David De Gea...

"De Gea could have saved Tupac";

"Those saves were unnatural. He may be a witch. Make him play for West Ham. If they go down, burn him. If they stay up, he's definitely a witch - burn him.";

"Old Trafford's Greatest Davids: 1. De Gea 2. Beckham 3. May 4. Bellion";

"David De Gea IS the bus".

It was in the 56th minute. The score was 1-2 in favour of Manchester United. Arsenal, true to its name, had since the initial calamitous 11 minutes of the 1st half, bombarded the United defence with various artillery of choice. Swarming wave after wave of attack. Airborne, terrestrial and everything in between. The sustained effort had already produced a quizzical but actually simple Lacazette goal in the 49th minute and there was no relenting (I made a silent bet with myself that, as was becoming the norm in these kind of games, United would start the 2nd half sluggishly and concede. Needless to say, Pessimistic me won the bet). Still prying and probing, a through pass snuck past the United backline and Lacazette, again, was onside virtually one on one with David De Gea...

There had previously been only one instance before where my life literally flashed before me. 

Many years back, I was on my way with some jolly good fellows to Takwa Bay for the then-famous 'Sunday At The Bay', an always exciting end of the month hang-out via a motorised canoe. And when I say 'canoe', I mean a wooden contraption riddled with holes that would agreeably move along as long as the 'engine' (another one requiring a unique definition) cooperated. Oh, and the life-jackets we were provided could as well have taken our lives. Ah, the recklessness of youth. About 8 of us on it. A quarter way through the journey to, our canoe did a full tilt. Did I mention that I couldn't swim and almost drowned in a bath tub when I was younger?  No, I didn't. Now I have. Every high and low I had experienced in my existence did a highlight reel. I actually did have the time to ask myself, "Is this how it ends?"...

...Really, is it how this ends? How would I face the uncountable ABUs (Anybody But United), the mocking rivals, the jesters, the social media footsie group antagonists, colleagues, the convenient after-bad-result phone callers and in some cases all of the above rolled into one? How do I, in my lifetime, explain away or rationalise Arsenal coming back from 2 goals down to equalise United from what was a vantage position without breaking into word salad? There was only going to be one winner if that shot went in and this even before the Pogba/Bellerin circus act. 

Don't forget, here I was just recovering and coming to terms with what would be our game play for the most discernible future so I was still trying to keep my cool despite the fact we-were-defending-from-the-11th-minute-when-arsenal-were-ripe-for-the-taking-and-it-was-quite-clear-that-we-could-score-every-time-we-broke-forward-and-we-were-unnecessarily-inviting-pressure-on-an-already-shaky-defence-and-it-was-very-reminiscent-of-a-small-team's-tactics-and-there-was-a-situation-were-we-were-3v3-and-Martial-passed-back-to-a-midfielder-and-I-wanted-to-blow-my-top-and-I-said-to-myself-this-isn't-my-United-but-I-eventually-decided-to-have-a-soda-and-a-smile-as-recommended-by-Mr. Pryor-and-chill. But still this?

Thankfully, just like God in my waterways travail, our beloved David had other plans. He somehow kept out the Lacazette shot and followed it up with one of the most stupendous saves you will ever see. Alexis Sanchez, him with the shots that explode like fireworks, followed up the rebound with a just as vicious strike. David, again instinctively, more than kept out, repelled the missile with the sole of his cleat boot. Un-be-liev-able. The look on Lacazette's face after that sequence of events was equivalent to De Gea's current market value - priceless. The best keeper in the world. No contest.

                                                               vavel.com captured this beauty...

That was when I knew we were going to win the game.

A smooth breakaway involving Lukaku, Pogba and Lingard shortly after confirmed what I already suspected. 1- 3. Game over. Two possible penalties against us regardless, we held on for a famous victory in one of the weirdest games I've seen in a long while.

Special kudos must also be given to the three central defenders who ordinarily inspire as much confidence as an England football team penalty shoot-out. Smalling lay every thing on the line and then some. Lindelof is slowly, and hopefully surely, coming good. He's been decent to good in the last couple of games he has played and he put in yet another assured performance against elite opposition. Rojo fortunately didn't go all cro-magnon man on the day and held up.

Ashley Young seems to relish these kind of games where graft is in higher demand than gift. If sweat was parallel to worth, young Ash would be worth $100M+. Valencia is another one. And he did that thing were he puts his foot through the ball to great effect. While I vainly try and look past Lingard's  post-goal celebrations, I must commend him for the goals he has scored over the past week - important and exquisite. About time he starts to earn his salary...

Was Pogba's unintentional but unbridled stride cum plunge into Bellerin's unnaturally positioned calf a red card? Yes, according to the rules of the game. One of the offences for which a player can be sent off is if he his guilty of serious foul play. 'Serious Foul Play' is described as using "...excessive force or brutality against an opponent when challenging for the ball when it is in play." It further states that "Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force and endangering the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play". Yup, fits the description. See also the famous case of Mane v Ederson (2017). The club has smartly also decided not to appeal the card.Shame like Monie as he was in good form and had been talismanic to the side since his return. Oh well...

A very good result in spite of what I shall still consider a worrying performance. I know, I know...this is how the gaffer prefers to set-up his team and he usually gets results as he did on that day. I know. I'm just saying. Inflicting the gunners' first defeat on their patch since January 2017 is no mean feat. But I've never considered luck a strategy. De Gea is getting all the plaudits now as he should but it would be asinine to expect him to pull of these sort of quite frankly miraculous saves every week if he's exposed to this level of 4G attack (14 saves on the day. 33 shots at goal). Rather alarmingly, that's what a number of fans already expect.

The next league game is the almighty derby against Manchester City. Old Trafford. Sunday. The game has assumed a much bigger dimension that it already is. City are still 8 points ahead of United after patenting 'Fergie Time' in their last 3 matches. They have equalled the league record of 13 straight wins in one season. A win against United will make them sole holders of the record. United has won all its home league games this season and are unbeaten at home since...the last time City visited. Curiously too, Jose Mourinho has never lost a Sunday home league game. Whew. I know it would be a tough game. I believe it would be very ugly. I suspect there'll be a number of surprises in tactics adopted on the day particularly sans Pogba. I pray we win. But I sure do hope we don't play "door-mat defensive football" as may be instinctive. De Gea may not be enough to offer goalkeeping salvation on that day...

But first is the little matter of making qualification certain in the Champions League. CSKA Moscow come visiting on Tuesday evening in the last game of the group phase. We'll qualify.

Signing Out,

B.L...   


Your Answers Are:

* The World Cup Draws have been made. Is there really a group of death? Will Nigeria qualify from her group? Argentina and Nigeria in the same group for the 5th time in Nigeria's 6 appearances. Surely, an exchange program should be now be acceptable?

* What is happening to Borrusia Dortmund?

* Can Spaletti, Icardi, Perisic and Co. go all the way? Don't tease me, please...

* How can LeBron James be MVP in his 15th season???? Even while the biggies are coasting till March, he's still operating at optimum level. Insane. 

* The Tiger is back. But is it enough for him to just act or he need to show his tigritude?

