It’s easy to over-react after results like that but I think it’s more of an indication of the fact that we’re not genuine title-challengers than any deep-rooted, fundamental issues.
For me, the GK isn’t good enough. Wasn’t at fault today but his timidness makes our CBs nervous at set-pieces and when crosses come into the box.
Likewise, I don’t think Lindelof is quite good enough. Plenty of good qualities but that vulnerability in the air will always come back to bite us, especially because in the PL there are so many teams who really rely on set-pieces and crosses to score goals.
Maguire is a good defender for me and I think he COULD form a title-winning partnership with a CB who complements his lack of pace. However, currently the partnership with Lindelof and De Gea behind them is not quite good enough in the key moments that points are won and lost.
The fullbacks are both good, don’t really have any major issues with them.
Fred has his uses but isn’t exactly what you would call a “powerhouse” and his use of the ball is erratic. Again, going back to the point of my post, I’m not saying he isn’t a “good” player - I’m saying he’s probably that little bit short of what is required from a CM in a team with real ambitions to win major trophies.
Rashford and Martial are a problem for me. I’m not going to slate Rashford, that’s not what this post is about, however, I’ve been vocal about the fact I think he is very over-rated and again today, when faced with a low block he seems to have limited ideas. Again, not “bad” but not good either. Martial has been so disappointing. Last season you really thought he could kick-on at CF but had a poor start to the season and seems to be coasting again.
So, not a “disaster” of a performance. Plenty of possession, plenty of chances to create chances or balls flashed across the face of the goal but no killer instinct in the big moments.
Again, defensively we look steady and assured the majority of the time but then we always give the opposition something to cling to with our tendency to make individual mistakes and/or our weakness from crosses.
So we could get really upset about it and it is frustrating...but did any of us REALLY expect a title-challenge? Fact is, I think we have lots of “8/10” players when in reality, we need a couple more game-changers, perhaps one at each end of the pitch.
Other lesson learnt from the season to-date - Greenwood has to start and so does Cavani. Let Rashford and Martial fight for one spot on the left.