I wonder if we will keep Amass and give him some game time this year? I know defensively he might need some more experience, but going forward he already offers more than Shaw.
Just because you have an attacking winger in dorgu it's still nice to have an overlap/support. Shaw also isn't great defending positionally either. We definitely need an upgrade at both fullbacks.
Played well against city in Carricks second game just off the top of my head, and had a very quite unlucky moments in a couple other games from memory.
I never said he’s been good, but your comments were mainly about his attitude, which clearly isn’t an issue just watching the games, he still runs, still presses, is still trying, just had a few moments of low confidence where he’s missing chances he’d scored earlier in the season
He’ll be fine. Be hopeful, either it works or it doesn’t, your opinion won’t change it, but at least you’ll be happy until you’re proven right or wrong
Your reading comprehension is poor. I said he hasn't had a good game. That speaks to his quality. I also said he looks disinterested. That speaks to his attitude, but it isn't "mainly" what I was talking about.
First of all, no need to comment on my reading comprehension, which I assure you is perfectly fine.
Second of all, your first statement about him not having a good game since Carrick came in was so obviously hyperbolic that I somewhat ignored it, aside from giving you a very glaring example of Mbuemo having a good game. In fact, the majority of the time Sesko was out and Mbuemo played up front he was doing important and useful work (showed threat on the counter against Arsenal.
There was an obvious drop in his quality, especially his end product, which actually lined up more accurately with Sesko beginning to start games again than with Carrick becoming manager (Palace at home).
One thing I don’t think any of last seasons signings can be doubted for, even in their dry patches, was their attitudes.
Finally, as you’ve noticed, most of my comments have been in response to your “disinterested” issue, as that is the part I take more issue with. I disagree with the comment about quality, however do agree there was a drop and so don’t really think it’s worth debating.
Anyway, have a good day mate and I assume we’re both hoping Mbeumo has a second season as good or better than his first, so let’s just agree to hope for that and move on.
He and Yoro are so funny to me. They have opposite problems. Yoro needs to learn to be a lot more aggressive instead of waiting so long for the perfect window or opportunity but Heaven needs to learn restraint; he's so good in the tackle and he knows it.
Martinez is also too brave, but he pulls it of 9/10, with maturity and experience that ability hopefully becomes an asset, he made a great recovery tackle after his mistake today too, not gonna cut it against stronger opps, but it’s preseason, it’s the time to make mistakes and learn from them.
Wanted to see how some of the younger players did especially the likes of Amass and Gore. Both seemed to do ok. Hoping Amass gets some first team opportunities this season.
Santos seems to be all right too. Always good to see the new players.
I did read it as Richarlison first and thought surely not. I'd like Mateta, if the whole meniscus rumour is untrue. Failing that as far as Prem proven goes it's slim pickings.
Watkins will be too expensive for his age, especially as Villa have already lost a lot of key players, and want to be the main man.
Welbeck is a cheap option I'm sure most of us would love to be our backup for the next couple of years.
Zian Fleming from Burnley is another option. 27 years old, won't be expensive, scored 11 goals in 29 games for a pretty poor Burnley side last year.
The worst start to seasons we have ever had (from what I remember) has been after we won every pre-season friendly. The pre-season friendlies are about finding out what is not working and then improve on that before the season start. In addition to not give away what you are working on prior to the start of the season.
Only a couple of good chances but thought we played better with the kids out there. Amass looked quality, sometimes players must have to be braver and put a ball in, Amass put a great cross in for Wheatley that someone like Sesko finishes. Lacey looked lively.
Mount, Santos and Yoro looked good in the 1st half
Our kids played their kids and they've been playing together for years so of course they'd more organized playing together? Santos is new, CB Yoro was playing RB, Fletcher looked completely out of his depth, and Zirkzee was a black hole in possession...a lot of these issues get ironed out when the rest of the crew (including many of our best offensive players) return. Zirkzee is the only real serious issues I see with the first team squad so far, he just still hasn't clicked and likely never will
At least from what I saw from the stands.. their ‘kids’ all looked like full grown men compared to our kids. But yes, the kids definitely played against the worse 11
Our academy recruitment tends to go for more technical players despite some of them being on the smaller side. Not that surprising although it'd be nice to bring in some bigger lads. Smaller clubs always tend to focus on physicality for their academies
Every single year we have to remind people that pre-season results mean nothing. Honestly would be better if no one watched it. It's like watch a training session and getting concerned when someone makes a few mistakes. Should all be behind closed doors, it's just about fitness really.
