[christian bennett]

Not as good as the previous two games but still put in a solid performance.

 

[El B]

Great work rate and lots of attempts at fast progressive passing through the lines. Exactly what you want from him.

Except he kept giving the ball away and neither him or Fred offered any kind of platform going forward. He's totally mediocre unless it's a game where he can run around breaking up play

 

[Berbasbullet]

Thought it was a very poor performance to be honest, expect more from him, gave the ball away too often and never felt he offered a platform to build attacks from.

 

[Roboc7]

He can’t be a regular starter until he learns how to pass the ball much better. He simply wasn’t needed in this game against that Chelsea midfield and it’s just an unnecessary handicap, should have been off at half time.

 

[Augustus Gloop]

Got stuck in. Was imposing. First clean sheet of the season. All down to Scott.
Passing wasn’t on point but he can improve that.

 

[Oo0AahCantona]

I think he's a problem in the side. He's a good option but he shouldn't be starting as it makes us way too defensive. You only need 1 of him or fred, and i pick fred.

 

[Stadjer]

Works hard, wins his duels... plays for the badge and will bleed for the shirt. Exactly what a part of the fanbase would call 'a proper midfielder'. Too bad he cant pass and has hardly any ability on the ball.

 

[Andycoleno9]

He is our problem, not solution for regular starter. Yes, he works hard, tackles, fight..all good to see but his contribution to our attacking play is zero. Maybe in playing with 5 midfielders that would not be an issue but in 433 he is man less in that midfield.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

There was a moment in the first half which really summed up his flaws. Tried a progressive pass, which got intercepted and rolled straight back to him. Tried the exact same pass again. Intercepted again. Was depressing to watch.

 

[Tormentor]

Too bad he cant pass and has hardly any ability on the ball.

...and that includes Shaw, James and AWB. That is way too many.

 

[Devil may care]

He covered plenty of ground but on the ball he's just not good enough and he's not as good as Fred at the workhorse shit, as a squad player paired with a playmaker he's fine as a squad player, nothing more.

 

[cyberman]

Fred and He weren't the problem. Our frontline sucked. The attackers were getting the ball so it wasn't a problem of lack of forward aggression

 

[Bebestation]

Fred and He weren't the problem. Our frontline sucked. The attackers were getting the ball so it wasn't a problem of lack of forward aggression

Exactly.

They do what they should be doing as a double pivot. Their lack of creativity isnt the problem when Bruno & Mata didnt create and our front line was completely random before and after the subs.

 

[FerociousCorgis]

I just don't get the people acting like him and Fred were crushing it. They were decently well defensively but both offered absolutely nothing going forward today. Except shit passing and turnovers. Watched mct pass directly to Chelsea players several times

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

I'm not a fan of him at all.

His passing is nowhere near good enough and he's not great on the ball.

 

[Borys]

I will repeat what I said about Fred.

McTominay wasn't great but is far from our biggest problems. The whole team was set up not for a goalless draw, so I'm not sure what did you expect from him offensively. Even Bruno hesitated on passing to James.

Zero threat from the wings, fullbacks not allowed to overlap - midfield criticism is unjustified.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Very good off the ball, really poor on it.

I'll now go post the same thing in the Fred Thread Fred

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

Woeful passing but lauded for all but his on ball exploits. Had a certain whipping boy gave away the ball half as much it’d be a different story.

He & Fred offer nothing in terms of consistency in attacking support - both need improving on.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

There was a moment in the first half which really summed up his flaws. Tried a progressive pass, which got intercepted and rolled straight back to him. Tried the exact same pass again. Intercepted again. Was depressing to watch.

Was going to point out the exact same thing. Perfectly summed up why we should be looking to replace him at some point. It’s great that he works hard and loves the club, but with how technical football is in the modern game, those attributes simply don’t cut it for a club looking to dominate games and compete against the best of the best.

 

[Frank Grimes]

As awkward as a sack of chisels. Works hard but very limited footballer.

 

[TsuWave]

Such a limited player. I really would like to see what people see in this guy

 

[K_Ash]

McTominay and Fred are shielding the back 4...McFred is critical to our success moving forward with Harry and Lindelof. McTominay is the steel while Fred is dynamo. Defensively, it looks really secure with McTominay and Fred.

