[predator]

Many people here complain about our central midfield, but no midfield in the world would be able to handle the pressure they face when so many balls are lost, as is the case with our full-backs and offensively minded players. It's simply way out of proportion; the players act as if they constantly need to make the decisive pass, and everything seems frantic. There's NO patience in United's play, and we are making it easy for opponents to attack us because so many players are out of position when possession is lost. This issue persisted last year, and I can't understand why it continues.

A new central midfield player won't solve anything. It would be nice to have one, as we don't have many true ones, but the first thing I'd prioritize is a replacement for Anthony—a ball-playing, left-footed winger.

More importantly, we need to find patience in our play. Some people need to start understanding a basic principle in football: pick your moments, don't rush into things every time like headless chickens. Until we have a more composed team, I'd pair McTominay with Casemiro to better secure the back midfield. Currently, Casemiro doesn't stand a chance at cleaning up the mess from the players in front of him, which makes him appear slow and out of position most of the time. This has also been the case with Eriksen for a long time I believe, apart from the fact that Eriksen has never been a central midfielder; he is a pure AM. Speaking of Eriksen, I would put him in for Bruno. I think he offers more in terms of a less risky, possession-based approach.

I like your post but let's be realistic. We aren't replacing Antony this window.

So on that basis I think that acquiring a new CDM is important because it will allow the likes of Antony, Rashford and everyone infront and behind them to have more assurance. For me midfield is so important, its the link between attack and defence. Once that is compromised you are asking for trouble. Same does apply for defence however a good midfield can aid the defence and the attack but the attack can't really aid the defence vice versa.

If we sort the midfield out first and foremost then I'm sure we will see better performances from our attackers. Which is realistically all we can hope for at this moment in time.

 

[tothetop96]

I didn't watch the game because I had a match of my own.

The stats and highlights indicate we created pretty much the same number of chances as they did but we had better chances. The xG was something like 1.5 for Tottenham and 2 for us, and that's without what people are saying was a clear cut penalty which is worth 0.8.

So what did I miss? Were we really that bad or are people overreacting here because we played terrible in the first game and lost the second game?

 

[Cassidy]

I didn't watch the game because I had a match of my own.

The stats and highlights indicate we created pretty much the same number of chances as they did but we had better chances. The xG was something like 1.5 for Tottenham and 2 for us, and that's without what people are saying was a clear cut penalty which is worth 0.8.

So what did I miss? Were we really that bad or are people overreacting here because we played terrible in the first game and lost the second game?

You missed the car crash of a second half

 

[Berbasbullet]

You missed the car crash of a second half

Basically this, honestly the game was standard United not taking their chances. You have to be ruthless in football or it'll bite you.

Second half was actually a mess, first half I thought went okay.

 

[Rake]

Basically this, honestly the game was standard United not taking their chances. You have to be ruthless in football or it'll bite you.

Second half was actually a mess, first half I thought went okay.

We started falling apart around the time we got 3 yellow cards in 5-6 minutes (30-40 minutes into the game).

I'm starting to dislike Antony with a passion. At times he just seems like a small child that starts causing trouble because he is unable to do what he set out to do.

 

[NZT-One]

I didn't watch the game because I had a match of my own.

The stats and highlights indicate we created pretty much the same number of chances as they did but we had better chances. The xG was something like 1.5 for Tottenham and 2 for us, and that's without what people are saying was a clear cut penalty which is worth 0.8.

There was definitely some action going on, especially in 1st half. It was fine margins, the xG tells a certain story, that in this case doesn't exactly tell the same story based on my personal eye-test. Regarding chances: both teams had them, we were missing one golden opportunity by Bruno. Chances wise, it was balanced in my eyes, there weren't many 100%ers on both sides.

So what did I miss?

The 1st half was frantic, Spurs started well, we got better for the 1st 20minutes, then it became a bit chaotic with chances on both sides. 2nd half was a bit of the same, without the phase of us having some sort of control with a few individual performances that were quite disappointing and, at least in my view, substitutions that didn't have many impact (even though I agreed with the substitutions). Last 30minutes Spurs didn't attack us that much, thats why we had more of the ball, but without creating anything of note. Players seemed frustrated as well.

