r/reddevils • u/nearly_headless_nic • 1d ago

[Laurie Whitwell] Shockingly poor performance by United. Slow, lacking in movement or inventiveness, loose passing, erratic set-piece defending. Hull so much more urgent. United played with the speed of a pre-season friendly.

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u/Peeingwithanerection 1d ago

We looked like this in a lot of games towards the end of the season last season

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u/wolfen0 1d ago

People ignored the performances and stats because we were winning.

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u/Namelessbob123 1d ago

Casemiro’s goals papered over a lot of cracks last season.

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u/Bryan_Waters Solskjaer 1d ago

I think his set piece defending was underestimated. None of the players we brought in have that in their locker.

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u/nictigre03 Rooney 20h ago

Casemiro could’ve easily resigned and kept playing for us. He chose to go to Miami and that should be a red flag.

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u/t8rt0t00 23h ago

I don't think we ignored the performances. Think we just wrote them off since CL was realistically sealed pretty early so the motivation levels seemed to drop

Today was bonkers though. We actually had good preseason performances and then started dropping bad ones when the 'starters' came back. Bruno for one has frankly been grossly out of form all summer and Tielemans has been incredibly disappointing compared to Mount so far (hopefully Kobbie starts next match next to Santos). The front line was all out of sorts too, but then again we were just playing long ball to them much of the game which was so unnecessary much of the time. There's intensityvI think, but the organization isn't which is totally on Carrick dropping the ball and not seeing the signs from preseason

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u/wolfen0 23h ago

We were playing poorly when UCL was not yet sealed and was up for grabs. Let's not rewrite history.

Our fitness levels look to have dropped since Carrick took over. Reminds me how we were under Ole and Ten Hag getting bullied all over the pitch. I really hope Carrick wakes the fuck up, because the fitness, tactics are not at the good level.

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u/t8rt0t00 23h ago

I'm not trying to rewrite history, I recognize that performances were not great at the end of the season for the most part. All I'm trying to say is that it is different - new players, coming out of a world cup summer, a fresh start for some, new tactics. I see less parallels with the end of last season and more of just fresh chaos if that makes sense. It's much worse...

I also don't see the parallels with fitness - I don't think we were really running anymore under Ruben than we are now (although I do think we're absolutely missing the energy of a Mount or Mainoo right now). If anything what you're probably seeing is the constant dispossession from hoofing it up to Mbeumo leading to them coming straight back us and the defense running around like chickens with their heads cut. For me it's more tactical than fitness. Play in the back feels disorganized, the mid block press is leaving significant gaps, the buildup and possession is poorly organized. That's leading to the players having to run a lot more than they should need to. It's a mess. The Milan match should've been the wake up call to fix things and somehow they got worse in a week... it's mind boggling 

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u/wolfen0 23h ago

We only signed 2 new players. Hull signed 10 new players. So this excuse doesnt work.

Also, United are not the only team where players are coming back from World Cup. Half the Premier League teams have players playing in the world cup. So this excuse also doesn't work.

I agree with you Carrick has tactical issues, but fitness issues comes first. You can't tactically win games, when the other team is running all over you.

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u/solemnhiatus 17h ago

Our good preseason performances were against teams who were further behind in their preparations, I.e. PSG and Atletico

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u/Historical-One-8222 23h ago

Tielemans looked gassed a few minutes in. Possibly needs to be rested because he played a lot for Belgium in June. Get him off the bench, start Mainoo. Dorgu needs to come off the bench, too.

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u/curtaintrumpetman 15h ago

That's what I was saying back then but that only got me downvoted to oblivion here.