Like banning Rooney for swearing. Never happened before, never happened again
Manchester United 0:1 Atletico Madrid (Sat 30th July, 12:45 UK time)
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
Made sure no matter what he missed the FA cup semi.
One week behind mate calm down.
This was there 3rd game.
Also noticed something about Maguire's game that needs improving, and that's when he is in possession of the ball and looking up for a teammate. Unlike Malacia, Bruno, and some of the other more slippery players, Maguire will run basically in a straight line towards the recipient of the pass. This allows the defending players not closest to the ball to move towards the player receiving the ball, closing down the space. So when the player like Lindelof of Malacia receive the ball, they have less time and space to do something with the ball, so their passes are rushed. To fix this, Maguire needs to dummy, move off the straight line, pretend to touch the ball with one foot and then change direction - whatever - so that the defenders further away stop closing down the person who will get the ball; get them to shift off their lines, then pass the ball. It's what more skillful teams do and it's hard to defend against, but we don't do it enough, and Maguire doesn't do it at all.
I'm overall happy with the performance. Apart from Malacia, this was the same team from last season, and we've managed to do well against a very competitive AM side.
My only worry is depth. We don't have decent back ups in attack or midfield.
My only worry is depth. We don't have decent back ups in attack or midfield.
Atletico really are a team of cnuts, wow. Am I misremembering that Simeone was a name bandied about for United manager at one point? We dodged a fecking Howitzer.
They've been playing that way for more than a decade now. They haven't changed. A week doesn't make them forget.
https://en.atleticodemadrid.com/
From what I know, they played their first on 27th earlier this week. We have been playing games for a few weeks now. So I am not sure why they're only one week behind.
You may laugh it off, but then people have their reason for concern. Their argument is more reasonable than your stand based on misinform (?)Still no reason to hit the panic button although plenty already have.
Results are the least important thing about pre-season, the games usually don't resemble competitive fixtures for more than a half with all the subs etc. We're far from the finished article (won't be for some time) and are very thin in the ground in terms of strength in depth but there are plenty of positive signs and we did play well overall.
Good grief,give the fecking manager a chance, he hasn't been in the bloody job for 5 seconds and people are supposedly already concerned. What a joke.sorry but
I'm just getting to the 2nd half now.
At the hour mark. Bruno has been an erratic mess so far, he's so loose it's like he hasn't tightened the laces on his boots. You can see what he wants to do with the ball but it just doesn't come off, like his brain and feet aren't really on the best of terms.
Keep up the smiley. Doesn't make your argument anymore reasonable.Good grief,give the fecking manager a chance, he hasn't been in the bloody job for 5 seconds and people are supposedly already concerned. What a joke.sorry but
The issue is not coaching ability. We do look better as many has pointed out. The issue is player quality is lacking. You try ignore those points and base your argument on misinform. That's more of a joke. And I am not sorry.
Griezmann's new hairstyle makes him look like Ellen Degeneres.
I just said give the man a chance didn't I,in a short space of time he has made us look miles better than last season,try being a little more optimistic for the season.you never know we still might get a couple more new faces in to make you feel better in the quality lacking department.Keep up the smiley. Doesn't make your argument anymore reasonable.
The issue is not coaching ability. We do look better as many has pointed out. The issue is player quality is lacking. You try ignore those points and base your argument on misinform. That's more of a joke. And I am not sorry.
See what is already is happening after just a loss in a preseason, concerns from fans are already arising and journos jumping on our current poor window.
If we don't have a good start in the first few months of the league the pressure from media will be ramped up massively on club and manger for lack of activity in the window .
I do want ten hag to be given time and believe he can get it right even if I feel he has shown signs this summer of his lack of experience of managing a big club but in this day and age one bad season and a manger will get the sack 9 times out 10, look at van gaal, even losing out on the last day by the smallest of margins of clinching top 4 he was dumped and glazers have form of sacking a manger whenever they fail to get ucl football when in charge for the full season.
If we don't have a good start in the first few months of the league the pressure from media will be ramped up massively on club and manger for lack of activity in the window .
I do want ten hag to be given time and believe he can get it right even if I feel he has shown signs this summer of his lack of experience of managing a big club but in this day and age one bad season and a manger will get the sack 9 times out 10, look at van gaal, even losing out on the last day by the smallest of margins of clinching top 4 he was dumped and glazers have form of sacking a manger whenever they fail to get ucl football when in charge for the full season.
