[Stookie]

The perfect ending to a real shit week for me.

 

[HaliRed]

Yes to an extent, but we can look to that idiom if we are actively changing up the blatantly obvious shortcomings in our squad. If we are not replacing players who have either no drive or are just not good enough, then Rome is merely a pipe dream that will never come to fruition.

I don't disagree. The squad needs changing.

I was expecting a couple of more signings this summer, and maybe we will see that happen. But it will take a couple of windows for this turnover to happen.

I don't have blind faith as this has been said with every new manager. I just have hope of this happening with a new front office AND a new manager this season. After the new appointments became a reality this year, I had earmarked the start of next season (with three windows passed) to make a judgement on whether things had really changed.

 

[OrcaFat]

Yes, but "when in form" is the critical point here. He hasn't been "in form" since pretty much Euros. So - you do agree with me, you are just nostalgic for his best days, that are long gone. I understand why, but we have to be pragmatic.

I agree that Luke Shaw was [one of] Europe's best left backs for a season, and since then he has been shite. It happens all the time in pro sports, you may have noticed. We can't just keep playing him for the sake of one good season he has had. Maybe you can agree with that, mate.

I agree he shouldn’t keep his place if he plays shit but it’s not quite accurate to say he has been shite all that time. Even in the dark times he was often one of the few who did okay. True he has had a few stinkers as well.

The signing of Malacia is good for the club and for Shaw, we’ll see if he can get his consistency back and push on to a new higher level; I still think he can. If not he should at least keep the next guy on his toes. I don’t think booting him out of the club is the way to go.

 

[Giggsy13]

Only players who gave a decent account of themselves were Eriksen and Martinez.

 

[OrcaFat]

The more I watch Fred, the more I’m convinced that he can’t play that deep in a midfield two. He’s much better as an attack dog 8, pressing high up the pitch. He has no positional discipline and his error prone passing means he can’t play deep if we want to control possession. He’s a decent squad option and has his uses, but he should never be first choice in a United 11.

Agreed. I think he may be a useful tactical option as a pressing no8, from time to time, or injury / cups rotation.

 

[Freak]

Eriksen was class in that deeper midfield role. The rest of the were poor which is to be expected as most of them are the same players as last season.

 

[dove]

Had a feeling my 1-1 prediction was a bit optimistic. United just never fails to disappoint. McFred midfield duo is absolutely hopeless, combine it with some of our other "superstars" like Rashford and we have what we have.

 

[OrcaFat]

At his ceiling I’d take Shaw over any LB, the trouble is we can’t romanticise his best form when we see it too rarely. In the modern game consistent output from fullbacks is key, in particular to a manager like EtH. I don’t think Shaw will be around much longer due to this.

He will have to pull his socks up, I’ll give you that!

 

[HaliRed]

Historians say Rome was built across 1229 years. Shall we wait that long?

No, but I am willing to give a couple of transfer windows to the new manager/front office combo to see if it's still the "same old, same old".

I am not trusting blindly that this will happen, but one summer was never going to fix our plethora of issues in the squad. Having said that, I will start worrying if EtH doesn't learn that McFred doesn't work as a combo in his system and persists with them rather than having Eriksen/Garner/Donny/new signing (hopefully) in there.

 

[GreatDane]

I can't stomach to read 100 negative posts right now, but didn't our Dutch friends warn us that it would take a while for Ten Hag to get the players to understand his tactics?

 

[Jacob]

Multiple managers with the same players. Can only mean the ownership is at fault.

Rashford ain't good enough. And don't get me started with known knowns.

 

[LDUred]

The actual idea that the club thought there was one possible player in de Jong who could improve upon McFred is fecking infuriating.

 

[Jazz]

Brighton's social media team giving it some

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Hope they lose their next 10 matches

 

[humdinger]

Could see this coming a mile off. I think ETH is a good manager but we have some really poor players here and our summer window was nowhere near good enough. We have a battle on our hands for top six. People only wanting to sign top class players and aspiring to City or Liverpool are miles off, we need to be looking at Arsenal and Spurs.

 

[marcus agrippa]

If he continues like that then fine, bench him. But to say he should never play for this club again, no, that’s not right. He’s a good player. I don’t know why he plays below his best sometimes but that can be corrected. And he has more to give beyond the best we’ve seen of him up to now. Talent-wise he is among the best we’ve got.

I've no problem with Shaw in technical terms: his touch, he's ability to run with the ball, or give a properly-weighted pass, or see space when he can be bothered to. His problem has always been mental, and it's never improved. I don't think it can be (it's been nearly a decade!).

I'd cut my losses.

 

[BuzzKillington]

Maguire must be benched not Varane

With what justification? Has Varane had a single great game in a United shirt since he signed?

