World Cup Final – Preview: Argentina vs. France

Qatar should get no recognition or goodwill for hosting this event and FIFA needs to be investigated by some sort of regulatory commission for corruption.

Congrats to Croatia for taking 3rd place today. Coupled with a runners-up spot in 2018, this is by far their most successful era. Morocco also deserve a congratulations, as their 4th place finish is the highest ever for an African side.

France vs. Argentina

France: The team known colloquially as Les Bleus are in their second straight World Cup Final and are looking to be the first team to repeat as champions since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. They already have two World Cups, having won in 1998 and 2018. They have an array of talented players throughout the team, with the obvious focal point being all-world striker Kylian Mbappe. He has been fairly quiet in recent matches as defenders have been focused on marking him out of the game, but he has been able to contribute with his runs on the ball pulling defenders away from teammates. The main thing I’ve noticed about this France team is that they do a lot with very little. Their past two games against Morocco and England have frankly been unimpressive, aside from brief moments of quality that they take full opportunity of. France only had two meaningful attacks against Morocco, but they scored on both of them. “Clinical” is a good word to use to describe France. Their greatest strength this tournament has been their ruthlessness in front of goal.

That being said, there are weaknesses in this team that did not exist in 2018. Their central midfield is lacking a consistent long-range passer, their fullbacks are backups or other players being played out of position, and they don’t have a ton of depth off the bench. All of these problems are caused by the numerous injuries that happened both before and during the tournament. Paul Pogba, Karim Benzema, Presnal Kimpembe, N’Golo Kante, and Christopher Nkunku would all be in as starters normally, but none of them have played a single minute in this tournament. Fullback Theo Hernandez, deputizing for his injured brother Lucas Hernandez, has had some calamitous moments at left back. Despite the presence of stalwart center back Raphael Varane, this French defense might be their biggest weakness. Argentina’s attackers will know this, and will likely be licking their lips.

Argentina: La Albiceleste are in their first final since 2014 and are looking to win their first World Cup since 1986. The South Americans lost in heartbreaking fashion in that 2014 final to Germany, and they find themselves facing European opposition again this time around. The big headline for Argentina of course is that this will be the last ever World Cup match for their captain and attacking midfielder Lionel Messi. Regular readers of this blog (and basically anybody who has ever taken the time to watch football) know all about Messi, and his plaudits are far too many to list. Suffice it to say, he’s the Greatest Of All Time. Of course, the one and only trophy he is missing from his treasure trove of silverware is the Jules Rimet trophy, a.k.a. the World Cup. This is literally his last chance to win it. He showed against Croatia he still has the mesmerizing ball skills that made him famous, and his contributions will be the key to Argentina’s chances. Messi will undoubtedly be looking at that patchwork French defense with hunger in his eyes and 2014 fresh in his mind. He is already the best to ever a kick a ball, but hoisting that trophy above his head will eliminate all lingering doubt.

Unlike 2014, Messi has a lot more support in attack and midfield this time. Striker Julian Álvarez is having himself a sensational tournament at the young age of 22. He has been the principal and primary beneficiary of Messi’s brilliance in recent matches. When Messi is able to pull defenders out of position, it leaves holes for Álvarez to sneak into and get a shot away. Argentina’s third goal against Croatia in the semis is the perfect example of this. A brilliant run from Messi to pull defenders in, and then Messi finds a mostly unmarked Álvarez for a simple tap-in. I have also been impressed with their build-up play through midfield, and they have the work rates of Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez to thank for that. When you couple attacking support for Messi with an improved midfield and the usual stingy Argentine defense, you start to see that this is a very complete team. Center backs Nicolas Otamendi and Lisandro Martinez have been having very good tournaments respectively.

The tactics of manager Lionel Scaloni will likely determine Argentina’s fate, however. How will they play this should they manage to get themselves into the lead? Will they keep attacking like they did against Croatia and win easily? Or will they go into defensive mode and try to hold on, like they did against Australia and the Netherlands? In those two games they conceded late, and it nearly cost them both times. They had to rely on penalties to beat the Dutch, for example. Put simply, if Argentina get an early goal or two, they should keep their foot on the gas for all 90 minutes. If they start pulling men back on 70 minutes to protect a slim lead, that could be disastrous against a team with France’s attack.

Here’s to an entertaining final where the referee is not part of the headlines!

Prediction: Argentina 2-1 France (Argies get a late winner in extra time)

World Cup Quarterfinals: Preview (Day 2)

Do not believe a single thing the Qatar state media says about Qatar. It’s all lies. Same with FIFA. They’re all liars and hypocrites.

Saturday brings us two excellent matchups!

Portugal vs. Morocco – Saturday December 10th – 7 AM PST

Morocco has shocked the world twice already by beating Belgium and Spain, and they will look to do that for a third time against an in-form Portuguese side.

There’s no real mystery as to how this game will go from Morocco’s point of view. They are going to use their well-disciplined back-6 (4 defenders, a defensive mid, and the keeper) to sit back and park the proverbial bus. They will be more than happy to let Portugal have all the possession, just like they did against Spain. When they recover the ball, they will look to quickly play it long towards their pacey wingers/forwards like Hakim Ziyech. If they can get those forwards in behind the Portuguese defense regularly, it could be yet another upset for them. The longer this match stays at 0-0, the bigger the advantage for Morocco. All they need is one good opportunity to score, and they will likely take it. They are just the 4th African team in history to make the quarterfinals of the World Cup, but they will not want their Cinderella run to end here. They will go at the Portuguese when the opportunity presents itself to try and win. They’ll be penned in their own half for most of the match, but Portugal will need to be on their toes if/when the balls breaks for Morocco.

Portugal will be the toughest test for the north Africans so far. They have found good team chemistry despite the dramatics of one Cristiano Ronaldo, and they have a good mix of youth and experience. They scored for fun against the Swiss in the Round of 16, and I expect them to be on the front foot for most of this match. Striker Gonçalo Ramos, along with midfielders Bruno Fernandes and João Félix, will probably be responsible for Portugal’s attacking duties. All three of those players I just listed are in extremely good form right now. Without checking, I am fairly sure that Bruno leads all players in assists at this tournament. They are also much more direct than the Spanish, relying more on getting the ball forward quickly as opposed to trying to pass the opponent to death. Ramos also cannot be given any space when in the box, as he is capable of scoring from a variety of angles. If the Portuguese get a goal in the first half, it could be a very long day for Morocco.

