Mega Blog – Manchester United Win the FA Cup, Season Review, and England Euro Preview

I can’t believe it’s been close to two months since I last wrote a blog post! Work and my other obligations were in the way, but moreover it was difficult to motivate myself to write about a very lackluster and average Manchester United team. Not to worry though, I am back and ready to thoroughly break down all the happenings of the past seven weeks or so in this mega (aka longer than normal) post!

United Win the FA Cup

The highlight of the season was easily United’s 2-1 victory over the blue bastards Manchester City to win the FA Cup at Wembley at the end of May. Goals were from winger Alejandro Garnacho and midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. United were heavy underdogs coming into the match, given their own poor form this season and the fact that City are the reigning Premier League champions and widely regarded as the best club team in the world. But our lads finally showed up and played their best game of the season when it mattered most. The first goal from Garnacho was more of a defensive error from City than anything, but some credit is due to Garnacho for being in the right position to capitalize on it. The second goal was truly a work of art in terms of passing and tactical awareness. It was a counter-attack goal, and it involved at least five United players before Mainoo slid it home from about eight yards out. The final pass from midfielder Bruno Fernandes to Mainoo in particular was pure football poetry.

It was nervy at the end of the match for sure, as City pulled one back through striker Jeremy Doku with about 20 minutes left to play. United keeper Andre Onana probably should have kept it out since it was a low shot from distance at his near post, but it slipped past his fingertips and City had a lifeline. However, some good center-forward play from Rasmus Højlund and solid defending saw the Red Devils hold on and claim their 13th FA Cup in club history!

Spot-on tactics and substitutions from manager Erik Ten Hag (more on him below) and fantastic effort from everyone who was on the pitch. When this United team is clicking, they can play with any team in the world. The fact that two teenagers from our youth academy took down the oil state-backed football machine that is City is the stuff dreams are made of. As mentioned above though, the rest of the season was much different.

Manchester United Season Review

The success in the FA Cup is important, but the rest of the season was poor by United standards. They crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage, were knocked out of the League Cup in the quarterfinals, and finish a very mediocre 8th in the Premier League. The FA Cup win qualified them for the Europa League next season, but had they not won that match, there would be no European football at Old Trafford next year. And to be honest, we wouldn’t have deserved it.

Consistency was again an issue, and it has been at this club for several seasons now. For whatever reason, the lads simply can’t string together good results consistently enough over the span of the season. There were a ton of players missing matches due to injuries, indeed more than the average amount, but that really only seems to be part of the problem. Frequently, I found myself questioning the desire and motivations of too many of these players. There were too many times in which they simply didn’t look like they could be bothered to play well. Our starting eleven and several of our bench players are all extremely talented, but talent means very little if they don’t put the hard work in that’s required to win at this level of football. They’re all millionaires, for crying out loud! Give the average man 20% of their salary and he will run himself into the ground, and do it happily. It’s very clear that several United players need to go in the summer, but who goes and who stays remains to be seen.

As has been stated many times on this blog, the overall structure of the club needs to change as well. The lack of investment in this team from the Glazers has never been more apparent than this season. Old Trafford has more leaks in it than the Titanic, and the water cascades down the steps and floods the place every time it rains. It’s needed a facelift (or perhaps even a rebuild) for a long time now. The attitude of salutary neglect from the owners trickles down just like the rainwater down the steps. If the owners don’t care and are only there to make money, why would anyone else who works for the club care about winning? Obviously yes there are people there who do love the club and want to see us win as much as possible, but the ones at the very top clearly don’t, and that is why this club continues to wade in the waters of mediocrity season after season for the past 11-12 years.

Fortunately, change does seem to be coming. Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his firm INEOS have brought in two new executives to start next season, and they have begun the process of regenerating Old Trafford. There is even the possibility of United moving to a new version of Old Trafford in the coming years. But fixing the stadium is only one of many issues. Ratcliffe has to work at changing the culture of this club. Everyone from the stewards to the players to the coaches to the owners needs to be on the same page and focused on the same goals. We need a coherent transfer policy, and there needs to be continued and sustained investment in the youth academy. We need to make players want to play here again, and we do that by re-establishing a culture of inclusion and support for anyone who puts on the red shirt for us. That’s hard to do in the era of social media, but I believe it can be done if the right people make the right decisions.

Future of Erik Ten Hag

Speaking of the right people, it was announced today that ETH will be keeping his job as United manager next season, meaning he will likely be signing a contract extension as well. It’s difficult to succinctly describe his tenure so far. Last season was objectively pretty good, having won the League Cup and finished 3rd in the Prem, with an FA Cup Final appearance. This season was decidedly not as good, and ETH is partially at fault for that. Winger Antony dos Santos, a player brought on the insistence of ETH for a staggering £80 million, has failed to improve in his second season and actually gotten worse.

His tactics were often questionable as well. United faced more shots on target than any other team this season, and we relied heavily on the counter-attack to create opportunities to score. This worked against lesser opposition fairly well, but United struggled frequently against any team with a semi-competent attack. Their inability to keep possession left them tired at the end of matches, and they frequently conceded late to lose points. I understand ETH was severely hampered by injuries and issues above his rank this season, but at some point I would have hoped for more adjustments from him to somehow get us playing more competent football.

However, as stated above, it has been decided that he is staying for next season. It seems the FA Cup, the League Cup last season, and his general trust in youth academy players has earned him at least one more year at the helm. It was unclear if he was staying or not, and the lack of a decision over the past 2-3 weeks was frustrating to many, but of course it was a big decision that needed to be carefully made. Admittedly, the FA Cup Final did it for me as well. I saw how we played that day and it showed what this team can do when they aren’t injured and properly motivated. It was a fantastic display of tactics from ETH in the biggest game of the season. This transfer window will be interesting to see who the manager and Ratcliffe bring in for next year.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

England Euro 2024 Preview

Before I dive down into the depths of this topic, a quick shout-out to Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham and Borussia Dortmund/Man United winger Jadon Sancho. Those two England teammates played against each other in the Champions League final on June 1, with Bellingham’s Madridistas victorious. Well done to them both, and a special well done to Bellingham for winning his first European Cup at the tender age of 20.

Bellingham and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane will be key to England’s success at Euro 2024, which starts on June 14. Bellingham was Player of the Season in Spain this past year, and Kane had 30+ goals in the Bundesliga. Man City winger/forward Phil Foden, Player of the Season in England, will also have a vital role to play for the Three Lions. We have some bloody amazing players, but can they finally put it together? Can they finally bring home a trophy for the first time in 58 years?

England are in Group B, along with Slovenia, Denmark, and Serbia. Denmark are a decent side thanks to players like Højlund and midfielder Christian Eriksen, but England are heavy favorites to top the group. England’s first match is against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 16 at noon PDT, and I am very excited to watch it. This team has disappointed me over and over again in the past, but like a fool I always get optimistic before the start of a major tournament. We’re spoiled for riches in attack and very solid in midfield, but the defense is a little bit of a question mark. England are especially thin at left back and also to a degree at center back, with manager Gareth Southgate relying on the very good but also very injury prone Luke Shaw and John Stones. I have concerns about them standing up to the likes of France and Portugal if need be. England can score for sure, but can they keep teams out?

There are a number of younger players in the squad as well, including Mainoo and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. I like that approach, given the experience of players like Kane, Stones, and right back Kyle Walker. There is a good balance of youth and experience here, and that is often key to winning tournaments. I think the superstars will need to be at their best though. I’m talking about Kane, Bellingham, and Foden. They are the best players at their positions in the world, and they need to play like it. I do think England will likely win the group given the level of opposition, but the likes of France, Portugal, Italy, and possibly Germany will not be easy to beat. We have the talent to win this tournament, but as has been the case recently, it will likely come down to the decisions of Southgate.

