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Nick Wright
Comment and Analysis
@nicholaspwright

Manchester
United's issues
exposed in draw
with Southampton Related Stories !

Daniel James' stunning strike was Why Dyche and

cancelled out by Jannik Burnley are still in
Vestergaard's towering header at tune
St Mary's Stadium

Last Updated: 31/08/19 8:49pm Merson Says:

Shocking Spurs out
of title race

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11799304/manchester-uniteds-issues-exposed-in-draw-with-southampton 04/09/19, 5:22 PM

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 of title race
& '

Premier League hits

and misses

Pochettino's
Tottenham refresh

Daniel James and Mason Greenwood are Videos !

two of the youngsters in Manchester
United's squad
Premier League
Saturday Round-up
Manchester United were held to a 1-1
draw by 10-man Southampton on
Saturday, meaning they have only won Southampton 1-1
two of their last 13 games in all Man Utd

competitions. Nick Wright was at St

Mary's to see a performance which
exposed the shortcomings in Ole Southampton v Man
Utd
Gunnar Solskjaer's squad.

"We are on the right track."

Ole: Sanchez still has
United future
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https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11799304/manchester-uniteds-issues-exposed-in-draw-with-southampton 04/09/19, 5:22 PM

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 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer repeated the
phrase more than once in his post-
match press conference at St Mary's.

He was eager to emphasise that this is

a period of transition for Manchester
United, that he is building for the
future, that patience is required. But
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Solskjaer's cheery demeanour suggests (GreatLearning)

he is not worried yet, but the numbers

are certainly troubling. United have
taken just five points from their first
four games of the season. They have
only won two of their last 13 in all
15 incredible things you will surely
competitions. Solskjaer is not letting want
(www.latestbuzztoday.com)
the pressure show, but his squad's
shortcomings become more obvious
Trending
with every slip-up.
1 Man Utd's issues exposed
Report and highlights: Man United

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11799304/manchester-uniteds-issues-exposed-in-draw-with-southampton 04/09/19, 5:22 PM

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 Report and highlights: Man United
held by Southampton 2 Liverpool look hungrier than ever

How to watch Premier League 3

Courageous Campbell beaten by
Lomachenko

highlights 4 Hubert dies after F2 accident

Updated Premier League table 5

Neymar agrees PSG stay as Barca
talks break down

Against Southampton on Saturday, the 6 Is the north London gap closing?

issues were familiar ones. United
7 Tributes paid to 'hero' Hubert
allowed their opponents too many
chances, failed to take their own and 8
Lampard defends 'bold'
substitution
lacked steel when they needed it. Until
Zouma suffers racist abuse after
Kevin Danso's sending off in the 73rd 9
Chelsea held
minute, it was Southampton, not
10 Villa unhappy with disallowed 'goal'
United, who looked the more likely
winners. ! Video ! Latest News

Experience and depth lacking

The lack of depth and experience is

alarming. Solskjaer has shown a
ruthless streak in recent months,
moving on players who do not fit his
plans without hesitation. But while few
supporters will mourn the departures
of Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and
the rest, the club's failure to replace
them is already proving costly.

United have chosen to place youth at

the heart of things this season, and
while it is an admirable policy, it is also
true that young players need to be

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11799304/manchester-uniteds-issues-exposed-in-draw-with-southampton 04/09/19, 5:22 PM

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 true that young players need to be
surrounded by experience and proven
quality. The worry for United is that this
squad does not contain enough of

either.

On Saturday, their bench contained

three academy graduates with a
handful of senior appearances
between them, and - in Jesse Lingard,
Nemanja Matic and Marcos Rojo - three
senior players either out of form or out
of favour.

SORRY!

The video you are trying to watch

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PLEASE TRY SELECTING A DIFFERENT

VIDEO
Highlights from Southampton's 1-1 draw
with Manchester United in the Premier
League

The problems are particularly

pronounced in attack.

Sanchez and Lukaku's exits have thrust

Marcus Rashford into the spotlight, but
for all his undoubted talent, the fact
remains that he has never scored more
than 13 goals in a season. It is asking a
lot, then, to expect the 21-year-old to

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11799304/manchester-uniteds-issues-exposed-in-draw-with-southampton 04/09/19, 5:22 PM

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 lot, then, to expect the 21-year-old to
step up and lead the line on his own.
Since his double against Chelsea in
United's opening game of the season,
he has taken 12 shots without scoring.
Against Southampton, he lacked
composure in front of goal and
frequently chose the wrong passes.

Solskjaer is understandably delighted

by the impact of Daniel James - he
described the Welshman as an
"example to everyone" after he scored
his third goal in four appearances for
United on Saturday - but like any young
player, he too will go through peaks and
troughs. When his form does dip, can
the enigmatic Anthony Martial be
trusted to deliver instead?

Solskjaer: We must be more clinical

Because beyond that, United's

attacking options are limited to their
next crop of academy graduates.
Mason Greenwood has shown huge
promise and came close to scoring
following his introduction against
Southampton, but he is still two
months shy of his 18th birthday and
even his greatest admirers would admit
that he is not ready to play regularly.

Problematic Pogba
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11799304/manchester-uniteds-issues-exposed-in-draw-with-southampton 04/09/19, 5:22 PM
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 Problematic Pogba

It does not help, then, when Paul Pogba,

one of the few players in the squad who
does combine experience with proven
quality, continues to veer between the
brilliant and the baffling. Against
Crystal Palace, it was his error that led
to Patrick van Aanholt's winner. Against
Southampton, his creativity was
overshadowed by more lapses of
concentration.

The Frenchman, whose future has been

the subject of speculation throughout
the summer, seemed to struggle with
the speed of the game right from the
start. Inside the first two minutes, he
was robbed by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in
his own half. Soon after that, and under
no pressure in midfield, he wildly over-
hit a diagonal pass intended for James.

His most glaring mistakes, though,

arrived shortly before half-time, when
he ceded possession on three separate
occasions in the space of little more
than a minute - each time in his own
half, each time inviting more
Southampton pressure.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11799304/manchester-uniteds-issues-exposed-in-draw-with-southampton 04/09/19, 5:22 PM

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 Paul Pogba in action against
Southampton

In between those moments of

complacency, Pogba failed to make a
single tackle or interception and only
won one aerial duel. And yet, at the
same time, he was central to most of
United's best attacking moments,
creating more chances (four) than any
other player on the pitch.

Also See:
Solskjaer: United … Man Utd held by 10…

It is something Solskjaer was keen to

point out afterwards, saying Pogba
"created loads" in the closing stages
and adding: "Everyone expects
everything from him every game. He has
to defend, he has to attack, he has to
win headers, he has to win tackles, he
has to dribble people, he has to make
passes."

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11799304/manchester-uniteds-issues-exposed-in-draw-with-southampton 04/09/19, 5:22 PM

Page 8 of 12
 It is certainly true that Pogba is held to
higher standards than others, but it
comes with the territory of being a

record signing for a club like United and,

with such a shallow squad this season,
the reality is that United need him to
deliver now more than ever. If Solskjaer
is to prove they are indeed on the right
track, then coaxing consistency from
his biggest star must be a priority. On
this evidence, there is plenty of work to
do.

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