Red Devils 2017-2018

[yinyang]

Manchester United v Leicester City

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40984017

Romelu Lukaku could become the first player to score in his first three Premier League appearances for Manchester United

TEAM NEWS
Manchester United may be unchanged as they chase a third consecutive win.
Anthony Martial will hope to start after scoring as a substitute in each of the last two games.
Wes Morgan and Jamie Vardy could both be fit to start for Leicester despite suffering respective back and foot injuries against Brighton.
But defender Harry Maguire is a slight doubt, having reported a knee problem following Tuesday's 4-1 win away to Sheffield United.
Danny Drinkwater, Papy Mendy and Kelechi Iheanacho have trained despite recent injuries but the Foxes will be cautious with the latter's toe problem.
Vicente Iborra and Robert Huth are both ruled out.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Martin Fisher: "Six points, eight goals scored and none conceded. It's been an excellent start by Manchester United, displaying the ruthless efficiency associated with all of Jose Mourinho's champions allied to that swagger of old so important to this club, of all clubs.
"Obviously it's far too early to confidently predict a 14th Premier League title - after all they won their first three games last season and we all know what happened then.
"However, it's already clear that United will present a strong challenge.
"Keeping buddies Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba quiet will be the most pressing concern for Leicester City. What a challenge for Harry Maguire as he celebrates his England call-up.
"Offensively, the Foxes will pose more of a threat than either Swansea or West Ham but such is the overall quality in this United side that I expect them to still be top with their 100% record intact come Saturday night."
Twitter: @martfisher1

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Zlatan Ibrahimovic's new contract: "It shows two things for me: it shows me the dimension of the player and the club.
"The player, it would be very easy for him to say goodbye... He doesn't do that. He wants to follow his other dreams and play at the highest level.
"And a club like Man United has to show how big it is in details... a player that gets injured with the Man United shirt, fighting for Man United. The club has to be there for him and I'm really happy with club and player."
Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare on the futures of Danny Drinkwater and Riyad Mahrez: "The speculation will be there on all our players.
"There have been a couple more added overnight.
"The speculation is always there and I am sure we will deal with that until the window closes."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION
I think the red half of Manchester have decided they have already won the league but all it is so far is a very good start. They do look major contenders though.
Prediction: 3-1

Lawro's full predictions v Hollywood actor Channing Tatum

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Manchester United have lost two of their 22 league games against Leicester.
• The Foxes' only Premier League win at Old Trafford was a 1-0 victory in February 1998 when Tony Cottee scored the solitary goal.

Manchester United

• The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 30 home games in all competitions (W19, D11), their longest run since a 37-game streak between 2010 and 2011.
• Manchester United could win three consecutive league games by at least a four-goal margin for the first time since October 1907 (when they recorded 4-0, 6-1 and 5-1 victories).
• They have won their opening three Premier League fixtures on five previous occasions - but only once did they go on to win the title (in 2006-07).
• United could keep five consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since a run of six in a row from February to March 2013.
• Romelu Lukaku could become the first player to score in his first three Premier League appearances for Manchester United.
• Henrikh Mkhitaryan registered just one Premier League assist last season but has already created four goals in just two games in the current campaign.
• Mkhitaryan could become the first player in Premier League history to assist two goals in three consecutive games.

Leicester City

• Leicester have scored in all but one of their 15 Premier League matches under Craig Shakespeare, with Jamie Vardy netting in eight of those games.
• Since Shakespeare took charge of his first Premier League game in February, matches involving Leicester City have produced more goals than any other top-flight side - 53 in total (29 scored, 24 conceded).
• Shinji Okazaki could score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in his career. Each of his last two goals have been scored within the first five minutes of games.

[TABLE="class: sp-story-body__table, width: 564"]
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[TH="colspan: 2, align: left"]SAM's verdict[/TH]
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[TABLE="class: sp-story-body__table, width: 564"]
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[TH="colspan: 2, align: left"][/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Most probable score: 2-0[/TD]
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[TABLE="class: sp-story-body__table, width: 564"]
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[TD][/TD]
[TD]Probability of draw: 14%[/TD]
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[TR]
[TD]Probability of home win: 79%[/TD]
[TD]Probability of away win: 7%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale

 

[yinyang]

Manchester United 2-0 Leicester City

By Saj Chowdhury
BBC Sport

Marcus Rashford produced a great finish to lift the home support inside Old Trafford. Substitutes Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini both scored as Manchester United overcame a resolute Leicester to strengthen their position at the top of the Premier League.

Jose Mourinho's side had applied incessant pressure on the Foxes from kick-off, and Romelu Lukaku missed a second-half penalty prior to the goals, as they found it difficult to break the steadfast backline.

"I think we frustrated them for large parts of the game"Leicester manager Craig ShakespeareThey finally breached the last line of defence when Rashford converted Henrikh Mkhitaryan's corner three minutes after coming on. And then midfielder Fellaini stuck out his knee to divert fellow substitute Jesse Lingard's drive past Kasper Schmeichel.
United are the only side to have won all three of their opening league games this season and have yet to concede a goal.

