Sorry people, I know there’s a lot going on, but I just have to start with what could possibly be termed “the statement of the season” so far.
Following United’s collapse at Leicester, poor old Ole was straight to the point: “Lately we have not been in great form and lost too many points. Something may have to change.” Damn, is he deluded or predicting the inevitable end of the baby-face road?
Why I say “deluded” is obviously because (in a loud Shakespearian theatrical voice) it is he who must be banished from the promised land…
Don’t get me wrong, he’s a loveable chap and like the rest of us non-Red Devils, we all hope he stays.
But for the league’s second most valuable squad it just ain’t happening. It was like watching the Springboks running through a church tea party, Nemanja Matic doing his best to hold territory, before ham-head Harry Maguire, rooted to his two left tree trunks, was left to pick up the pieces.
Jamie Vardy and company looked quick, in-tune and lethal, but they’re not are they? They’ve been very average this season, but were made to look dynamic, exploiting the space and lack of energy that faced them.
As pretty much everyone had been predicting, this period of fixtures was always gonna be tough for United, but the problems started with that loss at Young Boys, who? Yeah, Young Boys.
Results have been inconsistent and with the last two in the league, 1-0 loss at home to Villa and 1-1 away draw at Everton, followed by Saturday’s destruction, the weeks ahead have been made that much more daunting.
It all kicks off this coming Sunday as Liverpool visit Old Trafford. Now we all know that you can never call this one, but on paper, form and just looking at the way they’re both playing, the Scousers should do them about 7-0.
But the fun only gets going there. They then go to Spurs, host Man City, travel to Watford, have a trip to Stamford Bridge and play Arsenal, with two Champions League ties against Villarreal in-between!
That takes us to the beginning of December. Surely, if things remain as bad as they’ve been through the recent period, Ole has to be sacked before Christmas?
Anyway, it was another three points apiece for the top three, City could have had four or five, but were otherwise clinical at home to Burnley, Liverpool were simply rampant at Watford (Mo Salah was my Fantasy League triple captain pick).
Chelsea looked slick in the first half, but were lucky to get anything at all at Brentford. It could have been a disaster had it not been for Edouard Mendy’s superhero performance.
What a keeper. AGAIN stating his case as world class, a timely follow-on from Sadio Mane’s outrage at the Senegalese giant being excluded from the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist. How is he not on it?
Back to the weekend and what a Sunday at Newcastle! It was absolute madness across the city as the first game under new management approached.
As the players walked out in front of a packed St James, the noise was incredible, the flags were flying and as if by magic, they blasted ahead after just two minutes.
They went mental, grannies, grandpas, men, women and children, some adorned in keffiyeh fancy dress… it was a monumental moment. Unfortunately, a very average Spurs side cruelly reminded them why they sit second from the bottom.
As the game progressed it just got worse as the North London side took total control. Don’t let the score fool ya’.
There’s a big job ahead for the new owners and their advisors, which is to keep them in the Premier League. Be sure, the January transfer window will be busy!
On a sidenote I was at Newlands on Saturday to watch my son (WP v Bulls, U20 semifinal) what a great feeling it was to be back in a stadium. It wasn’t open to the public, but like myself, player’s parents who had been vaccinated were allowed admission.
The more of us who get jabbed the closer we’ll find ourselves back to some kind of normality.