Ronaldo’s Great But Stick To Your Priorities, Ed Woodward

It all started so well. Victor Lindelhof was signed for a reasonable £31 million (or by Southampton’s calculations, Virgil van Dijk’s left kneecap). Then word broke that Ed Woodward had matched with a young lad named Alvaro on Tinder. He’d never been to England and he’d love to come visit some time, if his grumpy grandpa Perez would just let him out of the house. And – whisper it softly or else you’ll jinx it – United were finally thinking of doing the decent thing and buying a defensive midfielder who could do remarkable things like tackle, and pass, and stay out of the treatment room. It was a very Mourinho transfer window. Ah, peace at last; normal, tabloid-free service has resumed.

And then, Ronaldo happened.

This week has brought a veritable hurricane of speculation surrounding one Cristiano Ronaldo. Unless you’ve decided that silly season just isn’t for you, you’ll have heard that the Champions League winning, crew cut sporting, superstar has made the “irreversible” decision to leave Spain and head for pastures new (or previously grazed).

Let’s start with a basic premise: Cristiano Ronaldo would make any team in the world better. He’s one of the two best players in the world and, based on current form and success, a shoo in for another Ballon D’or. At 32, he’s got at least another 3 years of elite football ahead of him. If United were to add him to their ranks, they instantly become Premier League frontrunners and serious contenders for the Champions League.

Here’s another uncontroversial statement: United are one of the few clubs that can actually afford to sign and pay Ronaldo. They’re one of even fewer that could do so AND match his ambition. He’s not going to China, and he’s not headed for the MLS. If he does leave, it’s probably down to two clubs: PSG and United. And as far as I’m concerned, this is the worst possible thing that could have happened.

Ed Woodward has always had a fondness for shiny things. He used to be an accountant after all. But not all that glitters is gold. Sometimes, it’s bronze and right now, it feels persecuted by the Spanish taxman. So heretofore steady Eddie has taken his eye off important targets like a defensive midfielder and closing the Morata deal. Instead, he’s ghosted on Alvaro and he’s fluttering his eyelashes at Cristiano.

This has pissed off another Portuguese power player and, in my opinion, Mourinho has every reason to feel frustrated with Woodward’s attention to retail. Jose only cares about what happens on the pitch, not on the billboards. And to challenge for the title, United have to some real needs to fill. A striker to replace Zlatan. A defensive midfielder. Possibly a wide player. United cannot afford to squander another transfer window with the prolonged and hopeful courtship of a superstar, only to end up with glaring holes in the squad. There’s a colourable argument that any Morata deal is tied up inextricably with Ronaldo’s future. Fine, that makes sense. But in that case, the focus has got to be on a defensive midfielder.

Because here’s the real deal: Ronaldo’s future isn’t going to be decided anytime soon. £130 million transfers don’t happen overnight. And until the words actually come from that immaculately groomed horse’s mouth, we don’t know if it’s actually “irreversible.” And if it is, guess what, Ed. They’ll tell you. It’s in both Madrid and Ronaldo’s interest to make sure you’re bidding and offering a contract. Why? Because you’ve got the dough. And money talks in football these days.

But until then, quit daydreaming about bringing the Prodigal Son back from Spain. If he wants to come home, let him. You’ve been left at the altar too many times (Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Neymar, Ronaldo again) to fall for this. And I think I speak for many United fans when I say we’re sick of being given the run around. Getting Ronaldo would be great, even transformative. And money ain’t even no thang, bro: pay what you have to. We have an official instant noodle sponsor thanks to you! But don’t get distracted from that shopping list Jose gave you in May. Business first, then pleasure.

In the Red Corner: United & Liverpool Get the Result They Deserve, Not the One They Need

In the Red Corner is a weekly column on Manchester United. 

It is rarely the most decisive Derby when determining the destination of the Premier League title, but the fans’ thirst for victory is at its most intense when Manchester United play Liverpool. Before kickoff, few fans would have accepted a draw but after the dust settled, most would take it as a fair result as Liverpudlian industry cancelled out Mancunian intent.

1. Liverpool good value for draw

Manchester United’s recent run of victories have come against teams content to sit deep, forcing United to unlock a packed defence. While undoubtedly a challenge for a team still working out the kinks in its hugely talented attack, they’ve proven themselves up to the task in recent matches. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, on the other hand, don’t know how to sit back. They hassle, working in packs to put pressure on defenders and win the ball back in dangerous areas. Phil Jones’ ball-playing limitations were repeatedly exposed by an aggressive press, and a lesser goalkeeper than David De Gea would have struggled with the footwork required to deal with the frequent forced backpasses.

From the start, Liverpool refused to roll over in the face of a full-strength United and a raucous Old Trafford crowd. Indeed, it was through their trademark gegenpressing that Liverpool won the corner that would lead to Pogba’s handball, Milner’s penalty and a 1-0 lead for the away side. Throughout the match, the Merseyside outfit frequently won the ball in dangerous areas and attempted neat, quick passing triangles to gain an edge on a United defence for whom Marcos Rojo again shone. The draw was well-earned as Liverpool played out Klopp’s tactics to near perfection, but ultimately failed to measure up to United in terms of individual quality, a problem compounded by beginning the match shorn of arguably their 3 most important players – Sadio Mane, Joel Matip and Philippe Coutinho.

There are, however, three worries for Liverpool going forward. The first comes down to fitness. Jurgen Klopp’s “heavy metal football” places physical demands on players that are unrivalled in the league. Will Liverpool have enough in the tank to reach the finishing line firing on all cylinders? Without European distractions, perhaps, but I reckon they’re still a season away from having the stamina to see a title challenge to its brutal, bloody end. Liverpool were my pre-season pick as dark horse for top-4, and I think that’s where they’ll end the season.

How Liverpool cope without Sadio Mane is the second worry. Coutinho and Mane add stardust and incision to Liverpool’s attack, transforming it from merely industrious to truly devastating. With both players fit and firing, Liverpool are one of the most exciting teams in Europe but they have not won since losing Mane to the African Cup of Nations. Klopp is not known for his tactical versatility so it remains to be seen whether Liverpool can play the Klopp way without their the mercurial Senegalese winger. The return of Coutinho will go some way to mitigating the loss but the maverick Brazilian lacks Mane’s consistency.

The final worry for Liverpool is a subtle one, but I feel it may prove to be a glass ceiling in the long-run. Liverpool aren’t ruthless. They’re exciting and are at their best when their backs are against the wall, channeling the emotion of their fans into an electrifying performance. But they aren’t ruthless and it’s a reflection of their emotional manager. Jurgen Klopp is a manager for the fans, as he runs the gamut of emotions more visibly than most supporters. Bear hugs, touchline sprints and frantic gesticulations are par for the Klopp. This dovetails nicely for a club with some of the most emotionally charged fans in the world.

