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Manchester United Season 2019 - 2020
- Thread starter red amoeba
- Start date
Excellent result by United!
0-0 draw in front of a sell out home crowd!
Keeps United above City by one point. Shows who is the better team in the EPL. Also keeps United in the title race.
Very likely OGS will win ManU's 21st EPL title this season. No CL distractions anymore.
0-0 draw in front of a sell out home crowd!
Keeps United above City by one point. Shows who is the better team in the EPL. Also keeps United in the title race.
Very likely OGS will win ManU's 21st EPL title this season. No CL distractions anymore.
Stalemate, and dismal display from both sides.
And, still played behind closed doors (Theatre of Dreams still shuttered)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55197158
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Manchester United displayed the "best performance we have had" in a derby during his tenure as his side played out a dismal stalemate behind closed doors against Manchester City at Old Trafford.
Indeed!
For the first time under OGS ManU didn't play counter attack. Brought the game to City.
Best performance but not necessarily best result.
OGS is a genius!
Indeed!
For the first time under OGS ManU didn't play counter attack. Brought the game to City.
Best performance but not necessarily best result.
OGS is a genius!
a draw at home and OGS is happy. Show how far we have degenerated.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/manches...rward-cavani-charged-by-fa-for-instagram-post
Cavani facing 3 game ban.
I guess all this while Suarez was right. He was not racially abusing Evra. That word in Uruguay is a friendly term.
ManU is getting some karma back.
I think ManU should not be defending Cavani. Makes it look like an admission they were wrong about Suarez.
Thank you Evra.
Cavani facing 3 game ban.
I guess all this while Suarez was right. He was not racially abusing Evra. That word in Uruguay is a friendly term.
ManU is getting some karma back.
I think ManU should not be defending Cavani. Makes it look like an admission they were wrong about Suarez.
Thank you Evra.
Another stupid mistake. Is it part of the script to concede a goal one way or another before they can play well ?
Doesnt matter. As long as get the 3 points.
Win the game in hand ManU is 2nd with 26 points 1 point above Spurs!
They need to give Dean Henderson more playing time. He will provide the stability the back 4 needs. If United don't want to use him then loan him out to any club that will play him as first choice keeper. I think DG has undermined the confidence of the back 4 over the years. He can be brilliant on occasions and yet concede the easiest of goals.
Best that OGS ask the back 4 who they think they'll comfortably play with. Upcoming games against Leeds and Leicester are the tricky ones.
Why?
He just led ManU to a good away win against Sheffield United who finished 9th last season.
And ManU is now just a game away from being outright 2nd in the EPL just 2 points behind the leaders.
This is awesome title challenging form!
Match report
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55255038
All five of Marcus Rashford's Premier League goals this season have come away from home
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55255038
All five of Marcus Rashford's Premier League goals this season have come away from home
SUN 20 DEC 2020 PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester United 16:30 Leeds United
Venue: Old Trafford
Manchester United v Leeds United
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised his side's attacking play after Thursday's win at Sheffield United
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United have no new injury concerns for the visit of Leeds United, with Edinson Cavani expected to return following a muscular injury.
David de Gea, Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw could feature after being rested against Sheffield United.
Leeds United have the same squad available as for the convincing win against Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Diego Llorente remains out, while Gaetano Berardi, Adam Forshaw and Robin Koch are long-term absentees.
Manchester United have been relatively poor at Old Trafford all season, with only one win in six home league games.
I'm backing them on Sunday, though, because Leeds can't, won't and don't change their style.
That will probably suit Manchester United, who are not used to teams coming out and attacking them. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have struggled to break down sides that just sit in, but that won't be a problem here.
Prediction: 2-1
Lawro's full predictions v singer Becky Hill
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Manchester United 16:30 Leeds United
Venue: Old Trafford
Manchester United v Leeds United
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised his side's attacking play after Thursday's win at Sheffield United
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United have no new injury concerns for the visit of Leeds United, with Edinson Cavani expected to return following a muscular injury.
David de Gea, Scott McTominay and Luke Shaw could feature after being rested against Sheffield United.
Leeds United have the same squad available as for the convincing win against Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Diego Llorente remains out, while Gaetano Berardi, Adam Forshaw and Robin Koch are long-term absentees.
- Rashford double seals comeback win
- Bielsa praises "positive" Leeds performance
- Time to plan for the new year? Fantasy football tips
Manchester United have been relatively poor at Old Trafford all season, with only one win in six home league games.
I'm backing them on Sunday, though, because Leeds can't, won't and don't change their style.
