United Off And Running

Bournemouth 1 Manchester United 3

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The second half got underway with Mourinho deciding against making any changes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Herrera celebrated his birthday in a way he won't want to remember by being cautioned for a foul.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.


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?

Until then thanks for reading.

Miles Dunton.

Rooney Runs The Show.

Manchester United 3 Bournemouth 1

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.

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.

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.

The last league game of the season eventually saw United welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford after the understandable postponement of the match on Sunday.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Carrick was the next player to jolt the fans into life as he blasted a swerving, long-distance drive against the crossbar.

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.

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.

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.

What a difference the two halves were proving to be.

The home side had another penalty shout when Lingard was brought down. However, the referee wasn't interested in the appeals of United.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The main objective apart from the win was to not sustain any injuries before the cup final. In that respect mission accomplished.

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.

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.

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.

Thanks for reading. Next stop Wembley.

Miles Dunton.

United Plucked By The Cherries.

AFC Bournemouth 2 Manchester United 1

Man United's week went from worse to disastrous as they fell to their third defeat of the league season to a revitalised Bournemouth.

With the amount of players missing United were ripe for the picking by The Cherries and that's exactly how it transpired on the south coast.

After the woes of Wolfsburg, it was supposed to be back to the bread and butter of the Premier League for United and a trip to take on and overpower Bournemouth, but his season has already proven that there are no easy matches and this was in evidence last week when Bournemouth beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Prior to this match, United were still in the mix at the top of the league and desperately needed a win to not only boost their ambitions of becoming champions for the first time since 2013 but to make a statement of intent to their many critics. This meant that the pressure was on for van Gaal and his team to turn things around.

However, with the huge disappointment of exiting the Champions League van Gaal had the difficult task of revitalising his players for the upcoming busy festive period a task made harder by even more players on the sidelines and a three-match ban for the influential Schweinsteiger.

Anybody who thinks the German star got banned on purpose to continue his tradition of a winter break must be very cynical indeed.

The side that van Gaal chose had a mixture of experience and youth as his hand had been forced due to the length of the injury list endured in recent weeks.

The first start for Borthwick-Jackson in defence alongside a back four including McNair, Blind and Varela gave the visitors an unfamiliar look at the back.

That unfamiliarity bore fruit as early as the second minute when the home side took the lead direct from a corner through Junior Stanislas that looped over David De Gea and evaded Martial on the line. A goal that had a breeze and little bit of luck behind it. They all count in the end.

At least United rallied and responded with a few chances and then a goal of their own before the half hour mark. After Memphis had done the hard work Fellaini was able to prod the ball home almost in a kneeling position. United will take the goals any way they can come these days.

As the match progressed it became all too clear that McNair and especially Borthwick-Jackson were in for a torrid time. The pace that is needed for the Premier League was lacking from the youngster at left-back and his positional play had a lot to be desired, especially when chasing back after trying to help with the attacks.

He's young and has time on his side and can only benefit from this experience, but the same can't be said about Blind who clearly struggled as the main defender without his partner Smalling.

He was terribly slow in picking up his man, the eventual scorer, at the corner from which the home side took the lead. If Blind had been more alert to the danger then the goal could have been averted.

The substitution of goalscorer Fellaini for Powell was an interesting choice by the manager to say the least. As United chased the game looking for the draw, they surely needed as much in the way of firepower as they could muster. So, to bring on a player of Powell's ilk was a strange decision, especially as Ashley Young was also sat on the bench.

Memphis once again failed to raise his game and his only telling contribution was in the build up to Fellaini's equaliser add that to the loss of Lingard through yet another injury to a United player and it's no surprise that Martial struggled to get into his stride. Pereira tried his utmost to get the play moving from the right, but in the end it all lacked the penetration needed as both Carrick and Mata had matches they would probably both want to forget.

Not for the first time this season United's style of play had let them down badly. The fact that there were so many missing players is unfortunate and, of course, gave them a hurdle to overcome. But this is Manchester United we are talking about and any player who pulls on that famous shirt has to give their all and in simple terms that didn't and that failure allowed Bournemouth to capitalise on the uncertainty of the United players.

Both manager and players shouldn't offer any more excuses and get down to the nitty-gritty of solving the problems that quite clearly exist within the system the manager is trying to instil in them before it becomes a problem that is too difficult and too late to overcome.

