Premier League: Victory at Villa Park

Manchester United traveled to the Midlands of England for a Premier League match at Villa Park earlier today. United were in good form going into this match, thanks to some improved attacking play and the return of some key players from injury. Villa however were trending in the opposite direction after a very hot start to the season under manager Unai Emery. Despite beating Liverpool and Manchester City earlier this year, they have been in stuttering form recently and were at a risk of dropping out of the top-4 with a loss today.

Villa were somewhat better than United in terms of chance creation in the opening 20 minutes or so, but it was United who found themselves ahead 1-0 on 17 minutes through striker Rasmus Højlund. United had won a corner, and it was played aerially into the box by midfielder Bruno Fernandes. The ball was only partially cleared by the Villa back line though, and it was played back into the box from the opposite side by center back Harry Maguire. The ball fell straight to Højlund, who was given far too much space in the box by the Villa defense. He bundled the ball home past Villans keeper Emiliano Martinez, and then wheeled away in celebration. Not the prettiest of goals, but credit to Højlund for showing his striker’s instincts and getting the ball over the line. He has now scored in 5 consecutive matches and is positively on fire right now!

Villa kept up their chance creation throughout the half, but United were defending well and sitting back as they had a goal advantage. I was wary of this approach from manager Erik ten Hag, as inviting pressure on the road against a top-4 side usually does not result in positive outcomes for this squad. However, United were still 1-0 up at halftime and were nevertheless on their way to a massive result.

Villa continued much as they did in the first half – creating chances fairly frequently, but failing to finish them off either due to lack of composure or good defending/keeping from United. During this period of the match, United were limited to counter-attacks and playing hopeful long balls over the top. Villa were rewarded for their pressure on 67 minutes when midfielder Douglas Luiz turned the ball into the net from close range. United keeper Andre Onana had made some brilliant saves from very close just before that, but a failure by the Red Devils to fully clear their lines led to Luiz capitalizing on the Villa pressure. United’s defense is simply not good enough to keep a clean sheet on the road at this time, so it was puzzling why ETH elected to invite so much pressure by having the team sit back. The roar from the Holt End supporters at Villa Park also suggested that Villa would now go on to try and get a winner.

In response, ETH brought on midfielder (forward?) Scott McTominay and took off forward Marcus Rashford, and a collective groan went through the away end. Many thought this was ETH waiving the white flag and playing for a draw, but it was interesting to see McTominay take a spot further up the pitch in attack. United did not regain a strong sense of possession until the 80th minute or so though, and the hour was getting late to find a winner.

However, cometh the hour, cometh the man. Around 85 minutes, United had the ball forward and were probing the Villa penalty area. United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo did well to leave the ball for right back Diogo Dalot to put in a peach of a cross from the right wing, and McTominay out-muscled his marker to get his head on the ball. He redirected the ball goalwards, and the velocity on the header saw it go straight through the arms of Martinez and into the back of the net! 2-1 United, and what a thumping header it was. McTominay was given the opportunity, and he capitalized on it. Somehow, the Scotsman is United’s leading scorer in the Premier League this season with 7 goals. That is more goals this year than his past two combined.

Even though there was 6 minutes of stoppage time, Villa failed to really test United again, aside from a series of long-range efforts that amounted to little more than catching practice for Onana. The final whistle blew, and United had their first away victory over a quality side in nearly three seasons. You could see how much it meant to the players and manager, and a hard-fought win like this can do wonders for team chemistry and the locker room dynamic. United are still in 6th place, but the gap between them and 4th place Tottenham is now down to just six points. With 14 matches left in the season, there is still definitely a lot to play for. Given how crap this team was at the start of the year, it’s a borderline miracle that they are within shouting distance of the Champions League at this stage of the season.

I still don’t agree with the tactic of sitting back and trying to defend a slim lead, especially on the road against a decent side like Villa. United can be effective on the counter-attack to be sure, but why give the other team a chance of getting their footing again? Why concede possession for such long periods of time? Once we score, we should be possessing the ball as best we can in an effort to find another goal. There is still a missing element of ruthlessness in this United team, and that could be a problem in future matches. It’s a better idea to go and kill the game off early, so that the opposition doesn’t get the chance to believe in themselves a bit. I am sure ETH has his reasons for this style of play, and he will correctly point to the result as validation of his choice. Still, we shouldn’t have to consistently rely on a late substitution to get us over the line.

Nevertheless, three points is three points. Well done to the lads. Great games from Højlund, Maguire, Bruno, and Dalot. I can’t complain too much about 4 wins in a row. United next travel south to Luton Town next weekend, for a match with a relegation-threatened club of the same name. Luton will no doubt be in the mood to try and claim a big scalp by beating United, but there is no reason why the Red Devils should not come away with all three points next Sunday.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Manchester United…in Good Form?

First things first, I apologize for falling behind this past month or so. Been very busy in a number of ways and haven’t had time to write. However, there is one advantage in not having written a blog in approximately 26 days. It has afforded me the opportunity to analyze the club’s form over the course of a month, instead of writing and reacting on a match-to-match basis. This has allowed me to see a bigger picture of where the club is overall. A lot has happened!

For the first time all season, the Red Devils are in consistently good form. United have won 3 out of their last 4 matches, with the one off result being a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. Since that draw, United have beaten Newport County in the FA Cup 4-2, then beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 4-3 thriller in the Premier League, and just today beat West Ham at Old Trafford 3-0. They began the month of January in 8th place, but now find themselves in 6th in the table and in the 5th Round of the FA Cup.

Early in the season, we were struggling to both score goals and keep clean sheets. If we won, it was usually a tense 1-0 or 2-1. If we lost, it was usually by multiple goals. However, in the past four matches, manager Erik Ten Hag has clearly figured out the attacking situation. 13 goals in 4 matches is an excellent scoring record. I think a lot of it has to do with striker (and 21st birthday boy today) Rasmus Højlund finally finding some good form. It took him awhile to break his Premier League goose egg this season, but now that he has started scoring, he simply cannot stop. Another aspect of the improved attacking form is the move of winger Alejandro Garnacho out to the right wing, when previously he exclusively played on the left. Garnacho has multiple goals and assists over the past four games, and he has taken to playing on the right wing like a duck to water.