But think back to the Europa League final, when they led at halftime against Sevilla, but capitulated in the second half. And think about this match, where Liverpool led at halftime but couldn’t hang on when faced with sustained pressure. There are arguments against this view, such as the 1-0 victory against Manchester City, but I think Klopp lacks the ruthlessness that managers such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte have shown at various times with various clubs. The bundle of emotional energy that is Jurgen Klopp lacks the cold, clinical ruthlessness to see out 1-0 wins; instead he mirrors the nervousness of fans, and that bleeds into his players. Perhaps there is less energy to channel when trying to close out a 1-0, but to consistently conquer the summit, you must be ruthless and Klopp does not have a track record of strangling the life out of a 1-0. Until he masters that art, Liverpool will be exciting without being a consistently dominant force.

2. United disappoint but preserve unbeaten streak

United and Liverpool ended the match as they began it – with the two longest unbeaten runs in the league. The satisfaction of a late equaliser will overshadow the sentiment many United fans had going into this match: that Liverpool were there for the taking. Liverpool were winless since the turn of the year and without their 3 best players, while United were in a rich vein of form and with a chance to truly announce their top-4 credentials. Instead, the Red Devils were treated to a performance rich in purpose but lacking in product.

Too often, Ander Herrera’s passes were askew. Paul Pogba turned in a performance of the lowest quality, his concession of the penalty compounded by his being frequently outmuscled while in possession. Attacking moves broke down and killer passes were either a fraction too heavy or slightly underhit. Chance were created, and duly passed up, by most of the cast of United’s attacking unit before Ibrahimovic’s late equaliser. The big Swede reminded United fans why he is never substituted by being utterly anonymous for 83 minutes, then immediately decisive. The draw means United lose the chance to pull level on points with bitter rivals Manchester City and throw serious weight behind their top-4 aspirations. On the whole, it was a disappointing performance from United, in light of recent form.

But there are positives to take from the result. It would have been a far different draw if United had been the ones giving up the 84th minute equaliser. That would have been morale sapping, and would resurrect questions about United’s fortitude and focus. Instead, snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat produces a mildly galvanising effect. The unbeaten run is intact, while the ageless Ibrahimovic makes it 13 goals in 13 appearances.

Given their style of play, Liverpool will always be a tough test and United showed themselves capable of answering the question without really playing well. United pariah Marouane Fellaini also answered critics. Fans were bemused when the big Belgian was signed to a contract extension but an important goal against Hull in the EFL Cup was followed by this encouraging cameo, where he was preferred to Marcus Rashford as final substitute. Mourinho likely triggered Fellaini’s contract extension as show of faith in the midfielder, one that was meant to be seen by the United faithful. It has put an end to the boos that Fellaini has had to endure from pockets of Old Trafford, and the midfielder has responded with better football. He will never be Old Trafford’s favourite son but has a role at the club, and at least he is no longer subject to confidence-crippling boos now fans recognise he is here to stay.

Another benefit from United’s failure to win is that it means premature questions of title ambitions are postponed. United need to focus on seizing a place in the top-4, and chatter about the title will lead to more hysteria should should their form stumble. It is becoming a more attainable goal.

3. A glance ahead

United now have a run of winnable fixtures (Stoke (A), Hull (H), Leicester (A), Watford (H)) until they travel to Pep Guardiola’s City on February 26. City were on the receiving end of an immensely satisfying Merseyside walloping early in the day, and if United rack up the victories between now and their meeting, the Manchester Derby will be a tantalising fixture. Looking at the fixtures between now and Gameweek 26, lots of United’s top 4 rivals play each other. Liverpool play both Tottenham and Chelsea, while Spurs also face City and Chelsea host Arsenal. There are lots of points to be dropped and if United return to winning ways at Stoke, they could capitalise in a huge way. Looking at the fixtures list on a meta level though, can any league hold a candle to the Premier League any more? Not in my book.

David Menon is a Premier League contributor with a weekly column on Manchester United.

In the Red Corner: Resilient United End Year On High

In the Red Corner is a weekly column by our Premier League contributor David Menon.

Manchester United fans can start 2017 in high spirits as the Red Devils overcame a resolute Middlesborough defense and some incompetent refereeing to end the calendar year with five Premier League wins on the bounce.

1. FCUK

Just when it looked like it wasn’t to be United’s day, their French Connection U.K. delivered in the dying minutes. Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial have had their critics for failing to live up to their price tag and last season’s standards respectively. Against Middlesborough, they showed their worth, popping up with a goal apiece to clinch victory at the death. Pogba was outstanding throughout, dictating play with raking crossfield balls; only the post denied the goal his overhead kick so richly deserved.

Earlier this week, Zlatan Ibrahimovic suggested Pogba’s early season struggles were the result of him

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As for Anthony Martial, last week, this column expressed the hope that he listen to his coaches and apply himself in training to realise his incredible talent. We got a glimpse of that on Saturday. He tortured Calum Chambers for 90 minutes, turning him inside and out with his direct running and trickery. He showcased his skill in setting up Ibrahimovic’s (wrongly) disallowed goal, and unleashed a 30-yard thunderbolt that thundered off the upright with Valdes dead to rights.

In his

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Small pockets of fans booed his recent introductions, so what on earth was Mourinho playing at by going with the awkward Belgian? Mou’s comments on Memphis were telling: “When I have the feeling and information that the player probably has a big chance to leave then I have to care more about the others.” These comments probably apply to United’s “Schmidfield” as well. So Mou stuck to his guns, went with Fellaini, and in fairness, the Belgian did nothing wrong, and added an important block as well.

But as time wore on and with the match goalless, Mourinho showed a willingness to go for the win that was missing during his predecessor’s reign. Throughout the second half, Mourinho made increasingly aggressive substitutions, ending the match with 3 at the back, 3 forwards, 2 attacking midfielders, and Pogba and Herrera in central midfield. It paid off. Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford came off the bench to play crucial roles in securing victory, with Mata setting up Pogba’s winning header, and Rashford being denied a strong penalty shout. United were eventually rewarded for their perseverance and much credit must go to Mourinho for having the guts to go for broke. He played the United way and won.

3. United stay true to traditions

Ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, United have been under fire for abandoning the traditions and  practices established during his 26 year reign. His retirement came at a time when United began marketing its brand aggressively, prompting suggestions that the club had sold out on its heritage in favour of corporations and cash. Even David Moyes felt comfortable taking potshots at his former employer’s financial activities. It was therefore fitting that, on his 75th birthday, Manchester United honoured Ferguson’s finest traditions.