Actually LVG was as much a victim of himself here and his stance that he’d only stay 3 years max. Add that to the club getting giddy that Mourinho became available and that’s what happened.
I enjoyed the game and people forget how dour we were last season. Today we saw a team that wanted to put in the work. There was an identifiable pattern to how we wanted to play. Atletico are a bogey team for us anyway.
I just hope we get an additional player or 2 in to bolster our squad depth.
I just hope we get an additional player or 2 in to bolster our squad depth.
I agree.Bruno gave the ball away countless times today and it wasn’t because he was trying to be creative or make a killer pass,it was just carelessness. Ten Hag has got his work cut out trying to drill some tactical discipline into him.I like Bruno that being said, i’d prefer Diet Bruno or Bruno zero though.
Just finished the match. Atletico was a good team for a pre-season dust up because they are such total bastards, it reminds our players they are in a dogfight for top 4. Playing against a shithouse team like Atletico is the equivalent of going out and slapping our players in the face.
Winners
ETH: He was in the technical area almost the whole match barking orders. For everyone (like me) annoyed with Ole's passive attitude in the dugout, this is the polar opposite. ETH demands specific things from the players, and this will greatly improve the team.
Eriksen: just might save our season. Created 2 excellent chances in the first couple minutes he was on the pitch. Ironically, for our situation, Ronaldo would have scored both chances (I'd guess). People wondering how you play Bruno and Eriksen in the same side, maybe you bench Bruno.
Malacia: clearly he was not signed as back up. Offers far more in attack than Shaw and appears to be as good of a defender, so I'd say Shaw is on his way out. At the very least it is great competition for the spot. Malacia reminds me of Evra so much.
Pellistri: showed signs he might be ready, granted, pre-season against a bunch of goons. Seems to have a better touch and is more technically gifted than Elanga, just not as quick.
Martial: unlucky not to score, looks sharp and ready.
Rashford: looks to have shaken off last season's hoodoo. Should have scored.
Lindelof: looks better in this more fluid system, better able to adjust to the high line and breaking quickly.
Undecided
VDB: he is more effective in a quick passing, possession based team, like we're trying to become. Didn't do much, again.
Fred: good in the first half, or at least actively involved. ETH is playing him in a deeper role but he's just not defensively minded enough. ETH has a conundrum how to work in all these attacking players, and has yet to find the best place to play Fred. DM is not it, though.
McTominay: Had a lot of interceptions and a lot of successful tackles, physically matching the Athleti players. Same limitations as always, doesn't seem to get into the right spaces enough so it look like he's "hiding" from the ball. That can improve with ETH coaching.
Elanga: Not showing enough to indicate he should start. He looks like a youth team player promoted too early.
Shaw: when he got static last time, competition pushed him back to his best. Shaw at his best is probably better than Malacia, so it's in his hands now.
Losers
Maguire: maybe I see what I want to see, but too static, too slow, limited passing. I thought we were supposed to be getting goals from him and his ability to get on the end of corners, had another great one today (from Eriksen) and put it well wide under little pressure. Just like Malacia at LB, Martinez has come in to start, and Maguire would be the one going to the bench. The switch putting Maguire at RCB to accommodate Martinez seems to acknowledge Martinez is the better player in the position, and now it's just a matter of deciding if Maguire can play in the RCB position better than Lindelof or Varane, and I'd say no. I don't expect Varane to be a big factor in our season, so Martinez and Lindelof as the CB duo. Maguire doing sprints after the game and then going over for selfies with the fans seems like damage control. I have nothing against Maguire, I don't care about Greece or what he does with the England team, I just think he's a bad fit for an ETH team.
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Still appears to be a lot of uncertainties with regards to starting players. I still think there's a viable midfield with Garner in the side, hopefully get to see it.
Winners
ETH: He was in the technical area almost the whole match barking orders. For everyone (like me) annoyed with Ole's passive attitude in the dugout, this is the polar opposite. ETH demands specific things from the players, and this will greatly improve the team.
Eriksen: just might save our season. Created 2 excellent chances in the first couple minutes he was on the pitch. Ironically, for our situation, Ronaldo would have scored both chances (I'd guess). People wondering how you play Bruno and Eriksen in the same side, maybe you bench Bruno.
