Manchester United v Leeds United Match Thread - Dallas at left back, Koch in for Phillips

[BGwhite]

Consecutive opening day hat-tricks against us

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[Mountain]

If it wasn't for Bielsa I think we could have won today.

Course, it would have been against some club like Peterborough or Bristol City in the Championship...

[Carrick Dave]

We have a number of players that struggle if they are closed down quickly and given no time on the ball.

Interesting this - the inventive one-touch triangles we played from the back to get us out of trouble at the start of last year were provided by the same players.

Will other teams have identified the patterns and worked out how to close us down more efficiently, or have we just lost some of the intensity? Either way, it needs worked on urgently.

[White Riot]

Onto the next one, losses happen but losing by that margin and to this opposition stings.
We need to keep Koch as a CB option and hopefully that was the last time he’s played as a holding mid. Maybe Bielsa could’ve swapped Struijk and Koch roles at half time or something. Anyhow, am sure Bielsa would’ve learned a lot and maybe even warmed up to bringing a Lang type option.

Welcome CMW, good to have you on board mate

On the evidence of today I would say Bielsa learned nothing from last season's trouncing at OT, we were as wide open as Cathy Barry

[White Riot]

Interesting this - the inventive one-touch triangles we played from the back to get us out of trouble at the start of last year were provided by the same players.

Will other teams have identified the patterns and worked out how to close us down more efficiently, or have we just lost some of the intensity? Either way, it needs worked on urgently.

We had no energy and didn't offer options to the man with the ball, I lost track of the amount of times they managed to surround one of our players with three of theirs on either flank. This went on for the full 90 and MB did nowt about it

[CanuckMightyWhite]

Welcome CMW, good to have you on board mate

On the evidence of today I would say Bielsa learned nothing from last season's trouncing at OT, we were as wide open as Cathy Barry

Thanks White Riot.
KP missing was bizarre, and pairing two left footed centre backs. hindsight is 20/20 but surely Struijk and Koch should have swapped positions.
Geniuses have their own way and sometimes the results don’t go according to plans but Bielsa will be hurting and eager to nip them at ER.

[White Riot]

Thanks White Riot.
KP missing was bizarre, and pairing two left footed centre backs. hindsight is 20/20 but surely Struijk and Koch should have swapped positions.
Geniuses have their own way and sometimes the results don’t go according to plans but Bielsa will be hurting and eager to nip them at ER.

We can excuse the lack of quality as there's not been the investment we needed this season.

Maybe we're planning on flogging KP? It wouldn't surprise me at the mo

OT was not the place to play a piss weak midfield, as we found out last season on the same ground.

Yeah, I'm sure we'll do better next week, but surely MB and all his brains could see that Koch at DCM would fail and so would two left-footed CBs, compounded by dragging Dallas to LB.

That was an absolute shambles today and MB needs to be called out for it, nobody at our club should be above criticism

[whiteswan]

One match in to the new season and I already hate football

And you were so looking forward to the new season

Okay, so will we have learned anything from today...
1. Play your best players in their best position
2. When you score to equalise, concentration on the game is required from every player instead of wallowing in the euphoria
3. When the opposition hits straight back do not capitulate but put in a shift

[SG90]

I was deeply concerned about this season for reasons i have said before.

Cycle of the Championship team being at an end.

Second season.

Absolutely deluded faith in the squad that the club seem to have

Really poor recruitment.

You can say we never had a chance because of the difference in quality but we have done nothing this summer to try and close that gap.

The result is one thing but the performance was awful and that is the most concerning part.

It followed the patern of pre season.

I did say you can't expect players in their late 20s/early 30s to play at that intensity forever. If we're not going to sign anyone, then we need to start bringing in the young players into the team. If they're not going to play, then stop signing them.

[1964white]

And you were so looking forward to the new season

Okay, so will we have learned anything from today...
1. Play your best players in their best position
2. When you score to equalise, concentration on the game is required from every player instead of wallowing in the euphoria
3. When the opposition hits straight back do not capitulate but put in a shift

Good points Swannie

[1964white]

And fans were saying friendly games don't matter

[1964white]

I did say you can't expect players in their late 20s/early 30s to play at that intensity forever. If we're not going to sign anyone, then we need to start bringing in the young players into the team. If they're not going to play, then stop signing them.

I reckon we have a couple of more U23's to arrive yet!

[SG90]

We had no energy and didn't offer options to the man with the ball, I lost track of the amount of times they managed to surround one of our players with three of theirs on either flank. This went on for the full 90 and MB did nowt about it

Yep, the cycle may be kicking in.

[SG90]

I don't understand how we were set to sign Cuisance for 20m, then ever since then we've decided we don't need a CM. That doesn't make any sense.

[danhirons]

If it wasn't for Bielsa I think we could have won today.

Course, it would have been against some club like Peterborough or Bristol City in the Championship...

I get this but the man can't be exempt from criticism just because he got us promoted. He'shad more than enough praise for it and quite frankly I don't think he'd want it any other way

[Boo Radley]

One match in to the new season and I already hate football

We’ll be fine WR! Bielsa’s interview afterwards on BT Sport gave me some instant hope. When questioned as to whether this was just a blip, or if it was tactical or performance, he answered quickly and emphatically that this was not a blip.

I just felt that either the team or the directors were going to get a rocket to straighten things urgently.

Of course it could be just wishful thinking from me .

[Cjay]

I did say you can't expect players in their late 20s/early 30s to play at that intensity forever. If we're not going to sign anyone, then we need to start bringing in the young players into the team. If they're not going to play, then stop signing them.

Fully agree.

You can't play the same players year on year week on week and expect no drop off?

Players can't go on forever it doesn't work like that.

Players like Ayling, Dallas, Klich, Bamford, Harrison, Cooper have been playing almost non stop for years now, at some point you have to make a significant effort to refresh the squad and starting 11.

A drop off is natural and totally expected

[White Riot]

We’ll be fine WR! Bielsa’s interview afterwards on BT Sport gave me some instant hope. When questioned as to whether this was just a blip, or if it was tactical or performance, he answered quickly and emphatically that this was not a blip.

I just felt that either the team or the directors were going to get a rocket to straighten things urgently.

Of course it could be just wishful thinking from me .

I wondered if he picked that team to highlight our frailties and embarrass Radz n the gang into action?

No better stage to shame them on

[SG90]

If it wasn't for Bielsa I think we could have won today.

Course, it would have been against some club like Peterborough or Bristol City in the Championship...

Can't keep talking about the Championship forever. Unfortunately far too many fans are misty eyed over it for some reason.

[SG90]

I wondered if he picked that team to highlight our frailties and embarrass Radz n the gang into action?

No better stage to shame them on

We could lose 80-0 every week and he'd still pick the same players every week.