Man Utd analysis: Michael Carrick’s men show some fight at Leeds to make their point
Manchester United ended a turbulent week in good spirits after showing some steel in a 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday.
Michael Carrick found himself under the spotlight after Lisandro Martinez spat his dummy out in front of the media following a midweek defeat to Atletico Madrid.
But the Red Devils showed some backbone to pick up a point in West Yorkshire, where Bryan Mbeumo and Dominic Calvert-Lewin got on the scoresheet.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Man Utd fan Robert Bore analyses the game.
Leeds Utd away, October 18
After last weekend’s shoddy ending against 10-man Spurs and midweek pain in Spain, what better than a trip to the bear pit that is Elland Road to take on those friendly Yorkies from over the hill with a Sunday afternoon session in Leeds?
I could hear the chuckling from here, this game had danger written all over it, but off-the-pitch shenanigans had maybe overshadowed the fact it would be the White Rose club’s cup final and ‘home win’ was the preferred bet.
The big talking point pre-team sheets, of course, was whether Lisandro Martinez would be sent to Coventry.
Not literally of course, he’d break their wage structure I presume, but after his revolution talk, it was probably more a lack of options than a free pass.
Especially as the World Cup winner appeared to be making a break for the border after throwing Director of Football Jason Wilcox under the proverbial bus when interviewed by Amazon in the aftermath of the Atletico Madrid defeat, and then reverse over him again after doubling down with Peter Schmeichel for American broadcasters CBS.
Cruel intentions
His intentions, whether well-meaning or not, left many wondering whether he’d be here today, or whether he was simply ensuring he would be out of the club by the summer, or maybe sooner.
A lot was made of the comments, particularly the reference to “better players”, which I took to not be as much a slight on the current crop (apart from Diogo Dalot) as was spun by the excited media pack but more that he expected more players to come in where needed (particularly at right-back).
But hey ho, it’s all done now, and whatever head space the Argentinean was in coming off that pitch in Spain, he would have that big lump Dominic Calvert-Lewin waiting to throw his long limbs around in front of a rabid home faithful.
But my eyes were firmly fixed on Bruno Fernandes, last season majestic but this term yet to start firing.
And presumably with some defensive duties down his side with Leeds’ attacking wing-backs a focal point of their resurgence under Daniel Farke.
Heaven and hell
This could be heaven and hell all within the same 90 minutes. I felt a bit sick as United got the game underway.
Dalot needed just three minutes for his first mis-control, while calling cards were left on Martinez, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba in the space of 10 seconds as the hosts set out their stall.
What’s worse than Dalot at right-back? Dalot out on the left, as he was due to Luke Shaw’s absence with Leny Yoro forced into right-back.
Kobbie Mainoo and Ayden Heaven were on the casualty list and Carrick had chosen a more defensive posture - it was time to get back to basics I guess after five games without a win.
Bruno was in the book with barely 15 minutes on the clock, probably for his late challenge on Tarik Muharemovic but possibly for the amount of chirping that followed.
This didn’t bode well, the man in the cockpit was already on thin ice and there were plenty of meaty challenges flying about as the ref, to his credit, was trying to let the game flow.
But in doing so he seemed to be inviting trouble, with Gabriel Gudmundsson following Fernandes before we’d hit 20 minutes with a naughty one left on Andrey Santos.
Spicy meatball
It was a spicy meatball of a match without much going on by way of action.
At least there was some bite from the visitors. They weren’t rolling over.
Nico Elvedi headed down into the right corner but the ball bounced a little too early and allowed Lammens to get down to his left to keep the ball out as the hosts pressed.
Moments later, Tielemans crossed for Mbeumo, on his own in the Leeds box, but he could only head narrowly wide. It was a golden opportunity.
Dalot used his standing leg to loft a cross over to the far post but Leeds cleared for a corner, which somehow missed everyone and went out for a goal kick.
Dalot then allowed Jayden Bogle to ghost past him but the Leeds man ran out of room.
Standard fare from our Portuguese plant pot.
We were only missing a goal.
