Long VAR chalks off the Villa equalizer.

That should be a foul 100% of the time but I'm still surprised VAR called it back.

It really can't be overstated just how much we've been dominated in this 2nd half. At one point we had 37% possession. At home. Against Aston freaking Villa.

Dre_00 said:

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It really can't be overstated just how much we've been dominated in this 2nd half. At one point we had 37% possession. At home. Against Aston freaking Villa.

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Yep. Dominated in every way but the scoreboard so far.

Apparently it is Ralf's and Armas's fault that our players lack effort in nearly every touch and challenge.

I mean...we all knew that as soon as an American who spent all of his time in MLS became Man United's asst manager that it was just a matter of time before his credentials were questioned.

Dre_00 said:

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I mean...we all knew that as soon as an American who spent all of his time in MLS became Man United's asst manager that it was just a matter of time before his credentials were questioned.

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And maybe he is overmatched. But I don't believe a thing coming out of the players camp anymore. They haven't been happy or performed for any manager. The players give so little effort on the pitch. Its hard to watch.

Entitlement in the United club is stage 4 cancer at this point.

Furlock Bones said:

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Dre_00 said:

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I mean...we all knew that as soon as an American who spent all of his time in MLS became Man United's asst manager that it was just a matter of time before his credentials were questioned.

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And maybe he is overmatched. But I don't believe a thing coming out of the players camp anymore. They haven't been happy or performed for any manager. The players give so little effort on the pitch. Its hard to watch.

Entitlement in the United club is stage 4 cancer at this point.

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The positives from that game...um...Varane played well? I didn't actually notice him too much which is usually a good thing for a CB.

Yeah, it is really hard to take any criticism of the coaches, tactics, etc. when they make multiple simple mistakes every game that even my elementary soccer mind can spot.

Diogo Dalot had to get stitches tonight 😳

via @FabrizioRomano pic.twitter.com/DJAAFYC6CK

— utdreport (@utdreport) January 10, 2022

Team looked much better after DVB came in for Cavani. No knock on Cavani, but I just don't think Ralf's system is set up for him and two fast wings as forward with Fernandez behind. It just leads to being overmatched in midfield.
Cavani is a great sub in this system but we need another possessing midfielder on the field and one less attacking forward so we don't get killed in midfield.

Agreed. The fact of the matter is, no matter what Ralf does he's going to create a problem because his squad is massively imbalanced.

He can't play Bruno, a forward, and 2 central midfielders because none of his central mids are good enough to keep the ball against many 2 man midfielders let alone a midfield 3 and Bruno likes to stay higher up the pitch (not that Bruno doesn't track back on defense but he's not a person who wants to sit in the middle of the pitch when his team has the ball).

If he plays 3 central midfielders to try and control the play, he has to sacrifice someone like Bruno or play with a false 9/no striker. So...you bench Bruno or Ronaldo/Cavani so that you can have a midfield of McFred and say Matic or VdB. If you follow the "play to your player's/roster's strength" philosophy, that makes no sense.

It sucks but this team and every game is destined for chaotic murder ball or to benching your most talented players because the roster is so imbalanced. There's nothing Ralf or any other manager can do about that. In the short term, I actually think his pressing tactic is the best chance of success if he can teach them properly and if the player's buy into it. It will still lead to midfield chaos and defensive fragility but it should in theory give more opportunities to your best players (the forward players) with minimal needed contribution from your worst players (the midfield).

But in the offseason, we have GOT to improve that midfield with at least 2-3 players and either create a 2 man midfield that's talented enough to succeed or play 3 better center mids than McFred and Matic.

McT off for card accumulation so we get. Fred and Matic. No DVB. That midfield is so so bad. Elanga in place of Sancho.

This roster is so screwed up.

Arsenal gets a postponement because they are hurt, at AFCON or out for cards.

We have that. Why are we playing?

That was shambolic. I'll take it.

Mathguy64 said:

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McT off for card accumulation so we get. Fred and Matic. No DVB. That midfield is so so bad. Elanga in place of Sancho.

This roster is so screwed up.

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So so bad midfield is bossing game right now.
Looks like Fernandez is playing deeper and Elonge and Greenwood are pinching in to help.

I saw the first 25 minutes and the last bits of added time of the first half but liked what I saw for the most part (though it appears Villa played much better in the parts that I missed).

Elanga has really impressed me. Matic looks like he's ready for MLS. Slow and a number of misplaced passes. Everyone keeps saying tha VdB isn't built for the EPL because he's not fast or strong enough. That may be true but he can't be any worse than Matic. And yes, he doesn't play the exact same position but he came from Ajax. I guarantee you he could if he was trained properly. At least better than Matic does.

I'll also add that while we need a lot of central midfielders, I wouldn't get rid of Fred. Yes, he's maddeningly inconsistent and can give you some "what the hell are you doing?" minutes but I'd bet that would happen less if he had better midfield partners than McTominay and Matic.

Fred is much better when the game flows and he plays fast. Unfortunately too often the pace slows or a team bunkers in and then he's a train wreck.

In theory in a 4-2-2-2 he should be better.

And there is good Fred

And the beauty that pressing can be. United didn't even put a foot in but Sanson was thinking about it, felt someone coming, and played a really bad back pass.

That goal for Villa is about 77' too late in coming.

Defense is absolute sheet

That's creative defending.

Just awful.

Fred and Matic were both exposed in first goal.

Matic's attempt to track back on the 2nd was...something.

It looks more and more like the tactically challenged OGS was not the problem.

Seems so.

I don't think anyone ever said he was THE problem but he was A problem. Now they have about 10 other problems to solve and most of those are going to take a lot more time and be a lot harder to solve if they are solvable at all.

Another day another disappointing performance thus far. Brentford should have at least one already and we aren't even at 20 minutes.

We've definitely sucked ass so far

No shots on goal. Two spectacular De Gea saves.

I hate this team so much. Sell them all. Play the youth team.

sorry I do not like blue and gold kits.

Did not think I would say this a few years ago but maybe keep DDG...and Mata (personal favorite)....the rest...i agree...