This is your preflight, Match Day Report from Elland Road Hovel.
Pre-match team selection: Well there were raised eyebrows, let's put it that way. Definitely was not of the view the manager was personally attacking me by starting Maguire as captain. Isn't Martinez suspended for the Barca first leg, so why was he rested? Our squad depth really is dreadful; that bench was uninspiring to say the least.
The Away End: Fucking health hazard. Tiny concourse for that number of people. Gave up on getting a drink and if you needed a pee - hold it.
The first half: We were brutal. Too slow, too passive. It felt like the game was just drifting and Leeds were more aggressive. We did not have enough movement up front and the midfield was basically non-existent. I didn't feel particularly concerned they were going to score though. Lad beside me had money on Fred getting booked - banker. Fernandes should have scored that chance at the end of the half but it would have been against the run of play. Disappointing.
The second half: Frustrating. Too slow. Changes felt delayed and a bit haphazard. Nobody could understand why Weghorst was still through the middle. When Rashford went up front we suddenly looked up for it. Martinez was a momentum changer. Rashford could be a number nine in this form -- I am most of the way down the road to a Proven Hilariously Wrong post (we'll get to the end of the season). 21 goals this season already and the first to get 20 in a season for us since van Persie would be some going. The celebrations were a bit mental for the first as I think everyone was relieved. The second was enjoyed with the fervour of people that know you've killed the game. Not really sure what the players were doing to celebrate to be honest because I missed it ...
The atmosphere: I fucking love away days. I'm completely hoarse. The police/security did a really good job before and after the game to be fair, really clean job in and out. Leeds supporters are scum and a few were straight in with Munich arms. Unfortunately, some dickheads responded with stuff about Gala/Istanbul. Singing in the first half was constant. Second half was a bit more subdued as plenty of us were getting frustrated. As soon as Rashford scored though it livened right up again. There is nothing like a United away in club football.
Player ratings:
De Gea, 7 - A couple of vital stops. A couple of dodgy-ish passes/clearances but look at the options in front of him.
Dalot, 6 - Didn't have much to do defensively but was okay. Much better than the other night. Didn't offer enough going forward.
Malacia, 6 - Like Dalot, but on the left. I don't know who was supposed to be where in our midfield but there seemed like a huge gap between Rashford and Malacia going both ways which left Malacia exposed defensively. He didn't take shit though, so there is something there to work with.
Maguire, 4 - I am not just saying this because it's me: Harry Maguire is abject. I was in line with around the five/six yard line and watching him up close is gradually soul-destroying. He is slow. He is not agile. His touch is pathetic. His reading of danger is horrible. When we are trying to pass out from the back he is soooo ponderous on the ball. But we didn't concede and he headed it clear a couple of times so he gets marks for that.
Shaw, 8 - It's a clean sheet as a left back playing at centre back and he didn't make any mistakes. Gave us a different offering on the left when moved to LB
and got an assist (?). Excellent day's work.
Fred, 7 - Getting booked actually helped him. Thought he looked much more disciplined when on the booking. Our entire midfield seemed bypassed by the game at times. Wasn't spectacular going forward, was surprisingly useful defensively. Didn't get sent off. Seemed like he fancied a bit of Leeds which I appreciate.
Sabitzer, 7 - I like him. Bit of bite, bit of nous. If we had better around him he could be an able Casemiro foil or rotation option. But again, we didn't have enough of the game in midfield to really judge. There is certainly a player there and not one that will get found out by the Premier League. If Bayern are willing to sell we should be asking the question.
Fernandes, 4 - Anonymous. Might be our most annoying player since Nani but that's actually quite harsh on Nani. Bruno is such a needless crybaby. Even the away end was telling him to get the fuck up when he went down and stayed down in the second half. Missed a huge chance. It isn't a popular opinion but I think we can upgrade significantly.
Sancho, 5 - Really poor, disappointing showing. Looked one-paced and out of ideas. Couldn't beat a man once. Very not great.
Rashford, 9 - He wants to be the main man, no messing about. Play him up front to the end of the season and get him service, he could get 30 goals. Go win us a pot or two, there's a good lad.
Weghorst, ?? - Genuinely don't know what to make of him. Appalling up front, tantamount to a waste of a shirt. No touch, no hold up strength, no movement, didn't win things in the air, not a sniff of threatening a goal. He's a striker FFS. 'Why is he still on?!'
THEN.
We put him behind Rashford. Weghorst is transformed into the best of Fellaini. High balls stick. Layoffs find a red shirt. Headers are won. Leeds look befuddled. What is this witchcraft? I don't know what reality we are experiencing. He even nabbed a poacher's goal! For, like, 14 seconds. Please never have him start anymore though.
Subs:
Martinez, 9 - Changed the game and won it for us, simple as that.
Garnacho, 9 - Meant Rashford went through the middle, got us moving forwards, scored a fabulous clinching goal. What isn't to like?
Others, Meh - 🤷🏼♂️
Manager, 6 - What was that starting XI FFS. If we can do what we did in the last 20 minutes with the team/shape we used in the last 20 minutes, why not *start like that*. Yes we won, but it was an unnecessary slog against a poor Leeds team. Changes could have come sooner, and there is never an excuse for playing Maguire.
Man of the match - Shaw? Martinez? Has to be the guy who broke the deadlock. Marcus 'Bestie is almost completely sorry for doubting him' Rashford.
10/10 day, would recommend.
We are Man United and we're never gonna stop!
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