Manchester United in Disarray

The Red Devils lost to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday at Old Trafford, with the final score being 3-1. Midfielder Hannibal Mejbri got an impressive consolation goal, but the match had already been lost by that point. United were out-passed, out-possessed, and generally outplayed by a talented Brighton side. There was a goal disallowed for striker Rasmus Højlund that probably should have been allowed to stand, but there were a ton of problems for United that had nothing to do with the referee. Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi deserves praise and credit for building a team that consistently overperforms and exceeds their budgetary limitations.

Conversely, this has been statistically the poorest start to a United season since the 1970s. They have only won 2 of their first 5 opening matches, and have looked lackluster in all of them. A lot of things are going wrong at this club right now, some of which is bad luck, but a lot of it is avoidable. It seems like every day, even when there is no match to be played, more and more negative headlines keep rolling in.

The bad luck is mainly coming in the form of injuries, although at some point one has to question why injuries are always a concern for this club season after season. Nevertheless, we have a starting 11 of injured players in the training room right now, and that is a big part of the reason why the results are so poor. You need your most talented players to win games, but moreover you need those talented players playing alongside one another consistently to develop an understanding and chemistry. If that’s not happening due to injuries or other reasons, the team will simply not play as well.

But the injuries are just one aspect of United’s problems right now. A much bigger issue, and one that is completely within the players’ control, is EFFORT. If I had a dollar for every time a star player was caught being lazy and not giving a full effort this season, I could pay off my considerable student loan debt in full. I am sick and tired of seeing grown men who make six figures EVERY WEEK not giving a shit about playing hard. Playing football is the ONLY THING they have to do, and for whatever reason they are not playing their best. Out of the 13-14 players who touched the pitch on Saturday, maybe 4 or 5 of them truly gave their best efforts. It’s unacceptable. Manager Erik ten Hag needs to start dropping the big names from the starting line-ups to send a message that no one’s spot in this team is safe. A starting spot is earned, not given. It might be worth fielding a team of academy players for a match just to send a message to the rest of the squad. Right now, the culture of this team is awful and it is on ETH to remedy the issue.

Another issue is tactics, which is related to the injury crisis. Despite all the spending in the summer, we still somehow do not have the players to play in the style ETH demands. He wants us to control possession in the middle of the park, while also running a counter-press when out of possession. That can be an effective style of play with the proper players who are properly motivated, but as I have said before on this blog, tactics don’t matter if your players don’t care to play hard. There have also been some questionable substitutions made by ETH in recent games, which again is on him to fix. He did well tactically last season, so the regression so far this year is extremely concerning.

There are also problems off the pitch. Winger/forward Mason Greenwood was finally sold to Spanish side Getafe, and I thought we had done well to excise that particular tumor from the locker room. However, winger Antony dos Santos has also found himself at the center of a domestic violence scandal in recent weeks, with numerous allegations being made by his former girlfriend. Antony denies all allegations, but he has stepped away from the team and isn’t playing right now until the club determines the best way to proceed. Lastly, winger Jadon Sancho has not been selected to play recently, supposedly due to a locker room spat with ETH over punctuality at training. There has been a lot of back and forth in the media between Sancho and the manager, and that kind of distraction is always bad for team chemistry. I do like that ETH is holding players accountable and making everyone adhere to the same standards, but he needs to figure out a way to motivate Sancho and get the best out of him. Right now, that isn’t happening with any of the players.

And of course, there is always the bigger picture to consider as well. Any time there is a problem with a business, the owner ultimately carries all responsibility for it. The Glazers are no exception. I realize they were not on the pitch on Saturday and they do not set the team’s lineups and tactics, but their greasy fingerprints are all over the negative climate at the club. They do not invest their own money in the club or it’s facilities, and indeed they actively take money out of it. It is probable that the injury issues year after year are related to no investment from ownership in the medical staff and training room. They did spend (the club’s) money a little bit in the summer to bring in new players, but it is rumored that many of ETH’s first-choice targets were overlooked due to cost. Their biggest sin though is their laissez-faire approach that has left this club in a state of salutary neglect. They don’t care if the team wins too much, as long as they keep making money. This attitude of “we don’t really care” trickles down to everyone at the club, from the players to the training staff to the kit people to the janitors that clean the stadium after matches. If the owners don’t care about winning consistently, why should the players?

