Familiar Failings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Name-calling is childish.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signing In,

B.L...   


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