farlieonfootie

Manchester United 3 - Liverpool 1 -- From a Liverpool Fan's Perspective

2014-08-06T12:22:00.000-04:00

Happier Times for Scott and Cole

Liverpool-lovin' Scott owes the Bossman a beer -- preferably craft:

This one is hard to write. But, for posterity, my memoirs and pursuant to several clauses in my farlieonfootie contract, I am obligated to recount at least some of the events that transpired on Monday night at Sunlife stadium. My son Cole and I, along with Ajax supporter John and his son, planted our tailgating flag in a barren, easily-found patch of parking, ignoring the consternated gesticulations of the parking staff who preferred we wedge our car between several behemoths already there. Correspondent Ed arrived late sporting a vintage Spurs jersey and a cooler of craft beer, perhaps equally vintage. The Bossman blamed the weather and the NSA for an arrival that was so tardy as to rule him out of our rain-spattered tailgate. Correspondent Mark, however, emerged from a sleek, black SUV, supported by a substantial family entourage (thank you for the cookies, Theresa) and waxing positively poetic having just returned from a English multi-stadium tour evidenced by four ill-made Man United t-shirts, an out-of-focus Chelsea poster (since discarded) and one photo of Steven Gerrard's shirt/locker that started a bidding war on eBay.

Despite the inclement weather and lack of a soccer ball to kick about (big shout-out to the nice gentlemen who loaned us one), our group found shelter under our surprisingly large pop-up tent for an earnest discussion of which of Chelsea, Manchester United or Liverpool Mark and his progeny should support. Cole and I were emphatic with our Liverpool case while John, ever the contrarian, half-heartedly supported the Evil MU Empire. Alas, while the subject was not definitively decided, I fear the result of the ensuing game may have influenced the final decision.

This was my first live Liverpool game. So it goes without saying that it was also my son's first game as well, and his excitement was not to be contained. Having refreshed his memory of all the words to "You'll Never Walk Alone", and sporting a Gerrard shirt and hat, my 10 year old was nothing short of effervescent as the lineup was announced during our bathroom pit stop (I did mention the craft beers). Much relieved, we found our seats just behind the goal where Liverpool was warming up. Unfortunately the first of several disappointments then descended on my little Liverpudlian fan as the warmup abruptly ended to make way for a somewhat entertaining but thoroughly deafening firework display that blanketed the pitch with a smoky haze which never seemed to fully exit the stadium.

Through that smoky setting, our mood was lifted, though, when we heard the first strands of "You'll Never Walk Alone" wafting through the speakers and select members of the more intelligent audience. With my arm around Cole's shoulders and both our heads tossed back, father and son emotionally belted out that Rodgers and Hammerstein Carousel classic, later covered by Gerry & the Pacemakers (among others), with giddy anticipation of the crescendo chorus at the end. But then, suddenly, with inexplicable cruelty, as if Darth Ferguson himself were gleefully manning the P.A. system, the Liverpool anthem was cut off prematurely to be replaced by a silly, crushingly loud ditty during which one could occasionally distinguish the word "United." I had no answer for the offended and questioning incredulity on the face of my son.

Later, on the field, Liverpool were much the same – grasping for answers to Manchester United’s better finishing. Despite playing very well at times, Liverpool seemed intent on proving true the predictions of inevitable collapse due to lack of scoring Post Suarez. Rickie Lambert, in particular, seems to have read, and been influenced by, too many articles on the subject. His scuffed open shot in the second half might well consign him to the bench when the season starts. Raheem Sterling and Jordan Ibe, on the other hand, showed just how dangerous they can be, even if the latter still lacks the final touch.

Despite the nearly masochistic persistence of the Liverpool contingent behind us, who gallantly, if defiantly, bellowed the whole Liverpool chant repertoire, and much to the chagrin of my teary-eyed son, the "good guys" lost by an unquestionable differential. To spend such money, "with hope in [our] heart", only to feel such sorrow was a harsh lesson to learn, but one that will steel Cole's character, much like Hammerstein's 1945 lyrics, in part, remind us:

Walk on through the wind

Walk on through the rain

Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone

You'll never walk alone

This is farlieonfootie for August 6.

One Door Closes and Another Opens: Manchester United 3 - Hull City 1 -- Game Recap and Player Ratings

2014-05-06T17:20:00.000-04:00


photo by bere	via PhotoRee

On an evening in which time was called on the Manchester United career of club captain Nemanja Vidic -- and potentially on that of player-manager Ryan Giggs, as well -- youth was served in the form of striker James Wilson, who bagged a brace in his senior level debut to lead the home side to a 3-1 victory over Hull City. After the game the crowd said an emotional goodbye to their widely-admired captain, and witnessed manager Giggs' request for the fans to continue supporting the club during the inevitable re-building that will follow at season's end.