* What's the job description of a Commissioner for 'Happiness And Couples' Fulfilment'? 

Confessions Of A Recovering Addict...

I haven't been feeling very good of late.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

You know that old friend you see after a very long time and you are in the moment very excited to re-connect with? You both suddenly recall that you reside in the same locale, still share some common friends and even engage in similar hobbies. "So why haven't we been hanging out all this while?", you wonder. You fix a date to hang out and do as intended. And then at day's end, you remember with a wry smile and droplets of regret why you haven't seen this fellow all this while. I wasn't unintentional. 

I have over the past couple of weeks several times imagined a sit-down with Jose Mourinho. None of these conversations ended well. He called me an ingrate. I called him soulless. He called me a poet. I retorted that he was vile. He taunted me with evidence of his exemplary track record of success. I reminded him of how much he had spent to buy that success over his career. 'Judas is still number 1', he said. Judas ended up hanging himself at the Field of Blood, I advised. He preached pragmatism. I sermonised on joy. He referred me to the upward trend of results and captured silverware since he took over. I reminded him of his often cantankerous and poisonous 3-year expiry date (Not 'Best Before'. Expiry. Rotten. Gone Bad. Irreconcilable differences). He boasted that his clout attracts big players and gave Zlatan Ibrahimovic as an example. I agreed but also painted the nightmarish picture of Romelu Lukaku trying to dribble past Victor Lindelof during training sessions.

All in all, I believe we both made fairly good points and settled on agreeing to disagree. No love lost. He maintains his position that football and competitive sport is all about winning. I have come to the conclusion that  my spirit aggressively doesn't agree with that assertion however logically valid.  Maybe I've been spoilt by Sir Alex. Maybe the Brazilian squads of the 90s, and early noughties did same. Federer, Sampras, Guardiola's Barcelona, pre and prime Galactico Real Madrid, Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, Muhammad Ali, 90s Milan, teams and individuals who have shown that sport can be about glory and entertainment. So I know this is possible and achievable. There's, for me, a mandatory feel-good factor required from the greatest/best sporting performances and teams. The rabid safety-first sterilised approach just doesn't cut it for me.

Isn't it funny that Tottenham Hotspurs, a team United recently beat, behind us on the league table (by goal difference), who has won approximately zilch in the last decade, is celebrated as a team on the up and a 'stronger' team than we are? In contrast, former landlords of London, Arsenal, who have won 3 F.A. Cups in the last 4 years, are currently regarded as a failed project and somewhat inferior to Spurs. Why is this? Which set of fans do you think are happier? Or is it because Spurs are regarded as having a lower expectation ceiling and so their contemporary 'achievements' (Read 'final league placing') are worth celebrating? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Chelsea lost 2-3 to Burnley on the opening day of the season but it was a (eventual) performance that scared the bejeezus of me. With 9 men against Burnley's 11 in the last 15 minutes or so, only one side attacked with verve and had assumed full control. It was not the 11 men. If there were 5 extra minutes at the end of 90, Chelsea would have won that match. Not drawn. Won. The Watford and Spurs comeback performances were impressive but this was a display that foretold or rather re-enforced (They are defending champions after-all) the notion that they remained a team to be reckoned with.  A good number of their fans were optimistic about their chances for the season after that match. Remember again, that it ended in a loss.

Another one is Liverpool. Their attacking play has fans on the edge of their seats with their pulses racing even faster than Mane and Salah's feet (so does their abject defending but that's another story...). Still, Merseyside Red does not look any closer to winning any trophy. Klopp's job has been rumoured to be on the line after some damaging defeats but for every such performance comes a devastatingly lethal attacking display which quietens such rumours. The trick is that he has infused the fans, and by extension the team, with a feverish passion for the game. It may be romantic but there is a given expectation every time his team steps on the field. You never know whether it would be Mr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde showing up for lunch but at least you have something to look forward to.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”

C.S. Lewis 

So am I simply advocating for playing pretty or gung-ho without results? Facade over structure? Mind over matter? Particularly in football? Certainly not. But there is something about a positive  performance, W, L or D that offers the promise of hope, excitement, continuity and belief  for the supporters. A stifling 1-0 or clinical counter-attacking 4-0 win has its uses but should not be the main course. The undulation of emotions constitutes a major part of the game. '99 is forever cherished for this reason. It's okay to concede as long as you score more. How many times did Sir Alex's United come back from a seemingly insurmountable deficit to win a game? Even West Ham's Moyes (SMH) did so with United in the Champions League against Fenerbache. In comparison, Mourinho has never won a game in his coaching career when losing by 2 goals or more. That is not a freak statistic. There's a very clear reason why.

I would have taken solace in the fact that this is a relatively new team and there is an ongoing rebuilding process but I know for certain this isn't some sort of transition - this is the reality. This is how Mourinho prefers to play the game and he is content with his tried and tested method. A key factor of what his mandate has been at all the clubs he has managed has been the need to break some sort of settled hegemony and win at all cost. Porto. Chelsea. Inter Milan. Real Madrid. In all cases, the destination superseded the journey and he delivered. United too engaged his services for something similar.

I'll be the first to admit that I favourably considered Mourinho as the leading option in our managerial search after Van Gaal's confusing (Jones was taking corner kicks at a time) and miserable tenure. See, I was desperate...I knew he would deliver a title or two and rankle a couple of now emboldened managers along the way. I, like millions of others, needed something to be able to again brag about. So did the United Board apparently. And so I think we sold our soul for some pottage. Heroin may get you uplifted for a short period but it is always eventually destructive. Drugs don't work...

My high has worn off. I've been cold turkey for the last couple of weeks and intend to stay sober (and woke) till whenever this contract ends. I have accepted that Ashley Young is our starting left back and that RedRom cost upwards $90 million. I have accepted that this United team is much better (or should I say 'functional'?) with a Marouane Fellaini in it. Yes, Chris Smalling remains our vice-captain. I know Shaw would be sold January as "his fitness is no where near the level it should be". It's safety first and entertainment a distant second. I know and understand. I did sign up for this after-all...Refer to ♫ Snoop Dogg's 'Murder Was The Case' and DMX's 'Damien' for a better understanding.

I just pine for the days when winning a title was more a cause for celebration than for relief.

Next Up: Manchester United will attempt to wriggle its way past Newcastle's two barricades of 4 at Old Trafford on Saturday, 15th November, 2017. GMT 5.30pm.

Signing Out,

B.L.


Your Answers Are...

* The Internationally retired Gianluigi Buffon. 175 caps. Most capped Italian player. 1 World Cup. A UEFA European Championship Runners-Up Medal. Is Gigi the greatest European goalkeeper ever?

* Is there currently a better midfielder in the world than Kevin De Bruyne? 

* Is Zlatan Ibrahimovic going to unretire and grace the World Cup for one last time...to the possible detriment of his team?

* Not a question but a fact - Ben Simmons is already the NBA Rookie of the Year.

* Who can stop Lewis Hamilton apart from Lewis Hamilton next season?

* Would anyone who saw the Germany v France friendly believe that International Friendly football is dead?

