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!

Champions League: A Chaotic Draw in Türkiye

Manchester United traveled to Türkiye last Wednesday for the penultimate match in their Champions League group stage campaign for a match against Galatasaray at Rams Park in Istanbul. It was a positively terrifying atmosphere, with the home support in full throat before, during, and after the match. Foreign clubs can and often do struggle in such a hostile atmosphere, which makes Turkish clubs very difficult to beat when they are at home. United needed 3 points to resuscitate a fairly dead European campaign, while Galatasaray also needed a victory to cement their claim on second place in the group.

The Red Devils got off to a flying start, getting two goals in the opening 20 minutes. Winger Alejandro Garnacho carried on his good form from the weekend and got the first with a high finish from close range, followed by midfielder Bruno Fernandes seven minutes later. Bruno picked up the ball on the left wing outside the box, then took a touch or two before unleashing a screamer of a shot from 20 yards out that Galatasaray keeper Fernando Muslera could do nothing about. The raucous crowd in Istanbul, while still loud, was the quietest it had been all evening.

The Cimbom were undeterred though. Bruno needlessly gave away a free kick in a dangerous area around the 28 minute mark, and United were punished for that recklessness by winger/forward Hakim Ziyech. He hit a low free-kick along the ground that went under the United wall and wrong-footed keeper Andre Onana. Well struck by Ziyech, but Onana likely should have done better to get down and make the save. It was 2-1 at the end of the first 45 minutes though, and United had done well to not concede another before halftime.

Midfielder Scott McTominay got a third goal for United on 55 minutes, and it was the result of well-executed build up from the back by United. After playing the ball through the middle of the pitch, winger Antony dos Santos found right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka on an overlapping run to his right. AWB delivered a beautiful cross into the box that fell right at the feet of the sliding McTominay. He turned the ball in from close range, and restored United’s two goal cushion. 3-1!

Again though, Galatasaray proved they have a great resilience about them. They won another free kick in a dangerous area just 7 minutes after the McTominay goal, similar to the position they had at the opposite end in the first half. Ziyech stepped up to take the free kick again, and he forced Onana to dive to his right to try and make the save. Unfortunately for Onana, the ball somehow ricocheted off his hand backwards and into the net. Ziyech wheeled away in celebration as Rams Park erupted, but this goal was down to Onana completely misjudging the shot and failing to keep it out. It was a pretty bad howler from him, and it continued United’s unfortunate trend of goalkeeping errors leading to opposition goals in the Champions League. More on Onana below.

The home side were galvanized by the mistake, and suddenly started playing with a lot more confidence. They got their equalizer on 71 minutes when winger Kerem Aktürkoğlu buried a fine shot past Onana from just inside the penalty area. He was found by an excellent pass over the top from Ziyech, with the United defense undone. United were guilty of poor marking on this goal, and they perhaps could have done more to stop the build-up from the back. But take nothing away from Ziyech and Aktürkoğlu. It was a goal of quality, and probably deserved from a neutral point of view.

The match ended 3-3, although many in Istanbul would have felt that Galatasaray were the better side and likely should have had a 4th if not for VAR overturning a penalty against United. The home side were particularly better in the second half. I hate to pin this result on one man because football is team sport, but Onana really let the side down in this match. There’s no getting around it. The first goal likely should have been saved, and the second one definitely should have been saved. The defense has really cost us in this group stage campaign. We have conceded 14 goals in these 5 matches, several of which were the fault of Onana. You can’t reasonably pin all the blame on him, but this was a guy that was touted for his ability to play in the Champions League. He was very good for Inter Milan in this tournament last year, helping them to reach the final. But for whatever reason this year, he has not done well. The defense doesn’t help him sometimes, but other times it’s very unclear what Onana is doing between the sticks. That said, he has been very good domestically this season. He is one of the better keepers in the Premier League, but for some reason his play drops significantly in Europe. Despite the bad match today, I still believe in Onana for a variety of reasons and I am sure he will improve.