Change in tactics works for Mourinho
Jose Mourinho's Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 31 games at Old TraffordUnited peppered the opposition area with crosses in the first half, but aside from a Paul Pogba strike that drifted narrowly wide, the threat from the wings was comfortably dealt with by the Foxes' defensive giants Wes Morgan and Harry Maguire.

There was a shift in manager Mourinho's thinking in the second half as his side began to breach the 18-yard area with shorter balls from a more central position.

That probing should have resulted in the opening goal. Leicester were once again on the back foot in their area before Anthony Martial struck a shot that came off Danny Simpson's arm. Referee Michael Oliver declared it to be deliberate handball.

Lukaku stepped up to the spot, but his hopes of a fourth league goal this season were thwarted by Schmeichel's dive to the right. Leicester continued to come under pressure and eventually succumbed when Rashford's instinctive shot flew past the Dane in goal in the 70th minute.

Holes now began to appear in Leicester's previously watertight defence as they went looking for an equaliser.
United capitalised again as substitute Lingard's low drive was diverted into the net by Fellaini, although replays suggested the Belgian was fractionally offside.

Foxes lacked bite

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy has been linked with a move to ChelseaLeicester manager Craig Shakespeare should not be too despondent.

His side's valiant defensive display was reminiscent of those during the Premier League-winning campaign two seasons ago. It was at the other end that his men disappointed.

At Old Trafford, both Jamie Vardy - the Foxes' star striker of 2015-16 - and Shinji Okazaki were ineffective, while Riyad Mahrez teased the United defence without an end product.
Vardy was withdrawn with 15 minutes left, to be replaced by Islam Slimani.
The closest Leicester came to scoring was when substitute Andy King forced a brilliant point-blank save from David de Gea in the final few seconds of the match.

Man of the match - Harry Maguire (Leicester)

It is not often you make a player on the losing side your man of the match, but Harry Maguire was exceptional at the back for Leicester. The man mountain made 10 clearances and four interceptions during the game to frustrate United.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on winning the first three matches: "We can look into perspective. Last season we won against Leicester at home so that doesn't make a difference, but we had too many draws at home last season.
"The difference is the quality of our football, we're playing better today. If we hadn't won this match I wouldn't have anyone to blame.

The team is playing very well and I'm very confident. We are comfortable on the ball and dangerous on the counter-attack. But nine points after three matches is nothing different for us, because we did that last season.

Shakespeare vows to work on Leicester defendingLeicester boss Craig Shakespeare: "I think we frustrated them for large parts of the game. When you come to Old Trafford in the form they are in, they will have big moments. We had our moments too, but could not see the game through.
"Set-pieces are our Achilles heel at the moment. We need to organise better.
"It was a harsh penalty, but a great save form Schmeichel. To go 1-0 down, it knocked a bit of spirit from us. I'm disappointed in the overall result, but we were nice and solid for large parts.
"You have to be disciplined; you know what the opposition's strengths are. We tried to attack in the second half.
"Maguire was carrying a knock but was desperate to play - he was solid."

New Man Utd penalty taker needed?

• Manchester United have kept a clean sheet in their opening three league games of a season for the sixth time in their history and fourth in the Premier League era.
• However, the Red Devils failed to win the title in those previous five campaigns (1927-28, 1991-92, 1997-98, 2005-06, and 2015-16).
• Manchester United will spend their 14th night at the top of the Premier League table in 2017-18 - the same number as in 2015-16 and 2016-17 combined (14).
• Henrikh Mkhitaryan equalled the Premier League record for most assists in his first three apps in a season (five by Ruel Fox in 1994-95).
• Romelu Lukaku has missed two of his last three penalties taken in the Premier League.
• Seven of Marcus Rashford's 11 Premier League goals have come at Old Trafford (64%).

What's next?
United are at Stoke on Saturday, 9 September (17:30 BST) when the Premier League resumes after the international break. Leicester are at home to Chelsea on the same day (15:00 BST).

 

[Gallego99]

Pool vs Arse is a classic example of how you can get it so wrong with 3 CDs at the back. I'm truly amazed that Wenger opted for that and paid dearly. Pool has good transition play with the speedy Mane and Salah a constant threat. Playing 3 CDs would mean you'll have to press high up with a DM(s) sitting just above the back 3. IMO, Arse didn't have the players nor do the players understand their roles in such a formation.
Once you get it wrong, you'll concede plenty. That's the risk of playing 3 at the back. If you get it right, it will be 'airtight' and solid. Just hope United sticks with winning formula for now and use it only against 'weaker' opponents.