I have a feeling that unless England win the whole thing, Southgate will either call it quits or be sacked. He has done phenomenally well compared to every other England manager not named Sir Alf Ramsey. He has taken us to the semifinals of the World Cup in 2018, the final of Euro 2020(1), and the quarterfinals of World Cup 2022. His conservative but consistent style of play has brought us more success and happiness in recent years than almost any of his predecessors. But that same style has come back to haunt him when it comes time to take a gamble in a big match. There will come a moment in a knockout game when he has to make a big decision, and his job will likely ride on whether he makes the right one. He has been a very good England manager, but this will likely be his last chance to become a great England manager.

Three Lions On the Shirts! It’s Coming Home!

FA Cup: Manchester United Shock Liverpool in Quarterfinal Classic

There’s no denying that this hasn’t been a good season by the illustrious standards of Manchester United. They won’t be winning the Premier League, the top-4 seems like it will take a borderline miracle to attain, they lost their League Cup crown earlier in the season, and they are out of all European competitions. They’ve been incredibly inconsistent all year, with injuries playing a massive role in their sputtering form. The Red Devils’ last realistic chance at any trophy this season is in the illustrious FA Cup – the oldest single-elimination football tournament in the world. United squeaked by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground 1-0 in the 5th round, which set up an incredibly juicy quarterfinals tie with their hated rivals Liverpool earlier today at Old Trafford. While these two sides have their own rich histories and traditions of winning, title-contenders Liverpool were the heavy favorites to move on to the semifinals at Wembley Stadium.

But under-fire United manager Erik ten Hag and the squad had other plans. United were the dominant team for the first 10 minutes or so, and cashed in on their dominance thanks a rebound finish from midfielder Scott McTominay. They couldn’t add another one in the first half though, and Liverpool struck back twice at the end of the first half via midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and winger/forward Mohamed Salah. United scored via winger Antony dos Santos (playing at left back today) on 87 minutes though, which forced extra time at 2-2. Liverpool then went ahead again on 105 minutes via attacking midfielder Harvey Elliot, only for United to continue to fight back and get a 3rd from winger/forward Marcus Rashford. Finally, in the dying seconds of stoppage time and after a breathless 120 minutes of football, United winger Amad Diallo found the opposite corner with a low finish after a breakaway. Old Trafford erupted in joy as the ball rolled past Scousers keeper Caoimhin Kelleher for 4-3. Diallo ended up being sent off on a second yellow card for removing his shirt during the goal celebration, but it was an absolutely legendary 30ish minute cameo from the Ivorian winger.

I blitzed through the goals and major incidents recap mostly because there are so many other talking points to discuss. For one, ETH may have saved his job next season with this performance. I have long been a defender of ETH because I generally believe his footballing philosophy is one that can win matches, but it was becoming more and more difficult to defend him with each head-scratching lineup or substitution. But today, he got it 100% right. It was extremely unorthodox at times, with numerous players playing out of position and we didn’t seem to have a midfield late on in the match, but it somehow worked. I could have sworn I saw us in a 4-1-5 formation at some point! I also saw Antony at left back, Bruno Fernandes in central defense, and Harry Maguire was effectively a striker! It was ludicrous, but again, it worked. Bringing on Diallo and Antony ended up being brilliant moves as well. It was chaos ball, but maybe some chaos is just what was needed to make the Scousers uncomfortable.

But moreover, I think the big headline from today is not about ETH, nor is it about United beating their biggest rival in a classic football match. The biggest takeaway from today from the perspective of the supporters is that the Red Devils finally showed some fight. They kept trying to win the match and never stopped, and it paid off big time. Far too often this season and last, this has looked like a team that lacked a competitive spirit. Every once in a while they show some spine, but more often than not United have repeatedly shown a lack of backbone in bigger matches once they get punched in the face. Even with a lead, if they concede a cheap goal or a call from the referee doesn’t go their way, they have often just capitulated and lacked a desire to carry on fighting. That did not happen today, however. Indeed, it was just the opposite. They got a somewhat surprising lead, but conceded two very cheap goals just before halftime. It was sadly expected by many (including me) that they would yet again surrender and not really try in the second half. But they came out with dogged determination, Liverpool were a bit sloppy with some of their chances, and they got an equalizer late on to force extra time. They could have easily capitulated again when Liverpool went ahead 3-2 on 105 minutes, but they just kept running forward and getting the ball ahead to the attacking players. Again, it paid off when Rashford made it 3-3. That put them in a position to go and win it, and they took advantage of some questionable tactics by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to go and win the match.

Brilliant match today. Absolutely brilliant. Likely the best one during the ETH regime. To beat our biggest rival in the FA Cup quarterfinals as underdogs in the dying seconds of extra time is the stuff dreams are made of. Excellent matches from Rashford, Bruno, McTominay, Maguire, Diallo, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, winger/forward Alejandro Garnacho, and Antony. Some special recognition to right back (left back?) Diogo Dalot as well, who did not put a foot wrong for 120 minutes. When this team believes in themselves, they have the ability to beat some of the best teams in Europe. Well done to the home supporters at Old Trafford too, who were raucous from start to finish.

It’s true this season has not gone well. It’s true that inconsistency and injuries have plagued the Red Devils all year. It’s true that we are still at the beginning of a massive overhaul that will continue for several more seasons. Today made all of that much easier to digest, though. I believe this will show both the Glazers and new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that ETH is the man to guide us through this rebuild and get us back the promised land. All of the problems surrounding the club can be temporarily forgotten, because today we knocked the Scousers out of the FA Cup. Hope the lads get some good celebrating in tonight.

United have been drawn against Championship side Coventry City in the semifinals of the FA Cup, to be played in about a month’s time at Wembley. They have some difficult matches to be played in the Premier League between now and then, but all eyes are now on the weekend of April 20/21. The top 4 would still be a great achievement given how this season has gone, but honestly, if I had to choose, I’d want us to go and win the FA Cup. Let’s turn this crap season into something positive by finishing strongly with a trophy. Manchester City take on Chelsea in the other half of the semifinal.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

FA Cup: Victory at Wigan

Manchester United traveled 20 miles west to Wigan, England for an FA Cup 3rd round match with League One side Wigan Athletic at DW Stadium. This was the first FA Cup match of the season for United, and it is the sole competition left for them in which they can win a trophy. Manager Erik ten Hag is deeply aware that United supporters expect to win trophies, so he named a very strong side despite the lower league opposition.

Aside from a scary moment very early on, United were dominant in possession and chance creation the entirety of the first half. They had the lead going into halftime as well, thanks to a tidy finish from left back Diogo Dalot on 22 minutes from just outside the edge of the box. Striker Rasmus Højlund and winger/forward Marcus Rashford had both missed clear cut chances before the goal, so it was good to see one of the numerous chances actually go in. Rashford almost did have one go in after Wigan keeper Sam Tickle (wonderful name) spilled a save behind him, but he recovered the ball before it crossed the line. But United could not find another goal, and it was 1-0 at halftime. The Red Devils really should have been 3 or 4 goals ahead, and many supporters were worried that United had left the door open for Wigan to equalize.

United very much picked up where they left off as the match resumed in frigid conditions, but the weather was similar to that of United’s shooting: cold. Rashford continued to be wasteful, and he was playing indecisively when on the ball. His teammates weren’t much better, but the Wigan keeper Tickle was in fine form. He produced several top-class saves that kept the Latics in the match in both the first and second halves.

United sealed the victory on 73 minutes however when Bruno drew a foul in the box and United were awarded a penalty. Bruno was definitely clipped on his right foot by a Wigan defender, but he of course did a very good job of “selling” the penalty when he went down. He stepped up to the spot himself and sent Tickle the wrong way with a low finish for 2-0. United maintained possession and created a few more half-chances after that, but there were no more goals and the Red Devils secured progression to the 4th Round of the FA Cup at the final whistle.

