Game review
This game has just summed up Manchester United lately. They go on a little win streak beating smaller clubs but then when it’s time to step up and play Man City they put on a performance like this. Now to be fair we were dealing with some injuries such as Casemiro, Shaw, and Martinez but injuries are a part of the game and unfortunately Man United doesn’t buy depth in the transfer window, they like to buy 100m wingers. So yes I do think if we had those players we would have had a different game but honestly I think we still would have lost it. Now let’s talk about what actually happened in the game. Erling Haaland scored twice and foden bagged one in there as well. Haaland’s first goal came from a very controversial penalty call. Now was this a foul, yes it was, but was this a penalty in the Manchester Derby, NO. Now Haaland’s other goal and Foden’s as well just came from having Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire in your defence
Erik Ten Hag
Another thing that needs to be talked about is how horrible of a coaching performance that was from Erik Ten Hag. He just got out coached plain and simple, and I really hope for his sake that Varane was dealing with an injury because there is no reason not to pick him in a game like that. Also Sofyan Amrabat was holding down that defensive midfield all by himself and was doing a good job of it too. Then Ten Hag decides to take him off for Mason Mount. Just why, Mason Mount is a quality player and is great at creating chances but not at DM. Then the game fell apart and they lost 3-0. One last thing I would like to talk about is Garnacho. Why does Erik Ten Hag never want to start this man. He puts Scott McTominay at attacking midfield for some reason and put Bruno on the wing so he didn’t have to play Garnacho, just play the man please.
Player Ratings
Starting Lineup
Andre Onana 8/10 ★
The amount of hate this man has been getting is crazy. Sure he has let in some weak goals but look at the defense around him. Today he was absolutely brilliant, without him the game could have easily been 5-0 or 6-0. He stopped Haaland TWICE in the six yard box. Along with amazing distribution is why I have giving him the Man of the match.
Diogo Dalot 5/10
I am usually a big Dalot fan but these games are when we need Wan-Bissaka back. Dalot can just get exposed defensively and that is what happened in this game. Grealish and Silva were just going right through him with ease. I still think he is a great right back but he has to get better defensively and that’s why I gave him a 5.
Harry Maguire 6/10
Harry Maguire is a world class defender…but only at defending. He can lock down some of the world’s best players but they cannot play a possession game with him at the back. He is one of the worst passers in the league and it showed out there. His horrible passing stopped him from getting a 7 but still a decent game for him.
Jonny Evans 5/10
Erik Ten Hag decided to start this guy over Varane. Jonny Evans is a 35 year old center back that was never world class, he should never play in a game like this. He should only be playing in games like Brentford and cup games. This is why we wanted to sign another center back so we didn’t have to start Evans. He can not defend or pass and he is lucky to get a 5.
Victor Lindelof 6/10
Lindelof should be starting over Evans every single day. Move him to center back and put Reguilon at left back. Anyways Lindelof had a solid game defensively and that’s all we can ask for from him, but I would like to see him move up the pitch more as he did very well against FC Kopenhagen.
Sofyan Amrabat 7/10
Amrabat single handedly controlled the defensive midfield and when he came off it was noticeable. He was cutting passing lanes and great at man marking. I would have liked to see more offense usually but today we really couldn’t afford to not have him back on defense.
Christian Eriksen 7/10
Another great game from Christian Eriksen. His passing was elite and he was doing a good job of tracking back. I did not like Ten Hag’s decision to bring him off. I do understand that he is getting older and needs some time to rest but with that performance I don’t think he should be brought off there.
Marcus Rashford 4/10
Marcus Rashford man, what is happening right now. I am not normally one to jump on the hate train but something needs to change quickly. I don’t think it’s all his fault either because Ten Hag needs to bring him off more or not even start him. In this game he couldn’t get anything going and was invisible.
Scott McTominay 7/10
I am going to say the same thing I said about Rashford but the opposite, what is happening right now to this guy. He has become a completely different player than he used to be. I also love Ten Hag’s decision to play him further up the pitch. He was robbed of a goal by Ederson and overall had a great game.
Bruno Fernandes 6/10
I hate to see the hate that Bruno has been getting lately when none of this is really his fault. In this game he did not play his best but I think someone needs to tell Ten Hag that Bruno is not a winger. He plays best in the attacking midfielder role where he can dribble and create, but solid game would have liked more though.
Rasmus Hojlund 7/10
This is exactly the type of player Manchester United needs. He came here not because of the money, but because he wanted to be a Red and that is exactly what we were looking for. In this game he made so many good runs and put on some good pressure. If he got some better passes I think he would have bagged a goal today.
Substitutes
Mason Mount 6/10
Mason Mount is a fantastic player when he is played in the right position and defensive midfielder is not in the right position. I think he had a good game going forward but playing DM he was not good enough defensively but that is more Ten Hag’s fault than his.
Sergio Reguilon 5/10
I would have loved to see this man start the game. He was just put in a death trap after coming in and none of those goals were his fault but when 2 goals happen and you’re a defender you have to take some blame. Although good passing and inverted runs from him this game.
Alejandro Garnacho 6/10
Ten Hag needs to start this man. He is always one of our best players when he comes off the bench and never starts over Rashford even though Rashford is out of form right now, but this game he was good as well. He couldn’t do a lot because the team didn’t really do a lot and he got put on in the 73th minute and didn’t really get the ball. Overall solid game.
Antony 5/10
I mean nobody is going to talk about his game play and more about his yellow card against Jeremy Doku. I think it was too hard of a foul for that late in the game but Doku’s reaction was childish and unnecessary. Also the very untrue posts on his Instagram and Twitter were childish and are crazy since he has been in the prem for less than a season.
Anthony Martial 6/10
Came on in the 86th and only touched the ball twice. I can’t really give him a 5 because he didn’t do anything wrong but he also didn’t do anything right so I can’t give him anything higher. He really just came in so Hojlund wouldn’t get injured and give him a rest.
Summary
This game was an absolute embarrassment for Manchester United and especially Erik Ten Hag. Their next game isn’t much easier against Newcastle in the EFL Cup. Hopefully Erik Ten Hag and the whole of the Manchester United squad do a lot better and can squeeze out a win.
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