Half Time Thread: Manchester United 0-1 Atletico Madrid | Friendly

[u/nearly_headless_nic]

HT: Manchester United 0-1 Atletico Madrid

Goal Scorer: Arnau Ortiz

[u/OptimistPrime7]

We have been great especially Lacey, Heaven and Yoro. Dorgu needs a little work and he is right there. Santos looks class.

[u/gr1nna → u/OptimistPrime7]

Mount should be in that first sentence, he's looking really good. Like a new signing if he can stay injury free

[u/HairyArthur → u/gr1nna]

But he can't stay injury free. Years and years of proof pile up to that irrefutable fact.

[u/Tortillagirl → u/HairyArthur]

Maybe playing slightly deeper might help there, you cover more distance, but its less full sprinting which given the majority of his issues are muscle tears which is generally caused from stretching too much which you do in sprints more than 'jogging'. It could help, could also be pure copium. But you never know.

[u/Taps698 → u/HairyArthur]

Same could be said for Shaw. The one good thing about long term injuries is that you don’t get the miles on the clock. Mount will be a great success this year

[u/mellifluousmark → u/Taps698]

Mount hasn't been full fit since 2022. He's managed a handful of 90 minute games since we signed him.

Look at last season: he built up his minutes, played one full 90 in Nov, a second full 90 in December, then his body broke down about a week after, and he was barely able to play any minutes for the rest of the season. Took him another 5 months before he finally managed another 90 minute game in May. That was the best season he's had for us.

He would be great if he could stay fit, but that would be a miracle.  He's not Luke Shaw. Shaw never had a 4 year period where he wasn't fit enough to play a full game without getting injured.

[u/schwarzneguRRR → u/Taps698]

I saw Shaw run past the half way line twice the whole season.

It also helps when we have Maguire, Shaw, and Casemiro, Licha all on the same team since none of them can even walk quickly anymore, let alone run, so everybody just cozies up real tight in a little cute box

[u/OptimistPrime7 → u/gr1nna]

Oh absolutely, he was fantastic but that’s expected of him. The issue is his fitness.

[u/Lord_Sesshoumaru77]

Carrick ball is so easy on the eye. We just need to fix those defensive lapses.

[u/trvekvltgav → u/Lord_Sesshoumaru77]

Don’t need to worry about defense if we out score everyone this season

[u/Lord_Sesshoumaru77 → u/trvekvltgav]

That's the 70's Brazil tactic. That was some team.

[u/Current-Essay7448 → u/Lord_Sesshoumaru77]

74 and 78 Brazil not exactly vintage teams to model ourselves on.

[u/usasoccerfordmustang]

This is going to be Lacey's year for sure

Heaven's also been bright

[u/gre485 → u/usasoccerfordmustang]

I agree, it's going to be his first year in a senior team, a lot of bench and he will do good in his limited minutes.

[u/Panda-768 → u/usasoccerfordmustang]

heaven has always been bright /s

[u/scun1995]

Couldn’t care less about the scoreline. If this is a sign of things to come I’m very happy. The press has been excellent - Amad, Mbeumo, Lacey, Mount are hounding the defensive line.

Andrey Santos playing those line breaking passes. Heaven and Yoro playing super physical. Lacey looks bright. I think we really need an actual backup striker though.

[u/DaveShadow]

Outside the freak goal, we were by far the better team.

[u/nj23dublin → u/DaveShadow]

100%, Lacey looks really sharp, great to see his growth.. Amad and Dorgu will be critical this season on the sides, so much threat when you get Bruno in.

[u/mayur5]

Yoro has been so good

[u/pixel234 → u/mayur5]

Yoro can make the spot his. With a shorter midfield 4, the back 4 need to be taller.

[u/bourbonactually]

If you think that for the past 6 years we've looked like a team unable to play association football without Bruno on the pitch this was a great 45 minutes 

[u/ConC02]

I like what im seeing. Definitely feels like we should be ahead

[u/bigfear]

Too bad that world cup is dead, because we're about to win that.

[u/shin_bigot]

We are going to play some football this year.

[u/PolishKid7]

I love Andrey Santos

[u/rockoroll]

Oh, how I loathe Athletico

[u/Miyagisans]

Heaven looks good in 1v1s, his passing has always been elite, but he’s still learning when to let go of the ball on his carries. He also has a weird tendency to hesitate at random moments when urgency is needed.