If the game marked the end of an era, the atmosphere at Old Trafford was strangely subdued for much for the evening, as if the crowd were contemplating the many changes to come and thinking back fondly on the magical memories shared with the players on the pitch. David De Gea made a fine save to preserve his side's slim lead before the game was truly ended by Robin Van Persie's strike -- with the assist coming from none other than late-game substitute Giggs.

Herewith we look back at the individual player ratings from another special night at Old Trafford:

De Gea: Would've needed some No-Doze before the half, but looked as if any effects had worn off by the time Fryatt unloaded to pull back a goal. Showed great reflexes to save the victory with twelve minutes left and the game still in the balance. 7.5

Valencia: Serviceable, at best. 5.5

Jones: Another dim-witted challenge saw him end up on the training table. 5.0

Smalling: A couple of nice clearances and interceptions after the half. 6.5

Büttner: Nearly stranded his 'keeper with a very poor header. 5.5

Carrick (c): A fairly invisible performance, if we're honest. 5.0

Fellaini: Two headers in one half, with the latter accounting for the Belgian's first assist of the campaign. Should've scored after the break but saw Wilson put in his rebound. Performance got worse as the evening drew on. 6.0

Kagawa: Misplayed passes were a specialty of his evening. 6.5

Januzaj: Denied a clear penalty only minutes into the contest and was unafraid to run directly at defenders. Looked electric at times with his play, especially in the second half. 8.5

Lawrence: Showed a flash of pace to start the second half and offered a generally composed performance for his inaugural bow.7.0

Wilson: Quick reflexes to bury the header for a first half lead and showed some vivid imagination with an attempted finish after the break. Tucked in his second to top off an unforgettable night for the next winning graduate from the reserves. 9.5

Substitutions:

Vidic (Jones), 22: Oh Captain, my Captain, in his final appearance. 10.0

van Persie (Wilson), 64: He's baaaack! 8.5
Giggs (Lawrence), 70: Even the best of stories must come to an end, this time with an assist. 10.0

This is farlieonfootie for May 6, reporting on the end of an era at Old Trafford.

Damage Control: Manchester United 0 - Sunderland 1

2014-05-03T12:28:00.000-04:00


photo by antwerpenR	via PhotoRee

The damage done to Manchester United under its former manager showed that it will take well more than a single week to undo, as a listless home side lost to Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday, the game and United's offense moving at a torpid pace throughout the afternoon. Offering up a performance that looked as uninspired as it felt, the only silver lining for the club is that the most recent loss -- United's 12th of the season -- mirrored Tottenham's weak performance earlier in the day, and continued to insure that the Europa League will not interfere with the team's schedule next season.

Herewith the individual performances in a match that will be glossed over very quickly in the season review DVD:

De Gea: Uncharacteristically atrocious clearances in both halves. His best defenders after the interval were the goalpost and the bar. 5.5

Jones: Featured on offense as well as defense. 6.0

Ferdinand: Looked every bit of his 35 years today. 5.5

Vidic (c): Wide with his header and should've been dismissed for his tackle on Altidore near the final whistle. 5.0

Evra: He's trying but it just ain't there for him this season. 5.5

Nani: Consistently inconsistent and much too easily moved off the ball. 5.0

Carrick: Ventured further forward but lost Larson when it mattered most. Too many poor, slow passes and turnovers to count. 4.5

Fletcher: Did next to nothing to stop the cross that led to Sunderland's opener. It was an inspiring comeback, but it may be time to call time on his United career. 4.5

Young: A busy first half but unable to supply much quality. Looked better on the left than on the right, but we're using "better" in a relative sense. 4.5

Mata: Managed to find the open man but was unable to unlock the defense. 6.0

Hernandez: A nice touch to open the game but a paucity of opportunities afterward. Fluffed his only clear cut chance. 5.5

Substitutions:

Januzaj (Nani), 52: Made an immediate impact upon entering the game but was unable to spark a comeback. 6.0

van Persie (Mata), 67: Narrowly missed an opportunity to equalize and showed his timing is not back yet. 5.5

Welbeck (Young), 67: N/A

This is farlieonfootie for May 3.

