Leicester 2-2 Manchester United

Leicester 2-2 Man Utd (Vardy 27, Maguire 90+4) (Mata 40, 60)

United weren’t at their absolute best, and Leicester are a decent team under Claude Puel, yet when the final whistle went the United fans were crushed with disappointment and anger. Well, of course, a last minute equaliser is always gut-wrenching. But this was different, given that United had come from behind, had been playing since the 73^rd minute against 10 men, and spurned at least 4, maybe 5 cast-iron sitters. Childish and immature, as our manager called it afterwards.

8 changes were made from the loss at Bristol City, with only Pogba, Martial and Lindelof keeping their places. Mourinho selected the Swede at full-back over Darmian, who wasn’t even named in the squad in the absence of Valencia.

United started pretty well in the final game before Christmas, with Pogba on his league return from suspension looking sharp, and Martial seemed dangerous despite some rough tackling from Leicester. However, it was Jamie Vardy who opened the scoring with an astonishingly simple goal, borne out of careless (to put it kindly) defending. Ndidi hoofed it 60 yards, Mahrez chased it down before holding it to play in Vardy for a simple finish. Why Smalling didn’t put a foot in on Mahrez, and why Jones ran out to press thin air to leave us exposed are questions that will forever remained unanswered.

To their credit, the players stepped it up a gear and went on the attack, to be rewarded when Juan Mata put us level late in the half with a precise effort from Lingard’s lay off after Martial had found him in the area. It was only the Spaniard’s second goal of the season.

The second half was exhilarating as the Red Devils completely outplayed Leicester, cutting them open on the break frequently, and they were rewarded with a comprehensive 4-1 away triumph but due to demented finishing and decision making, 2 points were dropped.

It was criminal, really. All those chances, and playing against 10 for the closing stages, with Amartey getting two clear bookings only 16 minutes after coming on. The game should have been over, but United took wasteful to a new level and reminded the faithful of the umpteen home games like this last season. It all started with Martial blazing way over from 12 yards out after a top ball in from Lukaku. The Belgian threw his hands up in frustration, but soon he was celebrating.

Mata had definitely come to the party, putting our noses in front with a curling free-kick from the right of the D past Kasper Schmeichel, his first brace since… March 2015! Yep, the famous Juanfield game. His general underperformance for a £37m player notwithstanding, the quality set-piece had surely made the game simple enough for his teammates.

The still makes it look worse... but it's still a terrible miss

Instead United contrived to fuck up glorious chances. Lukaku was great all game at receiving on the turn and letting others run into the vacated space; one such move ended with Lingard facing an open net after taking the ball past the keeper. But, on the run, he incredibly hit the post, before duly hitting the rebound over as well. It was harder to miss.

After Amartey was sent off, Mourinho confusingly brought on Herrera for Lingard, perhaps as a reaction to Lingard’s dreadful miss. But why bring on a more defensive player when they’re at their most vulnerable, and why Herrera, who isn’t in good form anyway? Still, for all the posturing afterwards about this particular sub, it didn’t have much of an impact. It wasn’t Jose’s fault, this one; United still created more gilt-edged opportunities to put the game to bed with a story and a mug of hot chocolate.



Rashford, just before inexplicably trying to take it round the keeper

Rashford had already contributed to the red card, and he was played through again with only Schmeichel to beat. Instead of shooting, he tried to round the Dane, and ended up losing the ball. It was pathetic from the kid. From that position you have to open your body up and put it in the far corner, not try and act clever.

Still, Leicester weren’t looking that threatening. The MOTM Mata came off for Mkhitaryan, so at least his weird isolation appears to be at an end. Mind, the manager was going spare at yet another chance going begging as the Armenian tried to pass back to Lukaku rather than shoot from point-blank range. At this point, I was bricking it. Surely we would be punished for such muddled thinking in front of goal?

Smalling was involved in a heavy tackle, and it looked like we would have to see it out with 10, but then Rashford was sent clear again and United had almost a 3-on-1. It was the 92^nd minute, so he could’ve even chosen to run the ball into the corner and waste time. But instead he stopped, delayed, passed inside, and lost possession. It was fucking amateur hour, brain-dead from such a good player, one more chance to finish the game wasted. Why did he stop running? What the hell was going through his mind?


Look at the pitch. Then the clock. He stopped and passed inside. Despair.

