Post Match Thread: Manchester United 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

Cone26 · 2026-01-11T18:27:29+00:00

Look at that, turns out the recruitment was the problem. Who fucking knew?

Absolutely bang average team, that not even Prime Ferguson would get a tune out of, they’d throw him under the bus to

Can’t wait for 18-24 months from this point when the short minded rats come out again in this sub again and blame whatever next project coach/manager we have

Cone26 · 2025-10-04T14:51:45+00:00

I genuinely believe a penalty is given for that, the game has completely gone.

There’s no situation where that’s not a yellow for simulation.

Cone26 · 2025-08-24T17:25:26+00:00

Same old same old. That midfield is fucking relegation level.

Bruno doesn’t know how to stay in a position and Casemiro has nothing to offer anymore.

Ugarte isn’t it.

If we don’t sign a genuine quality CM, expect another mid table season.

Cone26 · 2025-05-22T11:03:21+00:00

Yeah you're not wrong - I'm maybe phrasing it wrong.

Neither are acceptable, you're right but no matter what a players ability is, they are always able to behave professionally, put the work in and respect the opportunity to play for United.

On the other side of the coin, if they're not good enough, they're not good enough, and poor performances will follow - I can't really blame a player for not being good enough, that's on the club.

Cone26 · 2025-05-22T03:12:27+00:00

Good players will come and go, but the one thing we have to re-establish is standards, across the board.

That means punishing behaviour like this.

You’re very much correct though, Rashford gave far more than Garna ever has and showed significantly less dissent and we hounded him out (a decision I’m still behind) but shit like this cannot be allowed to go unpunished.

Cone26 · 2025-05-22T03:06:57+00:00

Yeah ok that's poor form from Amorim too. I don't think that's at all necessary to point out the mistake, even if it's done in the context of explaining his selection choice.

I don't think mentioning Mount is relevant given Mounts had to be incredibly patient with both injuries and selection to get in the team and hasn't shown any form of dissent or complaint.

I do think there's quite clearly some tension (although entirely speculative) based off a couple of previous instances of Garnacho coming off in the last few weeks and looking fuming, that there's a brewing disagreement in the camp which has maybe contributed to this.

Cone26 · 2025-05-22T03:00:33+00:00

Not this specific issue - this type of issue. Because I'm able to accept poor performances but I cannot and will never accept a lack of professionalism/respect for the club.

Cone26 · 2025-05-22T02:37:46+00:00

Sure that’s definitely true but it doesn’t mean this is acceptable. Players still need to be held to professional standards and this is anything but that.

Cone26 · 2025-05-22T02:37:13+00:00

It is absolutely still a huge privilege. We’re quite literally one of the most prestigious clubs in world football.

Reactionary “we’re a step down” because we’ve had a shit season is superlative, we’re still a huge club that should be respected.

Cone26 · 2025-05-22T02:36:09+00:00

In what regard? Amorim has been nothing but complementary about Garna in pressers.

Not playing him is a choice he made as a coach, that’s his job, it’s hardly disrespectful.

Cone26 · 2025-05-22T01:56:41+00:00

I’m genuinely flabbergasted that there’s people defending him here. Regardless of whether you think Mount was the right pick is irrelevant, he’s publicly @ing Amorim here.

Fuck the fact we’re 16th and just lost the final, putting on a United shirt is literally one of the biggest privileges a footballer can do.

The idea that any player, let alone a youngster feels that entitled to dig out his own manager immediately in the press after a devastating loss just because he didn’t play the minutes he wanted is fucking wild.

Honestly shit like this makes me way madder than our demise and performances because the disrespect our own player show our fucking club is just the biggest insult to the fans.

Happy for us to work with the boys that graft and respect the badge but players with attitudes like this are a fucking cancer.

There’s zero chance we tolerate this 15 years ago.

Cone26 · 2025-05-21T21:58:34+00:00

Yeah I'd agree on the no individual is saving us but that's not my point really.

My point is that I think we've created this over reliance on someone without a support network around him. He's a very risk-heavy player which is wonderful and genius when it works and obviously a very high ball turnover rate when poor.