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United spent the first half knocking hard on the Middlesborough door to no avail, and when Ibrahimovic’s goal was disallowed when it appeared perfectly legitimate, it seemed the referee had conspired against them as well. But both Mourinho and Ferguson motivate their teams by creating a siege mentality: its us against the world. Instead of wilting under consistently poor officiating and conceding a goal against the run of play, United seemed galvanised.

Spurred on by their new manager who put faith in his young talents Rashford and Martial, United attacked frantically and with intensity. Despite having lost 7 points in the last 10 minutes of matches already this season, United turned the tables and rescued 3 points instead.

With the legendary birthday boy watching from the stands, United scored in the 85th and 87th minutes – quintessential Fergie time. Make no mistake, this is Mourinho’s team now. But it is a team that bears hallmarks of Ferguson’s most feared teams – fighting till the death, never knowing when they’re beaten and a dash of exciting young talent – and that bodes well for United fans.

David Menon is a Premier League contributor with a column on Manchester United.

In the Red Corner: The Reds Go Marching On

In the Red Corner returns this week with a look at Manchester United’s surge in form.

It was around the 59th minute that hearts began to flutter nervously. Manchester United had been here many times this season: a goal up at home with chances created but all of it against a goalkeeper playing out of his skin. As memories of Stoke, West Ham, Arsenal and Burnley began to loom ominously, the crowd murmured restlessly. Enter Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

United have won 4 Premier League matches on the bounce for the first time since the very beginning of the season and the signs look right for them to extend that run.

United’s new boys blend with yestermen

It wasn’t too long ago that Eric Bailly was being hailed as the signing of United’s extravagant transfer window. Through no fault of his own, he can no longer lay claim to that title. While Bailly’s impressive start to his United career has been hampered by injury, it is the stark improvement of his fellow signings that have caught the eye.

After starting the season in red hot form, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goals appeared to dry up, prompting questions of his age and commitment. In almost defiant response, he has scored 11 goals in his last 10 games and has been central to United’s recent resurgence. With two assists and a goal, Zlatan was man of the match and, while quiet for large parts of the game, was at the epicentre of all that was dangerous going forward. For most United fans, 20 goals would have been a very successful return for their high profile free agent acquisition given the dearth of goals last season. With 17 goals to his name already this season, he has equalled Martial’s top scoring tally last year. It’s still only December.

Integral to Zlatan’s recent prominence has been the telepathic connection he has struck with Paul Pogba. Pogba has been an easy target for United critics, who point to his price tag as evidence that United have “abandoned their traditions” of “spending money the right way.” When he didn’t make an instant impact, criticism only intensified. But Pogba has grown into his new role at United and has proven himself integral to a fine-tuned tactical system that plays to his strengths. Against Sunderland, he was always open for the pass, particularly from Carrick, and changed United’s possession from passive to purposeful with ambitious and probing passes.

For me, the highlight of Pogba’s performance was when, in the second half, he could be seen urging his teammates on as nerves threatened to set in. It’s a sign of confidence – you can’t demand more of your teammates unless you feel comfortable doing so. And in a squad that began the season with a serious lack of leadership, Pogba’s character and passion inspired both teammates and the fans, who like nothing more than a player who plays with a fire in his belly. Add a sprinkling of stardust, evident in his curling effort that shaved the post, and United fans can feel increasingly confident in the club’s on-field return on their marquee signing.

While much was expected of United’s high profile signings, there were a number of players for whom the only expectation was that they no longer be at United at the close of the summer transfer window. Michael Carrick only received a new contract when Jose Mourinho joined the club and it seemed a symbolic gesture at best, as he struggled to break into a team that seemed brimming with options in midfield. His recent sustained inclusion in the starting 11 has seen a sharp upturn in United’s form and it’s hard to deny a correlation – United have won all but 2 games in which Carrick has played, neither of which were losses.

Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo were United’s defensive pariahs, lambasted for injuries and error prone performances. Few United fans would have shed tears if either, or even both, had left in the summer. Seeing both players line up together would have represented the worst fears of many United fans. Yet, they have established a centre-back pairing that has played an important role in the recent run of victories. Phil Jones has shown he’s a pretty decent defender when he ventures out of the treatment room, while Rojo in particular looks a player reborn, winning aerial challenges and crunching tackles with the kind of good judgment of which he appeared utterly incapable until late. Much has been made of United’s new signings, but the rejuvenation of the men doomed to yesterday’s scrap heap is just as heartening.

Mkhitaryan Magic

Around the time Jesse Lingard scuffled with two Sunderland players in quick succession and the game threatened to descend into the scrappy mess that would favour Sunderland far more than the home team, Jose Mourinho turned to the bench and motioned for Mkhitaryan’s introduction. Immediately, United’s attack had more dynamism, as the playmaker cut inside and curled a shot just past the post. Miki takes United’s attack to another level: he plays with the speed and direct running that brings the best out of Zlatan, the intelligence to invite more from Pogba and Herrera in United’s link up play, and his lock-pick passing is vital against opponents who sit deep. United have an array of attacking talent at their disposal and Mourinho seems to rotate his starting playmakers based on the opposition as well as players’ form.

Based on the latter, Mkhitaryan should be as omnipresent on the team sheet as Ibrahimovic and De Gea. As the Armenian persists in his rich vein of form, questions have been asked as to whether this is because of, or in spite of, Mourinho’s strong-handed treatment towards him at the beginning of the season. I’m inclined to say it is because of it. Mourinho challenged Mkhitaryan by dropping him, and Miki responded by doubly applying himself and is reaping the benefits of his tough mindset. Anthony Martial seems to be going through a similar spell at the moment, with Mourinho and national team manager Didier Deschamps urging the player to apply himself more in training. Martial is a prodigious talent and I desperately hope he comes through in similar fashion – he’ll be a hugely better player for it. But back to Miki, already adored by the Old Trafford faithful who roared with approval when he rose from the bench. He is loved by the fans who are desperate to see him play and boy did he repay them. A simply breathtaking airborne backheel which, while offside, showcases the special player he is. If Mkhi stays fit, he will be key to United maintaining this recent run of form that has seen them go 11 games unbeaten.

David Menon is a Premier League contributor with a column on Manchester United.

In the Red Corner: How Full Is Your Glass?

In the Red Corner is a weekly column by our Premier League contributor David Menon.

