FA Premier League

Manchester United 3:2 Fulham

Old Trafford

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Sun, 1 February 2026 @ 2:00pm GMT
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    Noticeable drop in our pressing level and overall energy without Dorgu, and nothing much coming off for Bruno so far, but we’ve been pretty comfortable and controlled. Definitely need another goal at least, Sesko on as an out ball seems the obvious move, get us up the pitch better where we can sustain a bit of pressure.
     
    Like the last time we played them, they are very good at playing the first phase, probably a top 3 side in the league playing out of their defence.

    We need to do better closing down their free man though. And maybe we need to make the pitch smaller otherwise we’d exhaust ourselves running after the ball.

    Offensively Cunha and Mbuemo need to bring more, especially the latter. Too many times his touch has let him down or he’s not showed for the pass. Bruno need to do better with Berge’s physicality if he wants to get the balls in the middle of the pitch. Otherwise it’s okay to drift left to support Cunha and Shaw.
     
    Two sides have been incredibly unbalanced, Cunha not in the game at all. While he probably looks less effective against a deeper team, we definitely miss Dorgu's directness and athleticism on that side.
     
    United in a nutshell. Brilliant against City and Arsenal, looking second best v Fulham.
     
    Decent half, can't really complain other than to say it's obviously not as good as the previous two games.

    Great stuff by Casemiro again to get in the end of a free kick. Almost poetic as well scoring that after Fulham were celebrating it just being given as a free kick instead of a penalty.

    I actually do think we could have had a penalty for the first one to be honest.

    Needs another goal to be comfortable of course, but we've played good stuff at times without a killer instinct.
     
    criticalanalysis said:
    Our press has never been reliably good under any manager so I don't get the 'it's as bad as ever' angle (unless you count throwing everyone forward man-to-man pressing as 'good' and I'd assume you said this during our time under Amorim as well then?), which is why I pointed out our tactical shape when behind the ball. Personnel issue I don't necessarily disagree but as I said, tactically and our shape out of possession is 'better'. It's bit of a nervy game for us considering our frailties but this is as progressive and as good a game we've had in a while especially being 1 nil ahead against an in-form team.

    We're not full steaming ahead when on the ball and that's a good thing. I've been saying for a while we should have adopted a mid-block approach similar to what we saw in ETH's first season and so far it's been as expected.
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    We aren't adopting a mid block approach today though, that's part of the problem. We're pushing forward as if to press, but without actually pressing, it's looked like a man to man marking system instead at times. It's why Fulham have sliced through to the final 3rd repeatedly. We've seen much better performances than this, we just haven't been punished for it yet.

    The mid block is definitely the best approach to mitigate our weaknesses, I agree, but that can lead to us struggling against teams that don't leave us space in behind. It's an approach with a clear ceiling as we saw under Ole.
     
    soapythecat said:
    The left side isn’t working. Cunha hasn’t offered much and Shaw seems lost out there as Cunha seems to be nowhere near him.
    I’d be tempted to push Diallo out left and bring Sesko on. Sesko could cause Anderson problems no he’s in a yellow.
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    No. Amad is doing fine where he is, giving Robinson a torrid time. If anyone has to move it should be Mbuemo going left
     
    THAT Mainoo's tackle though. What TF was that? Didn't know he has it!
     
    soapythecat said:
    The left side isn’t working. Cunha hasn’t offered much and Shaw seems lost out there as Cunha seems to be nowhere near him.
    I’d be tempted to push Diallo out left and bring Sesko on. Sesko could cause Anderson problems no he’s in a yellow.
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    I think it was McGuire who put in a great ball and Shaw was standing at the half way line with his arms up. The whole left side was clear for him to attack
     
    Bastian said:
    Physically found wanting a bit. Pulled apart a bit too easily for my liking and their poor decision making in the final third is helping us. Our man to man press gets played through with the weak links (Cunha, Mainoo, Casemiro).

    Not sure Sesko is what changes things here. He benefitted massively from having Dorgu wide left, Cunha offers very little for him playing wide left in possession and centrally out of possession (to cover for his lack of tracking back).

    Unless Carrick changes things tactically with a left footer wide left. It worked really well under Fletcher.
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    Totally agree, we need Amad wide left, Cunha in 9 , Mbeumo wide right for 20 miins then bring Sesko on and go 4312 or 442
     
    Going to be a very nervy second half, just need to find a way to win. Fulham are a decent side and you’d think they have a goal in them based on that first half.
     