That will probably suit Manchester United, who are not used to teams coming out and attacking them. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have struggled to break down sides that just sit in, but that won't be a problem here.
Prediction: 2-1
Lawro's full predictions v singer Becky Hill
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- This game takes place on the 90th anniversary of Leeds United's biggest win against Manchester United, a 5-0 triumph at Elland Road in 1930.
- Manchester United have not lost at home to Leeds in a league fixture since 1981, winning nine and drawing six of the subsequent 15 meetings.
- This is the first league meeting between the sides since a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in February 2004.
- Leeds won their most recent away game at Old Trafford, 1-0 in the FA Cup in January 2010.
- The Red Devils have lost just one of the past 13 Premier League meetings, winning eight and drawing four.
- Manchester United have earned 16 points out of the last 18 available, winning five games and drawing the other.
- However, they have managed just one victory in six league matches at Old Trafford, scoring three goals in total.
- United could equal the club top-flight record of failing to score more than one goal in eight successive home matches, last set in 1920.
- They are in danger of losing their final league match before Christmas in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1995, when their second defeat came against Leeds at Elland Road.
- Leeds United have won only twice in seven Premier League matches, drawing one and losing four.
- Their three away wins in the Premier League this season have come by an aggregate score of 5-0. However, their three away defeats have come by an aggregate score of 5-11.
- Leeds' victory against Newcastle United last weekend was the first time in 34 attempts they have come from behind to win a Premier League game.
- Patrick Bamford's goal against Newcastle made him the all-time top scoring player in Marcelo Bielsa's managerial career, with 35 goals.
- Bamford has scored nine goals in his first 13 Premier League appearances for Leeds.
- Bielsa has beaten Manchester United twice in his managerial career, winning home and away with Athletic Club in the last 16 of the 2011-12 Europa League.
Awesome win against a very good attacking Leeds side!
The defence was amazing. And the attack was perfect!
5 point behind leaders with a game in hand!
Win the game in hand only 2 points behind leaders!
ManU is gonna win the league! Once ManY overtakes the lead it will stay there till end of the season unbeaten!
OGS is just too good.
The defence was amazing. And the attack was perfect!
5 point behind leaders with a game in hand!
Win the game in hand only 2 points behind leaders!
ManU is gonna win the league! Once ManY overtakes the lead it will stay there till end of the season unbeaten!
OGS is just too good.
Man Utd 6-2 Leeds: Confidence, momentum, quality
- why Man Utd are title contenders again - Micah Richards
Last updated on20 December 202020 December 2020.From the sectionMan Utd
I've heard people say all season that Manchester United are miles away from being a title-winning side but the league table tells a different story at the moment.
If United win their game in hand, they are in second place and only two points behind what is a brilliant Liverpool team.
They are in the race, for sure, even if some of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's critics won't want to admit it. He deserves a lot of credit for the run they are on, but he probably won't get it.
I do kind of understand why - as pundits, we go week to week sometimes just looking in detail at one particular game or performance by a team, good or bad, and you can miss the bigger picture, or the direction they are heading in.
You forget that, when you get a bit of momentum as a club, the outside noise doesn't matter.
United are second-highest scorers behind Liverpool, with 28 goals
United haven't come from nowhere. A couple of poor results in the Champions League meant they are out of that competition and that led to more criticism of Solskjaer, but in the Premier League they have been building momentum for a while now and they have climbed to third on the back of six wins and a draw in their past seven games.
They have been playing well too, and scoring lots of goals, but no-one really seems to consider Ole's part in that, or those good results.
It's put down to his players rescuing games for him, and it's only Solskjaer's fault when things go wrong and he gets the blame for being "poor" tactically.
I don't think that's fair, or reflects what has actually been happening. Solskjaer has got things absolutely spot on in plenty of big games in his time as United boss, including on Sunday against a Leeds team that have frightened a lot of opponents so far this season.
How Red Devils tore Leeds apart
I'm sure Solskjaer's selection raised a few eyebrows, with Paul Pogba on the bench, Fred and Scott McTominay in midfield and Daniel James part of the attack.
But McTominay was superb, giving them the energy and dynamism they needed in midfield, and I thought James was brilliant too. He helped provide that extra bit of pace to their attack that let them really tear Leeds apart.
Leeds are a high-energy team, who work hard and play expansive football high up the pitch. A lot of teams see those qualities and think they will just sit back and wait to hit them on the counter.
Manchester United, though, were different. They left three players up the pitch, which meant every time they got the ball they caused them lots of problems.
Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips is one of my favourite players but he was left completely exposed and totally over-run in the middle of the pitch.
The final score was 6-2 but, really, the home side could have reached double figures with the chances they had. It was a brilliant attacking performance to run away with what was a thrilling game.
They will believe anything is possible
Solskjaer has been taking a lot of stick recently, and every time he loses a game it seems like it is the worst thing ever, and it is time for him to go.
But now is the time to give him some credit. Manchester United have not truly been in touch at the top of the table at Christmas since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013, but they are this year.
That's one sign of their progress, and proof of how they are heading in the right direction after two years with Solskjaer as manager. Another is the table which shows only Liverpool and City have picked up more points since he took charge.
Manchester United have picked up 132 points from 72 games since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge in December 2018. Only Liverpool (182 points from 73 games) and Manchester City (158 from 72) have picked up more in the same period
I still don't believe they will win the title, but they won't care what anyone else thinks. They have got momentum and confidence and they will feel like anything is possible. We saw in the second half of last season that they are capable of going on a long run of good results, so they will believe in themselves.
What next? Find some consistency
'What a game of football!' - Solskjaer praises 'fantastic' Man Utd
There is still work to do of course, at both ends of the pitch.
I still feel defensively there is room for improvement because they keep giving away stupid goals, and there are times they need to think more like they did against Manchester City earlier this month, and settle for a draw rather than pouring forward looking for a win and ending up empty-handed.
That City game was widely viewed as a negative performance because they only picked up a point, but you have to remember the pressure that was on Solskjaer going into that game. They had just been knocked out of the Champions League and if he had lost to City too, there would have been more calls for him to be fired.
Another step has to be to find a way through teams who come to Old Trafford and put 11 men behind the ball, because they haven't managed it so far this season.
No other away team will play like Leeds did and, too many times before, they have been on a good run like this one then slipped up at home against opposition they should really put away.
They have the quality to do that, and to stay in the title race too, but their problem in the past is that they have not been consistent enough. That also needs to change.
Leicester will be a true test of title credentials
On the plus side, Manchester United are certainly exciting to watch and they are also a young team that might just be maturing and coming into their prime.
We might get a better idea of where they are at when they face Leicester on 26 December. That is a far bigger test of their title credentials than Leeds were.
Brendan Rodgers says his side thoroughly deserved win
Leicester are seen as a counter-attacking side, which is how they beat Manchester City at the start of the season, but in their win over Tottenham they were excellent in possession and dominated the game.
The Foxes can hurt you in lots of ways but they are most dangerous when Jamie Vardy gets behind your defence.
He is bound to cause problems and United will have to deal with his pace and quality in front of goal before they get too carried away with the thought of mounting a title challenge, even if it is long overdue.
Micah Richards was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
- why Man Utd are title contenders again - Micah Richards
Last updated on20 December 202020 December 2020.From the sectionMan Utd
I've heard people say all season that Manchester United are miles away from being a title-winning side but the league table tells a different story at the moment.
If United win their game in hand, they are in second place and only two points behind what is a brilliant Liverpool team.
They are in the race, for sure, even if some of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's critics won't want to admit it. He deserves a lot of credit for the run they are on, but he probably won't get it.
I do kind of understand why - as pundits, we go week to week sometimes just looking in detail at one particular game or performance by a team, good or bad, and you can miss the bigger picture, or the direction they are heading in.
You forget that, when you get a bit of momentum as a club, the outside noise doesn't matter.
United are second-highest scorers behind Liverpool, with 28 goals
United haven't come from nowhere. A couple of poor results in the Champions League meant they are out of that competition and that led to more criticism of Solskjaer, but in the Premier League they have been building momentum for a while now and they have climbed to third on the back of six wins and a draw in their past seven games.
They have been playing well too, and scoring lots of goals, but no-one really seems to consider Ole's part in that, or those good results.
It's put down to his players rescuing games for him, and it's only Solskjaer's fault when things go wrong and he gets the blame for being "poor" tactically.
I don't think that's fair, or reflects what has actually been happening. Solskjaer has got things absolutely spot on in plenty of big games in his time as United boss, including on Sunday against a Leeds team that have frightened a lot of opponents so far this season.
How Red Devils tore Leeds apart
I'm sure Solskjaer's selection raised a few eyebrows, with Paul Pogba on the bench, Fred and Scott McTominay in midfield and Daniel James part of the attack.
But McTominay was superb, giving them the energy and dynamism they needed in midfield, and I thought James was brilliant too. He helped provide that extra bit of pace to their attack that let them really tear Leeds apart.
