FA Cup: Manchester United Shock Liverpool in Quarterfinal Classic

There’s no denying that this hasn’t been a good season by the illustrious standards of Manchester United. They won’t be winning the Premier League, the top-4 seems like it will take a borderline miracle to attain, they lost their League Cup crown earlier in the season, and they are out of all European competitions. They’ve been incredibly inconsistent all year, with injuries playing a massive role in their sputtering form. The Red Devils’ last realistic chance at any trophy this season is in the illustrious FA Cup – the oldest single-elimination football tournament in the world. United squeaked by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground 1-0 in the 5th round, which set up an incredibly juicy quarterfinals tie with their hated rivals Liverpool earlier today at Old Trafford. While these two sides have their own rich histories and traditions of winning, title-contenders Liverpool were the heavy favorites to move on to the semifinals at Wembley Stadium.

But under-fire United manager Erik ten Hag and the squad had other plans. United were the dominant team for the first 10 minutes or so, and cashed in on their dominance thanks a rebound finish from midfielder Scott McTominay. They couldn’t add another one in the first half though, and Liverpool struck back twice at the end of the first half via midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and winger/forward Mohamed Salah. United scored via winger Antony dos Santos (playing at left back today) on 87 minutes though, which forced extra time at 2-2. Liverpool then went ahead again on 105 minutes via attacking midfielder Harvey Elliot, only for United to continue to fight back and get a 3rd from winger/forward Marcus Rashford. Finally, in the dying seconds of stoppage time and after a breathless 120 minutes of football, United winger Amad Diallo found the opposite corner with a low finish after a breakaway. Old Trafford erupted in joy as the ball rolled past Scousers keeper Caoimhin Kelleher for 4-3. Diallo ended up being sent off on a second yellow card for removing his shirt during the goal celebration, but it was an absolutely legendary 30ish minute cameo from the Ivorian winger.

I blitzed through the goals and major incidents recap mostly because there are so many other talking points to discuss. For one, ETH may have saved his job next season with this performance. I have long been a defender of ETH because I generally believe his footballing philosophy is one that can win matches, but it was becoming more and more difficult to defend him with each head-scratching lineup or substitution. But today, he got it 100% right. It was extremely unorthodox at times, with numerous players playing out of position and we didn’t seem to have a midfield late on in the match, but it somehow worked. I could have sworn I saw us in a 4-1-5 formation at some point! I also saw Antony at left back, Bruno Fernandes in central defense, and Harry Maguire was effectively a striker! It was ludicrous, but again, it worked. Bringing on Diallo and Antony ended up being brilliant moves as well. It was chaos ball, but maybe some chaos is just what was needed to make the Scousers uncomfortable.

But moreover, I think the big headline from today is not about ETH, nor is it about United beating their biggest rival in a classic football match. The biggest takeaway from today from the perspective of the supporters is that the Red Devils finally showed some fight. They kept trying to win the match and never stopped, and it paid off big time. Far too often this season and last, this has looked like a team that lacked a competitive spirit. Every once in a while they show some spine, but more often than not United have repeatedly shown a lack of backbone in bigger matches once they get punched in the face. Even with a lead, if they concede a cheap goal or a call from the referee doesn’t go their way, they have often just capitulated and lacked a desire to carry on fighting. That did not happen today, however. Indeed, it was just the opposite. They got a somewhat surprising lead, but conceded two very cheap goals just before halftime. It was sadly expected by many (including me) that they would yet again surrender and not really try in the second half. But they came out with dogged determination, Liverpool were a bit sloppy with some of their chances, and they got an equalizer late on to force extra time. They could have easily capitulated again when Liverpool went ahead 3-2 on 105 minutes, but they just kept running forward and getting the ball ahead to the attacking players. Again, it paid off when Rashford made it 3-3. That put them in a position to go and win it, and they took advantage of some questionable tactics by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to go and win the match.

Brilliant match today. Absolutely brilliant. Likely the best one during the ETH regime. To beat our biggest rival in the FA Cup quarterfinals as underdogs in the dying seconds of extra time is the stuff dreams are made of. Excellent matches from Rashford, Bruno, McTominay, Maguire, Diallo, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, winger/forward Alejandro Garnacho, and Antony. Some special recognition to right back (left back?) Diogo Dalot as well, who did not put a foot wrong for 120 minutes. When this team believes in themselves, they have the ability to beat some of the best teams in Europe. Well done to the home supporters at Old Trafford too, who were raucous from start to finish.

It’s true this season has not gone well. It’s true that inconsistency and injuries have plagued the Red Devils all year. It’s true that we are still at the beginning of a massive overhaul that will continue for several more seasons. Today made all of that much easier to digest, though. I believe this will show both the Glazers and new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that ETH is the man to guide us through this rebuild and get us back the promised land. All of the problems surrounding the club can be temporarily forgotten, because today we knocked the Scousers out of the FA Cup. Hope the lads get some good celebrating in tonight.

United have been drawn against Championship side Coventry City in the semifinals of the FA Cup, to be played in about a month’s time at Wembley. They have some difficult matches to be played in the Premier League between now and then, but all eyes are now on the weekend of April 20/21. The top 4 would still be a great achievement given how this season has gone, but honestly, if I had to choose, I’d want us to go and win the FA Cup. Let’s turn this crap season into something positive by finishing strongly with a trophy. Manchester City take on Chelsea in the other half of the semifinal.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Premier League: United Come From Behind to Beat Forest

Manchester United hosted East Midlands club Nottingham Forest earlier today at a rainy Old Trafford in the Premier League. The Red Devils were looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat last weekend away at Tottenham, but they were hindered by the losses of left back Luke Shaw and midfielder Mason Mount through injury. Forest meanwhile were riding high after they beat Sheffield United last weekend, and they knew that they didn’t necessarily need a victory today. Forest and manager Steve Cooper are merely trying to stay up like they were last season, and anything on top of that would be icing on the cake. Earning a draw would be a more than satisfactory result for them. All of the pressure was on United manager Erik ten Hag and the rest of the squad to deliver a performance the supporters could feel good about.

Forest were the first to score though, and they did so within two minutes of kickoff. United had actually won a corner, but the cross into the box was cleared away and back out towards the halfway line. Unfortunately, United striker Marcus Rashford (who was covering defensively for some reason) was caught flat-footed, and he was beaten to the bouncing ball by Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi. Rashford is normally not a defender, and Awoniyi was at least a yard ahead of the rest of the United defense as they had committed so many men forward. Awoniyi carried the ball into the box with United keeper Andre Onana retreating, and he finally got a shot away under a challenge from Rashford. The shot fooled Onana and rolled into the goal despite not having a ton of power on it. Onana maybe could have done better to go out and challenge Awoniyi, and Rashford has to be quicker to the ball if he is going to be tasked with defensive cover on corner kicks. Regardless, it was 1-0 Forest and those who had travelled north from Trentside were in celebration mode.

