Just by chance, this issue has ended up looking like a Casemiro special, but why not? As Eckers says in his column, in the summer we were all so fixated on Frenkie de Jong that the Brazilian felt like a consolation prize. We also wondered why on earth Real Madrid were letting him go, and if we’re honest, why on earth he’d want to leave them to join us.
United fans are used to having their hopes dashed so it is just a joy to see them exceeded for once. In our main feature, Darragh Fox argues that the Brazilian is the best defensive midfielder in the world. On current form, few would argue.
But as one midfielder exceeds expectations, we also look at one who has never come close to meeting them – Donny van de Beek. Ayantan Chowdhury looks at whether there is a chance that he can still come good at United, while Zoe Hodges lists him as an example of a host of players at United – both male and female – who arguably weren’t given enough chances early enough at Old Trafford.
One player who certainly has had plenty of early chances is Anthony Elanga. And yet despite that early blooding and initial response, progress has faltered. Derick Kinoti examines what has gone wrong with Elanga and what could and should be done next, with going out on loan being one option.
And if Elanga should go out on loan, should Amad Diallo be brought back from his adopted home at Sunderland? That’s the topic of the Devils’ Advocate this week and there are very good arguments either way for letting the successful loan run its course and bringing him back into the fold to help United’s fight for top four and trophies.
Well, the Wolves game brings 2022 to an end and it would be brilliant for United to leave what was a troubled year on a high. The club is up for sale, we’re broke and we’re down to one striker but it’s hard to remember a feel good factor like this since Sir Alex retired. So bring on 2023!
RIP Pele.
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Do United have the world’s best defensive midfielder?
As late Christmas presents go, Manchester United’s performance last night in the unrelenting rain is right up there with the best. As most fans hunched over in their seats to avoid the heavens, feeling heavy and plump after a long weekend of excess, the United players looked anything but. Electric and energetic, they confidently cut through a Nottingham Forest team appearing to be suffering a similar post-Christmas malaise; the final score ultimately flattering the travelling team. The pace and purpose with which the ball was zipped around Old Trafford felt like the clearest articulation yet of Erik Ten Hag’s philosophy, and the beating heart of this confident display was Carlos Henrique Casimiro, mononymously known as Casemiro. ‘The best defensive midfielder in the world’ feels like a more accurate title however.
A statistical analysis confirms the complete nature of Casemiro’s performance, yet it does not truly capture the magic of it. Two interceptions seems solid, but it doesn’t indicate how crucial these interventions were in quelling Forest attacks, nor does it reveal the brilliance of the assist for Fred’s goal. Five tackles won sounds like a good return, yet it omits the monstrous tackle Casemiro performed to reclaim the ball and set in motion United’s second; a great counter-attack that would’ve had the ghosts of Old Trafford’s past purring. 85% pass accuracy appears a good number, but it misses the expeditious tempo Casemiro was setting with the quick intent of his passing. On paper Carlos Henrique Casimiro was good, in reality he was great.
Ten Hag certainly corroborated this assessment in the aftermath of the win. Speaking to MUTV, the Dutch manager underlined how much United ‘needed a number six’ this season with Casemiro representing the ‘perfect’ candidate:
‘He has showed a lot of leadership and football skills. He is keeping the team together and then he is also so important in our ball playing. Winning the ball and giving the ball to the right player, like he did with the third goal.’
“He is keeping the team together and then he is also so important in our ball playing”: Erik ten Hag
It is hard to envision a greater elevation in talent than the one that occurred in Manchester United’s central midfield over the summer. The transition from McTominay and Fred to Casemiro and Eriksen is stark. And the effects on the pitch have reflected this, with the demolition of Forest a consummate example. United are moving the ball around the pitch in a manner that feels alien to fans with the traumatic memories of Solskjær and Rangnick fresh in the mind. Eriksen is undoubtedly a vital component of this improved approach; a player whose technical abilities are a match for anyone in the league. Yet it is the ‘ball playing’ skills of Casemiro Ten Hag was effusive in his praise of which are the most important and, seemingly, surprising.