Leeds are a high-energy team, who work hard and play expansive football high up the pitch. A lot of teams see those qualities and think they will just sit back and wait to hit them on the counter.
Manchester United, though, were different. They left three players up the pitch, which meant every time they got the ball they caused them lots of problems.
Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips is one of my favourite players but he was left completely exposed and totally over-run in the middle of the pitch.
The final score was 6-2 but, really, the home side could have reached double figures with the chances they had. It was a brilliant attacking performance to run away with what was a thrilling game.
They will believe anything is possible
| Man Utd at Christmas since 2013-14, and their final position | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Position | Pts off top | Final position | Final pts off top |
| 2020-21 | 3rd | 5* | ? | ? |
| 2019-20 | 8th | 24 | 3rd | 33 |
| 2018-19 | 6th | 19 | 6th | 32 |
| 2017-18 | 2nd | 13 | 2nd | 19 |
| 2016-17 | 6th | 13 | 6th | 24 |
| 2015-16 | 5th | 9 | 5th | 15 |
| 2014-15 | 3rd | 10 | 4th | 17 |
| 2013-14 | 8th | 8 | 7th | 22 |
| * with a game in hand |
But now is the time to give him some credit. Manchester United have not truly been in touch at the top of the table at Christmas since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013, but they are this year.
That's one sign of their progress, and proof of how they are heading in the right direction after two years with Solskjaer as manager. Another is the table which shows only Liverpool and City have picked up more points since he took charge.
Manchester United have picked up 132 points from 72 games since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge in December 2018. Only Liverpool (182 points from 73 games) and Manchester City (158 from 72) have picked up more in the same period
I still don't believe they will win the title, but they won't care what anyone else thinks. They have got momentum and confidence and they will feel like anything is possible. We saw in the second half of last season that they are capable of going on a long run of good results, so they will believe in themselves.
What next? Find some consistency
'What a game of football!' - Solskjaer praises 'fantastic' Man Utd
There is still work to do of course, at both ends of the pitch.
I still feel defensively there is room for improvement because they keep giving away stupid goals, and there are times they need to think more like they did against Manchester City earlier this month, and settle for a draw rather than pouring forward looking for a win and ending up empty-handed.
That City game was widely viewed as a negative performance because they only picked up a point, but you have to remember the pressure that was on Solskjaer going into that game. They had just been knocked out of the Champions League and if he had lost to City too, there would have been more calls for him to be fired.
Another step has to be to find a way through teams who come to Old Trafford and put 11 men behind the ball, because they haven't managed it so far this season.
No other away team will play like Leeds did and, too many times before, they have been on a good run like this one then slipped up at home against opposition they should really put away.
They have the quality to do that, and to stay in the title race too, but their problem in the past is that they have not been consistent enough. That also needs to change.
Leicester will be a true test of title credentials
On the plus side, Manchester United are certainly exciting to watch and they are also a young team that might just be maturing and coming into their prime.
We might get a better idea of where they are at when they face Leicester on 26 December. That is a far bigger test of their title credentials than Leeds were.
Brendan Rodgers says his side thoroughly deserved win
Leicester are seen as a counter-attacking side, which is how they beat Manchester City at the start of the season, but in their win over Tottenham they were excellent in possession and dominated the game.
The Foxes can hurt you in lots of ways but they are most dangerous when Jamie Vardy gets behind your defence.
He is bound to cause problems and United will have to deal with his pace and quality in front of goal before they get too carried away with the thought of mounting a title challenge, even if it is long overdue.
Micah Richards was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
ManU EPL results so far
ManU 1 Crystal Palace 3
Brighton 2 ManU 3
ManU 1 Spurs 6
Newcastle 1 ManU 4
ManU 0 Chelsea 0
ManU 0 Arsenal 1
Everton 1 ManU 3
ManU 1 West Brom 0
Southampton 2 ManU 3
West Ham 1 ManU 3
ManU 0 ManC 0
Sheffield Utd 2 ManU 3
ManU 6 Leeds 2
ManU 1 Crystal Palace 3
Brighton 2 ManU 3
ManU 1 Spurs 6
Newcastle 1 ManU 4
ManU 0 Chelsea 0
ManU 0 Arsenal 1
Everton 1 ManU 3
ManU 1 West Brom 0
Southampton 2 ManU 3
West Ham 1 ManU 3
ManU 0 ManC 0
Sheffield Utd 2 ManU 3
ManU 6 Leeds 2