United’s misery was further compounded just two minutes later, when Forest got a second goal. Winger Brennan Johnson won a foul on the right wing after being brought down by deputizing left back Diogo Dalot. Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White stepped up to take the free kick, and he whipped in a sublime ball to the center of the box. Forest center back Willy Boly was standing in the area, and he simply re-directed the ball down and to Onana’s left with his head. It rolled over the line and the rapturous celebration from the away fans’ section that hadn’t really died down from the first goal was re-ignited anew. Very poor set-piece marking from United on this one. Boly didn’t even have to jump to get to the cross. A good ball from Gibbs-White and a controlled header from Boly to be sure, but someone in red needed to get in the way of that one. It was the fastest United had ever gone down 2-0 at Old Trafford, and it took just 3 minutes and 47 seconds.

It was the worst possible opening four minutes for United, but it would be unfair to say that United did not improve after that. They took some time to re-establish possession and start creating chances, and they got their opening goal on 17 minutes from midfielder Christian Eriksen. Fellow midfielder Bruno Fernandes had launched a long-range shot towards goal that Forest keeper Matt Turner could only palm away, and it fell to the feet of striker Anthony Martial off to the left of the goal. Martial played it backwards towards Rashford on the left side of the box, and Rashford beat his marker (Forest right back Serge Aurier) to the end line and played the ball along the ground. Eriksen had made a run towards goal, and he deflected the cross home with the outside of his right foot. It was the deftest of touches, but Turner couldn’t keep it out and United had a lifeline at 2-1.

Midfielder Casemiro really should have made it 2-2 on 25 minutes when he missed an open goal with his headed attempt. Turner and the Forest defense all missed the cross in from the corner completely and it fell straight to him. It’s possible the rain had made the ball slicker than usual which caused it to skid on the surface of the pitch a little, but Casemiro will be wondering for ages how he missed given that he was all alone in front of an open net. The pitch was only getting more and more damp, but the chances conversely dried up for a bit. At half time it was 2-1, with Forest definitely the happier of the two locker rooms.

United got an equalizer on 51 minutes, and this time it was the result of a set piece. Casemiro made amends for his earlier miss when he volleyed home a headed cross from Bruno. Bruno had also taken the initial free kick, playing it diagonally backwards to Rashford about 25 yards from goal. Bruno then darted into the box diagonally, leaving his marker in the dust. He headed the wondrous ball from Rashford back across goal, and Casemiro was all by himself yet again. This time he managed to take the ball on his knee then hit it home from about 3 yards out on the volley. No doubts about that one. A great set-piece goal from United, but the Forest back line were definitely guilty of ball-watching. 2-2, and United smelled blood.

Winger Antony dos Santos nearly got a third as the clock struck 54 minutes, but his wicked curler of a shot was pushed wide by Turner. Things got worse for Forest on 67 minutes when center back Joe Worrall was shown a straight red card by the referee for bringing down Bruno after Bruno had sprinted past him. The challenge itself wasn’t super aggressive or physical, but Worrall definitely grabbed Bruno’s shirt/shorts while pulling him back. Bruno went down as a result, and the referee was well-positioned to come in and deliver the red. Worrall was just too slow to react, and it cost him and his team.

The comeback for United was completed on 76 minutes, when Bruno converted from the penalty spot. Rashford once again got the better of his marker on the left wing, and as he darted into the box he was clipped by the knee of Forest midfielder Danilo. He went to ground, and the referee pointed to the spot immediately. Rashford had been dangerous on the left wing all match, and despite not scoring today he played his best game so far this season. Turner did well to guess the correct direction of the penalty, but the placement and power on the shot from Bruno left him no chance. 3-2 to United!

Interestingly, it was Forest in the ascendancy for much of the remaining time despite being down to 10 men. They created several decent to good chances, and they were worthy of an equalizer. Onana had to be alert to deny yet another effort from Boly, and Forest striker Chris Wood really should have got contact on a peach of a cross from winger (and former United player) Anthony Elanga. After an agonizingly long 13 minutes of stoppage time, the ref finally blew his whistle and United were winners on the day.

Another victory is always good, and no one can rightly say this match wasn’t entertaining. United made it hard on themselves again, though. They conceded 2 goals in the opening 4 minutes, but then kicked into gear and scored the next 3. It’s very clear that Rashford needs to play on the left wing. Whether ETH likes it or not, Rashford is not a center forward. He caused so many problems for Forest down the left hand side today. Bruno was Man of the Match, and indeed this was probably one of his best performances in a United shirt. He is the catalyst for us. His creativity and drive in attacking midfield is essential to everything ETH wants to do tactically. He must continue to play as the number 10 in behind a striker, and not be shuffled out to right wing where he is half as effective. Good games also from Casemiro, Eriksen, and right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka,

I also want to give recognition to the United supporters who staged a sit-in at Old Trafford after the final whistle. Thousands of Red Devils supporters congregated in the opposite ends of the stadium to demonstrate their collective disdain for the Glazer family, owners of Manchester United. The familiar chant “We Want Glazers Out” rang out around the stadium for at least 30-45 minutes after the match had ended, with the intent being that the Glazers once and for all sell the club to another owner. There were rumblings of their intent to sell back in the summer, but it doesn’t appear that any actual progress has been made on a sale. It’s not even clear if they want to sell anymore, and hopefully this protest reminds them that they need to go. For all the reasons I’ve listed over the years writing this blog, Glazers Out!

United face a difficult test next Sunday, Sept. 3rd when they travel to London for a Premier League match with title-contenders Arsenal. United’s away form against big clubs simply must improve. If you want to win the trophy, you have to win consistently on the road. It’s one thing to win at home against a (no disrespect) bottom-half side like Forest, but it is another to go on the road and win at Arsenal. There is hope however that there will be a debut for new signing and striker Rasmus Højlund.

Glory Glory Man United!

Euro Qualifier: England Earn a Massive Result in Italy

The Three Lions of England kicked off their qualifying campaign for Euro 2024 earlier today when they travelled to Naples, Italy for a match with the reigning European Champions at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. These two nations are easily the two best ones in Group C, so this match was a massive one as the winner would firmly be in the driver’s seat to win the group. England manager Gareth Southgate selected a similar team from England’s last match at World Cup 2022, which raised some eyebrows from the pundits. It could be argued that Italy and manager Roberto Mancini were under more pressure to get a good result today, given that they were at home and (rather hilariously) failed to qualify for last fall’s World Cup.

While Italy created the first two half-chances from set pieces in the opening minutes, it was England who were in the ascendancy for the majority of the first half. Midfielder Jude Bellingham tested Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from distance after an excellent run, but the big keeper was able to palm the shot over his crossbar. England won a corner a few minutes later though, and they found themselves ahead thanks to a scrambled finish from midfielder Declan Rice on 13 minutes. Winger/forward Bukayo Saka played a high and looping cross towards the back post, which was controlled well by striker Harry Kane. Kane got a shot away, but it was blocked by the Italian defense only for it to rebound straight to Rice. Rice took a touch to steady the ball, but then showed good instincts to knock it into the goal from about 6-7 yards out. Well done to England for converting a set piece, but Italy were at sixes and sevens. They had three men covering England center back Harry Maguire, and as a result their defenders were out of position when the rebound fell to Rice. Maguire is a big threat in the air, but it’s farcical to use three men to mark him when Kane is also in the box. Poor marking, but England were nevertheless up 1-0 and good value for their lead.

