[Walters_19_MuFc]

Having played false 9 throughout the majority of pre-season, I was a bit surprised when ten Hag decided to play him in midfield. It would have been nice to see him continue in that position. Nevertheless, it wasn't a great performance for Sancho today.

 

[Damien]

Likely starting tomorrow so won't judge too much on how he played today. One decent run but was pretty isolated

 

[Trex]

Having played false 9 throughout the majority of pre-season, I was a bit surprised when ten Hag decided to play him in midfield. It would have been nice to see him continue in that position. Nevertheless, it wasn't a great performance for Sancho today.

Truth is ETH is moving him all around because there's no real spot for him in the team. He just doesn't assert himself enough regardless of were you play him.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Truth is ETH is moving him all around because there's no real spot for him in the team. He just doesn't assert himself enough regardless of were you play him.

He looked good in the false 9 position, though, albeit pre-season. Just found it a bit strange that ten Hag didn't continue that today, especially as he moved Mount on the left wing and not Rashford. I guess he wanted to give Rashford the whole game up top, as one would imagine that'll be where he plays come next week against Wolves.

 

[edgecutter]

Looks like he will be a very expensive paper weight for our bench this season.

 

[saivet]

I do wonder how often or if ever, ETH will play him out wide (out of choice). Didn't see the game today but from this pre-season I get the impression that ETH rates his ability (I think he's had the most minutes) but doesn't see a permanent place for him in the team.

Long term, I don't think the false 9, no.10 or CM spots suit him and ETH clearly has a preference for Rashford on the left and Antony on the right.

I think he'll get a lot of minutes as he can play multiple positions, so a chance to prove himself but ultimately I think it's going to take something extraordinary from him nail down a regular starting spot.

Useful to have a player in the squad that is now seemingly an option for LW, RW, false 9 and no.10 but for the price we paid, that's a disappointing outcome.

 

[Trex]

He looked good in the false 9 position, though, albeit pre-season. Just found it a bit strange that ten Hag didn't continue that today, especially as he moved Mount on the left wing and not Rashford. I guess he wanted to give Rashford the whole game up top, as one would imagine that'll be where he plays come next week against Wolves.

Yeah but I think Rashford, Hojlund and evem Martial will play through the middle ahead of him.
As for the way ETH switched things later in the second half he tends to experiment in situations were he has a comfortable lead even during competitive games. I wouldn't read much into it.

 

[flameinthesun]

Does what he always does, flatters to deceive.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

He looked good in the false 9 position, though, albeit pre-season. Just found it a bit strange that ten Hag didn't continue that today, especially as he moved Mount on the left wing and not Rashford. I guess he wanted to give Rashford the whole game up top, as one would imagine that'll be where he plays come next week against Wolves.

I thought playing him as a false 9 in preseason was ETH's way of signaling to the club hierarchy that he desperately needed a new striker. Now that we got Hojlund, there's no need to play Sancho there.

 

[Abraxas]

Not buying that he's going to be playing false 9 in meaningful matches. It's okay in preseason with a lower intensity but I don't see how such a passive player and personality is not going to get lost in such a position with 2/3 CBs around him. You have to have that personality and drive to find the space and drag the CBs out of position otherwise the role is useless.

In truth he's a long shot no matter where you play him. We're a few seasons in now and what has substantially changed?

 

[bosnian_red]

Definitely thought he was going to start false 9 but given Garnacho started today, it definitely felt like a run out for the starting 11. Wan Bissaka vs Dalot and Garnacho vs Sancho (with a position change) is basically the question mark.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

I thought playing him as a false 9 in preseason was ETH's way of signaling to the club hierarchy that he desperately needed a new striker. Now that we got Hojlund, there's no need to play Sancho there.

It was no secret that United and ten Hag wanted a striker. Also, I'd get your point if Hojlund was available against Lens, but he wasn't.

I guess we'll see where he plays against Bilbao, if he travels.

 

[Mr PG]

Man people need to stop. One game after the experiment and people are already making firm conclusions that the false 9 experiment hasn’t worked. Well false 9 is meant for certain games and everyone will get to play enough minutes to stake their claim to the rotation.

 

[tenpoless]

Near the end of the game he received the ball and played a very quick pass to Rashford when there were 2 Lens defenders in front of him.... should have carried the ball forward, he has it in him. He should be our third best dribbler after Garnacho and Rashford.

 

[NoPace]

Gonna spend the season mostly as a backup to Antony on the right wing. He's hopefully capable at least to do that.

My guess is that Hojlund will fit better with Eriksen as a bench creative option than Sancho playing as a 10 (and Mount going left but tucking in like he did today) so I think this is probably correct. Pellistri loan and Amad getting time to come back and possibly even getting a January loan if Martial is miraculously healthy at that time and we have Martial, Hojlund, Rashford, Garnacho, Antony and Sancho as 6 attackers, though based on Pellistri staying last year Ten Hag might just keep Amad as a 7th attacker for depth.

So yeah, we really might be at 20 minute appearances on the right and rests for Antony being all he has left before a move next summer. January feels too soon, assuming Pellistri goes on loan for a full year.

 

[Offsideagain]

Another bit part performance yesterday from a player who has bombed at OT. Potential doesn't win matches and to be ruthless, he needs to go to make space for the youngsters coming through. Harsh I know, but how many chances does a player need? A great pity he hasn't sparked and found his Dortmund form.

 

[Member 58925]

Is he being used in the same way as Tadic was under Ten Hag?

 

[bosnian_red]

Seeing on twitter he's doing well again today?

