Manchester United vs AC Milan Sat 3rd August, 17:36 UK time

redom

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Hope to see changes at half-time, we really need someone comfortable on the ball like Gomes, especially with Pogba out.
 

Bastian

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You know, it's really good that we are fixing our defense with AWB and Maguire. But if Pogba does leave, we are well and truly fecked. Need at least one quality midfielder asap.
If he leaves, we need two. If he stays, one.
 

El Jefe

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All the talk about Matic in this half. Yes he's been absolutely dreadful but Mata and Pereira have been every bit as bad. Most of said that awarding Mata and Pereira new contracts was a terrible decision as well as relying on Matic in the coming season.

We are absolutely fecked if these 3 get any form of meaningful game time for us next season.
 

bosnian_red

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Sloppy as feck half. Matic is a retiree out there, Mata is almost always invisible and pointless, Pereira isn't anywhere near good enough. All things we know though and thankfully, I don't expect any of the 3 to be starters for much of the season. Worried Ole will start Matic for the beginning but no way he doesnt get dropped quickly.

Maguire for Rojo, Pogba for Matic, then 2 of Lingard/Greenwood/Dybala for Mata and Pereira will presumably be our main lineup which is worlds apart from this.
 

Romez

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Bar the first 15 minutes that was terrible.

Milan passing around us with ease. For some reason we’ve decided to park the bus and gave up on pressing.

At least 3 times Milan’s whole back 4 were in our half.

Matic is way too slow and cumbersome to be playing DM for us when we’re being pressed.

We’re also struggling to play out the back, you can tell we’re not used to it.
 

Cantona in disguise

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Haven't been able to catch much of pre season but managed to watch this.

Worrying thing about that half was we look like we did quite a few times last season very deep no midfield to really speak of relying on rashfords pace.

I think martial and rashford look dangerous and with a decent midfield we could be a real threat.

Not enough pressing in the later part of the half for me. Hopefully ironing out the creases before next week.
 

automaticflare

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Absolute plod plod plod

Too slow on the ball all over too many touches gonna be a long season
 

the hea

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There is just a huge gaping hole between our back 4 and Martial and Rashford. If we go in to the season with this midfield we are in for a lot of pain.
 

rooney2009

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Midfield is going to be a big problem for us this Season
We haven’t replaced Herrera and Fellaini
If the Management can’t see that we have big problems
 

moodyred

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I feel like watching last season't united all over again. What exactly has changed?
 

Tony247

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You know, it's really good that we are fixing our defense with AWB and Maguire. But if Pogba does leave, we are well and truly fecked. Need at least one quality midfielder asap.
Yeh. I was saying we need at least 2 more quality midfielders apart from Pogba. Even if he stays we cannot dream of finishing top 4 with just one decent midfielder. Rest all are just passers and runners with zero creativity.
 

RobbieBerns

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Dybala for Mata, Maguire for Rojo, and Pogba for Pereira completely transforms this team. Greenwood, Gomes, and Tuanzebe are ready and able to pass these losers in the depth chart. First names off the bench.
 

Godfather

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Incredibly had half. Getting dominated by a half fit Milan side in midfield. Without Pogba we are nothing in the center. And people want him gone. We better get Fernandes in.
 

Goomba

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And Ole thinks this is more or less the team that will play Chelsea next Sunday. Pahahah. No.
 

Venkman24

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Rashford and Martial seem to be swapping every 5 minutes. Even had Rashford at RW and Martial at LW for a few minutes. Poor half.
 

Snow

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Poor performance. Our midfield looks poor without Pogba, still a serious lack of depth there. Lindelöf been making a few mistakes at the back and not much going on going forward when we have to build up the attack as opposed to countering.

37% possession is pretty pathetic.
 

Bastian

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Seems to be the normal response with this kid....how many more chances is he going to get? Maybe he just isn't as good as we make him our to be.
He is that good. He just isn't that motivated. It's easy to see. He's got Rashford right next to him chasing everything down. Quite the contrast. In private Ole must be giving him a massive kick up the backside.
 

PoTMS

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Worrying signs. We'll get bossed by any half decent midfield without Pogba.
 

Globule

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Poor half with not too much to be encouraged by. The interchanging up top is positive, but the high pressing system seemed to burn itself out really early on. That might have been inevitable with Mata and Matic on the pitch.
 

tob

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Milan are pressing us. Our solution? Player on the ball - pass it to the nearest player.

Good thinking.
 

Gandalf Greyhame

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Both him and Pereira are pointless in it while Matic is just so bad these days. Need much more dynamism from them. Thankfully, wouldnt expect any of the 3 to be starters. Pogba for Matic, Lingard for Pereira/Mata, Dybala/Greenwood for the other
This midfield misses Herrera more than it misses Pogba. His dynamism and passing would have helped us deal with their midfield diamond. Criminal how we let him go and still haven't replaced him. Despite his reputation, even Fellaini was decent with the ball at his feet and could have offered more than Mata or Pereira in this game. And while Matic has picked some lovely passes over the top, his limited agility is leaving him very susceptible to their press.

Strengthening the defence is a good step forward, but it won't mean much if we don't get another central midfielder before the window closes. If we lose Pogba on top of that, I genuinely think we'll finish below Wolves.
 

BusbyMalone

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It's been fine example of how are games went last season. 15 minutes of looking great and sloppy the rest of the game.
Yep. Again, i know everyone will jump on the "it's only pre season" bandwagon, and they'd be right, mostly. But i genuinely can't help but feel a little worried. Lots of aimless long balls, lots of players looking isolated. Like you said, very much like last season.
 

#07

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We started well but after the goal Milan came roaring back and we have struggled. Milan are targeting Matic (and Shaw to a lesser extent) when we try to play out from the back, and it's working. Matic just doesn't react fast enough in possession. Needs to long to decide what to do. We are badly lacking a world class deep laying playmaker.
 

el3mel

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We'll do better when the kids come on than what the first lineup did I reckon.