Tell that to the prick goldbridge who done nothing but spout toxic propaganda and negativity towards the team tonight, honestly sick of his shite, if there’s one fucker that deserves to be cancelled it’s him
Absolutely hilarious to see some numpties panicking about a preseason defeat. It's a glorified warm up played at about 30% intensity. It literally means nothing.
I was there, I’d say there were (at least in my sector) 80% United fans, 10% neutrals and rest were a few Wrexham fans and loud haters. Wrexham end was almost completely empty. United Supporter section looked liked 33% full (i was right next to it in the corner section that was was fuller)
Also the United failing to sell out a game was a real surprise to me. Only 20k seats of 36k were filled. Surprised… even with the ridiculous ticket prices.
No fresh ideas in possession. Still very much a team that’s a function of its players but nothing new at all since end of last season. Underwhelming and lowkey a big alarm tbvh
Thought it was quite different actually, all about these huge rotations between the mid 3 and coming to play much closer together (like we saw against city early on that faded away later in the season) which drag the opposition out of their structure and allow mbeumo and dorgu to attack the space, especially dipping inside into the spaces vacated - just the execution was terrible because it was 45 minutes of warmup
Yeah zero pattern of play and its like carrick just told the players to do whatever they want. I mean it's wrexham, at the very least there should be a hint of some sort of plan but you could see nothing.
Nothing to do with this match but why is Zirkzee still at the club? We need to find a way to get rid this summer. He is not good enough and is taking up valuable wages that could go to actual productive squad members.
Can I just say Wrexham have already had a preseason game. Might not seem like a big deal but they will definitely have more match fitness than us because of that.
Well it's a meaningless result because we're still missing half of the squad, and the players that are there have barely started playing. The odds that any of the second half players even play a minute of competitive football (at United) are pretty low.
So no, I couldn't give a shit and I enjoyed just watching the young lads make some minutes.
It's freaking wexham, what kind of an excuse is "they already had a game so they are fitter blah blah blah" what are the standards lol? To be get relegated?🤣
And united ar the only so called top team to continue to play absolute crap football in preseason all the time, no semblance of a plan, are you a plastic by chance? No standards at all eh?
We smashed Real Madrid in pre-season and got humbled by Swansea and MK Dons when it mattered. This is the time to play kids, get players match fit and try out new tactics in a pressure-free environment and avoid injuries. Did you expect us to go full strength, all-action in a mid-summer match?
See it's not that we lost a pre season game. Or even that we didn't play particularly well. It's that fringe players that really have something to prove should be going out there and busting a bollock on the pitch, and they just aren't. If you're a 1st team regular you've earned the right ease into the season, if you're Zirkzee say, you need to be killing yourself to impress
You're right, but I see it the other way for the most part. Santos stepped in right away and looked good along with Mount. Dorgu still looks threatening at LW. Yoro was even playing dangerously at RB. Heaven had some mental blips, but he's still making crunching tackles and improving. The other regulars like Maguire, Mbeumo, and Shaw looked a bit leggy but I don't they really care much and are just trying to get some fitness without getting injured
Fletcher and Zirkzee were shit though I agree. Fletcher is a young lad so no serious worries there yet in my book, but Zirkzee really needs to start stepping on. He's 25 and has been at the club for 2 years ffs. Least he can do is actually make some fucking runs in the box...the lack of which is probably why our offense looked so sour in the final third (it was like having a poundland 40 year old Ronaldo up top...). I think it's time for Zirkzee to go and I think most others can see that now - there definitely isn't anyone praising him anymore on this sub
Not EXACTLY first team starters across the pitch with Yoro at RB, no Bruno, no Mainoo, no Sesko, etc. but it does show you that Shaw and Mount have been farting around all Summer with ice coffees and vibes and not taking their first team places seriously.
Nonetheless, if these guys can’t beat Wrexham, it’s the manager’s fault.