Prediction: Portugal 1-0 Morocco (0-0 after 90 minutes, but Portugal gets the winner in extra time)

England vs. France – Saturday December 10th – 11 AM PST

Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Nerves are through the roof for this one. Where to even begin? France are the defending world champions and certainly have the talent to win another World Cup this year. England were semi-finalists in 2018, and were runners-up at Euro 2021 last summer. Both sides are loaded with talent, and both sides have the ability to win this match. Along with Netherlands-Argentina, this match is as about as close as it gets to a toss-up.

The big threats from France come from all-world striker Kylian Mbappe and striker Olivier Giroud, who will be supported by the likes of wingers Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann. All four of those guys are capable of winning matches on their own, particularly Mbappe. The man is in sensational form right now and leads all other scorers in the race for the Golden Boot. He not only has Olympic-caliber sprinting abilities, he also has the ability to score from almost anywhere inside 20 yards. His two finishes against Poland in the Round of 16 were real “poacher’s” goals, as they were hit not only with power but precision and from a fair bit of distance. Put simply, he is the main source of inspiration for the French and will need to be closely marshalled by the England defense. If he is given too much space in the box, France will score. One concern for the French is their number of injuries, and perhaps a lack of pace in the back line. France are extremely deep even with injuries to Paul Pogba, Karim Benzema, and Christopher Nkunku, but as a result of those absences they are perhaps not as deep as they were when they won in 2018. I also think their fullbacks Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez lack a little bit of pace. That hasn’t hurt them so far, but they have not played an attack like England’s yet. This is not to say that the French back line isn’t good, as they are indeed anchored by world-class center back Raphael Varane. I do think however that attacks down the wings will create the most problems for France.

As for England, well, there is no denying their talent in attack. Going forward, this might be the strongest England side I have ever seen. They have the big physical center forward in Harry Kane, and he is often supported by forwards/wingers Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Phil Foden. All four of them have scored at this tournament, and while Kane’s goals are slightly down he has contributed in other ways. His passes from midfield that find the runs of Rashford and Foden have been absolutely deadly. Whether Kane is in the box or distributing from midfield, he will have a very important role to play. Tactically I think manager Gareth Southgate will be happy to concede a little bit of possession to the French, as England’s first two goals in the Round of 16 against Senegal came via quick counter-attack moves. Midfielder Jude Bellingham will also have a vital role to play, as he is usually the one who carries the ball forward through midfield while riding challenges from the opposition. His balance and technique on the ball are among the best I have ever seen from a midfielder his size, and he is still only 19. England’s back line and defense will be tested against the French, but so far they have largely passed all tests presented to them. Interestingly, the best form of defense for England will be a good attack. If we keep the French on their toes and wary of us breaking on them, they will have a harder time throwing men forward.

It’s going to take the collective efforts of everyone in a Three Lions shirt to get a win on Saturday. Total focus and concentration. One error could be the difference between the semifinals and a flight home. This England team has taken so many major steps forward since 2018, and they must continue to do so here. A win over the French at the World Cup would be historic. They are a formidable foe, but then again, so are England. Southgate must take the handbrake off for this team and let them run at the French defense. If we lose, it will be because we played too conservatively.

Prediction: both teams to score at least one, but I am not going to pick a winner. Whatever I say, it will somehow negatively affect England. Superstition abounds right now.

Lionesses Demolish Norway at Euro 2022; Club Transfer News Roundup

I’ve been guilty of making a very large mistake – not paying a lot of attention to the England women’s team at Women’s Euro 2022. I’ve been checking scores once results are over, but that’s really about it. Not anymore though! The Lionesses are legit trophy challengers this tournament. Many of the pundits are regarding them as the most complete team, and they really showed that today against a Norwegian squad that’s ranked among the best in the world.

Many recall the USA hitting Thailand for 13 at the last Women’s World Cup, and while that was undoubtedly impressive, England’s 8 (eight!) to 0 (nil) victory today over Norway at Amex Stadium in Brighton, UK was arguably even more so. Along with France and England, the Norwegians were favorites to win this tournament and have one of the best players in the world in striker Ada Hegerberg. To beat a squad like this so thoroughly really shows the class England have at all 11 positions and on the bench.

England were all over them from start to finish. Pressing very effectively, and Norway could not figure out what to do about it. Forward Beth Mead earned her first hat trick of the tournament today, while stalwart forward Ellen White contributed two goals as well. It was 6-0 to England at half time! Things did kick off with a soft penalty awarded to England, but that does not excuse the Norwegians from allowing seven more goals after that. This was the biggest victory by any team – men or women – at the Euros ever.

Coupled with their 1-0 victory over Austria last week and their now massive goal difference, England have effectively won Group A and will move on to the knockout rounds. The formality of the final group match against minnows Northern Ireland remains, but England manager Sarina Wiegman now has the luxury of rotating her squad before the next match.

Come on England!!!

*****

On the men’s side of things, pre-season is about to kick off for Manchester United, who are currently on a tour of southeast Asia. It has been a spicy close season and transfer window indeed, most notably for who United have failed to sign. Due to our own inability to complete a transfer swiftly and the fact that United will not be in the Champions League next season, a lot of the top shelf talent has gone to our rival clubs. Manchester City have signed all-world striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Kalvin Phillips, Liverpool have signed striker Darwin Nunez, while Arsenal and Tottenham have strengthened their midfield and attacking options respectively as well.

United have so far lost more players than they have signed. Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, and Andreas Pereira have all signed elsewhere, will sign elsewhere, or have retired from the game. While we did need a clear out and to offload some bloated contracts, the other half of a competent transfer strategy is replacing those departing players while improving the squad. Not sure United has done that, yet.

