Manchester Strong

“Come gather ‘round, people,

Wherever you roam/

And admit that the waters

Around you have grown/

And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone/

If your time to you is worth saving,

Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like as stone,

For the times they are a-changin’…”                                       - Bob Dylan 

Finally, the league season is over and it's time to review the happenings of the last 9 months.

Not so fast perhaps. There’s still the small matter today of that UEFA Champions League launching pad, the Europa League Cup final, to attend to before appraising holistically.

However domestically speaking, it has been 38 games, 18 wins, 15 draws (league leading. And by ‘league-leading’, I mean European league-leading), 5 losses (same as Champions, Chelsea), 54 goals scored (4 more than Sunday’s opponents, 14^th place Crystal Palace), 29 goals conceded (2^nd best in the league after Spurs), there have been highs (Chelsea (H)), lows (Chelsea (A)), good consistency (25-game unbeaten run), bad consistency (6^th position for an eternity), moments of brilliance (Mkhitaryan’s stinger, Zlatan’s winners), moments of bone-headedness (Fellaini's Goodison Park cameo, Smalling on the pitch), vintage Mourinho (the badge-thumping sneer, tactical lock-down of opponents) and 'vintage' Mourinho (touchline ban, the negative persona).

Final position? 6th. 

24 points behind the 1st team, 7 points away from the 4th.

In paradoxically keeping with both the manager's approach to the last couple of games and Manchester United's youth traditions, the club fielded its youngest ever side in the Premier League era (average age of 22) in Sunday's finale at home against Crystal Palace granting full debuts to goalkeeper Joel Pereira, left-back Demi Mitchell, midfielder Scott McTominay and goal-scorer Josh Harrop (Whatever happened to James Wilson??). Axel Tuanzebe, who also only recently made his first-team debut, continued his run in the team with another fine performance while the bereaved Pogba brought some relative maturity into the midfield.

Thankfully, in spite of Jose Mourinho's ill-considered pre-match comments (“It’s frustrating for me. I hope you don’t kill me when you see my team. I hope the fans at Old Trafford support the team, they forgive some naivety, they forgive some lack of confidence. And I hope that Big Sam shows he’s a good friend and he goes slow. He tells to Zaha to go slow, he leaves Benteke at home. I hope he goes soft on us"), Palace manager, Sam Allardyce fielded the strongest possible team at his disposal and at least tried to make a game of it.

Well-taken first half goals from Harrop and Pogba meant that the second half ended up being a procession. I only wish the youngins' had been gradually introduced all through the season rather than collectively rolled out like some valedictory Ringling Bros. acts. 

A post-mortem shall be carried out on the league much later. Right now... 

THERE'S BIGGER FISH TO FRY

The die is cast. 7.45pm GMT. Today. Stockholm, Sweden. The Europa League Cup final. Manchester United v Ajax. Experience v Youth. Pressure v Permission. Consequence v Care-free. 

We know what is at stake. This has been put into even sharper context with the comments and events of the last couple of weeks. 

Winner takes it all. Take me 'Holm. The difference between an annus horribilis and an 'accomplished' , even if not 'progressive' year.

For many reasons, condemnation swords would be sheathed on this day. Management and players must stand up and be counted. More power to you, Darmian.💪 Go and get yours, Phil.👍 Master your full height, Marouane.👤 Let your football be as colourful and flamboyant as your haircut and dabs, Paul. There's a reason you cost more than any footballer in history. Pepper dem.💃 Jesse, I've always known you were made for critical cup finals. Give our captain a befitting send-off. 👏Mikkkkkkkyyyyy! This is your favourite competition...you know how we do. 👌

Jose...3 European Cup finals, 3 wins. Make it 4. The legacy continues.

See y'all on the other side of the celebrations...Cheers!

Signing Out,

B.L... 

In (the only) Other News (worthy for today):

Football is Football. Life is Life. There may sometimes be an intersection in the sets of both dealings but they are ultimately mutually exclusive.

The local community of Manchester was rocked by a terrorist bomb blast on Monday night after an Ariana Grande concert in the Manchester Arena. So far 22 people are dead and several others injured to varying degrees. 