The reputation the Real Madrid and Brazil’s star midfielder arrived at Old Trafford with was one of a defensive behemoth; a titan who had won everything football had to offer by dominating opposition attackers. Casemiro’s purpose appeared to be to provide the platform for his more progressive team mates to perform on. The midfield stability Real Madrid were able to achieve by placing the Brazilian just behind Toni Kroos and Luka Modric was integral to Los Blancos’ relentless success over the past decade. Kroos and Modric dominated with the ball, Casemiro without. The result was Real Madrid dominating European football.
In the lead up to the 2016 Champions League final, Diego Simeone was asked who posed the greatest threat to Atlético’s chances of victory? One of the potent trio of Ronaldo, Bale or Benzema seemed the obvious answer. Perhaps Marcelo or Modric. Simeone dismissed these stars, instead selecting Casemiro: ‘For the balance of the team, he is without a doubt their most important player.’
A quick gander at Casemiro’s stats confirm his defensive dominance for Madrid. Last season he ranked in the 96th percentile for clearances and successful aerial duels, 93rd percentile for blocks, and 90th percentile for tackles. Given the porous nature of Manchester United in the same season these attributes appeared the perfect antidote. Casemiro, however, also ranked in the 69th percentile for progressive passes; an area where United’s midfield was sorely lacking in as well. Lisandro Martinez was signed to aid this problem from deeper on the pitch, but the dogmatic pursuit of Frenkie De Jong all summer indicated that Ten Hag saw the ability to progress the ball from midfield as a requisite attribute for United to improve. The 69th percentile didn’t appear to meet this demand. De Jong ranks in the 84th percentile as a comparison.
The performances over the past few months have revealed an ability on the ball previously unutilised however. Casemiro has gone from the 69th percentile in progressive passes to the 83rd, demonstrating a comfortability on the ball and a capacity to pass forward ambidextrously which Old Trafford has been sorely lacking. While in a midfield that contained Kroos and Modric, Casemiro was only required to excel in certain areas, but this did not necessarily indicate deficiency in the others. Rather Old Trafford has given the Brazilian the platform to utilise the full array of his talents and he is doing so with aplomb. After a quiet start to life in England, Casemiro appears to be embracing the Premier League and dominating midfields in the process. Given the drop in quality from the Brazilian to his Scottish deputy, Scott McTominay, no player is as vital to Ten Hag now.
August 22nd 2022 is as early as is gets for Christmas presents but it appears Father Christmas was feeling generous to United fans this year when he blessed them with the gift of Casemiro, or the better title the best defensive midfielder in the world. Good luck paying for that on the back of a shirt though.
Darragh Fox
Meet the opposition: wolves
Struggling Wolves have proved to be a stumbling block for United in recent seasons
Manager: Julen Lopetegui
Wolves have always prided themselves on being hard to beat during their five-year stay in the Premier League. And in a bid to keep their top-division status alive, they have turned to former Spain and Real Madrid coach to guide them to safety. Lopetegui, himself, is on his own personal redemption arc. After two Brutal sackings, his Sevilla stint has ensured his reputation has recovered and Wolves fans will be hoping the Spaniard can work his magic this season.
One to watch: ruben neves
The Portuguese has been Wolves' best player ever since his move to Molineux. United fans will know him well, having been linked with the midfielder for the last couple of seasons. His defensive awareness, an eye for a pass and his long-range shooting have endeared him to the Wolves faithful. A regular at the World Cup, there are indications that this might be his last season in the Premier League. If that turns out to be true, he will be hoping to sign off on the right note by ensuring safety at the end of the campaign.
club and fans
It has been a tough season to watch for Wolves fans. Their trademark hard-to-beat attitude has been replaced by limp displays and there is a strong possibility that the team could be heading back to the Championship. Supporters got their first sighting of Lopetegui’s Wolves in league action yesterday and their side won for just the third time this season and hopefully, the win will give them some much-needed momentum ahead of the second-half the season.
old foe: diego costa
United fans will know the striker well from his trophy-laden spell at Chelsea. During his stay at London, Costa had scored 59 goals in all competitions had guided the Blues to two Premier League titles. He had also finished as the club’s top scorer in all three seasons before a fallout with then-manager Antonio Conte led to a return to Spanish side Atletico Madrid. Now back in the Premier League, Wolves fans will be hoping for less impetuousness and more goals from the Spaniard. He is yet to open his account for his new club but his familiar antics have been on full display.