Were we really that bad or are people overreacting here because we played terrible in the first game and lost the second game?

There is some overreacting going on for sure. Nevertheless, we certainly look a little unprepared which is disappointing. Slamming players and managers though is a bit OTT - think it is just a actio-reactio thing - where the nonsensical praise some teammembers got, is now calling for a "rectification".

 

[United Irishman]

We’re short of about 50% of the goals we need. Physically, we are a joke. No pace, strength or endurance. Tactically, we’re a mess. The midfield is a joke. Easiest team in the league to play against. Zero expectations for this season. Never been so disillusioned with the entire club.

 

[Berbasbullet]

We started falling apart around the time we got 3 yellow cards in 5-6 minutes (30-40 minutes into the game).

I'm starting to dislike Antony with a passion. At times he just seems like a small child that starts causing trouble because he is unable to do what he set out to do.

True, we needed half time.

This season with it being so card happy he needs to reel it in, he hada bad game, his biggest strength (ball retention) failed badly.

 

[Crimson King]

It was and because football is generally such a low-scoring game of fine margins, you can't be missing that if you have aspirations of any kind of decent tilt at trophies.

It also seemed to knock the wind out of our sails, I thought we'd been excellent up until that point.

Again, if you look at City, Arsenal or Liverpool, they generally score the first "big" chance that they create - this isn't some perception bias, the "big chances converted" statistic shows that Arsenal in particular are ruthlessly efficient and we by contrast are wildly inefficient.

Talk about tactics and systems all you like, but if you don't convert your big chances, especially away from home, you will drop points

Bruno in particular lost his head after that miss, and never got it back. It was really disappointing. He needs to do much better if he's going to be the captain.

 

[fps]

It was and because football is generally such a low-scoring game of fine margins, you can't be missing that if you have aspirations of any kind of decent tilt at trophies.

It also seemed to knock the wind out of our sails, I thought we'd been excellent up until that point.

Again, if you look at City, Arsenal or Liverpool, they generally score the first "big" chance that they create - this isn't some perception bias, the "big chances converted" statistic shows that Arsenal in particular are ruthlessly efficient and we by contrast are wildly inefficient.

Talk about tactics and systems all you like, but if you don't convert your big chances, especially away from home, you will drop points

Agree we looked good and we have quite a lot of young/confidence players in our team, Mount being halfway between those stalls, so we definitely deflated when that happened. Bruno is a very good player, he’s never really matured into a reliable one though.

 

[Moston Red]

Keane is calling us the new Spurs…things that bad?

 

[Denis79]

Great first half, shit second.

 

[Who's Kissing Cameras?]

And so begins our annual long road in pursuit of +1 goal difference.

Happens every year.

 

[Longshanks]

Difficult first away game, should of been 2-0 at half time, Bruno has to score and a stonewall penalty given to any other club in the league.

Asleep after half time concede, spurs get there tails up we fall apart. Still Anthony and Casemerio should of equalised but they didn't. Woeful defending for the second goal killed it.

Rinse and repeat the same story i have seen countless times over the past 3 seasons or so. Actually play quite well miss glorious chances, concede then fall apart.

The failing of the club to sign a top quality CF is yet again glaringly obvious. Take those chances In the first half, or even the chances to equalise and it's a different game.

What was it 190million last season on yet another right winger, yet another CB and a a quality but declining DM. 2 signings to indulge the new manager and a panic signing of a desperately neglected position. Could of used some of that money to bring a top class CF in but alas no. When will we learn?

Anyway it's only second game of the season early season away games are normally all a little tricky. Il start judge once we are at least 8 games in, see where we stand then. Hopefully Hojlund has been bought into the team by then .

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

Keane is calling us the new Spurs…things that bad?

In what sense did he mean? Because as shit as we are we still win the odd trophy now and then, therefor nothing like Spurs.

