PBP: EFLC - Manchester United FC vs West Ham United FC - Sep 22 , 2021 [R]

Matic you useless ********ing pylon.

 

We are so open, which is understandable given is late in a cup game.

What isnt understandable is some of the cheap giveaways in those circumstances leading to counters.

 

For being a big squad, our B team is pretty ********ing terrible.

 

They're just strolling past our midfield and defense at this point. Great saves from Henderson and the post to keep us in it.

 

WH with the much better chances in the game: amazing they couldn't convert on any of them...

 

Our attack has been subpar today, but West Ham have also blocked everything we've thrown at them.

 

Should have had a shot there Hendo

 

B team is making it easy on Ole. Nobody playing today made a case for more playing time.

 

You guys... I don't think that Solskjaer is the one.

 

FT: 0-1. And that's that: one less competition to worry about. One less trophy on offer for Ole this season...

 

If we don't win a trophy this season, and finish in 3rd or 4th will Ole be sacked?

 

You may be right, but hard to put this one on him. That squad should be good enough to beat the WH backups and they gave such a pathetic effort it's hard to make judgement.

It may turn out that Ole is the guy that does what Jose was supposed to do. And that's clean house and right the ship. Maybe time for a top level manager to come in now the a lot of dead wood is gone and we have some actual talent.

 

Should be if that happens. It's win now time.

 

For those thinking Matic vdB is the answer to CM, they havent done well against the likes of Kral and Noble.

Our fullbacks especially poor for me.

Disappointed with Sancho, he will need to adjust but needs to show more. Martial continues to be Martial and Mata shouldnt be here anymore.

We needed this competition for minutes for the B players, but against a West Ham B team they cant even handle that.

 

Considering we lost last week at YB, we're unlikely to have garbage games in the CL group so this for me was probably Mata's last game...

 

After signing a new contract he's gonna be handing out some expensive high-fives from the bench.

 

That’s bollocks tbf, we were comfortably in control of midfield. VDB was really good. I was skeptical about him in the pivot before this season but he was really good today. Matic was disappointing but that seemed to really ramp up in the last 20-30 minutes as the game got stretched.

A lot of players out there did themselves little good, particularly Jesse, Martial and Telles. Bruno also showed why he’s a terrible sub to bring on late in a game. But our midfield was in control for 80 minutes of the game. The most criminal thing about us going out today is that we were obviously on to a good thing with that midfield setup, and now Ole probably won’t play Donny again until the FA Cup (or will play him alongside Fred, which is a ********ing joke).

 

Have to echo others sentiments, Bruno was awful when he came on. Can't think of a single positive contribution.

 

As far as Donny's performance today, it's like I've mentioned previously: don't see what he does that is worst than Fred (with the way he's played of late) and why he can't get more games.
Fred is more of a hustler of sorts and that has its place at times but most of the times, Donny's movement, passing and awareness are characteristics that are missing in our midfield and that we can use.
Don't know how he and Mc in a partnership would work but it'd be worth finding out, at the very least.

As far as Martial is concerned, I'm rooting for the guy but he makes it difficult if we're being honest. And given the competition he'll have to deal with, which will only get more intensive in the coming weeks, it's hard to see a long term future for him. Just keeping it all the way 100 at this point.
Did not look like a man fighting for his place and giving Ole something to think about going forward (especially once Rash and Cav return)...
May be time to consider bids for him (provided there are any takers) in Jan and flip that money towards some kind of holding mid?

 

So you think they are the answer to our CM issues - play Matic / vdB and happy days?

Despite us giving away a goal that cost us the game owing to Donny leaving his player free in a key area and chasing the ball?

Matic made some really sloppy giveaways and as usual had no pace to cover counters.

This was all against a B team (ie no Rice or Soucek).

Donny has some good attributes further forward as an 8/10, but if you cant see his deficiencies deeper then you dont know football.

 

Matic and VDB were not poor; weren't great but did enough. West Ham abused Telles in the first 15 or so and got the goal and after that point United settled down and responded well. But the lack of cutting edge up front caused us the match. No one looks like scoring until Mason come on.

 

I love that you feel qualified to use that expression. Bless your little heart.

 

I bet he hasn't even played at the highest level