First thoughts – a win is a win. It wasn’t the resounding beat down that United fans would have wanted against a team from two leagues below us, but the reality is that Wigan never consistently threatened us and we won by multiple goals. I’m very impressed with young defensive midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, and winger Alejandro Garnacho had a very good match as well. The domination in possession and chance creation today is largely thanks to those two players.

Rashford did get an assist on the Dalot goal, but other than that he still looks rather lost at times when he runs forward. He slows the ball down far too much when making a decision, and then usually makes the wrong decision. He is at his best when he is direct and runs straight at defenders, and someone on the United coaching staff needs to remind him of that. Højlund didn’t bring his shooting boots today unfortunately, but he got a lot more service than he usually does. With enough chances, they will start going in for him soon enough. It’s still unclear to me what midfielder Scott McTominay’s role was in today’s tactics. He missed a chance or two in the box like everyone did, but other than that he was largely anonymous. I do think there is a place for McTominay in this team, although I am not sure where he fits best. ETH needs to help him figure that out.

So yes, overall, more positives than negatives, but negatives remain nonetheless. Looking ahead, United have been drawn against the winner of the Newport County FC vs. Eastleigh tie in the 4th Round. That match will be replayed after they drew 1-1 in their own 3rd Round match today. I honestly had never heard of either of these teams before today, but that is the magic of the FA Cup. Newport are in League Two, which is one league below Wigan. Eastleigh however are in the National League, which is the fifth tier of English football! It’s incredible that a club that small has a chance to play against a Premier League club. What’s even better for those teams is that whoever wins will get to host Manchester United, which will earn them a nice chunk of change in the form of match day revenue. The date of the tie has yet to be decided. United’s next match however is at Old Trafford in on January 14th, when they host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Before I sign off, a heartfelt farewell and Rest In Power to former German international and footballing legend Franz Beckenbauer, who died earlier today at the age of 78. He was a world-famous footballer in the 1960s and 70s, and he is widely considered to be one of the best players of all time. He started as a midfielder but made his name playing in central defense. He won the Balllon d’Or twice in 1972 and 1976, and was West Germany’s captain when they won the World Cup in 1974. He was also a prolifically successful manager when his playing career ended, managing West Germany to another World Cup win in 1990. He also won numerous titles with his club Bayern Munich, and helped turn that club into the titan that it is today. His name belongs among such others as Pele, Maradona, and Charlton. RIP.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

FA Cup Final: United’s Good Season Ends on a Sour Note

The whole of Manchester travelled south to London earlier today for the FA Cup Final, featuring Manchester City vs. Manchester United. Despite the long and storied history of the Manchester Derby, there has never been one in an FA Cup Final before today. City and manager Pep Guardiola are the precipice of winning the the Treble, while this match was United’s final one of the season and their last chance to win silverware. The atmosphere inside a packed and sun-drenched Wembley Stadium was jubilant and boisterous in the run-up to kick off. United were not playing at full strength going into this match, thanks to the injury absences of striker Anthony Martial and winger Antony dos Santos. Both of them would have started this match had they been fit.

Unfortunately for the Red Devils, they were behind just 12 seconds into the match after an exquisite finish from City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan. A long ball was played forward and won on the edge of the box by midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, and no one was covering Gündoğan as it fell right to him. It was a great finish of course and United keeper David De Gea had no chance at it, but it was a soft goal to concede that was really down to poor marking in the United midfield. With this goal, Gündoğan set a record for the fastest goal in the FA Cup Final and it put United under serious pressure immediately. Whatever Plan A was for the Red Devils, it was now out the window.

However, the lads did well to weather the storm. There was a serious danger of us collapsing having conceded so early, but the back-4 stuck to the task and held United together while the midfield and forwards sorted themselves out. United got an earned equalizer on 33 minutes from the penalty spot, after City winger Jack Grealish was adjudged to have used his hand in an attempt to clear a cross in the penalty area. The handball rule has serious flaws to it, but it was indeed a handball as the rule is currently written. Grealish had his hand over his head and the ball struck it. A discussion needs to be had in the close season about the how to re-word the rule, but this was indeed a penalty per the current letter of the law. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes stepped up to the spot and sent City keeper Stefan Ortega the wrong way for 1-1. Great fightback by United to get an equalizer, and it was all square going into half time.

City went ahead again however on 51 minutes, and this goal was probably even softer than the first one. City had a corner and the ball was whipped in by De Bruyne, who had spotted Gündoğan unmarked on the edge of the area. De Bruyne expertly put it on his left foot, and Gündoğan hit it first time on the volley from the edge of the area. It went through a sea of bodies in the box and nestled into the lower left corner of the goal. De Gea could have gotten over to it a bit quicker, but as to why Gündoğan was left unmarked at the edge of the box I will never know. Very poor defending, and City punished United for it.

City came close to getting a third a few times including having a goal waived off for offside, but United had a few chances of their own as the second half wore on. Substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho went close after some neat dribbling in the box, only to see his shot go just wide of the far post. Midfielder Scott McTominay also almost netted an equalizer in stoppage time during a goal-mouth scramble, but the City defense did just enough to put the ball out over the crossbar. The final whistle eventually blew and Manchester City won the FA Cup.

What’s most annoying about this result is that United had their chances to win, they just didn’t execute as well as City in the final third and conceded two soft goals. Had City come out and flattened us it would have been hard to complain about the result, but this one is agonizing due to the fact that United could have easily won it. City did not play up to their standards today, but they still won due to being clinical at the right times. The case could be made that the referee did not do much to help United with several questionable calls, but that doesn’t change the fact that United weren’t good enough going forward. Maybe a full strength side gets a different result today, but we’ll never know.

Still though, United had a very good first season under manager Erik ten Hag and this result does not spoil the progress made. They are still League Cup winners and will be playing in the Champions League next season. No one dressed in red should feel too bad about how the season has gone overall. However, United’s ownership cannot stall now. This club needs investment, and it needs it badly. It’s not just about buying new players, either. The Glazer family as owners must stop extracting funds from the club to line their own pockets and instead reinvest the profits into the club’s infrastructure. City have benefited from over a billion pounds of investment from their Kuwaiti owners in the last few years, and they are winning trophy after trophy as a result. United can do that too with less greedy owners. The club’s most urgent needs right now are a striker, a second option at goalkeeper, and ball-carrying midfielder.

It will be interesting to see what happens this summer for United, particularly for the long-tenured De Gea, center back Harry Maguire, McTominay, and midfielder Fred. We need to remove some of the hefty wages from our wage bill, and some hard decisions will indeed be made in the coming weeks. I trust ETH to make the right decisions in terms of continuing the rebuild, but I do not trust our ownership to back him in the way that he needs. The sooner this club is sold, the better. More on that in a separate post down the road. I will also cover the Champions League Final next Saturday, and I will be supporting Inter Milan.

For the last time this club season: GLAZERS OUT!

FA Cup: United Through to the FA Cup Final on Penalties

Manchester United travelled to London earlier today for an FA Cup Semifinal matchup with Brighton & Hove Albion at Wembley Stadium. This match was full of intrigue for a variety of reasons. Brighton and manager Roberto De Zerbi are probably having the best season in their history, and they’ve been extremely successful with their scouting and recruiting of players who fit De Zerbi’s system. He also knows how to get the best out of his players. They play a possession-oriented style that you don’t often see from a mid-table club, and they are anchored in the center of the park by a World Cup winner in Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. United and manager Erik ten Hag were looking to right the ship after the woeful 3-0 loss to Sevilla in the Europa League. The back line was shuffled once again, with left back Luke Shaw moving into the center of defense alongside center back Victor Lindelof. The FA Cup is United’s last realistic chance of winning another trophy this season.

