[Ciddy]

The fact is, this is the level we are. We're a mid table PL team.

 

[BigRedSwede]

This s##t gets more bizarre with every game, starting to think the man is mentally losing it. The pressure is not something everybody can deal with at this level.

 

[noodlehair]

Plus points:
- Onana
- Ugarte was good, even though he wasn't in midfield really. More like an additional centreback doing all the stuff Lindelof doesn't do (I.e. actual defending)

Minus points:
- Lindelof. He's a centreback that's scared of challenging for the ball. Kind of a fundamental problem. Has played for us for about 6 years.
- erm, playing a fullback as the no10.
- Antony wasting almost the entire last 10 minutes by laying down for ages, then walking back onto the pitch, JUST to sit down and be stretchered off because he was too injured to walk off the pitch he'd just walked back onto while already injured.
- the fact he came on ahead of Diallo.
- the frankly impressive uselessness of Zirkzee. One of our scouts took the "Martial replacement" brief too seriously.
- Dalot. Somehow has forged a reputation as a good player by having two half seasons of not being a constant fecking liability. Something that almost every other professional footballer does for all of each season.
- basically everything else. Hoofing the ball in a panic when we had acres of room to counter. 2-3 players going for the same ball constantly. Our trademark late press which is less a press and more charging at someone who's already gotten out of the way.

 

[PoTMS]

Remember when we were the pride of Europe. Now we're the English team that lets down the coefficient on a regular basis. I guess it doesn't really matter because we can forget about 5th place under this man and under INEOS.

 

[Crostien]

Had I been offered a point against Fener away, I woukd have taken it.

The areas of concern for us are a profligate attack and fallow defence. Their equaliser was because Lindelof was not vigilant.

Furthermore, I know he scored a famous goal for us, but what more would Amad have done? Seriously? We speak of him through the prism of Antony. His prowess is exaggerated - another decent, unspectacular winger.

Zirkzee is turning into a proper dud. Can't pass (his assist was really a 'Sancho assist') poor control and an undefined position. Hopefully, he can find a way but we're getting nothing from him.

 

[Wolfbot]

Whatever he does or does not do this season, I can't imagine who can truly believe that Ten Hag has enough to have us win the premier league or champions league. At best we will always struggle for top 4 and lesser cups, with him

There is no such thing as lesser cups....fans of clubs that fail to win them, or gamble with their squads trot out that narrative all the time. The second or third tier European competitions, you qualify for based on where you are as a team at that point, so are still tough to win for those involved.

Teams and fans should be proud of winning any competition they play in, and should not be mocked by supporters of other clubs for this (otherwise what's the point in playing in them at all?).

I agree with everything else you say though, Ten Hag will not be winning any Premier League titles or the Champions league...the Europa looks well beyond him as well.

Tactical stuff aside, you can see the players are generally struggling for belief and desire, he's played a right back at number 10 last night when he had other players that would
have been better placed there, and he regularly takes off players who can score goals and replaces them with players less like to score, so he's not even managing his people effectively for a start.

 

[RaddyRed]

It's gone back to the LVG days of dreading having to watch us play. We look so slow at times, like a team of veterans who can't run anymore

 

[Berbasbullet]

Had I been offered a point against Fener away, I woukd have taken it.

The areas of concern for us are a profligate attack and fallow defence. Their equaliser was because Lindelof was not vigilant.

Furthermore, I know he scored a famous goal for us, but what more would Amad have done? Seriously? We speak of him through the prism of Antony. His prowess is exaggerated - another decent, unspectacular winger.

Zirkzee is turning into a proper dud. Can't pass (his assist was really a 'Sancho assist') poor control and an undefined position. Hopefully, he can find a way but we're getting nothing from him.

His assist really wasn’t a Sancho assist! Come on man! A sancho assist is a 10 yard pass forward on the half way line, not a nice lay off at the edge of the box.

 

[bludsucker]

That was a painful watch. I seriously don’t want to watch us anymore. I mean this guy was supposed to be a tactical genius!! This is who we replaced Ole with? For what reason did we replace him for. To play attractive attacking possession based football. We are doing none of that under this b a l d fraud. We were playing so much better under ole and even mourinho for that matter. Like ine of the posters said this reminds of the dread days of LVG where watching football was no longer a release but a pain.

 

[fergiewherearethou]

We were terrible in the first half with 2-3 good counters as our bright moments. Second half was slightly better in terms of possession and control of the game but we created so little. Overall a fair result.
This is our level, mid table in the Europa League, sad but that's the reality.

 

[bosniamanutd]

playing like headless chicken

 

[Withnail]

Wild to say that when he was dropping back to RB to cover for Dalot who went bombing up the field to be an option for the pass.

He wasn't actually engaging anyone or putting pressure any on. He was covering spaces without actually doing anything. It was all half-hearted stuff.

Are you saying you think that was a good performance from him off the ball?

 

[Withnail]

Thought he was helping Dalot out plenty yesterday, not quite sure we watched the same game.

