Man Utd vs Atletico Madrid 1/8/2026 14:00
- Thread starter Dazzmondo
- Start date
Me.
If you look at most Dorgus goals last season he relies much more on service than players like Amad who can do things by himself. His volley, his back post goal vs City, his combination goal vs Arsenal, his headed corner etc.
As good as Lacey is, he isn't going to link the midfield to attack like Bruno yet who can create chance after chance & he is the player that is the most important to the front line for players that
The same with Mbeumo, he isn't good at dribbling as a winger but he is much better as a wide forward which is why Carrick uses him as a 2nd striker that again has to rely on service rather than score goals himself.
Agreed. Having some more direct, physical players in attacks helps give us some balance with the more technical players. And with better progressive passers in midfield now having the likes of Dorgu and Mbeumo making runs will open up space for the likes of Bruno and Amad.
But to be fair. There is bias and then there is their bias. Whinging a foul is not a foul when clearly is a foul. Of they struggle to admit a foul and use something that happened 30 seconds that had no relevance to the decision as a defense.
Its very weird but somewhat entertaining as to what shite they will say further on
Should have had a couple of penalties on Maguire during corners
Just find it hard to get excited about pre season games, although it‘s nice that the team played well and to see the younger lads get an opportunity.
Indeed! I was thinking that RG’s favorite part of a football match must be when the keeper goes down faking an injury to run out the clock.
Very good game and some promising signs all round.
Pressing and energy against a team as settled in their system as Madrid was excellent and I think the players are buying into whatever is being asked of them. Looked hungry and switched on.
Santos and Mount very good as a pairing in the centre today again. Yes it’s pre season and there will be harder tests but showed a lot of comments on them from fans were of the mark.
In Yoro and Heaven we are extremely lucky to have 2 of the best young players in Europe. Yoro dynamic going forward in a new position and Heaven with slide rule passes and timing in the tackle.
Some nice attacking play with Amad looking sharp and Lacey inventive. I can see quick football especially around the opposition box being a feature of our play hopefully going forward into the season.
JJ and Thwaites did well when they came on too. A nice little dribble from Gabriel and a first time volleyed pass wide from Jim showed glimpses of what they can offer.
Pressing and energy against a team as settled in their system as Madrid was excellent and I think the players are buying into whatever is being asked of them. Looked hungry and switched on.
Santos and Mount very good as a pairing in the centre today again. Yes it’s pre season and there will be harder tests but showed a lot of comments on them from fans were of the mark.
In Yoro and Heaven we are extremely lucky to have 2 of the best young players in Europe. Yoro dynamic going forward in a new position and Heaven with slide rule passes and timing in the tackle.
Some nice attacking play with Amad looking sharp and Lacey inventive. I can see quick football especially around the opposition box being a feature of our play hopefully going forward into the season.
JJ and Thwaites did well when they came on too. A nice little dribble from Gabriel and a first time volleyed pass wide from Jim showed glimpses of what they can offer.
Solid performance but these empty seats are driving me mad. Lower the prices ffs.
Encouraging performance but i think atleti might have been behind us fitness wise.
Santos looks solid, mount is pre season pirlo right now and you have to hope he continues this form. Still think, we need to sign an attacker and a midfielder .
Santos looks solid, mount is pre season pirlo right now and you have to hope he continues this form. Still think, we need to sign an attacker and a midfielder .
Mount and Santos look really good together the last 2 games. Pre season and all that but all we have to go off for now. Heaven is going to be very good also. Good run out for Amad. Mbeumo fine but not great. Lacey a liverwire and looking forward to seeing his progress.
Hope the holiday and family is good!
All Zirkzee hate on here when he is playing well is turning me into a fan. Let's go Z prove the haters wrong.
I don't know if Lacey is good enough for us long-term but right now he is playing at a PL level. Impressive pre-season from him so far.
If we're judging Gabriel against being a 15 year old making his debut against Atletico Madrid, sure. If we're judging him against being a first team player I thought he was poor. Should have squared that ball for Zirkzee, might have had an assist.
Me, I don't think Dorgu is good enough to be the main LW, he's a good change of pace that can stretch defenses, but he can't really creat for himself, he's not that technically elite either, and his touch can betray him too. At his best I will still stay with my view that he's the Left-Sided version of Valencia.
I think this is not far from the truth. He's fast, he can score some crazy goals, but he doesn't seem to be able to play in anyone else or cross the ball at all. It's preseason of course, but Dorgu doesn't play like a traditional winger and more like a central midfielder being asked to play out wide.
Really enjoyed Mount and Santos, impressed with their overall contributions.
Tom Heaton on this evidence should have been subbed in the first time Onana threw one in his own net. Great servant to the club but it's often talked about like he's just there for leadership, when he's actually a really good keeper in his own right.
Zirkzee had a couple moments where he treated defenders like a redheaded stepchild. He's obviously got some great skills just don't know if they translate to Premier League pace and aggression. If we can just get him up in the enemy penalty area, he can do some damage. A bit of a luxury player, don't know if we can justify having him on the books. But that goal he scored against Rosenborg is one of the sexiest goals I've ever seen.
Shea Lacey needs to be part of the first team. Sesko might be more of an actual finisher, but Lacey's overall game is really good and probably better, plus he manages to create chances for himself out of very little.
Not seeing it with Dorgu. He's got pace and power, can score some worldies, but he had today zero ability to link play or create for anyone else. As mentioned above, plays wing like he's filling in and doesn't play like a trad winger.
Yoro and Heaven easily dealt with the Athleticunts.
Mbeumo with both goals shaking off some rust. Penalty of an assassin.
Jack Fletcher created our second goal out of thin air, just reading the game quickly and being aggressive.
Also want Amass in the first team. Don't know if he can play on the right as well as the left, but he's ready for the first team level, and if it means we can ship out Mazraoui, even better.
