[NewGlory]

No, it’s a tactic employed by footballers all over including Messi, Hazard, Sterling et al. Slow the ball right down and then use your turn of pace etc to beat your man who, due to stopping, has lost momentum.

You are right. But you are forgetting that we haven't had a player capable of bypassing a defender, in like forever. So when we get one trying to do it - it looks weird for them to not pass the ball at the slightest sight of threat

 

[Kinky Melinky]

Meh, not our best day.

Every team is bound to draw a game or two this season so I guess that's a plus but we need to really shape up and kill off teams when we have the momentum going.

 

[Coops73]

Bit baffled why we spent 80m on Sancho if he's going to sit on the bench as a luxury option while at the same time our first choice midfield has Matic in it.

Talk about misplaced priorities.

We don't win anything this season without a midfielder and probably not without a change of manager, unfortunately

This is a wind up right?

 

[freddie the red]

I toyed with the idea of reinstating my tv sports packages after the Leeds game, today made me realise why I needn't bother!

 

[PoTMS]

How many points did we get from losing positions last season? I'm worried we won't be able to replicate that this season because it's just not sustainable, which means sloppy starts and falling behind all the time is unacceptable. The return of home fans will also have an effect.

 

[Hughie77]

Fair result on balance of the game, Maguire can thank DDG as well. Sloppy game, on top for large periods especially 2nd half, but no cutting edge thought Sancho was ok, he needs game time, missed a CF today Martial was and isnt good enough as CF, Greenwood is still learning has to get above the Ball for Headers if he wants the middle spot going forward. Cavani would have got us 3pts today I feel, fair result at start of season.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

Same as last year.

 

[DunmoreDave]

Another example of a knee jerk reaction. Clearly Sancho isn’t fully fit yet, as half the squad isn’t. Second game of the season him being on the bench doesn’t make him a luxury option. Come on now, don’t be daft.

We didn’t play well today, looked like we are still building up our fitness. I’ll take that we didn’t lose. Keep building and see how this team develops. Already 4pts better off than at this stage last season, and again after a very short preseason.

It was not a great performance today. Therefore Happy with a point. However, key areas need addressing.

1. Ole needs to sort out his tactics. Drop the two holding midfielders and play with more creativity in central midfield. At the moment the pairing of matic, Fred, McT is too safe and predictable in terms of the build up and possession.
2. Give Van der Beek a chance and a run of games to see what he can do.
3. Give Dalot a go at right back. AWB is very limited going forward and does not offer a threat.
4. Martial is not a central striker and is better wide.
5. Get the team playing with higher tempo. Move the ball quicker and avoid this slow build up.

Finally, play sancho and verane. Chelsea have started Lukaku, not left him on the bench and look at what he has just done.

 

[Ranchero]

Ole decisions: Keep Martial. Dump Lukaku. Ole's at the wheel.

 

[VanHaal'sRedArmy]

Players got carried away by the opening day win. Time to put some heads down and focus on Wolves.

 

[Catt]

Ole decisions: Keep Martial. Dump Lukaku. Ole's at the wheel.

Also Ole's decision; get Fernandes, Sancho, Varane etc. I wouldn't want Lukaku back as I'm not a fan, but every manager makes mistakes. I don't think getting rid of Lukaku was a mistake, but Martial hasn't paid off.

 

[freeurmind]

Southampton were poor, we somehow managed to be worse.

 

[Reapersoul20]

Ole decisions: Keep Martial. Dump Lukaku. Ole's at the wheel.

I mean that was entirely and completely the correct decision. Martial is no great shakes, but Lukaku is a donkey.

 

[BusbyMalone]

One thing I do have to note is:

God does this sport make most of us an emotional rollercoaster . Last week we were storming the league and now people realise we have weaknesses that make us a team scrapping for top4 again

I think people already knew this anyway, to be fair. Don't think we needed this game for that. The midfield is a massive issue.

 

[hobbers]

Martial and Matic shouldn't be starting a Prem game for the rest of the season. They don't belong anywhere near a United squad.

Also Fred on the right side is an embarrassment.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

Can’t afford to start slow this season, too many quality sides around us that are capable of pulling away pretty quickly if we’re not at it.

 

[UncleBob]

The tone of play was set by Martial playing up top in the first half. He offered nothing while he was in there. By the time he came off we were already set on playing in that tempo and we were not able to get out of playing in that mode.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Can anyone explain what the logic was taking off Fred instead of Matic for Mctominay was? Not even trying to be a smart-ass, I just can't see what it was supposed to achieve

Height for a possible set piece maybe.

 

[Reapersoul20]

Can anyone explain what the logic was taking off Fred instead of Matic for Mctominay was? Not even trying to be a smart-ass, I just can't see what it was supposed to achieve

Fred was playing much worse, gave the ball away more and Matic adds a threat from set pieces, which Southampton were awful at defending.

 

[Red Shorts]

I think people already knew this anyway, to be fair. Don't think we needed this game for that. The midfield is a massive issue.

A lot did, but a lot also missed this glaring issue when gushing about and evaluaring our chances this season.