Now if the attack is improving, that usually means the midfield is improving as well. United have been helped in that department by the return of midfielder Casemiro from injury, but the real standout in the middle of the park is teenager Kobbie Mainoo. He is absolutely brilliant and way ahead of where most players are at 18. He can tackle, pass, dribble, shoot, and he reads the game exceedingly well for a player with such little experience. His winner against Wolves in late stoppage time was scintillating! He needs to continue developing physically so that he doesn’t get bullied off the ball as much, but Mainoo is easily one of the most exciting prospects out of the United Youth Academy in ages. If he can learn a thing or two about shithousery and aggressiveness from Casemiro, he’s going to be a terror to deal with.

Now, there are problems still. The scores listed above also indicate that (with the notable exception of today) United are still leaky in defense. A team like United should not be conceding 2 against Newport County and another 3 against Wolves. Conceding 7 goals in 4 matches is a below average defensive record, and there’s no two ways about it. Similar to how the attack and midfield have benefited from players returning from injury, the opposite has happened to the defense. Due to injuries along the back line, ETH has been forced to field 10 different center back pairings this season. And due to keeper Andre Onana being called up for international duty the past couple weeks, there was a different player in goal as well. In a position group where all four/five players need to work together, it’s exceedingly difficult to develop that chemistry and understanding when they can’t play together consistently. I was overjoyed to see center back Lisandro Martinez finally back from long-term injury the past few matches as well, but he unfortunately suffered what appeared to be a gruesome leg injury in the West Ham match today and likely faces another long layoff. He’s had rotten luck recently and his injury was the only sour note in United’s victory today.

United next travel to Birmingham for a match against Aston Villa in the Premier League, where that patchwork back line will again be tested. Villa are in the top-4 currently, and are having one of their best-ever seasons under wily manager Unai Emery. Here’s to hoping that United can continue this positive form and continue to pick up points. Beating a team above them can be huge for the top-4 race, as United are currently on the outside looking in. It is also a chance to improve the team’s away form under ETH, which has easily been his biggest weak spot.

Off the pitch news: I have been deeply concerned for the mental health of winger/forward Marcus Rashford recently. He seems to be struggling with something (based on the numerous news reports of his recent nightclub adventures) and I really hope the club and its staff are helping him with it. Professional athletes are still humans, and they can suffer from mental health challenges like any of us. No one outside the club knows what’s going on for sure so be careful what you read, but he does seem to be on the rebound in recent days. His mental health has to come first, so I hope he continues to improve.

On a lighter note, INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have gotten off to what I would call a satisfactory start as new part-owners of the club. The Glazers have set an admittedly low bar, but the fact that INEOS representatives have sat down and begun talks with the club’s official fan groups about the problems we’ve had for the past 12 years is a big step in the right direction. The Glazers don’t speak to the club’s fan groups and haven’t done so for almost the entirety of their tenure as owners, while Sir Jim and his people have begun holding talks within the first few weeks of buying 25% of the club. Of course, their success as owners must be measured on a long-term scale, but again this is a satisfactory start. The next step of course is for them to actually enact the changes requested.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Manchester United: It’s Been Bad, But Is There Light On the Horizon?

It’s been a while since I last wrote, but truthfully there hasn’t been a lot to write about aside from bad news. Since their victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford on December 6, Manchester United have lost to Bournemouth (bad), lost to Bayern Munich (almost as bad), drew with Liverpool away (not too shabby), then lost again to West Ham (bad). I have been calling for the Red Devils to play with consistency this whole season, and they have responded with consistency – consistently being bad. Be careful what you wish for, I guess.

The biggest change at United in recent weeks is the acquisition of 25% of the club’s ownership stake by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company Ineos. This sale has been pending for over a year and many were wondering if it would even happen, but the move was finally announced on Christmas Eve. More on this takeover below.

Things were heading down a losing path yet again today, when they hosted 3rd place Aston Villa at Old Trafford, one of the many fixtures on a busy Boxing Day. The Villans, coached by the ever-capable Frenchman Unai Emery, were up 2-0 by halftime. United looked rather listless as usual, and there was no pattern to their play. Many in the terraces and online were calling for manager Erik ten Hag to be sacked, mostly out of frustration rather than logic. The tactics were unclear, the defense was leaking goals, and there didn’t seem to be any fight in the team. It was shaping up to be another disappointing day, despite the presence of United legends Robin Van Persie and Edwin Van Der Sar in the stands.

But the second half of this match will be one for the memory banks of the United faithful. United were the better team from the resumption of play onward. Winger Alejandro Garnacho had a goal (dubiously) disallowed by VAR on 50 minutes for an alleged offside. He was undeterred by that setback though, and found himself scoring a goal that stood on 57 minutes. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes pressed at the right time and won the ball while Villa were trying to build possession, after which he played a brilliant pass up the left flank onto the run of winger/forward Marcus Rashford. Rashford squared the ball along the ground, and it fell to the feet of the onrushing Garnacho for a relatively simple tap-in back across the face of Emiliano Martinez’s goal. Villa were still up, but the game was very much on! Much better tempo and directness from the Red Devils.

Garnacho wasn’t finished, either. He got United’s equalizer on 71 minutes, and it was the result of another quick-moving and incisive attack. The ball was won in the center circle by midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who then played it out wide to Garnacho on the right wing. Garnacho brought the ball forward a bit more and then played it even further out to the right to Bruno on an overlapping run. Garnacho then moved more towards the center of the pitch, and Bruno pinged in a cross that was deflected into the exact space Garnacho was running towards. He hit it first time from about 12 yards out, and it took a minor deflection off a Villa defender before hitting the back of Martinez’s net! 2-2!

There was still plenty of time for United to find a winner, and that’s precisely what they did on 82 minutes. They had won a corner, with Bruno swinging in the ball from the right wing in the air. The ball took two deflections off of Villa players before falling directly to the feet of striker Rasmus Højlund. Højlund instinctively swung at the ball with his left foot while it was still in the air, and it banged into the back of the net off the inside of the left hand post. A true striker’s goal – predatory in nature. He was in the right place at the right time, and while it wasn’t a pretty finish, he did exactly what he needed to do in the circumstance. Højlund has scored 5 goals in Europe for United this season, but he had yet to open his domestic account before today. What a time to get your first Premier League goal, too! A late winner in front of the Stretford End at Old Trafford. That’s the stuff dreams are made of! You could see how much it meant to Højlund emotionally, too. The young man was in tears while his teammates and the crowd celebrated all around him. It was a huge relief for him, and everyone was incredibly happy for the lad. After an agonizing final 20 minutes and an even more agonizing 9 (nine!) minutes of stoppage time, the whistle blew and United had their first win in close to 3 weeks.

