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Manchester United suffered a late heartbreak in opposition to Brighton and Hove Albion as Joao Pedro struck in added time to down the guests 1-2 on the Amex Stadium on Saturday.
The Seagulls have emerged as some kind of a bogey crew for the Purple Devils ever since Erik ten Hag took over with United shedding 5 of the final six Premier League conferences between the golf equipment.
Whereas the crew from the South Coast appear to have Ten Hag’s quantity, what was disheartening to observe this time round was the truth that for probably the most half, United have been respectable.
They’d management of the ball and the sport and appeared snug in possession whereas wanting a lot improved when it got here to urgent from the entrance and enjoying out from the again.
United look flat on this false-nine system
However the style lacked penetration as no person ran in behind to pose a risk to the Brighton backline which remained excessive as most United stars needed the ball performed to toes.
The false-nine system employed by the Dutchman has its deserves however these flaws meant United, whereas having extra of the ball, had fewer pictures.
This model is the polar reverse of final season’s present the place United both attacked quick or bought counter-attacked at will. There isn’t a center floor with Ten Hag’s United as of now.
To not point out the identical defensive lapses. There stays far an excessive amount of area behind the midfield whereas the defence nonetheless struggles to squeeze up, as a result of lack of tempo on supply from Harry Maguire.
6 – Since 2022-23, Manchester United have misplaced extra Premier League video games due to targets scored within the ninetieth minute (+ stoppage time) than another facet (6); they’d solely misplaced two such video games within the first 30 campaigns within the competitors mixed. Asleep. #BHAMUN pic.twitter.com/F6JXEWUHti
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 24, 2024
Whereas the primary purpose conceded was because of the Englishman being gradual to react and Lisandro Martinez shedding his man, the second purpose was one thing that has been affecting the 20-time English league champions rather a lot lately.
As soon as identified for his or her potential to conjure up winners in added time, below the previous Ajax coach, this pattern has been turned on its head with United conceding six stoppage time winners within the final two seasons, after conceding simply two within the previous 30 years.
Surprising document
That was partly as a result of surprising choice to take off Bruno Fernandes, the crew’s talisman, which handed the Seagulls the boldness to throw the kitchen sink on the Outdated Trafford facet on the dying.
Such deflating numbers stuff ought to give Ten Hag nightmares however after two seasons, he ought to have labored on this within the coaching floor by now.
Keep in mind final season in opposition to Brentford, when Aaron Wan-Bissaka switched off whereas enjoying because the left-back which allowed the Bees to equalise after United had crawled themselves again into the competition?
Enjoying and not using a specialist left-back actually harm as soon as once more as Diogo Dalot selected to cowl the appropriate with Noussair Mazraoui standing proper behind him throughout that fateful assault.
Throughout set-pieces, United proceed to look weak as most gamers don’t perceive the zonal system correctly regardless of spending a lot time on the coaching floor, or at the very least that’s what followers wish to suppose.
When will these issues be solved, no person is aware of. Ten Hag is already feeling the warmth and it’s simply two video games into the brand new season. Liverpool are up subsequent and it virtually appears like squeaky bum time for the supervisor.
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