* Who actually believes Life-President Robert Mugabe is just "under house arrest"?   

The Nobility Of Caution

First of, special shout-outs to Agents Tom Cleverly and Wilf Zaha. Well done.

A special mention also to Agent Mame Diouf for exhibiting courage in the face of intense hostile Bruynic enemy fire...well done.

Act. I - Patents of Nobility:

"So with patches on my britches,

Holes in both my shoes,
In my coat of many colours,
I hurried off to school,
Just to find the others laughing,
And making fun of me,
In my coat of many colours,
My mama made for me..."         -        Dolly Parton, "Coat Of Many Colours"

With CSKA Moscow and Crystal Palace promptly dispatched in the last two matches and the seeming rehabilitation of the careers of Fellaini and Young complete, Saturday the 14th's lunch time dish of the always mega-clash against Liverpool looked appetising. But then there was the pesky international break (actually, World Cup Qualifiers) coming up again to disrupt things. Rashford suffered a knock even as England qualified for the the tournament in its usual largely comfortable but unconvincing manner, Romelu had an injury scare, Valencia travelled half way round the world to conclude was what already a doomed campaign, Mkhi travelled not as far for a similarly doomed  effort, Bailly did his groin in and Carrick some how got injured despite not playing any competitive game in a bit. Good news was Matic scoring, qualifying for the World Cup with Serbia and also escaping unscathed during the fixtures.

The real tragedy of the the break though was Marouane Fellaini's (Marouane Fellaini!!) knee ligament damage while playing for an already qualified Belgium. The unavailability of this modern United cornerstone wasn't going to totally derail our best laid plans against Liverpool, was it? September Player Of The Month, Anthony Martial was well rested. So were Ander and Juan. Others including some of those mentioned above came back from short international trips as healthy as any of our fellow competitors so we could still expect to take advantage of a notoriously generous Liverpool defence, yes? Err...Not quite... 

The thing is, like is very common in basketball, Klopp's Liverpool creates puzzling match-up problems for Man United. The same way United has historically struggled against possession-retaining, sharp and crisp passing, twinkly-toed Spanish sides. Even when we win, rarely would you see United dominate such games. It's a different story when it comes to even the top clubs of other countries but Spanish teams just are a constant pain in the behind. Interestingly, other English clubs manage and acquaint themselves better against Hispanic opposition. The mystery of match-ups...

Perhaps its Liverpool's (i) blinding pace (ii) energy combined with (iii) their quick passing and interchanges that pose reoccurring challenges to our not-too-fast back-line (especially with Bailly missing and Valencia somewhat fatigued). Still, one would ordinarily expect a variation of tactics to adequately compete against the traditionally biggest head of the hydra-headed monster to our ambitions. All our forwards are pacey. We should be capable of properly executing games even without apparently long-term absentee Pogba and MvP Fellaini. Surely, it was still possible to hit on the counter attack and ruin Mr. Dalglish's special day...

Alas...it was not to be.

Putting it bluntly, what transpired on Saturday was horrible to watch particularly from the United perspective. There was only one team attempting to play. The other was simply prepared to stifle. This wasn't Chess; This was mess. There was no initiative, no drive, no energy. Mkhitaryan put in arguably his worst performance in a United shirt. Martial again did that infuriating thing of being absolutely  inept at the very period you expect something great from him. He was up isolated against Joe Gomez, for goodness' sake. Frustratingly inconsistent. Young suspected he would suffer hypothermia if he ventured further up the field. (These days) He may have a good cross on him but he remains severely lacking in the gumption department. Herrera kept literally jumping into the wrong conclusions at almost every opportunity. No link-up play, no midfield and...yeah, Romelu 'I'm-not-a-flat-track-bully' Lukaku touched the ball less times than Mignolet and fluffed his one golden chance. Imagine this without any actual effort from United's part. 

It simply wasn't a Manchester United performance and there's a recent trend in this regard with respect to the big games. As a fan, it irks. An awful lot. But wait a minute... 

"And oh I couldn't understand it
For I felt I was rich
And I told them of the love
My mama sewed in every stitch
And I told them all the story
Mama told me while she sewed
And how my coat of many colors
Was worth more than all their clothes..."

...What exactly where you expecting?? This is after all a Mourinho team. Truth be told, I've referred to our manager as anti-football more times than I can count even before he joined United and we all know that leopards do not change their spots. You can argue that Mourinho has before United operated with more street-wise(?)...dynamic(?)...technical(?)...'professionally mature' personnel and coupled with the injuries to his main facilitators, what did you think he was going to do? Entertain you? Go gung-ho? Attack at the risk of being susceptible to Liverpool's counter-attack? Poetry v Pragmatism? Mayweather v Pacquaio. I often called Floyd a 'sterilised fighter' because of the meticulous detail he puts into picking all the aspects of his fights to ensure he gains an advantage no matter how little. From the weight of the gloves to the standard of blood testing to the venue to morality v the rule book, he fine-combs every aspect in order to secure an edge. That mega-fight should have come at least 3 years before it did. Pacman is a brawler and power-puncher. Floyd is a counter-puncher. As you age, I understand that in boxing, after speed, strength/power is the next to go. The technique almost always remains. By the time they fought, I believe that at least two-thirds of the Pacman's core competences were severely eroded and Floyd simply had to do what he had always been excellent at and still retained - defend and jab - to win. It wasn't pretty and was at times abominable but he's remained (and retired) undefeated for a very good reason. Jose thinks that way too. 

Mourinho was never going to put his team/record/reputation on the line to placate the purists or the poets knowing he did not have, in his thinking, his full arsenal to confront Liverpool. Rather a bore draw than an exciting loss. Cliched and all, but points win titles. That was +1 at a difficult venue against a challenger for the league. Say and write what you may, but the numbers are always greater than the prose. The Gerrard-slip match is forever etched in the anti-football hall of infamy for me but the records will state that his team still won that game 0-2. 

So...that's one extra point. Chelsea and Arsenal didn't get any over the weekend. I don't like at all how it was obtained but there's no point being faux-outraged about what I knew all along (Hi, Hollywood!"). The bottom-halfers and mid-tablers will (and should) receive the backlash. Be prepared to appreciate your ugly coat against the heavy hitters as long as Jose is in charge. Which brings me to...

Act II. - Silence is Golden

Our motor-mouth manager. There's now a bit of background to the fact that he's in the prelude of negotiating a contract extension but comments such as he made over the weekend are unhelpful and tone-deaf to the zeitgeist around the club.  I get it. This is a business. You use your leverage to get the best possible deal. Everybody involved in the game does it. Rooney did it to great effect. Clubs do it when re-negotiating contracts with injured or auxiliary players. That's the name of the game. Jose has admittedly dragged the club half-way out of the dungeon it had been in for the last 3 years preceding his employment. His work is evident. He has leverage.

But what I find unacceptable is the need to so publicly attempt to tear up the script knowing fully well that your end game is to read from that very text. Alienating the fans and low-key disrespecting the club is not going to endear you towards any base. Why ultimately mess up the specific thing you so desperately want to achieve? You don't burn down a room to kill a fly.