So yes, it’s a mess right now. This team needs to respond to the adversity, and it has to happen soon. The title is already gone, and the top-4 is in serious jeopardy if the team keeps playing in an unmotivated fashion. ETH’s seat will also become incredibly hot if the results do not improve, as will the seat of Director of Football John Murtough. Of course though, nothing will fundamentally change at this club for the better until the Glazers sell the team and get out of town.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Red Devils in the next match either, as they must travel to Germany for a Champions League group stage match against German champions Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Needless to say, I don’t have high expectations.

Glazers Out!

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: Back-to-Back Defeats Leaves the Top 4 Race Hanging in the Balance

I was too upset and frustrated to write about Manchester United’s loss away to Brighton & Hove Albion last Thursday, so I thought I would wait until after the match away to West Ham United earlier today and do a double-post with the hope that the result today was better.

It wasn’t.

United have suffered back-to-back 1-0 defeats on the road against those aforementioned teams. They looked to achieve a respectable 0-0 against Brighton until center back Luke Shaw mysteriously stuck his hand in the air to meet the ball in the box in stoppage time, and midfielder Alexis Mac Alister converted a 97+ minute penalty to steal all three points for the Seagulls. Today, United were behind on 27 minutes after Hammers winger Saïd Benrahma’s speculative effort embarrassingly slipped through the gloves of United keeper David De Gea. United were unable to find the net as the match wore on. Truthfully, United could have easily lost by a 3-0 margin today in East London. The referee saved them from further goals awarded despite the Hammers finding the back of the net several times, and they likely should have been awarded a penalty for handball in first half stoppage time.

Usually I’m able to point to one specific problem that leads to a defeat, but in this case it appears there are several. Each problem by itself is probably not enough to cause these losses, but taken together it’s all a recipe for disaster.

For one, the Red Devils have been terrible away from Old Trafford this season. We have more defeats away than relegation-strugglers Everton, and it speaks to a problem with the team’s mentality and attitude. Manager Erik Ten Hag has shown he is capable of good man-management at times, but this team wilts like a flower in the July sun away from home and it must be changed going into next season. Whatever ETH did at the beginning of the year to get this team to buy in, he needs to do it again.

Another reason for these losses is the overall play of De Gea. His error today was terrible and probably one of the worst of his career. But his shot-stopping issue today is still not the biggest concern. Again, his distribution when playing the ball out from the back has been below standards in multiple matches this season. Part of that is the center back pairing in front him (and that is addressed below), but he has repeatedly shown he is not capable of effectively distributing the ball out from the back, which is crucial to the tactics and philosophy of ETH. De Gea gets it right every once in a while, but at this level he has to be much more consistent. The casual observer might think he’s had a good season given that he’s on pace to win the Golden Gloves (awarded to the keeper with the most Premier League clean sheets), but that is a misleading statistic for keepers. Keeping a clean sheet involves all 11 players, not just the keeper. ETH likes to use the keeper to start the build-up play and then for the team to move the ball up the pitch along the ground, but when the keeper is consistently making poor decisions with the initial pass, the build-up doesn’t work. ETH has resorted to letting De Gea play long balls at times, particularly against Brighton, but those haven’t been the most accurate either.

It does not help De Gea that center backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are battling long-term injuries. Martinez and Varane were first choice under ETH for a reason – both are very good on the ball and can usually withstand a high press from the opposition. Replacement center backs Victor Lindelof and Shaw have shown that they are capable defensively for the most part, but they are not as good on the ball and struggle to make the key passes into midfield when pressed. Shaw is normally very good on the wing when he plays his natural left back position, but as he has had to deputize at center back, the left wing has looked unproductive. It’s no coincidence that the scoring of forward Marcus Rashford slowed down once Shaw was required to move into central defense. Shaw and Rashford have good chemistry between them, and they scare teams with their movement and passing down the left wing. Deputy left back Tyrell Malacia had a good start to the season, but his form the last several matches covering for Shaw has left a lot to be desired in attack.

