[the hea]

Had a good game up until the Gakpo goal which of course was a big misstake. There was no need for him to commit like that, just show Gakpo on to his weaker foot and try and block the following pass. Not much to say about the pen, it's just bad luck not much he can do about it.

 

[Betson]

Really poor decision to dive on Gakpo , he had Gakpo going where we would want him to go , if he manages to shoot from that angle with his poorer foot and beats the keeper from there , that is on the keeper , but allowing him to cut in like that was really poor defending.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

I can forgive the pen as he was clearly unlucky but to dive in like that on Gakpo is pretty unforgivable stuff.

I expect Martinez to gift the goals out of the three CBs but it’s like the three of them rotate who has to be the shit one.

 

[Idxomer]

Not a starting defender for a team that wants to compete for major trophies.

 

[2mufc0]

Soft pen, but no idea why he had his hands up like that, asking for trouble.

 

[harms]

I like him but he was our worst player tonight. You can argue that he was unlucky with the ball hitting his hand (although he's experienced enough to think about such things) but that missed sliding tackle/block for the first goal was such a poor decision. Gakpo is a right-footed forward on the left, the angle isn't great, don't give him the opportunity to cut inside, force him to cross with his left. It's still going to be a chance but you have to evaluate these things.

Still not sure on where his best place is in Amorim's system. I don't really see Maguire as a long-term option so probably centrally with Yoro on the right even though his passing isn't the best.

 

[Rojofiam]

What he did for Gakpo's goal in not something I'll give him shit for. Yeah it's basically a mistake but he doesn't have the natural pace and long limbs like Yoro for example to be able to get there without lunging in. He wanted to save his team and there are many defenders who would've been tempted into such a mistake just because they don't have the physical tools and pace to nullify that threat without flying in.

The pen was unlucky as well IMO, it happens.

With all that said, I'm still underwhelmed by him overall although he's shown some good things sometimes.

My biggest concerns however is not his overall performance so far, but his long-term role in this team. He's not a wide defender and won't ever be one. As the central CB, he doesn't quite possess some much-needed things either, that Maguire definitely does. His squad role for me would be 2nd choice CCB right now, but when the time comes to replace Maguire, I'm not sure I'd be looking at de Ligt either. I'd be looking at Yoro or the market based on what we've seen up until now from these players. You can even argue for Martínez over him because he's at least world-class in the build up. With him, at least you trade in the physical dominance and defensive side of things for something very valuable. With de Ligt, I think he's our worst CB with the ball.

He's like a shite Harry Maguire. Boggles the mind how he's played for arguably the three biggest teams in 3 out of the 4 best leagues. I wonder if we can get Madrid to sign him.

He's always screamed future United/Barcelona defender to me when he was at Ajax/Juve/Bayern. So maybe that's his next club if it doesn't work out at United.

 

[AshRK]

He plays like a 35m cb. Not bad not good. He will become a squad player eventually.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

I thought he was good for large parts of the game, but ultimately made the two errors he’ll be judged for, can’t afford to keep making them. But wouldn’t be writing him off or anything, just a bad day.

 

[Oscar Bonavena]

He had a decent game today but I only gave him 5/10 because of the two mistakes.

I get sometimes defenders need to dive in to block a shot but he should be experienced to know that Gakpo always cuts back onto his right. Just made it too easy for him!

And yes, I get he was "unlucky" for the penalty but I called it as a penalty as soon as I saw it cos his hands were up by his head and that's been given as a penalty for at least 3 or 4 years now.

 

[Devil_forever]

He plays like a 35m cb. Not bad not good. He will become a squad player eventually.

His wages are of a top class CB. I have no idea why this club doesn't learn signing players like this. He looks bang average at every attribute.

 

[city-puma]

I remember it’s not the first time for him to involve the really bad moments. I personally don’t think this transfer a good decision, but would give him more time to prove me wrong.

