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!

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: A Tough Win Over Brentford

Manchester United played hosts to west London side Brentford FC earlier today at a rain-drenched Old Trafford in the Premier League. This was a re-match of the 4-0 drubbing given out by Brentford in London back in August, and there was revenge on the mind of manager Erik ten Hag and his players. Brentford manager Thomas Frank has his side in good form given their lack of financial resources, and coming into today they were in the top half of the table. The Bees are a side that play very much like their insectile namesake – they are constantly swarming the opposition with their press and have the talent to score goals going forward, primarily thanks to England striker Ivan Toney. Frank will have seen the success Newcastle had in pressing United at the weekend and likely thought his side had a good chance to get a result today.

United were the team on the front foot right away though, having won a corner just two minutes into the match. Nothing came of it, but it was an indication of how most of the first half would go. Brentford really struggled to get on the ball, while Red Devils dominated possession in midfield and created all of the chances going forward. United were having trouble with the final ball and shooting chances from close range, but they were very effective at preventing Brentford from getting anything going themselves. Play was stopped on 25 minutes by the referee so that Muslim players on both teams could break their fast observed during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. That hasn’t always happened in previous years, but given that football is (supposed to be) an inclusive sport and the large number of Muslim players in the league, a temporary stoppage makes sense. The English FA is not known as a socially progressive entity, so the effort to be respectful of other religions should be applauded.

A breakthrough came on 27 minutes, and it was United’s leading scorer on the season who put them ahead yet again. United won a corner and it was played in over the top by left back Luke Shaw. It was headed back out by the Brentford defense, but it fell straight to winger Antony dos Santos. Many thought Antony would shoot from distance, but instead he played a lofted ball back into the middle of the box. It was headed down by midfielder Marcel Sabitzer and straight into the path of striker Marcus Rashford, who fired the ball into the roof of the net from 5 yards out with Bees keeper David Raya powerless to stop it. This was Rashford’s 28th goal of the season and 15th in the Premier League. He needs help up front because United can’t become overly reliant on him to score, but this season Rashford has proven that he can carry United when they need to be carried. 1-0!

United remained the dominant team for most of the first half, but there was a setback when Shaw appeared to injure his hamstring and was replaced by fellow left back Tyrell Malacia on 37 minutes. Despite only scoring one goal and a nearly calamitous clearance by keeper David De Gea that almost rebounded into his own net, this was United’s best half of football in weeks in terms of controlling the tempo of the match and making sure Brentford weren’t able to sustain possession or get forward quickly. The first half ended 1-0 with ETH definitely being the happier of the two managers.

Brentford improved in the second half, as was expected. Frank clearly said something to them at halftime that had an effect, because their energy and motivation was much higher as the second half got underway. They were still struggling to create clear-cut chances, but it was apparent that this would not be an easy 45 minutes for United to get through. Brentford’s best chance came on 65 minutes when substitute striker Kevin Schade was put through on goal, with center back Raphael Varane unable to catch him. De Gea came off his line to try and close down the angle for Schade, and Schade’s eventual shot was smothered by him. The angle didn’t favor Schade, but De Gea did well to come off his line and clear away the danger. He needed some treatment due to a collision with Schade on the follow-through, but he carried on after play resumed.

The second half ebbed and flowed after that, with both teams creating half-chances here and there. Numerous substitutions by both managers slowed the tempo of the game as well, but a 1-0 lead is a nervous one. A team with Brentford’s quality can conjure up a goal from nothing, but the theme of “good build-up coming to nothing” continued for them. Every time they’d get into a promising position, United would either clear the danger or Brentford would give the ball away. Midfielder Scott McTominay made amends for his disappearance against Newcastle at the weekend by being a thorough annoyance to Brentford every time they were in possession today. McTominay is not the best distributor of the ball, but his work rate and ability to win the ball were key to the game plan. After four minutes of stoppage time in which Brentford failed to keep the ball forward, the final whistle blew and United won 1-0.

