Manchester United's hometown hoodoo against Bournemouth continued after an incredible flurry of attacking activity in the second half that ended in a 4-4 draw.
For the neutral, this was a show-stopping spectacle, but United fans trudged back through the turnstiles in gloomy frustration, having now dropped seven points in their past three Premier League matches at Old Trafford.
Shaw-Heaven-Mainoo-Man-Utd
How to sum up such a frenzied game? It was a slugfest, akin to a heavyweight battle in the Championship rounds. But this was not the performance of a team challenging for a title, with Ruben Amorim's side promoting new attacking play at the expense of defensive solidity, with the hosts ripped apart numerous times by the Cherries' incisive surges.
United need to toughen up and stop being so porous. While Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven flattered to deceive in Amorim's three-man backline, Luke Shaw has shown he cannot continue to serve in this stand-in role on the left side.
Luke Shaw's performance vs Bournemouth
Shaw has been at the Theatre of Dreams for over a decade, and he has made 303 outings across all competitions. Against Bournemouth, his fragilities were laid bare, with four goals conceded.
Bullied off the ball by Justin Kluivert, the England international gave possession away cheaply ahead of Antoine Semenyo's first-half equaliser.
His strength is not of a level that enables fluent central defensive success in the long run, but each of his 16 performances have come in the role this term.
Indeed, he continues to leave questions in his central defensive berth. A role that is not his own, the stalwart plays it dutifully. Still, it's clear that Lisandro Martinez's return to full match fitness, having returned off the bench in recent fixtures, cannot come quickly enough.
Man United players celebrate-1
However, Man United's defenders cannot be unduly scapegoated, with multiple stars struggling to play with the kind of togetherness and composure that should have seen the game out. United led three times, after all.
And one of the culprits was actually playing his football on the other side of the field.
Amorim signing just played his worst game
Man United and INEOS were generally considered to have completed a positive transfer window last summer, and Bryan Mbeumo could have been considered the standout, having scored 20 Premier League goals with Brentford last season, producing brilliant all-round performances.
Bryan-Mbeumo-Man-Utd-West-Ham
The Manchester Evening News remarked that the Cameroonian was 'not at his best' against Andoni Iraola's side, handing him a 6/10 match rating after a performance of little consequence.
Likewise, content creator Mark Goldbridge acknowledged that the £71m summer signing from Brentford "ain't having the best night", overshadowed, for example, by the stylish Matheus Cunha, and Amad Diallo behind him.
Bryan Mbeumo vs Bournemouth
Match Stats
Minutes played
Goals
Assists
Touches
Possession lost
Shots (on target)
Accurate passes
Chances created
Dribbles
Recoveries
Tackles
Duels won
Data via Sofascore
Lacking his typical bite and threat in the final third, Mbeumo wasted a number of opportunities, not just in the danger area but during the build-up and against the Bournemouth attacks.
It perhaps says something that United scored four goals under the Old Trafford lights and Mbeumo was minimally involved throughout those sequences, now with only one goal from his past five Premier League fixtures.
Man United's Bryan Mbeumo
The 26-year-old has been largely excellent since joining, ranking among the top 11% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for goals scored per 90, six goals and an assist from 16 matches.
Brighter days will come, but there's no denying this was one of Mbeumo's lowest moments since first donning the shirt back in the summer.
It wasn't the £150k-per-week wide forward's best display, but we all know what he's capable of, and fans will sadly be made keenly aware of that fact over the next month, with Mbeumo set to take his leave to fly to Morocco and compete at the African Cup of Nations.
D. Dalot Related
[Dalot upgrade: Man Utd looking to sign "the best right wing back in the PL"](https://www.footballfancast.com/dalot-amad-upgrade-man-utd-in-january-race-for-daniel-munoz/ "Dalot upgrade: Man Utd looking to sign "the best right wing back in the PL"")
INEOS are ready to add some quality to Man United's ranks this January.