I was out last night and for once managed a total information blackout so I could watch the match without spoilers in the early hours. At risk of repeating points already made in what I'm sure was a nuanced and perspicacious match thread, here are my takeaways:
- The difference between our Sociedad (and several of our Europa) performances and our domestic form underline the role of physicality. In the PL we get outrun and outfought by most teams. Last night we played a team that was technically accomplished and tactically smart, but we dominated them (and mostly looked technically accomplished and tactically smart) because overall we were stronger and faster than them. Among all the ways that our front office has let us down over the last few years, failing to notice this happening in the PL and to factor it into recruitment strategy has been one of the most catastrophic. (Mourinho's team generally played underwhelming football but what it did achieve was built upon an understanding that physicality gives you a decent foundation.) I'm pretty sure athleticism will be a prerequisite in player recruitment going forward. Amorim mentioned this factor in his post-match interview.
- It follows that we shouldn't naively assume this was the match we turned the corner. Now we go back to playing PL teams who will have a physical edge on us. However, it's still really encouraging to see players beginning to understand Amorim's ideas and are able to execute them if they are brave enough and not under the cosh. Build-up patterns worked well and created lots of chances.
- Zirkzee proving to those reluctant to accept it that he's an unusually gifted footballer. His touch and passing were outstanding. It was clear from the beginning that he's a false 9, not a striker, and it's for Amorim to figure out whether that's a good long-term fit in his system. But if he doesn't have a future at United, it's about profile fit, not quality.
- Hojlund's all-round game looked much more like what the system requires of him. Still weighed down by the goal drought, but if he plays like that for the rest of the season, the goals will come.
- Dorgu: a glimpse of how elite physicality at wing back can transform this system. Still a bit raw as a player and sometimes not quite on the same wavelength as his new teammates, but a very encouraging performance. Also credit to him for his cynical show of sportsmanship with the penalty that was going to be overruled by VAR anyway: establish a reputation for honesty so you can cheat when it really matters.
- Heaven: a really impressive first start. Not perfect but classy on the ball and apparently nerveless.
- I much prefer a back three that has either De Ligt or Maguire as CCB and either side choose from Yoro / Mazraoui / Martinez / looks like we can add Heaven to that list.
- A month ago we all thought Casemiro was Finished. He's clearly some way along the downward slope of his career but if we limit the amount of space he has to patrol, there's some genuine quality to eke out of him in whatever time he remains on the payroll.
- Garnacho: continues to be our most penetrative attacker, and less tempted to take ill-advised shots when he's cutting in from the right flank.
- Time for the last remaining Bruno haters to apologise and SТFU.
- Speaking of hate, 1) Dalot had a good game, winning the ball, initiating and participating in attacks and took his goal really well and 2) I defy anyone not to love André Onana - at least for that fleeting moment - after our final goal when the camera settled on him, with a cheeky smile on his face, turning to run back into his half after joining the celebration.
Thoughts on Sociedad match
posted on 14/3/25
comment by Onana_banana_fi_fa_fofana (U20611)
posted 31 minutes ago
At the end of last season Bruno's form was even better than this but once it dipped again the haters were back out in force... This time will be no different.
.....................
For my part, it is nothing to do with being a Bruno hater, as I do not hate him.
I can simply see his faults and have no problem drawing attention to him when he is poor.
What I assume you mean by haters are the knuckleheads on the match threads who seem to hate everything to do with the club.
posted on 14/3/25
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
posted 14 minutes ago
The Summer recruitment will be absolutely key to how we go though. Get it right and we could be much better next season. Get it wrong and it could be another long season! Dorgu has raised the physicality on the left and it looks like Heaven could be a nice little bonus if he can be an effective squad player for that back three. For me he looks a good prayer.
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We obviously don't have the resources to sign Generational Talents™ this summer, but I think there's the potential for significant progress if we can simply bring in players who meet a minimum standard of technical proficiency, athleticism and profile fit for the role they will be deployed in. While a lot of the clubs doing a lot better than us on far smaller resources (Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth the obvious examples) are succeeding in identifying real gems at below market rate, their squads aren't stacked with elite players. But they are better stocked than ours with players who meet those basic criteria.
I'd guess that the kind of floor-raising recruitment we need to make in order to assemble a squad that can take us back to making a decent challenge for the CL places will be an easier task than the ceiling-raising recruitment needed to go from there to challenging for the title. Arsenal's journey under Arteta is an example worth scrutinising (and they've done a pretty good job at the second stage of that process).
