It annoys me to see players being outworked by a far worse team in the first game of the season. Whatever about during a lull or something, but how can you not be at 100% commitment for the opening game?
Has the first game dampened your excitement for the season?
- Thread starter Kaos
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
Didnt all those goals come quite late on? Swear we looked really frustrating and ordinary that match till the late flurry.
It's definitely damped my expectations a tad, no denying. My biggest concern is the midfield. Mount is really looking like a number 10 being shoehorned as an 8 at this moment. It's not looking very balanced with a slowing DM and very lightweight number 10s in front of him. We looked best all pre-season in midfield when the kids were playing, because they're actual midfielders.
Players who had uncharacteristically bad games like Licha and Garnacho don't bother me that much, as I've seen what they can do, but that midfield performance was the stuff of nightmares. That was a 7-0 loss level type of performance.
Players who had uncharacteristically bad games like Licha and Garnacho don't bother me that much, as I've seen what they can do, but that midfield performance was the stuff of nightmares. That was a 7-0 loss level type of performance.
It’s certainly not the performance I expected to see against relegation fodder Wolves. Not panicking yet as it early doors but if these performances carry on for the next few games I’ll start to get very concerned.
Aye, same v Swansea the following game I'm sure too.
At the minute, yep.
Just took all enthusiasm. It's the same every year. From ole/rangnick we've a brand new midfield, yet STILL no protection, teams just stroll through. Why can we never find a player like nunes or lerna, get the ball and go, move forward.
Just took all enthusiasm. It's the same every year. From ole/rangnick we've a brand new midfield, yet STILL no protection, teams just stroll through. Why can we never find a player like nunes or lerna, get the ball and go, move forward.
Nope. Wolves games are always terrible. We still won, and it's hopefully a wake up call early enough that we can still fix it before the window closes. I'm worried about our attack though. So disjointed.
Yes.
Even more so when I see how well Newcastle are playing.
Even more so when I see how well Newcastle are playing.
There wasn't much to get excited about before the game. We're miles off challenging City.
Bad game, but it's just one game. Hojlund wasn't even playing and there could be more movement in the transfer window.
I don’t think our transfer dealings this summer have been particularly amazing. Onana improved us but I don’t understand how Mount makes our midfield any better, seeing as it’s not a position he’a really played before. I think we’ve put far too much expectation to score the goals we desperately lacked last season on a young striker who isn’t very prolific (yet!) and is obviously still a work in progress. I didn’t think our preseason went well at all. And then we stink the place out on day one when we should be laying down a marker after the debacle this day last year. And the age profile of our squad is not great, some of our most important played last season might be in decline. To be honest, I’d be more shocked at someone remaining excited about this season than someone who’s losing hope.
Nah we won. The players have looked off for most of pre season yet we managed to get the win. We had a much better pre season last year and lost the first two games. The most important thing is to win then try to work on performing better for the next game. Hopefully they kick on and look better as the season gets going.
If Wolves play like that, they will not be in danger of relegation to be fair.
The only defence is the fact that we still had no recognisable striker as part of it. Rashford simply isn't one. Hojilund will not get much time and really hope the pressure doesn't get to him because Martial certainly won't be there to lift it.
My excitement has been dampened mainly due to no obvious solution to the problem. Casemiro worries me. We know how ETH wants to play and that is unlikely to change. It’s not just rustiness, there were signs of Casemiro’s legs going end of last season too. We can’t go into every game exposing him that much.
It has a bit. I expected a strong performance, building on the good parts of last season. Instead we look like the same team that limped over the line in May. I’ve no doubt we’ll hit a period of good form where we’ll look like we can beat anybody, but it’s hard not to be deflated by the approach last night. We’ve seen these same issues so many times before.