Mbeumo magic
Then as if by magic, we had one… and it was mint!
The impressive Baleba started it, feeding the ball into Tielemans who in turn pushed it into Amad Diallo and carried on his run.
Amad wasted no time and released the former Aston Villa man on the right flank and his delicious first-time low, curling centre was met on the slide on the edge of the six-yard box by Mbeumo - as James Justin dawdled a little - and he made no mistake.
The visitors deserved it.
Let’s just end it now lads, eh?
Calvert-Lewin nodded narrowly wide but it never looked like going in while Bogle had a muted shot saved comfortably by Lammens as the half reached its dying throes, which Carrick’s men negotiated without issue.
High fives all round after 45 minutes.
The levellers
Martinez was replaced at half-time by Noussair Mazraoui, presumably due to a knock, and we were back underway with no more defenders left in the warehouse.
Leeds were level within six minutes.
Mazraoui gave away a soft corner and was then out-muscled by Muharemovic who glanced the ensuing cross downwards in the box, Calvert-Lewin alive to react quickest and prod home on a second touch.
It was simple and effective. It was meh! We would have to go again.
Dalot was left writhing after Bogle caught him - accidentally - and for once I was hoping he was ok as we’d ran out of defenders, with a backline seeing three of four playing out of position.
Maybe Martinez had a point…
Leeds were up for it again and the crowd, meek for the final 10 minutes of the first half, were happy that their red visitors had been brought back down to planet earth a bit.
Baleba had a curler from range that James Trafford watched without worry and we’d made the hour mark all square as it felt like time for some fresh legs as Leeds came again and United didn’t really have an outlet.
Leeds’ tactics, that worked for the goal, came to the fore again as Harry Maguire was blocked off by Ampadu and Muharemovic and looked to have clawed clumsily at the Welshman, but the referee thankfully saw nothing wrong.
Patient build-up
Some patient build-up play allowed Yoro to cut back for Fernandes, who flashed across the face of goal, and also put a simple one into the keeper’s arms as we moved into the last 20 minutes.
Dalot did more Dalot things to nod a cross into the path of Anton Stach for a free strike at goal but thankfully it was poor.
Carrick threw on the lesser-spotted Mason Mount - a man who could quite possibly get injured performing Jumping Jacks - for Baleba, which felt like trouble in the offing.
Dalot then did well to intercept and counter at pace, playing in Amad, but his effort was blocked for a corner which was well-worked but ultimately fluffed by a poor Mount scuffer.
As well as United (red) had played in the first half, they looked devoid of real ideas, certainly of being able to put on any sustained pressure - and with 10 minutes of regulation time remaining it felt like the hosts’ game to win.
Carrick turned to Matheus Cunha, replacing Tielemans, while Marcus Rashford warmed up.
Bruno lacking confidence
Back to Bruno, he just looked devoid of all creation, his season so far symbolised when his effort from range was blocked on the way to goal by his own player.
The board read four additional minutes as Stach had an opportunity, seizing on Lammens’ punch but not getting enough on his strike and Mazraoui was well-placed to clear.
Ampadu was carded for a cynical kick on Amad and we were now in hero time, could someone do this for town and country?
No. The ref put an end to it.
It wasn’t ritzy, it wasn’t glitzy, but it was better from the visitors.
There was at least some fight and this was a banana skin no doubt about it.
Leeds are a different proposition these days.
Point well made
While there were notable mentions for Maguire and Yoro, both putting in a real shift, and Baleba continues to build to a full 90 minutes, United are missing Benjamin Sesko at the top end, that clinical finish to win games sadly lacking at the moment.
And Bruno, dear Bruno. What has happened to our Portuguese magnifico?
If anyone is capable of turning Elland Road into a red pleasure room, it’s him.
But he looks lost at sea, like he’s been washed up on Bondi Beach after wiping out on a wave of woe.
So United leave Yorkshire with a point, averaging one per game so far and leaving a large question mark punctuating above Carrick’s head.
And another tricky away day at Cesc Fabregas’ Como on Wednesday night in the Champions League before the visit of Bournemouth next Sunday.