As noted, England had a ton of possession in the first half, and they could have had a second goal if not for a poor decision made by England midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Italy gave the ball away in a bad position straight to Phillips, but Phillips elected to shoot from distance. The shot was powerful but it went wide, and he probably should have opted to play in Kane on a run just ahead of him. If he played the ball in to Kane, Kane likely scores.

Kane did get the opportunity to write his name in the history books when England were awarded a penalty on 44 minutes. Another corner from Saka hit an Italian defender’s arm as it was played towards the back post. Initially the referee only gave a corner, but VAR was consulted and Serbian referee Srđan Jovanović pointed to the spot. After a slight delay, Kane stepped up and calmly put the ball into the right side of the goal. This goal was historic because it meant that Kane is now England’s all-time leading scorer, having surpassed former England forward Wayne Rooney. More on Kane below, but England were 2-0 up and looked to be in cruise control. They really should have had 3 just before halftime though, when Kane found winger Jack Grealish with a low cross. Grealish was only about 5 yards out and in acres of space to shoot with Donnarumma out of position, but he shanked the ball wide of the far post. He really should have scored! But if you told me England would be 2-0 up against the Italians in Italy at half time, I would have happily taken it.

The second half was much different though. I am not sure what Mancini said to his men in the locker room, but clearly it had great effect as the Italians were suddenly filled with energy. While England had been bossing the midfield and winning all the second balls in the first half, that very much switched to the Azzuri in the second. While England defended fairly well for the first 10 minutes or so of the second half, the Italians pulled them apart on 56 minutes to tally a response. Italy had the ball in the final third and it was at the feet of midfielder Nicolò Barella. Maguire stepped up to challenge Barella, but his tackle was poorly timed and Barella was able to get a pass to attacking midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini just outside the box. Striker (and debutante) Mateo Retegui had slipped himself in behind Maguire in space, and Pellegrini found him with a sublime reverse pass through the legs of Rice. Retegui took a touch to steady the ball and fired home with a splendid shot high into the opposite corner from 12 yards out. The whole goal was the result of Maguire being out of position and England losing the ball in midfield as well. Rice could have done better to intercept the pass as well, but credit to the Italians for taking advantage of England’s sloppy passage of play.

The final 30 minutes and stoppage time of this match were nervy ones for both sets of supporters in the stadium. The Italians continued their dominance, with England struggling to get out of their own half. Every time England cleared the ball up the pitch, it came right back at them. Southgate needed to change things, but he seemed content to leave his original 11 on while Mancini was rolling the dice with subs like he was at a craps table. Italian substitute winger Wilfried Gnoto was a particularly troublesome threat for England. His bouncing cross into the area on 77 minutes was inches away from meeting the head of a fellow attacker, and he was constantly making runs at England right back Kyle Walker.

Things really kicked off just moments after that though, when it appeared that an Italian defender handled the ball in his own box while under pressure from Kane. This time there wasn’t even a stoppage or a VAR review though, so Italy got the ball back up the pitch quickly. They were in a very promising position in their attacking third when England left back Luke Shaw delivered a challenge on Retegui. Jovanović stopped play to award a foul, and was immediately surrounded by both sets of players. Jovanović had been having trouble maintaining control of the match in the second half, with several questionable calls against England (and probably against Italy too). England were furious that VAR hadn’t stopped play to check the handball, while the Italians were screaming for Shaw to be booked and thus sent off. Shaw had been booked just minutes earlier for time wasting, but that was one of the aforementioned questionable decisions by Jovanović. After a what was almost 30 seconds of indecision, Jovanović did indeed show Shaw a second yellow and sent him off. England would have to play the final 10 minutes and stoppage time with ten men. Southgate sent on left back Kieran Trippier to replace show, replacing winger Phil Foden who had just come on about five minutes before that.

England defended the ensuing free kick well, and Southgate quickly sent on further defensive reinforcements with the introductions of right back Reece James and midfielder Conor Gallagher. It must be said that even though they were down to ten men, England somehow improved in the final moments of the match. They were getting blocks and tackles in, and Kane had started winning the ball high up the pitch again. They didn’t create any scoring chances, but they didn’t need to. They just needed to win throw-ins and fouls as often as possible, because each one would take precious time off the clock. After a less-than-expected five minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle went and England were victorious on Italian soil for the first time since 1961!

So while it was a game of two halves in which England nearly choked it away, the most important thing is that they held on to win. England under Southgate have a history of scoring first in big games, only to choke away a victory later on. They did that against these very same Italians in the summer of 2021 at Wembley when they lost in the Euros final. But that was vitally not what happened today. Despite going down to ten men after some chaotic and one-sided refereeing, they held their effing nerve and didn’t concede again! This team can score goals and they play some beautiful football at times, but they need to learn to be ruthless at the end of big matches. The players showed real grit and determination today, and that is refreshing in a big match such as this one. Interestingly, it could be argued that England should have had this match put away at halftime. If Grealish scores his big chance, it’s 3-0 to England the second half is very different. Credit to the players, and credit to Southgate for making the right subs.

Special commendations to one Mr. Harry Kane. As mentioned above, the 29 year-old Tottenham Hotspur striker became England’s all-time leading goal scorer with his spot-kick goal today! He now has 54 England goals to his name, and he is far from being done. While it’s true that his trophy cabinet is a little on the empty side, there is no questioning his dominance as a center forward. The statistics speak for themselves – Kane is the best pure goal-scorer to ever put on an England shirt. Not only does he have the record for most goals scored, he also has the record for most goals scored in competitive matches. He scores important goals. He came close to breaking the record last fall against France in that now-infamous quarterfinal, but he missed his penalty over the bar. Finessing it past Donnarumma today was a bit of redemption, though. A big penalty scored with relative ease in a very important match. He will look to extend his record over this qualifying campaign and help England qualify for Germany in 2024.

England will fly home after this match and prepare for their next qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. This was a fantastic start to the 2024 qualifying campaign, and Ukraine will provide another tough test. They are probably the 3rd-best team in Group C talent-wise, and the players will want to give their war-torn home nation something to be happy about. Shaw will be unavailable for selection due to a red card suspension, but that’s actually fine by me. Shaw has played for Manchester United a lot this season, and he needs some mandated rest.

Three Lions on the Shirts!

FA Cup: United Through to the Semifinals After Fulham Implode

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Premier League: Southampton and the Refs Hold United to a Draw

Manchester United hosted Southampton FC earlier today at Old Trafford in the Premier League. Manager Erik ten Hag was looking for three points to maintain United’s top-4 run, while Southampton and manager Ruben Selles were looking for any kind of positive result to get them out of the relegation zone.

Before diving in to the match details, a quick shoutout and praise for Match of the Day presenter and former England striker Gary Lineker. He has been taken off air by the BBC for publicly criticizing the frankly inhumane immigration policies recently enacted by the Conservative Party in the UK government. The hypocrisy by the BBC here is off the scale. The author of this blog stands in solidarity with Lineker. Also kudos to former England strikers current MOTD pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer for also standing in solidarity with him and declining to appear on yesterday’s MOTD episode.