interesting stats
The last time these two sides met, a lacklustre United side coached by interim manager Ralf Rangnick fell to a disappointing 0-1 defeat thanks to a late goal from Joao Moutinho. United's last two wins against Wolves have all been hard-fought affairs with two late goals deciding the contest. A win, coupled with a few favourable results from fellow strugglers, could see Wolves leave the relegation spots for the first time this season. And prior to the Everton smash-and-grab win, Wolves had lost seven of their previous nine Premier League games, taking just four points from a possible 27. However, the win will have invigorated the squad with Lopetegui becoming the first manager to win his first top-flight game in charge of Wolves since John Barnwell in November 1978.
FORM AND INJURIES
The weekend victory against Everton at Goodison Park was Wolves' first away win of the campaign. It also represented the first time they have scored more than one goal on the road since May and was in complete contrast to eight other occasions this season where they had mustered just a solitary point after conceding the opening goal. Lopetegui had to wait for a while before embarking on his duties at his new club but has begun with two back-to-back wins. While luck has played a part, especially in the win over the Toffees, the Spanish manager will not complain and fans will be hoping for more of the same.
All the latest information about the upcoming game.
Team News and Predicted XI
Lisandro Martinez is back training with the Manchester United squad after his World Cup heroics and should make the starting XI for Saturday’s match at Molyneux.
He is likely to resume his excellent partnership with Raphael Varane, who returned from his own Qatar odyssey earlier in the week and had a fine game against Nottingham Forest. This would mean Luke Shaw will probably revert to left back, with Tyrell Malacia dropping to the bench.
Previously, boss Erik ten Hag has switched Malacia to right back in Diogo Dalot’s absence rather than trust Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but the England man has played very well against Burnley and Forest and has surely done enough to keep his place in the team if Dalot has not recovered in time.
If Martinez and Varane are back in the box seats, it remains to be seen what this means for Harry Maguire, who came back from the World Cup in a blaze of glory, having been named in the team of the tournament. It is possible that the prospect of being a reserve for United so soon after that success will attract the attention of other clubs in need of defensive reinforcements.
Elsewhere, it is expected to be business as usual, with David de Gea in goal, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in midfield, Bruno Fernandes in attacking midfield, Marcus Rashford and Antony on the wings and Anthony Martial up front.
One possible variation on this is Alejandro Garnacho for Antony. The Brazilian had a poor game against Forest and his head does not look to be in the right place at the moment. By contract, the young Argentine looked fit and focussed.
However, Antony offers more balance as Rashford prefers to play on the left wing rather than the right. Also, Ten Hag will not want to put too much pressure on Garnacho too soon.
Referee: Robert Jones. Assistants: Lee Betts, Ian Hussin. Fourth official: Thomas Bramall. VAR: Darren England. Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.
donny van de beek: ten hag's biggest challenge
The Dutch manager has transformed the club but has failed to change the fortunes of his former Ajax protégé
The current Manchester United team is vastly different from the one that supporters watched struggle last season under three different managers.
Dressing room cliques and squad disharmony are no more and the team is showing steely resolve and are slowly but surely displaying the kind of form that can allow them to realise their goals.
Even though it is just the start, new manager Erik ten Hag is on the right path. The Dutchman has improved almost all aspects of the club, both off the field and on it.
His tactical nous and man-management style and has also got quite a few previously under-performing stars back on track. But he is not a miracle worker and that can best be summed up by the fact that his presence has still not managed to get the best of his former protégé — Donny van de Beek.
A bonafide star back at Ajax, the Dutch midfielder has never truly impressed for the Red Devils since his move back in the summer of 2020. After a listless few seasons under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, a loan spell at Everton was meant to signal his return to form.
But that loan spell failed as well and just when it looked like his United career was stuttering to a halt, news emerged of his former coach’s arrival at Old Trafford.
What was supposed to mark the beginning of his career’s renaissance ended up turning into a fresh nightmare and it is showing no sign of abatement. The 25-year-old has managed one start in the Premier League this campaign and even failed to impress during the Spanish friendly he took part in.