 

[Jazz]

I've no problem with Shaw in technical terms: his touch, he's ability to run with the ball, or give a properly-weighted pass, or see space when he can be bothered to. His problem has always been mental, and it's never improved. I don't think it can be (it's been nearly a decade!).

I'd cut my losses.

Agree with this. Been phoning it in for a while now.

Was actually surprised he started. Never saw that coming. Really though ETH was more set on Malacia. Ah well.

 

[Drz]

I expected a struggle, so I'm not in the least bit surprised about the result.
My disappointment really stems from watching the few times we manage to work the ball well up the pitch not result in a goal or a good chance at least.
It's also annoying to see us concede "easy goals".
Also just based on pre-season form, I'd have Garnacho on the left over Rashford. The former just being more of a threat to the opposition and also less predictable in his movement and decision making.
I don't see what McTominay brings to the team, he has too many flaws technically to be in the starting 11. I'd go as far as saying that we are lacking in midfield to the point where we have to play Eriksen and Bruno alongside Fred (or Garner or Zidane or Savage) in a flat 3 in midfield.
With regards to midfield, based on this game, barring Eriksen, all positions are up for grabs and given we are going nowhere fast, I'd risk starting the academy products.
Was very surprised to see Shaw starting, but I can understand that ETH didn't want to throw Malacia into the deep end off the bat.

 

[Giggsy13]

shall we play "spot the difference" by watching the City game?

Bringing on Phillips in the 88th minute when he’d walk into our starting 11. We’re a fecking shambles and those thinking there isn’t a problem are just as fecked as the club itself.

 

[Drz]

The perfect ending to a real shit week for me.

Sorry mate, hope things get better on and off the pitch

 

[Jazz]

I expected a struggle, so I'm not in the least bit surprised about the result.
My disappointment really stems from watching the few times we manage to work the ball well up the pitch not result in a goal or a good chance at least.
It's also annoying to see us concede "easy goals".
Also just based on pre-season form, I'd have Garnacho on the left over Rashford. The former just being more of a threat to the opposition and also less predictable in his movement and decision making.
I don't see what McTominay brings to the team, he has too many flaws technically to be in the starting 11. I'd go as far as saying that we are lacking in midfield to the point where we have to play Eriksen and Bruno alongside Fred (or Garner or Zidane or Savage) in a flat 3 in midfield.
With regards to midfield, based on this game, barring Eriksen, all positions are up for grabs and given we are going nowhere fast, I'd risk starting the academy products.
Was very surprised to see Shaw starting, but I can understand that ETH didn't want to throw Malacia into the deep end off the bat.

This. I really thought he should have put Garnacho on. At least see how he does, especially as Rash wasn't doing anything and we were losing anyway. Why not? Nothing to lose.

 

[Zlatans Knee]

Have the players come out on social media yet with the standard lines? Not good enough, must do better, we will continue to work, etc…

 

[Drz]

With what justification? Has Varane had a single great game in a United shirt since he signed?

Genuinely curious to know if you think Maguire has had a great game for United?
But for the sake of argument for me in defense it's more about being sound technically and least mistakes made, because that has a direct cost. In that regard I feel Varane has had less blips when he has played. (Unfortunately he is injured, just all the time to build any momentum).

 

[ronaldoghost]

We need to be careful, if we can't beat Brentfor we have Liverpool next and we can expect to be in the bottom 3 by then. We need to realize that if things stay the same we might well be in a bottom 3 battle. It's not nice for a club like ours, but look at leeds, and Newcastle in past years. It's not a given that we are in this league, and it hurts me to say this.

 

[OrcaFat]

I've no problem with Shaw in technical terms: his touch, he's ability to run with the ball, or give a properly-weighted pass, or see space when he can be bothered to. His problem has always been mental, and it's never improved. I don't think it can be (it's been nearly a decade!).

I'd cut my losses.

Yeah, he has always divided opinion.

I think the fact that he has had consistent spells, sometimes across a whole season, give or take, shows that he can get his mind into the right place. It’s a matter of getting him back there and keeping him there which, I agree, might not happen; he has a few “peak” years left and he’s just too good to discard. You wouldn’t be the first or last to disagree with me, I get that.

 

[NewGlory]

I agree he shouldn’t keep his place if he plays shit but it’s not quite accurate to say he has been shite all that time. Even in the dark times he was often one of the few who did okay. True he has had a few stinkers as well.

The signing of Malacia is good for the club and for Shaw, we’ll see if he can get his consistency back and push on to a new higher level; I still think he can. If not he should at least keep the next guy on his toes. I don’t think booting him out of the club is the way to go.

