‘Arrogant’ Man United need to rediscover their humility

Matt Stead

Send your thoughts, Man United or otherwise, to the editor@football365.com

 

Thursday took Man United back seven months
I didn’t get to watch the game live last night, so my comments are only related to the highlights I’ve seen, but my god that was bad. We should probably have had Romero sent off, the rolling ball issue is inconsequential because our two first choice centrebacks still have no idea how to defend a long ball, and we didn’t create a single noteworthy chance, other than the one which fell our way from the Brugge

As one my United-supporting mates summarised: we opted to go back 7 months with that lineup. I get why Solskjaer made changes, I really do, but it still speaks volumes about the appalling level of the squad that we sent out that eleven. Maguire looks absolutely shattered but there’s absolutely nobody else who you could swap him for right now, with Bailly still regaining fitness, Tuanzebe still injured, and Phil Jones still Phil Jones. Dalot was once spoken of as the best right back of his age group but the total lack of any consistent football has taken its toll on him.

Matic has had somewhat of a renaissance lately, so no qualms about his inclusion, but putting him in a midfield with Andreas Pereira hurts my soul; there must be a better alternative than him. And that front three – Jesus wept. Martial did alright and took his goal with aplomb but was ultimately struggling for service, and it should come as no surprise. Mata tried his best but on an absolutely drowned pitch he looked like he was running through custard. And there have been enough column inches on F365 dedicated to the absolute shit-show that is Jesse Lingard to circumnavigate the globe several times.

The changes made a difference. Fred and Fernandes instantly added drive and dynamism to a stagnant midfield, and Ighalo offered a different kind of presence up front to Martial, though I would rather have seen them play together than one replace the other. The issue was there were too many mistakes made with the starting eleven to correct with substitutions. I want to see Pereira and Lingard ushered out of the door on the day the transfer windows open – on free transfers if needs be. Bailly’s fitness should be assessed between now and the end of the season and if he picks up even more minor knock then we buy another first-team ready centreback.

Pogba is going to leave, so we need to go and get two central midfielders – one to replace him and one to make sure that there is no excuse for keeping Pereira. We need a right-winger, of that there is no doubt, because nothing at all ever comes from that side and, while Wan-Bissaka is improving, we need to have an out-and-out attacking option on that side. McTominay coming back will make a difference, Rashford coming back (though probably not until next season) will make a massive difference, but we can’t rely on those two players in every single match – that’s what caused their absences in the first place.

As first legs go, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but the performance was so uninspiring that I fear we have undone any good work from the Chelsea game, and lost any momentum to take into the Watford match on Sunday. That game is going to be a tough one, as evidenced by the last time we played them, so Solskjaer has a lot of work on to restore that winning mentality to a team that has stuttered it’s way through the last 12 months.
Ted, Manchester

 

The United Way = humility
Last night’s performance against Brugge is the kind of display that has become sickeningly commonplace over the last few years. Sloppy, insipid, disorganised rubbish that is amateur at best. I can only find its roots in the “we are Manchester United” brand of arrogance that seems to permeate the club at virtually every level. It is this attitude that has us playing as carelessly as pub team on New Years’ Day against every team that has been deemed beneath us. Teams that inevitably put in a spirited, organised performance that only serves to highlight this perceived but wholly unearned superiority.

I wrote in recently about United’s tendency to rest on their laurels, all but ensuring that they be eventually overtaken by someone who is more dynamic and innovative. Humility is the quality that keeps an entity like United from ever thinking they are “good enough” and that anything or anyone is beneath them. A quality we sorely lack.

Club Brugge had dropped down from the Champions League after being finishing third behind PSG and Real Madrid. The Europa League represents what is very likely our best route into the Champions League next year. These are facts. Just like the sky is blue, water is wet, Jesse Lingard and Pereira should never play for United again. Singling those two out of a field of 10 players (Martial gets a pass this time) who all played in a distracted and careless manner might seem harsh but… I don’t know how to finish that sentence.