Another mystery injury meant he has now failed to start against Burnley in the EFL Cup despite the obvious selection conundrums that were posed to Ten Hag due to the World Cup.
Yet another damning indictment on his time at the club. While opportunities have been rare, his performances, when given a chance, have not forced the manager to tweak things.
The Dutch midfielder has started just five Premier League games since his much-hyped move to Old Trafford. A total of 22 starts have followed across all competitions but he has managed to complete the full 90 minutes on only seven occasions.
Van de Beek has tallied 57 appearances overall after working under four different managers but only has two goals and assists apiece to show for it. Not the creative genius Ten Hag wants as backup for the ever-reliable Bruno Fernandes.
Former United skipper Mikel Silvestre had recently suggested that the former Ajax star’s time is likely to be up in another six months and it is easy to see why the current United boss will slowly but surely lose his faith in one of his old favourites.
Given the manager’s preference of playing Fernandes as the creative outlet and the kind of output he brings to the table on a regular basis, it is unlikely that Donny will get too many chances to play in that coveted No 10 role except a few Cup games. And without regular minutes, not much can be expected from Van de Beek.
Ten Hag had already indicated that there was no point in sending him out temporarily yet again and it might be the beginning of the end for Van de Beek at United.
Ayantan Chowdhury
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 2.5 out of 5
João Felix (Atletico Madrid)
Having missed out on Cody Gakpo, or decided against him depending on who you believe, most of the noise right now is about wantaway Atletico star Felix. Reports claim he could be available on a 6-month loan as long as his salary and repayments are paid in full, amounting to around €16 million. There may or may not be an option to buy. Arsenal and Chelsea are rumoured to be interested.
United reportedly put a €130m bid in for Felix in the summer. If that’s true then surely they will be back in for him now – especially if a loan is available, even an expensive one. Not an out-and-out striker, United broke and up for sale, player keen on PSG … we are not 100% convinced this is going to happen but we can hope.
🔥
Rated 2.5 out of 5
Youssoufa Moukoko (Borussia Dortmund)
This story has gone very cold at the United end in the last few days, which is odd given their desperate need for a striker. The just-turned-18-year-old’s contract at Dortmund expires in June and his agent has said they are not close to agreeing a new deal.
Stories linking Liverpool, Barcelona and Chelsea have also been circulating. The Catalan press claim he’s decided to go there in June, but there’s not much corroboration. Chelsea remain keen. The “new Haaland” could be available for peanuts and a striker is needed, so it seems logical for United to be in the mix.
🔥🔥
Rated 2.5 out of 5
gonçalo Ramos (Benfica)
United have been monitoring Ramos for some time and his World Cup hat trick against Switzerland caught everyone’s attention. However, Benfica president Rui Costa insists no player will be sold in the January window unless their release clause is met, which in Ramos’s case is €120 million. Given United’s financial status, this one looks more likely to happen in the summer.
🔥🔥
Rated 1.5 out of 5
Denzel Dumfries (Inter milan)
It seems true that Erik ten Hag is a fan of his countryman and that he wants a viable backup to Diogo Dalot at right back. However, in terms of a January deal, this one looks highly unlikely. Inter want to sell because they need the money and they consider him a €50m+ asset who is dispensable. with United needing a striker, that kind of investment on a backup defender this winter would be unthinkable.
🔥🔥🔥
Rated 3 out of 5
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (to Wolves)
If Wan-Bissaka is still set to leave, it is looking like a three-way fight to take him on loan this January with an option to buy. His former club Crystal Palace have shown a long term interest but the latest buzz seems to be coming from Wolves and West Ham.
🔥🔥🔥
Rated 2 out of 5
Malo Gusto (LYON)
A cheaper alternative to Dumfries, Gusto is a huge talent but Lyon do not want to lose him in January and so have slapped a prohibitive £35 million price tag on him. Another one more likely to watch in June.
Photo of the week: top of the world
Getty Images
waiting in the wings
Is there a “settling in” culture at United that holds players back?
