What Did You Expect?

Really. What did you expect?

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

No, no, no, no…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signing Out,

B.L…

In Other News:

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

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

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

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

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

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