 

[Moston Red]

In what sense did he mean? Because as shit as we are we still win the odd trophy now and then, therefor nothing like Spurs.

Players not up for it, no leadership. Article is on sky.

 

[Denis79]

As predictable as it was depressing.

ETH taking us backwards rapidly now

Not really, last season we managed to get a total of 1 point in our away games against the top half of the table. We had 8 losses and one draw, so we aren't going backwards, we are exactly where we left off so far.

Even after that catastrophic second half yesterday I do believe we will do better than last season in our away games.

 

[Care_de_Bobo]

Not really, last season we managed to get a total of 1 point in our away games against the top half of the table. We had 8 losses and one draw, so we aren't going backwards, we are exactly where we left off so far.

Even after that catastrophic second half yesterday I do believe we will do better than last season in our away games.

That one point was against Spurs though. We'll struggle to get any points away from home with a Mount, Bruno, Casemiro midfield. The problem is that we don't have any decent players to come in and replace them. Mainoo is 18 and injured, Eriksen looks done at the top level and Ten Hag clearly doesn't trust McTominay.

I'm not saying Fred shouldn't have been sold, but he shouldn't have been let go without a replacement. He's the perfect midfielder to play when you want to keep things tight away from home and now we have nobody. Casemiro already looks leggy and if he gets injured our season is effectively done, absolutely insane to have absolutely no cover for him at all.

 

[Superunknown]

Not really, last season we managed to get a total of 1 point in our away games against the top half of the table. We had 8 losses and one draw, so we aren't going backwards, we are exactly where we left off so far.

Even after that catastrophic second half yesterday I do believe we will do better than last season in our away games.

We've scored 3 goals less than in the exact same fixtures last season. Beat Wolves 2-0 last season and drew against Spurs 2-2...which was a bad result as we were winning that game.

We're 1 point and 3 goals worse off when you compare the fixtures. That's regression. It was already a low-scoring season and we're off to a worse start.

 

[LilyWhiteSpur]

Yeah I felt fine with the early part of the game.

Agreed that Richarlison still looks lost.

Other Spurs thoughts taking into account that I watched their first game:

-Sarr looked a lot more useful in that Hargreaves/Ramires type role (CM without ball, RCM with it) than Skipp. I like Bentancur so imagine he’ll be first choice there.

-Maddison bit quiet, will be interesting to see how he does in big games. He might need a half season or year before he’s good in tougher games.

-Udogie was everywhere

I want Richardson to be a success I honestly didn’t want us to sign him, I don’t think he’s a bad footballer but again he’s just seems positionless at the minute.

I think Sarr and Udogie are brilliant and it’s a shame Kane left as I don’t think we will see the best from Maddison until we get a proper striker.

 

[Denis79]

We've scored 3 goals less than in the exact same fixtures last season. Beat Wolves 2-0 last season and drew against Spurs 2-2...which was a bad result as we were winning that game.

We're 1 point and 3 goals worse off when you compare the fixtures. That's regression. It was already a low-scoring season and we're off to a worse start.

You're right that our start is bad and putting aside our first half yesterday it has looked terrible on the pitch in our first two games. I still think that we'll do better than 1 point against the top half in away games but if the total will be better is a completely different question.

I'm not saying Fred shouldn't have been sold, but he shouldn't have been let go without a replacement. He's the perfect midfielder to play when you want to keep things tight away from home and now we have nobody. Casemiro already looks leggy and if he gets injured our season is effectively done, absolutely insane to have absolutely no cover for him at all.

I have to agree with you, I am equally worried about our lack of depth in Casemiros position.

 

[Lights Out]

It looks like we have got worse which is shocking considering the money spent.

The Mount signing still baffles me. Why on Earth did we spend £60m on him when we are supposedly strapped for cash.

Makes me feel sick that we’ve spent £220m on Sancho, Antony and Mount and none of them are anywhere near good enough.

 

[laughtersassassin]

Not much to say on this one.

