[TwoSheds]

Huh? You think we lined up 352?

Not sure what's more weird. Getting our formation so wrong or thinking we have a team full of DMs...

Go on then, explain that mess of a shape of it wasn't supposed to be 352.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

Poor first half but what do you expect if we play ten men and a cone against RM, wrong player combination and wrong tactics.

How does someone who manages to get more yellow cards than goals and assists as an attacking player get into our team.
After Rashford and Fellaini came on we were much better , we just wasted the first half.

If Mourinho finally realises that 'The Cone' should be nowhere near the first XI the price of this defeat may be worth it but who am I kidding, the Cone will probably start against West Ham.

Fellaini and Matic pick of the bunch.

 

[kouroux]

Agree with most of this and think that Bailly was sorely missed. He is a lot sharper and possible could have prevented both their goals which were due to lack of concentration by the central defenders. Matic was at their level at least and is a tiger. Ramos was at his cheating best and I hope I see the day that he gets his deserts. As a whole Real are a team of cheats, diving and feigning all over the place. I look forward to playing them again as I think we can boss them if all players turn up. Unusually, Hererra went missing, I didn't think he was playing for a long time and Pogba was in one of his mindless roles. Lindgard is too light weight against stronger teams. Fellaini turned the game round to our favour and I'm beginning to think his detractors are being petty against him for things that are nothing to do with football because he does that well.

Maybe but highly unlikely. They didn't even have Ronaldo playing for most of the match and we are supposed to be in a more advanced stage of preseason.

 

[Quizierda]

Decent second half to build on.

Honestly I am happy we lost in 90 mins rather then going to extra time. Given the EPL start on Sunday which will be very tough and the hard circumstances yesterday we were better off without scoring a second one.

Matic was great and De Gea showed once more why he is among the best in the world!

 

[Drz]

Very smart comment. This is a key to Pogba. He comes across as almost arrogant; but deep down he seems a bit watery still, insecure and unsure. Time for him to shake off those hangups.

Yup, caught his recent interview on Bein in France, his perceived arrogance is just actually a kid enjoying himself. Like a kid, I think his mood can get affected easily, hitting those bars all of last season probably didn't help either. But with such issues, the only solution is game time, he needs to mature on the pitch and now that we have him, better to play him. The faster the better though

 

[::sonny::]

Shame José went with such negative tactics at the start and by the time we actually showed some attacking intent it was too late.

Matic looked good.

This

Negative tactics and anti football

I have seen a lot games like this when he was at Madrid

This game looked like Madrid - Barça, when Mou was in charge at Madrid

Pepe and Ramos as DM to tackle Iniesta and Xavi, with inevitable results

Every time I see Lindgard play, is a punch in the stomach

 

[Thisistheone]

Gulf in class reminded me of the mid 90's when we played Barca and the early ties against Juventus.

We've got a way to go yet in terms of European elite. Real just highlighted the flaws in our side. Was a tough watch first half but we've got spirit in this side and battled back well.

Matic looked very good.

 

[tony54]

Maybe but highly unlikely. They didn't even have Ronaldo playing for most of the match and we are supposed to be in a more advanced stage of preseason.

I agree, it's not a given, but if Mourino has all players fit and used to playing in the same positions for more than one week at a time, then I think its a possibility.

 

[Robertd0803]

Keep the faith it's not like we will be playing Madrid every week in the league.

I am more optimistic after last night - we aren't at Madrid's level obviously but I think we are starting to go the right way now.

Thank Christ for that. It was soul destroying (Not Barca 09/11 levels but still) watching them pinging the ball around for 20 minutes and we couldn't get the ball off them. Kroos/Modric/Casemiro are a lethal combination and add Isco to the mix and your best hope of getting the ball back is either kicking off from them scoring or if they miss a chance. If they weren't playing us Id have really enjoyed Madrid's control of the game.

We could and should have been level at full time which is the frustrating thing, for all the being ''outclassed'' by Madrid we were still within a missed 1v1 of being level with them.