Nobody really expects Mourinho to end his career at Manchester United. But at least he can (try to) conduct himself with dignity during his length of stay at the club. Resist the urge to say something outlandish whenever a microphone is put in your face. But I hear leopards don't change their spots...

Next Up: Benfica (A) in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday the 18th.

Signing Out,

B.L...


In Other News:

* Ser Kevin De Bruyne. What a player. Nuff said.

* Jupp Heynckes is back to work his magic, Dybala has missed 2 penalties in a row and Napoli has won 8 straight games. Monaco has started losing ground in France and the Prince of Milan, Mauro Icardi got a poacher's hat-trick in a very enjoyable Milan derby. 

* The NBA season begins today. While Golden State are still the favourites, Cleveland has put together a formidable team. Remember when you were younger and you made sure your cereal of choice was drowned with full-fat milk and unhealthy amounts of sugar? Yeah, me too. That's kind of what the Cavaliers have constructed - disgusting but sweet. Let the games begin!

* Nobody should dictate how to protest to you. As long as you are within the confines of the law and decency, you have a right to register your complaint in any way you deem fit. Threatening to bench or punish players because they have chosen to protest in a certain way is in itself discriminatory, intimidation and oppressive. All elements of racism. It even worse when there's a blatantly false spin on the why and when these protests are taking place. As they say, "Stay woke"...    

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

*WARNING - Beware of possible head-scratching contradictions*

Shortly after the Burton Albion Carabao Cup victory on Tuesday, a recap of the game unfolded in a Manchester United chat forum. While, of course, there was a consensus of contentment in the fairly accurate result, others like myself still grumbled about the team's wastefulness and alarmingly re-occurring lengthy patches of disjointedness dating back to the previous league game against Everton which ended in a teeny-bit-too-flattering 4-0 scoreline. And then the following statement was made:   

"So in all competitions we conceded just *2 goals (*3 actually, including Burton's last minute Pereira gift)? Scored what? 22?
You guys have all been restored to default ManUtd mode...Spoilt fans...😆"

Fair point.

Does it really really matter if 10 gilt-edged chances are squandered but the team still wins 5-0? Even if Lukaku seemingly prefers to score his rebounds (which is a skill in itself, I guess), isn't the most important thing the fact that he scores? Like the hilarious viral clip of the kid with the awkward ("Lord have mercy...") dab, isn't the key thing the fact that he did (some sort of variation of) it? What would Crystal Palace and Alaves fans make of all this nit-picking? Does it matter if three-quarters of the goals are scored in the final 10 minutes or the first 10? So Ashley Young is not a natural full-back yet he has provided 2 quality assists in as many games in that position; why complain? The (formerly) much reviled Fellaini is apparently not a Manchester United player but he has been an effectual "rim protector" and game-saver a good number of times for this United team. Asides the free-scoring neighbours, no other side in the league has put in as many goals past opponents than United has. So what's the fuss?

But they will be found out against better opposition  

Without the benefit of divine clairvoyance, you can only attend to/strategize for such games as they are presented.  

What of goal difference?

If you beat the league-leading scorers and closest rivals by a lone goal whether through a dodgy penalty, shades of offside or an own goal, would goal difference matter?

But...but...it's not entertaining football! 

As the meme states, if you want to please everybody, go sell ice-cream. This is pragmatic-points-on-the-board-high-stakes football. Winning supersedes entertainment...

So perhaps, the summary of the above is basically this: Utopian ideas of perfect football week in and out should immediately be abandoned. A vast majority of fans and supporters primarily seek some form of glory from their sides (not to be confused with "glory-hunting") and this is perfectly acceptable. It is a sport after all. How this is obtained may vary but except you are Brazilian circa 1990-1994, the end simply justifies the means. Results over aesthetics. Results over performance. Nokia 3310 with airtime over iPhone whatever without airtime and data (Aha!). There's a reason FIFA regularly and controversially (and often incorrectly, in my opinion) rewards the player of the winning team as the Best Player of the Tournament/Year in spite of another player having a more rounded/better performance all tournament or season long (watch this space) - winning is the bigger business. 

Original picture of the sainted Lukaku courtesy Independent.co.uk

Like the game against Southampton yesterday, sometimes all you need is something edible to quench the hunger. Taste and flavour are unimportant. Your full belly is. It was a game the team could have lost any other day but they showed great resolve and character to protect the early lead. Considering that a draw would have been a fair result, the victory and 3 points earned were priceless. W > D > L.

That said, I still do not agree with the absolute infallibility of the evidence of 'winning'.

Football is neither chess nor checkers. That's why it is not played on a game board. There is, I dare say, an unwritten obligation to entertain the audience. Football is performing arts. Being a spectator sport, the 'how' is nearly (not as, no...not as) important as the 'what'. Each dive from the platform may not always be a 10 but you damn well need to aspire to that figure every time you jump into the pool. Nobody buys a Ferrari to carry out stately burial processions. There is still a right of complaint to demand certain things a certain way when an outfit costs €784m thereabouts. Jose may call proponents of this ideology 'poets' but I believe the essential truth is not lost on him.

Robert Fulghum's Storyteller's creed begins, "I believe imagination is stronger than knowledge...." It was that inventiveness and fantasy element to the sport and to Sir Alex's team that first made me a fan of the game and the club and not the rudimentary application of the rules to the sport. Simple lay-ups do not maketh the NBA. (Pre-fight) Mayweather maketh Boxing. DJ Kool Herc introduced us to it but Rakim made us fall in love with it. The artists are the ones who live with you forever.

The fact remains that winning a match doesn't mean a perfect game was played and that there aren't areas for improvement. Post-match football analysis and debate are required eternal exercises. That's a major part of what makes it interesting. No two games are the same (even in football video games) so the euphoria experienced today may morph into invoking ancestral curses and expletives on your favourite player next game. 

The secret to finding a balance with these contrasting emotions is to realise and accept that football is just a sport and that Mkhitaryan constantly over-running the ball is not meant to be a personal affront to your person but is just part of the game. You can't be overtly critical and also shouldn't be a 'win' robot. It also helps when at the end of the game, your team is the one with maximum points.

So the next time Herrera from a decent position skies a shot to row z (he's the current club Player of the Year), Rashford aimlessly and needlessly runs the ball into a barricade of opposition defenders (He's a prodigy), Martial misses a relatively easy chance (He's special, isn't he?) Romelu does his leg-sorting thingy (He'll eventually end up top goal scorer) and Jones loses his marker from a set-piece (Committed solid lad), just smile. Like a boss. Or you could also wild-out and criticise what you don't like.

Whatever the case, just look at the scoreboard and make sure your team is winning. 

And then it's okay whichever way...  

Next Stop: 3 points v CSKA Moscow (A) in the Champions League. Wednesday, 27th September, 2017. 

Signing Out,

B.L

In Other News:

* The much anticipated boxing match between Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez ended in an unfathomable draw according to the not-so honourable judges (Take a bow, Adalaide Byrd).  Churning out these sort of results does the current reputation of boxing no favours and to arrive at this conclusion in a bout meant to redeem the sport's image after the battering it had taken after the high-profile farce which took place weeks earlier, means this was a missed opportunity. I do not care too much about a rematch. Joshua v Wilder anyone?

