tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84995442295856152342024-03-13T23:19:47.188+00:00Manchester United ViewsHere are my own thoughts on everything concerning Manchester United the biggest supported team on the planet. Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-298071799764286702021-09-13T14:06:00.001+01:002021-09-13T14:38:42.720+01:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Ronaldo Revolution.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoNNt4v8emHEoza9v50TNFzcUo489l1Ggw0AxhtMG8bjHUABIrZxfonKb6IBzwulE0gaqGfomO9MgdYAN0N_wgCAGnYvRfVEsRJM7CvCgXzpHs_i5zN9ESMXeqeb3qENCNRuX-Avhvtnq/s615/Ronaldo+celebration.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="615" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoNNt4v8emHEoza9v50TNFzcUo489l1Ggw0AxhtMG8bjHUABIrZxfonKb6IBzwulE0gaqGfomO9MgdYAN0N_wgCAGnYvRfVEsRJM7CvCgXzpHs_i5zN9ESMXeqeb3qENCNRuX-Avhvtnq/w318-h227/Ronaldo+celebration.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He returned the all-conquering hero with which he had
departed. All the pomp and ceremony that had heralded the return of Old
Trafford’s favourite son was not to be undone. He delivered with aplomb on his
promise of not just being back for a vacation. I am of course talking about the
one and only Cristiano Ronaldo.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It wasn’t until he hopped, skipped and jumped out of the
tunnel at the Theatre of Dreams just before 3pm on a heady Saturday afternoon
did I dare to believe that he had actually re-signed for the Reds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the stuff that dreams are made of. Not that long ago,
fans were protesting on the same hallowed turf against the ownership of our
great club, yet here we were celebrating in unison a transfer that no-one
expected in their wildest of dreams. Such is the aura of the man that even the
instrumental Sir Alex Ferguson wore a broad smile across his face for the
entire game, even when Newcastle dared to equalise, he knew that his protégé
would get the team back on track.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His return started with a miss-kick that had to be put down
to nerves, he is only human after all. Then our latest superstar, Mason
Greenwood, tried his luck from the edge of the box, the keeper spilled the shot
and Ronaldo was in the right place at the right time to slot in the rebound.
The famous stadium erupted with a cheer that hasn’t been heard for years, a
cheer filled with such feeling and emotion that it must have reverberated all
over Manchester, right up to the Etihad. Cue the now famous Ronaldo celebration,
with the fans screaming out his trademark cheer. He was back and yes you could
stop pinching yourself.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Newcastle clearly hadn’t read the script and dared to
equalise. No worries, we had a new, old, number 7 up front. The impressive Luke
Shaw must have burst his lungs with a forward run of such power that most of
the team found it difficult to keep up with him, but not Ronaldo. He was
already one step ahead, planning what to do once he received the ball. And
receive it he did and with ease struck a shot through the keeper right in front
of the Stretford End, who were already celebrating once the ball had left his boot.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That was it, he had announced his return with a style that
could only be produced by him. Those of us who have now been lucky enough to
bear witness to both his debuts can only find themselves not quite believing
what they had witnessed. Two debuts some 18 years apart that will both live
long in the memory. In the future, fans will ask that all too familiar
question. Where were you when Ronaldo made his 2<sup>nd</sup> United debut?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He has single-handedly generated a new sense of purpose around
the club, not just in the fans but also the players sharing the pitch with him.
There is a new optimism and belief that was palpable to see among all the
players, even those on the bench. Who wouldn’t want to share playing time with
this man. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you, Cristiano, for making us believe once again, and
we look forward to celebrating more trophies and getting the club back to where
they truly belong.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Miles Dunton.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0Manchester, UK53.4807593 -2.242630525.170525463821157 -37.3988805 81.790993136178855 32.9136195tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-13380382476330997822020-09-19T09:13:00.000+01:002020-09-19T09:55:31.265+01:00Here we go again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>As the start of the new season begins for United with the Premier League visit of Crystal Palace to Old Trafford, I guess there are many things we can be grateful for. Not least the fact that we are still able watch football, even though from a distance. If like me, the opening home game of the season normally fills you with the excitement of walking to the Theatre of Dreams on opening matchday, grabbing a pre-match burger and chips on the way and entering the stadium to be greeted by the pristine pitch and overpriced beverages, then these are difficult times. </p><p>It seems like only yesterday that the season ended, however here we go again! An extremely short pre-season where once again United have not exactly lit up the transfer market, with the only piece of business was the purchase of the promising young Dutchman, Donny van de Beek from Ajax, another in a long line of imports from just over the sea and one who has the backing to succeed from the likes of United legends van der Sar and van Persie, so he must be quality, right? </p><p>Edwin van der Sar commented that he and Ajax would miss van de Beek, but understands how difficult it is to turn down a move to United when they come calling. What a shame many other players clearly don't share his opinion.</p><p>Once again United have been linked with every player on the planet since the transfer window opened, and once again the lack of buys has whipped the fans into a fury with the main source of anger directed firmly at the door of Ed Woodward. While other clubs around us have been splashing out money left, right and centre (back), we as a team have done nothing. Surely this is a time to strengthen and build on what has to be seen as a successful end to last season by qualifying for the Champions League. But here we are again! It doesn't matter all the excuses that the hierarchy come out with, the fact is our club has struggled in the transfer market every season that Woodward has been at the helm. If Edwin misses Donny so much he should come back as director of football or even CEO and short it out.</p><p>Anyway, it is a new campaign and as always I like to look at the positives and there are some out there. For example, new fans' player of the season Bruno Fernandes should once again bring the inventiveness and drive to the team in what will be his first complete season. The players didn't agree with the fans as they voted for Anthony Martial as their player of the season and doesn't he seem happier these days? Gone is the slouchy downbeat player of the Mourinho era and in with the new under Ole. A player who is at last living up to his credentials as a striker. Now all Ole has to do is sort out Marcus!</p><p>Between the sticks is also a promising situation. As much as I admire and respect Romero, I believe that the return of Henderson will keep de Gea on his toes as he is more of a threat to his number 1 status than Sergio. A spot of competition never hurt anyone. Talking of competition, I would like to see more of an effort from the likes of Lingard and Pereira if they are to stay, if not then it could be the time to part ways with some of the fringe players.</p><p>During the very short period between the end of last season and the beginning of this one some of the players have not exactly covered themselves in glory off the pitch, you know who I'm talking about. Some of the players should know better, and some are on that learning curve of life. My thoughts on this are that whatever they do and wherever they go in their free-time the players are always going to be there for the taking, whether it be by the media or the public wanting to have a pop and get their names in the papers. It's happened before, and it will continue to happen in the future, but it will be a true reflection of their characters how the players respond to the publicity. Bestie didn't exactly live the life of a hermit and we still sing about joining him for a few drinks up above.</p><p>So that's it. I look forward to the day when we can all walk down Sir Matt Busby Way, adorned in our new Zebra kit and join together once more at the true home of football.</p><p>Enjoy the bumpy ride that inevitably comes from watching United, I know I will.</p><p>Miles Dunton.</p><p><br /></p>Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-36113048367546562392020-02-24T10:41:00.001+00:002020-02-25T16:01:54.810+00:00Bruno, Bruno, Bruno! The impact of Bruno Fernandes.<br />
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Maybe it's a little too early to heap so much praise on a player after only three and a bit games, but what the hell let's do it anyway.<br />
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Bruno Fernandes is the new hero of Old Trafford, a player that United tried to sign for so long, has finally arrived and already started to deliver.<br />
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United fans love a player that has that cockiness about them, and the way Bruno dispatched his penalty against Watford showed he has that element of self-confidence not seen in a player since the King himself graced the Theatre of Dreams.<br />
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Since signing in the transfer window he has given the side, club and fans that much needed lift in a season that was filled with so much negativity and despair.<br />
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He has single handedly lifted the gloom surrounding the club. High praise indeed you might say, but when you consider the ongoing situation with Pogba, and the failings on the pitch of many of the players, Fernandes was exactly the shot in the arm we all needed.<br />
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To say the atmosphere at Old Trafford had been glum is an understatement. However, in the space of time he has been here you can feel the change and belief he has regenerated within the fans. Everyone is talking about him and he is also saying the right things, and in great English too.<br />
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As a fan, you hope that new signings are going to do well, but when Bruno arrived you automatically got that feeling that he was a United player. These type of players have that special persona that fits in with our traditions at the club.<br />
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In his first game against Wolves, you could see his leadership qualities come to the fore as he orchestrated the players around him. His drive and enthusiasm rubbed off on most of his teammates. This continued in his European debut for the Reds against Club Brugge, when only on the pitch for 15 minutes he completely changed the complexion of the match, from one that we might lose to one that we could win.<br />
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Then on Sunday came his defining moment and yet another Man of the Match performance. Having won and converting the penalty to open his United account, he then continued to influence the game through his passing and work rate in midfield. He had a hand in all three goals and was paraded by Ole in front of the appreciative Stretford End at the final whistle.<br />
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Ole has probably found the player that will ensure he sees the season out as manager, and then given the chance to build on the squad in the summer having hopefully secured a Champions League place and maybe picked up a trophy.<br />
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Let's hope that this is not a false dawn at United and that the fans will be shouting Bruno, Bruno, Bruno right up until the final kick of the season.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-42653898917341010312016-10-03T10:10:00.000+01:002016-10-03T10:10:31.582+01:00United Rue Missed ChancesManchester United 1 Stoke City 1<br />
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Manchester United failed to capitalise on their opportunities and even a splendid opener by Martial wasn't enough to earn all three points against Stoke.<br />
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United headed into this league match in a buoyant mood after three wins in a row that even though had been achieved without setting the pulses racing at least pointed Mourinho and his side in the right direction.<br />
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The night before the match came the sad news that former United and Stoke forward David Herd had passed away, so it was a fitting fixture to honour his memory and both sides wore black armbands out of respect.<br />
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Mourinho chose the same starting XI that blew away Leicester City in the first half last time out in the Premier League: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Bailly, Blind, Pogba, Herrera, Mata, Lingard, Rashford and Ibrahimovic.<br />
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Once again Rooney would have to be resigned to a place on the bench alongside a recovered Martial as the manager perservered with Rashford. Mourinho clearly wanted to continue to explore the midfield partnership of Pogba and Herrera as it had worked so well against the champions.<br />
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United kicked off and immediately attacked the Stretford End with Pogba feeding a clever little ball through to Ibrahimovic, who looked odds on to score as he tried to lift the ball over the keeper but Grant stood firm and blocked the Swede's effort. Not a bad start for a keeper making his first Old Trafford start.<br />
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The early pace of United up front with the likes of Rashford and Lingard seemed to cause the Stoke defence worries and if not for some poor passes they could have easily got behind the defenders.<br />
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Antonio Valencia received an early yellow card for a rash challenge on Pieters on the right touchline.<br />
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Stoke had their own chances to upset the applecart, including a golden opportunity that was wasted by Cameron, who only had to find a corner but instead fired straight at De Gea.<br />
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At the other end, it was Pogba's turn to hide his face in his hands after he inexplicably fired his shot wide after some brilliant one touch football in the build up.<br />
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In the opening twenty minutes the crowd had seen three great chances squandered, but at least it was entertaining.<br />
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Teenage sensation Rashford stormed into the area and was unlucky not to pick out a teammate with a low cross from the byline.<br />
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United's diminutive Spaniard Mata tried an audacious chip from the edge of the area that the keeper just managed to tip over the bar. From the resulting corner, Pogba rose unmarked but guided his header wide.<br />
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It was a promising start from the home side who were comfortably in control and kept probing away at a deep lying Stoke defence.<br />
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Brilliant attacking play down the left-hand side by Ibrahimovic almost ended up with Lingard opening the scoring as he met the cross well enough to score. However, the keeper managed to intervene and it went out for a corner. Fantastic approach play by Ibrahimovic and it deserved a goal.<br />
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Next up it was Lingard's turn to become the provider as he delivered a delightful cross from the right which found Ibrahimovic at the far post and his first-time volley was blocked by Shawcross.<br />
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The chances were now coming thick and fast and surely it would be only a matter of time until United found the all important breakthrough.<br />
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That breakthrough would have come if Pogba hadn't have slipped before lining up a shot after another flowing move involving Ibrahimovic and Rashford.<br />
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There was a moment when Smalling was embarrassed with a nutmeg by the skillful Shaqiri down by the corner flag but Bailly bailed out his defensive partner with a clearance from the resulting cross.<br />
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Half time and all square at 0-0. United had moved the ball around well and showed good movement off the ball and would have been ahead if it hadn't been for some good saves by journeyman keeper Lee Grant.<br />
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The visitors got the second half underway with United unchanged from the first period.<br />
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Stoke won an early free kick delivered by Shaqiri that was met by the head of Indi and tipped over acrobatically by De Gea. The effort wouldn't have counted as the offside flag had been raised earlier.<br />
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United immediately went down the other end and won a corner that Mata took and as it was cleared Herrera tried to replicate his goal against Northampton Town but this time the shot lacked both power and direction.<br />
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The match had restarted in a scrappy manner and Herrera was lucky not to receive a red card after a high challenge on Allen in the centre circle. It was Allen who then almost opened the scoring as he tried to bend the ball into the corner but De Gea was equal to it.<br />
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Ibrahimovic also got his name into the referee's book for an alleged elbow on Shawcross.<br />
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On the hour mark, the match had become pedestrian which suited Stoke more and needed an injection of urgency from the Red Devils if they were to earn the win.<br />
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United were guilty of conceding a succession of free kicks thirty yards from goal which gave the visitors numerous chances to deliver threatening balls into the box.<br />
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As Mourinho organised his substitutions Herrera let fly with a shot that kept low and whisked just wide.<br />
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The changes Mourinho made were Rooney and Martial on for Mata and Lingard with just over twenty minutes of the match left.<br />
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Ibrahimovic picked the ball up deep and when there was nothing on in front of him tried a shot himself and it almost paid off as the ball was only a whisker away from going in.<br />
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The breakthrough finally came in the 69th minute from a brilliant strike by Martial who had started the move down the left, then played the ball to Rooney on the edge of the area who was dispossessed by a defender, but luckily for United the ball fell nicely back into the path of Martial who curled a delightful ball into the far corner of the net that the keeper had no chance of saving.<br />
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The goal was reminiscent of the one he scored against the same opposition last season.<br />
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It was that man Martial who was making all the difference since his arrival on the pitch as once again he created the next chance. He never gave up the chase for the ball inside the area as first he then Ibrahimovic and finally Blind were left frustrated by the defence as the ball ricocheted around the area.<br />
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It was all out attack from the Reds as Ibrahimovic had one chance blocked, then another saved by Grant in goal.<br />
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Stoke had all hands on the pump to thwart United's hope of a second goal and their patience paid off when they managed to snatch an equaliser in the 82nd minute with a goal from nowhere.<br />
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De Gea showed he is in fact human when he only managed to parry a low shot away from his goal line that was flicked back into the six-yard box over him and two of his defenders and there was Allen on hand to tuck the ball into an open net.<br />
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It was noticeable in the build-up to the goal that De Gea had a chance to collect a deep cross but elected to leave it for his defenders who then proceed to give it away and that move led to the goal.<br />
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Mourinho made his last change of the day by introducing Memphis for Herrera.<br />
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Rashford now playing on the right crossed a ball that was met with a firm header by Pogba which crashed against the bar.<br />
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With four minutes of injury time added Rooney took over the corner and free kick duties and to be honest his deliveries were poor, to say the least.<br />
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Full time and United were the victims of their own undoing as they allowed Stoke to commit a smash and grab raid to share the spoils.<br />
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This match was a difficult one to assess as United had done enough to win it in the first hour, but once they took the lead allowed Stoke to claw their way back to earn a vital point. On any other day, both Ibrahimovic and Pogba could easily have scored a double each but it wasn't to be.<br />
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The visiting keeper, as is so often the case at Old Trafford, had a game to remember and deserved the Man of the Match award.<br />
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Once again we now head into another international break and then the fun really starts with United up against Liverpool, City and Chelsea before the end of the month. Those are the matches that United can't afford to make the same mistakes in as they did against Stoke.<br />
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Until then thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-21266177323056094132016-09-30T11:54:00.000+01:002016-09-30T11:54:57.333+01:00Zlatan Is United's Head BoyManchester United 1 Zorya Luhansk 0<br />
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the difference at the Theatre of Dreams as Manchester United won their first Europa League group game by overcoming relatively unknown Ukraine opposition Zorya Luhansk.<br />
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Mourinho has promised to take the competition seriously and this was reflected in his starting XI: Romero, Rojo, Smalling, Bailly, Fosu-Mensah, Fellaini, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Rashford and Ibrahimovic.<br />
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Captain Rooney would once again have to start on the bench and apart from the absences of regulars De Gea, Blind and Herrera, it was a strong side that was given the task of earning the first win in the group stage.<br />
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The game kicked off in front of a stadium not exactly full to the rafters as supporters still lacked the enthusiasm for Thursday night football. However, the fans that had turned up got behind the Reds from the start.<br />
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The visitors had the first chance of the game after five minutes as Ljubenovic tried his luck against stand in keeper Romero but his effort sailed high over the goal.<br />
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United passed the ball around the pitch comfortably without creating any clear openings and it was Fellaini who saw most of the ball as he played safe passes from midfield without finding the killer pass needed to gee up the crowd.<br />
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It was left to Ibrahimovic to liven up the proceedings after twenty minutes as he fired in a shot from distance that looked goal bound until a defender slid in and deflected the shot over the bar.<br />
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A minute later the crowd rose in unison as they thought a goal had come from Rashford who crashed a thunderbolt of a shot against the underside of the bar that was still rattling as the defenders cleared their lines.<br />
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It was a delight to watch the way in which the talented youngster made room for his shot in a crowded area and that one moment of skill made his inclusion in the starting team worth it.<br />
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The away side had clearly trained in the art of play acting as they frustrated the United players, fans and Mourinho who was stood on the touchline throughout.<br />
