How do you score 4 goals against that shite and not win?!
I'm talking about United btw not Bournemouth who somehow managed to score 3 or more times in three successive matches at Old Trafford which is the first time any side has managed that. Ever.
To fucking Bournemouth 😐.
This isn't even the good Bournemouth from earlier in the season. This is a Cherries' side who hadn't won in their last six and hadn't scored in their last two!
Of course when playing against United, they manage to score 4 and hell, if not for two late great saves by Lammens, would've ended our halftime record of not having lost at home since 1984 when leading at halftime.
To get to that point where we have to thank the goalkeeper for getting us a draw after having scored 4 is unacceptable.
I think it's more how these type of results are happening that is frustrating because this is now the fifth game where we've taken the lead only to end up drawing.
We started off so well too 😩. That was arguably the best half of football we've played all season.
What I enjoyed about United's play the most was the relentlessness with the high press and overall work rate as we didn't give the Cherries a second to breathe. This high octane style is what allowed United to be on top in that first period.
Amorim was then eventually rewarded as Amad scored the easiest header of his life after a brilliant cross by Dalot who's had some sort of resurgence in recent weeks.
With all the chances we created in that first half though, it was disappointing that we didn't score more.
Even more disappointment was to come as of course, we concede a stupid goal. United target Antoine Semenyo had a free run down the right before getting into the box and scoring from a tight angle to make it 1-1 after Shaw gave the ball away cheaply. Poor closing down allowed the forward to score his 7th goal of the season.
Typical United to not make the most of being on top and then letting the opposition back in.
Thankfully, at the end of the half, goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic channelled his inner Andre Onana and cocked up with a header from Casemiro. The Brazilian scoring his 7th header for United and restored our lead.
Annoying to have gone into the break this way but at least we had the lead.
You know, it's in these situations where the side winning will say that we need to continue this momentum, keep playing as we are and eventually, we'll score more and win the game.
United though, we do the exact opposite.
Similarly to Forest, just a few minutes after the restart, we conceded 2!
I was checking my phone to see what others were saying about that impressive first half and next thing I know, Bournemouth were level. They then had a free-kick and it was 3-2!
FUCK ME!!!
Only United could do this 😡!
We like to make things harder for ourselves and to now come back into a game when the opposition had something to hold on to was going to be incredibly difficult. United weren't as free-flowing in the second period compared to the first and found it tough to create chances.
Much like a lot of goals this season though, we relied on a set-piece to get back to level terms.
An incredible strike by Bruno cancelled out Bournemouth's to make it 3-3.
With the momentum back in our favour, Ruben's Reds managed to rally themselves once more and retook the lead just two minutes later as Cunha made it 4-3!
From here, you think 'surely, surely United won't mess up?
But yep, you guessed it.
This team simply CANNOT hold onto a lead. We CANNOT see a game out and that's why Bournemouth got a 4th.
4-4.
When it comes to the manager, the team selection was unsurprising. I don't think we could've expected much more in terms of changes and when looking at the performance in the first half, it was superb.
There were moments when we saw a different formation as it appeared as if United used a 4-4-2 at times without possession and when he made the changes in the second half which shows some adaptability.
However, whilst scoring 4 in back-to-back games was great, to not win in this situation will be hugely disappointing.
Amorim spoke pre-match about needing to manage games better as we are too inconsistent throughout the 90 minutes and much like a lot of what he says, he was right.
How we don't win the game is a mystery, the goals conceded were pretty poor and to then rely on Lammens to spare our blushes says all you need to know about United and their inconsistencies.
As the manager, he does have to take some of the blame because he sets up the team and tells them what to do but as we saw, that midfield was struggling and the defense was shaky. I don't think he did enough to sure things up. If not for Casemiro's yellow card, I doubt he would've been substituted and the midfield issues would've remained. Either Yoro or Heaven needed to come off and I think that Martinez substitution was made too late.
Too many silly mistakes is what cost us in the end.
Ratings
Lammens - 6.5
Yoro - 6
Heaven - 5
Shaw - 6
Amad - 7
Bruno - 6
Casemiro - 6
Dalot - 6
Mbeumo - 5
Mount - 5.5
Cunha - 7 MOTM
Mainoo - 6
Sesko - 6
Martinez - 6
Dorgu - 6
Zirkzee - 6
Ruben Amorim - 5
Final Thoughts
This was another opportunity missed to move into 4th and it's now just 2 points from our last 9 at Old Trafford against Everton, West Ham and Bournemouth.
I don't know what to expect next. We'll probably beat Villa on Sunday but you know with how inconsistent and unpredictable we are, there will be games like this around the corner.
Fuck me lads. Fuck me 🤦♂️.
Casemiro scores as Man Utd draw 4-4 with Bournemouth | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)