I feel like putting up last week's reaction for this game because it was THE SAME FUCKING THING!

Before we get into it, I just want to apologize to all the neutrals who watched that because that is one of the most anti-football games I've seen in a while. Well actually, since the Europa League final.

And guess who played it?

Peak HARAMBALL!

No side deserved to win and in fact both should be deducted points for an awful game.

‍

To the match itself.

It wasn't a loss but it felt like one, it felt more like a defeat compared to last week. Amorim once more gets out of jail with a bit of luck or quality (whatever you want to call it) and we walk away with something which in the end, is a bit of a positive but I really don't want to be talking about how getting a point is better than nothing.

Let's just get into it.

‍

Lineup

I've been saying for a while now that I don't like the manager's selections. Most weeks, pretty much all of us complain about who he picks and why he's not playing and he's out of position because of him and so on.

Amorim also mentioned how he doesn't necessarily believe in having a best XI (or something along those lines). Again, disagree. I think you should have a best XI with one or two exceptions.

Week on week, we don't know who he's going to select. Last week was the first time he picked the same starting lineup in back-to-back games, in a year!

That tells me he doesn't know his best side.

‍

To also pick one based on the opposition is not what I want to see because it's almost as if he doesn't truly believe in his ideals to a point where he goes with it no matter what.

The same was true again today as Maguire came in for Yoro, Dalot was dropped for Dorgu (which was actually a good thing), Mazraoui started at RWB which meant Amad went to no 10 and Mbeumo shifted to the right with Cunha playing up top instead of Sesko.

Despite three different players starting, there were pretty much seven changes to the team with players moving into different positions.

It disrupts rhythm and momentum and it's also asking these players to play a different role. This in turn, means that we end up playing a different style in each game because of these changes.

That is NOT ideal!

He needs to find his best side and stick to it.

‍

First Half

‍

Honestly, so little happened that all I can say is Mbeumo scored a header after Spurs dawdled at the back, United kept the attack going, and eventually Amad put in a good cross that gave his new compadre a simple header.

Both sides showed little and less desire to create and get on the front-foot. Neither truly controlled the game and it was that one shot on target for either side that resulted in United going into the break a goal up.

Great to see the partnership between Amad and Mbeumo continuing and another goal for the Cameroonian who really is having an incredible time of it.

However, this was similar to the Forest game where we were okay in the first 45, got a lead and needed to up the ante in the second half to kill the game as Spurs were there for the taking.

‍

Second Half

What we saw though, was more of the same as Forest.

A slow start to the second period ensued from United as it was the home side who were more attacking. The difference between this week and last was that Lammens actually made two good saves to stop Spurs taking the lead.

Forest managed to score while our goalkeeper kept us a goal up today.

The similarities were uncanny because United were again, very slow to a lot of things: the second ball, some of the passes, not going into tackles with full force. This encouraged Spurs and we knew that at some point, they would score.

‍

Amorim then decided to wring the changes and tbh, I didn't have too many issues with them.

Mazraoui appeared as if he could only play 60 minutes after coming back from injury. He was taken off for Sesko which meant Amad to RWB and we had something more orthodox. A little later, Cunha was off for Mount (the Brazilian had a poor performance), Dorgu on a card was removed for Dalot, and Yoro came on for Maguire as the Englishman looked to have pulled his hamstring.

There was one change though, that really changed the game.

Casemiro was substituted for Ugarte. The Brazilian looked like he was running on empty which is why I think he was taken off. At the time, I didn't have a problem with it yet Casemiro was playing relatively well and Bruno was absolutely shite. It was the skipper who needed taking off.

But we know that that is never going to happen. What we also know is that this will cost us.

It cost us.

‍

Spurs' persistence eventually paid off as they ran off of Ugarte, worked it out wide, put the cross in and a Mathijs Tel deflected effort went into the top corner giving Lammens no chance.

Their second goal came from no one going out quick enough to stop the shot from the edge ofthe box which was then flicked on by Richarlison to give Spurs the lead which while was very upsetting, wasn't entirely unexpected.

Cocking up is what we do.

Both strikes coming within 7 minutes of each other and from the 80th minute and beyond leaving us with very little time to fix things.

This was another example of losing our concentration in quick succession.

These two goals conceded had a lot to do with a poor midfield. Bruno and Ugarte were easily played through allowing for Spurs to have those chances which led to them taking the lead.

To make matters worse, Sesko got injured and had to come off leaving United down to 10 men as we had used up all our changes. This injury came after he was beautifully played through one-on-one by Mount. Sesko took far too long letting Micky van de Ven get a tackle in.

Those are the type of chances we were crying out for for our strikers. It could've sealed the deal.

‍

Fortunately for Amorim, up stepped up my player of the season De Ligt. United won a late corner with desperation so high that Lammens was brought forward as well. But it was the Dutchman who was the one who rose highest at the back post and got enough on it for it to get over the line.

A great header to help save United and Amorim's blushes after what was an overall poor game of football.

‍

Verdict on Amorim

He fucked up. He did.

I mentioned the starting lineup, the substitutions, his in-game management isn't great. If your side aren't really creating anything in attack, the game is 1-0 with 10 minutes to go and the opposition are going to come at you, at least shut up shop and make yourself harder to break down. Keep it at 1-0, we take the win despite the performance and we move.

But no. None of this. He didn't even tell his team to show some composure and keep the ball for a bit.

‍

I feel like I would rather have taken a loss but we saw United play ball, you know? Like the Arsenal game, we lost but that football was so good, defeat was acceptable. We still talk about it today.

This was also a Spurs side who are as bad as us and terrible at home. Of course we come along and give them a point.

To be this topsy-turvy isn't really helping Amorim and again, looking at those changes to the team, questionable substitutions and lack of control in the game, does make us wonder whether we've truly turned a corner or not.

Manager of the month for October to what we've seen in two games in November. How the fuck do we go from one extreme to the other?

‍

Ratings

Lammens - 7

‍

De Ligt - 8 MOTM

Maguire - 6

Shaw - 6.5

‍

Mazraoui - 5.5

Casemiro - 6

Bruno - 5

Dorgu - 6.5

‍

Amad - 7

Mbeumo - 7.5

‍

Cunha - 5

‍

Sesko - 5

Yoro - 6

Dalot - 5

Ugarte - 5

Mount - 6

‍

Ruben Amorim - 4

‍

Final Thoughts

Fuck me.

‍

Matthijs De Ligt rescues late point for Man Utd in 2-2 draw at Spurs | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)