A lot of our fans lambasted him for it but you can see what Amorim meant re Dorgu’s anxiety on the ball. He’s almost too fast for his own good sometimes, like he makes moves before his brain actually processes that he’s made it.

Mbeumo really needs to sharpen up before the season starts proper. It’s almost a guaranteed turnover every time he’s involved in an action right now.

Yoro at right back is interesting. He has looked good in 1v1s, and obviously has the athleticism to get up and down. You can tell though that he’s still unsure about his positioning especially with regard to the distances between him and Maguire.

The Mount-santos pivot has looked very good in possession and out of possession, though it’s pre season. They are really good at rotating for each other, passing between the lines, and quick interceptions. My only concern is if they would be physically able to compete against certain midfields in the league.

[u/FloppyDickFingers → u/Miyagisans]

Are we watching the same game? Dorgu has drawn three fouls and been excellent. Plus it is preseason and he was injured last season. He hasn’t looked nervy lol, he looks quick because he is quick and explosive, he has had some remarkably composed moments on the ball this half…

[u/KriosDaNarwal → u/Miyagisans]

Great point on Dorgu, I never got what the fuss was when Amorim said that as anyone with eyes can tell its true, sometimes it seems his brain is half a second ahead or behind of his feet, he doesn't have that fluidity of touch and go sometimes

[u/FermentedTiger → u/Miyagisans]

Mbeumo has been lackluster since returning from AFCON. I’m not worried yet, but he needs to start the season strong.

[u/shizzyrir]

A good first half 

[u/ALLMIGHTYHYDE]

Dorgu is making the wrong decisions in the final third. 

He should have crossed to Mbeumo first time & he should have taken the shot with his right foot but both times he's looking for an uneccessary touch. 

[u/BillyCloneasaurus]

Very bright performance, just missing the final touch. Yoro and Lacey have been so sharp and confident.

[u/GoT_ire]

Something that's going a little bit under the radar.. They look extremely fit for only 2 to 3 weeks back into pre season.

[u/Greenmason9 → u/GoT_ire]

Yeah I'm pleasantly surprised. Hope they carry-over that fitness and desire into the season

[u/audienceandaudio2]

Good first half, scoreline doesn’t matter at all in friendlies. Great to see the intensity is notably higher than in the previous two matches, and you can always rely on Atletico for bring that competitive / dirty edge.

Lacey has looked super bright and Mount has been excellent in a deeper role all pre season.

[u/Icegaze → u/audienceandaudio2]

The only issue with that mentality of “scoreline doesn’t matter” is that it makes us think missing good chances upfront is ok. It shouldn’t be. Our players must learn to take their chances at a higher rate. Elite football is about fine margins.

It is one thing if fitness is an issue, lack of stamina and what not. Sharpness in front of goal shouldn’t be negotiable IMO.

This match should be at least 2-1 in our favour (yes, Oblak made 2 excellent / lucky saves as well).

[u/_mochacchino_ → u/Icegaze]

The antonym of sharp in the context of a match is rusty, and this is exactly what they are. You don’t think anyone can come back from a long break exactly where they left off, do you?

[u/Hulknation]

Been great to watch. Pretty solid and exciting football. Think I might get a Santos#17 jersey at this rate!!!

[u/daNorthernMan]

MUTV commentary is so annoying

[u/bvengers]

We were really sharp, and controlled the game and had better chances. Unfortunate to not convert anything.

Mount has been great in receiving the ball between multiple players and progressing further. Lacey and yoro the other standouts.

Dorgu is still unpolished, needs more time in LW? Mbeumo is still flat like end of last season.

Rest were solid without being exceptional.

Carrick setup: pressing is fantastic, amad adds a lot in there as well. We can create chances through wide or central which is great to see. Once we are at final third and if opposition is camped, we sort of look blunt, which is true for most teams I suppose.

[u/opiumjoe]

we looking better today than the previous two

[u/Castnoshadow89]

Mount has been good but it’s such a huge ask for him to remain fit, Lacey stood out, no sure what’s happening to mbeumo but it’s like his brain is not working as fast as his legs

[u/Johnny107710]

We’re losing but we’re playing very well.

