The Hand of Cod. Good save from Fleetwood keeper Jay Lynch. Hate those stuttering pens, though. Poor from Bruno Guimaraes. Contrast to the Fleetwood pens, calm, expert. Arsenal out. Congratulations to Fleetwood Town #CarabaoCup
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Heavy challenge by Neal on Dowman, welcome to L2 tackling, probably given as a red in PL, could have trapped Dowman’s planted leg. 16-year-old reacted, kicked Neal, sent off, can’t complain. Not a lot of sympathy from Arteta. Disappointing. Kid could have done with some support.
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Game of drones. Crazy disruption and delay. So frustrating for players and fans. Game resumes. #FLEARS
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So Michael Carrick stays for now, according to reports. Good – because he cares deeply about the Club and, whatever his limitations as a manager, Carrick is not the real problem at United. The problem patently lies in recruitment/ownership. Recruitment needs addressing with a clear-out and proper investment in players with the right character as well as the right ability (and in the right positions, starting with defence).
But the concerns are obvious. Will the players who doubt him raise their game? What will happen if they surrender again, this time at Chelsea? Will Bruno Fernandes start or remain captain? Is it also simply a case of the club playing for time while they pursue potential successors?
It seems an uneasy truce, a temporary ceasefire. Let's hope the players, whatever they think of Carrick, look in the mirror, realise they are very much part of the problem, take responsibility and fight for the cause. United players owe it to the fans. #MUFC
But the concerns are obvious. Will the players who doubt him raise their game? What will happen if they surrender again, this time at Chelsea? Will Bruno Fernandes start or remain captain? Is it also simply a case of the club playing for time while they pursue potential successors?
It seems an uneasy truce, a temporary ceasefire. Let's hope the players, whatever they think of Carrick, look in the mirror, realise they are very much part of the problem, take responsibility and fight for the cause. United players owe it to the fans. #MUFC
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Henry Winter retweeted
A lovely message from Henrik Pedersen's wife, Isabella, after his exit as Sheffield Wednesday manager. #SWFC 🦉⚽
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From dressing-room to boardroom, where have all the leaders gone at Manchester United? The leader who cares most looks history. What a mess. Column #MUFC
henrywinterfootball.substack.com/p/lights-camer…
henrywinterfootball.substack.com/p/lights-camer…
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“Congratulations Harry on a deserved Ballon D’Or!” Thomas Tuchel’s message to his #ENG captain Harry Kane. “I ran out of superlatives to describe your performances a long time ago, but I’m delighted to see that you have now been formally recognised by the football world. To become the first Englishman to win this huge honour in 25 years makes it extra special and we are lucky to have you as our leader. I know you will enjoy this moment with your loved ones and then get back to doing what you do best – scoring goals and winning football matches.” #BallonDor
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Bournemouth have just beaten AC Milan and Manchester United 3-0. But how do a club of their size keep getting it right? Good recruitment for a start, offering talents opportunity and a pathway. Brazilians help. I join the great @Tim_Vickery to discuss Rayan & Evanilson in the latest episode of Futebol & Football. Plus we look at Jose Mourinho's El Clásico victory and debate the art of captaincy as practised by Diego Maradona, Bobby Moore and others. youtu.be/vpIabLNbMuo Watch now on FC Camisa!
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Those who care most about Manchester United – the fans and Michael Carrick – are those who have been let down the most by owners and players. #MUFC Column @FourFourTwo fourfourtwo.com/team/henry-win…
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@ForestHills1903 in terms of his players kept it compact/tight, and then hit space
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When Jose Mourinho’s career was analysed and celebrated in that Netflix three-parter it felt almost a farewell to elite football, the credits rolling on a spectacular touchline show. Mourinho was filmed looking at his trophy collection, taking a walk along the beach and down memory lane, lost in his reflections. But there’s always another episode in the Mourinho show. Writing him out of the great script of modern football drama is impossible. The box office remains open.
Last night’s 2-1 victory in El Clasico at Camp Nou was classic Mourinho. He ripped up the script and tore down those headlines questioning his qualities on his return to Real. He got his tactics spot on, keeping it compact, only 37% possession and hitting on the counter. Mourinho created the perfect platform for the clinical Kylian Mbappe, had Marc Cucurella control Lamine Yamal and saw a master-class from the world-class Jude Bellingham. Mourinho even put in a vintage knee-slide. He's not won a title for 11 years (back at Chelsea) but there's always another episode in the Mourinho show. #RMCF
Last night’s 2-1 victory in El Clasico at Camp Nou was classic Mourinho. He ripped up the script and tore down those headlines questioning his qualities on his return to Real. He got his tactics spot on, keeping it compact, only 37% possession and hitting on the counter. Mourinho created the perfect platform for the clinical Kylian Mbappe, had Marc Cucurella control Lamine Yamal and saw a master-class from the world-class Jude Bellingham. Mourinho even put in a vintage knee-slide. He's not won a title for 11 years (back at Chelsea) but there's always another episode in the Mourinho show. #RMCF
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Bournemouth’s excellence should not be overlooked in all the inevitable forensic frenzy over Manchester United’s shambles. Deserved 3-0 winners at Old Trafford. 5-0 would not have flattered them. They targeted United's weaknesses - openness in midfield, lack of belief, pace and concentration at the back. Bournemouth superior in every department to United, including off the field in recruitment and general running of a club.