The opening 30 minutes or so of this match were fairly tepid from both sides. The play was disjointed and sloppy in midfield, which led to a choppy and staccato flow. Striker Marcus Rashford forced a close-range save from Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu on 16 minutes, but it was a comfortable save in the end. Southampton went close on 24 minutes after United gave the ball away in their own area, with keeper David De Gea being forced into a close-range save of his own after Southampton winger/forward Theo Walcott got his head onto a cross.

The real action started on 34 minutes, when United midfielder Casemiro was shown a red card for a tackle in his own half. Initially, referee Anthony Taylor issued only a yellow card. But the referee in charge of VAR on the day, Andre Marriner, decided to stick his nose into the decision as well. After Taylor was sent over to the pitch-side monitor for another look, he changed his mind and issued a red card to the big Brazilian. The whole decision was utter nonsense, though. The foul in question was a yellow card at most. Casemiro made contact with the ball first, and then the follow-through of his momentum caused him to collide with the Southampton player. Casemiro was visibly distraught by the decision, and rightly so. A red card here is inconsistent with previous decisions made by Marriner and Taylor themselves. It’s a foul and maybe a yellow, but that was it. United were down to 10 men with a minimum of 56 minutes left in the match! More on Marriner and Taylor below.

United forged the next best chance of the half right after the sending off, when midfielder Bruno Fernandes hit a very sweet free kick cross into the box. Center back Raphael Varane was lurking at the back post and he got good contact on the ball, only to be denied by sprawling save from Bazunu. United then should have been awarded a penalty, or at the least granted a VAR review, on 43 minutes when it appeared that Saints center back Armel Bella-Kotchap handled the ball in the box. He was on the ground when Rashford played a low cross in the direction of striker Wout Weghorst, and Bella-Kotchap certainly appeared to use his left arm/hand to knock the ball away from Weghorst. No foul, no whistle, and no VAR check. Absolutely maddening the inconsistent application of VAR in this match. There were no further major chances in the first half, and the teams went to the locker rooms with the score 0-0. Curiously, there was only one minute of stoppage time at the end of the half, despite the VAR review earlier on being well over five minutes of real time.

Due to the extra man advantage, Southampton grew into the game significantly in the second half. Midfielder James Ward-Prowse struck the crossbar on 54 minutes from a free kick about 27-28 yards out. De Gea was nowhere near it, and it just clipped the top of the bar. Walcott then found himself through on goal about ten minutes later, only to be denied for the second time in the match by a strong hand from De Gea. The Red Devils’ best chance of the half came on 68 minutes, when a long-range shot from Bruno beat Bazunu, only for the ball to rebound back off the far post and out of play. Bruno hit it very cleanly, but replays showed that Bazunu got the very tip of his finger to the shot. It would have gone in if he hadn’t touched it ever so slightly.

Southampton’s dominance quickly resumed though, with right back Kyle Walker-Peters striking the far post from just inside the edge of the box after a short corner from Southampton. He was in a ton of space and he was clearly aiming for the far corner, but his shot was just off target. Southampton were in the ascendancy though at that 73 minute mark or so, and in response ETH brought on wingers Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri for more venom in attack. The game slowed down considerably after that, though. Saints were still dominating possession, but their attacking moves usually fizzled out without too much of a threat to De Gea. Taylor again missed an obvious foul on Garnacho which led to a (hopefully not serious) injury for the Argentine youngster. After 7 minutes of what was originally supposed to be just 4 minutes of stoppage time, Taylor blew his whistle and the match ended 0-0.

It’s true that Southampton played well and generally took advantage of having an extra man out there for the majority of the match. I’m not faulting them for playing into a competitive advantage. But what on earth are Taylor and Marriner up to? This was one of the worst refereeing performances I have ever seen in the top flight of English football. I normally don’t like blaming refs for bad results, but these mistakes and inconsistencies were egregious and inexcusable. The dubious (at best) Casemiro red card will be the headline, but there was also the missed handball, multiple missed fouls on United players, and the weird amounts of stoppage time at the ends of both halves. Truly atrocious refereeing from Taylor and Marriner today. More frustratingly, Marriner officiated a match yesterday where several much more egregious tackles than Casemiro’s were made, yet he took no action for any of them. What constitutes a foul? What needs to happen for VAR to be consulted? Why is a certain kind of tackle a foul (and a red card!) today, but the same/worse conduct is not even a foul yesterday? Taylor and Marriner had absolute shockers today and they are the reason the result came about as it did. United will now be without their best midfielder for the next four domestic matches as well, just to add insult to injury. Something must be done about the standard of refereeing in this league, as there is far too much money in it for the refs to be this awful week after week. No one tunes in or goes to Old Trafford, Anfield, or Stamford Bridge to see the referees!

Despite the adversity, United did well to hold on today. After all, it’s hard to win when the opposition has 13 players on the pitch and your side only has 10. Southampton ended the match with 17 attempts on goal, but still couldn’t score. United may have even came away with a nervy win had Bazunu not been in ridiculous form. They kept fighting, but by the end of the match it was plainly obvious that the players were tired. Good games from Bruno, De Gea, and midfielder Scott McTominay deputizing for Casemiro, but a bad game from right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. He gave the ball away twice and both times it led to good scoring chances for Walcott. Credit to ETH though for criticizing the refs in his post-match interview, even though it will likely lead to a hefty fine for him from the FA.

United remain 3rd in the Prem with this draw, a scant two points ahead of Tottenham in 4th but with a game in hand. The only thing to do now is carry on and get ready for the Europa League trip to Spain on Thursday when United play Real Betis in Sevilla. They have a strong advantage in that tie with it being 4-1 on aggregate, but defensive discipline will still be the order of the day. Casemiro will be eligible to play as it’s a European tie, but I’d like to see more rotation from ETH. Pellistri needs a start in this team to show what he can do on the right wing.

Europa League: United Hold Barcelona to a Draw in Catalunya

Manchester United travelled to the northeast of Spain yesterday for the first leg of a two-leg playoff tie at the historic Camp Nou against European giants Barcelona CF. It was an odd fixture in the sense that these two teams have traditionally played each other in the Champions League instead of the Europa League, the “smaller” of the two European club tournaments. It came about in the Europa League due to United’s poor play last season and failing to win their Europa League group earlier this season, while Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League pre-World Cup. This tie seemed inevitable once it became clear the two sides were eligible to play each other. It was also an odd fixture in the sense that these two clubs are playing Champions League-caliber football right now, with Barca sitting atop La Liga in Spain and United in 3rd in England. The Blaugrana have been a defensive fortress at the Camp Nou this season, with manager (and club legend) Xavi righting a previously wayward ship. United manager Erik ten Hag named a strong side for this fixture, indicating that he is prioritizing this tournament even though United have a very congested fixture list.