The Red Devils have officially signed left back Tyrell Malacia from Dutch side Feyenoord, and they appear very close to announcing the signing of attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen from Brentford. United also appear to be in for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, but the process has taken so long and the rumors flying every which way has made this saga about as clear as mud. Barcelona and United are currently two of the most poorly-run clubs in the world. Indeed, United would arguably be the worst if not for the stunning incompetence of the Barcelona board of directors. There seems to be a contractual issue at the forefront, and it’s unclear whether De Jong even wants to play for United next season. I understand he may be important to new manager Erik ten Hag’s plans, but what’s the point in dragging out this whole process if he doesn’t want to be here?

What to do about Cristiano Ronaldo has also caused some head-scratching it seems around Carrington training ground. Ronaldo will be 38 by the end of next season, but the argument could easily be made that he was United’s best outfield player last season. He was leading scorer after all, and seemed to win matches on his own at times. But now he is supposedly not happy with the lack of transfers, and there are rumors that he has requested to leave Old Trafford. That could happen, but two major obstacles are in the way. For one, Ten Hag has explicitly stated that Ronaldo is in his plans for the upcoming season. Second, and this is potentially the bigger obstacle, are Ronaldo’s massive weekly wages. He is rumored to be on a whopping £510,000/week contract, and there are simply not many clubs that can afford to pay him that much. He probably won’t take a pay cut unless he really wants to leave. It is important to note that Ronaldo is not currently with the squad in southeast Asia, as the club has given him leave to address “family” issues. Whether he stays or not will be interesting. Chelsea are rumored to be the only destination that checks all the boxes, but would Ronaldo really leave United for a competitive rival? Is he that much of a mercenary? Many fans want to believe he isn’t, but as we all know, money talks.

United still need a true defensive midfielder in my opinion, but that’s been the case for about two years now. Ten Hag seems to have the lads training hard every day, but I have to question whether he feels supported by ownership and club officials. There’s a lot of pressure on him to succeed at United, but that will be near impossible if he is not given the support from ownership that he needs.

United Crash Out of Champions League

Manchester United played host to Spanish side Atletico Madrid earlier today at Old Trafford, in the 2nd leg of their Round of 16 tie in the Champions League. United were in with a decent shout to win this tie thanks to Anthony Elanga’s late equalizer in Spain three weeks ago in the first leg, but it truly was finely poised. Atletico are an experienced side in the CL, and their tactics are a reflection of their colorful manager, Diego Simeone. In previous seasons, United would have had a larger advantage coming into this tie. The previously-observed away goals rule would have given United the edge thanks to their goal in Spain, and they could have played for a 0-0 draw with Atletico forced to attack. This season however, UEFA (in its infinite wisdom) has done away with the away goals rule. Their goal seems to be to force more extra time and possibly penalty scenarios, probably because it will allow UEFA to squeeze even more ad money out of their cash cow.

Anyway, the match started brightly for United. They looked to be full of energy and confidence on the ball, and Atletico seemed to be a little unsure of themselves. The first half hour for United was by far their best spell of the game. Brazilian midfielder Fred was playing extremely well, causing all kinds of problems for Atletico with all his flicks and tricks in advanced positions. United were denied one of their best chances all match when Elanga attempted to tap-in a fast cross from point blank range, only to be unluckily denied by the face of Atletico keeper Jan Oblak. Nine times out of ten, Elanga scores on this chance. Oblak’s head was just in the right place at the right time, and his face kept the ball out. Ouch for Oblak, but they were lucky to not be behind early on.

Atletico grew into the match after the half hour mark though, and they started seeing a lot more of the ball. A warning shot was fired at United when Atletico had the ball in the net via forward Joao Felix, but it was correctly called back for offside. United’s back four were torn apart fairly easily though, and there was much more tension around the ground all of a sudden. Atletico did find the all-important first goal on 41 minutes, when a cross over the top from striker Antoine Griezmann found left back Renan Lodi unmarked at the back post. He had a free header, and he buried it past United keeper David De Gea. Atletico players all ran around to celebrate, but the United players were arguing with Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic that the goal should be ruled out for fouls in the buildup. The replays did appear to show fouls on both Elanga and Fred in the build-up to their goal, but curiously the goal was allowed to stand. United’s back four were ripped apart too easily though, with center back Harry Maguire at the center of the action for the wrong reasons yet again. Atletico went into the halftime break with a lead, and you could tell the United players were feeling deflated.

The second half did not bring much improvement for United. Atletico are a side that are well-drilled defensively, and soaking up pressure while clearing crosses is their favorite thing to do. Atletico are also well-versed in the art of shithousery, and it was on full display today. They start time wasting during free kicks, throw ins, and corners. They pretend to be injured for longer than is necessary. They start talking shit and messing with the heads of the opposition. All of these tactics might come across as gamesmanship or outright cheating, but it’s an art form perfected by Simeone when he was a player (ask David Beckham) and he has instilled it into his players.

Shithousery tactics are incredibly effective when the referee allows a team to get away with all of that, as Vincic did today. My regular readers know that I am not normally one to blame the referee in a losing effort. At the professional level, a team can always overcome poor officiating in most situations by simply playing better than they had been playing. But today this referee was absolutely horrific. Atrocious, terrible, and downright bad. His decision making and frankly up odd behavior got worse as the match went on. Blatant foul after blatant foul wasn’t called, and it allowed Atletico to do what they do best – frustrate and annoy the opposition into submission. When a foul was called, he failed to administer yellow cards when needed. There was even a moment where he appeared to be simply watching the match instead of officiating it – when the ball went out of play behind United’s goal and he didn’t call it. He also oddly booked United’s technical director Darren Fletcher shortly after missing the ball going out of play, and sprinted 40 yards across the field to deliver the booking to the United coach. Why? Unclear.

Perhaps most frustrating however was when United had the ball in a good attacking area, only for Vincic to stop play due to an ankle injury on an Atletico player. He is not required to stop play at all there, and most referees will let play go on in that scenario. More egregiously, United right back Diogo Dalot went down after a clear blow to the head from an Atletico player, and Vincic failed to 1) call a foul and 2) stop the match for treatment. Dalot was on the ground, holding his head. The ref is required by player safety rules to stop play for head injuries, and it was obvious Dalot had suffered one. What on earth was this referee doing officiating in the knockout rounds of the CL? The occasion looked way too big for him and his odd calls/behavior are indicative of that.

