Goldbridge: “We’re not prepared for this season” after Everton draw | OneFootball

Manchester United’s Midfield Crisis Exposed Against Everton: Goldbridge Delivers Brutal Truths

Goldbridge sees no midfield salvation after 2–2 Everton draw

Manchester United’s 2–2 draw with Everton in their final US tour match left more questions than answers, according to Mark Goldbridge on The United Stand. Speaking in his post-match reaction, Goldbridge was candid in his appraisal, warning fans that “there are more questions than answers after the game tonight” and expressing serious doubts ahead of the new Premier League season.

This wasn’t simply a slip in preseason form. For Goldbridge, the problem was fundamental. “We don’t have a good midfield,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how good your defence is or how good your attack is. If you don’t have a good midfield, you’re going to struggle.”

Position confusion and tactical chaos

Goldbridge questioned whether the team is even close to settling on a starting eleven. “Two weeks out from Arsenal and I don’t actually know much about that team,” he said. “Apart from the fact that Bruno will play every game and Kya will probably play a lot.”

The midfield, however, was his primary concern. “I can’t find one midfielder that I’m confident in at the moment, and I need to find two,” he said. He described Bruno Fernandes as “a number 10 being asked to become a midfielder at 30” and added, “He’s got no discipline at all.”

Ugarte didn’t escape criticism either. “Agate was bad,” Goldbridge stated bluntly, though he later offered that “it was a bad day for Agate, but I still think he’s a good player.”

Everton outplay United in key areas

For large spells of the match, Everton were the better side. “Everton probably played the better football and certainly did deserve the draw,” Goldbridge admitted. He even went further: “It was a bit of a reality check to be at times played off the park by Everton who I don’t think are going to have a very good season themselves.”

United fans hoping to find positives in individual performances were given little to hold on to. “Kuna was just wasted. Absolutely wasted,” Goldbridge said of the forward. “You can play up front for Man United and be the invisible man.”

Meanwhile, fans contributing live comments were equally frustrated. “Our midfield easily gets run over,” said one viewer, Yazo, while another, Cameron Camson, questioned how United had “still not sold one single player.”

Transfer delays fuelling pessimism

The lack of movement in the transfer market was another major source of frustration. Goldbridge criticised the club’s approach during tours, saying “when we go on tour, we stop doing business.” He observed that United “haven’t bought anyone” and concluded, “we’re just not prepared for this season.”

On potential arrivals, Goldbridge speculated about the possible signing of Cesco, expressing hope but also regret. “Imagine what it would have been like if we’d signed him three weeks ago and he’d been on this tour learning to play with the team.”

In closing, Goldbridge reiterated the urgency. “We need a striker. We need a goalkeeper. And we need a midfielder.” For him, this is no longer about preference or budget. “We definitely need all three,” he said. “That midfield at the moment looks really dodgy.”

The United Stand’s community echoed these fears, with user ‘John United’ summing it up: “Anything less is failure. Our weaknesses are clear and we were lucky not to lose today.”