Other than signing another striker and midfielder of first 11 quality I'm really not sure how we are gonna see major improvements with the current 11.

ETH is gonna need a new plan and fast because things just aren't working.

In two games we have scored 1 goal and it was by a defender. That's abysmal and shows we have the exact same problem with scoring as last season

 

[Superunknown]

You're right that our start is bad and putting aside our first half yesterday it has looked terrible on the pitch in our first two games. I still think that we'll do better than 1 point against the top half in away games but if the total will be better is a completely different question.

I have to agree with you, I am equally worried about our lack of depth in Casemiros position.

If we're going to change the stat, we have to alter the way we approach those away games, especially mentally. Maybe the shape has to change and we have to become more combative in midfield or play more conservatively. Clearly whatever ETH did last season didn't work and it won't suddenly work this season without change. I'd be very disappointed if we see similar results.

 

[sixdwarf]

I like your post but let's be realistic. We aren't replacing Antony this window.

So on that basis I think that acquiring a new CDM is important because it will allow the likes of Antony, Rashford and everyone infront and behind them to have more assurance. For me midfield is so important, its the link between attack and defence. Once that is compromised you are asking for trouble. Same does apply for defence however a good midfield can aid the defence and the attack but the attack can't really aid the defence vice versa.

If we sort the midfield out first and foremost then I'm sure we will see better performances from our attackers. Which is realistically all we can hope for at this moment in time.

The perplexing thing for me was being so all in for Mason Mount as a priority at £60m above all else considering the lack of funds available the key position that needed sorted was a striker. And secondly support for Casemiro as a tough, creative box to box midfielder with a football brain.

Hojiund (20) at an eye-watering £72m is a massive gamble especially as his goalscoring record has not set the world alight at any level. Goncalo Ramos of Benfica with a more impressive record - second in the Portuguese league goalscoring charts - was available for far less and on loan. He is only two years older.

Antony was also a perplexing signing. I said at the time that his record in the Eredivisie did not warrant an £82m fee. He had eight goals and four assists for Ajax in 21 games the season before he joined us. Cody Gapko, to quote but one example in terms of value, who is around the same age and more versatile was available for less than half the price and eventually joined Liverpool for £37m. His record in the same season for a lesser PSV side was 22 games played with 12 goals and 13 assists. That is more than double the key goal involvements.

The is he, isn't he over De Gea, I believe was also problematic. The money we spent on replacing him was imo better spent with a restricted budget on Harry Kane and-or investing in our flimsy midfield to support Casemiro.

The transfer policy has been baffling for years and there needs to be a fundamental rethink.

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

He did not look lazy to me yesterday. Yes he was caught out of position but Garnacho does not know how to track back.

I’m that position Shaw, the more experienced player with the play in front of him, should initiate. Garnacho was turned, that’s a mistake, you don’t then compound that by standing on your heels becoming irrelevant in what follows.

There was a play in the 2nd half where Sancho ran past him to defend as he trotted back. It’s times like this I wish GifLord was around. Sancho ffs!

 

[DatIrishFella]

The peno that wasnt given, Rashfords miss (although decent save from Vicario) and Bruno miss killed us. We desperately need Rasmus asap.

Also, im going pretend we paid 40m for Antony and 45m for Mainoo. The former doesnt offer anything on the wing atm.

Potentially our Pepe.

 

[Yorkeontop]

I'll save the panicking for later.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Solid 3/10 performance overall

How come Onana is 3/10?

 

[mitchmouse]

Spain got a penalty in the WC final for almost exactly the same thing today that we didn't get yesterday. We actually have a chance in games when we don't go behind

 

[Red Star One]

How come Onana is 3/10?

3/10 was for the whole team. Onana was probably our brightest spot with his passes, although not flawless on the line.

 

[antohan]

First half I thought we were the better team and should of gone in 1-0 up, second half was a disaster, no composure, just headless chickens.

Our usual, had we scored one of those and/or got the penalty we would be laughing and wrapping it up hitting them on the break.