I think it was 15 minutes before Pereira even touched the ball, while Lingard had already lost it about 9 times. The misplaced passes, the vacuum of midfield, the sloppy, sloppy passing. I had recorded the match and was watching it at 1am, fighting both the will to sleep and also the desire to jump through the tv screen and choke Solskjaer. Whom I ultimately hold responsible for this current period of sloth, as he has been the most ardent “we are Manchester United” mouthpiece and can only be repeating that mantra before, during and after the games.

The fact that we are beating/actually playing against the teams above us seems to underscore the fact that Solskjaer is able to get the players up for some games. Just the ones he values. I’m guessing he thinks we should be beating Brugge, we should be beating Watford, we should be beating Sheffield, etc. etc. without the need for any heartening team talks, alternative tactics, or the barest of bare minimums of effort. EVERY game should be approached as if it is the Champions League final. EVERY minute as if it’s the last when the next goal will win it. EVERY second is a gift given to you to play the sport that you love. Extremely precious and extremely limited. That, to me, is the United way. Not endlessly repeating empty words like a mental patient until they lose all meaning and their very utterance is evidence of your divorce from reality.

Humility is a quality we are sorely lacking at the moment but which has been handed to us in endless volumes over the last few years if we would only learn from it. My fear is that we won’t learn until we are at the very bottom looking up and it is no longer possible to convince ourselves that “we are Manchester United”.
Brackets (Apologies for the rambling incoherent nature of this email, United have scrambled my brain)

 

 

30 seconds to Vase
1. Fellow Everton fan Alan wrote yesterday about the excitement of the “Europa Vase”. I couldn’t agree more.

Lest we forget though, the last time we were there, we were bounced out of an average group, losing on aggregate 8-1 to Atalanta. And we can’t even blame that performance on Big Sam’s Europhobia as the damage was done before his arrival.

True, the Europa League is a fabulous competition but only if you’re going to take it seriously. Which Everton didn’t do in 2017. What’s the point in qualifying then?

2. Having watched Man United’s game, I have good news and bad news for them:

– That £62 million player sure looks worth the price

– Everyone else on that team still looks rubbish though

Cheerio,
Pete

 

Improving FFP
A problem with FFP is that it keeps the status quo and makes it very hard for any newly rich clubs to compete without cooking the books they way City have done. This seems a bit unfair and makes football more boring as the same teams win all the time.

How about, if a newly rich team like City wants become competitive by spending more than they bring in, there is a way for them to do that. For every pound they spend on the local infrastructure (social housing, education programmes, youth facilities, etc) they get to spend another pound on buying players. You could also extend it to include approved global charities.

You want to buy a £60 million centre back? Spend 30 million building social housing in Manchester and give 30 million to Oxfam, and you can.

It seems like a good solution to me, but I haven’t though it through too much. Also I’m sure UEFA and the Premier League won’t ever back a plan that gives money to anyone other than themselves, but it’s a nice thought.
Adonis Stevenson, AFC

 

Klopp idol
Amidst the non-stories of Klopp’s reaction this week, thought this might reinforce his human side and all-round good-guyness.

How lovely.

In other news, he rescued a pensioner from a burning building and some kittens from a tree.

God love him and happy weekend to you all.
Somerset Dave

 

Spain reign ft. a Mailbox hat-trick
In response to the top quality Dutch and French sides (the English team is also strong, but I seem to think they will miss Michael Carrick in midfield), here is one with a Spanish flavour.