* Morata, Lukaku and Aguero are all on 6 goals after 6 games. Cavani 7 (7) . Lewandowski 7 (6). Immobile 8 (6). Aubameyang has 9 in 6. Messi 9 (6). Dybala 10 (6). Falcao 11 (7). Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to get going but he can very easily get those numbers in 2/3 games. All familiar names on the goalscorers' chart except one. The Juventus star is having a breakout season and is about to shoot into the superstar stratosphere. Would it be Real Madrid or Barcelona?

* Carmelo Anthony is taking his talents (and baggage) to Oklahoma to form another Big 3 with Westbrook and Paul George with the Thunder. CP3 had previously hooked up with Harden and his beard while Isaiah Thomas had joined LeBron (which automatically makes the Cavaliers a Big 5 - Any star in addition to LeBron is) with Neymar Kyrie  Irving going the other way to be THE man in Boston alongside Gordon Hayward and...ahem...Al Horford. Methinks Golden State should still be comfortable. Congratulations, Porzingis! It's yours!

* There is only one way the PSG penalty fiasco will ultimately end - Cavani can still give at least 2 good years to a top European club come next summer.

* And how could I forget? The Gentle Giant of Country Music, Don Williams passed away on the 8th of September at the age of  78. He was an essential part of the soundtrack to my childhood. A master of the simple yet deep lyric.

"I Don't Want To Be The Fiery Sun/

I Just Want To Be Your Candle Honey/I Just Want To Be Your Candle Baby/Let The Sun Shine On...

I Don't Want To Be The Deep Blue Sea/I Just Want To Be Your Cup 'o Tea/I Just Want To Be Your Cup 'o Tea/Let The Sea Rage On..."

Rest In Peace, Giant...🌹

Back From Cloud 9...

...So we can all calm down now.

The  Puff the Magic Dragon start to the season has been given a reality check. Not that anyone was expecting a 38 game win season but the circumstances in which the deserved draw was obtained will certainly put a lot of things in proper perspective.

First of, it is important we draw (I'm beginning to hate the word) derive a balance into the meaning of the result - a 2-2 score against a for-some-reason recently dogged bogey Stoke team at the bet365 is not a disaster. Contenders often drop points there and one has even recorded a loss there this early season. In recent years, the Potters always seem up for it whenever United is in town and Sparky also seems to have a potent antidote (including on the sidelines too) for our Special One in these fixtures. In summary, our final output was totally commensurate to our total input. Even Stephens. Fair enough.

Secondly, I think we need to once and for all dispel the myth of P.I.B.F.S. i.e. Post International Break Fatigue Syndrome. Having 16-18(?) first-teamers away for the now standardised 2-week International fixture period is to be expected and appropriately managed by big clubs. It should not serve as an excuse for sub-par performances. City*, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs all have established internationals who participated in the qualifiers but they all returned to put in cohesive performances and administer spankings to their opponents. (Would we rather have faced Liverpool?) None of ours came back with any significant injury, some didn't even get to play and the farthest traveller was Ecuadorian Antonio Valencia who followed up his country's torrid qualification results with a poor performance yesterday. Perhaps he is to be exempted...until you look at the neighbour's South Americans and those in Catalonia and environs and then...nah...no excuses. The management simply has to find a way to eke out adequate performances under the circumstances.

* City did not administer a 'spanking' to their opponents - that was a mauling. Kinda like what Sadio Mane managed to do, deliberately or not, to Eduardo's profile.

Another to be forever banished, is the so-called "fixture pile up" excuse. Starting with Stoke yesterday, there's a Sat-Tue-Sun-Wed-Sat-Wed-Sat run of matches all through September which consist of Champions League, League and League Cup games. Isn't this what we've always wanted? Sooooo I expect the team to relish and own these competitive fixtures rather than treat them like Vice President Selina Meyer basically treats anything - with disdain and complaint. And that's specifically to you, Jose. I'm sure a certain Rafa Benitez would be willing to swap places given the opportunity...anyways, like Smokie said, don't play your rock n' roll to me. Get in!

FC Basel is coming up 2 days away in the Champions League (Hurray!) and there are a 3 things which are becoming more evident by the day concerning the squad which I would want to enumerate here. One I've mentioned severally, one I'm only fully coming to terms with and and the last I've only just discovered. My thoughts, folks...just my thoughts...

Original photo of rugged RedRom courtesy Metro.co.uk

1. Romelu Lukaku will score goals but...

4 goals in 4 games. You can't, on those basic stats, ask for more. And I know he's still going to score many more barring injuries. Very likely in line to be the 1st Manchester United striker since RvP to score 20 league goals in a season. 89 league goals in 190 games. 24 in 59 for his country. 150 in 322 career numbers averaging 1 in 2. He's still only 24 years young. This man will score goals. The problem however is that...how does one put this?..Romelu has some very very essential shortcomings. Have you watched a learner trying to reverse/turn a car on a narrow road? Can you try and imagine Shaq as a footballer? 🎵"You got me tripping...stumbling...flipping...fumbling...______ cos I'm falling in love...". Ever heard the term 'flat-track bully'? Do you get my drift?😅.

On the biggest stages, that lack of coordination, composure, awkwardness and ungainliness will be exposed and eventually, bitterly regretted. I hope not. There is still time to improve. Then again, some of the best strikers in the world had many limitations but the secret to their success (which isn't much a secret) was to play to their assets. Ronaldo de Lima had how many headed goals for instance? Pippo Inzaghi was never going to leave the entire back line on its backside before calmly placing the ball in the net and Ruuuuud! was not expected to give you a 35 yard howitzer. Not when you had Giggsy to your left, Becks to your right and Keano and Scholesy behind you...Ah, nostalgia...

Romelu is all power and pace. The team then has to quickly and consistently learn to play to his strengths. Play the ball into spaces behind the defence. Play the ball over the top of the defence. Try and get him isolated with a defender. Provide accurate dangerous crosses into the '18 which brings me to...

2. Our sterile wing-play 

This one drives me absolutely nuts. Right from last season, and in some cases 5 years back, we knew that 1. Valencia could not cross accurately. 2. Fosu could not cross accurately. 3. Rojo (when played as a full back) could not cross accurately 4. Blind (who should) could not cross accurately 5. Lingard could not cross accurately 6. Martial could not cross accurately 7. Rashford could not cross accurately 8. Mata is not a winger. 9. Shaw's appearances are like the total eclipse and 10. Darmian is generally as useful as a one-legged person in an ass-kicking contest. And I'm not talking the rare/occasional cross which surprisingly finds its target in a spectacular manner. I'm talking 'consistently'.

The one-who-got-away-who-also-recently-renewed-his-clubvows-for-another-5years' legend (and value) continues to grow with each passing day. But weren't there any other decent full backs/wingers in the market? I know the transfer market has gone totally gaga for obvious prospects and established players isn't that why we possess a renowned scouting network? To unearth hidden gems? Nobody? Nothing? Pending when those available make drastic improvements in their final pass, prepare to be often irritated. Speaking of irritations...