The draw leaves United’s hopes for qualification to the knockout stages hanging by the proverbial thread. They are rock bottom of Group A on 4 points. They not only need to defeat Bayern Munich at Old Trafford in the final game, they then have to hope for a draw between FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray. Any other result in that match will see the Danish or Turkish side qualify in lieu of United. If United finish third in the group they would qualify for the Europa League, but I personally do not want us to have to participate in that tournament this year. The last thing we need would be more fixtures in far away countries that would most likely end up being meaningless. We need to either crash out completely in 4th, or hope that fortune favors us and we finish 2nd. The Premier League and FA Cup are way more important to me personally this year than the Europa League. My prediction for that final match day? United beats Bayern, but it ultimately doesn’t matter because Galatasaray is going to beat Copenhagen and clinch 2nd place. United will end up in the Europa League thanks to finishing 3rd, much to my would-be chagrin.

Taken as a one-off, this wasn’t a bad result. 3-3 in Istanbul is usually nothing to be ashamed of. But what bothers me the most about this match is that United blew a 2 goal lead twice! They were up 2-0 and then again at 3-1, and at this level of professional football that should be a victory. The good quality goal for Galatasaray to make it 3-3 never should have been anything more than a consolation goal. This team clearly still has issues with mental toughness and resiliency. There have been several occasions both in Europe and domestically where United have blown leads this season, and manager Erik ten Hag needs to sort that out immediately. To be fair, United have seen out their fair share of close victories this season as well, but they seem to crumble when resiliency is needed the most. This current iteration/generation of United players need to learn how to consistently win games, and that will only come with more time and practice at it. They do seem to be getting better about managing leads, but this match was a stark reminder that there is still a ways to go.

United face another difficult test in their next match, a trip to St. James’ Park to play Newcastle on December 2nd in the Prem. This will be a tough match, but also a great opportunity for United to build on their away win at Everton last weekend.

Glazers Out!

Manchester United in Turmoil – But How Do They Fix It?

United’s last two matches have been nothing short of piss-poor. That’s strong language coming out of the gate for this post, but every word of it is true. United were defeated in the Manchester Derby by Man City at the weekend 3-0, and then they were similarly drubbed by Newcastle United in the League/Carabao/EFL Cup by the same score yesterday. There were very few positives to take from either match. They were uninspiring in attack and porous in defense. Just bad football all around. Yes, City and Newcastle are good sides, and losing to good sides isn’t the worst thing in the world, but the absolutely listless manner in which we are losing is unacceptable. It’s not even close!

Rumors are flying everywhere about the status of the club and what the real source of the problems are. Unfortunately, without being present in the locker room for training sessions and matches every day, there is no way to suss out the real problem(s). Any and all media speculation, including from me, should be taken with a grain of salt. Every major sports news outlet claims to know what the problems are based on the aforementioned rumors, but no one aside from the players, manager, and club staff really know what’s going on.

Let’s approach this from the point of view of trying to get better. Okay, it’s been a crap start to the season. United are 8th in the Premier League table, they are out of the League Cup already, and they are second from bottom in their Champions League group. A decidedly poor start by the standards of this club. But alright, let’s acknowledge the poor start and then move on by asking the key questions – how do they fix it? How do they go about improving results on the pitch?

Some have called for the sacking of manager Erik ten Hag. While it’s true that his tactics have been stale and confusing at times this season, and he could stand to change things up a bit, I don’t think firing ETH will really change things in the long run. It’s the simplest way to change things, but will it really do anything? I doubt it. For one, who do you replace him with? There are no obvious candidates with the proper coaching pedigree available right now. For two, his tactics last season were largely successful. Is he really the biggest problem? Or is it that the players aren’t listening to him?

The majority of commenters online are laying blame at the feet of the players these days. It’s hard to disagree with those comments at times. It’s true that injuries have forced some of them to play out of position, but that’s not an excuse to not try hard. There’s no denying that our forwards – Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Højlund, Antony dos Santos, and Alejandro Garnacho – have all been extremely poor this season. There is just one measly Premier League goal amidst all that talent, and it was scored by Rashford in a losing effort against Arsenal. The attack is just so static and uninspiring. No one makes runs into the box. No one tries to play a dangerous ball into the box. They just bring the ball into the attacking third and then stop! Is that at the instruction of ETH? Is it the players not understanding what ETH wants? Worst yet, is it that they simply don’t care to try? Are they upset with ETH over something and don’t trust him anymore? I think no matter what the real problem is, it can’t be denied that at least part of the problem is that the dynamic of the locker room has shifted for one reason or another. I think there is a negativity surrounding the relationship between ETH and the majority of his players that wasn’t there last season. However, whatever the problem, there is no excuse not to work hard. Every single one of these first-team players is making hundreds of thousands of pounds every week to play this game. It’s the absolute least they can do to run their asses off every match! Every single player who claims to love playing for United needs to come out and show that.

