Premier League – Narrow Victory in Luton

Manchester United traveled south to the outskirts of London for a Premier League match against Luton Town FC at Kenilworth Road earlier today. Luton, colloquially known as the Hatters, have been a tough nut to crack in their own stadium this season. They are very much in the relegation battle, but have taken teams like Liverpool, Man City, and Arsenal to the very brink already. They would have been more than happy with a draw in this match, as every point is vital for them as we edge closer to the business end of the season. United’s away form has improved of late, but they are still in 6th place heading into this match, needing to keep pace with Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.

The match got off to a flying start for the Red Devils, with striker Rasmus Højlund putting United ahead 1-0 just 37 seconds into the match. The United defense cleared a long ball over the top in the general direction of Højlund, and it should have been easily collected and recycled by the Hatters back line. However, the first touch from the defender was a very poor one, and it allowed Højlund to run on to the ball in behind the Luton defense. He took a touch to play it forward, another touch to take it around Hatters keeper Thomas Kaminski, then buried a low shot into an empty net from about 12 yards out. It was a bit lucky to be sure, but credit to Højlund for continuing to run and press. You have to be lucky in this game sometimes, but you also have to be in a position to take advantage of that luck when it breaks your way. Højlund is now the youngest player to score in 5 straight Premier League matches, and this goal was also the fastest away goal for United in over 30 years. I am very happy he has found his form, like we all knew he would.

Højlund and United were not done, either. They won a corner around the 7 minute mark, and the ball was played in aerially by left back Luke Shaw. Luton only half-cleared the cross though, and it fell to winger Alejandro Garnacho on the right side of the penalty box near it’s edge. He lashed a shot towards goal, and it took a deflection off Højlund’s chest before bouncing over the line. Kaminski had no chance, Højlund was just in the right place at the right time. Luck again played a role in this goal, but the chest control and re-direction of the ball seemed to be intentional from the big Dane. Højlund now had a brace, and it was again the fastest brace in the history of the Prem from United! No matter what we do looking ahead, Højlund needs to be leading the attacking line.

There was a hiccup for United about 7 minutes later though, when Luton took the opportunity to get themselves on the score sheet too. They looked like they were going to get ripped apart early on, but they regained some composure and pulled one back on 14 minutes via striker Carlton Morris. Midfielder Tahith Chong (a former United academy player) tried to get a shot away inside the box, but it deflected off the foot of center back Harry Maguire and up into the air. Morris was first to get his head to the ball, and it was too close to keeper Andre Onana to be kept out. It was a little bit of a soft goal to concede, but it was a reminder that losing focus for even a few seconds can lead to punishment. All credit to the Hatters for endeavoring and not falling apart after being down 2-0 early on.

That Luton goal set the tone for the rest of the half though. Worryingly, United seemed content to sit back and defend while Luton ran at them. Morris went close to getting another one on 36 minutes, and frankly the Red Devils were fortunate to get to half time with a lead. Midfielder Casemiro was on a yellow card so he was replaced with Scott McTominay at halftime, with Maguire going off as well. He was replaced by 36 year-old center back Jonny Evans.

The second half continued similar to the end of the first half. United would have the odd spells of possession here and there, but it was mostly Luton on the ball and they were creating chances. Paradoxically however, United’s chances were the better ones. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes and winger/forward Marcus Rashford both failed to score from good positions, and then Garnacho really should have finished the game off on 67 minutes after he was put through on goal by Rashford. Indecision struck him at the worst time however, and his effort was blocked by a retreating Hatters defender. United looked very promising on the counter-attack every time they went forward, but the finishing was poor. Højlund could have had a hat-trick as well, but he was denied from point blank range by Kaminski.

The score remained the same, and it made for a very tense finish for both sides. Luton were really piling on the pressure, and they had all the chances as the game drew to a close. Every time they got close though, a United defender was there to make a key block, or Onana was on hand to make a save. United were not doing enough to keep the ball at the other end of the pitch though, and I feared a late equalizer from Luton. Midfielder Ross Barkley had a header clip the cross bar towards the end of stoppage time, and while it raised the pulses of the fans, it ultimately did not go in. The final whistle blew shortly after that, and United won 2-1.

Once again, a win is a win. Can’t complain about three points on the road in the Premier League too much. However, this was much more difficult than it needed to be. At 2-0 after 8 minutes, this never should have been close. Yet again though, ETH had his men sit back and defend the lead and it nearly cost us three points.

I was browsing a Reddit thread on this topic in mid-week and an interesting theory was put forward – that there is a disconnect between what ETH wants his players to do, and what he believes they are capable of doing. He might think that we simply don’t have the players in midfield to possess the ball with ease. McTominay is not Prem-caliber defensive mid, Casemiro has aged a lot, and the possession abilities of injured center back Lisandro Martinez are sorely missed. Kobbie Mainoo has been the only midfield player showing any degree of consistency, but it’s unfair and unwise to rely on an 18 year-old to be your best midfield player. Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount were supposed to help with this issue, but Eriksen is about the same age as Casemiro and Mount has been injured more than he’s been fit this season. ETH may think that this defensive/counter-attacking style of play is the only style that’s sustainable for us over the course of 90 minutes. There was a little bit more possession today as opposed to last week, but again Luton had plenty of chances to find their equalizer. The solution to this problem is reinforcements in midfield over the summer, but we are still quite a ways off from being able to bring in fresh blood. United fans may be stuck with this nerve-wracking style of play until the end of the season.

Still, great games from Højlund, Garnacho (minus his finishing), Mainoo, and Evans. Evans needs praise in particular, not only for continuing to play at his advanced age, but his ability to consistently prove doubters wrong. I include myself in that category. I did not think there was much he could do for us any more at this level, but he was a rock today when he came on at halftime. A quick message as well to England manager Gareth Southgate – get Mainoo in this team! He’s a brilliant midfielder and he would fit in well in the middle of the park with the national team.

United remain 6th after this result, but they are a scant 5 points off Aston Villa in 4th place. United next play on February 24th at Old Trafford against Fulham. Another three points must be secured to keep the pressure on the clubs above us.

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!