Center back Raphael Varane had United’s best chance of the half, when his header from an Alex Telles free kick was saved by Oblak. Varane got good contact with the ball and the shot was on target, but Oblak got a strong left hand up and palmed it away. Rangnick tried bringing on the likes of Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Nemanja Matic, and Juan Mata to try and find an equalizer, but no one was really able to contribute. Rashford in particular was once again poor. It gives me no pleasure to slag off England players like Rashford and Maguire, but a spade must be called a spade. Rashford lost possession numerous times, and his crosses into the box were easily blocked by his marker on most occasions. I don’t know what’s wrong with the both of them, to be honest. They were both great last season, had a good Euros tournament and a good start to this season, but somewhere along the way they both seem to have lost confidence in their game. Confidence is so important at this level. The opposition can smell self-doubt from a mile away. You have to believe in yourself, or no one else will. It should be noted that star forward Cristiano Ronaldo was largely missing from the proceedings today as well. I don’t recall a single instance where he was on the ball in a forward/attacking position.

Anyway, United are out of the CL cuz of a lack of creativity, Atletico shithousery, and an absolutely shambolic display of refereeing. United were knocked out of the League Cup early, they are out of the FA Cup, they have no chance of winning the Premier League (and face a stern challenge to finish top-4), and now the CL is gone. It’s going to be another trophy-less season in the red half of Manchester, and that is a dour thought indeed. The players we have don’t try consistently, the manager’s tactics are coming into question along with his lack of adaptability, and we seem to be in need of yet another clearing out/rebuild. Whoever United bring in as permanent manager, he will have a mountain of work to do.

Lack of Finishing Leads to a Draw Against Lesser Opposition (Again)

The title says it all, really. Manchester United took on Watford at Old Trafford in the Premier League today, and the match finished 0-0. United dominated every facet of the game statistically – possession, passes, shots, shots on target, etc. But in the one category that matters most, goals scored, they came up empty.

Watford are not a good side in midfield or attack. The number of times they lost the ball today was staggering. What was even more staggering was United’s complete inability to do anything with the ball once it was given away. I saw wasted chances from Cristiano Ronaldo, Anthony Elanga, Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, and several other United players. It was proper agonizing to watch. Manager Ralf Rangnick threw on literally every available attacking player in order to try and get a goal, but it never came. All credit to Watford for defending well enough to keep us out, in particular their Brazilian center back Samir. He was absolutely everywhere today, either clearing the ball or making a key tackle/block. But even though Watford played very well in defense, United still should have had at least 2-3 goals to show for their efforts today.

In his post-match interview, Rangnick himself actually counted eight (8!) good chances throughout the match that United should have capitalized on. Yes its true a few of our chances came down to bad luck, but there were several more that were just poorly taken in general. This club has too much talent to be this wasteful in front of goal. Ronaldo in particular needs to be assigned a fair portion of the blame. He looked rather dejected at the final whistle, but if he was sulking the first thing he needs to worry about his own form. He’s had a below average season by his illustrious standards, but of course a bad season for Ronaldo is a dream season for some players. He hasn’t done outright poorly as he has scored some very important goals, but again he just seems a bit…off. The same could be said of all our attacking players though.

The top-4 is now very unlikely to happen. It’s not mathematically impossible to still qualify of course, but United are only 2 points clear of Arsenal in 5th and they have 3 games in hand on us. West Ham and Tottenham could also easily catch us in their next few games. It’s not looking good for Champions League football next season unless we start consistently scoring. At this point, I’m not optimistic.

Just the small matter of the league leaders Manchester City away on March 6th in the Premier League. I am, once again, not optimistic.

A Six-Goal Thriller in the War of the Roses

Manchester United travelled 45 miles northeast earlier today to take on rivals Leeds United at Elland Road in the Premier League. This is a fixture with lots of history to it, both on the pitch and off. It’s referred to by some as the War of the Roses, in homage to the 15th century war(s) between rival factions of the Plantagenet family who fought for control of the English throne. One sect was from Lancashire County where Manchester is (symoblized by a red rose), and the other was from Yorkshire where Leeds is (symbolized by a white rose). In more recent history (1970s), United and Leeds supporters often fought it out in the streets when the match was held. At that time Leeds were a powerhouse of English football, and although they were relegated to the lower leagues for about 25 years they have since returned to the Prem. Still plenty of hatred there though, as United have already beaten Leeds 5-1 this season on the opening day of the season. It was a torrential downpour in Leeds today too, which always injects a bit of chaos into a match. Even though Leeds came into the match in the bottom half of the table, they were going to throw everything they had at United today.

The match kicked off in an electric atmosphere provided by the Leeds faithful and a strong contingent of travelling United supporters. Both teams were at each other almost right away too, with Luke Shaw being fouled on the ball roughly 30 seconds into the match. It was a tense affair for about half an hour or so, with neither side scoring but plenty of chances being created. You could tell the rain was influencing play quite a bit, as the final passes or shots from both sides were usually not of the highest quality. Rain really is an X-factor in football matches, you never really know how it’s going to hinder or enhance your team’s play.

United broke the deadlock on 34 minutes though, and it was the simplest of goals to score. A corner was taken by Shaw, who played the ball over the top straight to center-back and club captain Harry Maguire. His marker had his back turned to the ball, and Maguire buried a header into the back of the net with Leeds keeper Illan Meslier beaten. Stunningly, that was the first goal United has scored from a corner all season. We have taken 140 corners in the Premier League this season, but only today, two-thirds of the way through the season, did we score one. Good header from Maguire for sure, but Marking 101 is making sure you can always see where the ball is when it comes in. If your back is turned to the ball, you have no idea when to jump or make a challenge to win the ball. Factor in that Maguire is 6’5” and 220+ pounds with a massive head, and that’s a recipe for a goal. Interestingly, Leeds are not good at defending set pieces and United stink at scoring from them, so something had to give today. It did, and United were up 1-0 as a result.

United got a second goal deep into stoppage time of the first half. Normally you only see 1-2 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half, but due to a lengthy injury stoppage earlier on, referee Paul Tierney decided there would be a whopping 6 minutes of it at the end of the first. United took advantage however, with Bruno Fernandes getting on the scoresheet for the second match in a row. Center-back Victor Lindelof made a rare but impressive run forward with the ball, having played a smart 1-2 with winger Jadon Sancho. Lindelof rode some challenges and brought the ball to the edge of the box, before playing the ball back to Sancho just off to his right. Sancho played in a high cross onto the run of Bruno, who got his header down and away to Meslier’s left. No chance to save it, and United were two goals to the good at the half-time whistle. A perfect time to score, and a relief for us to get a second goal – something we have struggled to do this season.