 

[yinyang]

Fixtures for Sept

Saturday 9th September 2017

PREMIER LEAGUE
Stoke City
17:30
Manchester United

Tuesday 12th September 2017

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GROUP A
Manchester United
19:45
FC Basel

Sunday 17th September 2017

PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester United
16:00
Everton

Wednesday 20th September 2017

EFL CUP
Manchester United
20:00
Burton Albion

 

[yinyang]

Class of '92 "have sights fixed on owning Manchester United"
- Old Trafford legends tipped to replace Glazers

[FONT=&amp]They currently own Salford City but are tipped to take charge at Old Trafford
- with David Beckham joining them[/FONT][FONT=&amp]
[/FONT]
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/class-of-92-manchester-united-11101101[FONT=&amp]

[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]

Is returning to Manchester United the long game for the Class of '92?

he rebel Red who became an architect of the breakaway club founded when Malcolm Glazer
bought Manchester United insists Sir Alex Ferguson could have halted the American takeover.
In fact, John-Paul O’Neill believes that the most successful manager in United’s history damaged
his own glorious legacy by failing to do so.

12 years on – and with FC United of Manchester now established as the largest fan-owned football club in the country – O’Neill concedes that the fight to rid Old Trafford of the Glazer family has long been lost.
But he also reckons United’s next owners will come from a lot closer to home.

“I honestly think that the Class of ’92 have got their sights fixed on owning United one day,”
said O’Neill, who has written a book detailing the rise, fall and resurrection of FC United.[/FONT]

CLICK TO​

​

[FONT=&amp]

Manchester United's future owners. believes O'Neill. During that same era, the Glazers have taken more than £1billion out of Old Trafford and plunged the club he loves into £536million of debt.

“I am sure they would deny it at the moment – but it really does make sense when you put all the pieces together.
“The Neville brothers, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have taken over a small non-league club in Salford City and are now finding out what it is like to run a football club from a practical point of view.

“Why? Is Salford City really the summit of their ambitions as football club owners?
“They are obviously on a much smaller scale than United, but going in at that level is giving the Class of ’92
a really practical education in football club ownership.

Beckham has been looking into ownership in MLS - he could also come on board

“I’m sure David Beckham will also get on-board with it at some point.
“And when you look closely you will see they have got some huge financial backers.
“Most people are aware that Valencia owner Peter Lim has invested heavily in Salford City.
“But Lim is small-time compared to some of the Chinese investors who have been helping Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs buy up huge swathes of Manchester city centre for redevelopment.

The group can get themselves big backing


Gary Neville has made clear he doesn't see himself heading back to management (Image: Getty)“Even if Manchester United are now worth between £2-3bn, I don’t think buying the club would be a problem for the kind of investors that they are now doing business with.
“Gary Neville said, when he went into coaching at Valencia, that he didn’t see his long-term future in football management. And, even though he would never admit it, I think that, deep down, becoming the owner of United would really appeal to him and the rest of the Class of ’92.”
The Glazers’ £790m leveraged takeover of United in the summer of 2005 mobilised the more militant sections of the Old Trafford support.
And when O’Neill, who was editor of the influential fanzine Red Issue, came up with the idea of forming a breakaway club, FC United of Manchester was born.

Owner Joel Glazer and Executive Vice Chairman and Director Ed Woodward

Many hardcore United fans feel that the Glazers’ business plan for the club hinged on Ferguson remaining as manager.

O’Neill agrees. He said: “Alex Ferguson could have stopped the Glazers in their tracks.
“Surely he would have known that the loans they were going to take out to buy the club hinged on him staying on as manager.“He could have pulled the plug on the Glazers’ takeover. Instead, he said nothing.

Red Rebels is an insider account of the founding of FC United. It is out on September 21“Some United fans try to excuse him by saying, ‘Fergie was just an employee’. But Alex Ferguson was the lord of Old Trafford. He wasn’t just another football manager.

“There’s no question that Fergie was a genius, a trophy-winning machine. But for those fans who didn’t want the Glazers in 2005, his legacy is forever tarnished.
“After the way he stood aside to let the Glazer family in, I don’t think he will ever be remembered with the same kind of affection as Matt Busby.”

[/FONT]Red Rebels by John-Paul O’Neill is an insider account of the founding of FC United. It is out on September 21[FONT=&amp]


[/FONT]

 

[yinyang]

Antoine Griezmann: Man Utd can now afford Atletico Madrid striker as release clause drops

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN’s release clause has been lowered to £92million in a massive boost for Manchester United.

Griezmann signed a new contract at Atletico earlier this year with a £184m (€200m) release clause inserted.
The clause was set so high in order to deter suitors such as Manchester United, who pushed to sign Griezmann in the summer.

Atletico were wary of losing Griezmann as a transfer ban on the club meant they couldn’t sign a replacement.
But with the ban due to be lifted in the New Year Griezmann’s clause has now been halved.
And that means he is once again affordable for suitors United.

GETTY
Manchester United couldn't sign Antoine Griezmann last summer

GETTY
Antoine Griezmann's (right) release clause has now dropped to £92m

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo claim the new clause kicked into effect once the summer transfer window closed.It means the France international, who is expected to play at the World Cup in Russia this summer, could move for a relative cut-price fee at the end of the season.