The first half was decidedly even. Both teams were cancelling each other out tactically, and the defenses were playing extremely well. Brighton forced an early save from keeper David De Gea on 7 minutes from a Mac Alister free kick, after which midfielder Bruno Fernandes forced a save from Seagulls keeper Robert Sanchez with a shot from just outside the box on 14 minutes. There were half chances created as the first 45 minutes wore on, but there was also a litany of fouls and injuries that really stopped the match from getting into a rhythm or flow. Neither side had a great half in terms of finishing. The final touch or shot was seemingly always just off. Winger Antony dos Santos forced a kicked save from Sanchez in stoppage time, but it was a fairly routine one at that. At halftime it was 0-0, and it was hard to give an edge to either side.

The second half was a bit more dynamic. For the first 15 minutes or so, it was all Brighton. They were dominant in possession and were winning free kicks left and right. De Gea was forced into a big reflex save on 55 minutes from Brighton forward Julio Enciso after the Red Devils failed to effectively clear a corner. United did well to weather the storm though, and they became the more dominant team as the second half carried on. The problems with finishing for both teams carried on, however. Each time someone got the ball into a promising position, it was inevitably followed by a bad touch or last-ditch challenge that ended the danger. The usual second half substitutions from both sides also slowed things down. Seagulls winger Solly March forced a low but again routine save from De Gea on 83 minutes, but that was the only goal mouth action in the latter stages of the half. As the minutes ticked down, it became clear that extra time and maybe even penalties would be needed.

The 30 minutes of extra time that ensued followed the same pattern as the previous 90. A half chance for Brighton, then a half chance for United, then Brighton, et cetera. Some very solid defensive play from both teams, coupled with more poor finishing. The best chance for United was a deflected shot from striker Marcus Rashford that sent Sanchez diving, but he got a hand to it and palmed it away. Rashford came very close again on 112 minutes after a fine pass from midfielder Casemiro found him on a run, but his curling effort from 16-17 yards went wide of Sanchez’s far post. After 120 minutes of football and stoppage time it was still 0-0, and the ominous aura of penalties loomed large.

The weather seemed to understand the importance of the moment too, as what was previously a sunny day in west London suddenly became a downpour just before the shootout began. Water on the pitch is not what a penalty taker wants, but both De Gea and Sanchez would have been pleased to see it. Mac Alister went first for Brighton and dispatched his penalty expertly, as did Casemiro for United after him. Seagulls defender Pascal Groß then converted his penalty, after which United full back Diogo Dalot dispatched his as well. That’s how it went for the first five penalties for each side – clinical finishing. Sanchez did get a hand to midfielder Marcel Sabitzer’s sixth penalty, but he couldn’t keep it out. The big break for United came when March skied penalty number 7 over the crossbar, which allowed Lindelof to step up to the spot and send Sanchez the wrong way! United won 7-6 on penalties and advanced to the FA Cup Final!

Tons of talking points from this one but I want to highlight United’s makeshift back four of Shaw, Lindelof, Dalot, and right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. All four of them were immense today, as was De Gea with some key saves. Lindelof in particular was impressive. It’s true he’s fallen down the pecking order this season due to the play of center backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, but he has proven himself to be a reliable option when those two have not been available. Having Shaw next to him was a risky but ultimately correct decision as well. He doesn’t usually play centrally, but the two of them work very well together. Lindelof’s cool and steely approach to taking what was ultimately the winning spot kick is part of the reason why he’s called Iceman. I hope ETH sticks with those four players at the back until Varane is fit to return.

All of the penalties taken in this shootout though – aside from March’s – were excellent. Credit to Rashford and winger Jadon Sancho in particular. The last time those two took part in a shootout was the disastrous England match against Italy at Euro 2021 where they both badly missed, but you never would have known that judging by their confidence today. Sancho buried his penalty high and in the opposite corner, which is unstoppable if it’s executed correctly. There was a confidence about the penalties that I haven’t seen from United in a long time. March was unlucky to miss his, but sometimes that’s how these things go. Penalty shootouts are always a roll of the dice, and for Brighton today they came up snake eyes. They will rue their poor finishing today, just like United would have done had they lost. Some real nerve on display from the lads today, which was a nice contrast to the previous match where they looked like they couldn’t be bothered.

United will play in the first ever Manchester Derby FA Cup Final against fierce rivals Manchester City on June 3, 2023 at Wembley. Between now and then though are the final 8 matches of the Premier League campaign, with the first one being yet another trip to London to play Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday. United are temporarily in 4th place due to Newcastle’s victory over Tottenham today, but United have a game in hand. This match against Spurs is a big one in the race for the top-4. Win, and United will be a virtual lock for the Champions League next season.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

FA Cup: United Through to the Semifinals After Fulham Implode

Manchester United played host to west London side Fulham FC today in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. If United had all players available they would have been heavy favorites, but the absence of regular starters Casemiro (suspension), Christian Eriksen (injury), and Raphael Varane (injury) would have been encouraging to Fulham and manager Marco Silva. Fulham have historically struggled at Old Trafford, but Silva knew that today would likely present an opportunity for an upset. Fulham have been in good form generally this season, which is a testament to the job Silva has done with them given that they were only promoted from the Championship last season. Meanwhile, United manager Erik ten Hag and the players have made it clear that they are pushing for another trophy this season, so he named as strong a team as he could possibly select.

The first half was almost all Fulham. They were more dominant in possession almost the entire opening 45 minutes. United were simply being over-run in midfield. The absences of Casemiro and Eriksen were very noticeable. Fulham’s best player by a mile was midfielder João Palhinha. He won tackles, played some excellent passes, and was able to carry the ball through United’s midfield routinely. There was a lack of energy by the Red Devils today, too. They looked tired. Perhaps the grueling fixture list this season was finally taking it’s toll a bit. Still, despite their dominance, Fulham were having trouble creating clear chances. United’s back line, marshalled by center back Lisandro Martinez, was the only unit of the team playing with any degree of ferocity.

United really struggled going forward as well. Forward Marcus Rashford was isolated on the left hand side, midfielder Bruno Fernandes’s passing was more wayward than accurate, and winger/midfielder Jadon Sancho didn’t look like he knew where he was supposed to play. No matter how much ETH shuffled the forward line, they really struggled to make Fulham keeper Bernd Leno earn his paycheck in the first half. Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer forced him into a fairly routine save on 40 minutes, but that was about as dangerous as things got for the Black and Whites from London. So while Fulham were the better of the two teams, it was 0-0 after 45 minutes.

All of Old Trafford and most of the people watching would have expected a second half response from United. This is because ETH has proven himself to be an effective reader of the game, and also an effective motivator. United needed to up their intensity a bit, but instead what we got was Fulham taking things up a notch instead. They won a succession of corners that really put United under a lot of pressure, and they finally got their break-through from talismanic striker Aleksandar Mitrović on 50 minutes. Fulham forced a corner after a series fine saves from keeper David De Gea, at first to deny left back Antonee Robinson and then again from winger Willian. For the goal, it was former United midfielder Andreas Pereira playing the ball in over the top, and it was flicked on into the path of Mitrović by Fulham center back Issa Diop. Mitrović stuck his left leg out and fired home from about 5 yards out, despite what appeared to be a foul on Rashford in the build-up to the goal. Fulham were good value for their lead, and a VAR check confirmed there was no foul on Rashford. An argument could be made that he was indeed fouled, but again the bigger issue was United letting Fulham outplay them for 50 minutes. 0-1 to the Londoners.

Things kept going Fulham’s way for another 20 minutes or so after that as well. United’s response to going down was rather tepid, and Fulham kept pushing. De Gea did well to athletically save a headed effort from Mitrović on 66 minutes, and Mitrović saw another header go wide just seconds after that. United were truly under the cosh and lucky not to be down by 2.

