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!

Lionesses Demolish Norway at Euro 2022; Club Transfer News Roundup

I’ve been guilty of making a very large mistake – not paying a lot of attention to the England women’s team at Women’s Euro 2022. I’ve been checking scores once results are over, but that’s really about it. Not anymore though! The Lionesses are legit trophy challengers this tournament. Many of the pundits are regarding them as the most complete team, and they really showed that today against a Norwegian squad that’s ranked among the best in the world.

Many recall the USA hitting Thailand for 13 at the last Women’s World Cup, and while that was undoubtedly impressive, England’s 8 (eight!) to 0 (nil) victory today over Norway at Amex Stadium in Brighton, UK was arguably even more so. Along with France and England, the Norwegians were favorites to win this tournament and have one of the best players in the world in striker Ada Hegerberg. To beat a squad like this so thoroughly really shows the class England have at all 11 positions and on the bench.

England were all over them from start to finish. Pressing very effectively, and Norway could not figure out what to do about it. Forward Beth Mead earned her first hat trick of the tournament today, while stalwart forward Ellen White contributed two goals as well. It was 6-0 to England at half time! Things did kick off with a soft penalty awarded to England, but that does not excuse the Norwegians from allowing seven more goals after that. This was the biggest victory by any team – men or women – at the Euros ever.

Coupled with their 1-0 victory over Austria last week and their now massive goal difference, England have effectively won Group A and will move on to the knockout rounds. The formality of the final group match against minnows Northern Ireland remains, but England manager Sarina Wiegman now has the luxury of rotating her squad before the next match.

Come on England!!!

*****

On the men’s side of things, pre-season is about to kick off for Manchester United, who are currently on a tour of southeast Asia. It has been a spicy close season and transfer window indeed, most notably for who United have failed to sign. Due to our own inability to complete a transfer swiftly and the fact that United will not be in the Champions League next season, a lot of the top shelf talent has gone to our rival clubs. Manchester City have signed all-world striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Kalvin Phillips, Liverpool have signed striker Darwin Nunez, while Arsenal and Tottenham have strengthened their midfield and attacking options respectively as well.

United have so far lost more players than they have signed. Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, and Andreas Pereira have all signed elsewhere, will sign elsewhere, or have retired from the game. While we did need a clear out and to offload some bloated contracts, the other half of a competent transfer strategy is replacing those departing players while improving the squad. Not sure United has done that, yet.

The Red Devils have officially signed left back Tyrell Malacia from Dutch side Feyenoord, and they appear very close to announcing the signing of attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen from Brentford. United also appear to be in for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, but the process has taken so long and the rumors flying every which way has made this saga about as clear as mud. Barcelona and United are currently two of the most poorly-run clubs in the world. Indeed, United would arguably be the worst if not for the stunning incompetence of the Barcelona board of directors. There seems to be a contractual issue at the forefront, and it’s unclear whether De Jong even wants to play for United next season. I understand he may be important to new manager Erik ten Hag’s plans, but what’s the point in dragging out this whole process if he doesn’t want to be here?

What to do about Cristiano Ronaldo has also caused some head-scratching it seems around Carrington training ground. Ronaldo will be 38 by the end of next season, but the argument could easily be made that he was United’s best outfield player last season. He was leading scorer after all, and seemed to win matches on his own at times. But now he is supposedly not happy with the lack of transfers, and there are rumors that he has requested to leave Old Trafford. That could happen, but two major obstacles are in the way. For one, Ten Hag has explicitly stated that Ronaldo is in his plans for the upcoming season. Second, and this is potentially the bigger obstacle, are Ronaldo’s massive weekly wages. He is rumored to be on a whopping £510,000/week contract, and there are simply not many clubs that can afford to pay him that much. He probably won’t take a pay cut unless he really wants to leave. It is important to note that Ronaldo is not currently with the squad in southeast Asia, as the club has given him leave to address “family” issues. Whether he stays or not will be interesting. Chelsea are rumored to be the only destination that checks all the boxes, but would Ronaldo really leave United for a competitive rival? Is he that much of a mercenary? Many fans want to believe he isn’t, but as we all know, money talks.

United still need a true defensive midfielder in my opinion, but that’s been the case for about two years now. Ten Hag seems to have the lads training hard every day, but I have to question whether he feels supported by ownership and club officials. There’s a lot of pressure on him to succeed at United, but that will be near impossible if he is not given the support from ownership that he needs.

A Decent Season Ends on a Sour Note As United Are Eliminated from the Europa League

A very frustrating game and I think it will be even more frustrating to write about.

United took on Sevilla FC in Cologne on Sunday evening and I expected a tense match going into it. Sevilla have won the Europa League a record 5 times and many of their players have won it recently. They possess the ball well, but I thought we might be able to create chances on counter-attacks.

I figured United were in for a trademark slow start, but I was pleasantly surprised to see United come out with attacking intensity from the get-go. The Red Devils were rewarded for their work inside of 10 minutes via the penalty spot. Marcus Rashford brought the ball up the left wing and played it to Anthony Martial in the penalty box. He then played a very neat pass to an on-rushing Rashford, and Rashford was brought down in the box by a Sevilla defender. Bruno Fernandes stepped up, did his usual “hop” routine, and blasted the ball into the top left corner with precision and power. It was an excellent penalty and United had a 1-0 lead.

