No Ronaldo, no Maguire, no Coincidence

No coincidence indeed, but the performance tonight was about a lot more than Cristiano and Harry taking some time off. You could see in the whites of their eyes that the players knew that a defeat here would have been disastrous for them and the club. Those who played rose to the occasion.
 
It's one game, so lets not get too excited.

Tonight against Liverpool, the whole team was up for it. We announced Casemiro, Liverpool are our arch rivals and the fans were buzzing. If that doesn't get you up for a game, then you're in the wrong business.

Our test now is being able to do it week in week out. Matching or outrunning our opponents. That's why we won tonight.

As for Maguire and Ronaldo, its a very long season. The two will play a big part in our season.
 
Name Changed said:
Maguire is simply terrible. Ronaldo can't play in a pressing team. No, not a coincidence
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Just have to hope that this is a corner turned and the new boss doesn't get called into the office and told to think about the names on his next team sheet for commercial reasons.
 
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Ronaldo (if he stays) will be effective more often than not this season, but there are games where we'll look better without him - primarily against the better teams where we need pace on the break and work-rate across the front three.

And if Martial can play like that second-half performance consistently, he'll be keeping Ronaldo out of the team on merit - by far our best center forward with his back to goal. I'd actually love to see how they do as a strike partnership, similar to how Carrick lined up in his first game as an interim. Could be a potent option against the weaker sides in the league.
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
It's one game, so lets not get too excited.

Tonight against Liverpool, the whole team was up for it. We announced Casemiro, Liverpool are our arch rivals and the fans were buzzing. If that doesn't get you up for a game, then you're in the wrong business.

Our test now is being able to do it week in week out. Matching or outrunning our opponents. That's why we won tonight.

As for Maguire and Ronaldo, its a very long season. The two will play a big part in our season.
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Yup, if Ronaldo stays that is. I wonder if he might be used against teams that are more defensive and where there is less space to run in behind. Loved the energy of the front three tonight but i'm not sure i'd bet on any of them to be among the top scorers in any competition.

ten Hag seems to be making a big point that it's going to be a tough season fitness wise and that we need a good squad. The europa league campaign is still massive I feel.
 
gaffs said:
Maguire had his best game of the season.
First time he has not made a mistake.
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We have to play to his strength. That is his best position. It was a brave decision by ETH to play him there.
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
It's one game, so lets not get too excited.

Tonight against Liverpool, the whole team was up for it. We announced Casemiro, Liverpool are our arch rivals and the fans were buzzing. If that doesn't get you up for a game, then you're in the wrong business.

Our test now is being able to do it week in week out. Matching or outrunning our opponents. That's why we won tonight.

As for Maguire and Ronaldo, its a very long season. The two will play a big part in our season.
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Dropping both of them for a key game => ETH stamping his authority that winning matters, not individuals. They should both get the message and fall in line.
 
Serious confirmation bias going on here. No Ronaldo clearly made a huge difference, we could never press like that with him in the team or counter attack with that pace and fluidity. We looked like the United of 2019-21 who were absolutely fantastic in big 6 games. Maguire was actually part of those teams however and had many fantastic performances in those games, people just dismissed them using the "he's playing in a low block so it's not impressive" line. Quite odd that the same standards aren't applied to everyone but hey ho
 
What he did was give the youths who has fire in their bellies a chance. They're young and hungry and that's what we need. The ones on the bench who are quite capable but lazy can learn a thing or two from the likes of Martinez, Rashford and Elanga. Keep them benched until they get hungry too.
 
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I agree.
Maguire because he is far too casual in possession and doesn't play with the intensity teams may need at the highest level.
Ronaldo simply as a result of his age and inability to press.
However, in Ronaldo's case, I really believe shifting him out wide would actually work.
It's something ETH should try.
 
Gabriel Djemba-Bebe said:
Sancho? Varane? Good to see you're on the ball mate.

The way some of our online fans are still so keen to criticise Ole at given any opportunity is beyond weird at this point.
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Are you writing this on a fecking manuscript in some monastery. Mate.
 
No head of British clique,
No head of Spanish/Portuguese clique,
We looked like a proper team.
No coincidence?
 
Gabriel Djemba-Bebe said:
Sancho? Varane? Good to see you're on the ball mate.

The way some of our online fans are still so keen to criticise Ole at given any opportunity is beyond weird at this point.
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Ole made horrible signings and gave contracts to Phil Jones.

