Match Day Thread Manchester United vs Citeh

Here comes the match that we have all been waiting for!

Match Line-up
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Shaw, Malacia; Casemiro, Fred; Eriksen, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial.

That’s quite a compact line-up with Fred playing alongside Casemiro. But Fred has been getting forward lately which may be the plan today with the setup.

 

And all the talks about ETH would never play Shaw against the likes of Arsenal in CB… well, he is playing in CB ahead of everyone else. This will be entertaining to watch and if we win, it be interesting an omen for certain players in the team.

 

Martial is such a frustrating player. Nowhere near a player that should be playing alone up front. His movement is lethargic at best.

 

3 offsides alright in the first 9 minutes. We clearly want to get forward but also need to use experience in keeping inline with City's defensive line. But we also need ti stretch them. We know that they have been conceding goals as well.

 

We are very direct in this match which is great to see. But we shouldn't let them settle in their their sideways passing.

 

Every time that De Gea huffs the ball forward, it invariably lands gives the possession to City. There's always a danger in trying to build play from the back, but huffing it forward just so wasteful.

 

They are knocking the ball around so easily while we wait for fast breaks. We need to start imposing ourselves in the midfield. That compact line-up is not helping to build that dynamism to take on City in the midfield.

 

What an amazing turnaround! We were way too compact with the setup. Great substitutions. I hope we can close this out.

 

That lays down a marker. What a transformation in the side - third in the table. Fantastic response, great energy and spirit

 

Thought we were immense today. Players written off by fans or previous managers all doing well. Fred, AWB both had great games. Shaw is playing so well. Not one player had a bad game.

 

The togetherness and body language was excellent even as City dominated with their pointless passing. The defenders did not misplace a feet. HAAAA must have thought he forgot his shooting boots at home. Did not get a sniff!

That is precisely a testament to ETH's methods. He is creating a system and a culture that each player MUST play their role for the team. What is even more impressive is that this looks like a structural progress as opposed to one on adrenaline and hype which eventually fizzles out.

 

Pep’s instructions to the team….

Pass, pass, pass, play it back to the middle, pass, pass, pass, pass, strike sideways, pass, pass, give us a triangle, pass, turnaround toward your own goal, pass, pass, pass, another beautiful triangle, pass, make sure to keep possession, pass, pass, give it to Kevin, pass, pass, pass, let’s go forward now, pass, pass, to the midfield again to show skillz, pass, pass, let’s look good doing this boys, pass, pass, triangle again (beautiful!), pass, pass, let the keeper have a touch too, pass, pass (beautiful! Just beautiful!)…

In the end 99% possession, 1 shot on target, 5 toward goal in 90 minutes… but then lose by two goals because the great passes had small anomalies.

 

2nd must be achievable now, but 3rd would be fine this season

 

Just shows what a negative influence CR was. So much better without him - on and off the field.

 

The discipline was what was sorely missing with the last 2 managers. Now we implement the rules rather than just pay lip service to them. And TenHag can literally bench anyone: from the highest profile one downwards. That improves team spirit.

 

The ****ing idiot now playing in Saudia Arabia while the team he thought he was too good for goes from strength to strength.

It's not just on him though, the introduction of Casemiro instead of McTominay has improved the whole team ten fold. He is the key player.

Although Ronaldo ****ing off helps, no doubt.

 

An actual coach/manager, instead of a 'legend' and a director then.

The discipline he installs is part of his job, something neither of the previous two were actually qualified to do.

 

Only one loss since the 6-3 rout by City in October. Who played from the very start and was made captain (for the first time) against Villa? Ronaldo. Coincidence possibly but I doubt it.

 

Can only base this on the last two games I went to.

v Newcastle Ronaldo played the whole game as centre forward. He was the focus of the team, and he didn't get close to scoring a bona fide goal.

Bournemouth last week, he's gone and the whole team are it trying to score. Three different scorers, and it could have been six or seven different scorers.

I disagree that he himself was toxic, but it's a big improvement now he's not there as if it's all about him.

 

I didn't get to see the game but I heard we controlled the vast majority of it, with less possession. I'll probably catch the whole game on MUTV tonight or tomorrow.

I'm not fussed about a title challenge which the media have suddenly started spouting. No reason why we couldn't do it btw. But winning the EFL Cup and finishing Top 4 would be a brilliant season. Would be more than I expected at the start.