Meet the opposition: newcastle united
After the Carabao Cup heartbreak, the Magpies will be eyeing revenge in the race for top four
editorial
International breaks: who needs them?
If those megalomaniacs who want to create a European Super League were smart, they’d say that the league would not allow any international breaks. That would be the best way of getting fans on board, because there interruptions are just downright rude really, aren’t they?
One thing the international break does give us is the chance to see some of our fringe players getting minutes and Zidane Iqbal took the opportunity with both hands in an impressive display for Iraq. Derick Kinoti tries to shed some light on where Iqbal has been hiding these last few months and what the prospects are for seeing him in the first team between now and the end of the season.
There were also those who didn’t play for their countries, and you can’t help but wonder whether Rashford was really injured or whether playing for Southgate, after he basically snubbed him for the best part of a year, did not seem as important as resting up for the domestic run-in. And who could blame him? His fitness and energy are probably the essential ingredient in bringing home more trophies this season, and in our lead article this week, Darragh Fox examines the transformation from talented nearly man to Ballon d’Or contender.
Another highly influential player in the United side is Christian Eriksen and it’s a joy to see him back in training. Ayantan Chowdhury catches up with the latest developments on the Dane’s road to recovery and discusses what an impact he could have on the end of the season.
Speaking of impacts, Harry Maguire insists he has a big one on the team, but is he kidding himself? He’s been talking himself up big time this week and we look at whether it’s all hype or whether he really is more important than most fans now believe. There’s also a big debate going on in our Devils Advocate column as to whether he should be kept over Victor Lindelof this summer – assuming one stays and one goes.
And if one or both does/do go, who might replace them? There seems to be an unprecedented number of top stars who looks set to be without club this summer. David O’Neill looks at some of the options – not just defensive ones – where United could strengthen without touching the transfer kitty.
Eckers this week is fired up about the hysteria that seems to surround sendings off and thinks that football could be a convenient vehicle to deflect outrage from things that go on in society at large – ooh, a little bit of politics, as Ben Elton would say. Red Billy’s rant is on the takeover. Only Billy can be so argumentative and passionate about the fact that he doesn’t have a clue which side he’s on.
And with the rest of our regular columns, including Paul Speller’s excellent Newton Heath and Zoe Hodges’ women’s world, we turn our attentions to the return of the Premier League and a match which could make a huge difference to the run in. Three points against Newcastle and you have to start thinking that a top four finish is almost guaranteed; a loss, and we could find ourselves dragged back in to the scrap for places. It’s a massive game and we hope United Matchday will help to get you in the mood for what we hope will be another Ten Hag masterclass.
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Marcus rashford: the smile high club
Rashford’s renaissance and that of United are the happiest of vicious circles
Erik Ten Hag made an interesting observation about Marcus Rashford upon the return of club football following the World Cup. The Dutch manager chose to describe to reporters an action ‘no player’ could perform as well as his electric number ten. Was it an emphatic finish, cutting in from the left onto his clinical right foot? Perhaps a devastating free kick from distance, bamboozling the goalkeeper as the ball flies into the net? Or maybe leaving a defender for dead with his potent combination of speed and strength? No. It was, in fact, his smile.
‘There is no player that can smile [as] nice as Marcus Rashford. I want to see him do that because that gives him energy and gives the players around him energy,’ Ten Hag told journalists. Evidently, Manchester United’s manager believes a happy Marcus Rashford is an essential ingredient to a successful Manchester United team. And given the forward’s imperious form since those comments were made, it’s clear to see why.
Rashford is currently presiding over a record of 27 goals and 9 assists in 44 games this season – Harry Kane, operating exclusively in the centre-forward position, has 23 goals and 4 assists in comparison. It constitutes already the joint best year of Rashford’s career, with around a third of the season still to play. Yet it is the consistency of his rate of contribution which is impressive, rather than solely the overall figure, as well as the vital nature of this productivity.
Post-World Cup Rashford has scored or assisted in 9 of the 12 Premier League matches he’s played in. He has accumulated a combined 8 goals and assists in 8 Europa League games as United have progressed to the quarter-final. He scored or assisted in every round of United’s successful Carabao Cup campaign, including a goal in the final against Newcastle. Rashford even went as far as equalling Dennis Viollet’s 64 year old record – scoring in nine consecutive home matches – with a winner in the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. Ten Hag has justifiably described Rashford as ‘unstoppable’ at the moment.
The Premier League table would, naturally, look very different for Manchester United without their number ten. If you were to remove Rashford’s goals and assists this season, Ten Hag’s side would be 16 points worse off. This equates to a dramatic drop to 12th in the table and a Dutchman without a job. A comparable experiment for Erling Haaland leave Manchester City in joint 6th, while eliminating Bukayo Saka’s exploits for Arsenal drops them in 3rd. While undoubtedly a reductive argument, it shines enough light on the significance of contributions, rather than merely the number of contributions, to highlight how integral Rashford is to United’s fortunes this year. Yet it was a dramatically different story only twelve months ago.
2021/22 constitutes one of the worst seasons in Manchester United’s history, with every conceivable malady befalling the club. Smiles were few and far between for players and fans alike, with Rashford’s face a seemingly fixed expression of pained frustration. In a moment which appears impossible given the current situation, United fans reacted negatively to Rashford as he left Old Trafford following a disappointing 1-0 loss to Atlético Madrid, and the forward appeared to swear in retaliation. Ralf Rangnick, the disastrous interim replacement to the equally disastrous Ole Gunnar Solskjær, went as far as publicly declaring United’s number ten was ‘free to leave’ if he wanted. An unpleasant attitude developed towards Rashford; a seemingly unfair one given he appeared to be feeling the lingering effects of the severe back injury sustained the previous year. Dark times indeed.
Which is why the introduction of Ten Hag last summer has produced such a revitalised mood around the club, personified first and foremost by Rashford. The Dutch manager described how he was ‘convinced from the first moment’ of the Englishman’s quality and felt Rashford was integral to the club moving forward. This overriding sense of support was one of Ten Hag’s opening gambits to heal what appeared a broken squad. Rob Dawson (ESPN) wrote in the summer that players were told ‘last season [did] not make them bad players’ and they will ‘all be given a clean slate during preseason.’ The renewed form of Rashford, as well as Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Fred and a host of other players who appeared closer to the Championship than Old Trafford, gives credence to this policy. Smiles were back on the faces of Manchester United players, and their football soon began to mirror this.
Ten Hag, when asked recently about the cohort of the best forwards in Europe, considered Rashford as ‘definitely one of them.’ Xavi Hernandez, the Dutchman’s opposing manager in their recent Europa League clash, authenticated this view. He described Rashford as ‘one of Europe’s most dangerous players’ and conceded his team would have to nullify the Englishman to be successful. The fact that Rashford scored one and assisted another at Camp Nou a few days later suggests Barcelona, and Xavi, failed in this endeavour.
Watching Rashford light up the pitch in Barcelona, and his general transformation in form from last season, speaks to the power of a positive and strong mindset. To transition from a player the club manager was content to see leave, to one opposition managers are developing specific game plans for, is remarkable. Ten Hag has been keen to stress Rashford’s ‘unbelievable focus’ as the genesis of his upturn in performance but it is not merely Rashford feeling content and concentrated which has caused this form. It is also the escalation in responsibility, and freedom, of being the chief protagonist of Manchester United’s attack, engendered by Cristiano Ronaldo’s sheepish relocation to Saudi Arabia.