The opening 20 minutes were slow in parts but United did have a half-chance just 17 seconds in, when midfielder Fred narrowly missed turning in a cross from fellow midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Aside from that though, it was half chances at best. Barcelona did have a slight edge in terms possession and passing, but the difference between the sides was negligible. The Red Devils grew into the game a bit more though in the next 25 minutes. Winger/forward Jadon Sancho missed just wide of Barca keeper Ter Stegen’s goal, with forward Marcus Rashford forcing Stegen into a diving save from a tight angle a few moments later. United’s best chance of the half was around 35 minutes when striker Wout Weghorst was put through on goal by an astute aerial pass from Bruno, only for his shot to be denied by the feet of the onrushing Stegen. The Barca defenders claimed Weghorst was offside, but the flag had stayed down and a goal would have potentially counted had he been able to turn it in.

Barca then had their best chance of the half when a wayward pass from midfielder Casemiro was not properly collected by right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. It was a dangerous pass to play given that Casemiro was only about 30 yards from his own goal, and the ball was pounced upon by Barca left back Jordi Alba. AWB did well to get back into position and make a last-ditch challenge on the ball that took the power out of Alba’s shot, and United keeper David De Gea was then able to push it wide. Xavi and the Barca players called for a penalty, but replays showed that AWB got his toe to the ball before making contact with Alba. At halftime it was 0-0, but it was an entertaining half despite the lack of goals.

The second half was even more entertaining because some goals were finally scored. The chances came flying in almost immediately, with a Barca shot from distance missing just wide and Sancho missing just wide from much closer. Barca nudged themselves in front though on 50 minutes, when an in-swinging corner found the head of Barca center back Marcos Alonso at the back post. Alonso rose higher than Fred and De Gea was unable to cover his near post. The downwards header bounced over the line and Barca were ahead 1-0. The 90,000+ inside the Camp Nou roared in approval.

That lead was short-lived though, as United struck back in lightning quick fashion just 2 minutes later. Fred advanced the ball up the pitch quickly and found Rashford on a run between two Barcelona defenders. The ball from Fred was weighted perfectly, and Rashford took a touch of the ball to knock it forward. It looked like his touch was too heavy at first and that the angle for a shot wouldn’t be there as he was off to the right of the goal, but he unleashed a low and powerful shot towards the near post that Stegen couldn’t keep out at his own near post. Great pass from Fred, great run and finish from Rashford. He now has 22 goals this season, which is tied for the most he’s ever scored in a single season, and there’s still 3 months of games left! It’s easy to see why Xavi called him “one of the best strikers in Europe” during his pre-match press conference.

United had a half chance almost at the re-start, but the resulting block and counter-attack resulted in Barca winger Raphinha stretching De Gea into a catching save from distance. United then went ahead on 59 minutes, and again it was Rashford that was the catalyst. Center back (on the day) Luke Shaw played a short corner to Rashford, who then went around Raphinha like he wasn’t there and went on a run along the end line towards the goal. He played a fierce cross in over the top, and after several deflections it was eventually turned into the Barca net by the hip of their right back, Jules Koundé. It was purely accidental from him of course, but United were good value for their lead. 2-1! Rashford again showed how electric he is on the ball.

There was some controversy after that, as Koundé harshly fouled Rashford just on the edge of the penalty area. It was a strong challenge from the back that normally results in a red card, and it was close to being a penalty as well. Koundé escaped with a yellow, much to the ire of ETH, who was also booked for his protests. Barca striker Robert Lewandowski then went wide from a free kick, with Fred doing the same after a good run just moments later. Barca did find their leveler on 76 minutes, and it was a rather poor goal to concede from United’s point of view. Raphinha hit a cross into the box from the right wing that De Gea failed to deal with properly, and it crept into his far post after being just missed by Lewandowski. De Gea must command his penalty area better than that. Sure it was an awkward cross and Lewandowski did well to get himself in the way, but De Gea needs to be getting to the cross and/or drawing a foul there. De Gea is a top class shot-stopper, but a modern keeper has to be more active in the box than that.

The final 20 minutes served as a grand finale to the fireworks on display. No further goals, but plenty of controversy. Barca felt they should have had a penalty on 80 minutes after the ball struck Fred’s arm in the box, but nothing was given by the referee. Similar to how Barca escaped a red card earlier, United escaped here. Fred’s arm was stretched out from his body when the ball hit it, and I have seen plenty of penalties given for that. Barca had several half chances in the closing stages as well, and United could have easily had a third if substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho had fully capitalized on a through ball to him. His touch was heavy though, and Barca cleared. After a nervy 2 minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle blew and it ended 2-2.

This match was more akin to watching basketball than footie/soccer. End-to-end stuff throughout, and it made for a thrilling game! Lots of quality on display from both teams, and mistakes from both teams as well. If you told me before the match that we’d get a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou, I would have broken your arm off shaking on it. Interestingly though, it was probably United who felt more disappointed with a draw. We had a lead for about 17 minutes, only to give it away with a cheap goal. Still though, the fact that I am disappointed at a draw with Barca at the Camp Nou is testament to how far United have come under ETH. He is a brilliant manager and has instilled a mental strength in this team that was grossly lacking last season.

So then, all to play for in the return leg at Old Trafford next Thursday. There is no away goals rule any more, so the tie is perfectly level. Barca will be without some key players next match due to injury and suspension, but United center back Lisandro Martinez and midfielder Marcel Sabitzer will be back from their respective suspensions for United. Given how today went, United should feel confident about getting a positive result. Barca have only conceded 7 total goals this season, and only 1 at Camp Nou before this match. The fact that we came in with and understrength side and put 2 past them (with the chance for several more) is fantastic.

Between now and Thursday though, United have a Premier League match on Sunday at home against Leicester City. Leicester are struggling for form at the moment, but it is also the last match of a domestic suspension for Casemiro. United’s midfield will be light again, but three points are needed to maintain their position in the top-4 race. The title is still a long shot, but to keep any chance at winning it they will need three points.

Glazers Out!

Premier League: A Nervy Win Over Crystal Palace

Manchester United hosted Crystal Palace earlier today at Old Trafford in the Premier League. Palace and their manager Patrick Vieira have caused some problems for United this season, holding them to a rare draw at Selhurst Park just a few weeks ago. While they struggle against other sides, Palace seem to be rather astute at causing problems for United. A matchup like that will happen sometimes, both in this sport and others. They have a strong defensive shape and they’re always up for this fixture.

Before the match started, Vieira and United manager Erik ten Hag laid wreaths at the center circle in commemoration of the lives lost in the Munich Air Disaster, which happened 65 years ago this week. On February 6, 1958 a plane carrying the entire Manchester United team crashed just after takeoff during an ice storm in Munich, Germany. 23 people were killed, including 8 first-team players and 3 members of the coaching staff. I hope no club ever has to endure the tragedy this club endured on that day. We will never forget the Flowers of Manchester!

Things were lively almost from the get-go, with United being awarded a penalty just six minutes into the match. The hand ball in the penalty area happened around the four minute mark, but referee (and certified blind man) Andre Marriner was told to consult with VAR. He only awarded the penalty after a lengthy review and several protests from United players. While ultimately the correct decision was made as the Palace defender clearly had his arm raised in an unnatural position, this was not the last incident involving Marriner today. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes stepped up the spot deployed his trademark skip-hop to finesse a low shot into the left corner of the goal, sending Palace keeper Vicente Guaita the wrong way. It took a bit of time to get done, but it was 1-0 United on 7 minutes!