 

[AshRK]

His wages are of a top class CB. I have no idea why this club doesn't learn signing players like this. He looks bang average at every attribute.

I still think he is better than Lindelof, Bailly , Rojo etc and on par with Maguire. OK to decent defender.

 

[Roboc7]

He plays like a 35m cb. Not bad not good. He will become a squad player eventually.

I think that must have been some of the logic behind signing him. He’s ok, we didn’t spend a huge fee on him and if after 2-3 years we want to sell it’s probably ok to do so in terms of PSR. The downside is his wages of course but we took a risk on Yoro so maybe we were hedging our bets.

He was playing pretty well but punished for two errors, maybe bit unfortunate with the handball but hand was in an odd position.

 

[Stadjer]

He plays like a 35m cb. Not bad not good. He will become a squad player eventually.

Still quite young for a defender and his first season in the league while playing for a bad team.

I think he has been doing fairly well and i believe he will get better.

 

[CM]

I really don't rate him very highly. De Ligt is still in his honeymoon period but I imagine the popular opinion will be that he needs to be replaced as a starter by next season.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

I just don’t think he’s that good man. I’d expect that performance from Lindelof today

 

[Big Ben Foster]

His wages are of a top class CB. I have no idea why this club doesn't learn signing players like this. He looks bang average at every attribute.

Yup, for the wages he's getting he should be one of the first names on the team sheet and one of the best defenders in the league. As long as we continue to grossly overpay for "decent squad player" quality, we'll never get our wage structure under control.

 

[VP89]

Yup, for the wages he's getting he should be one of the first names on the team sheet and one of the best defenders in the league. As long as we continue to grossly overpay for "decent squad player" quality, we'll never get our wage structure under control.

Hes not decent squad quality. He's generally a solid 7/10 player week in week out for a top club. He was the same at Bayern.

 

[Leftback99]

He's an upgrade on Lindelof as a squad player but on world class money.

Will be interesting to see where Amorim settles on a first choice 3 for next season. Depends on Yoro's development.

 

[Ekeke]

He's an upgrade on Lindelof as a squad player but on world class money.

Will be interesting to see where Amorim settles on a first choice 3 for next season. Depends on Yoro's development.

The way he is currently playing he is not an improvement on Lindelof. Lindelof and Evans have been better.

I hope he dramatically improves. In his first 4 or 5 matches he had a couple of good ones. Its been very poor since then

 

[Amar__]

Ignoring the penalty, and the Gapko goal, what I cannot forgive him is that he was shitting bricks as soon as Liverpool had one or two chances after our decent first ten-fifteen minutes, and immediately after Liverpool's chances he started panicking with the ball and was one of first player that you could see was nervous. And he is one expensive signing who played for fecking Ajax, Juventus, Bayern and now United and he is still error prone like he always was, he should be the one who calms the team down, and not the first one who goes to panic mode.

I was skeptical when we wanted him because I always thought he was decent but also very expensive for any club he played - hence one of the most overrated defenders in history, and he is looking exactly the same as I always thought he is.

He was European/Holland's Harry Maguire years before Harry existed, and never deserved the praise he got, because he always cost his team goals, and years after he hasn't improved much. As someone already said, I guess we got good squad player for top class CB money. It is what it is.

 

[Reiver]

He shouldn't have dived in on the first goal, but it wasn't his fault the chance was created. He was unlucky for the penalty but just don't put your arms up.
I'm not going to judge him yet, he can still come good.

 

[Dominos]

We were talking the other week about the likes of Saliba/VVD letting players shoot because they don't want to risk blocking and being made to look silly.

Watching that today you can see why they have the tendency. Sometimes letting them play the ball from a tighter angle has better expected value overall than giving him the chance to cut in and get a better angle, particularly if he's cutting in to his stronger foot.

The penalty... I could tell by his guilty reaction they were getting a pen. No idea why his hand is head height there.

 

[Oranges038]

He's an upgrade on Lindelof as a squad player but on world class money.

