Home Truths

"Come gather around 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
And if your breath to you is worth saving
Then you better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changing..."                                              

- 'The Times They Are A-Changing', Nobel Laureate Bob.

I really hate to say "I told you so" but I've told you over and over and over and over and over and over and over again that I could as well say it one more time just because I have already - I told you so.

Not that it ever meant anything in the larger context of things but there's a certain catharsis documenting this now widely recognised anomalies and absurdities has provided me. I'll spare you the banality this time around.

On thing is for sure though. Jose Mario dos Santos Mourinho Felix, great manager he has been, has lost a few steps. Maybe more than a few. This is no longer peak Jose. I do not believe this is still up for debate. He really doesn't seem to have progressed very well with the times, tactically, as a manager.  Gone (or going) is the clear thinking, decisive, ruthless, fearless, gutsy and strategic man. What is currently on show is an indecisive, foolishly stubborn, egoistical and mentally straight-jacketed coach who expects things to go his way almost on the singular basis that His Specialness has indeed picked the team. Even if the results have lied (No, they have not), the performances clearly haven't. This is not a wanton assessment but settled facts derived from verifiable data accumulated over the recent years.

                                                              Still worth the hype? as captured by dailystar.co.uk

Justifiably named last year as one of the top 10 greatest coaches since the creation of UEFA, Mr. Mourinho was also the first manager to exceed $1 billion in transfers. The others who have approached/crossed this threshold are Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola, also proven winners. This  actually makes sense as club owners would understandably be willing to invest heavily in players fancied by these men knowing they are guaranteed certain returns. Money usually equates success particularly in the hands of a knowledgeable manager. And that's why this re-incarnation of Mourinho is so baffling. He still commands his Board's hefty investments but his methodologies, nay, his product, are not at all correspondent. How about the Europa and League Cup in his first season, you may offer. Good. But I resolutely believe that for a team of Manchester United's stature, coupled with the investments, both managerial and personnel-wise, that were made, that was the absolute minimum.

The return to the Champions League could have occurred in two ways; Make the Top 4 or win the Europa Cup. We chose the latter and came 6th in the league. Great but anything else would have been nothing short of catastrophic. Even then, the performances in the competition were jagged and sometimes fortuitous (and I'll agree that the latter element is part of the game but it wasn't any swashbuckling dominant glorious ascent to the throne is all I'm saying.) The euphoria was primarily about making the Champions League via winning the only cup not in our trophy room and then there are several good reasons why before now we rarely participated in that competition. There should be no garlands for that one.

We may mud-sling back and forth on social media on how Guardiola is not 'special' and is in fact a cheque-book manager (like virtually all other managers who have had sustained success. True) but there is a discernible, almost exact preciseness and clarity to his purpose. Except one wants to be dishonest, the upward trajectory and improving quality personnel of the noisy neighbours is evident. Mourinho has spent nearly half a billion in one and a half seasons without still knowing what his best side is. Like his predecessors, he has made purchases who look ill-fitting, unprepared and confused as to their roles in the team and this without even referring to the on-going civil war with the rebellious Pogba.

For instance, celebrated signing, Alexis Sanchez does not seem to have a defined role in the team and this has further disrupted the entire already iffy rhythm of the forward line. As he seems to play everywhere (and not in a good way), Lukaku has ventured deeper into the lost forest, Martial has become handicapped on the right and Lingard, our most in form player before Alexis' arrival, doesn't seem to know what he's doing on the pitch. This should not be the resultant effect of acquiring a world-class player. Something is dreadfully wrong.

I promised not to again dwell on the Smalling/Young/Pogba/Lukaku dilemnas so I wouldn't.

My fear is that the coach is going to insist on proving his point and shall, if not immediately, within the next couple of games, retain or revert to this dastardly set-up. Make your own conclusions on the implication of that. Sometimes the simpler it is, the better. Just put the red square peg in the red square hole and avoid playing Rubik's Cube.

