Manchester United 2-0 Brighton FA Cup 6th Round

Manchester United 2-0 Brighton (Lukaku 37, Matic 83)

 

The fixture after the midweek before. The aftermath of the Sevilla defeat lasted right up until kick-off here, with the manager pre-match press conference an extraordinary example of the fight that Jose Mourinho has always been known for. As United’s season was punctured on Tuesday the boss was already looking for the distraction, an angle of excuses.

It was something, even so. An impassioned 12 minute defence of his record in the Champions League, and a football history lesson of United’s substandard performances post-Ferguson. The Portuguese reeled off United’s league positions, and compared them with City, to show how difficult it was and is for him to bridge the gap. He then listed European results after 2011, bluntly saying “this is football heritage” after every point. It might well be useful to mention Sevilla’s excellent European record, but this weekend they lost to Leganes. The Spanish minnows must have some heritage they’re hiding in their tiny ground, eh Jose?

Not that my rather pithy last sentence detracts from the good feeling I got from watching Mourinho hammer home his point that United are shit and he is desperate to turn us around. Because he was spot on. United have been poor, especially in Europe. That doesn’t explain a loss to Sevilla, a result that will hang over the club for a good few months, but perhaps should help explain why the reaction is not immediately to get rid of Mourinho.

You might’ve forgotten there was also an FA Cup Quarter-Final to win. The game was ugly, with very little to write home about. Thankfully for the manager, two of his most trusted lieutenants – Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic – scored to send us to Wembley.

Lukaku, fast becoming a leader in this team, hit his 25^th of the season from a Matic cross, and then followed numerous Brighton chances against pedestrian passing of the home side. The toothless nature of the South Coast attack, combined with the commanding display of cup keeper Romero meant that United were never really in trouble, but it wasn’t in the slightest the sort of response the faithful would’ve wanted after Sevilla. Only when the second goal was scored did we look comfortable, when Matic nodded in a quality free-kick from Ashley Young.

Young? Ah yes. For the utility man had come on at half time for Luke Shaw, who was yet again publicly slammed by his manager afterwards for a dreadful performance. Shaw hadn’t been great, but I certainly wouldn’t have hooked him at half-time. The England left-back is definitely too fond of a pizza or three but has it actually had an impact on his football? Is Shaw being bullied by a bitter coach? Shaw’s United career seems at an end, whatever the real truth.

Pogba and for the first time Sanchez were left on the bench, but it barely got a mention afterwards as post-match quotes again took centre stage. It wasn’t just Shaw, almost every player received criticism, and some might say it was just deserts for underperforming players.  Mourinho questioned whether we were scared to play, although Matic was described as “an island of personality” in terms of his mentality compared to some others.

There was encouragement in the stands at least for a singing section experiment that was a big success. The traditional area of the away fans was instead populated by some of the most boisterous members of the Red Army, with the Brighton fans shoved into Tier 2 of the East Stand. The result was a massive boost to the atmosphere inside Old Trafford, as the acoustics in that part of the ground where the East and South stands meet are so much better and conducive for signing than other areas. Unlike the current signing section, no one was forced out of an area of the ground. The club, J Stand operatives and hardworking Reds deserve immense credit for bringing together so many like-minded vocal United fans at such short notice. Now it’s up to the club to make it permanent.

Seldom has the international break come at a better time for the Reds. An opportunity to rest, take stock, and regroup ahead of the run-in. Another cup semi at Wembley to look forward to. It isn’t all doom and gloom.

United (4-2-3-1) Romero 7.5; Valencia 7, Bailly 5.5, Smalling 6, Shaw 5 (Young 46, 7); McTominay 6.5, Matic 8; Mata 6 (Rashford 75, 5), Lingard 5.5 (Fellaini 89), Martial 5.5; Lukaku 7.5.

Burnley 0-1 Manchester United

Burnley 0-1 Manchester United (Martial 54)

 

A rather sleepy Saturday afternoon in Lancashire was ignited by Anthony Martial’s superb winning goal in the second half, to clinch another win to nil for Jose Mourinho’s men. It was a tough encounter, with defences on top, but once again United had our French flier to thank for keeping us on track.