A £92m move before this summer would have broken the world transfer record set by United when the bought Paul Pogba from Juventus for £89m in 2016.But the past two months have seen three transfers - Neymar to PSG, Ousmane Dembele to Barcelona and Kylian Mbappe to PSG (initially on loan) - shatter Pogba’s transfer record.

Arsenal launched a £92m bid for Thomas Lemar on deadline day, while Barcelona went as high as £138m in an effort to sign Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho.A £92m fee for Griezmann, therefore, is not insurmountable and Mundo Deportivo claim a fresh transfer saga will unravel next summer.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/849452/Antoine-Griezmann-Man-Utd-release-clause-Atletico-Madrid-transfer-news

 

[Gallego99]

]Many hardcore United fans feel that the Glazers’ business plan for the club hinged on Ferguson remaining as manager.

O’Neill agrees. He said: “Alex Ferguson could have stopped the Glazers in their tracks.
“Surely he would have known that the loans they were going to take out to buy the club hinged on him staying on as manager.“He could have pulled the plug on the Glazers’ takeover. Instead, he said nothing.

That's a load of bollocks! The Glazers would have replaced Ferguson with another high profile heavyweight had Ferguson walk out. Put it simply, Ferguson could not have stopped the Glazers from acquiring and privatising Man U PLC. I find this hard to believe coming from someone who is a banker himself and presumably understands how the financial market works.

Magnier and Mcmanus sold off their shares to the Glazers that triggered the mandatory takeover after it exceeded the 30% threshold and if I recall correctly this was after the bitter feud between Ferguson and Magnier over a race horse named the Rock of Gibraltar.

Had Ferguson walked out, it would leave the club in turmoil for a period and he would never have achieved his mission of overhauling the scousers in the EPL honours. That was his holygrail. Well, the rest as they say is history.

I believe the Chinese will likely come on board at some stage but I'm not hopeful that the class of 92 will play any part in it.

 

[Gallego99]

Pochettino reveals ‘long chat’ with bad boy Aurier

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino claims that Serge Aurier knows the standards he is expected to attain at the club after several controversial incidents in Paris.

Aurier was convicted of assaulting a police officer outside a nightclub, while he famously called former PSG boss Laurent Blanc a “f****t”.

Doubts have been raised about Aurier’s signing by some concerned Tottenham fans but Pochettino claims he trusts the Ivory Coast defender.

“I’m the first to make mistakes in my life. It’s important people give the opportunity to show that you learn,” said Pochettino.

“We had a long chat. He knows very well how we are, what we expect. It’s so important, not only him, every player, how they behave.

“When you know and you meet some people, always you start to assess him from the day you meet them, and for me we start from now.”

Pochettino was also asked questions about Dele Alli’s middle-finger gesture while on England duty and insisted:.................................................

http://www.football365.com/news/pochettino-reveals-long-chat-with-bad-boy-aurier

My guess is the scouts came back with a less than glowing report which was the reason why Man U did not make a bid. He's trouble with a capital T. Sold for just 23 million pounds. Well, he's now Pochettino's problem.

 

[Gallego99]

Manchester clubs voted against Prem's earlier transfer deadline - source

Manchester United and Manchester City were among five clubs who voted against the Premier League's plans to move up the transfer deadline, a source has confirmed to ESPN FC.

The league announced on Thursday that the 20 clubs voted to close the summer transfer window before the first game of next season.

But a source confirmed that the Manchester clubs, as well as Swansea, Crystal Palace and Watford were not in favour of the change, while Burnley abstained. Details of the voting were earlier reported by Sky Sports............................................

http://www.espnfcasia.com/english-premier-league/story/3198600/manchester-clubs-among-five-who-voted-against-earlier-transfer-deadline-source

 

[Gallego99]

A unilateral change in transfer deadline will only benefit other European leagues especially those with deep pockets. The English FA cannot do it alone. UEFA should should step in and harmonize the rules across Europe.

In the meantime where clubs are concerned, perhaps removing or omitting release clauses would be the best way to protect their assets. It may not be the panacea to insulate interest that will unsettle players but its a start. Second, they ought to regulate third party interest such as the agents or owners as these are the people more often than not are the ones that peddle their stocks to clubs across Europe and Asia for a quick buck.
Last but not least, bin the farcical FFP rules.:oIo:

 

[yinyang]

How tonight?

