Ruben Amorim saw his Man United side play some good football for once and while getting a draw away in Spain isn't the worst result, he will be upset that his players couldn't take advantage of an average Sociedad side that gave us enough opportunities to make them pay.
This draw is ok but it could make for a potentially (unnecessarily) nervy game at Old Trafford next week.
1. Dalot needs to go
It’s hard to believe that this is the same player that won player of the season last season. His drop off has to be studied because what’s happened to him is unexplainable.
You know what I’m going to talk about.
That decision to not pass to Hojlund is criminal, he should be benched just for that let alone his diabolical performances throughout the season.
it’s very hard to fathom what made him make the choice to not play it first time, run into the box and then go back to Garnacho to kill the opportunity.
What this did was give us two examples.
The first is that Dalot and a lot of our players have low IQ.
Secondly, the system works but because of these low IQ players it looks like it doesn’t.
Some of the best football we play is when they do the simple things well and use the wing-backs which as we know, is an important area for Amorim’s system.
It also indicates that these players do have the ability to play 3-4-3, when they want to.
Dalot was even playing in his preferred position on the right and what is supposed to be the flank that he is better on. Perhaps it’s simply that he’s not good at all regardless of where he plays.
That’s probably it.
Hojlund was understandably upset at not receiving the ball from the defender to whom he let him know about it, but Dalot had the audacity to give some of it back to the striker.
He messed up yet was angry with Hojlund! Talk about low IQ, right?
2. Using width
One thing this chance displayed was the fact that we did use the width a lot.
Both Dalot and Dorgu had the ball quite often however, it was just unfortunate that the pair were probably the two worst players on the pitch as they wasted several of the chances they had to make things happen.
We always moved the ball to one side before trying to make the big switch over to the other to the player in space and time so as to give those wing-backs the opportunity to play the cross. United also tried to make the pitch as big as possible whenever they could which caused Sociedad problems as well.
Something else that was good from the width was the overlapping runs. The goal was an instance where Dalot actually did some good. It was his overlapping run that created the space for Garnacho to play the pass into Zirkzee who scored. Dalot’s run pulls the defender and we end up with the deserved lead.
The system works. These players can play in it.
3. Positional changes
There were quite a few players playing in different positions all over the pitch.
The back three for example saw Mazraoui as the left centre-back, De Ligt in the middle and Yoro to the right. Dorgu came in at left wing-back with Dalot on the right. Garnacho was also playing on the right of the two tens.
I thought that all three in defense looked pretty solid despite playing in different positions to what they’ve been accustomed to this season. None of them looked out of place.
While Dorgu can play on the right, he is better on the left which gives us better balance down the flanks with him and Dalot. Just a pity that both had poor games.
Garnacho didn’t actually start on the right but moved there halfway through the first half. Perhaps the manager felt that he wasn’t passing to Dorgu enough and needed a player on that side who will, like Zirkzee.
This switch did work as Garnacho got the assist from the right and even had two good chances coming in off that flank. This also meant it took away that ability to cut in and shoot which is something we know the star boy has a frustrating habit of doing.
I’m not sure why there were so many of these changes by Amorim but it did work and at least shows the versatility of these players.
4. Wasteful
United are a side that don’t create enough goal scoring scenarios anyway so when we do, we HAVE to take them.
Against Sociedad, we had a total of 13 shots with 5 on target and really should’ve scored at least 3 goals when looking at those opportunities. We had two cleared off the line within seconds of each other as well as two into the side netting by Garnacho when he should’ve hit the target.
Then of course, there was Dalot not passing to Hojlund which, even with his poor form, probably would’ve resulted in a goal.
I guess the fact that we’re now creating these situations is a good thing but what’s the point when we’re going to waste them?
This is part of the reason as to why we find ourselves in the position we’re in.
5. Dropping heads
This isn’t something that we learned just from this match but it did seem to have gone out of our game for a bit as we have had the ability in recent times to come back in games.
I suppose the fact that we took the lead for once was the difference but we did play relatively well for most of that match but once something goes against us, heads drop.
That penalty came out of nowhere and was the only time Sociedad did anything of note. Scoring that not only brought them back in the game but also gave them a confidence that which they didn’t have prior to that spot kick.
That was their only shot on target but following that, in those final 20 minutes, they managed to create a couple more with one particular opportunity being one they should’ve scored from.
For us to let them have those chances after we were in the ascendency is unacceptable as after that Zirkzee strike, United created nothing in attack.
Another example of the weak mindset of our players.
There were also other aspects of our game like the high press, quick turnovers and transitions that suggested the system can work and that the manager will be content with.
Background Image: Joshua Zirkzee strikes as Man Utd draw 1-1 at Real Sociedad | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)