Premier League: A Tale of Two Matches – Newcastle and Chelsea

The past two matches have seen United lose away to Newcastle 1-0, followed by a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford earlier today. The Red Devils looked god-awful against Newcastle at the weekend and probably should have lost by a bigger margin. In contrast, they looked borderline spectacular against Chelsea and probably should have won by more. But there were only four days between these matches, so how can a team like United look so bad in one match and then play so wonderfully in the next one? Well, there’s several reasons…

Location, Location, Location

United have been dismal away from home during the tenure of manager Erik ten Hag. No two ways about it. They haven’t beaten a top-half of the table side away from home since 2021. St. James’ Park in the northeast of England is a cold and dreary place to play, and the fans there always create a tough atmosphere. United’s away form against the big clubs is easily the toughest nut ETH has yet to crack.

At home however, United are a juggernaut. They don’t lose often within the hallowed halls of Old Trafford. Indeed, they have claimed the scalps of some of the biggest clubs in Europe when playing in front of 75,000 screaming United supporters. Old Trafford has been a fortress during ETH’s time in charge, and it’s walls held firm for the most part again today.

The Opposition

Newcastle are a better team than Chelsea, as things stand. Chelsea have tons of new signings and a manager (Mauricio Pochettino) who is still trying to figure out his best XI players. Manager Eddie Howe at Newcastle has his lads drilled exceptionally well and they have the financial backing of an oil state, which has allowed them to bring in some very talented players.

Line-Ups

ETH shuffled the deck quite a bit between the previous match and the one today, largely because he had to. Forwards Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have been in poor form for weeks now, with Rashford playing particularly poorly in the previous match. Those two players were dropped to the bench in favor of winger Antony dos Santos and striker Rasmus Højlund respectively. Further, midfielder Sofyan Amrabat was given a start, paired with Scott McTominay in midfield.

Højlund and Antony both had stellar games, and Amrabat put in a very good shift as well. Antony won a penalty on 8 minutes that midfielder Bruno Fernandes failed to convert, and even though Højlund has yet to open his Premier League scoring account, he was tireless in his running today and put himself about on the pitch in a way that continually caused problems for Chelsea. Amrabat had a key tackle in the buildup to McTominay’s opener on 19 minutes as well. I am really happy with how Mainoo played when he came on as a substitute. He didn’t do particularly well against Newcastle, but his pairing with Amrabat in the center of the park really seemed to suit him. Mainoo has the energy and athleticism, while Amrabat has a ton of experience playing at the highest levels. Their styles of play compliment each other well.

Effort

You would think that a team full of professional athletes wouldn’t need to be told to play hard and put in good effort. Counter-intuitively though, it seems that’s exactly what was needed. The effort on display from the players in red was easily the biggest contrast to the loss against Newcastle last weekend. The majority of the team was guilty of bad effort last weekend, but I want to talk about a single player specifically.

I don’t know what’s wrong with Rashford. He’s in the “effort” section because he showed zero of it against Newcastle, and when he came on today against Chelsea in the closing minutes, he proceeded to again show zero of it. I just don’t get it. He’s not running anywhere. He walks or jogs when running is definitely required. I know he knows this, but no one is going to be a world-class footballer if they don’t run. The media is rampant with speculation that he’s squabbling with ETH or somehow unhappy with how things are going. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but his lack of effort is totally unprofessional. It’s okay to be frustrated or upset with the manager. It’s okay to not be happy when the team is in inconsistent form. The unacceptable thing is not trying! The professional thing to do would be to go out and give 100% even if you’re frustrated, so that supporters know you’re at least trying. I am a big fan of Rashford and have been since he came up through the United youth academy, but I’m not going to defend his lack of effort anymore.

Since this post is all about contrasts, let’s contrast Rashford’s lack of effort with another maligned United player – center back Harry Maguire. This is a man who was stripped of the captaincy in the off-season, and was only seeing so much playing time this year because of injuries to fellow center backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane. I don’t think I’ve seen a player take the amount of stick that Maguire gets on social media every time he makes a mistake. It’s absolutely brutal. Maguire’s season started off extremely rough and the noise around his form was quite loud, but he kept his head down and kept himself focused on the game. He was a rock at the center of defense today, his overall play in the month of November earned him the accolade of Premier League Player of the Month, awarded to him today. Rashford should take note of how Maguire ignored all the noise around him and just focused on working hard and playing hard. Even if Martinez and Varane were suddenly fit to play, it would be hard for ETH to drop Maguire due to his excellent form. Both of them are extremely talented players, but one is displaying focus and determination right now, while the other is not.

Tactics and Execution

Interestingly, the tactics in the Newcastle match and the Chelsea match today were not all that different. ETH does not deviate much from his preferred 4-2-3-1, with the players running a counter-press when out of possession, and building from the back when in possession. In order to effectively play the counter-press, every attacking and midfield player needs to know when to press and on which opposing player. Vitally, the players must be willing to run at the opposition, and not just let them have possession without pressure. If one player doesn’t press effectively, ETH’s system is practically neutered. This is almost exactly what happened Newcastle. We had an attacking player who didn’t feel like running anywhere, and as a result we didn’t create anything for the first 80 minutes.

Højlund, Antony, Bruno, Amrabat, and winger Alejandro Garnacho all executed the tactics wonderfully today. They were coordinated in their press and Chelsea often looked rudderless at times due to it. Amrabat pressing the ball in the attacking third is what led to United’s first goal! They forced Chelsea into a turnover in a dangerous area, and United punished the Blues for it. ETH football in a nutshell. The finishing was poor today and United should have had at least 4 goals, and that has to improve, but the chance creation was so much better today. Credit to McTominay for getting both United goals. The Scotsman is in truly wonderful attacking form this season, and being given license by ETH to roam forward a bit more has suited him well.