Rashford has become the main man at Old Trafford; a position made impossible by the shadow cast from the Portuguese superstar. The English forward’s inclusion in the starting eleven does not lead to a detriment in team performance the way Ronaldo’s did. Ronaldo’s inability to press, as well as general physical decline, made him almost antithetical to the style of football Ten Hag seeks to implement. Yet players like Bruno and Antony would develop tunnel vision when Ronaldo started, seemingly attempting to help the egotistical man-child add to his goal tally at every opportunity. The attack was stunted and the defence placed under increased pressure.
The transition from Ronaldo to Rashford as crown jewel of Old Trafford has seen both individual and collective improvements, which have begun to compound exponentially upon each other – Rashford plays better so the team plays better, the team playing better then makes Rashford play better, which makes the team play better and repeat. It’s a process which has already seen Manchester United win one trophy, while progressing to the semi-final and quarter-final respectively of two others. A firm grip (relatively) on 3rd place in the Premier League has been maintained concurrent to these cup triumphs. It represents a level of success which appeared beyond the wildest imagination of the Old Trafford faithful last season. And it all started with the return of a smile.
Darragh Fox
Manager: eddie howe
The former Bournemouth manager has done a remarkable job aided by the unlimited funds at his disposal. Howe was always known to play an attractive style of football but his year away from the game has helped him hone the defensive aspect of his management and made him a more complete manager. Newcastle, under his management, have become famous for not letting in goals and it is expected to be same on Sunday. Newcastle have the best defensive numbers in the division and Howe has also added that never-say-die attitude into his players. Their three most recent victories in the league are great example of this fact as they scored the winner in the 89th, 79th and 90th minute respectively.
Top scorer: Miguel Almirón
Before Eddie Howe rocked up at St. James' Park in October 2021, Miguel Almiron was struggling to make any real impact. In the two-and-a-half seasons prior to Howe's arrival, Almiron had managed just eight Premier League goals since joining from Atlanta United and looked every bit an overpriced signing at £21 million. Fans loved his work-rate and desire but he had very little to show for his efforts and it seemed unclear what his role was in the team. However, Howe has changed all that He has scored 11 goals and notched one assist in 25 Premier League games this season, including a tremendous Goal of the Month effort against Fulham in October. However, he is likely to miss the United game which should serve as a major boost to Ten Hag and his men.
club and fans
Newcastle United chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan visited the club just before the Liverpool game and carried out a series of progress checks including speaking to senior members of the club’s management team and the manager Eddie Howe as well. it is understood Al-Rumayyan also set out Saudi Arabia's ambition for the next stage of Newcastle's development including discussing the summer budget of the club and updating on the progress with regards to sponsorship deals. He was given a series of presentations and he stressed that he wanted to help them ensure the club continues to grow over the coming months. The Saudi backed-ownership recently came under renewed scrutiny when Premier League chief executive Richard Masters was asked by a member of the British parliament if the league was investigating the club’s backers.
player to watch: Alexander Isak
The Swede has been on fire recently and is living up to his enormous price-tag. Isak arrived from Real Sociedad in a deal that could be worth £60m and he showed glimpses of his talent before an injury cut-short that early promise. He has made his return and is now making the difference as the business end of the season approaches. Isak has six league goals for the season, an impressive return for a player who has registered just 624 minutes of game time. More importantly, Isak's six goals have resulted in Newcastle earning an additional eight points. His manager was effusive in his praise and spoke of how he was a "top, top player that was capable of doing amazing things". The Sweden international has kept Callum Wilson out of the team and he adds that technical quality and speed to the Magpies attack, something they did not have for a long time.
interesting stats
The Toon are winless in their last six league meetings with Man United (2D, 4L), a record they will need to snap if they harbor any desire to finish inside the top four. When visiting teams in the top eight, Erik ten Hag’s side have suffered four straight defeats this season! Manchester United have won more Premier League away games against Newcastle than any other side (14). However United's recent record at St James' Park does not bode well as they’ve lost two of their last five such visits (W2 D1), having lost just one of their previous 13 at St James’ Park. Following their goalless draw at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture, Newcastle are looking to keep a clean sheet in consecutive Premier League games against Manchester United for the first time since May 1997. Following a run of just one win in eight Premier League games (D5 L2), Newcastle have won their last two. The Magpies last three league victories have seen them score the winner in the 89th, 79th and 90th minute respectively.
FORM AND INJURIES
The Magpies lost their big chance when it came to ending their trophy drought at the hands of United, so they will be up for revenge. Howe's side are currently fifth, only three points behind the Reds. A win would see them leapfrog Erik ten Hag's side to sit third. Form-wise, with only the Premier League to concentrate on will suit the Toon as they've won their last two league games after back-to-back defeats to Liverpool and Man City threatened to derail their season. However, for the United clash they will be without top scorer Miguel Almiron who is out with a pulled thigh. But they have received a timely boost, in the form of Anthony Gordon's return from an ankle injury. Nick Pope should also feature after picking up a minor injury with England while Fabian Schar's participation is a doubt after he was not selected in the Switzerland squad for their Euro 2024 qualifiers.
match preview
All the latest information about the upcoming game.
Team News and Predicted XI
Casemiro will be serving the second of a four-match suspension against the Magpies and so will not be available for the game. Marcel Sabitzer is also a doubt in midfield as Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick revealed that he is carrying a knee injury.
Christian Eriksen is back in training after a two-month layoff but it is probably too early for him to feature, at least, in the starting lineup. He could get minutes from the bench. This could leave the infamous “McFred” – Scott McTominay and Fred – as the only fit senior midfield pair, although Erik ten Hag could opt to put Bruno Fernandes back in the CDM role as he did against Real Betis.
We are going to assume Sabitzer will pull through and that he will partner McTominay. Ten Hag has tended to see the Scotsman as the most natural replacement for Casemiro and he has been in blinding form for Scotland.
With David de Gea the obvious candidate in goal, the rest of the defence could be decided based on the shape in which players return from international duty. Victor Lindelof is nursing a broken toe and Raphael Varane is also carrying a knock. Meanwhile Lisandro Martinez has been busy playing and celebrating hard in Argentina and could be tired upon his return. Varane and Martinez should be the starting partnership if everyone is fit and rested.
Luke Shaw missed England’s match against the Ukraine having been sent off in the previous game, so he should be well-rested and keen to start in the left back role. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been keeping Diogo Dalot out of the right back spot lately and we expect that to continue.
Up front, we are likely to finally see the return of Anthony Martial, although again, due to match fitness, this is more likely to be 30 minutes off the bench. Wout Weghorst will therefore deputise in the starting lineup.
Marcus Rashford is back in training after missing both England’s games with a knock, and should start on the left wing. Alejandro Garnacho is unavailable due to injury. Antony will probably get the nod ahead of Jadon Sancho and Facundo Pellistri on the right, with Fernandes at number 10.
Links
Video: Manager's Press conference (when available) (opens MANUTD.COM in new tab). Also available in our Top 10 videos.
Report: MANAGER'S PRESS CONFERENCE (when available) (opens THEPEOPLESPERSON.COM in new tab)
Match officials
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Lee Betts, Darren Cann
Fourth official: Michael Salisbury
VAR: Andy Madley. Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.
tactical preview
Newcastle’s success this season has been built on a solid defence and Eddie Howe has performed miracles in this area. Their GA of just 19 from 26 games is easily the best in the Premier League – 7 better than the next best (City).
Howe employs a 4-3-3, usually with Kieran Trippier at right-back, Fabian Schär and Sven Botman at CB and Dan Burn left-back. They will regroup quickly in transitions and you will see players leaving the ball to run back to reform the line. So United will struggle to catch them on the back foot with speedy counter-attacks. On the other hand, they will often get 8 or even 9 men behind the ball so a more measured build up can also lead to frustration.
