1) LVG Is Not A Magician
It's true that he can perform wonders, but with a squad so thin that Jesse Lingard started and Nani and Fellaini both played means we are really Hirt on players. Isit not time to whip out the chequebook, Ed?
2) Rooney And Young Disappointed
Suddenly all that preseason magic is gone. Rooney our new captain was lumbering and his touches were awful. Young looked more like last season's version than this preseason version. Very disappointing.
3) Three At The Back Exposé
Playing 3-5-2 means the wingbacks have to track back to help or risk the back three overly exposed. Ashley Young and Januzaj (even if he was a most creative up front) did little to help the back 3. Heck Swansea had so few chances and they still could win. Special mention to Tyler Blackett's debut which was composed and steady.
4) Questionable Substitutions
Of course hindsight is 20/20. Our three substitutions were used so early in the game. Lingard got hurt and replaced by Januzaj on 20', and the most creative force up front also helped little in defence. Nani came on for Chicharito on 46' which was rather early and weird when he was putting in a lot of effort running all through the first half. Fellaini then came on for Herrera on 64' which was bizarre because he was having such a good game. Even still Kagawa would've been a better choice. Thereafter the team stopped playing like a team. This part I have to fault LVG.
5) All Is Not Loss
The one positive takeaway from this opening game loss is the obvious fact that all the players played liked they really cared. This is significantly different from last season where after the first game the mood was already nonchalant. I hope we strengthen with a few more players, and if we don't we won't make top four definitely. Yet I will not begrudge the squad nor the coach yet because we can all see them trying hard.
I'm already looking forward to the next game! Bring it on!
GGMU!!!
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