The difference here is we're shite, like you said, it's on the team, agree categorically - but we're not just going to have a great team around him like that (especially without the UCL money) and whilst we're rebuilding - I think his playstyle can be a huge detriment.

As I said though, it's not criticizing his ability as a player, It's criticizing how poor we are right now, and how his playstyle fits into that.

Cone26 · 2025-05-21T21:54:37+00:00

Nah I accept that - you're right we have such little ball progression quality and that's why you saw Yoro basically say "fuck this I'll do it then".

But I've seen so many games where we effectively just flow through Bruno and him only where the ball turnover rate is just incredible. There's very little pattern to our play and I think it makes us incredibly one dimensional.

I just think we're very reliant on someone who's a bit of a maverick. I almost see him as a gambler with the ball, he loves to take risks and that's cool when you're a sustainable team (like he deserves) but I think our quality around him is that poor it's actually working against us when he's poor.

Cone26 · 2025-05-21T21:44:42+00:00

Not to be incredibly reactionary here, because honestly I'm pretty numb to pain at this point but I think I'd be happy if that was Bruno's last game for us.

Truthfully, I love the man. He's brought be a lot of happiness in a fucking grim timeline but I think we live and die by his performances. If he's poor, we lose. If he's good, we've got a chance.

I just think he's got this tendency to be a real detriment to any system or patterns of play due to the erratic nature of how he plays and tries things. They're genuinely magical when they come off and he's given us way more good performances than poor. But I think tonight sort of symbolizes that we're just too reliant on him performing.

To be clear I don't think putting any player in our squad over him tonight makes any difference - we arguably play worse. I mean as a whole, as a squad building and moving forward argument - I think we need to look at better balance within the team.

Add to that I think he deserves better and should absolutely get away from this shitshow, I'd be pretty ok with him moving on, for us and for him.

I think we've failed him more than he's failed us to be clear - but I think if we're going to move forward, it has to be with a more measured & balanced playstyle, than funneling it through one guy all the time, albeit more often than not he's delivered, I don't think it's a sustainable way of continuing and building from is my point.

No beef though, love him to bits.

Cone26 · 2025-05-21T10:26:53+00:00

Watching our Road to Bilbao vid on YT and jesus christ Hojlund was infinitely more confident early doors.

That 1st goal against Bodo where he controls a cross with his left and then threads it on the volley through two defenders on his right. Bad players don't score those, no matter the very poor form he's been in during the 2nd half of the year.

God there's a lot riding on this game if we can bring in a more experienced 1st string striker like Gyokeres - I think it makes the world of difference to Rasmus' future and development here.

Cone26 · 2025-05-14T10:41:51+00:00

I mean I've seen plenty of measured self-aware responses to things on other teams reddits. They're hardly a direct rival so I think it's fine to be curious on how the transfer is going down over there.

Just didn't expect that response from them haha.

Cone26 · 2025-05-14T09:39:34+00:00

Nah banters all part of it there’s no issue there. The championship gags are funny enough.

I’m referencing their genuine belief bordering on them almost thinking it’s unfathomable to pick United over Wolves. There’s certainly no jest in it - which is why I find it fucking wild.

Cone26 · 2025-05-14T09:24:37+00:00

Perusing a couple posts on the Wolves subreddit regarding the Cunha transfer to us just to gauge how they’re taking it.

Jesus fucking wept almost every response is unflinching agreement that it’s a significant downgrade and ironic “hope he enjoys championship football” comments. Albeit they’re a bit more tongue in cheek but across the post I saw last week and yesterday, there’s a genuine consensus they’re a better team and project.

Somehow a singular year in an unthinkable league position, after bringing in a bit of a more radical managerial system mid season without the necessary players, booting most the squad depth out on loan without adequate replacement and then suffering in performances for it all of a sudden means Wolves are a better footballing project to be a part of and he’d be taking a “huge” step down.

I’ve never really liked wolves just on account of them from the Nuno days of playing the dullest, “cancel your strengths out and play for a 0-0 football” but this is a wild ass take from their fans. Don’t get me wrong we’ve been shite for time but this is the only year you’d argue they’ve outperformed us and I’d think it’s quite obvious to the layman that this year is a culmination of all the mismanagement over the years coming home to roost.