It is almost inevitable that a Manchester local, Red or Blue, would have had a loved one at least traumatised by the incident. My sincere condolences go out to the Manchester populace and like it says in Tony Walsh's poem, 'This Is The Place':

"...Because this is a place that has been through some hard times: oppressions, recessions, depressions, and dark times.

But we keep fighting back with Greater Manchester spirit. Northern grit, Northern wit, and Greater Manchester’s lyrics.

And these hard times again, in these streets of our city, but we won’t take defeat and we don’t want your pity.

Because this is a place where we stand strong together, with a smile on our face, greater Manchester forever."

Stay strong. #ManchesterStrong

Lame At The Lane

Move along now...there's nothing to see here.

It's that however brief window period in this very peculiar Manchester United's league season where it is corporately acceptable for management and team to dial in their performances for the singular reason that 38 games must be concluded by each team before the league officially draws to a close.

2 more games to go then. Thankfully, no extra times (Not like any of these testimonial showings would merit it).

Tottenham Hotspurs beat Manchester United 2 -1 in the White Hart Lane grand finale yesterday. Victor Wanyama and Harry Kane scored for Spurs from well-worked set pieces. Wayne Rooney scored the last goal at the Lane. Rashford gave the Spurs faithful a rightful fright when he came on even though the game should have been long dispatched by then. Perhaps a fairer fight would have involved the attendees of the after-match celebrations, David Ginola, Chris Waddle, Ledley King & Co. against our team. 1-0, I'll wager still.

The manager has now made it blatantly clear that everything rests on the result in Stockholm. Yes, this was what we wanted due to the ongoing situation of injuries, lack of quality players 'fatigue' and the significance of winning the Europa. But...without sounding too contradictory...err...could we just tone down that impression a little bit? When you say to millions of fans and viewers after a loss to a rival that "There were no injuries and it's one less match to play because at this moment the Premier League matches for us are matches we don't want to play", you send a very strong wrong message.

"To tank" means to lose deliberately, or fail to finish. See Aussie tennis maverick, Nick Kyrgios or most National Basketball Association teams already assured of Play-Off placement. A cynical person may include West Ham United to that list but I would never have imagined in my lifetime that it is something that would be in anyway even remotely associated with Manchester United. For any reason whatsoever.

This is not about 'losing' simplicta; it's about intentionally setting out to lose or surrendering from competing. It's simply unethical behaviour. Instead play a bulk of the U-23s. They may yet be defeated but it would offer them 1. experience in a big game situation 2. A hint at the possibility of making the big leagues. They would also approach the game in a much more competitive spirit because there would be a point to prove. But to field De Gea, Bailly, Jones, Smalling, (Tuanzebe, who even had a decent game in an unfamiliar position, is excused) Blind, Carrick, Rooney, Mata, Lingard and Martial, all experienced, all multi-millionaires, all internationals, all, if it weren't for certain over-enhanced reputations, should be able to challenge for the league title as is, to put out that kind of performance is disheartening, unfair and ultimately detrimental to the interests of the club. I still retch when reminded that this is the most expensively assembled team ever in the history of football. 😱  

While the circumstances of making the Europa League Cup a priority have since been noted, offering full baby-diaper exhibitions of this kind is unacceptable. No one becomes depraved in a day. Clubs who are today maligned and mocked for setting mediocre parameters did not become like that in one season. It was a trend of decisions and directions that led them to that harrowing regrettable path. It's never OK to 'not compete'. You can and should rest players but those available should never take to the field without fire in their belly. Not least well-paid professionals.

The manager, by his statements, is also unwittingly putting immense pressure on the players leading to the Europa final. True, the importance of that match cannot be understated but it has been made to be "the mother of all finals". To put in perspective, this is still the final of Europe's 2nd tier competition. Knowing also the calibre and make-up of this squad, do you reckon it's the kind of pressure they'll thrive under? Judging by the after-effects of the very public flaying of Shaw, Mkhitaryan and Martial, I'm not so sure.

I really hope the team develops some level of competitive spirit before the final. Like Ryan Giggs mentioned yesterday, form is not a switch you suddenly turn on in a final. There should be some sort of confidence build-up culminating to the required performance, desired rest notwithstanding. It's the manager's job to find this balance. If it wasn't, I could as well be occupying on his seat. (Quite literally)

At least I know what my definite transfer list is.