A little bit.. I expected alot more. I thought we would set a precedent with a big home win, over a new look weakened wolves. If that was City or Arsenal, they prob would have swept them aside. if we continue in same way over next 2 games, it could be a nightmare to get back into form
At the same time they won’t play many sides who’ll perform as badly as we did against them. Our midfield was non existent, they could literally stroll through it at will, they won’t be afforded that luxury too often. The fact they had so many chances and still could put the ball in the net is what will ultimately cost them.
If no one else comes in then definetly a little concerned. Casemiro can't play every game. Just don't see that Midfield capable of dictating games.
I think it’s ok to be concerned. We looked terrible, as we did a few times in pre-season too.
Our bench is poor and we have no real options to change it up in midfield, cover defensively or offer a different attacking threat.
The players we desperately need to leave look to be staying, and that could hamper any efforts to improve our lack of options.
I think it’s ok to be apprehensive about our prospects.
Our bench is poor and we have no real options to change it up in midfield, cover defensively or offer a different attacking threat.
The players we desperately need to leave look to be staying, and that could hamper any efforts to improve our lack of options.
I think it’s ok to be apprehensive about our prospects.
Yes, I don't think much has materially changed from last season. Onana is an upgrade on De Gea but we had to supplement that with more signings who were ready to go now. Mount is just much of a muchness with Christian Eriksen for me. Hojlund will hopefully give us a bit more attacking impetus once he's fit but he's a young boy playing one of the most demanding roles in world football. In an ideal world he would've had someone to rotate with to reduce that burden.
The situation isn't unsalvagable but we need to be precise and decisive to get our house in order. The likes of Henderson, Maguire and McTominay need to be shown the door before the end of the transfer window and replaced with players who can contribute in a more meaningful way.
The situation isn't unsalvagable but we need to be precise and decisive to get our house in order. The likes of Henderson, Maguire and McTominay need to be shown the door before the end of the transfer window and replaced with players who can contribute in a more meaningful way.
It has, which is a shame. I'm not expecting miracles, and maybe last year we over-achieved, the Prem was not its strongest, but we were still v efficient and made huge strides from OGS. But I was expecting some sharpness, a sense of progression, even a little. The midfield were poor, over-run and disorganised.. but I think we can address that, we have enough decent players to address some of the nonsense we all observed. You can't have teams just running 20, 30, 40 yards through the middle of the park, time and time and time again. That will be sorted. I also think we will consolidate in there with extra bodies. (Amrabat etc..)
The forward line concerns me. It has for years. Rashford will get frustrated if he receives no help, and Sancho, Antony and Martial strike no fear in any top team. They play and we are under pressure because we aren't a real threat. Just awaiting Bruno or Rashford inspiration... every single game it is the same thing.
That's the reality. Garnacho will be better after last night's experience, I'm fine with him.. Pellestri needs time, which is fine. Rasmus is needed.
The forward line concerns me. It has for years. Rashford will get frustrated if he receives no help, and Sancho, Antony and Martial strike no fear in any top team. They play and we are under pressure because we aren't a real threat. Just awaiting Bruno or Rashford inspiration... every single game it is the same thing.
That's the reality. Garnacho will be better after last night's experience, I'm fine with him.. Pellestri needs time, which is fine. Rasmus is needed.
Yeah, by a lot. But if we play well the next game it’ll go back up quickly. It’s always kneejerk at the beginning, and then it levels out eventually.
We drew against Fortuna Sittard at home. So yes. But not really, because we conceded a straight red in the 20th minute.
i know, it's the United forum but feck it.
i know, it's the United forum but feck it.
Yeah, I would try any of our forwards instead of Rashford up top. It doesn't work and hasn't before. He may grab occasional goal from there but it ruins our play. Also takes him away from wing where he is our main threat.
Yes a little bit. Its the same story, we have a decent season and expect an incremental improvement and crawling slowly towards being title challengers till reality hits. One step forward two steps back.
Definitely. The midfield performance in particular has really made me apprehensive AF for the rest of the season unless we act quickly in the market. Up front a big concern too.
Absolutely, but mind you I wasn’t going in with the highest expectations to begin with. I’m more disappointed that the team still looks like a highly dysfunctional set of players who seem like they’ve never played together before.