Fred had a clear chance on the goal from about 10 yards out on 13 minutes, but could only put his effort into the side-netting. Sevilla then had a period of possession that they eventually built up into an attack down the left channel. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was out of position, and a cross along the ground was allowed in from the left side. The ball went a little long, but Brandon Williams was asleep at the back post and was not paying attention to Spanish winger Suso lurking behind him. Suso curled a shot into the near post after the ball arrived at his left foot, and keeper David De Gea could do nothing to keep it out. Sevilla were level, and there was little to complain about from a United point of view. It was a good goal that exposed both of our fullbacks.

Martial had a good chance to go ahead again on 32 minutes when the ball was played to him at the top of the box by Paul Pogba with space to shoot, but he could only manage to put the ball over. I sensed a pattern beginning to emerge, and I was concerned for how the match was progressing. United would build-up well and create an opening for a shot, but the shot was usually off target or the final pass would be just a fraction off. Rashford had a half-chance from outside the box just before half time, but he scuffed his shot wide left. It was 1-1 at halftime and while I was still optimistic about the match I was ever so slightly starting to worry about the fact that we couldn’t seem to cash in on our chances.

The opening 10 minutes or so of the second half was the best of the match for United in terms of chances created, but again they simply could not find the back of the net. Mason Greenwood, Martial, and several other players all came close, but they were either denied by a Sevilla defensive block or their keeper Rico Bono.  Their chances cooled off as the second half wore on, with Pogba shooting over on long range on roughly 70 minutes.

Sadly, Sevilla’s second and winning goal came from another United defensive lapse. They played the ball up through the midfield and onto the right wing, and Williams gave a lot of space to Spanish left back Jesus Navas and he put in an excellent cross over the top. Victor Lindelof and Wan-Bissaka had some sort of defensive miscommunication, because neither of them picked up Dutch striker Luuk de Jong streaking into the middle of the box. He connected with his head perfectly and put the ball past De Gea.

At the end of the day, Sevilla took their chances and United did not. Its a tale as old as time in this game. You don’t finish, you probably won’t win and even have a significant chance of losing. Sevilla manager Julien Lopetegui got his tactics spot-on in the match and his players executed very well. There were questions from many, myself included, as to why United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer waited so long to substitute players on. He made changes, but he made them in the 87th minute and later, leaving not a lot of time for Juan Mata, Daniel James, and Odion Ighalo to do anything. The conjecture in the media and online though is that OGS was attempting to send some sort of message to United chief executive Ed Woodward and the Board of Directors, perhaps subconsciously. The message being of course that he needs reinforcements.

While I am not sure if a message was being sent or not, it is clear that OGS does not trust the players on our bench to go and change the game for us. He showed that by leaving the changes so late. Ultimately though, I think no matter what changes needed to be made earlier. It was clear by the 70th minute or so that the current players were probably not going to score, so why not bring on a sub of some kind? I understand not wanting to concede, but bringing on Nemanja Matic or Mata could have helped to stabilize the midfield perhaps and get us some more possession. It may not have worked sure, but I think it would have been worth trying something different much earlier in the 2nd half.

It is true though that we need reinforcements in the close season. We have qualified for the Champions League via our 3rd place finish in the Premier League, but we definitely need to bolster the ranks if we want to have any kind of success in that tournament. Our starting XI is very good, this is true. OGS has made some very good transfers and we have constructed a set of 11 players who can play some very good football. But over the course of a season, having only 11 quality players will not be good enough. Players must be rotated and rested, or the results will begin to suffer. OGS got us to 3rd place by the skin of our teeth, and it is time for the Board to show him the support he has earned.

Overall not a terrible season, but we finished trophy-less again and for a club of this caliber that is always a black mark. We have some good things going in midfield with Pogba and Bruno, plus the attacking trio of Martial/Rashford/Greenwood has proven to be deadly when in top form. We are on our way back, but now the purse strings must be loosened and we must build on the successes of this season. It’s true we have come a long way, but there is still a ways to go. We a need a right winger, a left-footed center back, a defensive midfielder, and another creative midfielder as well. I also expect an exodus of surplus players this close season, potentially including Lee Grant, Jesse Lingard, Andreas Pereira, Phil Jones, and maybe even Mata.

If the Board do not invest in the players OGS wants during the transfer window, there will be a righteous revolt among the supporters. To the Glazers: invest in this club!

United’s players and coaches now have a month off until next season starts. You could tell the lads were tired at the end of the Sevilla match, and it has indeed been an incredibly long season due to the 4 month COVID-19 break. I would normally imagine players would take a holiday around now in a sunny/seaside location, but given that lock downs are still on in many places they may be stuck at home.

Probably the last blog for awhile until United return to play. It’s been a crazy season and I really enjoyed doing these write-ups. Hope you all enjoyed them as well. I might do a one-off blog here and there about something football-related, but I’m not sure about that yet.

Here’s to Manchester United in 2020-2021!

 

United Defeat LASK to Advance to the Quarterfinals of the Europa League

At some point in the early part of this quarantine/COVID-19 situation the powers that be at UEFA decided to resume all European club competitions in the early part of August 2020, provided things were going well with the domestic leagues. Well, I must say that things do seem to mostly be going well in the domestic leagues. In the Premier League during the month of July there were only 2-4 positive tests out of thousands administered. Similar results from other major domestic leagues as well. While I do think there is an increased chance for the spread of COVID-19 with players and coaching staff now travelling from foreign countries, I also can’t really fault UEFA for going ahead with things in this way. I hope everyone stays safe and that everyone is careful.