One way to beat this sort of defence is with a patient build-up and quality distribution from deep. This would tend to favour the likes of Marcel Sabitzer (if fit) or Bruno Fernandes playing deep rather than the more workmanlike stars such as McTominay and Fred.
Trippier is the defender given more licence to join the attack, but the Magpies tend to shift the rest of the defence right to cover, with someone dropping back from midfield to take up the space left on the left. This counter-intuitively means that attacking their left flank is more productive after a turnover. Quick breaks from United’s right could therefore favour Diogo Dalot’s inclusion ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, as the Portuguese will get on the front foot more naturally to support the winger.
Howe also encourages his forwards to drop back into midfield which can mean a two-man United midfield can get overrun. We saw this in the Carabao Cup final, which Newcastle dominated for large parts of the first half and was only properly combatted when Ten Hag added an extra man in that area in the second half, bringing on Marcel Sabitzer and Scott McTominay.
Newcastle do not use a high block, so more forward players will take more chances because they know the defence will stay relatively deep and stable. It also allows them to challenge more in their own half than other sides, so United will have to be wary themselves of committing too many men forward in case possession is lost.
transfer rumours
What’s hot, what’s real and what’s not
In this section we look at some of the most active transfer stories of the week about United, both comings and goings. We give each story a fire rating (how hot the story is, out of five) and a star rating (how reliable the story is, out of five).
our top transfer tip
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Rated 4 out of 5
victor osimhen (napoli)
The press still seem divided over whether it is Harry Kane or Napoli’s crown jewel that is top of United’s wishlist. But with competition mounting for both stars, prices are rising too and €160m is now being mentioned for the Serie A star.
Osimhen wants to play in the Premier League but is also in no hurry to leave Napoli, where he’s enjoying life. The 24 year old is averaging more than one goal involvement per game for the rampant Napoli (25 goals and 5 assists in 29 games).
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Rated 3.5 out of 5
Harry Kane (Spurs)
Conte’s departure from Spurs could yet decide Kane’s future. Would a return for Pochettino settle him down? How would he feel about Nagelsmann? Or is he determined to leave, no matter what?
Rumours of City being interested despite having Haaland, and of United already preparing £80m bid. Thomas Tuchel also reportedly keen on taking him to Bayern.
🔥🔥🔥
Rated 2.5 out of 5
Mason Mount (Chelsea)
Another reported Tuchel target, Mount won’t be short of suitors as an exit looks more and more likely this summer. David Ornstein has already confirmed that Mount looks likely to leave Stamford Bridge.
Fabrizio Romano says Liverpool are leading the race for Mount, but United should not be ruled out. Newcastle are also believed to be sniffing around.
🔥🔥
Rated 2 out of 5
Diogo Costa (FC Porto)
With David de Gea’s contract talks stalling, Costa is widely believed to be one of United’s top replacement options and club scouts are seen at practically every Porto game now.
However, The Athletic claim that Tony Coton is not 100% about any potential DDG replacement he has seen lately, so that doesn’t bode well, especially as Costa’s buyout clause is €70m so he won’t come cheap.
Rated 1.5 out of 5
Kim Min-jae (Napoli)
Kim has a €50m release clause that is only active for a few weeks at the start of the transfer window, but multiple reports claim United could pounce. Napoli have offered him a €2.5m per year contract, but Premier League suitors reportedly will double that amount.
The player himself is getting irritated by all the speculation and is begging everyone to leave him alone.
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Rated 3 out of 5
Gabri Veiga (Celta Vigo)
Celta Vigo president Carlos Mourino has confirmed that the midfielder will be leaving on a free this summer so all the big clubs are circling.
United are reportedly leading the race but there is one big problem – the player wants to join Real Madrid.
But los Blanco’s are busy working on Jude Bellingham and so they might pass on the Spaniard, which could leave United a clear run at him.
Rated 2 out of 5
Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
No change here since last issue – Thuram is leaving Gladbach, that much has been confirmed by the club themselves, but where to?
Inter have been the frontrunners for a while on this one but Juventus are also keen. Bayern and Chelsea are now reportedly out of the race.
United have reportedly made contact with Thuram’s people, who in turn have offered the player to Barcelona. It’s like football’s version of Take Me Out. No likey, no lighty.
🔥🔥🔥
Rated 1 out of 5
Randal kolo muani (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Christian Falk, a leading German transfer specialist, insists United are very serious about Kolo Muani and have a €120m bid prepared.
A good player, but it seems highly unlikely that the Red Devils would sanction that amount at this stage, especially when the likes of Kane and Osimhen are around for (possibly) about the same.
Photo gallery
A selection of the best United photos since the last issue
All photos from Getty Images
the prodigal "sen" returns
Ten Hag will be delighted to welcome back Christian Eriksen, the midfield orchestrator
A closer look at recent Manchester United games will show how the team has managed to keep getting results despite not playing particularly well at times. The games are usually helter-skelter with an element of end-to-end action with the Red Devils failing to keep control of the ball for long and sustained periods. Manager Erik ten Hag is aware that this sort of uncontrolled football suits his team at present as they can take advantage through their pacey wingers. However, this was not always the case, especially prior to February mainly due to the presence of Christian Eriksen.
As the game against Newcastle draws nearer, Ten Hag has a lot to worry about. His midfield currently bears a desolate look with almost all midfielders either injured or suspended. Casemiro, their midfield general, is serving his four-game ban for picking up a second straight red. To make matters worse, Marcel Sabitzer was reportedly injured while on international duty and he could join Donny van de Beek in spending some time on the sidelines. But there could finally be a ray of light emerging from the darkness as Eriksen nears a return to training.
A lot of eyebrows were raised when the Dane joined the Reds in the summer. The consensus was that he would be a backup player who would come in to change the game when needed. But Ten Hag had other plans. He was building a team from scratch after losing so many players during the off-season and he needed someone who could keep control of the ball and manoeuvre it in a composed manner. The former Ajax coach realised that the weapons he had were not suited to the eventual possession-based style that he was attempting to bring to Old Trafford and he needed a conductor in the centre of the park. That is where the 31-year-old excels as compared to the rest of the United midfield.
Both Fred and Scott McTominay provide pressing and physicality but vertical passing is not their strongest suit. The only other player capable of picking passes and unlocking low-blocks is Bruno Fernandes but he has the tendency to take high-risks which often times leads to a breakdown in attacks. But the Danish international takes his time, waits for his moment before picking one from a variety of through balls to destabilize the opposition defence. His passing is almost ethereal at times as he always manages to pick the right pass while keeping the tempo of the attack going. He has a wand of a right foot that can scoop the ball over the defence or cross to devastating effect. Ten Hag likes his teams to play vertically and his passing between the lines is impeccable. Compared to his peers, he often seems to have an extra second with the ball and he makes it count more often than not.
And the statistics back up the claim that Eriksen was the one that made United tick while controlling the game much better. Despite missing two months of action, Eriksen remains the player with the second-most assists this season with nine and the most in the Premier League with seven. That is not all as he holds the best pass completion percentage among all midfielders this season with a whopping 85%. He also is the player with the second-most chances created with 44 and holds the second-best chance creation rate per game with 1.42. His repertoire of skills goes beyond all of this. He was also effective with his crossing which had the highest success rate among the squad at the time of his injury.
The former Ajax coach, at the time of Eriksen’s signing, had mentioned how his ethereal passing quality could benefit United and he could also come in and do his fair share of the dirty work but in a more refined sense as compared to United’s Brazilian midfield destroyer. At the time of his untimely injury, he was second in terms of ball recoveries. How much Ten Hag trusts the Danish star can be seen from the fact that he despite missing two months with his ankle injury, he has played the eighth-highest number of minutes for the club this season, more than the likes of Antony, Raphael Varane and Fred.
