Caoimhin O’Muraile ⚽I watched in bewilderment and astonishment last Thursday nights UEFA Cup Quarter Final first leg tie at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Seville.
Inside the first couple of minutes we looked to have got off to a dream start when the ball was in the back of the visitors' net, Jadon Sancho being the scorer, only to be ruled offside by some half-wit of a Linesman. The language coming from my mouth was reminiscent of the stuff which came from the terraces at Old Trafford, back in the day, every time a decision went against us. The television set is still in one piece as missiles from my settee flew over the top of the box!
There appeared little protest from the stands at Old Trafford as I could make out, not like the old days. The modern football fans, “new age supporters” as I call them don’t seem to have a good protest in them, with a few exceptions like the Man United fans who ensured the home game against Liverpool a couple of seasons ago was not played. Not to worry, United still had convincing control of the game and it was only a matter of time before we would score, which proved to be the case. Then came the breakthrough we deserved. On loan midfielder, Marcel Sabitzer, put the ball in the visitors' net. Shortly afterwards he netted another classy goal after being put through by Martial, who slowed down the move sufficiently to allow Sabitzer to time his run beating the offside and slot the ball into the net giving Man Utd breathing space. Still, we needed a third just to be sure and we went searching for it, understandably. Seville had their moment when United Keeper, David De Gea, pulled off a great reflex save to keep our lead intact. Half time arrived and it was 2-0 to Manchester United.
When the teams came out for the second half, with Harry Maguire on for Varane, the status quo looked safe enough as we still probed for that third goal. With a moment of genius on the right-wing Antony cut inside to unleash a shot which Bobby Charlton, Ray (Butch) Wilkins and David Beckham would have been proud of. Unfortunately, the post and crossbar colluded to save Seville but things were looking up again. Bruno Fernandez got himself booked meaning he will miss the return leg in Seville on Thursday 20th, tonight. On its own the loss of Bruno can be coped with providing we kept our lead to take with us. By rights it should now have been 4-0 to United but for bad luck and an idiot of a Linesman (cunt should be shot) but the reality was, it wasn’t. “Not to worry” I told myself, we are still two goals up and providing we can keep that margin there’s not too much to worry about. That was not to be, alas, as Seville started playing a little proving they had actually come to Manchester to play, or kind of play, as they played better in the second half than the first forty-five minutes.
When the teams came out for the second half, with Harry Maguire on for Varane, the status quo looked safe enough as we still probed for that third goal. With a moment of genius on the right-wing Antony cut inside to unleash a shot which Bobby Charlton, Ray (Butch) Wilkins and David Beckham would have been proud of. Unfortunately, the post and crossbar colluded to save Seville but things were looking up again. Bruno Fernandez got himself booked meaning he will miss the return leg in Seville on Thursday 20th, tonight. On its own the loss of Bruno can be coped with providing we kept our lead to take with us. By rights it should now have been 4-0 to United but for bad luck and an idiot of a Linesman (cunt should be shot) but the reality was, it wasn’t. “Not to worry” I told myself, we are still two goals up and providing we can keep that margin there’s not too much to worry about. That was not to be, alas, as Seville started playing a little proving they had actually come to Manchester to play, or kind of play, as they played better in the second half than the first forty-five minutes.
“No fucking way will these dozy cunts score” I reasoned, even though deep down I had an irking feeling in my gut that I might be wrong. And Wrong I was, or wasn’t! They did not actually score but for two own goals by the hapless Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire so, I could reason, not very convincingly admittedly, that really we won!! Seriously we had seventy minutes after Sabitzer scored his second to find that illusive third and even a fourth and failed. I would still have been happy enough with 2-0 as would most other Man Utd fans I would have thought. That would certainly have been preferable to what we got.
Then in the sixty-second minute our would-be saviour, Erik Ten Hag, who I still believe is the right man for the job despite this monumental blunder in my eyes, made three substitutions all at once. There was no need to do this, United were holding our own and I think would have held out. Three substitutions at this stage was folly, I have always thought any changes, unless we are losing with little prospects, or injuries to players should not come before the seventy minute mark. He brought on Wout Weghorst, Anthony Elanga, whose been playing shite all season, and Christian Erikson, who was not in my view match fit and could have been brought on for the last five minutes. He took off Bruno Fernandes who had nothing to lose by staying on, he was already out of the return leg, Anthony Martial who was playing well and Jadon Sancho who has never justified his price tag but was doing alright.
Then in the sixty-second minute our would-be saviour, Erik Ten Hag, who I still believe is the right man for the job despite this monumental blunder in my eyes, made three substitutions all at once. There was no need to do this, United were holding our own and I think would have held out. Three substitutions at this stage was folly, I have always thought any changes, unless we are losing with little prospects, or injuries to players should not come before the seventy minute mark. He brought on Wout Weghorst, Anthony Elanga, whose been playing shite all season, and Christian Erikson, who was not in my view match fit and could have been brought on for the last five minutes. He took off Bruno Fernandes who had nothing to lose by staying on, he was already out of the return leg, Anthony Martial who was playing well and Jadon Sancho who has never justified his price tag but was doing alright.