Anyway, the schedule for all the matches is kind of weird due to how this is set up, but suffice it to say that the final legs of the 2nd round of the Europa League are played today and tomorrow, with the Champions League resuming on Friday. I think I can do a Champions League coverage post once all the matches have concluded. It could be fun to write as a neutral for once!

Manchester United played their first match in 10 days after the conclusion of the Premier League today. With Champions League qualification already assured, the importance of the Europa League is now a somewhat contentious point among the fan base. Some say that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should really go for it and try to win his first trophy as a manager for the club, while others say we should play our substitutes and academy players in these matches to let the starters have a longer rest. The line of thinking being that the Prem restarts again in mid-September and we need players fit and rested for the start of the season. Were we to perhaps lose out in a close match, people in this camp wouldn’t be too upset about it.

The problem with the match today was that the outcome of the tie overall was basically decided back in March when United traveled to Linz, Austria just before quarantine and defeated LASK (Linzer Athletik Sport Klub) Linz 5-0. The return match today at Old Trafford was largely irrelevant, as there was no way that LASK was going to be able to defeat us by 5 goals or more. Extremely unlikely odds of that happening in these kinds of situations. As such, it very much had the feel of an exhibition game in the preseason than a European elimination game.

OGS did play a lot of substitutes and academy players today, but I think that was more because the result was already in hand before anyone even kicked a ball today. I do not think today’s line-up is a statement of intent from OGS on how he intends to play this tournament, though. I expect him to name a much stronger squad in the next match.

The first 45 minutes were goalless, and United looked rather toothless in the final third. Daniel James and Jesse Lingard were all guilty of wasted chances there due to what I can only describe as either being rusty or just generally out of sync with each other. I lost count of how many good chances were wasted due to a missed pass in an attacking position. United had defending to do as well, with LASK giving a much better accounting of themselves than they did in the first leg. United captain and center back Harry Maguire was one of the few starters playing today, and I am glad his leadership was present at the back today. LASK actually had the best chance of the half when a header from a cross went off the top of the United crossbar.

There were no changes from either side as the second half begun, and I was starting to think that this match could end in a boring 0-0 draw. I was proven wrong ten minutes later however when LASK deservedly opened the scoring via Austrian defender and LASK club captain Philip Wiesinger. The ball fell to him on the left side of the area just outside the United 18 yard box. With no United players closing him down, he struck the ball with a sweet curve into the top right corner of the United goal. Truly top-class and there was nothing United keeper Sergio Romero could have done to save it. Hard to stop a goal like that, and that’s what happens in European play sometimes. United were down 0-1 on the evening but still lead 5-1 on aggregate, so there was no need for alarm bells.

There was further evidence of no need for alarm bells 2 minutes later when Juan Mata played a high-arcing pass over the top of the LASK defense in towards Lingard. Lingard took the ball on his own into the penalty area with a LASK defender trailing him. The keeper charged out, but Lingard coolly slid it past him to his left along the ground for 1-1 on the night and 6-1 on aggregate. I was happy we responded, and that we responded so quickly. Lingard had quietly been playing well up to that point, but he capped off his performance with a well-taken goal. He looked disappointed when he was taken off a few minutes later, but I suspect that is because he might have a role to play in the quarterfinal match on Monday. Hopefully he doesn’t take it too hard, because he has two goals in two games, one of which was a match-sealer!

It was decided before play resumed that managers would get five substitutes per match instead of the normal three during the tournament, and OGS took advantage of that rule by ringing the changes as the match wore on. Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba, Andreas Pereira, and Tahith Chong were all brought on, and it was somewhat of a special day in that it was the first-team debut for 18 year-old academy player and defender Teden Mengi. Welcome to the first team, dude!

It was Martial who got United’s winner close to the end. He linked up well with Mata in the final third and dribbled past a challenge in the box, after which he slid the ball to the keeper’s left. LASK keeper Alexander Schlager got a piece of it, but it ended up going under him and deflecting along the ground into the corner of the goal. It wasn’t the prettiest goal but they all count if they go over the line, and Martial now leads the way for United on 23 goals scored this season. The goal ensured a United victory both on the day and on aggregate, finishing with a crushing 7-1 total. Juan Mata with two assists is your Man of the Match. I like Mata a lot and he’s been massive for us in recent years, but his age is starting to show and I doubt he will be a United player for much longer. His style of play does not really suit our current philosophy and I envision him potentially going elsewhere.

Due to time constrictions, all of the remaining matches in the Europa League that would normally be two-leg ties (home and away), but now each round is just a one-match playoff at neutral sites in Germany. The final is in Cologne, Germany on August 21st. United now play Danish side FC Copenhagen on Monday evening in Cologne as well, and as stated above I do expect to see regular starters such as Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, and Bruno Fernandes much more involved. OGS just may want to go for the trophy after all. FC Copenhagen are a storied club with a lot of history, but they recently finished 2nd in the Danish Superliga miles out of first place and lost one of their best strikers on a transfer. United should definitely be the favorites to advance, but anything can happen in a European quarterfinal. Some good teams remain in this tournament such as Inter Milan, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Sevilla, but if United win their next three matches, they’ll win the trophy!

