for trashing the bus please.

Agreed, great performance especially in the second half, Mkh was superb if he doesn't get a run of games after that performance he never will, if he can play like that on a regular basis he can be a fantastic player for us. Pleased also Wayne got the goal and became our record European record goalscorer and i hope he gets the 2 goals to beat Sir Bobby's club record sooner rather than later so it doesn't drag on for too long but it was pleasing to see him back to somewhere near his best, hopefully it is the beginning of him going on a good run. Overall pleased with tonight this is how Manchester United should be performing but i hope it isn't a one off as i don't think Feynoord are the greatest of teams but you can only beat what is put in front of you. I hope we can get 2 wins against West Ham now to start a run.

Two homes games in a row, we must surely make that to our advantage, hopefully the goals will continue to flow, as that sure would be fair considering how well we have been playing recently.