How many PL goals will we concede this season?

[Skills]

I know everyone is correctly focussing on our lack of goals, but we are looking worryingly porous. In 2 games so far, though we've only conceded 2 goals - but we've conceded 4.26 XGA. If Wolves were more clinical we would've conceded a few against them.

The midfield 3 of Mount, Bruno and Casemiro doesn't look like it'll provide any sort of cover for the back line.

For reference :
The goals we've conceded in each PL season since Fergie retired:

Season	Goals Conceded
2013/2014	43
2014/2015	37
2015/2016	35
2016/2017	29
2017/2018	28
2018/2019	54
2019/2020	36
2020/2021	44
2021/2022	57
2022/2023	43

 

[Solius]

A classic Skills thread if I ever saw one. Voted the most extreme option for you pal.

 

[Irwin99]

That defence under Jose was pretty good...absolutely dire football obviously (more so in the second season).

Went for an optimistic 36. Extremely early days but I can see our overall goal difference being poor again

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

That defence under Jose was pretty good...absolutely dire football obviously (more so in the second season).

Went for an optimistic 36. Extremely early days but I can see our overall goal difference being poor again

The underlying metrics for Jose had us as the 5/6th best defense when we finished 2nd. De Gea papered over a lot of cracks for our defense that season.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

I voted 36-40.

Worried that we might not crack 70 goals scored though. 80 league goals would be a huge success and a massive sign that our season was a step in the right direction.

 

[CM]

If we don't do anything to fix the midfield it'll be one of the top two options. We look as bad, if not worse than our poorest moments with McTominay and Fred in midfield. There's no balance in this team and watching us line up with a midfield comprised of an ageing Casemiro alongside two gung ho number 10s is a suicide mission. We'll get our fair share of batterings this season if we continue to play that way.

 

[Dominos]

It's not looking good is it, we have a front 6 that's very poor at defensive contribution and providing protection, and we're simultaneously trying to convert to a more expansive attacking style of play. Oh and we're horrendous at retaining possession of the ball so the opposition is gifted endless opportunities to hit us in transition.

We're probably overreacting after 2 games, we may settle down eventually. But we were going to be very reliant this season on our defensive record being rock solid because it's guaranteed we're not scoring many goals with our poor attacking options. So if the defensive record isn't great then we're in for a scrappy season.

 

[Rightnr]

I think Martinez definitely hasn't gotten over his injury from last season fully in terms of reaching peak fitness and sharpness.

The fact we have two clowns in midfield who play hot potato with the ball doesn't help him as well.

 

[Skills]

10 in 5 games this season

-4 goal difference

 

[sglowrider]

10 in 5 games this season

-4 goal difference

All we need is another 0-7 thinking...

When did Manchester United become a club that struggles to score?

 

[Rozay]

Probably more than we will score the way things are going!

 

[James35]

We will ship more than last year guaranteed. Think we may score less also.

Good stuff!

 

[fergiewherearethou]

By the looks of it, very many goals.

 

[Superunknown]

All we need is another 0-7 thinking...

When did Manchester United become a club that struggles to score?

"Can Manchester United score? They never score."

 

[Mainoldo]

More than we score that’s for sure.

 

[norm87cro]

And some of the CAF said the defence has been fixed . Armabats influence is vital here IMO because I certanly dont trust Lindelof and the rest of the defence without Varane