United Dominate LASK; Coronavirus Dominates World Sport

First things first, Manchester United. The club traveled  to Linz, Austria to take on the 2nd place team in that league, LASK. I learned today that LASK stands for Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub, but they usually go by LASK. This match was supposed to bring in revenue in the upper six-figures for them, but the match was sadly played without a crowd due to coronavirus concerns (more on that below). There were about 500 people there but they were mostly club personnel and TV people. Hearing the players shout at each other was interesting, and I think it gave me a bit more of an insight as to how they communicate with each other and develop attacks.

Anyway, United started off on the front foot and created most of the early chances, and the opening goal came from the sharp-shooting boot of Odion Ighalo. 3 starts for him, and he has 4 goals to show for it. It was some wonderful control after a deft pass from Portuguese magnifico Bruno Fernandes. Ighalo juggled the ball in the air on the edge of the box a few times and then lashed it powerfully into the top corner. Best goal I have seen from him so far.

United stalled a little after that, and LASK created a few half chances of their own. The second half was a much different story. Daniel James broke free into the box and powered a low shot past the LASK keeper for 2-0. He needed a goal to break his 32-game drought, and I am glad he got back on the scoring sheet. Once you see one go in during a match its easier to get more of them to do the same.

United then got 3 goals in the last 11 minutes of game play from Juan Mata, Mason Greenwood, and Andreas Pereira. It was clear the LASK defenders were tiring having chased the ball for most of the game, but take nothing away from the goals because each one was special in its own right. Mata finished cleanly after a sublime pass from Fred, while Greenwood got his after a fantastic pass from youngster Tahith Chong. Pereira’s goal was a bit lucky since the LASK keeper fumbled his long range shot on the bounce and the ball rolled in, but still good on Pereira for taking the chance.

At 5-0 the tie is well and truly over, especially because they are 5 away goals. Virtually impossible for LASK to come back from that in the return fixture at Old Trafford. Of course, whether there is a return fixture remains to be seen…

*****

I usually don’t comment on current events on this blog, but this is one of those times current events has spilled over into football. The coronavirus epidemic has done something I have never seen before – stopped all major sport worldwide. All American sports leagues have postponed or cancelled their seasons, and Serie A in Italy and La Liga in Spain have also cancelled their league seasons. The Champions League and Europa League are also on temporary/permanent hiatus.

The Premier League is next to suspend the season, I fear. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for COVID-19, along with three players from Leicester City. There’s no way the Prem can carry on at this point, and I will be shocked if they do not suspend the season after their emergency meeting Friday.

What does that mean? Does Liverpool not win the title? Are United stuck in 5th place? What happens with Manchester City and their Champions League ban? Does United not get to carry on in the Europa League? A lot of questions will be unanswered if the season is not resumed, but of course everyone’s safety must come first. This virus seems to be pretty nasty, even if it’s not usually deadly.

From everyone here at 4-4-2, wash your damn hands! Hot water and soap! I’ll try to write posts as we go along,  but if there are no matches to write about they’ll be few and far between.

Red Devils Escape With an Away Goal in Belgium

Manchester United took on Belgian side Club Bruges away in Belgium in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie earlier today and escaped with a draw and a vital away goal during windy and rainy conditions. Bruges are a well-organized side and the runaway leaders in the Belgian league, so this contest was no gimme.

The Belgians struck first through Nigerian striker Dennis, who was found via a simple long ball over the top. Sergio Romero was much too far off his line was Dennis ran right onto the path of the pass, and he lobbed the ball over Romero for 1-0. I wasn’t encouraged by the start United had made, and to be fair the Belgians were good credit for their lead. I feared it could only get worse.

But, a bit of luck and also killer instinct led to United equalizing via Anthony Martial. Bruges had a throw-in that went backwards and Martial pounced on it, using his pace and strength the shield off the Bruges defender and knock the ball forward. No one was covering in behind and Martial struck the ball cleanly past Bruges’ keeper. It was a vital away goal and Martial showed once again why he is so dangerous when he’s in the mood. He scored his 14th goal of the season, and is well on his way to surpassing his previous season high tally of 17 a few years ago. He, along with Odion Ighalo, will be the main strikers for the rest of the way in. There is no guarantee Marcus Rashford comes back this season, sadly.

We didn’t deserve this result, to be honest. United were far too negative the whole match and the midfield duo of Andreas Pereira and Jesse Lingard were largely uninspiring. Passing the ball backwards too much, and giving the ball away at inopportune moments. I think it’s clear that despite the odd good game, neither Pereira or Lingard can consistently show the quality needed to be a regular United player.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought on Fred and Bruno Fernandes at the end, and the change in the team was remarkable. Fernandes linked up well with Juan Mata immediately and all of a sudden United looked like the more dangerous team in the final 20 minutes or so. Unfortunately no more goals were created, and again it was very much an escape act for United to have this finish at 1-1.

Thanks to the away goals rule, United have the aggregate goal advantage traveling back to Manchester. A win or even a 0-0 draw sees United through to the next round. I think some of the poor performance today can be explained by the weather and pitch conditions, but that’s no excuse for the starting midfielders to play so negatively. If Martial hadn’t sprung on that poor throw-in, I could have easily seen us losing. I think during the summer there will be some more players on their way out, either via sale or loan.

Fernandes is quality, and he showed it once again today coming off his strong performance against Chelsea. He turned the whole momentum of the game with his crisp passing and good decision making. Bruges’ defenders couldn’t get near him. I hope we don’t become overly reliant on him going forward, but we may already be heading in that direction. I get that OGS wanted to rotate the squad and give the fringe players a start in Europe, but I think/hope he learned today that he cannot rely on a midfield combo of Lingard/Pereira/Nemanja Matic to create chances. All of them far too negative and not willing to play the ball forward in attack.