This was not vintage United, but then it hardly ever is against the Burnley of Sean Dyche. We’ve never blown them away, either in 14-15 or since they got promoted the second time. Due to a neat quirk in the fixture list, the memories of Boxing Day, and being 2-0 down in no time at all, were fresh in the memories of the Reds. Or should that be the light greys, as United lined up in our god awful, make-your-eyes-bleed 2^nd kit again. Is this really what Adidas pay all those millions for? Oh fuck, I’m moaning about kits, I’m even sadder than I knew I was.

United rather laboured to the win, but that didn’t mean there weren’t impressive elements – like a 5^th consecutive clean sheet for us, since we last played Burnley. An amazing coincidence, but not as amazing as the commanding defending of Phil Jones. He has been pretty low down on the list of players receiving acclaim this campaign, yet there is no more consistent centre-back in the country. When he’s fit, of course. Mourinho has improved him, or rather restored him back to his late 2013 peak. It was difficult out there, with him being booed by the Turf Moor faithful throughout due to his Blackburn Rovers connections, but he came through it, and with his partner Smalling got us over the line amid a barrage of late balls into the box.

Mind, Burnley were never out of the game, and Icelandic international Gudmundsson hit the bar with a free-kick, plus the terrific James Tarkowski was mere inches away from getting contact on a low cross from the right late on. As an aside, Dyche must perform a big gravelly frightening laugh every time he see his former charge Michael Keane struggle for Everton knowing he had Tarkowski to come in and replace him and form a solid partnership with Ben Mee. Considering he lost Andre Gray to Watford as well, you have to tip your hat to resourcefulness of Dyche. Back to the game though, for all this pressure, United were comfortable, despite being pinned back. It was encouraging, and once again the cliché needs saying – last year, we would’ve drawn that game. It would’ve been our own fault though, as Pogba, Martial and sub Rashford all wasted chances to kill the contest in the second half.

This season has been harshly judged, thanks to Guardiola’s barely believable mob up the road breaking records with their potential points tally. But we’re alright, y’know. The big summer buy Lukaku has not been anywhere near as bad as has been suggested, and he proved his class again by providing the goal, demonstrating superb awareness and decision making to advance with the ball before stopping and finding Martial with a perfect ball. The number 11’s coolness in front of goal did the rest, placing the ball in the top corner with aplomb. That made it 3 league goals in as many games for Martial. The forward is improving all the time and his recent form, as well as his undeniable talent, will surely keep him in the team even if the dog-obsessive from the Emirates joins to add a certain individualism to the attack. By now, even as harsh a critic as Mourinho can no longer be evasive about the ability of our fleet-footed Frenchman. “Of course we are happy with him. We just want consistency, we know he has the talent”.

It is hard to dislike Dyche. Even when he makes a pithy remark about the different financial worlds the two teams were operating in (“The defining moment is an absolutely fantastic finish from a player they brought in for a lot of money” was how he described Martial’s winner to the BBC) I find him admirable. Yes, he may play the victim at times when it comes to referees, and he does revel much like Big Sam in the whole I-would-be-getting-a-lot-more-praise-if-i-was-foreign-and-exoctic bollocks. But at the same time, his team and his tactical awareness constantly leave me impressed. The world is good if you are a Burnley fan right now – at least until someone further up the food chain poaches their gaffer.

The only tiny little concern of note was that after his 3 match ban, Young was selected ahead of the in-form Luke Shaw at left-back in our only change from the win over Stoke. This decision was pretty straightforward in hindsight as the experienced utility man was fresh while his teammates had been exerted by the Christmas period, and after so many matches on the trot it seemed sensible to give Shaw a breather – after all, he hasn’t played many consecutive games since his leg break. However, given that Burnley away is no walk in the park, you would expect the strongest team, and if Young is still ahead of Shaw in the pecking order when everything is equal, it would worry me slightly. Although perhaps to prove that I should shut my clumsy mouth, Youngy was one of our best players, especially in transition to set up counters late on.

Arsene Wenger implied that Alexis Sanchez missed the 4-1 cakewalk at home to Palace because he was already on his way up north, and whatever the real truth, it does seem likely that by the time United visit League Two Yeovil, the Chilean will be a Man United player. Certainly, Emirates-bound Mkhitaryan was never in consideration for the starting XI here. This transfer saga has barely lasted a fortnight yet I’m already tired of it, and the press crap that comes with it, and the idea that Alexis must be a money grabbing mercenary to turn down Oil-rich Man City in favour of the biggest football club in the world. City trying to take the moral high ground over money (Sanchez would upset their wage structure, apparently) has been a twist in this soap opera I definitely didn’t see coming. It does look done at the time of writing however, quite incredible given the English press had decided he would be at the Etihad by now. So, United bringing in a world-class player in January you say? Aye mate, and a reality TV star will be President and all, you daft prick.