The weather conditions worsened after halftime with the rain falling harder and also some wind gusts picking up, and you could tell the pitch was starting to become waterlogged. When that happens, weird things can happen with the ball. Leeds were the beneficiaries of this, as they managed to wrangle a freak goal on 53 minutes. Leeds winger Rodrigo Moreno found himself on the left wing with space for a cross, so he hit one towards the center of the box. At some point though the wind/rain affected the flight of the ball, and it flew into the back of the net over the outstretched hand of United keeper David De Gea. De Gea had been in good form up until that point, although it’s harsh to put too much blame on him for this one. Rodrigo did well to put a dangerous ball into the penalty area for sure, but there was no way he was attempting to score from that distance and that tight of an angle. He got a lot of help from the weather. Still though, a goal is a goal and Leeds were revitalized.

Shockingly, Leeds were level just 58 seconds later when Brazilian winger/forward Raphinha tapped in from close range. Bruno lost possession deep in his own half (although he appeared to have been fouled) and the ball eventually was played to former United winger/forward Daniel James, who now plays the same position(s) for Leeds. He had two United defenders on him, but he still found a way to create space for a low cross just inside the United penalty area. He played the ball along the ground with no one clearing it, with Shaw allowing Raphinha to get goal-side of him for the tap-in. A good goal from Leeds, but a poor one for United to concede. Shaw cannot allow an attacking player to get goal-side of him like that, especially one as good as Raphinha.

I thought United were going to fold, like they have done in previous matches this season. I was predicting that we would be held to a draw or worse lose the match outright, given all the momentum Leeds had. But credit must be given to Ralf Rangnick, our interim manager. He brought on midfielder Fred for Paul Pogba, a move which raised some eyebrows given how well Pogba was playing. Forward Anthony Elanga was also brought on from the bench. All of a sudden, United looked a lot less fragile in midfield and the Leeds attacks stopped being so frequent and direct.

Fred was instrumental in stopping the bleeding, and even went and drew some blood himself by getting United’s next goal on 70 minutes. Bruno won the ball in his own half on the right wing before coming forward and finding Cristiano Ronaldo, who touched the ball on towards Fred. Fred brought the ball forward to the edge of the box, before finding Sancho off to his left. He then sprinted around the outside of Sancho, after which Sancho hit him with a casually-sweet touch pass that he struck with his left foot high and powerful. The shot went past Meslier at his near post and United were in the lead again. Fred has scored some very important goals for United this season, and this one was a great finish indeed. It’s true Meslier probably should have at least gotten a hand to it as keeper’s are not supposed to be beaten at their near post, but it was great build-up and finishing from United nevertheless.

A one-goal lead in a match like this though is a dangerous score line, so United knew they were not home and dry (metaphorically or literally) just yet. Leeds went close with an effort from midfielder Mateusz Klich that he really should have struck better, and then after that he tested De Gea again with a long-range effort that the United keeper had to touch over the crossbar. It was United that got the next goal though, and on 87 minutes it was the effort that sealed the points. Fred did well to find Bruno ahead of him on a run, and Bruno’s touch of the ball to get around his marker was sublime. After he turned his man he took another touch and played it into the path of the on-running Elanga. Elanga struck the ball first time through Meslier’s legs and into the goal, sending the away supporters into ecstasy now that the job was done. Great pass from Fred, exquisite control from Bruno, and a solid finish from Elanga. All credit to Elanga for keeping his composure too. He had missed on a good chance only a few moments earlier, and he had been jarringly hit in the head by a projectile from the crowd after Fred’s goal. There’s a reason why the main chant about Leeds from United supporters is titled “We All Hate Leeds Scum”. It’s fine to be upset that your team is losing, but to throw something at an opposing player and strike him in the head with it is the definition of classless. I hope the fan that threw the projectile is found and given a lifetime ban.

The final whistle blew after a brief spell of stoppage time, and it was a party for the travelling supporters. A thrilling match, in every way. Aside from the 58 second span in which United conceded the two goals, they were the better side today. One of their goals was a freak occurrence that usually doesn’t happen, and the other happened largely due to a foul that wasn’t called on Bruno. Great games from Sancho, Bruno, Pogba, Fred, Lindelof, De Gea, and Elanga. The biggest positive takeaway however was the team spirit and determination showed by the lads collectively today. They had a lead, got pegged back in quick fashion, but kept at it and eventually walked away as winners. In too many matches this season United have given up leads and looked lost once they had done so, but not today. They kept fighting. They didn’t stop trying just because they conceded two in quick succession. That’s huge for the players’ mentality going forward. Again, credit to Rangnick for bringing on Fred and Elanga. Most people watching, myself included, would not have taken off Pogba for Fred. Pogba was playing well and is much more attack-minded than Fred. But clearly Rangnick knows his players well and therefore knew exactly what to do once Leeds had all the momentum. It was nice to see the opposition fold for once this season, instead of United doing it.

United remain in 4th place in the Premier League, but we can still be dislodged by Arsenal, Tottenham, or Wolves who all have games in hand. No matter though, all we can do is continue winning and building momentum. Speaking of, it will be great to have some momentum for the next clash – the first leg of the Champions League knockout stage against Atletico Madrid in Spain on Wednesday.

Glory Glory Man United!

A Much Needed Victory Over Brighton

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glory Glory Man United!

Another Match, But the Same Old Story

Manchester United travelled to the northeast of England today to take on Burnley in a Premier League match at Turf Moor. It’s safe to say that expectations were fairly low for United supporters, given the disaster against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on Friday. Burnley are a bottom of the table club and stand a good chance to be relegated this season, but just because a team is not very good doesn’t mean United will beat them. The torrential rain, wind, and cold did not help to raise my expectations. Teams in the northeast thrive on horrendous weather because they practice and play in it all the time.