On the field...he did get the best out of some average players though so fair play. THe problem wasn't just Ole...it was the tool **** Woodward. An educated footballing director Laughs in Ole's face when he wants to Maguire that badly or give Jones a new Contract.

Ole getting top 4 in his full 2 seasons blinded Woodward. It was great for us short term bad long term.
 
2 man midfield said:
I said something similar in the match thread. No AWB, no Maguire, No Shaw. 3/4 of our back line changes and we suddenly look solid at the back. If those 3 start tonight, we don’t win that game.
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While we all know that one win at this point in the season means nothing without consistency and that includes Ten Hag making decisions solely on form and not names, this can be the way back if the manager keeps to that principle.

As some of us said recently, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire have played a big part in our terrible run. I like both of them but it is clear that Luke hasn`t developed and needs to go - and I would bet he is one of those nameless players with the bad attitude. Correct me if I am wrong.

I was delighted when Harry joined United but again, the weaknesses have become glaring. He is limited technically and also can`t handle the captaincy. I wish him well in any move out the club although we will need him for a while but prioritise selling Luke as soon as possible.

As for the constant negative harping on Marcus and Jaden - look how different they were with a midfield doing its job and being technically adept. And give some credit to Scott Mac - he is not the answer in midfield but the lad has a great attitude and he rose above all the noise and pressure to contribute to the win.
 
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I still think he can play with Martinez, we needed varane today for the speed, he's an expensive squad player though.

Martinez has brought intensity, I still feel Maguire will come back in and get better, he needs more intensity hopefully it rubs off.
 
Walters_19_MuFc said:
It's one game, so lets not get too excited.

Tonight against Liverpool, the whole team was up for it. We announced Casemiro, Liverpool are our arch rivals and the fans were buzzing. If that doesn't get you up for a game, then you're in the wrong business.

Our test now is being able to do it week in week out. Matching or outrunning our opponents. That's why we won tonight.

As for Maguire and Ronaldo, its a very long season. The two will play a big part in our season.
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We'd also lost our first 2 games of the season, our new manager was already being questioned, our new expensive CB was being written off, we'd spent the past week under a cloud of media ridicule and fan discontent.

All of that, in addition to months of poor performances and results.

Yes, it was one result and we need to maintain this, but you make it sound like it was easy for us to raise our game, when the truth is it would have been easier for us to fold under the pressure and negativity surrounding the club right now.
 
Glorio said:
If our players actually apply themselves, we should win most games, and this has been our biggest issue in my mind for the past couple of years.
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That's it right there. That is the major difference. Practically impossible to play as a team when a decent handful of players are playing at 75%. I saw a do or die attitude last night that I haven't seen much of in quite some time. Squeaky bum time for quite a bit of the game? Sure! But that's how it goes when you are 2 - 1 up to Liverpool who are also playing to try and make amends for a poor start to their campaign.
 
dal said:
I still think he can play with Martinez, we needed varane today for the speed, he's an expensive squad player though.

Martinez has brought intensity, I still feel Maguire will come back in and get better, he needs more intensity hopefully it rubs off.
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I wouldn't hold your breath mate. Maguire was shown how to defend tonight as he looked on. I just don't think he's good enough. Are you sure you're not just saying this because you want it badly to be true? Look to the evidence.
 
2 man midfield said:
I said something similar in the match thread. No AWB, no Maguire, No Shaw. 3/4 of our back line changes and we suddenly look solid at the back. If those 3 start tonight, we don’t win that game.
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Agreed. All three can and should be upgraded even their good performances have been overstated.

We need consistency in standard and performance. Those three along with current Ronaldo are just too volatile. That's why Bruno, mctom and rashford are also being scrutinized, because they are very inconsistent.
 
You've seen in the past, Shaw reacts well to competition, he had a great season when Telles arrived it will be interesting to see if he reacts that way again, it will also be interesting to see how Maguire reacts ti being dropped, there is a great defender in there when he's not bereft of confidence.

Ronaldo, I hope for your sake will be gone by Sept 1st, he just does not fit.

very catchy thread title by the way @Pexbo!
 
The Boy said:
You've seen in the past, Shaw reacts well to competition, he had a great season when Telles arrived it will be interesting to see if he reacts that way again, it will also be interesting to see how Maguire reacts ti being dropped, there is a great defender in there when he's not bereft of confidence.