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The referee from Israel didn't exactly endear himself to the crowd after allowing play to continue after Mata had been caught very late and was fortunate not to receive a serious injury.<br />
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Then Mata and Fellaini both came close to breaking the deadlock with headers that needed better direction. The Mata effort followed excellent work by Pogba who delivered a pinpoint cross that the diminutive Spaniard was unlucky not to convert.<br />
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At half time it was all square and to be honest a little like an exhibition match as the crowd was full of school children cheering on their heroes and an away section with only about fifty away fans that did their best to out cheer the United youngsters.<br />
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Mourinho would have to inject some form of enthusiasm into his side during the break as they lacked the pace and incisive passing needed to make the breakthrough.<br />
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The second half got underway with United attacking the Stretford End and Mourinho decided against making any changes.<br />
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Zorya set the early pace and almost took the lead as Ljubenovic just failed to connect with a teasing cross.<br />
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Fosu-Mensah, playing at right back, tried his best to create chances from the right and on one occasion he linked well with Lingard whose cross was intercepted by the keeper before Ibrahimovic could connect.<br />
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The impressive Bailly was booked just after the hour mark after a hefty challenge on Paulinho.<br />
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Paulinho then curled an effort towards goal, but Romero was wide awake to the shot and produced a good save diving fully stretched to his left.<br />
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With 67 minutes on the clock, Mourinho decided to bring on his captain Rooney in place of Lingard with time running out in the search for the all important goal.<br />
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As so often happens in football a substitution produces the desired effect and it was true again in this match as a cross was delivered into the penalty area by Fosu-Mensah and there was Rooney only on the pitch for two minutes to try his luck.<br />
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His effort was badly miskicked into the turf, but thankfully for his side and to save his own blushes, it looped up nicely for Ibrahimovic who leapt at the far post to head the ball downwards into the net to finally give the home side the lead. That was Ibrahimovic's sixth goal in ten matches. Not the prettiest of goals he will score, but they all count.<br />
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With fifteen minutes left Mourinho made a double substitution by bringing on Young and Martial in place of Mata and Fosu-Mensah.<br />
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Rashford continued to raise pulses on the left as he attempted to dribble his way past a bamboozled right back at every opportunity and if his captain had not misplaced a through ball he would have been clear on goal.<br />
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Apart from a Fellaini chance that fizzed over the bar and a free kick well delivered by Ibrahimovic and equally well saved by Shevchenko that was about it for the night as United ended the match as victors and in doing so collected their first three points in the group stage.<br />
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In the end, it was a match that lacked any conviction from Mourinho's men who can't be blamed for lacking the same enthusiasm as they would for the more important Premier League. However, they got the job done and now face a harder task with a double header against Turkish outfit Fenerbahce next month.<br />
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Bailly once again shone at the back and Rashford gave his all as usual and was unlucky not to score. He also spent most of the game chasing poor passes. Fellaini was involved in every movement in the middle without going above and beyond his normal style of play, but the Man of the Match award has to go to Ibrahimovic for scoring the goal that sent the locals home happy and gave the kids something to cheer about.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-43426467971078696902016-09-24T16:23:00.001+01:002016-09-25T10:18:59.168+01:00United Blow Away the Champions.Manchester United 4 Leicester City 1<br />
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Manchester United turned on the style along with goals which saw off the challenge of Leicester City in an impressive first half of football not seen at Old Trafford for a long time.<br />
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In a week in which Jose Mourinho has fended off criticism of himself, his team and his captain it was back to Premier League action and the visit of the reigning champions to Old Trafford.<br />
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United returned to winning ways against Northampton Town in the EFL cup in midweek after succumbing to three successive defeats. For that tie, Mourinho made wholesale changes so it was interesting to see which side he would put out against the Foxes.<br />
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In the end, he chose a starting XI composed of: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind, Pogba, Herrera, Lingard, Mata, Rashford and Ibrahimovic.<br />
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Rooney was dropped to the bench after some below par displays. Mata started his 150th Premier League game and Lingard was hoping for a better game than his last time out in the derby. At the back, Smalling kept his place alongside Bailly with Blind taking over left back duties in place of Shaw.<br />
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Pogba returned in midfield and it would be interesting to see how he would fit in along with Herrera, who was the best player against Northampton. Up front, there was another chance for Rashford to showcase his immense talent alongside Ibrahimovic.<br />
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United got the game underway looking to end a run of two Premier League defeats.<br />
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Daley Blind had the first speculative effort in the opening exchanges after good work from Valencia down the right. Blind's shot was too high, though.<br />
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The pace of Rashford was there for all to see from the off as he stormed into the oppositions box and it needed a good tackle to stop him in his tracks.<br />
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A cross was whipped in from the left by Mata aimed for the head of Pogba which it missed, but as it fell to the unmarked Ibrahimovic the crowd held its breath as he tried his standard acrobatic shot but this time it flew past the far post.<br />
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There was a neat interchange between Pogba and Mata which finally unleashed Rashford who was just beaten to the ball by the keeper Zieler.<br />
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It wasn't all United as the Foxes had their moments to attack without seriously troubling the back four or De Gea in the opening ten minutes.<br />
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Leicester had a two-minute spell in which they blasted shots towards United's goal each one being blocked by the resolute defence.<br />
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After twenty minutes it was a fairly lacklustre game with no clear cut chance for either side which in turn kept the fans subdued. However, all that changed when Blind sent over a high corner which was met firmly by the head of the captain for the day Smalling, who woke everybody up with the opening goal.<br />
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Leicester responded to going behind by immediately going on the attack, but it was United who broke through Herrera. He played a delightful ball forward for Ibrahimovic to chase. He unselfishly fed a rushing Rashford who looked certain to double the lead but for once, his finishing evaded him and he fired wide. The youngster followed that up with an overhead kick which flew over the bar.<br />
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All of a sudden the home side were in the ascendancy as Pogba skillfully clipped the ball over the defence to pick out Ibrahimovic, who chested the ball down and powered his volley over the bar.<br />
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Record signing Pogba was involved again as he thundered a long-range dipping drive on goal which the keeper didn't take any chances with and punched the ball two handed away for a corner.<br />
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What a difference a goal makes as the away side were now on the back foot as before the goal they had most of the possession.<br />
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Then in the 36th minute, Mata came up with a big goal as he was involved in a neat passing move with at first Pogba who flicked the ball onto Lingard inside the area he in turn laid the ball off to Mata who collected the flick on and hit a left-footed beauty into the back of the net to give his side a deserved 2-0 lead.<br />
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United added a third after Leicester fell asleep at another United corner. Blind was alert enough to see the run along the byline of Mata and rolled the ball into his path. Mata then sent in a low cross into the six-yard area and there was Rashford to slide the ball into the net for one of the easiest goals he will score.<br />
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Then the roof was lifted when United added a fourth in the 42nd minute and a first goal for Pogba who rose to power in a header to cap off an impressive display from United. It had to be said that the Leicester defence was a shambles.<br />
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Three of the goals had come from corners taken by Blind two long and one short all of which the Leicester defence were at sixes and sevens with.<br />
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Half time and four goals to the good. Who needs Rooney? It was the first time since 2001 that United had gone in at half time four goals ahead.<br />
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After a quiet start to the match, United eventually kicked into gear and for the first time in what seems like years provided the type of dominant football that has been lacking. They passed the ball well and had too much pace for Leicester who completely switched off after they conceded the second goal.<br />
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Pogba was outstanding and showed his class with some neat flicks, but it was Herrera, who once again shone with his all round play.<br />
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At the start of the second half, Mourinho wisely decided against making any changes. United started the half in a relaxed manner as it seemed with a lead of four goals they were happy to go through the motions. A feeling clearly not shared by their animated manager who stood on the touchline and urged his players not to lose their focus.<br />
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Leicester's Gray scored a fabulous goal from the edge of the area to deny De Gea a clean sheet. In a league that normally ends so tight goal difference is key so United would have to keep their defensive wits about them.<br />
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On the hour mark and leading 4-1, the atmosphere was a little underwhelming to say the least and United needed to lift themselves and the crowd.<br />
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Lingard tried to raise the pulses with a shot from the edge of the area after good work from Valencia but he was put under pressure from Gray and skied his effort over.<br />
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The big Swede Ibrahimovic pulled a fine save out of the keeper with a first time shot that was tipped around the post for a corner.<br />
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To their credit, the champions hadn't given up hope of rescuing something credible from the match and you could tell they sensed that United had taken their foot off the pedal as they attacked only for King to fire weakly at De Gea.<br />
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The fans filled the Theatre of Dreams with chants of Ander Herrera as the Spaniard mishit his shot from the edge of the area.<br />
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As the match entered the final quarter of an hour United started to look for the fifth goal when Valencia attempted a cross to find Ibrahimovic and Blind continued to deliver dangerous crosses from corners that the visitors struggled to deal with.<br />
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At the other end scorer Gray tried his luck again from the same spot where he had netted from but this time, De Gea pulled off a brilliant save at full stretch to deny him.<br />
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United's first change of the day saw Carrick replace Lingard. It will do Lingard's confidence the world of good to hear the fine reception he received from the home supporters who recognised the effort he had put in. Carrick made his landmark 500th League appearance.<br />
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Leicester continued to press forward, albeit a little too late as the minutes ticked by.<br />
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The second substitution came with some seven minutes on the clock as scorer Rashford made way for Rooney.<br />
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Ibrahimovic did his best to get on the score sheet as he tried to bend the ball into the far corner, but the keeper read it well and collected easily. He then had a shot blocked after being picked out by Mata.<br />
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That was Mata's last action as he came off for Young for the last few minutes.<br />
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Full time and in the end a comfortable win for United with all the damage done in the first half. There were some outstanding performances for the Reds especially from Bailly, Blind and Herrera. Ibrahimovic played exceedingly well without scoring. However, the man of the match had to be Paul Pogba who had by far his best game for United and topped it off with a goal.<br />
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After a week full of criticism from all quarters and 'Einsteins' United delivered a performance worthy of the badge and hopefully that momentum will be carried on over the next few weeks.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-5349346990694328612016-09-22T09:03:00.000+01:002016-09-22T13:05:01.648+01:00United Crisis Is CobblersNorthampton Town 1 Manchester United 3<br />
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Manchester United returned to winning ways against Northampton to book themselves a derby date at Old Trafford.<br />
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It took them an hour to do it, but they did eventually overcome the plucky League One outfit thanks to goals from Carrick, Herrera and Rashford.<br />
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It hadn't been the best of weeks for Mourinho and his men as three successive defeats had cast a shadow over the club and raised questions about some of the player's commitment to the cause.<br />
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Disaster is too strong a word to be used at this early stage of the season. However, a defeat in the EFL away at Northampton would have had alarm bells ringing.<br />
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A lot of the blame for the defeats has been firmly planted at the player's feet and quite rightly too as many of them have not performed to the level expected at the club. So it was interesting to see how Mourinho would approach this match against the League One side.<br />
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Only two players Smalling and Rooney kept their places in the starting XI: Romero, Fosu-Mensah, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Memphis, Herrera, Young and Rooney.<br />
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The United captain had been chosen as the main striker and Mourinho expected only one thing from him and that was goals and if he didn't deliver there was a strong bench including Ibrahimovic and Rashford.<br />
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United kicked off inside a packed Sixfields stadium under some pressure, but with the great away support behind them.<br />
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Rooney had the first clear chance of the game with a weak shot inside the area. United won the first corner of the match after a couple of minutes from a deflected shot by Herrera.<br />
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It was Rooney again, who was guilty of missing an open goal after a cross was played into the danger area from the right. The skipper inexplicably side-footed his effort wide when it seemed easier to tuck the ball away.<br />
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After five minutes United had enjoyed 75 percent of the possession with the majority of the attacks coming from build up play by Young on the right wing, but it was a cross this time from the left by Rojo that was whisked across the six-yard box that only needed the slightest of touches from someone.<br />
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The away side were awarded a free kick inside the area after the home side were guilty of a back pass just before the twenty-minute mark. Depay rolled it into the path of Rooney, whose shot was blocked by the wall only for it to find Carrick loitering on the edge of the area.<br />
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He calmly hit the ball first time and managed to send it flying into the top corner of the net. That was Carrick's first goal since March 2015 and a welcome one it was too.<br />
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In the ten minutes following the goal United stroked the ball around in a confident fashion and totally dominated the play with Northampton struggling to get a sniff of the ball.<br />
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Rooney had a headed goal ruled for offside on the half hour after Fosu-Mensah had seen his effort rebound off the bar.<br />
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United didn't have it all their own way however, as the home side almost pulled level with a cracking drive from former red academy player Gorre that stand in keeper Romero had to push over the bar.<br />
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In fact, it was Northampton who pulled their socks up and began to find another gear as they piled on the pressure and it paid off five minutes before the break when they won a penalty after Blind clumsily brought down Hoskins after a combination of Rojo, Fosu-Mensah and Schneiderlin failed to clear the ball from their own area.<br />
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Revell stepped up and sent Romero the wrong way to level the scores and gave Mourinho plenty to think about during the break.<br />
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Half time and all square after United were guilty of allowing the League One side back into the game after some terrible defending. At 1-0 everything looked fairly routine for the Reds, but not for the first time this season they shot themselves in the foot which made for an interesting cup tie.<br />
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Northampton got the second half underway with Mourinho deciding against making any changes at the restart.<br />
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The home side were put on the back foot by the Red Devils as Young tried his best to create openings down the right flank.<br />
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It only took Mourinho ten minutes to change things around with Rashford replacing defender Fosu-Mensah and Ibrahimovic coming on for the hapless Memphis, which meant Young switched to the wing back position to make way for the forwards.<br />
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Herrera was unlucky with a firm strike that smacked against the post. That was the closest United had come after the substitutions as they made life difficult for themselves by giving the opposition hope which in turn lifted the home crowd.<br />
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As the match entered the final twenty minutes player of the night Herrera finally found the back of the net after he hit a brilliant right-footed drive that gave the keeper no chance and handed the visitors the lead.<br />
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Fellaini entered the fray for the last fifteen minutes in place of Schneiderlin to offer a different variety to the play.<br />
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They say that you should never give up a lost cause and that was certainly the case as United increased their lead to end the tie as a contest.<br />
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It was Herrera, who from the half way line hooked a hopeful ball high into the air and as it fell from the skies it looked, for all intents and purposes a routine clearance for keeper Smith, but as he raced out to the edge of his area there was Rashford bearing down on him at speed.<br />
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The sight of the young forward rushing towards him caused the keeper to panic and he completely mistimed his attempted clearance and Rashford reaped the rewards and blasted the ball gleefully into the empty net.<br />
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It was a pure opportunist goal by the impressive striker and one that ensured United would progress into the next round. It was also a landmark goal for the youngster as he has now scored on yet another debut.<br />
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United saw out the game and in the end dispelled any talks of a crisis to book a place in the next round which threw up a mouth-watering home draw against Manchester City and an early opportunity for Mourinho to gain revenge over Guardiola.<br />
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Even with the win, Mourinho will know that some of his players underperformed once again with Rojo the weakest link in defence and up front Memphis failed to impress and one has to wonder how long the manager will put up with the winger.<br />
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Rooney also did little to quieten his critics after a lacklustre display on a night when goals were expected from him.<br />
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Not for the first time in his fledgling career, Rashford had a huge impact on the result with an assist and a goal of his own as his eagerness showed the older heads how pure enthusiasm can change a game in an instant.<br />
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The hope for the future is that he never loses that desire to play the game as it should be played when others around him have forgotten as they have aged.<br />
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One player who did roll back the years with an assured performance in midfield was Michael Carrick. His contribution proved that he still has what it takes as long as he gets enough rest and before people get carried away it was against lower opposition, so the question will be whether or not he can sustain that level on a regular basis in the Premier League.<br />
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The Man of the Match award has to be handed to Ander Herrera, who never gave up at a time when others around him wavered. His strike to put his side in the lead was sublime and the Spaniard does seem to enjoy an away cup tie as it's not the first time in his United career that he has kept the club in a cup competition.<br />
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Next up is the visit to Old Trafford of the current champions Leicester City who United defeated in the Community Shield last month. However, we can expect a different type of game at the Theatre of Dreams.<br />
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Until then thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.<br />
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Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-37252360970661335702016-09-17T09:11:00.000+01:002016-09-17T09:11:03.904+01:00United Left Frustrated By FeyenoordFeyenoord 1 Manchester United 0<br />
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After making wholesale changes to his starting line-up it wasn't exactly the start Jose Mourinho wanted in his first European tie as United manager as his side fell to their second defeat in a week.<br />
