Thoughts from today?s game

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

The first ER outing of 2025/26 and the Yorkshire weather was overcast with patches of sunlight bursting through.

A portent for the season ahead?

Thankfully as the game started the sunshine came out just as the players did.

Schmidt starting was a bit of a novelty - on this showing he looked far from match fit, a bit short on confidence and as a result tried too hard and didn?t look good enough. If Bogle had been playing the final score may have looked very very different.

What a joy to have a left footed left back who can both defend and attack, run with the ball and pass it well. His link up play looks good and he seems comfortable taking the ball in tight spaces under pressure - who knew such left footed creatures existed!

Nmecha I wasn?t sure about pre game but he looks full of intelligent running and had either the ball fallen for him a couple of times or Aaronson and Schmidt been a bit more accurate he may have snaffled a goal. He has a lot more pace than Piroe so the ball over the top is an option with him.

Stach and Longstaff both look good - technically composed and just look comfortable on the pitch - Stach was playing pushed up a fair bit and seems to be able to pick a pass and not panic.

Aaronson is an unsolvable problem in that he reads the game pretty well and is full of running but is so lightweight he just constantly gets muscled off the ball. He looked like the ****ager in midfield rather than Harry Gray. Shame but he is too weak for English football.

Second half saw a fair few subs and Byram showed how poor Schmidt is at right back.

Meslier looked like a calamity waiting to happen and for good measure almost crippled our shiny new left back. He surely will leave - he wasn?t being shown much love by the South Stand.

Piroe has a great touch and reads the game well but just looks slow at this level -even in a friendly.

Ramazani looked excellent when he came on and at times terrified their left back - far more than Gnonto had. Surely, he has to be close to starting - he is quick, great touch, dribbles with good control and is pretty direct. Whatever tiff Farke has with him someone needs to mend that asap.

We played some really good one and two touch football at times but whilst there were moments of flowing football the game could never really escape the feeling of a pre season friendly. The ref seemed determined not to give fouls in the box as we had two clear one shouts (Nmecha and Gnonto) that weren?t given.

Villarreal at times were pretty late with a lot of tackles but not sure at what stage of their preseason it is but they had a few players who had obvious quality and extra gears available that they didn?t need to show.

Definitely need to invest in a ST and number 10 but some very promising times may be ahead and the sunny skies could have been a sign of brighter times ahead given the strongest XI was not on the pitch together.

The kernels of a very good side are there just need to add a few more and get rid of any chaff and husks.

MOT

[Billyni]

Mish match of players.
Dunno why they play those who obviously gonna leave.
Concentrate on integrating the new with the retained.

[ozleeds]

Saying Schmidt had a bad game is like saying a lotto win is not good. Guy has played a few times, and every time he has not played LB as he is supposed to be. Where the hell was the new keeper? We will definitely need a pure striker that new one is no better than Bamf, and does the same thing every now and then will get a tap in.
All in all you read the game much the same as me, Hopey, and I was on a small screen lol

[Monaco_Totty]

Good insights H, thank you !

Again a 4-3-3 run out, like against Man Utd in Stockholm & in Ampadu, Stach & Longstaff, quite a solid midfield 3 against Villarreal. Liked the way we used 3 at the back to release our full backs too, today👍

Appears those two new midfield signings showed their quality & defo held their own against Villarreal who did finish 5th in Spanish La Liga last season.
Thinking Gruev & Tanaka will have important roles to play this season but wont start against Everton, imo.

As DF said after 'Its important to be flexible & we had periods where we controlled the midfield really good.'
So bout sums it all up & thank you H for your thoughts but I do have concerns regarding do we have a clinical finisher of real threat & merit worthy of our PL shirt ?

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

No worries - share your view about a number 9 and also need a number 10 unless one of Stach//Tanaka are going to play in the advanced 3 role.

Also have a slight worry that we may be vulnerable to the ball through the middle/over the top against teams with guile and pace up top.

The new signing look a lot better than what we have/had though - so just need more of the same.

[whitestomper45]

Saying Schmidt had a bad game is like saying a lotto win is not good. Guy has played a few times, and every time he has not played LB as he is supposed to be. Where the hell was the new keeper? We will definitely need a pure striker that new one is no better than Bamf, and does the same thing every now and then will get a tap in.
All in all you read the game much the same as me, Hopey, and I was on a small screen lol

The new keeper and a couple of others were carrying knocks so left out

[ozleeds]

The new keeper and a couple of others were carrying knocks so left out

Well, that knocked me on the head! Thanks, White hadn't read anything about them. For me, the linemen look fast, strong, and can defend as well as go forward. The negative he plays Meslier, which is affecting any value he has left. from a supposed 30 mil player, his about 5 k now and going down lol

[Monaco_Totty]

Well, that knocked me on the head! Thanks, White hadn't read anything about them. For me, the linemen look fast, strong, and can defend as well as go forward. The negative he plays Meslier, which is affecting any value he has left. from a supposed 30 mil player, his about 5 k now and going down lol

Bogle omission against Villarreal due to him having problems with his hip flexor. What Farke said: 'Its a bit of a concern & not sure if he will be available for AC Milan next week'.

Daniel James had 'light problems in this weeks training', said DF, so did not want to risk anything but is expected to be available for AC Milan.

Jack Harrison had more or less each training session and the games in Germany but hes now struggling with a few 'adductor' problems. We will wait for the outcome and see a consultant on Monday. Hopefully a question of a few days. I hope to have him available for the Milan game' said DF.

Summer signing Bornauw suffered a calf injury in United's first training session in Germany and has not featured since. Farke, though has said that he is on a 'good path' in his recovery.

Keeper Lucas Perri nearly over a 'niggle' which he picked up & was resting at Lyon just before he signed for us. Doubling his Lyon 15k weekly wedge will hopefully ease him in quickly. 👍

As for Joseph & Bamford ?😳

[Monaco_Totty]

No worries - share your view about a number 9.
The new signings look a lot better than what we have/had though - so just need more of the same.

The Dane Rasmus Hojlund is available for 30m & on 85,000 pounds per week & looks 'tho he will be shown the Old Trafford door.
He will have a point to prove.🤣

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Looks like the kid from Leicester maybe next on.