Please let's see some more ambition/effort is the remainder 2 games. The club deserves much better than this.

Southampton (A) on Wednesday is next. Amen to that.

Signing Out,

B.L...

In Other News:

* As predicted since December, Chelsea has been crowned 2016/17 English Premier League Champions. Deserved. Antonio Conte has been successful in stabilising a previously fractured and unsettled but talented team while also moulding them into a functional unit. I imagine that next season will call for even more expertise from Italian with the added 'distraction' of the Champions League but that bridge would be attempted when encountered. Congratulations, Roman's Army...

* ...speaking of which, another set of Romans ensured that Serie A Champions, Juventus, would not be officially crowned till weekend. Not in the home of Il Re Di Roma, Francesco Totti. It was bad enough that his team lost his last Derby Della Capitale but that was a local civil war. There can only be one sovereign in Rome. And he is not an old lady however advanced in years he may be.  3-1 was the final scoreline. It should be noted however that Juventus rested a number of players in advance of the Copa De Italia and Totti only came on in extra time but still...

* ...time stood still as King of Clay, Rafael Nadal showed all his characteristic resilience and doggedness to win his record equalling 30th ATP 100 Tournament in Madrid by beating Dominic Thiem  7-6, 6-4. The greats are rolling back the years...

* Monaco has now scored over a 100 goals this season. Cristiano has now scored over 400 for Madrid. Animals.

*Some-What-Good News: Feyenoord Rotterdam, the 1st team to ensure Ajax comes second in a major competition this season has won its first Erevedisie title since 1999 when one Ruud van Nistelrooy was in their books. Not-So-Good News: One 36-year old Dirk Kuyt scored a hat-trick to seal the deal.

* Olden is golden?

      

And Then There Was One...

"They were closer now Fernando(Mourinho)/

Every hour every minute seemed to last eternally/
I was so afraid Fernando(Mourinho)/
We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die/
And I'm not ashamed to say/
The roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry..."                       - ABBA, 'Fernando'


Whew.

Manchester United is (finally) through to the final of the Europa League taking place in Stockholm, Sweden on 24th May, 2017. Our opponents are Dutch giants, AFC Ajax.

It was only right that United made it to the final stage of Europe's secondary club competition in the most 'United' way possible - with suffering and drama. When the otherwise unflappable Eric Bailly was not seeing red in more ways than one, his defensive partner, Ajax agent alumnus, Daley Blind kept surrendering the ball to the Vigoans in precarious places. The team went from being composed and in control in the 1st half to defending deep and dangerously in the 2nd (I see you, Mourinho!).

Fortunately, none of this mattered - The job/mission was accomplished.

It certainly wasn't pretty and the quality was well short of the expected standard but we've 'wobbled and fumbled' into "qualification for possible Champions League qualification."

The tie should have been effectively settled in the 17th minute when Marouane Fellaini headed the ball into the near post from a Rashford laser-guided cross. If you've listened to Dave Chappelle's philosophical and comedic take in one of his recent Netflix specials on morally appraising the Bill Cosby situation, then you'd have a fair idea of where the afroed-one stands with a lot of fans. Only without Cosby's excellence in his craft (And by 'craft', I mean his 'comedy'. Thanks). 2-0 on aggregate. Celta Vigo needed at least 2 goals to go through. It didn't look at all likely in the first half even though United willingly surrendered possession to the Spanish side. One header flashed wide aside, it was still generally comfortable and smooth sailing.

But as we are wont to do under this dispensation, we tried to defend a 1-goal lead in the 2nd half which is OK if you have the personnel to adequately execute this strategy but also like this season has consistently shown us, there is usually egg residue to be wiped off our physiognomy by the time 90 minutes and whatever extras were added must have been completed. This ended no different in terms of the scoreline - a contemporary Old Trafford result. Good luck with that in the future.