There are two ways to look at United’s 1-1 draw at home against Stoke City. You can adopt the glass half full approach and look at the positives (there were some and I’ll talk about them later). Or, like me, you can see the glass as half empty because when I’m having a drink, at home, against an out-of-form club at the bottom of the table, I expect the cup to runneth over.

The Negatives

The biggest negative has to be dropping 2 eminently winnable points. Going into this fixture, United had the wind in their sails after walloping Leicester and would have liked to build momentum before the international break. A win would have lifted United to within a point of Arsenal and Liverpool, who both showed their mettle by winning ugly over the weekend. Instead, they trail by 3.

That’s of even greater importance when you look at United’s upcoming fixture list: Liverpool (A), Fenerbahce (H), Chelsea (A), Manchester City (H). The most positive thing I can say is that at least Manchester United play Fenerbahce at home, because sandwiching a trip to Turkey between a visit to our fiercest rivals and a return to Jose’s previous employers would be as bad as it gets. If United make a hash of their upcoming fixtures, they could be left behind in the title race before Halloween: a frightening thought for any Red Devil.

So how did 3 points become 1? Wasted chances is the short answer. Much has been said about Stoke’s on loan goalkeeper Lee Grant, and rightly so. He was incredible from the very start, his superlative 1st minute double save against Zlatan Ibrahimovic just the start of his personal highlight reel. It’s hard to imagine 40 year old Shay Given stopping Lingard’s point blank effort, or tipping Zlatan’s 86th minute effort around the post. Lee Grant was the difference for Stoke City. But that doesn’t entirely account for the lack of goals because United were wasteful.

Manchester United spent the first half threatening to open the floodgates and you got the sense that if 1 of the many opportunities hit the back of the net, then the dam would burst. But it didn’t, because some of the best chances weren’t even on target. Paul Pogba had the chance to cap a move that would be replayed on highlight reels time and again as marquee signing Ibrahimovic, via a delicious backheel, played in United youth product Jesse Lingard. Lingard, showing great vision to find Pogba in space and with time. But instead of making it 2 goals in 2 league games, he side footed wide when he really should have scored. And again, Pogba was guilty of profligacy when his 89th header crashed off the bar after being picked out by Rashford’s inch perfect cross. A player of Pogba’s ability could have had a hattrick on his day, and he should have come away with at least 1 goal. His poor finishing cost United dear on the day, but he wasn’t the only new addition who should have won the game. Zlatan Ibrahimovic started the game well and in addition to that wonderful 1st minute chance that he should have buried, he was frequently involved in the buildup play, setting up Lingard among others. But as the game wore on, Zlatan faded a little and you wonder if at 35, he’s still capable of playing 3 games in a week. It’d take a brave man to try and substitute Zlatan with United chasing the game but in future, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are both speedy young forwards who could be used in their preferred positions to facilitate managing the big man’s minutes.

Most didn’t believe the halftime score was 0-0 given the number of chances, and it appeared that the United players didn’t either. They started the second half sluggishly, with the faintest whiff of complacency about their pedestrian pace. Instead of pacy, attacking football, United sat back and casually rolled the ball around, an occasional half-heartedly attack aside. There is no room for complacency in this league, and there was simply no urgency to try and get a goal or two. And after substitute Martial grabbed a goal, it was unforgivable to fail to see the game out to victory. First Daley Blind miskicked under no pressure to gift Stoke possession that led to David De Gea spilling a shot when he should have done much better. More professionalism is required from a team with United’s aspirations.

The Positives

There were positives, though. United created good chances, building on last weekend’s progress against Leicester. They moved the ball well and showed a level of incision that was conspicuous by its absence in recent history. There was a desire to play a killer ball and carve open the defence, and attack directly. Mata is showing that he is a very plausible option at number 10, certainly the best option until Henrikh Mkhitaryan returns to full fitness.

On that note, Mourinho is known for having a preferred starting line up in mind and, after some early rotation, it appears that he is slowly settling on first XI, naming an unchanged lineup for the first time. Ander Herrera appears to be winning the battle against Marouane Fellaini and Morgan Schneiderlin to partner Paul Pogba in the middle of the park. I would still like to see a midfield triumvirate of Pogba, Herrera and Schneiderlin at some point, as I feel it provides defensive stability while maximising Pogba’s skill set. Martial will probably return to left wing once fully recovered from his concussion, where he will benefit from playing slightly narrower so he can attack the goal directly. And Mkhitaryan will surely be the preferred to Jesse Lingard, where fans will hope he can replicate the form he showed at Borussia Dortmund last season.

Almost without exception, United fans are thrilled to see Marcus Rashford enjoying an extended spell in the starting 11. This must be managed carefully, because United have a quality homegrown talent on their hands but he is still young, and he must be nurtured to fully maximise his potential. Recently, his minutes have come from left wing, where United seem to prefer parking promising young strikers while older warhorses take up the sole starting position up top (such as Martial-Rooney last season). This isn’t Rashford’s best position – he is a natural and potentially lethal number 9 – but its most important for him to enjoy minutes in the first team and he will no doubt hone a different set of skills by playing in a different position. One such example was his beautiful cross to pick out an unmarked Pogba. More of the same please, Marcus!

But the biggest positive for any Manchester United fan sick of perfect Pep’s perfect start has got to be Spurs’ dismantling of Manchester City in the later kickoff. Spurs were brilliant and deservedly remain the only unbeaten team in the league. This is likely to be but a brief speed bump for City, but United fans can take great pleasure from it. Spurs, meanwhile, look like genuine title contenders.

In conclusion, there are some positives for United fans to take. There was some impressive attacking play and on another day, against a less inspired goalkeeper, we won have won by a landslide. But the great goalkeeping does not account for some of the unacceptable misses and some blatant complacency. You must take your chances, but if you don’t, you cannot start the second half as if you’re two goals up. Ultimately, this result must go down as a disappointment: 3 points at home against the bottom side should be a given. United cannot be giving up points in these matches. They would have been only 3 points behind City had they held on for the win. Instead, they are 5 with a very challenging run of matches to come.

David Menon is a Premier League contributor with a weekly column on Manchester United.

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In the Red Corner: A New and Improved Balance

Manchester United

In the Red Corner is a weekly column by our Premier League contributor David Menon.

Well, what a difference a week makes. Last week, Manchester United were a club in crisis, drifting to demoralising defeats against Watford and Feyenoord. This week, United hosted Champions Leicester City in what on paper looked a potentially tricky fixture. But a first half blitz put United firmly in control and the second half played out almost as a formality, save for Demarai Grey’s rocket that made the score 4-1.

The scoreboard doesn’t lie… But does it exaggerate?

