22 Aug 2026 14:34:55
A terrible performance. Interesting to hear Carrick post match. I never wanted him to start with, I just can’t see what style he trying to implement.
Tielemans had prob the worst debut I’ve seen. Nutmegged twice, poor passing, control and dispossessed multiple times.
Embarrassing from every player.
71% possession but controlled nothing.
22 Aug 2026 15:09:25
Terrible performance devoid of any intensity.
Dorgu and Bruno the 2 worst players on the pitch, followed closely by Cunha imo.
Tielemans had a mare too.
Nothing from full backs.
Maguire imo was the only player that showed any urgency, and that's a very poor look out.
Need to see a lot better than that next week.
22 Aug 2026 15:11:27
We've struggled against teams that play a low block for a long time. Why? Without our first choice CBs (De Ligt, Licha), we struggle against teams that play with focal point strikers. And our fullbacks aren't adept at cutting out crosses. Additionally, without Licha, our distribution out of defence is criminally slow, and it takes all tempo from our game.
Tielemans will be fine, so will the other midfielders. Licha will probably start the next game. We desperately need fullbacks in, though. And, in the forward division, today was a day to put in either Sesko or Zirkzee. If we don't play Zirkzee today, then there is no use for him. Ger in someone like Mateta.
22 Aug 2026 15:11:37
We were piss poor twenty. I was surprised at how bad Tielemans actually was. That being said, not one player except Lammens, who I thought was unlucky, performed today.
The fact that in 2026 we still have Rashford and Shaw playing down our left hand side speaks volumes.
22 Aug 2026 15:18:47
They say its the hope that kills you. England in the World Cup proved that against Argentina, where I dared to hope with 20 minutes left.
At least utd had the decency to crush my hopes before 16 of the teams had even started.
Gonna be a long season if that performance was anything good to go by.
22 Aug 2026 15:19:38
Agreed, everyone was off the pace.
At least Maguire showed some desire and tried to force something.
When we did get it wide, the crossing was so bad.
22 Aug 2026 16:15:38
Poor performance without a doubt. Nothing seemed to click or fall our way. Hopefully it's a wake up call.
All pre-season, we looked suspect from set-pieces, and that was mostly against non-EPL teams (where physicality is typically much higher than in teams from the continent).
It's not for nothing that our most physical defender (Maguire) was the only one who looked competent.
While I understand the desire to try and get our best players on the pitch, clearly Bruno and Cunha were not ready, having returned late from the World Cup.
As a side note, early in the season, we might struggle more when we come up against teams that had very few players at the World Cup.
Those teams' players will be fresher, fitter, and more ready for the start of the season.
We need to pick ourselves up and make sure we are ready for the next couple of games. Ideally, we want (maybe even need) six points from the games against Ipswich and Everton, as the game against City will be tough.
The important thing now is to remember a season is 38 games long, and not to panic or jump to wild conclusions after the first game.
{Ed001's Note - Maguire looked competent? He was the one marking hus teammate instead of heading the ball on the corner they scored from. He looked anything but competent. He tried hard but he is a disaster.}
22 Aug 2026 16:44:51
Fairly sure that Arsenal had players at WC too.
22 Aug 2026 17:26:26
What people see in Maguire is beyond me.
We are using him as a standard of who players should aspire to when working hard. God help us. How the mighty have fallen.
22 Aug 2026 17:41:20
Ken has it right. Can't add anything. Very poor.
22 Aug 2026 22:25:02
If running around out of position, with a bewildered look on your face, is competent, then Maguire had a blinder.
In his position, he should be an absolute leader, handing out directions and rollickings.
He cannot do that as he is not leading by example.
Desire, yes, ability to execute severely lacking.
22 Aug 2026 23:21:31
De Ligt isn't amazing, but he's on a different level to Maguire. People seem to forget that Maguire wasn't anywhere near first choice when De Ligt was fit. He should have left years ago. He wins some headers, great, but he's slow and makes us worse every time he plays.