[Red in STL]

Bad performance. Completely lacking intensity for us, a better team beats us today. Fair play to Lammens though. Easily the man of the match for us, and kept us in the game.

Drop off in performance was to be expected I guess, considering there's not a ton to play for, but I think the bigger factor was our poor squad depth. No one in midfield capable of winning the ball or showing some aggression. Zirkzee completely useless up front. Looks like he'd lose a duel with his own shadow, and every time he was on the ball, the attack broke down.

Probably didn't impact the game really, but I feel Sunderland should have had a red at the end there.

On the "red" - he should have been off for that, even if he didn't really connect the intent was clear, VAR chickened out of that one

 

[Red in STL]

Don't pretend that you haven't had a skiving day at your work.

I just had an entire skiving week because there's bugger all projects to work on. I had the team build a box fort at one point and we were launching boots at one another.

Sounds like you have a similar job to me, except I've had 2-3 weeks like that recently!

 

[RedRocket9908]

You’d like to think that but clearly questions have to be asked about Carrick and the team after this apparently.

Dead rubber or not there is no excuse for us putting in that attrocious performance today, we didnt even give them a much of a game

 

[Red in STL]

Most concerning to me is that clearly we've made a decision on selling Ugarte and won't play him in case he gets an injury. Great.
By the same logic, starting Zirkzee instead of Mbuemo...or playing Cunha up top and Dorgu on the wing implies the coaching staff see a world in which ZZ is involved next season.

I think we'll limp to third, and Carrick deserves a lot of credit, but all is not roses. Assuming we've decided he stays as manager, I really hope it's a 1 +1 year style deal.

Mbeumo is clearly out of form, so is Amad, so starting ZZ is a little understandable in a relatively meaningless match, which also clearly showed why we need to buy a striker, Dorgu is coming back from a lenthy injury, he wasn't ready to be starting

 

[Red in STL]

They'll have days where their heads just drop. Not excusing it but it's not automatic that they'll just give it their all when there's nothing left in the season to play for and most of them have turned their attention towards not getting injured before the World Cup.

Also, don't brush off @Annihilate Now! point about Fergie's teams slowing down at the end of the season. It's a fair point and happened regularly.

And not just SAF's teams, it happens at most teams

 

[Paul778]

Dead rubber or not there is no excuse for us putting in that attrocious performance today, we didnt even give them a much of a game

We don't know the reality of it. It might be that he wanted to give himself and Wilcox 100% proof that Zirkzee will not work as a starting striker or backup to Sesko in any way.

If dropping two points when our objective has already been reached means that we definitely don't see Zirkzee again that today was worth it. I would welcome Weghorst back with open arms rather than play him again.

That said, a backup striker is a tough ask for a team which only plays one. How do you get a good one? Will be very interesting to see what they do.

 

[goldenboy]

Hopefully the lack of energy was because the season is over or the players were genuinely fatigued somehow.

I'd be more concerned if that performance had come in a game where United desperately needed the 3 points.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

Our shirt numbers are all over the place. A winger wearing 16, a striker in 11, a centre mid in 7, a number 10 wearing 8, another first team CM in 36, and another winger wearing 10. Needs sorting out properly next season.

 

[Schmeichel=God]

Something has happened to Amad surely? The way he used to press and play with speed has disappeared

His body language just gives can't be arsed vibes

Real shame

Exactly, I was thinking this.

Things aren't coming off for him. Him and Mbeumo have lost all ability to beat a man or at least have them questioning which way they'll go.

Amadeus has definitely lost some directness and rabid dog style ball hunting.

 

[Withnail]

Nothing to play for. Happy with the point.

Absolutely agree. Any saying anything else is talking pony.

 

[Withnail]

Don't pretend that you haven't had a skiving day at your work.

I just had an entire skiving week because there's bugger all projects to work on. I had the team build a box fort at one point and we were launching boots at one another.

I haven't worked a full day in months

 

[Withnail]

Exactly, I was thinking this.

Things aren't coming off for him. Him and Mbeumo have lost all ability to beat a man or at least have them questioning which way they'll go.

Amadeus has definitely lost some directness and rabid dog style ball hunting.

Does Poch know about this?

 

[Florida Man]

Does Poch know about this?

I'm glad that I wasn't the only one who was thinking about Poch

 

[Denis' cuff]

Our shirt numbers are all over the place. A winger wearing 16, a striker in 11, a centre mid in 7, a number 10 wearing 8, another first team CM in 36, and another winger wearing 10. Needs sorting out properly next season.

Doesn’t really matter

Although because it’s more of a squad game now, numbers are all over the place. A lot of people think Football Manager invented the game with “a number 8, 6 or 10, etc. it never has been compulsory for players to have a specific number/role.

Bryan Robson wore 7 on his back, btw

 

[gottho]

Something has happened to Amad surely? The way he used to press and play with speed has disappeared

His body language just gives can't be arsed vibes

Real shame

Last year was his contract renewal year, same goes for Maguire and rashford, you tend to see the players putting more effort. I think Luke Shaw is the same as well

 

[bgoodall]

Lammens put in a performance much like David De Gea of old. Rest of the team was pretty bad. I kept waiting for someone to pop up with a nice goal to save the result but I guess a draw was a great result considering how poor we were.