The entire nature and complexion of this match changed on 72 minutes. United broke forward and got into a promising position for the first time in a while, with the ball finding Sancho in a forward position after a good run and pass from substitute winger Antony dos Santos. Sancho took the ball around Leno, but his shot from 12 yards was cleared off the line by Willian at the near post. A corner was given by referee Chris Kavanagh, but there were calls from United supporters and players alike for a VAR check on the clearance. Upon review, it was clear that Willian stuck his arm out and used his hand to clear the ball! As Kavanagh made his way to the pitch-side monitor to check for a penalty, Silva said something to either him or the 4th official on the touchline. Kavanagh took issue with it, and he showed Fulham’s manager a red card! He then checked the replay and awarded the penalty, while simultaneously sending off Willian for a deliberate handball in the box. As if the situation wasn’t bad enough for Fulham, Mitrović then decided to get in the referee’s face as well, and the confrontation escalated to Mitrović actually shoving Kavanagh! There is no professional sport where can you deliberately contact the referee and get away unpunished, and this sport is no different. Kavanagh instantly went back to his pocket and showed Mitrović a red card too! Absolutely wild.

In the span of about 40 seconds, Fulham saw their manager, striker, and winger all sent off. They were down to 9 men for the final 20 minutes or so, with United also having a penalty awarded to them for the handball. Bruno stepped up to the spot and casually sent Leno the wrong way, making it 1-1 to United! The Red Devils smelled blood, and it was apparent that Fulham were shell-shocked by the mad decisions of Silva, Willian, and Mitrović. United were ahead just 2 minutes later, with left back Luke Shaw operating in acres of space before he crossed back into the middle. Sabitzer was on hand to flash down and back-heel the cross into the goal, with Leno unable to keep it out. Talk about a wild swing! United went from 11 vs 11 and down a goal to up 2-1 versus 9 men in the span of about five minutes. Well done to Sabitzer for opening his goal scoring account today as well!

Fulham’s heads were gone after that, and they didn’t have the numbers to cause United problems going forward. Once it was 2-1, United never looked like conceding another goal. They kept possession and created more chances going forward as well. They got their third deep into stoppage time, with Bruno firing home decisively from about 12 yards out after being found by substitute midfielder Fred. A good goal from Bruno to seal the deal, but United were definitely aided by their numerical advantage. The final whistle blew and United won 3-1, having earned themselves a second Wembley trip this season.

Make no mistake, Fulham gave this game away. Up until 72 minutes, they were the better side and looked like they would be the ones moving on to the semis. United looked fatigued, the tactics from ETH weren’t great until the subs started coming on, and Fulham were more or less bossing the game. I have been watching this sport for 20+ years, and I don’t think I’ve seen a bigger implosion and mental collapse from a team than what I saw from Fulham today. I don’t know what was said by Silva to warrant his sending off, and I am even more in the dark as to what he was complaining about. Kavanagh hadn’t even awarded the penalty before Silva started mouthing off to him. Willian’s decision to use his hand was also mystifying, but he probably thought it was necessary to prevent a goal. The biggest mystery here though is why Mitrović felt the need to start remonstrating with the official. Mitrović has a reputation for being a hot-headed and aggressive player, but his decision to get into the ref’s face and then shove him was pure recklessness. Fulham had the game in hand, and even with a penalty to United it was still 1-0 with 10 men at that point. Had Bruno missed the penalty, Mitrović still could have helped his team get a result. He has to be smarter there. He has to realize the big picture of the situation and stay out of the referee’s face, no matter how upset he was. But it was 3 red cards shown to Fulham in the span of about 40 seconds, and all 3 were probably deserved. A total and complete mental implosion from Fulham FC today.

ETH knew his side got away with one today, and he rightfully praised De Gea’s timely saves in the second half to keep United in the match. Sometimes you have to be lucky in this game, and that is precisely what happened today. For 72 minutes, United were second-best. I am still frankly in a degree of disbelief that the colossal mental collapse of Fulham. United were better once they were down to 9 men and it was 1-1, but that is to be expected at this level with the quality United have. Credit to Kavanagh for holding his nerve today, although I would like to know what Silva said to him that earned him a red. A manager being red-carded for dissent is not unprecedented, but it is exceptionally rare. Fulham will be absolutely kicking themselves today. Well done to United for immediately taking advantage of the situation and getting their second goal just moments after the first one went in.

United do not have another match until April 2nd, as we have hit the March international break. Players that have been called up to play for their countries will go and do so, with some others getting a little bit of a break. England face Italy in a Euro 2024 qualifier on March 23rd, with another qualifier against Ukraine on March 26th. United’s next match is in the Premier League away to Newcastle, and they will be returning to Wembley for the FA Cup Semifinals against Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of April. I do think some of our players need a break, so some of them having the next two weeks off to recover will do them wonders.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

FA Cup: United Come From Behind to Beat West Ham

Manchester United played host to fellow Premier League side West Ham United earlier today at Old Trafford in the 5th Round of the FA Cup. The Hammers are usually a tough match-up for United, especially in single-game elimination tournaments like the FA Cup. There was also some concern that United’s players would be on a bit of an emotional hangover, having won the League Cup at Wembley on Sunday. West Ham have struggled in the Prem this season under former Red Devils manager David Moyes, but he knew that his players could potentially pull off an upset today. ETH rotated his players for the first time in weeks, opting to rest or bench some of the regular starters. Even with a rotated side though, the men in red were still expected to win fairly confidently.

United had all of the possession in the opening 20 minutes or so, with the best chance coming when midfielder Marcel Sabitzer forced a low and diving save from West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola from about 19 yards out. Winger Alejandro Garnacho then had a go on 12 minutes from the edge of the box, but Areola was again able to palm it out of harm’s way. While United continued to maintain possession throughout most of the opening 45 minutes, it was mostly harmless possession. The ball was constantly being played between defenders near the center circle, and they struggled to create clear chances due to West Ham’s defensive formation. West Ham’s best chance of the half came on 23 minutes when striker Michail Antonio was released by a long ball over the top. He was through on goal and carried it well towards United keeper David De Gea’s goal, but he took a bit too long to make his decision. De Gea was able to scramble out and close down the angle before stopping the shot with his trailing hand. Antonio probably should have scored, but credit to De Gea for his alertness and positioning. There were a few half-chances for both sides after that, including a questionable clearance from De Gea, but no goals were scored and it 0-0 at halftime. The difference between the two sides was negligible.

ETH brought on midfielder Casemiro at the start of the second half for fellow midfielder and yellow-card recipient Scott McTominay. While Casemiro would go on to greatly affect the match, the first chance of the second half actually fell to West Ham. Striker Tomas Soucek managed to out-muscle center back Victor Lindelof in the air and get his head to a cross on 50 minutes, which De Gea again had to dive for to keep it out. Casemiro eventually found striker Wout Weghorst for a shot on the break after the De Gea save, but Weghorst’s shot was wide and high of the goal.

West Ham were in front on 54 minutes however, when Hammers winger Saïd Benrahma hit a curling effort into the far corner of De Gea’s goal from 12 yards out. But there was more than a fair amount of controversy to this goal. In the build-up, the ball almost certainly went out of play on the left wing. It should have been a throw in for United, but no whistle was blown and West Ham continued play. The ball was in the back of the net about 10 seconds later via Benrhama, and everyone inside Old Trafford thought the goal would be disallowed. VAR checked and the goal stood, but I don’t know what the VAR official was looking at. The ball went out, plain and simple. It was close, but it was out. Now, it must be said that United’s players switched off when they saw the ball go out. That is inexcusable. Always play until the whistle! That’s a tenet in every sport. It’s true the goal shouldn’t have counted, but you can’t rely on refs to get every call spot-on. Right back Diogo Dalot was particularly guilty of stopping, which meant he was out of position. Good finish from Benrahma, but it never should have counted.