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Hopes were high as Manchester United returned to the scene of Sir Alex Ferguson's first European triumph as United's manager. It was at the De Kuip stadium that the Red Devils enjoyed a glorious victory by defeating Barcelona 2-1 to lift the old European Cup Winners Cup back in 1991.<br />
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Their attention was now fully focused on the Europa League and a tricky opening group match against Dutch side Feyenoord, which would be the shortest trip for Mourinho's men in a group that will see them face longer journeys to Turkey and The Ukraine.<br />
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United departed Manchester with a squad that didn't include rested captain Rooney and injured Shaw but still had a side capable of seeing off the threat of the Dutch team.<br />
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Mourinho's starting XI for his first European match as manager of the side: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Bailly, Rojo, Schneiderlin, Pogba, Mata, Herrera, Martial and Rashford.<br />
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Only three players started the game from the eleven that played in the derby so there was a chance for Smalling to partner Bailly in place of Blind and defensive duo Rojo and Darmian replaced Valencia and Shaw.<br />
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In midfield, Pogba remained but he had a new partner in Schneiderlin with Herrera and Mata in support.<br />
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Up front, the impressive Rashford was handed his first start of the season alongside Martial.<br />
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The opening ten minutes was a cagey affair with both sides weighing each other up until the home side tested De Gea with a curling shot from the edge of the area by Berghuis. The United number one was alert to the early threat.<br />
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The rock in the United defence Eric Bailly took a knock to the thigh as he cleared his lines and stayed down for a worrying few minutes. He was thankfully able to continue after running it off.<br />
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A surging run from Herrera was halted by a foul which Pogba took but his effort on goal was easily saved by keeper Brad Jones.<br />
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United's first real chance fell to Martial in the 24th minute following good work from Darmian on the right side of the penalty area. His cross was low and hard and as it fell to Martial you felt it was goal-bound until it flew inches past the post.<br />
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The bright spark in the United side was the recalled Ander Herrera, who was covering every blade of grass on the pitch as he helped both the attack and defence.<br />
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Feyenoord had a slightly aggressive style to their play, which was shown in the number of free kicks they conceded as they tried to bully United out of their rhythm.<br />
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Record signing Pogba failed to stamp his authority on the game as he was dispossessed far too easily on a few occasions.<br />
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As the home side saw more of the ball the home supporters raised the atmosphere as they sensed their team were in the ascendancy this, in turn, prompted Mourinho to urge his players to calm down as he watched from the touchline.<br />
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As the half entered its final ten minutes it has to be said that United's play had been passive with no real threat in attack.<br />
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Mata almost got onto the end of a headed flick-on but that was as close it got as the half ended in a boring goalless draw.<br />
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Half time and not a lot to talk about as both sides struggled to get out of third gear. Neither keeper had been troubled and Mourinho will have to gee his players up if they are going to take control of the match and impose themselves further up the field.<br />
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Rashford cut a lone figure up front as he lacked any decent service and when he did gain possession he gave it away far too easily. The more he plays the quicker he will improve his all round game as his potential is immense.<br />
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At the start of the second half, Pogba slotted in higher up the pitch clearly looking to become more involved in the play than he was in the first forty-five minutes.<br />
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In fact, it was Pogba who tried a speculative effort from long range five minutes after the restart, but his shot was high over the bar. An effort more in frustration than anything else as there was nothing else happening in front of him.<br />
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By the 55th minute the pace of the game hadn't picked up and it badly needed an infusion of energy from somewhere as Ibrahimovic started to warm up down on the touchline.<br />
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Pogba once again tried his luck from distance but his shot was wide of the mark.<br />
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After the hour mark, Mourinho had seen enough and made a triple substitution by bringing on Ibrahimovic, Memphis and Young in place of Rashford, Martial and Mata.<br />
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A message of intent had been made by the manager as he sensed the game was there to be won. Immediately following the changes the three substitutes almost created a goal as Young did well on the right and delivered a cross to the far post that was met by the head of Ibrahimovic and Memphis almost connected with the ball.<br />
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As the match entered its final fifteen minutes it was a match even in chances, but with United edging the amount of possession without managing to create any clear-cut openings.<br />
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Ibrahimovic did manage to rise the highest to another Young delivery from a free kick, but the big Swede directed his header too high.<br />
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Under fire Memphis showed the lack of confidence in his game at the moment as he fired a volley high into the jeering crowd. That summed up United's night.<br />
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Then Feyenoord took the lead on the counter with a goal that should have been ruled out for offside during the build up. Jorgensen was allowed to play on and crossed from the right and found an unmarked Vilhena in the box to fire easily past De Gea.<br />
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It was shocking defensive play by United who seemed to stop for the offside flag that never came and ended up conceding a sloppy goal.<br />
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To their credit United did go on the attack immediately after conceding and it was Smalling who almost benefitted from a neat flick from Ibrahimovic but his shot was blocked by a crowd of defenders.<br />
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Memphis failed to impress again as his free kick, which should have been aimed at a host of teammates in the box, was high wide and handsome.<br />
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As the clock hit 90 minutes Ibrahimovic took over the free kick duties and fired a thirty yard effort hard and goal bound that the keeper did well to get his body behind.<br />
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It was then the turn of Herrera, who was just about to pull the trigger until a late tackle on him denied him the chance of grabbing an equaliser. That was the last piece of action on a night that will not linger in the memory as there was absolutely nothing memorable in United's play whatsoever.<br />
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An opening defeat in the group stage isn't a disaster. However, there are tougher matches ahead and if United do in fact want to add this trophy to their museum showcase then Mourinho will have to put a bomb under his players.<br />
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Too many players that were given a chance to shine by Mourinho were off their game, including the recalled defending trio of Smalling, Darmian and Rojo. Maybe it was down to rustiness as they have all lacked valuable game time.<br />
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Mata and Herrera huffed and puffed without creating anything of substance. Pogba has yet to hit his stride and he played with a new midfield partner in Schneiderlin who did his job well enough after a spell on the sidelines.<br />
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Up front Martial has yet to hit the heights of last season and you would expect a player of his quality to hit top form soon. Rashford failed to live up to the hype surrounding his recent exploits, but he is young and will hopefully learn from the bad games as well as the good ones.<br />
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Ibramovich and Young did manage to lift the tempo of the game slightly when they were brought on. On the other hand, there is the matter of Memphis who once again failed to give his manager any reason to call on him anytime in the near future. He may drive a Rolls Royce but he is playing like a clapped out banger.<br />
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Two defeats on the bounce now and Mourinho will have to pick a side capable of beating Watford in the Premier League to avoid a hat-trick of defeats.<br />
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Until then thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-46518820800763959512016-09-11T10:39:00.000+01:002016-09-11T10:39:43.459+01:00United's Derby DoldrumsManchester United 1 Manchester City 2<br />
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Manchester United's unbeaten start to the season was derailed by a combination of Mourinho's own tactics and his arch rival Guardiola. A defeat that left a sour taste in the mouth after a handful of players fell short of the level expected along with some very debatable refereeing decisions.<br />
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Not only was this the first meeting of the season between the two Manchester clubs, but it was also the continuing rivalry of two of the game's most successful managers in the modern era.<br />
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Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola did use to get along in their time together at Barcelona when Mourinho was a fledgling coach and translator. However, since then their talents have clashed on numerous occasions, especially during their days as coaches for the Spanish giants Real and Barca.<br />
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Now they will pit their wits against each other from the less sunny climes of the North West of England. The weather may not be on a comparison with Spain, but once they make their way home after their first derby experience they will realise that the passion and hatred between the two rival fans are certainly hotter.<br />
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Mourinho's first derby starting XI saw some minor changes with the inclusion of Mkhitaryan, who would start his first league game and the return of Lingard after injury: De Gea, Valencia, Blind, Bailly, Shaw, Fellaini, Pogba, Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Rooney and Ibrahimovic.<br />
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The trio of Martial, Mata and Herrera would all start on the bench alongside last week's goal hero Rashford who had another wonderful debut in midweek this time scoring a hat-trick for the England U21's.<br />
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Once again Mourinho's defence was unchanged, which meant Smalling would have to bide his time a little longer. Fellaini kept his spot alongside Pogba in midfield with Ibrahimovic once again leading the line up front with Rooney slotted in behind him.<br />
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So the stage was set for the 172nd instalment of the battle of Manchester.<br />
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City got the match underway amid a highly charged atmosphere that was certainly the loudest heard at the Theatre of Dreams in a very long time.<br />
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The visitors created the first opening as De Bruyne whipped a low cross across the United box which thankfully evaded everyone. Lingard started out on the left with Mkhitaryan occupying the right channel. Lingard seemed to struggle to begin with after he misplaced passes and was slow to interact with his teammates.<br />
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Pogba had the first chance for the Red Devils as early as the sixth minute when he side-footed an effort from outside of the area that was only a whisper over the bar. The opening ten minutes was a fairly even affair as both sides battled for superiority.<br />
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At the back, Bailly was in the same fine form that has won him so many plaudits in his new United career. His gung-ho approach to defending is exactly what United have missed since Vidic departed.<br />
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The home side was guilty of giving the ball away too easily and this hit home as City drew the first blood on the quarter hour mark.<br />
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Rooney's attempted pass to set Mkhitaryan off and running down the right was blocked and the Armenian gave up the chase for the ball all too easily. The ball was collected down by his own corner flag by Kolarov and after exchanging passes with his keeper he hoofed a long pass forward which was headed on by Iheanacho and there was De Bruyne who managed to nip in ahead of Blind to collect the ball and coolly slotted it into the corner of De Gea's net.<br />
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The setup that Mourinho had chosen with the two wide midfielders Lingard and Mkhitaryan was just not working as they were both off the pace and maybe Rashford and Martial would have been a better option.<br />
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There was an extremely close call for offside against Mkhitaryan as he raced onto a ball through the middle and was upended in the penalty area.<br />
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The opening half an hour belonged to the blues as they were the first to every ball and the reds were very careless with their positional play. At least Fellaini was covering the pitch and getting in some sturdy defensive work to help out his back four.<br />
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Then, ten minutes before half time disaster for United as City extended their lead. De Bruyne was the thorn in United's side once again as his snapshot rebounded off De Gea's far post into the path of Iheanacho who had the easiest of tasks to slot the ball home as the home defence appealed for offside. It was Blind who had played the attacker onside.<br />
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Two nil down it would have to be another one of United's famous comebacks if they were going to get anything out of this derby.<br />
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United captain Rooney was guilty of giving the ball away twice while his team were in promising positions. That summed up the way United had played up to that point.<br />
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However, it was from a Rooney free-kick that United pulled a precious goal back. The captain floated over a high ball into the area which looked easy for new City keeper Bravo, but he somehow misjudged the ball, flapped and there was new hero Ibrahimovic to smack the ball into the net. The big Swede's technique made it look so easy as he netted his fifth goal in as many games.<br />
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Just before half time, Ibrahimovic had two chances to grab the equaliser.The first was a far post header that Bravo only just managed to keep hold of following neat work and a cross from Rooney.<br />
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That was followed by complete mayhem in the City defence as the keeper inexplicably presented the ball on a plate for Ibrahimovic, but his first time shot was far too weak.The visiting keeper started to show some nerves and dodgy decision making on his debut.<br />
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Half time and at least United had started to show some fight towards the end of the half. Some of the players were not having a good time of it and their concentration was not on song as City made them pay for some poor play.<br />
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Mourinho had seen enough and made two important changes at the start of the second half. Rashford and Herrera replaced the ineffective duo of Lingard and Mkhitaryan. United kicked off the half attacking the Stretford End.<br />
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Rashford had an immediate effect on the match as his speed took him down the left and he produced a wonderful cross which Ibrahimovic met but put it over the bar.<br />
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The introduction of Rashford completely changed the tempo of United's game as his awareness, speed and overall ability gave the City defenders a lot to ponder.<br />
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There were two bookings in quick succession for United as they chased the game. One each for Ibrahimovic and Fellaini. The Belgium was adjudged to have used his elbow, not for the first time in his career.<br />
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United should have been awarded a clear penalty after City's Bravo lunged two-footed into Rooney after another blunder from the keeper. Clattenburg saw it differently from everyone else and waved play on. An interesting aspect of the challenge is that anywhere else on the pitch and it would have resulted in a free kick. A poor decision by the referee and one that would have a huge impact on the result.<br />
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It was all United now as the fans urged their heroes to attack and attack they did this time down the right when a cross was averted by the elbow of Otamendi. For the third time in the game referee Clattenburg waved away the home side's claims for a spot kick.<br />
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There was a distinctive difference to United's play as they had an urgency about them that had been lacking in the first half.<br />
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Ibrahimovic took a slight knock to the shin after he tried to connect with a Fellaini header. True to the big man's character he got up, ran it off and got on with his game.<br />
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The pace of Rashford almost paid off as he raced towards the penalty area and struck a well-aimed shot into the net only for it to be rightly called for offside against Ibrahimovic. So unlucky for both the youngster and his side who deserved to be back on level terms.<br />
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United keeper De Gea produced the goods to keep his side in the game from a spate of City corners with a double save followed by a catch at full stretch to prevent a certain goal.<br />
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The match was a full bloodied end to end spectacle as it entered the last fifteen minutes as both sides pushed forward. De Bruyne saw an effort hit the near post and trickle agonisingly across the goal line and Silva wasted a golden chance to put the game beyond United's reach.<br />
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At the other end, United were also guilty of wasted opportunities when on the attack and needed to aim more balls at the hapless keeper who looked like a fish out of water.<br />
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The last change of the match for United saw Martial enter the fray in place of Shaw to add an extra body to the attack for the remaining ten minutes.<br />
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Rooney was cautioned for catching the keeper late after Bravo had dithered on the ball in his own area. As a referee, Clattenburg gave the home side nothing in the way of balanced decisions and the Rooney caution was another example of this.<br />
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In the next attack, Rooney stayed on his feet after being caught inside the area. He probably realised that if he had gone to ground the referee wouldn't have given anything anyway.<br />
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As the match entered the added five minutes of injury time United threw everything forward in search of the valuable equaliser. As they did it left the back door open for counter attacks which City managed on at least two occasions. Both times Bailly was there to snuff out the danger. He is such a great addition to the side and will only become stronger as he gains more experience as the season progresses.<br />
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In the end, it was a disappointing first defeat of the season for Mourinho's men, but in fairness they didn't start to play until the introduction of Rashford at the beginning of the second half. In hindsight, maybe he should have started from the off.<br />
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United's cause wasn't helped by a terrible performance by referee Clattenburg who made a number of poor decisions. The main one being the Bravo challenge on Rooney. The inconsistency of Premier League referees is a huge problem that has to be looked into as each game throws up more than one contentious decision week in week out.<br />
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It has to be said Mourinho got it wrong in his team selection with the choice of Lingard, who had only just come back from injury and Mkhitaryan who had picked up a knock while on international duty and was clearly not in the right mindset.<br />
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Another issue has to be when United were chasing a goal what was the point in forsaking a defender for an extra attacker and then have Rooney play deep trying to dictate the attacks when he would have been better suited in the danger areas. Also, is Rooney now the only player capable of delivering free kicks from deep positions into the opposition's penalty area?<br />
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Obviously, Mourinho's tactics are still a work in progress and one poor result doesn't spell a disaster. However, some of the players need to raise their game to justify their inclusion.<br />
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A bad day at the office and one in which lessons will hopefully be learnt by Mourinho and his coaches as they try to pick up the players ahead of their opening Europa League game against Feyenoord.<br />
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Until then thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-27278733284802394892016-09-03T08:25:00.000+01:002016-09-03T08:25:36.424+01:00The Mourinho Effect<br />
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The enforced break for the latest round of international matches is the perfect opportunity to take stock of Jose Mourinho's impact on Manchester United.<br />
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Since his arrival there has been a notable upsurge of optimism around Old Trafford. An optimism that can be seen on both the players' and the fans' faces. There is an air of expectancy that to be honest hasn't been felt since the heady days of Fergie.<br />
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He arrived at Piccadilly train station under no illusions of how big a task he had embarked on. A task not made easier by the state of the club that the two previous managers had left behind.<br />
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Louis van Gaal had departed on the back of an FA Cup final victory that will guarantee his place in United folklore, but apart from that the reality is that the Dutchman's so called philosophy had left many scratching their heads in both disbelief and confusion including the players.<br />
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United desperately needed a leader who had the confidence to pick up a wounded club and inject a self-belief drastically lacking from the squad. Enter the self-proclaimed 'special one'.<br />
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Mourinho's confidence was evident from the off. He began by outlining his transfer strategy by stating that he needed four new summer acquisitions to add the necessary pace and bite to his new team. He also stated that players would not play out of position. Music to the ears of fans who winced when Rooney would start in midfield.<br />
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The club backed his vision with the necessary funds to acquire Ivorian defender Eric Bailly, Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan along with the free transfer of the enigmatic Zlatan Ibrahimovic from PSG and to top it off the return of world record signing Paul Pogba.<br />
