That twat ref would have played a whole extra half yesterday if he could have gotten away with it.
PL W FA Premier League
Manchester United 3:2 Fulham
Post-match discussion
Sun, 01 February 2026
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In the latest edition of the United Hour Podcast, we interview Duncan Drasdo of MUST - covering ticket prices, new stadium, INEOS and what fans should be demanding from our club.
Also, due to technical issues we couldn't put a notice up for the previous episode which was about the game against Bournemouth and other stuff. If you'd like to listen to it, click here.
Something that’s getting forgotten with all the tooth gnashing about how we fell apart after Casemiro went off is that we had two glorious chances to make it 3-0 while he was on the bench. If Sesko scored that header which hit the post or Cunha buried the cut back he put over the final stages would have been a hell of a lot less nervy.
You clearly dreamt that. I was blatant rather about the fact out best performances in 2 seasons running regardless of system have been vs the best teams, which is always about us being compact and hitting them in transition. Absolutely nothing to do with the formation.
They ARE pointless caveats. Because we were in particularly worse form than this Liverpool we beat this season, when we beat City away, knocked Arsenal out of the cup away, plus got draws against al 3 whilst struggling vs everyone else just LAST season.
Us playing well vs or beating a top side with this squad has been more regular than a long run of convincing wins vs small sides in over 2.5 seasons bar Pool hitting us for 7. It has nothing what so ever to do with formation.
Which is why trying to to co relate both the City & Arsenal wins to beating a side like Fulham is straight up folly. Neither of those sides remotely posed the problems Fulham gave us.
TBF we have been profligate all season. It would be amiss to complain about our attack being in this current run of 3 goals a game over a few misses.
That was Bassey
Our best 2 performances this season were both playing 4 at the back. We had not produced any performance remotely close to City game at any point during Amorim's 14 months here playing 343.
Just saw the MOTD segment for this game with Marco Silva whining about the decision for the free-kick leading to Casemiro's goal as some defining moment in the game 
Jesus wept. Considering what happened before and after that, it's an after-thought. And more to the point, it was still the right decision, in my opinion.
Jesus wept. Considering what happened before and after that, it's an after-thought. And more to the point, it was still the right decision, in my opinion.Had Fulham won today they would have been 1 point behind us. I think people need to realign their thinking a bit for some teams. This isn't a team of bums, they are a good team.
They've recently drawn v Liverpool and beaten chelsea. Lost twice away to Newcastle 2 1 to last minute goals. Narrowly lost to city and arsenal. The last time they lost a game by more than one goal was the 8th November.
At two nil today we hit the post, that goes in it's over. Similarly late challenges go in on strikers all the time after they have had a shot and today it gets called (rightly), when usually it's ignored.
I think this is a bit of an overreaction personally. Had we scraped past wolves at home like this I think this theory would have more merit.
How is it that people are not talking about how good Dalot was? Closed down really well and his build up play from the back seems to be integral to the way we play.
It seems once people are done with you on this platform, that's it. He was very good and he deserves to keep his place in the team.
It seems once people are done with you on this platform, that's it. He was very good and he deserves to keep his place in the team.
Brilliant and typically Bruno. He tries stuff that doesn’t always come off and he flaps his arms around a bit but jeez, easily our best player since he arrived. Always had some Reser but he could carry on for a few years yet with the vision he brings. The worship Purlo gets but only really became a top quality player in his later years
We really do have some top class players and just need a cohesive overall team coordination.
Yeah, crazy to say harshly disallowed, without VAR it may have been given, with it it’s not. Simple.
He did play well today for sure but I would say it was his man who got in behind for the penalty.
I think complaints about the overall performance here are off the mark - both teams played well, it was a good game. The fly in the ointment is how we once again let go of the initiative for the last ten minutes, dropped too deep and blew a 2-goal lead. You'd think they'd have learned by now that this is not something that tends to go well.