ETH made a double change in response to the goal, bringing on striker Marcus Rashford and center back Lisandro Martinez. Bringing on the big guns, as it were. Martinez got off to a rocky start however when Antonio beat him down the left wing and found himself through on goal yet again. The angle didn’t help him though, and De Gea was forced into another diving save to keep the score 1-0. Antonio probably made the wrong decision by shooting instead of crossing it as well. United thought they had their equalizer on 72 minutes when a free kick from midfielder Bruno Fernandes was turned in to the goal by the head Casemiro, but after a VAR check it was ruled out for offside. This call was probably correct, but what’s annoying is that VAR got this call right but not the obvious out of play in the build-up to the West Ham goal. The inconsistency is maddening.

United kept pushing forward though, undeterred. They were finally rewarded for their attacking mentality on 77 minutes when a corner from Bruno was accidentally turned into the West Ham net by their center back Nayef Aguerd. Weghorst did well to get his lanky frame into the mix of bodies near the goal line, and it struck Aguerd’s head as he was falling back down. Areola had made the decision to try and collect the cross, but he got nowhere near it. Even though Weghorst didn’t get a touch on the ball, he and Bruno should still get the credit for it. Weghorst was an absolute workhorse today in his center-forward position, and he did everything except score today. His ability to hold the ball was of paramount importance to ETH’s second half tactics. 1-1!

The last thing most United fans would have wanted though was 30 minutes of extra time, given the already very congested fixture list this season. United knew they needed to find a winner before the final whistle, and the supporters in the Stretford End were in full voice to support them. It was all United after they got the equalizer. Wave after wave of attack. West Ham simply couldn’t get on the ball. The winner finally came just as clock struck 90 minutes, and it came via the right foot of Garnacho. A shot from Weghorst on the edge of the box was blocked away by the West Ham defense, but it bounced into the air and fell straight to Garnacho in space on the left side of the box. He took a touch to kill the momentum of the ball, and struck a curling effort into the far corner of the goal that Areola couldn’t get to. Garnacho had been a general nuisance on the left wing for most of the match, making direct runs at the West Ham defense that they always seemed to have to scramble away at the last moment. Great poise and patience from the 18 year-old not only on the finish, but to keep going at the opposition over and over again until they caved. Old Trafford erupted into celebration and United knew they were on their way to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.

But they weren’t finished though! Deep in stoppage time, West Ham gave the ball away inside their own box, thanks again to the pressing of Weghorst. The ball broke directly to substitute midfielder Fred, who finished sweetly with a shot along the ground for 3-1 and a definite cap on the evening. The match was already won given that goal came in the 95th minute, but to come back with such confidence and style says so much about this team. Fred is also having himself a goal-fest this season by his standards, when in previous years he was used more defensively. Kudos to him for being in the right place at the right time. Sometimes, that’s all you need to do.

The final whistle blew without any further action and United were through to the FA Cup quarterfinals! They remain in contention for a Quadruple of trophies this season, although the Premier League title would be a long shot. West Ham defended well and took advantage of one of their chances, but ultimately United were just too good for them in the final 20 minutes or so. Antonio will be kicking himself tonight for the chances he missed. In any event, amazing games from Weghorst, Casemiro, Garnacho, and De Gea today. Great substitutions yet again from ETH as well. Casemiro gave us solidity in midfield, and the runs by Rashford off the ball meant more room for Weghorst to operate in. And again, the mentality of the players must be applauded. This team doesn’t quit. They always believe they can win it. It’s an odd feeling that I personally haven’t experienced in quite some time. Even when West Ham scored, I still felt like United were going to win. We needed to up the intensity a bit and get the right players on the pitch, but that’s exactly what we did. It’s getting repetitive at this point to say, but ETH is an absolutely brilliant manager.

United were given another home tie for the QFs, hosting London side Fulham FC. Fulham are in good form this season so it won’t be easy, but United will again be favored by most. Next up for United however is an absolutely massive trip to Anfield to play Liverpool in the Premier League next Sunday. Liverpool have not been in the best form this season, but we would underestimate them at our own risk. United-Liverpool is arguably the fiercest rivalry in English football, and they will be up for it.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

FA Cup: Los Tres Caballeros Lead United to Victory

Manchester United played host to Championship side Reading FC (pronounced Redd-ing for those who don’t know) this evening at a rainy Old Trafford in the 4th Round of the FA Cup. United were heavy favorites to win this match, and there was likely a temptation from manager Erik ten Hag to rotate his players given the absolutely flooded fixture calendar. However, he fielded a pretty strong side, which indicates that he is taking the tournament seriously. Reading, managed by United club legend Paul Ince, were looking to shock the footballing world by pulling an upset. He and his starting striker Andy Carroll (a former Liverpool player) probably would have loved nothing more than to knock United out of the tournament. Ince was given a sporting round of applause by the United faithful as he made his way to the bench before the match began.

United were dominant for almost the entirety of the first half. The tempo of the game was slow due to Reading setting themselves up in a low defensive block (5-3-2) and letting United have space near the center circle. They were happy to concede possession and park the proverbial bus. United were creating chances, though. Midfielder Christian Eriksen and forward Marcus Rashford both went close via free kicks, while winger Antony dos Santos was finding a lot of joy down the right wing, combining well with right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Reading could not get out of their own half.

It looked like United had their opener via Rashford around 40 minutes in or so when his header sneaked over the line of keeper Joe Lumley’s goal. The ref initially pointed to the center circle to signal a goal, but a VAR check determined that striker Wout Weghorst was offside in the buildup to the goal and it was disallowed. Terrible decision, really. It seems like the offside rule has been written in pencil so it can be erased and re-written every week. Weghorst never touched the ball and it came off a Reading defender before Weghorst actually touched it. The goal should have stood. To make matters worse, Reading almost stole a goal right before halftime when left back Tyrell Malacia dawdled too long on the ball. It was stolen by Reading winger Junior Hoilett and shot towards goal, but fortunately keeper David De Gea got in the way just enough and the chance went begging. So, a very eventful half, but it was 0-0 at halftime and Reading were definitely the happier of the two sides.

The second half began much like the first, United dominant in possession and determined as ever to get themselves a goal. Reading were able to hold firm until 54 minutes when United finally got their opener. Antony found himself in possession on the right wing, standing still on the ball with AWB to his right and a number of United players ahead of him in the box. Defensive midfielder Casemiro’s late run into the box was spotted by Antony and he played a sublime pass into his feet. The big Brazilian showed some very deft feet and coolness under pressure when he lifted a shot over the sliding Lumley from about 7 yards out and into the back of the net. Brilliant pass, brilliant finish, and crafted in Brazil. Olé! And more importantly, 1-0!

United struck again just four minutes later, and again it was a Brazilian connection that saw the Red Devils double their advantage. Substitute midfielder Fred made a simple pass to Casemiro, who was about 35 yards away from goal. No Reading defender came out to challenge him, so he launched a curling effort towards goal that bounced right before the line and beyond the reach of Lumley. Casemiro smiled sheepishly in celebration, almost embarrassed that he scored! It was an absolute worldie from Casemiro as he capped off an absolutely splendid performance. His body language before shooting seemed to say, “Well, why not?” I would encourage him to continue shooting from distance too! 2-0.

Reading’s misery was further compounded when Carroll was sent off for a second yellow on 65 minutes. He made a rather rash tackle on Eriksen, and he knew right away he was in trouble. The referee showed no hesitation in booking him again, and Carroll was already walking towards the bench by the time the ref got his red card out. Reading would have to play the final 25 minutes and stoppage time with ten men.

