The difference between a draw and a potential loss for Manchester United came down to Ashley Young’s poor dive act – that’s how razor-thin the margin was.
While that itself was a foul, the overexaggerated dive into the floor as though it were a body of water changed the whole narrative.
Once VAR got involved the penalty being overturned seemed the likely outcome. Another moment that is definitely going to draw a lot of talk midweek.
Despite a spirited second-half comeback that erased a two-goal deficit to salvage a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park, plenty of questions remain.
At this point, the season is beginning to feel more like a horror show for Manchester United fans.
Attackers are misfiring, defenders are faltering, and midfielders are suffocated – Manchester United’s problems have piled up, snowballing into a crisis of Chernobyl proportions.
Yet, by the slimmest stroke of fortune for United and the cruellest twist of fate for Everton, the spoils were somehow shared.
The standout question amid this string of chaotic performances remains – should Manchester United reconsider their tactical approach?
Despite Ruben Amorim’s early conviction in sticking to his philosophy, is it time for him to admit defeat, adapt, and embrace a new strategy? At least till the end of the season.
Manchester United’s midfield has been consistently outmuscled and outnumbered, with just two players tasked with holding the fort in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 setup.
At this point, survival takes precedence over ideology, because the harsh reality is that United are closer to a relegation scrap than they’d care to admit.
Instead of clinging to an ideal style of play, the focus should shift to grinding out results – by any means necessary, even if it means embracing a more pragmatic approach.
So maybe shifting back to a 4-3-3 formation just might be the right call at this point.
With the season spiralling, a shift in approach might be the only way to salvage some dignity before the final whistle blows on this turbulent campaign.
Manchester United Setpiece Problems Continues
As has been the case far too often this season, the Red Devils once again crumbled when defending set pieces.
Their struggles in dealing with aerial balls, winning second balls, and asserting physicality in their own box were laid bare – shortcomings that directly led to Everton’s opening goal of the match.
The ball was headed around in the air nearly eight times before finally falling to Beto, yet in all that chaos, Manchester United still couldn’t produce a decisive clearance.
Their inability to deal with corners remains an unshakable curse – one that continues to haunt them and compound their growing list of problems.
It certainly feels too late to expect any real change in their set-piece defending this season, but as the next campaign looms, it must become a key area of focus.
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Setpiece Fortunes Saves Manchester United
In a rather fortunate conundrum, what had plagued them all season – even in this very contest – ended up being their saving grace.
The two goals that salvaged a draw, both coming within eight minutes, were born from set pieces.
The first was a moment of sheer cunning from Bruno Fernandes, who opted for curling his free kick toward the far post rather than over the wall.
Once again, it was individual brilliance – not tactical cohesion – that breathed life into United’s comeback.
Then came another moment of individual brilliance – this time from Ugarte, who came to bail out United. Pouncing on the second ball after Bruno’s delivered set piece, he struck a sweet half-volley to bring United level.
However much spirit United showed in their comeback to salvage a draw, the dark cloud still lingers over the Red Devils.
Despite their efforts, they remain stuck in 15th place, a position that continues to cast a shadow over their season.
And perhaps more surprisingly, an Everton side supposedly enduring a difficult season now sits above Manchester United in 14th place. If nothing else, it’s a stark reminder of just how far the mighty have fallen.
All hope for a successful season now rests on the FA Cup and Europa League for Manchester United.
But dare I say, their chances of winning either are slim to none. Still, football has a way of delivering the unexpected – so here’s to welcoming surprises.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Sportimage
Recording Date: 22.02.2025