20 Jun 2020 10:51:23
Tactically poor from OGS again.

Why have pogba with fitness coach at full pelt at HT then wait another 15 min to bring him on?

Why even start James never mind wait another 15 min after HT to bring him off? he's absolute garbage.

Putting Mctominay CB then bringing him off fir a CB?

I think Fred should've stayed on instead of Mctominay but that's my opinion.

We play better with Matic sitting and played a key part in that 11 game unbeaten run, don't see why he didn't start.

Pogba changed the game still our best player hopefully can kick on.

Few players off the pace people which is expected.

Got to start both Fernandes and Pogba next game for me with Matic sitting.


1.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 11:29:03
Correct.


2.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 11:41:25
Wilbot

We will have the defenders of Ole after us, but it was tactically naive from the starting team selection to the dithering over subs. How many times, Ole’s in game management is very lacking.


3.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 12:04:20
I'm not ole's biggest fan bbt we are all disappointed that it was only a point away to a spurs team managed by the messiah jose. Not all bad.


4.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 12:11:48
Spurs tactical where as defensive as it comes, kane son etc and they parked the bus .
We took the game to spurs and the special one .
When pogba and greenwood come on they they both made a difference .
Jose cv was 100% on show last night, spurs boring, negative untied and ole the better team .
Watching that last night I'm so glad jose and hi brand are no longer at united.


5.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 12:18:01
Christ alive. Tactically all wrong? We won that game if it wasn’t for ANOTHER clanger from the keeper. We missed chances and I’d say would have been good value for the win. This isn’t anything in defence of Ole, but individual errors cost us last night not him.

First game back after 99 days, what are we expecting? James might have started because he was in the best shape. It’s going to take 3/ 4 games minimum for the players to be up to scratch fitness wise. No need to be so harsh.

Pogba did change the game, but he didn’t deserve to start, he hadn’t played since Boxing Day. Personally I wouldn’t have started rashford for the same reason but I felt he did well.

Seems like we’ve waited 99 to have a pop at manager. Be glad it’s back and look for some bloody positives because there were some last night, especially second half.


6.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 12:26:49
While I agree Ole isn't the best tactically, I think it might be a bit harsh to judge last night's tactical decisions entirely based on a tactical merit.

Fitness will be a huge issue over the first few games. Pogba not starting for example probably has more to do with him not starting a match since September and not playing since Boxing Day. Matic struggles with fitness so I wasn't surprised with him not starting, McTominay is one of the fittest players in the squad, so I can see why Fred was taken off before McTominay.

I think the starting 11 named was probably our fittest 11 players. Which probably makes sense given the amount of time the players have had off and the limited opportunities they have had to get back up to fitness.

Ordinarily when players would have 3 months off over a summer that didn't have an international tournament they would have 4-5 weeks of pre-season with warm weather training camps, a tour and 6-7 games played. Currently they have had 2-3 weeks with only a couple of games and at the start limited contact and small groups training.

On the balance of play a draw was a fair result, away to a Jose Mourinho team. If anything I think we had the better chances and bar two great saves from Lloris from Rashford and Martial we could have snuck all three points. While the goal we conceded was in part due to rustiness of our defenders and part due to a very poor attempted save from DDG. Neither can really be blamed on the manager.

While I'm disappointed with a draw, it's certainly not the worst result. Especially when in context that this was our first game back and on paper our toughest remaining league fixture.


7.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 13:13:38
Jred

If you knew how Jose would play, why didn’t Ole and the management team? Why play James if there isn’t going to be space to run into?


8.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 13:14:31
When you desperately want to see the back of someone, you will find the most minute of things about them to criticize so am not surprised at some of the posts. My only issue with the game yesterday was that we played to slowly in the first half and James was virtually ineffective on the right due to how Spurs were set up there was no space for him to run in behind. In my opinion I would have started Mata on the right due to his technical ability on the ball and also his ability to find those little pockets of space with his clever runs am sure Bruno would've found him with those lobs over the defense. Mata would've either been fouled which might result in a penalty, get a shot on target, or plays a pass to an open team mate. I believe Mata and Bruno could also form a partnership on the pitch due to both being intelligent players. Am open to hear other posters opinion on a Mata/ Bruno link. We all know Mata is slow but pace was never his main asset. And based on our remaining fixtures, I believe most of the teams will adopt that sitting deep approach.