ETH has faced some frankly ridiculous media speculation in the past four days that his job may be in jeopardy if United’s poor form continued. The media were trying to generate headlines and clicks of course, but this match should end any wild conjecture that ETH will be sacked soon or that he’s somehow lost the locker room. It’s clear he’s the man to bring us out of this mess. He knows this team is far from perfect and that there is still a ways to go before we are back at the top, but we’re headed in the right direction. He has the tactical nous for the job as has been evidenced, and it seems he has finally learned to drop players in poor form. Man-management is a criminally under-appreciated aspect of what it takes to be the manager of a multi-billion pound football club. You have to be able to manage the often very large egos of professional athletes, and it’s a skill that takes a very deft touch. There is an abundance of evidence that the overwhelming majority of the players believe in him and what he’s trying to do. The Glazers still need to sell the team and leave, but it’s clear we finally have the right manager at the helm.

Conclusion

A changed line-up, better effort, and better execution are the main reasons why United were so much better today against Chelsea than against Newcastle last week. As has been said a thousand times on this blog though, the inconsistency has to stop. I won’t be celebrating this club’s resurrection until we win the Premier League title again, and inconsistent teams do not win titles. Well done against Chelsea today, but if we have another Newcastle away-type match, it means little.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Manchester United – This One Is For Cathy Ferguson

Manchester United’s inconsistent form has continued the past few weeks. There was a win over Crystal Palace in the League Cup, followed by a dismal loss to the same side in the Premier League a few days later. United also lost to Turkish side Galatasaray in midweek in the Champions League, in a match marred by controversy. The main reason for this sputtering form is bad defending. The Red Devils have more leaks in defense right now than the Titanic post-iceberg, but that is largely due to injuries. Defenders Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have all been bitten by the injury bug at the exact same time. That’s the entire preferred back four out all at once. To make the atmosphere even more negative around Old Trafford, supporters were saddened by the loss of Cathy Ferguson, wife of former manager and United legend Sir Alex Ferguson. Her influence on this club is the biggest of any person who has never actually worked or played for us. She was the one who single-handedly convinced Ferguson not to retire when he initially wanted to in 2002, thus ensuring another decade of success and trophies for Manchester United. My deepest condolences to Sir Alex, the Ferguson family, and anyone who ever met Cathy.

The club needed a response today. Something needed to happen, and thankfully it did. United took on Brentford FC earlier today at Old Trafford in the Premier League, with three points being the order of the day. Unfortunately, United found themselves down a goal on 26 minutes after midfielder Casemiro needlessly gave the ball away, and Bees midfielder Mathias Jensen was on hand to sweep home a low finish past United keeper Andre Onana. United had been lackluster up until that moment, and they were punished for their usual complacency.

The poor play continued until about the last half an hour or so. Manager Erik ten Hag brought on striker Anthony Martial and winger Antony dos Santos around that time, with the ineffective forward Marcus Rashford among those coming off. United improved significantly with these changes, although Martial and substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho were wasteful in front of goal. As the clock ticked towards full time, ETH made another key substitution – bringing on midfielder and Scotland international Scott McTominay for make-shift left back Sofyan Amrabat.

Six minutes of stoppage time was given by the referee, and United finally got an equalizer on 93 minutes thanks to a tidy finish from McTominay. Brentford failed to clear their lines, and McTominay showed great predatory instinct to beat Brentford keeper Thomas Strakosha at his near post. Old Trafford erupted in celebration when United finally found a way through for 1-1.

McTominay and United weren’t finished, though. The Red Devils won a free kick near the halfway line on the right wing, just as the clock hit the 97th minute of play. Had United not already scored, the referee may have blown his whistle and not permitted us to take the free kick. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes played a high aerial ball into the box, and it found the head of center back Harry Maguire. Maguire was on the left side of the box, and his header back towards the goal found McTominay on a run. McTominay had ghosted in front of his marker intelligently, and he looped the pass from Maguire up over Strakosha and into the back of the net for 2-1. A winner in Fergie Time! Absolutely amazing. The ref blew his whistle shortly after that and United miraculously emerged with a victory!

The storylines from this one are fantastic. A Scottish player scores two goals in stoppage time to win the match the day after the death of Cathy Ferguson. It was absolutely magical and it was desperately needed for the club. Here’s to hoping Sir Alex can smile about something now. Well done to McTominay and the rest of the lads for not quitting. Effort is something that has been lacking this season, and I hope the players remember that they are never out of a match. They have to keep fighting. They have to keep running at the opposition and taking chances. United have been incredibly short on luck this season too, so it was about time a roll of the dice went our way. There are still many issues with these players and the manager’s tactics that need to be addressed, but credit to ETH for getting his substitutions right (this time). He changed the game with those subs, and Brentford failed to put the game away. Big shoutout to the much-maligned Maguire as well. He takes a lot of flak when he doesn’t play well, but he was a rock in central defense today and that needs to be noted.

Here’s to hoping that this win is the spark the club needed to get back into consistently good form. A win like this one can change the mentality of the players and fans from negativity and pessimism to self-believe and positivity. United head into the October international break with a win, which is all anyone can ask for. They are now out of action until October 21st, when they travel north to play Sheffield United. England have a friendly against Australia on October 13th, and then there is a crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy at Wembley on October 17th.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Premier League: Frustrating Defeat at Arsenal

Manchester United travelled south to London earlier today for their fourth match of the Premier League season against Arsenal. The rivalry with Arsenal dates back to the 1990s and hasn’t really cooled off over the years. Both of these clubs have title aspirations and top-4 aspirations, so even though this fixture was early in the season, it carried a lot of significance. United manager Erik ten Hag knew that the Red Devils’ away form against the top teams needed to improve, and this match was a great chance to do so. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had his side off a good start, but he knew United would be a very tough test even at home.

The first half was fairly even, in a way. Arsenal were the better team going forward. They were creating chances, but their attacks were being consistently repelled by a dogged United defense. Left back Diogo Dalot and right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka were doing well at shutting down Arsenal’s talented wingers. United had more of the possession in the first 45, but their possession was usually in their own half. Keeper Andre Onana was doing very well with playing the ball out from the back, which is the precise reason he was brought in. Interestingly, United scored with their first shot on target on 27 minutes.