You are right regarding the composure, but hopefully the experience will do the players good.

I don't understand Mkhi, had really high hopes for him. But seems like he can only contribute as a #10. Besides his pass to let Rashford on for a one v one with the keeper, I fail to see what he contributed of note in that game, lost the ball too often. The contrast with Isco couldn't be more glaring.

Miki gives the ball away way too often. Its frightening and Im not sure there is a middle ground with him, either he does something brilliant or gives the ball away cheaply.

 

[mitchmouse]

Outplayed for huge chunks of the game but should have at least got it back to 2-2 with Lukaku's awful miss and poorly timed run, Rashford's effort (although it was a great save) and Pogba shooting from 100 miles away when he had two options. Indeed, I thought Pogba was awful and yet again I'm left wondering why anyone buys players from Benfica. Lindelof looked like a centre back version of Bebe at times. That said, we were playing against the best team in the world in my opinion - a team that didn't even need Ronaldo. I also still hate it when DDG goes with his feet rather than hands. On the plus side, I agree with others here that Matic looked class and I thought Damian had a good enough game. But at times we looked so one-dimensional that I have not changed my mind in thinking we will not be challenging for the title come December. And, I guess we will be" linked with" Isco for at least three years from here on in...

 

[Oldyella]

Not at their level, but I dont think anyone expected us to be. Herrera will need to do much better, or I can see Fellaini starting over him in a 3 man midfield. Still confident going into the season proper. Would like to see Martial and Mata get more game time though.

 

[SammyUnited_83]

Not at their level, but I dont think anyone expected us to be. Herrera will need to do much better, or I can see Fellaini starting over him in a 3 man midfield. Still confident going into the season proper. Would like to see Martial and Mata get more game time though.

I know he is loved by many, but I'm still 50:50 on him, still don't think that ultimately he is good enough, same with Mhiki, looks average to me.

 

[careca07]

The match as a whole, or more specifically the two current United and Madrid squads, just served as a reminder that the decision to replace Ferguson with Moyes in 2013 is not just one of the greatest sporting blunders of all time, but also one of the worst business choices in modern history. It's actually underrated how absolutely disastrous that process was.

The amount of money it has cost the club is astronomical, in wasted transfer fees, wages and champions league money. We are probably only halfway into the amount of years it will take to fix it. The squad will need another two or three windows of heavy investment, minimum to get anywhere near the best teams in Europe.

I know this has been discussed ad infinitum but when you look at the football Madrid played yesterday, and the fact we brought on Fellaini to lump it up to while they brought on Asensio and Cristiano Ronaldo it was a pretty depressing evening. So much work to do, so much money to spend, and all due to abysmal planning and allowing someone to pick their own successor. Crazy. It should have been Mourinho, or at least someone, anyone, who had won major honours, several of them. To put a club and corporation of the size of United in the hands of Moyes is just idiocy of the highest order.

This isn't knee-jerk after one game against the Champs of Europe by the way, our league positions since that woeful, small-time decision have been 7th, 4th, 5th and 6th. 24 points behind Chelsea last year. Less goals scored than Bournemouth.

It's only due to the massive fanbase and successful commercial arm that we haven't completely collapsed. Appointing Moyes will probably take a full decade to fix. Amazing.

 

[Eire Red United]

Poor first half but what do you expect if we play ten men and a cone against RM, wrong player combination and wrong tactics.

How does someone who manages to get more yellow cards than goals and assists as an attacking player get into our team.
After Rashford and Fellaini came on we were much better , we just wasted the first half.

If Mourinho finally realises that 'The Cone' should be nowhere near the first XI the price of this defeat may be worth it but who am I kidding, the Cone will probably start against West Ham.

Fellaini and Matic pick of the bunch.

Who is the Cone?