One of the facts that haunted Louis van Gaal’s United side was their paucity of goals, particularly first half goals – United only scored 13 last season. The lack of goals also harmed the fable of the formidable Old Trafford fortress- teams used to come to Manchester knowing they’d need to outscore a rampant attacking unit, but you’re hardly a rampant attacking side when you score just 27 home league goals in a season. So there’s a reputation there that needs mending: United need to remind opponents that when you visit Old Trafford, you should expect to be pummelled, you should expect the hosts to be aggressive and you should expect attacking football.

With that in mind, on paper, going in 4-0 at halftime against the defending champions is about as strong a statement as you can make. But a closer examination reveals two main things. First, the scoreline doesn’t lie. United played some excellent football at times, especially during the last 15 minutes of the first half, when they poured forward in droves, passed with purpose and looked completely in control. The build up to Juan Mata’s goal was breathtaking, the movement behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic was brisk and full of ideas, and the engine room was purring, with Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera dovetailing beautifully. The Red Devils went in at half time with the wind well and truly with them. The only downside to that kind of football is that the second 45 was likely to be played at a far more pedestrian pace.

But while the scoreline doesn’t lie, it can embellish. United were better than Leicester, who were very very poor defensively, and deserved to go in at the break comfortably ahead. But were United really worth a 4-0 lead? Well, I’d argue that they weren’t worth what a 4-0 lead over the defending champions usually means. First, Leicester were poor all over the park – to the extent that both Jamie Vardy and Riyadh Mahrez were taken off at halftime. They didn’t offer the type of performance you’d expect from defending champions. Notwithstanding, Leicester really pushed United for the first 20 minutes; United only really took control towards the end of the half, when they scored 3 goals in 7 minutes. That isn’t indicative of a team that has dominated a half from start to finish. Furthermore, of the 4 goals United scored, 3 were off corners. While corners are as useful a source of goals as any, it isn’t usually an indication of who has controlled the game during open play. In this game, United were better than Leicester and controlled the game but they weren’t carving the Foxes open at will. It wasn’t quite that clear cut.

I guess the summary of this analysis is that United played well; they played with purpose; and most importantly, they hit the back of the net 4 times. It was a great win from a tricky fixture. But the Reds weren’t dominant throughout. This wasn’t a siege, with United camped outside the Leicester penalty box. It was more like a commando incision: in and out in 7 minutes, before anyone realises what has happened. This weekend, I witnessed two teams truly dominate their opposition. Liverpool bossed a miserable Hull City for 90 minutes in their 5-1 win. And Arsenal were simply breathtaking in their victory against Chelsea – the Gunners first half 3-0 lead capped one of the best halves of football I’ve seen this year. It serves a reminder that there is still much progress to be made for United, although the Leicester victory was certainly encouraging. Its also a reminder why the Premier League is so damn irresistible.

The Rooney Report: Mourinho makes his move

Last week, I was sharply critical of Wayne Rooney’s role in the Manchester United starting XI. I suggested that Rooney should be dropped from the team, partly because he doesn’t complement Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and partly because there are better options in the team to play at number 10. And after a horrible outing at Northampton midweek, Rooney probably earned his place on the bench this week. So it was from this vantage point that he witnessed Zlatan flourish when supported by pace on the wings and guile in behind him. He watched his teammates run riot with the kind of fluidity that he has often hindered, and he watched the most balanced United performance to date; a feat made all the more remarkable given the lack of a defensive midfielder in the lineup.

In his post-match interview, Jose Mourinho rubbished suggestions that Rooney would struggle to get back into the line-up, reaffirming his trust in the player. And while he may not be United’s #1 pick at number 10, Rooney still has much to contribute to the team, both on the pitch and off it. Though he has struggled this season, it would be very harsh to suggest that United looked so much better simply because the skipper was out of the line up. Rather, I think Mourinho is beginning to fit players effectively into a system that in turn brought the best out of other players on the field.

Who came good?

It can’t be stressed enough just how important the balance was in this United performance. They didn’t seem to sit too deep, nor was the passing and movement too slow. There was a fluidity to the attacking play and players showed signs of striking up an understanding with one another. This was satisfyingly apparent between Pogba and Ibrahimovic, who are beginning to click as well on the field as they do off it. But there were lots of individual players who can go home feeling very pleased with themselves. Daley Blind deserves much credit for a very impressive performance at left back, where he comfortably dealt with far quicker players and carried out his set piece responsibilities with devastating effectiveness. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford has made it 7 goals in 7 matches for club and country. Rashford has thoroughly earned his place in the line up and continues to justify it with his goals and overall contribution. He is getting better and better.

On Wednesday Ander Herrera made a case for being included in the starting 11 and, having been given the opportunity today, made the most of it. He brought energy and verve to the midfield and bustled with purpose from start to finish. He was diligent with his added defensive responsibilities and brought more to the team than even the much improved Marouane Fellaini does. Herrera’s defensive performance finally unshackled Paul Pogba, who enjoyed his best performance since his return to the club. Pogba roamed around the field threateningly and complemented his first goal with some gorgeous passing. Pogba was also much more prominent because he was no longer competing with Wayne Rooney for real estate in the final third of the pitch.

Occupying Wayne Rooney’s place in the starting 11 was Juan Mata, playing just behind Ibrahimovic and he deserves the highest praise for his performance today. Mata has always fancied himself as a central attacking midfielder but has done a quality job at both left and right wing without complaint. Today, in his favoured position, Juan Mata ran the show, moving the ball around with confidence as chief playmaker in a squad full of talent. After capping off a beautiful team move (one that involved all 10 outfield players) with a delicious driven finish, Mata showed keen anticipation to run onto Blind’s short corner and set up Rashford for his goal. And while Mata was heavily involved, he was also intelligent enough to create – and keep clear of – space for Pogba to exploit. Zlatan was able to drop deep and get involved in the build up play, knowing that Mata had the ability to play in players making runs behind. The headlines will be all about Rooney being dropped from the line up today, but that does a disservice to the many players who showed what they can do in the right system. That should be the biggest takeaway: with the right team balance, you will begin to see results on the field.

David Menon is a Premier League contributor with a weekly column on Manchester United.

 

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In the Red Corner: A Week To Forget

In the Red Corner is a weekly column by our Premier League contributor David Menon.

It’s been a difficult week.

The 3-1 reverse to Watford this weekend means it’s been 3 defeats on the trot in all competitions for the Red Devils. The honeymoon period is well and truly over and the greatest summer transfer window in recent Red history has rapidly moved into a chastening autumn. A close-run defeat to Manchester City bore no shame, and we could explain away the limp 0-1 loss to Feyenoord with the excuse that the Europa League was not a priority for Jose or the club. Then Watford happened. United were disjointed, languid and thoroughly deserved to be beaten. It was a thoroughly unwelcome throwback to the LvG era of bland and ponderous football.