Midfielder Christian Eriksen picked up a loose ball in his own half and brought it forward into space before finding striker Marcus Rashford ahead of him on the left wing. Rashford was given space by the Arsenal back four to cut inside the box onto his right foot, and he unleashed a vicious shot that Gunners keeper Aaron Ramsey could only parry onto the inside of the post and into the goal. Emirates Stadium was stunned, given that goal was very much against the run of play. Happy to see Rashford finally off the mark for the season. He was our leading scorer last season and he needs to get back to that form. 1-0 United!

The celebrations in the away fans’ section were short-lived though, as Arsenal were level just 35 seconds after the restart. Arsenal captain and midfielder Martin Ødegaard was given too much space on the edge of the box by the United defense after being found by winger Gabriel Martinelli. He let a long-range shot go that was hit with power and placement, and Onana couldn’t get to it in time. Two goals in roughly a minute electrified a match that had been somewhat dull up to that point. Oddly though, those were the two most notable moments of the first half. Two moments of madness in a sea of drudgery. It was 1-1 at halftime with all to play for.

The second half was similarly slow-paced for the first 25-30 minutes or so. United were creating more chances, but Arsenal were holding them off effectively and creating the odd chance or two of their own. Arsenal wanted a penalty when striker Kai Havertz tumbled in the box under a challenge from AWB, and referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. After a VAR check though, the penalty call was rescinded. There wasn’t a lot of contact, if any, on Havertz before he went down, and Taylor deemed it a non-penalty. More on Taylor below. Arsenal then went close when winger Bukayo Saka got on the end of a cross at close range, but his shot was straight at Onana.

A troubling issue for United were the injuries sustained by center backs Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof as the second half wore on. They were already without center back Raphael Varane and left back Luke Shaw due to injury, so options were extremely thin. It was eventually the out-of-favor Harry Maguire and 35-year-old Jonny Evans in central defense for United towards the end. The injuries affected this result, no doubt.

The Red Devils thought they had a winner however on 88 minutes when substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho was put through on goal. He carried through the attacking third, after which he slotted home past Ramsey to the ecstasy of United supporters in the away end. However, Taylor and VAR needed to have their say again. Somehow, mystifyingly, the replay official deemed Garnacho to have been offside when he received the ball, despite him appearing to be level or even slightly behind the last Arsenal defender. The goal was ruled out and we continued at 1-1.

Arsenal earned a corner in the 5th minute of stoppage time, and the ball was swung into the box towards the back post. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was there, and he bundled home a deflected finish past Onana to give Arsenal a lead they wouldn’t surrender. It was a heartbreaker for the Red Devils, but they didn’t give up. They threw men forward for an equalizer, and were likely denied a penalty when substitute striker (and United debutante) Rasmus Højlund was wrestled to the ground in the box. Curiously, no replay was shown on TV feeds of this incident. A VAR check was supposedly conducted, but no penalty was given.

Arsenal got a third in the 11th minute of stoppage time when striker Gabriel Jesus caught United on the break. There weren’t enough men back to stop him, and he faked out his marker rather thoroughly before slotting past Onana from close range. It was insult to injury, really. Arsenal won 3-1.

The referee was not helpful today, but United were really hindered by the injuries to the center backs. This was heading towards a respectable 1-1 before the defense finally cracked under the Arsenal pressure. Rice was completely alone at the back post for the winner. Who was supposed to be marking him? United conceded far too many corners and there was finally one too many. The third goal wouldn’t have happened if it stayed 1-1, as United would have had more men back to defend. But the bigger issue is the fact that for long periods of time in this match the build-up play was slow and labored. United have fast and technically gifted attacking players, and they play best when they play fast.

Whoever the VAR official was in this match, he completely lost the plot with the offside call against Garnacho. Terrible. Awful. Total miss. Garnacho was onside. It seems the offside rule is written in pencil, as it changes week to week. Even under the new rule, this was an extremely harsh call that affected the outcome of the match. We went from having a potential 2-1 lead on 88 minutes to losing the match 3-1. Can’t believe we can’t figure out the offside rule in 2023.

The outcome remains the same of course, no matter how much the referee blew it. United’s struggles on the road against top sides continue. Only 6 points from the first four matches this season as well. Injuries are piling up. New signings Serge Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat are waiting in the wings, and hopefully we can get some defenders healthy during the upcoming international break. I was impressed with Højlund today. He’s a bigger lad than I thought he was, and technically gifted for his size. He had a key role in the build-up to The Goal That Wasn’t for Garnacho.

The non-injured players will now join up with their national teams for the next two weeks. England have away matches against Ukraine and Scotland in the qualifiers for Euro 2024. England have a 100% record so far in qualifying, and they are more than capable of continuing that in the next two matches. ETH will be wise to use this time to evaluate his tactical plans and incorporate the new signings more into the team. United must improve away from Old Trafford to have any hope of maintaining pace with Arsenal and league leaders Manchester City.

As always, Glazers Out!

Premier League: Defeat at Tottenham

Manchester United travelled south to London earlier today for match #2 of their Premier League schedule against Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They would be looking to improve on their opening day performance last Monday, a match which they won but looked far from convincing in doing so. Tottenham and new manager Ange Postecoglu were looking for their first 3 points of the season, having drawn their opening match last weekend. United manager Erik ten Hag named an unchanged lineup from the last game, which raised some eyebrows among the pundits pre-match. Everyone at the club knows that our away form against the bigger sides needs to improve, as it was abysmal last season and the main reason why we didn’t challenge for the title. This was Spurs’ first home match since the departure of talismanic striker Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, with many wondering how they are going to replace his goal production.

The first half started strongly for Tottenham, but United settled in a little and began establishing possession after the first 10 minutes or so. Half chances and narrowly missed opportunities were the theme of the first 35 minutes. Tottenham were struggling to play the ball out from the back, but United were again (like the previous match) disjointed in attack and not really clicking with one another. United had a penalty shout when the ball struck the hand of Spurs center back Cristian Romero in the box, but VAR confirmed referee Michael Oliver’s decision to not award a spot kick. Romero’s hand was up, but it was deemed to be close enough to his body to not be in an “unnatural” position, whatever that means this week.