Ok, that is fair. He isn't the worst. If we were actually fighting for trophies, I think Shaw would have no place here, but given how pathetic we are - he can sit on the bench, in case he remembers what he can do, every once in a while.

My problem with such plan is - Shaw gets even worse when he doesn't play. He doesn't have the right attitude for a good squad player, in my observation.

 

[Rolaholic]

Only players who gave a decent account of themselves were Eriksen and Martinez.

They were quality, Maguire was decent too tbf and so was Ronaldo after coming on but it's a shame they have to share the pitch with the same dross we've put out for years...

Our midfield in particular has been a disgrace for the better part of 3/4 years now and we have yet to seriously address that need yet

 

[Dante]

EtH was out-thought by Potter.

Yes, there were individual mistakes from United. But the ultimate fault was with the tactics. Brighton had our number all afternoon.

 

[Stookie]

Sorry mate, hope things get better on and off the pitch

Cheers mate

 

[Crashoutcassius]

How did any expect anything else? I will never understand how some fans were so positive going into this. This was always the outcome.

You can't shine a turd.

We came second a couple of years ago, improved the squad since then, got a better manager, why we would expect to get hammered by Brighton ?

 

[Che Guevara]

I pity Ten Hag, he must turn things round quickly and he doesn't have much time. Now fans fighting each other in the stands.

 

[OrcaFat]

Ok, that is fair. He isn't the worst. If we were actually fighting for trophies, I think Shaw would have no place here, but given how pathetic we are - he can sit on the bench, in case he remembers what he can do, every once in a while.

My problem with such plan is - Shaw gets even worse when he doesn't play. He doesn't have the right attitude for a good squad player, in my observation.

Yeah that last part could be true. But it’s also true that when Telles came in and Shaw got benched a few times, he sorted himself out and had his best season. Can he do it again? I don’t know but he needs to because his bad games can be a bit horrible.

 

[AndySmith1990]

I pity Ten Hag, he must turn things round quickly and he doesn't have much time. Now fans fighting each other in the stands.

He should have plenty of time, but the reality is everyone is completely fed up after a decade of this shit and tensions are high.

 

[MUFC OK]

The perfect ending to a real shit week for me.

Always goes like that for me too mate. Hope all is okay, things will pick up.

 

[Drz]

This. I really thought he should have put Garnacho on. At least see how he does, especially as Rash wasn't doing anything and we were losing anyway. Why not? Nothing to lose.

After the absolute fiasco that was last season, that's my mind-set. I will not forget what transpired. I can forgive though because, well, human nature....

But more to the point, the player's get off lightly on having a new manager*, and that is just "common practice" when coming in fresh to manage a squad that has underperformed and disappointed on every metric : You can't shift 15 players out, you don't really know who has the "minerals" come crunch-time because all you have done is practice and friendlies and you don't know how many of those that do have the talent will follow your instructions.

*As much as I wanted Ten Hag and was disappointed with RR, my personal opinion is that a lot of players that don't deserve to be at the club I love will survive at least another year. (then it becomes a matter of the lesser evil, and another season of assessment rather than cut-throat decision making to move us forward).
That said this season, for me at least, is more about supporting Ten Hag and his ideas, seeing whom he can improve and keep at the club (because the media, ABUs, glory-hunting and impatient fans, are itching to sh*t on the club).

 

[AndyMUFC]

I mean it ended up being worse than I expected and my expectations weren't particularly high, though it shouldn't be surprising when it's the same players who are blatantly not good enough starting for us because we've failed to address pretty much any of our weaknesses. It was just last season all over again, with none of the pressing or football we saw glimpses of in pre season.

McTominay is abysmal, Fred is just far too erratic, Rashford should be on the verge of being out the door after how bad he's been over the last year rather than starting games and the likes of Maguire and Shaw are still problems in a team trying to play passing aggressive football. Eriksen and Martinez were positives at least, definitely the two best players on the ball but we need more.

The false nine experiment didn't work but our manager isn't exactly blessed with options. Sign him some fecking players.

 

[Litch]

Whilst the focus is on McFred, lets not lose sight of the rest of the shite show we have just watched. Im not entirely convinced Frenkie would have changed that outcome....

 

[Oldtraffordboy]

Aside from the quality and mentality....

Anyone notice how physically weak we look?

McTom and Maguire are playing because their physicality as much as anything.

Not just talking about Martinez (who was one of the few positives)

 

[Acole9]

Disappointed, I was hoping for a big win to start the season with. The club need to back the manager in the market now.

 

[MileStolar]

I can't stomach to read 100 negative posts right now, but didn't our Dutch friends warn us that it would take a while for Ten Hag to get the players to understand his tactics?

I personally got carried after displaying some brilliant team plays in pre season matches. It looked as though we would be there faster than predicted before June