United kept the pressure on, and Guaita was forced into a double save on 13 minutes. He jumped high to push away a header from striker Wout Weghorst, and then had to get down low to deny center back Raphael Varane’s follow up on the rebound. Forward Marcus Rashford got his first shot on goal on 27 minutes, but Guaita was there again to deny his shot from a tight angle. Winger Antony dos Santos also came close to getting a second goal for United on 33 minutes, only for his well-placed shot from outside the box to be unintentionally blocked by two other United players. Palace were struggling to create solid chances at their end given United’s dominance on the ball, but winger/forward Jeffrey Schlupp forced a save from United keeper David De Gea on 42 minutes with a low and powerful shot from just outside the box. At half time it was 1-0 to United, but everyone in the stadium knew that one goal would not be enough to win this game. The Red Devils needed a second goal to really put it away.

Palace were a little better after the re-start, while United continued to struggle to find that second goal. ETH made a key substitution on 59 minutes that changed United’s attack, and it paid off almost right away. Winger Alejandro Garnacho was brought on for Weghorst, with Rashford moving in from the left wing to play as the central striker. United had the ball forward on 62 minutes, with defensive midfielder Casemiro laying the ball off back to Garnacho on the edge of the area. Garnacho spotted left back Luke Shaw in a forward position in space in the box, so he played it out to him. Shaw played it back in immediately with a low cross, and it was straight to Rashford who re-directed the ball home past Guaita for 2-0. An astute tactical change from ETH, and a fine team goal from the lads. Rashford now has 19 goals in all competitions this season, and he is absolutely on fire.

Normally at 2-0 on 60+ minutes the result would be in hand for United, but a bit of Vieira-inspired shithousery got Palace back into the game. Vieira was a master shithouser in his playing days, and it seems to have rubbed off on his team. A harsh challenge on Antony on the right wing caused some pushing and shoving between the sides, and during the fracas VAR captured images of Casemiro with his hands around the neck of Palace midfielder Will Hughes. A yellow card was given to Schlupp for his antics, but Casemiro was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for the chokehold on Hughes. Not going to make any excuses for Casemiro as it was rather stupid of him to act so aggressively, but the Palace players initiated the handbags with the tackle on Antony out-of-bounds. I am not sure the punishments were handed out by Marriner equally, as it were. It’s also still unclear when VAR is supposed to be used, as there have been several incidents this season where United should have been awarded a free kick (or even a penalty) for a foul but no VAR check was ever initiated.

In any event, United had to play the final 25 minutes plus stoppage time with only 10 men. That’s tough in any scenario, but I still felt they would hold on given their lead and Palace’s ineptitude in attack. But the cat was well and truly among the pigeons on 76 minutes, when Schlupp got one back for Palace. De Gea had just got done making a fine save from midfielder Idrissa Gueye’s header, only for the resulting corner to lead to their goal. The initial ball over the top was only half-cleared by United, and it fell to midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré just inside the penalty area. He played the ball back in low towards goal, where it was deflected/re-directed home over the head of De Gea by the outside of Schlupp’s left foot. A good finish, but United should have done better to clear the ball. The goal set up a nerve-wracking ending for the home side. United had to go from cruise control to battle stations in a matter of moments!

Fortunately, ETH knew what to do. He brought on every center back United has, plus handed a debut to midfielder Marcel Sabitzer. The goal was stability at the back. United didn’t need to score again, they just needed to hold on. Center back Lisandro Martinez had been having a very good game already, but he ascended to another level of play in the final 10 minutes plus stoppage time. Whenever a clearance, block, or tackle was needed, he was there. The commentators were saying his name so much towards the end I almost thought there were two players named Martinez on the pitch. All hail The Butcher of Amsterdam! Man of the Match in my book.

Palace created a few half chances in those final minutes, but really couldn’t find that clear goal-scoring opportunity. Credit to United for a bit of shithousery of their own. They were very effective at keeping the ball in the Palace half of the pitch, and won a series of throw-ins and free kicks that took a ton of time off the clock. Despite being down to 10 men, they held on and won 2-1!

It was uglier than it needed to be at the end, but three points is three points. I am proud of the resolve the team showed, and very impressed with the tactical astuteness of ETH. I think without his timely substitutions and adjustments today the result is different. I’m fairly disappointed in Casemiro though. United had the game sealed away after his rash antics during the scuffle, and the lads really had to hold on with him gone. He’s easily one of our best players and now we are without him for the next three domestic matches. I think he needs to be footing the bill at the next team dinner! Also a bit of a shocker from Marriner/the VAR official today. No matter though, United have now won 13 home matches in a row, the longest victory streak at home in over a decade. ETH is the man!

Some additional good news is that Newcastle only drew with West Ham today, which means United are now in sole possession of 3rd place with a two point lead. They are three points behind rivals Manchester City, but City have a game in hand. League leaders Arsenal were also shocked today by Everton, which means United are 8 points back of first place. The title is still a long shot, but Newcastle’s draw helps the Red Devils significantly in their quest for the top 4. Next match is at home to fierce rivals Leeds United on February 8th.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

FA Cup: Los Tres Caballeros Lead United to Victory

Manchester United played host to Championship side Reading FC (pronounced Redd-ing for those who don’t know) this evening at a rainy Old Trafford in the 4th Round of the FA Cup. United were heavy favorites to win this match, and there was likely a temptation from manager Erik ten Hag to rotate his players given the absolutely flooded fixture calendar. However, he fielded a pretty strong side, which indicates that he is taking the tournament seriously. Reading, managed by United club legend Paul Ince, were looking to shock the footballing world by pulling an upset. He and his starting striker Andy Carroll (a former Liverpool player) probably would have loved nothing more than to knock United out of the tournament. Ince was given a sporting round of applause by the United faithful as he made his way to the bench before the match began.

United were dominant for almost the entirety of the first half. The tempo of the game was slow due to Reading setting themselves up in a low defensive block (5-3-2) and letting United have space near the center circle. They were happy to concede possession and park the proverbial bus. United were creating chances, though. Midfielder Christian Eriksen and forward Marcus Rashford both went close via free kicks, while winger Antony dos Santos was finding a lot of joy down the right wing, combining well with right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Reading could not get out of their own half.

It looked like United had their opener via Rashford around 40 minutes in or so when his header sneaked over the line of keeper Joe Lumley’s goal. The ref initially pointed to the center circle to signal a goal, but a VAR check determined that striker Wout Weghorst was offside in the buildup to the goal and it was disallowed. Terrible decision, really. It seems like the offside rule has been written in pencil so it can be erased and re-written every week. Weghorst never touched the ball and it came off a Reading defender before Weghorst actually touched it. The goal should have stood. To make matters worse, Reading almost stole a goal right before halftime when left back Tyrell Malacia dawdled too long on the ball. It was stolen by Reading winger Junior Hoilett and shot towards goal, but fortunately keeper David De Gea got in the way just enough and the chance went begging. So, a very eventful half, but it was 0-0 at halftime and Reading were definitely the happier of the two sides.