There were plenty of times he could have engaged the opposition player to win the ball back and he stood off or let someone run by him and didn't bother running back to help out the other defenders.

This was a stark contrast to his effort levels in the second half against Brentford.

 

[Maticmaker]

Getting a point in Turkey was not a bad result, but among our current run of results, not good either.
Superb saves from Onana, absolutely world class. However, our finishing in the main due to poor decision making is what is doing for us and has been for sometime.
We had our chances to finish it, but again Rashford and Garnacho whilst being our most feared strikers are also wasters of most of our good chances, their decision making is very poor inside the box.
Twice last night with heads down they surged into the box and were being crowded out, but with Eriksen (of all people) alongside them having 'busted a gut' to get there, wasn't even seen, let alone deliberately ignored.
In the end the saves from Onana and some fantastic last ditch defending from Ugarte (big improvement last night) saved our blushes.

 

[wolvored]

Plus points:
- Onana
- Ugarte was good, even though he wasn't in midfield really. More like an additional centreback doing all the stuff Lindelof doesn't do (I.e. actual defending)

Minus points:
- Lindelof. He's a centreback that's scared of challenging for the ball. Kind of a fundamental problem. Has played for us for about 6 years.
- erm, playing a fullback as the no10.
- Antony wasting almost the entire last 10 minutes by laying down for ages, then walking back onto the pitch, JUST to sit down and be stretchered off because he was too injured to walk off the pitch he'd just walked back onto while already injured.
- the fact he came on ahead of Diallo.
- the frankly impressive uselessness of Zirkzee. One of our scouts took the "Martial replacement" brief too seriously.
- Dalot. Somehow has forged a reputation as a good player by having two half seasons of not being a constant fecking liability. Something that almost every other professional footballer does for all of each season.
- basically everything else. Hoofing the ball in a panic when we had acres of room to counter. 2-3 players going for the same ball constantly. Our trademark late press which is less a press and more charging at someone who's already gotten out of the way.

I was going to put my two cents in, but you have it pretty much covered. Well said.

 

[Marcus]

I never learn my lesson. Woke up at 4am for this dross.

 

[Wilt]

Every team must now fancy their chance against Utd

 

[Doracle]

Thought he was helping Dalot out plenty yesterday, not quite sure we watched the same game.

It’s bizarre. People seem surprised by the fact a left forward is not a good right back. He got back loads last night and was, if anything, probably wasting far too much energy sprinting back to cover. If we are so reliant on our right forward (who we know over many years isn’t a good auxiliary fullback) so much in defence then clearly something is wrong with the system.

 

[Doracle]

Other than Onana and Ugarte, I didn’t really see any positives last night. De Ligt had a decent game I thought but the system is so so bad and playing a fullback in the 10 role was just moronic. It makes it look as though the players haven’t seen each other before, let alone got any understanding on the pitch.

Poor Zirkzee, who I think has potential to be an excellent player, looks so devoid of confidence that he’s over hitting short passes by 50 yards.

 

[Betson]

3pts from 3 games in the Europa league is not a good return despite the spin some are trying to put on it.

But it is around par for the course for a mid table premier league team which like it or not is the standard we are operating at right now.

 

[JJ12]

His assist really wasn’t a Sancho assist! Come on man! A sancho assist is a 10 yard pass forward on the half way line, not a nice lay off at the edge of the box.

Can't remember him doing that once for us. Have to take your word for it.

 

[RoyH1]

A point away in Istanbul is not a bad result, but we're so mediocre. A mid table team. Seeing those big CL clashes the days before makes it almost feel like we're playing a different sport.

 

[Giggsy13]

Likely already stated but worth repeating: since beating Real Betis in the round of 16 Europa knockout in 2023, United have 1 win 5 losses and 5 draws in Europe. Is this our worst run in Europe in club history? Has to be up there…

 

[Catalandevil]

We really need a playmaker in the middle—someone who can control games. It's so obvious it hurts that we don't have one. Everyone would benefit from it.

Yesterday was another game where we struggled to control the ball. Our only real chances came from creating a bit of chaos with quick transitions.

Too often, we created our own problems with poor passes when trying to play from the back. In the end, Onana was forced to go long, and we lost most of those balls. Our pressing remains sub-par; we need to either press effectively or not press at all, but the current approach lacks sense.

We're not progressing, and we're starting to find ourselves in a risky situation both in the league and in Europe.

 

[Ricardo de la Vega]

Since when was Zirkzee bought to play as a #10? Never heard anything other than that he was bought to play striker. Which is what he is, just not a very successful one at United so far. Just because he's good at link-up play and passing, that doesn't mean he's a #10, or would do well at that role.

I don't know - only that whenever I saw him for Bologna he was basically a 10 in his positional play. Given that, and the fact he never scores goals, I thought that was kind of the purpose of buying him - to allow Garnacho, Rashford and Amad to play in their more natural positions given that Mount is never fit to play 10. He's certainly not a No 9 is he as you say - the only thing he's ever done well in his career is that he drops off the defenders into the hole.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

I’m still trying to process that Dalot cross. Absolute dumb. No wonder these look good in training because they don’t do train for the actual stuff

 

[Berbasbullet]

I’m still trying to process that Dalot cross. Absolute dumb. No wonder these look good in training because they don’t do train for the actual stuff

I don’t think I saw the replay, but what on earth even happened.