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Here were four players who would offer a mixture of both youth and experience to a side that badly needed rejuvenating after three seasons of despair.<br />
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Of course, this would mean that the squad would need trimming. Bearing that in mind Mourinho allowed a lot of fringe players to depart Old Trafford either on loan or on permanent deals. These included loan deals for the likes of Adnan Januzaj, Andreas Pereira and James Wilson and permanent moves for reserve team talents Will Keane and James Weir, who both joined former United assistant Mike Phelan at Hull City.<br />
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After a mixed pre-season which included a long trip to China to end up playing only one match, the Mourinho factor began to take take shape when United returned to England and lifted the Community Shield by defeating Premier League champions Leicester City at Wembley.<br />
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They then kicked off their Premier League campaign with three straight wins.The first came away at Bournemouth followed by a victory over Southampton in Mourinho's first match in charge at Old Trafford, Then came the late, late win against Hull City thanks to the impact of substitute Marcus Rashford.<br />
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In the opening exchanges two new signings stood out. The first was Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has netted four goals in four matches and at the back Eric Bailly, whose outstanding performances were rewarded with three man of the match awards. His impact and partnership with Daley Blind has kept Chris Smalling on the bench.<br />
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Pogba's second United debut had been delayed, but when he strode out at Old Trafford against Southampton the youngster that had left under a cloud of smoke returned a man who is clearly capable of filling the midfield void that has been left vacant for a long while.<br />
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The early indications are that Mourinho likes the pairing of Pogba and Fellaini in the middle. Many thought Fellaini could be moved on but once again he has proved his critics wrong.<br />
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Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been used sparingly but his talent is clear for all to see and much more exciting times lay ahead for the first Armenian to grace the English game.<br />
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The return of Luke Shaw in the defence has been like a breath of fresh air and his justified return to the England squad is no more than he deserves after the horrific injury he suffered last year.<br />
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Question marks still hang over some of the United players as Mourinho tries to put all the pieces of his puzzle together. One thing is for sure, it doesn't matter how big a star you are if you are not in the manager's plans then you will be left out in the cold.<br />
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The likes of Schweinsteiger and especially Memphis are finding it difficult under the new regime to stake a claim for first team football and will have to work harder to convince Mourinho that they still have a part to play at the club.<br />
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Juan Mata was sold by Mourinho to United during his second spell at Chelsea and this sparked debates about the future of the Spaniard. However, much to his credit Mata has proved that he still has much to offer the team.<br />
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It is a big task to win the league this season as normal service has been resumed with the big three United, Man City and Chelsea all making an early statement under new management. Having said that if any manager can achieve it then you wouldn't bet against Mourinho. The Portuguese maestro does have previous when it comes to pulling off the remarkable.<br />
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Next up for United is the derby which will see Jose reunite his rivalry with Pep Guardiola in a match that doesn't need any more intensity than usual, but will certainly get it in the build up to the Old Trafford clash.<br />
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All in all it's been a brilliant start to the season for the team and Mourinho can take pride in the fact that he is the first United manager to win his first four competitive games as club manager.<br />
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How the season will pan out only time will tell. The signs are there that the new man in the hot seat has the bit between his teeth and the fans have been given fresh hope after three years of mediocrity.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-84457986201845159412016-08-28T08:33:00.000+01:002016-08-28T10:54:42.276+01:00Roaring Rashford Tames The TigersHull City 0 Manchester United 1<br />
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Marcus Rashford was the hero for United as he came off the bench to grab a late, late winner to ensure his team continued their one hundred percent start to the season.<br />
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Coming into the match both sides had started the season unbeaten which for former United assistant Mike Phelan's team is something of a surprise as he has only been able to call on thirteen available players from his first team squad.<br />
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Mourinho spent the week trimming his own squad with more fringe players departing on loan or in the case of Tyler Blackett on permanent deals. He indicated that with only a week to go in the transfer market he wouldn't be bringing in any new players and that he was happy with his current squad who he believed could not only challenge for the Premier League but indeed go on and win it.<br />
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The players he chose to start the clash with Hull were: De Gea, Valencia, Blind, Bailly, Shaw, Fellaini, Pogba, Mata, Rooney, Ibrahimovic and Martial.<br />
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So Mourinho was able to pick an unchanged side that defeated Southampton at Old Trafford last week, which meant that Mkhitaryan would have to wait a little longer for his first start of the season. Alongside him on the bench were Smalling, Herrera, Schneiderlin, Young and Rashford who was called up to the England U21's for the first time this week.<br />
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The Red Devil's kicked off against a Hull side who haven't beaten United for 42 years when both the teams were in the old second division.<br />
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It took Ibrahimovic only two minutes to attempt the spectacular as he connected with a superb cross from the impressive Valencia from the right wing.<br />
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The Swede then came ever so close with a towering header that only just crept over the crossbar. Martial did well to deliver the ball onto the head of Ibrahimovic.<br />
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In the opening fifteen minutes, United looked a tight unit with Fellaini sitting deeper in midfield to allow Pogba to venture forward. The pace was a little leisurely which suited the away side who seemed to be biding their time to strike.<br />
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The first booking of the match was awarded to Fellaini for a clumsy challenge from behind in a dangerous area. Having been booked the Belgian continued to protest his innocence and Rooney had to intervene to stop referee Moss from taking any further action under the new discipline guidelines.<br />
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Fellaini would have to tread more carefully during the remainder of the match on a ground where he was sent off the last time United played there.<br />
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Luke Shaw showed his defensive class as he did enough to put off Snodgrass from connecting with the ball at the far post. Brilliant defending from Shaw who fully deserves a recall to the England squad.<br />
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Once again the United away supporters were in great voice as the rain hurtled down.<br />
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Pogba came close with a snap shot that keeper Jakupovic did well to collect on the slippery surface.<br />
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It was United's turn to try their luck with a free-kick on the edge of Hull's penalty area after Mata had been brought down. It was Mata himself who got to his feet and took the kick which was far too easy for the keeper.<br />
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Last season Mata and Rooney were the main culprits in wasting dead ball opportunities and with the quality that Ibrahimovic has in his locker why not let him have a go more often.<br />
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The big Swede was causing the home defence all sorts of problems with not only his height but his terrific awareness of where his teammates were at any given time and his first touch was sublime at times.<br />
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With all the height United have at their disposal it was a surprise to see Juan Mata leap the highest to flick on a cross by Valencia that almost beat the keeper.<br />
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United were awarded a free kick that Ibrahimovic managed to get on the end of and backheeled the ball into the side netting with an audacious piece of skill.<br />
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That was the last chance of the first half a half in which United had dominated but failed to capitalise on all the possession they had. Sounds a lot like last season the main difference being with Mourinho's side you feel that a goal is going to come.<br />
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Mata seemed to struggle with his game out on the right-hand side and it wouldn't be a big surprise if a change happens and Mkhitaryan is brought into that position to provide more penetration.<br />
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Hull were there for the taking if only United could use the width more and get behind the full backs. Their forward play was all too narrow and easy for the home side to defend against.<br />
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The second half got underway with Mourinho deciding against making any changes. The injury crises for Phelan and Hull got worse as Snodgrass had to be withdrawn within the first few minutes of the restart.<br />
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United captain Rooney had the first opportunity as his head met a smart cross from Shaw but it fell too nicely for the keeper.<br />
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Nothing was working for United as they resorted to long balls into the area aimed at the head of Ibrahimovic, who was continually surrounded by two or three defenders. Something clearly had to change if they were to come away with all the points.<br />
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Mourinho had seen enough and decided that Martial didn't have his game on and introduced Mkhitaryan on the hour mark.<br />
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United won a corner after Ibrahimovic had thrashed a shot goalward from the edge of the box. This was followed by a neat move involving Pogba, Ibrahimovic and Mata which resulted in a trip on Mata in the area and a big shout for a penalty but the flag had gone up for offside.<br />
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Frustrations were running high as was shown in the reaction of Ibrahimovic when Mata took the ball from his feet as he pulled back the trigger to shoot. Pogba then blasted an attempt from 30 yards that was well over the bar.<br />
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As the rain continued to pour down Mkhitaryan showed his pace as he sped towards goal only to be upended by Huddlestone who was rightly booked.<br />
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Before the free-kick could be taken United made another change by bringing on Rashford at the expense of Mata for the remaining twenty minutes. The resulting free kick was blasted into the wall by Ibrahimovic.<br />
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The away fans had a break from singing to shout for a penalty after the ball had struck a defender on the upper arm but the referee waved play on. It was a clear penalty, but with the inconsistency the Premier League refs are showing it was no surprise nothing was given. Handball is handball whichever way you look at it.<br />
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Hull came alive in a five-minute spell that woke up their own fans when a shot was deflected for a corner with De Gea completely wrong-footed. With their best spell in the match, they didn't even manage to force a save from De Gea.<br />
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French star Pogba was the latest to try his luck from a free-kick again awarded to United on the edge of the area but he curled his effort well wide.<br />
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As the match entered the last ten minutes it was all United as Rashford showed what he can do with a run followed by a piercing drive that was brilliantly saved by the keeper.<br />
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Then Rashford and Ibrahimovic cleverly worked the ball through a group of players to pick out Mkhitaryan whose first-time effort was blocked. The tempo had been raised and the points were there for the taking as United won a string of corners.<br />
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An exceptional cross by the lively Rashford right across the six-yard box only had to be tapped in by one of his teammates, but they were slow to react and the chance had gone.<br />
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Rashford enjoyed an excellent cameo since his introduction and along with fellow substitute Mkhitaryan changed the style of United's play with such great effect.<br />
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A curling chance by Pogba almost found its way into the net but was only a whisker wide. Mourinho shouted his displeasure from the touchline when yet another Pogba effort found the back of the stand and not the back of the net.<br />
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Then just when you thought United would have to settle for a point Rashford stepped up and smashed the ball into the net from close range to give his side a valuable win and the precious three points in the 92nd minute.<br />
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It all came from great wing play by Rooney, who did extremely well on the left when he cut into the box and delivered a delightful ball on a plate for Rashford who finished with aplomb. It was to be Rooney's last action as he was substituted for Smalling.<br />
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The match had changed once the vibrant Rashford was introduced as his all round play had a positive impact on the way United attacked as he was causing damage on the left and the right and the Hull defenders struggled to cope with his constant surges into their area. With Martial slightly of the boil this could be the youngsters chance to grab a starting place.<br />
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It will be said that he had a point to prove after not being chosen in the opening games and Allardyce's first England squad, but that is just not true as when you have the talent this lad has there is absolutely nothing to prove.<br />
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For the third time in the new season, Eric Bailly picked up the Man of the Match award for another solid display alongside Daley Blind in the centre of defence. However, for the impact he had on the match since his introduction Rashford has also to be considered.<br />
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There will be many more tests like this one during the season and it was pleasing that the team never gave up the chase and finally managed to break down a resolute defence. It is still a work in progress, but if they can keep collecting maximum points while ironing out the kinks then we can all live with that.<br />
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There were two cup competitions drawn this week. In the first United were picked to play away at Northampton in the Football League Cup 3rd round add to that the draw for the Europa League took place and United were handed a mixed bag of games including a trip to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce, which is never easy, a closer to home trip to Holland against Feyenoord and a long journey to the Ukraine to play the relatively unknown FC Zorya Luhansk.<br />
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One interesting aspect of the draw will be the return of former United striker and fans favourite Robin van Persie who has in fact played for both United and Feyenoord and is currently at Fenerbahce.<br />
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There will be a break in the league action next weekend so next up for United is the mouth-watering derby and the first meeting of Jose and Pep as Manchester managers.<br />
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Until then thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-69660403415152759242016-08-20T06:35:00.001+01:002016-08-20T06:35:57.214+01:00Zlatan At The DoubleManchester United 2 Southampton 0<br />
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Not even the fanfare surrounding the return of the world's most expensive player was going to steal the limelight from a character as big as Zlatan Ibrahimovic as his two goals ensured that Jose Mourinho's Old Trafford reign got off to a flyer.<br />
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There was an air of optimism surrounding the Theatre of Dreams as fans flocked to Old Trafford to witness Mourinho's first official match at his new home.<br />
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After kicking the Premier League season off with a fine win on the south coast against Bournemouth all eyes were focused on this clash against Southampton and whether United's world record signing Paul Pogba would make his second career debut for the Red Devils.<br />
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Here was Mourinho's first starting XI for the opening home game: De Gea, Valencia, Blind, Bailly, Shaw, Pogba, Fellaini, Mata, Rooney, Martial and Ibrahimovic.<br />
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Herrera was the player to make way for the return of Pogba in midfield. Home debuts were handed to Ibrahimovic and Bailly but there was still no place for Armenian Mkhitaryan who would have to continue to bide his time as a substitute.<br />
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Smalling returned to the squad, but would have to start on the bench after the splendid display of Blind and Bailly at the back last time out.<br />
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United got the game underway in front of a vibrant crowd that was determined to make the night one to remember.<br />
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It was the visitors who had the audacity to create the first real chance of the half as they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of United's area which the wall dealt with well.<br />
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Ibrahimovic started the first United attack of note by winning the ball and cleverly feeding Rooney, who in turn rolled the ball into the path of the advancing Valencia who has been impressive at the start of the season. The Colombian raced to the byline, but his cross was blocked for a corner. This early action got the home faithful worked up as they increased the volume.<br />
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In the opening ten minutes after an initial poor first touch Pogba seemed to settle into his position fairly well and linked with his new teammates if not a little nervously as was to be expected with all the hype surrounding him in the build up to the match.<br />
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The Saints game plan came unstuck when Romeu had to leave the play early and was replaced by Clasie.<br />
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Pogba's first real contribution almost had the fans cheering for a goal as he struck a well-aimed shot from the edge of the area that was saved by opposition keeper Forster. Now that would have been a tremendous start to the French internationals United return. The move was instigated by Ibrahimovic as he did well to bring the ball down well inside the area.<br />
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At the other end, Southampton had their own chance to take the lead as a cross by Redmond only failed to be met by the head of Tadic by inches as he ran in unmarked at the far post. A definite let off for the Reds. The Saints were clearly not there to make up the numbers and looked a decent side.<br />
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Anthony Martial started the match a shadow of himself from last season as his first touch let him down on a few occasions. Hopefully, whatever is on his mind clears up very soon as the team needs his focus, pace and dribbling skills firing on all cylinders as soon as possible.<br />
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As the half hour mark approached the fans saw a delightful passing move from United as the ball found Pogba on the left hand side of the penalty area and his nice chip was met by Mata, who deftly headed the ball towards Ibrahimovic who in turn attempted one of his trademark overhead kicks. However, he was off target on this occasion.<br />
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The big Swede was on fire with all the attacking moves stemming from his runs and his link up play with the supporting players.<br />
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Captain Rooney, who is only three goals behind Bobby Charlton's record, tried his luck from distance but his effort lacked the power needed.<br />
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United's first Premier League home goal of the new season came from who else but the irrepressible Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who powered in a header from a brilliant cross by Rooney in the 36th minute. What a way to score his first Premier League goal at Old Trafford and what an assist from his captain whose determination to reach the ball and deliver the cross was a delight to see.<br />
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Half-time and United deserved to be ahead and had just about done enough to go off in the lead. However, they would have to be careful of Southampton in the second half and will be looking to kill the game off quickly.<br />
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As the half progressed Pogba became a lot more involved in the majority of the play and almost got his head to the cross that Ibrahimovic headed in to put his side into the lead.<br />
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One interesting difference to last season is the height in the team now, whereas it was only Fellaini who offered the aerial threat in the opposition's box now you have both Ibrahimovic and Pogba to aim for and their technique is a lot more pleasing to the eye and at the same time more effective.<br />
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At the start of the second half, Mourinho decided against making any changes but it was Southampton who started the most promising of the two sides and even had the ball in the net which was ruled out for offside.<br />
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Within minutes of the restart and it must be said slightly against the run of play United were awarded a penalty for a trip in the box on Shaw. Up stepped the man of the moment Ibrahimovic to stroke the ball home and score his and United's second of the night.<br />
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Interestingly, it seems that Rooney has been relieved of spot kick and free kick duties, but then again, it's not wise to argue with Ibrahimovic.<br />
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Southampton still didn't give up and wasted a number of chances to pull a goal back and did everything apart from test De Gea in the United goal.<br />
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United began to move up through the gears and produced more openings which started when Martial sprinted away from his marker and raced into the penalty area only to unleash his shot straight at the keeper. This was followed by a neat cut back from the byline by Shaw that was blocked inside the six-yard area. Good all-round attacking play by the Red Devils and at a pace which had been missing last year.<br />
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With twenty minutes left on the clock, United looked comfortable and allowed Southampton to have more of the ball and defended well as a unit to thwart any attempt on goal.<br />