Manchester United fans are still reeling from Liverpool’s hijacking of Cody Gakpo, with fresh reports claiming it was the Glazers that prevented Ten Hag from signing the Dutch international. However, another theory has crossed my mind in regards to whether United is a risky club to sign for, especially for a player who has never played in the English league before.
Cast your mind back to the signing of Donny Van de Beek. Solskjaer was in charge and he was tipped to be United’s next superstar. He excelled as part of Ajax’s starting eleven in the 2018/19 season. He spent time on the bench at United, something Solskjaer defended, saying he wasn’t used to the style of play in the English league yet. Van de Beek grew tired and frustrated and tactfully spoke of his frustration on Youtube. Two managers on and Van de Beek still hasn’t made too much of a dent in the United side. He impressed as a substitute against Forest but he’s not very close to breaking into the starting line up week in, week out just yet. Did United ruin his career by not giving him more of a chance when he first arrived?
Similarly, on the women’s side, there is talk of unrest amongst the squad although if true, it’s not been affecting their performances so far this season. Much has been said about the lack of playing time for Vilde Boe Risa, who has reportedly told press back home in Norway that she is frustrated by the lack of first team football. Boe Risa has always impressed when she has played, she provided a number of goals and assists in the Conti Cup this season, although admittedly this was against weaker opposition. However, in the league, you can explain away her lack of minutes, at the end of the day, why fix something that isn’t broken? Who would drop out to fit Boe Risa into the starting eleven? The obvious option is Katie Zelem but the club captain has been in fine form this season.
The most worrying signing though, is that of Grace Clinton who joined United in the summer. The promising young midfielder has excelled for England at under-19 and under-23 level recently but hasn’t made one competitive appearance for the Reds yet. When pressed on why she hasn’t been given a chance yet when the squad has been rotated for cup games, or league games have been put to bed long before the 90 minutes are up, manager Marc Skinner replied that Clinton was ‘one for the future’. Even in United’s final Conti Cup game that wasn’t really relevant since the result wouldn’t have changed anything, Clinton wasn’t even named in the squad but Skinner used a number of academy players throughout the game.
Clinton has been here before though and her lack of playing time at Everton caused her to look elsewhere. How much longer can Clinton cope on the sidelines? If you’re a player in form, you want to come to a new club and hit the ground running. Is the prospect of spending some time on the sidelines ‘settling in’ putting top players off signing for United men and women? Of course, you can’t please everyone, only eleven players can start and a club like United want world class athletes doubling up in every position. Competition for places is strong, but surely if we’re signing in-form players we need to give them opportunities to show what they can do.
Zoe Hodges
The devil's advocate
“United must recall Amad Diallo from loan in January”
The case for ...
United need a striker, that we can all agree on. And rumour has it that we have no money for anything other than a loan this January. With the possible exception of João Felix, whose loan fee is reportedly “problematic” for us (and rightly so as the total to be paid for six months could come to around €16 million), who are we going to get on a loan in January?
Well, there is that young prodigy who’s ripping it up in the Championship, who’s become a cult hero with his club in the 4 months he’s been with them … oh wait, he’s ours already, isn’t he?
I’m not saying Amad is the answer to all our striker needs. We must go for someone with more experience, who is less of a gamble and who is more of a specialist front man. But if we can’t find that player, then bringing Diallo back is a must. He has turned a corner under Tony Mowbray. He always had the talent, but now he’s playing with consistency and maturity. And he’s also filled out and is holding his own physically in a very competitive league. What’s more, he’s getting experience playing up top.
We’ve seen what giving Alejandro Garnacho a chance has done for our Premier League squad this season. I genuinely believe Amad could contribute just as much, if not more. If we do not get a striker from elsewhere, it’s surely a no-brainer. United would have everything to gain and nothing to lose (other than a few quid in wages and the wrath of Sunderland) if they were to bring him back.
There is an argument for recalling him in January even if United do actually sign a striker in the window. We are effectively down two wingers, with Jadon Sancho’s mysterious “mental/physical” absence and with Anthony Elanga having forgotten how to play football. Things look fine when Rashford, Antony and Garnacho are all fit and firing but there isn’t much backup. Amad would be a fine, exciting addition.