Lining up in a narrow-ish 4-2-3-1 and planning to play keep ball with most opponents:

GK: David De Gea

LB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Gerard Pique
CB: Cesar Azpilicueta
RB: Jesus Navas

CM: Cesc Fabregas
CM: Xabi Alonso

AM: David Silva
AM: Santi Cazorla
AM: Juan Mata (The Chelsea version)

ST: Fernando Torres (The Liverpool version)

Bench: Pepe Reina, Luis Garcia, Mikel Arteta, Diego Costa, Pedro, Michu, Pablo Mari (hopeful)

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Must admit, I started out full of confidence, but am now seeing that the defence could be quite leaky – Bellerin and Dave are being played out of position, and this was before Pique broke into the Spanish National Team and won it all. Jesus Navas would be asked to do a lot down that right flank as there are no natural wingers in the starting 11, but that bench looks interesting. I will probably remember an obvious name as soon as I hit send.
Chaddo, Cape Town (miss the glory days of Michu in FPL, what a gem)

 

Of course, just as I predicted.

I forgot to add in a young, electric winger who tore up the league in his first year and had SAF and his boys resorting to the dark arts to stop him.

Jose Antonio Reyes

Would help Navas add some pace and trickery to the this team of keep-ball merchants. As well as add more balance, just by being left-footed.

Rest in peace.
Chaddo, Cape Town (THAT cut-back and right-foot finish vs Middlesbrough is true nostalgia for us Gooners)

 

Can’t believe I settled on that defence when I could have had this one:

RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Gerard Pique
CB: Cesar Azpilicueta
LB: Nacho Monreal

Much more solid than my initial attempt. I honestly forgot that Nacho still played for (and captained us) THIS season – part of the memories I must have suppressed as the Unai Emery era came to an end. Marcos Alonso would be a handy option from the bench.
Chaddo, Cape Town (THIS is why I never write into the mailbox)

 

Italian job
I was wondering about making a “best Premier league XI” from Italy, but the result is fairly average excepting a couple of stars, and they would totally get hammered by the Dutch or French XI

Cudicini – Panucci, Festa, Amoruso, Emerson – Jorginho, Dalla Bona, Di Matteo – Zola, Ravanelli, Di Canio

On the other hand a “shit Premier League XI” from Italy is pure comedy gold!

Taibi – Darmian, Ferrari, Ogbonna, Dossena – Lombardo, Aquilani, Ambrosetti – Bianchi, Zaza, Corradi
James, Switzerland

 

Don’t cry for them…Argentina
Continuing on the international 11s…

For all the quality players they’ve produced over the years, an Argentine XI is a bit disappointing, especially defensively. Also notable are the number of players who were great elsewhere in europe but failed to produce the same levels on these shores, lots of goalkeepers though!

Romero

Arca
Coloccini
Otamendi
Zabaleta

Mascherano
Cambiasso
Lamela

Tevez
Crespo
Aguero

Bench: Speroni, Rojo, Demichelis, Di Maria, Maxi Rodriguez, Higuain
Honourable Mentions: Gazzaniga, Caballero, Heinze, Lo Celso (not yet), Lanzini, Ulloa
Thom, Bristol-based Spur

 

Iberian iteration
Bit of a cheat but I’ve done an Iberian XI

GK. De Gea

RB. Arbeloa
CB. Carvalho
CB. Campo
LB. Azpilicueta

CM. Xabi Alonso
CM. Fabregas

RW. Bernardo Silva
AM. David Silva
LW. Ronaldo

ST. Torres

Subs. Reina, Abel Xavier, Ferreira, Arteta, Mata, Nani and Diego Costa.

Like I said it’s a cheat but what a team!
Bradley Kirrage.

 

Portugal. The Men
Reckon this Portuguese Prem side would give most countries a decent game:

GK: Patricio
RB: Ferreira
CB: Carvalho
CB: Fonte (there must be a better option but I can t think of one)
LB: Perreira (kinda out of position but I reckon he’d cope)
MD: Neves
MD: Meireles
MD: B.Silva
FW: Nani
FW: Ronaldo
FW: Quaresma

Sub: Moutinho, Jota, B.Fernandes, Deco, A.Gomes, Tiago, Soares

Cheers
Chris

 

We all dream of a team of…
Here’s the correct Irish Prem XI, Doug

Breen
Breen Breen Breen Breen
Breen Breen Breen Breen
Breen Breen
Culk the Younger

 

The definitive selection
Loving the nationality XIs going about in the mailbox recently. Here are a few other countries’ entries.