But that apart, it was good to see that there's a plan for how to deal with teams that sit deeper than Arsenal or City will - less emphasis on quick counterattacks, and a more measured build-up but with lots of players going forward. Seems like a sound enough plan to me, and we executed it fairly well. We should have the skillset for that kind of attack now.
That's the best I've seen Casemiro since his first season in Manchester, he was MOTM to me. Cunha a little bit disappointing, apart from the goal (which certainly was enough to earn the start) - currently a man of moments rather than a consistent influence on the game, and rather too many bad involvements. Not impressed by Dalot either, especially in the 1st half. But otherwise strong performances across the board.
But that apart, it was good to see that there's a plan for how to deal with teams that sit deeper than Arsenal or City will - less emphasis on quick counterattacks, and a more measured build-up but with lots of players going forward. Seems like a sound enough plan to me, and we executed it fairly well. We should have the skillset for that kind of attack now.
That's the best I've seen Casemiro since his first season in Manchester, he was MOTM to me. Cunha a little bit disappointing, apart from the goal (which certainly was enough to earn the start) - currently a man of moments rather than a consistent influence on the game, and rather too many bad involvements. Not impressed by Dalot either, especially in the 1st half. But otherwise strong performances across the board.
Just saw the MOTD segment for this game with Marco Silva whining about the decision for the free-kick leading to Casemiro's goal as some defining moment in the game
Good manager but such serious and miserable looking guy, really hope he goes abroad after this season as his Fulham team are horrible to play against.
If I was him I'd be looking at his defenders for the first goal, not blaming VAR, as next time he has a genuine grievance with VAR then no one will care when you whinge about petty things like this.
And how is he so sure the ref didn't give it for the pull, the defender only just let go when Cuhna was virtually on the line, and without any question that part was a foul.
I think was a super 3 points against a well
Orgnaized side.
My worry is midfield thought we were played through too much
Orgnaized side.
My worry is midfield thought we were played through too much
Sorry, what? He did have a few good passes up in the second half, but not really many, and he was a complete no-factor in that aspect during the 1st. And closing down is precisely what he really does not do - he'll stand off at 1.5 m, enough to make him difficult to pass, but too far away to interfere with the attacker getting a good.precise cross in at the right time, or finding a teammate around the corner of the box. I've seen him worse on that point than he was yesterday, but I've seen him better too. To me he was our weakest performing player.
He's a clown who loves moaning. Cunha's shirt was being pulled, it's a clear free-kick.Just saw the MOTD segment for this game with Marco Silva whining about the decision for the free-kick leading to Casemiro's goal as some defining moment in the game
To be fair to Carrick, we missed Dorgu’s athleticism and physicality so we had to adjust, not many of us would have thought of Dorgu as wide Left box to box winger that could assist and score goals until Carrick saw that in him.
Marco Silva is an elite manager, Fulham a good side with no European football so his team was fresh, well disciplined and on a very good run.
Carrick tried to change the system to more narrow 4231 that sometimes become more of a 4213 where the front three were extremely narrow when United had the ball it was more of a 325 with Shaw pushing high up on the left and Dalot inverting inside to make a 3 man back line!
The Good ;
The front three interchanged all game and caused uncertainty to Fulham’s defence.
Kobbie continuing to link the play through the thirds and showing solid defensive discipline
The attackers are starting to trust themselves and find the net that’s 8 goals in 3 PL matches
Casemiro is going out in a blaze
Carrick trying to attack and by bringing on sesko to try and get the third shows true attacking intent.
The Bad ;
Cunha and Bruno giving the ball away far too much causing turnovers!
Maguire great in air but still lacks elite pace
The Ugly;
Players still not smelling danger enough on the pitch and panicking as soon as they concede one goal, one becomes two it’s far too frequent now.
Carrick getting outmatched by Silva in the second half, however our midfield desperately needs support and the board have let down Amorim and Carrick by leaving 4 fit midfield players to play in 3 key positions.
