Match Review: Manchester United 1-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
It's going to get worse. I'm not sure it'll get better.
The embarrassment I'd feel putting in a performance like that after a touching memorial to Denis Law, the King of the Stretford End. The only Scottish player to ever win the Ballon d'Or and we stink the place out. Shameful.
I don't know how to process my frustration and write good copy, so here's a breakdown player by player.
Onana: ARE YOU TRYING TO GET SOLD YOU DAFT CUNT.
De Ligt: Not a RCB. CB only. His passing and moving doesn't suit him flanking someone - especially not Maguire.
Maguire: His uncomfortable-ness spreads into others. We saw it with Luke Shaw, we see it in De Ligt, Martinez and Yoro. He's in a decent patch of form at the moment, but United need better.
Yoro: Poor. He's a kid, so it's understandable, but he was off it again today.
Mazraoui: The only player worse than Onana today. Wtf has happened to this guy? Or is it karma for being a dick about the Rainbow Laces campaign stuff?
Dalot: Cannot play LWB. Bring Amass up to the first team. Stick Dalot on the right. Bump Mazraoui into the back three.
Ugarte: Better today, but not by much. Right to be subbed off for Collyer, too easily bypassed, but did have some nice touches on the ball in tight spaces.
Mainoo: Similar to Ugarte, Kobbie looked off the pace. Confidence matters, and again he was good in tight spaces, but things weren't clicking with him in CM and part of me wonders if him and Bruno should swap positions - use Mainoo like Amad as a tekky player on the edge of the box.
Amad: Looks class, but not quite as clinical today as vs Soton.
Bruno: Tries too hard and fucks the flow of the team up. Solid penalty, and dependable on those, but we need more leadership from him. If that's not Keano style passion then it needs to be performance on the pitch ala Rooney.
Zirkzee: Looking sharper each game but still a little clumsy when driving at players. Good hold-up play, but poor defending for Brighton's second.
Collyer: Another solid cameo from Toby. He looked bright coming on, provided more energy, strength in midfield, and played a simple game that kept us flowing.
Garnacho: Lively, though ineffective.
Hojlund: The guy needs dropping for a while to be honest. He needs time to hone his game, re-find himself and what makes him a good prospect. Being Mark Hughes or Drogba and battling every defender is dumb, especially when they're bigger, stronger and more experienced. He has great technique, so be quick, get in behind, utilise that quality.
Antony: Why are you still here.
I feel sorry for Ruben Amorim. His style of play isn't suited by this squad, and whilst he talks about people adapting... not everyone can or will adapt. You can see that he's lacking options, and that's on Ratcliffe & co. for bringing him in and expecting him to cope, and the Glazers prior for such dogshit club management that we pissed away millions on unsuited signings, dividends to the shareholders (who takes dividends from a football club?), and are paying disgusting levels of interest on a now-illegal loan to buy the club in the first place - money that's gimping our great football club.
The reality is that United are in dire straights financially, and while I'm not a big fan of him, Ratcliffe seems to be at least taking a pragmatic approach to fixing the rot. The problem is that in that process, there has to be SOME sort of support for the manager to make the team his own. We've seen glimpses of quality, of potential, of style, but that's it. It seems like the issue is near to no money for transfers unless we sell, so lets do it? If Rashford's going, get him gone. Antony, get him gone. Casemiro, get him gone. Eriksen... keep til the end then let him leave - same for Lindelof. Luke Shaw, get him gone. Malacia... if you don't rate him, get him gone.
That's two wingers (Amorim 10s), two CMs, two CBs (for this, Shaw is LCB), and a LWB. Amorim with SEVEN more players he actually wants and who want to be here could actually win a few matches, but until he has that we're just praying to survive game to game, and that's how you finish 14th and get laughed at by everyone. It's also how you miss out on the cash that Europe provides you.
Maybe United need that break. Fewer games, more time at Carrington to learn Amorim Ball. Buy a bunch of cheap, good prospect kids and mingle them with academy talent. See who stands out and can step up, sell those who don't. I will say though, if I'm Harry Amass I'm fuming that I can't get some first team minutes at the moment. United look bereft of a left wing. Miserable.
Next up: Rangers on Thursday in the Europa League at 8pm. We have to put those fucks away. A miracle run in the Europa or the FA Cup are the only glimmers of light in the tunnel of shit that is our season. Get praying, reds.