Midfielder Bruno Fernandes should have put United ahead 1-0 right around 36 minutes or so, when a pass over the top found him all alone about 6-7 yards in front of the Tottenham goal. He tried to re-direct the pass into the far corner, but his header was far too powerful and it went over the bar. It was an embarrassing miss given how much time and space he had to put it away. Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario was relieved to see it go over, because Bruno is normally ruthless from that close.

Tottenham had the next best chances of the half, with right back Pedro Porro striking the crossbar of the United goal with keeper Andre Onana beaten. Tottenham then struck the woodwork again just a few seconds later, although this time it was via a deflected cross off Red Devils center back Lisandro Martinez. It was only down to fortune that the ball did not go in. At halftime it was 0-0, and while United were probably slightly better than the first half of the match last week, they still had nothing to show for it. Postecoglu was undoubtedly the happier manager going into the locker rooms.

Tottenham raised their urgency a bit in the early part of the second half and were rewarded for their efforts on 49 minutes with the opening goal from defensive midfielder Pape Matar Sarr. Spurs winger Dejan Kulusevski ran down the right wing with the ball virtually unchallenged before getting to the end line and playing an aerial cross back across the face of the goal. The ball took an unlucky deflection off Martinez before falling straight to the feet of Sarr, who buried a shot into the roof of Onana’s net. Spurs got a bit lucky to be sure, but what on earth was United left back Luke Shaw doing in the build-up? He was 20 yards off Kulusevski, and he didn’t bother to come over and make a challenge until the Swedish winger was already in the box! Very poor defending from a player who is usually sturdy at the back. Most of the blame for this goal lies at his feet.

I was looking for a sharp and positive response from United after going down, but none was forthcoming. It was dismal, really. Tottenham, led by captain and superstar winger Son Heung-min, were dominating United down their attacking left wing. It seemed like they had an extra man on that side every time they brought it forward. When United did break up an attack and get on the ball, they resulted to playing hopeful long passes instead of playing it through midfield. They couldn’t maintain any possession and were giving the ball away needlessly. Winger Antony dos Santos did manage to strike Vicario’s post just after the Spurs goal, but beyond that they looked completely toothless.

Some befuddling decisions from ETH did not help the situation. A triple change was made on 63 minutes, where he brought on winger Jadon Sancho, midfielder Christian Eriksen, and right back Diogo Dalot. Marcus Rashford, ineffective on the day, was kept as the central striker. Bruno was pushed out on to the right wing as well. Whatever the manager’s idea was, it did not work. Sancho had one or two flashes of good play, but beyond him everyone looked rather lost and disinterested in trying to get back into the game.

To add insult to injury, Tottenham got a second goal on 83 minutes, and this was a comically bad goal to concede. No luck for Tottenham this time, just more miscommunication and bad defending from United. A low and diagonal pass was played in to the United box from the left channel, with left back Ben Davies the intended recipient. Davies mishit the ball completely, but it took yet another deflection off Martinez and rolled into the goal with Onana wrong-footed. Just a terrible own-goal to concede in every way. There was no pressure on the ball in the left channel, and the back four were once again asleep at the wheel. United did not offer much of a response to this goal, either. They had more possession as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, but aside from a few long-range efforts that did not trouble Vicario, they offered nothing. Spurs won 2-0.

Alright, damage report time. ETH deserves most of the criticism for this result. He named a starting 11 that did very little against Wolves. It’s clear after today that winger Alejandro Garnacho is not ready to start, yet. Antony was more wasteful than useful. Rashford was anonymous in the striker role for the second match in a row. Bruno missed a sitter, and then was shoved out to the right wing in the second half, which is not his preferred position. Midfielder Casemiro looked slow and off the pace yet again. Shaw went to sleep at the worst possible moment. Midfielder Mason Mount’s tactical role in the team is totally unclear. Why Sancho and fellow winger Facundo Pellistri are not starting is a complete mystery.

ETH really needs to get his tactics sorted out for the next match, and the team overall needs to play with a lot more urgency and desire. What’s worrying is that passion for the game is difficult to coach – either a player has it on the day or he doesn’t. ETH, club captain Bruno, and the other locker room leaders need to be giving each other a proper bollicking over this dismal match. Along with starts for Sancho and Pellistri, Rashford needs to be moved out to the left wing, where he feels most comfortable. Bruno needs to stay in the middle as an attacking midfielder too. It feels like ETH is trying to force a tactical plan that is not suited to the talents of our attacking players. We can’t win on the wings, we can’t play the ball through the middle, and we are still shit at set pieces. I trust ETH to make some positive changes, but they need to happen soon. Starting Anthony Martial at center forward next week will help, as will the addition of striker Rasmus Højlund once he is fully fit and ready to play. Supporters can’t rely on just Højlund to fix everything though. ETH needs to adjust his lineups and overall tactical plan.

There is still time for additional signings before the transfer window closes, but for various financial reasons, United need to clear out some current players before more can be signed. Center back Harry Maguire’s transfer to West Ham has fallen apart though, while ETH still seems to be trying to be rid of midfielder Scott McTominay. Again though, the overall tactical plan needs to be adjusted. He was exceptional at implementing a plan last season that the players bought into, and now he must do that again. One loss is not the end of the world, but these losses will multiply without changes being made.

Next match is at Old Trafford against Nottingham Forest on August 26th in the Premier League. The Red Devils need to bounce back, and they need to bounce back with passion. As always, Glazers Out!

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.

Europa League: A Frustrating, Maddening, and Downright Annoying Draw

Manchester United played hosts to Spanish side Sevilla CF earlier today in the Europa League quarterfinals at Old Trafford. This was the first leg of a two-leg tie, with the return leg in Andalucia next Thursday. Although United were without leading scorer Marcus Rashford due to injury, the Red Devils were still favored to progress in this tie. Sevilla have been in bad form for a good chunk of the season in La Liga, and they are on their 3rd manager (Jose Luis Mendilibar) of the season as well. United manager Erik ten Hag was expecting intensity from his players in both attack and defense, and he would have wanted United to kill off this tie early if possible. They were boosted by the return of defensive midfielder Casemiro, who had been unavailable due to suspension for roughly the past month.