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In the 75th minute, Mourinho brought Mata off to a warm reception and gave another new summer signing Mkhitaryan his home debut in the league.<br />
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Pogba seemed to be enjoying himself on the pitch and almost netted as he had a run and shot which whistled wide.<br />
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De Gea has been voted the player of the year in recent seasons, but if the team continues to play like they are he will have less to do and not get the votes at the end of this campaign. Which is a good thing, right?<br />
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The second substitution for United came in the 81st minute when fans' favourite Herrera replaced the largely ineffective Martial to huge cheers as the crowd had been chanting his name and got their wish.<br />
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The home side played out the last five minutes of the game by confidently stroking the ball around as the home fans went through their repertoire of chants saluting their heroes and manager.<br />
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There was still time for one last change as captain Rooney made way for the returning Smalling with only two minutes left in the game.<br />
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Pogba was determined to score on his return and almost succeeded with a smart shot that was only just wide. His focus was on scoring and not on Ibrahimovic lurking inside the area hoping for a pass that would give him the chance of a hat-trick.<br />
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Game over and another win which keeps United at the top of the league and proves that Mourinho has given the team the belief in their own ability and more importantly given the fans something to cheer after some difficult times.<br />
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The United team as a whole put in another all round display of unity against a Southampton side that enjoyed a lot of possession and but for poor finishing could have and should have given De Gea more to do between the sticks. His back four, although a little shaky at times, performed well enough with both Shaw and Valencia once again providing width in attack.<br />
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Pogba and Fellaini put in a sterling job in the middle of the park and the French star looked in fine fettle and didn't seem to be tired at the end of the game which answered any questions about his fitness or lack of.<br />
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Mata and Rooney ran their socks off all night and were at the heart of most of the attacking forays. Both players fully deserved the applause they received when substituted. Martial looked to be off his game with some poor touches, but he's a young lad and his form is sure to return.<br />
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However, there could only be one candidate for the Man of the Match award and that had to be Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has now scored three goals in his first two league games and looks like he can score at any given moment. What he brings to the forward line is a quality that will not only guarantee goals, but with it a style that has the fans on their feet every time he has the ball akin to a certain French gentleman some twenty years ago.<br />
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The season has started well and Mourinho must be a pleased manager with the way in which his side has kicked started the new campaign. The players are still getting used to each other along with the new tactics employed by the boss. While the learning process continues if they can obtain wins like this then that only bodes well for the rest of the season.<br />
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There is one noticeable difference already this season and that is the player's demeanour. It seems as if a huge weight has been lifted from around their necks and they are playing the game in a way in which they can express themselves without fear of repercussions. They are actually enjoying themselves and the fans are too.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.<br />
<br />Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-88845389558901741252016-08-17T15:47:00.001+01:002016-08-17T18:23:51.755+01:00Manchester United's Les Bleus.<br />
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There has been a strong link between Old Trafford and France over the last quarter of a century and that bond is about to get even stronger with the return of Paul Pogba to the fold.<br />
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The midfielder will pull on the famous United shirt and make his second debut for the Red Devils this coming Friday if selected of course. The first time round came back in September 2011 when the highly rated teenager was given his big chance by Sir Alex Ferguson in the League Cup albeit as a substitute.<br />
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After being picked a further six more times the problems started and after much deliberation and finger pointing the young prodigy was allowed to depart for pastures new in Italy with Juventus. Quite how United relented and let him leave is a topic for others to debate.<br />
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Pogba quickly built up a reputation during his time at Juventus and has been courted by a host of top clubs all wanting his signature. Fast forward to the present and the undoubtedly talented French star has decided to come back home for a world record transfer fee of almost £90m on a five-year contract after cementing his reputation with the Old Lady of Turin and the French national side.<br />
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Mourinho has managed to pull off a huge transfer that his two predecessors never looked likely of achieving and has given the fans something to be optimistic about at last.<br />
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Pogba will be joining an impressive legion of French players to have graced Old Trafford which all began with 'Le Roi' Eric Cantona, who was a chance purchase by Alex Ferguson in 1992. While overhearing a telephone conversation between then United chairman Martin Edwards and his Leeds United counterpart who was making enquiries about United full-back Denis Irwin, Ferguson declined their advances for the Irish defender but told Edwards to ask about the availability of their troubled French star Cantona.<br />
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Within days the deal was done and a beaming Ferguson paraded his new signing to the world media telling them that Old Trafford was the stage on which Cantona was made to play on, and how right he would be proved to be.<br />
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The talisman of the team from his debut in 1992 right up until his retirement in 1997. A Premier League champion in all his seasons at United except the one in which he had to serve an eight-month ban and a double winner twice.<br />
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Fans to this day still honour his achievements for the club by singing his name at matches both home and away even though it has been almost twenty years since he left. A true testament to a legend and the love goes both ways as Cantona has often said that his heart is still at Manchester United.<br />
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'1966 was a great year for English football. Cantona was born'<br />
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The next Frenchman to join United was full back Mikaël Silvestre who joined the club in September 1999 and immediately gained the respect of the Old Trafford faithful when it was clear that he had rejected an offer from Liverpool for his services. Ironically, he made his debut against Liverpool.<br />
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Silvestre was a silky defender who could play at both left-back or in the middle of the defence and would make almost 250 appearances for the Red Devils over nine years. In that time, he won five league titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup and a Champions League winners medal in 2008 although he was an unused substitute.<br />
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Never one to give up Silvestre had to battle through long absences due to injuries and along with the challenges for his position from Heinze and fellow countryman Evra but he persevered and that commitment endeared him to the fans.<br />
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Following the retirement of the treble winning goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, the hunt was on to find his replacement a task that would prove extremely difficult to fulfil. One man who tried was Fabien Barthez who joined the team in 2000 and quickly realised that he had a huge task on his hands to literally try and fill the big gloves vacated by Schmeichel.<br />
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Barthez had enjoyed success with France at the World Cup and The Euros but was well known as an eccentric keeper which he showed many times between the sticks for United especially when he would let United defender and best friend Laurent Blanc kiss his bald head before the start of matches. Having said that he did end up as a champion in his debut season, pulling off some fabulous saves which ensured United won many matches.<br />
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The following season wasn't so good for Barthez as he was blamed for making too many unforced errors in matches. One game, in particular, was against Arsenal when he had a nightmare and allowed his countryman Henry to score two goals that were basically gift-wrapped for him.<br />
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At the end of his final season, 2002/03, he and United finished as champions, but Ferguson had had enough of Barthez and the mistakes he was making, this was highlighted in the match against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg when Brazilian Ronaldo scored a hat-trick. This was a match in which the keeper received criticism from all quarters and, in fact, that would be his last game for United.<br />
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Barthez was joined at United by his friend Laurent Blanc who joined in 2001 after Jaap Stam had been sold to Lazio by Ferguson after a bust-up over the Dutchman's comments in his autobiography.<br />
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A central defender who oozed class and valuable experience but came to the club towards the end of his illustrious career which had the United fans raising their eyebrows, he was 35 when he signed.<br />
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After helping United to the title in 2003 his legs finally gave up and he retired from playing to focus on management mainly back in his home country with PSG. Now he is a free agent it will be interesting to see if he fancies a return to the Premier League. Arsenal anybody?<br />
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The next Frenchman to come through the Old Trafford doors was a striker. Louis Saha's United career was blighted by injuries, but when he was fit he certainly knew how to score goals. Saha was transferred to United for a fee of £12.4 million in January 2004 having scored 15 goals already that season for Fulham. His United career got off to a similar start by scoring seven goals in just ten matches.<br />
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The following season was the start of his injury woes, especially to his knee then his hamstring. When fit he started a partnership with Ruud van Nistelrooy and then the teenage Wayne Rooney.<br />
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In 2006, a fully fit Saha was among the goals again and was on a roll. However, the injury jinx returned.<br />
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When he returned for the last time Ferguson had a built a forward line around Rooney, Tevez and a certain Ronaldo so Saha played mainly from the bench, but when called upon he did his job. His United career ended when he was sold to Everton in 2008.<br />
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A quality striker and his love for United was plain to see, it was only the injuries that held him back. During his time at United, he won two Premier League medals and a League Cup.<br />
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Possibly the second most popular French signing behind Monsieur Cantona was Patrice Evra who was brought to Man United from AS Monaco for a fee of £5.5 million in January 2006. Evra took his time to settle at the club making his debut in a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City. So poor was his performance in that match Fergie took him off at half-time.<br />
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Fast forward eight years and the Frenchman left United having won almost everything in the game. The only trophy to elude him was the FA Cup. Probably his greatest achievement was winning the double of the Premier League and Champions League in 2008.<br />
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At left-back, Evra became an important cog in United's defence, forming an uncanny understanding at the back with Ferdinand and Vidic which was the rock that Fergie built his last great teams on. Evra had the honour of captaining United on many occasions and did so with a great gusto.<br />
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It was a sad day when he departed for Juventus as I'm sure he still had plenty of playing time in him and is still greatly missed. It would be nice to think that Evra helped United to bring Pogba back in some way.<br />
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Morgan Schneiderlin joined United from Southampton last summer and enjoyed a decent season under van Gaal's reign. His no-nonsense style of play got the job done in the midfield without any fanfares. Often overlooked for plaudits because of others around him Schneiderlin went about his business and in a fairly average season for the club he at least could hold his head up.<br />
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Quite how he will fit into the plans of new manager Mourinho only time will tell but he still has a lot to offer in the engine room of the team. Especially when you consider the age of Carrick and the uncertainty over Schweinsteiger's future at the club. This will be an important season for Schneiderlin, but one that he can rise to.<br />
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Louis van Gaal may have had his critics during his time at United but there was one bit of business the fans can thank him for and that was the purchase of the most expensive teenager in world football. When Anthony Martial blasted onto the scene with such a bang as a substitute against Liverpool the fans had a new favourite to call their own.<br />
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Not only did he open his United account against the arch enemy but he did so at the Stretford End and a new star had arrived.<br />
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In his first season, he managed to score a total of 17 goals, not bad considering he was plying his trade wide on the left. Probably the most important goal of his season came in injury time against Everton in the FA Cup semi-final to send the Reds through to the final. He was taken to the Euro's with France but wasn't given a chance to showcase his ability.<br />
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With the arrival of Ibrahimovic, he has had to relinquish the No: 9 shirt and accept the iconic 11. The hopes are high of another high goal scoring season by the young forward.<br />
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Last but not least the trio of 'Les Miserables' William Prunier, Gabriel Obertan and David Bellion.......only kidding.<br />
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There you have it the French stars that have lit up our great club and Paul Pogba has the proud honour of continuing the tradition of his fellow countrymen at Old Trafford.<br />
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Thanks for reading and au revoir.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-51681525173485757812016-08-15T07:21:00.000+01:002016-08-15T08:56:48.695+01:00United Off And RunningBournemouth 1 Manchester United 3<br />
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Jose Mourinho's Premier League campaign as Manchester United manager got off to a winning start as his team came away from the Vitality Stadium full of life after collecting all three points against Bournemouth. <br />
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New season, new manager, new players, new kit and new hopes at the start of a League season that promises so much for a club that has vastly under performed for the last three years.<br />
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The week had started with United's world record signing of Paul Pogba who would have to wait a little longer to make his debut as he sat out the opener due to a ban carried over from last season at Juventus.<br />
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Even without their new midfielder, United would prove to be too much for the Cherries with a performance that started slowly but moved up through the gears as the match progressed.<br />
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Jose Mourinho picked a slightly tweaked starting XI from the one that began the Community Shield at Wembley last week. De Gea, Valencia, Blind, Bailly, Shaw, Fellaini, Herrera, Mata, Rooney, Martial and Ibrahimovic.<br />
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Juan Mata was given a chance to prove that he and Mourinho can work together as the Spaniard was selected due to an injury to Wembley goal hero Lingard. It was the substitution of the substitute at Wembley that sparked a debate all week concerning the future of the player whom Mourinho sold while at Chelsea. Mata's start meant that he would play in his 52nd consecutive league game for United.<br />
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United got the match underway at the Vitality Stadium attired in their new white away kit with the fantastic away support in brilliant voice as always.<br />
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The opening minutes had more of a getting to know you feel for both sides and some players looked a little rusty in some areas including Shaw, who almost made a complete hash of a clearance and at the other end Rooney should have done better on the byline but conceded a goal kick.<br />
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United defender Bailly announced his introduction to the Premier League with a crushing but fair challenge on opponent King, who proceeded to make a meal of it. Thankfully, referee Andre Marriner didn't buy the act.<br />
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Fellow Premier League debutant Ibrahimovic rose well for a ball that was hoisted to the far post and fell heavily to the ground after clashing heads with a defender. He got to his feet, had his head checked by the physio and was able to continue.<br />
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As the half-hour mark approached the away side started to put together some neat passes and made inroads into the Cherries defence, especially down the right wing where Valencia, making his 250th club appearance, continued his fine form from the pre-season. United only needed to turn that pressure into scoring opportunities. One of those chances culminated into a chance for Rooney. In the end his well struck shot was easily claimed by keeper Boruc.<br />
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Fellaini got into his usual spat with the opposition after a scramble in the home side's penalty area as three players surrounded him following another one of his robust challenges elbows and all.<br />
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Then United's first league goal of the season came out of nothing but has to be put down to the persistence of a player under huge scrutiny in sections of the media.<br />
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It just had to be Juan Mata, who managed to score the first Premier League goal under Mourinho's tenure. With only five minutes left on the clock before half-time the diminutive Spaniard latched onto a short back pass after a through ball from his amigo Herrera.<br />
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He quickly nipped onto the ball and tried to slip it under the approaching keeper's body, but that only took the sting out of the shot so he made sure of the goal by continuing his run and tapping the ball into an empty net.<br />
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Before half-time is always a great time to score especially in this match as it was a first period that can only be described as a laboured performance from United as they struggled to find the cohesion needed to take the lead until the Bournemouth defence gifted them their goal scoring opportunity.<br />
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The second half got underway with Mourinho deciding against making any changes.<br />
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It was captain Rooney who had the first opening of the half as Ibrahimovic played a clever ball into the path of his run, but his following shot was well saved by Boruc. This was followed by a big shout for a penalty by both the away players and travelling fans as Rooney seemed to have his ankles clipped by Surman inside the box but the referee waved play on. That was a very close call indeed.<br />
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As a spectacle, the match had moved up a pace as both sides quickened the play as the home side searched for an equaliser and the Red Devils went in search of the goal that would put the game to bed.<br />
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Right on cue, it was Wayne Rooney, who came up with the goods just before the hour mark as he headed home skillfully after more good work from Valencia down the right wing.<br />
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From the Ecuadorian's well-worked cross Martial miscued a volley which he fired into the ground and as the ball rebounded skyward Rooney managed to get his head to it and directed it past the reach of Boruc into the back of the net. Rooney is another goal nearer Sir Bobby Charlton's scoring record and if he nets a hat-trick against Southampton he will draw level.<br />
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United seem to have found a new free kick taker as Ibrahimovic took responsibility on the edge of the box, but his goal-bound effort was expertly saved by Boruc.<br />
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However, the Swede was not to be outdone as in the 64th minute Ibrahimovic collected the ball some distance from goal and with nothing on ahead of him tried his luck with a right-footed shot along the ground which entered the net in the far corner much to the delight of Mourinho and the watching bench.<br />
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The goal is the latest milestone in the great man's career as he has now scored on his debut in all his league starts.<br />
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You would have thought that having conceded the third goal Bournemouth would crumble and try to limit the damage, but to their credit they plugged away and did manage to give the home fans some joy five minutes later when Adam Smith embarrassed the United defence and scored a fine goal to pull one back.<br />
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The first substitution by Mourinho came when he introduced Mkhitaryan for scorer Mata with fifteen minutes of the match remaining. When Mkhitaryan came on as a substitute he became the first Armenian to play in the Premier League. A distinction he can be very proud of.<br />
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The play had become somewhat stale until Ibrahimovic made a surge toward the area, but his pass across the box found none of his teammates.<br />
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Herrera celebrated his birthday in a way he won't want to remember by being cautioned for a foul.<br />
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There were a couple of late changes by United as the game was all but won when Mourinho decided to give Schneiderlin and Memphis a run out when they replaced Martial and Rooney.<br />
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As the game entered the final seconds De Gea came up with a wonderful save diving at full stretch to thwart a certain goal he then stood up to excellently block another effort.<br />
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In the end, United finished the game comfortably and gave their manager his first three points as the boss. The team played with more pace in their play during the second period and each player seemed to enjoy themselves without the restraints that Louis van Gaal had imposed on them during his time as manager.<br />
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Mourinho has already started to stamp his style on the side and it's a style that is pleasing to the eye and once he can get all the players to the standard he expects then opposing teams will have to beware.<br />
