This is getting really painful to watch. The Man United players have fallen back into their old ways as they were lucky to just lose 2-1 to Brighton at Old Trafford.
This team is PATHETIC! How many times have they done this same, sad story now. Play horrible in the first half, give up 2-3 goals, come out roaring and fighting in the second half (maybe score a goal to cut the lead in half), but whimper to a loss as they loss courage in the final 20 minutes.
If I had the time, I could name 20 matches that this same story happened. That is how ridiculous these players and this team has become.
And this game was no different.
United started this game with some passion and fight, but that lasted all but five minutes. Brighton dominated the remaining 40 minutes, scoring two goals that should have been easily stopped if the defense and midfield was even remotely capable.
When Ronaldo came on in the second half, the possession started to turn in United’s favor (which turned into an Alexis Macallister OG). Yet, even that didn’t last as United failed to put any significant pressure on Brighton’s goal in the crucial final twenty minutes.
Does anyone still remember when United went 20+ matches unbeaten on the road a few years ago? Or when they came second in the league under Ole? I thought the constant semi-final failures was bad, but this is so much worse. United have fallen from crumbling against Liverpool and Man City in semi-finals, to now losing against Brighton and Crystal Palace when they score first.
How did John Murdough and Richard Arnold think just getting three players (one who was a free transfer) for new manager Erik ten Hag, who has inherited a roster that finished in 6th place last season, acceptable? They should be fired for just thinking that thought! Many of these United players collapsed and crumbled on Ole and Ralf Rangnick last season should have been either sold or sent to the bench.
Yet, that hasn’t been the case. Aside from Lisandro Martinez and Christain Eriksen, every other member of United’s starting lineup vs. Brighton were regulars last season. Some of them have been the key contributors to United’s fall from grace (ie: Scott McTominay, Fred, Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, etc.) in these past three seasons.
What were we (as United fans) really expecting against Brighton today? A 4-0 win with the same players that lost 4-0 to Brighton last season?
This result should have been seen a mile away. Sadly.
As for Brighton, this was just another run-of-the-mill game. They played United perfectly, stifling the midfield and turning the crowd against the team to destroy their confidence. They will face much harder tests against much more imposing teams (such as Newcastle next week and West Ham in Matchday 3) later on.
This season is going to be excruciatingly long if there are no new signings before September 1st. I fear for the rest of the season if that is the case.
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