Down a goal but that wasn't a bad half at all. They miss a striker badly. Let's see if putting Zirkzee in will pay dividends.

This game is winnable. Thought a post I saw on Twitter said it well. If you're going to play this system, you need your wingers to be a lot better than what Rashford and Amad are bringing. The pressing has worked well. Gained position a number of times in the final third and then did nothing with it.

Really surprised ETH started Amad. Hard to believe his performance isn't impacted by his mom's passing.

Maguire has lost Welbeck twice and given him a free header.

AMAD! (With a fair bit of help from a Brighton defender)

Amad!!!!!

OG scored again.

And for Amad you couldn't be happier.

AR had him on. He didn't delay a flag. Let's see if VAR agrees.

Yes. The central defender kept him on.

Garnacho for Rashford. Surprising but warranted.

Should be said that Mazraoui's through ball to Amad was perfectly timed and weighted.

Ah Zirkzee. That's the worst luck in the world.

Oh my. Please be onside.

That's bad luck

Yeah. Thats offside. That's the worst possible bit of luck.

He's was unlucky twice. First not to get on the initial cross because he would have scored. And then to just be in the wrong place as the ball went in the net.

Fernandes off for McTominay? Ok then

If McT pulls a hammy and messes up a transfer…

Onana playing LB. That isn't ideal.

Had to go route 1 when they took off Bruno for McTominay and it is not working out.

ETH gonna have to explain that Bruno for McTominay sub. Created nothing since and Brighton pushing for a winner.

Yeah Erik screwed this up.

You have to be kidding. They have scored their only two chances.

I guess we don't defend back post.

These were dropped points. We were the better squad today.

I've been a defender of Erik but that was 100% down to him. Unless Bruno was injured or asked to be subbed, you can't take him off at 1-1 in the 80th minute. That was a sub that never had a chance of working especially as he'd already taken off Mount. The midfield was already lost and then you lost any sort of chance creation from the midfield when you took off Bruno. No idea what he thought would happen but just atrocious management.

We HAVE to find a replacement or secondary 6. Casemiro cannot be asked to play 90 minutes each game, if ETH doesn't want Mctominay at 6 (which is where I would have put him today) then we have to get someone else in there.

Looks like that will soon be Ugarte.

Then let's get it done. That was brutal midfield play the last 10-15 minutes

I had to take my son into urgent care. I cannot believe we threw away a point in the 95th minute. Son of a b.

Mount sub was injury concern.

Erik ten Hag says Mason Mount reported an issue at half-time and he (Ten Hag) wasn't prepared to take a risk. "I don’t know how much of a worry it is, maybe it is nothing, but I didn’t hesitate."

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) August 24, 2024

(Edit: not a reply; mistapped)

A healthy Rasmus would help. That would allow 90' of a striker and allow Bruno to drop back and distribute the ball.

Still super annoyed. It's one thing to get bad luck (Zirkzee offside). But damn, don't create a situation that puts your team in a worse situation. Yeah, defending should have been better for sure on the 2nd goal but that's what happens when you're under pressure for extended periods. People make mistakes. And it's super annoying that they were under pressure for so long not because they had inferior talent but because their manager tactically screwed the pooch.

Unfortunately Ugarte likely wouldnt have made the last 15 minutes better. He's pretty useless in possession.

Lost control of the midfield the moment Mount went off. We created more when he did but we also allowed more chances too. The problem we have now is that we need Mount to shore up the middle but then we're toothless up top because that means no striker and two wingers who aren't good enough to shoulder goals by themselves.

If you play a striker your midfield has sizable holes. Honestly, it will never happen but could make a strong argument that a striker playing with Mount, Mainoo, and Casemiro/Ugarte is the best balance. I don't see how Bruno, Mainoo, and X could be good controlling the middle.

Well these are 4-3-3 issues that will always persist. Ideally one of your two wingers would be able to drop back and help with possession when needed.

Possession wasn't so much my concern the last 15 minutes as it was lack of coverage for the back 3. Casemiro goes mia too often for me. Ugarte may not be much in possession (I haven't seen him enough to know) but we have to find someone who can cover ground and keep people from running at the central defenders.

I think some possession and attacking ability would have made it much easier to defend and cover the back 3 but yeah, Ugarte likely would have provided a much better shield late on.

It didn't really work in year 1 when we tried it but I'm almost ready to try Bruno on the right again. We didn't have Mount when he played there before (don't remember Bruno starting there last year). Might be an option again if Ugarte comes and has the engine to help Dalot/Mazraoui put out the inevitable fires that would start when Bruno drifted into the middle of the pitch and they were left on their own against the opponents left winger/left back.