Well done from the front three in the second half today. Rashford looked like the Rashford of last season, Garnacho turned in a Man of the Match performance on the right wing, and Højlund did well to bag his first Prem goal and the winner. Great game from Bruno as well. He didn’t get on the score sheet, but his tenacity and technique played a role in all three goals. Quick and incisive chance-creation is key to the tactics and style of play of ETH, and it was on full display in the second half. The main takeaway though is that the players upped their tempo and desire today. It’s truly amazing what this team can do when they actually try. We have all the talent and skill a manager could ask for, but desire, passion, and determination have been lacking this season. There’s no reason why United can’t win every game they play if they play with the level of energy and belief they had today in the second half. They need to remember that when they play hard, they usually get a favorable result.

It will be interesting to see what United’s new part-owners do going forward. It was a good start to their tenure today, but there’s still plenty to work on going forward. The challenges to be faced are numerous. While it’s unclear what specific tasks are to be handled by Ineos/Ratcliffe, it seems they will primarily be football-related and less finance-related. The squad needs further revamping, the youth academy needs investment, the medical staff are behind on the times, and Old Trafford is in dire need of repairs and improvements. It’s a daunting task ahead of them to get United back to the top of European club football, but they should be given every opportunity and be afforded patience by supporters. Ratcliffe has a history of doing well in sports business, and more importantly he was a Manchester United supporter as a child. That means he understands what this club what means to people at the local level. He sees it as more than just a money-making venture, something the much-hated Glazers seem to be unable to fathom.

Ratcliffe and his team have taken a good first step in writing an open letter to the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), a prominent fan group that has been leading the vocal criticisms of the Glazer family. In that letter, they made it clear that the results from the past 10 years or so are not acceptable and that he is just as “ambitious” as the club’s supporters are. And while the contents of the letter are important, they are of secondary importance to the mere fact that Ineos/Ratcliffe has taken the time to directly address the supporters. Ratcliffe has been part owner for a grand total of 2 days, and he’s already done more to address the concerns of supporters than the Glazers have for the better part of 18 years. All he had to do was write a letter saying “we hear you, and we’re going to try to fix things”. Of course, being a better owner than the Glazers is a low bar to clear, but he is definitely as emotionally invested in the success of the team as he is financially invested. If the club’s fortunes turn around in the next year or two, one would hope that a full sale of the club would be next on the cards. Ratcliffe will likely help improve things,

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out! Happy Boxing Day!

Premier League: Victory Over Fulham and Final Day Round-Up

Manchester United played host to London side Fulham FC earlier today at Old Trafford in the final match of the 2022-2023 Premier League season. This was not really a high-stakes match as United had already solidified their top-4 spot, while Fulham were mathematically locked into 10th place and therefore unable to reach a European spot. Still, there was always pride on the line and the fairly strong team fielded by manager Erik ten Hag indicated that he wanted 3rd place locked up. If United earned an equal or better result than Newcastle, they would indeed finish 3rd. There was also a lot of drama at the bottom of the Prem table in the relegation battle, but let’s recap the Red Devils’ match first.

The match was fairly tepid to start out but United were on the front foot for the most part and creating the chances. Fulham somewhat unexpectedly forged themselves ahead on 19 minutes thanks to a header from right back Kenny Tete. Fulham had won a corner, which was swung in to the box by winger Willian. Tete lost his marker at the near post, and he nodded in from what was effectively point-blank range. Fulham going ahead was not on the cards, and United’s misery was almost doubled when the referee awarded Fulham a penalty on 25 minutes after midfielder Casemiro was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box. There weren’t too many protests from anyone in a red shirt, and replays showed a pretty clear foul. Cottagers striker Aleksandar Mitrović stepped up to the spot, but his low effort lacked power and placement. De Gea was able to get down to his left and paw away the shot! Great penalty save from De Gea, especially because De Gea isn’t known as a penalty stopper. The save galvanized the rest of the Red Devils though and they grew into the game quickly.

Winger Alejandro Garnacho went close to an equalizer when his shot from a tight angle struck the crossbar, but United continued to push. They were rewarded for their efforts on 39 minutes when winger Jadon Sancho bundled home a loose ball in the box. Midfielder Fred had taken a good touch to get the ball into the area, but he was met by a Fulham defender that didn’t fully clear the ball. Sancho took a touch and then slid the ball in low past Fulham keeper Bernd Leno. There was a bit of luck about the goal given the good bounce to Sancho, but United had been the dominant side since the penalty save and were good value for their equalizer. The first half finished at 1-1. Newcastle were also level in their match against Chelsea, which meant United were a scant 45 minutes away from a 3rd place finish.

United did not have to wait too long for the go-ahead goal. They had continued their dominance from the latter part of the first half and found the back of the net again on 55 minutes. Fred played a truly sublime through-ball into the feet of fellow midfielder Bruno Fernandes, whom had found a gap in the Fulham back-4 to run into. He latched onto the ball, took it around Leno through on goal, and finished into an empty with ease. A great run and finish from Bruno, but Fred needs all the credit for excellent vision and hitting an absolutely perfect ball. 2-1!

There were half-chances created by both sides in the final 35 minutes, with both keepers forced into fairly routine saves here and there. ETH made some key substitutions as well so as to provide rest and prevent injury to the big players before the FA Cup Final next Saturday. The rhythm of the game slowed down a bit, with the final 10 minutes plus stoppage time feeling more like a training session than a match. That happens on the final day sometimes when there is nothing to play for. The final whistle blew after United cleared a Fulham free kick and the lads locked up a 3rd place finish!

Given how bad this team was last season, a 3rd place finish on 75 points with the League Cup in hand and the opportunity to win another trophy should be regarded as a success. It is true that a club like United needs to be challenging for the league title, but we are clearly still in the early stages of the ETH rebuild. He brought in some absolutely massive players last summer, and some of our pre-existing players improved significantly this season too. We finally have a coherent style of football that the players have bought into. Biggest turning point of the season was early on though. We had lost our first two matches against Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion, after which ETH made the players run 14 KM (roughly 8.7 miles) during a training session. Vitally though, ETH ran all 14 KM with the players. That’s pretty good for a man in his mid-50s, and it clearly showed the players that he was fully invested in the squad. The job he’s done this season has been nothing short of brilliant, and he deserves a full backing from the club’s ownership (whoever that may be) during the transfer window. We need a striker, a second option at goalkeeper, and a ball-carrying midfielder. Time to open the check book!

