Four things we learned from Sunderland 0 – 0 Manchester United
Four things we learned from Sunderland 0 – 0 Manchester United Manchester United laboured to a fortunate point at the Stadium of Light today, sharing the spoils in a 0-0 draw against a dominant Sunderland. With Champions League status already secured, and a couple of notable absences, Michael Carrick’s changed side were well off the pace against Regis Le Bris’s team . Here’s what we learned from a scruffy point away from home.
Off-the-Pace Mount and Zirkzee Left Toiling With Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko carrying injuries, Carrick chose Mason Mount alongside Kobbie Mainoo in midfield. Joshua Zirkzee was given the nod as a lone striker. In a difficult first half, United looked lightweight in midfield, with the Black Cats cutting through them on several occasions.
Mount seemed unsettled by the Mackems’ rapid start, losing runners, getting stuck ahead of the ball, and offering little genuine quality going forward; a passivity that left United with no reliable route out as the pressure grew. As for Carrick’s other change, Zirkzee failed to impose himself against a physical pair of centre-backs, getting increasingly frustrated as the half wore on. By the time the Dutchman started to find rare pockets of space, he seemed too mentally scrambled to create anything of note.
Playing in front of 50,000 Mackems baying for blood is not the ideal time to be rediscovering your rhythm, but Zirkzee offered no physical presence, no out ball, and nothing much of anything else. Martinez Overcomes Tricky Opening We are at a period in Lisandro Martinez’s career when questions are starting to be asked about his future in the side. Not only has Ayden Heaven excelled in Licha’s latest absence, but the Argentine’s poor injury record means his quality feels so remote as to be almost mythic.
Is he still the same player who excelled at nipping the ball off attackers’ toes and pinging passes forward under Erik ten Hag? It is still hard to say on today’s basis. Martinez made a wobbly start alongside Harry Maguire, showing understandable signs of ring rust in the opening half an hour as the home side ploughed forward in search of an opener.