United (H) | PL | Post Match Thread

Good result, Donna played well, but unconvincing generally I thought. First and last twenty minutes we were poor.
 
I feel content today, that the flappers have nothing to say!

This is new team set up and it was always going to take some moving of the pieces around to find stuff that clicks.

For sure, we'll see next week, but I'm really confident we'll run anybody close at the top, especially since Guardiola and the new coaches are still assessing where the boys are at.
 
TurboDuo said:
G00vuU-XwAArOJL


The concerning part were touches in opp box.

Arsenal gonna make much more problems
Click to expand...
Arsenal will be a very different game, because they are scoring goals !
 
Still in major shock about Ricky Hatton.

We didn't play to our maximum but we stuffed them all over the pitch.
Fitness/Stamina is still an issue but at least this week is was only the last 20 minutes that we were breathing through our arses for, which is an improvement.

RIP champ.
 
Today was similar to the Wolves game; we played well in bursts and took our chances, but we don’t look match sharp or fit yet. We were blowing out of our arses in the last twenty minutes.

Donnarumma had a very safe and commanding debut. His presence was noticeable.

The back four had much better balance with the LB+LCB being left footers and the RCB+RB being right footers. Gvardiol and Khusanov had excellent games but both faded at the end of both halves with barely having any minutes in their legs this season.
Khusanov did play quite well at Brighton but looked awkward being right footed playing LCB. Everything looked more natural for him today.
Dias is a miles better player at RCB than he is LCB. When he and Gvardiol played together in the second half of last season, we barely conceded a goal. And they looked mostly good together today and our best pairing so far this season.

Midfield was okay. United could run through us in open spaces fairly easily too often, to be honest.
Rodri is miles off being match fit, very rusty. He’ll get there in another month or so but I feel we shouldn’t put too much pressure on him yet and maybe not start him against Napoli because I’d hate to risk another injury? Reijnders hasn’t settled yet, he needs to be more confident and put more of a stamp on games from minute-to-minute, want the ball, stay calm in possession but also be stronger defensively. Early days for him still. BSilva looked a shadow of his former self on the wing first half, but did better second half in a deeper position and put a lovely ball through for the third.

Foden, Doku and Haaland were top class!

Foden’s best game since the West Ham title winning game in May 2024. Doku’s best game since he got a goal and four assists against Brighton in November 2023. Haaland was a menace, pressing, leading, scoring, defending (did he head four crosses out in a row at one point?)… mint!

United had loads of opportunities to score in the last twenty minutes, as we were spent physically. Mbeumo is far too good for United and Mainoo looked okay when he came on. Other than that the Rags were poor. A good side would have pulled one or two back against us with the chances they had from 70mins onwards, and we need to bear that in mind against Napoli and Arsenal who won’t fluff chances like the Rags did.

Very nervy and understandably sombre atmosphere until we scored today. Even for it being a Manchester Derby, the first thing and the main thing everyone I spoke to today talked about was Ricky Hatton. The game felt secondary.

After we scored it raised the spirits and then the two second half goals really gave the atmosphere a boost.

Buzzing with the result today but more than anything, THERE’S ONLY ONE RICKY HATTON!
 
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A few random thoughts.

Donnarumma - absolutely love him already. Looked like he’s been there a couple of seasons already and it was only his first game. A man mountain of a keeper, totally commanding, who could be our no.1 for years - you have to feel a bit sorry for Trafford but on today’s evidence Donnarumma is going to be immovable. For once I agree with Gary Chuckle on commentary - being able to pass is nice but jobs no.1 and 2 are stopping the ball going in the net and commanding your area. I’ll accept the slightly iffy long distribution if he keeps up how he did today.

Khusanov. Showed why we all love him. Why the funk have we been playing Nunes at right back all last season when he can play like that? He’s not far off Walker levels of pace and knows how to stick a tackle in. Surely deserves a run there.

Impressed with Dias and Josko. Rodri looks like he needs a few games but is clearly still the Rolls-Royce of a midfielder we all know and it’s good to see him back.

Why can Doku not play like that every week? And let’s hope Foden keeps up that level.

Haaland - an absolute complete performance. Probably the best game I’ve ever seen him play for us. A rock in defence when we needed him, ran his heart out, at the centre of everything. Clearly has the fire back in his belly and pushed the whole team on. What you might describe as a captain’s performance, absolutely immense. Such a shame that he didn’t get the hat-trick he deserved following that Sunday League moment when he ended up hitting the post.

Know better than to get carried away, but more of that all round please. Back to something looking like our best.

And just to finish… it never, ever gets boring that United are totally, utterly, completely hopeless. When you’re bringing on that carthorse Maguire to try and win a game, you know you’ve had it.

The tragic news of Ricky Hatton aside - it’s a good day to be a blue.
 
I’ve been complaining all summer that we need a RB. Yep - the club knew all along that we’ve got a star in Kush. He was amazing. Great tackles & superb pace

I’ll keep schtum in future :-) :-)
 
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