3 Hot Takes | Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur 2-2

Biased commentary + VAR = poor matchday experience

Manchester United drew 2-2 vs Tottenham in the first premier league game of 2024 and I’m going to jump right into this one.

1. The commentary could not be more biased

Look at the average position of Hojlund (11 red) and Richarlison (9 white) and you realize the commentary was biased. United had the usual defensive errors leading to both goals (I could be a better set-piece coach) but they were nowhere as bad as the commentary made them to be.

Yes, Tottenham had superior (64%) possession but all that possession was in the middle of the pitch. United looked dangerous every time they went forward - Rashford probably had his best half this season and should have scored one more.

Hojlund was the Man of the Match for me but needs more service. Nonetheless, it was good to see him not waiting for service but creating his chance from that deflected ball to fire it in.

If only McTominay had managed to head it down into goal in injury time, there would be a different post-match analysis for sure.

2. VAR and refereeing still suck

Garnacho was super unlucky not to get that penalty. If Hojlund’s hold on Rodri was a penalty, this was clear as day. Udogie clearly stopped him from getting to the ball. It’s 2024 and VAR still sucks.

No consistency, no right decisions, and the referee was so bad that the one thing most people online wanted at HT was a change in refereeing personnel.

The yellow card dished to Wan-Bissaka was hilarious. Clean tackle and it was the Spurs player’s movement that caused him to fall into his follow-through. Even more ridiculous was the yellow dished to Hojlund who was preventing Romero from taking a free kick from the wrong position (much further than the original).

3. Licha can help us revive the season

Lisandro Martinez got a roaring welcome back from injury and rightly so. In his small cameo, he had 100% passing accuracy, and our average position for the backline changed significantly. Look at where number 6 is and you will realize how bad Evans was in the first 60 minutes.

For a team trying to play out from the back, we need Varane and Licha to play as much as possible and get Shaw back asap as he is a good LCB backup. Licha played some great passes into the forward line and that’s what we have missed all season.

With Casemiro returning, we should see a midfield of Mainoo (who had a decent game despite getting zero help from Eriksen and Bruno), Casemiro, and Bruno with Varane and Licha behind them for defensive cover. That alone should mean fewer goals conceded and even clean sheets, turning games like yesterday into 2-1 victories.

Hoping for a much better 2024 for United and us fans. Do get in the comments with your hot takes from the match. Adios!