Musings on Manchester United Football Club

Where there is youth, there is hope and light Hojlund, Garnacho and Mainoo's iconic celebration v West Ham United's 2023/24 season is over. There have been dramatic highs, most notably the FA Cup victory over Liverpool, with Diallo's late, late winner arguably resulting in Klopp's farewell tour taking a decidedly downward dip.  The Hojlund inspired run through February offered hope. Mainoo scored a world class solo effort to gain 3 points away to Wolves, Garnacho was flying and the three of them seemed super tight on the field and off. Their iconic celebration in the 3-0 home win against West Ham was a real feel good moment. And we're in an FA Cup final. Although I think everyone is a little worried about that prospect, rather than being excited! But largely, the 2023/24 season has been one of immense frustration; with injuries, performances and ultimately results.  With 'news' breaking that virtually the whole squad is up for sale. I've taken a look at ...

MUFC Monday musings - matchday 34 Manchester United 1 v 1 Burnley Saturday 27th April 2024 There are only 4 league matches left of this incredibly strange season for Manchester United. An FA Cup Final awaits afterwards, but it's pretty hard to look forward to that given the air of uncertainty hanging over the team. The will he/won't he be here at the start of next season continues to hang over manager Erik Ten Hag. While part of me would like United to stick with a manager who has been hard done by through the mess he inherited, severe injuries, the takeover and several challenging circumstances with players attitude and off-field behaviour ... the mood in the United camp would indicate that the decision may well have been made already. United attacked well, peppering Burnley's goal with 31 efforts, but only 5 were on target. The same total mustered by their opposition. Onana made a few excellent saves, but also gave away the penalty for the equaliser. Is that 4 late penalt...

Manchester United 4 v 2 Sheffield United Wednesday 24th April 2024 MUFC musings - 2023/24 season, matchday 33 Bruno Fernandes inspired United to a 4-2 win against bottom of the table Sheffield United last night. The captain now has 7 goals and 2 assists in his last 5 games. His energy,  commitment and urgency are absolutely vital to the team. Of course, United being United, made it harder than it should have been! With 85% of possession in the first 30-minutes, we still somehow allowed Sheffield United to take the lead on 35 after a poor pass out of defence by Onana. Maguire scored before half-time, yet within 5-minutes of the restart United were behind again! Antony was rightly hooked for Diallo and the youngster has to start at the weekend. He offers a greater threat than the Brazilian, more energy and a better attitude. It's no contest. I can understand that Ten Hag wants to give Antony a chance, his head will go down if he is dropped. Yet it must have dawned on the boss that t...

Liverpool 7 v 0 Manchester United Sunday 5th March 2023 Manchester United won the League Cup on 26th February 2023 and all looked pretty rosey in the garden. Goals from Casemiro and Rashford defeated Newcastle to win the first trophy under Erik Ten Hag.  United were league cup winners, undefeated in 22 matches, third in the league, 6 points behind city in 2nd place, with a game in hand. While city and Arsenal were undoubtedly ready to challenge for the title, the league cup victory should have given United a shot in the arm to kick on for the rest of the season.  Things were looking promising, we had seen; Ten Hag's steely determination to send his team out for a 14km run after losing to Brentford - the distance they outrun his side by. Erik joined them.  Superb tactics to then defeat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford Casemiro and Martinez adding steel, experience and a winning mentality. Marcus Rashford turning in elite level performances A sensational January victory over c...

Coventry City 3 v 3 Manchester United United win 4-2 on penalties Manchester United are through to their 22nd FA Cup final, a trophy the reds have won on 12 occasions. This should be something to celebrate, yet the mood around the United camp and supporter base is distinctly flat. United cruised to a 3-0 lead against Coventry thanks to goals from McTominay, Maguire and Fernandes. They were comfortably strolling, with Coventry barely troubling Onana, especially in the first half. With one eye on Wednesday nights game against Sheffield United, Erik Ten Hag understandably took off his young starlets - Garnacho and Mainoo.  Garancho didn’t look pleased. He probably fancied a goal and still looked full of running. After all, United hadn't exactly needed to play in fifth gear. The replacements, Antony and Eriksen, simply aren’t in the same class as the youngsters. Antony has been an incredible waste of money that United simply won’t ever get close to recouping. Eriksen has been an absolu...