TEDDY’S CORNER

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Dear All

Those who usually read my articles know that I am rather positive and forward looking. I throw criticism when due and try to build realistic arguments. No need to say that my followers know I hate Liverpool FC so here I am enjoying myself, watching the worst defense ever to a Premier League title. The tone of my last article was mainly doom and gloom. It was full of frustration coming from what I still believe was an unplanned, risky transfer market campaign headed by personnel who are not football savvy. However, I am proud of the constant faith I have always shown in our current manager.

Here we are today, on day of writing sitting in second place in the Premier League, 10 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City, 9 points above those who have been described by some last year as the greatest Premier League team ever (?), with the highest number of goals scored but with a worrying number of goals conceded. We have a mouth-watering Europa League last 16 draw against the once mighty AC Milan in the pipe line and an FA Cup quarter final clash with in form Leicester City, currently joint-second with us in the league but with an inferior goal difference, to look forward to. Being in the Europa League is not the status this football Club should be in, but we do not deserve any better following some shambolic performances in that Champions League group. The dream start, beating PSG away and thrashing RB Leipzig at home, instilled so much hope which unfortunately eventually faded away in Leipzig with one of the most uncharacteristic performances we ever had in European football in my opinion.

At the time United were gaining some momentum after a disastrous start to the season, part of the blame surely being attributable to the lack of pre-season preparation. The elimination from Europe’s top competition seemed to be the final straw for Ole. The jury was out in full voice. Not just the ABUs but also Man Utd fans. The majority of the latter, I believe, are so called fans who can only remember the Alex Ferguson era…or maybe that era minus the first 4 years. These Playstation games nowadays tend to make believe that what can be done with a joystick can happen in real life. Unfortunately, when our team lose or have an under-par performance, they will then leave the joystick and jump to their keyboards and mobiles to give us lessons on football management. Get a life please! Honestly, I am in a state today where I believe that there are so called Man United fans, even experienced ones I am sorry to say, hoping the team lose so they can go on social media and type ‘Ole Out’! ‘Told You, Ole is rubbish!’ I strongly believe this!

The blow of the Champions League was actually a turning point. For me, the way Ole managed to drive the team from that low point and take them to where they are today, under immense pressure, says something about his quality and ability. In January, we had to face Manchester City for the second year running in the League Cup semifinal. Our noisy neighbors also had a poor start to the league campaign but they improved big time

and when we played them, this time in a one legged tie, when they were starting to peak. We matched them in the first half, failed to take our chances like we often do and they were surely the better team in that second half. It was their 5th win out of an amazing 20 consecutive wins in all competitions so far (number bound to increase). I am hoping though that by the time you will be reading my article here, this great run would have been halted by a red win in the next Manchester derby. The defeat in that semi final will keep putting pressure on our manager and players since it is the 4th consecutive defeat at a semifinal stage and that will mount more pressure as it seems our players get a mind block whenever they reach this stage. Hopefully we get there in Europa League and FA Cup this season and finally jump this hurdle. Not only but we obviously hope to win the first trophy under Ole!

Last season we had the 3rd best defensive record of the Premier League campaign with 36 goals conceded. Our defenders have not changed (apart from the addition of full back Telles) but this season they have already conceded 4 less than what they conceded in the whole of last season, with 13 games still to go. During the last transfer market window fans were all somehow expecting new faces to strengthen our defense department, which mathematically wasn’t that bad after all, but nothing materialised. Hence, given the number of goals conceded this year (32 so far with 11 being conceded in the first 3 games), there is no surprise that the ones regularly under the spotlight are our defenders, especially the central ones, namely Maguire and Lindelöf. I personally think they are both good defenders but they are not consistent and they can have their devastating off days. In my eyes (and I am sure most of you agree), Bailly seems the most reliable but when all 3 are fit, the manager always seem to opt for Maguire and Lindelöf. Tuanzebe had a remarkable

performance marking Mbappe when United played PSG in Paris earlier this season but has not been convincing since, whenever he has been given the chance. Getting a top-notch central defender will not be easy but then again, when Man Utd signed Vidic he was not the Koulibaly of today. He was the result of shrewd scouting. I am hoping that our scouts can excavate a Vidic from somewhere during the forthcoming transfer market. Otherwise our defense will remain our weakest link. De Gea has not been at his best this season. There are split opinions about his future at the Club. The Spaniard has been our best player since SAF retired and only now with Bruno Fernandes is there someone in our team who has taken his scepter. I have a lot of faith in Henderson as well, so I presume this will not be an easy decision for anyone. In my opinion, eventually, this will not be a decision based on football but on contractual obligations.

One final note about Ole doing things the Man Utd way. It’s been sometime since we have seen so much potential in the younger ranks. One must acknowledge as well that there has been a lot of background work to scout young talented players from all over the globe. Whether these players will make it to the first team or not is always a question mark but Ole’s recent introduction of the exciting Shola Shoretire and Amad Diallo surely brings more hope for academy starlets such as Hannibal Mejbri, Teden Mengi, Ethan Galbraith and Facundo Pellistri. Fingers crossed!

The next magazine will be out when the season is over so here are my predictions for this season – City will win the league (no question about that). United will finish second, Chelsea third and Leicester fourth. City will win the League Cup. Chelsea will win the FA Cup. United will win the Europa League and Bayern Munich will win the Champions League. I won’t complain with that.

Yours United Teddy