Manchester United vs Liverpool (Sun 4th August, 00:30 UK time)

Borys said:
Questions to those who watched the game.
What formation did we play?
What was Mount role? How did he do?
How was Amad, Amass?
Click to expand...
Formation was largely the same. Mount was okay, definitely lacking in the creativity department but was good on pressuring. I don't think he's the Bruno backup he lacks the creativity, but he's way better defensively. Amad wasn't as good as he had been but still found pockets to attack. His lack of strength was shown in this game. Amass was largely the same as before, good at attacking but still lacking defensively. He did show glimpses of handling himself well against Salah. If he continues like this I think he could replace Malacia by the end of the season. He handles pressure well when attack, but its still defending where he can switch off at times.
 
spwd said:
So have we improved the big gap in midfield? Also how many shots did the scum have?
Click to expand...
I think we have improved it. Considering it was a young inexperienced Collyer in midfield with Case I think we did alright, can only imagine it'll be better with our main midfielders and if we sign Ugarte.

The scoreline flattered Liverpool, none of our defense that started the game are our main ones so it's not surprising we conceded goals. I think we're looking good in general.
 
Our pressing from the front seemed more organised. From what I saw, we are overloading the ball side in a 3-3 shape, with others man marked. Seemed effective and did disrupt some play. Mount was good in that department, Sancho probably isn’t.

I think our press will be more cohesive this season. The problem lies in when the press get bypassed, similar to last season. If we play against a fast team, which is most of the PL, a quick trick, touch, leave can just open us up completely.

One saving grace is our defence currently isn’t our first choice. This seems like a really risky system, if the defenders are sort of covering/ box defenders. The true acid test will be if we get De Ligt/ Yoro/ Martinez / Shaw/ Dalot all fit.

Apart from this, Rashford looked sharp, some excellent touches and turns. Seems interested again by the vibe, hope he carries on the positive path. Should start doing the temple celebration again just for the vibes
 
CtrlAltDeLigt said:
Our pressing from the front seemed more organised. From what I saw, we are overloading the ball side in a 3-3 shape, with others man marked. Seemed effective and did disrupt some play. Mount was good in that department, Sancho probably isn’t.

I think our press will be more cohesive this season. The problem lies in when the press get bypassed, similar to last season. If we play against a fast team, which is most of the PL, a quick trick, touch, leave can just open us up completely.

One saving grace is our defence currently isn’t our first choice. This seems like a really risky system, if the defenders are sort of covering/ box defenders. The true acid test will be if we get De Ligt/ Yoro/ Martinez / Shaw/ Dalot all fit.

Apart from this, Rashford looked sharp, some excellent touches and turns. Seems interested again by the vibe, hope he carries on the positive path. Should start doing the temple celebration again just for the vibes
Click to expand...
Seems like Mount adds to that a lot, and doesn't look like he'll be playing that much next season (at least I don't see him starting - not that I don't want to, but looks inevitable we'll play Casemiro Mainoo Bruno as much as possible).
 
Borys said:
Seems like Mount adds to that a lot, and doesn't look like he'll be playing that much next season (at least I don't see him starting - not that I don't want to, but looks inevitable we'll play Casemiro Mainoo Bruno as much as possible).
Click to expand...
Well probably have Zirkzee/ Hojlund wo are far better than Sancho.
 
Friendlies are meaningless I know but it's not great to lose to both arsenal and Liverpool no matter what the occasion is. The tour has been a bit of a dud I feel as we have picked up several major injuries and been soundly beaten by our rivals.

Hopefully this week we will see some not transfer activity because we will struggle this year without some more defenders and Casemiro has to be replaced.
 
I thought it was really encouraging. We made a lit of chances but our defence switched off at times offside the last two goals? Amass is going to be good, but he has a little way to go - he lost concentration a couple of times , but he'll be OK. Collyer made 1 mistake was punished but overall excellent. Antony should be nowhere near this team.
 
Tosicsleftpeg said:
Friendlies are meaningless I know but it's not great to lose to both arsenal and Liverpool no matter what the occasion is. The tour has been a bit of a dud I feel as we have picked up several major injuries and been soundly beaten by our rivals.

Hopefully this week we will see some not transfer activity because we will struggle this year without some more defenders and Casemiro has to be replaced.
Click to expand...

We need to stop doing the US tours, don’t think it helps pre-season at all. About time we prioritised it.
 
Tosicsleftpeg said:
Friendlies are meaningless I know but it's not great to lose to both arsenal and Liverpool no matter what the occasion is. The tour has been a bit of a dud I feel as we have picked up several major injuries and been soundly beaten by our rivals.

Hopefully this week we will see some not transfer activity because we will struggle this year without some more defenders and Casemiro has to be replaced.
Click to expand...

We get this every year though, we’ve beaten teams much better than us in pre season before and then gone on to have a shit season, it’s basically meaningless.
 
Decent game. Take encouragement from the fact that we played with a patched up side which hopefully will be far from our starting 11 this season.
 
We created much more than they did and allowed a lot less shots on goal, that said we were very wasteful.

Very very worrying for Will Fish. Hope he's alright
 
Borys said:
Seems like Mount adds to that a lot, and doesn't look like he'll be playing that much next season (at least I don't see him starting - not that I don't want to, but looks inevitable we'll play Casemiro Mainoo Bruno as much as possible).
Click to expand...
EtH bought Mount for 55 mill and gave him the number 7 shirt. He was his main signing. Just because he had an injury prone season doesn't change the fact. I think ETHs dream midfield is Ugarte and Mount and Bruno. I think he will get more game time then people think.
 