He is on form, on fire and an unknown quantity in the Premier League. We are still competing on four fronts. There are 23 more Premier League games and potentially 14 more cup matches to play this season. 49 games even with two strikers is a tough ask. United won the treble with Cole, Yorke, Sheringham and Solskjaer. I think it’s pretty obvious that they would not have done so if any one of those four had been missing from the squad.
£37.2 million for Amad was obviously a panic buy but there was a reason United wanted him at all costs. You can’t believe in him that much at age 18 and not think he can make a difference to your Premier League squad now at 20, when he is the talk of the Championship. Let’s get the lad back and let him loose on the Premier League. It’s a mouthwatering prospect.
Red Billy
The case against...
Amad Diallo. Manchester United loanee, Sunderland hero.
Ok fine, that might be an exaggeration but the Ivorian has had a superb time with the Championship club and his development is clear for all to see. In 16 appearances he has five goals and one assist and has grown from strength to strength during his time with Tony Mowbray. When Amad first left, some fans were concerned it signalled the beginning of the end for him.
After all, in the past United have sent many promising youngsters on loan endlessly until their careers fizzled out and they were eventually released for free to try to find a way to restart their careers. However, Amad’s loan appears to actually be doing what it’s meant to be doing and it would be foolish to put a spanner in the works because of first team problems.
If Erik ten Hag decided the former Atalanta man didn’t have enough to contribute to the starting XI, then it’s unlikely that’s changed now and Amad will be brought back just to sit on the bench and provide cover. Why should he or his career suffer because of Cristiano Ronaldo’s abrupt departure?
It makes more sense, both short-term and long-term, to allow Amad to continue his development uninterrupted so he can return to United better equipped to helping the first-team. Cut his loan short now and you risk losing out on his talents completely. It makes no sense.
If United really are short on finances, they should look to bring in a free or inexpensive loan player to help, rather than ruin one of their own players. Someone coming in from the outside who understands his role is to supply depth and cover for any injuries is a far better situation than halting the progress of a player you’ve so heavily invested in.
Yes, the Red Devils’ season is at risk but Amad isn’t the man to come in and save it. Unfortunately Ten Hag will have to make do with what he’s got and fans will have to accept the season is a bit of a write off thanks to the impending takeover and Ronaldo leaving. That doesn’t mean a top four spot has to be completely forgotten about but we have to accept circumstances are trickier now and Amad isn’t the answer to it all.
Another factor to consider is Amad is a player who has struggled to get going in the past. Do we really want to risk pulling the plug just as he’s finally getting going? If he’s given the right environment to grow, he could potentially save the club millions in investing in another right-winger and those funds can be used on the number nine Ten hag so desperately needs.
Too often previous managers have sacrificed young players’ careers for the good of the first team and it’s hardly ever paid off. It’s time to break the cycle and make the right decision. Put Amad and his career first and we’ll be paid back tenfold in the long run.
Red Moon
newton heath
Classic United matches from yesteryear
FA Cup Semi Final, 26th March 1949: Wolves 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United went to the famous old Hillsborough ground as huge favourites to overturn Wolves. Having won the FA Cup at Wembley the previous season, Matt Busby’s aces were flying high in the league, scoring goals for fun and were fully expected to overturn Stan Cullis’ side, despite their cup pedigree.
With six final appearances to their club history already, Wolves were certainly no fools, but United had form themselves. Having been rejuvenated under Busby, post-war, the Old Trafford side had finally started to put on a show once more, with captain and Irish stalwart Johnny Carey at their heart, and the free scoring, fearsome threesome of Charlie Mitten, Jack Rowley and Stan Pearson up top, United were a force to be reckoned with.
Manchester United’s eleven picked itself, the regular starters turning out to cheers from their ever faithful fans. Wolves however had injury problems before the whistle had even sounded, and these barely let up. With their forward Pye already suffering from flu, it was only 6 minutes into this thrilling tie that the Wolves centre half Pritchard went off injured. England defender Billy Wright was limping, and later Kelly, their right back, was stretchered from the field by ambulance men.
