Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 26.09.24

Tandey · 02-02-2025 01:58PM

Mainoo as a deep centre forward would be my guess. Will be interesting to see if we can be more dangerous attacking without either of the two big guys back to goal.

mobydopy · 02-02-2025 02:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123127137#Comment_123127137

Yep seems like Mainoo is up front, false 9 maybe

Pipmae · 02-02-2025 02:05PM

Commentator here saying there has been illness in the team so I assume the change was forced for that reason. I took as it being a vomiting bug or similar.

Scandalous that this match isn't on a UK channel.

y0ssar1an22 · 02-02-2025 02:07PM

well worked, unlucky garnacho

y0ssar1an22 · 02-02-2025 02:08PM

so close gain, goddam

mobydopy · 02-02-2025 02:08PM

Close from Mainoo, good start

02-02-2025 02:09PM

Players pushing up a lot more but sloppiness with the ball still there early.

Tandey · 02-02-2025 02:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123127150#Comment_123127150

Hope Mainoo has his shooting boots on!

SteM · 02-02-2025 02:16PM

Good opening 15 minutes. Looks like we're up for it today.

Dwarf.Shortage · 02-02-2025 02:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123127044#Comment_123127044

You have to give Villa some upside to get the deal done in fairness. Can’t have every element of it only suit United. Right now saving 70% of his wages for rest of the season then getting 40m is a cracker of an outcome. If he tears it up and 40m is good value then they took a good risk and you have to let them benefit in a best case scenario or why would they bother taking the risk.

ngunners · 02-02-2025 02:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123123856#Comment_123123856

And on top of that he was a model professional. Even earned praise from Mourinho who got rid of him from Chelsea. Always gave everything even though he didn't have the physical attributes required and played out of position with zero complaints. Can't believe a model pro like Mata is being brought up in this context.

Mars Bar · 02-02-2025 02:29PM

I don't understand how Bruno couldn't get a corner past the first defender for years. Then we concede directly from two corners put on top of our goalkeepers and then he decides that he can in fact put in a corner that goes deep

Daroxtar · 02-02-2025 02:30PM

All 3 of Mainoo, Amad and Garnacho have gotten themselves into better positions already and look more dangerous than Rasmus or Zirkzee.

y0ssar1an22 · 02-02-2025 02:41PM

my stream is having a meltdown but it looks like palace should have scored there

02-02-2025 02:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123127245#Comment_123127245

I don't think this is true. I just came here to say Mainoo is playing a bit like Zirkzee without as much link up play.

Onana made a great save there preventing a goal.

AidoEirE · 02-02-2025 02:47PM

Lovely bit of play there

02-02-2025 02:49PM

Would take off one of the CBs or wing backs and get Amad RWB for the 2nd half and Zirkzee on. Need more in the box.

ngunners · 02-02-2025 02:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123127238#Comment_123127238

As frustrating as it is to watch, I think the reason Bruno and lots of corner takers over the years have regularly hit the first man is because they are told to aim for a very specific area on corners:

https://archive.ph/3SVpC#selection-695.0-709.354

Seeking the unstoppable cornerThe goal-side defender comes first to clear the ball, normally followed by an attacker. So, the sweet spot for the ‘unstoppable corner’, is into an imagined rectangular box that is just to the right and above the head of the defender who is covering a zone on the front post edge of the six yard box. This ‘golden zone’ is too high for the first defender to head clear but dipping with pace just right for the in-rushing attacker behind him to convert as he gets across his marker. This normally results in a goal, either directly or indirectly through a touch or ricochet in the packed goalmouth.That is the theory. It’s just that as a skill it is really, really hard to perfect time after time.
Indeed a best guess according to Opta’s Alex Rathke is that just 14% of these optimum inswinging corners, in a season long study across the five major leagues (2015–16), that were aimed into this ideal location resulted in a ‘pass completion’, and therefore a chance to convert.But here’s the paradox of what is the ultimate percentage game. Even with say 40% of those corners failing to beat the first defender and fizzling away to nothing, it remains a strategy that is worth persevering with. This is simply because a ball driven into the optimum area that is successfully attacked has the greatest chance of resulting in a goal.

Seattle · 02-02-2025 02:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123127294#Comment_123127294

It was alright, I wouldn't get carried away. Tbh I think it shows how bad we've been over the last few weeks that we're praising glimmers of decent play at home to Palace.

Mitch Connor · 02-02-2025 02:51PM

Predictably toothless in attack without any sort of target.

That attack looked exactly how you could have said it would before the start. Don't know wgat amorim thought he would get from it.

Mitch Connor · 02-02-2025 02:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123127297#Comment_123127297

Agree. Put mazraoui into the defence or take him off, get zirkzee on and move mainoo and amad.

AidoEirE · 02-02-2025 03:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123127302#Comment_123127302

Not getting carried away at all, just saying it was a nice bit of play.

02-02-2025 03:07PM

Mainoo there picking up the ball and all that's in front of him are Garnacho and Amad out on the wing. Are they not supposed to be narrow and supportive?