I personally won't put much weight in a single game but if we play like this the next 1-2 games I'll be genuinely worried. This bad performance is on ETH though, he tried to bypass our midfield completely and left a gaping hole for Wolves to exploit (Casemiro can't hold the centre-midfield all by himself). I'm sure he saw it won't work to play like this and will either pull back Mount to a more 8 role or play Eriksen next to Casemiro.
Last edited:
Nope, I'm just as excited still. It's just the first game, the team needs time to gel, and we need to get Hojlund going. Patience, my people.
I didn't expect our first game to be that bad but based on pre-season and the composition of the midfield my level of excitement was limited even before the game. I do think it will either get better or ETH will abandon the approach and try something slightly different.
It was the most lucky win possible. The VAR officials have been sacked it was that jammy.
Think Wolves played out of their skin while we were terrible, both together distort the picture.
Having said that, I have never been impressed by EtH's football. I expect a lot of improvement to reach the point where I enjoy the football.
Transition right now means loosing the ball as soon as possible and constantly being out of position, especially in midfield.
Having said that, I have never been impressed by EtH's football. I expect a lot of improvement to reach the point where I enjoy the football.
Transition right now means loosing the ball as soon as possible and constantly being out of position, especially in midfield.
I expect us to battle for 4th at best but even my expectations were dampened a bit. Just zero coherence in every single department. I was a bit shocked honestly. But you have to believe we can't be that bad much more times this season. Plus we still have Hojlund to play and then Mainoo and Amad to come back from injury and take their place es in the squad. Plus the window's still open so hope is not lost.
Not really. We didn't look that good in pre-season so I did not expect a flying start. I put that down as ten Hag totally changing the team every half time so the players couldn't really find a full match rhythm, however our problems yesterday were a lot more than just match rhythm.
We looked devoid of any training whatsoever.
We looked devoid of any training whatsoever.
Not yet. Got to wait a few games at least. We always take a few games to get cooking - hopefully Rasmus can hit the ground running and suddenly we'll be winning the league.
It was the new manager bounce as usual. Happens every time we play after a break.
You just watch, we will pull away from Spurs in the table on Saturday.
You just watch, we will pull away from Spurs in the table on Saturday.
Not as much as last season..... But yes, it wasn't great and we seemed to be lacking sharpness all over the pitch. Hoping the manager gets them sorted this week, the Everton friendly is interesting, almost as if he wanted more pre season preparations
It’s the start of the season and teams take time to get up to speed but that yesterday was more than that. The tactic just didn’t work at all, like the basic fundamentals of professional football wasn’t even in place Wolves just kept walking from one end of the pitch to the other it was bizarre to see.
Players not moving, nobody making runs off the ball, Onana who has been brought in to be a ‘sweeper keeper‘ was barely leaving his line, players struggling to make simple passes (looking at you Bruno, Garnacho and Mount)
Most shots against us at OT since 05 and we’ve had a few hammerings in recent years. Absolutely pathetic showing and very lucky to get 3 points
Also what’s going on with the size of our team? We must be the smallest team in the prem we offer absolutely nothing on set pieces
Players not moving, nobody making runs off the ball, Onana who has been brought in to be a ‘sweeper keeper‘ was barely leaving his line, players struggling to make simple passes (looking at you Bruno, Garnacho and Mount)
Most shots against us at OT since 05 and we’ve had a few hammerings in recent years. Absolutely pathetic showing and very lucky to get 3 points
Also what’s going on with the size of our team? We must be the smallest team in the prem we offer absolutely nothing on set pieces
Last edited:
Biggest concern was how far off wolves fitness we looked. They were quicker and stronger right from the off and pushed right to the end. We looked slow and ponderous.
The issue of our globe trotting tours has been discussed to death but I really do wonder if they leave us playing catch up every season
The issue of our globe trotting tours has been discussed to death but I really do wonder if they leave us playing catch up every season