Leicester pushed Wes Morgan and Harry Maguire up front and went route one for the dying seconds. Amid confusion with our shape, with United taking the ridiculous decision to send Smalling back on at centre-back, Albrighton sent in a deep cross and Maguire volleyed in at the back post, leading to rapturous scenes all over the King Power. It was the last kick of the game.

The post-mortem wasn’t pretty as it was suggested Herrera had ignored Jones’s instruction to fill in at right-back so Lindelof could move into the centre. But that was splitting hairs, tt was at the other end where the fault lied. Romelu Lukaku had been robbed of 3 assists, from Martial, Lingard, and Mkhitaryan. Those three but in particular Rashford should hang their heads in shame at throwing away two points. Lukaku was creating 1 on 1’s at will, they all fluffed their lines, and we were rightly punished by a Leicester team that, to be fair, deserve considerable praise for never giving up despite going down to 10 men. Even though the dirty bastards didn’t deserve anything from the game, obviously. I’m not bitter, what gave you that idea?

The only crumb of comfort from this is with City’s lead being 13 points, the title race is over in the self-styled most competitive league in the world before Christmas. I’m sure Sky’s shareholders are delighted at their flagship product being all but wrapped up before the Champions League even starts again. Fuck them, and fuck their pathetic hype for games that meander into nothingness. It’s the little things, I suppose. Merry Christmas.

United (4-2-3-1) De Gea 7; Lindelof 6, Smalling 5.5, Jones 6.5, Young 7; Pogba 7, Matic 6; Mata 8.5 (Mkhitaryan 83, 5), Lingard 5.5 (Herrera 76, 5), Martial 6 (Rashford 71, 4); Lukaku 8.

Leicester 0-3 Manchester United

Leicester 0-3 Manchester United (Mkhitaryan 42, Ibrahimovic 44, Mata 49)

“The last time I was sat in this chair, the next day I was sacked!”

Jose was in a good mood at the post match press conference, and why not? The United manager had just seen his team stroll to possibly their easiest league win of the season at the home of the champions, who were truly abysmal. Not only this, he’d seen his demand for the other attacking players to ease the goal scoring burden on Zlatan Ibrahimovic answered by goals and brilliant performances from Juan Mata and the wonderful Henrikh Mkhitaryan. It was a world away from the frustration felt after the 0-0 draw vs Hull on Wednesday.

Another reason for the elation was the results elsewhere. Chelsea had beaten Arsenal 3-1, (deliciously, the third coming from Fabregas after a Cech error), and Liverpool continued their hilarious form by losing to the ever more impressive Hull. Top 4 is now not only back on, but almost expected…..? Maybe. We’ll see how the retuning Europa affects us.

The table at the end of a good weekend

 

The intent was shown when the team was announced, with Carrick dropped after a poor half against Hull, and Mata restored to the side. Rooney was missing through illness, and Jones replaced by Smalling after the injury picked up on Wednesday. There was a few grumbles about the lack of Martial (again!), but the attacking players all did well.

Creating opportunities hasn’t really been a problem this term, but our profligacy has, so it was immensely pleasing to see the ruthlessness on display, with three goals in the space of 10 minutes either side of half time sealing the comfortable win. The first 20 minutes didn’t suggest any of this though, with ponderous passing and aggressive tackling from both sides making this seem like ‘one of those’ games. United started with a 4-4-2 with Rashford down the middle, but Mourinho soon changed it back to the more familiar 4-2-3-1 with Mkhitaryan central, where he could do his best work. Mata was a perhaps a tad lucky to get away with a yellow for a late slide tackle on Vardy, but afterwards we settled down and took control. Herrera bounced back from a shocking first half hour to set the tempo with Pogba. 

It was Mkhitaryan who was the real match winner though, with a sensational performance exemplifying why he was signed. So inventive, creative, the ability to commit defenders and most importantly direct running. His goal was similar to his Tottenham one, the flick past Huth before accelerating, and no one was catching him. Almost straight away we turned the screw, an overdue assist for Valencia given the positions he gets into, and yet another for Zlatan –at 35 years and 125 days, the Swedish legend is the oldest player to reach 15 league goals in a season.

LOL @ Morgan's face

Our midfield Armenian was at it again with one-twos with Ibrahimovic and Mata for the third, stroked in from the Spaniard in a similar manner to his winner at Carrow Road last year. He’s responded well from his poor form over Christmas, and as a goal threat, is second only to Ibrahimovic at the moment.