The Return of an Old Friend: Manchester United 4 - Norwich City 0 -- Game Recap and Player Ratings

2014-04-26T14:46:00.000-04:00


photo by ssoosay	via PhotoRee

Ryan Giggs demanded passion, bravery, tempo, speed and imagination on his managerial debut, and despite a slow start, saw his requirements more than fulfilled in an easy 4-0 victory over Norwich City at Old Trafford on Saturday evening. Putting more shots on target than in any Premier League game this season, United offered a rousing second half performace and gave their home fans a clean and direct break from the David Moyes era with their most decisive victory of the season. Playing football as if it were fun again, the United players rode braces from Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata to treat the home crowd to a fun-filled evening -- a feeling akin to the return of an old friend.

Herewith, the individual player ratings from a game that felt like the dawn of a new era at Old Trafford:

De Gea: Virtually nothing to do before the break. Showed outstanding distribution skills afterward and, as usual, was there when called upon. 7.5

Jones: Almost found Kagawa with a first half cross. Never under pressure. 7.5

Vidic (c): Calm, cool and collected. 7.5

Ferdinand: Rolled back the years. 7.0

Evra: Ventured forward plenty. 7.5

Valencia: First three crosses hit the defender but he showed he isn't afraid to shoot. Worked his way into the game. 7.0

Carrick: This was better. 7.5

Cleverley: His game continues to go downhill and now appears beyond repair. 6.0

Kagawa: Wanted too much time in the box and was slightly too casual with his passing. 7.0

Welbeck: Denied early on by Ruddy and pulled down for a penalty just prior to halftime. 7.0

Rooney: Little other than a decent cross and a penalty to recommend his game in the first half, but a wonderful strike to open the second half. Appeared knackered at the end. 7.5

Substitutions:

Mata (Welbeck), 60: Great touch to score within a few minutes of joining the fray. Scored a second just for fun. 8.5

Young (Kagawa), 65: N/A

Hernandez (Cleverley), 71: Oh, what a miss at the end. 6.5

This is farlieonfootie for April 26.

Rinse, Wash, Repeat: Everton 2 - Manchester United 0

2014-04-20T16:43:00.003-04:00


photo by Brett Jordan	via PhotoRee

Failing to be entertained by the football, I composed several haikus to honor the way David Moyes and his staff have managed to hamper Shinji Kagawa this season -- among other criminal acts he's committed against our club:

Uninspired game plans

"Trying" to "stop" opponents

We've become Everton

*****

Slow and uninspired

Like molasses on the ball

How's it come to this?

*****

Can't beat his old club

Not City nor Liverpool

Show him the door, please

*****

Danny and Ryan fret

For our beloved club's future

While "Top Reds" stay firm

*****

Our "Chosen One" is

So far over his head it's

Not even funny

This is farlieonfootie for April 20.

The David Moyes Experiment: Bayern Munich 3 - Manchester United 1

2014-04-09T17:26:00.000-04:00


photo by UC Davis College of Engineering	via PhotoRee

The David Moyes experiment rolled on, lowering expectations across the globe, and convincing a vast majority of Manchester United fans that having 20 percent of the ball and only the barest of opportunities to score with it somehow showed progress in a season full of reverses. Its chief adherent seemingly believing in minimalist football as the way forward, Moyes managed to pull the wool over the eyes of a large number of United supporters, many of whom now appear content to blame the players for their repeated failures and vastly reduced horizons -- a world where "trying" is the moral equivalent of winning, and a game in which opponents are hoped to be "contained" rather than nails to be hammered down.

The latest chapter in the experiment saw United fans flush with success at a 0-0 halftime draw, on the heels of a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford eight nights ago, even though their team had only recorded a single shot taken in anger on the opposition goal in their latest endeavor. Pulses were further raised when Patrice Evra lasered an unstoppable shot into the upper corner of the goal to hand his side a 1-0 lead on the evening, 2-1 on aggregate -- a lead that lasted a bare 23 seconds before Mario Mandzukic, playing Lucy to Moyes' Charlie Brown, snatched the ball and the lead with a stunningly quick equalizer. Not content to sit on their goal, Bayern added two more in relatively quick succession, as the United end was swarmed by the home side in the contest's last half hour. Not wanting to appear rattled, Moyes waited until the game's 75th minute to work his Plan B, bringing on Chicharito and later young Adnan Januzaj, the latter after Bayern had put the contest's final result beyond any doubt.