Nonetheless, any endeavour that can scuttle a Scouser's (Iago Aspas) and Citizen's (John Guidetti) best laid plans and reduce at least one of them to tears, is a good one. 👏  

There are 4 games left in the season, 3 in the league and the increasingly crucial Europa final. One more home game (on the final day too), 2 away games starting with the White Hart Lane encore on Sunday and then final in Zlat-land. The debate over what matches constitute a 'priority' is archaic at this point. We know what we need to do and how to get it. There's only one more performance this season which would ultimately be the difference between this season and the last. Again, this does not need to be spelt out. 

It is eerily amusing that I feel almost exactly the same way I did at the end of last season and the reason is simple in retrospect - there's been too much sour predictability in performance and results even the most important victories have been achieved without a certain 'United' joie de vivre. I remain positive for bigger things next season. In spite of all the excuses, real or imagined, currently offered this term, a club of United's stature and resources just has to do better navigating multiple fronts next time around. 

"Knowing me, knowing you (ah-ha)/
There is nothing we can do/
Knowing me, knowing you (ah-ha)/
We just have to face it, this time we're through/
This time we're through, this time we're through/

This time we're through, we're really through"               - Agneta, Bjorn, Benni and Anni

A more than cursory look at most of the major football sites over the week provided a certain vindication to long-held positions which have always been hinged on facts/the 'eye-test' and nothing else no matter how critical they may have sounded or seemed - There is an almost unanimous agreement that there has to be a clear-out at Carrington for the club to move forward. Tables and performances do not lie. The reason we are 'best of the rest' on the league table and hustle even in the Europa League is because that is the quality we currently provide. It's that basic.

For the last two seasons, we have blamed Louis Van Gaal, who was indeed not without his failings both in the transfer market and in his muddled philosophy but has Jose performed any better? He also had the advantage of seeing all that was wrong before he assumed the reins but have are our performances been vastly different this year? Yes, there have been tactical improvements and a more dogged approach but have these been exhilarating Manchester United/top team performances? I honestly do not believe Jose and Louis suddenly became managerial relics incapable of stringing together some form of consistency from their players. Like I often say, no manager can 'coach' a professional to make an accurate pass or kick the ball into an open net. That's all on the players. It's time to refresh the pool at Old Trafford and for a bit of dark humour, we may keep the core of this team and see if the next manager can do any better. 

However, it seems the Journos and analysts (even the infamous propagandists) now concur that wholesale changes are required next term. As it is said that the moment of realisation is one's dawn, I say to 'em, "Good morning."

Congratulations on reaching the final, Mancunians!

To the club and fans alike, no pressure on Sunday. Play the kids if need be. Prevent injuries. Enjoy the remaining games. Relax. Hold your head up high. Be Manchester United.

Signing Out,

B.L 

In Other News:

* By the time you're reading this, Chelsea would probably have been crowned English League champions. Congratulations to them. 

* It's a Real Madrid v Juventus Champions League final. Advanced attack (Sorry, Monaco) v Advanced Defence. Juventus put up another tactical masterclass to defeat Monaco 2-1 (4-1 aggregate) in the 2nd leg of their semi-final tie. Barcelona reject,.  Dani Alves for the Balon D'or. Real Madrid baited Atletico Madrid into believing there was a possibility of overturning the tie by conceding 2 early goals but they had too much firepower to allow the match slip. Final score 2-1 (5-2 aggregate). The ballet from Karim Benzema leading up to the Madrid consolation killer goal was particularly impressive. The Millenium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales is the venue. 3rd June, 2017 is the date. Bombastic.

* Warriors swept the Jazz. Cavaliers swept the Raptors. The Beard fell (very) short in his quest to take the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals in a stinking Game 6 performance. Still shouldn't detract from a MvP worthy season. So it's Warriors v Spurs in the West and Cavaliers v the Celtics/Wizards winner in the East. I wonder who gets to play the Cavs in the NBA finals...

* And how was your week? 

What Did You Expect?

Really. What did you expect?

Fireworks? A feisty encounter with each combatant intent on laying psychological (and physical) markers on the opponent? Pizza kung-fu in the tunnel? A Hack-a-Fairy marathon? Eye pokes or ungentlemanly shoves? A title decider?

No, no, no, no…

Yesterday was not the day and now is not the time.

