He actually pushed him over his leg.How in hell was that not a foul on Bruno?
He actually pushed him over his leg.How in hell was that not a foul on Bruno?
I agree, Leeds had 3 or 4 big chances towards the end of the game that they spurned. Same with Southampton. We really need to get up to scratch quicklyThink this exposed what many of us were worried about, our fitness is no where near where it needs to be yet. Last 30 minutes all movement off the ball stopped and the passing became unbearably slow and sloppy. Same thing happened against Leeds in the last 20 but luckily we were miles clear by then.
Oh I am so greatful. Thank you for thinking of me....I guess it got caught in the crossfire. But listen, it’s nice to be thought of, regardless context, so just be grateful.
Which games?No he’s played well in other games too. Where he’s not played well is when he’s given literally 5 or 10 minutes at the end of the game when all the best players have been taken off and when he’s not even had a consistent run of games. Fact is even when he was playing well, the second Fred or mctominay were fit, he was replaced. Then he lost confidence and form. When he has been given a full game it’s usually when he’s surrounded by the reserves. Stick him in the first team surrounded by quality players and give him a run of five or six games then let’s see how he does. He certainly couldn’t have done worse than our midfield today. And based on his resistance to the press, he’d probably have done a lot better.
I think the Matic selection couldn't be helped as McTominay was injured and Pogba is in WC form playing further up. We have no other options there. Us needing players is another matter.The problem facing the club was evident in a game that we should have been on the front foot ensuring a good start to the season.
Selections were hard to understand given the need to win and play against a hard pressing team, Matic is sound but found out for speed and reaction leaving Fred more exposed than usual as almost the sole defensive mid.
Starting with Martial was beyond stupid and he should not start in the EPL this season and preferably be sold. Lingard doesn’t add anything and if we could get something for him, use it to fund a transfer in.
Put a rocket up Lindelof when he is in possession inside our half, too many loose balls and lost tackles, even Maguire needs a slap now and again, can’t lose the ball around the box.
In a nutshell, Ole and his selections show he doesn’t always comprehend how difficult every game is in the EPL, subs and midfield need a deep look or maybe a better manager.
Think he sent the players out with the wrong attitude yesterday. There was no need for changes, except Scott, then you do not replace him with Matic whose legs have gone, against a side who will press you. Making those changes gave the impression to the players it was going to be an easy game. Send your first team out and get another win, set down a marker. You know you can continue this unbeaten run with wins Ole. I also think he keeps too many players because they are good in the dressing room, which is fine if they still offer plenty on the pitch. There are at least three place in the first team squad taken up by them. I also think it does take players time to settle in, but sitting them on the bench and giving them a game every ten or half an hour here and there does not do that. They need a sustained run in the team to build understanding with teammates. He bought Donny, barely plays, bought Amad and Pellistri, are they going to be money wasted that could have gone into the midfield? Lukaku started, yet Sancho and Varane can't. I can now see why he wanted Trippier so much, did he not realise AWB can defend but cannot attack? Don't get me started on Martial, he looks unfit and disinterested. He should be on the bench with Mason up front until Cavani is back.The problem facing the club was evident in a game that we should have been on the front foot ensuring a good start to the season.
Selections were hard to understand given the need to win and play against a hard pressing team, Matic is sound but found out for speed and reaction leaving Fred more exposed than usual as almost the sole defensive mid.
Starting with Martial was beyond stupid and he should not start in the EPL this season and preferably be sold. Lingard doesn’t add anything and if we could get something for him, use it to fund a transfer in.
Put a rocket up Lindelof when he is in possession inside our half, too many loose balls and lost tackles, even Maguire needs a slap now and again, can’t lose the ball around the box.
In a nutshell, Ole and his selections show he doesn’t always comprehend how difficult every game is in the EPL, subs and midfield need a deep look or maybe a better manager.
Cavani wasn't on the benchI would have thrown on a half-fit Cavani as a desparate gamble. Could have paid off.
Totally agree with this. There is a weird pro-Donny cult among some United fans as if he should be an automatic starter every game and I haven't seen anything from him to warrant this since he has been here. He consistently, just passes straight back to the person that passed to him then moves to another space which seams pointless and too safe to me (van Gaal play).Donny hasn’t shown anything there so far.
Because there was no Cavani available!Just the same old issues really. On any given day we'll drastically underperform our own quality.
Why we started Martial i have no idea.
Cavani wasn't available for Leeds either as far as i recall.Because there was no Cavani available!
Martial has been out injured for months. He lacks fitness and sharpness and well, pretty much everything right now. If he was gonna start it should’ve been on the wing. I also don’t get why we partnered Donny with Matic in preseason and it looked good, so why didn’t we do that in the game? Especially against a high pressing saints. And then the low block which Donny is well used to. But instead he brings Lingard on, risking injury (so I assume he has no plans to sell him). Dire.I think the Matic selection couldn't be helped as McTominay was injured and Pogba is in WC form playing further up. We have no other options there. Us needing players is another matter.
The Martial selection was the worst for me. I get he wants to play him into form but it's just not happening.