If the Moyes' experiement is ended soon, he can be satisfied he went down being loyal to those who got him here: an injured Wayne Rooney being Exhibit A. Clearly showing the effects of a recent layoff and a painkiller shot in his foot, the Englishman was a ghost of his best self tonight, squandering some of the few half-opportunities his side were able to scratch out. Yet he remained on the pitch, limp aside, for the full 90 minutes, as both Darren Fletcher and a pacy Danny Welbeck were sacrificed.

While many are quick to criticize the players, and some of them rightfully so, it is this author's belief that the effort put forth tonight is the best the manager is capable of coaxing out of his squad -- a group of people who -- unlike many sheep-ish fans -- largely stopped believing in him a long time ago. And without a head a body is -- what? A corpse.

It's time to face facts: 7th in the League, and out of all competitions in record time. The man is just not good enough for this team. David Moyes needs to go, and the sooner the better, so the club can begin to rebuild after the appalling disaster in which this experiment has resulted.

This is farlieonfootie for April 9.

All Too Easy: Manchester United 4 - Newcastle United 0 -- Game Recapand Player Ratings

2014-04-06T11:32:00.001-04:00

Juan Mata ran the show as Manchester United scored four goals for the second week running and cruised to a 4–0 victory over Newcastle United at St. James Park on Saturday afternoon. Mata scored two goals himself, and was complemented in his offensive efforts by the oft-ignored combination of Shinji Kagawa and Javier Hernandez. Overcoming a tedious first half in which Mata's stunning free kick was the solitary moment of sheer brilliance, the visitors scored three times from the run of play in the second half to turn a tight game into an all-too-easy victory over the struggling home side.

Defensively, Anders Lindegaard did well to gain a shut out in his first League action of the season, denying Newcastle striker Papis Cisse on three separate occasions, and Phil Jones and Chris Smalling did just enough to keep Newcastle's other players off kilter despite a few shaky moments. The victory kept the Reds' small burst of momentum alive heading into the mid-week Champions League clash in Munich, although in retrospect the game will be viewed as relatively meaningless for both sides at this point in the season. Herewith the individual player ratings on a rare comfortable win:

Lindegaard: Did well to deny Cisse both before and after the break. 7.0

Valencia: Guilty of too many turnovers while playing out of position. 6.5

Jones: Needs to work on his distribution from the back, but generally a solid effort. 6.5

Smalling: Bedeviled by poor clearances. 6.5

Evra: Easily beaten, yet again. Rested near the hour mark. 6.0

Fletcher: Protected the back four well. 6.5

Fellaini: Most dirty players are loved by their own fans. Fellaini looks the odd exception. 5.0

Young: Decent crossing before being forced off after 15 minutes. N/A

Mata: Displayed his golden left foot and scored twice, but topped them all with his back-heeled assist for Januzaj's goal. Man of the Match. 8.5

Kagawa: Perfect lay off which Hernandez spurned before the break. A knowing header which led to the second goal and a perfect cut back for the third capped off a fine second half. 8.0

Hernandez: Looked pacey up top but clanged the post when he should have scored. Great assist for Mata's second and back to his trademark smiling best when he notched his side's third of the afternoon. 8.0

Substitutions:

Januzaj (Young), 17: Still tries occasionally to do too much on his own, but oh, such a silky smooth finish for the afternoon's capper. 7.0

Büttner (Evra), 64: Not bad, but not at the same level as last week. 6.0

Nani (Fellaini), 70: An understandable whiff on his first opportunity in ages. 6.0

This is farlieonfootie for April 6.

A Parting Gift? Manchester United 1 - Bayern Munich 1: Game Recap and Player Ratings

2014-04-01T17:01:00.003-04:00


photo by sun dazed	via PhotoRee

Defying the critics at home and abroad, Manchester United played a rope-a-dope first half before showing more of their teeth after the break in a 1-1 Champions League draw at Old Trafford Wednesday night. Fully embracing what could be the club's last European contest for quite some time, the hosts withstood a brutal frontal assault from their German visitors in the first half, with the Munich holding nearly 80% of the possession prior to the interval. Nevertheless, it was the home side in the form of Danny Welbeck who missed the best chance of the half to go in front prior to the halftime whistle.

After the break was a completely different story, with both teams taking turns attacking the others' goal, and real chances were created at both ends. United Captain Nemanja Vidic was the first to find the net, with his unmarked header gifting his club an unexpected 1-0 lead. As should have been expected, however, Bayern fought back to tie the contest through a finely worked play that ended with Bastian Schweinsteiger putting the ball into David De Gea's goal.