Of course, no one man or unit is responsible for the team losing. De Gea hasn’t been good, but this team is more than capable of getting results against teams like Brighton and West Ham. The rest of the outfield players have frankly been poor. Winger Antony dos Santos usually looks good for a half, then he disappears. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes is always running his tail off, but his passes haven’t been accurate recently. Midfielder Casemiro is being knocked off the ball too easily. Striker Anthony Martial hasn’t looked sharp since he returned from injury. Rashford’s goals have dried up. Striker Wout Weghorst can’t find the back of the net to save his life, and indeed no one’s finishing has been good. The list of players underperforming goes on and on. As hinted at above, this is a team that is collectively low on confidence, and it is on ETH to reignite the team’s confidence and get them firing again. It took them until the 90th minute today to really start playing with intensity, which is unacceptable. I imagine several of them will be out the door this summer while ETH continues to rebuild.

The top-4 is now in serious jeopardy for United, and failing to qualify would be borderline catastrophic for the club’s finances and moreover their ability to recruit players over the summer. They are just one point ahead of Liverpool in 5th, as these losses have seen their cushion evaporate. They still have a game in hand over Liverpool, and fortunately three of the last four matches will be at the fortress known as Old Trafford. But, all of Liverpool’s games seem very winnable for them as well. United still need 9 points to mathematically guarantee the top-4, and there are only 12 maximum points available. The Scousers and/or Tottenham Hotspur could still bottle it themselves of course, but you never want to leave qualification in the hands of the opposition.

United return to Old Trafford next Saturday to host Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves are safe from relegation and likely do not have much to play for, so hopefully United are able to get back on track with three points.

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

It’s Going to Be a Long Season, Isn’t It?

Manchester United lost their home opener to Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 at Old Trafford, in what was really a disorganized and uncoordinated display.

Our midfield wasn’t good enough last season, and it seems that form has carried over into this season. Fred and Scott McTominay just don’t have the ability to play together in the middle. United have lost 4-5 midfield players from last season to either other clubs or retirements, and we’ve only signed Christian Eriksen in replacement. Eriksen is good, but he can’t fix all of our problems in the middle of the park on his own. Manager Erik ten Hag needs to find another solution in midfield, which may include going out and buying another player. We are in desperate need of a ball-carrying midfielder who can play a pass under pressure and a true defensive midfielder, something we have needed for the better part of two seasons now. Why is it that every United supporter can see that, but the people in charge of signings (John Murtough, Darren Fletcher) cannot? It was easy to blame the Glazers and former CEO Ed Woodward as they were not really football men making all the football decisions. But the squad looking as bad as they did today is the product of decisions made by Murtough and Fletcher, two guys who are supposed to know what they’re doing.

This loss takes all the gloss and shine off a good pre-season and provides a stark reminder of just how far off this team is from competing for anything important. And it’s not just the midfield, either. David De Gea had a subpar performance by his standards, United’s fullbacks have no defensive positioning awareness, and the forwards looked disinterested in attacking. Yes we forced an own goal today, but we were already down 2-0 when that happened.

I implore ETH and the sporting directors to go out and get us a defensive midfielder before the transfer window closes. If we aren’t able to secure at least one more midfielder, I fear that we will be forced to endure these bad performances on the regular.

I love Manchester United and I always will, but the ownership and club directors make it exceedingly difficult to watch this shit week in and week out.

Glazers Out!

Brighton Embarrass United on the South Coast

In the penultimate match of the Premier League season, Manchester United were defeated 4-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Amex Community Stadium.

Just when it appeared that the Red Devils could not play any worse during a season of terrible performances, they somehow find a way to play worse. Brighton ripped them apart routinely and they could have had more than 4 fairly easily. A majority of the players once again looked disinterested in playing for the majority of the match. The away supporters, who paid quite a lot of money to travel the 260 miles from Manchester to Brighton and attend the match, broke out into a chorus of “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” around the hour mark. They were right. Those supporters, and all our traveling supporters this season, do not deserve this.