TEAM NEWS

Stoke's £18m arrival Kevin Wimmer could make his debut following a back injury sustained by Ryan Shawcross.
Maxim Choupo-Moting will be assessed but Stoke's other players returning from international duty are available.
Marcus Rashford is pushing for a Manchester United recall after his match-winning exploits for England.
Left-back Luke Shaw is nearing a first-team return after five months out, but Ashley Young has reportedly been told he can leave

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Steve Wilson: "What do the following clubs have in common: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Stoke?
"They are the only current Premier League clubs who can boast 10 consecutive years in the top flight.
"That's no mean achievement for Stoke, whose development as a club has been overseen carefully and wisely by chairman Peter Coates.
"Manchester United are reacquainting themselves with the feeling of being at the very top of the top flight.
"They have maximum points from their opening three league games without conceding a goal, and there are signs their old swagger is returning too."
Twitter: @

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Stoke manager Mark Hughes on his former club Manchester United: "Of all the teams they are clearly at the top of the pile.
"Their performances and the way they've gone about their business has been impressive.
"We had a similar situation last year with Man City, who were not able to sustain it.
"But the make-up of the Man United squad is very strong and they're playing in a way that their fans will take to and enjoy.
"Hopefully there are still things for us to exploit."
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Andreas Pereira's loan move to Valencia: "Andreas Pereira was a personal decision - a decision that I don't agree with.
"A decision that, honestly, I don't think in this moment is the best decision for him.
"(It is) a decision that disappoints me a little bit because I think he has the potential to be here fighting for a position, fighting for opportunities and fighting to be a Manchester United player."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION
Manchester United have not won at Stoke in four league visits since Sir Alex Ferguson left as manager in 2013, but I think they are well equipped to put that poor record right on Saturday.
Prediction: 0-2
Lawro's full predictions v BBC NFL Show analysts Osi Umenyiora and Jason Bell

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Manchester United have only won three of their past eight Premier League games against Stoke, having won nine of the first 10.
• However, the Potters have only two wins against the Red Devils in 20 fixtures in all competitions, losing 14.
• Stoke have lost this fixture 12 times in the Premier League. They only have a worse record against Chelsea, with 13 defeats.
• The two sides could draw three consecutive top-flight meetings for the first time since 1970.

Stoke City

• Stoke have only managed three wins in their last 14 league matches.
• They could win their opening two Premier League home fixtures for just the second time.
• Mark Hughes is the only manager to win more than two league home games against Jose Mourinho.
• The Potters were winless last season in their 12 league games against the teams that finished in the top six, They have already beaten Arsenal this campaign.
• Saido Berahino has not scored in the Premier League for more than 30 hours since his goal for West Brom against Crystal Palace on 27 February 2016.

Manchester United

• On Saturday, United will have spent 27 days at the top of the table this season - 11 more than in the last four campaigns combined.
• They are the only side in the division to have a 100% winning record.
• Jose Mourinho has gone on to win the Premier League title in all three previous seasons in which his side opened with four wins. Chelsea did so in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2014-15.
• Henrikh Mkhitaryan has five assists in the opening three Premier League games, equalling the record set by Ruel Fox in 1994-95.
• Romelu Lukaku has scored 16 goals in his last 18 league matches.

[TABLE="class: sp-story-body__table, width: 564"]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 2"]SAM's verdict[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Most probable score: 0-1[/TD]
[TD]Probability of draw: 21%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Probability of home win: 14%[/TD]
[TD]Probability of away win: 65%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[red amoeba]

Maybe Mourinho is right, the international break really takes a toil in the players. darmian was too slow for the first goal although he atoned by winning the ball en route to the second goal.

Phil jones should be dropped, what the fuck he was doing defending the corner ? Choupa was the main man and he should be shackles and he just crumpled at the challenge. If I am de Gea I Super dulan with him, conceding after making a super save.

 

[yinyang]

Phil jones should be dropped, what the fuck he was doing defending the corner ? Choupa was the main man and he should be shackles and he just crumpled at the challenge. If I am de Gea I Super dulan with him, conceding after making a super save.

Kns, Jones gave away a free header with his fallling over. Just when I was tempted to turn in with 1-2 victory.

1st Stoke goal was a good 1. Host team was gritty, and gave everything. So deservedly went away with a point

 

[Gallego99]

'Mourinho declared Stoke defensive and claimed United had needed injured midfielder Marouane Fellaini with the clear implication that Stoke relied on a physical approach.'

Read more at http://www.tribalfootball.com/artic...long-ball-man-utd-4198639#QjrpJ0WUqmDTY10K.99

************************************************************************************

The kind of excuses and BS of this man is unlimited. He probably discovered that Choupo-Moting was a lot taller than Jones only after the player equalized. Why Fellaini when you have Smalling sitting on the bench. I would have thot Smalling would be preferred ahead of Jones given the sheer height of their number 10.

 

[red amoeba]

finally CL action and a 2-0 win would represent a good start to kick things off.
Lindelof should prove he is good enough to condemn clumsy Jones to the bench henceforth.

Expect Mourniho to be cautious - i.e. playing 2 DMs and be cautious.

 

[yinyang]

3-0
BBC Sport

Marouane Fellaini scored his second goal of the season for Manchester United

Manchester United made a winning return to the Champions League with a deserved home victory over Swiss side Basel.
Marouane Fellaini, who came on for the injured Paul Pogba in the first half, rose highest to head United ahead from an Ashley Young cross with 10 minutes to go to the break.

Romelu Lukaku strengthened their grip on the encounter by converting from among a group of players in the box from a Daley Blind cross following a short corner.
Marcus Rashford fired in his side's third from a Fellaini low cross seven minutes after coming on. The striker has now scored in his first appearance in the Champions League, Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup, League Cup and for England.