Malacia: clearly he was not signed as back up. Offers far more in attack than Shaw and appears to be as good of a defender, so I'd say Shaw is on his way out. At the very least it is great competition for the spot. Malacia reminds me of Evra so much.
Pellistri: showed signs he might be ready, granted, pre-season against a bunch of goons. Seems to have a better touch and is more technically gifted than Elanga, just not as quick.
Martial: unlucky not to score, looks sharp and ready.
Rashford: looks to have shaken off last season's hoodoo. Should have scored.
Lindelof: looks better in this more fluid system, better able to adjust to the high line and breaking quickly.
Undecided
VDB: he is more effective in a quick passing, possession based team, like we're trying to become. Didn't do much, again.
Fred: good in the first half, or at least actively involved. ETH is playing him in a deeper role but he's just not defensively minded enough. ETH has a conundrum how to work in all these attacking players, and has yet to find the best place to play Fred. DM is not it, though.
McTominay: Had a lot of interceptions and a lot of successful tackles, physically matching the Athleti players. Same limitations as always, doesn't seem to get into the right spaces enough so it look like he's "hiding" from the ball. That can improve with ETH coaching.
Elanga: Not showing enough to indicate he should start. He looks like a youth team player promoted too early.
Shaw: when he got static last time, competition pushed him back to his best. Shaw at his best is probably better than Malacia, so it's in his hands now.
Losers
Maguire: maybe I see what I want to see, but too static, too slow, limited passing. I thought we were supposed to be getting goals from him and his ability to get on the end of corners, had another great one today (from Eriksen) and put it well wide under little pressure. Just like Malacia at LB, Martinez has come in to start, and Maguire would be the one going to the bench. The switch putting Maguire at RCB to accommodate Martinez seems to acknowledge Martinez is the better player in the position, and now it's just a matter of deciding if Maguire can play in the RCB position better than Lindelof or Varane, and I'd say no. I don't expect Varane to be a big factor in our season, so Martinez and Lindelof as the CB duo. Maguire doing sprints after the game and then going over for selfies with the fans seems like damage control. I have nothing against Maguire, I don't care about Greece or what he does with the England team, I just think he's a bad fit for an ETH team.
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Still appears to be a lot of uncertainties with regards to starting players. I still think there's a viable midfield with Garner in the side, hopefully get to see it.
Spanish teams in general. They said we have played 66 times against Spanish teams and won only like 18 of them.
Overall so far I'd say ETH will get a better tune out of what we have than previous managers have, yes I know work rate and wanting it is a minimum expectation for Manchester United players but we didn't see that last season and we can see it clearly now already so that's back so let's be thankful, but for me the same frustrations arisen when watching us, lack of quality in too many areas.
Can't work out if we're under hitting a lot of passes or whether players are waiting too long for the ball to arrive instead of moving to it, lots of easy interceptions against us today and it's the usual culprits, Fred, Bruno and Elanga.
Elanga reminds me of Welbeck, he does some really good work at times then ruins it with a poor pass or the wrong pass.
Maguire and Martinez at CB for me, or Lindlof and Martinez, haven't seen anything from Varane to suggest he was the reason Real or France are/were great, looks to be struggling with the speed of the Premier league.
Happy to be proven wrong this season.
Can't work out if we're under hitting a lot of passes or whether players are waiting too long for the ball to arrive instead of moving to it, lots of easy interceptions against us today and it's the usual culprits, Fred, Bruno and Elanga.
Elanga reminds me of Welbeck, he does some really good work at times then ruins it with a poor pass or the wrong pass.
Maguire and Martinez at CB for me, or Lindlof and Martinez, haven't seen anything from Varane to suggest he was the reason Real or France are/were great, looks to be struggling with the speed of the Premier league.
Happy to be proven wrong this season.
That was only Atleti's second preseason game, blatant reminder that Ten Haag needs more this team might not even be ready at the start of next season.
Saw the highlights of the game. Didn't look as bad as this thread makes it out to be
I'm glad we lost this game. Our players needed to learn (before the season starts) that just having ETH won't make them win games. They need to go out there and do the work.
The season is going to start next week, and we really need our players clued in. Too many times this group of players haven't performed when they should. The worst thing for us would have been that this team believes its own hype, and then gets a reality check when we meet Liverpool and the window shuts
After this game, ETH should be going to go back to the board to re emphasize the need for a striker and FDJ. (Though I'm not sure if there is more the club can do on that front).
