MATCH DAY NEWS & MINOR ANALYSIS

      “I think today is a clear different in the hunger and desire between both teams. Both teams came in with the desire for points.  We (Manchester United) came in the goal to get at least a point to clinch second spot in the table. Brighton wanted all three points in other to play Premier League football next season and Brighton clearly wanted it more. We (Manchester United) did not show enough hunger and desire and we (Manchester United) were punished for our lack of effort.”  (Jose Mourinho)

 

Paraphrased words, of cause, by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho during last weeks post match conference following the clubs defeat in the hands of Brighton Hope Albion. These words have made so much impact in the Manchester United community drawing so many different opinions from the Manchester United fan community with a number of fans referring to Mourinho comments as “Throwing the players under the bus”.  Meaning Mourinho failed his duty as a manager of defending his players from harsh criticism no matter what the situation might be.  Other set of fans have chosen to agree with the Mourinho comments admitting that some of players have failed to put up enough quality performances expected of any Manchester United player. Constant pressure from high expectations will always rest on any Great football club and at the moment, it’s difficult to categorize any other football club as greater than Manchester United. Yes, there are multiple clubs in and around Europe with noticeable financial strength and dominance in and around European Competition but if we are to measure a clubs’ success in terms historical dominance then you have to definitely expect Manchester United to frequently sit on top of the pile, season after season. In other words, if we were to compare Manchester United’s past performance, the class of 99 to at least the class of 2007, then the fans can clearly see that the unquenchable hunger and desire that is frequently present in any Manchester United team has clearly diminished. There is little to no manager present in modern football that will tell any listener that Managers enjoy criticizing the players out for the publics awareness. Most modern managers prefer to maintain a certain level of discretion. Whatever problems the team faces which might be hindering the level of success the club achieves would normally be discussed in a team meeting held behind closed doors. i.e. for the team only. That is the actions of a club on the same page. If operating behind closed doors to ensure togetherness signals a sense of assurance that the Manager still has complete trust and belief in his players to get the job done. Then the obvious question now is: does Mourinho recent comments on the players’ level of performance or lack of quality performance from the Manchester United players signal some level of surrender from Mourinho? The bigger question is: is Mourinho himself blameless for the clubs’ poor level of performance?

  For a noticeable portion of the season, Mourinho had the players lined up in positions that Mourinho wanted the players to players and not positions each player were accustomed to playing at the very best. In fact, the signs are clear that Mourinho has his favourite sets of players and even in the midst of Mourinho favourite set of players, it’s abundantly clear that most of his favourite players aren’t even allowed to operate in their natural positions. Pogba playing defensive midfield for a number of games in the season. Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and let us not forget Anthony Martial all either left to feature as substitutes off the bench or not feature at all. In fact, from my research, Anthony Martials statistics shows him to have started 18 matches for the season with Ander Herrera and Juan Mata all participating in good number of games this season. However, it has to be said that with the exception of Ander Herrera, the other two players has spent most of the season participating as substitutes for reasons that the Manager can not seem to clarify for the public, especially the Manchester United fan base?

Mourinho brought the club back into Europe's top-tier tournament by winning the Europa League last season, while also capturing the EFL Cup in his first campaign in charge.

However, with the club breaking the then world-record fee to recruit Paul Pogba for £90m, as well as spending another £75m on Romelu Lukaku, before making Alexis Sanchez the Premier League's best-paid player, questions remain over whether United's success and style of play are sufficient.

Have any players improved under Mourinho? Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof haven't, Pogba has gone backwards, Lukaku has been okay, not breathtakingly good, but his return has been what you expect.

Watching them midweek, if you asked the fans, 90 per cent would say they haven't. There's no fluency and I'm not talking about a style, because what they had under Sir Alex Ferguson was a winning mindset and the pace players like Ryan Giggs, but even the players they do have aren't fitting together.

                                                 SKY SPORTS PUNDITS, March 16. 2018.

In conclusion, as the season comes to a close and Manchester United prepare to face off against the Harmers also known as West Ham United, expectations are that Manchester United will emerge inside the pitch at the Olympic Stadium with a line up that accommodates the players whom have not had lots of game time this season. Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial are favourite to start with Martial operating from the left flank and Ander Herrera playing as part of a two man central midfield with Matic allowing Pogba the occupy the Center Mid/ Attacking Midfield role. Lukaku starts once again as the lone striker with Alexis Sanchez on the right flank of the pitch. Mourinho has built his starting IV with four defenders and the anticipation is that tonight’s match against West Ham will be no different with Dea Gea securing his regular spot as number one goal keepers.

  West ham will not be an easy opponent to beat tonight. The Hammers have clinched a place in next seasons Premier League competition by beating Leicester City in last weekends Premier League clash. However, with a place in next seasons Premier League competition all assured for West Ham, the Hammers will not want to be complacent in front of their home crowd tonight. Manchester United will be aware of the difficult game that awaits later today in the Olympic Stadium and there will be no room for sloppy, slow, football tonight because that strategy will probably suit nicely to West Hams game plan heading into tonight’s match. Mourinho has indirectly asked to see more hunger and desire from his current Manchester United team and it’s up to the players to respond tonight with a victory. We will see if the players can step up to the challenge and close the season strongly.