The positions may not have been natural to the player but they perhaps represented the way RR sees them fitting into his line up going forward.Nothing more than a mid-season friendly.
RR said after the Crystal Palace game he likes players being in their natural positions. He did exactly the opposite with a number of players and even subs.
I think the criticism of Lingard and Mata is unfair.
Mata for example has had zero minutes this season I think? To expect him to run the show is just weird. Save for a sloppy finish, he played well.
Not saying these players shouldn't be moved on, I just think the criticism is overly harsh in the circumstances.
As other have mentioned squad freshness harmony and giving young players a look is more important than winning an absolute dead rubber of a game.
EditSorry was trying to reply to post about Baily)
I thought h did well but I can't believe he did not score an own goal on that clearance, and he cannot be so risky with the ball at times.
I am being nitpicky, probably because I'd love to see him start with Varane, and I hope he can clean up some things.
I think VdB is receiving some truly harsh feedback. I looked up his stats on sofas score and they suggest he was among our best players on the night:Great night for the youngsters good to see some young lads getting an opportunity, players who had the most to prove VDB, Lindgard, AWB fell a little short of what they needed to do , thought Iqbal for the short time he was on looked very composed for such a young lad look forward to seeing more of him , shame Hanibal was away .
we forget also Ole’s first team got beat by this lot so the young lads did alright
The other option is to let the ball run past you and watch it end up in the net. It was the same for the OG against City; if he doesn't attempt to play it, they score. I would rather a defender risks scoring an OG over doing nothing and watching the ball go in anyway.
Just seems like it’s excuse after excuse for Donny. Makes me sad because I hoped he’d work out.It would be a bit tough to guage him on this considering Mata was his midfield partner and he's probably never played with the attackers in front of him or Matic behind him.
It did seem a little odd. Maybe he felt obliged to give him 90 minutes to demonstrate that he could fight for a spot in the squad? Or at least prove he couldn't. I don't see another position for him in a 4222, he's not mobile enough for either no.10 position, so it's in the center or nowhere.Just seems like it’s excuse after excuse for Donny. Makes me sad because I hoped he’d work out.
He was at fault for the goal, defensively he was pretty poor, and he didn’t add hardly anything to the attack. He’s also not physical enough.
‘Saw an article that said Mata was good… wow, not the same match I was watching. Besides the one ball out to Diallo, he was very very poor. I love the Mata of 7 years ago, but he’s too old and slow. When I saw the lineup I was shocked that Rangnick attempted a midfield of DvB and Mata. Ballsy to say the least.
Agree. Rest/rotation as well. Am I crazy or did Rangnick start with a 4-2-3-1 with Lingard behind Mason? Seemed like it. Then in the second half, he went 4-2-2-2, that was obvious.It did seem a little odd. Maybe he felt obliged to give him 90 minutes to demonstrate that he could fight for a spot in the squad? Or at least prove he couldn't. I don't see another position for him in a 4222, he's not mobile enough for either no.10 position, so it's in the center or nowhere.
I think VdB is receiving some truly harsh feedback. I looked up his stats on sofas score and they suggest he was among our best players on the night:
Admittedly one stray pass did lead to the goal but lets be honest...would we be talking about this error if we had taken the other 3 or 4 clear cut chances that were squandered?
- 92 touches - most in the team
- 9\11 duels won
- 3\4 long passes completed
- 84% pass completion
- 6 tackles (2 more than any other player on pitch)
- 3 interceptions
- 2 clearances
- 1 block
I think a lot of the criticism has been unfair consedering we've been much more lenient on much more egregious errors and performance from other players.
Stats suggest he was among our top performers last night.
https://www.sofascore.com/manchester-united-young-boys/KsVY
I read that VDB covered the most ground of the players on both teams.I think both VDB & Amad are being judged on 1 poor pass each during the course of the match, VDB's for Young Boy's goal & Amad for not picking the right pass when he was bearing down on the goal & totally missed Lingard with what looked to be a very simple pass, he also had another player (Elanga, I think) totally unmarked on the back post (another easy pass to make but failed).
I read that VDB covered the most ground of the players on both teams.
RR got a chance to watch more players in a game situation - different to a training day.
Good to give some youngsters (and Tom Heaton) a first opportunity on the big stage.
First teamers got a rest - we have December ahead of us and we need to be winning everything we can.
Someone referred to this team as our 2nd XI. I'm glad we weren't playing City's 2nd XI. We have some building to do.
I agree completely, VdB was always open to receive the ball in good spaces or tried to find spaces unlike McT who just does his best to get a man between him and receiving a pass, essentially hiding from the ball. One bad pass doesnt mean he had a poor game, just means he made a mistake having been put under pressure by another questionable pass.I think VdB is receiving some truly harsh feedback. I looked up his stats on sofas score and they suggest he was among our best players on the night:
Admittedly one stray pass did lead to the goal but lets be honest...would we be talking about this error if we had taken the other 3 or 4 clear cut chances that were squandered?
- 92 touches - most in the team
- 9\11 duels won
- 3\4 long passes completed
- 84% pass completion
- 6 tackles (2 more than any other player on pitch)
- 3 interceptions
- 2 clearances
- 1 block
I think a lot of the criticism has been unfair consedering we've been much more lenient on much more egregious errors and performance from other players.
Stats suggest he was among our top performers last night.
https://www.sofascore.com/manchester-united-young-boys/KsVY
I liked his game too. His positioning was excellent. He also made progressive passes. There is a hope.I think VdB is receiving some truly harsh feedback. I looked up his stats on sofas score and they suggest he was among our best players on the night:
Admittedly one stray pass did lead to the goal but lets be honest...would we be talking about this error if we had taken the other 3 or 4 clear cut chances that were squandered?
- 92 touches - most in the team
- 9\11 duels won
- 3\4 long passes completed
- 84% pass completion
- 6 tackles (2 more than any other player on pitch)
- 3 interceptions
- 2 clearances
- 1 block
I think a lot of the criticism has been unfair consedering we've been much more lenient on much more egregious errors and performance from other players.
Stats suggest he was among our top performers last night.
https://www.sofascore.com/manchester-united-young-boys/KsVY
In no world is Lindelöf behind Maguire on recent and current form.I wouldn't say that is our 2nd XI, our 2nd 11 when all are fit is more likely something like -
Henderson
Bissak_lindelof_Bailly_Telles
____Matic__beek
___diallo___pogba
__grennwood_cavani
Even with that second string side we still dont have room for the likes of martial, lingard, mata, jones and Heaton which shows our genuine strength in depth in the right hands.
Benoît Bastien