Goldbridge: “United’s biggest problem is the players, not the manager” | OneFootball

Everton 2-2 Man United: Controversy, Late Drama, and Goldbridge’s Match Reaction

Manchester United’s turbulent Premier League campaign continued with a chaotic 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park, a match marked by refereeing controversy, tactical misfires, and late drama. Mark Goldbridge, on The United Stand, did not hold back in his assessment, describing the performance as “embarrassing” and lambasting both individual displays and the wider issues plaguing the club.

Casemiro’s Decline and United’s Midfield Struggles

The turning point of the match, according to Goldbridge, was the removal of Casemiro. “The game changed when Casemiro came off,” he noted. “No surprises there—his legs are gone. He’s done.” The Brazilian’s sluggishness was evident throughout the first half, where United struggled to impose themselves in midfield.

Goldbridge also pointed out the significant impact of Manuel Ugarte, who was “constantly getting in Everton players’ faces” and was crucial to United’s resurgence. “Garner, Mykolenko, Tarkowski—they were constantly getting at him because he was fighting.” Ugarte’s equaliser only reinforced his importance in a midfield that has often lacked physicality and aggression this season.

VAR and Refereeing Controversies

Unsurprisingly, refereeing decisions took centre stage once again. The decision to overturn a penalty awarded to Everton’s Ashley Young was a major talking point. Goldbridge was scathing: “That is not a penalty… Maguire barely touches him, and he dives off. VAR did its job for the first time in a long time.”

However, he also highlighted an earlier decision that went unnoticed. “A minute before that, the referee gives a goal kick to Everton. But if you’re giving a goal kick, you should have given a penalty on Garnacho because he touches the ball but then gets kicked in the back of the leg. That’s a penalty. No one will talk about that.”

Goldbridge’s frustration with officials was palpable. “This is the same referee that we had for Arsenal that was absolutely shocking.”

Bruno Fernandes Debate: Man of the Match or Liability?

One of Goldbridge’s strongest criticisms was aimed at Bruno Fernandes, who was awarded TNT Sports’ Man of the Match. “That is absolute corpse analysis. Are we back in the 80s again where if you score a goal, you get Man of the Match?”

While acknowledging Fernandes’ well-taken free-kick, Goldbridge was blunt in his overall assessment. “Countless misplaced passes, [__] corners. He walks off the pitch thinking he’s done a good job. It’s embarrassing. The standards are a joke.”

Bruno’s role in the team remains a divisive issue. “I don’t know what his role is. He’s not a No.10, he’s not a midfielder, and his captaincy doesn’t bring much when he’s moaning at other players while making the same mistakes himself.”

Photo: IMAGO

Rasmus Højlund’s Struggles and United’s Lack of Cutting Edge

Goldbridge did not spare United’s attacking line, particularly Rasmus Højlund. “The service isn’t great, I’ll admit that. But there were a couple of times where he got knocked off the ball, and I just thought, is it confidence? If you’re not going to get service, you’ve got to be physical.”

The Danish striker was outmuscled by Everton’s defence, and Goldbridge was concerned about his lack of impact. “If you’re not going to get the ball, then you have to be about the physicality, and he got bullied today.”

On a more positive note, the introduction of Alejandro Garnacho provided much-needed energy. “He made such a difference. He’s dangerous, he moves the ball quickly, and that’s why they were fouling him.” His late impact was one of the few bright sparks in what was otherwise a frustrating evening for United.

Final Thoughts

Goldbridge’s overall verdict was that United’s performance was far from convincing, despite salvaging a point. “We should have won the game. It’s the players not doing the basics that’s the issue.” He was also quick to defend manager Ruben Amorim, stating that “the system doesn’t make you misplace passes, fail to track runners, or palm the ball into danger.”

United remain far from where they need to be, with inconsistency plaguing their campaign. As Goldbridge put it, “We’re not going to get in the top half of the table, but what we can do in the Premier League is build some momentum. The FA Cup and the Europa League—it’s that or nothing.”