Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 12.02.26

It's noticeable that some 3 months after Onana was shipped out, we remain an incredibly soft side defensively. A team that loves to gift goals to the opposition.

Like most fans, I'm glad we changed our keeper.

But the defensive problems United have run a lot deeper than that

For the first 3 goals Shaw vacated the orthodox LCB role he played for much of the first half and they reverted to the default 3 cb. This was a tactical shift and conceded control. And in each case the goa resulted from shaw a being caught on the touch line cascading to other players out of position. The 4th goal was a consequence of the chaos that came before.

The modified formation they started the game with with Amad higher up the pitch and Yoro more of a tucked right back was working until mid way through the first half when they reverted to default Amorim. 3-4-3. And we know this was a deliberate tactic not “the players” because that’s what the did at the start of the second also after retaking the lead. I think Amorim was more worried about a modified tactic winning the game and the consequential questioning of his orthodoxy than actually maintaining the control they had

Not at all I deffo enjoyed it, we obviously weren't going to be at our beat with yoro and heavens in defense I don't think they were too bad either but you'd feel more senior defenders would have had control over some of those situations better.

Disappointed to drop points after a very good first half performance but battled back well when the heads could have been totally lost at 3-2.

Ah here, not the celebration police. If you can’t celebrate what we all thought was the winning goal at the time, then what’s the point? I doubt you’d be making this comment if we won the game

Nah, in the build up to the Bournemouth equaliser they stopped and did a can-can in the middle of the pitch. Of course when they were celebrating the goal. Cunha was completely pulling the piss with how long it went on. You'd have thought it was a last gasp winner.

I dunno why some people seemed to think Bournemouth should have been a walkover. They are a very dangerous side, we didn't roll over and give up surprisingly so a point isn't that bad all things considered. Madness comparing it to Everton game.

it’s not given the level of control they had fir much of the first half, the fact we scored 4 against them and their recent record

Cunha seems like a guy who appreciates the moment and the positive things in his life. I wouldn't begrudge anyone who works hard and tries to do positive things taking a few seconds to appreciate and enjoy the small moments of success and the sound of the old trafford crowd.

It is clear he doesn't take it for granted. Life is short and you could be hit by a bus tomorrow. Who knows, it could be the last goal he ever scores (hopefully not!), it clearly means something to him, which personally I don't mind one bit. He was backtracking more than anyone for the rest of the game, so it was not arrogance.

Football players are also human beings

Lads my heart went to levels that were unsafe during that second half!

Best Premier League game of the Season so far.

Undoubtedly there were some naive mistakes which contributed to the Bournemouth goals but they were all expertly dispatched.

The big plus is that Cunha was like a man reborn……full of confidence which will be helped by his clinical finish.

Mbuemo had some very poor misses…..but we won’t be seeing him for a good while.

Thought Casemiro and Bruno got through a lot of work,and to be fair Mainoo covered every blade of grass in his time on the pitch.

Onwards and upwards!😅💪👏

Yoro has been pretty consistently poor for quite some time now. He’s always been a disaster defensively but showed excellent on the ball ability and you hoped the defensive side would come with experience.

Unfortunately the defensive side has stayed the same and the on ball stuff has deserted him completely.

I think he’ll struggle for game time once everyone is fit as Amorim doesn’t have the luxury of carrying a defensive liability to give him ‘experience’

I also worry he’ll struggle big time if ever got to a back 4 at the back manager. The back 3 should be made for him, he would be crucified in a 2 at his current stage of developemnt.

Thought he was going to be a slam dunk signing but not so it seems. He has a long way to go (plenty of time), but it’s an unforgiving sport.

Just read that Casemiro is suspended for the Villa game on Sunday. With Amad and Mbuemo gone as well and our defence gifting goals away to every team we face, I’m not feeling confident whatsoever

Maybe Mainoo will finally get a start though

I'd say that's a big part of the reason he got 30 instead of his usual 2-12 minutes as he'll have to play next week