Musings on Manchester United Football Club

MUFC Monday Morning Musings -Matchday 3 Manchester United 0 v 3 Liverpool, Sunday 1st September 2024 3-points from 9, a heavy and demoralising defeat by Liverpool, a negative goal difference, a creaking Casemiro … so much has changed, so much remains the same. A transfer window that has seen United bolster their defence with the signings of Yoro, de Ligt and Mazraoui, strengthen midfield with Ugarte and gain much needed depth in the centre forward position left supporters feeling pretty positive going into the season. Varane, Wan Bissaka, van de Beek, Greenwood, Martial, Pellistri and Meijbri were all sold or let go when their contracts finished. I was sad to see McTominay go. While he would have been unlikely to be first choice, given the number of games, he would still have got plenty of game time. Ultimately, Napoli is a fantastic move for him and I wish him well. This team, this squad, is now very much Erik ten Hag’s, he needs to get a tune out of them … fast. Winning cups is one t...

MUFC Monday Morning Musings - Matchday 2 Brighton 2 v 1 United  United players and fans were left scratching their heads on Saturday afternoon? How did United lose all 3-points from that game? United played well in the first half, passing, moving and creating chances, but yet again, we failed to take them. We could, and should, have scored 2 or 3. Perhaps the most notable opportunity was a Diallo chance following excellent wing play from Dalot on the left. Diallo played well, but opted to use his stronger left foot, when he either needed to put his right foot through it, or go in with a diving header. Regardless, he should have at least hit the target. Somehow, despite United's dominance, Brighton went into the half-time break a goal up. Mason Mount came off injured to be replaced by Zirkzee, but it was Brighton who looked galvanized following the break. Yet Diallo, courtesy of a deflection, equalised. There were chances at both ends in an open game. Both teams pushed for a winner,...

MUFC Monday Morning Musings - Matchday 1 United 1 v 0 Fulham Friday 16th August 2024 United kicked off the 2024/25 season under the floodlights at Old Trafford. The club has felt illuminated for a few months, basking in the glow of the FA Cup final victory over city. There is a huge sense of renewed optimism with a new club structure and strategy focused on onfield success rather than commerical profit. Ten Hag and Bruno have signed new contracts. Players like Garnacho, Hojlund, Amad and Mainoo have bloomed like the brightest flowers on a sunny spring day. Dead wood has gone or is going. New players have been signed. There is a plan. There is hope. Although that hope was tested up until the 87th minute on Friday night, United came good and they deserved it. Zirkzee played well in his 30-minute appearance, dropping deep to receive, feed and then move forward. He looked strong and comfortable on the ball. I think he'll fit in just fine. Positives - 3-points, debut goal from Zirkzee ...

Quick MUFC preseason musings New structure - What a difference Jim Racliffe is making. It's like the club have a structure and strategy geared towards football for the first time post Fergie. Not being held to ransom in the transfer market either! New signings - Yoro looks and sounds very promising, De Ligt brings experience yet is still only 24, Zirkzee loooks good and despite Wan-Bissaka's exceptional one-on-one defending, he created a mere 13 goals in his 5 seasons at  United, Mazraoui is an upgrade. Still to come - Ugarte in central midfield? Outgoings - Goodbye and good riddance to Mason Greenwood. Likewise to Martial. Good luck to Varane (already injured!) Wan-Bissaka and Donny van de Beek. Still to go - McTominay, Eriksen, Lindelof plus the likes of Hannibal. And please - Sancho! Mixed feelings - over McTominay, but he will be 28 later this year and should be getting first team football. Won't get that at United unless we have another disaster with injuries. Expect ...

Manchester United and INEOS have delivered the most deliciously sweet f**k you to 99% of the British media (hello Jacob Steinberg from The Guardian!) and a very large section of their online 'fanbase' who seem to revel in negativity. Ten Hag is staying. Not only that, he is getting a new contract! Two trophies and European football delivered in both seasons, under exceptionally difficult circumstances, particularly during the season just finished.  There are, as always, two sides to the story. Some of the football was poor, some of the tactics (until the end of the season) seemed baffling, we struggled to score goals, finished with a negative goal difference in the league and some of the results were appalling. So it is understandable that supporters were unhappy. Thankfully, the majority of match going supporters and sensible long term fans could see the underlying issues. Ten Hag DIDN'T become a bad manager overnight. He had no structure around him, ownership issues dragg...

Against all odds (United were 8/1 with a lot of bookies) Manchester United triumphed in the 2024 FA Cup Final against their noisy neighbours.  Erik Ten Hag used his last two league games of the season to trial Bruno Fernandes in a false 9 position, flooding the midfield and making United more difficult to break down. With the added benefit of having Varane and Martinez back at the heart of central defence, United looked and acted like an entirely different beast. Here is a review in photos. 1. Bruno Fernandes lifts the trophy high. Bruno delivered a true captains performance. His pass to Mainoo was world class. Ten Hag ball! 2. Garnacho celebrates his goal. He didn't give up the chase. I love this photo in front of the city supporters! 3. One more for the dreamers. Later on that night Garnacho didn't want to let the cup go. 4. Lisandro Martinez was sorely missed through the 2023/24 season. In the FA Cup Final he was cool, calm and composed. But he also displayed steely determin...