Of course, yet another entity to blame is ownership. My gripes with the Glazer family are well-documented on this blog, and as owners of this club ultimately a lot of the blame is on them. The structure of this club is absolutely garbage, in the sense that it’s unclear who is in charge of what tasks and what goals each person is trying to achieve. Manager of Man City, Pep Guardiola, recently took an indirect swipe at United when he suggested that the reason for City’s success is that everyone at that club is on the same page and has the same goals. Their manager, sporting directors, and owners are all aligned on what they want and need to do. Now, Pep can be a little bit flippant at times and there’s a lot more to success than just being aligned, but I have to admit that he has a point. The owners need to set the tone of what the club needs to be, and the manager/sporting directors/players all have to align with that. The Glazers are not doing that, put mildly. There’s no accountability from them, and that trickles down to every level of the club. If they don’t really care about results and are only in it for the money, that attitude can and will permeate. Glazers Out, now and forever.

It has been reported by several outlets that the Glazers will eventually be selling 25% of this club to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a British billionaire who grew up supporting United. It is also rumored that Ratcliffe and his people will be taking over football operations and will be re-building the structure of the club. If that’s true, he has a mountain of work ahead of him. We have players that need to be sold, more that need to be brought in, and serious renovations are needed at both Old Trafford and Carrington training ground. The leaky roof on our beloved stadium is the perfect metaphor for this club’s current issues – a once great entity that has fallen into disrepair due to mismanagement and neglect.

In short, there is no simple solution to the club’s problems and no instant fix. We need an over-arching and holistic solution that no one seems to be interested in providing. There’s also very little to feel optimistic about. The Glazers need to sell, ETH needs to improve his tactics, and the players need to try harder. We didn’t get to this point accidentally. This is what happens when businessmen (and not football men) are allowed to own a club. Financial investment is a major aspect of the modern game, and United have fallen far behind on that front. We’re a joke right now. Every other club in Europe is laughing at us, and rightly so. Many of them aren’t even laughing as loudly as they once were, because at this point the tepid mediocrity isn’t even funny anymore. It’s just sad.

United have an away trip to Fulham in west London up next on November 4th. Any kind of positive result would be welcome, but I’m not holding my breath.

Glazers Out!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

The Relegation Battle

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

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

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

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

Premier League: United Win to Close in on the Top 4, City Win the Title, Forest Safe

Manchester United travelled to the south coast of England earlier today for a Premier League match with AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. It was a warm and sunny occasion in which United were looking for three points in the final push for the top-4. Fortunately for United and manager Erik ten Hag, the Cherries and manager Gary O’Neil were already safe from relegation coming into the match, which meant they had little to play for.

The match itself was far from a classic, aside from a few major events. Midfielder Casemiro scored the one and only goal in this match just 9 minutes in, and what an acrobatic goal it was! Fellow midfielder Christian Eriksen played a high arcing ball over the top of the Bournemouth defense from about 25 yards out, with Casemiro running onto it. A Bournemouth defender got a touch to it first, but the bounce fell straight to Casemiro. He contorted his body to get his right foot to it, and he swept it home without the ball touching the ground. Cherries keeper Neto had no chance! It wasn’t quite an overhead kick, but it was very close to being one. The goal was important, but it was a very good game for Casemiro overall as well. Excellent passes, he kept possession well, and was on hand to break up attacks when needed.

Bournemouth did have their chances, most notably on 33 minutes when keeper David De Gea dove to his left to keep a shot from striker Dominic Solanke out. De Gea also did well to tip a powerful and rising shot from midfielder David Brooks over the bar on 47 minutes. That was the pattern of the game – a half chance every ten minutes or so. Solanke was the danger man for Bournemouth on the day, but he couldn’t convert any of the chances presented to him. United used the high press very effectively as the match wore on, and they forged some chances of their own just after the hour mark from striker Wout Weghorst and midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Neto was equal to all attempts on goal, though. Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore forced another fine save from De Gea on 84 minutes, but that was the last good chance of the match from either side. After some solid defending in stoppage time, United were winners on the day 1-0!