The second half began much like the first, United dominant in possession and determined as ever to get themselves a goal. Reading were able to hold firm until 54 minutes when United finally got their opener. Antony found himself in possession on the right wing, standing still on the ball with AWB to his right and a number of United players ahead of him in the box. Defensive midfielder Casemiro’s late run into the box was spotted by Antony and he played a sublime pass into his feet. The big Brazilian showed some very deft feet and coolness under pressure when he lifted a shot over the sliding Lumley from about 7 yards out and into the back of the net. Brilliant pass, brilliant finish, and crafted in Brazil. Olé! And more importantly, 1-0!

United struck again just four minutes later, and again it was a Brazilian connection that saw the Red Devils double their advantage. Substitute midfielder Fred made a simple pass to Casemiro, who was about 35 yards away from goal. No Reading defender came out to challenge him, so he launched a curling effort towards goal that bounced right before the line and beyond the reach of Lumley. Casemiro smiled sheepishly in celebration, almost embarrassed that he scored! It was an absolute worldie from Casemiro as he capped off an absolutely splendid performance. His body language before shooting seemed to say, “Well, why not?” I would encourage him to continue shooting from distance too! 2-0.

Reading’s misery was further compounded when Carroll was sent off for a second yellow on 65 minutes. He made a rather rash tackle on Eriksen, and he knew right away he was in trouble. The referee showed no hesitation in booking him again, and Carroll was already walking towards the bench by the time the ref got his red card out. Reading would have to play the final 25 minutes and stoppage time with ten men.

United capitalized on this advantage right away. A corner from Malacia was played short to midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who stood on the ball for a second or so while deciding what to do with it. In the meantime, he and Fred made eye contact, and Fred stole down towards the goal. No reading defender went with him, and he re-directed the cross from Bruno home for 3-0 via the backheel from about 3 yards out. It was poor defending from a tired-looking Reading back line, but take nothing away from Fred. He is not known for his finishing, but it takes a real confidence to finish with a stylish backheel like that! 3-0, and you felt the match was pretty much over.

Reading did get a goal back however, and it was from a corner. United had made a lot of substitutions with the third goal going in, and oddly enough the lack of Carroll up front actually seemed to make Reading a little bit more fluid and dynamic in attack. They got their goal on 72 minutes thanks to a strong header from center back Amadou Mbengue, who was unmarked from a corner. He powered his shot dead center from close range and De Gea guessed wrong with his dive. Set piece marking is practiced in training all the time, so it was a disappointing goal to concede. Still, United kept running forward as the clock crept towards full time, with substitute wingers Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri making a real nuisance of themselves. Garnacho went closest to finding a fourth for United, but his effort was saved comfortably. The final whistle blew without too much further drama and United won 3-1!

Casemiro. Antony. Fred. United’s Brazilian contingent were in full flight today, and they are gelling with each other at the right time and in all the right ways. Casemiro appears to be the signing of the season so far. The man reads the game like a book and can tackle, pass, head, and bring the ball up the pitch. Today he bagged himself a brace in the FA Cup. Is there anything the man can’t do? Absolutely brilliant day from him. Very impressed with Antony’s improvement in recent weeks too. I feared he was too one-dimensional in the beginning of the season. He doesn’t like to use his right foot and it’s obvious to anyone who watches him play for five minutes. He is at his best when he has an attacking fullback to play 1-2s with on the wing, since he never goes to the byline and crosses. I think the rise in his play is linked to the rise in play of AWB. The number of times he cut inside only to find AWB with a reverse pass down the wing must have drown Reading mad. And of course, can’t forget about Fred. Our most-capped Brazilian quietly put in another masterclass today off the bench. His goal was a bonus, but the way he controls play and wins the ball back are his best attributes. So happy for Los Tres Caballeros!

United next have the return leg of the League Cup semifinal at Old Trafford against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, February 1st. Given that United have a 3-0 aggregate lead, I expect a rest for Rashford, Bruno, Casemiro, and several other normal starters. Eriksen appears to have picked up a rather serious injury too, which is a worry as he can be just as instrumental to the midfield as Casemiro is. Here’s to hoping it’s not serious! The draw for the 5th Round of the FA Cup takes place on Monday, January 30th.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

World Cup Roundup – England Remain Top of Group B, Qatar Eliminated

Qatar is a terrible country with terrible laws and FIFA are holding a World Cup on the backs of slave labor.

Qatar vs. Senegal

Senegal won 3-1 and never really looked like being seriously threatened. Qatar are simply not good enough to compete at this level, and they only qualified because they’re the host nation. I do not wish any ill will towards the individual players in the team, but its frankly a sham that they’re even here at the tournament. Very happy to see them go out. They are not only the first team eliminated this year, they are the first host nation to be eliminated after two matches.

Ecuador vs. Netherlands

The surprising Ecuadorians managed to get themselves a 1-1 draw with a much more talented Netherlands side thanks to a late goal from Enner Valencia, who is now top-scorer at this World Cup with 3 goals. Striker Cody Gakpo had put the Dutch ahead with a very good strike early on, but the Dutch could not find a second and Ecuador came away with a very important point.

Group A is now down to three teams – Ecuador, Netherlands, and Senegal. Given that the Dutch play Qatar in their last match, they’ll be fancied to go through. Second place (and maybe first, depending on the goal differential) is going to come down to the Ecuador vs. Senegal match. Ecuador’s hopes are pinned largely on the fitness of Valencia, who was stretchered off with injury in this match after scoring.

Wales vs. Iran

This was the minor upset of the day, with Iran winning 2-0 thanks to two late goals. The game was choppy and staccato for most of it’s duration, but it all really kicked off in the final 15 minutes of play. Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey was sent off on 86 minutes for a bad foul after he failed to get to the ball ahead of an onrushing Iranian forward. The collision was a tough one to watch and it’s hard to argue against the red card there. Wales were down a man and their starting keeper, which certainly had an effect on them.

Iran got their breakthrough goal towards the end of 9 minutes of stoppage time via substitute midfielder Roozbeh Chesmi. The Welsh defense only half-cleared a cross from the left, and it fell to Chesmi in acres of space just outside the box. He unleashed a finessed shot from the edge of the box into the right side of the goal past substitute keeper Danny Ward. A late winner is always sensational to witness, and this was no exception. All the Iranian fans in attendance were beside themselves, and rightly so.

Wales poured forward to find an equalizer, but were instead hit for a second in the 11th minute of stoppage time on the counter-attack by winger Ramin Rezaeian. Iran had an extra man over on the Welsh, and it was a simple pass and chipped finish that sealed a famous three points for them. Well done to those lads for going and getting a result like this. There is an awful lot of political turmoil in that country right now, and the emotions of winning a match like this might give their fellow countrymen (and women!) something to cheer for when it’s desperately needed.

Wales, for their part, were very poor. They were never really in this match. Their two best players – Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey – failed to make any significant impact. While Wales are not mathematically eliminated, they need a victory over England and for the other match to go their way in order to get out of this group. They currently sit bottom of the group on 1 point. Iran are 2nd with 3 points.