We basically still have no control whatsoever and get the best out of our players on the break. Ole wasn't wrong there, but people wanted more.

A couple of experts later, the only discernible progress is dropping Maguire and signing Onana.

 

[Levi1]

These players are all in it for the money and are too comfortable. They are overpaid fat cats. Would be nice if we could get a club-wide grass roots movement to renegotiate all contracts to be more performance oriented. Perhaps 100m total squad payout if they win the league

 

[miked99]

The biggest problem we have is the same one we had all of last season. We need so many attacks just to fashion one decent shot on goal. We had 22 shots yesterday but it felt like we had about three, because none of the others were of any significance. We're not clinical either, and if you can't create much you just have to score the chances you get and we don't. Unless that gets sorted then last season's level of achievement is about as good as we can realistically ever hope for.

The other issue is the midfield imbalance. It's too easy to run through us. You can have the best defenders in the world but if they're constantly exposed then you're going to conceed chances and goals. We've only really got the Forest game to find a solution, because if we allow Arsenal that amount of time and space we'll get thrashed.

That said, it all looked a damn sight worse after the Brighton and Brentford games last season and things did improve greatly, and I expect them to again. But I'm not looking forward to that Arsenal game....

 

[RedorDead21]

It was and because football is generally such a low-scoring game of fine margins, you can't be missing that if you have aspirations of any kind of decent tilt at trophies.

It also seemed to knock the wind out of our sails, I thought we'd been excellent up until that point.

Again, if you look at City, Arsenal or Liverpool, they generally score the first "big" chance that they create - this isn't some perception bias, the "big chances converted" statistic shows that Arsenal in particular are ruthlessly efficient and we by contrast are wildly inefficient.

Talk about tactics and systems all you like, but if you don't convert your big chances, especially away from home, you will drop points

Agreed but that’s glossing over a team together for this long still can’t control a match at all. Can get absolutely bossed for 45 min periods by average teams. Can struggle to pass to their own team and can make it really hard for viewers to know what the actual plan is being deployed. Course if we spend double and more new faces…would be even harder as they are all learning from scratch…our first team isn’t.

 

[Hughie77]

Hojlund and Mainoo could potentially transform this a lot

I don't think they could, unless he's hell bent on sticking with 4-3-3 which it looks like... Mount for me is not the answer to play a 4-3-3.. this could all fall into place better if Rashford played left and we put Greenwood as Striker.. and Hojlund from the right, Antony bench , Garnacho bench and brought on as impact subs... only ..

 

[Lentwood]

Agreed but that’s glossing over a team together for this long still can’t control a match at all. Can get absolutely bossed for 45 min periods by average teams. Can struggle to pass to their own team and can make it really hard for viewers to know what the actual plan is being deployed. Course if we spend double and more new faces…would be even harder as they are all learning from scratch…our first team isn’t.

Common theme though isn't it. We had the most shots in the league last season and we've had the second most so far this season - and in both seasons we're right down at the bottom for shots converted and big chances taken.

My point is not to excuse the 2nd half but that I'd be more worried if we weren't creating chances or getting into shooting positions.

 

[Stookie]

Didn’t catch the second half as I was called into work. But after the first half I was thinking we’d be ok. Our midfield looked ok, defensively looked steady. Up front was worrying though. The chances we had were spawned. To read on here that we’ve had a second half collapse again is really worrying. Need to get a few performances in soon. Not just stuttering 1-0 wins against the likes of Wolves and Forest or other recently promoted teams.

 

[littlepeasoup]

Actually thought we did okay first half. Some neat interchanges of the ball that carved open space, but our front three really needed to step up and when that didn’t happen we’d naturally invite pressure which happened second half.

Rashford’s close ball control was pretty dire, and what’s the deal with him and Garnacho? They looked like they were playing on different sides, that really needs to be sorted out.

 

[Harry190]

Second half was like that second half against Liverpool last season. But worse. There was infighting and disharmony amongst the players, they were hostile and bickering with each other. It was clear.