9.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 13:49:34
StLucia

At the standard of football we play at, we should expect to have in place a manager who makes obvious decisions like the James one, like the timing of substitutions. Games are won and lost on small margins where such decisions are vital to get right, it’s one of the reasons why the top managers are sought after because they tend to.

Most other teams will look at the pace we have got and will not generously leave gaping spaces to use it, Ole has previously shown ineptitude when it comes to breaking down teams that sit back. We have a mini league right now of 8 games that we have to win well, we can’t afford learning on the job but that is what we have. We need a string of wins from here, maximising the finesse of Pogba and Bruno In tandem possibly plus Greenwood, the manager has to improve tactically to do that.


10.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 13:49:38
Redman maybe there to look after the right side? Your talking about 1 issue.
99 days off loads of positives your picking minor faults .
Fir me we where by far the better team, a lot better to watch .
Spurs jose and his cv an absolute bore fest incomparisom .


11.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 14:06:19
Jred

This 1 issue happens to be the tactical acumen, or lack of it, of the manager, rather important don’t you think?


12.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 14:15:21
Mason has struggled when starting but has proved very effective coming off the bench. Perhaps this was in the thinking when starting DJ. We can nitpick on the tactical decisions and the delays in subs but on the whole - given the unprecedented lay off and this is the first game back - I think there's a lot to take from dominating a Jose team at home in which a horrendous error on our part and two fantastic saves denied us from what could easily have been a 3-0/ 3-1. Obviously there was some rustiness and against a well drilled team with a low block it was always going to be hard to unpick them. Lose some of the sloppy touches here and there around the box and we could have created a lot more. With everything taken into account I think there's a lot to take from the game, and agendas aside I can't understand all the negativity.


13.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 14:16:49
Redman James didn't have a good game neither did kane it happens.
Loads of positives last night.

Your a massive fan of jose how do you think spurs where last night?
Awful footy imo, jose on the worse run of his career.
You have made a big deal about pogba not starting, what do you think about the decision to play and not sub kane? Worse player on the pitch imo.


14.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 14:42:17
If anyone looked likely to win, it was United.
The save from Loris of Martial was a top one.

Unfortunately, this was the 5th game of the season where De Gea did another blunder.
Maguire too was at fault but he kept Kane in his pocket and was imperious aerially.

Even in the last minute of the match, Greenwood had a good opportunity.

Yes, a victory was essential, but the rustiness and tiredness was clear.
There were a lot of positives especially from Pogba.
That pass on the half volley to Rashford was probably the best of the season.


15.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 14:38:04
I thought not starting pogba last night was the correct decision, allowed him to come on after so long out against tired legs and on another day we won 3-0 as said above. Also, Scott and Fred were brilliant before the break, not sure anyone could justify dropping either of them for a player who’s hardly played.


16.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 14:51:27
Ole out brigade: "Ole got the tactics and team selection all wrong"

I make a valid point that team selection and tactics were probably more to do with fitness as this is the first competitive game in three months, with very little time to prepare for the game with less than ideal conditions.

Ole out brigade: with fingers in ears "lalalalala I can't hear you, Ole bla bla bla"

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.


17.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 14:43:59
With what we have at our disposal 532 is probably our best formation.

We have no good wingers at all.


18.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 14:54:13
Last night was such a clear representation in the change of direction the club has taken under Ole. If you could honestly say you didn't prefer the United performance to the Tottenham one, then you need your head checked. On one hand, we had the typical dogged, defensive Jose performance to which we became accustomed to - and they were at home!