The scoreline could have been even greater for Jose Mourinho's dominant side, making their first appearance in Europe's premier club competition since 2015, having qualified by winning the Europa League in May.
They created numerous clear-cut chances, the best of which Henrikh Mkhitaryan side-footed against the post from close range after being found by a Lukaku cut-back.

Basel were pinned back in their own half for much of the game but could have forced a different outcome had Luca Zuffi not fired wide from an unmarked position in the box just before Fellaini's opener.
Mohamed Elyounoussi also forced David De Gea into a fine save with a rising shot from inside the box as the visitors became more ambitious in the final quarter of the match.

In the other game in Group A, CSKA Moscow beat Benfica 2-1 in Portugal.

• 'I don't like flick and tricks' - Mourinho unhappy with 'Playstation football'
• Relive Tuesday's Champions League matches

Fellaini proves his worth again
Before the game, United boss Jose Mourinho told reporters that he felt "weaker" without Fellaini in his squad.
The manager would rather not have had to call on him quite so early, with the Belgium midfielder coming on just 19 minutes in after Pogba suffered a hamstring injury.

It is a testament to Fellaini's display that United did not break stride following the loss of the in-form France international.
Fellaini was strong and accurate in the tackle, neat with his passing and once again illustrated his aerial prowess with the opener.
After starting the ball rolling for his side, he turned provider late on with an incisive pull-back to set Rashford up for the third goal.
Depending on the severity of Pogba's injury, United may need Fellaini now more than ever.

Another first for Rashford
The average positions of the players during Tuesday's game give an indication of the home side's dominance. Basel (right) have just two players in Manchester United's halfRashford is making it impossible for Mourinho to leave him out of the United side.
Having started three of his side's four Premier League matches to date this season, the England forward was left out to allow Anthony Martial a turn from the start.
Shortly after being introduced, he once again demonstrated his awareness of an impending opportunity and ability to locate space in which to capitalise, darting into the box to dispatch Fellaini's cross.

His connection wasn't the truest, but it was enough to carry the ball past Tomas Vaclik.
It was his third goal of the campaign, the third game in succession in which he has scored and another debut goal to further underline his status as one of the most natural finishers in the English game.

Man of the match - Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United)

He didn't start the game but he had the biggest impact on it, scoring one and making another

United unbeaten at home in a year - the key stats

• Manchester United are unbeaten in 32 successive home games in all competitions (W21 D11 L0) and have not lost at Old Trafford for a year, since 10 September 2016. This is their best unbeaten home run since October 2011 (37 games).
• Marouane Fellaini's goal was the 100th scored by a Belgian player in the Champions League (excluding own goals).
• His strike was also his 50th in English club football (33 for Everton, 17 for Man Utd).
• Fellaini's goal was the earliest by a substitute for Manchester United in the Champions League since Ryan Giggs on 25 February 2003 against Juventus, which came after 15 minutes.
• Romelu Lukaku became the 13th player to score on their Champions League debut for Manchester United.
• This was the first time that two Belgians have scored for the same team in a Champions League game since 23 October 2002 (Club Brugge v Galatasaray).
• Marcus Rashford is the fourth English teenager to score a Champions League goal for Manchester United after David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Phil Jones.

 

[red amoeba]

It will be interesting to see how Man U cope without Pogba. And to see if he is really that a vital cog.

Herrra could fit in that slot and have his five minutes of fame.

 

[yinyang]

Tonight how? Think it's not going to be a straight roll-over, with Everton looking to end their no-victory streak. But then, it's OT :p

Manchester United v Everton

Romelu Lukaku faces former club Everton for the first time since joining Manchester United

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United will start a Premier League game without Paul Pogba for the first time this season after he was sidelined for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.

Ander Herrera could come into midfield, while Luke Shaw is also available.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman has no new injury concerns but may make changes following consecutive defeats.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin could return to partner Wayne Rooney in attack, while Ademola Lookman is also in contention.

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on Wayne Rooney's return to Old Trafford: "I think he will get a welcome he deserves.
"Sometimes in England the word legend comes too easy. Not in this case. Trophies, goals, one of the most important players at Man United.
"The stadium will show him the respect he deserves."

Everton manager Ronald Koeman: "You can always complain about young talents of 18, 19 years old but I think it's the time for the experienced players to stand up.
"I'm worried with what I saw on Thursday [against Atalanta].
"I wasn't so worried after Chelsea, it started with the reaction in the second half against Tottenham - that 45 minutes and the first 45 minutes on Thursday, I think there are enough reasons to be worried."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

I am sure Everton forward Wayne Rooney will get a warm reception on his return to Old Trafford, but I don't see him having much to smile about in terms of the result.
Prediction: 2-0

Lawro's full predictions v former triathlon world champion Non Stanford

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Manchester United have won 18 and lost just one of their last 24 Premier League home games against Everton.
• The Toffees' record of 33 defeats in this fixture is their worst against a Premier League rival.
• United could equal the Premier League record of wins against a single opponent, matching their 34 victories against Aston Villa.
• Both matches last season finished 1-1. There has never been three straight draws between the sides in the Premier League.