Ten Hag spoke glowingly of his acquisition. “Eriksen brings creativity in the squad and can play in offensive midfield or in a lower position. He will bring a lot to the team and will affect our possession and also out of possession. I know him for a long time because everyone knows he can develop in Ajax, so I knew him from the Netherlands but also when we faced him. As a manager we faced him, so I know his capabilities and I was so happy that we could sign him.”
The United manager had hinted at an early return for the former Tottenham star after the international break and the midfielder uploaded a picture of himself without his protective boot which is a great sign. The club invited him for a podcast show where he spoke of starting his running work at Carrington and that he was close to a return. That is a great piece of news for United ahead of the business end of the season. It must be remembered that the Reds have the chance to add to their Carabao Cup triumph this season as they have already secured a place in the FA Cup semifinals and Europa League quarterfinals.
Eriksen’s return would allow United to better control the ball and he can, in conjunction with McTominay and Sabitzer, give the side the licence to play more aggressively even without Casemiro. And when the Brazilian and the Dane start playing together again, United will once again have that blend of steel and silk that they long craved for before the start of the current season. Eriksen often gets overlooked due to the brilliance of a Marcus Rashford or Fernandes but it is he who kept the Reds ticking.
“I think he proved from the first day how important his is to our game. He can make a game for you, make the switch of play, he sees a pass between the lines, make the final pass and go into attack to score a goal,” Ten Hag triumphantly claimed earlier on in the season. With United needing him more than ever, it is finally time to welcome back Eriksen.
Ayantan Chowdhury
The devil's advocate
“If United have to keep one and sell one, they should keep Maguire and sell Lindelof”
The case for ...
Now I know what you’re thinking – there’s no way we should be keeping Harry Maguire beyond the summer. Unfortunately, getting rid of him isn’t that simple.
Erik ten Hag has to put the atmosphere in the dressing room above all else at Manchester United and if we’re picking between Victor Lindelof and Maguire, for me it’s clear who needs to go first.
Obviously both players appear to be hinting they’re unhappy with their game time and will reconsider their position in the summer but it’s unlikely Ten Hag will get rid of both in the same summer the club has it’s hands tied in thanks to FFP.
So, why Maguire? He is technically the club’s captain and we all know there’s a player in there, just as he shows when playing for England. If there’s anyone who can help him regain that form, it’s Ten Hag, and in fairness to Maguire, he’s not looked as shaky of late as he has done in the past.
The Dutch manager could easily tweak his tactics a little so the former Leicester man isn’t as exposed as he has been in the past. In other words, sacrificing playing such a high line so Maguire’s lack of acceleration isn’t a problem. It’s either that or make sure the goalkeeper, whoever it may be, sweeps up more often and isn’t glued to their line.
Odds are we might have a new face in goal next season, so perhaps Maguire won’t be such a hinderance then. It’s not like he’ll play every game either but he will have a role nonetheless.
If he didn’t have any leadership skills, he wouldn’t have been entrusted with the armband in the first place, so there’s that to consider too. Ten Hag has made plenty of difficult decisions so far, so why not just strip Maguire of the captaincy officially? There has to be an element of trust there.
Perhaps the biggest factor to consider in selling Maguire or Lindelof, is that the former is a homegrown talent, and unfortunately that means a lot nowadays.
The Premier League’s new registration rules means we have to have that at the forefront of our minds. It doesn’t seem like we’re linked with many Englishmen, so odds are we’ll need Maguire to meet the necessary quota, or Ten Hag’s in trouble.
It’s not the prettiest argument but we have to be realistic, until there’s a breakthrough of sorts in young English talent or we buy someone who’s homegrown, getting rid of Maguire will be a problem.
Bear in mind the likes of Tom Heaton, Phil Jones, Scott McTominay, and potentially Aaron Wan-Bissaka may all be gone in the summer. It makes sense to hold onto your captain from that list.
Heaton isn’t happy playing second fiddle apparently, Jones’ contract runs out, McTominay’s potential sale to Newcastle will be need for FFP, and Ten Hag has to make a decision on Diogo Dalot or Wan-Bissaka for the right-back spot.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Maguire stays until next winter at the very least.
Red Moon
The case against...
If you’re going to keep just one between Maguire and Lindelof, I’d choose the Swede without question, but it’s not just about football ability.
The most important reason, for me, is that Maguire represents three years of failed captaincy at the club. Rightly or wrongly, we all associate him with the misery of the Solskjaer and Rangnick eras. Whether or not you agree that Bruno should be captain, there comes a sense, when that armband is handed over to Harry, that the ship suddenly got wobbly again. It’s like, this plane crashed when he was captain, don’t let him near the cockpit.
Maguire himself insists his teammates all respect his captaincy but there were too many rumours last season of the exact opposite that it’s hard not to believe that there’s no smoke without fire. So by keeping him around, that spectre remains, it’s just a bad, confidence-sapping vibe around the place. He’s a Jonah, let’s face it.
Stripping him of the captaincy doesn’t seem likely to happen now, either, nor does it seem particularly fair at this point. But he doesn’t represent the club well, he comes across in interviews as gormless and lacking gravitas with his squeaky little voice and constantly playing with his hair. Yeah all right, I’m being mean, shoot me. But I genuinely believe it’s all part of the problem. Perception is reality. He does not inspire confidence.
And while I don’t think Lindelof is the world’s greatest defender, he is in my opinion probably the better of the two. Maguire is better than Lindelof in the air, granted. He is supposed to be better at carrying the ball forward out of defence, but I’ve never quite got the big benefit of that. Lindelof can spray long balls around better than him, he’s got a better turning circle and is a bit faster. And he’s positionally far stronger. Harry never seems to be in the right place at the right time.
Lindelof looked a superb defender for Benfica and can also do for Sweden. He has maybe been made to look worse by having been part of this poorly-conceived partnership. When you watch Lindelof next to Licha, it looks like a downgrade on Varane for sure, but the structure, balance and organization of the team looks pretty much the same. But when Maguire is partnering Licha, all of a sudden we’re prone to those balls over the top and through balls that saw us ship so many goals last season. When Maguire’s playing, we seem to end up with Fred or Luke Shaw marking 6ft5in strikers at corners while he’s in no-mans land and all hell breaks loose.
That’s not all down to Maguire’s ability, I just think he is the wrong fit for this United setup. Perhaps his skill set is ill-suited to the Premier League in general, unless it’s in a back three or he was playing for a more cautious setup where they defend deeper.
Lindelof has talked about maybe going this summer because he wants to play more games, but he’s a fantastic backup option and if he was promoted to first reserve, maybe it would persuade him to stay. And funnily enough, I think the best of him in a United shirt could still be to come.
Red Billy
newton heath
Classic United matches from yesteryear
12th January 2008: Manchester United 6 Newcastle United 0
Having won the 2006/07 Premier League title, their ninth under Sir Alex Ferguson, United went into the new year top of the table once more, dominating teams both home and abroad. Newcastle, in stark contrast, were struggling and relying upon caretaker boss Nigel Pearson to steer them out of trouble.
Captained by Alan Smith, who was partnered in the middle of the visitors’ midfield by fellow former Red, Nicky Butt, Newcastle arrived at Old Trafford with mid table security, but with unrest among fans over the lack of new signings and a manager who could lead their side to compete, as they had done in previous seasons. The first half of this bitterly cold Saturday match-up saw United struggle to break down a resilient Magpies midfield and well-organised defensive line. The sides went in goalless at half-time, leaving the 75,965 strong Old Trafford crowd wondering what United’s stars could do to get a stronghold on this match.