At this point, the season just needs to be over with. 5 straight defeats away from home, which is the worst run since 1981. No Champions League next season officially as of today either. Let’s put 11 youth players out there for the final match away to Crystal Palace and call it done. It is obvious that this club needs a rebuild. Ideally, 8-10 players need to be sold and replaced. Best of luck to incoming manager Erik ten Hag with sorting that out. He will need it.

Despite the result today and overall crap season, interim manager Ralf Rangnick has continued to ingratiate himself with a majority of United supporters by very vocal and critical of the players and ownership. He stated this week that club refused to back his request for a striker in the January transfer window, and he has been continuously vocal in his criticisms of the players’ collective attitude and mentality. Interestingly, he was also appointed manager of the Austrian national team earlier this week, but he will also have a consultancy position at United next season. Many are skeptical of his ability to do both jobs simultaneously, but it is worth noting that he has been the most brutally honest manager regarding the state of the club that United have had since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. Rangnick should be given the benefit of the doubt. He sees what the problems are, and we know that because he says what they are out loud in front of cameras.

Only positive from today is that Liverpool dropped points against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in a 1-1 draw. Should Manchester City beat Newcastle tomorrow, it would be a devastating blow to Liverpool’s title aspirations, and therefore also a blow to their aspirations to win the Quadruple (Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup). No British club has won all four of those trophies in the same season, and I certainly do not want the Scousers to be the first to do it. They have already won the League Cup and are in the final for both the FA Cup and the Champions League. It’s bad enough they’ve gotten this close. To be clear, nobody in the red half of Manchester wants to see the Premier League trophy draped in sky blue ribbons, but for me I’d rather see it at the bottom of the English Channel than in the hands of the Scousers.

A Much Needed Victory Over Brighton

Apologies for missing the recap of the last match, but there wasn’t much new to report on. A third straight 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Southampton with United failing to be clinical in front of goal and scoring only once, paired with some schoolboy defending that led to their equalizer. It wouldn’t have been harsh to call us 1-1 FC. Lots of questions about whether manager Ralf Rangnick’s tactics were suited to the players he had, and even more questions about the individual player’s willingness (ability?) to play the style of football Rangnick wants.

But every new match is a new opportunity to go and make it right, and thanks to the stuttering form of the teams around Manchester United, the final spot in the top 4 of the Premier League table was up for grabs. United welcomed Brighton & Hove Albion, a team from the south coast of England, as their next opponents at Old Trafford. They are having themselves a decent season under manager Graham Potter, as they came into the match in the top half of the table themselves. They had their eyes on a European qualifying spot as well.

The first half ended goalless with United creating a few decent chances, but what was worrying was that Brighton were often the team on the front foot. Too many times the United defense was caught in a bad position, or failing that they would miss a key tackle or interception. Brighton could not find the back of the net though, and it must be noted that United keeper David De Gea is (for the millionth time) a big part of the reason for that. His flying save from a Brighton header around the half hour mark was particularly of note. The man is probably the best pure shot-stopper I have ever seen play the game. His positioning, reflexes, and size make it incredibly difficult to get the ball past him. That’s a damn good thing as well, because he has played behind some terrible defenses during his career at United.

The second half got underway similarly to the first, with both sides not really doing much to create chances. However, United found themselves in the lead on 51 minutes thanks to striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who snapped a six match goal drought with a very sweet right-footed finish into the right side of the goal. Brighton were pressed on the ball while in their own half, and midfielder Scott McTominay did very well to block/deflect a pass attempt almost straight at Ronaldo about 20 yards away off to his left. Ronaldo took about two touches as he ran towards the Brighton back line, and they couldn’t get close enough to get a challenge in without fouling him. He lashed his shot home and United had themselves a second half goal for the first time in weeks! Sometimes all it takes is one mistake by the opposition, especially with Ronaldo on the pitch.