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

The Relegation Battle

Coming into today, the title had already been decided and the top-4 was also mostly solidified. Liverpool, Brighton, and Aston Villa ended up in the final European places – with the Scousers and Brighton qualifying for the Europa League while Villa will set up shop in the Europa Conference League next season. There was a lack of drama at the top of the table on the final day, but there was no such lack at the bottom.

Bottom-dwellers Southampton had already been relegated a week or so ago. That meant that there were two other spots open for teams to fall into, and the three teams in danger of doing so were Everton, Leicester City, and Leeds United. Leeds were absolutely walloped by Tottenham 4-1 today, and they were losing almost from the get-go. Their fate was sealed relatively early on. Leicester actually managed to beat West Ham 2-1 though, which meant that they were safe as long as Everton lost to AFC Bournemouth. However, Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré smashed the Toffees ahead from 20 yards out on 57 minutes, and it would be the goal that saved them from relegation. Everton and manager Sean Dyche escaped this year, but they have serious work to do in the summer to avoid another relegation battle next season. Thrilling stuff at the bottom of the table today, with millions of pounds at stake for each club!

Before the sign off, a quick congratulations to Burnley FC, Sheffield United FC, and Luton Town FC on their promotions to the Premier League! They will replace the relegated Southampton, Leicester, and Leeds. Burnley and Sheffield United have been in the Premier League before, but this will be the first top-flight adventure for Luton Town in their 138 year history! This is a club that re-defines the word “underdog”. I highly recommend a read-up on Luton Town for those interested because they are probably the best story in football right now.

We aren’t quite done with matches this club season just yet. Saturday June 3rd is the FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley. Should be a Derby for the ages! There is also the not-small matter of the Champions League Final between Manchester City and Inter Milan on June 10th in Istanbul, Turkey.

Premier League: A Narrow But Vital Three Points

Manchester United played hosts to Birmingham-based side Aston Villa FC at a rainy Old Trafford earlier today. Manager Erik ten Hag and the Red Devils needed three points to really solidify their place in the top-4, while the Villans were looking to continue their impressive form under manager Unai Emery. The Frenchman has Villa in outstanding form since his appointment. He is a master of tactics and setting up his team to frustrate the opposition as much as possible, and he is aided in that endeavor by a World Cup-winning goalkeeper in Emiliano Martinez. They’re not only good defensively, but they can score too. Villa has scored in every match Emery has been in charge of thus far. He has been a fly in United’s soup many times before, and he would look to do that again today. United once again fielded a makeshift back-4, although given the good form Luke Shaw has been since sliding over to center back, it feels less “makeshift” than it previously has.

The beginning of this match was marred by a protest from United supporters, roughly a thousand of whom marched on Old Trafford before the game started to show their distaste for United’s owners – the Glazer family. They are rumored to be selling the club soon (a separate article is needed for that topic), but they are dragging their feet and it’s unclear if they will indeed sell or not. Fans have wanted the Glazers out for a variety of reasons for the better part of a decade now, and this author stands behind any fan group calling for their removal. Full sale now! Glazers Out!

The first few minutes of the match were a little tepid but United slowly and surely asserted themselves. Most of the forward runs into the attacking third were being made by United. Striker Marcus Rashford fired wide of the post 8 minutes in, but it wouldn’t have counted as he was adjudged to be offside. Rashford then forced a save from Martinez from a tight angle on 11 minutes, with midfielder Marcel Sabitzer firing a difficult shot over the bar on 14 minutes. United were having a lot of success with playing the long ball over the top of the Villa back four and letting the pacey attackers run onto it. However, Villa got their best chance of the half on 19 minutes. A neat passing move saw midfielder Emiliano Buendia play the ball across the face of United keeper David De Gea’s goal, but Villa striker Ollie Watkins had fallen down and the ball bounced off him and away from the goal. However, it fell straight to Villa left back Alex Moreno, who lashed a shot straight at De Gea. It was saved and the danger evaporated, but it was an extremely close call. Watkins was shouting for a penalty as he felt he was pulled down by United right back Diogo Dalot, but it would have been a soft decision to award one.

United’s dominance soon resumed, with midfielder Casemiro striking the crossbar from about 15 yards on 28 minutes. The Red Devils did finally cash in on their chances on 39 minutes. Martinez cleared the ball long, but the aerial header was won by Casemiro in midfield. The long rebound off his head travelled forward in the air, and Rashford was on hand to run onto it. He did well to get into the box and get a shot away, but it was parried away by Martinez. Fortunately, midfielder Bruno Fernandes was on hand to sprint to the rebound and lift it over the sliding Villa defenders and into the net for 1-0! Sometimes in this sport you get a lucky bounce, and you have to take advantage of it when it happens for you. Great composure. More on Bruno below, but at halftime it was 1-0 and the Red Devils were good value for their lead.

The opening 10 minutes of the second half were again somewhat tepid, with both sides not really forging many chances. Rashford came close again on 58 minutes, but he couldn’t quite get to the final ball before Martinez did. Worryingly though, Villa were growing into the game. They struggled with their own final balls and finishing, but they were now consistently putting together the neat passing moves in attack that Emery is known for. There was a penalty shout for United on 73 minutes when Rashford was seemingly pulled down in the box, but the referee waved off protests from the United players. The referee was consistent in his calls today, at least. If the challenge on Watkins in the first half wasn’t a penalty, then neither was this one.

Villa then got another very good chance on 81 minutes after another good passing move led to the United defense being at sixes and sevens. Watkins hit a cutback cross inside the box that found midfielder Douglas Luiz in space about 12 yards from goal, but his first shot was blocked by a United defender. The ball came back to him though, and he struck another shot towards goal that center back Victor Lindelof cleared off the line with his head. The flag eventually went up for offside on Watkins in the build-up, but none of the players would have seen it. Well done to Lindelof for covering, even if the goal likely would have been disallowed had it gone in. Villa came somewhat close again from a corner on 85 minutes, but the glancing header from center back Tyrone Mings was unintentionally cleared away by fellow Villa defender Ezri Konza. Villa had another chance from a free kick in the dying seconds of stoppage time, but they failed to create a shot on target. The final whistle blew and United won 1-0!

This was a tightly contested match and I am proud of the Red Devils for holding onto their lead, which is something they have had issues with this season. Old Trafford is a fortress for United now, and their streak of never losing a Premier League match there once in the lead continued today. United at home are simply a different beast than when on the road, and our form at home is a major part of the reason why the top-4 now looks likely. Massive games from Shaw and Lindelof today. They were both sensational, and it’s a testament to the coaching of ETH and his staff that there hasn’t been much of drop off in quality in central defense after injuries to our regular starters. Shaw is still best at left back, but his emergency pairing with Lindelof in the center of defense has been nothing short of a revelation. Well done to the lads for being the first team to hold Villa scoreless under Emery!

