Best performance so far (offensively)… until Dorgu got sent-off!

Mobility.

Multiple breaking-lines passes (those that connect directly from the defender to the striker and virtually delete the opposing team’s pressing with offensive and midfielders).

Bruno flying, Zirkzee finding the right space, Garnacho and Dorgu connected on the left (I think Garnacho respected Dorgu’s overlaps for the first time), Yoro and De Ligt opting for simple offensive processes and very aggressive on the pressing of the opponents.

An almost perfect synch of width and depth.

Time and patience to find the right pass.

Counter-movements and search for the space behind the defenders, which created the need for Ipswich to retain their positions deeper on the field and, therefore, Manchester United defenders were then able to progress with the ball, playing on Ipswich’s half and making the team closer when the ball was lost.

Great reaction to the ball lost (deeply affected by the last sentence)!

More than that, the team seemed deeply connected.

Happy faces.

Connected faces.

Even after the goal conceded, which seemed to have been taken from a circus!

The data (as always) supports this. 

I would reinforce this by a few examples, as with the 3 attackers improving significantly their performances. 

Garnacho won half of his duels, had almost 90% of pass accuracy and although it doesn’t show as active on dribbling, there was one or two actions that were good. It was unfortunate that Dorgu got sent off and he got substituted for Amorim to balance the team again with Mazraoui.
Zirkzee ended the match with a lower rate of pass accuracy, certainly affected by the less productive 2nd half, where he was left basically alone on the offensive moments, and needs to improve the last pass, but he was amazing on finding the gaps between the defensive and midfield lines. He was able to connect the Game and won more than half of his duels.

Højlund gave a good fight to the defenders and finished the match with 100% pass accuracy, which is a significant improvement, although he needs to improve on the capacity to retain the ball under pressure, duels and, mainly as a Striker, to score goals or shoot, at least.

Second note, on the defenders.

Between the 3 (De Ligt, Maguire and Yoro), they had an average close to 70% of duels won and the pass accuracy was above 90%.

Very good improvements!

However, specially during the 2nd half there were some moments where they weren’t able to keep consistency on the defensive line when the ball was in their last third and on the sides – when Ipswich was able to, or trying to, create space for crossings.

Perhaps, because there’s one less player, or because the cover was too close to the side-back, or even because the pressing players (midfielders and Zirkzee) weren’t effective, but the truth is that they were somehow lost in their positioning, letting Ipswich to get 50/50 (or even with numerical advantage) inside a super dangerous area.

Some things to work upon, naturally.

And with the added limitations of losing Dorgu for, at least, 1 match, Amad being out, Mainoo out, Martinez out (all potentially starting 11 players…), etc. it won’t be easy.

Therefore, my honest thoughts are that we will keep under the so far rollercoaster until the end of the Season.

Sadly.

Some days we see a brighter light, others are dark.

But, there’s hope, definitely.

Last night’s performance gave us light that we can have hope for improvements, even considering all these limitations!

That was special.

And, hopefully, creates roots for the upcoming matches.

There are opportunities coming, I don’t think the team is ready to fight for trophies but, if Amad comes back soon, maybe…

What’s your thoughts on United’s ability to fight for titles this Season?

Let’s keep discussing!

The data presented here is from sofascore.com