I felt sorry for Leicester’s recent midfield signing Ndidi, who showed impressive tenacity and passing range, as the rest of the side were almost embarrassing. Mahrez and Vardy’s displays, and the contrast from last season, fully deserved the hostility they got at full time.

The Special Juan rounding off the game

The final 20 minutes were pretty dull as United, in full control, decided to rest for battles ahead rather than go for more goals and a bigger goal difference. I mean, even Youngy got some minutes. There were chances to get at least two more and catch up on the others (Mata had a one on one), and Martial could’ve been brought on to really give them both barrels, but after such a good away win, complaining like that would be unfair. It’s been a while since we scored 3 in the league, a great weekend for us, with top games from Mkhitaryan, Smalling, Mata and Zlatan.

Onwards to Watford.

United (4-2-3-1) De Gea 7; Valencia 7, Bailly 6.5, Smalling 8, Rojo 6 (Blind 46, 7); Herrera 6, Pogba 6.5; Mata 8 (Fellaini 77, 6), Mkhitaryan 9, Rashford 7 (Young 83); Ibrahimovic 8.

Community Shield - Manchester United 2-1 Leicester

Manchester United 2 (Lingard 32, Ibrahimovic 83) Leicester 1 (Vardy 52)

So, Jose Mourinho and Manchester United. Has a good ring to it, doesn’t it?

It’s always in my opinion a good thing to be in the Community Shield, (forever dubbed the traditional curtain-raiser for reasons yet to be discovered) acting as a friendly of the highest possible intensity against one of the best teams in the division. In these post Ferguson times, being in it meant something else – we had won a trophy! Cheers LVG.

Of course, the opponents being Leicester brought into sharp focus how we had underperformed recently, exactly why we were starting 2016/17 with a new boss. Jose Mourinho, no less. But the miracle of Leicester is still a wonderful story, and it would be intriguing to see how we would perform against a side who we drew twice with last year in incident packed games (The Vardy record, and then Fellaini and Huth’s bans).

Winning the shield wouldn't guarantee anything, (Moyes won it after all) but after a bunch of useless games halfway around the world, we would see in a semi-competitive environment how we were shaping up ahead of the long season. 

So back at Wembley, over 80,000 fans, time for United to show their teeth…. Sort of. It was a pretty poor game, and the opening exchanges were reminiscent of the early 2000’s Shields when it was quite evident that Fergie didn’t care. But the opening goal was superb, a brilliant mazy run past 3 players from Jesse Lingard, scoring his second amazing goal at Wembley for United in as many appearances. Lingard celebrated with an awful ‘dance’ but no matter. A great goal from a player deemed to be under pressure in the new regime against the champions? Quality.

Even worse celebration than the dab. Fix up Jesse

Fellaini, who will be presumably be very important in the early days of Mourinho’s United, decided it was all going a bit well and terribly under hit a back pass to play in Jamie Vardy who made it 1-1. We were under the cosh for a while, but new signing from Spain Eric Bailly was resolute at the back. Early days, but impressive. The most concerning thing was a unnecessary challenge from Huth on Lingard which saw him limp off. Fuck.

Lots of subs were made by both teams as the game –played in stifling heat for early August in the capital- seemed to be meandering towards a penalty shoot-out. The game had largely passed Zlatan Ibrahimovic by, the giant Swede not looking 100% match fit and his delicate touches and flicks not being read by his teammates. But as the press sharpened their knives, the man came good with a genuine world class moment. Valencia, probably United’s biggest threat all afternoon, beat his man and floated a cross to the far post, and Zlatan powered a header into the net, out jumping Morgan in the process. Magic. Leicester had probably lost about 9 headers or some shit in the entire season just gone, and here was Ibrahimovic showing what a world class striker can do. Brilliant.

There was still time for Mourinho to anger everyone when taking off Mata in the last minute after bringing him on before, under the flimsy argument that his new signing Henrik Mkhi-whatever could provide better defense from the expected barrage of long balls into the area in the dying seconds. I mean, he’s an inch or two taller but delicate no.10’s don’t tend to be the best at seeing out games. To be honest I don't care if Jose was just being a knob to Mata or just making it all about him, we won, and had a trophy (of sorts) and that’s what counts.

United (4-2-3-1) De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Shaw (Rojo 69); Carrick (Herrera 61), Fellaini; Lingard (Mata 63 [Mkhi 89]), Rooney (Schneiderlin 88), Martial (Rashford 70); Ibrahimovic.

 

Love a trophy lift

The boy Rash holding the Shield