It wasn’t long before United, attacking the Stretford End in the second half as they so often love to do, made a breakthrough. As Cristiano Ronaldo lined up a 20-yard free-kick, the ball squirmed under the wall and an awkward bounce beat the keeper, giving United a 1-0 lead just 4 minutes after the restart, the Portuguese bagging his 20th goal of the season already. Carlos Tevez doubled the home side’s lead soon after, sidefooting home a squared ball from skipper Ryan Giggs, before turning provider himself. Some smart passing between Michael Carrick and Tevez eventually found Ronaldo, who was one on one, easily beating the keeper for 3-0 and netting his second of the day.
At this point Sir Alex made his three substitutions, including youth star Danny Simpson, just a week after his 21st birthday, another player who would go on to swap Old Trafford for St James Park. As United pushed for more goals, Wayne Rooney chipped a delightful ball deep into the box which found an unmarked Rio Ferdinand, still forward from a corner, who volleyed the ball home at the back post like a seasoned striker with just five minutes left on the clock. Newcastle’s defence fell apart and United were in no mood to relent. As the ball broke on the edge of the Newcastle box, due to some tired defending, Ronaldo got his shot away, which despite taking a deflection off of a flailing black and white leg, secured the fast-rising star his hat-trick. With Tevez adding a late second of his own from a sweeping John O’Shea cross which was flicked on by Nani, United romped home 6-0, the final goal seeing ex Reds man Alan Smith sent off for dissent, arguing that the ball had not crossed the line.
Ferguson’s Newcastle nemesis, Kevin Keegan, would be reinstated as boss soon after and United would show no mercy, travelling to St James Park just six weeks later and inflicting a 5-1 defeat on the home side. As hostile a place as it is to visit, the Red Devils will have few concerns when they travel north this weekend to face the Magpies, and one thing is certain; Erik ten Hag “will love it if we beat them”.
United line-up: Edwin van der Sar, John O’Shea, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra (Danny Simpson), Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Carrick, Anderson (Darren Fletcher), Ryan Giggs (Nani), Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney.
Paul Speller
bosman the builder
Free transfers could be crucial for Manchester United this summer
Erik ten Hag still has plenty of work to do retooling his Manchester United squad and, by the time March ends, a number of high profile players will find themselves with just three months remaining on their contracts, including the likes of Lionel Messi, Milan Skriniar, and Karim Benzema. And while it is highly unlikely that Messi will be playing under the Dutchman next season, there are plenty of bargains to be had that may well improve the Red Devils’ burgeoning chances of overtaking the likes of Manchester City in the race for the top trophies.
Skriniar will probably be playing alongside the legendary Argentine next season, with his move to Paris Saint-Germain looking all but assured. As for Benzema, there could actually be a window of possibility. After all, Man United have had success in bringing in Real Madrid superstars Raphael Varane and Casemiro in consecutive summers and may have a similar chance with the striker. Given the exorbitant fees demanded by Napoli and Tottenham Hotspur for Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane respectively, it would hardly come as a surprise should United contact the Los Blancos star’s camp – if they have not done so already. There may even be a version of events where Benzema ends up at Old Trafford for a year only to be replaced by another high profile free transfer, should Kane remain at Tottenham on his current terms.
The Midfield Need
It does appear that the centre forward position is one in which the club will look to spend serious cash, however, and as such it is in midfield where United are likely to hunt for bargains as they endeavour to give Ten Hag everything he needs to challenge for the Premier League title.
Man United signed two midfielders in the summer, having lost Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic, but it was clear before those two departed that more depth was needed. A lengthy pursuit of Frenkie de Jong may see a resumption in the summer, but given the playmaker’s recent comments, it would be far more prudent to line up a player with a similar skillset early in the window. The Barcelona star is a fairly unique player, which makes that somewhat difficult, but there are a couple of analogous talents free to negotiate a summer move on the market right now.
In Eriksen, United have an excellent passer of the ball and, up until his injury, the team had been able to create from deep with his range. But Ten Hag would certainly like to have a player in there capable of breaking through midfield and defensive lines courtesy of their dribbling ability – a progressive ball carrier.
Lessons in swift action
Daichi Kamada would have been one such talent, with the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder comfortable in tight spaces and well able to receive the ball on the half-turn. His incisive passing and set piece delivery would have been an added bonus for games in which Eriksen were unavailable as well. Unfortunately, the Japanese maestro looks Dortmund-bound, with a reported €40m contract package having already been tabled.
Frankfurt appear to be replacing him with Olympique Lyonnaise playmaker Houssem Aouar, another player available on a free transfer in the summer. It was not so long ago that the Ligue 1 midfielder was linked with the cream of Europe’s crop, but his career has clearly stalled. This season he has managed only a handful of starts for Lyon, having fallen down the pecking order. At 24, Aouar could still return to the heights of his 2020 form, but it seems unlikely that Old Trafford would be the place to do it.
Bundesliga sides are often credited with acting decisively in their transfer strategies and both Frankfurt and Dortmund appear to be doing just that. If Man United are to benefit from the quality up for grabs on the Bosman market, they must learn to do the same.
Established interest
Bosman signings do not always translate to ‘cheap deals’ and United will know that well should they approach Adrien Rabiot in the summer. The France star was subject to an approach from the Red Devils last summer, but a deal never materialised owing to disagreements with mother/agent Veronique over the financials. But with a transfer fee no longer a requirement, it could be well worth revisiting those terms, particularly given Juventus’ perilous situation. European football looks unlikely for the Turin side next season and Rabiot is sure to be moving on, even if the financially stricken side are able to manage an offer.
Rabiot has been magnificent this season, with his fantastic displays during the FIFA World Cup catching the eye. He has also been inarguably Juventus’ best player during their difficult campaign. The 27-year-old can often be found bursting through the middle of the park and has clearly done a lot of growing up over the last couple of years, becoming a real leader for club and country.
He also possesses plenty of physicality and defensive nous, meaning that a partnership of the Frenchman and Casemiro would take some getting past – something that could be very useful in matches against the European elite. Given United’s already-established interest, there are sure to be more developments surrounding the midfielder in the coming months.
A Premier League Option
Closer to home, there are a couple of other midfield options on expiring deals who are currently plying their trade in the Premier League. Ilkay Gundogan and N’Golo Kante are the highest profile among them, but neither seem a realistic prospect for an Old Trafford switch. Both players will be 32 by the end of the month, while one captains one of United’s biggest rivals and the other hasn’t played since August.
Youri Tielemans could be a realistic option, although he is far more of a passer than a ball carrier. That could make him an attractive proposition as cover for Eriksen – perhaps even a long-term replacement. He has endured a difficult couple of seasons at Leicester City, who look to be sinking under a frustrated Brendan Rodgers, but a summer move could be just what he needs.
Under Erik ten Hag, Tielemans could well flourish into an excellent deep creator on the European stage. At 25 years of age, time is certainly on the Belgian’s side. Whether he is the type of midfielder the manager wants remains to be seen, however.
Defensive cover
United may also look to bring in another player at the back, particularly if they part ways with Harry Maguire. The club captain has struggled for gametime this season and was recently warned by Gareth Southgate that his lack of club appearances could put his inclusion in future England squads in jeopardy. Receiving a fee for Maguire and getting in a replacement on a free transfer would be a shrewd move for a club needing to raise funds to strengthen elsewhere.
There are a couple of defenders with contracts up for expiry in the summer who could be well worth a look at. There are even a couple of left footed centre backs to consider – an important factor, given that Lisandro Martinez is the only one in the current Man United squad.