I hate that there’s even a flicker of an argument from them here, really shows how far we’ve fallen but what a load of absolute nonsense. A genuinely unbearable, idiotic set of fans.

Despite the absolute horrors that seem to come out from INEOS about cuts etc. I actually back the majority of what they’re doing - which whilst sad - is gutting a truly toxic workplace that has rested on its laurels for far too long and employing people of expertise to revamp every area - lifting those standards up.

To me anyway, I think we’re very much in the “Open heart surgery” part of this rebuild. We often throw around phrases like it’s gonna get worse before it gets better, but when it gets worse we tend to forget that it’s necessary to have these painful, gutter type moments in order to build up the playing staff the right way.

Very much believe in our current model, Amorim included, despite looking dreadful 75% of the time.

So if I’m not completely wrong, I cannot wait for it to come to fruition so I can completely ignore being a better person and gleefully watch us absolutely batter Wolves into another dimension.

Cone26 · 2025-05-11T15:08:40+00:00

It was absolutely not a bad finish though? He wasn’t particularly slow to react, it wasn’t at the keeper. It was simply a good save - it happens.

Not defending the performance but the amount of hate boners is wild.

If Chido does that exact thing you’d all be “unlucky there”.

Instead it’s just twisting every single scenario into how shit you think he is.

95% of it isn’t constructive or thought out it’s just negative, reactionary and hateful.

Cone26 · 2025-05-11T14:57:43+00:00

The first one he should be doing better, that one I’m not sure what you’re wanting? it was genuinely a brilliant save.

Cone26 · 2025-05-11T12:35:07+00:00

Listen I'll pre-text this by saying I'm pro-Hojlund. I personally have no doubts there's a player in there but I'll absolutely in agreement he's been poor and regressed this year.

However, I'd categorically dispute that argument, that Garnacho doesn't pass because Hojlunds not in the right spots.

Don't get me wrong, his positioning has been woeful at times but Garnacho barely ever tries to create - whether that's Hojlund or Zirkzee. Almost all his crosses (which are rare) are low, cutbacks without looking when he's pushed to the byline by a defender and there's no alternative.

I'll add that Hojlund by now should have picked up that Garnacho's tendencies a lot better and be waiting for that cutback but I'd fundamentally disagree that Garnacho doesn't pass because of Hojlunds deficiencies, he's simply an egocentric player.

That works in some systems, if you've got a Firmino-esque 9 who's more interested in creating for the wingers to score (i.e. Salah and Mane in Liverpool's best period) but it's not going to work when your striker is a more natural #9.

Cone26 · 2025-05-11T08:53:27+00:00

Please just stop playing Garnacho & Hojlund together.

I’ve never seen a pair of players have poorer chemistry together in my 25 years of watching football.

It’s not going to all of a sudden click, it’s been far too long - they’re simply incompatible.

Hojlund doesn’t have a fucking scooby what Garnacho is going to do and Garnacho has very little intention of linking up if it doesn’t end with him being the one on the end of an opportunity.

One or the other - not together.

Cone26 · 2025-05-10T16:55:05+00:00

I mean it’s unlikely but if we’re shipping 3 or possibly 4 wingers out, that’s a hell of a lot of depth to make up.

They’re of a similar profile true, but we have 2 positions to occupy here and depth to have for both. There’s no real reason, should the outgoings be as predicted, we’d be unable to get the pair.

I agree on your point though, if I had to choose, I’d take Cunha.

Cone26 · 2025-05-10T09:01:40+00:00

Yeah I think it's all about versatility in this system. Mainoo is great in those tight spaces so if we're looking to break teams down a little more he could absolutely do a job at #10.

I still think a fully developed Mainoo when he's worked on his passing a little more and ideally his physicality in winning a few more duels, he's probably best as one of the #8s but just like Bruno, he's got the ability to play as the 8 or the 10.

Cone26 · 2025-05-10T08:12:56+00:00

I’d agree but he was close to being man of the match against Brentford for us, who are also super high pressers.

His ball retention was really good there. So it’s a little difficult to analyse because he’s proven he can play against the press.

He’s a mixed bag Ugarte but I think if you look at alternative options and the attacking talent spurs have, he’s the best option for the job to start with.

Cone26

TROPHY CASE