The sad truth is that we have been sucked into the race to avoid 5th place. Third placed Liverpool are 2 points behind United. Chelsea is 4th and 3 points behind. Resurgent Spurs are currently 5th place and 4 points behind. Spurs have a lighter fixture list (on paper) than we have. It is almost a foregone conclusion at this time that Kompany has one hand on the Premiership trophy so one of those teams, United inclusive, will not make the Top 4.

For a manager who was engaged for a premium on the reputation of guaranteed success in his 2nd year, Mourinho has bitterly disappointed. His engagement, as evidenced by the heavy investments made by the club, was not one seeking gradual progress or youth development. One season is permissible as trying to figure out your team. Dead weights and surplus-to-requirements could have been released or sold over the next summer transfer window with preferred reinforcements brought in. Certain players have been correctly deemed 'not good enough' by a large majority of supporters over the preceding years and the only logical reason they still remain in the team is because the manager wants them. The blame, at this point, should no longer lie with the players - This IS Mourinho's team and he should bear the full responsibility.

If you visit my home on a Sunday and find it in an untidy state and the explanation I give to you is that Mr. XYZ was responsible for the mess, then perhaps, Mr. XYZ is an untidy person. But if you make a return visit on Friday and still find the house in the same level of untidiness, then maybe, perhaps, I am the untidy person.

My grouse is not at being unable to win every match or available competition. It is at the muddled, obstinate and regressive thinking that has enveloped our football.

I am tired of hearing all the deflection. We should all by now recognise what the real issue is. Perhaps the boss will have a turn of conscience. Perhaps he'll heed to common sense and 'simplify' things like he so eloquently offered over the weekend. I'm not holding my breathe.

"When you reach my level you don't learn from others, you have to learn from yourself. So I learn every day."- Jose Mourinho

Next up: Huddersfield in the FA Cup on Saturday and then Sevilla in the Champions League. Here's hoping for much better performances and results...

Signing In (with a frown),

B.L...   


Your Answers Are:

* The UCL is back.

Juventus (2) or Spurs (2)?
Basel (0) or Man City (4)
Real Madrid or PSG?
Porto or Liverpool?
Chelsea or Barcelona?
Bayern Munich or Besiktas?
Sevilla or Man. United?

Shakhtar Donetsk or Roma?

* A heated argument in the office. Would you consider Samuel Umtiti a "world-class" defender? Do you think he's better than Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta as a centre-back?

* Can the re-tooled Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the scorching Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals? Was Isaiah Thomas done dirty or his slow recovery and adaptation did him in?

* All hail Bayern Munich, perpetual champions of Germany. Any doubts?

*  'Breaking Bad' or 'Mad Men'? 

Familiar Failings

Everyone has an opinion, however reserved, about something. Sometimes wrong, sometimes right.

It is often said that 21 analysts could come up with 21 different line-ups, formations and strategies to prosecute the same game.

But every once in a while, similar thought-sets are formed where a majority would agree on particular issues and both sentiment and fact become aligned. Familiar patterns are collated and there is an acceptance of the general idea being postulated. Mind, there would still be dissenting opinions on whatever this idea is. Sometimes borne out of a deep sincere belief of an unorthodox perspective or approach to the idea. Other times it's plain and simple cognitive dissonance. 

It's no secret at this point that, for whatever reason, Mourinho doesn't seem to get the big games right at Manchester United. It's been either too tepid, too conservative, too seemingly unprepared or as we saw on Wednesday, too imbalanced. But he's a proven winner, a fair number could argue. Also he wasn't the demon controlling Phil Jones' right leg and none can prove that he asked the defence to play the game of 'musical statue' from kick-off. 

But this is not the first time the team has started in this manner and I fear it would not be the last. When the 2nd half commences, I always wait for the dreaded 55 minute-mark to pass in the hope that a goal is not conceded. Inexplicably, the team always takes a while to boot when they step out on the pitch and it is at those moments they are most vulnerable. I don't know what the exact stats are but I'm almost certain that this is the peak period goal attempts are conceded by the team. 