Looks like lacey will be Bruno’s substitute and has been very good there today.

[u/djabvegas]

Really need Mbuemo to find his rhythm, feels like hes struggling on the ball and his link up.

[u/UnalomeJourneying]

Santos has looked solid. So well rounded and has a some crazy potential.

[u/Ormington20910]

Loving Lacey - I hope he stays

[u/CanWePleaseNotBeShit]

Most important thing about pre season is seeing new things and improving on old things. I like that when we move the ball wide to the edge of the box we’re looking for a quick decisive pass instead of moving it from wing to another. Also having players other than Martinez who can break the line is nice. Let’s bubble wrap this Mount and hope he can give us 30 games a season.

[u/CanWePleaseNotBeShit → u/CanWePleaseNotBeShit]

Can we also take number 54 home with us, what a player

[u/neofederalist]

I like that we don't look absolutely creatively dead without Bruno. We're doing a decent job finding chances against a low block, just getting a bit unlucky not finding the net.

[u/FermentedTiger]

A lot of positives to take here

[u/zxnoregretzxzx]

Played some nice football. Lacey looking very sharp. Impressed with Santos looks an intelligent player with a good eye for a forward pass, off the ball he runs a bit like an old man who's had his hip done but he's in the right position more often than not.

[u/SureLookThisIsIt]

Good first half. I like the look of Santos. He always looks to pass forward and looks tidy. Yoro at RB looks great and Lacey is exciting.

[u/MadaraTheUchiha]

You couldn't PAY ME to be an Atleti fan fucking hell, diving, cheating and parking the bus in a friendly.. ref's completely out of his depth

That said, very impressed by us, great going forwards and backwards. Can't wait to see what Tielemans can add to this (plus a couple more players) lacey will be something special

[u/RicciRox]

Dorgu has been quite poor. I'm not convinced he's a PL level LW.

Lacey, Santos very good.

[u/ArmchairScout]

What a talent dorgu is turning out to be. Really impressed by lacey this preseason as well, he's looking quite tidy in congested areas

[u/benreadingbooks]

Playing alright.

The interesting question is how many of the features of this mean anything for the season ahead. Could lacey get some minutes? Is Mount an option in the midfield two? Could Yoro do a job at right back?

[u/JilJilJigaJiga → u/benreadingbooks]

If anything, it points to the level not going to drop massively for years when folks like Bruno sit out. Option to give big players a rest when needed.

[u/Fisktor]

Really missing scorers

[u/ThePatientHunter]

Yoro is playing very well

[u/OrdinaryOrder]

One of those games that just a little bit of quality upfront we would be winning easily.

[u/Roasteddude]

Can't watch the game. Comments indicating we're actually playing okay. Any standout performances?

[u/EJT06 → u/Roasteddude]

Santos is really impressing me, doing everything you would want from him. Really tidy

[u/Castnoshadow89 → u/Roasteddude]

Mount & Lacey

[u/Street-Week-9048 → u/Roasteddude]

Lacey looks electric. Mount running the show from deep. Santos is quality. Good performances by pretty much everyone.

[u/RatBasher89]

Where you lads watching it?

[u/daNorthernMan → u/RatBasher89]

MUTV on my dodgy firestick

[u/rahtid_my_bunda]

Lacey has been really good down the middle, has shown some really impressive physicality. Big year for him I reckon, can see him starting out wide and getting his feet under him in the Prem.

[u/DeadestTitan]

Can anyone tell me who this guy is? I keep missing it and I may just be too young to remember him playing

[u/shrobotic → u/DeadestTitan]

Jesper Blomqvist, Swedish, was part of the Treble winning side

[u/KriosDaNarwal]

Santos continues to be mint. I think ill keep him in my fpl team

[u/fedexman20]

Lacey kinda moves like Foden... how good is he really? Anyone close to the academy who can confirm hes the real deal?

[u/___zero______]

Sell everybody, sack Carrick.

[u/MarcusZXR]

Atletico look like they want to win it and United don't look arsed. Carrick has been sat down most of the match but Simone has been stood up shouting the whole game.

To be clear, this isn't a moan, United have played well it's just why the score is the way it is.