The Red Devils will need to be more clinical with their finishing next season. They did enough to get the win today, but this was a match they should have won by 3 goals at least. Credit to De Gea for having a good day between the sticks, and his normally worrisome distribution was aided by a lack of pressing from the Cherries. He also won the Golden Gloves today, awarded to the keeper (and back four) that keeps the most clean sheets over the span of a Premier League season. The situation with De Gea’s contract will be an interesting one to watch over the summer.

Excellent matches from defenders Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. They’ve been rock solid during this final stretch of the season, even though the goals have dried up a little. Sometimes a manager has to rely on his defense towards the end of these long and grueling seasons, and they’ve all stepped up exceptionally well. The return of center back Lisandro Martinez next season will only further bolster an exceptional position group.

United’s win, coupled with Liverpool’s draw at Aston Villa today, means that United only need one point from their final two matches to qualify for the Champions League next season. They are well and truly on the door step, and both of their remaining Prem matches are at the fortress of Old Trafford. If they can secure just a single solitary point against either Chelsea next Thursday or Fulham on the final day, the top-4 will be guaranteed. There is also still a chance they finish 3rd ahead of Newcastle, but that won’t be a disappointment if it doesn’t happen. The top-4 is essential, while 3rd would just be icing on the cake.

Some other major events happened today too! Nottingham Forest’s victory over Arsenal at the City Ground ensured that Forest will be staying up and remaining in the Prem next season. This is huge financially for a club like Forest, and it was the principal and primary goal for them to achieve. Well done to manager Steve Cooper and all of Forest’s players for giving the city of Nottingham something to cheer about!

Arsenal’s loss also unfortunately handed the Premier League title to Manchester City, who now cannot be caught mathematically. This is City’s third successive League title and their 7th overall. For many the title comes with an asterisk though, as City are currently being investigated for numerous violations of Financial Fair Play rules, but their supporters won’t care about that. City are the best team in England, and likely also the best team money can buy. Only United (FA Cup final) and Inter Milan (Champions League final) stand in their way for an historic Treble now, something only United has achieved in the past (1999). It is breathtaking to watch them play, but the feeling is soured knowing they’re funded entirely by an oil state who doesn’t care about playing by the rules!

Even though the title has been decided and the top-4 is almost decided, there is always the relegation battle at the bottom of the table to consider. Forest are safe, which means that Everton, Leeds United, and Leicester City are staring down the barrel of relegation. Everton are currently just barely outside the bottom three, but both Leeds and Leicester will know they can leapfrog the Toffees if they can scrap some points from their respective remaining matches. Bottom dwellers Southampton have already been relegated mathematically, which means that two of the three aforementioned clubs will also be going down. On an interesting aside, this season is the first once since 2017/18 in which all three promoted clubs from the previous season will be staying up. Well done Fulham, Bournemouth, and Forest!

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Premier League: A Deserved Victory Over Wolves

Manchester United hosted Midlands-based side Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier today at a sun-drenched Old Trafford in the Premier League. This match was of high importance to United and manager Erik ten Hag, as they needed a victory to ensure that they could temporarily hold off Liverpool in the race for the top-4. Wolves and manager Julen Lopetegui on the other hand did not have much to play for, given that they are mathematically safe from relegation and are unlikely to reach a European qualifying place. Matches against Wolves usually aren’t high scoring, but United fans would be fine with that as long as there was a victory. Striker Marcus Rashford was worryingly absent due to a leg injury, but there was a boost for United in defense with the return of center-back Raphael Varane. In attendance today was former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, along with former winger (and club legend) Park Ji-sung. Both are fan favorites and their presence helped create a very positive atmosphere at kick-off.

