27 Jul 2017 14:42:09
Good afternoon guys,

So far I've resisted commenting on preseason games because I don't think you can read to much into them but after watching the last two against Madrid and Barcelona i'm afraid to say we're still plagued by many of last seasons inadequacies! I've woken up in a weird state of panic and anxiety and I was hoping somebody could talk some sense into me! Here's my thoughts!

We are still sloppy in possession and the delivery in the final third remains very poor. The wide men have been pushed back into full back areas again and Lukaku became a depressingly isolated figure. Sadly to often we resorted to hopeful long balls for him to chase alone. Sound familiar!

I posted last week that I thought we'd see more consistency from the likes of Martial, Rashford, Lingard and Miki but I think we've already witnessed during preseason just how inconsistent they remain. Rashford and Martial are young so maybe that can be expected but Miki is a massive worry. He's played in his favoured No 10 role and I don't think he's done enough either with or without the ball to justify him starting there on a regular basis and definitely not against the better teams!

I look at our team and do we really know who will support Lukaku. Nobody has cemented their place either at No 10 nor out wide. Martial can delight and disappoint in equal measure. Lingards movement off the ball is fantastic, his energy and desire cannot be questioned but his quality on the ball often let's him down. Miki is capable creating and scoring goals but so often he makes a sloppy pass and gives the ball away and I just don't think he works hard enough. Rashford's pace can be devastating but we never really know what we're going to get at the end of it. Apart from Lukaku (who I think will replace Ibra's goals) who is going to consistently put the ball in the back of the net? We look exactly the same team as last season.

Lindelof has looked shaky to say the least. He may end up being a very good signing but we needed somebody to hit the ground running. He was bought in to improve the defence so we could be more expensive but that's certainly not going to happen in the short term anyway. We could realistically end up starting the season (super cup) with Smalling and Jones at CB!

Can anybody realistically see us playing any differently in that first game against Real other than 6 at the back (if you count the wide me) and trying to catch them on the counter. Giving possession away and resorting to long balls up to Lukaku?

Can somebody please dispel my anxieties as I'd hoped we'd see significant improvement from our attackers but I've seen very little evidence of this in pre season. Please somebody tell me I'm talking rubbish and we'll be ok!

1.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 15:06:17
You aren't talking rubbish but you do seem to have read a lot into pre season games that you say in the first paragraph you can't read anything from lol.

2.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 15:36:11
GDS2 - ha ha ha your spot pal it was a stupid post really I just haven't see anything new or exciting!
I flit between feeling positive and then anxious, I should just take my own advice and after all City hammered the European Champions last night 4-1 and we beat City 2-0 so that must make us brilliant right?

3.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 15:51:47
I completely agree with everything you say Danny. I don't see anything different to what I saw last season.
We desperately need full backs.
I don't think Luke Shaw will ever get back to what he was and Darmian and Blind are definitely not the answer. Valencia is getting on and his final delivery in to the box is absolutely awful.
Totally agree about Miki he just doesn't do enough for me and looses the ball a lot. He looks weak at times and is easily pushed off the ball.
Agree about Martial and Rashford they both need consistency and in my opinion Martial needs to buckle down and work a lot harder. I can't fault Rashfords work rate one bit.
We desperately need a defensive midfielder so we can let Pogba and Herrera go out an play their natural game.
Width is another problem, we need wide players that are able to get behind the oppositions full backs and cross the ball for Lukaku to run on to.
I still think we need 4 or 5 more players. Our play is just to predictive.
I hope I am wrong.

4.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 16:02:23
Did you watch the game last night 2 mins in rashford put in a wicked ball for lukaku which narrowly went over, there was another later on in the game. Miki has been one of the better players over the tour admittedly more against the american sides but its a lack of fitness. Against the likes of real madrid if you think we can go toe to toe with them then think that but i know we will get battered look at the champions league final against juventus they are a better more balenced side who got beat 4-1. If mourinho has to play like that against teams like that to get results then i am ok with that. Its pre season let players like lukaku gel in same with lindelof was evra and vidic world beaters from the start? Give the poor lad time. This is the exact reason i don't go to old trafford anymore the minute the going gets tough the fans get on the players back rather than try to support them.

5.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 16:03:41
Can see exactly why Jose is after Perisic so badly a winger who stays wide and delivers great crosses into the striker. Ed better get how cheque book out fast.

6.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 16:35:18
I think we've been awful, I'm amazed won all those games. I think we're in for another long slog of a season.

7.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 19:23:12
Pre-season. Means. Nothing.