The Rooney Rule

What to do with Wayne Rooney? The statistics were damning in the aftermath of the Watford game. He had one shot (off target) and made only 6 forward passes, with a total of 0 through balls. He was barely involved and his contributions were anonymous at best, burdensome at worst. Rooney is a club icon, closing in on the goalscoring record and a respected figure in the dressing room. Managers clearly see something fans and pundits don’t because Louis van Gaal, David Moyes, Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce and now Mourinho have all included him as part of their best XI. That may be a chequered collection of coaches but it does carry some weight. On the other hand, United fans have been subjected to 3 years of increasingly mediocre performances and, while some United fans remain loyal to Rooney’s cause, patience is wearing thin. Rooney isn’t solely responsible for the sluggish attacking movement, but his seemingly untouchable status is definitely worth questioning.

Rooney’s problems are exacerbated by his role behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic. A consensus has formed around how to get the best out of Ibra. He’s many things – a big, strong target man with an incredible touch – but a speedster is not one of them. He tends to thrive when he is flanked by players bursting with pace, who are able to take advantage of space created when defenders are drawn out of position to try and wrestle the big Swede off the ball. The days of seeing Rooney take advantage of space in behind the defence is long gone – he simply doesn’t have the acceleration any more. But its not as if United don’t have players who can star in the role: Henrikh Mkhitaryan is blessed with pace and real skill on the ball; Marcus Rashford could start, almost as a second striker and burst in behind Ibrahimovic; Juan Mata, while not blessed with pace, is artful enough on the ball to bring speedy wide players into the game; or Paul Pogba who, unshackled from his defensive responsibilities, might begin to play like the world’s most expensive player. I would like to see if Anthony Martial could be more effective in a number 10 role, his progress having stalled as he has been played wider and wider out left.

This is not to condemn Rooney to the scrap heap – he’s still a good player and certainly merits a place in the squad. I also think Jose was a little rash in disavowing Rooney’s ability to move further into midfield – he seemed to contribute more from deeper, particularly last season. But as a number 10, Rooney hasn’t generated enough sustained quality to justify an automatic starting position. This is especially true considering the other options, particularly Marcus Rashford, banging on the door of the starting XI.

Its all relative: Don’t hit the panic button

So it hasn’t been all smooth sailing on board the HMS Mourinho. There has been bedding in problems, as you would expect when any new managers takes over at a club. Or you would, if Pep Guardiola hadn’t also just moved in across the road.

United’s problems seem much worse because of how well Manchester City and Pep Guardiola seem to be doing. Nobody, including Pep himself, could have imagined just how well City players would understand his philosophy and replicated it on the pitch. No manager should have the temerity to start their stint at a club with 8 straight wins and counting. Yet here City are, untouchable in a competitive match under Pep’s stewardship.

I have a confession: I doubted Pep’s brilliance. I pointed to Barcelona and Bayern Munich’s incredible squads and how it didn’t prove anything about Pep’s success. The strength in depth meant either team could have won their respective leagues with a donkey as manager. I stand corrected. Guardiola has been incredible and City have played some breathtaking stuff at times. This is especially impressive because the best performing players have been those whom he inherited: the usual suspects of Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne, as well as Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho. Just how quickly City have taken to Guardiola is a testament to him as a manager. But it is still early days for City – they will face the tough challenges and, in this year’s rendition of the Premier League, they will almost certainly falter. And with Guardiola’s style under scrutiny by so many high-class managers, tactics to counter him will surface in due course.

In much the same vein, it is still very early days for United. Fans will have expected slightly better from the opening few fixtures, but this is par for the course at this stage of the season. Leaving aside Guardiola, any manager needs time to settle, to mould a team according to his vision, and to have that take effect. The media is so quick to make a mountain out of nothing. Suddenly, United are a club in crisis and Mourinho is losing the dressing room. It’s not, he isn’t, and such hysteria is unhealthy. I hate to keep singing from the same hymn sheet, but patience is crucial. Pogba isn’t a waste of money, Mourinho hasn’t lost his touch and the season isn’t over. At least, not yet.

It isn’t my intention to make excuses for this disappointing week. I’m just arguing for a little perspective. United fans should be mad after this past week, especially after the last two matches. The shame isn’t in defeat. It’s in playing like a bunch of disinterested, overpaid slouches. That isn’t the United way. So yes, be angry with the team, be angry with how they played. But don’t be irrational.

David Menon is a Premier League contributor with a weekly column on Manchester United.

In the Red Corner: Dissecting the Derby

Red Corner

In the Red Corner is a weekly column by our Premier League contributor David Menon.

First things first: what a match! It was exhilarating, an emotional roller coaster no matter where your allegiances lay. Many people feared a cagey Derby, with both teams afraid to lose this early season blockbuster. Instead, we got 90 pulsating minutes of end-to-end football that were played with as much breakneck intensity as anyone could have hoped for .

United awful in the opening 45

United simply didn’t show up in the opening period. Take nothing away from Manchester City – their build up play was breathtaking at points and they should have had the game won by halftime. There were times when they looked like they would run riot against an abject United. Poor touches and weak passes littered the opening period and, good as City were, United didn’t even begin to give them a game.

United fans might have hoped that Kevin De Bruyne’s goal after just 15 minutes – a poor one to concede in a game of this magnitude – would spark the Reds into life.  Instead, more clueless football followed. Twice, Jesse Lingard miscontrolled to allow the ball to roll out of play under no pressure and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, a player fans have been desperate to see in the starting 11, was lacklustre with possession. Both were withdrawn at halftime and far better will be expected of them in future.

Speaking of higher expectations, Paul Pogba was anonymous. Some United fans have been damning in their criticism of him and to say he is overpriced based on this performance is outrageously over the top. But when you do cost £89 million, these are the games in which you are expected to make a difference. Pogba is a supremely gifted footballer who will turn into the midfield powerhouse United need, but this match completely passed him by. Mourinho will need to figure out how to effectively utilise his talents against the best teams.

Kelechi Iheanacho’s predatory finish placed the 6-1 Derby defeat of 2011 firmly at the front of every red mind: Blue shirts were swarming all over the Reds and halftime couldn’t come soon enough. Until, all of a sudden, it could. Claudio Bravo spent his entire debut hovering over the self-destruct button and clumsily palmed a Rooney free kick straight at Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was merciless in punishing the mistake.

