[DevilRed]

Wish we'd stop passing it around the back so much. Its absolutely detrimental to our play.

 

[Judas]

Our defending from set pieces is woeful.

We lack quality up front, but we still look reasonably creative compared to the past.

 

[Hammondo]

Harsh. He's been a threat, including winning two dangerous free kicks.

He's really not.

 

[Sylar]

That early free kick attempt haha

 

[Rajma]

Mainoo nowhere near as physical as he needs to be. We’ll be so much better with Casemiro in this game

He’s an attacking mid for me being shoved into box-to-box or worse number 6, I would bench Bruno for Cas and push Mainoo up the pitch

 

[Doracle]

Can’t really get control of this match with Hojlund in the team. Would like to see Zirkzee at half time. Think that would make a huge difference.

 

[E-mal]

Mainoo’s lack of mobility + never showing for the ball isn’t encouraging.

He is just not coached enough and does not understand his role. He is nullifying himself in build up, we all can see that.

 

[Josep Dowling]

This team is so dire. Boring, slow football with no ideas how to progress the ball forward. One of the least entertaining teams in the league.

 

[Hammondo]

Bruno has been very poor.

 

[Atheist]

De Ligt is ridiculous. Idles on the ball for 5 minutes before making any pass.

 

[mav_9me]

Ugarte has been brilliant, everywhere defensively and brilliant crisp passing.

 

[BarstoolProphet]

Nice homage to LvG this. Backpass galore

 

[Unam333]

Awful half. Hopefully we will improve in the second half.

 

[Tony247]

Kobbie is adding nothing if we’re honest.

He is moving the ball okay.

 

[Alemar]

We need changes at half time. Whom to put on?

 

[Matson]

This walking pace is so annoying. Too many times the defenders walking forward and passing it between each other with no urgency and no ambition to pass it forward.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Mainoo needs to be taken off. There’s no reason for Ugarte to be doing all the running of the midfield.

 

[DWelbz19]

Mainoo nowhere near as physical as he needs to be. We’ll be so much better with Casemiro in this game

Probably right — we’ve had over 70% of the ball so Casemiro’s higher turnover passes will be less of an issue. Plus he does force play a bit more which we need right now

 

[BaguetteBoy]

Bruno has been very poor.

Really I thought he’s been decent.

 

[Ekeke]

Ugarte had a good half, playing a few more dangerous passes

 

[thisisnottaken1]

Poor first half. Hopefully we can improve in the second.

 

[FreakyJim]

What a shit game. De Ligt held up the ball for probably 20min. Beyond Maguire annoying. Just fecking pass it quicker!

 

[Glorio]

De Ligt needs to be soooo much braver passing into midfield. He's the one with options either side, and Ugarte is constantly showing for the ball but De Ligt is constantly choosing the safe option to Yoro

 

[AjaxCunian]

We need a lot better than Mainoo sorry guys. One of our own but his lack of penetrative passing is really awful.

Numerous times where he could have played the ball forwards but he just refuses.

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Mainoo doesn’t look anywhere near fit out there. Don’t know if he’s still not fully recovered from his injury but doesn’t look anything near his mobile intelligent self

 

[Crimson King]

Wish we'd stop passing it around the back so much. Its absolutely detrimental to our play.

No it's not. Our equaliser came from patiently waiting for an opening and then playing through the lines from defence.

 

[AjaxCunian]

This team is so dire. Boring, slow football with no ideas how to progress the ball forward. One of the least entertaining teams in the league.

Can't imagine this system to become entertaining any time soon.

 

[Litch]

Mainoo needs to be taken off. There’s no reason for Ugarte to be doing all the running of the midfield.

What!!!

 

[DJ_21]

Amad’s had a quiet game so far

Everything’s going down Garnachos side. Even the opposition attacks down there which I thought they’d have advantage by going down the side we aren’t playing a defensive wing back on but it’s probably due to Yoro being there aswell.

 

[quadrant]

Ok performance but not outstanding. We looked really good until we equalised, but then cooled off after that. Last 20 mins a bit more shakey, but not awful. I think a lack of confidence in our defending is making us nervous when the opposition attack.

Really enjoying this shape. Having bodies in midfield already feels like a luxury, but the angles it creates always seems to leave us with a man to spare. We just need then composure to find them.

Funnily enough it's the opposite of the Ole era. Solid shape and good patterns, but without the standout moments of quality that could have had us comfortable at half time.

Set pieces are a concern, defensively at least. Unlike the Arsenal game, we weren't up against world class corners. It was just run of the mill stuff, and we looked very shaky.

 

[Bobski]

Ugarte has been excellent but it is not great from Mainoo that he(Ugarte) is in a position where he having to take on the majority of the deep playmaking responsibilities as well.

Not really seeing it as a natural partnership with the lack of passing range.

 

[Cantona in disguise]

Ugarte is looking like he might just be worth the money.

 

[mav_9me]

I see everybody's complaints, and I don't disagree but these are growing pains with a new system. Clearly Mainoo and Garnacho are having difficulty but not much we can do while they figure it out.

 

[Matt851]

This team is so dire. Boring, slow football with no ideas how to progress the ball forward. One of the least entertaining teams in the league.

Clearly big issues with the players but it did always seem like playing 3 at the back and no wide forwards would potentially make this squad even more stodgy

 

[izec]

Mainoo doesn’t look anywhere near fit out there. Don’t know if he’s still not fully recovered from his injury but doesn’t look anything near his mobile intelligent self

doesnt look fit to me

 

[Hammondo]

Really I thought he’s been decent.

I would say easily our worst player. His passing has been dreadful, lost it constantly.

 

[#07]

I think its fair to say that was very disappointing. We played ok until we scored and then went back to type. Nothing we haven't seen many, many times before.

We cannot defend set pieces for s-t and our ball progression out of defence is disastrously bad. Our wing backs are always in space but our centre backs seem allergic to the idea of switching it. It almost makes me wish Maguire was out there.

Considering we've had 70%+ possession, we have looked about as threatening as a the knife and fork in a kids toy teaset. We have to do much, much better second half.

 

[My only Eric]

Proper van gaal ball
Million passes at the back that goes nowhere

 

[DJ_21]

How the feck was that not a foul on Amad?

Yet we’ve been getting softer ones all game

 

[evil_geko]

Good half, should be a few up.