The difference maker for United today and on many other occasions this season was Bruno. Not only is he vital to our attack in terms of playmaking ability, his leadership on and off the pitch is vital to the chemistry of this team. Opposing fans would argue that he spends too much time moaning and complaining to the referee when he doesn’t get a decision, but that is part of his game – passion. This squad rallies around his passion for the game, and he is a key part of the accountability installed by ETH. His tactical system and man-management style only work if the players buy into it, and Bruno clearly has. There is no one better at making sure everyone does their job than Bruno. He was even remonstrating with Casemiro at full time today, and that was after a victory! He is the engine in our team and if center back Harry Maguire is sold this summer (as seems likely), Bruno should be awarded the club captaincy.

United are now solidly in 4th place. They are still 2 points behind Newcastle, but with a game in hand. It would be great to finish 3rd, but most importantly United are now 7 points clear of Liverpool in 5th place, also with a game in hand. As we are near the tail end of the season, the mathematical permutations and clinching scenarios have become clear. If United can secure a minimum of 9 more points (three victories) from their final six matches, they are guaranteed a position in the top-4 and the Champions League next season. Next up is a tricky away match on the south coast against Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday, May 4th.

Glory Glory Man United! Regardless of where we finish, it’s always GLAZERS OUT!

Premier League: Another Annoying Draw at Tottenham

Manchester United returned to London for the second time in a week for a Premier League match with Tottenham Hotspur at their self-titled stadium. It was a fairly wet evening given the rain, which can be an X-factor in a match. United were looking to continue their run towards the top-4, while Tottenham and interim manager Ryan Mason were looking for a positive response after being drubbed 5-1 by Newcastle last weekend. United’s back line was shuffled by manager Erik ten Hag again, with natural left back Luke Shaw shifting over to center back in a pairing with center back Victor Lindelof. There was also a start for midfielder Christian Eriksen, a former stalwart of the Tottenham midfield.

Although Spurs made a few early runs, it was United out front first just 7 minutes in thanks to winger Jadon Sancho. United had the ball forward in the left channel on a break, and Sancho showed some real confidence to create space for himself before finishing low and into the far corner. Spurs reserve keeper Fraser Forster couldn’t get near it. It was poor close marking from Spurs who probably should have gotten a challenge in, but take nothing away from Sancho for the finish. He has suffered from indecision on the ball this season. He can usually get into a promising area, but then he dawdles on it and the chance evaporates. Not this time though! He knew what he wanted to do with it right away, and he executed it perfectly. United will need more of that from him as the season draws to a close.

Spurs responded fairly well to going a goal down in terms of defending, but they struggled creating chances in attack. They didn’t appear to be on the same page as one another, particularly the forwards and midfielders. Shaw and Lindelof were defending well, and so was right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. They always seemed to get in the way at the right moment, and United looked dangerous on the break.

Indeed, United’s second goal came from just a situation. Spurs winger Ivan Perisic found himself through on goal on the left wing around 43 minutes, but his shot was straight at keeper David De Gea and the rebound save bounced away towards the near corner. After some tangling over the loose ball, it was eventually played to midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Bruno looked up and spotted striker Marcus Rashford on a run ahead of him, and he played a long ball over the top into his path. Rashford was 1-on-1 with his defender, and after he ran onto the ball in the box he lashed it home past Forster for 2-0! A fantastic run, a fantastic pass, and fantastic finish from United’s top scorer on the season. He is now on 29 goals scored in all competitions! The half came to a close shortly after that, with United in commanding position. The boos from Tottenham supporters were growing louder and louder.

But whatever said to Mason to motivate his players in the locker room, it clearly worked. There was no tactical change for Spurs at all – the players just started playing with more energy and determination. They almost pulled one back after a series of corners in the opening 10 minutes, but they did get one back on 56 minutes via right winger/right back Pedro Porro on 56 minutes. United failed to clear the ball from a corner, and after a series of blocked shots it eventually fell to Porro about 17 yards from the goal. He put in a shot that came off his foot awkwardly, and it flew into the top corner of De Gea’s net. A lucky-ish finish from Porro, but that is what can happen when a team fails to properly clear the ball in their own penalty area. Porro would normally miss from there 8 times out of 10, but today it went in. 2-1.

The goal really energized Tottenham, but the Red Devils should have had a third goal right after that. United had the ball in the box with Bruno on it, and he pulled off a magical nutmeg to put himself through on goal with only Forster to beat. Mysteriously though, he overpowered his shot and struck the crossbar with the goal open. AWB tried to head in the rebound, but Forster had recovered and collected easily. As long as I live, I will never understand how Bruno missed this chance. The goal was basically open for him, but there was far too much power on his shot. A big miss and it would end up costing United dearly.

The final 30 minutes was heavily impacted by the play of the substitutes of both sides. Tottenham’s subs were very good, and United’s were very bad. Midfielder Fred in particular had an absolute shocker, giving the ball away every time he was on it. Also a bad day for deputy left back Tyrell Malacia, and striker Wout Weghorst was totally ineffective. An error from Malacia and right back Diogo Dalot led to Tottenham’s second goal on 79 minutes. Malacia ended up on the wrong side of Spurs striker Harry Kane, who was able to find winger Son Heung-Min at the back post with a delightful cross. Son had missed a good chance just a few minutes earlier, but his scuffed shot found the back of the net this time with De Gea stranded. Credit to Spurs for pushing and getting their equalizer, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a set of substitutes play so collectively poorly for United. Malacia cannot let a player of Kane’s caliber get goal-side of him, because he will either shoot or lay off a killer pass. 2-2.

United did re-establish some possession in the final 10 minutes, but there were no major chances. Midfielder Casemiro maybe could have done better with his header from a Shaw cross late on, but there weren’t enough chances created due to Spurs playing with a back-5 and clogging up the midfield. The match ended at 2-2, with United feeling like the losing side. It was a very disappointing second half, and ETH’s substitutions simply did not work. The players looked absolutely gassed towards the end, and it’s the mark of a very long season with a very thin squad. The drop off in quality between Eriksen and Fred today was absolutely staggering. Eriksen is good when he’s not tired, but Fred has been far too inconsistent this season. This squad will need serious strengthening in the summer if they are to challenge for trophies.