Manchester United

• United are unbeaten in 32 home matches in all competitions, winning 21.
• They could win their opening three home league matches for the first time since 2011-12.
• Jose Mourinho's three Premier League titles all came after four opening wins - United drew against Stoke in their fourth game last time out.
• If Romelu Lukaku scores he will become the fourth youngest striker to reach 90 goals in the Premier League, after Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler.
• Two Lukaku goals against Everton would make him the first United player to score six times in his opening five Premier League appearances for the club.
• Henrikh Mkhitaryan has made a league-high five assists this season - no one else managed more than two prior to the latest round of matches.

Everton

• Everton have only mustered seven goal attempts on target this season, the worst tally in the division.
• They have only won one Premier League away match in 2017.
• The Toffees could remain winless in 11 league matches on the road for the first time in 13 years.
• Ronald Koeman has gone five games unbeaten against Jose Mourinho, the Manchester United manager's longest winless run against any opponent.
• Koeman could become only the third manager after Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone to win multiple away matches versus Mourinho.
• Wayne Rooney is Manchester United's all-time leading scorer in all competitions with 253 goals.
• Rooney lost all four appearances and failed to score against United during his first spell at Everton.
  
  

[TABLE="class: sp-story-body__table, width: 564"]
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[TH="colspan: 2, align: left"]SAM's verdict[/TH]
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[TD]Most probable score: 2-0[/TD]
[TD]Probability of draw: 17%[/TD]
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[TD]Probability of home win: 75%[/TD]
[TD]Probability of away win: 8%[/TD]
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SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale at the University of Liverpool that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41216714

 

[yinyang]

[FONT=&amp]United's late surge seals victory against out of sorts Everton

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Five things we learned as United labour to beat Everton[/FONT][FONT=&amp]

Manchester United made the most of a bad weekend for other Premier League title contenders

Manchester United capitalised on a weekend which saw four members of the ‘Big Six’ drop points as they clinched a 4-0 win over Everton thanks to a thunderous effort from Antonio Valencia and a late treble from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Romelu Lukaku and Romelu Lukaku.

The game was also the return to Old Trafford of Wayne Rooney while Lukaku similarly faced his old side – and both men were guilty of missing chances to punish their former employers before the latter struck.

Here are five things we learned from the game…

Left-back still an issue
Another week, another name filling the left-back position on Jose Mourinho’s teamsheet. We’ve had Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian so far, with Luke Shaw surely set to feature there when he is back from injury too, and on Sunday it was the turn of Ashley Young.
He did well, especially on the front foot, but a 32-year-old winger is not going to be the answer to United’s left-back conundrum. Mourinho clearly does not rate Shaw and has never fully trusted him in the 15 months he has been at Old Trafford. It was a desire but not a priority in the summer but be sure a full-back will be top of the Portuguese’s wishlist come January and the end of the season.

Young is the third different left-back already this season (Getty)

Lukaku must improve
Manchester United were guilty of throwing away too many points against smaller teams at home last season on the way to accumulating 15 draws – and part of that problem was the number of chances missed. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was perhaps the one most guilty of this wastefulness but in Romelu Lukaku United looked to have signed a player who thrives on bullying these types of teams.

Romelu Lukaku must improve despite scoring again (Getty)

However, he, like Ibrahimovic, and in spite of the seven goals he has scored already (after his strike against Everton), is incredibly wasteful in from of goal. He missed a fine chance to double United’s lead in the first half against his former team and takes more than one chance to find the back of the net. He cost United three points against Stoke with a miss and it could turn into another season of the same of story unless he becomes more efficient in the tight games where his chances aren't as regular as they are in other matches.

Rooney’s return
Rooney’s Old Trafford return began with cheers from the United fans when he got off the team coach and could have ended with a goal or two, as he offered the only real attacking threat for Everton. He had the visitor’s only real chance of the first half when he dragged his right-footed shot wide of David De Gea’s right-hand post before forcing a fine stop from the Spaniard with his feet in the second.

Rooney had two chances to score against his old club (Getty)

He is not the answer to Everton’s goalscoring problems but he still has plenty to offer and exploited the space well in deeper areas when the game became more stretched. He didn’t quite do enough to justify a shock big-money move back to United in January but he certainly brushed off any suggestions his move to Goodison is the start of his career winding down.

Why either Martial OR Rashford?
Mourinho’s swaying between either Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford continued against Everton with the duo carrying on with their job-share on the left wing. But is Mourinho’s naturally defensive-minded tactics stunting the attack by not playing them together? It would seem so, when he decided to swap the Englishman with Jesse Lingard on the hour mark.

Rashford looked off the pace on Sunday (Getty)

In Juan Mata and Mkhitaryan, United have two No 10s on the pitch but one of these could be sacrificed in order to inject the added pace in the final third. Too often an attack was slowed when Mata stopped and looked for a pass in places where Martial would have his head down and at full speed. When will Mourinho trust the two speedsters either side of Lukaku? That will be when United will truly be a real constant danger.

