A good and deserved win. First half we really established control after a very first 15-20 mins and should have been two up. In the second half we really started to get ragged and gave up a lot of control with our changes. I don’t think it was the fault of the changes but we really lost composure as legs tired. We had put too much pressure on ourselves by not finishing our chances. Yet, it created a moment for a hero to emerge and emerge it did….
Onana: Solid game. Distribution was hit or miss in the second half but played well.
Mazraoui: Tired as the game went on, but looked accomplished and technical going forwards and in possession, and solid defensively. A great debut and a huge upgrade on AWB.
Maguire: waned in his last five minutes on the field as he was in discomfort, clearly, but prior had an absolutely superb game. Passing was top notch, on the end of everything aerially, best I have seen him play in aeons.
Martinez: A warrior who galvanises everyone. Reads the game brilliantly and did a lot of work that didn’t catch the eye but closed down channels before danger became danger. His distribution today however was way below par from him, and had a couple of brain farts or rash moments that could’ve cost us.
Dalot: a solid performance with some decent deliveries. Used the ball well and worked hard.
Mainoo: Kept us ticking over nicely until he tired. A class above in everything he does. Wanted in the se pen half but was quietly controlling for the first 60 mins.
Casemiro: All action performance. Casemiro of old. Have the feeling he will have to be positionally more disciplined in future matches. As it became more helter skelter in the second half, it was crying out for him to out his foot on the ball and bring some calm experienced to proceedings, but he was playing on 10 all match. A good and bad thing. Looks lean and fit and made a couple of huge challenges, plus a delightful key pass to Bruno that should’ve been a goal.
Bruno: A terrible day for his finishing, on another he could’ve had a brace or hattrick, but otherwise Bruno being Bruno. Brilliant movement, work rate and some gorgeous passes. Such a threat and leader.
Amad: We lost some control when he went off. His ability to keep play ticking over is underrated, but unfortunately didn’t do enough with the ball when he had it. A solid performance and he will be an important player this season, but on that showing he will be an understudy to Garnacho. I hope we give him a few more starts to show what he’s made of. Pure class on the ball and a great presser.
Rashford: Didn’t create a ton, although he laid one on a plate for Garnacho at the end, and didn’t threaten too much throughout the game. But….he worked and ran much much harder today than I’ve seen him do in ages. A decent team orientated performance from him. I can get on board with that attitude.
Mount: His movement is so fluid, he links up play so nicely. That first half with him, Bruno, Mainoo, Casemiro and Amad controlling possession and with quick, high tempo passing, was a thing of beauty. His withdrawal was necessary for more of a goal threat, but I think on that showing it’s clear to see what a high quality option he’ll be this season to cover many positions. Only denied a goal by a great save from Leno.
Subs: De Ligt, Evans and McTominay had no time to impress. De Ligt looked very solid in the few minutes he had and a real leader.
Garnacho: Gives us something different. Think he is potentially at his best off the bench against tired legs. So much pace and very direct. Still has a little bit of tunnel vision and is prone to bizarre losses of ball control, but he was a constant threat when he came on. Got the assist too, although it wasn’t a great ball in.
Zirkzee: Was understandably quiet for a player who had zero pre-season. But you could see that he has a silky touch, nice crisp passing and has very intelligent movement. Came up trumps when it mattered. Dropped deep to start the move and an instinctive, classy finish. I have a feeling this kid is going to be a star here. The player he reminds me most of in our recent past is Berbatov.