We don’t play Brugge again until the 27th at Old Trafford, and up next United play Watford. I would like to see Ighalo get his first start of the season on Sunday in front of the home crowd; it would be especially poetic since Watford is his old club. No matter who plays, 3 points are needed. No draws and no certainly no embarrassing losses to a team we should beat handily.

 

Scrappy But Massively Important Win Over Burnley

The fixtures tend to be a bit congested during the late December/early January time of the year, as evidenced by the fact that Manchester United have played two games in just 3 days and have another match coming up on New Year’s Day. This time period can be very physically and emotionally draining for players on all teams, so managers and training staff have to make sure everyone is getting plenty of rest.

On paper, this match-up was a nightmare for United. Burnley are a big physical side who tend to defend well and score from set pieces. Couple that with the fact that they are currently in the bottom half of the Premier League table and this match was at Turf Moor in the cold and damp northeast of England, and you see that this Burnley side are the exact kind of team that would give United problems.

Due to the frantic nature of the fixtures right now, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had to rotate some of the normal starters in order to rest them. Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were all given a rest and not named in the squad. A few other players, such as Jesse Lingard and Luke Shaw, were not brought on until late on in the match. With a midfield trio of Andreas Pereira, Nemanja Matic, and Fred all starting, I was concerned there would be a lack of mobility to the team and we would struggle to score.

And for the most part, we did struggle to score. However, it was not for a lack of good chances created. Anthony Martial had a shot cleared off the line by a Burnley defender about 30 minutes in, and Marcus Rashford was unlucky not to score from a free kick that went just wide. Both and Fred and Pereira looked rather good actually, and winger Daniel James was causing all kinds of problems for Burnley’s defense with his pace and dribbling.

First goal came just before halftime though, and it was more of a case of Burnley beating themselves than United breaking them down. Credit where credit is due to Pereira though, as it was his pressing that led to him picking the pocket of the Burnley left back. Martial sprinted forward unmarked immediately once he saw Pereira won the ball, and Pereira found him with a wonderful pass directly into his path. Martial was by himself and when he is 1-on-1 with the keeper you’d bet the mortgage payment he’s going to score, and he did. Not a stunning finish, but when you are through clean on goal you don’t need to power it into the top corner. The goal came just before half time, and you could tell the Burnley players were heavily disappointed in themselves having kept us out for 42+ minutes. Goals just before half time can be psychologically destructive to the conceding team.

Burnley kept their nerve for most of the second half though, but were lucky to be saved by referee (and man is who legally blind) Mike Dean. He adjudged Martial to have fouled his marker after receiving a cross from James and putting the ball into the roof of the net, and his goal was disallowed. Replays showed that the call was soft at best and outright wrong at worst, but Burnley survived. Dean had a bit of a shocker this match and made several mistakes that could have screwed over the Red Devils, but fortunately his errors did not affect the result.

Burnley pressed for an equalizer during the last 20 minutes or so, and again the nerves rose to the surface for United supporters. They came close several times to getting their equalizer, most notably when David De Gea was forced to save low and to his right to keep out a ferocious Burnley shot on goal. A string of corners and free kicks ensued, and it was only through solid defensive work United escaped unscathed. Very scrappy and frantic at times, but they did just enough to hold them off.

Late into stoppage time, United won the ball off Burnley from a corner and James sprinted forward. Burnley were exposed at the back thanks to a run from Rashford down the center, and James found him with an inch-perfect pass. Rashford dribbled into the penalty area and took it around the keeper, and he held the ball so long I was concerned the chance had gone as Burnley’s defenders were getting back. Rashford slipped, but somehow managed to accidentally knock the ball towards the goal and it rolled in for 2-0. The match was done and dusted at that point and United secured another 3 points.

This was only the second clean sheet in the Premier League for United all season, and I think that was probably the biggest bonus of the night. The defense has a long way to go, but they are getting better. Man of the Match for me was Daniel James, but the official MotM was young left back Brandon Williams. He is still somewhat suspect defensively but going forward he definitely has all the qualities needed. He created more chances than any other player today, and if he works on his defensive game then he can truly become an elite-level player. Williams and several of his teammates however are still very young and raw. With the right guidance, this young batch of players can be phenomenal.

United move up to 5th, and are now just 1 point off 4th place Chelsea. Couldn’t be more proud of the lads today for this hard-fought win. The mark of a good team is the ability to grind out wins even when things don’t go right, and that’s exactly what happened today. I am slowly beginning to believe in this team more and more. I still expect setbacks as the season progresses, but I do believe the foundations for success are starting to be implemented. United bided their time today, then struck when the opportunities presented themselves.

Next match is away to Arsenal on New Year’s Day. Arsenal have not played up to their normal standards so far this year, but the players will be eager to please their new manager Mikel Arteta. Their defense is not as a good as Burnley’s in my opinion so I feel United probably won’t have too many problems scoring. Hopefully McTominay, Pogba, and Wan-Bissaka are all rested and ready to go.

Glory Glory Man United!

Boxing Day Victory Over Newcastle United

This match was a special one for me because I got to watch it with family from England. They were all visiting for the holidays, and the random banter and shit talking made this match even more enjoyable to watch than normal. For my American readers: if you get the chance to watch a match either in England or with English people, I highly recommend it.

