Spoilers- Very long post below
1. Seeing Lindelof get Motm when the second goal is completely his fault was strange to me. Otherwise he was rock solid- but watch him get sucked in to double team an attacker and to leave Young on two. Completely his fault.
2. Hate to say it but the first goal isn’t really all of Jones or Periera fault. Pereira lacked awareness for the attacker who pressed him and jones pass was a little lazy but he had no one else making a move.
3. We were anxious. Ole choosing Mata on the wing instead of Lukaku was super weird. Don’t see why we didn’t play a 4-4-2 with mata underneath Rashford and Lukaku.
I honestly would have preferred Fred on the RW.
Frankly I don't think the comeback was that unexpected. This team under Mourinho came back from 2-0 down to win 2-3 multiple times. They wouldn't have lost that mentality instantly just because of a change in manager, particularly one who encourages them to attack all game. Our players are generally mentally quite strong.
Definitely one of the positive aspects of Mourinho.
Couple of things I took from the game
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1. Rashford was wasteful today and should have finished the opportunity he had in the first half. At this level, the very least he should have done was atleast tested the goalkeeper. Simply disappointing.
2. I've been a huge fan of Periera but whenever given the chance in an actual game that counts, he's always not lived up to expectations. He was terrible in the first half as it is but to give away the ball that led to the goal was just criminal. Simply not good enough. I would just let him go since his contract will run in the summer.
3. Phil Jones, the enigma... If there's one guy that angers me this season, it's Phil Jones whose just a piece of crap. He's looked nothing but crap. He's been at OT for so many years and he still ends up being shite... Periera was cornered by two Burnley players and he chose to still pass it to him which led to the mistake and eventually, the goal. Someone really needs to take note that Jones shouldn't be featuring for United. The guy is an absolute disgrace.
4. Mata just doesn't have it in him to survive in the PL at the highest level. He was completely ineffective. Another player I feel that should be moved on... Not because of this game but just because he's mediocre and he would be taking up 140k of the wage budget and a spot which I would give to someone else.
5. There was no attacking from the RW. It was completely dead and we kept hitting a wall. Mata with his inward movement and Young unable to cross took away that part of the game.
6. Sanchez and Lukaku don't really offer us 750k/ week worth of performances. One of them needs to be moved on and my preference would be Sanchez. He may have been responsible for the Lindelog goal but he was pretty average and I think his performances haven't been of superstar quality.
7. Losing points at home to a team that's battling relegation is just not acceptable.
8. Ole took too many risks today... Pereira, Jones, Mata and Lukaku were too many changes to the first 11.
1. Yep.
2. That’s not united or Ole. Won’t give up on the lad.
3. He wasn’t surrounded by two plays.
4. When we see Mata play in his position I think we can truly judge him. He’s deadly in the center and he can finish 1 v 1s. It’s oles fault for not starting Lingard or Sanchez on the wing.
5. Dalot could have been a difference there. But also we need a RW. Strange we haven’t bought one yet.
6. Agreed he hasn’t been great. Don’t think we can move him on and gotta hope the next manager (whoever it’ll be) works well with him. I think with his lack of speed he’s most effective on the top of a diamond or right behind a fast striker. We don’t play with that set up so, I have no idea what to do with him at the moment. He lacks confidence and passion. The right management can get him there.
Yep to 7 and 8.
There is some kind of madness going on around this place....
People want to continue giving Pereira chances despite the fact he’s never had a solid performance playing in the first team, and today was the icing on that very badly tasting cake. He’s not yet proved his worth, yet he’s 23. If he ain’t good now, he’s never going to be.
However, people are happy to move Sanchez on to a different club and not give him the same chance that they’re willing to gift to Pereira. Unlike Pereira, he’s proven himself in the PL. Time and time again for Arsenal. He’s had some good performances for us too. I would be very confident, that given game time, he will regain his best form. Surely his achievements at Arsenal should warrant more of a chance to be given here at United?!
I really don’t get this love affair with players just because they’re a product of the academy. A poor player is a poor player, regardless of where the heck he came from. Reality check needed.
The thing is Sanchez has gotten many opportunities with us in the first team. I think both should be given time. Today wasn’t lost by either of them. If we had Lukaku on the right, Rashford in the center and either Sanchez, Lingard on the LW we would have scored earlier and that would have never happened in my opinion. We’ve had a strong shape with Rashford up the center and speed around him- I know Martial is out (which btw, proves we need to sign a left winger plus a right winger) but we all know Mata on the RW and Rashford anywhere but center is a waste.
Bottom line- we need wingers. Three seasons ago.
Imo that’s more important than fullbacks at the moment. Why? Because we want to be an attacking team first and a devastating counter attacking team second.
Pogba plus a trio of pace up top will do that, and Matic and the back four will let in less than we score. That should be the game plan and I know the board doesn’t want to buy before the DOF and manager are appointed but that’s suicide for our season.
What we do we want? Wingers!
When do we want it- well ya know.
It’s not rocket science that we’ve needed for seasons now. The Sanchez situation is priority of course but a top club doesn’t have two left wingers, and zero right wingers.
Our best winger is a young CF who was moved there. Insanity.