What an absolutely pathetic performance! How they didn't beat that shower of shit, I'll never know 🤷️.
But FC Twente, you should be E M B A R R A S S E D at that display and not being able to defeat such an opponent.
Shocking!
Jokes aside, MUFC were pretty flat and gave us a bit of PTSD as after three really positive performances, they reverted to default settings and bring back all those frustrations and concerns of the past.
1. Disjointed
This word perfectly defines that performance from United.
It looked like it was a bunch of strangers playing with each other for the first time. There was no rhythm, no fluidity, no chemistry between the team. There was a lack of urgency and energy from those on the field.
For an opening game and on a European night at Old Trafford, we really should be expecting much better.
Erik ten Hag also didn't make several changes to his starting lineup. Maguire came in for De Ligt, Ugarte for Mainoo and I'm not even going to count Rashford for Garnacho because the number 10 is more often than not, in the first team.
So basically just two changes and we didn't have any understanding with each other when just days before, we played some of the best football we've seen from MUFC in recent years.
2. Not enough changes to starting XI?
But could perhaps the lack of energy be because we didn't see that many changes?
I know this could be interpreted as a bit contradictory as saying that we had no chemistry with pretty much the same team that's been playing most of the season and then asking for more changes maybe slightly confusing, but just for the lack of energy, perhaps bringing in a few others could've been something the manager could've done?
Basically two changes to the starting lineup to the one that played on Saturday was not enough in my opinion as I would've liked to have seen more. I'm not making excuses for those that did start as playing Saturday to Wednesday should be something that they're capable of but maybe it was a little too much for some.
I'm not sure why we didn't see the likes of Antony and Casemiro as this sort of game was ideal to bring them in. Two players who are good enough to play against a side like Twente and showcase whether they're MUFC-level players or not as well as rest some of the first-team regulars.
The squad is also bigger and better so I believe more changes should've been made.
3. Defence not as good
Due to that one change at the back (Maguire for De Ligt), I don't think our back line looked as comfortable and confident as when the Dutchman is in the side.
The defensive line was also on the deeper side more often than I would've liked compared to what we've seen whenever De Ligt has been there.
This caused that big gap to reappear in midfield as we saw most of last season. The full-backs weren't as confident in going forward without that reassurance of a De Ligt as Maguire is slower and just overall, not as good.
Ugarte was having to cover a lot of ground as Eriksen doesn't have that capability. This left the Uruguayan exposed much like Casemiro last year.
Our back five has been one of the areas of major improvement for the club this season as we look a lot more solid and allow the team to play more in the style that we want whilst also preventing opposition's from having too many chances. United had kept two clean sheets in a row before this game as well.
4. Long balls returned
With Maguire back there, I did see a lot more long balls.
These never truly work unless they are absolutely pinpoint, which they never are, and end up just being a waste.
Prior to this match, United would keep the ball on the ground a lot more, play it simple and between the two centre-backs, would pass it from side-to-side a lot (which did frustrate many) but at least it meant that we had possession and weren't just going long for the sake of it. This resulted in gradual progression up the field to a point where we could suffocate the opposition in their own half as most of our players were in their half.
Rashford was also prone to trying the odd long ball that didn't really come off. These long balls ended up bypassing Zirkzee who is a player who prefers the ball into feet rather than anything in behind.
When he gets the ball into feet, he can link up the play, hold the ball up. His flicks are pretty good and he brings others into play while also creating spaces for his team-mates to move into which in turn, have the chance to create opportunities for United.
Going long just takes him out of the game and takes away potential goal scoring opportunities for ten Hag's team.
5. Slow manager reactions
His reactions to how his side was playing was really unhurried.
The home side were playing some pretty flat stuff all match yet ten Hag did very little (if anything) to affect it whether it was tactically or via substitutions.
Those changes he made were also predictable but incorrect. Those three substitutions of Mount, Mainoo and Hojlund came too late as they needed to come on about 10 minutes earlier.
Keeping on Bruno Fernandes was criminal. Moving him to the right-wing to accommodate him in the side was even worse. Zirkzee was playing pretty well (again) but he was axed by the manager (again); Garnacho coming on for Amad was correct but to play him on the right wasn't as the 20-year-old appears better off the left; Eriksen was influencing the game albeit both positively and negatively, but he was definitely better than the skipper yet the Dane was subbed.
These changes affected the game negatively much like against Palace and is a recurring theme for the manager. Substitutions are supposed to improve the side when they're not playing well. Ours doesn't.
I also believe that the manager keeps certain players on for moments (ahem, Bruno). We cannot be carrying players for those moments as it usually works against everyone.
The bigger and better managers make the big calls and take players off who need to be substituted regardless of who they are. Our manager doesn't. This favoritism and blind backing of some players was something that I wanted to see removed from ten Hag this season but so far, it has remained.
United have now made qualifying for the next round of this competition a little harder than it should've been even if I do think there are enough other opportunities to get through.
That Spurs game will also probably see a side with less confidence that it should've had.
What a disappointing and unnecessary draw.
Background Image: Bruno Fernandes drops another disasterclass against FC Twente | Creator: Michael Regan | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2024 Getty Images via Man Utd News