Anyway, I was experiencing a bit of trepidation going into this match as Manchester United have not played well against mid-table and lower level opposition this season. We can beat/contest well against the big clubs but we perpetually struggle against teams that sit back and defend.

And for the first 20 minutes or so, my fears were proven correct. United had plenty of possession but Newcastle looked very dangerous on the break, and it was via a counter-attack that Newcastle got the opening goal. United’s back-line failed to promptly get back and get a proper tackle in, and despite eventually getting 5 men back behind the ball, Newcastle still went ahead via Matty Longstaff. I was thoroughly disappointed and I feared the worst. By the way, both Matthew and his brother Sean Longstaff are assholes. You like them if they are on your team, but if they are one another team you hate them.

But, my fears were largely unfounded, and I think it was primarily down to the efforts of French forward Anthony Martial that the momentum swung in this game. When Martial is in the mood, he can be a game-changer and he was that today.  A good passing move from United down the left hand side saw Marcus Rashford lay the ball off to Martial in space, and Martial fired home at the near post. Newcastle keeper Martin Dubrovka probably could have done better in making the save, but the ball was hit with power and went in off of his outstretched hand.

After the equalizer went in, all the momentum in this match shifted towards the Red Devils. All of a sudden we were winning 50/50 challenges, and our passing was much more adventurous. It wasn’t long before United got their second via teenage sensation Mason Greenwood. United were pressing up the pitch and Newcastle gave the ball away directly to Greenwood on the edge of the area. I thought he might square the ball to Rashford or Martial who were in a better position, but he showed a high degree of confidence and took the shot on himself. He was aided by a slight deflection off a Newcastle defender, but his shot was hit with power and precision and it flew in over Dubrovka. 4 goals in 5 games for the teenager, and he is showing he is going to be absolutely phenomenal as he gets older and more experienced. Greenwood needs to start as many matches as possible going forward.

United persisted in attack, and a few minutes later they got their third after Rashford nodded in a cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The Newcastle back line kept retreating as United pushed forward, and Wan-Bissaka did well to find Rashford leaping into the air at the back post. Rashford was marked, he just out-jumped his man and sometimes that’s all you have to do to score. At 3-1 before halftime, it was mostly over. Newcastle did not look much like they were going to score again.

Paul Pogba came on to rapturous applause at half-time, and it was good indeed to see him getting back into playing form. I was hoping he would get at least 45 minutes in today, which he did. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s decision was of course made easier by having a 2 goal lead, so it really was an ideal situation for more playing time. He took some shots on goal and was close to getting another one himself before the match was over.

Martial wasn’t done, though. Newcastle took a throw in and there was miscommunication along their back line. That resulted in the ball rolling towards the Newcastle goal with really no one around it. Martial was in the best position out of any player to get it, and he did. He ran about 20 yards with the ball with the entire Newcastle defense running behind him. Dubrovka was quick off his line to try and stop Martial, but the Frenchman dinked the ball past him with a light touch and the ball rolled in for United’s fourth. Old Trafford was in ecstasy, and so was I.

The rest of the match was more or less an exercise in keep-away, and there weren’t many attempts on goal aside from the Pogba efforts mentioned earlier. Newcastle couldn’t get on the ball for any significant amount of time and United ended the match with a staggering 72% of the possession. The opening 20 minutes aside, this is how football matches should be won. Solid passing, solid finishing, and tight defending. The domination was so complete that even central defender Harry Maguire was stepping up into attack and taking shots. He almost got one, too!

Now obviously I am very happy with the result of this match. However, it means nothing if this form doesn’t continue. I’ve said that before, and I’ll keep saying it until we find some degree of consistency. We show flashes of brilliance like today and when we played AZ Alkmaar, but then we go and shit the bed against Watford and West Ham. Having Pogba back will definitely help, but once again reinforcements are needed when the January transfer window opens. We do not have enough creativity in midfield when Pogba is missing.

Man of the Match was definitely Martial, but solid performances from Andreas Pereira, Luke Shaw, Rashford, Maguire, and Wan-Bissaka. It must be said that at least two (and maybe even 3) of United’s goals were largely down to errors from Newcastle. Today was more an example of Newcastle beating themselves more than anything, but United still must be praised for capitalizing on the chances presented to them. United move up to 7th with this win and are only 4 points off 4th place.

Thank you United for making my Boxing Day and Christmas season a positive one! Next match is on 12/28 away to Burnley.

 

Four Goals For United in Ten Minutes!

That’s emphatic!

Of course there were lots of interesting talking points from Manchester United’s final Europa League group match against AZ Alkmaar today at Old Trafford, but the headline for sure was 4 goals for the Red Devils in just 10 second-half minutes. United won 4-0 and ensured they would finish top of Group L, thus potentially avoiding some of the more difficult sides that also reached the Round of 32. United needed only a draw to win the group, but I personally was hoping for a win so that our good form could continue. It would have been bad for the team’s mentality to beat Tottenham Hotspur and Man City and then draw with a (no disrespect) small club like Alkmaar.

Tale of two halves, really. Nothing much of all happened in the first. The Dutch visitors had the better of the chances for the most part, with keeper Sergio Romero being called into action on occasion to make a routine save. United worryingly did not have a shot on target until a tame header from Harry Maguire in the 38th minute. At halftime it was 0-0, and if I was the Alkmaar manager I would have felt pretty good about that half. They had more than held their own against United away from home and looked likely to sneak a goal in the second half.

