Post Match Verdict 25/26 (Gameweek 14)

Same Old Story: United’s Frustrating Draw

Another week, another chance to gain ground, and another soul-crushing draw. The 1-1 stalemate against West Ham felt like a punch to the gut. We had the possession, we had the chances, and yet we left with just a single point. If you’re asking about an Amorim sack after this, you’re not alone. The pattern of letting games slip away is becoming all too familiar, and it’s infuriating.


First Half: A Lack of Threat and Boring Football

From the whistle, there was no real threat. Within the first ten minutes, Casemiro had to slide in with a tackle to block an outside-the-box shot, giving away a corner. Our focus? Just long balls to our attackers, like Amad or Cunha. It was boring, uninspired football. You’d think we’d be trying to play better, right?

There was a moment of hope from a set piece. Mbeumo (who was a threat for West Ham, as the statistics confirm) and Bruno combined for a neat one-two, allowing Mbeumo a shot that Areola saved. It was a well-worked routine, but honestly, United becoming ‘Set Piece FC’ is not exactly the attacking football we crave.

Around the 25-minute mark, we started to get more possession and a few more chances. But still, no clear pattern, just more long balls and crosses. Wan-Bissaka, playing for West Ham against us, seemed determined to prove a point after we let him go. He was everywhere, even saving a header from Zirkzee that looked destined for the net. Bruno also hit the post with an amazing half-volley in that same chaotic moment.

Half-time saw a change, with Heaven (who had picked up a yellow card) replaced by Yoro.


Second Half: A Glimmer of Hope, Then the Inevitable Collapse

The second half started with Zirkzee showing some lovely touches and combining well. He’s a technical player, which is great to see, even if he’s a bit slow for an attacker in my opinion.

Our set pieces continued to look dangerous. Every corner or free-kick close to the box, especially when Dalot stepped up, brought a sense of fear to the West Ham players. And then, the breakthrough!

In the 58th minute, Casemiro tried a shot from outside the box. It took a deflection and landed perfectly at the feet of Dalot inside the box. Wan-Bissaka was the closest defender but couldn’t get to him, and Dalot finished it perfectly to make it 1-0! A moment of pure relief, if only for a short while.


The All Too Predictable Fall Apart

From the 60th minute until the 83rd, not much happened for United, even though we had a decent amount of the ball. Zirkzee and Cunha, our main attacking threats, were removed around the 70th minute. Why? Why take off the players who were causing problems when you’re only one goal ahead?

Then, at the 83rd minute, it happened. From a corner, of course. Bowen headed it, it went straight to Mazraoui, who made a last-ditch clearance. But it fell directly to a West Ham player – unmarked, of course – and we conceded. 1-1. Just like that. The Amorim sack chants started in my head all over again.

After the equalizer, West Ham piled on the pressure. Bowen looked incredibly dangerous. This is what happens when you remove your attacking players and invite pressure. We’ve only kept one clean sheet this season; how can anyone expect us to hold a 1-0 lead?

Five minutes of added time. Could we pull off a ‘Fergie Time’ comeback? Nope. Not even close. Bruno had a chance in the 91st minute but shot it way over the bar. Nothing happened. We played badly. All that possession, as the match overview shows (65% possession, 1.56 xG, 17 shots), but no real threat when it mattered. We *should* have won this game. The games we *should* win, we’re losing or drawing. There’s no pattern, just long balls and hoping for a miracle. No urgency. I have no hope left for United under this manager. We had so much control and just let it all go.

Disappointing result. I’m not happy with Amorim. Until next time, YANITED YANITED YANITED!


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