Manchester United flattered to deceive yet again. They suffered yet another loss, yet another three points lost. They sit 7th in the table behind West Ham on goal difference after the loss. Here are five things we learned.
1. Manchester United are very frustrating
Manchester United went into the game knowing they had to win to give themselves a chance of top four. In the game, they were so frustrating in their attempt to break Everton down despite having more possession. Manchester United also had more shots on target on the day, which shows that they need to take their chances because a team much better than them will destroy them. Rashford’s missed chances come to mind when we think of chances Manchester United squandered.
2. No luck for Ronaldo….Again
Ronaldo offered nothing against Everton. Project Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United has been anything but a success. Ronaldo has failed because like Cavani and Martial he has lived off scraps. They lived off scraps as we don’t sustain pressure and we struggle to create. The game against Everton was another one he lived off scraps.
It remains to be seen whether he will seek a move away if United fail to secure Champions League qualification over the coming months, with a clean break potentially able to represent a favourable solution for all parties at this stage.
3. Sancho struggles when United keep crossing aimlessly
I felt bad for Sancho as he could not do anything throughout today’s game. During his time at Dortmund he would have midfielders coming in short and the likes of Bellingham who would play off him. In the Everton game he had Bruno who wants to launch passes in, Telles who wants to spam crosses in and Pogba who played so deep. Sancho got absolutely killed by the lack of shape and fluidity in the game.
4. Bruno Fernandes has been losing the ball too often recently
Bruno ruined every attack for us which is why we can’t sustain any pressure. He just hits passes in the direction of a player instead of hitting passes to players . One example of this is his pass to Rashford which was a flat pass that he couldn’t do anything with (he tried to control it but couldn’t bring it down). Even for the Marcus Rashford header Bruno cut onto his right foot and just put the ball into the box. Bruno put’s his foot through the ball like he is trying to have a shot on target.
5. Rashford has a few bright sparks but still has a long way to go
Plenty was made of Marcus Rashford’s exclusion against Leicester last week in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. He had a mixed game against Everton . In the game he had a header which was saved by England teammate Jordan Pickford. He also had a shot which was saved by Pickford. He did at times lose the ball too easily at times during the game. There was a time in the second half Rashford tried running without looking up. He does not know what is around him when he receives the ball. He eventually had to be substituted for Elanga.