As the Reds looked to take advantage of this misfortune, long before the introduction of substitutes, it was end-to-end stuff, as both sides entertained the bustling crowd of 62,250 for the first 12 minutes. Then, as United’s Chilton attempted to pass the ball back to Crompton, Pye intercepted and rolled it to Smyth, whose shot from the edge of the area flew past the United keeper. 1-0 to the Wolves.
As reported, the game was “being played with a good deal of vigour”, and both teams carved out numerous goal-scoring opportunities. But on 24 minutes, as a ball was floated into the box from the right, the Wolves defenders seemingly stood still as it evaded them all, fell at the feet of the deadly Mitten, and his clever lob sailed over keeper Williams for the equaliser.
With United pushing the stricken Gold and Blacks all the way, desperately trying to complete the comeback and see off the struggling side, their injured duo re-entered the field, albeit in unfamiliar positions, and managed to not only see out the match, but also a further 30 minutes of extra-time, securing a replay at Everton’s Goodison Park the following week.
The replay was a rather dull affair, Wolves were still struggling personnel wise, and United looked like breaking the deadlock each time they attacked. But Wolves were resolute, and as both teams and fans alike had resigned themselves to a thoroughly unwanted spell of extra-time, and a possible second replay at Huddersfield, up popped Pye on the right wing, who swung an opportunistic cross into the box for Smyth to out jump everybody and score with just 4 minutes remaining.
United unleashed an onslaught on the Wolves goal for the remainder of the match, but skipper Billy Wright and his brave teammates held out, securing their place at Wembley where they would go on to lift the cup, defeating Leicester 3-1, where who else but Pye and Smyth bagged the goals to help they side take the cup away from Old Trafford, at least for now.
United line up: Jack Crompton, Johnny Carey, John Aston, Henry Cockburn, Allenby Chilton, William McGlen, Jimmy Delaney, John Anderson, Jack Rowley, Stan Pearson, Charlie Mitten.
Paul Speller
eckers
Casemiro: so much more than “just” that
If he carries on like this, we’re going to run out of superlatives for Casemiro. Within days of excelling at centre back against Burnley, the Brazilian was back in the more familiar role of central midfield against Forest. By the time 90 minutes were up, the Reds’ No.18 had stamped his indelible mark on proceedings, playing a major role in 2 goals and patrolling the pitch with the authority of a seasoned general. He was, once again, outstanding.
It’s slightly reductive to try to boil his game down to cold, hard stats but they do speak to his relentless dominance. Defensively, the World Cup star won the most duels, tackles, headed clearances and mid-third turnovers of any player on the pitch. At the other end he made the most final third passes and the most chances. He was everything, everywhere, all at once.
It seems strange that a player of Casemiro’s standing should be a surprise package, but that’s exactly what he’s been for some United fans. Everyone knew about his exploits for a great Real Madrid side – they loomed over European football for over half a decade. Despite being the heartbeat of that team, his close proximity to artisans like Luka Modric and Toni Kroos had seen him unfairly labelled in some quarters as a simple midfield destroyer. If it wasn’t already, it’s now clear that he’s capable of so much more than ‘just’ that.
The circumstances of his signing probably didn’t help much. After spending all summer failing to sign Frenkie de Jong, bringing in Casemiro seemed like the kind of dice roll that has characterised the club’s transfer business in recent years. For some supporters, recruiting an expensive 30-year-old with plenty of miles on the clock seemed desperate. There were echoes of Bastian Schweinsteiger. An old war horse playing out his final days on a big contract.
It seems pretty clear right now that not only were those fears unfounded but United have actually ended up with the better player.
His growing contribution to the club was embossed upon the second and third goals. For the second, he started a rapid counter with a perfectly timed tackle and quick release. For the third, he intercepted a loose Forest pass before driving at the visitors’ back four and releasing Fred with a perfectly weighted through ball.
It took him a few weeks to get a feel for the league but our classy midfield ace has soon become the heartbeat of the side. His range of passing, reading of the game, timing of a tackle and energy are peerless. You probably have to go back to the days of Roy Keane to recall such commanding midfield displays. Even Michael Carrick, for all his quality, didn’t quite have the same balance of defensive grit and attacking instinct.
Whether he wears the armband or not, we’re getting used to seeing captain’s performances every week from our elegant general. On current form, there’s no better all-round midfielder in the Premier League. As was once said about the similarly peerless Bryan Robson, he’s worth his weight in gold.