United capitalized on this advantage right away. A corner from Malacia was played short to midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who stood on the ball for a second or so while deciding what to do with it. In the meantime, he and Fred made eye contact, and Fred stole down towards the goal. No reading defender went with him, and he re-directed the cross from Bruno home for 3-0 via the backheel from about 3 yards out. It was poor defending from a tired-looking Reading back line, but take nothing away from Fred. He is not known for his finishing, but it takes a real confidence to finish with a stylish backheel like that! 3-0, and you felt the match was pretty much over.

Reading did get a goal back however, and it was from a corner. United had made a lot of substitutions with the third goal going in, and oddly enough the lack of Carroll up front actually seemed to make Reading a little bit more fluid and dynamic in attack. They got their goal on 72 minutes thanks to a strong header from center back Amadou Mbengue, who was unmarked from a corner. He powered his shot dead center from close range and De Gea guessed wrong with his dive. Set piece marking is practiced in training all the time, so it was a disappointing goal to concede. Still, United kept running forward as the clock crept towards full time, with substitute wingers Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri making a real nuisance of themselves. Garnacho went closest to finding a fourth for United, but his effort was saved comfortably. The final whistle blew without too much further drama and United won 3-1!

Casemiro. Antony. Fred. United’s Brazilian contingent were in full flight today, and they are gelling with each other at the right time and in all the right ways. Casemiro appears to be the signing of the season so far. The man reads the game like a book and can tackle, pass, head, and bring the ball up the pitch. Today he bagged himself a brace in the FA Cup. Is there anything the man can’t do? Absolutely brilliant day from him. Very impressed with Antony’s improvement in recent weeks too. I feared he was too one-dimensional in the beginning of the season. He doesn’t like to use his right foot and it’s obvious to anyone who watches him play for five minutes. He is at his best when he has an attacking fullback to play 1-2s with on the wing, since he never goes to the byline and crosses. I think the rise in his play is linked to the rise in play of AWB. The number of times he cut inside only to find AWB with a reverse pass down the wing must have drown Reading mad. And of course, can’t forget about Fred. Our most-capped Brazilian quietly put in another masterclass today off the bench. His goal was a bonus, but the way he controls play and wins the ball back are his best attributes. So happy for Los Tres Caballeros!

United next have the return leg of the League Cup semifinal at Old Trafford against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, February 1st. Given that United have a 3-0 aggregate lead, I expect a rest for Rashford, Bruno, Casemiro, and several other normal starters. Eriksen appears to have picked up a rather serious injury too, which is a worry as he can be just as instrumental to the midfield as Casemiro is. Here’s to hoping it’s not serious! The draw for the 5th Round of the FA Cup takes place on Monday, January 30th.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

FA Cup: A Scrappy Victory Over Everton

Manchester United hosted Everton at Old Trafford today in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. This was the first match in football’s oldest single elimination tournament for both sides this season, but their respective forms coming in to the match couldn’t be more different. Manager Erik ten Hag has United flying high having won six in a row in all competitions, while Everton manager (and former England international) Frank Lampard knew he was very much on the hot seat after Everton’s rather dismal run of form. Both managers fielded fairly strong teams for this match, which isn’t always the case in the early rounds of these tournaments. Almost all pre-match pundits and online “experts” were picking the Red Devils to win comfortably.

Things did indeed get off to a flying start for United when they found themselves ahead just 4 minutes into the match when winger/forward Antony dos Santos tapped home a cross from forward Marcus Rashford. Rashford brought the ball forward down the left wing and hit his cross along the ground which rolled past two Everton defenders. Antony slid in at the last second and nudged the ball in from close range at the far post with Toffees keeper Jordan Pickford stranded. Good job by the Red Devils to get the ball forward quickly and well done to Rashford for putting the ball in a dangerous area, but it must be said this goal was largely the result of poor defending by Everton. Rashford’s low cross really should have been cleared by either of the Everton defenders it rolled past. A goal emblematic of Everton’s problems this season – a lack of confidence and self-belief.

Those doubts were eased somewhat for the Toffees when they got an unexpected equalizer just ten minutes later. A cross was played in from the right side of the United penalty area low and directly at keeper David De Gea, who mysteriously couldn’t quite get the ball cleared away from in front of the goal. It looked like De Gea was trying to kick the ball away first time, but his control was poor and the deflection fell straight to Everton center back Connor Coady who provided the simplest of tap-ins. An absolute howler from De Gea, it must be said. Left back Tyrell Malacia maybe could have done better to prevent the cross from coming in, but De Gea should be clearing that cross every time. Very poor decision from him to use feet like that. De Gea is a player that is reliant on confidence to play well. In the past, he has let his mistakes get the better of him mentally, and they can compound as a result. He’s made some very fine saves in the past few matches and he is still the undisputed No. 1 keeper at United, but he cannot let this mistake go to his head in the coming matches.

Everton were rejuvenated by their goal, and kept running at United for the rest of the half. When United were on the ball, they seemed to lack ideas in the final third and really struggled to break a down suddenly much-more-awake Everton back line. It was 1-1 at halftime.

United came out in the second half on the front foot again though, and were soon rewarded for their attacking intent when Rashford caused Coady to turn the ball into his own net on 52 minutes. The in-form Rashford did well to take the ball to the end line and get in a cross from the left hand side of the box. Coady probably had time to take a touch and clear it, but he wasn’t aware of the space he was in and took a wild swipe at the ball. All he ended up doing though was lifting it over Pickford, who again had little chance to remedy the situation. Rashford won’t be credited for the goal, but he created it virtually on his own. Sometimes you get lucky when you play with attacking intent!

The next 20 minutes or so were filled with more disjointed attacks and solid defending from both sides. Everton had the ball in the back of the net via substitute striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin around the 75 minute mark, and at first it appeared to be a good counter-attacking goal from Everton. After a VAR check though it was determined they were offside in the build-up, and the goal was disallowed. United escaped with a bit of luck on that one. There was definitely an offside in the build-up on the right wing, but it was the second time United failed to clear the ball after a cross from near the end-line. Credit to the big man Calvert-Lewin for stealing across the face of his marker to turn the ball in. It was still 2-1 to United though.

The final major action of this match came deep in stoppage time when substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho was brought down from behind in the Everton penalty area. Garnacho had beaten his marker and was close to providing a cross when the Everton defender effectively jumped on his back. Stonewall penalty. No doubt about it. Rashford stepped up to the spot and beat his England teammate Pickford with a low shot for 3-1. The final whistle went shortly after that and United were through to the 4th Round!

So yes, a victory. Always nice to keep winning. Rashford was excellent, midfielder Casemiro was excellent, and fellow midfielder Fred put in a very tidy shift off the bench. All praise and plaudits to them. However, this match again underlined United’s need for a big/hulking center forward. We need not only a deadly finisher, but a strong player on the ball who can hold up play with his back to goal. A striker of any sort would improve the team, but a big physical specimen would be ideal. Rashford is playing out of his skin so far this season, but if he is unavailable for any length of time, the attack is going to suffer. Striker Anthony Martial, winger Jadon Sancho, and Antony all need to be scoring/assisting more. It is also clear that there is a significant drop off in the play of our midfield once Casemiro is subbed off. I have been beating the drum for a defensive midfielder for ages, and now that we finally have one we seem intent on riding him into the ground. Casemiro is a truly exceptional player, but we need to be developing his replacement now. He won’t be able to play in every match, and the midfield can’t rely solely on him to function.

United will look to improve in their next match, when they host League One side Charlton Athletic at Old Trafford in the League Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday, January 10th.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

United Go Out of the FA Cup on Penalties; Match Marred by Controversy

Manchester United returned to action after a 2 week break on Friday afternoon, where they took on Championship-side Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in the FA Cup. I’m a big fan of the FA Cup due to the match-ups it frequently produces. Boro, as they are locally known, did not start their season well but have had a resurgence in form under manager Chris Wilder. United were looking to continue to develop the style of play instituted by Ralf Rangnick, and were heavy favorites going into the match.