They are the very definition of UGLY to our a great club.
We can avoid a game state where they get lots of quality time on the ball in the final third because we're dropping too deep to effectively contest it, and they also end up in control of 90% of the clearances. The more time you allow the opponent to spend in that posture, the greater the probability of things like penalties conceded and worldie finishes.
To be fair, everyone does this.
Maz did the same thing. It's a good defensive tactic by itself, which only fails when you have Ugarte as a defensive midfielder and you get one-twoed with ease.
Goal of the fullback is not to get passed by, the crosses are centrebacks problem.
He did alright. He's not as good as Wan Bissaka defensively, but he's not as bad as him offensively.
I think his point is more "since when can VAR call free kicks"? And they can't, so it really depends on whether the shirt-holding is the situation the ref called the penalty for. Silva argues it wasn't that, but Cuenca's tackle inside the box, which on closer inspection turned out to be on the ball. I'd have to say I took it for granted too that that was what the ref blew his whistle for, otherwise he'd have done so several seconds earlier. But I suppose you could argue it's one contiguous situation.
Agreed. Lopetegui was even worse.
The MOTD presenters said the communication was about the shirt pull. And even if it wasn't Silva's complaint would only be one about process, which is very weak. Cuenca committed a foul and we ended up getting a free kick.
It's not a strong look from Silva, moaning that his player got caught breaking the rules when he could have gotten away with it.
Well strictly speaking it would be about VAR making a decision they're not entitled to make. That's rather more than process.
But clearly they must have looked at the situation in toto, that's the only thing that makes sense for producing that outcome. Which seems reasonable, and certainly resulted in the right decision. Just saying that Silvas complaint isn't about whether or not that's a free-kick as such.
Without the prolonged shirt pull the defender doesn’t get close enough to make the tackle. I fail to see how the two elements could be separated. Correct decision.
That's exactly what I mean by process. He is complaining about the way the decision was made - not the decision itself.
OK, perhaps the overall performance wasn't quite up to those against City and Arsenal, but another 3 points and 4th in the table is a welcome sight indeed. Fulham are no mugs, they're a good team and a match for any Prem team but we put them away and should have won by a bigger margin, but the way we came straight back after their equalizing goal was pure Fergie Time. Carrick is instilling belief into his players along with a work ethic and attitude both lacking for too long....we wont win every match but as long as the players respond to setbacks positively there will be more wins than defeats. The Champions League beckons, but we're not there yet.
Of course, the default approach of a FB is not to throw himself at the attacker at every opportunity. But I don't agree Dalot is similar to most other defenders in this aspect. Usually, defenders at least go close enough to impede and disturb the attacker. And they do try to prevent a cross, or at least force the attacker to hit it under pressure and not at a time of his own choosing. The sort of passivity you often see from him is, I think, rare.
That said, there's always the risk that once you've identified a specific shortcoming in a player, you develop a consciousness bias about that.
Er, no. It's not "the way the decision was made". It's whether that decision can in fact be made at all. If it can't, then by definition it's a wrong decision.
Anyway, you understand what I mean, I understand what you mean, better leave it at that before we annoy the feck out of everyone.
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Yes good point.
Silva had no reason at all to be upset with VAR, it worked in their favour, he should though be very upset with his defenders still high fiving just before the freekick was taken.
Correction - our best 2 performance this season were both playing 4 at the back, WITH Casemiro as DMF.
Ugarte while playing, is directly or indirectly accountable for half of ALL the goals conceded.
It was, he's a good lad, Bassey, I like him. Along the lines of Michail Antonio, seems happy.
He scared the shit out of Kevin n all. In the celebration of that stupid amount of curl equaliser. Bassey bear-hugged him from behind, lifting him off the floor, and poor little Kev's eyes looked like they were going to pop out. I think he was expecting to be body-slammed next.