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Lots of positives can be taken from the performances, especially the back four, who apart from conceding the goal didn't put a foot wrong. Shaw and Valencia offered great support to the forwards down the flanks and Blind had one if his best games for a long while.<br />
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However, it was Blind's defensive partner Bailly, who once again took the man of the match plaudits for his all round solid display that has given the fans a new hero at the back. Not since the likes of Jaap Stam and Nemanja Vidic have we had such a fearless character at the back. There will be a few Bournemouth attackers nursing some bruises after coming into contact with the Ivorian.<br />
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Herrera as always covered the pitch well in the middle and provided a good link between defence and attack. After some poor performances Fellaini showed that he can play with what has to be his best display for a very long time. Mata scored and had to be pleased as he has nothing to prove to anybody.<br />
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Up front Martial had fleeting moments of inspiration and the signs are there for all to see that he is slowly on his way back to top form. Ibrahimovic scored as he always does and did enough to further cement his future as a cult hero among the faithful.<br />
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A special mention has to go to captain Wayne Rooney, who came in for criticism from some quarters last week after his timid display at Wembley. But here against Bournemouth he played further up the field, therefore, confirming the manager's opinion that he is not to be wasted in the midfield where he can do no damage. He needs to be playing up front a point which was proven today.<br />
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So, in a week that started and ended so positively all eyes will be focused on Old Trafford on Friday in a match that should see the second Manchester United debut for a certain Paul Pogba against Southampton. The question will be which player will make way for him?<br />
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Until then thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-42556416457527947772016-08-08T09:25:00.001+01:002016-08-08T09:25:56.703+01:00Wembley Cheer For Mourinho.Leicester City 1 Manchester United 2.<br />
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A brilliant individual solo goal by Lingard and a towering header by Ibrahimovic lit up Wembley and presented Mourinho with his first trophy as Manchester United manager.<br />
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The traditional season curtain raiser saw the English champions Leicester City take on FA Cup winners Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in a match that if a team loses it is only a friendly but if they win it turns into a major piece of silverware.<br />
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Jose Mourinho led out his United side for the first time at Wembley against Premier League champions Leicester, now there's a sentence I never thought I would write.<br />
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So much has changed at Old Trafford since Jesse Lingard scored the dramatic winner against Crystal Palace back in May that allowed Louis van Gaal to end a poor season on a high. It was to be van Gaal's final act as United manager as he was immediately replaced by the fans' choice the 'special one' Jose Mourinho.<br />
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In a short space of time, he has rejuvenated the club and given fresh hope to the faithful with a string of shrewd signings. None more so than the capture of world superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic along with solid central defender Eric Bailly and the exciting Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Add to that the confirmation that the world record re-signing of Paul Pogba has been given the green light by Juventus then all seems well at the Theatre of Dreams.<br />
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The pre-season has had its ups and downs, including a long trip to China to play only one match as the other against Man City was cancelled. Then a well planned return to Sweden for Ibrahimovic to not only make his debut as a Red Devil, but also score his first goal for the club within four minutes against Galatasaray.<br />
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However, the feeling has to be that United have not had enough game time with so many players only returning in the last two weeks after their Euro 2016 exploits and subsequent holidays.<br />
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With each team allowed to use six substitutes, it gave Mourinho a chance to utilise his squad to the full enabling him to give as many players as possible valuable time on the pitch. Some players would be left disappointed and the most noticeable absentees from the 18-man squad were Young, Darmian and Memphis whose woes continued as he failed to win a place even on the bench. Mourinho's starting XI was: De Gea, Valencia, Blind, Bailly, Shaw, Carrick, Fellaini, Rooney, Martial, Lingard and Ibrahimovic.<br />
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Rashford, Herrera and Mata along with Schneiderlin were named on the bench, but there was one surprise as Fellaini was given the nod ahead of new signing Mkhitaryan.<br />
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There was a great atmosphere inside the famous stadium as Leicester got the match underway, a match that if level after 90 minutes would have gone straight to penalties.<br />
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United in their new red strip had the majority of the play in the opening minutes, but it was a rush of speed into the box by Vardy after he had nutmegged Bailly that needed a heavy block by Blind to prevent an early chance for the champions.<br />
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At the other end Ibrahimovic's first touch was a typical back-heeled volley which was confidently executed by the Swede. His comparisons to Cantona in both stature and skill cannot be ignored. His forward partner Martial entered the fray with a run and shot from the left hand side that he fired into the side-netting.<br />
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Overall, it was a lively start from both sides in the opening ten minutes without troubling either keeper.<br />
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It was captain Rooney, who provided the first chance on goal when he headed the ball into the arms of Schmeichel after a cross from the left by Shaw. It really is a great sight to see Luke Shaw return to competitive football after his horrific injury. Let's hope that he can have a long injury free run in the side.<br />
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The next chance fell to Fellaini inside the Leicester penalty area when he neatly flicked the ball up and shot on the turn, but former United defender Simpson did enough to get his body in the way of the effort and took the sting out of the shot.<br />
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It was the turn of the Foxes to try their luck when Okazaki curled a deflected effort just wide of De Gea's post, then the same player clipped a header onto the bar following the resulting corner.<br />
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Bailly began to show his quality as a defender as the match progressed and at one point he tracked Vardy all the way to the byline and made a superb tackle to prevent the striker getting a shot in on goal. Brilliant defending from a player who looks to have settled into life fairly well at United bearing in mind his difficulty with the language.<br />
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Twice in the opening thirty minutes, Rooney was guilty of losing possession in dangerous areas to give the opposition the advantage. Something that was a familiar theme last season and something he needs to address.<br />
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Then in the 32nd minute the breakthrough came and what a moment it was. FA Cup final hero Jesse Lingard did it again as he scored an individual goal of immense quality. After he had collected the ball in a tight spot in the centre of the pitch he only had one thought on his mind and weaved his way past four challenges and once inside the area calmly placed the ball past Schmeichel.<br />
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A truly world class goal from a player who has always had that type of skill in his locker and continued his love affair with Wembley which must have impressed new England manager Sam Allardyce as he watched from the stands.<br />
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Half-time and United led 1-0 thanks to Lingard's wonderful effort. The half was an even but fairly scruffy forty-five minutes and one that didn't really give us any clearer idea of Mourinho's tactics. Rooney and Martial had a half that they would rather forget and Ibrahimovic had to backtrack too many times either to look for the ball or help out with defensive duties.<br />
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On a positive note, both full backs Valencia and Shaw, along with Bailly and Blind looked impressive at the back.<br />
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic got the second half underway as United looked to put in a more confident display as Mourinho decided against making any changes at the beginning of the half.<br />
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Bailly continued to be the rock at the heart of United's defence by making two strong tackles in quick succession to clear his lines. Up at the other end a lethargic looking Rooney wasted a chance to provide the ammunition for an attack on goal when he was far too easily dispossessed on the edge of Leicester's penalty area.<br />
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Then in the 52nd minute, Vardy equalised for Leicester when he jumped on a poor back pass by Fellaini and neatly passed the ball into the net. An opportunist goal, but the mistake by Fellaini provided the striker with the chance after the Belgian had done well to intercept a through ball by the pacey Musa.<br />
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All square and all to play for as the game became a little feisty with some hefty challenges flying in especially by King on scorer Lingard. The first change made by Mourinho came on the hour mark as Herrera replaced Carrick in midfield.<br />
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Following the equaliser, Leicester looked the more dangerous of the two sides and United needed to get hold of the ball and work more openings up front. Substitute Musa was a handful and he almost directed a header past De Gea as he fell backwards unmarked in the area.<br />
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The second change for United was one that was forced on the manager as Lingard had taken one too many sly kicks from the opposition and had to be taken off to be replaced by Mata.<br />
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There was a warm round of applause in the 66th minute in tribute to the England World Cup winning team to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their one and only triumph.<br />
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Shortly after Fellaini smartly teed up Rooney on the edge of the box only for the captain to shoot weakly at the keeper.<br />
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More changes followed as Rashford and Rojo came on for Martial and Shaw with twenty minutes left on the clock.<br />
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Bailly received an unfair caution for a shoulder-barge on Vardy then Vardy himself picked up his own booking with a reckless challenge on Mata which probably deserved a red and could have caused serious damage to the Spaniard.<br />
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Since his introduction, Rashford brought his usual spark to the proceedings winning a succession of corners and free kicks that were all taken by Rooney and all wasted. It looked as though Ibrahimovic would put the ball in from close range after he had been set up inadvertently by Rooney but his underhit shot was cleared off the line by Drinkwater.<br />
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Not to worry as two minutes later the new Red Devil hero made amends by scoring with a well-directed header in the 83rd minute. Valencia did all the work as he sent in a delightful cross from the right side of the penalty area which Ibrahimovic rose majestically for and placed the ball expertly into the net. Valencia has impressed in the pre-season with his forays forward and assists from his right-back position.<br />
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Schneiderlin eventually came on for the ineffective Rooney to tighten the midfield for the final few minutes as Leicester hunted for another equaliser.<br />
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With the clock showing four minutes of added time new signing Mkhitaryan made his first Wembley appearance for United by coming on for fellow substitute Mata who looked far from happy about the change as he had only been involved for a short time.<br />
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Leicester spent the last couple of minutes of the match throwing everything and everyone, including Schmeichel, forward into United's penalty area only to be thwarted by De Gea and Bailly.<br />
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At the end of the game, United survived the onslaught of Leicester to see the match out with a hard fought victory and presented Jose Mourinho with his first silverware thanks mainly to the man of the match Eric Bailly who put in a solid performance at the heart of the defence. Chris Smalling must be looking forward to building a partnership with the Ivorian.<br />
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The two goals United scored were both top draw and will undoubtedly grab the headlines over the coming days, but they shouldn't take the attention away from the fact that this wasn't a fluid performance by United who are clearly still coming to terms with the new manager's ideas and certain players performed below par most notably Rooney.<br />
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There is still a concern about the value to the side of Fellaini who continues to make mistakes like the one he made to present the chance for Vardy to score. If the rumours are true about Moyes wanting to sign him for a third time he wouldn't be that great a loss to United.<br />
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Of course, this match will pale into insignificance come the start of the Premier League campaign. However, it does show that the team is at least headed on the right track and to lift a trophy at the start of a new season does wonders for confidence, especially when you add to that the imminent arrival of Pogba to inject much needed flair and creativeness into the midfield.<br />
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The real hard work starts next week with a long away trip to Bournemouth to kick-start the new season. By that time we can expect some slight changes to the squad and it will be interesting to see the team that Mourinho decides to put out against the Cherries.<br />
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Until then thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton. <br />
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<br />Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-4675600120987827222016-07-17T12:50:00.000+01:002016-07-18T06:08:18.474+01:00Jose's Winning StartWigan 0 Manchester United 2<br />
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This was not just any old run of the mill pre-season friendly this was a match that all Man United fans had been eagerly anticipating since the announcement of Jose Mourinho's appointment as the new manager.<br />
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There was certainly more focus on the manager by the fans and the press than the action on the pitch. As the away support blasted out Mourinho's name relentlessly the cameras followed his every move and gesture as he spent more time on the touchline than van Gaal had in his entire spell as United manager and there was no clipboard in sight.<br />
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On the pitch there were many important landmarks, Mkhitaryan and Bailly made solid debuts, Wilson made his return from loan and many academy players were given a run-out with the chance to impress their new manager.<br />
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But none were more important than the fact that defender Luke Shaw played his first match for the Red Devils since the horror injury he endured ten months ago to the day. Shaw didn't look like a player who had overcome a serious injury as he never shirked from some crunching challenges. All credit to the 21-year-old and let us hope that this will be his season and one that he fully deserves.<br />
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On the game front, United won at a canter and Mourinho made full use of his available squad to ease them through what in all fairness was a training exercise designed to increase fitness levels. There will be tougher clashes ahead during the tours of China and Sweden.<br />
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Will Keane will hold the distinction of being the first player to score under Jose Mourinho's reign and his goal was followed by a superb strike on the turn from the impressive Andreas Pereira to make the result a comfortable 2-0 victory over a Wigan side who never really tested goalkeepers Sam Johnstone and Joel Pereira.<br />
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New signings Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly slotted in nicely and judging by their performances the fans will be licking their lips for the rest of the season.<br />
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With Mourinho reportedly keen to keep his squad for the new season down to a minimum it will be interesting to see how many players from this friendly will still be at Old Trafford come the end of the transfer window, especially when you consider all the big name players who featured in the Euro 2016 tournament have yet to return.<br />
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Many of the youngsters will simply return to the under 21's or academy, but it is highly likely that some of them will face more loan spells away from the club or even be released. With the anticipated strike force quartet of Ibrahimovic, Rooney, Martial and Rashford to be the preferred choice of the manager then it's doubtful that scorer Keane and James Wilson will want to hang around.<br />
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The same can be said about the defence. With the return of Shaw and the acquisition of Bailly, what does the future hold for the likes of Rojo, McNair, Blackett and some of the many young defenders that played at the back during last season?<br />
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United seem to have an abundance of players to call upon in the attacking midfield slots. However, it is the defensive midfield area that needs reinforcing as Carrick and Schweinsteiger will not be able to play a whole season due to age and inevitable injuries so with just Schneiderlin to call upon there is a need there.<br />
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Mourinho obviously has a plan and we will all have to wait and see what transpires, but for now it's a first win for the new man in charge and there is a positive vibe once again around the club as they embark on their pre-season tour of China and a little matter of the coming together of Jose and Pep.<br />
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The good times seem to be back and long may they continue.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-72256245068786496702016-07-08T08:56:00.000+01:002016-07-08T08:56:52.451+01:00Summer Lovin' At Man United.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The weather in Manchester may not be hot, but the activity around Old Trafford certainly is and if the rumours are true it could get even hotter.<br />
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So far new manager Jose Mourinho has given back the Manchester United fans that happy feeling again in his short time at the helm and has gone a long way to erase the memories of the last few seasons.<br />
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Mourinho didn't waste time implementing his United revolution by signing a quality defender in Ivory Coast international Eric Bailly from Villareal then plucked superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer from PSG. He followed that up with the news that the first Armenian to ply his trade in England had been secured when he tied up the transfer of highly-rated Henrikh Mkhitaryan, or simply Micki, from Borussia Dortmund.<br />
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A press conference to unveil the new Red Devil manager was one that exuded confidence, which is no more than you would expect from Mourinho, as he laid out his agenda to bring back the good times in front of the world's press and watching fans.<br />
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The last few weeks have been buzzing with the transfer activity surrounding United which could reach a whole new level if the rumours surrounding a world record bid for Paul Pogba become a reality.<br />
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Figures approaching £100m have been thrown around like confetti in the press for a player who left United on a free transfer after a huge fallout with then manager Alex Ferguson.<br />
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Fergie later admitted that Pogba's agent orchestrated the move to Juventus for the then 19-year-old midfielder in his own interests rather than the players and he was disgusted by the manner in which the whole messy situation was resolved.<br />
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There are two sides to every argument and it can be said that bygones should be bygones and a club as big as United should always try and sign the big name players. On the other hand, it could be put over why are the club willing to pay so much money for a player who turned his back on them for the lure of money.<br />
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Of course, other world class players have been linked with a big-money move to United in the past and nothing materialised as their agents only used the club to up the price to lure other more lucrative moves to rival clubs. This could turn out to be the case with Pogba as Real Madrid are also reported to be interested.<br />
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However, there is one important factor to consider and that is players do want to play for Jose Mourinho. Consider this, if van Gaal or indeed Moyes had still been at the helm would the likes of Zlatan have joined or even Pogba be considering a move to United? The answer has to be a resounding no especially with no Champions League football. But Mourinho has that pulling power not seen at United since Ferguson.<br />
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Whatever happens in the Pogba saga the future of the club looks to be in very safe hands with Mourinho and the upcoming season should see United return to the days of when they were challenging for the biggest honours.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-26444534912519463452016-07-06T05:09:00.000+01:002016-07-06T06:16:29.754+01:00Jose Mourinho Meets The Press.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was a calm, confident and assured new Manchester United manager who sat in front of the world's press at Old Trafford.<br />
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After almost half an hour Jose Mourinho had laid out his plans for his revolution at Old Trafford in a manner that suggested he was relishing the tough task ahead.<br />
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However, it wasn't what he said, but more what he implied during his first question and answer session as the new man in charge of resurrecting the Red Devils.<br />
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Mourinho was careful enough not to mention anybody by name but everyone knew who he was talking about. He started by confirming that he wasn't a manager who hid behind philosophies, a dig at his predecessor Louis van Gaal. He then took aim at Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger when he reminded everybody that some managers had not won the league for ten years whereas he had achieved it one year ago.<br />
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Next, it was his old adversary Pep Guardiola's turn down the road at Man City when Mourinho stated that he had twenty rivals not just one. He also brought age into the mix when he claimed that at 53 he was more motivated than older managers at the end of their careers which could have been a reference to van Gaal, Wenger and any manager over 60.<br />
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Mourinho then proceeded to tackle the Wayne Rooney dilemma by confirming exactly what many United fans have been saying for the last three years and that is the captain is not a midfielder but a striker who the new manager will utilise as a number 9, 10 or even a 9.5 but never 50 metres away from goal where his scoring talent is wasted. Music to the ears indeed.<br />