Why substitute Fernandes? He was playing well enough in midfield and is always a good asset on the park? I understand the argument the players have had a lot of games played this season, not least Fernandes, but he is out next week anyway so then he gets an albeit unwanted rest. It was foolish to bring him off when we were in no position to experiment by giving Erikson much needed playing time. He could gradually get this at other occasions in the league, not in a European Quarter Final. I was fuming calling Ten Hag a “fucking idiot” which he is not, but football fans are often spur of the moment people, fickle folk we are. Then in the 81st minute he took Antony off, the man who realistically could have got us that third and, as it turned out would have been vital, third goal. He replaced Antony with Pellistri. Why? I’ll never understand that one.
With the changes made we lost a lot of momentum and the direction of the game changed accordingly. My worst fears were to be realised, fuck me, how could this happen? We had used our five subs (too many in my view), three of them prematurely, and Antony foolishly, so we had no subs left for an emergency. An emergency which came to pass when Lisandro Martinez was helped off the pitch with what looked like an ankle injury, in fairness by two Seville players. He was then put on a stretcher which does not sound great for the run in or, as some call it, the “business end of the season”. We were now down to ten men and two own goals, in the case of very unlucky Harry Maguire the ball hit the side of his head changing the direction of travel completely. It was the kind of thing which once happened in the school playground, back in the days when football was played there, the ball would hit some unsuspecting kid on the side of the head and fly off in an unintended direction. This is what happened to the luckless Maguire.
We are in trouble now for the return leg and, to be honest I cannot see us doing enough over there. I hope I’m wrong and we pull off another great European surprise like so many in the past. Come on you “red shirted heroes and fucking hammer them”, believe anything is possible, think of the tradition in Europe of Manchester United Football Club.
On Sunday 16th April United visited the City Ground, Nottingham, for an away game against lowly Forrest. Again I had that irking feeling in my gut but this time it was unfounded as we won 2-0. Both Spurs and Newcastle lost so it was imperative Man Utd won to secure that fourth or third spot. I am no lover of qualifying for the European Cup finishing fourth or third, it is not the way it should be. Imagine singing about finishing fourth? Ridiculous, fucking ridiculous, but nevertheless that is how it is and all my rantings will not change that. Better we have the fourth position in the league than Tottenham or the Geordies, our nearest two rivals. So, now cemented in third position it looks our most likely way to getting back into the European Cup next season. Goals from Antony and Dalot secured the points against Nottingham Forrest.
Stop Press
Leeds United have decided against appointing Enoch Burke as their new manager. The former schoolteacher was short listed by the Elland Road Board who then after much deliberation opted for former Watford manager, Javi Gracia. This will disappoint the lads on the Gelderd End who favoured ole Enoch, he probably reminded them in many ways of themselves. Burke may be offered the Assistant Manager position at Elland Road!!
With the changes made we lost a lot of momentum and the direction of the game changed accordingly. My worst fears were to be realised, fuck me, how could this happen? We had used our five subs (too many in my view), three of them prematurely, and Antony foolishly, so we had no subs left for an emergency. An emergency which came to pass when Lisandro Martinez was helped off the pitch with what looked like an ankle injury, in fairness by two Seville players. He was then put on a stretcher which does not sound great for the run in or, as some call it, the “business end of the season”. We were now down to ten men and two own goals, in the case of very unlucky Harry Maguire the ball hit the side of his head changing the direction of travel completely. It was the kind of thing which once happened in the school playground, back in the days when football was played there, the ball would hit some unsuspecting kid on the side of the head and fly off in an unintended direction. This is what happened to the luckless Maguire.
We are in trouble now for the return leg and, to be honest I cannot see us doing enough over there. I hope I’m wrong and we pull off another great European surprise like so many in the past. Come on you “red shirted heroes and fucking hammer them”, believe anything is possible, think of the tradition in Europe of Manchester United Football Club.
On Sunday 16th April United visited the City Ground, Nottingham, for an away game against lowly Forrest. Again I had that irking feeling in my gut but this time it was unfounded as we won 2-0. Both Spurs and Newcastle lost so it was imperative Man Utd won to secure that fourth or third spot. I am no lover of qualifying for the European Cup finishing fourth or third, it is not the way it should be. Imagine singing about finishing fourth? Ridiculous, fucking ridiculous, but nevertheless that is how it is and all my rantings will not change that. Better we have the fourth position in the league than Tottenham or the Geordies, our nearest two rivals. So, now cemented in third position it looks our most likely way to getting back into the European Cup next season. Goals from Antony and Dalot secured the points against Nottingham Forrest.
Stop Press
Leeds United have decided against appointing Enoch Burke as their new manager. The former schoolteacher was short listed by the Elland Road Board who then after much deliberation opted for former Watford manager, Javi Gracia. This will disappoint the lads on the Gelderd End who favoured ole Enoch, he probably reminded them in many ways of themselves. Burke may be offered the Assistant Manager position at Elland Road!!
🖼 Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist.
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