So yes, today was much better than the previous match. That is always a good thing. United were much better in possession, the work rate was much higher, and they created more chances. Sometimes a side has to grind out a win, and there was a maturity about United today that was missing last weekend. There is still room for improvement in terms of scoring goals, as even just one more today would have sealed things much sooner. A center forward is likely needed in the summer to accompany Rashford up front. Striker Wout Weghorst was supposed to be the man to do that, but he has struggled to score goals this season and has been primarily used by ETH as an attacking midfielder or forward destroyer. United need a dyed-in-the-wool no. 9; a true goal scorer to not only pounce on loose balls in the box, but one who can also open things up for the likes of Rashford, Antony, winger Jadon Sancho, and winger Alejandro Garnacho. Speaking of Antony, he struggled to get things going in attack today, but his defensive work rate was phenomenal. Flashy wingers like him sometimes get criticized for not tracking back and working hard defensively, but that cannot be reasonably said about Antony.

This victory sees United move into 4th place in the table, level on points with 3rd place Newcastle but with an inferior goal difference. They have a three point lead on 5th-placed Tottenham, and they have a game in hand over them. Given that there’s still 10 remaining matches in the Prem this season it is still too hard to predict who will finish in the top-4, but every victory gets United closer and closer to that important milestone. They will look to build on this win on Saturday April 8th, when they host Everton at Old Trafford.

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.

FA Cup: United Through to the Semifinals After Fulham Implode

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Europa League: United Through to the Quarterfinals With Victory in Spain

Manchester United travelled to the Andalucia region in southern Spain earlier today for the return leg of their Round of 16 fixture against Real Betis at Estadio Benito Villamarín. Given that United had a 4-1 aggregate lead coming into this match, manager Erik ten Hag opted to rotate his squad a little bit and give some regular starters a rest during this grueling season. There was still plenty of firepower in the team though, as evidenced by the inclusion of forward Marcus Rashford and midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Meanwhile, Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini knew that if his side were to have any chance at turning the tie around, they would need the first goal. Ideally, it would also be early on.

And that is almost exactly what happened. Betis midfielder Juanmi had a sublime chance to score just 8 minutes in after he beat center back Harry Maguire to a long ball, but he was forced wide by Maguire and his re-directed shot rolled just outside United keeper David De Gea’s far post. Betis then had another very good chance in the middle of the pitch only three minutes later, when ageless winger Joaquín saw his long-range shot go off the post after it was partially deflected by the leg of United midfielder Casemiro. United were fortunate that neither of these efforts went in, as it would have changed the complexion of the match completely.

There was a real lack of composure in the first half for the Red Devils. They gave the ball away needlessly too many times, and Los Verdiblancos were looking very dangerous in attack when they went forward. Juanmi, Joaquín, and striker Ayoze Perez were putting themselves about effectively. Maguire and fellow center back Lisandro Martinez were usually on hand to snuff out any danger, but many were questioning the attack-minded nature of ETH’s tactics in the first half. United did not need to score to advance today. They just needed to make sure they didn’t lose by 3 goals or more. The needless turnovers in midfield were causing the away supporters a fair amount of concern, and it was only a lack of finishing that kept Betis from going ahead. Juanmi forced another save from an onrushing De Gea on 31 minutes, but this chance was nowhere near as good as his first one.

United’s best chance of the half came in stoppage time, when a Bruno free kick from the left wing was whipped into the area. It bounced around a bit before falling to winger (and first-time European starter) Facundo Pellistri, who got an awkward, bouncing shot away towards goal. It looked to be going wide, so striker Wout Weghorst threw himself at the shot to try and guide it into the goal. He failed to make clean contact though, and the ball struck the post with an immediate clearance from Betis. A great chance, but off the post from almost point-blank range. 0-0 at halftime, and while United likely could have played better, they had at least prevented Betis from getting an early goal. A goalless draw suited United just fine, today.

The second half was more of the same from both teams. Betis would go forward, then United, and vice versa. It should be said that United were better in the second half though. Much more possession and composure on the ball in midfield. They were also creating better chances too, with Rashford forcing a low save from Betis keeper Rui Silva on 53 minutes. Joaquín then had a header saved reflexively by De Gea from close range at the other end, before Rashford got another chance on the resulting counter-attack. He blazed over the bar though despite being put through on goal by Bruno. Undeterred, Rashford did find the back of the net on 55 minutes, and it was counter-intuitively the most difficult chance to score from. He received a pass from Casemiro in space in a forward position after a good ball recovery and run by Pellistri. The Betis defenders failed to close down Rashford, and he took a touch or two before unleashing a wicked dipping shot towards the goal. Silva couldn’t get over to it in time, and the ball nestled into the far corner of the goal. Well done to Rashford for keeping his composure and focus! It’s never easy to score from 25 yards out, but this effort had top-notch placement. That is now 27 goals for Rashford this season, but more importantly it was 1-0 to United (5-1 on aggregate)!