In the most underwhelming episode yet of the Manchester United vs Arsenal chronicles, both teams played out a rehearsal of Michael Carrick’s testimonial with the maker of the $50,000 half-time half-court lucky shot going away with the spoils. Granit Xhaka won the sweepstakes in this competition and as a bonus, former Mancunian, Danny Welbeck had the opportunity to make an uncontested lay-up to double the earnings which he did to general applause and good feeling. Everybody went home amused and untroubled. Arsenal gave itself a glimmer of hope in its top 4 pursuit. Extra-special was the fact that this was Wenger’s 1^st (2^nd? The Community Shield is often over-looked as a competitive game. Why? It is. You win a trophy/shield/cup) win against Mourinho in a competitive fixture for a period dating back to 13 years. For United, it was pretty much as you were all season – potential 6^th position with a loss of points when a win would have done a world of good.

Shame about the end of the 25-match unbeaten league run though. Nonetheless, while admirable in its length and stamina, it may have masked a lot of persistent issues which I am hopeful the management will aggressively address before the coming season.

As I had exhorted in my previous post, the responsible thing to do at this stage (and situation) in the season is to prioritize. Even before yesterday’s game, it was clear that the Europa League Cup had become priority and with good reason – However it is spun, a pathway to the UEFA Champions League of Celta Vigo (H) and probably (barring a PSG-ish sized collapse) Ajax is more viable than an Arsenal (A), Spurs (A), Southampton (A) and Palace (H) corridor. 2 games v 4. The former also brings the added benefit of an European trophy, the singular one missing from the team’s impressive cabinet while the latter gives you the O’ Wenger 4^th Place trophy, which if things were normal, we shouldn’t even be competing for as a target, in the first place.

This is not astrophysics. For a still unbalanced team that has scrapped its way all season with major challenges in the goal-scoring department, the significance, value and straightforwardness of the Europa route should be a no-brainer. Mind, there is at all no guarantee that this so-called ‘easier’ route is a foregone conclusion but if ‘calculated risk’ is “a hazard or chance of failure whose degree of probability has been reckoned or estimated before an undertaking is entered upon”, then I estimate that this danger has been well gauged.     

                                                       ♬"You're all I need...to get by..."

There’s been a lot of chirp and vitriol on Mourinho playing a ‘weakened’ side against Arsenal which ‘goes against United traditions’ and is ‘self-defeatist’ but I think that’s absolute bollocks. United’s ‘traditions’ involve competing (Note to Any Wone: not ‘participating’) in the biggest tournaments and winning things. It’s more pragmatic than egoistical. In other words, the big picture rather than a mere jpeg snapshot. Stooping to conquer. If Herrera or Bailly or Rashford or Valencia got the hammies in yesterday’s match and we ended up *drum roll* drawing the game, who does that help? What if we actually won the match, injuries a tow, and then drew/lost 2 of the remaining 3? If Celta springs a surprise against our now weakened team on Thursday? Too many ‘Ifs’, very few realities. The manager did what he had to do yesterday and it was the proper thing too. And even in its debilitated state, the team, on paper, boasted several ‘internationals’ and experienced heads.

The post-match interview, as expected, had a lot of spin to it where Mourinho claimed he was basically happy with the performance and the players and that he could not have asked for certain players to do more. He’s the manager and is correctly supposed to be PR-sensitive in offering his statements. Well, I’m not. I’m just a fan. So I can and will say it as I see it…

750 games for club and country. Captain of both teams. 31 years old. A testament to longevity, resourcefulness and relevancy. A record-breaker. Every major club title bar the forthcoming(?) Europa League Cup. All this, we greatly appreciate and extol. Thank you. However, games No. 756(?) and beyond should not be in the colours of Manchester United. Any other compromise would be criminal. ‘Nuff said.

I do not know for how much longer we are going to pretend that Chris Smalling is a top-class defender. Yes, it was his first match after 7 weeks out but if this is the excuse you would like to lay your bed with, then be prepared not to have a good night summer’s rest. We all know this is not a one-off. Propaganda will only get us so far.

Martial has again deflated my expectation balloon. I recognise that playing as a lone striker is mighty hard work and requires patience not to mention intelligence to effectively execute but that performance yesterday bordered on amateurish. This wasn’t against Chiellini and Bonucci. This was Rob holding Koscielny. A season that had so much promise has degenerated into one which, truth be told, has made the player dangerously disposable.