Bournemouth's starting XI at Old Trafford cost only £169.5m. How much is the MOTM Rayan worth now? At least double the £24m Bournemouth paid for him. Or James Hill, who cost them £1.6m. Superb today. Or Evanilson, Bournemouth’s goal machine, the king of Brazil, the No 9 who scored one of the goals of the month, and was relentless in his pursuit of the ball and pressing United’s creaking defence. Cost £31m; worth double now. At least.
Or the widely-coveted Junior Kroupi returning from injury. Cost Bournemouth £12m; already featured in £80m headlines. Smart recruitment. Good characters as well as good characters.
Good performances throughout. Again. Four wins on the spin, four clean sheets in a row, 11 goals scored. Players fitting into Marco Rose’s tweaking of the successful system he inherited; more breaking at pace through the middle as well as wing-play. Board’s appointment of Rose looking shrewd. Well-run team, well-run club 🙌 #AFCB🍒
Bournemouth's starting XI at Old Trafford cost only £169.5m. How much is the MOTM Rayan worth now? At least double the £24m Bournemouth paid for him. Or James Hill, who cost them £1.6m. Superb today. Or Evanilson, Bournemouth’s goal machine, the king of Brazil, the No 9 who scored one of the goals of the month, and was relentless in his pursuit of the ball and pressing United’s creaking defence. Cost £31m; worth double now. At least.
Or the widely-coveted Junior Kroupi returning from injury. Cost Bournemouth £12m; already featured in £80m headlines. Smart recruitment. Good characters as well as good characters.
Good performances throughout. Again. Four wins on the spin, four clean sheets in a row, 11 goals scored. Players fitting into Marco Rose’s tweaking of the successful system he inherited; more breaking at pace through the middle as well as wing-play. Board’s appointment of Rose looking shrewd. Well-run team, well-run club 🙌 #AFCB🍒
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Some thoughts on the mess at Manchester United, including the crisis of leadership throughout. The only blameless people are the fans. #MUFC
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Michael Carrick will doubtless pay the price with his job for this deserved defeat to an excellent Bournemouth side and another lifeless display by his Manchester United team. Some of his selections and tactics have been questionable, United were again so open in the centre. But Carrick was not responsible for recruiting Youri Tielemans, who lacks physicality and mobility (and Aston Villa haven’t missed him) and Andrey Santos, a Chelsea reserve.
Carrick was not responsible for the board’s damaging failure to strengthen at centre-back and left-back. Carrick was not responsible for his main striker Benjamin Sesko being injured and the board’s failure to provide him with cover. Carrick was not responsible for the club he loves being in the grip of co-owners like the Glazers whose priorities are focused more on business than the sport. The direction from the top has been negligible, arguably negligent. No real leadership. No expertise.
Carrick may be out of his depth but many United fans sang his name during the painful demise to Bournemouth because they know he cares and they know the problems lie elsewhere. The Stretford End again sang in protest at the wretched Glazers.
Noticeable that there were few songs in support of Bruno Fernandes. He is supposed to be captain, rallying the players, Footballer of the Year, Player of the Year, not arm-waver of the year, underachieving and complaining. Yet Bruno will be at United longer than Carrick.
Carrick was praised for United finishing third last season and getting in the Champions League. But he will doubtless go partly for his own failings and mainly the failings of others. And United will be trapped in this doom loop again. And again until the core problems are addressed in the boardroom - and the Glazers sell up - and flaws in the recruitment department. #MUFC #MUNBOU
Carrick was not responsible for the board’s damaging failure to strengthen at centre-back and left-back. Carrick was not responsible for his main striker Benjamin Sesko being injured and the board’s failure to provide him with cover. Carrick was not responsible for the club he loves being in the grip of co-owners like the Glazers whose priorities are focused more on business than the sport. The direction from the top has been negligible, arguably negligent. No real leadership. No expertise.
Carrick may be out of his depth but many United fans sang his name during the painful demise to Bournemouth because they know he cares and they know the problems lie elsewhere. The Stretford End again sang in protest at the wretched Glazers.
Noticeable that there were few songs in support of Bruno Fernandes. He is supposed to be captain, rallying the players, Footballer of the Year, Player of the Year, not arm-waver of the year, underachieving and complaining. Yet Bruno will be at United longer than Carrick.
Carrick was praised for United finishing third last season and getting in the Champions League. But he will doubtless go partly for his own failings and mainly the failings of others. And United will be trapped in this doom loop again. And again until the core problems are addressed in the boardroom - and the Glazers sell up - and flaws in the recruitment department. #MUFC #MUNBOU
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Elite finish, schoolboy defending. Bournemouth superb, clinical, and showing all the belief and enterprise that Manchester United so painfully lack. #MUFC
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@_ShuBhamCFC Simply highlighting that the problem runs deeper than Carrick. Owners, recruitment, some players.
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Heaven and hell for Manchester United. Poor challenge from Ayden Heaven, gifting Bournemouth that free-kick opportunity. Then poor marking by United on Rayan. Good finish. Now Yoro slips, Tavernier pounces 2-0 Bournemouth. Nightmare for Carrick #MUNBOU
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