This match was almost a carbon copy of the match against Sevilla earlier this season – a two goal lead going into halftime, only for the squad to choke away the victory through careless play. The supporters and ETH will look at this as two points dropped, although in the grand scheme of things the Red Devils are still in a strong position to finish top-4. They are fourth right now and two points off Newcastle in 3rd, but with a game in hand. The most assuring thing though is that United have a six point lead on both Tottenham and Aston Villa (tied for 5th), and they have two games in hand over both of those clubs.

Next up for United is a return to Old Trafford for a very big match with the aforementioned Aston Villa in the Premier League. Three points in that match sees United put one foot in the top-4 and qualification for the Champions League next season. It won’t be easy though, as Villa and manager Unai Emery are excellent at causing problems for the Red Devils.

A Good Start in the League Cup

Manchester United hosted Aston Villa today at Old Trafford in the opening fixture for both clubs in the competition known as the League/EFL/Carabao Cup. The tournament changes names all the time, so for the purposes of this post it shall be known as the League Cup. This was a rematch of last week’s fixture at Villa Park in the Premier League, which United lost to Unai Emery and company. Emery always has his team ready to play United, and his sides always give us trouble no matter what. This was the penultimate fixture for United before the winter break and start of the World Cup.

The opening 20 minutes or so were largely forgettable, with neither side really being able to create any dangerous chances. United had the ball in the back of the net around the half hour mark via Bruno Fernandes, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside in the buildup. Villa had a few half-chances as well, although they struggled to get clear shots on goal.

The second half couldn’t have been more different though, as a whopping six goals were scored by both sides in the second 45 minutes. Villa were on the front foot first via striker Ollie Watkins, who put the ball away nicely after Villa won the ball in midfield and ran directly at the United goal. Reserve United keeper Martin Dubravka, on his debut for the club, probably could have made himself a bit bigger to cover his near post and keep out Watkins’s shot. However, the goal probably should have been disallowed for a hand-ball in the buildup. VAR and the refs missed it though, and Villa were ahead 1-0.

The Villans were immediately pegged back however just one minute later when a long ball over the top from United’s defense caught Villa napping, and Bruno was in on goal all by himself with Anthony Martial in support. Villa’s defense couldn’t get back in time, and it was the simplest of square passes from Bruno to Martial, who slotted it home for 1-1. It’s good to see Martial scoring again, but he must remain healthy for United to have the best chance of success in the second half of the season. Wrap him in cellophane and stick him under a heater this winter!

Villa again went ahead on 61 minutes, this time with even more fortune than last time. They had managed to work the ball towards the goal, but a cross was required from a very tight angle to get the ball across the face of Dubravka’s goal. Unfortunately, the pass had a lot of pace on it and Diogo Dalot’s attempted block directed the ball straight into the back of the net from close range. Scoring an own goal is one of the worst feelings in professional sports, but Villa were definitely lucky to see it go in.

The Red Devils were undeterred though, and kept plugging away in attack. They were rewarded 6 minutes later when winger/forward Marcus Rashford slotted the ball home past Villa keeper Robin Olsen. The ball could have easily gotten away from him, but he sorted out his feet just enough to get the shot away. He had missed just wide of the post a few minutes earlier, so he probably felt a sense of great relief once he equalized.

From that point on, it was almost all United. Center back Harry Maguire saw his powerful header from a corner saved off the line, while Bruno had several shots go just wide of the target. United did their go-ahead goal after a poor clearance from Olsen fell straight to substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho. He spotted Bruno in the center of the area and played the ball to him quickly. Bruno got the shot away, and a deflection off Villa center back Tyrone Mings wrong-footed Olsen saw the ball go into the back of the net. Great awareness from Garnacho, and finally United got a bit of luck of their own with Bruno’s finish.

Garnacho only got better as the match went on. The diminutive Argentine went on a lung-busting run down the left wing and almost had a goal of his own, if not for a save from Olsen. He was then instrumental in creating United’s fourth goal on the day when he played a lovely floating cross into the area from the left wing. His pass found the run of midfielder Scott McTominay, who did well to control the pass and stick it in as stoppage time began. United won the match 4-2 and secured their progression to the 4th Round of the League Cup.

Many in England often question the importance of the League Cup, but today manager Erik ten Hag and the players on the pitch were very clearly taking it seriously. I think there was a little bit of extra juice in the legs today too, having been beaten by this side at the weekend. I will never complain about United wanting to win a trophy, but I just worry that the lads expended a lot of effort today and that could negatively affect them later in this long and fixture-filled season. As long as reinforcements arrive in January, this team will do well.

A hearty congratulations to Rashford, Maguire, Luke Shaw, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno, Dalot, Fred, Casemiro, Antony dos Santos, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Garnacho, and Raphael Varane on their call-ups to their respective national teams for the World Cup! Even if England doesn’t do well, I will be sure to cheer for United’s contingent of players. Left back Tyrell Malacia may still be called upon by the Netherlands, who announce their squad tomorrow. Also happy that the rest of the players who were not called up get a month of rest when normally they would be playing.

Just one match left now, an away trip to Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday. We need to finish this first half of the season with three points! Almost more importantly though, I am hoping for no injuries for any player going to the World Cup.

Glory Glory Man United!

Won the Battle, Lost the War

Manchester United traveled to the northern coast of Spain earlier today to play Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena in San Sebastien. This was the final Europa League group match of the season, and the tie was finely poised. These two teams already played each other this season in the very first group stage game, controversially won by Sociedad at Old Trafford after a very dubious penalty call from the referee. Due to that result and the goal difference, United needed to win today by two goals in order to progress as group winners. Manager Erik ten Hag and Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacial were both looking to avoid a tricky playoff fixture in February that would have to be navigated for whoever did not win the group. Neither team was in danger of being eliminated today, as both were far and away the two best teams in the group.

The match kicked off in a lively atmosphere, with Sociedad getting on the front foot first. Their strategy was to try and press United high up the pitch for the opening 10-15 minutes and nick a goal, which would go a long way to killing off the tie. United’s defense was resolute though, and they could not find a way through. For United, it was clear that the usual method of building attacks from the back was not going to work against this press and they would need to try something different to get a goal.