 

[foolsgold]

Our lack of squad depth was exposed today, need 4 or players in the summer

 

[Bondi77]

Another one of those games where the opposition runs harder, tackles harder and we just did not compete.

 

[gajender]

My problem with this squad is they are quite capable of putting in dire performances like this fairly often.

What worries me, its a mentality thing because on any given day, most of these players can just turn up and decide to not really bother.

Proper winners dont really do that kind of stuff.

This is where Carrick fails somewhat, some elite managers would just not tolerate this from his players.

Not blaming Carrick though, these players have done it many times.

Your problem is you overrate these players it's just not the mentality thing it's also a talent thing or lack of it , this is a Europa league level squad in a normal season once you accept that it's easier to understand these kind of performances .

 

[NewGlory]

The club has taken all academy and reserve finals seriously since the creation of the academy.

Everything else here is just a massive assumption.

We might sign four or five players this summer. Guardiola might leave city. Liverpool might struggle again. Chelsea might remain a basket case. We might challenge for the title.

Can we all just chill out ffs.

It was not a final, it was a semi-final

 

[NewGlory]

Don’t know how you manage to get out of bed in the morning with your outlook on life, pal


Name checks out

Right foot first. Always

I feel so sorry for your brain.

That's mighty kind of you, but sarcasm aside, feel free to worry about your own brain

 

[P-Nut]

Seems I got lucky having to miss this one. From the reports on the game it seems we were on the beach and ready for the season to be over now. Lots of players going to the world cup and just ticking over until then.

The annoying thing for myself is the lack of game time for the youngsters. It's a dead rubber, let's give our highest rated prospects some exposure to men's football and see if any are near ready to step up next season.

 

[David Bartley]

No goal threat without Sesko and Casemiro

Cunha embarrassed himself

The dive was dreadful. Even if it had been done well, we’re Man United, we’re better than that.

 

[Ekeke]

The dive was dreadful. Even if it had been done well, we’re Man United, we’re better than that.

The dive was awful and the finish to his clear chance at the end wasnt much better

 

[MiceOnMeth]

Exactly. I don't particularly rate Lacey but might as well give him a shot.

Why is there so little youths getting minutes over the past few years? Seems to be no buzz about any of them breaking in

 

[SoCross]

Our lack of squad depth was exposed today, need 4 or players in the summer

It was the same for Amorim. Lost players to Afcon and injury, our attacking replacements are less than mid-table EPL quality. This isn’t on Carrick, especially given Amad and Mbeumo seem off the pace. Left with just Cunha and Bruno.

Investment is needed to raise the floor of the squad.

 

[stevoc]

Ah ok. Well, in that case......

At the end of the day different Ref/VARs interpret the rules differently, sometimes even differently on different days. Or in our case the rules seem to be different depending on whether or not the playing in question is wearing a United shirt.

See the recent Bournemouth game where the threshold on contact inside the box for penalties changed in the space of 15 minutes. Or when the threshold on what sort of hair pulling constituted violet conduct changed within the space of 5 days the other week.

The referees just have a really difficult job apparently, which seems to become even more difficult during United matches...

 

[Borys]

Why is there so little youths getting minutes over the past few years? Seems to be no buzz about any of them breaking in

I don't track academy, so can't tell about their quality. I have seen Lacey a few times though and didn't impress me at all so that's all I can say, that's why I'm not surprised he isn't featuring.

 

[KStandBarmyArmy1993]

It was not a final, it was a semi-final

Point still stands. It was an important game for them.

And it was a good decision to not just "give them all a go".

 

[Resch]

You cannot make the players physical if they just aren't physical. That is down to recruitment. Yes we do need it, especially in midfield, but that

Martinez would have been an option.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Martinez would have been an option.

For some reason they won't do it. Didn't ETH say he had tried him there and it didn't work before he came here. If it didn't work there, doubt it will work in the physical PL.

 

[Jasong]

Mazraoui can play def/mid/striker.

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

On the "red" - he should have been off for that, even if he didn't really connect the intent was clear, VAR chickened out of that one

Big time. It was super obvious. Maybe VAR will go our way next season....doubt it though.

 

[justsomebloke]

Villa's draw today effectively clinches third place, AFAICS! Or well, I suppose Liverpool could overtake us on goal difference. But a single point will do it, and Forest at least don't have much to play for.

In fact, a draw in the Forest game would put us clear at third and Forest safe from relegation, as things stand right now. Probably a good result to put a few quid on in that case.

 

[justsomebloke]

Mazraoui can play def/mid/striker.

Striker? Do we really think so?

 

[surf]

Sunderland showed good intensity and athleticism, and Maguire/Martinez struggled to contain Brobbey et al. We clearly missed Sesko and Casemiro. Zirkzee and Mount are not good enough. All in all it's a decent point considering most of the team had an off day.