While both sides were slow out of the gate, United were the team showing the impetus as the first half got going. Winger Antony dos Santos went close on 8 minutes after Wolves gave the ball away in their own end, only to see his shot from about 20 yards go just wide of Wolves’ reserve keeper Dan Bentley’s post. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes then forced Bentley into another save on 27 minutes from a free kick on the left wing. United eventually got their deserved breakthrough on 32 minutes. Bruno did well to win the ball in midfield, and he then played a 1-2 with fellow midfielder Casemiro before bringing the ball forward into space. Bruno played the ball ahead onto the run of Antony, with Bentley forced off his line to try and minimize the angle for Antony’s shot. Antony did not shoot though, instead opting to smartly cross it to striker Anthony Martial. Martial was mostly on his own at the back post with Bentley stranded in no-man’s land, and he took his chance to bury a shot from about 9 yards out. A very well-worked goal for the Frenchman, and it’s good to see him back on the score sheet. Bruno was the engineer of the goal however, and credit to Antony for making the right pass at the right time.

The Red Devils forged a few more half chances after that, but they went to the locker room for orange slices up 1-0 after 45 minutes. Martial maybe should have made it 2-0 after a sensational lung-bursting run from Antony down the right wing on the counter in first half stoppage time, but his shot was tame and an easy catch for Bentley. ETH and the supporters in the stadium were still mostly happy with the score line, though. It had been one-way traffic for United, with Wolves failing to register a shot on target.

While the second half again got off to a slow start for both teams, the aforementioned one-way traffic soon resumed for United. Antony had a shot that was again just wide of the post on 59 minutes. United probably should have had a second on 73 minutes after a good run into the box from winger Jadon Sancho, but his low and powerful shot was pawed away by Bentley. A very good save from the Wolves reserve keeper, but Sancho likely should have done better from 12 yards out in space. Bentley again did well just a few minutes later when he got down low to get a hand to a long-range and dipping effort from Casemiro. United were keeping the ball in the attacking third though, and Bentley was called into action yet again as the clock struck 90 minutes. Bruno and Antony combined well on the right wing, with Bentley diving down to parry Antony’s shot out behind for a corner.

A staggering 6 minutes of stoppage time was given by the referee, and for the first time all match Wolves tried to get forward. This ultimately ended up biting them in the rear end though, as United were 2-0 up on 94 minutes thanks to substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho. The ball was cleared away by left back Luke Shaw, and it eventually fell to Bruno inside the center circle. He spotted Garnacho on a diagonal run ahead of him, and he played it into the feet of the Argentine teenager perfectly. Garnacho carried the ball into the box, after which he took a touch on the ball to get his marker to commit to the challenge. Bentley and the defender both moved to Garnacho’s left, so he struck the ball to the keeper’s right and clanged it in off the right-hand post! A great way to kill off the match and seal all three points for United. Garnacho was on his first appearance after a long injury lay-off, but he did very well to show the Old Trafford faithful what they are going to get all next season. He’s only 18, but he’s shown this season that he will be a vital part of the United attack for years to come.

The whistle blew for full-time not too much longer after that. A vital win for United who were the more dominant team, but Wolves were very poor in attack today. It was clear that their level of motivation was low. The only player from the opposition who covered himself in glory was Bentley, as the match would have been well over much sooner if he hadn’t contributed with his fine saves. Not bad for a lad on his Premier League debut, in the end. Was the finishing poor from United today? Maybe, but it’s hard to tell sometimes when the opposing keeper is playing a blinder. What is clear is that if Antony can add an end product to his game next season, he will be one of the most dangerous wingers in the world. He went close several times today. A quick shoutout as well to right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. He was fantastic in defense yet again for United, and he has added an attacking element to his game that was not present in previous seasons. Most everyone played well today, even if Wolves were poor on the ball. The visitors finished the match with 0 (zero) shots on target.

With this win and Newcastle’s draw earlier in the day, the two teams are level on 66 points in 3rd and 4th place. Newcastle are ahead on goal difference, but there are still three matches left to play. United have crucially secured a four point gap between themselves and Liverpool, which was the principal and primary mission of the day. Being pipped to the top-4 by the Scousers after their sub-par season would be very negative for United, but they took a big step towards the Champions League today. They need six points from the remaining nine to mathematically guarantee the top-4.

Next up is a trip to the south coast for another Premier League match with AFC Bournemouth next Saturday. United have been poor away from home this season, but Bournemouth are similarly situated to Wolves. They are safe from relegation and have very little to play for. Perhaps their motivation will be a little low as well. United will also hope that relegation-strugglers Leicester City can get a positive result from their match against Liverpool tomorrow. That isn’t super likely though, so United will need three points next week.

Glory Glory Man United! 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!

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.

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!