 

[devilish]

Anyone thinking that we could toe to toe against Real in a competitive match need their head to be tested. We’re 6th in the league while they are the defending European champions. The difference in talent both on (and especially off) the pitch is staggering. I mean, we’re talking about a club who can had the likes of Asensio and Ronaldo on the bench. Meanwhile we have to rely on squad players like Fellaini and Lingard.

Same can be said about those who insisted we would go on gung-ho against that crazily talented squad. These people have the likes of Bale, Isco, Modric and Ronaldo in the team. We had to rely on players who can backtrack and do their share of defensive work. I mean can you seriously consider letting Darmian alone against such top top talent knowing fully well that Martial wouldn’t give him a hand? We’re talking of Darmian here not Maldini.

It’s not all gloom and doom though. We forced Real to take the game seriously which is a positive + United looked extremely solid and organized at the back. Lindelof improved, Matic was simply splendid, DDG, well, he was DDG

If you ask me, we’re 2-3 years away from competing against that freak of nature. However, Real are not in the EPL and the likes of Chelsea and Shitty are nowhere near to them (Although they do have a better side to ours). Add a top player on the flanks who can tutor Martial + make sure Matic starts tutoring Pogba and we’ll do well.

 

[Zoo]

It's very frustrating that Mourinho continues to leave our left flank dead.

 

[Noc-Z]

Little bit concerned about Lukaku now. Few things I saw. For instance, offside or not why was he running towards that ball that Herrera won, instead of making his way into the box?

 

[Siorac]

The match as a whole, or more specifically the two current United and Madrid squads, just served as a reminder that the decision to replace Ferguson with Moyes in 2013 is not just one of the greatest sporting blunders of all time, but also one of the worst business choices in modern history. It's actually underrated how absolutely disastrous that process was.

The amount of money it has cost the club is astronomical, in wasted transfer fees, wages and champions league money. We are probably only halfway into the amount of years it will take to fix it. The squad will need another two or three windows of heavy investment, minimum to get anywhere near the best teams in Europe.

I know this has been discussed ad infinitum but when you look at the football Madrid played yesterday, and the fact we brought on Fellaini to lump it up to while they brought on Asensio and Cristiano Ronaldo it was a pretty depressing evening. So much work to do, so much money to spend, and all due to abysmal planning and allowing someone to pick their own successor. Crazy. It should have been Mourinho, or at least someone, anyone, who had won major honours, several of them. To put a club and corporation of the size of United in the hands of Moyes is just idiocy of the highest order.

This isn't knee-jerk after one game against the Champs of Europe by the way, our league positions since that woeful, small-time decision have been 7th, 4th, 5th and 6th. 24 points behind Chelsea last year. Less goals scored than Bournemouth.

It's only due to the massive fanbase and successful commercial arm that we haven't completely collapsed. Appointing Moyes will probably take a full decade to fix. Amazing.

Honestly, we'll have to stop blaming Moyes at some point. His solitary summer signing is highly rated by both Van Gaal and Mourinho and his January signing was Mata so it's not like he saddled the team with overpaid duds. You can make a claim for Rooney's contract extension but Mourinho wanted to get him that summer so had we appointed him, Rooney would have still stayed.

Yeah, he was terrible but immediately in the following season we got back into the Champions League. It's not Moyes' fault we could not build on that, that's on Van Gaal. Mourinho's uninspiring football and his inability to get the best out of our key players is not Moyes' fault either. His two successors were given the full financial backing of the club and hasn't been able to lift the team out of mediocrity. That is not on Moyes anymore.

 

[settembrini]

I think we gave a good account of ourselves once we took Lingard off. Until then it felt a bit like 11 vs 10.

 

[careca07]

Honestly, we'll have to stop blaming Moyes at some point. His solitary summer signing is highly rated by both Van Gaal and Mourinho and his January signing was Mata so it's not like he saddled the team with overpaid duds. You can make a claim for Rooney's contract extension but Mourinho wanted to get him that summer so had we appointed him, Rooney would have still stayed.