United did get the breakthrough goal on 17 minutes, and it came via a long-ball over the top from keeper David De Gea. He played the ball in the air out towards the right wing, which was met with a header by Bruno Fernandes that sprung Cristiano Ronaldo into a bit of space. He was in position to run at the back line with the ball, so he did briefly before finding 18 year-old winger Alejandro Garnacho on a run in behind Sociedad’s right back. His weighted pass through two defenders was perfect. Garnacho took a touch to clear the ball out from under his feet and then took a second to create some space between him and his marker. His third touch was a shot blasted into the roof of the net over keeper Alex Remiro to make it 1-0. It’s always good to see a United academy product on the score sheet!

United kept pushing for the all-important second goal, but despite playing well on the counter, they could not find another way in behind. The next best chance of the game fell to Sociedad around the 40 minute mark, when they forced De Gea into a borderline-miraculous double save after he parried a long-range shot into the path of another Sociedad player with United’s back-4 asleep at the wheel. Although De Gea’s game may be subpar in some areas, when it comes to pure shot-stopping, he is still one of the best in the world. His positioning and athleticism when making these saves is truly something to behold. After that action though there wasn’t anything further until halftime, with United up 1-0.

The second half was much more difficult for United. They struggled to get on the ball in the opening 10 minutes again, although it must be said that Sociedad were not generating many clear opportunities either. Given that the onus was on United to go and score, ETH rolled the dice and made some intriguing changes to the personnel and tactics. Logically, Marcus Rashford was brought on as he is in good goal-scoring form, but I was very confused by the substitution of center-back Victor Lindelof, who came off for midfielder Scott McTominay. ETH also changed the formation, moving to 3-3-3-1 with Ronaldo as the lone striker up top. I had never seen that formation before in a professional match until today. There were reports that this was part of the plan for United though, and that they had worked on this formation in training. It seemed like the plan was to give a little bit more support to the attack while not losing midfield shape.

In terms of attacking play though, that formation did not work. United really struggled to create clear chances throughout the second half, while Sociedad were growing stronger and stronger. Once again though, credit to United’s back line for playing very well, particularly Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw. Both of them had excellent games defensively today, particularly Martinez. He is an absolute animal on the pitch. He gets himself in the way time and time again, and he’s definitely not scared to put in a crunching tackle if need be. It must also be said that as time wore on, the tactics from Sociedad grew more and more cynical. They were flopping around on the ground like fish on a boat deck every time a United player got near them. It felt like they had started their time-wasting tactics as early as 70 minutes. The referee, although not as bad as the ref the last time these two sides met, still largely fell for the shithousery and was very quick to stop the game. This may have also been part of the reason why United couldn’t get anything going.

A very curious tactical switch was employed by ETH in the final ten minutes as a last roll of the dice, which saw center-back Harry Maguire come on and play as a center-forward/forward destroyer. ETH clearly told him to go stand near the opposition box and wait for the long ball. Now that could have been a good tactic, had the rest of the team coordinated properly. When Maguire’s massive frame and head are forward, just play the ball in the air lads! There were several instances where United kept trying to pass it through a very-clogged midfield, when the long ball would have been the better option. Maguire did win some headers in the air, but I feel he wasn’t on long enough to make a significant impact. Credit to ETH for trying something new, but it must be said that it didn’t work. The match ended 1-0 after a series of half-chances for United.

So yes, we won the match but did not win the group. Sociedad advance to the Round of 16 as group winners, while United now have to play a tricky playoff fixture in February against a team that has already crashed out the Champions League. This season, that could mean that United will have to potentially play Barcelona, Sevilla, Juventus, or Ajax. Despite their respective disappointing seasons so far, all three of those clubs are European giants and no one will relish the prospect of playing them. That dubious penalty awarded by the ref at Old Trafford all those months ago now looms very large indeed. Without that penalty, that match likely ends 0-0 and United’s victory today would have them as group winners.

Positives and negatives today, though. Garnacho looks to be the real deal, for example. He was a real nuisance to Sociedad today. I’d love to see him get some playing time in the upcoming Premier League matches. He is a little on the short side, but there’s no denying his pace, dribbling, and finishing. Although he grew up idolizing Ronaldo, his body composition and style of play are much more reminiscent of Lionel Messi. I’m not saying the young Argentine is the next Messi as I wouldn’t want to put that pressure on him, but he could be very special indeed if he continues to develop properly. As already noted as well, the back line was very good today, with yet another clean sheet on the books.

A striker is desperately needed in January, though. Ronaldo did not have a good day in front of goal today despite his assist. Rashford is not a pure center-forward, no matter how hard he tries. Anthony Martial has been brilliant in the striker role when on the pitch, but he is injured too often to be consistently relied upon. A good finisher of the ball who fits ETH’s system will do wonders for this team. Had we beaten other teams like Omonia Nicosia and Sheriff Tiraspol by bigger margins, it’s possible that we win this group. Spanish sides in Europe are always tough to play against though, so a 1-0 victory away is still something to be proud of even if United didn’t win the group.

There are now just three matches left before the winter break for the World Cup. The Red Devils return to action on Sunday when they travel to Aston Villa for a Premier League match. Three points, please.

Glory Glory Man United!

High Drama on the Premier League Final Day

Going into the final matchday of the Premier League season, there were plenty of important positions in the league table to be decided. First and foremost among them were who would win the Premier League title. Mathematically, only Liverpool or Manchester City could win it. City were ahead by a point, meaning that Liverpool had to get a better result against Wolverhampton Wanderers than City in their match against Aston Villa. In a coincidental twist, former Liverpool captain and King Scouser himself Steven Gerrard could help his old club win the title today as manager of Aston Villa. There was also a final Champions League place to be decided between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, and the final relegation spot hadn’t been decided either. Leeds United were looking to stay up at the expense of Burnley.

Tottenham ended up shellacking Norwich, with striker Son Heung-min solidifying his position as the Golden Boot winner, earned by scoring the most goals in a Premier League season. Arsenal did win as well, but it didn’t matter as they had to better the result from Tottenham. Tottenham will be in the Champions League next season, with Arsenal in the Europa League. Leeds were also able to snatch a late winner in their match, relegating Burnley to the Championship after their loss to Newcastle. Man United supporters would have preferred Leeds to go down given the bitter rivalry between the clubs, but United are in no position to gloat. Their largely inconsequential match against Crystal Palace ended 1-0 in favor of Palace, with new manager Erik ten Hag in attendance. United did end up qualifying for the Europa Conference League next season, which no one is really thrilled about given it’s the least important European tournament. It almost would have been better to have no European football next season. Ten Hag’s facial expressions in the stands during the match tell the whole story – he knows he’s got a mountain of work to do.