I'm glad we lost this game. Our players needed to learn (before the season starts) that just having ETH won't make them win games. They need to go out there and do the work.
The season is going to start next week, and we really need our players clued in. Too many times this group of players haven't performed when they should. The worst thing for us would have been that this team believes its own hype, and then gets a reality check when we meet Liverpool and the window shuts
After this game, ETH should be going to go back to the board to re emphasize the need for a striker and FDJ. (Though I'm not sure if there is more the club can do on that front).
Even if it was Atletico's second game of the pre-season doesn't mean that they are any less threatening opposition. They have been playing that way (the dirty way) at least close to 8-10 years now.Their players won't suddenly forget how to play. Think they did struggle fitness wise that's why they made lot of subs before they scored the goal.
On the other hand we have been learning a new style of play and getting accustomed to the manager's tactics. Overall our gameplay has improved comparatively and it's more progressive. It will take time and hopefully we would give ETH enough time and players to implement his style of play.
On the other hand we have been learning a new style of play and getting accustomed to the manager's tactics. Overall our gameplay has improved comparatively and it's more progressive. It will take time and hopefully we would give ETH enough time and players to implement his style of play.
Entirely true. FDJ and at least 1 more attacker, maybe 2 and I'm sure we'll have as good a chance of top 4 as any team.
Still a lot do then
Some concerns. We lack depth up top and even then we are not clinical. We really missed Sancho today
Once Atletico brought on more quality we looked second best.
Oh. That's him out of tomorrow's game then.Twisted his ankle
Two concerns:
1. Lack of depth
2. 2nd game in a row we have conceded in the dying minutes of a match. Is that due to tiredness/lack of concentration?
1. Lack of depth
2. 2nd game in a row we have conceded in the dying minutes of a match. Is that due to tiredness/lack of concentration?
Meanwhile Brighton won 5-1 against Espanyol today. Next week is going to be tough.
These threads always read like they're penned by a bunch of awful cnuts who've never watched a game without spending the majority of it on their phone and couldn't point toward Old Trafford from the Stretford Arndale.
Nothing to be concerned about. Well, at least it's nothing to be concerned about that we weren't already concerned about. We played a seasoned team that have been together a long time and they pipped us. We controlled possession well enough but we lack something across the front. It's nothing we didn't know and it's something we're presumably trying to address.
Probably already posted, so you can have this one for free:
Agree with most of the above except the bolded.
Fred fair enough if you're talking specifically about him playing deeper but the general and correct consensus imo is that he was one of our best players today and deservedly so.
As for your take on Lindelof and Maguire, it's definitely you seeing what you want to see. Maguire was the better passer, better defender and better threat in the box. He made a couple of sloppy passes but overall was very solid. You might want to look at the Felix goal again and look at Lindelof's 'involvement' in the buildup:
If that was Maguire, he'll be crucified for it (and rightly so) but with Lindelof, he has little fanfare, little personality or profile and therefore, it's just not seen as a big deal or brushed under the carpet by some of his cultist supporters.
It just means they are sharper. We had a excellent 2014/15 pre-season and we still lost 2-1 to Swansea on the opening day.
The squad you saw against Atletico Madrid might not be the final squad you will see against Brighton. Pre-season is about match fitness and experimentation till you find the best solution, which ETH would have known by now.
Posts that are commenting on Atletico’s fitness level while only referring to how many games they’ve played compared to us seem completely oblivious to the fact that fitness doesn’t start from zero for all clubs when pre-season starts.
Atletico were way fitter than us the previous season, so to expect the difference to be huge between us just because we’re three games further ahead, despite us being one of the least fit teams in Europe over the past three seasons, is just bonkers.
It would be idiotic to expect us to have the same fitness levels as for example Liverpool or any other fit team just based on playing as many pre-season games since it doesn’t start at zero once July 1st comes. Especially since that would lead to the conclusion that a team could max out their fitness by playing games every other day for the entire pre-season.
That being said, yes, we have a bit left before we can compete with the fittest sides in the league but there’s been a massive improvement already while focus has been on implementing a new system with much quicker passing, off-the-ball movement and pressing.
Atletico were way fitter than us the previous season, so to expect the difference to be huge between us just because we’re three games further ahead, despite us being one of the least fit teams in Europe over the past three seasons, is just bonkers.