That goal effectively killed off the tie. It was a longshot for Betis to come back anyway, but they now had no hope. They were professional about it of course and kept attacking, but United grew in confidence once the first goal went in. Betis were not having the same joy going forward they were in the first half, and part of that is due to the introduction of midfielder Marcel Sabitzer. He was very effective at retaining possession for the Red Devils today, and he even forced a save from Silva on 65 minutes. Bruno and Rashford were also substituted off with the result now locked up. Weghorst had a chance fall to him on 70 minutes, but again he couldn’t get good contact on the shot and it was an easy save for Silva. There were no major chances after that, as Betis seemed somewhat resigned to their fate and United were in cruise control. The match ended 1-0 on the day, 5-1 on aggregate to United!

Most of the heavy lifting in this tie was done in the first leg last week at Old Trafford. Aside from the two early chances today, Betis never looked like getting themselves back into the fixture. United’s defense was pretty solid, with De Gea his usual reliable shot-stopping self. There are still questions about De Gea playing the ball with his feet and commanding his penalty area, but again he always handles his shot-stopping duties well. A great debut for Pellistri too! He didn’t score or assist, but he was involved in the build-up to the goal and in United’s best first-half chance. He is industrious and difficult to knock off the ball, despite his diminutive stature. His quickness and close control with the ball are also ideal for a right winger. He needs more game time, but he is in line behind fellow wingers Antony dos Santos and Jadon Sancho. Sancho also looked alright when he came on for Rashford today, but he really needs to have a breakout game soon to justify his high weekly wages. Happy to see Bruno, Rashford, Antony, left back Luke Shaw, and center back Raphael Varane all get a little bit of a rest today.

United are through to the quarterfinals of the Europa League, and they will find out who their opponent is at tomorrow’s draw. There are a lot of strong teams left, so nothing is guaranteed despite the good performance in this tie. Next up for the lads though is an FA Cup quarterfinal fixture against Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday. The winner of that match moves on to the semifinals at Wembley stadium next month. Well done to the lads on a very professional victory today.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out, full sale!

FA Cup: United Come From Behind to Beat West Ham

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Manchester United Are Your 2022/23 League Cup Champions!

Manchester United travelled south to London today for the League Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium. 87,000+ fans from all across the north of England packed themselves into the national stadium today, creating a cauldron-like atmosphere despite the chill in the air. United had a chance to win their first trophy in six years today, with Newcastle not having won a major trophy in a whopping 54 years. Managers Erik ten Hag and Eddie Howe knew that while the League/Carabao/EFL Cup is not the most revered trophy in England, winning today would still be a major milestone for either club. United are on their way back to being a dominant force after a decade of mediocrity, while Newcastle (backed by billions of Saudi Arabian dollars) are looking to establish themselves as one of the top English teams.

The match got off to a fierce start, with Newcastle doing all the early running. They showed their pace and quickness in attack right off the bat, but it was United who got the first big chance of the game on 14 minutes when striker Wout Weghorst failed to get clean contact on the ball from a promising position in front of goal. Magpies reserve keeper Loris Karius, a storyline unto himself, saved easily due to a lack of power on the shot. United winger Antony dos Santos then got a shot away a few minutes after that, but it was also a routine catch for Karius. Newcastle then had their best chance of the match around the half hour mark when a ball across the face of the United goal from midfielder Sean Longstaff found winger Allan Saint-Maximin on the left side of the box. Saint-Maximin expertly danced around right back Diogo Dalot, but his shot was saved by United keeper David De Gea at his near post. Saint-Maximin was routinely causing problems for United down the left wing in the first half.

But just as Newcastle were beginning to establish themselves, the Red Devils hit them with a sucker punch on 33 minutes. Striker Marcus Rashford was fouled on the left wing in a forward area, and United were awarded a free kick. Left back Luke Shaw elected to take it, and he played in an absolutely divine aerial ball into the box. Midfielder Casemiro was running onto it along with several other United players, and he got his head to the ball before anyone else did. He didn’t need to do much with it either given the pace and accuracy of the pass. He just redirected the ball on goal, and it flew into the right side of the goal with a diving Karius unable to keep it out. The United supporters at the opposite end roared their approval, and after a fairly lengthy VAR check for offside, the goal stood. 1-0 to United! Casemiro was in the right place at the right time, but Shaw deserves a good heaping of credit for the absolutely perfect free kick.