Yeah, he was terrible but immediately in the following season we got back into the Champions League. It's not Moyes' fault we could not build on that, that's on Van Gaal. Mourinho's uninspiring football and his inability to get the best out of our key players is not Moyes' fault either. His two successors were given the full financial backing of the club and hasn't been able to lift the team out of mediocrity. That is not on Moyes anymore.

I'm actually not even blaming Moyes specifically, he wasn't going to turn the job down. Had they appointed a big name, with the presence and the history to do the job, then the likelihood is we would have continued the success we saw under Ferguson, and most importantly, the perception of the club would have been maintained. Fortress Old Trafford, big name signings who wanted to come and play for a great manager. Nobody wanted to play for Moyes, so we only had Fellaini in, and finished 7th. We've been trying to recover from that ever since.

 

[RC89]

Pogba and Herrera, pretty anonymous. Pogba should have played someone in instead of gonig for glory. Mkhitaryan was awake for the first and last 15 minutes or so, looks much better centrally. Matic looked very good. Lingard offered nothing. Our crossing is atrocious.

 

[AshRK]

Do you think we are attaining stability with Mourinho? Serious question, how long do you think he will last?

I think we are. Our transfer activity have been far better under him. He is building the team's spine which both Moyes and lvg didn't .

As for how long he will last! Well that depends on jose and our performance. Chances of him staying for atleast 3 seasons is likely but he can easily stay beyond that if we do well in the league. He bas his flaws , irritating flaws, but still he has done a reasonable job so far.

 

[buckooo1978]

there was an obvious difference in ability

Real's ability on the ball was superb and we lacked the ability or composure to play our way out of defence

reminded me a little of when Barca taught us lessons in Rome 09/London 11 given our inability to really properly compete

i'm not sure that it would have made a difference had Bailly played to be honest

the disappointing things were the poor decision making by Pogba, the flakiness of Mhiki on the wing, Lingard was awful, Lukaku made ok but that chance was begging to be slammed home

in attack we lacked anything dynamic until Rashford came on and we should be trying hard to bring someone in even at this late stage - Mhiki looked much better centrally

based on last night and pre-season I think we will struggle for goals in some games - that's what cost us last season - we were much better when we played more directly when Fellaini came on and there was more diversity to our game

not sure about Mourinho's set up - was he being negative or could we just not pass the ball well enough?

 

[el3mel]

Honestly, we'll have to stop blaming Moyes at some point. His solitary summer signing is highly rated by both Van Gaal and Mourinho and his January signing was Mata so it's not like he saddled the team with overpaid duds. You can make a claim for Rooney's contract extension but Mourinho wanted to get him that summer so had we appointed him, Rooney would have still stayed.

Yeah, he was terrible but immediately in the following season we got back into the Champions League. It's not Moyes' fault we could not build on that, that's on Van Gaal. Mourinho's uninspiring football and his inability to get the best out of our key players is not Moyes' fault either. His two successors were given the full financial backing of the club and hasn't been able to lift the team out of mediocrity. That is not on Moyes anymore.

Moyes was the one who reduced the ambition of the club from fighting for titles to fighting for 4th place. He took charge of a title champion and led him to 7th place, ultimately making the target for the coming manager to get 4th place. Before him we had a holy aura and a guaranteed place in top 2 at least and no one was questioning us will finish 4th or 5th or this crap. After him the ultimate goal was to get top 4 first so we can build anything.

If we had got a manager who achieved minimum 3rd place in the year past SAF, I'm sure we wouldn't have been in such position now and the building would have been strong. Moyes destroyed the club ambition and the new manager after him had to try to restore it instead of coming and winning immediately as in the other top clubs.

It was a disastrous appointment from every aspect.

 

[Kostur]

Really disappointed we couldn't beat the only team in history to defend CL title.

 

[devips]

Isco played really well when he chose to remain vertical.

 

[Trizy]

Some of the overreactions are priceless.

Grant it I only got to see the first 15 minutes & highlights. We were good in patches against the same team that hammered everyone in Europe last season (Including Bayern & Juventus who are considered top 2-4) without our first choice CBs.