It has been muted in the press this week that Swansea City could be interested in offering their vacant manager's position to United's very own Ryan Giggs. If so, it would represent a very difficult decision for the former wing wizard to make as he must be sorely tempted to further tune his management skills at pastures new especially as it would be a chance for him to prove his credentials as a future United manager.

Some offers are hard to turn down and no fan would blame him for wanting to test himself at pastures new.

Thanks for reading.

Miles Dunton.

Manchester United Fixtures Preview 2015/16

It seems that last season has only just finished but this week saw the release of next season's fixture list.

All the fans have their own preference of which match to look for first whether it be by team or date. The most important matches have to be the Liverpool fixtures followed by the derby dates.

There is, of course, no such thing as an easy season, however, Louis van Gaal must have been quietly confident when he saw the fixtures as it has thrown up a fairly easy start and end to the season with the hardest of the matches coming mid-season which gives the team time to get into a winning rhythm.

The Red Devils will kick off their season with by far the biggest match of the opening weekend at Old Trafford against Spurs followed by an away trip to Aston Villa then it's Newcastle at home.
August ends with a tricky journey to Wales to take on Swansea who started our season off with a defeat last year. In the middle of those games, United will have the not so small task of the UEFA Champions League qualifying matches.

A collective spirit is needed.

There will be the dreaded international break before our first big clash in mid-September at home to Liverpool, memories of last season's double over them still fresh in the mind. Two more games in September see us play the much improved Southampton away and Sunderland, who were so lucky to escape the drop last time round, at Old Trafford.

Rooney scores against Arsenal.

October will prove a difficult month as it starts with two matches away first a visit to the Emirates to play Arsenal followed by Everton. Then it's the first local derby at home to Man City. Last season was sweet against the Gunners and City but sticky versus the toffees. Crystal Palace will provide the opposition at Selhurst Park at the end of the month.

The three matches in November seem to be relatively straightforward, if that's possible for United, they are WBA at home, newly promoted Watford away and Leicester away.

Ashley Young in his Watford days.

The month will see a return to Vicarage Road for Ashley Young, who started his career at Watford. It's been eight years since The Hornets were last in the top flight.

The busy festive month of December will see United play in a total of five matches three home and two away. It starts with a home game against West Ham with their new manager Bilic then a trip to the south coast to play Premier League debutantes AFC Bournemouth who we last played in the FA Cup back in 1989.

Another newly promoted side Norwich will visit Old Trafford then Boxing Day will see all the fans dressed as Santa at The Britannia Stadium to take on Stoke. Come the end of the year will hopefully be a match that is going to have a strong bearing on the Premiership title, Chelsea at home.

AFC Bournemouth celebrating promotion

The first match in 2016 will see the visit of Swansea to Manchester followed by a break in the league for the FA Cup 3rd round. After which United will be on their travels to Newcastle and Anfield the scene of Juan Mata's heroics last time we played there. The month will end with Southampton at home.

February starts with former red Mark Hughes bringing his Stoke side to Old Trafford which will be followed by United playing Chelsea at Stamford bridge on the 58th anniversary to the day of the Munich air disaster. Sunderland away comes before yet another big clash of the month Arsenal at home.

Mata the Anfield hero.

Hopefully, by the time March comes around United will be well placed for the league run in and will host Watford then visit WBA. Crystal Palace at home will be followed by our last match against one of our possible major opponents for the league, Man City at the Etihad. It would also be nice to think that United will be still involved in the knockout stages of the Champions League and the FA Cup.

The last seven matches in April and May appear to offer United a chance to end the season strongly and it starts with Everton at home then Spurs away. By the time we play Villa at Old Trafford and West Ham away, we could be potentially gearing up for silverware in the league or one of the cups or dare I say both.

Our last three games of the league season are Leicester at home followed by Norwich away, then Old Trafford will witness the last match of the campaign as Bournemouth will hopefully be trying to spoil the Champions' celebrations.

I foresee United getting off to a flying start compared to the stuttering beginning last season. Louis van Gaal has now had a year in the Old Trafford hot seat and will have learnt from his and the teams' mistakes of the previous season. Add to that the new arrivals that have been signed to strengthen the squad and there is every reason to be optimistic about the chances of being able to challenge on all four fronts next season.

Thanks for reading.

Miles Dunton.