23-year-old Evan Ndicka is one of the hottest properties on the market. Another Frankfurt player, he has caught the eye with his aerial ability and comfort playing out from the back. At United, he could replace Maguire’s task of dealing with crosses late on in certain matches, while also covering for Lisandro Martinez and developing as a player for the club’s future.
At 31, Inigo Martinez of Athletic Bilbao would be more of a veteran option. Having missed fourteen games due to injury this season, he may come as somewhat more of a risk, but his ability to start attacks from the back is far beyond that of Ndicka. A swansong in the Premier League could well appeal to the Basque star, even if it meant playing second fiddle to Lisandro.
Both players have been heavily linked with Barcelona, but even with all of their ‘economic levers,’ the Catalan giants cannot sign everyone. Either could be of good use to Manchester United, should some wheeling and dealing need to be done to flesh out the squad.
A more leftfield option could be to have Luke Shaw fill in more regularly in the centre back position, as he did when United’s No. 6 was away after winning the World Cup. That could leave a spot in the squad open at left back. SL Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo has been linked to a move to the Premier League and Old Trafford could end up being a possibility. Having provided eleven assists and four goals across all competitions this season, he boasts the kind of attacking productivity that Erik ten Hag would certainly like to see from his fullbacks.
A couple of shrewd signings could pave the way for bigger investments in priority positions. As discussed, the striker position is likely to be this summer’s showstopper, but even goalkeepers are edging ever closer to the €100m-mark. With tightening FFP rules and uncertainty over the outcome of United’s takeover saga, the club must be prepared to seek out ways of keeping their spending in check while improving the squad.
David O’Neill
eckers
On Mitrovic and testicle crushing
Alexander Mitrovic’s recent sending off sparked a wave of bed-wetting in some quarters, with a number of observers applying the kind of shrill hysterics that used to be reserved for violent films and computer games. ‘He’s got to set an example for the children!’ has to be one of the laziest, dumbest possible takes on that red card. Yet various pundits found themselves churning it out rather than engaging with the actual severity of the offence. Was it really all that bad?!
Yes, it was a red card. Yes, he lost his head for a split-second. And yes, he committed the inexcusable act of strongly tugging the ref’s elbow. However, is it possible in the days of perma-rage to take a breath before accusing a mediocre Fulham player of warping the minds of a generation with an act that would barely be noticed on most playgrounds? Let’s be honest, kids would witness far worse if they spent any given week reading about the rancid antics of a notable number of Tory politicians.
Why are footballers supposed to be the standard bearers for morality in this country anyway? It’s not so long since Matt Hancock et al used player’s wages to score political points (and distract from their own failings) during COVID. That didn’t work either. Perhaps there’s a lingering discontent among the self-serving elite about being repeatedly humiliated by our very own Marcus Rashford over school meals. The whole discourse is phoney and hypocritical.
The timing of this latest moral panic is even more curious, coming barely a week after the country was deprived of it’s beloved Saturday night football show because our callous, thin-skinned government didn’t like (rightly) being called out on its reprehensible attitude towards asylum seekers. But footballers are the real threat to plummeting moral standards! Not Partygate, or Brexit, Braverman, or Boris. Not contracts awarded via WhatsApp or a self-inflicted tanking of economy. It’s those pesky footballers and their outsized influence that really does the damage! Ignore the right hand, look at the left hand. Look at this! See the big target man and his momentary failings! Talk about it, peasants!
We’ve seen footballers behave far worse, and yet I don’t remember a wave of Kung Fu kicks sweeping the country after Eric’s Selhurst Park meltdown. Nor do I recall reading about the thousands of children who presumably ate each others faces following Suarez’s human meat phase. How did The Mail miss that?! Perhaps there are support groups dotted around the country for middle-aged men who forcibly shit themselves because Gary Lineker once did it while playing for England? Or for the legion of men who briefly glimpsed an image of Vinny Jones and Paul Gascoigne and are now compelled to crush each other’s testicles.
There’s zero proof any of these incidents changed anything of substance but you can rest assured that some moral arbiters would have expressed similar concerns about setting standards for kids even then. Probably Jimmy Hill. Every generation has at least one Jimmy Hill. Anyway, this massive exaggeration of football’s influence is only getting worse.
Aside from the dubious connection between player behaviour and the decline of civilisation, it’s not as if they even asked to be anything other than sportspeople. They’re mostly just immensely talented working class grafters who can’t please anyone no matter what they do. One minute they’re being told to take a knee, the next they’re being booed for doing it. Some are criticised for being vapid and selfish but the minute one of them does charity work he’s accused of taking his eye off the ball. They literally cannot win.
Call me old-fashioned but I want my team to show a bit of fire. I couldn’t care less if they occasionally lose control and act in an unscripted way. When society has become hyper-sanitised (but weirdly messy) and footballers need to hire media teams because they’re so petrified of making a social faux pas that could threaten their career, it’s actually refreshing to see some honesty on the pitch. And if being real is enough to make idiots like chuntering bad take-bot Gabby Agbonlahor spit out their breakfast coffee on Talksport…well that’s fine by me.
So forget the kids and the pure-as-the-driven-snow feelings that we (wrongly) project onto them. I want my footballers spitting and snarling like Roy Keane being asked for a selfie at a urinal. I want them swearing so viciously that Martin Tyler is forced to apologise nonstop for 90 whole minutes. Give me rage and hideousness, offensive chants and beery hand gestures. Give me anything other than a polite hand shake, swapped shirt and an empty tweet saying ‘Big result. On to the next one.’
The kids can take it. And, for those who can’t, there’s always cricket.
Scott Eckersley
Zidane Iqbal: United’s forgotten man
The Iraqi’s dazzling display against Russia will be a timely reminder for Ten Hag
Heading into the season, there were high hopes for Zidane Iqbal as fans waited with anticipation to find out what role the academy graduate would play under Erik ten Hag. Iqbal was one of pre-season’s standout performers. Supporters were left mesmerized by the midfielder’s incredible poise and silkiness on the ball. He seemed to fit the mould of a Ten Hag midfielder: one with loads of technical ability that thrives in a possession-based team. However, the season has unfolded to be a frustrating one for young Iqbal.
To say that he has been a ghost this term would be an understatement. He is yet to add to his single senior United appearance when he made his debut in a dead rubber game in the Champions League against Young Boys. That was in December 2021. Iqbal has not managed even one second of first-team football all season. To add to the 19-year-old’s exasperation, he has been an unused substitute in 14 senior matchday squads under Ten Hag. More than once this campaign, Iqbal has been withdrawn from the U-21s the night before matches, only for him not to make the senior matchday squads. Iqbal’s situation is made to look even worse considering United’s lightness in numbers in the middle of the park. Even in the midst of a long-term injury lay-off for Christian Eriksen and multiple Casemiro suspensions, Iqbal has repeatedly been overlooked. Kobbie Mainoo’s rapid rise has only further served to exacerbate the Iraqi’s state of affairs. Mainoo, whom many may consider to be below Iqbal in his development, is above the Iraq international in the pecking order. Mainoo has featured three times across the Premier League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
In the face of extremely limited playing time, it is even more puzzling that United have seen it fit not to send their highly-talented youngster on loan. Iqbal was keen on temporarily going somewhere where there would be an assurance of first-team football, but United elected to retain him with the impression that he still has a part to play in how the first team’s season unfolds. This is yet to pass. So many of United’s young stars are currently enjoying excellent loan spells and it would have surely made more sense to explore the same approach with regard to Iqbal.
