PBP: UEL - Manchester United FC vs FK Astana - Sep 19, 2019 [R]

Rashford is such a bad finisher. He's the guy you expect not to finish 1v1.

 

Chong strikes me as a guy that could be a future starter or a guy that could not make it at the PL level. He has the skill but his decision making, reading of the game, and confidence all seem like weak points right now. All things he can improve, but we'll have to wait and see.

 

He really is. He has no finesse to his game. Rash seems like a guy that can make it here long term as a winger or a striker in a two forward setup, but he can never be the lone 9. He has too many holes in his finishing and hold up to play that role for a big team. Martial is far superior as a 9.

 

Mizz is a johno sock account confirmed!!!!

 

Lol

 

A few conclusions from today's game.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...on-greenwood-goal-europa-league-a9112736.html

 

I think he has the technical ability to finish consistently but he just thinks too much and gets caught between two minds. If he just relied on his instincts he’d improve so much.

 

Yep, signed right before the summer tour.

 

Missed the match and only saw 10 min odd highlights but Rashford should have had a brace. Happy for Greenwood but can any one tell on scale of 10 how decent were the kids ? Rashford (only 21), Gomes, Greenwood & Chong.

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/reddevils/comments/d6k8ow/xg_map_for_tonights_game_united_279_astana_29/

Our xG was 2.79. Only scoring one is pretty shoddy tbh, but we should have won comfortably.

Next EL game I'd definitely like to see Greenwood up top, James on the left and Gomes centrally. Chong was too sloppy and ponderous on the ball, he should be coming off the bench at best for now. Rashford on the left is ok as it rests James for the PL games, but I think for the benefit of the youth we should go for more of a team player in there.

 

Kids were okay. Mason had the magic moment obviously and nearly scored early on but was mostly quiet otherwise - no mistakes but couldn't get in the game too much. Looks more comfortable at 9 than playing from the right. Gomes found some nice pockets of space, obviously has great feet and had a couple passes where he showed off fantastic vision but also struggled to impose himself on the game as much as you'd like for a guy with a functionally free role against this level of opposition. Chong was just not good. None of them had the kind of game that will make it overly hard for Ole to go back to the more senior players in the league, but Gomes and Greenwood at least should definitely keep getting opportunities against some better opposition to show what they can do.

I though the kids in defense were actually more impressive. Both Axel and Dalot did everything you could ask in this one. Granted they were put under very little pressure defensively, but Dalot is really talented going forward from that spot, and Axel bossed it in the few moments he had the chance to. Both guys will be hard pressed to get in the first 11 unless/until there is an injury, but hopefully they can continue progressing in cup games and be ready when their chance comes. I think both have a good chance to make it at this level, but the Dalot/AWB thing may be hard to resolve. I think it would be a good idea to give one of those guys some reps at LB honestly.

Fred was also good. He still is very prone to brain fart moments - I've never seen a professional player who just randomly looses control so often - not in the bad first touch sense but just he has the ball under control and then it somehow rolls away from him. Happened 2 or 3 times in this one. He needs to play a tighter game or those type of mistakes will cost us at times, but he has enough positive attributes that he should be getting into the first team. Should obviously start over Matic with McT on Sunday, and if he continues this form we should definitely try 4-3-3 when Pogba is fit.

 

He's the exact opposite of Jones. It's so striking when they play together.

 

Having seen the match I can say that I have no idea how Matic can get selected in matches we need to win. He was the only player on the pitch aside from Chong who lost out on duels and needlessly gave the ball away. Unlike Chong, Matic had zero ambition.

Apart from some fitness for folks who needed it, the big takeaway was obviously 3 points and minutes for the kids. Gomes is probably deserving of more time on the pitch. He has a good idea of where his teammates are, where the space is and when to play the ball out wide or when to keep it central. He's not going to get any bigger, we just have to risk playing him. Technically, there's no reason he can't play in our first team regularly. He's good enough.

 

Thanks @thenamestsam

 

We should have kept Rome. I mean Rash finishes worse that Martial, Sanchez and Rome. People talk about Rome's control but I thought he was a better passer and could actually finish.

Considering a top striker scores 1 out of 4 or 5 chances, Rash must be at 1 of 7 or 8. As we get such few opportunities and creating of chances from our midfield a top finisher was a priority but Rash is one's lovechild so here we are.

 

Didnt he squandered something around 15-20 1 vs 1 on trot ?? He needs massive improvement in finishing aswell as in final third.. Still only 21 though ..

 

Rashford needs to go to Germany where he can learn calmness in front of goal and whatever other methods they have for scoring so reliably.