 

[el3mel]

Thank feck for me being late at work today. Didn't watch the game.

 

[patch1]

Do we have a coach who can learn these players how to pass a ball.The back four are to slow at coming out.Ole love affair with McT and Fred seems to never end.His subs are mostly like for like.

 

[Crimson King]

I just can't understand why Fred and Matic started together. Should have stuck VdB in there alongside one of them, or moved Pogba in there from the start. It might have not worked, but it would have felt more progressive.

If we're not going to buy a new CM he needs to find a reliable alternative for McFred.

 

[devilish]

Why on earth would Ole play Matic and Fred in CM. Fred has zero creativity in him while Matic is a former player in all but name. What's the point in having the likes of Sancho and VDB if we're not playing them? Why doesn't he allow Greenwood to build confidence as a striker?

I am torn between thinking that Ole is making a point (ie he needs a CM) or is simply a cretin.

 

[jymufc20]

Dogshit comes to mind. And by that I mean I would sooner step in dogshit than watch that shite again.

 

[BusbyMalone]

A lot did, but a lot also missed this glaring issue when gushing about and evaluaring our chances this season.

Well, I'm not going to criticize people for feeling optimistic about their team at the start of the season. I don't think it's so much missing this glaring issue (because it's so obvious) but more to do with hope. As a fan you just hope for the best, while knowing deep down what issues you have.

 

[OrcaFat]

I just can't understand why Fred and Matic started together. Should have stuck VdB in there alongside one of them, or moved Pogba in there from the start. It might have not worked, but it would have felt more progressive.

If we're not going to buy a new CM he needs to find a reliable alternative for McFred.

Mutually exclusive.

 

[Ranchero]

I mean that was entirely and completely the correct decision. Martial is no great shakes, but Lukaku is a donkey.

Hahahahahaha. Man alive.

 

[Reapersoul20]

Hahahahahaha. Man alive.

Hurrr duuur hurrr durrr. Genius.

 

[DevTheRed]

I think ultimately Ole’s starting XI and the lack of any decent midfield options cost us today. The midfield is so poor. You could argue that a midfield two of Romeu and JWP has about it than a past it Matic and Fred.

Not quite sure how we haven’t purchased a midfielder yet but it certainly needs addressing before the window closes, otherwise we have no hope of a title run.

 

[RedDevilzFox]

Its the winnable games we keep dropping points too that will keep us from winning the league. Emotional highs and frustrating lows with this team continues.

 

[Bestofthebest]

This game was like from feast to famine. Same old tumescent slow passing with usual high count of mis passes. Like others I don’t understand having Matic on the pitch. Do other teams try to rotate so many players like this? We had some really good spells but failed to take chances when they arrived and once again the goal we let in was farcical. So many players off the pace but Martial was virtually invisible. Get shut and use the money for a defensive midfielder. Can’t see us winning anything this year unless we stop these sort of games.

 

[Noc-Z]

Ole decisions: Keep Martial. Dump Lukaku. Ole's at the wheel.

His mistake is not dumping both of them.

 

[Devil may care]

We were so poor, bar a brief spell after the equalizer we didn't cause them any real issues bar set pieces. The amount of sloppy passing throughout the team was a big issue and besides Pogba and Greenwood none of our game changers were at the races today.

 

[Ronaldo's Love Child]

Personnel or Management?

Matic does not pick himself, OGS does.

Martial did not pick himself to lead the line OGS does.

If Matic is using his own "initiative" to step back between Maguire and Lindelof to form a back 5 when we are in possession and that is NOT what OGS told him then Matic needs to be benched. He was doing this throughout last season also leaving Fred as the only midfield outlet.

What happens next is everyone will be waiting the return of the Messiah that is Marcus Rashford, forgetting how abysmal he was in many games last season and I doubt we can rely on Cavani playing every match.

The moment we stick Martial or Rashford up top to lead the line is the moment I feel we are fecked before a ball is kicked

 

[Infra-red]

Looked like a team of strangers out there, which is very odd considering how long this lot have been together (and no new signings in the starting lineup).

We played well last week, but as is usually the case with Ole's United, decent displays tend to be backed up with disjointed performances like today. That's why we are nothing more than top 4 contenders again this year.

 

[Rightnr]

You have to laugh otherwise you'd cry. People slate Sounness and rightfully so but some of the passun merchants on here make him sound reasonable and unbiased.

 

[yipthatman]

Lets be honest, it's standard after a high scoring win for us. Second gear if not first all game. Who have we got next? Marching on and all that.

 

[Isotope]

Looked like a team of strangers out there, which is very odd considering how long this lot have been together (and no new signings in the starting lineup).

We played well last week, but as is usually the case with Ole's United, decent displays tend to be backed up with disjointed performances like today. That's why we are nothing more than top 4 contenders again this year.

Mostly what has been happening under Ole. Anytime there’s expectation, we folded like a wet paper towel.

 

[Ranchero]

His mistake is not dumping both of them.

Oh man. The delusion that Lukaku is not top class. The difference is Conte, a world class coach got the best out of him. Ole is a United hero who Let's face it is not a top class coach.