Will be interesting to see where Amorim settles on a first choice 3 for next season. Depends on Yoro's development.

A 37 year old Jonny Evans has been an upgrade on Lindelof.

De Ligt has been doing ok, he should get better once the backline and midfield are more settled. If he doesn't then he may as well be sold to the next suckers.

 

[FrankDrebin]

A ok cb who seems to have 1 or 2 brain farts.

 

[Devil81]

Has he managed 90 minutes yet?

Gets hooked every game.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Brain fart for that 1st goal. I don't even know why players commit like that. You look like a proper mug if you get rinsed and he did.

 

[arthurka]

Feck me he was poor for the Gakpo goal, team mate in the NT and decides to throw himself down on the players left-foot knowing full well that he only has a right foot. Stay on your fecking feet and get tight. Still think Harry is a better player.

 

[Dan_F]

We were talking the other week about the likes of Saliba/VVD letting players shoot because they don't want to risk blocking and being made to look silly.

Watching that today you can see why they have the tendency. Sometimes letting them play the ball from a tighter angle has better expected value overall than giving him the chance to cut in and get a better angle, particularly if he's cutting in to his stronger foot.

The penalty... I could tell by his guilty reaction they were getting a pen. No idea why his hand is head height there.

There was a similar situation in the second half when Dalot shot with his left foot and VVD slid in and blocked the shot, he didn’t just let Dalot shot, which would be criminal defending. I thought it was slow of the other players not to anticipate the cut back.

Either way, I think De Ligt has mostly been solid enough and available for selection but obviously it was a big price. He should be playing as the CCB, he was playing better there at the start before Maguire came into the team. Maguire is getting a lot of praise but I think you’d get similar output if you swapped them.

 

[JJ12]

Not a starting defender for a team that wants to compete for major trophies.

That's just not true.

 

[Moriarty]

Feck me he was poor for the Gakpo goal, team mate in the NT and decides to throw himself down on the players left-foot knowing full well that he only has a right foot. Stay on your fecking feet and get tight. Still think Harry is a better player.

From what I've seen of him, I'd have to agree. Very poor defending for their first. Once he committed, he was out of the game.

 

[Ali Dia]

I think he’s going to be a really important player for us once he fully settles. He was really poor today though and also it’s worth saying. He wasn’t as good at Juve with 3 at the back as he was at Bayern and Ajax with two. He’s got leadership though and I expect him to improve

 

[Cutch]

Watched a repeat of the game and didn't think he was as bad as many of you on here are saying. Obviously could have done better for the first goal, but these things happen often enough, just this one was emphatically punished by Gakpo. Handball was obviously instinctive and accidental, not going to blame him for that.

Lots of solid pieces of defending otherwise though in a very good all round team defensive performance. Not as good as Maguire and Martinez though that were immense.

Ideally we should be rotating he and Maguire for CCB, Yoro and Mazraoui for RCB and Martinez and Shaw (if he wasn't a permacrock) for LCB. Not ideal that he's on the right where we know historically he isn't quite at his best there.

 

[Dominos]

There was a similar situation in the second half when Dalot shot with his left foot and VVD slid in and blocked the shot, he didn’t just let Dalot shot, which would be criminal defending. I thought it was slow of the other players not to anticipate the cut back.

Either way, I think De Ligt has mostly been solid enough and available for selection but obviously it was a big price. He should be playing as the CCB, he was playing better there at the start before Maguire came into the team. Maguire is getting a lot of praise but I think you’d get similar output if you swapped them.

It's situational.

Not all angles are equal. The worse the angle, the more likely it is that you should let them shoot. If you are going to block, sometimes it should be a late block when you're more sure they're already committed to shooting and can't bail out. You also should consider the attacking player and if they're likely to have the necessary skill, talent and awareness to dummy the shot and cut back in.