It would be idiotic to expect us to have the same fitness levels as for example Liverpool or any other fit team just based on playing as many pre-season games since it doesn’t start at zero once July 1st comes. Especially since that would lead to the conclusion that a team could max out their fitness by playing games every other day for the entire pre-season.
That being said, yes, we have a bit left before we can compete with the fittest sides in the league but there’s been a massive improvement already while focus has been on implementing a new system with much quicker passing, off-the-ball movement and pressing.
Bird's eye view from behind the goal.
DDG trying to be a bit more proactive than usual but you can sense that this isn't his natural game. Poor distribution too. He got a bollocking for booting the ball in one of the earlier games and is now trying to play it short at every opportunity. He is a nervous wreck and it will cost us a goal sooner or later.
Maguire is dreadful in possession. So many times he has an open pass to the RB but he dwells on the ball and puts the team under unnecessarily pressure. He is always looking for the Hollywood pass to the opposite flank when he really should be passing it to the RB who can start the attack.
Several players in possession kept ignoring the attacking runs Malacia was making. Maybe they're not used to those kinds of runs from our full backs but they need to adapt quickly.
Fred won the McFred battle but reality is neither should be starting. We need someone in that position who is press-resistant, drops deep and demands that the CBs play the ball to him.
Bruno sloppy. He is a high risk high reward player and we don't want that part to change but he messes up a lot of basic plays. Needs to sort that out asap.
Rashford has moments of brilliance but apart from that he lacks footballing IQ and concentration. Doesn't make the right runs for most parts and the game seems to pass him by.
Elanga has no technical ability. If we at any point of the season need to rely on him we're in deep trouble.
Martial looks sharp (finishing apart). Makes runs, drops deeper to link up play. Still doesn't have the instincts of a CF but he looks as good as he did in project restart.
Donny is a complete and utter nothing player. Does he wear a cloak of invisibility? He does nothing. No one sees him. If we brought him on to play 12v11 neither the refs nor the opposition would even notice anything sketchy. Just completely pointless.
In general we're way too slow to move the ball around in the build up phase. 50 % down to the guy in possession who doesn't have the passing ability to pick out a teammate. 50 % down to all the teammates who are static and don't make themselves available for a simpler pass. Against parked buses this simply isn't good enough. Intensity has to be a lot higher.
Why are we afraid of shooting? Several chances to shoot from the edge of the box but we rather want to pass it around and walk it in.
We're fecking finally taking inswinging corners! Shame Maguire has a 50p head.
DDG trying to be a bit more proactive than usual but you can sense that this isn't his natural game. Poor distribution too. He got a bollocking for booting the ball in one of the earlier games and is now trying to play it short at every opportunity. He is a nervous wreck and it will cost us a goal sooner or later.
Maguire is dreadful in possession. So many times he has an open pass to the RB but he dwells on the ball and puts the team under unnecessarily pressure. He is always looking for the Hollywood pass to the opposite flank when he really should be passing it to the RB who can start the attack.
Several players in possession kept ignoring the attacking runs Malacia was making. Maybe they're not used to those kinds of runs from our full backs but they need to adapt quickly.
Fred won the McFred battle but reality is neither should be starting. We need someone in that position who is press-resistant, drops deep and demands that the CBs play the ball to him.
Bruno sloppy. He is a high risk high reward player and we don't want that part to change but he messes up a lot of basic plays. Needs to sort that out asap.
Rashford has moments of brilliance but apart from that he lacks footballing IQ and concentration. Doesn't make the right runs for most parts and the game seems to pass him by.
Elanga has no technical ability. If we at any point of the season need to rely on him we're in deep trouble.
Martial looks sharp (finishing apart). Makes runs, drops deeper to link up play. Still doesn't have the instincts of a CF but he looks as good as he did in project restart.
Donny is a complete and utter nothing player. Does he wear a cloak of invisibility? He does nothing. No one sees him. If we brought him on to play 12v11 neither the refs nor the opposition would even notice anything sketchy. Just completely pointless.
In general we're way too slow to move the ball around in the build up phase. 50 % down to the guy in possession who doesn't have the passing ability to pick out a teammate. 50 % down to all the teammates who are static and don't make themselves available for a simpler pass. Against parked buses this simply isn't good enough. Intensity has to be a lot higher.
Why are we afraid of shooting? Several chances to shoot from the edge of the box but we rather want to pass it around and walk it in.
We're fecking finally taking inswinging corners! Shame Maguire has a 50p head.