3. Pogba

And I'm not even referring to the haircut(s). I'm not part of the club's (well run, I must commend) PR machine so I'm going to say it as it is -This dude need to get his finger out. We can't continue to pretend that these performances are acceptable from our marquee player. You can't have all of this obvious talent and attend to football games with all the seriousness of Sesame Street. The much-derided Fellaini, with a 1/4 of this man's talent has made himself indispensable (to his coach at least) in the big games and hate it or hate it, he often comes through. To the best of his ability, he performs at a 9/10. Paul phones in a 5. You can't continuously casually keep giving the ball away in dangerous areas while holding on the ball when there are several options around you. I'm done with the whole 'still young' thing and like I stated here previously, the time to perform is now. He still needs his hand held and with the (now, let's admit, honorary) captain and old head essentially a bench warmer, who then provides the leadership in ability and example on the field? Valencia is obviously just filling in and Christopher Smalling is the vice-captain. I repeat, it's make or break season. The goals have thankfully started coming, which is nice, but the consistency is what is most required. Pogba, please...

Bailly and Jones had individual and collective 'mares yesterday making Eric Choupo-Moting look like a cross between Roy of the Rovers and Cristiano Ronaldo but I want to consider that an aberration rather than the norm. Same with Ander (recent lack of playing time?). We know the trio is capable of much better.  

There are understandably going to be a lot of rotations these coming days and I sincerely hope all called upon stand up and be counted. The slate is still largely blank. And more ominously, January, which brings another transfer window, is just round the corner. 😠

Still, the team is looking more cohesive, more in sync, more united, than last time around. I still hold on to my early season prediction of a domestic trophy (or two) with a Quarter-final UCL appearance an achievement. Of course, I would prefer to be proved wrong on the latter by the team going even further and possibly winning it but then again...It's still early days. Come On You Reds!   

Signing Out,

B.L...


In Other News:

* Neighbourhood Watch : I'm not a superstitious person. But if for any reason Oxlade-Chamberlain is again in the transfer market, Messrs Glazer, please ignore. Even if offered for free. Particularly if he's ready to take a salary cut. Thanks. Mane madness and Salah slovenliness aside, could things have been drastically different? Does or should playing short one man give your opponents such a huge advantage (We do it every time Darmian is on to varying results so...)? Is there any credit to be given to the City's attack in that rampaging performance? We could do with a Mendy, couldn't we?

*Enemy/King-Slayer Watch: Alvaro Morata's new found heading ability and Chelsea's resilience have become as inconceivable as Bronn rescuing Jaime by pushing him into the sea, dodging dragon fire (and a waiting army), swimming what must have been a very lengthy distance, and then coming out to shore unscathed. Scary. Stockpile dragon-glass and and lay in wait behind the wall. Or bus...  

* Real Madrid are so good, they've given their major rivals a head start in the league this season. Expect them to start reeling their opponents in as soon as wonder-boy returns...or does this turn out like that didactic hare v tortoise race where the hare left itself with too much to do to win the race? Messi (another hattrick) & Co. have been said, including by yours truly, to be in dire straits but they are the only team with a perfect record in Spain after admittedly only 3 games. Shockingly too, they are yet to concede a goal (Sound familiar?). But come to think about it, their capitulation, like another English team usually begins in the new calendar year. Stay tuned...

*  By the time you're reading this Raphael Nadal would probably be the US Open Champion. Remarkable  tennis year for the oldies but goldies. Congratulations Jide Ajao! 😁

* (Rich)Twat of the Month: Connor McGregor. Do I even need to explain this?

* A proper boxing fight is going to take place on Saturday between Gennady "GGG" Golovkin and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. 1 loss and 67 knockouts between both fighters in 88 bouts. Who's your money on?

From Manual To AutoMatic...

Manchester United 4 - 0  West Ham. Lukaku debut brace. Martial. Pogba.

A Statement of Intent.

Laying down the marker.

Setting the standard.

I wouldn't lie, I'm a lot more excited than I'm probably giving off. And with good reason too. This isn't the first time United has started the season on a winning note post SAF. Heck, even Ol' Moyesy started with a 1-4 victory against Swansea. We went 3 on the trot last season before coming unstuck when City visited. So why should I be somewhat optimistic about this opening day victory?

Well for one, while fans of a London club are undoubtedly singing the chorus of Kenny Roger's 'Lucille' to the man, Old Trafford has gotten itself a new hero. Hint: He's tall, left-footed and made his official debut against Real Madrid in the Super Cup. Oh...wait that could be any of our 3 new signings...further hint: He didn't cost £75m. That rules out the impressive Romelu Lukaku...Lindelof didn't play yesterday so....it has to be excellent Fans' Player Of The Year nominee, Nemanja Matic! God, I love the boy! Instant classic like Illmatic. If  Herrera is an eraser, Matic is a vacuum cleaner. He made more passes, tackles and oles than any body else on the pitch while exuding class, maturity and intelligence the entire game. A complete midfield performance. It says a lot when the Man Of The Match award is given to a defensive midfielder rather than a club record signing striker who just scored 2 well-taken goals in a powerful debut.

Picture of Matic doing his thing above courtesy Football FanCast

I'll be he first to admit that his performance seems so novel for the simple reason we haven't seen anything like it at the Stretford End since Keano. When you are hungry, anything edible tastes good. Isn't this the same Chelsea Matic of the last 3 years barely given a mention, firmly (and to be fair, understandably) in the shadow of the illuminating Hazard and dangerous Costa? Even the unassuming new-boy and eventual PoTY, N'golo Kante, had a higher profile than him in the squad. I've watched Matic several times for his former club but I don't remember him looking this good...is this just me? Does this mean Chelsea has a much better squad than we have or is he just a better fit for United (admittedly only on the strength of 2 games)? One's meat and another's poison and all that?...Why did Roman sanction the sale of this man? Seemed Conte wasn't too pleased with it, was he? Is there anything else apart from the American Elections that Putin is allegedly tampering with? The transaction is as puzzling as David Silva's new hairstyle...

But...

Whatever, man.

Again, Thank you, Roman.

Moving on, the team was menacing from the 1st minute and there was a bit more urgency and zip in the game play compared to previous performances. There was raw pace, power and not little technical ability on show all through. Rashford, if you can pardon his poor finishing, ran old Zabaleta ragged for the better part of the game only for the equally pacy and tricky Martial to apply the coup de grace in an as effective-as-you-can-remember cameo. Man-o-man, I still believe that Martial is a more talented footballer than Rashford but what gives Marcus the advantage is his 100% dedication and effort while on the field and most times in team sport, that's fundamentally all you need. You can never accuse him of not trying. See that backtrack tackle he made on the aforementioned Zaba when he may have been granted some respite if he just kinda ignored it? Truth be told, Anthony wouldn't, or rather, doesn't put in that much effort.

