Achilles Heel: Our Defence

Manchester United 4 Everton 4, 2011-12 season. The draw that made the difference in the season which was decided by the narrowest of margins, goal difference. It was another high-scoring draw in this morning’s encounter between these two teams. The circumstances have changed since the previous high-scoring encounter at Old Trafford. United are involved in a title-race but unlike in 2011-12 where they were the favourites, they are underdogs this time.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back Rut

Also unlike that season, I don’t think this draw would have a detrimental effect on our chances in winning the league title and that is because I am sure this United team will drop more points this season. This is a team that is perennially stuck in a one step forward, two steps back rut which makes it unreliable and also unpredictable. This United brings you exhilarating joy and hair-tearing frustration in equal measure. Some mornings you wake up feeling on top of the world and some other mornings you really don’t feel like facing the world.

Dominant First-Half

We made a slow start in this match. My mind went back to the 50^th anniversary of the unfortunate Munich air disaster in 2008 where we were unusually subdued and lost 1-2 in the Manchester derby. This was one of those rare occasions where we played a game on the actual anniversary of the tragic air disaster. There were no fans in the stadium for the solemn one minute of silence but the absence of supporters in the stand made the atmosphere heavily felt. It looked like it affected the United players on the pitch too. We were slow and careless in possession and lacked incisiveness. However, we were clinical in that one moment, we showed some quality. Marcus Rashford delivered a great cross for Edinson Cavani to nod in the opener. That seemed to unshackle us as we began to play better with greater intensity and purpose. We didn’t carve up too many chances but Bruno Fernandes produced a moment of magic to give us a 2-0 lead before half-time. That goal was befitting of the occasion and had more than just shades of Eric Cantona’s classic lob against Sunderland.

Implosion

At half-time, I told myself that we got to be careful of Everton in the second half. One goal and they will be back in the game and it could make us nervy. There were glimpses of the threat they posed but they failed to muster a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes with only one goal attempt. We came close to a third goal, Luke Shaw’s strike palmed away by Robin Olsen before we imploded for the first time in the game. Harry Maguire should have cut out the ball to Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He looked closed but for some inexplicable reason seem to let the ball run through to the striker. He was slow to the ball. Calvert-Lewin’s shot was saved by David De Gea but the Spanish stopper pushed it into the path of Abdoulaye Doucoure who pulled one back. 3 minutes later, 2-2. Sickening! Frustrating! Our defensive flaws exposed again. Victor Lindelof flicked on an Everton cross from their left. The communication between him and Harry Maguire was lacking. Had Lindelof left the cross, Maguire was well-placed behind him to head the ball away. Because of this moment of panic, the ball was played back to James Rodriguez in space to do the damage.

Great Response But Punched In The Guts

We showed great character and resolve to get back into the game and dominate it after that kick in the nuts. We took the lead through Scott McTominay’s header from a perfect Shaw free-kick delivery. Deserved lead. Marcus Rashford had 2 chances to extend our lead but didn’t take them. It didn’t look like it might come back to haunt us. We were already at the 4^th minute of injury time, Everton didn’t pose a threat. It looked like we were going to see out the game and then calamity struck. I hope maybe someone was offside or had touched the ball with his hand on the way to goal. But nothing of that sort happened and the goal stood. A point shared that felt like 2 points dropped for us and one point gained for them. All the small details loomed extra large after the concession of that goal. Aaron Wan-Bissaka failed to play the ball down the line for Edinson Cavani. Axel Tuanzebe giving away a foul after coming on in an area that one would think would be harmless. Maguire playing Calvert-Lewin onside.

Defence Needs Sorting Out                                                                                                                      There’s no good winning a game 9-0 and then dropping points like that in the next match. We are the highest scorers in the league and today, the midfield and attack played well. It was the defence that let us down. I am not the only one that is not convinced on the central defence partnership of Lindelof and Maguire. There are games where they play well and then there are games like this where they make mistakes. Eric Bailly is still the best partner for either one but he needs to stay injury-free and Solksjaer has to be convinced of using him as a starter. De Gea has made lesser mistakes this season but his mistake here was costly. There are calls for Dean Henderson to be given an extended run in the first team but based on what I have seen of him, I am not entirely convinced that he is good enough to be our Number One. We have conceded far too many goals for a title-winning team. The problem lies in our defence. As long as we don’t sort that out and there isn’t a shift in mentality, winning the league title is a far-fetched dream.