Things could not have gone much better for United in the first 20+ minutes. They had the ball in the back of the net just 27 seconds in to the match thanks to a crisp run and pass from winger Antony dos Santos and a finish from fellow winger Jadon Sancho, but the offside flag went up and the goal was ruled out. United kept at it however, and were rewarded with a goal on 14 minutes from midfielder Marcel Sabitzer. A slick passing move down the left hand side of the pitch saw the ball at the feet of midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who spotted Sabitzer ahead of him standing on the shoulder of the last Sevilla defender. Bruno played the ball along the ground, and Sabitzer used a magnificent first touch to create space between himself and his marker. He unleashed a shot towards goal, and it took the slightest of deflections off the leg of the Sevilla defender. That deflection put the ball in the air, and Sevilla keeper Bono (no, not that Bono) couldn’t get to it. 1-0 to United! Interesting positioning by ETH and the midfielders for this goal. You would normally expect Sabitzer to be playing the ball in to Bruno given their usual positions in the team selection, but credit to Sabitzer for being forward enough to take the shot. Sabitzer is not an attacking midfielder, but ETH deployed him there today and the results paid off.

The big Austrian wasn’t done either. He got his and United’s second goal on 21 minutes thanks to a great counter-attack primarily orchestrated by striker Anthony Martial. Sevilla had the ball forward, but the cross in to the box was cleared by Casemiro. The clearance was made in the direction of Martial, and he did well to get to the ball and win it from the Sevilla player closing down on him. After a nifty first touch, he brought the ball forward expediently with Sabitzer, Antony, and Sancho joining him. He spotted the run of Sabitzer directly ahead of him, and played a perfect pass into his path. Sabitzer was through on-goal by himself, and he shot the ball with his left foot around the onrushing Bono. He buried it from about 12 yards out for 2-0! A great counter-attacking goal and a brace for Sabitzer! Martial is not only a great finisher (when healthy), but his link-up play and passing are vital to ETH’s tactics. He must stay fit if United are to continue playing well.

At 2-0 most thought it would merely be a question of how many United scored, but there were no more goals in the first half from either side. United probably should have had more though, but too often they were undone by indecision at key moments. Sancho was the main culprit guilty of this. He had the ball in a promising attacking position at least twice in the first half, only for him to take too long to make a decision. The chance would then evaporate, and Sevilla would be let off the hook. Sevilla forward Erik Lamela was lucky to escape a red card for a challenge on Casemiro on 37 minutes, and then Bruno was harshly yellow-carded for a handball just outside the area on 41 minutes. That meant he would miss the return fixture in Spain next week due to yellow card accumulation. Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitić put the resulting free kick from a promising position over keeper David De Gea’s bar. The visitor’s best chance of the half came deep into stoppage time when a header from a corner was parried into the air by De Gea and then cleared out from under the crossbar by the massive frame of United center back Raphael Varane. It was 2-0 at halftime, but worryingly Varane had to come off due to injury. He was replaced by fellow center back and club captain Harry Maguire.

Sevilla improved after the break, particularly in the middle of the pitch. They had a lot more energy all of a sudden and United were struggling to get onto the ball. The addition of the pacey and experienced winger Jesus Navas was likely a big part of the reason for that. Sevilla were not creating too many dangerous chances in attack, but they were winning possession more frequently and completing more passes. Antony remained the most dangerous player for United. His pace was causing problems for Sevilla’s left back, and he was trying to pull off one of his trademark left-footed goals where he cuts inside his marker from the right wing. He almost got United to 3-0 around 61 minutes when one of those very moves resulted in his shot hitting the inside of Bono’s far post and bouncing away. Bruno and Martial were replaced shortly after that by midfielder Christian Eriksen and striker Wout Weghorst. Sancho was replaced by winger Anthony Elanga, and Antony was also later taken off on 81 minutes, replaced by fellow winger Facundo Pellistri. Things seemed to be in hand for the Red Devils.

But the final 6 minutes plus stoppage time of this match was one of the most bizarre and unlucky passages of play Old Trafford has ever seen. To start off, Sevilla managed to pull a goal back on 84 minutes thanks to a bad mistake from United left back Tyrell Malacia. Malacia had been having a below-average game generally speaking, but he really let the side down when he failed to clear a cross towards Navas at De Gea’s back post. The ball had a lot of pace on it and Navas’s effort back across was hopefully at best, but it took a wicked deflection back off Malacia and into De Gea’s net from close range. 2-1 United, and Sevilla had life again. To make matters worse, center back Lisandro Martinez went down unchallenged on 86 minutes, appearing to injure his ankle or heel. Non-contact injuries are usually the scariest ones, especially this time as Martinez had to be carried off the pitch.

Sevilla continued their domination, with winger Lucas Ocampo in particularly fiery form. He was creating everything for them in the final few minutes. They registered more shots on target in the final two minutes plus stoppage time than they did in the whole match previous. The bad luck continued to flow for United into stoppage time, when they conceded the equalizer. A cross came in from Ocampo on the right wing, with substitute striker Youssef En-Nesyri rising high to head it back across goal. The ball hit Maguire straight against his massive head and deflected backwards, with De Gea not able to react in time to it. 2-2, with United guilty of conceding two own-goals. Incredibly frustrating. Maguire knew nothing about it, either. It just bonked him on the head from close range.

Sevilla had one or two more half chances to get a winner, but the final whistle blew and the match ended in a draw that never should have been. United were in cruise control for 80 minutes, and were half an inch away from being 3-0 up and the tie effectively over. It must be said that United’s substitutes let them down today. ETH’s hand was forced into making changes by injuries and yellow cards, and the players who came on simply were not good enough. Our goal threat dried up as soon as Bruno and Martial went off. Meanwhile, Mendilibar’s subs worked like a charm, and his side were galvanized by United failing to score more than two. Navas and En-Nesyri really shined under the bright lights. It’s possible that ETH maybe got his tactical changes wrong once the subs came on too, but bad luck was a huge factor in the result as well. It’s so damn annoying to concede two goals in such a fashion. The first one was mostly on Malacia, but the second one was simply an unlucky bounce. Sevilla would argue they deserved a bit of luck of course, and maybe they did given their dominance in the final minutes.