Then we had the United team pressing high, playing with a high defensive line and trying to inject some impetus to the game. It wasn't flawless and I don't think Ole has the acumen to take us forward indefinitely, however the starkness in the mentality of the performances confirmed to me that I'm happy for Ole to continue to restore the ethos, steady the ship and take the team forward beyond the summer.


19.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 15:10:22
TRD have to disagree with the Maguire assessment, I seriously don't see what he brings to the team. Much of the marking kane out of the game was done by lindelof, only thing maguire seemed to be doing is consistently leaving his cb position to take the ball up field only to make a 5 yard pass to shaw or rashford.

I don't get the tactical criticism of ole, they had 2 chances, 1 was the goal, other was the save off son. The goal was individual error. Only thing I would criticize ole for is the timing of the subs, every substitution he made should have been made 15 earlier than than he did. Someone really needs to tell him, 45th minute substitution is allowed and he doesn't have to wait for 60th-70th minute to make subs.

James was atrocious, Greenwood should be starting games from now on, Martial, mctominay, fred, rashford were poor. Pogba once again showed up his haters, being the best player on the pitch while playing just 30 mins, I can't wait for pog-nandes to start games.


20.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 15:32:06
Somerset
You hit the nail on head there.


21.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 15:47:45
It's as if I've never been away. Could have set my watch by some of these posts.

{Ed047's Note - it never changes, when you’re not playing your brilliant and players like Martial will be club legends and then when you play you see how far behind the real big boys you are and Martial is simply a leg end! 🤷‍♂️


22.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 16:12:45
I have no problem with the starting line up other than I would have started Greenwood over James but i could see the logic.
We don't see training and who has shone or struggled to last the pace.
Looking at the games in Germany and early PL it feels similar with players off pace and the odd mistake. Results not as would have been pre C.V.
What we need to do is look to the next game, learn from this and see who is ready for that one.
In game decisions do worry me with Olly and would have made the change at half time.


23.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 16:32:03
I wouldn't be too critical of any player with the exception of ddg.
Hindsight is great. Although changing 2 at half time would have been my preference.
There was very little quality on show. Pogba and bruno did produce good moments and chances. Other than that our pushing was very poor. Martial had 20 touches of the ball 5 in their box. That tells you we were not passing forward enough.
We were better than spurs they nicked a goal and sat deep we've seen it often enough. They came out after or goal a little but over all they were poor.
Im not sure anyone is convinced by ollys in-game management. let's hope Chelsea slip up like Leicester did. We don't need the gap getting any bigger.


24.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 17:40:55
Jred

You asked “Your a massive fan of jose how do you think spurs where last night? Answer Better organised than us.

“You have made a big deal about pogba not starting, what do you think about the decision to play and not sub kane? Worse player on the pitch imo” Answer I didn’t make any such thing about Pogba. I thought after the strenuous warm up at half time Ole should have been decisive and brought him on for the full second half. Ole dithered. As to Kane I think not enough credit was given to Maguire who handled him very well.

Last night needed a decision at half time but we got indecision. We had 5 sub options so 2 at half time would have been the call. Did you really think Janes was going to make the difference after that first half show?

It’s a point yes but in the circumstances I wanted to see us come out and stamp our mark. We knew how Spurs would play but set the team up with pace to run into space behind their defence. Then didn’t change it at half time. Indecisive.

It was a draw, not a terrible result but when we have 9 cup finals we didn’t look like we were desperate to win, just happy not to lose.

Remember this is not about winning the league, this is about getting into the top 4, that’s where we are at.


25.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 17:43:57
Perhaps the fitness coaches thought pogba would be good for 30 minutes after so long out and that’s why we saw the changes when we did. Good start back for him and hopefully he gets 60 on Wednesday and so on.


26.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 17:45:45
We played fine for the first game in 3 months.

Jose parked his bus and we struggled to break them down.

Only mistake was starting James over Greenwood which he changed and was a fair mistake, Spurs being the home side would have expected to bring something to the game.

It’s not hard to imagine Utd playing like Spurs last night. pick your poison.