The international break has given Iqbal the opportunity to give United fans and certainly Ten Hag a timely reminder of just what he is capable of. As Iraq suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Russia, Iqbal was his country’s shining star. Primarily playing in the number 10 position, the United man was his side’s primary creative outlet. His dazzling display even in the face of defeat saw a multitude of fans take to social media to question why he is not playing for the Red Devils when he seems to be exactly what they need. His obvious talent that was on full display against Russia is something that the team could do with, especially as the business end of the season approaches. United are still actively competing in three competitions and logic dictates that at some point, Iqbal will be accorded ample chances to prove himself and make a mark on the pitch. Barring the likelihood that something dramatic happened behind the scenes that has kept the player from featuring more this season, his case is an enigma. We can only speculate in the absence of a clear explanation for the player’s absence from action. Hopefully, the international break reminds Ten Hag and his coaching staff that he has an unused weapon in Iqbal that can be deployed to great effect.
Derick Kinoti
Top 10 Videos
Some of the best United-related videos on Youtube since the last match
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Robin van Persie returns to Man Utd 🔴 | Dutch star chats to Erik ten Hag and tours Carrington base!
9:49
How Sir Alex Ferguson & David Gill Stopped Evra Going To Liverpool | The United Way Of Training
41:22
Eriksen Rehab Update, Sabitzer Wants To Stay! | Glazers Split At Centre Of Man Utd Takeover Delays
41:08
maguire: defiant or deluded?
The United captain proves he can defend, as he defends himself so well
Harry Maguire has his fair share of critics but there are also those who still believe in him, including, of course, England manager Gareth Southgate. However, Maguire’s two greatest advocates are probably the statisticians and himself.
Speaking after England’s 2-1 victory over Italy on Thursday, Maguire clearly implied that he is unfairly criticised and that, in fact, he improves Manchester United when he plays.
Asked if he feels properly appreciate (via The Times, Maguire replied:
For England, yes, I do. Obviously, last season was difficult for the club, but, listen, I’ve proven myself to Gareth, who works with a wide range of centre backs. He has the choice of all the English centre backs in the country and I play, every time I’m available, I’ve been in the team.
I’m sure if you ask the rest of the lads they know what I bring to the team. I’m 30 years old but I shouldn’t really need to prove myself at this level.
I’ve over 50 caps. I’m England’s top-scoring defender.
Maguire did not offer an explanation as to why he thinks he has been booed by England fans on more than one occasion.
Having talked himself up as an England player, he then went on to make his case for being in the United side, saying:
I’ve played nearly 200 times for Manchester United, I’ve captained the club for three years now, but I do also understand that when you’re the captain of Manchester United you do come under the most amount of scrutiny.
Last season at club level, my performance wasn’t good enough, alongside everybody else at club level, not just myself struggled. Everyone else struggled.
This is an interesting admission, as the skipper was adamant toward the end of last season that his performances were, in fact, up to par, saying “I wouldn’t be playing every game for #mufc in the starting eleven if I’d been playing bad every game or not playing well enough.”
And his assertion that “everyone else struggled” may be true, but he is the only one who topped the Premier League’s “most errors leading to shots” charts last season.
He goes on to declare:
My form’s been good this year. When I’ve played, in my last eight or nine starts for Manchester United we’ve won. So my influence is still there.
To put that into context, The Times points out that “half of Maguire’s 24 United appearances this season have come as a substitute.”
It is true that the statistics tend to back up Maguire’s claims to being an asset rather than a liability. A fantastic 86.9% passing accuracy in the Premier League and a reasonable average sofascore rating of 7.0 per game, zero errors leading to shots and zero errors leading to goals are points in his favour.
However, as The Times’ Henry Winter goes on to point out in his article, what fans see with the naked eye and what statistics often cannot convey is a tendency to make glaring errors that cost points for both club and country.
The fantastic stats posted against Italy should be juxtaposed with Winter’s summation of the Italy goal, which he believed to be Maguire’s fault.
“As Maguire carried the ball out of defence here, Italy’s Domenico Berardi closed off the passing lane to Jack Grealish. The pass wasn’t on and Maguire’s attempt was way off target.
“Yet it was the 30-year-old’s desperate attempt to rectify that error which ultimately gifted Mateo Retegui, after Lorenzo Pellegrini’s clever reverse-pass, the space to apply the finish.
“Maguire’s lunge at Nicolò Barella left a hole in defence, and brought to mind the United defender’s red card against Denmark in the Nations League in October 2020.
“A second yellow card in the space of half an hour that night arrived when he lunged at Kasper Dolberg. It was rash, panicked, just like Thursday night. Confidence and composure — close bedfellows — are in short supply just now.”
Winter then goes on to mention three other occasions when Maguire made mistakes leading to a goal against England; against France in the World Cup quarter final, Iran in the World Cup group stage, and against Germany in the 3-3 Nations League draw last September.
United fans will have their own litany of examples of costly and downright clumsy Maguire errors, including many committed this season, despite his claim that “my form’s been good”.
It is this lack of self-criticism that is perhaps the most worrying aspect of the centre back’s demise. Admitting you have a problem is the first step.
Red Billy
twitter chatter
Some of the best United-related posts on Twitter since the last match
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blast from the past
An A-Z of former Players
bobby charlton
Years at club: 1953-1973
758 appearances, 249 goals
England: 106 caps, 49 goals
“He always believed in me and, apart from being the greatest legend at this club and the greatest player, it’s been a wonderful pleasure to know you. The great attribute of Bobby – and it’s a great example to anybody who has been successful – is how he’s kept his feet on the ground and retained his humility all his life” – Sir Alex Ferguson.
Early life
Bobby Charlton was born in Ashington, Northumberland on 11th October 1937, the younger brother to ex Leeds United and World Cup winner in 1966, Jack Charlton.
Before United
Bobby only played schools football but was spotted by United’s chief scout Joe Armstrong in 1953 and signed with the club immediately aged just 15. A year later he turned professional, becoming one of the famous Busby babes.
Manchester United career
Bobby made his first team debut in 1956 and scored twice in a 4-2 win over Charlton Athletic. He would go on to score 12 goals in 14 games that season, including a hat-trick in the return fixture against Charlton, all while doing his military service alongside teammate Duncan Edwards, and at just 18 years of age. United would win the league and reach the FA Cup final in his debut season. Bobby was a survivor of the 1958 Munich air crash, being pulled from the wreckage almost unscathed by hero keeper Harry Gregg, albeit the pair seeing 8 of their beloved teammates perish. Going on to win 2 more league titles and the FA Cup, Charlton would also become an integral player in England’s 1966 World Cup success, lifting the trophy with his big brother Jack and winning the Ballon d’Or in the same year. He captained United to a remarkable European Cup win 2 years later.
He announced his retirement in 1973, 20 years after arriving as a schoolboy. By the end of Bobby’s career he had become top scorer in United’s history as well as having made the most appearances, and top scorer in England international history too.
After United
Bobby left United in 1973 to become manager of Preston North End, coming out of retirement to play for them the following season before joining the board of directors back at United in 1984. He ran his famous soccer schools for many years, one of which laid claims to discovering David Beckham. 44 years later Wayne Rooney would go on to break Bobby’s scoring records with United and also for England, while Ryan Giggs overtook him as United’s all time appearance maker in the club’s 2008 Champions League final win.
Where are they now
Bobby was given a knighthood in 1994, had a stand at Old Trafford named in his honour in 2016 and up until 2017 was often seen at United matches both home and away. It was revealed in 2020 that Sir Bobby Charlton was sadly suffering from dementia.
Paul Speller
play time: Quiz Crossword Puzzle Jigsaw Word Search
mystery Manc
Who are these three Man United stars, morphed into one? Click the button to reveal the right answer.
jigsaw
Drag the pieces below to solve this United jigsaw. The default jigsaw has 80 pieces but you can change this by clicking the ‘Play On Jigsawplanet’ button and selecting a different size (opens in new window, no sign in necessary).
