Thread by @m3ngMengz

Quick Highlights Analysis: Young Boys 2-1 Man Utd #UCL (A Thread)

Starting with the Lineups, I'm not familiar with Young Boys, but follow the EPL.

Why is Pogba not playing on the left wing and VDB in the middle of the park?

Did we forget the 4 assists he managed playing on the left wing on the first day of the EPL that made every fantasy manager to doubt their choice not to pick him? (Not me being salty)

I don't know what goes on in training, but why is Dean Henderson not even getting on the bench for a UCL game? If Tom Heaton is on the bench in such a match and Hendo is not starting, I'd rather Hendo being sold to Sheff Utd in that case, for development's sake.

I saw a tweet saying Varane is Mr. UCL because of his dominating performances for Madrid in the competition. Why is Lindelof and Maguire starting if thats the case?

In Ronaldo's goal, VDB was seen overlapping on the left side, but I'm guessing Bruno Fernandes has drifted out to the left wing to compensate for the fact that VDB is not and lack the skills to play as an out-and-out winger.

This leaves the middle fairly easy for Young Boys to defend unless Pogba is pushing forward into the space that Fernandes leaves vacant.

The second shot from Young Boys further proves why OGS should consider playing Pogba as a full time left winger. He lacks the work rate and effort to fulfill his defensive responsibilities. partially because I'm guessing he's saving some of that energy to join the attack.

But his flair and passing vision could easily suit him as a dynamic playmaker out wide.

Counterattack by Man U - where is VDB on the left wing? no where to be seen.

theory, he's tracking back to cover for Pogba.

In the sending off by AWB (which I don't think should've been a red card), VDB is playing on the left side of the field, which forces CR7 to drift out wide. Fernandes is out wide and Sancho is too.

Who's attacking the middle of the pitch?

If I were OGS, at a situation where I'm 1-0 up and one man down, it's time to park the bus for the game, see if we can scrape out a win here, possibly a draw.

I would've left Sancho, Fernandes and CR7 to handle the attacking side and everyone else is to sit to prevent counters.

Instead, the next highlight we see is a counterattack chance for Young Boys where they get a shot on goal. Off target but a dangerous attempt on goal.

Remember, defensively-not-so-good Pogba is still on the field at this point.

Next highlight is Young Boys scoring their first goal.

Again, guessing a counter situation where YB's RW is left wide open to put in a cross that Young Boy's were fortuitous enough to put into the back of the net.

Nothing De Gea could do.

Note that, the situation in the middle of the penalty box is essentially a 3v3. Fred's trying to get back into the picture, but he's not affecting at that point.

At this point, it's defense first for Man U now. Young Boys have the freedom to play around their defense and pick up second balls without fear since they have the man advantage now.

This led to the shot in the 87th that De Gea barely tips over.

Pogba is STILL on the pitch.

Final highlight is the 95th minute goal scored by Young Boys.

At this point, Man U players are tired and mentally fatigued from playing one-man down for close to 70 min. 1 more minute and they can scrape a draw here and be praised for this result.

In that moment of relaxed oblivion, Young Boys pounces like a lion.

High pressing situation from Young Boys, the football should really have been cleared away earlier than that, even before the Sancho back pass.

Weak back pass by Sancho, and Theoson Siebatcheu runs into the sunset with a walk-off homerun.

Again, this is not the sole fault of Sancho.

defensive line should've been backing off to provide options for Sancho to pass to. Sancho could've found Pogba open higher up the pitch. Sancho's back pass could've been better. Sancho could've just cleared the ball.

But in a high pressure situation where Man Utd's players are already tired as hell (physically and mentally), the decision to let off steam by playing a back pass to the keeper was possibly the only option he could see in that situation.

And Man U were playing away too. Imagine the pressure when everything you do get s scrutinized by a crowd of 30K+ home fans. and you're one man down. and everything is against you.

This loss was not one person's mistake. it was a team loss and a tactical one at that.

Of course, this is all just my analysis and personal opinion, without knowing more about the players and club internal situation.

I've not watch the full game. This is just my analysis watching through the highlights from @beINSPORTS_EN.

p.s. Thanks for posting the highlights guys!

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