Although neither side will be disappointed with the outcome, in general the Germans will be pleased to have scored their away goal, a tally which leaves United needing to score on their trip to the Allianz Arena in a little over a week's time. The surly nature of the contest was underscored by the high number of rough tackles, yellow cards and a final red for the Bayern goalscorer, which will mark him as ineligible for the return leg.

Herewith, the individual player ratings from a spirited night at Old Trafford:

De Gea: Pinpoint clearance and a fine save to deny Ribery before the break. 7.5

Jones: Filled in at right back and was there when he needed to be. 7.5

Ferdinand: Was right in the mix tonight. Looked like the old days. 7.5

Vidic: Looked nervy at the outset but gradually settled. He may have been unguarded, but it was still a clutch header from a very tough position to give his side the second half lead. 8.0

Büttner: Appeared overmatched right from the get go, but gradually settled down and played his way into the match. Should be renamed Hoofner. 7.0

Valencia: Early yellow and lucky to stay on the pitch after a bone crunching second half tackle. Moved to right back to accommodate Ashley Young with 15 minutes left. 7.0

Carrick: Decent distribution when he was able to touch the ball. Forced to stay way back for most of the night. 7.0

Fellaini: Just not good enough to play in a holding role. Gifted the ball repeatedly to the visitors and lost his man for the Bayern equalizer. 6.0

Giggs: Little impact in likely his last Champions League home tie. Injured and substituted at the half. 6.5

Welbeck: Looked lively, and was denied only by the referee's whistle early on. Later fluffed his lines with a chip when power was called for, but gave Martinez all he could handle tonight. Man of the Match. 8.0

Rooney: Rarely saw the ball and displayed the gentle touch of a butcher. Tame header to begin the second half. 7.0

Substitutions:

Kagawa (Giggs), 46: Added some need spice and ball movement to the offensive mix. 7.5

Young (Büttner), 75: If only he could deliver a cross.... N/A

Hernandez (Welbeck), 85: Too late to make an impact, but Moyes would do well to remember the Mexican's pace against a Bayern back line that looked shaky at times. N/A

This is farlieonfootie for April 1.

Plane and Simples: Manchester United 4 - Aston Villa 1

2014-03-29T11:02:00.001-04:00


photo by [niv]	via PhotoRee

In a season which has veered from one disaster to another, Manchester United held off the impending doom and gloom surrounding the club for at least another few days, winning 4-1 at Old Trafford over a hapless Aston Villa side that did more damage to itself than was inflicted by the home side. Despite the misleading final margin of victory, the performance was far from easy on the eyes, and typical of most under manager David Moyes this season: devoid of style and attacking flair for much of the match, and papering over the cracks of a sloppy defensive effort. Still, a win is a win, and United at least head into the mid-week Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich without the customary hand-wringing and cringeworthy explanations of another puzzling performance.

Standouts on Saturday afternoon included Juan Mata, whose scruffy goal represented the first real return on the board's largest-ever investment, and Shinji Kagawa, who played the number 10 role as if it was tailor-made for him. Wayne Rooney also offered a passionate performance for the Reds, scoring one goal from the run of play and another from the spot while leading the line.

Herewith, a look at our individual player ratings on a game that should be seen as no more than it was: a home win over a poor team that missed some very easy chances.

De Gea: Screened by the wall on Westwood's free kick, and little enough to do after that. 7.0

Rafael: Gaining quite the collection of yellow cards this season; seemingly a red card waiting to happen every game. Good thing Bayern is coming into town.... 6.0

Jones: Filled in at right back after the break, but was fortunate that Benteke couldn't find his range when played onside. 6.0

Vidic: Fortunate not to give up a penalty. 6.0

Büttner: Yet another dire performance. 4.0

Fletcher: Efficient, but not the same player he used to be. 6.0

Fellaini: Being uncomfortable with the ball at your feet is not a good quality for a central midfielder. 5.5

Young: Just not good enough. 5.0

Kagawa: Superb cross to Rooney for the equalizer, but difficult to tell whether he meant to offer the brilliant pass that led to a penalty. 8.0

Mata: Taken down in the box and scored his first goal of the season in red. 7.5

Rooney: On target with the early header and a superbly taken penalty before the break. Played his socks off today. 8.0

Substitutions:

Carrick (Rafael), 46: Fantastic clearance with the ball at the feet of Benteke. 6.5

Januzaj (Kagawa), 68: Tried to do too much by himself, but redeemed his effort with a beautiful run and an inch-perfect cross for the fourth goal. 7.0

Hernandez (Rooney), 75: More movement in last 15 minutes than most other players in the first 75. After he scored it was easy to see the toll this season has taken. 7.0

This is farlieonfootie for March 29.