Crossword
1. Squad number 29 in 2008
2. Squad number 4 in 2008
3. Squad number 8 in 2008
4. Squad number 20 in 2008
5. Squad number 45 in 2008
6. Squad number 11 in 2008
7. Squad number 27 in 2008
8. Squad number 6 in 2008
9. Squad number 19 in 2008
10. Squad number 32 in 2008
11. Squad number 7 in 2008
12. Squad number 24 in 2008
13. Squad number 15 in 2008
14. Squad number 9 in 2008
15. Squad number 33 in 2008
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united women's world
old trafford crowd become 12th woman for united
Saturday marked the fourth time Manchester United Women played at Old Trafford since their reformation in 2018. It was the second time they have played against West Ham at Old Trafford and the second time they have played there this season. The first time was behind closed doors and they hosted the Hammers, but this time they got to do it in front of 27,919 people.
United began the game slowly, in fact, it looked as though their star strikers were afraid to take on the shot themselves and at the other end they were giving the Hammers way too much space. West Ham looked the better team in the first half, perhaps the Reds were feeling the pressure on such a big stage, but half time was coming and a big team talk was needed from Marc Skinner. According to Ella Toone, that talk was less about tactics and more about their personality as a team and remembering their style of football.
In the second half, they came out fighting and moved the ball much quicker. After Alessia Russo was brought down in the box, United saw an opening when a penalty was awarded. Their set-piece queen and captain, Katie Zelem stepped up and smashed it past the keeper in the 51st minute. The United players peeled away celebrating as Skinner made a change. On came Lucia Garcia with a point to prove. In her post match interview with the club she said when she came on she felt good and she certainly made the United fans feel good. Toone slotted a lovely ball through to her and she doubled United’s lead.
United dominated from there on out and West Ham never looked to launch a challenge. The Reds became ruthless in their attacks and everyone wanted to get on the score sheet. It was the turn of Hayley Ladd next as a lovely bit of link up play led to her finding space in the box and slotting it past the keeper. In added time, Garcia found the back of the net again to complete the second half thrashing of the bubble blowers in front of an energetic crowd.
Keeper Mary Earps explained United’s relentless energy in front of goal, “You can’t take your foot off the gas for a split second because 2-1, if they get back in the game it looks very different and suddenly you’re grounding out an ugly win.” She also praised the fans saying, “I feel like my ears are still ringing.”
Old Trafford is becoming somewhat of a fortress for United women now, earlier this season they beat Aston Villa 4-0 at the Theatre of Dreams and last year they beat Everton 3-1. In their first game at the ground during Covid they beat West Ham 2-0. They’ve also made Leigh Sports Village a difficult place to play for their opponents. With two games there this season, United will be hoping they can play more games at Old Trafford in front of similar sized crowds.
brighton double header could define united's season
Manchester United Women have a difficult few months ahead of them. Following their 4-0 victory over West Ham at Old Trafford, they watched closely as City and Chelsea faced each other down the road. Quite literally, Ella Toone, Lucia Garcia, Ona Battle and Maya Le Tissier were all spotted at City’s academy stadium eyeing up their fellow title contenders. That result meant that United stayed top, ahead of City on goal difference. With six games left, the title chase is back on and United are in a prime position to get Champions League football at least.
However, there are some big games coming up including a double header against Brighton. The Reds will first face the Seagulls away on April 1st in the WSL, where they will need to win to stay top of the WSL. Then Brighton will travel to Leigh Sports Village for the semi-final of the FA Cup. It’s the furthest the Reds have got in the FA Cup and they will be hoping to field a strong team to get themselves to Wembley. 50,000 tickets have already been sold for the final before we even know who will play.
However, there are some big games coming up including a double header against Brighton. The Reds will first face the Seagulls away on April 1st in the WSL, where they will need to win to stay top of the WSL. Then Brighton will travel to Leigh Sports Village for the semi-final of the FA Cup. It’s the furthest the Reds have got in the FA Cup and they will be hoping to field a strong team to get themselves to Wembley. 50,000 tickets have already been sold for the final before we even know who will play.
lionesses squad announced
In between the two games is an international break and today, Sarina Wiegman announced who had made it into her final squad before the World Cup. Of course, England and United’s number one, Mary Earps, made the list in goal alongside Ellie Roebuck, Hannah Hampton and Sandy MacIver. In defence, Maya Le Tissier received another call up. In midfield, Ella Toone was picked and Alessia Russo is one of the strikers. That’s four United players all making the cut and of course, there’s no surprise there that those four made it but there were some notable absences.
Katie Zelem, who has been picked a few times but has often been a substitute in games, missed out and so did Nikita Parris. Admittedly, Parris hasn’t been in her finest form recently, although that being said, she did score in the FA Cup quarter final, but I am surprised Zelem didn’t make the team. Her football has been lovely to watch of late, the way she has turned on the ball, her faultless set-piece delivery but perhaps she just doesn’t fit with Sarina’s vision for these next two games. Hopefully, she can make the World Cup squad after brutally missing out on Euros selection last year.
United will be hoping their four players all come back injury free from international duty so they can make a good go of the title chase and attempt to win the FA Cup. They already have a few injury worries. Maria Thorisdottir has been ruled out until the end of the season with a long-term mid-foot injury whilst Lisa Naalsund also got injured in the same match against Lewes. However, they have good squad depth now and some very talented players which should get them over the line but it’s going to be a rollercoaster ride of emotions for fans over the next few months.
Zoe Hodges
HERO to ZERO
Who are we raving about this week?
Hero
bruno fernandes
Pulled his team up against Fulham to keep United in the FA Cup, inspirational for Portugal on international duty, unbelievable stamina.
ZERO
gareth southgate
Snide remarks about Rashford, what a petty man. And a useless manager. We’d give him a zero ever week if we could.
RED billy
Whoever you want to buy United, the debt doesn’t matter
The Glazers need to get out of our football club. There’s not many fans who would disagree with that. But Qatar or Ratcliffe? That’s a divisive question. I’m often asked which I’d prefer and honestly, neither seems particularly appealing. I don’t want the club “owned” by anyone except the fans, and despite what some raving lunatic from Finland might tell you, that isn’t going to happen any time soon.
But in hearing the arguments for and against the two main protagonists in this already excruciatingly badly written soap opera, I don’t get what United’s debt has to do with anything any more. Some people say Qatar is a better bet because Sheikh Jassim will clear all the debt, whereas Sir Jim will just get the debt transferred over and keep it. But what difference does that make to the club?
Imagine you’re selling your car, and you still owe £500 on it. Bloke one comes to buy it and he has enough money to buy it without borrowing money to do so. Bloke two borrows £500. But either way, the end result is that the car is sold, isn’t it? It doesn’t make any difference to the car whether the bloke borrowed to buy it or not. What matters – as far as we, who love the car are concerned, – is whether the new owner will take care of it.
And who will take the most care of United? Will it be the richest owner, or the smartest owner, or the most hands-on, or most hands-off? Will it be the owner that cares the most, or the best businessperson? Do they need to understand football? Or be good at employing people who do?
The fact is, we just don’t know what Sheikh Jassim would be like as an owner, nor how Sir Jim would be. We can see how Qatari ownership looks at PSG, but United is not PSG. We can see how Sir Jim is running things at Nice, but we’re not Nice, any more than how the Glazers run the Tampa Bay Bucs gives us much insight on how they run United. Everyone’s getting aeriated and picking sides, but what do we know? We know nothing except that the Glazers are horrible custodians of our club and that we want change.
