Goldbridge: Man Utd too strong for Bournemouth but transfers still vital

Yahoo

21 hours ago

Man Utd Beat Bournemouth but Questions Remain Despite Preseason Progress
Early Goals Define the Match
Manchester United delivered a 4-1 victory over Bournemouth in their second US tour match, offering moments of flair but also a reflection of where the squad currently stands. As Mark Goldbridge put it during The United Stand podcast, 'Convincing win for Manchester United. Lots of positives.'
The early breakthrough came from a 'lovely cross from Dorgu', which was converted to make it 1-0, followed by another Dorgu-driven move to bring it to 2-0. The match continued with goals from Amad and Williams before a Bournemouth own goal brought the final score to 4-1. While the performance was applauded, Goldbridge was clear in noting, 'Ultimately a clash of two teams really. One who last season was very good and one was really bad.'
Praise for Dorgu and Player Performances
Goldbridge reserved particular praise for Dorgu. 'Absolutely brilliant in preseason. Like even before the cross to Rasmus, I was literally just about to tweet that Dorgu's had another good start to the game.' His physicality and composure stood out. 'He's mixing it up with players. He's not scared to be physical… he was my standout player, man of the match comfortably.'
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Williams also got attention for his cameo: 'It's a 20-minute cameo. He scores a goal. It's great for the lad.' But there was scepticism too, particularly with some senior figures. 'Casemiro was way off the pace, too slow for the Premier League,' Goldbridge noted. While others, like Bruno Fernandes, received measured praise, he added, 'I don't think Chelsea would be using Bruno in the midfield or Arsenal or Liverpool or Man City or even Aston Villa.'
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Preseason Momentum but Transfer Needs
Goldbridge continually returned to the broader context: preseason as preparation, not prophecy. 'This is good preparation… I'm happy with the preseason games we've got.' Yet he stressed it must go hand in hand with recruitment. 'Still need a goalkeeper, still need a striker, still need a midfielder.'
He voiced frustration over the slow transfer progress: 'The board need to move a little bit quicker.' Although the intensity and attacking rhythm were steps in the right direction, Goldbridge did not shy away from noting that Bournemouth 'looked dreadful' and that the likes of West Ham and Everton were likely to finish in the bottom half.
'I think that the competitive nature of the Premier League is more up for grabs this year,' he said, but warned, 'Fifth place is up for grabs, but it's not going to be easy… it's there for the team that wants to be ambitious.'
A Word on Squad Depth and Future Fixtures
Looking ahead, the discussion shifted to squad balance. 'If Rasmus goes, you've got Sesko, Zirkzee can do a job and OB 17,' Goldbridge explained, calling for depth across the front line. 'I would certainly like to have three proper strikers.'
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With Everton and Fiorentina up next before a key test against Arsenal, Goldbridge called for calm and realism. 'I don't think there's a United fan out there that's stupid enough to run away with that and get excited without being a joker.'
Final Thoughts from the Pod
Closing on a positive, Goldbridge remarked, 'Really enjoyed it. I don't feel that tired at all.' He also praised the fans for their dedication: 'A big massive shout out to the community tonight… getting up at 3, 4, 2 in the morning to watch Man United play.'
Ultimately, the match might have seen Man Utd beat Bournemouth with style, but the podcast made it clear that improvement, ambition and recruitment are key to ensuring these summer performances translate when the season begins.