From what I recall, Dalot was in a much better position to score than Gakpo, but I'd have to see it again, and he was much less likely to pull off the cutback onto his right foot, VVD timed his move perfectly when he felt Dalot was committed to shooting.

It's a good point though that our other defenders should have been more ready for Gakpo cutting back onto his right, they were reactive instead of proactive.

 

[always_hoping]

Had a good game up until the Gakpo goal which of course was a big misstake. There was no need for him to commit like that, just show Gakpo on to his weaker foot and try and block the following pass. Not much to say about the pen, it's just bad luck not much he can do about it.

Agree with all of that. Unlucky with the penalty when you consider minutes earlier a similar incident in the Liverpool box wasn't even viewed by VAR.

 

[Ekeke]

Watched a repeat of the game and didn't think he was as bad as many of you on here are saying. Obviously could have done better for the first goal, but these things happen often enough, just this one was emphatically punished by Gakpo. Handball was obviously instinctive and accidental, not going to blame him for that.

Lots of solid pieces of defending otherwise though in a very good all round team defensive performance. Not as good as Maguire and Martinez though that were immense.

Ideally we should be rotating he and Maguire for CCB, Yoro and Mazraoui for RCB and Martinez and Shaw (if he wasn't a permacrock) for LCB. Not ideal that he's on the right where we know historically he isn't quite at his best there.

The problem is that on top of these mistakes he isnt doing much. So he's hardly working and then when he's forced into action he failed.

Lisandro defended a lot on the floor with tackles and interceptions, sometimes Liverpool got in and missed the chance, plenty of other times he came away with the ball with good defending. Maguire cleared the ball a bunch and made interceptions

de Ligt successfully did very little defensively (1 tackle, 1 interception, 0 clearances, 1 block and 1 aerial) and then made 2 big mistakes

Lindelof doesnt do much defensively either but he doesnt often make individual mistakes. Evans tends to do more defensive work than both of them and although he's had a few games where he looks past it, he still defends better than de Ligt

 

[The United]

There was a similar situation in the second half when Dalot shot with his left foot and VVD slid in and blocked the shot, he didn’t just let Dalot shot, which would be criminal defending. I thought it was slow of the other players not to anticipate the cut back.

Either way, I think De Ligt has mostly been solid enough and available for selection but obviously it was a big price. He should be playing as the CCB, he was playing better there at the start before Maguire came into the team. Maguire is getting a lot of praise but I think you’d get similar output if you swapped them.

Maguire has been better especially with passing. But we need to play both of them at the same time, at least, for now as we need players who can head the ball in the air.

 

[Ekeke]

We were talking the other week about the likes of Saliba/VVD letting players shoot because they don't want to risk blocking and being made to look silly.

Watching that today you can see why they have the tendency. Sometimes letting them play the ball from a tighter angle has better expected value overall than giving him the chance to cut in and get a better angle, particularly if he's cutting in to his stronger foot.

The penalty... I could tell by his guilty reaction they were getting a pen. No idea why his hand is head height there.

I... What?

You can stay on your feet and tackle or block. In fact in most cases thats what you should do. Sliding in is rarely needed and carries a lot more risk

All he needs to do is try to block the ball across while staying on his feet, we had a good defensive line and if he gets the ball across because he didnt slide tackle its fine - yes we saw one bad outcome of diving in like that in getting done by the skill but it could have been just as bad if he didnt reach the ball and took the man out giving away a penalty. He doesnt need to do it and if we concede in that situation because Gakpo is able to put the ball across to a Liverpool player to tap in, other United players have had the chance to deal with it and failed. Its not all on him.

By diving in he took himself out of the game and made it easy

 

[Aretak]

I'm surprised at how often he rashly dives into challenges. You'd think a defender with nearly 350 games under their belt would know to stop doing it. Big, crunching slide tackles look great when they come off, but most top attacking players these days have too much skill on the ball and just avoid them. Then you're sitting on your backside completely out of the game, as with the Gakpo goal today.