Another Big Game Flop

There is a very familiar pattern that has developed in Manchester United’s big matches this season. In terms of selection, I could predict who would be selected and how we will line-up. I wasn’t wrong. The only surprise was Edinson Cavani was selected to start over Anthony Martial. I expected a scoreless draw and I expected a cagey game. I was in two minds on whether to watch this match or not but the fan in me lived in hope. Hope that we will finally produce a good performance and win. But the romantic in me lost to the pragmatist again.

Good Record Last Season Against Big Teams

United’s track record against the big teams this season is abysmal. Last season, we had a good record in big matches, beat Chelsea three out of four of our encounters, the same for Manchester City, drew against Liverpool once and lost the other time no shame there against the would-be champions, the same against Arsenal which was the biggest disappointment because they were an average side and we beat Tottenham Hotspur once and drew the other time. There was a clear approach in those games. Whether we sat back or pressed from the front, there was an intensity in our play, a drive and hunger to win. There was every intention to attack.

Mental Block In The League Big Games

This season, I sincerely feel there has been a mental block since we got chewed up by Tottenham Hotspur. It was a freak result, it was just not our day, we were not up to the mark mentally and physically. Nine times out of ten that result will not be repeated especially if both teams were at the same level physically. Since then, the focus has shifted to being defensively sound and tight. Don’t concede and if we get something, good. If not, it’s ok. It is worse than it was under Jose Mourinho. In our encounters against the Big 6 this season, we have only scored once in the league and that was in that defeat to Tottenham. We have only lost once more, against Arsenal at home and conceded just one goal in four games. But we have scored zero goals in all those four matches.

Playing With Handbrakes On

The biggest frustration is that when you watch the match, you feel the team is playing with their handbrakes on. Whether it’s against a big team or a small team, our attacking play has looked disjointed. Too many things are not going right. We are taking a shot when we should pass or cross and vice versa, players are not timing their runs right, players are not getting played through in time. It has not looked fluid at all. Solksjaer’s shift to playing with a diamond midfield or an unorthodox winger in the form of Paul Pogba on one of the flanks has also meant less natural width and not resolved the disjointedness.

Unfair Criticism Of Bruno

On the topic of players not stepping up in big games to make a difference, too much of the spotlight has been shone on Bruno Fernandes. His performances in recent big matches have not been good but he has been carrying the team on his back since he joined. Other players need to step up as well. The comparison has been made with Eric Cantona who always delivered in big games in England. But he had a supporting cast that made his job easier. Bruno doesn’t have that. On days when Cantona is missing, others step up which is also missing in this team. Even after Cantona left, other big game players stepped up. United always had more than one big game player, match-winner in the team when they were successful and sadly we don’t have that now. We have too many players that are more hype than substance.

Disappointing From The Manager

On the manager, he sounds happy with performances such as this. Very commonly, you will read or hear him say that he is happy with the team’s performance and that the goal was the difference or that scoring or not is out of our hands. It doesn’t indicate a strong desire to win these matches which is disappointing. He alongside members of his coaching staff would know better the strong drive and desire the teams they played in had to win these matches and any match for that matter. They were not always successful but there was always that strong mentality and intensity.

Review Of The Match Against Arsenal

I was surprised by the start we made against Arsenal. We pressed from the front and had most of the possession but nothing much to show for it. Fred forced Bernd Leno to a great save and Marcus Rashford dallied on his chance for too long. Arsenal was better in the second half, had a free-kick that crashed off the bar, David De Gea was forced into a save. Cavani missed a great chance, looks like the influence of Rashford and Martial is on him rather than the opposite. There was another attempt that he hooked wide. Maybe if he had left it, Martial was better placed to finish it behind him as he was running on to it.

Reality Check

I guess the last two results would have brought those with rose-tinted glasses back to reality. We are not close to challenging for the league title again. Top 4 is our best bet. At best, probably finish second or third, more likely to be the latter than the former. I still say it will take a massive amount of change in a short period of time for us to be serious title challengers this season.