England vs. USA

Alright, here we go. This is the one I have been waiting on since the groups were announced. As an England fan living in America, this one was always going to be a special match. I was secretly expecting England to win, but mainly I really did not want the Three Lions to lose. American football fans online are insufferable when they win, and if they beat England the vitriol would be positively prolific. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one to forget for the neutral. A 0-0 draw is usually not a formula for an entertaining match.

The headline here is that England played poorly and the Americans played slightly better than most expected. Striker Harry Kane had the first half chance at the goal around the 10 minute mark, but his effort was blocked by a US defender. American midfielder Weston McKennie blazed over keeper Jordan Pickford’s bar from inside the box about 10 minutes after that, and then USA midfielder Christian Pulisic hit the crossbar from a tight angle on 33 minutes. England’s next good chance came just before half time, with midfielder Mason Mount’s effort parried away from distance by American keeper Matt Turner.

There were even fewer chances in the second half. England were defending well thanks to Harry Maguire and John Stones, but the attack was absolutely dismal. Maguire was on hand to clear a succession of corners around the hour mark, but again England could not find consistency going forward. Kane looked decidedly off the pace today, as did wingers Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka.

And once again, the main question about this England team is the manager. Gareth Southgate named an unchanged side today and also did not really change the tactics from the Iran match, which ultimately was to England’s detriment. But the much bigger issue is his repeated inability to make the substitution or tactical change that enables England to find a way through. Most would agree with bringing Jack Grealish on, but why also a defensive midfielder in Jordan Henderson when England need a goal? But why not start Grealish outright? Why wait so long to bring on winger/forward Marcus Rashford when Saka and Sterling are clearly struggling? Why keep starting Mason Mount when we have the likes of Phil Foden on the bench? Why not use Foden at all? These honest and fair questions surrounding his managerial skills will continue to be asked every time England doesn’t get a good result. Southgate clearly believes in the players that he likes and he believes heavily in his system. That’s fine and it’s produced some decent results for England, but once teams figure out that system he needs to be able to change it on the fly. England have plenty of talent, it just needs to be put to good use.

At the end of the day though, a draw is not the worst thing in this situation. England remain top Group B on 4 points, while the Americans are 3rd with 2. England are still in a good position to get out of the group, but they are far from guaranteed to be group winners. They will need to beat Wales outright in order to win the group. If they draw or lose, then all three of the other teams could find their way to the next round.

The Americans can take a fair amount of pride in this result, but it’s clear they lack a finisher. They frustrated England very effectively today, but I questioned the tactic of trying to beat England in the air when it came to their own attacking play. It was clear that Maguire was dominating the area in the air, and he struggles at times with smaller and quicker attackers. Americans would be fair in asking why Gio Reyna was not brought on until late. but they need a victory over Iran to progress. Another draw won’t be enough.

United Win in Fergie Time

Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia traveled the Manchester earlier today for a match with the Red Devils at Old Trafford in the Europa League. This was a rematch of last week’s affair in Cyprus where United won 3-2, as the schedule now moves into the back half of the group stage. United were expected to take all three points given that the match was at home and that Omonia haven’t been in good form recently. A United win would keep the pressure up on group leaders Real Sociedad, while anything but a loss for Omonia would go down amongst their greatest-ever results.

United were on the front foot from the get-go, with Marcus Rashford forcing a fine save from Omonia keeper Francis Ozoho. And truth be told, that was the theme of the opening 20 minutes or so. United had all the possession and were creating all of the chances, but Rashford was repeatedly denied by Ozoho. Omonia seemed to be content with defending deep via a back-5 and just clearing the ball whenever United got too close. Striker Cristiano Ronaldo and midfielder Casemiro were both denied by Ozoho as well as the half ticked on. Omonia had their best and only chance of the half when they broke forward down their left wing on a counter-attack, with winger Bruno Felipe missing from a tight angle at close range. But had he played the ball across to the free attacking player streaking down the middle, it could have easily been 1-0 to Omonia. It was not to be though, and the first half ended at 0-0.

The second half was much of the same. United winger Antony dos Santos was also denied by Ozoho after a good move almost straight away from the whistle. And so it continued, with Rashford narrowly missing the goal on a breakaway and countless other chances squandered by United. Unlike the end of the first half though, it was clear that Omonia and manager Neil Lennon now had no interest in attempting to score whatsoever. Every time they won it back they just cleared it long, straight back to United. A point earned from a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford would be just fine for them. They just had to keep United out.

United were denied a clear red card by the referee after a two-footed challenge on Casemiro’s right leg that left him down injured for a few minutes, and it’s a joke that VAR didn’t have the referee go look at the replays. Had he been instructed to do so, he likely upgrades it to a red. United manager Erik ten Hag made three substitutions as the half wore on, bringing on left back Luke Shaw, midfielder Christian Eriksen, winger Jadon Sancho, and midfielder Scott McTominay to try and generate the all-important goal. News filtered through the stadium late on that Real Sociedad were handily winning their match against Sheriff Tiraspol, so a winner for United became even more vital.

As the clock struck the 90 minute mark, the 4th official on the sideline indicated there would be 5 minutes of added time in the match. United kept pinging it around the Omonia penalty area, but there was always someone on hand for them to clear it away at the last moment. Ozoho had fewer saves to make in the second half due to some improved defending and poor finishing from United, but he did well to deny McTominay from distance in the early moments of stoppage time.

But United were not to be denied. In close games in the final minutes at Old Trafford, magical things can sometimes happen. United getting a late goal to change a result used to be a matter of course under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, hence why United fans refer to stoppage time at home as Fergie Time. That is precisely what we got on 93 minutes, and although it wasn’t spectacular, it was a goal nonetheless. Sancho cut inside from the left and dribbled the ball into the box under challenge from an Omonia defender, and he then crossed it low towards Ronaldo and McTominay in the middle of the area. The ball bounced off another Omonia defender before falling to McTominay, who tucked it away neatly through the challenge of two other Omonia defenders and under Ozoho. It was a close-range, scrambled goal but it counted nevertheless. There’s not much better than a Fergie Time winner at Old Trafford in Europe!

Omonia were deflated by the goal but had a half chance at their end before the whistle blew, however they wasted it with a poor finish and United held on to win. As a result of this victory they keep pace with Real Sociedad, but will have to win against Sheriff and Real Sociedad in the final matches in order to win the group and automatically qualify for the next round. Second place in the group has to go to a potentially tricky playoff to advance, and United do not need another fixture in this already congested schedule.

Yes, the finishing was bad today. 34 attempts on goal but only 11 on target is wasteful. Yes, we need to sign a striker in January. Anthony Martial is injured too frequently to be relied upon, and Ronaldo has struggled to find goals all season. But there are positives here! The lads never stopped. They kept at it, kept pressing, kept passing, and kept shooting until it finally went in. That’s huge for the team spirit and it will really buoy the locker room going into a tough run of matches. Credit to ETH as well for his substitutions, as all of them made an impact on the match when they were brought on. It was the combination of Sancho and McTominay that led to the goal, after all. With the win, United remain second in Europa League Group E, three points back of first place.

United now face a stretch of three Premier League matches over the span of seven days, the first of which sees them host in-form Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Sunday. United have taken 15 of their last 18 available points, and it will be vital to continue that form if they want to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Glory Glory Man United!