MAN UNITED’S STRUGGLES in front of goal continued as they laboured to a 0-0 Europa League draw away to AZ.
Half-chances before the break for youngsters Mason Greenwood and Angel Gomes were the best Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men could muster as their high-flying Eredivisie opponents brought most of the attacking creativity to the contest.
Playing on the artificial pitch of the Hague’s Cars Jeans Stadion due to roof damage their AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar, AZ were unfortunate to find David de Gea in assured form.
United should have had a late chance to steal victory when referee Gediminas Mazeika waved away a strong penalty appeal from Marcus Rashford, but the stalemate remained intact.
Myron Boadu headed home Fredrik Midtsjo’s 11th-minute cross but was correctly flagged offside before David de Gea sharply kept out Oussama Idrissi’s drive.
It amounted to a familiarly listless opening from Solskjaer’s men, although they almost led as the half hour approached when veteran defender Ron Vlaar made a vital block to deny Greenwood from Daniel James’ cutback.
Diogo Dalot lost Boadu in the 32nd minute, with the AZ striker unable to contort himself and head effectively goalwards.
There was better work from Dalot shortly afterwards when Gomes’ shot from his teasing right-wing cross was blocked.
AZ resumed on the front foot, firing balls into the United box and seeing a couple of penalty shouts against Dalot and full debutant Brandon Williams waved away.
Solskjaer introduced Rashford for James after the hour but the hosts continued to look most likely to breakthrough as De Gea pawed away a swerving Owen Wijndal drive.
Idrissi fizzed a half-volley narrowly wide from Boadu’s lay-off and saw De Gea fist a powerful 77th-minute shot to safety.
The lack of VAR spared Stijn Wuytens when he clumsily challenged Rashford, while fellow substitute Jesse Lingard endured a painful end to the game the day he was dropped by England — lashing a good chance wide before pulling up with an apparent hamstring injury.
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AZ will be disappointed with that, would have been looking to build a good goal difference in this game
@Buzz O Sullivan: I’ve read your comment a couple of times and I can’t get the thought out of my mind that you are a simpleton
@Cryptoalcho: hard to argue with ya on this one
Even Dundalk scored against az away!
What’s the problem he’s playing youth his squad is brutal anyone saying oleout is delusional
@Hon Tipp: The youngest team United have played this season was against Rochdale. The average age was over 24.
He’s playing “some” youth.
@James Doyle: Yeah 24 is fair old. I’m 26 and retirement is looming closer by the day, had a mid-life crisis last year
@James Doyle: you generally come on here being negative about man utd but that is possibly the most absurd of all. 24 is now old in football. Take a bow if you were looking for reactions
@James Doyle: No starting 11 in the Premier League has been younger than 24 this season, Solskier has on more than one occasion fielded the youngest starting line up of any Premier League team.
You might want to educate yourself on what is classified as a young team in football, and remove your bias against United and actually give Solskier his dues for blooding young academy players.
Zero shots on target?
@my name: good man sam ! Liverpool fan from dublin….much prefered your old character.
@Derek Trotter: hi Derek. Did I say something that was incorrect?
@my name: did you read my post sam?
@Derek Trotter: just replied to you pal, are getting sensitive again
@my name: samstheman you never answer my questions ? At least your a dub! Why did you change profile ?
@Derek Trotter: asked and answered before Derek. You are getting sensitive again it seems, but in fairness to you at least you’re not looking for a penalty like Ole is now
@my name: its uncool to like your own posts sammy ! That ones on the house.
@Derek Trotter: big hug or I’ll shout you a pint pal. It’s up to you
Solid performance, thought Williams look very assured at left back. There really is a tragic lack of quality in the midfield with Fred and Matic, everything seems to take far to many touches and there’s no penetration in any of their passing, although the movement in front of them does leave a lot to be desired.
Gomes and Greenwood will be disappointed with their lack of impact on the game, still a draw away from home on a dodgy pitch isn’t awful and better United teams have been on the end of much worse results in Europe.
@Sean: ahh come on Sean, I read your comments with interest, as you seem to have some knowledge when analysing a team after a game, but that wasn’t a solid performance.
@Devilsavocado: By solid I meant they never looked like they were going to get beat and also with a bit of perspective on where the team are right now.
They were poor as United have been with the ball for some time and I think I was critical of that in my post but I’m not going to be alarmed, I’ve seen United perform much worse away from home on Thursday nights.
It’s one of those games tick it off the list move on, give some youth players some minutes and learn a bit more about the quality of some fringe players, like how Fred has still not remembered how to play football.
If they win their home games and don’t loose away they’ll progress and hopefully when the opposition gets better United will have fewer injuries, a more settled side and some better from.
Conte goes to inter takes about 2 months buys a few and has them top of the league and playing some excellent ball against Barcelona last night. Hes even got a game plan. Yet united are giving ole 3 years to do the same.
@damien o brien: Conto is not building anything, all Italian Managers and clubs are only interested in the here and now . He’ll be gone in 2/3 years again
Am I the only one who is willing to point out the absolutely worse performance of the night, zero input, Zero ideas, zero knowledge of the game and totally out of his dept!!!!! How the hell does Michael Owen continue to get a job in commentary,, there has to be better than him looking to do the job,, never mind the game, he would be the main reason to turn the TV off….
DIRT
@stephen darling: No darling I’m sure he polishes his PL Medal
@Scott Stonebridge: Get use to living in the past . He can polish his medel but he won’t polish that TURD of a team .
@Scott Stonebridge: Get use to living in the past . He can polish his medal but he won’t polish that TURD of a team .
AZ drop points at home. Poor
The heading is more positive then what actually happened in the game
Decent result despite the clickbait headline.
Z