Mkhitaryan’s slump in form continues and it should be noted that he was brought in as a 27 (now 28)-year-old – a player in his prime required for immediate maximum effect. He has had a so and so season and it would be inconceivable that he endures anything similar in the next. He has been good to excellent in the Europa League against moderate opposition but the club’s ambitions and targets are much higher.

On a positive note, youth star, Axel Tuanzebe, (who surely would have won the game for us if he was made captain) had a full debut to remember. Keeping Alexis Sanchez in check is no mean feat. The boy, aside some initial defensive positioning lapses, gave an accomplished and assured performance in a high calibre game. He’s 19 years old. There’s a lot more to come from this end. It would be interesting to see if he gets some additional minutes in the remaining league fixtures. Try to be like Marcus Rashford, who is now one of the names on the sheet. Not Tim Fosu-Mensah, who still has a glass ceiling over him 2 seasons in.

All in all, not a good result but nothing fatal. Yes, we would have preferred to win this game and have what’s left of any bragging rights in this fixture but if wishes were horses, our coronation for No. 21 would have taken place yesterday after the Liverpool draw. You deal with the cards you are dealt. I am more concerned with 2 upcoming finals in the Europa Cup where even a draw and a win, in that order, will spell a successful season. Everything else is bluster. Thursday is the first final. No excuses.

Signing Out,

B.L…

In Other News:

* The la liga is heading to a thrilling climax. Real Madrid is successfully carrying out what Manchester United have failed to do by fielding their 'reserve' team (and what a reserve team it is) and walloping all and sundry. The team has received its second wind after the painful el clasico loss and has destroyed all subsequent competition since including bitter city rivals, Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. His Royal Highness, Emperor Cristiano Ronaldo I is only wheeled out for the biggest assignments and has so far not disappointed. Like the other monarch in the NBA, he seems to save his best for the business ends of things. Ominous, both ways. 

Barcelona has kept its part of the bargain by making a fight of the title. With no further European distractions and a fresh team at its disposal, it has also wiped its opponents with the floor. Unlike the los blancos, its reserves have been below par and the quality of the team drastically drops when they are fielded. Sadly, this revival may be a bit to late to prevent the title from going to the capital. Both teams are level on points but Barcelona have 2 games, Real Madrid 3.

* Chelsea begin the first step of its coronation by thumping Middlesborough today at the Bridge. One more win and they are champions. N'golo Kante has also been named the Football Writers' Player of the Year to go along with the PFA award. Deserved.

* Another critical match, another controversial decision. I wonder why they bother. Juventus are still going to be crowned Italian champions for the 6th straight time this week after suffering a sneeze against Torino in the derby. 1-1 it ended with a 92nd minute equaliser by the in-form Gonzalo Higuain. Roma and Napoli are comfortable in the other 2 available Chamions League spots.

*Newcastle are Championship champions! Blackburn Rovers, the only other EPL Champions, outside the Manchester teams, Chelsea and Arsenal, has been relegated to League 1! Bolton has been promoted to the Championship! 

* Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez v Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin. September, 16, 2017. Woof. Is boxing witnessing a resurgence? 

   

  

The Stockholm Syndrome

Now that I've been able to temporarily lift myself out of the 'sunken place' that this gift of a season that keeps giving has kept me, I guess the mood now is to celebrate and encourage my 'captors' into leading us into the promised land - Stockholm, here we come? 

The Swansea draw on Sunday may have been the final lobotomy in the curious experiment that this season has been and I felt there was really no need repeating what had been mentioned one too many times. There is no genius in 'copy and paste'. And yet more copying and pasting. Draws are guaranteed when wins are necessary. Wins come to act as an antibiotic to stop the wounds from festering. Not to heal but to prevent a recommendation of amputation. The phrase 'papering cracks' also comes to mind and the year-tide stagnation at one (or two) positions on the league table is further testament to that situation.

