07 Aug 2021 13:00:34
See Pickford's up and running at his usual club form already :D
Nice to see Donny starting today. Bench looks very 'sub standard' midfield heavy.
07 Aug 2021 14:14:40
How did Donny play along side Matic?
07 Aug 2021 14:34:50
He was good without being great. Although to be fair Everton have been by far the worst team we have played during pre-season.
No energy, no urgency, no direction or plan, just sluggish and aimless.
I thought Rafa would at least have had them playing as a tighter defensive unit, but not so far.
Pickford playing like a Sunday league keeper, can't get hold of the ball and it keeps bobbling around in his hands. Poor positioning, poor communication, but he does pass the ball out like a midfielder, he just can't use his hands and doesn't understand the basics of goalkeeping.
If Begovic isn't first choice by Christmas then Rafa will need to hand back his coaching license because clearly he wouldn't have a clue.
We moved it about well enough, look more settled at set pieces at both ends. Lost energy in the second half, and lost fluidity once the subs started.
07 Aug 2021 14:49:04
Thought Matic was excellent at base if midfield- if only he was 10 years younger.
Donny was decent in MF: lots of energy trying to knit things together and harrying the opposition, but didn’t do much in last third.
Maguire, Fernandes, AWB and Shaw very good too.
Martial pretty non-existent, though his first match back.
Lindelof decent too, DeGea not much to do, Greenwood faded in second half, and Dan James usual fast headless chicken.
Subs:
Everton much better in second half, so United didn’t ha e so much of the ball. Thought Dalot, Williams, Axel, McTom and Fred all OK, though obvious drop in quality. Pogba jogged about a bit and Mata didn’t do much either. Garner needs another season out on loan.
Decent performance overall but if only we had a younger Matic or another similar defensive midfielder who can stop attacks, bring the ball out calmly then spray a few passes about.
07 Aug 2021 14:49:37
With all the talk of switching to a midfield pivot, which I agree with if we have the right player, seeing Donny with Matic does give a realistic change should we need the 2 at the base of midfield. Donny has the energy to compensate foratic whilst Matic is our only true holding midfielder so positionally off of Donny they could play well. Have Pogba alongside Fernsndes when we play a pivot.
Would allow some rest for players so not to overwork them this season.
07 Aug 2021 14:55:36
Shappy, your description of Pickford makes me think we could use him in our midfield. Maybe they'd be up for a swap of some kind!
A good run-out by all accounts, but there is no intensity in these games and they aren't really an indication of much other than honing fitness as we head into the final straight. Had this been next week I suspect things would have been different.
If Utd still want a back-up RB I can't see any point in forking out when Dalot looks decent enough in that role. If they want whatever else Trippier adds - adaptability at LB, free kicks - then fair enough, I can see the logic.
07 Aug 2021 15:08:59
Trippier gives option of back 5, with Obe Wan at right CB?
07 Aug 2021 15:42:08
Dodgy, as does Dalot.