By far the biggest concern for United though is the health of Martinez, and Varane to a lesser extent. They are the best center-back pairing United have, with Martinez in particular being of crucial importance to the back line. He has been a bulldog back there all season, and his presence will be sorely missed. It is unclear just how long he will be out, but the biggest hope is that he hasn’t damaged his Achilles tendon. If he has, he faces more than a year out in recovery, and it’s possible that he’s not the same player when he gets back. ETH dismissed an Achilles injury in his post-match comments, but obviously more will be known in the coming days. He certainly will not be available for the next match. The grueling fixture list really caught up to United today. They are now without Varane, Martinez, Rashford, midfielder Scott McTominay, and possibly left back Luke Shaw for the match on Sunday.

Speaking of Sunday, United will travel to the East Midlands of England for a Premier League match with Nottingham Forest. Forest are in a relegation battle and desperately need points, and they will be inwardly buoyed by United’s poor ending to this match and the growing injury list. United need three points to continue pushing for the top-4, and Forest need anything positive to improve their chances of staying up. That match will be a battle for sure. United then travel to Spain for the reverse fixture in this tie on Thursday, April 20th. At 2-2, it’s now anyone’s tie.

Premier League: Victory Over Everton

Manchester United played host to Everton FC last Saturday at a sunny but cold Old Trafford in the Premier League. United and manager Erik ten Hag needed a victory to maintain the club’s push for the top-4, while Everton and new manager Sean Dyche were looking for any kind of positive result to help them escape the relegation zone. The two sides were at opposite ends of the table coming into this match, and the Toffees knew it would take something special to get a result today given the respective forms of both sides. There are no guarantees in football of course, but this was a match where United should dominate.

That is precisely what happened, particularly in the first 45 minutes. Put succinctly, this was the most dominant first half display seen by the Old Trafford faithful in years. Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer fired just wide of Everton and England keeper Jordan Pickford’s right hand post just 3 minutes in. United were constantly on the ball and making runs in behind the Everton back line. Striker Marcus Rashford was through on goal on 8 minutes, but was denied by Pickford. That was a theme of the first half – United’s pacey wingers and forwards getting in behind the back line, with midfielder Bruno Fernandes or one of the center backs pinging a long ball over the top for them to chase. And indeed, it was working well in every way but scoring. Right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka was guilty of a particularly bad miss on 12 minutes when a shot from winger Antony dos Santos rebounded off the post directly to him, only for him to turn it wide from 5 yards out with the goal open. It’s true he’s not a goal-scorer, but it was harder to miss than score from that position. It was the only poor grade on AWB’s report card though. Defensively he was fantastic, which is his primary job.

Everton had their best (and maybe only) chance of the half on 19 minutes when striker Ellis Simms found himself in space in the box, only to drag his shot wide of keeper David De Gea’s far post. United were still the dominant side, but despite registering 21 shots on target in the first half, the only goal came on 36 minutes from midfielder Scott McTominay. United had the ball on the right hand side of the box, and McTominay made a late run in from midfield towards the right hand post of the goal. Winger Jadon Sancho found him with a sublime pass through the defense, and McTominay’s marker was too far away to challenge him. McTominay let loose a powerful shot from close range with his right foot, and it beat Pickford at his near post. Pickford was angry with himself after conceding the goal as most keepers are annoyed when they concede at their near post, but he was probably extra angry because up until then he was the reason that Everton weren’t behind. His one and only mistake in the half cost him. That’s the game sometimes, and United were good value for their lead. 1-0! There were a few more chances for United before half time, including Antony forcing Pickford into another sprawling save, but no more goals were scored in the opening 45 minutes.

The Toffees improved after the break, although it must be said that it would have been difficult for them to have played worse than they did in the first half. They created a few half-chances from set pieces, but United slowly and surely resumed their dominance. Bruno forced another fine save from Pickford with his header after a good United passing move on 67 minutes. The resulting corner concluded in another shot from AWB that Pickford again saved. United then got their second goal that sealed the points just four minutes later. A(nother) long ball over the top from center back Lisandro Martinez was badly misjudged by Everton right back and captain Seamus Coleman, and his resulting poor touch on the ball gave Rashford the opportunity to pounce on it. He dribbled the ball into the box quickly before playing it across the middle to fellow striker Anthony Martial, who took a touch and re-directed the ball low along the ground past Pickford for 2-0. A bad mistake from the normally steady veteran Coleman, but well done to Rashford and Martial for capitalizing in emphatic fashion. Martial getting back on the score sheet is important for his confidence and recovery after his injury issues earlier in the season. More importantly, it was all three points sealed.

The final few minutes were only noteworthy for injury-related reasons. On the positive, United midfielder Christian Eriksen returned to the pitch after a few months’ recovery. His presence in midfield was key to United’s unbeaten run earlier in the season and it’s fantastic that he’s back for the final push at the end of the season. On a sour note though, Rashford went off with a nasty-looking right leg injury towards the end of the match. The final whistle eventually blew without too many further events of note.

ETH was very critical of the fixture congestion this season in his post-match interviews, claiming that Rashford’s injury is largely the result of having to play 60+ games this season. The conversation needs to be had about how to fix this problem, so that the super stars of this league are less likely to miss playing time. Unfortunately, there is no easy solution. There won’t be a World Cup in the middle of next season which will help, but there’s so many matches these days that it’s almost impossible to fit them all into a 9-month season and still give the players time to rest and recover. If Rashford misses time, United will be reliant on the injury-prone Martial and the less-than-clinical Wout Weghorst for attacking options.

Anyway, well done to the Red Devils for dominating the match, particularly in the first half. The lack of finishing is of some concern given that this match should have been won by 4 or 5 goals, but Pickford is an excellent keeper of course and he can keep a team in the game by himself on his best days. United remain in 4th place with this win. They are level on points (56) with Newcastle, but the Yorkshire side have a superior goal difference. United are three points clear of Tottenham Hotspur in 5th, and they have a game in hand. The push for the top-4 remains a tight one, but United are currently in a good position to return to the Champions League next season.

