Man Utd Player Ratings: Brighton Loss

Sophie Wakehurst

You need 3 min read

·

Post on Jan 20, 2025

37 visitor like this post

Share

Man Utd Player Ratings: Brighton's Dominant Display Exposes Red Devils' Weaknesses

Manchester United's opening day defeat against Brighton highlighted several areas of concern, leaving fans and pundits questioning the team's preparedness for the new season. A comprehensive analysis of individual performances reveals a stark picture of inconsistencies and a lack of cohesion. Let's delve into the player ratings from the disappointing loss at Old Trafford.

Goalkeeper: Andre Onana (6/10)

Onana, making his competitive debut for the club, showed flashes of brilliance, showcasing his exceptional shot-stopping ability and distribution. However, he could do little to prevent Brighton's well-taken goals. While not directly at fault for the goals conceded, a more commanding presence in the box might have offered additional security.

Defenders:

• Aaron Wan-Bissaka (5/10): Struggled defensively against Brighton's dynamic wingers, particularly in dealing with their pace and trickery. His attacking contributions were minimal.

• Lisandro Martínez (6/10): One of the few bright sparks in a lackluster performance. Martínez displayed his usual tenacity and commitment, but even he was unable to completely stifle Brighton's attacking threat.

• Victor Lindelof (5/10): Looked shaky at times, lacking the composure needed to deal with Brighton's incisive passing and movement. His positioning was often questioned, leaving gaps in the defense.

• Luke Shaw (5/10): Similar to Wan-Bissaka, Shaw struggled to contain Brighton's attacking forays down his flank. His offensive contributions were largely ineffective.

Midfielders:

• Casemiro (6/10): Tried to anchor the midfield but was overwhelmed at times by Brighton's relentless pressing. His experience was evident, but he lacked the support necessary to control the game.

• Mason Mount (5/10): A disappointing debut in a United shirt. Mount struggled to impose himself on the game, his creativity stifled by Brighton's midfield dominance.

• Bruno Fernandes (6/10): Showed glimpses of his usual magic with some incisive passing and attempts on goal, but overall lacked consistency and was unable to influence the game significantly. His frustration was palpable.

Forwards:

• Marcus Rashford (6/10): One of the few United players to show glimpses of threat, his pace caused problems for the Brighton defense on occasion. However, he lacked the support needed to create clear-cut chances.

• Antony (5/10): Failed to make a significant impact. His dribbling skills were often thwarted, and his final ball was lacking accuracy.

• Alejandro Garnacho (6/10): Brought some much needed energy and enthusiasm when he came on. He created some promising moments but needed more time to make a significant impact.

Substitutes:

The substitutions didn't bring about the desired impact, highlighting a deeper problem with the overall team's performance and cohesion. The lack of a significant change in momentum suggests the substitutes were unable to alter the game's trajectory.

Overall Assessment:

The 1-2 defeat to Brighton exposed significant vulnerabilities within the Manchester United squad. The lack of cohesion, defensive frailties, and an inability to control the midfield were all key factors in the loss. While individual performances were inconsistent, the overall team performance fell far short of expectations, leaving significant work for the manager to do before their next fixture. The new season has started poorly, and a swift response is needed to avoid a potential crisis.

Looking Ahead:

The upcoming games will be crucial in assessing Manchester United's ability to recover from this opening-day setback. Significant improvements are needed across all areas of the pitch if they are to challenge for major honours this season. Ten Hag will need to find solutions quickly to address the team's weaknesses and instill a winning mentality before the situation deteriorates further.