What happened today was the exact same thing that happened against Boro. Almost exactly the same match in terms of what happened; indeed it’s even a little odd just how similar these two successive matches were.

United were dominant in the first 45 minutes, just like against Boro. They had several chances either not taken or ruled out by the referee/VAR but did manage to score one goal, just like against Boro. Jadon Sancho scored against Boro around the 20 minute mark, and today Paul Pogba did the same thing around the same time. Burnley couldn’t get near us in the opening half, with Bruno Fernandes and Pogba controlling the midfield. United were winning the ball, passing well, and creating chances. Center-back Raphael Varane had a goal ruled out for an offside from a free kick, and Burnley keeper Nick Pope did well to deny United several times.

I wanted the match to stop at halftime though. The fact that we only scored one after dominating so thoroughly had me nervous for a repeat of what happened against Boro.

And I ended up being correct, although I did not want to be. Burnley came out in the second half and really took the game to United, and the opposition were undoubtedly galvanized by the lack of clinical finishing (again). Burnley got their equalizer just two minutes into the half via strike Jay Rodriguez, who was let through on goal after a mistake by Harry Maguire. More on him below.

The second half in totality was poor from United. It’s true they didn’t concede another goal, but that was more due to Burnley’s own ineptitude in front of goal than United’s defensive efforts. Burnley dropped all 11 men behind the ball once they equalized and suddenly United were out of ideas. Possession was fine along with some of the build up play, but every final ball or shot was cleared or blocked by a Burnley defender. The play of Burnley center-back Ben Mee was simply phenomenal. He always seemed to know exactly where to be to snuff out an attack, and he always made the right clearance at the right time.

The match ended 1-1 as the quality of football deteriorated in tandem with the weather. No real chances created for either side as the match wore on. Not even the introduction of Cristiano Ronaldo could spark a winner. His two best chances were a header over the bar and a header straight at Pope.

And ok yes, we did not lose, but we should be winning matches like this by 3 or 4 goals. Sometimes, a 1-1 draw is a good result. It absolutely was today for Burnley. This is a draw that feels like a loss for the Red Devils though. Any time you score only one goal despite a litany of chances, your club will be susceptible to a comeback. That is the nature of professional football in the Premier League. Some teams are worse than others, but anyone can still get a result anyone given the right conditions.

Maguire was terrible tonight and has been terrible for most of the season. He needs to be dropped for a few games to get his head right. Victor Lindelof has shown some promise working alongside Varane, and in my opinion he should be given more playing time. Edinson Cavani was also terrible for most of the match as well. He lost possession several times, which became more and more costly as the match wore on. Bruno and Pogba, for all their brilliance in the first half, went missing in the second. Marcus Rashford can’t finish a chance to save his life, and he also lost possession several times today. Sancho and Luke Shaw were also good in the first half, but again largely disappeared in the second.

Managers of rival clubs will take note of this very simple fact: if you can challenge United and rattle them mentally a little bit, they will fold like a house of cards. Burnley came out aggressively against us in the second half, and this squad for whatever reason couldn’t handle it. Piss poor attitude, really. We have World Cup winners and highly experienced international players in this squad, yet they can’t mentally handle being pegged back by objectively the worst team in the Prem. Manager Ralf Rangnick is somewhat to blame for this mental weakness, but in a team full of professionals its inexcusable.

There was so much hope and optimism for this squad before the season started. Many bookies and casinos gave us good odds to win the Prem, given the additions of Ronaldo, Sancho, and Varane. Now though we’ll be lucky to finish 4th. In all honesty, a team that can’t beat Boro or Burnley does not deserve to be anywhere the title or the top-4. This inconsistent form and lack of mental toughness have to be addressed, and I have no idea how to fix it.

United drop into 5th with this result. United are at home again on Saturday, Feb. 12th against Southampton at Old Trafford. I expect nothing, but I’m sure I’ll still be disappointed anyway.

United Go Out of the FA Cup on Penalties; Match Marred by Controversy

Manchester United returned to action after a 2 week break on Friday afternoon, where they took on Championship-side Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in the FA Cup. I’m a big fan of the FA Cup due to the match-ups it frequently produces. Boro, as they are locally known, did not start their season well but have had a resurgence in form under manager Chris Wilder. United were looking to continue to develop the style of play instituted by Ralf Rangnick, and were heavy favorites going into the match.

It was a high-energy start by the Red Devils, which was a nice change from the slow and laboring starts supporters have become accustomed to. Jadon Sancho did well to hit the crossbar just 90 seconds in, and Cristiano Ronaldo had a bicycle kick effort saved by Boro keeper Joe Lumley. The best chance of the half came on 19 minutes however when Paul Pogba was fouled in the box by a Boro defender. Pogba, playing for the first time in several months due to injury, did well to get the wrong side of his marker, and the defender had no choice but to bring him down. Stonewall penalty, correctly awarded by referee Anthony Taylor. Unexpectedly however, Ronaldo stepped up to the spot and promptly missed the penalty kick, with his shot going wide left. He usually doesn’t miss those, but when he does it feels like a big let-down. Bruno Fernandes then fired a shot over the bar on 23 minutes. Despite missing the chances, you felt a goal was coming.

And it did, via Sancho on 25 minutes. He used his pace and dribbling to beat his man on the left side box while he streaked towards goal. He fired a shot across the face of goal that may have taken the slightest of deflections before beating Lumley at his far post. A good goal and deserved goal, given United’s dominance in the match. Ronaldo almost got a second straight after the goal, but he missed again. Marcus Rashford was then guilty of missing a chance after Ronaldo’s shot/cross almost reached him at the back post. Rashford had the ball in the net on 30 minutes, but VAR called the goal back for offside.

United were creating everything in the first half, and Boro barely had a sniff of Dean Henderson’s goal. Despite putting the opposition under siege, United could not find a second goal in the first half. There was a succession of corners that came to nothing, and they could only manage to fire tame efforts directly at Lumley. It was the best half of football I had seen from Rangnick’s United so far this season, in terms of possession, pressing, and passing. Bruno and Pogba were running the midfield, and Boro were struggling to get out of their own half. It was only due to United’s lack of clinical finishing in front of goal that the score was not 3 or 4 to nil.

