Manchester United slumped to a second defeat in less than a week as Everton handed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer & co. a 4-0 hammering at Goodison Park on Sunday.
The visitors were under the pump pretty much from the get-go, with Everton piling on the pressure. And, Marco Silva’s men grabbed a well deserved lead in the 13th minute, as Richarlison finished from an acrobatic effort that David de Gea had no answer for.
The Manchester United no. 1 was beaten once again just before the half hour mark, as Gylfi Sigurdsson produced a fine curling effort from outside the box. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men limped to half-time, with De Gea also keeping them in the game. But, it all unravelled post the break.
Ten minutes into the second half, Everton were three to the good as Lucas Digne scored from a stunning strike from outside of his boot. And, the win was rounded off in the 64th minute when Theo Walcott beat De Gea when put through on goal by Sigurdsson.
Invariably, the players copped a lot of flak, with the Manchester United fans questioning those who turned up (or did not) on the pitch, with the supporters also expressing their support for Solskjaer at the same time.
Moyes
Van Gaal
Mourinho
SolskjærHonestly .. at what stage do you start blaming the players for lacking the will and the determination to go out on the pitch and deliver?
— Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) April 21, 2019
On whether he has seen enough hurt in the #MUFC dressing room, Solskjaer was non-committal.
“Don’t know,” he replied.
Damning
— David Charlesworth (@charlie_4444) April 21, 2019
Solskjaer issued an ultimatum this week. It’s survival of the fittest, there’s no hiding place, a reality check is needed etc. This is not the way to respond. No doubt Ole has the hairdryer out at half time. #mufc
— United Xtra (@utdxtra) April 21, 2019
Under LVG and Mourinho, the players had an excuse. They were being stifled by tactics and man management.
Under Solskjaer they have no such excuse. He’s given them what they asked for.
Out of excuses. Out of order. Soon to be out of the club.— Duncan Wright (@dwright75) April 21, 2019
Solskjaer in the dressing room after the game pic.twitter.com/bLqDWcpHwU
— Luke Thompson (@Luket_av) April 21, 2019
Gary Neville, I’m furious, the fact he (Solskjaer) has to go over & apologise to the fans at the whistle is embarrassing. There’s some bad weeds not only in the garden but Japanese knot weed attacking the entire house and they need it eradicating! Spot on #mufc pic.twitter.com/vVNYJ4bLKN
— Red Army! (@RedorDead07) April 21, 2019
Whilst a couple of those may have happened anyway, it is good to see that “deadwood” is slowly being dealt with by the manager. It is a process and we need to be patient with it.
— UtdArena. (@utdarena) April 21, 2019
Lay the blame for this at Solskjaer’s door if you want but actually it’s the clearest sign yet of the scale of the mess that Mourinho bequeathed Manchester United. Judge Solskjaer when he’s spent the money Mourinho spent. Woodward needs to back him properly in the summer.
— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) April 21, 2019
But, there were a few who criticised Solskjaer as well.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer trying to rejuvenate this United side pic.twitter.com/HYgCKcjl1a
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) April 21, 2019
Problem with Solskjaer is he may know the message to tell the players, but is he the right man to deliver it? Gives off that “son wearing his dad’s suit” vibe.
— RG (@registability) April 21, 2019
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ? “From the first whistle everything went wrong. I just want to apologise to the fans. They’re the only people with the badge on today who can hold their head high, because we can’t.”
Apology isn’t enough, these fans deserve their money back. pic.twitter.com/qNzTzsUOWr
— Devils of United (@DevilsOfUnited) April 21, 2019
Solskjaer trying to be too clever again by playing players out of position in a different formation. United getting what they deserve so far. Absolutely swamped by Everton. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) April 21, 2019
Meanwhile, Nemanja Matic, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones were singled out by fans, who took out their frustrations on the duo.
Generally think fans are way way too quick to go down the ‘they don’t care, they’re not trying, they’ve downed tools’ road but Matic for that goal was kickaround in the park with the kids levels of effort
— Nick (@ManUnitedYouth) April 21, 2019
We gave Martial a new deal and he stops turning up.
We gave Smalling, Jones and Young a new deal despite knowing they are mediocre players.
This isn’t the club I used to support. We had an identity. Now, we are irrelevant. Absolutely clueless.
— The United Link ? (@TheUnitedLink) April 21, 2019
Matic is stealing a living at Manchester United. He genuinely just watched Sigurdsson strike it, he didn’t close him down at all. That was frustrating to watch.
— Devils of United (@DevilsOfUnited) April 21, 2019
Please just process that we are up there as one of the richest clubs in the world and we are still starting Phil Jones and Chris Smalling as our leaders at the back. It’s 2019. Two thousand and nineteen. We are a hideous mess and the fans could see this coming yet again.
— The Man Utd Way (@TheManUtdWay) April 21, 2019