 

[AFC NimbleThumb]

Such a limited player. I really would like to see what people see in this guy

Can’t get over how overrated this lad is on here, McSauce ffs. If he were playing for Arsenal next weekend I wouldn’t be bothered, yes he’s combative but he brings nothing in the technical department.

McTominay and Fred are shielding the back 4...McFred is critical to our success moving forward with Harry and Lindelof. McTominay is the steel while Fred is dynamo. Defensively, it looks really secure with McTominay and Fred.

Whilst they cover a lot of the field we shouldn’t be picking a midfield duo to cover for the deficiencies of our £100mil+ CB pairing.

Being sound positionally defensively & being able to pick some form of a pass consistently should be the minimum expectation for a Manchester United midfielder - both do the former adequately & the latter sporadically.

Being more mobile than Matic-Pogba seems to have boosted the pairs reputation well beyond their abilities.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Hard worker, good kid, good mentality, very average footballer.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Such a limited player. I really would like to see what people see in this guy

Horrific.

@RooneyLegend has always been bang on about McTominay.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

And here we go... let the hating begins.

So that's another "big game" vs "top" side where he play and we didn't lose.

After he's out, our defense immediately opened up, which thankfully Chelsea's attacks are off and shit.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Whilst they cover a lot of the field we shouldn’t be picking a midfield duo to cover for the deficiencies of our £100mil+ CB pairing.

Being sound positionally defensively & being able to pick some form of a pass consistently should be the minimum expectation for a Manchester United midfielder - both do the former adequately & the latter sporadically.

Being more mobile than Matic-Pogba seems to have boosted the pairs reputation well beyond their abilities.

I know right... it's as if the problem is actually at the back which we've been ignoring... or a better system than the current 4231 which basically necessitates two good workhorse CDM to cover our defensive frailties and weaknesses in system due to weakness in perhaps coaching?

And it's as if last season great defense stats is only because of our back four... and no credits given to Fred, McT and Matic... which interestingly when they play, it coincides with our best defense runs (first half) and winnings run (post-Bruno), followed by bad-but-maintained-getting-pts okay run (post-lockdown after Pogba replacing one of them).

^ Pure total coincidence~

I know right, a Manchester United midfielder should be able to do everything (both attacking and defense) at top level... which at the moment we don't have at all. Not Pogba, not Matic, not Bruno and not the other midfielders. So.. the solution is...?

 

[Bobcat]

Thought it was a very poor performance to be honest, expect more from him, gave the ball away too often and never felt he offered a platform to build attacks from.

Agreed. He works hard and is decent when we are defending, but him and Fred needs to do much more when we are setting up and attack. 9/10 times it seems they just pass it sideways and the ball ends up wide. Not asking him to go on marauding runs forward, but we need to use the center of the pitch more

 

[thepolice123]

Put in a shift but his passing was terrible. We needed someone who can take charge on the ball and he isn't that player.

 

[Mcking]

And here we go... let the hating begins.

So that's another "big game" vs "top" side where he play and we didn't lose.

After he's out, our defense immediately opened up, which thankfully Chelsea's attacks are off and shit.

We were actually able to get a hold of the game and mount sustained pressure when he was subbed off. Before that, him and AWB kept ruining every attack. Their presence in the team hurts us so much.

 

[Cassidy]

Put in a shift but his passing was terrible. We needed someone who can take charge on the ball and he isn't that player.

We should have signed Partey instead of VDB

 

[Longshanks]

7/10 did his job, kept it simple in our own half, worked hard, closed down, covered, filled gaps. Struggled to influence the game offensively with his passing, but was trying to get balls through the lines just not his day for that.

Chelsea were very well organised and played deep taking minimal risks. Even our more creative players really struggled to iniate attacks and get anything through the lines.

 

[Dan_F]

We look more solid with Fred and McTominay because we’re getting two players to do the job that one person does for most top teams.

 

[zenith]

I would much have McFred start than use matic and pogba in CM.

they bring much needed energy and provide a solid foundation. Our inability to score is more down to selection and tactics. Put VDB, bruno, rashford and martial in front of that midfield and telles on the left flank and watch us create chances for fun.

 

[mattunited1978]

There was a moment in the first half which really summed up his flaws. Tried a progressive pass, which got intercepted and rolled straight back to him. Tried the exact same pass again. Intercepted again. Was depressing to watch.