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He addressed the elephant in the room in an honest manner and that was the departure of Ryan Giggs after almost 30 years by admitting that the Welsh legend would only have stayed on as manager but the board had decided to appoint a manager with experience over sentimentality.<br />
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When asked about his transfer plans Mourinho confirmed that he had four players targeted to fill in what he called specialised positions but didn't confirm any departures. However, he was very clear on his stance that players should not play out of position. Another shot across the bow of van Gaal's baffling tactics.<br />
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Even though Mourinho had a serious look about him the session did have humour built into it, especially when he had to ask his press assistant if the club had finalised the deal with a third player to which she replied 'No, not yet'. He followed that up by replying to a question about whether or not he had received any advice from Alex Ferguson and that the Scot had told him to bring an umbrella and his usual good taste in wine.<br />
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The only time that he seemed to become slightly riled was when one journalist questioned him about his past record on promoting academy players. True to his style Mourinho had come prepared with a list of 49 players he had brought up through the ranks at his previous clubs. End of debate.<br />
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Overall, it was a Mourinho who seemed to be very much at home in his new surroundings as he said all the right things that will certainly go down well with the Old Trafford faithful. Sure, he will face tougher press conferences as the season unfolds, but at this one, he was in full control of the proceedings.<br />
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He appears to have grasped the enormity of the job in hand and the early signs in the transfer market show that he understands exactly who and what is needed to inject a sense of urgency and aggression into a side drained of confidence over the last three seasons.<br />
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Only time will tell if the special one is indeed the right one to bring success back to United but all the signs point to a successful partnership between manager and club. Confidence breeds success and Mourinho is not short of that characteristic.<br />
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Finally, In Mourinho's own words 'Giant clubs must be for the best managers.'<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-49661556517912467282016-07-02T17:28:00.000+01:002016-07-02T17:28:26.874+01:00Ryan Giggs: End Of An Era.Farewell To United Legend Ryan Giggs.<br />
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All good things have to come to an end and after being at the club since he was 14 Ryan Giggs has decided that it is the right time to call it a day at Manchester United, for now.<br />
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When Sir Alex Ferguson first cast his experienced eye over Giggs flying down the wing as a youngster, he likened the sight to a dog chasing a piece of silver paper blowing in the wind so effortlessly was the way the young Salford lad moved.<br />
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Almost 30 years later and the most decorated player in world football is leaving his only club for pastures new. His roll call of trophies is truly amazing 35 in total including 13 Premier Leagues, 4 FA Cups, 4 League Cups and 2 Champion Leagues. Add to that his total of 963 appearances for the club and you can see how difficult a decision it must have been for him to break his association with his beloved United.<br />
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In his time at the club, he had held the position as player, captain, player/manager and assistant manager. But did he stay too long in his last post under van Gaal? Should he, in fact, have been given the responsibility of manager before the Dutchman or even after?<br />
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The answer in my opinion to both those questions is no. He has to take heed of the lessons he learned under Fergie, Moyes and van Gaal and turn them to his advantage. Sometimes it's better to learn from mistakes, especially other people's.<br />
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After witnessing at close hand how the good, the bad and the ugly managed the club will certainly stand him in good stead for his future in management.<br />
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In van Gaal's case, most fans were optimistic when he was appointed especially with the signings and the changes he made. The main one being the appointment of Giggs as his assistant, which I believe was made with the intention of getting the United fans in his corner. Giggs said all the right things while working with van Gaal but you could tell he wasn't convinced about the so-called philosophy. How could he be?<br />
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When you look back at the last two seasons their body language towards each other looked uncomfortable. Sitting together on the bench week in week out they hardly communicated and Giggs looked far from happy and quite frankly appeared to be as bored as the fans.<br />
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Many people argue whether or not the position of manager at a club the size of United should always be awarded to experience rather than to a player for sentimental reasons.<br />
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Moyes came with nearly a decade of trophyless seasons behind him at Everton and in the end van Gaal's vast championship winning experience counted for nothing. Sure the Dutchman ended his reign with the FA Cup, but little else, so the debate will undoubtedly continue.<br />
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42-year-old Giggs is Man United through and through and if he doesn't know what style of play the club needs then nobody does. He has that winning mentality that he honed under Ferguson but now the board has once again gone for experience in the shape of Jose Mourinho. So he needs to cut his teeth at another club and stand on his own two feet, build up his backroom staff and prove his worth. Then in the future, he will return a better manager for it.<br />
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United have produced many players that have gone on to earn a decent reputation in management without exactly setting the world alight. The likes of Giggs' old teammates Robson, Bruce, Ince, Keane and Hughes have all enjoyed respectable careers at various clubs. However, none of them have what it takes to be considered for the hot seat at Old Trafford.<br />
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Maybe Giggs is different, maybe he has got that special ingredient to become a great United manager. Let's wait and see.<br />
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Hopefully, it's not goodbye only see you later Giggsy!<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-28605024682506559732016-06-30T18:38:00.000+01:002016-07-01T18:21:14.067+01:00Zlatan Joins Man United.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The worst kept secret in football has been confirmed. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has become the latest player to join Jose Mourinho's Man United revolution.<br />
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The fact that Ibrahimovic has announced that he will join United before the club speaks volumes about the player's character. Here is a man that exudes confidence in bucket loads and clearly likes to control his own destiny. Remind you of someone?<br />
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His persona and an air of grandeur do seem reminiscent of when a certain French master entered the Theatre of Dreams. And that is exactly what United need after a dreadful three seasons a leader of players akin to the Cantona effect in the nineties.<br />
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Exactly what will the Swede bring to the team during his one-year contract? Apart from the obvious excitement, flair and goals, it will be the undoubted experience of the 34-year-old that Mourinho will call upon especially when you bear in mind the young age of the forward line at United.<br />
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Imagine how the likes of Rashford and Martial felt when they heard the news. At last, here will be a player that will not only help them to improve on the pitch but also in training.<br />
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This is a cunning move by Mourinho and United one that will have the fans' pulses racing at the prospect of watching one of the most exciting players in the world and of course have the board rubbing their hands at the guarantee of increased profits from worldwide shirt sales.<br />
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A statement of intent has been made by the Red Devils one that will send a strong message to the rest of the Premier League and beyond and with the likelihood of more ins and outs during the transfer window the good times do seem to have returned to Old Trafford.<br />
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Time will tell if the Theatre of Dreams is large enough for two of the biggest egos in football but it will certainly be fun finding out.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-79603466402090298822016-06-28T11:06:00.000+01:002016-06-28T12:37:54.517+01:00The Rise of Red Devil Rashford.<br />
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Manchester United have had a fabulous habit of introducing young raw talent onto the world stage, none more so than the new striking sensation Marcus Rashford.<br />
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The youngster from Wythenshawe, Manchester is one player who can hold his head up when he returns home from the Euro 2016 championship.<br />
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As the England squad left the home shores to make the very short journey across the Channel to France to embark on their European Championship adventure there was a young man who must have been pinching himself as he looked around him taking in the fact that he was among the elite chosen to represent his country at the highest level.<br />
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How the 18-year-old Rashford came to be sitting alongside the likes of United and England teammates Rooney and Smalling is a remarkable achievement in itself and the stuff of dreams.<br />
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He was plucked from the relative obscurity of the under 18's due to an injury to Anthony Martial in the match warm up as United prepared to play Midtjylland at Old Trafford in a Europa League tie. What followed that night is exactly why the stadium was given the moniker of The Theatre of Dreams and set the local lad on a journey that doesn't look like ending anytime soon.<br />
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Die hard United fans, of course, knew of his immense potential, but many would have been surprised by the way he took his chance with aplomb in a game in which he not only scored a debut double but in doing so cemented his hero status in front of an adoring Stretford End.<br />
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The teenager then followed that up with another double against Arsenal in his first Premier League match. A star was born and the confidence he showed in scoring the winning goal in the Manchester Derby was the shining light in a mediocre season for the team under Louis van Gaal.<br />
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Rashford ended his first remarkable season as a regular and capped it off with an FA Cup winners medal to boot. He was awarded for his efforts with a training session with the England squad which led to a first international cap against Australia in which it only took him four minutes to score yet another debut goal and in doing so became the youngest England player to score on his international senior debut.<br />
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The England manager Roy Hodgson had seen enough and Rashford had booked himself a passage to France. He made his debut at the Euros as a substitute against Wales becoming the youngest England player to play in the Championships beating captain Rooney by four days.<br />
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Unfortunately, for Rashford and the nation as a whole he was only called upon one more time and that was for the last five minutes in the shocking defeat to minnows Iceland. In the short time he spent on the pitch he performed considerably better than the other players had in the previous eighty-five minutes.<br />
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Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but it is remarkable that Hodgson persevered with Sterling and Sturridge for so long during the tournament when they were clearly not up to the task. There will be many more international campaigns for Rashford in the future and let's hope he has learnt from his experience of being involved in a major championship.<br />
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New United manager Jose Mourinho must be licking his lips at the prospect of working with Rashford especially if he can bring in an experienced striker to help fine tune the youngster's undoubted talent.<br />
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The future looks bright for Rashford who has been rewarded for his progress at the club with a new improved contract that will keep him where he belongs for the next four years and hopefully beyond.<br />
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Many fans will be interested to see how next season will unfold for the teenager who doesn't seem to be short of confidence and approaches the game exactly how it should be by a United player. His ability, awareness, pace and an unnerving eye for goal should ensure that this shining light will not be diminished anytime soon.<br />
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If Rashford continues at the same pace he has the capacity to break many more records for both club and country and at his young age could end up making Rooney take a look over his shoulder.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-74348785545613655992016-05-30T11:47:00.000+01:002016-05-30T16:12:40.933+01:00Welcome To Manchester: Jose Mourinho.Will Mourinho's Midas touch transform Manchester United?<br />
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The fans reaction at the sight of a crazy little Portuguese fella running down the touchline at Old Trafford after seemingly losing his mind was one of pure disbelief at the audacity of the man.<br />
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That man will get a totally different reaction from the United faithful when he walks along the side of the pitch to take his seat in the dugout at the Theatre of Dreams as the new Manchester United manager come August.<br />
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Jose Mario Dos Santos Mourinho Felix or more commonly know as The Special One, a moniker he bestowed on himself, brought his Porto side to Old Trafford back in 2004 and knocked United out of the Champions League on his way to lifting the famous trophy and cementing his place as one of the most sought-after young managers in football.<br />
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Fast forward twelve years and the 53-year-old is the man that United have pinned their hopes on to revive the fortunes of the great club after three seasons of underachievement in the hands of Moyes and van Gaal.<br />
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The one-time interpreter turned coach certainly will not lack in the self-belief that one needs to succeed at United and can fall back on his experiences at clubs such as Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea again. At each of those clubs, he led them to either domestic or European titles or even both. He also managed to get the backs up of the club owners with his outspoken views.<br />
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Mourinho crossed swords with United and Alex Ferguson in his first spell at Chelsea during his three years there and backed by Roman Abramovich's billions he built a title winning side that became a thorn in Fergie's side on more than one occasion.<br />
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He transformed Chelsea from an average side to Premier League champions for the first time in fifty years. During his first two seasons, he won the league twice, plus the FA Cup for good measure. The Champions League evaded him and this led to disagreements with the owner.<br />
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Following his fall out with Abramovich, Mourinho moved to mainland Europe in 2008. He continued his golden touch at Inter Milan guiding the Italian giants to two championships and the Champions League.<br />
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Then the lure of a move to Real Madrid proved too strong and he found himself pitting his wits in Spain against Pep Guardiola the coach at Barcelona. Even though he guided them to the La Liga in 2012 he missed out on the Champions League the following season and departed by mutual consent.<br />
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He surprised everyone by rebuilding his relationship with Chelsea supremo Abramovich and returned to West London for a second spell at the Bridge in June 2013.<br />
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In his first season back, he only managed to guide them to third in the table, but the following campaign, they completed the double of the Premier League title and League cup.<br />
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In August 2015, following the success of the previous season, Mourinho signed a five-year contract. However, come December, all was not well at the Bridge after losing nine out of sixteen games the pressure was on. There were clear signs coming from the club that they had problems. The players' body language and the fall out with the club doctor played out in the press and eventually club and manager parted company yet again.<br />
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Since the start of his enforced sabbatical, his name has been linked with the position at United on a daily basis and the worst kept secret in football was finally confirmed on May 27 following the dismissal of Louis van Gaal.<br />
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There is no doubting his winning mentality and it seems perfectly in tune with United's desire to return to the days of success enjoyed under Fergie. And his old friend and foe won't be too far away as Pep will be close at hand at the Etihad to ensure that their fight to be the dominant force will continue at a pace.<br />
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With the United faithful wholeheartedly behind him, Mourinho has already jumped over the first hurdle that Moyes and van Gaal managed to trip over through their inept tactics and philosophies, the fans' support.<br />
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Many have voiced their concerns that his ego might be too big for the hot seat at Old Trafford but consider United's past managers. They were not exactly shrinking violets Busby, Docherty, Atkinson and Ferguson were never ones to hide behind closed doors when something had to be said so expect some delightfully interesting press conferences.<br />
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Personally, I am looking forward to seeing how Mourinho sets out his stall in the transfer market. Who he brings in and more importantly, who he releases as he attempts to make his mark on the club from the start.<br />
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Mourinho's preference for playing with three central defenders and a strong midfield may not sit well with the present set of players who struggled with a similar system under van Gaal. He needs to build his own team, which may take more than one season to fulfil.<br />
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Many existing United players will be worrying whether or not they fit in with his plans or will be surplus to requirements. Mata springs to mind as he was allowed to join United while Mourinho was in charge at Chelsea.<br />
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He has already made the statement that the past three years has not been good enough for the club. However, he will need to rejuvenate a side bereft of that all important winning mentality added with a mixture of new blood that will also show his intent in the transfer market with a reported £200 million at his immediate disposal.<br />
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Bringing in new players without the promise of Champions League football is never easy, but his name and stature in the game should be enough to lure marquee signings to Old Trafford. Zlatan would be a good start.<br />
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United will surely go into the 2016/17 campaign on a more positive note than if van Gaal had remained. And you can expect the special one to produce a special season that will have all the United fans forgiving him for his over the top dance down the touchline all those years ago. In fact, they would love to see it again if it was in celebration of winning the league.<br />
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One thing is for sure and that is there will be no shortage of entertainment during his reign as manager.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-7652044053507959822016-05-25T10:37:00.000+01:002016-05-25T12:09:39.338+01:00Manchester United Season Review 2015/16<br />
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He came, he saw, he failed to conquer. Louis' reign as the Manchester United manager came to an end 48 hours after lifting the FA Cup.<br />
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He was fired by the United board for not achieving the aims of the club mainly the failure to qualify for Champions League football next season.<br />
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Van Gaal has departed without anybody being any the wiser on what exactly the Dutchman's philosophy was. All he has left is a legacy of tactical ineptitude that bemused the fans and left them frustrated.<br />
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Louis van Gaal came to United in 2014 saying all the right things, but ended his second season, saying all the wrong things. Of course, the fans' expectations are high we are talking about Manchester United after all but to say that we put too much expectation on the team is ridiculous, to say the least.<br />
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The Dutch coach arrived at the club with an impressive CV after many successful years in club football and at the helm of the Dutch national squad. However, in two full seasons his philosophy got us absolutely nowhere, in fact, in the league they even went one step backwards.<br />
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Last summer Old Trafford was all abuzz with the marquee signings van Gaal had made, including the German international Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin from Southampton, little-known Italian defender Matteo Darmian, exciting young prospect on the wing Memphis Depay, Argentine keeper Romero and the most expensive teenager at the time Anthony Martial.<br />
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Out of those summer buys only Martial proved his full worth as was evident on his scoring debut against bitter rivals Liverpool. That scoring form continued throughout his debut season ending up United's leading scorer with 17. A total that sounds low until you consider that he spent the season out on the left wing.<br />
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Schneiderlin also performed admirably as did Darmian, but the others not so much. Schweinsteiger spent the last two months out injured and Memphis endured a torrid season blighted by a dramatic drop in confidence which meant he spent most of his first season on the bench. Romero played the first six games until De Gea's new contract was signed then he managed only four more appearances.<br />
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Van Gaal, like a lot of the players, talked up a good game especially in his famous press conferences. But when it came to the important part they failed to deliver time and time again on the pitch. Ten defeats in a league season is simply unacceptable.<br />
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The biggest problem had to be the distinct lack of goals that cost us a top four place as we ended the season on equal points with Man City who enjoyed a far greater goal difference.<br />
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In total United scored only 49 goals in the Premier League, which is the lowest achieved by a United team since the 1989-90 season, 46. The top scorer in the league was Anthony Martial with 11. Therein lies the problem. For all the possession they enjoyed the main problem was the inability to put the ball in the back of the net especially when you consider Wayne Rooney scored the only hat-trick of the season in August against FC Club Brugge in the Champions League qualifier.<br />