Romelu Lukaku. A Brute. Big, fast and a fair-to-fine finisher. Also current vice-captain of my Premier League Fantasy Team. (I'm not exactly trying to give you million dollars worth of game for $9.99 but I'm sure you can take the hint...).  The hulking Belgian has brought a new dimension to the United attack with his direct play and physicality which would always be a handful to opposing defenders. His goals were well-executed and served as a relaxant to the OT faithful. The less I say about his footwork though, the better. Basically, it's not likely there's a Strictly Come Dancing career after football.

Monsieur Pogba also scored a fine fourth after ensuring I had a lot to grieve about in spite of the generally impressive performance. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, never before has a player been cursed with the ability to complicate the simple things. The boy WILL go very far if he can cut that nasty habit out of his game but it's entirely up to him.

The defence was more than decent, the midfield purred and the attack was biting (Mkhi was another one with a brilliant display. 2 assists and always carried an air of danger. Keep it up!). On the balance of performance on the opening day fixtures, Manchester United has looked the most impressive team. Like the current NBA Champions, the coterie of players at the manager's disposal guarantees that there's a myriad of ways the team can hurt opponents. The team can go fast and zippy, play route-one big man sky-ball and even deliver a hybrid of both.

Even pending the Ivan Perisic (Did I hear an "Amen!"?), the team looks well equipped to successfully navigate the EPL waters. There are no absolutes of course but barring the absence of crucial injuries (like Chelsea enjoyed last season and Leicester the season before) and Mourinho keeping a head as good as Giroud's, there is maybe an...absolut. City started just as impressively last season and lost its way mid-way but this is THE Mystical Mourinho Second Season. We all know how these usually end up.

Next fixture is Swansea away on Saturday. Key-man, set-piece specialist and Old Trafford draw-enforcer, Gylfi Sigurdsson has won his right to properly explain to Wayne Rooney in the Everton dressing room why he converted that free kick consequent to the latter's late foul at Manchester last season. One less headache. A good performance and result will further 'lift the spirits' in more ways than one. Let's keep the gravy train rolling...

Signing Out,

B.L...


In Other News:

*El Clasico - The Prequel. Real Madrid and Zidane have created a problem for world football - It's going to be very hard to beat this team. The talent at their disposal is stacked and growing. More fascinatingly, the team doesn't ever park the bus. They just beat you with (much) superior fire-power. Without giving any significant attention (Oh, how he would hate that!) to man-child and prima donna Cristiano Ronaldo's antics, Madrid were as brilliant as Barcelona were Deulofeuestically poor. On paper, the addition of Paulinho does not significantly reduce the increasing gap between both teams. He may be 29 years old but he's no Matic. I kid, but except Valverde constructively varies the playing pattern, the Neymar exit is going to create a crater no £200m can ordinarily fix. I expect Madrid to finish the job on Wednesday. Back to Back to Back?

*Twat of the Week: In a performance that Hobbes' 'Leviathan' would describe as "...solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short", the winner can be none other than the ridiculous Jonjo Shelvey, team captain of newly promoted Newcastle United. I can't even ask what he was thinking at this point. If the Mike Ashley-enforced lack of funds does not chase Rafa Benitez away, this man and his mental like in the team, will.

*Did anybody have a better week than the Lukaku brothers? Younger brother, Jordan had perhaps the more difficult task of dislodging perennial favourites and Italian colossus, Juventus from the Italian Super Cup and he did what very few have been able to achieve in that region: succeed. He provided the assist for the appropriately-named Murgia to steal the win at the last minute. 3-2, it ended. Lukaku Bros. 2 Pogba Bros. 1...

* I never had time to give Manchester United legend* and record goal-scorer, Wayne Rooney a proper send-off (or forth). The good, bad and ugly memories will never be forgotten. He is going to be on the Old Trafford walls for a mighty long time. I just wish his exit wasn't as forced and necessary as it became. He's still only 31. The simply truth is that what he and his agents were able to so ignominiously but smartly eke out of the (desperate) club as his wages and contract were clearly no longer commensurate with his real-time abilities. That's the part most fans can't tolerate. Don't let your mouth write a cheque that your bum can't cash. On his return debut for his boyhood club Everton over the weekend, he actually moved like a striker and scored the solitary winning goal with a fine header. Wowsers! A 7-1 defeat for his team on his return to Old Trafford with him scoring a last minute penalty to a standing ovation would be an adequate thank you. All the best, Wazza...

* Also bidding bye-bye is the greatest sprinter ever, the incomparable Usain 'Lightening' Bolt. Jamaica's 2nd best export after Bob Marley didn't also leave in a manner many will consider appropriate. He did what he hadn't done in a major competition in the last decade - he lost. A bronze medal in the 100m and DNF in the 4 x 100m. Still, there's absolutely no blot on this man's legacy. As charming as they come, his records don't speak They scream. He has also assured us that he's not doing an Ali or Wizards' Jordan. Good enough for me...    

*Bye! 

Welcome Back, Dear...

“How I have missed you, Miss Competitive football!

Your flirty friend, Ms. Confederations Cup threw some inviting glances my way but being the faithful lover that I am, I merely smiled and nodded in her direction. The various pre-season tourneys and age-grade competitions offered “half whispered conversation with the promise of indiscretion ever hanging in the air”. I didn’t flinch. It’s great to have you back, dear…now, come here and give me a hug…

…but wait…gimme a minute…you see, the missus traveled just about the same time you did and she’s also just returned bearing gifts and expecting my attention…I also desperately need to see her. I’m sure you understand…but you know you always are going to be my immortal beloved. Mwah. I’ll be back in a bit…”

Last time I put fingers to keyboard, Manchester United was on the cusp of European glory* and a dignified passage into the Champions’ League group stages. Signed, sealed and comfortably delivered. Pogba and Mkhi. Cue, first, relief and then celebration. The missing silverware obtained. The perpetual and final 6^th place league position irrelevant. Adding the League Cup and the English Super Cup (otherwise known as the ‘worthless’ Community Shield to the haters. Lol) to this other accomplishment, 2016/17 was definitely a successful season.

The new management was brought in to move the club out of the dark ages it had been enveloped in post-SAF era while establishing a sound platform for further development. Check. All the new signings made an impact. Check. Bailly is arguably the best defender in the EPL, Zlatan reinvigorated the fans and has become to whatever extent, part of Old Trafford folklore, Mkhitaryan is in line to win the inaugural Best Player Of The Europa Cup competition award and Pogba is…well...has become…the current social media and commercial icon of the club. The natural expectation is that they each enjoy better subsequent seasons. Laurels of varying quality and glimmer were won. Check. A now positive atmosphere around the club. Check.

The club immediately swung into action as soon as the transfer window was open and finalised the signing of long-time target, Victor Lindelof for a princely fee of about £30 million (also known as ‘average players’ fees’ in today’s market). The towering Swede not named Zlatan has come from Benfica and has the advantage of being a perennial winner with his former club. Long may that mind-set continue and translate. His unofficial debut against LA Galaxy in the pre-season USA tour was assured and promising. His subsequent performances, unfortunately, have been anything but. I winced when he conceded that gruesome penalty against Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup and he was also negligible against the same team in last night's European Super Cup season starter. But there is time. I always suspected that it was going to be a tough bedding period transiting from the pace and purpose of Benfica in the Portuguese league to the unrelenting demands and concentration required from a Manchester United starter. He should and would have better games.