The second half was when the match started deteriorating into nonsense from a United perspective. United dominated the first 15 minutes or so similar to how they did in the first half, but again there were no additional goals scored. Rashford and Ronaldo missed good chances on 54 and 55 minutes respectively. Somewhat worryingly though, Boro were starting to grow into the game. They started believing that United were not going to score, which in turn led to more belief in themselves. Henderson was called into action to make his first save on 57 minutes.

Boro were able to snatch an equalizer however on 64 minutes, and it was very much against the run of play. Here is where the controversy comes in. The ball was crossed into the box and controlled by winger Duncan Watmore, who definitely used his hand to control the ball after he took a touch with his foot. His left arm was extended far away from his body, and he definitely used his hand to control the bounce of the ball. United’s defenders almost stopped, expecting a whistle for a flagrant hand ball. No whistle came, and Watmore had the time to pass the ball to Matty Crooks at the opposite post who tucked the ball into the top of the net with Henderson beaten. This goal should have been disallowed, but due to the idiotic finagling of the handball rule and a poor interpretation of the rule by Taylor, the goal stood. The current laws of football allow for an “accidental” handball in the buildup to a goal to stand. Had Watmore scored himself, the goal would have been disallowed. But because he passed it to Crooks who then scored, the goal was allowed to stand. However, Taylor got the call wrong because there is no way this particular handball was “accidental.” It did not bounce up and come off Watmore’s hand. He stuck his arm out and deliberately used his hand to control the ball. Intentional conduct all the way. It’s ridiculous that the rule is written so stupidly. When the rules of a game are unclear, the stage is set for controversy. The FA has gotten the handball rule wrong for ages now and it must be fixed. In previous years, the goal would not have stood. Absolutely appalling from the FA and Taylor. Use your common sense! He used his bloody hand, and it was deliberate! Disallow the goal.

But, this is what happens when you don’t kill a game off. United have no one to blame but themselves for that. Had it been 3-0, a 3-1 deficit makes little difference. At 1-0 though an equalizer makes ALL the difference. Even more frustratingly, United were given more opportunities to win that they simply did not take. Rashford had a shot saved on 71 minutes, but Bruno wasted the best chance of them all shortly after that. Lumley and the Boro back four gave the ball away directly to Bruno, with Lumley badly out of position. So much so that Bruno had roughly 2/3 of the net wide open to slide the ball into, and he was only about 14 yards from goal. Any other day of the week, Bruno slides that home and it’s 2-1. But for whatever mysterious reason, his shot slid wide and hit the left hand post before bouncing away harmlessly. It was shocking the Ronaldo missed his penalty, but this one was perhaps even more shocking.

Due to fatigue from both sides, Fred and Anthony Elanga were subbed on for Pogba and Rashford on 81 minutes. United dominated the final 10 minutes in possession, but again no additional goals were scored. Elanga had the final chance of the 90 minutes, but his header was straight at Lumley for an easy save.

In previous year, an FA Cup match that ends in a draw would be replayed at a later date at the opposite stadium. Due to Covid and player safety concerns though, there are no more replays. It’s 30 minutes of extra time, followed by penalties if need be. Both sides were exhausted in extra time though and it was a very choppy and disjointed portion of the match. Watmore went close for Boro with a shot across the face of goal, and Ronaldo hit the side netting on 101 minutes. Fred saw a shot go wide, with Bruno having a chance called back for offside. Henderson made a key save on 115 minutes and United kept the ball around the Boro penalty area for most of extra time, but they had 11 men in defense which made it exceedingly difficult to break them down.

The final whistle went and the lottery of penalties was going to decide this one. Juan Mata, Harry Maguire, Fred, Ronaldo, Bruno, Scott McTominay, and Diogo Dalot all did well to hit their penalties, but Boro were equal to them every time. Henderson could not get near their shots, aside from one that went under him that he probably should have saved. Unfortunately, Elanga blazed his penalty over the ball and Boro won on penalties 8-7.

It never should have gotten to that point though, and Elanga should not take really any blame for the result. United did not do enough to kill the game off in the first half, and they allowed Boro back into the match. It’s true the refereeing was atrocious and their goal never should have stood, but again it shouldn’t have really mattered given United’s dominance in the first 60 minutes. But in close matches like this one, the referee has to be better. The rules surrounding handball must be fixed, and idiot referees have to be held accountable for their terrible interpretations of the laws. Right now they make a mockery of the game.

United are out the FA Cup though, which was our best chance to win silverware this season. It’s very disappointing, and it’s typical of United under Rangnick. Sometimes we look like world-beaters, and other times we look like we don’t know what we’re doing. We certainly picked the worst time to forget how to finish, and it’s inexcusable with two weeks of preparation for a match against a Championship side. This one stung, and it stung bad. Ronaldo, Bruno, and Rashford all deserve blame for the loss, given all the chances they collectively missed. This one is not fully on Rangnick – he can’t go out there and score them himself. To field what is effectively our strongest team and fail to beat a Championship side is inexcusable.

Up next, United travel to Burnley in the Premier League on February 8th. Three points must be the objective to keep pace in the chase for the top-4. I’m not pleased, but the season doesn’t stop after a bad result. The lads have got to get up and get ready for the next one.

*****

A very quick shoutout again to Nottingham Forest FC, who managed to knock the reigning FA Cup champions Leicester City out of the FA Cup today. It was an emphatic 4-1 win, and I will be supporting them in the FA Cup for the rest of the season now that United are out. Forest supporters haven’t had much to cheer about in recent years, so they deserve all the fun they’re having on this magical run right now. Also very happy for non-league side Boreham Wood, who continued their own surprising run today after beating Bournemouth 1-0.

Manchester United Secure Qualification to the Knockout Rounds of the Champions League

The Red Devils travelled to the Valencia region of Spain today to take on Villarreal CF at El Madrigal in the second to last match of the Group Stage in this year’s Champions League tournament. If United could manage to win, they would secure passage to the Round of 16 by virtue of being the winners of Group F. A draw would also have helped United significantly, so a loss was the only outcome that desperately needed to be avoided. To make matters even more interesting, today’s match was the first under emergency caretaker manager Michael Carrick. The wisdom of the owners of this club needs to be criticized as to the timing of the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer just two days ago, as it left Carrick in a rather unenviable position of facing a very important match with little time to make his own impact on training sessions and the team.