It seemed before the 1st leg Europa League Cup semi-final away tie to Celta Vigo yesterday that it would be the turn of Tuanzebe to captain the team which didn't seem at all bad considering that all the newly anointed 'sub-captains' won their inaugural games. Against the Swans, the cyborg that is Eric Bailly seemed to have finally broken down, Pogba was till out, Shaw copped another debilitating injury within 10 minutes from the start and everybody else was tired. Or inadequate.

Fortunately, Bailly came back (You, Cyborg, you! 😉) for the clash, Pogba too, Mata was again listed as a sub and even Smalling felt up for it. Was Zlatan also going to make a surprise cameo? I couldn't rule it out. We now had a decent complement of players to pursue the task of at least discomforting a fresh team who had earlier this season seen off football giants, Real Madrid and Barcelona in their domestic league. 

Surprise! Surprise! It turned out much more comfortable than expected. If Management, is about 'extracting more from individual(s) than anyone thought they had and forging a collective to accentuate their strengths and hides their weaknesses', then this game and pretty much the entire season has been relatively excellently managed. Competitive team sport is primarily about match-ups - our strategy i.e. personnel and tactics against yours and Mourinho, give it to him, is a master of this sort of warfare. It is however also undoubted too that he is a more 'reactive' than 'creative' guy. Challenges are more pronounced when he needs to be proactive and go for a win from an advantageous position than when the primary intention is to stifle the opposition and steal a game. 

Yet he continues to make mostly average resources (and if I hear that they are mostly 'internationals' one more time...) extremely hard to beat.

The expected and usual profligacy was well represented in the contest yesterday. Rashford set the ball rolling, Mkhitaryan matched him and then Lingard did same. And this was only the first half. Fellaini also received his standard appearance booking ("Only because he's Marouane Fellaini" apparently) and Mkhitaryan showed steel where he had been erstwhile weak and decided to stay on his feet in the 18' when he could and should have gone to ground after a mistimed tackle. Until football officiating fundamentally recognises that you don't have to hit the deck like you've been shot to earn a penalty, please be like Marcus Rashford and dive for like a swan.

Speaking of which, the 19 year old ("He works, he works, he works. He’s very mature and let’s forget the age because what matters is not age the quality") wonder boy once again came to our rescue with a well-worked free kick ("The free-kick is work. He works every day, he loves to work. Sometimes the training session finishes for the group and he keeps doing his individual work with my assistants."). We just need to get him doing extra sessions for his corner kicks too. (What's that about?). When a team the size (and cost) of Manchester United relies on a home-grown teenager who still needs his hand held as its get-out-of-jail card, then some things may need to be re-addressed in the nearest future. Hopefully, the knock he seemed to have received before his substitution is only minor. 

Once again, hopes are high. A comfortable away win in the 1st leg of a semi-final should bode good things. Perhaps, now is the time to focus all resources on this particular endeavour. The gaffer has already hinted as much. European giants, Ajax are almost definitely in the final and I fancy our chances in that potential match-up. Also recall that the Europa is the only trophy missing from our impressive cabinet. Which is of course secondary to the fact that this is a viable avenue to the Champions League next season. 😶 Amusingly, the ''blockbuster" against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday can therefore be appropriately considered as a peripheral fixture. If indeed Monsieur Wenger is ready to make nice and Mourinho can put his ego in check and not risk it all by trying to one-up the Frenchman (once again)...then it probably wouldn't be Arsenal v Manchester United. Till then...

Signing Out (With All Humility and Gentility),

B.L...

In Other News:

* Anthony Joshua stopped Wladimir Klitschko in the 11th round in a heavyweight fight for the ages. Two giants brawling in search of a K.O. This wasn't sweet science - it was simply masterful lumber-jacking. Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury have raised their hands for further engagement. I wouldn't bet against Joshua.

* In another boxing contest, while Marie Le Pen and New Black Emmanuel Macron have been busy slugging it out for the soul of France (Liberte! Egalite! Fraternite!), Kylian Mbappe landed a vicious uppercut to all suitors not named 'Real Madrid'. Good one, son. There's a book titled 'Bernabeu - A Tourist's Delight' written by one Martin Odegaard I'll like you to read...

*Bayern Munich have won the Bundesliga for the uncountableth time and for about 495 straight seasons in succession - Big Ballers. Who would have guessed?

* The Truth finally retires after 19 seasons. Boston will remember you...