It's 3 points, but it wasn't pretty.

Way to hold on, way too many nervous moments late game

AustinScubaAg said:

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3 points. Clean sheet. Ugly otherwise.

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Yep but they all count…definitely work to do though

The Timber yellow card was silly. Poor throw by ManU manger IMO.

We really need to get more out of the left side wingers.

I enjoyed seeing our depth.

Hopefully we find our form soon but it's great to say that with 3 points in hand.

1st match of the season, so will try my best not to read too much into it. I am concerned with the offense, as I'm sure most here are, and hope we soon see much more evolution on that front.

AustinScubaAg said:

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OneBlitzer said:

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COYG!!!

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Interesting. Surprised no Noorguard on the bench.

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Norgaard was rumored to be injured

3 points, kind of match we would have probably lost the lead in last year, need to build cohesion upfront and let things get way too chaotic

We shall see. Old Trafford has bee our voodoo ground for a long time. We always play bad there.

Still will need to see more from the attack. That wasn't enough

As the commentators said they were as good as the likely be all season and we were stuck in second gear. Even so we won.

The most promising thing I saw today was the number of substitutions and Arteta using the depth we've finally built. Hopefully that continues and we are able to maintain our health instead of running the starting group in the ground.

The new additions will gel. I actually thought in the first half we played up the left significantly more than in the past, just didn't find the window in the final 3rd. Cali and White both playing the way they do means we've gotta support better on the back though. Mbuemo was knocking on the door too much for my comfort level.

I think we might have to pair our fullbacks a bit. Calafiori and Timber, MLS and White. That might give us a little little more defensive stability in the attack while allowing us to rotate between games. Calafiori and White together left a lot of space.

I don't disagree. If I'm being honest, I was a little surprised that Cali for the start on the left over Timber for the same reason. I know we'd need a solution to back White up, but all of our other back line guys can step in. Can't have both FB's inverting simultaneously and expect it won't bite us in the butt.

Christian Norgaard has a small tweak Mikel Arteta said to us after the presser.

"He couldn't play."

— Tom Canton (@TomCantonMedia) August 17, 2025

Every time I see Simon Hooper is calling the match, I get nervous. The yellow he gave Timber is pure BS. Also don't understand the yellow he gave MLS at 91:40.

Watching back in the office this morning. I've counted at least 6-7 times were we broke through their midfield on transition and then couldn't get the attack down in the final 3rd. Biggest issue seemed to be way to narrow in the attack with Saka, Gabby and VG all making similar narrow runs. The wingers needed to stay much wider to give us better angles for passes through the lines. I think the width will help with that attack really well.

Also, I know Martinelli and Odegaard seem to be the easy scape goats currently, but I think bothe played alright yesterday. Martinelli is such a massive help (especially with how Calafiori and MLS play the LB role) in his tracking back. Noni didn't really do that yesterday. I also thought Odegaard was easily the best midfielder and honestly attacking player yesterday in at least trying to create things. And again, his engine is so good in terms of getting around the pitch.

At the end of the day, a tough 3 points away at OT is always a great result. Especially since that place was rocking with hope because of their new attack. Other than the Mbuemo header in the 2nd half, they really didn't have any great chances even with all their shots.

I'm going to watch it back too today but I thought Martinelli worked really hard and had a decent showing. I think he might benefit from Calafiori's style and energy, but they all need to figure out the spacing when attacking.

OMG. The amount of press and ManU supporter whining about the Califori goal being a foul is crazy.

And they all conveniently ignore Zubi being bear hugged and dragged across the box and Gabi nearly having his shirt pulled off BEFORE the supposed Saliba foul occurred. Maybe they need to listen to former ManU GK Tim Howard " The keeper has to be stronger. You fight for the ball, if you're being scrapped with, win the scrap and get the ball"

Same exact thing happened to Raya later in the game, except Raya fought his way over De Ligt and punched the ball out.

Quote:

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Same exact thing happened to Raya later in the game, except Raya fought his way over De Ligt and punched the ball out.

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This is the big one. Its literally the exact same thing and even the BBC commentators picked up on it and said Raya was way better at handling it.

AustinScubaAg said:

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OMG. The amount of press and ManU supporter whining about the Califori goal being a foul is crazy.

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I choose to not care. Not directed at you but at the complainers.

AustinScubaAg said:

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OMG. The amount of press and ManU supporter whining about the Califori goal being a foul is crazy.

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Let them whine.

Having said that looking at the replay immediately after the goal I held my breath until the ball was whistled back into play. I just figured we would get screwed.

And lol, my son came into my room right after we scored because he thought I had fallen or something (my wife was out of the house so I was not constrained in my joy).

Ever since that goal against Villa a few years ago where the Villa player literally had his arms wrapped around Ramsdale, I roll my eyes whenever someone complains a foul on a corner.

The more I see this the more I think Cunha kicks Saliba’s foot

I’ve actually changed my mind, this is 100% the correct decision ✅

Great officiating 👏👏👏

pic.twitter.com/NQrSQGYdJf

— Lea (@Lea_EFC) August 18, 2025

Love how this has been completely ignored by all parties

IFAB rules are clear. The FA & PGMOL allow their refs to interpret & apply them as inconsistently as they wish to both on-field & with the VAR. The rules vindicate a straight red for this Mbeumo elbow on Zubimendi.
Moan all you want but the officiating is, again, abysmal at best. pic.twitter.com/m5zXC7Pc4q

— 𝑱𝒂𝒚 (@Jopaowitt) August 18, 2025

I am still trying to figure out the yellow Hooper gave MLS minute 91. And that also involved Mbuemo.

With the excessive physicality that the ref was letting ManU get away with all game while calling minor stuff on us, I was convinced he was trying to let them back into it until he opted to not call a PK on Saliba (I don't think it was a PK)

CatD11Ag said:

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I am still trying to figure out the yellow Hooper gave MLS minute 91. And that also involved Mbuemo.

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He won the ball clean after fumbling it but it was a clean tackle. Really should not have been a foul much less a yellow card.

The Timber one was just a bad a head scratcher.

Not only that, the ref called play on and left Zubi on the ground holding his head. He NEVER stopped play to check on him.