But, as alluded to above, the second half was completely different. Credit must be given when credit is due, and this victory is owed almost entirely to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaeer and his coaching staff. United shifted into a 4-3-3 formation after half time, with Spanish midfielder Juan Mata playing generally lower down on the pitch in central midfield. Mata had been harassed and man-marked profusely in the first half, but Alkmaar pressed him less and gave him more space after he moved down from the #10 position (attacking midfield) into more central/defensive midfield position. This allowed him to pick up the ball from the defenders more easily and make key passes in space.

Mata, when given time, can produce some absolutely world-class football. His best years are behind him athletically, but when given time and space on the ball he can work wonders for the attack. That’s exactly what happened. He finished with 2 assists and a goal from the penalty spot all on his own! Biggest game from him for United in a long time.

I think of all the goals scored, the first one was probably the most visually appealing. Ashley Young opened his account for the season with a rare goal, a fabulous strike from a tight angle that beat the Alkmaar keeper over his head. Some very nifty work from Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira in the build-up as well, who did a fantastic job of beating two defenders on the left flank  and starting the move that ended in the goal. The below link is the best I could find that includes all the build-up.

https://streamvi.com/watch.php?video=1576185040

Speaking of Pereira, where the hell has this form been all season? He gets a bit of a confidence and all of a sudden he’s world class? Wow. I’m not mad that he played well, I’m just mad he hasn’t been doing this all season.

Star man of the evening though has to be 18 year old striker Mason Greenwood. Two goals in the match giving him 6 on the season. He is United’s leading scorer in Europe, and is second only to Marcus Rashford overall in total goals scored for the club. Both of his goals were excellent finishes, impressively one with his left and the other with his right. His shooting form is very tight and controlled, and he does not need a lot of room to get a shot away. He bagged United’s second and fourth goals today, and also won the penalty for the 3rd goal converted by Mata. Great to see a United academy product shining so brightly in the first team, along with Rashford, Brandon Williams, and others.

United were in cruise control from then on out despite it only being the 63rd minute. They created a few more half chances and OGS took the opportunity to sub off our most-tired players. Romero was required to make a smart save late on, but Alkmaar were denied a consolation goal. Romero, of all people, now has the highest percentage of clean sheets among United keepers with at least 50 appearances. In our history we have had some absolutely world-class keepers like Alex Stepney, Peter Schmeichel, Edwin Van Der Sar, and even current keeper David De Gea. But it’s the Argentine Sergio Romero who has the highest percentage of clean sheets kept. Go figure.

Among additional positives on the day, OGS was able to give some much needed rest to key players like Fred, Scott McTominay, and Rashford. Anthony Martial was taken off early in the 2nd half as well. United showed they can win big even with their “depth” players, despite these very same players (Pereira, Mata, Nemanja Matic, Young) all not playing well recently or not playing at all due to injury.

Everton are next for United, at Old Trafford next Sunday, in the early morning America-time. There is no excuse for United not to go out and smash the Toffees. We are finally in good form, and now that some of our best players have gotten a game off, I expect United to come out and press Everton from the get-go. There is no excuse for them not to. If we come out slow again and play another dull first half, I don’t think Everton will fall apart and concede four in a row so quickly. United have all the momentum and all the impetus though, and Everton’s defense is not exactly stout. Let’s get at them, press them, and shoot!

OGS mentioned in his post-match interview that reinforcements will be required in January to take United to that next level. He is exactly right about that. At least two midfielders and a striker by my estimations. Ed Woodward, get the check book out please! Support the manager you have so far claimed to stand by!

Glory glory Man United! I’ll keep you all updated on who we draw in the Round of 32 when it happens, which I believe is some time next Monday, Dec. 16.

MANCHESTER IS RED!!! City is a Plastic Club!!!

Another chapter in the storied Manchester Derby was written today as United defeated Manchester City 2-1 away at the Etihad Stadium, located squarely in the blue half of Manchester. This was by far the best game this team has played all season, and I don’t think there is really much I can criticize about United’s performance here.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got his tactics absolutely spot-on for most of the match. We were sat compactly in midfield and defense, making it difficult for City to break us down. When we didn’t have the ball, midfielder Jesse Lingard was assigned to man-mark City midfielder Rodri, which proved effective in clogging up the midfield and preventing City from distributing the ball effectively. When United won the ball though, either in defense or the middle, Lingard was told to make runs forward at the City back line. Fred, Scott McTominay, and Daniel James were tasked with playing balls forward toward Lingard, Marcus Rashford, and Anthony Martial. Leaving Lingard forward meant that City could not press forward with their fullbacks, again taking some of the venom out of their attack.

Rashford struck first from the penalty spot after running into the City area. He knocked the ball forward and was brought down by a clumsy challenge from City forward Bernardo Silva. The referee did not signal for a penalty at first, but a VAR review was triggered and the penalty was given. City players and supporters were incensed, but most neutrals agreed it was a penalty. Credit to the referee and VAR official for getting it right. Silva essentially crashed into the side of Rashford, forcing him to fall down. Rashford stepped up to the spot and calmly buried the penalty in the 23rd minute. Even though United did not have a lot of possession, I felt they were good value for their lead. They had been getting shots away via Lingard and James before the goal, while City (for all their possession and talent) failed to create many problems for United keeper David De Gea.