But the highest of the high drama was centered on the title race. It’s always thrilling when it comes down to the final matchday of the season, and today was no exception. City conceded two goals to Aston Villa, while Liverpool were held to a 1-1 score line for most of their match. Had Liverpool scored at that moment (around the 65 minute mark in both matches) they would have been in the driver’s seat for the title. But never count out City’s talent. They scored three goals in 5 minutes to take a 3-2 lead over Villa, with German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan being the main spark in the attack. Liverpool then went ahead against Wolves via Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, but City were able to hold on to the ball effectively and Villa never got another sniff of the goal. With both clubs getting a win, City won the title by precisely 1 point. Not the narrowest margin of all time, but it certainly does not get much tighter than that.

City’s title-clinching win means that Liverpool will not be the first English club to win the Quadruple (all four major trophies in the same season), and that is important because Liverpool fans would have been insufferable had they done so. No one in the red half of Manchester wants City to win the Prem, but at this point they are the lesser of two evils. I’d rather see the trophy at the bottom of the North Sea than in the hands of the Scousers. Congrats to manager Pep Guardiola and City, I suppose.

But today was great stuff. The Premier League always brings the drama, and it’s great for the growth of the English game on a world-wide scale. We have a title winner, all European places decided, and three teams have been relegated. The final issue to be decided (domestically at least) is which three teams will be promoted to replace the relegated Norwich, Watford, and Burnley. We know that Fulham and Bournemouth will be two of the teams promoted, but on May 29 the playoff final between Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest will determine that coveted third promotion spot. Whoever wins will not only earn the prestige of playing in the Prem, but also close to £150 million in TV revenue for the club.

Liverpool also have one more match to play, the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris on May 28. Should be a tasty match, given the attacking talents and their respective European pedigrees. On that day, all United supporters will be Madridistas for about 2 hours or so. I will have posts both for that match and the playoff final!

United Escape Aston Villa; Plus an FA Cup 4th Round Recap

England’s version of March Madness got into full swing this weekend with the 3rd round of the FA Cup now in the books. There have already been a number of upsets and there are at least 2 clubs who will believe that they’re going on a Cinderella-run of sorts. A more in-depth review can be found below!

Manchester United’s particular 3rd round tie was against Aston Villa at Old Trafford, held earlier on today. Aston Villa are currently in the bottom half of the Premier League table, but they are an intriguing side nonetheless given that their manager is none other than former Liverpool player (and villain of Old Trafford) Steven Gerrard. He was easily their best player for most of his career, and he certainly caused one or two anxious affairs for United when he was on the pitch in midfield. I was hoping the lads would be up for this one given who the opposite manager is, as there is nothing Gerrard (and Liverpool) would like more than to knock United out of a major tournament.

But this was once again a lackluster affair from United. They did get the game’s only goal on 8 minutes via a header from Scott McTominay, but the victory tends to paper over the cracks of all the issues on display. Villa were the better side for most the game, in particular the second half. They even had the ball in the net twice, but both goals were correctly ruled out after VAR review. Raphael Varane was solid in central defense and David De Gea had a good day in goal, but make no mistake, this was an ugly match. Marcus Rashford looks like a shadow of himself. Mason Greenwood is developing some ball-hogging tendencies that usually result in him losing possession. Further, we can’t retain possession to save our lives as collective team. It’s the same problem that has haunted us for over a month now – we give the ball away far too easily and there’s no effort (or at least no coordinated effort) to win it back.

There is still some adjustment to manager Ralf Rangnick’s playing style going on, and I am not sure how much this particular squad has bought into it. To be fair, there is a question of whether playing with only two men in midfield is an effective strategy for United and that is something that needs to be addressed more in-depth as the season moves forward. However, the lack of effort in ball recovery is perhaps an indication that not everyone fulling co-signs to this new style of play. That is not good at all, for several reasons. For one, in football you have to play as a unit. If multiple players don’t want to play the tactics that the rest of the team is doing, it’s not going to work. For two, it speaks to a level of apathy that is unacceptable for professional athletes. They all get paid millions to play a kids game, and that seems to have been somewhat forgotten.

I also think that several of our players, most notably Rashford, are not in the right space mentally. Rashford is not aggressive enough, and Greenwood is probably too aggressive. Substitute Anthony Elanga did more on the left wing in 10 minutes than Rashford did in 80. I love Rashford and I want to see him succeed, so I’d like to see another senior member of the team or one of the coaches get with him and see what the problem is. He’s insanely talented, but he hasn’t looked the same since he returned to the club after the Euros this past summer.

In short, Rangnick needs to get this squad together. I was happy with Elanga’s energy and Varane’s discipline today, but that’s really about it. Rashford, Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, and Edinson Cavani all need to improve. The whole squad does really, but those 4 in particular are playing well below their usual standards.

United will host Championship side Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in the next round of the FA Cup. The next fixture though is a repeat of this one – hosting Villa in the Premier League in 5 days’ time. If we play like this again against them, they will at least earn a draw or outright beat us.

***

A quick but important shoutout to three other clubs – Kidderminster Harriers FC and Boreham Wood FC. I won’t lie, I hadn’t heard of those two clubs before yesterday. But these two have made some serious waves by winning their FA Cup 3rd Round fixtures – by beating Reading FC and AFC Wimbledon respectively. What makes those two results so notable is that both Kidderminster and Boreham Wood are non-league teams, meaning they are comprised entirely of semi-professional players. There are 8 divisions in the English football pyramid, and both teams play in the 6th division, referred to as the National League. It’s always great to see the minnows earn a chance to swim with the big fish, which is exactly what these two have done. For their efforts, Kidderminster get the reward of hosting Premier League side West Ham United, while Boreham Wood will travel to play Championship side AFC Bournemouth. Both clubs stand to make a good deal of money from these fixtures, and for me there’s nothing cooler than semi-pros getting to try their hand against professional millionaires. Imagine you and 5 friends start a basketball team, and your get far enough into a tournament to get a chance at playing the LA Lakers or Chicago Bulls. That’s the equivalent of what is happening here.

Also a very special shoutout to Nottingham Forest FC, a Championship side who knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup yesterday at Emirates Stadium. Forest is my grandparents’ club and I have taken a tour of that club’s stadium personally, so I feel a special affinity towards them when they aren’t playing United. It’s a big achievement for Forest to take down one of the giants, and it was in no small part thanks to James Garner (no relation to the actor), a midfielder on loan to Forest from United. Forest have been devoid of major success for a few decades now so it’s great to see them get a result. Always good to see Arsenal lose in the FA Cup as well, as they have won it more times than any other club.