United doubled their advantage just six minutes later. After a bit of sloppy play in midfield, the ball eventually fell to Weghorst in a bit of space on the left side. He brought the ball forward to the edge of the area since no one was near him, then expertly played in Rashford ahead of him on an overlapping run. Rashford took a touch and then got a shot away with his left foot from a tight angle. Unluckily for Newcastle, the shot took a massive deflection off the leg of center-back Sven Botman and bounced into the air. It went over Karius’s head and into the goal for 2-0! Great run from Rashford, but there was undoubtedly a bit of luck about the finish. When you are in the form Rashford is in though, luck tends to be on your side. It could have been awarded as an own-goal, but Rashford was ultimately credited. As the oft-repeated saying goes, it doesn’t matter how the ball goes in, as long as it does. Weghorst forced another save from Karius at distance during a lengthy first half stoppage time, but after 45 minutes it was 2-0 to United.

Dalot was substituted off for fellow right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka at half time due to being on a yellow card and generally having a tough time with Saint-Maximin. AWB coming on proved to be immense for United at the back. He made a key tackle in the middle of the pitch right away that led to United’s first scoring chance of the second half, although Newcastle did get back and get a block in to make the save easy for Karius. Substitute midfielder Marcel Sabitzer also got himself involved, winning a tackle in midfield and then playing a brilliant ball through to Rashford who’s shot was saved by Karius. For the final 20 minutes or so though, it was all Newcastle. United seemed content to sit back and defend their two goal lead. That is a risky tactic at times, but the form of defenders Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, and AWB was absolutely sensational. Every time a Newcastle player was in position for a shot, there were at least 3-4 red shirts in the way. Casemiro, midfielder Fred, Sabitzer, and midfield substitute Scott McTominay all put in very good defensive shifts today. Every time extra cover was needed, one of them was there to provide it.

Winger Jacob Murphy went close for Newcastle on 88 minutes when his long-range swerving shot had De Gea beaten, but it flew just wide of the post at the last second. De Gea then had to claw away an awkward header in stoppage time, and midfielder Bruno Fernandes was denied a third United goal later in stoppage time after a last-ditch save from Karius. After an eternity of stoppage time, the final whistle blew and United won 2-0! League Cup champions, and the first major trophy for United since 2017! I was so happy when Bruno and club captain Harry Maguire raised the trophy over their heads!

This match really boiled down to the more clinical team being the winners. Both sides had plenty of scoring opportunities, but United were simply more ruthless in front of goal. ETH was again prescient with his substitutions, most notably the one where he brought on AWB. With him on, Saint-Maximin was nullified and Newcastle looked short of ideas in attack. They still played with a high intensity and fought until the end, but it was a defensive masterclass for United in the second half today. The team spirit and attitude from everyone was excellent. These lads are playing for each other, and they very clearly believe in what the manager is preaching to them. Once the two goals went in, United were never going to give up that lead.

So, an important feather in the cap for ETH, and a great week for him overall. He eliminated Barcelona from Europe on Thursday, won the first trophy available to him to win today, and has United looking good for a top-4 finish. He’s truly worked wonders for us this season. United have looked good at times previous to this under former managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho, but inconsistency always haunted them. Under ETH, it feels like there is more of a tactical plan, and moreover we have the players capable of executing that plan. Every single player in the squad knows what his jobs are in a given situation, and that leads to consistency in results. Credit to his staff as well for understanding and implementing what ETH wants done each match. It is safe to say that United have finally found the transformative manager they were looking for all these years.

The lads will celebrate tonight, and celebrate they should. But it’s back to work again tomorrow, as there is no break in United’s incredibly congested fixture list. United host West Ham United in the 5th Round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday. They will be looking to cause an upset, as United will be heavily favored. The sky is the limit for this squad under ETH though, and he will feel his side is more than capable of advancing towards another trophy. To paraphrase Bruno after the match, “We aren’t done yet.”

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!