Germany:

GK- Jens Lehmann
RB – Markus Babbel
LB – Christian Ziege
CB – Robert Huth
CB – Per Mertesacker
DM – Dietmar Hamann
CM – Michael Ballack
CM – Ilkay Gundogan
RW – Mezut Ozil
CF – Jurgen Klinsmann
LW – Leroy Sane

Subs – Bernd Leno, Thomas Hitzelsperger, Christoper Schindler, Uwe Rosler, Lukas Podolski, Andre Schurrle, Steffen Freund, Antonio Rudiger

Argentina:

GK – Willy Caballero
RB – Pablo Zabaleta
LB – Gabriel Heinze
CB – Nicolas Otamendi
CB – Fabricio Colocini
DM – Javier Mascerano
CM – Giovani Lo Celso
RM – Erik Lamela
LM – Maxi Rodriguez
CF – Carlos Tevez
CF – Sergio Aguero

Subs – Sergio Romero, Emi Buendia, Jonas Gutierrez, Esteban Cambiasso, Martin Demichellis, Manuel Lanzini, Juan Sebastien Veron

Brazil:

GK – Alisson
RB – Rafael
LB – Fabio Aurellio
CB – David Luiz
CB – Alex
DM – Fernandinho
DM – Gilberto Silva
RM – Juninho
LM –Willian
AM – Phillipe Coutinho
CF – Roberto Firmino

Subs – Ederson, Fabinho, Gabriel Jesus, Lucas Leiva, Richarlison, Lucas Moura, Danilo

Portugal:

GK – Rui Patricio
RB – Ricardo Perreira
LB – Paulo Ferreira
CB – Jose Fonte
CB – Ricardo Carvalho
CM – Joao Moutinho
CM – Bernardo Silva
AM – Deco
LM – Nani
RM – Ronaldo
CF – Luis Boa Morte

Subs – Hilario, Ricardo Vaz Te, Abel Zavier, Ruben Neves, Raul Meireles, Andre Gomes, Diogo Jota

Belgium:

GK – Thibault Courtois
RB – Toby Alderweireld
LB – Jan Vertonghen
CB – Vincent Kompany
CB – Thomas Vermaelen
DM – Mousa Dembele
CM – Kevin De Bruyne
RM- Kevin Mirallas
LM – Eden Hazard
CAM – Marouane Fellaini
CF – Romelu Lukaku

Subs – Simon Mignolet, Leander Dendoncker, Steven Defour, Philippe Albert, Divock Origi, Youri Tielemans, Christaian Benteke

Spain

GK – David de Gea
RB – Cesar Azpilicueta
LB – Marcos Alonso
CB – Ivan Campo
CB – Nacho Monreal
DM – Xabi Alonso
CM – David Silva
CM – Cesc Fabregas
AM – Juan Mata
ST – Fernando Torres
ST – Diego Costa

Subs – Pepe Reina, Luis Garcia, Ander Herrera, Adama Traore, Mikel Arteta, Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla

Australia:

GK – Mark Schwarzer
RB – Lucas Neil
LB – Stan Lazaridis
CB – Craig Moore
CB – Tony Popovic
DM – Mile Jedinak
CM – Aaron Mooy
RM – Brett Emerton
LM – Harry Kewell
CF – Tim Cahill
CF – Mark Viduka

Subs – Matt Ryan, Danny Tiatto, Hayden Foxe, John Aloisi, Robbie Slater, Jacob Burns, Paul Okon
Joe, Midlands

Adonis, it was me who said Luiz and Mustafi at CB would be calamity. Still expecting the Benny Hill theme to play.

 

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