About a minute after the goal, United were given another advantage when Brighton center back Lewis Dunk was sent off on a straight red card for a foul on United forward Anthony Elanga. Elanga had won the ball off Dunk and was through on goal before being pulled back. It was initially just a yellow, but a VAR review was called for and it was upgraded to a red card as Dunk was adjudged to have stopped a clear goal-scoring opportunity for United. Brighton were down to 10 men for the final 38 minutes and now really under a lot of pressure to not fall apart completely.

United should have had a second goal on 72 minutes after Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez gave the ball away directly to Ronaldo on the edge of the penalty area. Ronaldo was quickly marked, but he found Bruno Fernandes in space in the center of the area. Bruno took a shot, but Sanchez redeemed himself a bit with a save. Bruno really should have done better though in that position, and I was worried that the missed chances would come back to haunt us again. There was still plenty of time left in the match, and Brighton had given a very good accounting of themselves. They were dead even with United in possession and were throwing men forward into attacks to try and gain their equalizer. They came closest around 77 minutes when a cross/shot from just outside the left corner of the box rattled the top of the crossbar. It was a splendid effort, and United were once again lucky that the crossbar was in the way. Not even De Gea could have gotten to that one.

Brighton’s pursuit of a goal left them exposed at the back though, and United were often able to run at them in the final 15-20 minutes of the game or so. All of those runs were finally capitalized on in the final minute of stoppage time. United won a foul inside their own half and took it quickly, with Paul Pogba sharply finding Bruno on his own in the right channel near midfield. Bruno carried the ball about 50 yards on his own largely unchallenged, as Ronaldo was running alongside him as a passing option. The lone Brighton defender couldn’t decide who to commit to, and Bruno was eventually able to get an angle around him for a shot. He dummied his first attempt to get Sanchez to dive, then quickly struck the ball around him and into the back of the net. Great awareness from Pogba, good run from Ronaldo, and a great run/finish from Bruno.

United move at least temporarily into 4th with this result, even despite our recent struggles. Now that Rangnick has had a good amount of games in charge, the statistics are starting to show what this team’s struggles are. Under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United were good at scoring goals but also good at conceding them. Under Rangnick, United don’t score as many goals but we also do not concede them as much. The defense has improved under Rangnick, but the offense has struggled. In the three matches prior to this one, United registered over 70 shots but scored a pitiful three goals. They did score two yesterday, but the lack of finishing was still a problem in that match too. It finished 2-0 but it should have been 4 at least. In the Premier League you have to kill off the opposition. If they sense they can get back into it, they usually have the talent to do so.

Still, improvement is improvement. Good matches from Pogba and Bruno, and I think Ronaldo is now going to kick in to high gear as we get closer to the business end of the season. De Gea has to be Man of the Match though. He now has 128 clean sheets for United, which ties him with club legend Peter Schmeichel. A remarkable achievement in any context, but especially so in this case given the aforementioned bad defenses De Gea has had to play behind. It’s been some lean times at United the past decade or so, but they would have been much worse without Big Brave Spanish Dave.

United face a tough test away to Leeds United next Sunday, and even tougher one after that as the Champions League resumes and they travel to Madrid to take on Atletico. United are currently 4th in the Premier League as mentioned, but there are several other clubs close behind with games in-hand.

Glory Glory Man United!

Another Matchday, Another Postponement

Manchester United were scheduled to play Brighton & Hove Albion today at Old Trafford in a Premier League match, but it was announced earlier this week that all proceedings today would be postponed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 among the Red Devils players and staff. Neither this match or the one last Tuesday that was also postponed has been rescheduled, and it is unclear when these matches are to be played. United are not scheduled to play again until December 27th away to Newcastle, so hopefully the forthcoming 9 days allows players to produce some negative tests. It is also very close to the opening of the January transfer window, so I will be sure to provide updates of any signings made. United are believed to be still very much in the market for a defensive midfielder.