Everton’s attack lacks pace and direction
If United could do with some added pace then Everton are desperate for it. Other than Sandro, none of Ronald Koeman’s attackers possess anything other than the threat of an intricate pass or a strike from long range. Kevin Mirallas has that running but goes missing too often to be a regular option while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still raw.

Everton are struggling with their attack (Getty)

There is also the absence of a distinct No 9, a central striker. They had that in Lukaku last season but Koeman has failed to replace him and as much as Rooney tries, he is not naturally inclined to hold that position. It is hardly a surprise that in the four games prior to this one, Everton had managed only seven shots on target, and it wasn’t until after half-time here at Old Trafford before they added to that tally.

[/FONT]http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united-everton-valencia-goal-five-things-we-learned-wayne-rooney-lukaku-mkhitaryan-a7951996.html

 

[yinyang]

Marcus Rashford a true English treasure that seized his chance at Manchester United
and break the Golden Boy mould

Previous Golden Boy award winners prove that emerging at an elite club is no mean feat, but even Rashford needed an opportunity to showcase his talents at United

It is one of the great dilemmas of modern football, and one of the main reasons why the rise of Marcus Rashford, now nominated for the 2017 Golden Boy award, must be continually celebrated. Youth development is hard enough but to develop and learn the game while playing for a top club is another test. But that is where Rashford has flourished, first in 2016, now in 2017, making himself one of the great treasures of the English game.

Why is that so impressive? Because the nature of modern football is that while the big clubs want to sign all the best teenagers, they often do not provide the best platform for them to learn the game. That is why Manchester City and Chelsea, for all their academy investment, have yet to bring a young player into the first team. When the short-term manager needs to win to keep his job, of course he will favour older players over young ones. Even the Barcelona and Bayern Munich first teams are increasingly dominated by the same senior pros who have been there for years.

In reality the best place to be as a future elite player is at a not quite elite club, where the standard is high but the pressure, on the manager as much as on the players themselves, is less. The Golden Boy award is ultimately best suited to players at good teams but not at the superclubs. Look at this decade’s winners: Mario Götze at Borussia Dortmund, Isco then at Malaga, Paul Pogba at Juventus, Raheem Sterling at Liverpool, Anthony Martial at Monaco and Manchester United.

Golden Boy 2017 nominations
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• 25show all

Last year Rashford was just beaten to the award by Renato Sanches, who had done brilliantly at Benfica and with Portugal at Euro 2016. But when he went to Bayern Munich, still aged 19, he struggled to make the adjustment to the highest level. Which is why he is at Swansea City this season, taking two steps back after too many forward.

Which brings us back to Rashford. He has not been bought but has emerged through the academy of one of the biggest clubs in the world. But he has arrived with them in a historic downturn, their worst league run since the late 1980s, long before he was born. That situation, a superclub playing at a second tier level, has created the conditions – less pressure, more opportunity – for Rashford to make his mark.

It was a dearth of strikers back in the final months of the Louis van Gaal era that created the space for Rashford to break through and he immediately showed he was ready for the demands of playing for the club. Within months he could claim to be United’s best player, and went to Euro 2016 with England too.
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Rashford tops English nominations for Golden Boy award

Some feared the worst when Jose Mourinho replaced Van Gaal but Rashford’s development has not slowed down. He has worked hard in the gym on his physique and now, in his new role out on the left wing, is as powerful as ever before. Harry Kane is the great English striker of his generation but Rashford is more than four years younger than him and there is no reason he cannot go on to be as good. His winner for England against Slovakia this month, driven low into the bottom corner of the net, was reminiscent of Kane himself.

Gareth Southgate has overseen the development of both men and is always full of praise for Rashford and his development. When he discussed him over the last international break, he said he did not even mind which position he was playing in. “As a young player nailing down a definitive position is less important than being selected in the team, and Jose clearly trusts him to play,” Southgate said. “Whether he is 7, 11, 10, 9 is less important. The opportunity to play and play in big matches like he did last year in the Europa League final is more important at this stage.”

The majority of the Golden Boy nominees come from teams a step down from the elite (Getty)

Clearly Rashford is learning from playing for a club of United’s status, a point Southgate has made regularly. “United prepare their players well, which is why they end up the way they do,” he said. “Playing in front of 70,000 people every week, you know the kind of player they will be before they walk through the door. Marcus has a great platform to build from, and he has a good influence in Jose Mourinho to keep him grounded.”

Ultimately all stories of development are about ability and opportunity. Rashford may have been luckier than some to have things fall for him last year in such a way that he could prove his worth to such a big club. But since then he has proven on the biggest stages he is worth it, in a way not many of his Golden Ball rivals have done yet.
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[/FONT]http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united-news-marcus-rashford-golden-boy-nominees-shortlist-2017-treasure-english-football-a7956441.html