 

[lex talionis]

Whatever ten Hag thinks is working, or holds out promise to someday work, just isn't working nor is there any promise of it working. We labored against a side that a midtable PL Brentford would dispatch fairly easily, and were fortunate to escape with the draw. But although the result -- a draw in Istanbul -- can be praised, the performance itself cannot. There was no cohesion and no control of play. It was more of the same that we have seen over the last 18 months and I do not want to hear from ETH or anyone else that it's all because we don't have Luke Shaw.

 

[USREDEVIL]

Amazing performance from the lads. Quality of the United players over Febernachos was plain for all to see.

 

[USREDEVIL]

We're level on points with a team called Elfsborg.

They are 7th in the Swedish league.

feck ya get in.
we're back boys!

 

[Nobby style]

Jose is pure box office and more entertainment watching him than this team. Mazrouai decision was baffling and usual inept European night.

Hard to see any positives at this point, no progress being made and rapidly losing faith in the lack of action from the hierarchy.

Europa play-offs likely and I wouldn’t bank on us getting through that.

Except he's not entertaining anymore and is becoming an annoying little clown, or like some aging slapper wearing clothes that used to fit well and now they're too tight and tacky, and she keeps flirting with younger men. Dude needs to be cuffed. Can't wait til no side wants nothing to do with his schtick.

 

[USREDEVIL]

Except he's not entertaining anymore and is becoming an annoying little clown, or like some aging slapper wearing clothes that used to fit well and now they're too tight and tacky, and she keeps flirting with younger men. Dude needs to be cuffed. Can't wait til no side wants nothing to do with his schtick.

it's getting a bit weird isn't it? but i will say the red on jose was a bit harsh.

 

[Fitchett]

I get that squad rotation is needed and a lack of it is something I am critical of EtH not doing enough of. But, with the suspension of Fernandes, surely that was the time to play your best alternative offensive players, not weaken the side further. Eriksen, Amad or Zirkzee should have started as a 10, not a bloody full back, to feed Hojlund, with two wingers either side of him. Or did EtH not want to have to make a decision for Sunday, if the new formation played better than it has done with Fernandes?

It’s like when United had a defensive injury crisis and Rooney offered to play centre back, against Chelsea, because he had played that position at school. Aye, but you weren't playing against Drogba, was Fergie's response!

 

[trevor newnham]

Let's face it the selection was absolute bollocks. No Bruno , so surely play either Amad or Zirkzee at 10? No we play a frigging right back at 10. Hojlund had to start, surely. Then to bring on Antony instead of Amad? Madness. I really have had enough of ETH selection roulette. Get him out, before we finish the season fighting relegation and No European football.

 

[USREDEVIL]

Mazroui at ACM, heh.

 

[always_hoping]

Basic stats for the three Europa league games that produced three draws.

Goals scored 5
Goals conceded 5
Shots on goal 60
Shots for the opposition on goal 31
Shot on target 18
Shot for the opposition on target 15
United's Possession in games 57%,54%,48%
United's Pass accuracy 86%,89%,84%

Games to play and their record in the Europa League this season.

PAOK (H) - Drew 1 and lost 2
Bodo?Glimt (H) Won 2 and drew 1
Viktoria Plzen (A) drew 3
Rangers (H) won 2 lost 1
FC Steaua București (A) won 2 lost 1

 

[Jaap]

I just don’t get why we play some lovely football in pre-season & fail to bring this into our competitive games. Does my head in. And the most annoying part is when we start booting the ball. Atrocious. We are miles off & that certainly won’t change with the Manager being in charge for three (!) years now. Awful. /rant

 

[Nobby style]

it's getting a bit weird isn't it? but i will say the red on jose was a bit harsh.

Totally harsh, but seemed like the powers that be were telling him his attention seeking little pompous clown act is getting out of hand so here's a nice bitch slap off the sidelines. Fook off now Josy. So sad to see him past his due date and clinging to past relevance. He's fallen down to Turkey now, soon will be back in Portugal with some third division side, still making goofy faces and acting like a relevant prat.

 

[Lee565]

Crossing of paths of Aston villa since emery took over and man united since ten hag has took over, one club is sitting top of the ucl league and the other is sitting 21st in thr europa league....

 

[justsomebloke]

I don't know - only that whenever I saw him for Bologna he was basically a 10 in his positional play. Given that, and the fact he never scores goals, I thought that was kind of the purpose of buying him - to allow Garnacho, Rashford and Amad to play in their more natural positions given that Mount is never fit to play 10. He's certainly not a No 9 is he as you say - the only thing he's ever done well in his career is that he drops off the defenders into the hole.

Okay, you obviously know him better than I do.
He didn't play in the striker position at Bologna?