Let's talk about agendas. In a week which saw Ajax (Dutch Champions & Champions League semi-finalists), Celtic (Scottish Premier League Champions) and Arsenal (led by Pep's protege i.e. the automatically brilliant Arteta) dumped out of the Europa League, a great many articles reporting Manchester United cruising through into the round of 16, did so begrudgingly.
The press does not like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and are doing whatever it takes to drive the mob towards a dramatic conclusion - his sacking and the arrival of Pochettino.
The pictures being proliferated are rather cunning. These include OGS not being worthy of managing a team with the heritage of MU; not experienced enough at the highest level (references to managing Molde and getting sacked by Cardiff); lacking tactical nous (probably a valid point for now); his eroding authority vis-a-vis the "star" of the team, a certain Mr. Pogba, and so on and so forth.
The media does not report news.Journalists Content writers need to invent angles and amp up minor moments to keep click-baiting readers. Seen from afar, it's rather wicked. Heck, let's forget OGS for a minute and scan the headlines around Jose Mourinho. Kane and Son, the main goal-scorers, are injured, Eriksen has been sold, Alli isn't having much of a season and the rest of the team are shuffling around nervously. Yet, Spurs are 6th in the table. And, all the media will go on about is Jose's grumpiness, his reluctance to put faith in a kid called Parrott the supposed 'defensiveness' of his team. We'll admit that not playing the kid is rather inexplicable though consistent with Jose's lack of trust in unproven youngsters (or is that also a media thing?). But, lord above, the team is practically toothless without their best attackers so Jose's defensive tactics may make sense. And, who wouldn't be grumpy in this situation, I ask you.
Back to OGS. I recently saw a Spurs vs Man City game and the latter's use of the ball just took my breath away. I'll be first to admit Man United are nowhere close to that level of football sophistication. Nowhere. But, City lost that game.
Now, day in and day out, United don't play great football. There's a lack of creative confidence (slowly being rectified by Fernandes), intelligent use of the ball or even relentlessness, be it in running or harrying opponents. Pogba doesn't play and doesn't want to. Rashford has a long-term injury, Martial has a handful of short-term ones. The central defence isn't steady and the midfield includes Lingard and Pereira, so that should tell you something. Despite the weirdly poor results against mid-level teams, OGS's record against the top teams is weirdly good. Is it weird though? Is it luck that United beat City? Or, aren't those considered tactics unless Pep, Jurgen, Mikael or Mauricio spout it. There are also lots of funny things going on at United off the pitch. The debt structure put in place by the owners. The stadium is in poor shape and facilities desperately need an upgrade. Woodward's reluctance/refusal to hire a Director of Football to oversee transfers isn't helping at all. I'm not wasting words on the Pogba affair and only hope the team gets a hell of a lot of money for him which looks possible considering Eden Hazard isn't doing great at Real.
Still, the team stands 5th in the league, is doing pretty well in the Europa league and could still finish in next year's Champions League places. For the anti-Ole press brigade, that's inconvenient.
Song for the moment: Fallen Angel - Alphaville
The press does not like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and are doing whatever it takes to drive the mob towards a dramatic conclusion - his sacking and the arrival of Pochettino.
The pictures being proliferated are rather cunning. These include OGS not being worthy of managing a team with the heritage of MU; not experienced enough at the highest level (references to managing Molde and getting sacked by Cardiff); lacking tactical nous (probably a valid point for now); his eroding authority vis-a-vis the "star" of the team, a certain Mr. Pogba, and so on and so forth.
The media does not report news.
Back to OGS. I recently saw a Spurs vs Man City game and the latter's use of the ball just took my breath away. I'll be first to admit Man United are nowhere close to that level of football sophistication. Nowhere. But, City lost that game.
Now, day in and day out, United don't play great football. There's a lack of creative confidence (slowly being rectified by Fernandes), intelligent use of the ball or even relentlessness, be it in running or harrying opponents. Pogba doesn't play and doesn't want to. Rashford has a long-term injury, Martial has a handful of short-term ones. The central defence isn't steady and the midfield includes Lingard and Pereira, so that should tell you something. Despite the weirdly poor results against mid-level teams, OGS's record against the top teams is weirdly good. Is it weird though? Is it luck that United beat City? Or, aren't those considered tactics unless Pep, Jurgen, Mikael or Mauricio spout it. There are also lots of funny things going on at United off the pitch. The debt structure put in place by the owners. The stadium is in poor shape and facilities desperately need an upgrade. Woodward's reluctance/refusal to hire a Director of Football to oversee transfers isn't helping at all. I'm not wasting words on the Pogba affair and only hope the team gets a hell of a lot of money for him which looks possible considering Eden Hazard isn't doing great at Real.
Still, the team stands 5th in the league, is doing pretty well in the Europa league and could still finish in next year's Champions League places. For the anti-Ole press brigade, that's inconvenient.
Song for the moment: Fallen Angel - Alphaville
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