Manchester United 4:1 Melbourne Defeat (Fri 15th July, 11:05 UK time)

sport2793

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Think it’s quite clear how he’s thinking of setting up this season after these 2 games, particularly in the build up. You could see Fred dropping into LCB of a 3 often today, which will be De Jong’s role, Martinez central and one of Lindelof Varane or Maguire to the right. My opinion is he’ll use Eriksen as the sixpence (to quote Mike Bassett), an extremely tidy player to always be available for the ball off these 3 in a similar way Rodri is for City (albeit different in their defensive duties). I’d imagine that Ten Haag believes this can work should we lose possession as one of the full backs will always be tucked in, depending on which side the ball is on.

After years of us struggling to get the ball out from defence, we now have a player who can beat players from deep (presuming he signs), a CB who has a great passing range and can playmake from the back, and a central midfielder available to take the ball who’s extremely tidy and unnerved in possession. These 3 signings should transform us.
Eriksen will be in the role McTominay played and FDJ in the position Fred played.
 

krazyrobus

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Bailey doing his usual world class/clown performance.

I really liked the Savage/Iqbal tandem
 

NewGlory

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It is disgusting how slow both Lindelof and Maguire are. They got outrun shamefully by Melbourne team on that first goal.
 

World Game

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Melbourne did a great service to us by scoring early and then defending in a low block against us for the rest of the game.
A situation I’m sure we will find ourselves in many times this season.

We got the result in the end but we were still clueless for most of the first half.
This team can score against high lines, on the counter, with setpieces, with opponent own goals but scoring in open play against a low block will always be the make or break for us. There won’t be always be a freak goal like McTom’s to bail us out.
 

Daengophile

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There were times in the first half where it looked like we were auditioning for pall bearers
 

christinaa

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It seems that EtH favours a defensive high line and Maguire is too slow for that.
We saw it yesterday again.
 

Pronewbie

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It seems that EtH favours a defensive high line and Maguire is too slow for that.
We saw it yesterday again.
Not just slow in pace as seen last season and against Melbourne. But let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and judge him when the season starts proper. My guess is that Varane will be the better partner for Lisandro when fit.
 

christinaa

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Not just slow in pace as seen last season and against Melbourne. But let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and judge him when the season starts proper. My guess is that Varane will be the better partner for Lisandro when fit.
It's unfortunate that Bailly goes from genius to shite in the same matches!!
 

pocco

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Watched it later last night.

First half - worrying. So many poor performances. Sancho good again though.

Second half - a bit more promising. Kids did good. Savage class. Iqbal good again. Malacia good moments. Same for Laird.

Overall though, we need another attacker of Sancho's quality. Midfield will be better with FDJ and Eriksen, but these kids look good
 

DJ_21

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Could do with another attacking player, alls it takes is an injury to rashford/martial or sancho and we’re having to play Elanga who I don’t think is up to the standard at first team level. Could do with another right winger, sancho is comfortable there but if he’s injured, rashford and martial ain’t as good there, also when rashford isn’t in form we could switch sancho to the left and play the new right winger.
 

Adam-Utd

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Could do with another attacking player, alls it takes is an injury to rashford/martial or sancho and we’re having to play Elanga who I don’t think is up to the standard at first team level. Could do with another right winger, sancho is comfortable there but if he’s injured, rashford and martial ain’t as good there, also when rashford isn’t in form we could switch sancho to the left and play the new right winger.
Hence why we are aiming for Antony I guess.

We do have Elanga/Pellestri and possibly Eriksen to play there though if needs be. While he won't be a flying winger if the fullback overlaps a lot that wont really be an issue.
 

mitchmouse

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Hearing that Will Fish has ben added to the tour squad. I have really high hopes for him
 

mitchmouse

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Having watched the briefest of highlights, have to say Rashford's goal was very nice but two of the others were complete flukes and the defending for their goal was as comical as last season. where the hell was the defence? Nothing in there made me think there's been any great improvement yet - we really do need to get our signings over the line. Of course it's early days but Chelsea and City have signed known quantities that will improve them. I feel we need some star quality up front because we can't afford to miss the sort of chances we did towards the end of last season...
 

UTD_Since_1978

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The commentator on MUTV seemed as if he was doing radio commentary, he was describing virtually everything.
 

roseguy64

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Nevertheless the defence looked much better last match. We always look shaky and all over the place when Maguire is playing. There is clearly an issue there. Whether Ten Hag can fix it or not is the big question.
No? Liverpool got quite a few chances against the first half defence.
 

tenpoless

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The good thing for Melbourne Defeat is that their RB that came on in the last 20 minutes or so didnt look out of place against United, unlike the rest of their players that looked like they gave up on life in the 2nd half.
 

roseguy64

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Zidane and Savage partnership is looking very promising. They are always mostly at the right place at the right time, they are calm in possession, can pass, can defend, press resistance and strong. They have all qualities you look for in a midfielder.

Not getting carried away but I really hope they get in the squad regularly this season.
I think it's better that they go on loan. Consistent football is much better for them right now I think.
 

roseguy64

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That Melbourne's coach should be sacked and choked by horses, for sub in Nani only on the last 5 minutes. On a friendly game against United.
He only signed a couple of days before the game and likely hardly trained with his teammates.
 

1988

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Didn't know where to put this as we don't have a general preseason thread. But are we really going to play games a Saturday AND Sunday? Sounds rather bizarre to me?
 

flameinthesun

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Bit surprised people think the first half was poor. The first 10 definitely we were off it, but after then I think we played really well. Melbourne were parking the bus in their penalty box, we had maguire and lindelof almost on the edge of melbourne's penalty box. Sancho and dalot were very good outlets, after the first 10 minutes we also sorted out our pressing. If anything I think that first half was more promising than the second, we stayed patient, started to get chances just down to the constant pressure and scored a very good second goal. It highlighted that there is still a way to go but it qas encouraging to see the players grow into dominating and high pressing after a bad start.
 

mitchmouse

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Based on what?
saw a couple of youth games. Looked confident and calm on the ball. Trying to work out who he reminds me of but it was someone good from way back. Maybe Ronny Johnsen. Agreed it's not much to go on, but we never do these days. Truth be told, who knew a great deal about some of the Class of 92 other than SAF? The only one I'd seen anything of - and could tell there was star quality - was David Beckham
 
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