I agree about Martial but a Matic - VDB midfield would be a disaster. One is immobile and the other is too weak and not quick or gritty enough to be in that area. Unfortunately Donny is competing with Pogba and Bruno to play in a more advanced role. Pre-season doesn't mean much in terms of performances.Martial has been out injured for months. He lacks fitness and sharpness and well, pretty much everything right now. If he was gonna start it should’ve been on the wing. I also don’t get why we partnered Donny with Matic in preseason and it looked good, so why didn’t we do that in the game? Especially against a high pressing saints. And then the low block which Donny is well used to. But instead he brings Lingard on, risking injury (so I assume he has no plans to sell him). Dire.
Have to agree with this. Was one of those days. We had them with RVN up top, too.However lets be honest, we had enough chances in the first half alone to have won this game at a cantor.
I disagree totally. I think VDB would do much better in the CM role than Fred for example. It may not be his strongest position but how many stinkers have we seen from Fred in that role. Fred's performance yesterday was one of the worst I have ever seen from a United midfielder - terrible passing, sloppy on the ball - just not good enough. I wouldn't play VDB with Matic, I would play him with McTom.I agree about Martial but a Matic - VDB midfield would be a disaster. One is immobile and the other is too weak and not quick or gritty enough to be in that area. Unfortunately Donny is competing with Pogba and Bruno to play in a more advanced role. Pre-season doesn't mean much in terms of performances.
I'm not sure why bringing on Lingard risked injury. He's not injury prone and probably gets the same runouts in training.
No he wasn't, but I suspect to get in the others players in he wanted, Ole chose Martial to lead the line ...again; lets hope he doesn't do it next week.Cavani wasn't available for Leeds either as far as i recall.
Rather than rewarding Greenwood who had a good prior game we said actually no let's start this guy who hasn't performed and doesn't even work for his place in the team. Great message that is.
At this stage I'd rather start Bruno up top than Martial.
Fred has an awful bottom level I agree, but he also has very good games where his agility and line breaking benefits us greatly and his passing isn't so bad on those days. I think it's the best we've got unless we sign another midfielder.I disagree totally. I think VDB would do much better in the CM role than Fred for example. It may not be his strongest position but how many stinkers have we seen from Fred in that role. Fred's performance yesterday was one of the worst I have ever seen from a United midfielder - terrible passing, sloppy on the ball - just not good enough. I wouldn't play VDB with Matic, I would play him with McTom.
Is there a particular quality that you think he would have brought to the game or is it just that no one else was really any good so he should have played? I must be missing something as everyone is saying it.Just getting round to the match reaction now. Very disappointing for a few reasons. To be clear - I am not an Ole-out but he failed yesterday. Main points of frustration:
- Players seemed lethargic and slow on the ball - that's either a fitness or attitude issue - both are unacceptable at this stage of the season
- Several players had shockers - Fred, Maguire, Martial, AWB, Matic. Some need to be dropped for an extended period or sold.
- Why don't we use VDB? I just don't get it. I think it's now translating to fans becoming angry at Ole for not using him.
- Team selection was wrong from the start - Varane, Sancho need to start. If Lingard can come off the bench after having covid last week, why can't Sancho or Varane start? Sancho has been training for weeks at this stage. I get there is player loyalty but if we want to win then the manager has to be brave and drop players.
- Our mentality seemed fragile. Several players seemed intimidated by the atmosphere and this played into Soton's hands.
Wolves is now must-win already. Not an easy game either. Ole needs to grow a pair and play his strongest team, not the team the played and failed last year.
Agreed Donny's strength is as a 'pass-and-move' player, moving forward in triangles, we don't do that.... the only other player at OT who is good at that (in the past) has been Mata; maybe that is where Ole sees him finishing up as Juan's replacement?I've seen nothing from VDB to show he can play in a midfield two. He doesn't even have the passing range to attempt most things. His overall sort of 'circle of play' if you will is very short and close to him. He relies on one-twos and lay-offs.
Rodgers agreed with you on MNF tonightJust watched their goal again in detail.
Still can't for the life of me understand how that is not a foul.
Saying that the "defending" after that was utterly garbage.
The likes of Zinedine Zidane, Platini, Clarence Seedorf and others were all amazed that Paul Scholes wasnt the first name on England team sheets and suggested that he should have played in midfield supported by Gerrard.Didn't you ever see England trying to play Gerrard and Lampard, two attacking midfielders, in a central midfield 2? It didn't lead to incredible attacking play.
Some players can excel in multiple positions, but playing people out of position is risky and rarely seems to work.
You won't find many people who want to see Bruno and Pogba in a midfield 2.
they played against Everton a few weeks ago and we played greatI agree about Martial but a Matic - VDB midfield would be a disaster. One is immobile and the other is too weak and not quick or gritty enough to be in that area. Unfortunately Donny is competing with Pogba and Bruno to play in a more advanced role. Pre-season doesn't mean much in terms of performances.
I'm not sure why bringing on Lingard risked injury. He's not injury prone and probably gets the same runouts in training.
Craig Pawson