The defense of Manchester United has come under scrutiny during their lopsided Premier League match at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans gestures to Kobbie Mainoo against Crystal Palace
Alan Smith, a Sky Sports pundit, criticized Manchester United’s defense after Jean Phillipe-Mateta gave Crystal Palace a 2-0 lead in Monday’s Premier League match at Selhurst Park.
The Palace forward raced towards a disjointed United defence, having plenty of room to do so. Mateta’s excellent strike doubled Palace’s lead, leaving Jonny Evans alone to mark him before the Frenchman dribbled past with ease.
“That encapsulates United,” Smith said to Sky Sports. “They really have been a car crash defensively. When Jonny Evans is up against a knowledgeable center-forward one-on-one, I feel so bad for him. He does nothing at all.
What about that in the event of a strike? Each time they have advanced, they have discovered opportunities and sources of support. They have discovered that United is lacking. It’s unbelievable how effortlessly he’s navigated through.”
At halftime, Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, shared his thoughts, saying: “I talked about this before the game, and I have been doing for the last few months. When Manchester United plays, the positions that their players occupy make it nearly impossible for the opposition to establish a pattern of play.
“As a result, Casemiro intervenes, not that he has many choices. Although he’s out of position and the situation is a little chaotic, this is really great. Nine goals in ten games under Oliver Glasner shows that this (Mateta) is a confident player.”
“To be honest with you, it’s shambolic as it is right now,” Ashley Young continued. I have no idea what Casemiro is doing or what he is thinking. Perhaps he believes that Olise will regress, but Olise knows that he will confront him and attempt to issue a challenge. He actually strolls by him. It’s very simple.”
“Listen, he’s playing out of position tonight; this has nothing to do with playing out of position,” Carragher said in closing. That might play a holding midfield position.
That is embarrassing, so they really ought to fire him. He ought to leave the field. To be honest. Nothing could be worse for Manchester United than having Casemiro start at center back in the second half. Place Wan-Bisakka in the center, then send someone on.