Rashford went close twice after that again, with one shot going wide and the other hitting the crossbar. What was clear was that City were not prepared to deal with our pacy forwards and counter-attacking threat. They looked utterly lost when not in possession, and they had no answer for the pace and directness of Rashford, James, and Martial. It was Martial and James who combined nicely down City’s right hand for the second goal, with Martial getting a low and spinning shot past City keeper Ederson. Very poor defending from City it must be said and the keeper probably should have done better, but a goal is a goal and I felt much more comfortable at 2-0 up than 1-0. As I have said many times, this current United squad can’t defend a one goal lead against average sides, so I had little confidence they could do it against a Club with City’s attacking talent.

Even though United executed the game plan effectively throughout the match, that first 30 minutes was absolute perfection. Good defending, excellent attacking. City eventually grew into the game, securing more possession and more attacking threats usually via all-world midfielder Kevin de Bruyne. He is a top class passer of the ball and he began to assert his influence the closer the clock ticked to half time. He had a cross from the right that probably should have been scored off the forehead of City forward Gabriel Jesus, but it went wide. But United held on to half time, thanks to some excellent defensive work in particular from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, and De Gea. More on Wan-Bissaka later.

The second half went the same way as the first for the most part; with City having plenty of possession but causing little trouble for De Gea. United seemed a tad more reticent to break forward as well, and I worried that would be our undoing. Again, United’s best defensive tactic is to keep attacking forcing the opposition to keep their defenders back. I was concerned if we stopped doing that, City could get forward more easily and create more chances. City and England forward Raheem Sterling, who curiously has never scored against United, was having a hell of a time dealing with Wan-Bissaka throughout the match. The man affectionately known as “Spider-Man” by his teammates used his stunning pace and athleticism to consistently harass Sterling and prevent him from getting into the dangerous positions he routinely gets into. AWB effectively shut down the left side of the pitch for City, and when you have a player who can do that it’s a huge advantage. Both him and James have proven to be excellent, excellent signings. Whoever scouted those two players deserves a promotion and a raise!

But of course, it wouldn’t be a Manchester Derby without a tense ending. City won a corner in the 85th minute, and the cross from de Bruyne was met by the head of center-back Nicholas Otamendi, who was crashing down towards the goal from the edge of the area. Otamendi got a lot of power on his header, and Maguire should have done better to mark him and prevent him from getting to the cross. De Gea had little chance to make the save given the power and close range of the header, and it was 2-1. My stomach turned over because I envisioned us losing the plot mentally and conceding another. I knew that Guardiola would want his men to push forward for a victory as well.

City were denied an equalizer shortly after only due to a fine save from De Gea. Substitute Riyadh Mahrez struck a lovely low shot towards goal after some calamitous defending from United, and it was only thanks to a strong right hand from De Gea that City were not level. It was tense final few minutes of regulation and extra time, but thanks to United and OGS expertly controlling the match, the game ended without another clear chance for City. United were home and dry with 3 points! Sir Alex Ferguson was present at the match, and could be seen applauding at full time. OGS also pointed to him from the manager’s dugout in acknowledgement as the whistle went. Wonderful to see.

Time to take City down a peg or two. Just a shitty, plastic-ass (fake) club overall. They’re oil money has bought them some good players and even a few titles, but they’re still a mentally weak team. Let’s start just a laundry list of insults. For one, the City fans started off the match with a rendition of “Hey Jude” by The Beatles. A fine song, but why the hell are Manchester football supporters singing a song written by a Scouser? Idiots. Further, I want to take the chance to give a nice personal “fuck off” to Noel Gallagher, the former lead singer of Oasis and die-hard City supporter. Mr. Gallagher; a few months ago you said in an interview on the YouTube series Hot Ones that Manchester United are “irrelevant” and not a factor in the Premier League in anymore. Well, how do you feel now, sir??? I love the music of Oasis, but your disdain for United is most unbecoming.

Also a nice little “fuck off” to the City supporters inside the Etihad as well. United won a corner in the second half, but were delayed from taking it due to City fans throwing bottles and cigarette lighters down onto the pitch where Fred and substitute Andreas Pereira were trying to take the corner. Fred even got hit with something on the back of the neck/shoulder area! It’s one thing to be pissed off about how a match is going, but no fan of any club has any right to hurl projectiles onto the pitch. Utterly classless. City fans can all go eat a bag of dog poop.

I don’t want to hear about injuries either. Many pundits and City fans were talking about how the result would have been different if City were at full-strength. It’s true that City were without talisman forward Sergio Aguero today, and also center-back Aymeric Laporte, but United were also without our best player in Paul Pogba. Neither team was at full-strength today, so griping about injuries is a cop-out.

The best punishment for City fans though was to see the United players celebrating with the away supporters at full time. Great scenes. James and Rashford both threw their shirts into the crowd. OGS was over there hugging and shaking hands with all his players. Great scene of team unity and spirit at the end. There are fewer sights more welcome to the eyes of United supporters than a rapidly-emptying Etihad.

Manchester is Red once again, and I hope everyone affiliated with MUFC takes the night to celebrate. But, this momentum  must continue. Today means nothing if we don’t show up to play against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday or against Everton next weekend. We have to keep pushing and moving up the table with consistent play. OGS has figured out his best team it seems, but can they continue to play well? This performance should give the Board of Directors plenty of incentive to acquire reinforcements for OGS during January. We still need help, despite the magic worked by him today.

Manchester is Red and Glory Glory Man United!!!