Man Utd 2-0 Everton (Fernandes P 12′, Rashford P 36′)
There have been plenty of occasions this season where those who cover Manchester United on a regular basis have been fully justified in our critical bewilderment at what the most successful ever English side have become.
At times, the biggest challenge has been finding new ways to sum up another mess of United’s own making, especially at the once unconquerable Old Trafford.
A 2-0 home victory should have been the time Erik ten Hag and his beleaguered players got a week off from the condemnation. But the manner of performance as two penalties saw off a profligate Everton should be no less worrying than any of the five home league losses this term.
Facing 23 shots at goal – the fifth time in their last six league games United have faced 20 or more in a single match – is not sustainable, for any team, at any level. Since Opta started formulating such data more than two decades ago, their average of 16.7 shots faced per game is by far and away their worst tally.
Only Sheffield United, one of the worst teams to ever grace the Premier League, have faced more at the time of writing. This would be all well and good if United were banging them in down the other end, but they rank 12th in the goals scored charts.
The league table, or a delusional Ten Hag, are not giving a true indication of where United are at.
This chaotic shambles of a team shouldn’t even be in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season – it is a damning indictment on their rivals around them that they are still in the running.
In the press box, as Everton wasted another glorious opportunity to get themselves back into the contest in the second half at Old Trafford, Ian Snodin turned around to another former Toffee, Alan Stubbs, on different radio commentaries, in utter disbelief. “How are we not winning this, never mind 2-1 down,” Snodin asked, off-mic.
From the opening minute, home supporters feared the worst as Everton pierced through United’s porous midfield like a fist through crepe paper, blue shirts swarming all over a startled Jonny Evans, who must be questioning why he rejoined at the age of 36, when there are plenty more leisurely ways to spend a Saturday afternoon.
Amadou Onana should have scored inside three minutes, but couldn’t decide between using his head or his knee from six yards out – poor decision making was to plague the visitors all game.
The first of two ill-timed challenges on Alejandro Garnacho earned United their first penalty of the game 12 minutes in, a spot kick despatched by Bruno Fernandes, before Marcus Rashford stepped up to score the hosts’ second of the game from 12 yards, this time after an even more inept challenge from Ben Godfrey.
The shot count for Everton at this stage was on nine, with nine minutes still to play in the opening period.
Garnacho should have put the game to bed in the second half from two gilt-edged openings, with Fernandes denied a second of the match by a world class, top-handed save by Jordan Pickford.
On another day, United could have had five or six. The concerning thing is Everton could have had 10.
Ten Hag’s doubters are starting to gather in greater number. He just does not get it.
“We do it already for a longer time in many more games,” Ten Hag protested after the match. “If you see their xG is not that high and ours is much higher. It is their gameplan, obviously. We have players who feel comfortable to defend low.
“They are low-quality chances. We were really organised and we were focused – everyone did their job.”
It is true that United comfortably won the xG battle, but that misses the point entirely. Premier League footballers, Everton aside, can find the net from any angle and distance, given 10 goes at goal. That’s why they are Premier League footballers.
If you concede 20 shots per game, you are not going to achieve anything. Sheffield United are 20th on the most-shots-faced list, with the other two teams in the Premier League relegation zone, Luton and Burnley, 17th and 16th respectively.
You might get through the odd game against a team on their worst winless streak since 1994, but give 20 or more opportunities to Liverpool next Sunday and another mauling of last season’s Anfield humiliation proportions could be on Ten Hag’s hands.
The Dutchman can sugarcoat it all he wants. United will remain on a road to nowhere if he needs xG to suggest all is well at Old Trafford.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/g7Ttlvd
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