Whatever Jose tells the players in the dressing room before the game starts is either too much or too little. Go figure.

Which brings me to the day's line-up. The buck stops at the manager's table so except he's over-achieving with this team like some other managers (cough), he gets to pick up the can when things go as bad as they did yesterday.

                                                                  Wednesday's line-up against Spurs courtesy tvtropes.org

I'll start with the most non-controversial controversial issue - Ashley Young is not a left-back (non-controversial) and should not start for Manchester United, not least in that position (controversial).

I have harped over and over on this point but there are a lot of dissenters who believe that his 'tenacity' and hit/miss crossing qualifies him ahead of Shaw, Rojo and Blind, the last who should have taken the bloody Roma deal be seeing out his last season at Old Trafford. Take me up on this if you must but Young remains very limited and has best served as an x-factor in a defensive strategy rather than a starting left full back (Heck, he's almost exclusively right-footed). His predictability and lack of initiative means defenders league-wide have a fair and accurate idea of what transpires after Young receives the ball in the opponents' half of the field. To that end, they leave acres of space behind their right full back to the corner flag knowing fully well that: 1. He's not going to make direct runs into that tantalising space 2. Whatever he does, he almost certainly will cut back to his favoured right foot and 3. the ball will land at the left side of the goalkeeper's post where a. Lukaku b. Fellaini c. Smalling may connect to varying effect. Or the ball may go out of play for a goal kick.

A naturally left footed defender, Luke Shaw for instance, WILL bomb down the flanks and can instantly whip in a cross. Fortune mostly favours the brave.

Ashley stifles the game and I find Mourinho's insistence on foisting him as the lead left-back almost treacherous. Feel free to disagree.

An then we have Christopher Lloyd Smalling and Phillip Anthony Jones.

Name-calling is childish.

Jones has in the past been compared to Duncan Edwards, Franco Baresi and Fernando Hierro. Sir Alex, who sometimes suffers bouts of PPS (Pele Predictive Syndrome), also prophesied that he may become United's greatest player ever. Yes, you read that correct. Greatest. Player. Ever. Phil Jones. For a more grotesque fulfilled prophesy look no further than Chris Smalling being one of the vice-captains of Manchester United. I recall the 'Keane & Viera - Best of Enemies' documentary where Keano was asked what the most important quality in a captain should be. Roy was of the opinion that the captain should be the best player on the pitch (But was he even ever the 'best'? Relative. Debate for another forum and day). Character and Leadership were also recurrent themes in the captaincy discussion of that programme. Well, this is where we are now...

Again, you may disagree but the aggregate performances of these centre-halves particularly in the post-Fergie years are self-evident. In spite of every last ditch tackle, body-on-the-line clearance, odd goal and general perspiration we may have applauded, there is a glaring lack of technique (Neither is comfortable on the ball and what's that thing Smalling does where he clenches his fists and robotically turns his body to the direction he wants to pass the ball? When a Gareth Southgate doesn't think you 'fit into the way he wants his team to play' and you are a playing Manchester United captain then there's a huge disconnect somewhere), inconsistency, poor concentration, indecisiveness and basic lack of requisite quality.

This is not solely about the Spurs game even though that serves as an appropriate example. This is about basic and consistent deficiencies from those two that a good number of supporters have noticed and voiced out over the last couple of years. But these are immediately papered over by the next 'W' or achieved 'target' (In the recent years, qualifying for the Champions League has in itself become a viable ambition). We can continue to pretend this is not the case when the next relegation-scrapper is pummelled 4-0 and the table shows the team has conceded the least goals in the league (Thank you, David). It's somewhat similar to the stubborn refusal of 'expert pundits' to accept that club legend Wayne Rooney was a spent force at least 3 years ago. The various excuses were that he was not a '9', then he wasn't a '10', then it was his team mates not contributing their quota, then it was the manager not playing to his strengths. They unanimously, but unfortunately without shame, eventually accepted this reality only last summer.