Suddenly, United were resurgent and twice, Zlatan should have pulled them level before the break. First, he headed straight at Bravo after a delicious cross from Rooney. Then Bravo got entangled with Lingard and the ball broke to the big Swede. You’d have bet your house on him to score but his shot was as weak as it was poorly placed and John Stones had no trouble clearing off the line. At half time, City had the lead but United had the momentum.

The KDB show

Much was made of Guardiola v Mourinho part 2. Would they shake hands? Would they share a drink? Would break into a no holds barred back alley brawl? While both were animated along the touchline, they were cordial with one another. Perhaps Mourinho has learned his lesson about sideline antics – there would be no eye gouging at Old Trafford. In some ways, the managers did impact the game. A prime example was Guardiola watching Mourinho’s halftime changes make an immediate impact, figuring out how to counteract them and making his own change on 52 minutes. The tactical battle was fascinating, but it wasn’t what decided this game.

In my opinion, that decider went by the name of Kevin De Bruyne. In a game flush with expensive talent, the £50 million man appeared a bargain signing. Neither Pogba nor Fellaini are known for their man marking abilities and the Belgian magician thrived in a first half during which he went virtually unchecked. Dropping into all kinds of space, he was the conductor to City’s orchestra and United would have benefitted from a specialist defensive midfielder, perhaps Morgan Schniederlin, dedicated to keeping tabs on him. Later, when the second half addition of Ander Herrera congested the midfield, Guardiola responded by moving De Bruyne further up field as a false 9. From there, De Bruyne came within a coat of paint of effectively ending the game when his shot clipped the inside of the post and trickled agonisingly across the mouth of David De Gea’s goal.

City fans can only hope the injury that forced him off isn’t serious because De Bruyne has an intuitive understanding of football that will see him thrive under Pep Guardiola. Based on this performance, I believe he could reprise the role Andres Iniesta played for Pep’s Barcelona team. Premier League fans are about to see a supremely gifted player blossom into a truly world class superstar.

The second 45, & beyond

Mourinho didn’t wait to see the end of the first half, heading towards the tunnel before the halftime whistle had been blown. The way United came out the second half, you couldn’t help but think a hairdryer or two had been unleashed in the dressing room. They attacked with purpose and threatened to score immediately. Halftime substitute Marcus Rashford’s shot struck an offside Ibrahimovic on its way into the back of the net, while Claudio Bravo was fortunate not to give away a penalty when he lunged in recklessly on Wayne Rooney with his studs showing. On the whole though, it’s difficult to argue that the result was unfair. So what can United fans take from this?

United can certainly compete with City. Mourinho got his tactics wrong in the first half. Without a dedicated defensive midfielder, city’s legion of small, skillful attacking midfielders had the freedom of Manchester to pick apart the defence. But that’s an indictment of the tactics rather than the team. The second half is a clear indicator that United on their day, and with their tactics right, are a formidable opponent against anyone.

United aren’t the complete package yet. Players are still getting to know each other, and are still learning Mourinho’s system. Three straightforward wins from three relatively easy opening fixtures fooled lots of us into believing United had progressed further than they actually had. Patience may be a rude word in football but anybody hitting the panic button is a fool and, judging by the comments on the United Facebook posts, there are plenty of fools out there. Change will take time – at least United are showing clear signs of improvement and will surely challenge for the title.

While I write this, Arsenal have just bagged a last minute winner against Southampton, Spurs ripped Stoke to shreds and looked every bit the title challenger they were last season, my dark horse for the top four – Liverpool – destroyed defending champions Leicester and Chelsea are still unbeaten (although that may yet change). As a football fan, I’m genuinely excited for what is going to be one firecracker of a Premier League season. The number and variety of mouthwatering fixtures to come is surreal.

Last but not least, every United fan should take heart from the response to the atrocious first half. There were several positive signs, whether it be Jose’s awareness that things weren’t going according to plan and his double substitution that turned things around, Marcus Rashford’s continued improvement or the fact that the Red Devils arguably enjoyed a better second half than City. For me, it was the way Mourinho went for basically a 3-2-5 by bringing on Anthony Martial at the end. That decision to take the initiative and really go for the win rather than just hope for the best; to make City sweat for their win; to refuse to be beaten until Mark Clattenburg blew the final whistle.

We’re not going to produce a last gasp goal every time we need one, but by God when I saw 5 minutes go up on the injury time board I believed we would. And I think for this club, that means as much as anything – Belief. Believing with a passionate fire that we will fight until the final whistle. We deserved to be beaten after the way we started, but I believed we could win because of how we fought back. And there really isn’t any shame in a defeat like that.

David Menon is a Premier League contributor with a weekly column on Manchester United.

 

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In the Red Corner: Rashford at the death!

Manchester United Rashford vs Hull City

In the Red Corner is a weekly column by our Premier League contributor David Menon.

When I decided to start writing articles for The Playbook, I wanted to be as objective and fair as possible, so that fans of all faiths and creeds could appreciate them. But this piece is less analytical and more an account of the emotional rollercoaster the Red Devils took me on in Hull on Saturday night. For that, I apologise to ABU (anything but United) fans.

You Couldn’t Script this

Torrential rain poured from the start, and it clearly affected the match. The pitch was waterlogged and slippery, passes were difficult and the entire game seemed to move at a slower pace.  

Unable to work the ball into the box through intricate passing, United’s stars took to attempting shots from distance, or lofting crosses for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to challenge. It was a game plan that might have worked on another day, but Ibrahimovic was expertly marshalled by Curtis Davies and the long shots were skidding wide of the target. As the seconds ticked away, United fans’ early buoyancy curdled into a sense of wistfulness. There was no reason to panic, and little to be upset about – games like this will happen now and again over the course of a long season when penalty shouts go unheeded by officials; and when you dominate the game but the ball just won’t go in the net.

But like most 0-0 draws that will feature this expensively assembled Red war machine, it would have felt like a defeat. Fans have enjoyed an uncharacteristically purposeful start to the season and it would have been disappointing to lose the 100% record. It would also have been frustrating to fall behind Chelsea, who preserved their winning start to the season. And it would have been empowering to keep the pressure on Manchester City, who are also 100% following yesterday’s victory over West Ham.  

In that context, it seemed crucial that the Red Devils not blink first in this collective stare-off with Pep’s punks. Ceding initiative to the bitterest of rivals, even at this early stage, would have been painful; especially in a season which could well be decided by margins as slim as 2011-2012. No United fan will ever forget that pain.  