Exactly this, summed him up in a nutshell, he isnt good enough, if he didnt give the ball away so much, he wouldn't need to charge around trying to win it back

 

[Lewnited]

We look more solid with Fred and McTominay because we’re getting two players to do the job that one person does for most top teams.

Yeah it's basically this. Part of the reason we looked offensively blunt is because we have two central midfielders who don't even attempt to offer anything going forward. If either of them were able to play the ball quickly through the lines we'd be fine, but neither of them have that ability.
Im really hoping this isn't the template going forward for when we play decent teams, barely gives us a platform to play any decent football if the front players have anything close to an off day.

 

[Augustus Gloop]

And here we go... let the hating begins.

So that's another "big game" vs "top" side where he play and we didn't lose.

After he's out, our defense immediately opened up, which thankfully Chelsea's attacks are off and shit.

Exactly.

On another day, if 2 or 3 of those passes he was trying to fizz between the lines were successful, people would be in here again saying he was “class”. Because he was still a huge presence in our midfield winning the ball back. He used the ball well against Newcastle so he can do it.

Anyone know the extent of his injury? Or was it just a tactical sub? Can’t find anything.

 

[Litch]

He's not the problem anymore than Fred is. If the so called 'big' players played to their ability and the manager created a system that they can play in, then Scott and Fred would be great bench players. For some reason we set the ceiling higher for these players but those players with higher ceilings like Pogs and even Bruno, we dont. Not sure how you can criticise players who job is to screen the back four, who did exactly than yet one of the best midfielders in the world is on the bench cause he only wants to do the 'pretty' stuff and Bruno it seems wants to be KDB yet pass percentages are in the 70 and 80's.

 

[Borys]

Yeah it's basically this. Part of the reason we looked offensively blunt is because we have two central midfielders who don't even attempt to offer anything going forward. If either of them were able to play the ball quickly through the lines we'd be fine, but neither of them have that ability.

It it part of the reason we looked offensively blunt against, but the smallest part.
Firstly, you need quality in attack in the first place - we had only Rashford (against 5 Chelsea defenders).
Secondly, it would be nice if fullbacks were joining the attack. Today not only we played two conservative fullbacks, but also they were asked to stay back.
Thirdly, the midfield. It would be nice if McTominay and Fred were better passers, or could carry the ball better but with the way we were set up yesterday, I don't think it would've made much of a difference.

Im really hoping this isn't the template going forward for when we play decent teams, barely gives us a platform to play any decent football if the front players have anything close to an off day.

Still the main issue would be attack rather than midfield.

 

[Ash_G]

It it part of the reason we looked offensively blunt against, but the smallest part.
Firstly, you need quality in attack in the first place - we had only Rashford (against 5 Chelsea defenders).
Secondly, it would be nice if fullbacks were joining the attack. Today not only we played two conservative fullbacks, but also they were asked to stay back.
Thirdly, the midfield. It would be nice if McTominay and Fred were better passers, or could carry the ball better but with the way we were set up yesterday, I don't think it would've made much of a difference.

Still the main issue would be attack rather than midfield.

I agree, I think this is an important consideration. Yes, it definitely would be better if McT in particular was a better passer but I think the bigger issue is that when you have Fred/McT as the midfield base you need the other areas of the team to be good offensively and in reality with our team it means you want at least two of Rashford/Martial/Greenwood in the attack. Once we don't have those players who can be self sufficient in attack etc then it doesn't quite work and it is going to be a challenge. I still think this is one area where Ole needs to improve as I just don't think he accepts some of the limitations some of our players have e.g. James/McT etc.

That said we shouldn't forget that part of this game plan I think is capitalising of mistakes that will arise during the game whether forced through pressing or unforced and if Rashford had scored the opp in the first half then actually we might well be praising a clinical performance, it is fine margins.

McT is still young though and we have seen from him that he can hit a good pass (and shot), I think the main thing is even if he keeps it simple, if he can move it quicker and try to be a bit more fwd thinking, that he can be a solid player and actually Fred/McT as a base behind Martial/Rashford/Greenwood/Bruno I think could work quite well especially if we bring Telles in to the team as between them they can cover for him if he does push up quite high.