Game Review: United Back To Winning Ways
GAME REVIEW AS MANCHESTER UNITED BEAT SPURS IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD
-Samarth Purohit
-Editor: Mitansh Kagalwala
Tensions have been running high at Manchester United after
the Red Devils faced a humiliating 5-0 loss to their biggest rivals in
Liverpool. Fans, whom were already discontent with the manager Ole Gunnar
Solksjaer, called for him to be sacked immediately, and as a Manchester United
fan, I wholeheartedly agreed with them. The club chose to let him manage
against Spurs (possibly due to their poor form this season) and then make a
decision for the remaining matches prior to the international break (The second
UCL fixture against Atalanta, and the Manchester Derby). It was pretty much
clear to all that if United left with less than 3 points on Saturday, Ole would
be sacked.
Nuno himself has been facing a lack of support from
Tottenham fans who proclaim him to be a worse version of former manager Jose
Mourinho. Both teams had a poor run of form leading up to this match and it
seemed clear that the losing manager would lose their job, leading fans to dub
this "El Sackico".
Tactics:
Manchester United played with a 3-5-2, unlike the
4-2-3-1 that fans have come to expect from OGS. This formation proved to be the
right one, as the results would show. However, it's important to note the Red
Devils took around 30 minutes to get into their match winning form, possibly due
to them having to adjust to the new formation. After they got used to it, the
Manchester side dominated the game, as the Spurs side could not get one past
the United defence, and on the rare occasion when they did, they couldn't
convert the shot to a goal due to poor aim and David de gea's goalkeeping. The
return of Varane revitalized the Reds, as him and Aaron Wan Bissaka held the
defence firm, clearing shot after shot even in the opening minutes of the game.
AWB made a particularly impressive tackle, when Heung Min Son was played
through on goal, and looked set to score. Fernandes, Ronaldo and Cavani did
whatever could be asked of them, getting 2 goals due to their involvements.
(Fernandes had 1 assist, Cavani had a goal, ronaldo had 1 goal and an assist).
Substitutes Matic and Rashford helped cement a 3-0 victory for the Reds.
Tottenham went into this game the way United did
against Liverpool: looking helpless, as if they had already accepted defeat.
They did create their chances, but were not able to put them away. Harry Kane
was invisible, and continued his poor start to the season. The game threw Nuno’s
competence further into doubt, with little explaining his decisions to start
Ben Davies over Sergi Reguilon, and taking off Lucas Moura, who looked the most
threatening player in white.
What this means:
OGS will continue to manage Manchester United for their next
2 fixtures, including the Manchester Derby next weekend. If this is a
turnaround in form for the Norwegian manager is unknown but realistically
speaking, I believe this match showed off 1 thing OGS may not have wanted it
to: a system similar to the one managerial prospect Antonio Conte uses, with a
back 3 and a counter attacking, aggressive defence. This may persuade the board
to look into Conte as the man who could deliver a premier league title to Old
Trafford once again. However, this win pushes OGS back into the safe zone, if
only temporarily.
What should happen?
In my honest opinion, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has built the
team up to essentially a super squad, but it is clear he can go no further. I
would love to be proven wrong, but I fear the club legend has done all he can.
Ajax coach Ten Hag is the best managerial signing Manchester United could make:
he plays attractive, offensive football, is a highly tactical coach, and trusts
young academy players; in other words, he's a perfect fit for the United
philosophy. However, it is unlikely Ten Hag will leave Ajax before the end of
the season, with links to Barcelona being stronger. Another option the Glazers could
look towards is Brighton Manager Graham Potter, who has led what looked like an
average Brighton team on paper to 5th in the Premier League Table,
and Potter plays the United way as well. Further, Brendan Rodgers could be a
potential option as well, although whether or not the ex-Liverpool man would make
the switch to fierce rivals United is to be seen.
This is 1 win against a team desperately out of form. While
great for morale at old Trafford and for Man United fans, OGS seems unlikely to
be able to keep this up for his next few fixtures, the hardest ones in the
league.
In all real matters, it is the Manchester Derby which will
decide his fate. A heavy loss to Manchester City when he's already on such thin
ice, would no doubt lead to new management at Old Trafford: which let’s face
it, may not be such a bad thing for the Red Devils.
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