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Manchester United put in another poor performance yesterday, as they drew 2-2 with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Erik ten Hag praised the resistance of his team to fight back twice but United fans will know this was yet another game where they came away with a point they did not deserve.
The Cherries, in what seems to have become a weekly occurrence against United, waltzed through the midfield time and time again and had 20 shots on goal, in comparison to the Red Devils’ eight.
Whilst far from being the only problem, Casemiro put in another embarrassing display, which has probably proven beyond all doubt that the 32 year is done at the highest level.
This was typified in the second half when the home side broke on the counter and Casemiro was seen sliding in but was absolutely nowhere near the ball or even any identifiable player. The action would have been comical if it wasn’t for the fact this is United’s expensive number one defensive midfield option.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp was also far from impressed with the player and poured scorn over the Brazilian’s performance at the end of the match.
Elaborating on the former Real Madrid player’s showing he claimed, “I love watching him play. But right now he looks like he’s in Soccer Aid. He looks like he’s playing at such a pace where the game is a bit of fun and there’s celebrities coming on the pitch”.
“No. This is the Premier League… you’ve got so much experience. That isn’t the case of anything else apart from running”.
The pundit was particularly unimpressed by the Brazilian’s defensive efforts in Bournemouth’s second goal of the game.
“Keep your eye on Casemiro there. He now decides to walk? Why are you walking there?”.
“There’s things happening so quickly and you’ve realised now that players like Rodri and Declan Rice, are they going to be walking when (Willy) Kambwala’s now got to face (Justin) Kluivert in a one-on-one situation?
“I’m thinking I need to help my mate. He’s nineteen years of age – you’ve got experience and won Champions Leagues”.
“Just as it carries on he’s still walking then he decides ‘I’ll get into a bit of a jog’. Now look how close he is when Kluivert shoots. If he ran then he would have blocked that”.
“It looks like he’s in Soccer Aid”
Jamie Redknapp’s honest opinion on Casemiro 😬 pic.twitter.com/tSw1by3uIq
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 13, 2024
United’s young starlet, Kobbie Mainoo, has recently spoken out on what a positive influence playing alongside Casemiro has been but Redknapp has questioned this.
“(With) Kobbie Mainoo. He’s got everything in the world at his feet but you need great role models to get to the top”.
“You need great people to look up to that you’re going to aspire to be like. At the moment Casemiro is not setting the right examples to the people around him”.
After such an impressive debut season, it is incredibly sad to watch the rapid and very public decline of the multiple Champions League winner, who was one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation.
The likelihood is he will be gone by the end of the season, as INEOS reportedly never thought the transfer was a good idea and his showings in 2024 will have likely done little to impress them, as they aim to bring in young, hungry talent and shed the team of overpaid former stars.
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