Easy Work Against Wolves? Don’t Let the 4-1 Scoreline Fool You
Well, United won 4-1 against Wolves. On paper, that looks like easy work, right? But for anyone who actually watched the game, it was anything but a comfortable ride. The scoreline flatters, and frankly, my frustration with this team and manager only grew.
The Lineup Frustrations Before Kick-off
Before a ball was even kicked, the lineup had me fuming. Zirkzee on the bench for Mount? Mbeumo and Mount as number 10s? Cunha up top as a false 9 against his old team. But the real kicker? STILL no midfield change. Amorim, our stubborn manager, refused to give Mainoo a shot. It was a perfect chance to play Mainoo with Casemiro, pushing Bruno further forward. Instead, we stuck to the same tired setup.
De Ligt was still out. Heaven got another chance after his early yellow in the last game. Yoro on the bench was sad – will Lacey ever get his debut? Hopefully. I’m happy Cunha played up top, not biased at all (okay, maybe a little, he’s in my FPL!).
Martinez not starting as LCB over Shaw was another head-scratcher. Shaw still started with Heaven as CCB and Mazraoui as RCB.
We faced Wolves, a team on a nine-loss streak, 12 losses total, 2 draws, and ZERO wins. ZERO. And I was still terrified we’d mess it up. That tells you everything about how bad we are. A win would put us level with Chelsea in 5th, but ‘if only’ and ‘should’ve’ are words I’m sick of hearing. This team and this manager are just not changing. Bad football, no chances for academy players like Mainoo, who will probably leave in January.
First Half: A Shaky Start, Then a “Looney Tunes” Goal
Wolves actually looked decent for the first three minutes. The first 15 minutes were ‘okayish’ for us, with a Dalot shot on target set up by Bruno. But then it started again: our annoying dependence on Dalot’s long throws. We just launch long balls and crosses, never playing through the midfield. Getting our left-back to the right side for a long throw is just infuriating.
Then came the ‘Looney Tunes’ goal! Casemiro intercepted, the ball somehow reached Cunha, who set up Bruno. Bruno slipped, *still* took a shot, and scored! A goal is a goal, we’ll take it, but it just showed why Wolves are so bad. Cunha almost scored a second at 28 minutes, but it was cleared off the line.
Honestly, after watching this, I’m shocked Brighton and Spurs drew with Wolves. I still feared we could lose or draw even 1-0 up, but they look genuinely awful. And then, we gifted them a goal. The team that had scored *seven* goals in 14 Premier League games suddenly found the net. A cross, and Bellegarde scored.
As the match overview stats show, our eventual 4.10 xG compared to Wolves’ paltry 0.41 xG, or our 27 shots to their 8, suggests easy work. We had 7 big chances to their zero. Yet, the feeling on the pitch was anything but. This highlights our defensive frailties, especially with only one clean sheet in four months, even with a supposedly defensive 3-back system.
Second Half: Finally, Some Goals (and More Frustration)
Cunha, in the 51st minute, slipped past Dalot, cut it back to Mbeumo for a clear, simple finish. United led 2-1. Wolves are just terrible, we should have scored more. But then, in the 57th minute, we gave them another chance to equalize! It’s just depressing. The way we play is just so, so poor.
Finally, a moment of quality: a good 1-2 combination between Amad and Bruno. Bruno then put in an amazing cross for Mount to make it 3-1. Better, but we should score even more. Give Lacey his debut now! And for God’s sake, put Bruno at number 10 and Mainoo in midfield.
We did play better in the second half. Bruno almost got a third assist, blocked by a Wolves centre-back. Cunha had amazing chances at 66 minutes; his header was saved by former United academy player Sam Johnstone. Bruno truly shines in attacking positions as a number 10.
Amorim then made double changes: Yoro and Martinez came on. Why change a backline when we’re finally getting some rhythm? Cunha was playing well! Mainoo finally got 13 minutes at 77th minute. Then a penalty check, and Bruno scored from the spot, making it 4-1. I’m still not happy. We could have scored more goals because Wolves were so bad. Zirkzee and Dorgu came on for Mount and Dalot. Still no Lacey debut. Amorim, what are you thinking?
Nine additional minutes, and we finally looked in control. I wanted one more goal, but nothing happened. I don’t know what to feel. We were ‘okay,’ but I hope we don’t get complacent. We won’t play like this against Bournemouth.
The Verdict: Don’t Be Fooled by the Scoreline
It’s crystal clear: Wolves are by far the worst side United has played against all season. Even Grimsby were better. The 4-1 scoreline might look like easy work against Wolves, but it masks a deeper problem. The manager’s stubbornness, the poor football, the constant ‘suffering’ he talks about – I’m done with it. A win is a win, but the performance and the tactical rigidity mean nothing has truly changed. This team needs a fresh approach, not just lucky goals against a terrible opponent. Till next time YANITED! YANITED! YANITED!
UNITED SCRIPTED. 
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