    Fulham are a pretty decent team. Their midfield is better and far physically superior than ours - Bruno is particularly being manhandled by Berge.

    Don't understand this strategy of playing long balls to 5'8" Mbeumo. Our attack on the left side is non-existent, which is pretty understandable considering we don't have a single left winger in the squad(consequence of Amorim's tenure). Get Sesko in as a target man, since we're playing that way already.
     
    WouterWeghorst said:
    Did fall asleep on marking Casemiro for our only goal.
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    Did a great job avoiding penalty right before that. Was probably running high on adrenaline right after that

    Not many defenders can stop Casemiro header, too
     
    It is in our hands. We are winning at OT, Fulham need to create in the second half, we have the better bench in Šeško, Mount and Mazraoui. They will be tired toward the end of the match, they have one of the oldest squads. Fulham is not a typical park the bus team which helps too, but we need to stay focused they are a good side.
     
    Cunha off, Sesko on and Mbuemo to the left. It'd give us more width and a target to aim at.
     
    Mockney said:
    I just feel playing the same team until you lose is closer to what you do at school level than elite professional football

    But it is what it is. We’re coping just about.
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    It’s not like we have 22 WC players. The 11 on the pitch are better then what we have on the bench. Don’t you think ?
    There is an argument for Maz for Dalot but otherwise I don’t see any player that is the same quality then what we have on the pitch.
     
    Deservedly ahead at the break, ive no idea why people are complaining about VAR giving a freekick instead of a corner after overturning the pen, freekick was the correct decision in that scenario.
     
    Poborsky's hair said:
    Thats why carrick is only interim. We look very dull if we dont counter. No game patterns just hoofing it up, losing the ball befor halfway line. No wingplay, no midfield, just very random ball progression. I still expect us to win this and get three points, but one fluke goal from them and we can be in trouble. We seem to only be able to create from a set piece today.
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    I don’t think it’s been that bad at all. We’ve actually played some nice football at times.
     
    Wouldn’t mind seeing Sesko at some point to add some muscle to our attack
     
    stu_1992 said:
    I actually do think we could have had a penalty for the first one to be honest
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    Really looked like he caught Mbeumos legs from behind before ever touching it, think it was outside, but Mbeumo was denied a goal scoring chance so, they were lucky imo
     
    The Hilton said:
    We aren't adopting a mid block approach today though, that's part of the problem. We're pushing forward as if to press, but without actually pressing, it's looked like a man to man marking system instead at times. It's why Fulham have sliced through to the final 3rd repeatedly. We've seen much better performances than this, we just haven't been punished for it yet.

    The mid block is definitely the best approach to mitigate our weaknesses, I agree, but that can lead to us struggling against teams that don't leave us space in behind. It's an approach with a clear ceiling as we saw under Ole.
    Click to expand...

    Disagree here. We're pressing without going gung-ho, a more conservative and methodical approach. Has it been great? No but the nuances of the triggers and when out of possession i.e going backwards is a subtle but clear difference for me. Just look at the position of Casemiro and Mainoo, they're pretty much sat in front of Maguire and Martinez as a box whenever they can.
     
    The press cannot work with Cunha instead of Dorgu. Just not the same energy/work rate/ awareness.
     
    The whining has started already.

    Good half, Fulham are a decent outfit. Just need to keep them out for the first 15 mins of the second half, get a second and it's game over.
     
    Gordon S said:
    Really looked like he caught Mbeumos legs from behind before ever touching it, think it was outside, but Mbeumo was denied a goal scoring chance so, they were lucky imo
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    Absolutely was a pen. Didn't understand why it wasn't given.
     
    Cunha struggles to take the ball on the move, very odd weakness at this level.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Casemiro image Casemiro 72% of 276 votes

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6.8 Total Average Rating

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Score Predictions

143,6,10
  • Man Utd win
  • Fulham win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 26% Man Utd 2:0 Fulham
  • 21% Man Utd 3:1 Fulham
  • 21% Man Utd 2:1 Fulham
  • 14% Man Utd 3:0 Fulham
  • 4% Man Utd 1:1 Fulham
  • 4% Man Utd 4:1 Fulham
  • 2% Man Utd 1:2 Fulham
  • 2% Man Utd 4:0 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 1:0 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 2:2 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 0:2 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 5:0 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 1:3 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 3:3 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 1:9 Fulham
Compiled from 159 predictions.
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