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Former Manchester United winger Gordon Hill has declared the club’s disappointing draw against Bournemouth on Saturday as the final straw for him.
United were held to a 2-2 stalemate at the Vitality Stadium, with both the club’s goals coming from Bruno Fernandes.
Despite coming back from behind twice and salvaging a point, United were very lucky to get something from the match.
The Red Devils put up yet another poor performance that left a lot to be desired from Erik ten Hag and his players.
The team still conceded 20 shots and were fortunate that when it mattered, the Cherries were not clinical enough to punish them. Diogo Dalot admitted after the final whistle that the sheer amount of shots the club concedes is a huge problem that needs to be addressed.
Dalot also highlighted the amount of space United left in midfield due to the poor tactical structure implemented by Ten Hag and his coaching staff.
On multiple occasions, young Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro found themselves with large tracts of the pitch to cover on their own – something which Bournemouth fully capitalised on to expose the United defenders.
This problem was highlighted by former Premier League defender Danny Higginbotham who took to social media to say, “Man United at worst when they dominate possession. Absolutely wide open. No plan or identity when have to force the issue. Front 4 press high,back 4 drop off and then midfield 2 asked to cover the amount of ground that 4 central midfielders couldn’t.”
Man United at worst when they dominate possession. Absolutely wide open. No plan or identity when have to force the issue. Front 4 press high,back 4 drop off and then midfield 2 asked to cover the amount of ground that 4 central midfielders couldn’t.
— Danny Higginbotham (@Higginbotham05) April 13, 2024
Higginbotham also explained that Ten Hag’s men are very easy to defend against as the wingers, who often come inside, don’t really offer width in attack. He also slammed the full-back pairing for not being good enough when going forward.
I’ve commented on that. It’s not working. Who’s giving the width as wingers mainly drive inside and full backs aren’t enough of an attacking threat. Easy to defend against as dangerous players end up in the same vicinity and getting g in each others way.
— Danny Higginbotham (@Higginbotham05) April 14, 2024
The ex-Gibraltar international sentiments were echoed by Gordon Hill, who played for United in the 1970s.
Hill wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Words are beyond me now, just cannot watch this , excuses after excuses.”
“Just can not watch this. This is not my United.”
Words are beyond me now, just cannot watch this , excuses after excuses. Just can not watch this. This is not my United.
— Gordon Hill (@gordonhill54) April 13, 2024
In a subsequent post, Hill added, “One bit of a sparkle which still gives hope is the U18s. Are putting on a show. Perhaps we should play them instead of the team out there, may not get a result but boy would we see some effort and determination. Just my thoughts.”
One bit of a sparkle which still gives hope is the U18s. Are putting on a show. Perhaps we should play them instead of the team out there, may not get a result but boy would we see some effort and determination. Just my thoughts.
— Gordon Hill (@gordonhill54) April 13, 2024
United return to action in a week’s time when they take on Championship side Coventry City in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
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