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In the past, all the players contributed to the goals for column, but this season, the highest scoring midfielder was Mata with 6 and the defenders only managed two goals between them. On the subject of the defence it was one of the meanest in the league conceding 35.<br />
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At Old Trafford, the visitors only managed to score 9 times. This was down mainly to the partnership of Smalling and Blind and of course the brilliant De Gea who rescued his team on countless occasions.<br />
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Playing players in different positions, also had the fans scratching their heads in disbelief and at times amusement. Young, a winger, as the main striker while Martial, a centre forward, was on the wing. Rooney was utilised more in the midfield where he had some decent games. But Paul Scholes he is not and his scoring ability was wasted there.<br />
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Some players were used sparingly during the season and others too much. Herrera often had to take a back seat to Felliani and Carrick looked off the pace at times.<br />
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Goalkeeper David De Gea picked up his third player of the year award in a row and this shows how inadequately the outfield players grasped the manager's tactics and were left to play without any urgency or in a cut throat attacking style.<br />
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It wasn't all doom and gloom. United did play well against the so called big teams, including a double over bitter rivals Liverpool, a tremendous performance against Arsenal at home, beating City at the Etihad and the 3-0 win at Goodison which was probably the best away performance of the season. And they ended the campaign with their 12th FA Cup win and their first silverware for three seasons.<br />
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However, it was the inability to put the lower sides to the sword, especially in defeat to the likes of Swansea, Bournemouth, Sunderland and relegated Norwich after dominating in those games that hurt the most. Newcastle, also relegated, held United to two draws. Lost points that had an adverse effect on the final league position.<br />
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The fact that Leicester City have been crowned Premier League champions shows that there has been a shift in power from the standard big four. It will be interesting to see how the Foxes fare next season along with West Ham, Spurs and Southampton who all brought a breath of fresh air to the league.<br />
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If there is any consolation in finishing fifth in the league it is that Chelsea and Liverpool will miss out completely on Europe after both had replaced their managers and still failed to deliver.<br />
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As regards United's endeavours, or lack of, in Europe that didn't go so well either. They finished third in what looked a fairly easy group and ended up in the Europa League where they were eventually knocked out by Liverpool after basically a no show at Anfield in the last 16 first leg.<br />
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The terrible double leg fracture suffered by Luke Shaw early in the campaign was a major blow to the United defence, but it did signal the rise of the youngsters to be given a chance by van Gaal in the first team.<br />
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There is one thing that van Gaal can take from his two-year tenure and that is, he brought the youngsters through from the lower ranks and gave them their chances in the first team. However, it has to be said that was due mainly to necessity rather than choice. He had released Adnan Januzaj and James Wilson on loan before the new year and didn't make any cover signings during the January transfer window, so in effect he had no choice but to turn to the reserves and Under-18's academy players.<br />
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The first of those introduced to join by now regular and cup final hero Jesse Lingard was Cameron Borthwick-Jackson at full back then the likes of Love, Varela, Poole, Weir and the great young talent Fosu-Mensah also had opportunities presented to them due to many injuries in the defence. Marcos Rojo missed a huge chunk of the season after shoulder surgery and the same went for Antonio Valencia.<br />
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It has to be said that the youngster that had the biggest impact on the side had to be 18-year-old local lad Marcus Rashford. Talk about a Roy of the Rovers introduction to life as a Man United hero.<br />
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Two debut doubles in two matches against Midtjylland in the Europa League and Arsenal in the Premier League had the fans and media foaming at the mouth at this talented goal scorer who clearly wasn't daunted by the prospect of playing regularly for the first team.<br />
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The United reserves retained their League Champions crown which speaks volumes for the work that the coach Warren Joyce did to bring such a talented group of players together and become a feeder for the first team.<br />
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So, another chapter in Manchester United's illustrious history has come to an end and now it's time to turn the next page. One that will hopefully see our great club return to where it belongs and knock Leicester off their perch. Over to you Jose!<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.<br />
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Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-67662415430832269392016-05-22T08:22:00.000+01:002016-05-22T08:23:19.499+01:00Lingard Lords It Over Palace.2016 FA Cup Final: Crystal Palace 1 Manchester United 2<br />
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Local lad Lingard became the hero as he won the FA cup in extra time for ten-man United with a blistering strike that lit up an otherwise ordinary final.<br />
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Manchester United have enjoyed a special relationship with the oldest club cup competition down the years that goes back to their first win back in 1909. Since then they have lifted the trophy eleven times but hadn't tasted success since 2004.<br />
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So, here was an ideal opportunity at the end of a poor league season to equal Arsenal's record by beating Crystal Palace and lift their first piece of silverware in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.<br />
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Louis van Gaal and his players made a point of saying that this one was for the long-suffering fans who have had to endure yet another campaign in which United have failed to deliver on the promises of a squad that unfortunately didn't materialise.<br />
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In what many believe, and the majority hope will be van Gaal's last match as the manager he chose a starting XI that didn't hold any surprises: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Carrick, Fellaini, Rooney, Mata, Martial and Rashford.<br />
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Rojo came back into the side at left-back and Carrick kept his place in midfield in what could be his swansong for United. Fellaini was preferred to Herrera to partner Carrick along with Rooney.<br />
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There are always players who will be left disappointed in not starting a match of such importance among those must have been Lingard who was left on the bench in favour of Mata.<br />
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However, the one United player who must have felt devastated to be left out of the squad all together had to be Memphis who has endured a season in which his confidence seemed to have taken a battering and his omission won't help him in any way.<br />
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Palace got the final underway amid a wonderful atmosphere provided by both sets of fans.<br />
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Right from the off it became abundantly clear that Crystal Palace's tactics involved getting all the players behind the ball and use their pace on the counter-attack.<br />
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United played the majority of the first half around the edge of the opposition area but failed to take advantage of the chances that came up. Too many times they attempted to play through the middle with Rooney without the use of the wings.<br />
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Palace were happy enough to stand off Rooney and limit his passing options. The frustrations of the United players were clear for all to see as they were punished by the referee with three bookings for Smalling, Rojo and Mata.<br />
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Referee Mark Clattenburg didn't exactly endear himself to the Palace fans as not once but twice he didn't allow the advantage to be played following fouls by United. On the first occasion, they actually had the ball in the net but the play was called back and the second would have seen Ward through on goal but again Clattenburg blew his whistle much to the despair of an animated Palace manager Pardew on the touchline.<br />
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The first half ended, not for the first time in United's season, goaless, as they laboured in a pedestrian fashion at times. The match needed an injection of pace and imagination if goals were to come.<br />
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The United defence didn't really have a lot to do as most of the play was up at the other end. There were flashes of brilliance from Rashford and Martial who both spent the half looking for a way through the tight Palace defence. Carrick, in what was probably his last match, gave the ball away far too easily in dangerous positions and his lack of pace showed against the younger Palace players.<br />
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Van Gaal made no changes at the start of the second half. The match didn't take long to spring into life as first Fellaini crashed an effort against the bar after great approach play from Rashford. Then Martial saw his headed effort come back off the post. It was looking as if it could be one of those days.<br />
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Rojo's final came to an end on the hour mark when he was caught by a late lunge from Delaney that on closer inspection warranted more than the yellow he received. The Argentinian did try to carry on but was replaced by Darmian at left back.<br />
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This was followed by the departure of youngster Rashford after a defender had stamped on his knee. The way Palace were aggressively going into tackles was reminiscent of the 1990 replay.<br />
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Ashley young replaced Rashford and immediately slotted in at centre forward with Martial on the left. A positional tactic that not for the first time baffled the fans.<br />
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All of Palace's plans came to fruition in the 78th minute when they took the lead through substitute Puncheon who managed to beat De Gea from the tightest of angles. Not a mean feat. 1-0 to the Eagles and boy did their fans celebrate.<br />
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Ten minutes to go in the final and fans wondered how United would react. The answer came so quickly, within two minutes to be exact.<br />
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United levelled when Rooney decided the only way past the tight Palace defence was to run at them with the ball which he did with fantastic effect. Eventually, he sent over a cross which Fellaini chested down into the path of Mata who dispatched a shot that found the net after a slight deflection.<br />
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The game had come to life and with extra time looming van Gaal introduced Lingard for scorer Mata.<br />
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The Red Devils looked to have the upper hand at the start of the first period of extra time as the Palace players looked shattered both physically and mentally. Only former red Zaha continued to be a thorn in United's defence and it took heroic defending from Blind to prevent a goal.<br />
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Then as is always the case with United they made it harder for themselves when Smalling was sent off for a second yellow card after he had brought down Bolasie. To be honest, it was a harsh booking for Smalling but he was deceived by the forward's pace.<br />
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Down to ten men, it would take a huge amount of effort for United to win the match before being resigned to penalties.<br />
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United's player of the season came to the rescue in the second period as De Gea managed to get a boot to deny an effort by Gayle.<br />
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Then a chance for Carrick to write his name in United history as he found himself unmarked in the Palace area only to send his header wide of the goal when it looked certain he would become the match hero.<br />
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That honour fell to the feet of Jesse Lingard who netted the winner in the 110th minute. A cross from the right from the ever busy Valencia was only half cleared and there was Lingard lurking in the box to smack home a shot that was so sublime in its execution it will one of those Wembley goals that will be drooled over with every viewing.<br />
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There was still time for De Gea to thwart Zaha as he dived bravely at the wingers feet and received a knock on his head for his troubles.<br />
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When the final whistle blew it prompted jubilant scenes from the players and the bench as the reality sank in that they had actually won the cup after being reduced to ten-men and came from behind to fully deserve their victory. Even Louis van Gaal leapt from the bench jumping with joy into the arms of his assistant Ryan Giggs.<br />
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In all reality, it wasn't the greatest of finals but a lot of that was down to the way Palace had set out their stall. United were left frustrated many times but to their credit, they never gave up even when they had fallen behind and a player short.<br />
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Performances from the likes of Blind, Mata, Fellaini and Martial kept the dream alive. However, Rooney was the man once again who was at the centre of all United's moves and even though he was guilty at times of wasteful passes it was his inspirational run that provided the equaliser. As regards the man of the match then that would have to go to Valencia who completed his duties in defence and attack to great effect.<br />
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A last special mention has to go to the hero of the day Jesse Lingard. How refreshing it is in this modern game of football and its millions that it was a local lad from Warrington who came up through the ranks at United to score the goal that will be forever remembered and celebrated by United fans all over the world.<br />
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With the cup victory United have finally ended their drought with the first major trophy in three years. The big question has to be whether it is enough to save van Gaal's tenuous position as manager? No sooner had the final whistle blown the media vultures circled the Dutchman looking for answers. At least let the man celebrate the victory before writing his obituary. There will be plenty of time for that.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Miles Dunton.<br />
<br />Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499544229585615234.post-71347830177554225172016-05-18T07:55:00.001+01:002016-05-18T08:07:21.360+01:00Rooney Runs The Show.Manchester United 3 Bournemouth 1<br />
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The final day of the season is not usually known for its drama off the pitch, but on it. That was exactly the case at Old Trafford on Sunday following the bomb scare that caused the stadium to be cleared and the match to be rescheduled.<br />
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After the suspect package had been discovered the security staff have to be praised for the calm way they conducted the evacuation of 75,000 people in such an orderly fashion.<br />
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However, questions have to be raised at the club in regards to the way a suspect package had been left unnoticed for four days. And the security company that left it there have to be dragged over the coals for their ineptitude.<br />
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The last league game of the season eventually saw United welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford after the understandable postponement of the match on Sunday.<br />
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This rescheduled match meant two things. Firstly, United knew that barring a victory of 19 plus goals, there would be no Champions League football next season. Secondly, it would interrupt preparations for the upcoming FA Cup final against Crystal Palace this weekend.<br />
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How would these factors effect van Gaal's team selection from the one he chose for the original game? The answer was it didn't as he picked the exact same eleven: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson, Carrick, Rooney, Lingard, Mata, Martial and Rashford. In came the recalled trio of Borthwick-Jackson, Carrick and Lingard at the expense of Rojo, injured in training, Schneiderlin, ill and Herrera who started on the bench.<br />
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In all honesty, there was very little to say about the first half as it had been pretty much unremarkable until Rooney gave the fans something to cheer as he netted his 100th Premier League goal at Old Trafford in the 43rd minute.<br />
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The captain had the easiest of finishes as he buried the ball into the back of the net after Martial and Mata had played a neat one-two with each other and the former produced a cross that Rashford stepped over which left Rooney able to pounce. One down, only 18 to go.<br />
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Before the opener the closest the sides came to raising the pulse of the fans was when Carrick almost got a touch to a Rooney delivery from a free kick and at the other end, Pugh had an effort blocked by Valencia. The match had that feeling of a pre-season friendly written all over it.<br />
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At least at the start of the second half, both sides had decided to make a go of it with Rooney eyeing up a shot that was blocked and Mata who went to ground in the penalty area after being caught from behind but referee Jon Moss waved play on.<br />
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The visitors had their moments when Pugh and Wilson tried their luck from the edge of the area but would need to do better to beat De Gea.<br />
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Carrick was the next player to jolt the fans into life as he blasted a swerving, long-distance drive against the crossbar.<br />
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At the centre of United's attacking forays were Martial's quick feet on the left and the precise passing of Rooney from his midfield position.<br />
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Somehow the score remained 1-0 after a spot of football pinball inside the Cherries box after great play by Rashford. The ball just wouldn't go in after every shot was blocked by the defenders.<br />
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United had found the desire to kill the game off and Valencia came close with a cracker of a shot that Bournemouth keeper Federici brilliantly saved with his fingertips.<br />
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What a difference the two halves were proving to be.<br />
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The home side had another penalty shout when Lingard was brought down. However, the referee wasn't interested in the appeals of United.<br />
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The visitors did manage to put the ball in the net, but to their disappointment, Wilson was correctly ruled offside. It was a reminder to United that one goal might not be enough.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PP8nBePgAa6D_vgjycpD6U3NQ3fEST4RRqlF5p1s201s2QbvNj7kpbiP_aiHDbNN8gDLnsvvIPbkx1crFeJmOlX667ylKdBPBUvlQLhTRDnVCTEXXRPKomz2ajb8ZMaZhTZqj1q8NCh-/s1600/1463517334622_lc_galleryImage_Marcus_Rashford_of_Manche.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PP8nBePgAa6D_vgjycpD6U3NQ3fEST4RRqlF5p1s201s2QbvNj7kpbiP_aiHDbNN8gDLnsvvIPbkx1crFeJmOlX667ylKdBPBUvlQLhTRDnVCTEXXRPKomz2ajb8ZMaZhTZqj1q8NCh-/s200/1463517334622_lc_galleryImage_Marcus_Rashford_of_Manche.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Right on cue Rashford made it 2-0 in the 75th minute. The move started with a delightful ball played deep into the box by Rooney which was headed back into the danger area by Valencia and there was Rashford to fire a low shot into the net and celebrate his call-up to England's provisional squad for the European Championships.<br />
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Van Gaal made three substitutions in the last ten minutes with Herrera, Memphis and Young replacing Mata, Rashford and Martial. And it was the forgotten man Young, who produced the icing get on the cake in the 87th minute with United's third goal of the game after great work from the man of the match, Rooney. He beat the defence with a well-timed chip to provide Young with the easiest of chances to score to which he duly obliged.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtG8qmJh9iOYPFLrdbqaGaPZUGzV66k98Mb6zECGY2Mec77k_E5EvJS0XS9AuOUNex9bARAuTNDSCcql28AbrfZEq2tWV6pv5rrNPdORmIGoyOtcL-QwoC_qAwPPoxgB4c0kJCF2MR-Ju/s1600/1463518015586_lc_galleryImage_Britain_Football_Soccer_M.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtG8qmJh9iOYPFLrdbqaGaPZUGzV66k98Mb6zECGY2Mec77k_E5EvJS0XS9AuOUNex9bARAuTNDSCcql28AbrfZEq2tWV6pv5rrNPdORmIGoyOtcL-QwoC_qAwPPoxgB4c0kJCF2MR-Ju/s200/1463518015586_lc_galleryImage_Britain_Football_Soccer_M.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
The match had time for one more twist when in added time Smalling managed to put the ball into his own goal which denied De Gea a share of the league's golden glove, much to the Spaniards dismay judging by his reaction.<br />
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After an anti-climatic first half at least the players brought the game to life in the second half. Rooney pulled the strings from his midfield role and provided a master class of passing combined with his never say die attitude when chasing back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJwD_LypkIkb5micBwbNj_XZ2opykxWSKwHLtxeV5_pDrebBMwn5M4kGi9uQiBS4ElFJCIBBmZhcA_BrFQHY6hSMGvD0sXW_BnzS60Srkb7x_J1YF-3DV73BrXlsK0mOuUqtwWkkkfALU/s1600/1463518033393_lc_galleryImage_Britain_Football_Soccer_M.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJwD_LypkIkb5micBwbNj_XZ2opykxWSKwHLtxeV5_pDrebBMwn5M4kGi9uQiBS4ElFJCIBBmZhcA_BrFQHY6hSMGvD0sXW_BnzS60Srkb7x_J1YF-3DV73BrXlsK0mOuUqtwWkkkfALU/s200/1463518033393_lc_galleryImage_Britain_Football_Soccer_M.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
The main objective apart from the win was to not sustain any injuries before the cup final. In that respect mission accomplished.<br />
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United had chances so many times this season to make sure they booked their seat at the caviar and champagne table of the European elite and only have themselves to blame for ending up picking up the scraps in the Europa League.<br />
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Have we witnessed the van Gaal farewell at the Theatre of Dreams? Which in all reality has turned out to be nothing less than a nightmare for the coach who arrived with such high expectations following an impressive career across Europe. However, once again the season has fallen short for the club under his so-called philosophy.<br />
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Surely the time has come to put everyone, including van Gaal, out of their misery. No matter what happens in the FA Cup final the board have to find the right person who can take United in a new direction or witness the further demise of our great club.<br />
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Thanks for reading. Next stop Wembley.<br />
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Miles Dunton.Miles Duntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01434265865522456872noreply@blogger.com0