However, his team selection showed a clear departure from what OGS likely would have done. He started midfielder Donny Van de Beek over Bruno Fernandes, striker Anthony Martial over Marcus Rashford, and winger Jadon Sancho over Mason Greenwood. It was nice to see things shifted around a bit, even if there were a lot of questions about starting Martial. But going up against a skilled tactician like Villarreal manager Unai Emery, we needed a change in personnel. It would give Emery something to think about, at the very least.

Despite the changes, it must be said that Villarreal were the better side for roughly the first 2/3rds of the match. United had a half-chance from an Alex Telles set-piece delivery on about 5 minutes, but that was United’s only chance of the first half. United keeper David De Gea was called into action on several occasions though, making at least 3-4 good to great saves in the game. He has saved United time and time again, and today was no different. United have a good young goalkeeper in Dean Henderson waiting in the wings, but De Gea’s form this season has generally been sensational. When the defense is inconsistent, United can count on De Gea to be a rock between the posts. Judging by his banter with some of the Villarreal players after the saves, you could tell he wanted to win in his native country. It is because of him that United kept the game at 0-0 for so long.

But right around 68-70 minutes, the tide of the match began to turn in United’s favor. Carrick brought on Rashford and Fernandes, and they had an almost instant impact. United were running directly at Villarreal more, and there was less passive movement in midfield with short but ultimately meaningless passes. Cristiano Ronaldo was able to start testing Villarreal keeper Geronimo Rulli, and it was ultimately Mr. Champions League himself that broke the deadlock on 78 minutes. Rulli played a lazy pass out from goal under medium pressure from Ronaldo, but United midfielder Fred had spotted the poor pass and was on it in a flash. The ball came off the Villarreal defender due to the pressure from Fred, and fell directly to a lurking Ronaldo right on the edge of the box. He saw that Rulli was far off his line so he calmly lobbed it over him and into the back of the net. A calamitous error by Rulli and the Villarreal defender, but credit to Fred and Ronaldo for being on hand to punish them. Fred will not get any statistical credit for the goal, but it would not have happened without him pressing. Ronaldo of course must be praised for the finish, as he didn’t even look at the goal before shooting. He has unbelievable instincts when it comes to scoring. As things stood at that point, United were group winners.

Villarreal kept at it though and put United back under pressure again as they became desperate to find an equalizer, and De Gea was indeed forced into a fine save off a low and bouncing shot to preserve United’s lead. It was United who got the next goal though, this time courtesy of a lovely counter-attack and finish by Sancho, who opened his United goal scoring account today. The ball was won by United in their own half thanks to more industry from Fred and Ronaldo, during which Fred found Scott McTominay in a bit of space just to his right. Ronaldo had run forward again on the left wing, and McTominay did well to find him with a ball along the ground. Ronaldo hit the ball first-time directly into the path of the on-rushing Rashford, and he dribbled the ball into the box before cutting back a cross into the feet of Bruno. Bruno seemed to miss hit the ball a little bit, but intentional or not it rolled straight into the path of Sancho. He took a touch from about 15 yards out and lashed the ball with his right foot off the underside of the crossbar and into the goal. It looked like Rulli had most of the goal covered and there was also a defender trying to cut out the angle for a shot, but Sancho beat them both with power and placement. A very solid and crucial first goal for the club. He had been working hard the whole match and had just missed a much easier chance earlier, so I’m glad he got on the score sheet. Hopefully he really gets going now!

Villarreal were beaten at that point, and the final whistle went shortly after the second goal. United were victorious and – somehow – won the group with a match to spare. The club’s form has generally been very poor in this campaign, and today was generally in line with that until the final half hour or so of the match. It was the Ronaldo magic that got us through this group, though. Without his goals and late game heroics, we would not have been able to pull this off. He has scored in all 5 group matches so far, and almost every goal has been a winner or an equalizer. He does not deserve to play in the Europa League, and neither does De Gea. Almost all the other players do, but those two do not. Credit must also be given to Carrick for starting VDB and Sancho, although the Martial start didn’t pan out. I think Martial is mostly done at this club. If John Murtough and Darren Fletcher are smart, they’ll try to offload him in the summer. The skeleton of Juan Mata did more in his 3 minutes on the pitch than Martial did in 60+. Aaron Wan-Bissaka also had a bit of a rough game, as did McTominay aside from his pass in the build-up to the second goal. It wasn’t a perfect match by any means, but United were clinical when Villarreal were not and that was the difference on the night.

Despite the positive result today, there should be no calls for Carrick to become the permanent or even the interim manager. He did well today, but he has no managerial experience. There are some (most notably United legend Paul Scholes) that have openly questioned whether Carrick, Kieran McKenna, and Mike Phelan should all still even be part of the managerial staff given their failings with OGS. My concern is that the famous lack of ambition in the Glazer family will rear it’s ugly head again, and Carrick will be deemed “good enough” until we get to the end of the season. That is a terrible idea for a litany of reasons, most notably because the squad we have right now is good enough to win a trophy or two. Come summer, Paul Pogba is almost guaranteed to leave. So is Jesse Lingard. It’s possible that Ronaldo may also leave, if the poor form continues. There are so many X-factors in play come summer that could all affect what manager we get, so we need to appoint one now.

The constantly-flowing rumor mill right now suggests that Mauricio Pochettino is the front runner for the next permanent manager due to him being unhappy at Paris St. Germain. Pochettino would not be my first choice, but he also would not be my last choice. In all honesty, I just want to see some logical planning and decision making from ownership and the Board of Directors. Figure out who it is you want, go and get him, and get it done quickly. The longer Carrick is in charge, the more likely it is that the indecision at the top levels of the club will only get worse.

Only the small matter of Premier League leaders Chelsea, away in London next Sunday. They are playing extremely well right now, and I am highly concerned about what that well-oiled machine is going to do to us. Sound defensive play will be key, but that is something United has not been known for this season. I would happily accept a draw if it was offered right now. I really am struggling to be positive, because going to Stamford Bridge in the current form we are in and expecting to win borders on the naïve. I’ll be interested to see what happens, nevertheless.