So while panic wouldn’t be warranted, and few United fans were inclined to panic, failure to win against a dogged Hull City would have been more damaging to morale than usual. This meant Marcus Rashford’s 70th minute introduction was greeted with the kind of hope few substitutes have seen since the days of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Last season’s boy saviour, Rashford was the crown jewel of United’s disappointing 2014-15 campaign but hadn’t seen a minute of the Premier League this season. Until today. Surely he could salvage something?  

Energetic and enterprising from the minute he was introduced, Rashford’s arrival coincided with United setting up permanent domicile in the Hull City penalty box. As the game entered its dying embers, Rashford showed his remarkable skill. Picking up the ball, he danced between 3 Hull players and sidefooted a shot delicately into the far corner. United fans were dancing before the ball had hit the back of the net, which was a shame. Because before the ball hit the back of the net, Hull keeper Eldin Jakupovic, who together with his skipper Curtis Davies had an amazing game, got down superbly to tip the ball around the post for a corner. Perhaps this wouldn’t be United’s day after all?

What followed simply could not have been scripted. In a season where expectations have almost never been higher, during a match when the pressure to come home with all 3 points was rising every minute, Wayne Rooney, who had been underwhelming for the entire game and a surefire scapegoat if points were dropped, scurried after an overhit pass and collected it at the byline. He evaded a challenge by a tiring Hull player and, for the first time in the match, showcased his skill. He squared a perfect pass to Marcus Rashford, who showed incredible awareness and instinct to pop up in the 6 yard box at exactly the right time and stab the ball home.

How fitting for it to have been Marcus Rashford, the favourite son of the Old Trafford faithful. The same boy who brought such hope and joy to the hearts of Red Devils but, in this whirlwind transfer window, appeared destined to be the forgotten man. How fitting that when none of United’s megabucks summer signings could breach the Hull rearguard, it was the same Marcus Rashford who announced with such authority that he would not be ignored, that he would continue to exhilarate, that he would take his chances no matter when they presented themselves. How fitting for a club that is at a crossroads in terms of its identity, to secure the winning goal through one of its fabled youth team graduates. And most of all for a club that is desperate to experience a return to the glory days of SAF, how fitting for the winning goal to come in the 92nd minute following wave after wave of attacks.

On the surface, a 1-0 victory away to Hull presents itself as a bland, almost disappointing result. But any United fan watching the match would have known nothing but joy. Joy at the result, joy at the scorer, joy at the late game heroics, and joy at the perfect start to the season. It may not seem like much, but games like these invoke emotional reactions in me that nothing else can. Football eh, bloody hell.

David Menon is a Premier League contributor with a weekly column on Manchester United.

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In The Red Corner: Stars come out to play at Old Trafford

Manchester United

Manchester United’s stars shone brightly on the first Friday night fixture of the Premier League season. While the statistics tell a different story – Southampton out-passed, out-possessed and had more shots, United never really moved out of second gear and the win was a comfortable one. What can Manchester United fans take away from this week’s performance?

1) Zlatan is the real deal

United fans welcomed Ibrahimovic’s signing with exhilaration, but also a fair amount of intrigue. He’s undoubtedly the highest profile signing in recent Red Devil history, but Zlatan was 35 when he signed and having spent the last 4 seasons in the relative retirement home of Ligue 1, United fans had loads of questions: Will he be able to cope with the speed and competitiveness of the Premier League? Will this be another expensive Di Maria/Falcao sized failure? How will he energise a Manchester United that drove fans to despair with their tepid brand of football?

On Friday, his match winning brace made it 4 goals in his first 3 games and he’s played every minute of the Premier League season so far, but that only tells part of his story. Not only is he a hulking presence in the box and a bona fide target man, there is also an essence of Cantona about United’s mercurial new Swede that really makes this signing special. There simply wasn’t anything like Ibrahimovic at United last season. Zlatan adds character, charisma and footballing beauty to a team that was devoid of genius and game changers. Make no mistake, so far this transfer has turned out better than any United fan could have hoped.

2) United add character as well as quality

Jose Mourinho swept into Old Trafford and promptly announced the need for four new signings. And four new players later, United fans can look upon a new look squad that has improved in more ways than one. Nobody seriously doubted the on-field quality of Ibrahimovic, Pogba or Mkhitaryan, while Eric Bailly’s early performances suggest he will be an immediate and lasting solution to United’s problems at centre-back. But United have been haemorrhaging another, less tangible commodity since Sir Alex stepped down 3 years ago.

Since their last Premier League title, United lost Giggs, Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra to retirement and pastures new. That left a small contingent of elder statesmen to lead a relatively youthful squad. Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney, though widely and deeply respected by their teammates, aren’t the most vocal or eloquent of leaders. Other attempts to add some character haven’t quite gone according to plan. Robin van Persie’s candle went out with Sir Alex Ferguson’s, while Bastian Schweinsteiger irked senior teammates with his frequent trips back to Germany. Jose Mourinho found himself with a young, talented squad, but also one lacking in personality and aggressive leadership.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s outspoken, occasionally abrasive persona certainly added some flavour to the mix. More importantly, he’s been a role model to younger players. Described by his manager as a “gift” to Marcus Rashford, revelations that Zlatan surrounds himself with young players is welcome news to United fans – there are few better influences that the serial title winning Swede. One can only hope that Memphis Depay pulls up a chair at lunch at Carrington next week; lord knows his career could use a kickstart. At the other end of the field, Eric Bailly has revealed a bag of tricks no 22 year old defender should have the temerity to posses. And of course, enter Paul Pogba. Pogba may not strike many as a typical leader, but he possesses an easy charm that has breathed new life into a listless dressing room. From his dabbing with Jessie Lingard to broing around with Ibrahimovic during the post match interview, Pogba has made the Manchester United dressing room the place to be.

3) The world’s most expensive player

There are many angles to Paul Pogba’s debut: his return to his old club, United’s ability to sign a player of his calibre without champions league football and the record-breaking price they paid to do so. But for United fans, it’s all about the on-pitch results. And for a team that has been starved of world-class quality in centre midfield for so long, this was as dominant as it’s been for a long time. Pogba’s first performance as a born-again United player was a mixture of skill, style and power. 5 interceptions and more than 100 touches tells the story of a player who was in the thick of it for ‘some’ 90 minutes.

On multiple occasions, Pogba picked up the ball and went storming up the field, leaving a trail of Saints players in his wake and he almost seems impossible to dispossess, using his massive frame to hold off defenders until support arrives. Pogba has only trained for 11 days prior to his debut, so he is yet to strike up a proper understanding with his teammates or fully appreciate his role in Mourinho’s system. He will be monstrous when he has.

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David Menon is a Premier League contributor for The Playbook.