We're not on their level, but no one is. I think we can take positives from this. We won't face anyone their quality in the League which is priority for us imo. Add Bailey & Rojo to yesterdays IX and replace Lingard with a proven wide goal scorer (or just someone who isn't absolutely fecking shite) and it is shaping up to be a very exciting but difficult season.

 

[GM K]

Real was the best team in Europe last season, so it's "ok" to lose against them, however, I hate that the gap between United and Real is increasing. They are a class above us and they showed that. If we score the second, they just shift into a higher gear and make the third.

Real Madrid - Manchester United
Possession: 63% - 37%
Fouls: 10 - 17
Corners: 8 - 2
Shots: 16 - 14 (the best part of the stats)

Seems pretty close. The scoreline too. Their beautiful possession play make them look so much better but in reality, I dear say that the gap between the two teams is not that much. We are two world class players away from Real in terms of personnel and Jose also needs to change the way he approaches big games. I like how we played them almost fearlessly at times but I don't like how we never seemed to fully unshackle and go for their jugulars on a consistent basis. We also need to seriously work on possession. We lose the ball too much. It doesn't have to be possession as a central strategy in itself the way Pep or Barcelona would play but more like the way Bayern or Real hold the ball when they have it as a basis for more direct attacking play.

 

[Ikon]

I would agree with this. My only difference would be emphasis. I think SAF stayed on three years too long and contributed significantly to the rot. Then he made Moyes his predecessor; total disaster. I think LVG had his flaws but also helped in many subtle ways that may be appreciated more in the future. I admit I had my doubts about Jose but yes, you are right re "proper" rebuild, it is only one year old.

^^Agreed^^

The three years and hundreds of Millions spent since SAF retired have been almost totally wasted.
Its futile to say that we have been in transition for 4 years, or that we've spent hundreds of Millions towards fixing the problems, because we should only view in those terms since the arrival date of Mourinho.

I remember a few years before SAF retired, and someone mentioned Moyes for the job, everyone laughed because it was such a daft suggestion.
How anybody in the game could have seriously considered him is staggering.
Any ordinary Joe would have told you exactly how that was doomed to failure, and how Moyes would be like a fish out of water.

Jose was the obvious choice to replace SAF and he didn't get the job. I have my own theory about that, which relates to SAF's ego, but if the right manager had been appointed, we would be 3 years further along in development, and I believe would have already been restored as a powerhouse in domestic and European competition..

 

[Eire Red United]

Anyone thinking that we could toe to toe against Real in a competitive match need their head to be tested. We’re 5th in the league while they are the defending European champions. The difference in talent both on (and especially off) the pitch is staggering. I mean, we’re talking about a club who can had the likes of Asensio and Ronaldo on the bench. Meanwhile we have to rely on squad players like Fellaini and Lingard.

Same can be said about those who insisted we would go on gung-ho against that crazily talented squad. These people have the likes of Bale, Isco, Modric and Ronaldo in the team. We had to rely on players who can backtrack and do their share of defensive work. I mean can you seriously consider letting Darmian alone against such top top talent knowing fully well that Martial wouldn’t give him a hand? We’re talking of Darmian here not Maldini.

It’s not all gloom and doom though. We forced Real to take the game seriously which is a positive + United looked extremely solid and organized at the back. Lindelof improved, Matic was simply splendid, DDG, well, he was DDG

If you ask me, we’re 2-3 years away from competing against that freak of nature. However, Real are not in the EPL and the likes of Chelsea and Shitty are nowhere near to them (Although they do have a better side to ours). Add a top player on the flanks who can tutor Martial + make sure Matic starts tutoring Pogba and we’ll do well.

