Europa League Match Day 1

Manchester United 1:1 FC Twente

Old Trafford

Kick-off
Wed, 25 September 2024 @ 8:00pm BST
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    Strange critics aimed on Ugarte. Opposition didn’t create anything through the middle.
     
    OverratedOpinion said:
    I'm expecting a destroyer who's pretty average on the ball. Which is what we got.

    Not sure why we signed one though.
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    You're not sure why a team whose main issue last season was people repeatedly running through them in midfield might want to sign a destructive DM to supplement the one, past-it DM they already have in their squad?

    It's hardly a mystery.
     
    OverratedOpinion said:
    Couldn't care less if he scores goals. A bit disappointed that we have signed a destroyer who (being kind) looks very average on the ball when we desperately needed more passing ability and nous in our midfield.

    Still we can run Eriksen into the ground.
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    That was sarcasm dude,
     
    tomaldinho1 said:
    I mean, we were warned he’d had no preseason at all but people obviously wanted to say ETH was making excuses rather than accept doing bits in the home gym isn’t quite what you need to get ready for the season.
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    The way I see it is that he needs a Matic type player who will allow him to get around the pitch and hunt for possession. However, we clearly don't intend on using him in that way. We seemingly view him as someone who will sit.
     
    Alemar said:
    Strange critics aimed on Ugarte. Opposition didn’t create anything through the middle.
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    Exactly. Sometimes feel like some of us are watching football for the first time and don't understand roles.

    Perhaps even case is playing and the opponent is running through the midfield, they will know better
     
    tjb said:
    He's covering so much, ground, picking a few passes and making us narrow in the middle when we're set. You may not be able to spot it, but he's doing his job well.
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    That’s the problem with a defensive mid. Hard for others to see how much ground he’s covering. And he seems to be there for every second ball which is great.

    Happy with his performance so far given its early stages for him and he’s been out of favour with PSG all pre-season
     
    Ollie Derbyshire said:
    Do you not think we needed a holding CDM? We got torn apart by everyone last year.
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    Our midfield was exposed far more because of the tactical setup than it was due to personal.

    We needed more control in midfield, that is obtained far better from being well set up and keeping the ball well than it is with a destroyer.
     
    Pedestrian performance against Twente at home. Not exactly an inspiring sentence. I'm reminded why I hate the Europa League, but I guess it's better than getting shit on in the Champions League. Still, decent enough and some nice passages of play. But I expect more than that all things considered.
     
    zenith said:
    Exactly. Sometimes feel like some of us are watching football for the first time and don't understand roles.

    Perhaps even case is playing and the opponent is running through the midfield, they will know better
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    Sounds like the TNT commentators
     
    I like Ugarte, I think he positions himself well and is very mobile, but I'm not impressed by his tackling what was supposed to be his biggest strength.
     
    sullydnl said:
    You're not sure why a team whose main issue last season was people repeatedly running through them in midfield might want to sign a destructive DM to supplement the one, past-it DM they already have in their squad?

    It's hardly a mystery.
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    Crazy isn’t it, the type of player we’ve been crying out for for years.
     
    Blood Mage said:
    Can't stomach much more of this football. We look more solid defensively this season I guess but the football is still hard to watch for me.
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    We are so slow and boring. Can’t wait for the manager to get the sack.
     
    sullydnl said:
    You're not sure why a team whose main issue last season was people repeatedly running through them in midfield might want to sign a destructive DM to supplement the one, past-it DM they already have in their squad?

    It's hardly a mystery.
    Click to expand...

    People ran through our midfield because we set up tactically in a way that allowed them to do so.
     
    Judas said:
    Bruno really is off the boil. Just give Mount a try please.
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    Seems to actively tell people not to press all the time as well. The back line of Twente is not great when pressed and physically bullied, but hey.
     
    OverratedOpinion said:
    Our midfield was exposed far more because of the tactical setup than it was due to personal.

    We needed more control in midfield, that is obtained far better from being well set up and keeping the ball well than it is with a destroyer.
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    Casemiro was the main issue with us being overrun last year. Ugarte gives us balance and more control.

    Guess we see it differently.
     
    Ugarte is a destroyer and is safe but not expansive on the ball - that's what we expected, no?

    This is Twente so obviously there's not much destroying to do. What are folks expecting Ugarte to be doing?
     
    I'd be absolutely disgusted if anyone would PM me a decent river for second half. Disgusted!
     
    Not a great half, we struggled to create anything to be honest, even the goal there was a bit of fortune in how it fell to Eriksen. Great strike though, and glad Eriksen is showing why Ten Hag keeps staffing starting him recently.

    Hopefully we are able to find a way to break them down a bit more in the second half so we can get a few more goals.
     
    OverratedOpinion said:
    Our midfield was exposed far more because of the tactical setup than it was due to personal.

    We needed more control in midfield, that is obtained far better from being well set up and keeping the ball well than it is with a destroyer.
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    That’s not true - it was the poor quality of players and inability for the defence to step up. We look far better in defensive transition this season because we have a better defensive mid, and our back line is pushing closer to midfield and not creating a huge gap there.

    There is a reason that De Ligt and Martinez are preferred to today’s pairing. But to be fair to Harry, he finally seems to accept that he needs to defend on the front foot
     
    OverratedOpinion said:
    Yes this is the first game I've ever watched. That one lad in midfield who scored can certainly pass the ball. God help them if they lose him.
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    Ah that explains it. Well last year we struggled to win tackles in the midfield. That number 25, Ugarte chap won 4 out of 4 in that half. I hope that answers your why did we sign him question.
     
    Will Singh said:
    Exactly what he’s supposed to do and doing it perfectly BUT no pleasing some people hey.
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    Almost like people grew up watching Robson and Keane and don’t see why we can’t get a “destroyer” who’s brilliant on the ball.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Noussair Mazraoui image Noussair Mazraoui 29% of 163 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

5.3 Total Average Rating

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Compiled from 182 ratings.
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Score Predictions

176,5,6
  • Man Utd win
  • FC Twente win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 30% Man Utd 2:0 FC Twente
  • 26% Man Utd 3:0 FC Twente
  • 9% Man Utd 3:1 FC Twente
  • 8% Man Utd 4:0 FC Twente
  • 7% Man Utd 2:1 FC Twente
  • 6% Man Utd 1:0 FC Twente
  • 3% Man Utd 4:1 FC Twente
  • 2% Man Utd 0:0 FC Twente
  • 2% Man Utd 5:0 FC Twente
  • 1% Man Utd 5:1 FC Twente
  • 1% Man Utd 1:1 FC Twente
  • 1% Man Utd 1:2 FC Twente
  • 1% Man Utd 0:1 FC Twente
  • 1% Man Utd 6:2 FC Twente
  • 1% Man Utd 8:0 FC Twente
  • 1% Man Utd 3:2 FC Twente
  • 1% Man Utd 1:3 FC Twente
  • 1% Man Utd 1:8 FC Twente
Compiled from 187 predictions.
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