Scott Eckersley
Top 10 Videos
Some of the best United-related videos on Youtube since the last match
The manager has a tough decision to make about the misfiring winger in January
Erik ten Hag has a lot of decisions to make ahead of the January transfer window. Chief amongst the United boss’ dilemmas is his attacking line and how to go about the business of bringing in quality reinforcements. United were dealt a major blow when news broke that Liverpool had swooped in and gazumped the Red Devils to the signing of Cody Gakpo, who was reported to be Ten Hag’s primary pick for the striker position. With the primary focus being on additions and incomings, the Dutchman must also consider outgoings with a number of players being mooted to be hoveringnear to the exit door.
Most United fans will agree that there’s a select core of players that require to be moved on in January. Players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe and Brandon Williams have been deemed surplus to requirements and an exit makes sense for all parties. A player however that will divide opinion is Anthony Elanga. What should Ten Hag do about Elanga? This week, reports have come out that a number of clubs are interested in taking the Swede on a loan basis.
Frank Lampard’s Everton have emerged as the strongest contenders to take the United academy graduate temporarily for the rest of the season.
We will all remember last season as Elanga’s breakout campaign. Under Ralf Rangnick’s disastrous interim spell in which most of the senior players all but downed tools, Elanga was at times a beacon of light for so many fans who despaired as the team mustered its worst Premier League finish in terms of point tally. The 20-year-old seemed to be the only player heeding the German manager’s instructions and taking them to heart and it’s no wonder he even replaced Marcus Rashford in Rangnick’s starting XI.
However, this season, Elanga has struggled to make any meaningful impact under Ten Hag. The young attacker has primarily had to contend with a place on the bench and whenever
brought on, has not lived up to his billing. So bad has he been at times that many have remarked how he looks out of his depth in a United shirt. The player is still yet to show he possesses any attributes to pin down a prominent role under Ten Hag. His passing is below par, decision-making in important situations atrocious and he offers no threat whatsoever. Granted, he works hard and executes his defensive responsibilities well enough, but more is needed for a club of United’s calibre, especially in the thick of a major rebuild. Compound this with the fact that Elanga dominantly prefers playing on the left, a position in which United are stacked with the likes of Rashford and Sancho, and it makes little sense to keep him for the rest of the season.
I suppose if he was pulling trees on the right or in the middle where the team is short, there would be a case to retain his services a bit longer, but he’s not doing so at the moment. The emergence of Alejandro Garnacho has also relegated the Sweden international further down the pecking order. Would it not be better for him to go out on loan rather than rot on the bench? At 20, Elanga is on the right side of things and has plenty of time to turn the trajectory of his career around. Going to Everton, an established Premier League side where he’s guaranteed significant first-team minutes would go a long way towards helping him do so.
Derick Kinoti
twitter chatter
Some of the best United-related posts on Twitter since the last match
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Quiz
Crossword
Puzzle
Jigsaw
mystery Manc
Who is this disguised as Fred the Red? Click the button to reveal the right answer.
Drag the pieces below to solve this United jigsaw. The default jigsaw has 48 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. Irish midfielder signed from Forest
2. Irish full back, signed from Oldham
3. Irish centre back, signed from Coleraine
4. Irish forward, signed from Arsenal
5. Irish midfielder, coverted forward, academy agraduate
6. Irish midfielder, signed from Bohemians
7. Irish midfielder, joined Leeds from United
8. Irish midfielder, joined Everton from United
9. Irish defender, joined Sunderland from United
10. Irish defender, joined Villa from United
11. Irish goalkeeper, joined United from Doncaster
These 10 questions are about United 's history with Wolves. See how many you can get!
Question
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Your Answers
HERO to ZERO
Who are we raving about this week?
Hero
casemiro
What a signing the Brazilian has been. Has almost a telepathic understanding of where he needs to be and is always involved. His passing and transition play was also world class.
ZERO
antony
The Forest match was a tale of two Brazilians. As great as Casemiro was, Antony was disappointing. Ten Hag must have had reasons for paying €100m for him, but they aren’t clear right now.
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