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I don't think we should be averse to shopping in the Championship when it comes to recruitment and I'm hoping we're looking there for signings. Especially from teams that are there who may just miss out on promotion. I've read we may be interested in Hayden Hackney from Boro for example.
posted on 14/3/25
The Summer recruitment will be absolutely key to how we go though.
—
Said diafol for the 10th season running
posted on 14/3/25
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA606 Class Act (U2462)
I don't think we should be averse to shopping in the Championship when it comes to recruitment and I'm hoping we're looking there for signings. Especially from teams that are there who may just miss out on promotion. I've read we may be interested in Hayden Hackney from Boro for example.
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I stumbled across a thought-provoking and cruelly neglected article that touches on this topic the other day, Diafol: https://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/466865
posted on 14/3/25
Onto last night.
I have kept reasonably quiet on Ruben so far and will probably refrain from criticism of him until next season.
In recent weeks I think we have seen a bit of an improvement in our overall play which suggest to me that the players are getting used to what he wants.
What is letting us down is the same thing that let us down under ETH and that is converting the chances we create.
Last night was another example of chances going amiss.
I do not see as much doom and gloom as quite a few posters on here, though. I think we would be much higher up in the league if Rashford, Garnacho, Rasmus and Zirkzee converted a lot of the easy chances they have had.
posted on 14/3/25
comment by Baz tard - ineos your face (U19119)
posted 7 minutes ago
The Summer recruitment will be absolutely key to how we go though.
—
Said diafol for the 10th season running
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I'll be right one day.*
*Also hoping RR realises I've neglected his comment to reply to your. Although, because this is the only way to flag what I've done it's kind of actually replied to him.
posted on 14/3/25
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 2 hours, 25 minutes ago
Whilst agreeing in general about athlétisme I'm sure there's still a place for a lower but very skilled presence in midfield.
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Not in the prem. Especially in a back 3.
posted on 14/3/25
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
Whilst agreeing in general about athlétisme I'm sure there's still a place for a lower but very skilled presence in midfield.
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I think a relatively slow / weak player can thrive in the PL. But he'd need to have extremely high technical skill to compensate for it. United's problem is that we have too many players who lack acceleration and/or stamina, so the effect is magnified.
posted on 14/3/25
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 10 minutes ago
comment by Onana_banana_fi_fa_fofana (U20611)
posted 31 minutes ago
At the end of last season Bruno's form was even better than this but once it dipped again the haters were back out in force... This time will be no different.
.....................
For my part, it is nothing to do with being a Bruno hater, as I do not hate him.
I can simply see his faults and have no problem drawing attention to him when he is poor.
What I assume you mean by haters are the knuckleheads on the match threads who seem to hate everything to do with the club.
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It's sounds like hating but it's understanding how football evolves. Knowing if that star player is actually worth the title and relying on him, it is one of the first things many good managers have to decide. That player has to provide a base when the team is at their worst and be best when the team is at its best. No matter what you can be sure of a 6/10 minimum every game.
That Bruno can look like putrid in one (a few games) and look good in another is problematic because he is the "best player". He automatically decides the form of the team. Reminds me of Le tisser in Southampton, so good when he's on and so bad when he's not.
So many teams have been moving on on players like these early and get good value and search for a new "big name" player. We should be finding the sucker, not ending up with him when the downs are a lot more than the ups.
posted on 14/3/25
Tomatoes, I'd argue that Bruno has been pretty consistently good for a long while. Not good enough to single-handedly mitigate fundamental issues with the team, but who is? When the team is bad, mistakes he makes get amplified in the general hysteria, and people start to scapegoat his demeanour as a cause of the team's failings. (Case in point, Ronaldo's demeanour on the pitch has always been similarly histrionic, and I'd argue he's more egotistical and petulant than Bruno, but with him playing well in successful teams it was generally interpreted as a part and parcel of the uniquely single-minded winner. With Bruno playing well in a bad team, it's "poor leadership" etc.) Take Bruno out of this team and you not only deprive us of the quality of our best player, but also the player who consistently sets the standards in terms of work rate. And I think it's getting hard to argue that the flip side of the goals, assists and quality in progressing the ball is an undisciplined tendency to lose the ball by attempting heroics all the time: whether played in CM or as a 10, he's fulfilling Amorim's requirements with discipline.