6th unfortunately mate

 

[devilish]

6th unfortunately mate

typo

 

[manutd7]

Matic is going to make our team much better

Rashford also looked really good coming on

So difficult to compete with Madrid's midfield. Kroos and Modric are better than anyone in midfield

Didnt expect the win, honestly thought Madrid took their foot off the gas. They prolly could have really embarrassed us

We need more communication, concentration, and discipline on defense (didn't help that Bailly was missing)
Need more movement, cohesion, and quicker passing in midfield (this will get better once Matic meshes)
Need more action and aggressiveness up front, thought Lingard hindered us a bit.

Still preseason so im not concerned. Besides the first 5 minutes, we looked much better in the second half, most likely due to Rashford

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I think somebody asked how people would react if we lost. First silly question of the season.
OVERREACT of course.

 

[noodlehair]

Thicko of the game award nominations:

Paul Pogba - trying to directly beat an opponent and then score from 30 yards out when TWO team mates were waiting for an easy pass through on goal

Paul Pogba - After Real Madrid apply constant pressure for about 10 minutes, picking up the ball deep in his own half, and instead of passing or clearing it to relieve pressure, deciding to dally around and then try to beat opposition players by walking slowly backwards up the pitch, and then losing the ball.

Paul Pogba - making a massive fuss and risk of creating space for himself on the edge of his own area, so he could....deliberately pass the ball off the pitch for a throw about 5 metres from where he was stood.

Romanu Lukaku - Running out of position to get to a ball a team mate was very obviously going to get to anyway, in order to get himself caught offside, in preference to potentially scoring a goal.

Rumanu Lukaku - Not being able to take a throw in correctly

Antonio Valencia - Throwing a second ball onto the pitch when a team mate is about to take a free kick using the ball that was already on the pitch and in fact never left the pitch


We might have actually won last night, albeit undeservedly, if it wasn't for the two more prominent names above and theirn constant brainfarts.

In Pogba's case it isn't even a surprise anymore. He just wont accept that a football game is actually about more than him trying to show off.

 

[Striker10]

The good thing is that Rashford and a fit Martial would make a big difference. I like Jesse but I think he's more suited as a midfield runner. He don't have the magic or even pace to attack the last man and create something. When they dominated the ball for 15/20 minutes it didn't bother me so much because they didn't create that much and our defending can be much better. To beat these teams - our defending needs to improve. I'm glad Carrick didn't come on as they spread the ball very well and against these teams you need pace. I thought we backed off a bit too much and weren't as aggressive as we could be - BUT then again Madrid spent a lot of time rolling on the ground.

As a barometer, I think playing Madrid suits us more then Barcelona. I think we can play a better team. Of course we are short because we lost the desire years ago to look to always improve to the detriment of the squad and we sold good players. So they were going to dominate for periods but we did ok. We need to be stronger on the counter and i'm sure it will come. If you think about the misses - we also have the one where Lukaku ruined a great opportunity by touching the ball in an offside position. To create these chances while not being great is very promising. Our problem is that, we are not designed to keep the ball. Under LVG we did, but he never had the money for a Neymar or a peak Ronaldo.

So I was pleased. I think we acquitted ourselves ok. We didn't have lots of chances but they were very good chances. So Zlatan coming back into the team could be a very good thing but if we want to win the CL we need a settled defence and we don't have that yet. Bally and Jones etc are big losses to the team. If we had have beat Madrid, I think it would have been a false positive. In a few years we can challenge again but we need to rebuild the mentality of the group after the complete stupidity of hiring Moyes and then LVG.

Let's not be too disappointed. I think there is much to be positive about. Let them dominate the ball with short passes going back and forth if they like. We CAN defend better and we can certainly attack better. I thought Madrid were pretty good. I liked how they injected pace at the right moments. Our nature is different and that makes us sloppy. So we have to address these things. If that means going down easy then so be it.

 

[Igor Drefljak]

I know this was Real Madrid, so the tactics used last night can be excused somewhat.

The only thing that really narks me with this team, and this is going back into last season also, is the way we defend.
Yes our defence is really tight in general, but that's mostly due to having the numbers back and defending with the whole team.