It was a high-energy start by the Red Devils, which was a nice change from the slow and laboring starts supporters have become accustomed to. Jadon Sancho did well to hit the crossbar just 90 seconds in, and Cristiano Ronaldo had a bicycle kick effort saved by Boro keeper Joe Lumley. The best chance of the half came on 19 minutes however when Paul Pogba was fouled in the box by a Boro defender. Pogba, playing for the first time in several months due to injury, did well to get the wrong side of his marker, and the defender had no choice but to bring him down. Stonewall penalty, correctly awarded by referee Anthony Taylor. Unexpectedly however, Ronaldo stepped up to the spot and promptly missed the penalty kick, with his shot going wide left. He usually doesn’t miss those, but when he does it feels like a big let-down. Bruno Fernandes then fired a shot over the bar on 23 minutes. Despite missing the chances, you felt a goal was coming.

And it did, via Sancho on 25 minutes. He used his pace and dribbling to beat his man on the left side box while he streaked towards goal. He fired a shot across the face of goal that may have taken the slightest of deflections before beating Lumley at his far post. A good goal and deserved goal, given United’s dominance in the match. Ronaldo almost got a second straight after the goal, but he missed again. Marcus Rashford was then guilty of missing a chance after Ronaldo’s shot/cross almost reached him at the back post. Rashford had the ball in the net on 30 minutes, but VAR called the goal back for offside.

United were creating everything in the first half, and Boro barely had a sniff of Dean Henderson’s goal. Despite putting the opposition under siege, United could not find a second goal in the first half. There was a succession of corners that came to nothing, and they could only manage to fire tame efforts directly at Lumley. It was the best half of football I had seen from Rangnick’s United so far this season, in terms of possession, pressing, and passing. Bruno and Pogba were running the midfield, and Boro were struggling to get out of their own half. It was only due to United’s lack of clinical finishing in front of goal that the score was not 3 or 4 to nil.

The second half was when the match started deteriorating into nonsense from a United perspective. United dominated the first 15 minutes or so similar to how they did in the first half, but again there were no additional goals scored. Rashford and Ronaldo missed good chances on 54 and 55 minutes respectively. Somewhat worryingly though, Boro were starting to grow into the game. They started believing that United were not going to score, which in turn led to more belief in themselves. Henderson was called into action to make his first save on 57 minutes.

Boro were able to snatch an equalizer however on 64 minutes, and it was very much against the run of play. Here is where the controversy comes in. The ball was crossed into the box and controlled by winger Duncan Watmore, who definitely used his hand to control the ball after he took a touch with his foot. His left arm was extended far away from his body, and he definitely used his hand to control the bounce of the ball. United’s defenders almost stopped, expecting a whistle for a flagrant hand ball. No whistle came, and Watmore had the time to pass the ball to Matty Crooks at the opposite post who tucked the ball into the top of the net with Henderson beaten. This goal should have been disallowed, but due to the idiotic finagling of the handball rule and a poor interpretation of the rule by Taylor, the goal stood. The current laws of football allow for an “accidental” handball in the buildup to a goal to stand. Had Watmore scored himself, the goal would have been disallowed. But because he passed it to Crooks who then scored, the goal was allowed to stand. However, Taylor got the call wrong because there is no way this particular handball was “accidental.” It did not bounce up and come off Watmore’s hand. He stuck his arm out and deliberately used his hand to control the ball. Intentional conduct all the way. It’s ridiculous that the rule is written so stupidly. When the rules of a game are unclear, the stage is set for controversy. The FA has gotten the handball rule wrong for ages now and it must be fixed. In previous years, the goal would not have stood. Absolutely appalling from the FA and Taylor. Use your common sense! He used his bloody hand, and it was deliberate! Disallow the goal.

But, this is what happens when you don’t kill a game off. United have no one to blame but themselves for that. Had it been 3-0, a 3-1 deficit makes little difference. At 1-0 though an equalizer makes ALL the difference. Even more frustratingly, United were given more opportunities to win that they simply did not take. Rashford had a shot saved on 71 minutes, but Bruno wasted the best chance of them all shortly after that. Lumley and the Boro back four gave the ball away directly to Bruno, with Lumley badly out of position. So much so that Bruno had roughly 2/3 of the net wide open to slide the ball into, and he was only about 14 yards from goal. Any other day of the week, Bruno slides that home and it’s 2-1. But for whatever mysterious reason, his shot slid wide and hit the left hand post before bouncing away harmlessly. It was shocking the Ronaldo missed his penalty, but this one was perhaps even more shocking.

Due to fatigue from both sides, Fred and Anthony Elanga were subbed on for Pogba and Rashford on 81 minutes. United dominated the final 10 minutes in possession, but again no additional goals were scored. Elanga had the final chance of the 90 minutes, but his header was straight at Lumley for an easy save.

In previous year, an FA Cup match that ends in a draw would be replayed at a later date at the opposite stadium. Due to Covid and player safety concerns though, there are no more replays. It’s 30 minutes of extra time, followed by penalties if need be. Both sides were exhausted in extra time though and it was a very choppy and disjointed portion of the match. Watmore went close for Boro with a shot across the face of goal, and Ronaldo hit the side netting on 101 minutes. Fred saw a shot go wide, with Bruno having a chance called back for offside. Henderson made a key save on 115 minutes and United kept the ball around the Boro penalty area for most of extra time, but they had 11 men in defense which made it exceedingly difficult to break them down.

The final whistle went and the lottery of penalties was going to decide this one. Juan Mata, Harry Maguire, Fred, Ronaldo, Bruno, Scott McTominay, and Diogo Dalot all did well to hit their penalties, but Boro were equal to them every time. Henderson could not get near their shots, aside from one that went under him that he probably should have saved. Unfortunately, Elanga blazed his penalty over the ball and Boro won on penalties 8-7.

It never should have gotten to that point though, and Elanga should not take really any blame for the result. United did not do enough to kill the game off in the first half, and they allowed Boro back into the match. It’s true the refereeing was atrocious and their goal never should have stood, but again it shouldn’t have really mattered given United’s dominance in the first 60 minutes. But in close matches like this one, the referee has to be better. The rules surrounding handball must be fixed, and idiot referees have to be held accountable for their terrible interpretations of the laws. Right now they make a mockery of the game.

United are out the FA Cup though, which was our best chance to win silverware this season. It’s very disappointing, and it’s typical of United under Rangnick. Sometimes we look like world-beaters, and other times we look like we don’t know what we’re doing. We certainly picked the worst time to forget how to finish, and it’s inexcusable with two weeks of preparation for a match against a Championship side. This one stung, and it stung bad. Ronaldo, Bruno, and Rashford all deserve blame for the loss, given all the chances they collectively missed. This one is not fully on Rangnick – he can’t go out there and score them himself. To field what is effectively our strongest team and fail to beat a Championship side is inexcusable.

Up next, United travel to Burnley in the Premier League on February 8th. Three points must be the objective to keep pace in the chase for the top-4. I’m not pleased, but the season doesn’t stop after a bad result. The lads have got to get up and get ready for the next one.

*****

A very quick shoutout again to Nottingham Forest FC, who managed to knock the reigning FA Cup champions Leicester City out of the FA Cup today. It was an emphatic 4-1 win, and I will be supporting them in the FA Cup for the rest of the season now that United are out. Forest supporters haven’t had much to cheer about in recent years, so they deserve all the fun they’re having on this magical run right now. Also very happy for non-league side Boreham Wood, who continued their own surprising run today after beating Bournemouth 1-0.