Ronaldo, I hope for your sake will be gone by Sept 1st, he just does not fit.

very catchy thread title by the way @Pexbo!
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Maguire is a caveman. The way he's been caught out of position and causing issues on that back end plus him being a leader, it's just a real bad combo. They have to move him. You don't want that festering.

Ronaldo is a bit different. It is about what he'll accept. Will he accept being a chess piece. Which basically means will another team that is attractive to him take him on.

I'm sentimental with certain players I admit and Ronaldo is one of them. I'm ok with him sticking around as long as he's doing the work and all. EtH will require him to not only hustle towards his goal, but also to move defenders for his teammates and that is where I am not sure his ego fits. But I am hopeful.
 
Tigersam said:
Just have to hope that this is a corner turned and the new boss doesn't get called into the office and told to think about the names on his next team, sheet for commercial reasons.
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I hope Fergie doesn't get recorded insisting Ronaldo has to start again.
 
dan1509 said:
I don't get these digs at Ronaldo. He didnt play the first match and we got smashed, then in the second game he played and we got smashed again (not sure how you can fault him for us conceding 4 to Brentford). Its just such a lazy narrative when you consider there were numerous changes made to the side today (maguire, shaw, no McFred combo).
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Agreed, Ronaldo has become one of the automatic players blame, along with Shaw, Harry, Rashford and McFred.
If he stays he’ll play an important part for the team.
 
Red_toad said:
Agreed, Ronaldo has become one of the automatic players blame, along with Shaw, Harry, Rashford and McFred.
If he stays he’ll play an important part for the team.
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Your going to need all those players if the team keeps playing at that intensity, there is no way players can play like that twice a week every week at that pace!
 
Amadaeus said:
People are acting like we won against prime Liverpool. The mighty Henderson, Milner and Elliot in midfield with a false 9 in firmino will scare most team to be honest.
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Well you're right about that.
 
Maguire is a donkey. Ronaldo is one of the goat players the world has ever seen not really fair to toss them in the same bucket.
 
It's basically up to Martials form whether Ronaldo will start. Rashford might have some tactical uses but he isn't good enough up front. Neither actually press so it's odd to see some pretending they transformed the pressing side of our game.

As for Maguire (and Shaw) they should be subs from here on in but most of us thought that before the game.

In general we've seen us game raise before so let's enjoy it for now but drawing conclusions isn't really wise.
 
I agree about Ronaldo, and if Varane stays fit and Martinez settles down Maguire is the same, on the bench. BUT let's be patient it's just one game and a game in which we had 30% possession and we almost scored 2 own goals. If it was Mourinho, 90% of United fans would be crying about the way we won. Let's be patient and build from here first.
 
Maguire simply isn’t good enough, he was a terrible buy and wouldn’t look out of place at Everton or West Ham (no disrespect). The most damning thing from ETH was he mentioned a lack of leadership in defensive… that’s a proper hammering to the club captain .

I feel bad for Ronaldo he isn’t suited to the style of play ETH wants to put in place. Still a top goal scorer and no doubt in the right team will deliver 20+ goals but I think it suits all parties if he leaves, his wages for the year will go along way In paying for Gakpo.
 
Amadaeus said:
People are acting like we won against prime Liverpool. The mighty Henderson, Milner and Elliot in midfield with a false 9 in firmino will scare most team to be honest.

I will wait to see how this team does against a team that isn't low in morale, doesn't have many injuries and are tough opponents before blowing my horn. The team dynamic today was ok, and I don't want to sound to negative, but I still seen better football played by Brighton this season. This result seemed like the type of performance we put in when we came in 2nd under Ole, which isn't really a bad thing.
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You also have to accept that we were in an awful place prior to the game as well, and haven't showed anything like this Liverpool side has over the last few years. It's a positive response and performance against a Liverpool side that still had a strong team out there especially when compared to the preseason match we just played where they arguably played better in a bigger defeat.
 
Yeah they simply don't suit the managers style/demands of them. EtH said so himself pre-match. We needed pace/agility and off the ball intensity, hence no Maguire and Ronaldo. Makes perfect sense and he was vindicated. Some massive calls by EtH but i am happy for him. Now to sustain these type performances/intensity levels.
 
Interesting to see how we play when teams sit back and counter on us, performing against a high line hasn’t been our problem. Great spirit from the team though.
 
Maguire needs to play in a back three to look the part - we don't want to play that way so it seems inevitable he will be playing less and less.
 
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