All I can really do here is wish everyone a speedy recovery, and reiterate the call for everyone who is able to please get vaccinated. The vaccine may not save you from contracting Covid altogether, but it is likely to reduce the severity of symptoms and also make a person more likely to survive it.

Champions League Draw + Match Postponement

The draw for the Round of 16 in this year’s Champions League tournament took place on Monday, in which Manchester United were drawn against Spanish side Atletico Madrid. I’ll go into the matchup more in a second, but a quick summary would be that Atletico are a very good side defensively and they have the superstars in attack to beat anyone. They routinely beat teams with bigger budgets and they have a manager in Diego Simeone who has won La Liga multiple times.

The headline from the draw though was that it actually had to be done twice by UEFA after it was discovered that there was an error in the computer software that put the teams into the various pots needed for the draw. Originally Liverpool were given Atletico, but they can’t play them in the Round of 16 given that they played in the same group during qualification. So the entirety of the draw was done again, and this time United were given the difficult prospect of dealing with the scrappy Madrid-based club.

Many people (myself included) from all over Europe have suspected for many years that the draw for the Round of 16 is somehow rigged or otherwise unfair, and this “error” with the computer software only adds fuel to the fires of conspiracy theory. United fans were particularly aggrieved to draw Atletico, when we were theoretically supposed to be given an easier draw due to winning our group. Chelsea however did not win their group but were drawn against French side Lille, one of the weaker teams left in the tournament. Manchester City did indeed win their group, but still were given another weaker side in Sporting Lisbon. I am happy that United avoided Paris St. Germain for once, but Atletico presents fierce opposition. It just seems that United are routinely getting screwed by the draw, while our domestic rivals get easier competition regardless of where they finish in their groups.

Whatever is going on with UEFA, it smells fishy. This is an organization that doesn’t have a clean history of promoting fair play either, so the calls for the draw process to be re-evaluated are only going to get louder. United do have a solid chance to beat Atletico of course, and they do have the advantage of having the 2nd leg of the tie played at Old Trafford. But, it will be difficult to stop or slow down the likes of Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, and Joao Felix. All three of those players are world-class on their day, but as mentioned Atletico are a club that pride themselves on rock-solid defending. Simeone has turned their stadium into a fortress, and despite some stuttering form in La Liga they are still 4th in the table. This is an intriguing and tricky fixture that will give United manager Ralf Rangnick plenty to think about.

United will play Atletico at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Wednesday February 23, 2022 with the return fixture in Manchester on March 15, 2022.

***

In more immediate news, United’s match away to Brentford FC that was supposed to be played today has been postponed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 among the United players and training staff. It is unclear who has the virus, how many cases there are, or even how severe each case is. The match has not been re-scheduled as of the writing of this post, but it will be eventually. This is one of those times when the real world crosses over with football, and it must be addressed even though this is primarily a football blog.

First, nothing but well-wishes and a speedy recovery to those afflicted and I hope no one suffers any long term effects. Second, I am sick of this virus and the whole bloody pandemic. Sick of it. It’s affected everything in our lives, not just the cancellation of football matches. And of course, I am not against the postponement or even cancellation of a match if it cannot be played safely. Football is a game after all, and matters of life and death should never be prioritized below a game that we play and watch for fun. However, I am sick of the fact that the pandemic appears to be unending. If you can get vaccinated, do it. Wear a mask. Stay socially distant from other people. We all need to do everything we can do to end this pandemic, but too many people are thinking of themselves first. The “me first” attitude is rampant in America, but its clearly a problem worldwide as well.

Further, the late announcements postponing these matches are causing financial strain on the fans. People book train tickets and hotels for long trips (such as the one from Manchester to Brentford in west London) and oftentimes these tickets and reservations are non-refundable. Fans need to be given as much notice as possible for when a match is going to be postponed so they have the best chance at getting their hard-earned money returned to them. If football really is nothing without the fans, the Premier League needs to ensure that fans are taken care of. The fact that there does not seem to be a hard rule about what circumstances require a postponement is part of the problem.

United are scheduled to take on Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford next Saturday, but it remains unclear if the match will go ahead as planned.