27 Jul 2025 09:36:15
Really encouraging performance last night the team finally looked like it’s coming together. The press was coordinated, the energy was high, and we created some excellent chances going forward.

Honestly, we should’ve been 3 or 4–0 up by halftime that clinical edge is still missing, but the intent and structure were there. Much more cohesive than we’ve seen in recent weeks.

It’s fair to assume that the starting 11 from this match will form the core of our team going into the season, with the rest of the squad offering depth and rotation.

Standout performances from Cunha, especially in his defensive role, Dorgu getting forward, Mainoo and Ugarte were solid and aggressive at winning back possession in the middle and Bruno was our main threat as always.

1.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 10:17:45
Bit of perspective might help. We were playing a friendly against a poor West Ham team who will struggle to keep out of the bottom six in the league. Still conceded against them and the lack of a proper striker will really hurt us on meaningful matches. Yes there were positives but some balance is needed.

2.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 10:32:26
I thought Mainoo and Ugarte looked transformed. Both fit and strong. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a United side dominate the midfield in a game like that.

Poses the Bruno conundrum again. For me, he has to play in the front three. Maybe we don’t need a forward this summer….

3.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 10:34:36
Salford,

Think everyone is aware it was a friendly, but you can still see signs of improvement, a team coming together, a system that players looked like they know how to play, the players looked strong and athletic and the one touch passing in transition was really good, none of them things are affected by your opponents and our opponents did similar to us last season and beat us at OT a few months ago.

4.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 10:54:24
Ugarte and de Ligt were excellent. Not often that we’ve been able to praise many performances apart from Bruno. Yes it was only a friendly against a side who I also think will struggle this year, Potter really hasn’t clicked there.

5.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 11:16:00
You can only beat what is in front of you. While there is an argument to be made that maybe our performance made them look poor.

We didn't give them any time to settle in midfield due to the way Ugarte and Mainoo played.

We only conceded after we made a few changes and to be fair our side didn't look at strong or coordinated after the subs. Which is understandable.

For me the biggest take aways from the game were just how much more athletic we looked. Normally at this stage of pre-season you are still making multiple changes at halftime, we didn't make any changes until around the hour mark. Which I think highlights how much the team have worked on their fitness and stamina.

The team play was so much better, the players looked like they knew what they needed to do and were far more comfortable doing it. The one touch passing the movements, the coordinated pressing.

Ultimately it's still pre-season and it's a work in progress. Yet you can see already how much better the team is now compared to 6 months ago. It looks like like the coaching staff and the players have really benefitted and are making the most of the time during pre-season.

6.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 11:39:38
What changes were made before west ham scored shappy?
Deligt has a good game spenno.
I think apart form the keeper that is the defence that will line up as 1st choice at beginning of the season.
Imo bruno is mi h more effective higher.
All finding their fitness can't read too much into it. I enjoyed the game all the same.

7.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 11:40:27
Shappy,

I’ve seen on a few things now that we conceded after making the changes but it’s just not true, when we conceded the same 11 that started were on the pitch, I think they just tired.

8.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 12:14:56
Their goal came from Heaven not tracking Bowen, so it was before the changes.
What is does show is that we need to take our chances so teams don’t have the opportunity to get back into matches.
Bournemouth match will be interesting to see the progress, last year we struggled against well drilled teams like this, so hopefully we can see some improvements.

9.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 12:35:25
Last season, 'lower' ranked teams regularly beat us, so a win is a win for me.

10.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 12:46:44
Means nothing to me. Let's see the first fixture in the premier league.

11.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 13:21:37
Winning is a habit. A habit we having been in for a while so for me, getting wins in preseason and the players having that feeling of winning is important. Doesn’t matter if it’s a friendly, we have to get that confidence from somewhere and going into the Arsenal game having won most of our preseason games will make a difference.

12.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 13:32:53
Small wins. Baby steps.

13.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 14:24:01
Whilst always good to win any match, I would not read too much into it at all, too many variables.
It’s all about cohesion, fitness, stamina, relationships.
Amazes me people rave about someone in a preseason friendly… it’s all easy when no pressure attached, the level of fitness of opponents, how much others want or try…. anyone can look a world beater in a preseason friendly.

14.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 14:44:47
We all know how important preseasons are and how our lack of decent ones has affected us. Let’s just be grateful for a morale-boosting win and a few really good individual performances.

15.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 16:27:40
It was a very good performance. Utd looked fitter, we're fitter and were the better team.

Hjolund was unlucky, he showed great determination at times. However, Sky Sports made a meal of his shot that hit the post.

I'm not going to repeat everything. That has already been said by OP.

One thing that I think is worth debating is where and how do we fit Mbeumo, Cunha and Bruno. The mainoo and Ugaurte partnership needs to be given time after yesterday's encouraging performance from the duo.

Potentially Bruno could play the false 9 if the club doesn't buy a CF. I suppose all three could even rotate.

I really don't see a place for Maguire, he just doesn't fit the style that RA wants them to play. i'm sirenhe will get games as part of rotation and injuries, but he is a momentum absorber.

16.) 27 Jul 2025
27 Jul 2025 23:33:43
Here here OP and MAdHatter.
Encouraging, and they need to back that up against Bournemouth.
Same starting eleven, although maybe Mbuemo comes in for Hoiljund and they rotate Cunha, Bruno and Mbuemo as a front three.
If that happens, I think a SK is not being brought in this side of Christmas.
Going back through the team, agreed - Mount is a nothing player, needs to go, as do Maguire and Shaw.
Ideally Casemiro too.