The talents of the muscular Romelu Lukaku were also purchased from Merseyside Blue for the eye-watering and kingly sum of about £75 million with potential add-ons. But he’s still basically 2½ times less Neymar quality. Honestly? I think we paid a bit too much for the burly Belgian. Granted, he's a proven EPL goal scorer and still young but I would have wanted a striker with a more technical nous and savvy e.g. Alvaro Morata (Yes, I know a lot would disagree with my position but I hope I'm proved wrong and Morata continues to perform and shoot like he did in the English Super Cup Community Shield. Still, that's how I currently feel.). I have also come to accept that Mourinho a lot of times employs individual attributes of players not for primarily football purposes but singularly to nullify, stifle, engage or rankle the opposition while the other 'footballers' go about their businesses and take advantage of the situation. Whatever works, eh? *shrugs* That said, I'm confident that Lukaku would score a decent number of goals for United this season.

Last recruit, (but hopefully not the last) and certainly not the least, is Nemanja Matic.

"Nemanja whoa!/Nemanja whoa!/

He comes from Serbi-a

He'll friggin' murder ye!" 

Whoa! Ok, Stay cool. Stay cool. Calm your horses. You can't just give him our legendary captain's song after just 2 games, one a friendly. The fing is, Matic or 'a Matic' is what this team has been screaming out for in the last decade or so. Tall. Tough. Tenacious. Technical. Classy. £40 million may be on the upside for a recently turned 29 year old but considering the insane transfer fees of the current market and the possibility of getting at least 3 optimum years from him, the fee will be money well spent and conservative compared to our projected achievements. Thanks, Roman! I understand his former coach is losing hair over his sale. No pun intended. I suspect his signing will be the over-riding game changer for United this season.

The opportunity of seeing all 3 in competitive action presented itself yesterday against Real Madrid in the Super Cup with mixed results. Lindelof struggled, Lukaku struggled (scored but also missed an easier sitter) and Matic was magic. Of course, we are aware that United lost the game by a complimentary 2-1 scoreline but Cheer up! - That's probably the toughest opposition we'll face all season! The team fought gamely for all 97 minutes and while we were out-classed for large swathes of the proceedings, the team never let its head down and competed till the final whistle. Vital and invaluable. The major concerns for me however were:

1. There's no point having Goliath of Gath, Yao Ming, Robert Wadlow and the Great Khali in the opposition's box if your set pieces are not going to beat the first opposition defender. It's frustrating, annoying and ultimately irresponsible. It persisted last season, continued all through the pre-season and seems to have extended its tenancy into this new one. I don't get why Rashford takes corners for United. I assume they train on this very important part of our play (now more than ever) so why are the in-game translations so abysmal?

2. Related to the above is our final ball delivery. Atrocious. Consistent inaccuracy and bad-decision making. Our "wingers" and "fullbacks" (We don't really have any) can't cross. Danny Carvajal and Marcelo continue to be important attacking weapons in the Madrid set-up. Carvajal provided the assist to Casimero for the 1st goal and was passing incisive laser beams all through the game. I still think we need to urgently buy in these departments.

3. Paul Pogba. 

Pogba's penchant  for attempting the needlessly spectacular/sensational/complicated instead of the basic, quick and effective pass is eye-ball scratchingly frustrating. Compare with the cliched but aptly described Rolls-Royce of a player, Luka Modric. I already tweeted yesterday that Paul should get a pencil and paper and sit at the feet of Luka while watching replays of yesterday's game. When 'unsellable' Marouane Fellaini has a much impactful game in 20 minutes or so more than you, then there may be need of a mental reset. Pogba shrivels in the big games and if he wants to be a top-most echelon player like he so often tries to portray, then he needs to play like one. He has no excuses this season and is not getting younger. His time is now.

4. Poor finishing. Geez. Lukaku. Rashford. At this level? No. Just no. Another bad habit seemingly carried over from last season. Unacceptable. 

All in all, yesterday's performance and result were not in any way fatal and I believe the team will still improve. 

My predictions for this season? EPL winners and a domestic cup. A Quarter-final appearance in the UCL (with the team "as-is"), in my opinion, would be a great achievement.

I'm just glad to have the football season back. 4pm. Sunday the 13th. Old Trafford. West Ham. Welcome back my darling...how was your holiday? 

Signing Out,

B.L.

In Other News:

* THE Neymar transfer figures. Wowsers. From a sporting perspective, I can understand why he wanted to leave (In the NBA, Kyrie Irving of the Lebron Cavaliers is doing exactly same) - the need to be the 'top dog/alpha male' in your team. Does this come from an egoistical place or from a purely competitive 'be-the-best-you-can-be' position? Perhaps both. He would have been guaranteed x number of titles continually playing aside Lionel Messi but he may also never get the individual acclaim sports-persons crave regardless of what they tell the media, if he remained.

He wins big in all areas with this transfer: money, becoming the centre of attention, unreserved adulation, the richest and biggest team in the league, a less challenging physical and psychological schedule which primes him nicely for the World Cup next year, the undivided focus of the Champions League and yet more money. Win-win-ching.

From the 'humanitarian' standpoint however, £198M (i.e. One Hundred and Ninety Eight Million Great Britain Pounds) ??? Is any sporting talent worth that? Even considering the commercial interests with his image and all, isn't that figure obscene? Mind, His Holiness threw a strop many years back when Christian Vieri was bought for a then record fee of £50 million. That's John Stones (who?) money today. Value is ultimately what you consider it, yes? Football has become big business but we are thankful for angels like Juan Mata (who must be retained even if not for his coach mis-applied football talent, but for the fact that he just seems to be a wonderful human being) who put things in proper perspective by way of his recent 1% noble initiative.

* Mayweather v McGregor. A travesty to the sport of boxing. Now more than ever, there's a voracious appetite for a spectacle rather than proper competition. This match-up is a product of the adulterous relationship between WWE and amateur boxing. Frighteningly, this is only the beginning of mixed sport competition. (Bolt to United?). Mayweather will permit the Irishman a few rounds to get the crowd interested before becoming 50-0*. Expect a rematch too . I shan't be watching this one...

* Celtic has begun its campaign to become the 1st team in history, old or modern, to go two straight seasons domestically unbeaten. Bayern Munich and Juventus seem to be suffering a winners-hangover. They've both been uncharacteristically dull in the transfer market but please do not be fooled - They love the chase which often leads to an inevitable conclusion at season's end...

* ...speaking of love and inevitable conclusions at life's season end, between my last post and this, I lost my mum to cancer. She was a loving, strong, kind and generous woman. She often called me after key games asking "Shey e win?" translated to mean "Did you guys win?". I suspect she usually knew the results before she called as there was a knowing, even cheery, ring in her tone after every loss or bad result. Her maker has received his most beautiful bride yet. Rest In Peace, Mummy.