It's really frustrating to see on quite a few occasions last night, while losing, having Rashford pinned back basically playing LWB.
Again, I know this is Real Madrid, so the excuse is somewhat excusable, but this happens in so many matches, even against much weaker sides in the Premier League. In these games, I want us to be confident in our team.

I've said this quite a bit, but I think our lack of goals and our ability to keep it tight at the back is mostly down to how unambitious we are.

I really hope this changes coming into this season

 

[TheReligion]

Agree with all of this.

Matic was easily our best outfield player he now looks cheap at 40m in this market - what the hell were Chelsea thinking?

Pogba looked as bad as he ever did last season. I still keep the faith and think he will have a good league campaign but he needs to get his brain into gear pronto.

Herrera was ineffective. Lingard should never have started it looked like a glaring error when the team was announced and he did nothing to change that.

Darmian had a decent game both defensively and showed more promise going forward than all of last season.

Fellaini did nothing to justify my usual dislike of him he tried his heart out.

Valencia looked sharper going forward as well compared to last season.

They really were there for the taking we just needed more composure, they were the better side but we could have had them in the second half.

Keep the faith it's not like we will be playing Madrid every week in the league.

I am more optimistic after last night - we aren't at Madrid's level obviously but I think we are starting to go the right way now.

Good post my feline friend

 

[AXVnee7]

Once we get back to that level, however long it takes we can't afford to ever drop this much again. The Moyes year set us back so much, and LVG set us back a lot too.

Mourinho has done very well in a short space of time to compensate, but there's still a ways to go yet. I'm still feeling quite happy actually despite the loss, because I feel we gave it a very good go in the second half and there's certainly no one as good as Madrid in the league. For the majority of the game we were outclassed, but we held our own very well in spells.

Excluding certain facets of the team and play we don't know how much we have improved overall until we play around 8-10 PL games. WHU will be a nice litmus test at home too (where we notoriously struggled) to get us started.

 

[noodlehair]

I know this was Real Madrid, so the tactics used last night can be excused somewhat.

The only thing that really narks me with this team, and this is going back into last season also, is the way we defend.
Yes our defence is really tight in general, but that's mostly due to having the numbers back and defending with the whole team.

It's really frustrating to see on quite a few occasions last night, while losing, having Rashford pinned back basically playing LWB.
Again, I know this is Real Madrid, so the excuse is somewhat excusable, but this happens in so many matches, even against much weaker sides in the Premier League. In these games, I want us to be confident in our team.

I've said this quite a bit, but I think our lack of goals and our ability to keep it tight at the back is mostly down to how unambitious we are.

I really hope this changes coming into this season

What I don't like about the way we defend is we have 9 players back in or around our own area, and then the opposition play one not even particularly impressive pass, and there is someone unmarked with the ball in our area, with a free shot on goal. How many times did this happen last night?

What's the point in having everyone back to defend if we're not actually going to defend properly anyway?

 

[Inebriated bison]

To be honest I'm not really that bothered that we lost. It is similar to the charity shield, it's just a glorified friendly. If it was 38 degrees then I'm not surprised we didn't win the game. Madrid are good at keeping the ball and are used to playing in similar conditions. I expect us to be much better on Sunday and that is the game that really matters.

I thought Matic played well, Lukaku did alright but should have scored the rebound that he put over the bar, and I wasn't very impressed with Lindelof. I think he will definitely get better though, he's only 22 and he might take a few months to settle. I'm sure I remember Vidic and Evra didn't have the best start to life at United but they turned out alright.

Going forward I would like to see us play with a front three of Martial, Lukaku and Rashford. I haven't watched all of the preseason games, just the highlights, but I don't think we've tried that yet. With Matic sitting in front of the back four and freeing up pogba and Herrera to go forward more then I don't think we need our wide players to drift in to the number 10 position like lingard and Mkhi do and look for the ball to feet. I think we need our wide players to be looking to get in behind at every opportunity and to take players on and get the ball in to Lukaku or get in on goal themselves.