UpWithRivers said:
EtH bought Mount for 55 mill and gave him the number 7 shirt. He was his main signing. Just because he had an injury prone season doesn't change the fact. I think ETHs dream midfield is Ugarte and Mount and Bruno. I think he will get more game time then people think.
Click to expand...
Dropping Mainoo for Mount? Our only midfielder with a bit of composure on the ball?
 
CM said:
Dropping Mainoo for Mount? Our only midfielder with a bit of composure on the ball?
Click to expand...
I never said it was sensible. But ETH loves Mount. Or he should do or else he shouldn't have bought him for 55 mill and gave him the 7 shirt. What else was all that for? To put him on the bench?
 
It's a friendly, but we have had a few poor results and I hope this doesn't drag into the season.

I also hope this is helping ETH.

Shaw, Martinez, Rasmus, Bruno, Dalot, Mainoo.. will all play when ready, that's a new team and the Comm Shield is next week.
 
UpWithRivers said:
EtH bought Mount for 55 mill and gave him the number 7 shirt. He was his main signing. Just because he had an injury prone season doesn't change the fact. I think ETHs dream midfield is Ugarte and Mount and Bruno. I think he will get more game time then people think.
Click to expand...
That midfield would get torn to shreds, it was horrible with Bruno, Mount, Casemiro.
Would Ugarte really turn that around completely?
 
UpWithRivers said:
I never said it was sensible. But ETH loves Mount. Or he should do or else he shouldn't have bought him for 55 mill and gave him the 7 shirt. What else was all that for? To put him on the bench?
Click to expand...

ETH didn’t have the Mainoo he does now. Things change.
 
If you look at the first 60 minutes I think there was quite a lot to like about how we pressed and how we were showing good attacking patterns of play.

At top level though you have to take your chances. Be interesting if those who have moaned about style of play are prepared to admit that this at least was better.
 
Didn’t want to watch the whole game, so put on the highlights this morning expecting a bit of a lacklustre display. Even though it sucks to lose to Liverpool as always, was pleasantly surprised that we played well and created loads of chances and that the only difference was that Liverpool took theirs.
 
It’s clear we need to bring in another centre half to cover injuries, and urgently need a top class DM. I’m surprised Casemiro is still here.
 
UpWithRivers said:
EtH bought Mount for 55 mill and gave him the number 7 shirt. He was his main signing. Just because he had an injury prone season doesn't change the fact. I think ETHs dream midfield is Ugarte and Mount and Bruno. I think he will get more game time then people think.
Click to expand...
And what we do with Mainoo? You think he won't be first name on the team sheet?
 
Article this morning on the Telegraph from Ducker saying that buying a striker should be the priority signing now, Toney been the one he singles out.

It does seem a valid point.
 
RedIan said:
It’s clear we need to bring in another centre half to cover injuries, and urgently need a top class DM. I’m surprised Casemiro is still here.
Click to expand...

Who would buy him though? He's a perfect example of the mismanagement of the club. Signed for a big fee, on astronomical wages, when he was already in decline.
 
sepulturite said:
I think we have improved it. Considering it was a young inexperienced Collyer in midfield with Case I think we did alright, can only imagine it'll be better with our main midfielders and if we sign Ugarte.

The scoreline flattered Liverpool, none of our defense that started the game are our main ones so it's not surprising we conceded goals. I think we're looking good in general.
Click to expand...
Couldn't watch, but positives coming out of a loss is always good to hear. thanks
 
UpWithRivers said:
I never said it was sensible. But ETH loves Mount. Or he should do or else he shouldn't have bought him for 55 mill and gave him the 7 shirt. What else was all that for? To put him on the bench?
Click to expand...
I think it was just an ill thought out transfer. Ten Hag was naive in thinking Mount could play the deeper role regularly and Mainoo's emergence makes that transfer look even more stupid.

Maybe Ten Hag will re-try that experiment at some point but even he would be mental to do it at Mainoo's expense.

I really don't think there's any grand plan for Mount. He shouldn't start ahead of Fernandes or Mainoo in their respective roles so he'll probably just end up being a really expensive squad player, as he was when he wasn't injured last season. It's the consequence of bad decision making and poor squad planning.
 
It’s clear we need a clinical striker. We’re creating chances but not finishing them.
 
Good signs in our play. Don't care at all about the result, pre-season results mean nothing, especially with so many key players not available.

Most importantly, no new injuries to key players?

Also further confirmation Casemiro isn't up to it hopefully piles on the pressure to get a starting DM in.
 
No midfield, no party. We can't go into the season with Casemiro locked as a starter. We will finish 6-8th.

I have been traveling and have only seen bits of the matches, but I'm cautiously encouraged from everyones comments about Rashford's form.
 
DJ_21 said:
It’s clear we need a clinical striker. We’re creating chances but not finishing them.
Click to expand...

I thought we played quite well, but looked poor in both boxes. I agree, a clinical striker would make a huge difference (when was the last time we had one of those!).
 
Infra-red said:
I thought we played quite well, but looked poor in both boxes. I agree, a clinical striker would make a huge difference (when was the last time we had one of those!).
Click to expand...
Probably under Mourinho with Zlatan. We need to get away from the older players though at the end of their careers. Or you could say Ronaldo but we wasn’t really a functioning team with him.
 
DJ_21 said:
Probably under Mourinho with Zlatan. We need to get away from the older players though at the end of their careers.
Click to expand...
He scored a fair few but was far from clinical.

I’d say it’s all the way back to RVP
 
From the March report sounds like it was business as usual as they were clinical and we made stupid errors.

That aside, what was our build up play like and how did Liverpool play? Is Slots possession game already evident? If so it’s pretty depressing given our manager has been there for two years and we are yet to see a style of play
 
Take absolutely zero from this game. Neither side looks anything like the respective teams that will start.
If anything, it re enforced the players who aren't good enough but we knew that anyway and by the end of next week, we could have signed their replacements....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.