United (4-2-3-1) De Gea 7.5; Valencia 7, Smalling 7.5, Jones 8.5, Young 7.5; Pogba 6.5, Matic 7; Mata 5.5 (Fellaini 72, 6), Lingard 5.5 (Rashford 80, 5), Martial 8 (Herrera 90+4); Lukaku 7.5.

Man Utd vs West Brom & Everton

Manchester United 0-0 West Bromwich Albion

There were mitigating circumstances here. The international break and wear and tear from our very long season had limited variety in team selection. WBA have been hard to break down all season and had just beaten Arsenal. But still, fuck off. Thankfully I had a party later this evening so I didn’t have to dwell on one of our worst performances of the season. I’m almost glad that my dodgy stream kept cutting out as it gave me some respite from some of the most insipid shite imaginable.

Ok maybe I’m over egging a bit. But ANOTHER home draw against a team who shouldn’t be able to compete with us. Mourinho was flabbergasted that Conor Macnamara had suggested that the two teams had cancelled each other out, and while he was right that only one team was trying, had all the possession, and one team ventured out their half about 5 times during the game… it was very much sterile domination. The worst of LVG. In most of the other home draws it was amazing that we didn’t score, but not this time. We were shit. Or did WBA defend well? Does it even matter, as our top 4 hopes were extinguished?

The depressing tale of the tape of the points dropped at home this year

The team pretty much picked itself. Zlatan and Herrera were banned, Schweinsteiger had finally left for Chicago Fire, Pogba was still not fit, and the international break had accounted for Jones and Smalling (which at least meant not more 5/6 at the back) and most crushingly, Mata out for the foreseeable future after groin surgery. This after he wasn’t named in the Spain squad, so instead of having a fresh player for challenges ahead, we were missing one of our best creators.

The whole team looked sluggish, just waiting for something to happen, and it almost did near the end as Marcus Rashford almost won the match. First a fiercely struck shot from 35 yards out was brilliantly saved by Foster (One of three ex reds to have a good game as well as Fletcher and Evans) before a free kick from a similar range was heading for the top corner before Foster’s intervention. But that was about it (At least we now know young Rash can take free kicks). The forwards deserved the criticism dished out by Mourinho post-match, and it’s becoming clearer how reliant we are on Pogba and Zlatan to create and finish. 75% possession, 18 shots, but only 3 on target. The farcical nature of the game was summed up when in the last minute Rooney and Fellaini got involved in handbags with Yacob instead of trying to score.

United (4-2-3-1) De Gea 6, Valencia 6.5, Bailly 6, Rojo 6.5, Young 6, Carrick 7, Fellaini 7; Lingard 7, Mkhitaryan 5.5 (Rooney 74, 5), Martial 5.5, Rashford 7.

 

Manchester United 1-1 Everton (Ibrahimovic 90+4 pen) (Jagielka 22)

Fucking again.

What actually is the point of discussing this game, I wonder? For it was just the same as all the other home draws this season. At what point do we say that Mourinho is doing a substandard job, seemingly unable to win matches at Old Trafford? United fans have seen that game about 10 times this season. I’m tired of the profligacy, tired of the excuses, tired of the slow build up until we fall behind or subs come on.

3 changes were made from the boring 0-0 vs West Brom. In came Blind for Valencia (who we really missed) and Zlatan and Herrera made a welcome return from suspension for Mkhitaryan and Martial. We started alright against a good team, remember, one that would leapfrog us in the table if they won. But having lost the Merseyside derby on Saturday as well as missing about 5 of their key players (Coleman, Funes Mori, McCarthy, Bolasie, Schneiderlin), surely we could assert ourselves a bit more in the first half, in particular, and why did Jose feel that we needed to play 3 midfielders when we can’t score goals as it is? Rashford looked sharp up against the broken Coleman’s understudy Mason Holgate, but the half soon petered out a little as our midfield and ponderous back 4 exchanged passes across the halfway line for minutes at a time. We did create chances- Zlatan didn’t shoot quickly enough when played in, Youngy, making a very rare forward run, ran onto a Herrera pass before whipping a cross across the box that was missed – but not enough.