I would be welcome to serving cups of coffee when we wake up from this current reverie.

And if the fit $35M defender cannot comfortably start games more than half-way through a season in which he partook in full pre-season preparations, then it's over to you again, Jose.

Paul Pogba has improved from last season. Statistically at least. And I still think he'll get better. He has everything in his locker, skill, technique, presence, attitude (a bit too much?), pace and a good shot (Accuracy though is hovering around 30%). But what he severely lacks is emotional intelligence and the absence of this vital element can sink the whole boat of talent. It's okay to struggle at being played out of your favourite position but it's another to openly rebel against team tactics and strategy for personal flights of fancy. Mourinho affords Pogba a lot more latitude than a lot would like but he was left with no choice than to pull the mutineer out of the game after his continuous undisciplined effort. Shocking stuff. Sometime you make such sacrifices for the team as a leader. Mata has accepted being shunted to the wings even though he's no winger and even the previously discussed Ashley Young regularly grafts as a full back. Pogba couldn't hold position for 45 minutes! It was just ONE game, Paul!!

Then there was that moment when the ball was perfectly laid to him just outside the '18. There was only one thing left to do - smash the ball into/towards the net. But Pogba, under no pressure, shifted the ball to his weaker left foot and shot tamely at the first defender in front of him. There are some things I'll never understand. It was so much easier to shoot directly. Why complicate things unnecessarily? There are some things you can't teach. You either have it or you don't. I wished it was another 'Paul' in that same position...

Finally, too many cooks spoil the broth. There's no need to shoe-horn all the available talent into the starting line-up. Someone should suffer and sweat it out on the bench. This would hopefully sharpen the appetite of whoever it is. The reason Alexis ('Piano man' according to the haters. Hahahaha) was brought in was to provide some instant maturity and consistency in our forward play. Also to make the attacking spots more competitive. He operates best from the left. Well then, Anthony, your position (which you hadn't in fact permanently held down) is under threat. Sit. Or if Lukaku cannot help but play as he often does in the big games where he's anonymous and rendered redundant by better defenders than he trains with then he should sit instead. Sanchez will and can play as a 9. But trying to give everybody instant game time will only backfire spectacularly as it did against Spurs. The imbalance was obvious and it ended up being a hot (not to mention 'expensive') mess. (By the way, when did Mourinho become this...soft and indecisive? Failed to clear out deadwood over 3 windows and seems to primarily cater to feelings rather than facts these days. Except with his brand of football. Ahem. Switch?)

I still have medium to high hopes for this team. 15 points between us and the neighbours now. Perhaps the ship has sailed? Perhaps. Still knockout competition always gives a chance as it depends more on a one-off performance than points-chasing. We'll see.

Huddersfield to receive the backlash of the woeful mid-week performance at Old Trafford on Saturday. Amen.

Signing In,

B.L...   


Your Answers Are:

* By how much do you think Roger Federer is the Greatest Tennis Player Ever even forgetting about the Grand Slams?

* The wheels have started turning. Do you think Abramovich's 2-year tenured arrangement with his managers will remain successful?

* Skipped me last time around but football great/legend/superstar/magician/entertainer, Ronaldinho Gaucho has officially retired from the sport. Can you name any footballer who has had as magnificent peak years as 'dinho did in 2004-6? I'll wait...

* Predict & Win! In what week would Juventus overthrow Napoli at the top of the Serie A table and build an insurmountable lead?

* Being a Golden State Warriors fan, the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder have really started to frighten me. Should I be scared?

* Who else believes Riyahd Mahrez doesn't have a very smart agent?

* Nigeria to win the African Nations Championship. Yes?

* 90 minutes...Sports Express...Rest In Peace, Deji Tinubu.