27.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 17:46:30
Personally thought OGS played it well. Knew Sours would press, and then brought on Pogba and Greenwood to exploit their fatigue which, bar an excellent performance from Loris and and poor error from DDG would have worked.


28.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 17:53:16
Redman
So maguire handled kane? kane was awful last night for the full 90 minutes .
James had a poor game and was replaced, greenwood come on and made a difference.

I woukdnt make a sub at half time, it very rarely happens for a reason .
Fact is the changes ole made worked and after a 99 day lay off and not 1 proper warm up game it was a positive first game .
I'm glad I'm not a spurs fan and after watching a masterclass in negative boring football I'm glad jose and his cv have gone .


29.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 18:10:12
Gds
Also if you look at the other side of it players like James martial and a few others may need a couple of games to get up and running . Ots never as simple as people make out .
I think it was a good time and moment for pogba and especially greenwood to come in to the game.
Would they of played as well from the start?

Pogba could play full tempo and have a real go for 30 minutes as apposed to pacing himself for 90.
Greenwood was able to stay up top and play in the last 3rd, no tracking back as spurs made little attempt to get out there half.


30.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 18:56:30
Red Man, did you enjoy watching Spurs last night? I always liked watching them over the years. Like us, they have a reputation for trying to play good football. I watched them last night, and it was just like watching us under José. If you want that, then fair enough, but I think he's got even more risk-averse as he's got older. Awful performance from them. There was only one team trying to win that game, and it wasn't Spurs.

As for subs at half-time, in all seriousness, how many times do you see a manager make a sub at half-time, never mind 2? Not often, and usually only if someone is carrying an injury, someone gets sent off, or you're getting a hiding.


31.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 20:11:00
Well said Nou.


32.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 20:20:48
"We won that game if it wasn’t for ANOTHER clanger from the keeper" love that line because you could change a few words and have "We won that game if it wasn’t for a terribly weak foul by Dier"


33.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 20:29:40
James 9s poor up there with Lingard and periera for me.

Don't give him space to run then that's him out the game.

Championship quality player.


We probably need two wingers not one in the summer.


34.) 20 Jun 2020
20 Jun 2020 23:20:21
Looking at the fixtures left for ourselves Leicester and Chelsea, even though the others have a points advantage I can see almost a 3 way tie by the end of the season. I still believe City’s ban will be upheld at least for a season so 5th should be good enough but clearly Sheffield United and possibly Wolves will be in the mix too.

Dropping points in a very winnable game yesterday I think means we can only drop 2pts for the remainder of the campaign. Despite that looking a tall order it is possible given a fully fit squad. But we have to start with the best 11 players we have and utilise the 5 subs to keep players fresh.

Ole has to make tactical changes as early as possible. Martial did nothing for me. Again. Yes forced a great save but what else. Ighalo should have been introduced much earlier and held up the ball better as well as being greater physical presence. Pogba should have started for me and failing that started the second half at the very least. Equally Dan James could’ve been pulled earlier too.

Our best midfield is Matic and Pogba behind Bruno. Start with that and good options in Fred (though average yesterday) and McTominay to change things up or offer fresh legs. Greenwood needs to start. Starts before Martial all day for me but more likely takes James RW spot. Given games will come thick and fast I’d be minded to give Ighalo much more game time and starts.

Lots of negativity around and natural after dropping points in a game many will think we should’ve won. There were good signs too though in how we played second half.

Like I said I do think looking at remaining fixtures we can qualify for Champs League and that is ultimately on what Ole will be judged on. A lot to play for and still can win 2 cups too but there is absolutely no margin for error now.


35.) 21 Jun 2020
21 Jun 2020 02:01:58
Halesini,

I think we can drop more than that, results will be a lot stranger than you’re expecting, we are in with a shot of top 4, top 3 if we do win almost every game.


36.) 21 Jun 2020
21 Jun 2020 08:24:14
99 days off no pre season, I think all teams will drop points there will be some strange results.