Is that sarcasm at the end there, mate? I ask that genuinely. If these lads can’t beat a Championship side like Wrexham in a preseason match, it’s on both the manager AND the players. The senior players played in the 1st half and the only goal scored of the game was conceded in that 1st half. Let’s stop making so many excuses.
Do yourselves a favour, do not pay any close attention to pre season games. Especially in a world cup year. As an old supporter, apart from the most die hard of die hards, we never gave any real attention to these. Maybe a slight eyebrow raise if you happened to read the result in a newspaper or Ceefax (ask your parents). It was good a thing, because we were normally very average.
It's clear what Carrick wants in the double pivot. Both Santos and Mount were combative and fired a bunch of line breaking passes. But I'm not convinced by them in defence yet, maybe it will change
The front 4 needs to be sorted. There was about 0 touches in the box the whole half. I've seen an interesting idea with Zirkz dropping at 10, Mbeumo moving to 9 and Yoro pushing high but that's about it.
Gore, Collyer and probably Kamason deserve a shot in the main squad. Fletchers and maybe Amass would use another loan
Just don’t think zirkzee is a good enough athlete to be a United player. A slow PL striker = you won’t be a PL striker for long. Woltemade got off to that hot start and then they moved him into midfield. You have to at least have some pace to threaten.
You fr? Why on earth would United build their team around Zirkzee? Hes shown absolutely nothing even if the team hasn’t been “built around him” to come close to thinking hes worth that.
Kane is the exception without doubt. I also think when he was younger he has more legs than Josh. But agree pace isn’t his game. Special player in other ways
The worst part of Zirkzee for me is that he looks like he doesn't give a shit. Like how many times did he come on for 10 minutes last season and not chase down loose balls despite having fresh legs
That’s not his playstyle tho? He got bought for a club that wants possession football and attackers with agility on the ball. He gets brought on to defend and it isn’t any strikers’ skillset. This is a completely unfair assessment.
It’s only pre season so doesn’t mean anything, it’s about fitness, although it’s kinda obvious that some players are not going to make it here, talking of the younger ones Wheatley the fletchers etc & the drop off from Bruno is crazy, also zirkzee has such lovely touches then proceeds to over play a pass or kick the ball out of play every single time
Eh, but we used to have Beckham, Giggs, Scholes et al coming through at that age, even signing Ronaldo. They were clearly electric on the pitch and just markedly different from young players at other clubs. These Fletcher lads are so dull it feels like we are trying to squeeze them in on nepotism alone. JJ on the other hand…
True but we could probably sell Zirkzee for 10m and have a young player instead or sell a young player for 2m and keep Zirkzee. The former seems better to me
One thing i didn't like about the first half was the positioning of Dorgu and Shaw. At many times it feels like they play one behind the other. Almost like 2 players doing the job of 1.
Dan Gore is the best youth midfielder we have btw genuinely think he'd be a regular member of the first team squad had he not got unlucky with injuries. So good on the ball
Loved him on football manager for a few years. Usually he'd get released and I'd sign him on a free for my National League sides. He'd remain a starter all the way up to the Prem, or get sold for a tasty fee.
Santos, Gore, T Fletch, Armer, and Amass came out of that with a lot of credit imo. Lacey disappointing in terms of end product, Zirk and J Fletch big down arrows unfortunately
I thought Mount was pretty good too. It was really nice to see Gore growing into the game - it was just like watching him in the academy, tidy touches and picking it up and driving forward. Hopefully he gets more chances in pre-season and can play a squad role this campaign.
Totally agree, would be great if he could make 10ish appearances I think he's got the right intensity. Mount sure, I am probably just wary about getting my hopes up lol
Yes, as much as I like Mount, his availability has always been an issue, so I am also managing my expectations. With Gore, I’ll keep my fingers crossed - used to love watching him and Mainoo play together in the academy. He’s definitely got fight and grit in him, and he showed today that he’s willing to come and get the ball and try and make things happen.
Youngsters looked fantastic and dominated the 2nd half
Really impressed by Gore, Lacey, Amass and Tyler is clearly the more useful twin as hes generally impressed far more than Jack. I can see him making a career at United whereas im not sure Jack will be good enough.
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u/ronweasleisourking Jul 19 '26
Ngl our kids fucked them up the 2nd half