What I mean by decision is simply looking at that sequence of play and what should have been called in real time. For me, a decision of a free-kick would have been the right call before all the VAR stuff. So eventually they got to what would have been the right decision from the start. Silva then has a complaint about process, not the actual fair outcome of the sequence. Which in my opinion is just really weak.
And as I understand it, he doesn't even have a real complaint, because the VAR team was looking at the shirt pull and therefore would be allowed to give the freekick, since the pull stopped outside the box.
As negative as things have been until very recently, I still had a sneaking feeling at 2-2 that we would still win
That was the straw that broke the camel's back, but if United had been 11 points better off from the dropped home points against Everton, West Ham, Bournemouth and Wolves, and comfortably in the top 4, Amorim wouldn't have been sacked even after the Leeds press conference.
I was at the game and said it to the guy next to me there’s a winner in us. Just felt different I think , under Amorim I think there would have been a mass exodus
Apart from the last additional time winner, a real 'theatre of dreams' goal from Sesko; the thing that impressed me was the spirit shown all over the pitch.
We got the run around a bit in both halves, but we 'dug in' and kept our shape, no opposition players running 40 or 50 yards, unchallenged.
Casemiro's display up there with one of his best, it shows what we may miss when he's gone, but great workman like display from Kobbie, his tackling and tight, 'close in work' was a joy to be hold, 'nicking off' and through opposition legs, little layoffs close quarters.
Great goal from Cunha, but he was careless with the ball at times and somewhat anonymous; but finishing like that had been a desperate need for us for a while.
Harry Maguire, solid once again down the middle, but his lack of speed getting across when the opposition break through down either wing, was still inhibiting and led to the penalty.
A little bit like 'after the Lord Mayors show' against City and Arsenal, but Fulham are a side well coached have some decent players, and 3 points count especially at home.
We got the run around a bit in both halves, but we 'dug in' and kept our shape, no opposition players running 40 or 50 yards, unchallenged.
Casemiro's display up there with one of his best, it shows what we may miss when he's gone, but great workman like display from Kobbie, his tackling and tight, 'close in work' was a joy to be hold, 'nicking off' and through opposition legs, little layoffs close quarters.
Great goal from Cunha, but he was careless with the ball at times and somewhat anonymous; but finishing like that had been a desperate need for us for a while.
Harry Maguire, solid once again down the middle, but his lack of speed getting across when the opposition break through down either wing, was still inhibiting and led to the penalty.
A little bit like 'after the Lord Mayors show' against City and Arsenal, but Fulham are a side well coached have some decent players, and 3 points count especially at home.
And we're only in February!
Totally agree, once Casemiro was off we weren't able apply enough pressure in the areas between the halfway line and our box. I think Mainoo and Bruno just don't have the speed/stamina to get there later in the game and Ugarte runs about like a headless chicken and gets played around.
I don't really know what the solution is just now, as we just don't seem to have suitable midfielders to bring on (or arguably start for some games), and if we were to bring the defensive line up to condense the space, Maguire and Martinez would be exposed with anything over the top. They've been largely excellent sitting a bit deeper so I wouldn't want to be dropping them for the youngsters.
Fulham were pretty solid, so will be interesting to see how we approach the Tottenham and West Ham games, both have had some decent results in their recent games so I don't expect we'll find them easy either.
Man of the Match
Runners-up
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11%
Bruno Fernandes
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4%
Senne Lammens
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4%
Amad Diallo
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4%
Lisandro Martinez
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2%
Benjamin Sesko
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2%
Kobbie Mainoo
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1%
Matheus Cunha
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1%
Harry Maguire
Player Ratings
Total Average Rating
Highest Rated Player
Lowest Rated Player
Compiled from 253 ratings.
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
Man Utd Lineup
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replaced by Noussair Mazraoui
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replaced by Manuel Ugarte
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replaced by Benjamin Sesko
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replaced by Leny Yoro