We went behind, typically from Everton’s first attack. Blind switched off allowing Mirallas to win a corner off De Gea. Jagielka converted from point blank range through De Gea’s legs after weak defending from Rojo. For fucks sake.

Meanwhile Joel Robles, who was chucking them in vs Liverpool, briefly turned into Gordon Banks when brilliantly saving from a Blind free kick – from which Herrera hit the bar from a tight angle- before tipping a left footed Herrera long ranger wide.

A friend I was watching the game with logically thought our chances created would lead to goals and predicted a 3-1 final score. Having watched this shit all year, I knew better and predicted 0-1 (ok, I need to be a little more optimistic).

The return of Pogba for Blind at the interval led to a big improvement. The £89m man instantaneously headed against the bar from a Young free kick pushing up his woodwork total to fucking umpteen. Everton started to get dirtier, cynically fouling… but it’s up to us, c’mon….

After all the crap that he said this week (About Shaw’s poor mentality and fitness: "I cannot compare the way he trains and commits, the focus, the ambition. He is a long way behind [Blind, Darmian, and Young]") it was in a way typical Mourinho that he brought on Shaw for his first game since Bournemouth in a tough situation. Although it was pleasing to see the kid back, could Martial really not have been used instead? This season, Lingard and Mkhitaryan have both been used at left back when chasing the game, and it was a mystery to me when 1-0 down at home Jose felt able to do without Martial, who seemed to me to be an essential sub. Especially as again there was a load of chickenshit hesitation from us as usual when we got into the final third. The pattern of play needs serious work, as too often we rely on individual brilliance or a long ball game for goals.

Regardless Shaw played quite well, his crossing ability tying in neatly with the two pronged attack of Fellaini and Zlatan. Havoc was created in the area, but chances were still wasted; Fellaini hitting wide on the swivel, Williams putting in blocks, and then two identical headers over from ten yards out. Pogba with a world class ball to Rojo, Rashford to Zlatan, same result. A similar type of move did lead to a goal, but Zlatan was flagged offside when heading in. Replays suggested he was on, but with the luck we’ve had this season we couldn’t complain. It almost got worse as we attacked, but thankfully a combination of Barkley/Lukaku wastefulness and brilliant recovery defending from Eric Bailly (who was tremendous) meant it remained 1-0.

In the 93^rd, a shanked effort from Shaw (Shaw’s shanked redemption) was saved by Ashley Williams, handing the MOTM a red card, and Zlatan tucked in his 16^th league goal of the season. So a 1-1 draw, we obviously should have won, and there were a small amount of boos at full time. Jose responded by going for Shaw again, saying that it was Shaw’s body but his brain, and he had no football intelligence. Jesus he’s getting tiresome.
I know it was a penalty, but it still was another 90 minutes where despite all the chances, no one else but Zlatan scored. Even if it wasn’t a good display from him, his pedigree ensures his importance, and that’s true even more so for Pogba, a classic case of not-knowing-what-you’ve-had-till-it’s-gone-kind-of-thing. Not for me, that is. Just the cavalcade of morons who somehow think Zlatan and Pogba are problems (!!!) in a side where Ashley Young receives regular game time.

For the third consecutive home game, top 4 is officially gone. Or so I thought. True enough, for the 3^rd consecutive game week we were let off, as on Wednesday Liverpool drew against Bournemouth and City lost at Chelsea (Last 3 games for City btw: 1-1 Liverpool (Aguero) 2-2 @ Arsenal (Sane, Aguero) 1-2 Chelsea (Aguero). 1) How clutch is Aguero. 2) That’s 3 excellent results for us that we haven’t capitalised on. 3) Not many difficult games for City now) A win for Arsenal put us back in our spiritual home of 6^th, but somehow we’re still in it. But with Spurs, Arsenal and City away to come, plus Chelsea at home, two points from WBA and Everton is a proper disgrace. It’s all Europa now…

United (4-3-3) De Gea 6; Young 5 (Shaw 65, 7), Bailly 8, Rojo 6, Blind 5 (Pogba 46, 7); Herrera 6, Carrick 6.5 (Mkhitaryan 65, 6), Fellaini 6; Lingard 6.5, Ibrahmovic 6.5, Rashford 6.5.