Manchester United claimed a hard-fought three points away to Luton Town last night and while several players put in spirited shifts to see out the win, others… not so much.
When analysing the match at half-time on Premier League Productions, former Red Peter Schmeichel picked out three players in particular whose performances left a lot to be desired at Kenilworth Road.
In true Casemiro fashion, the walking booking was shown a card by David Coote after lunging into tackles left, right and centre in the first half hour. He then infuriated the Hatters’ support, squad and manager when an ill-timed, reckless challenge was given as a foul but not a second booking.
Harry Maguire also had his name added to the book for a clumsy foul on Carlton Morris, which gave away a free-kick in a dangerous area as Luton were going all-out for an equaliser.
Schmeichel then bemoaned Marcus Rashford’s fluctuating involvement across the pitch, and he’s not the only one to do so – a clip began circulating on social media last night showcasing the forward’s lazy pressing on Ross Barkley, something that he’s been criticised for numerous times before this season.
Schmeichel disapproving of three Reds’ performances
“They have gone very, very sloppy,” the ex-goalkeeper declared. “Casemiro has got a yellow card and he should have maybe got the second. Ten Hag has got a very, very big decision to make – I don’t think he will play Casemiro in the second half. I don’t think he can.
“That’s the thing with sloppiness, Harry Maguire has been asking for a yellow card and he was successful in that one. He has been pushing up quite a lot into the other half, pushing players and grappling from behind. Things you don’t do. It’s little things that come down to the lack of concentration.”
He added: “You have seen Rashford doing stuff, then stopping and doing nothing.”
Once again the two wing forwards ie Rashford and Garnacho can’t make a decision on when to pass the ball into the box. Every time they run with the ball too far then lose it. Surely this should be noticed by the coaching staff and rectified.
Utd should have put that game too bed in the first half but once again failed to do so.
They are not learning from previous games.
Hojlund must be pulling his hair out.