 

[antohan]

All I can ever think of when it comes to him is thanks feck we didn't pay the 120-150M so many thought was a legitimate fee for Dortmund to demand for a generational talent yadda yadda instantly transform us into challengers yadda yadda.

Further reason I don't give two fecks when we pay 60-80M for 40-50M players as chances are they will still be a better investment.

 

[IrishRedDevil]

Looking sharp.

 

[Giggsyking]

very good again

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

I think he starts against Wolves up top.

 

[-Supreme-]

Has he played on the left in this pre-season? He looked surprisingly good upfront and will be interesting to see how he performs in a competitive game.

 

[edgecutter]

I think he starts against Wolves up top.

Instead of Rashford? He won't

 

[Chip]

I think he starts against Wolves up top.

He might. But don't you think that Rashford up top with Garnacho on the left would be better - and is more deserved?

 

[OverratedOpinion]

He has had a positive Pre-Season.

He does do some good things when playing centrally. I'm a long way from getting excited but let's see how it goes.

 

[edgecutter]

He has had a positive Pre-Season.

He does do some good things when playing centrally. I'm a long way from getting excited but let's see how it goes.

I am the same. He had an excellent pre season last year and look what happened in competive games. I still think we should be looking to sell because you simply can't trust Sancho to have any impact on games. He was abysmal against City in the FA cup and was lucky that De Gea had a bigger mare.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

He might. But don't you think that Rashford up top with Garnacho on the left would be better - and is more deserved?

Could go either way honestly. I think Sancho brings a real composure and playmaking element that allows Rashford to operate cutting in off the left. And Garnacho on the left with Rash in the middle is much more direct and a more transitional threat. But I think Erik will give Sancho a chance in that spot first since neither of our “actual strikers” are fit currently and if it’s a fail we’ll know quite quickly and Garnacho would come on around 60 min to terrorize them. And to Sancho’s credit he hasn’t looked out of place in that central role.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Instead of Rashford? He won't

Just a guess that Erik keeps AG there for the final 30 min and has Sancho give it a go to see if the experiment works while we have no fit strikers. We know what Rashford brings through the middle.

Could be wrong of course. I feel comfortable with either set up.

 

[Chip]

Could go either way honestly. I think Sancho brings a real composure and playmaking element that allows Rashford to operate cutting in off the left. And Garnacho on the left with Rash in the middle is much more direct and a more transitional threat. But I think Erik will give Sancho a chance in that spot first since neither of our “actual strikers” are fit currently and if it’s a fail we’ll know quite quickly and Garnacho would come on around 60 min to terrorize them. And to Sancho’s credit he hasn’t looked out of place in that central role.

Don't you think that ten Hag would've played Sancho and Rashford together from the start yesterday if he was planning to play Sancho over Garnacho?

 

[edgecutter]

Just a guess that Erik keeps AG there for the final 30 min and has Sancho give it a go to see if the experiment works while we have no fit strikers. We know what Rashford brings through the middle.

Could be wrong of course. I feel comfortable with either set up.

Sancho's last competive game was an abomination in a cup final. He showed no heart whatsoever and he should not be starting any games until he proves himself in a proper match. I would be very unhappy if he started and Garnacho was benched for him.

 

[criticalanalysis]

His approach play has improved but his final ball is off...

 

[Trex]

Looked good today. But the pace of this games are slower. Let's see how he'll look in a competitive game.

 

[OldTrevil]

He's been good during pre season, but you still felt he could have shown more given his precarious position in the team. Him at false nine against a team that will be camped in their own half is better than playing Rashford up front though, Sancho has a better touch and eye for a pass and would therefore help the team maintain the attack better against Wolves.

 

[sport2793]

Sancho's last competive game was an abomination in a cup final. He showed no heart whatsoever and he should not be starting any games until he proves himself in a proper match. I would be very unhappy if he started and Garnacho was benched for him.

Think it's pretty clear that Garnacho is starting for now but I do think Sancho will be early off the bench in many matches. He's shown enough for me and I blame DDG more for that cup final anyways.

 

[sport2793]

He might. But don't you think that Rashford up top with Garnacho on the left would be better - and is more deserved?

It is more deserved for Rashford and Garnacho to play but I don't think it's necessarily better. Rashford is just not a good #9 and nothing shown in pre-season can legitimately get someone to say otherwise. Rashford was best in pre-season coming off the left. It's a moot point though as there will be plenty of games for all of them imo and injuries will happen throughout so others need to step up.

 

[edgecutter]

Think it's pretty clear that Garnacho is starting for now but I do think Sancho will be early off the bench in many matches. He's shown enough for me and I blame DDG more for that cup final anyways.

I am happy for him to be subbed on, but everyone needs to calm down about Sancho's preseason because we have been down this road with him before. He always looks good in games that the opposition don't take too seriously.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Don't you think that ten Hag would've played Sancho and Rashford together from the start yesterday if he was planning to play Sancho over Garnacho?

I think he wanted to see both Rashford and Sancho up top to get a feel for how the team operates with either. We’ll see, I don’t really care either way if I’m honest.

 

[Top]

Only caught the first 10 minutes, but his tackling is so so soft. If only he could learn to have a bit of bite.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

I think he starts against Wolves up top.

Doubt it, but I personally feel he will be used there quite often this season.

If you look at the options ten Hag had at Ajax, during the 18/19 season (I think), he had Kasper Dolberg, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Dusan Tadic.

I believe we'll see something similar next season with Rashford, Hojlund and Sancho. They all provide different bring different attributes to the table, especially the latter.