Another shout for Mount. He was really good. MOTM. Lacey and Amass need to be in the first team.
Tom Heaton on this evidence should have been subbed in the first time Onana threw one in his own net. Great servant to the club but it's often talked about like he's just there for leadership, when he's actually a really good keeper in his own right.
Zirkzee had a couple moments where he treated defenders like a redheaded stepchild. He's obviously got some great skills just don't know if they translate to Premier League pace and aggression. If we can just get him up in the enemy penalty area, he can do some damage. A bit of a luxury player, don't know if we can justify having him on the books. But that goal he scored against Rosenborg is one of the sexiest goals I've ever seen.
Shea Lacey needs to be part of the first team. Sesko might be more of an actual finisher, but Lacey's overall game is really good and probably better, plus he manages to create chances for himself out of very little.
Not seeing it with Dorgu. He's got pace and power, can score some worldies, but he had today zero ability to link play or create for anyone else. As mentioned above, plays wing like he's filling in and doesn't play like a trad winger.
Yoro and Heaven easily dealt with the Athleticunts.
Mbeumo with both goals shaking off some rust. Penalty of an assassin.
Jack Fletcher created our second goal out of thin air, just reading the game quickly and being aggressive.
Also want Amass in the first team. Don't know if he can play on the right as well as the left, but he's ready for the first team level, and if it means we can ship out Mazraoui, even better.
Another shout for Mount. He was really good. MOTM. Lacey and Amass need to be in the first team.
Hopefully Mount can stay fit this season. He was great last night. Do we really need an extra midfielder.? I'm not sure.
Andrey Santos did well, clever on the ball all the time.
Lacey can unlock defences and create chances. He has to play this season and be more involved.
I still don't see Dorgu as being good enough.
Andrey Santos did well, clever on the ball all the time.
Lacey can unlock defences and create chances. He has to play this season and be more involved.
I still don't see Dorgu as being good enough.
I’d definitely judge him with the context you provided in the first instance. I agree that he should have squared the ball but I’m sure I can find instances where more senior players have done similar. Not sure anyone was expecting anything more than what they saw from him to be fair.
The main takeaway is that nearly everyone played well yesterday. One could have words with Maguire and Heaton on the goal but apart from, it was almost v boy stuff. Pre-season, but job done.
But what really matters now, apart from transfer business, is getting our regular starters back into action. It’s all about who will win the battles for the 6 and 8 roles and whether feels it’s necessary to spend 80m on an another midfilder, as Santos looks already to be an outstanding signing, and there’s every reason to believe in Tielemans as a quality alternative to either Mainoo or Santos. And with Mount putting in another fantastic shift, depth in midfield isn’t the worry it was two months ago.
But what really matters now, apart from transfer business, is getting our regular starters back into action. It’s all about who will win the battles for the 6 and 8 roles and whether feels it’s necessary to spend 80m on an another midfilder, as Santos looks already to be an outstanding signing, and there’s every reason to believe in Tielemans as a quality alternative to either Mainoo or Santos. And with Mount putting in another fantastic shift, depth in midfield isn’t the worry it was two months ago.
With Mount, Tielemans, Mainoo, Santos, and assuming Bruno stays, there won't be enough game time for a 6th MF, although we are a bit light on the DMF #6 side. May be we can get away with some games on a Mainoo-Tielemans combo, bit a bit short on #6.
I think a 6 would get plenty of game time, we wouldn't play Mainoo + Tiele often.
Mount will inevitably get injured, and we're back in Europe so rotation will be critical. We need another CM, hence why it's been reported multiple times we want a 3rd CM signing
Yea i noticed that and thought of those pre season games against Madrid years ago with 100k attendance..
If there's anything I've learned watching professional football, it's that any player at any level is perfectly capable of pulling a boneheaded 12U move out of his locker in the wrong moment.
Exactly, so this is why I’m hesitant in general in using single moments like this to to judge most players let alone a 15 year old in a friendly in his first senior appearance.
Either way re: JJ, it was a token appearance which would do his confidence a world of good. That said, he's nowhere near ready to start men's football. The clue is in the age - 15!
He's not one of those physical specimens, so it will take time.
He's not one of those physical specimens, so it will take time.
I haven't seen much of Lacey but he looks interesting although he gives me Antony vibes. Cutting in from the left and curling a shot inside the far post - does he have other tricks?
Trick that won the penalty.
Two players per position is completely standard and anything less is leaving us short.
This is especially true when one of the first five misses half a season through injury every year.
I'm guessing you mean the right?
Nevertheless, if you watched this game, it's a strange one to bring up
I say this because he played as a 10 for the most part (1st half), and while he does have the tendency to cut in and shoot while playing from the right (as do most wide players), this wasn't a feature of his game yesterday at all.
None of the key things he did yesterday involved cutting in from the right and curling a shot inside the far post.
The closest he came was trying one shot from a tight angle near the byline.
Yes of course - right. Sorry!
I agree that he was 10ing yesterday and I suppose I was rethinking the previous game when he was more right-sided.
Many of you will have had the opportunity to watch him more frequently and I know he is highly rated - I hope he fulfils his obvious potential
These games are clearly a harder sell as so many players are missing. Charge €20 and get the place full.
Lacey has far more tricks in his bag than Antony. For one, he's two footed.
Is it just me or are we really lacking a true no.9, and going with a false 9. So do we need back up to Sesko before we need more midfield players.
Never going to happen when there’s juice to be squeezed
It's bad business sense to over charge and have a half empty stadium. It's also a bad look and they'd make more money on purchases if it was a sell out
I understand, it was a reference to greed
Yea it's greed, but they'd make more money if they charged less as you know. Who's been setting the prices is it us or the stadium owners