United next play on Thursday, April 13th when they host Spanish side Sevilla at Old Trafford in the Europa League quarterfinals. Here’s to hoping they do most of the heavy lifting in the first leg of this tie, as it is always difficult to play away in Spain.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Premier League: Defeat at Newcastle

Manchester United travelled to the northeast of England yesterday for a Premier League matchup with Newcastle United at a cold but sunny St. James’ Park. This was going to be a crucial battle in the race for the top-4 and Champions League qualification next season. The Red Devils had a chance to cement their vice-like grip on 3rd place, which is where the club has been for most of the season. Newcastle and manager Eddie Howe are looking to appease their new Middle Eastern owners who have invested heavily in the team. Newcastle are a big club with a rich history, and their supporters always expect them to be challenging at the highest level. This was a re-match of the League Cup final earlier this season, which United won 2-0.

The Magpies were the better team from the outset, aided by a thunderous atmosphere provided by the Newcastle supporters. The atmosphere and their form would continue for the majority of the match. They had better possession and were creating all the chances, while United were struggling to figure out their own tactical plan. Keeper David De Gea made a double-save about 15 minutes in to keep out striker Alexander Isak and then the follow-up from Bruno Guimarães. Midfielder Sean Longstaff also saw a longer-rage effort fly just wide of the post about 15 minutes later after a neat passing move. United’s back line – marshalled by center backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane – was playing well, but the midfield and forwards were incredibly disjointed. Manager Erik ten Hag employed a midfield three of Marcel Sabitzer, Scott McTominay, and Bruno Fernandes in this match, and it must be noted that United were completely overrun in midfield for most of the match. United’s best chance was striker Wout Weghorst firing into the side netting of keeper Nick Pope’s goal. More on the tactics below. Still though, after 45 minutes it was 0-0, but it was largely thanks to Newcastle being wasteful in front of the goal.

United fans would have expected ETH to make a change or for the players to respond after playing poorly in the first half, but that never materialized. Newcastle largely picked up where they left off from the first half. Better on the ball, more energetic in picking up the second balls, and had more chances going forward. Newcastle eventually did cash in on their dominance on 65 minutes via midfielder Joe Willock. A cross was played in from the right by Guimarães that overshot most of the attackers, but found winger Allan Saint-Maximin at the back post. Saint-Maximin headed the ball back across the face of goal, and Willock was able to head it in from close range. The goal had been coming, but it’s unclear why De Gea didn’t collect the header from Saint-Maximin back across. It appeared he could have disrupted the flight of the ball, but he mystifyingly just watched it in the air. The marking on Willock was also poor, with Varane not getting close enough to him. A good goal from Newcastle that was thoroughly deserved.

ETH had made changes about five minutes before the goal bringing on striker Anthony Martial and winger/midfielder Jadon Sancho, but they largely failed to inspire the United attack. Every once in a while there would be a half chance created, but Newcastle looked more likely to get a second than United did to getting an equalizer. The Magpies did indeed get their second on 88 minutes, and it was a very simple goal in the end. Right back Kieran Trippier played a free kick from the right wing near the corner flag into the box, with striker Callum Wilson being on hand to head home from five yards out. Poor marking again, and it was bad free kick to concede by Red Devils left back Luke Shaw. His foul in that area was needless and he has to know the danger of giving a player like Trippier a dead ball opportunity from that position. Well done to Wilson for being in the right place at the right time, but the marking has to be tighter on him. The final whistle blew after 3 minutes of stoppage time, and Newcastle won 2-0.

ETH got his tactics and substitutions wrong in this match. Plain and simple. It’s true that we are without our two best midfielders in Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, but that’s no excuse for the tactics being so poor. Sabitzer and McTominay were largely invisible for most of the match, and it was unclear what United were trying to do in terms of the overall game plan. It seemed like some of them were trying to play the counter-press and win the ball high up the pitch, while other ones were trying to play possession and keep the ball. The result was Newcastle domination. The substitutions didn’t make sense, either. McTominay and Weghorst should have been off at half-time, yet they were left out there an additional 15 minutes. Martial is clearly not fully match fit yet, and Sancho’s decision making was (not for the first time) poor. I also didn’t understand taking off Martinez and Varane, given that they had been two of our better players on the day. The second goal was almost a direct result of the shuffling of the back line. Also, it’s becoming more and more clear that De Gea is not the best keeper for ETH’s system. His distribution is simply not good enough for a manager that wants his team to build from the back. There was an interview conducted with Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy after the match, and he said that he and his teammates noticed De Gea’s indecision with goal-kicks early on. Newcastle’s high press kept United penned into their own half for most of the game, with De Gea consistently unable to find an outlet. Either ETH must change his overall philosophy, or United need a new goalkeeper in the summer. I don’t see the former happening.

The tactics in this match were one problem, but a much bigger problem was the lack of energy and motivation on display from most of the team. This team’s mentality was a big issue last season under former managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, and it seems those old issues reared their ugly heads yet again. I saw a lot of the players quit trying in this match towards the end, and that is frankly unacceptable. Shaw said as much in his post-match interview. The opportunity to take something from this match was there until the 88th minute, but United acted like they were 4-0 down for most of the second half. ETH must fix this issue first and foremost. Our away form against the big teams this season has been dismal as well. He has to get in his players’ faces as a collective and hold them accountable for such a crap result. He has done that before, and the team usually improves as a result.

But this loss puts the cat amongst the pigeons in the race for the top-4. Arsenal and Manchester City have the top two spots almost guaranteed, but now we have United, Newcastle, and Tottenham Hotspur all jockeying for spots 3 and 4. All three teams are currently level on 50 points, but United’s goal difference is vastly inferior to the other two. Tottenham have two games in hand so there is that advantage for the Red Devils, but United are definitely in a dog fight now. The next match is also against a dangerous Brentford side on Wednesday April 5, and they have already beaten United earlier this season. United are temporarily down to fifth, although they could finish the match week in 4th if Tottenham lose today. In any event, there was a big chance in this match for United to gain some breathing room over those rivals, but that opportunity was squandered. Fifth place is not acceptable for a team of this caliber.