David Moyes Must Go: Manchester United 0 - Manchester City 3

2014-03-26T07:30:00.000-04:00

Eden Dzeko bookended halftime with two goals, the first coming less than a minute after the opening whistle, to lead Manchester City to a third straight derby victory over cross-town rivals Manchester United, and Yaya Toure added a third goal in stoppage time to create the game's final scoreline. The performance was another vintage effort under David Moyes, as a shapeless and shiftless Manchester United showed little fluency in attack and created a paucity of opportunities in front of a sullen and early departing home crowd at Old Trafford on Tuesday night. Displaying his now familiar flummoxed look on the sideline, a clueless Moyes could only sit and watch as the blue half of Manchester rolled easily past his charges, challenging virtually every United cross and breaking up almost all of the Red Devils' offensive chances before they had the opportunity to become even remotely threatening.

Shut out at home yet again this season, United displayed a willingness to attack before the interval but too often lacked a focal point to their offensive efforts. Defensively the team appeared nervous and exceedingly edgy, and they were victimized by a routine training ground exercise for the goal that put the game well out of reach. Having been warned only minutes before when Fernandinho headed just over the bar, seemingly half of the home side's defense stood like statues as the big Bosnian landed the killer blow. City closed out the game in a state of exceeding comfort, as United seemed almost content to surrender to a fate they have become increasingly familiar with this season. Coming after yet another false dawn of two straight victories, the derby loss served only as a stark reminder of the action urgently required by the club's directors: David Moyes Must Go.

This is farlieonfootie for March 26.

Comfortable: Manchester United 2 - West Ham United 0

2014-03-22T17:11:00.001-04:00


photo by OliBac	via PhotoRee

Manchester United rode two Wayne Rooney goals to victory over West Ham United in a game that meant little to either team, but did manage to keep United's momentum moving forward before the Manchester derby early next week. The first Rooney strike, from nearly 50 yards out, easily recalled the exploits of the watching David Beckham, with the United forward spotting the West Ham 'keeper off his line before volleying home from near the center line. The Englishman's second goal was a poacher's delight, Rooney the recipient of a poor clearance attempt and able to slot the ball into an open net after shuffling his feet to corral the errant pass.

Although it was true the Reds' offense looked more fluid today in a game that saw Rooney supported by both Juan Mata and Shinji Kagawa, the visitors were unable to capitalize on their lead after the break, flubbing several opportunities to widen their margin of victory on a day that saw no lack of quality goals in the League. Herewith, the individual player ratings on a relatively comfortable away win.

De Gea: Needed to stop Carroll's early header and did so. A little indecisive on a late cross, but didn't have much else to do tonight. 7.5

Rafael: Early yellow and beaten by Downing; aways looks one rash decision away from a red card of late. Improved as the game wore on. 7.0

Jones: Outleaped by Carroll on occasion, but had help keeping the Hammers' big man in check. 7.5

Carrick: Great distribution from the back and a confident performance in defense from the midfielder. 7.5

Büttner: Did well enough filling in for Evra, although did not face the same kind of test he will endure in the Champions League. 7.0

Mata: Great touch, fluid movement and beautiful passing. 7.5

Fletcher: Cleaned up a bunch of messes. Looked solid in the middle. 7.5

Fellaini: Denied early and fell back to contain Carroll. Another winning game from the big Belgian. 8.0

Young: Offered a decent cross for Fellaini but was otherwise kept in check. 7.0

Kagawa: Cut loose by Mata but slammed the ball directly into the keeper. Missed picking out Hernandez late on with the net begging. 7.0

Rooney (c): A Beckham-esque volley from near the center line for the first goal tonight, and right place / right time for the second. 8.5

Substitutions:

Hernandez (Rooney), 77: A rare late cameo. N/A

Welbeck (Mata), 77: N/A

This is farlieonfootie for March 22.

Waking Up the Echoes: Manchester United 3 - Olympiacos 0

2014-03-19T18:29:00.006-04:00


photo by urbanlegend	via PhotoRee

Playing as if suddenly awoken from a long slumber, and showing grit, passion and incisiveness for virtually the first time in this nightmarish season, Manchester United rebounded from a dour 2-0 first leg defeat to knock Greek side Olympiacos out of the Champions League on Wednesday night. The 3-0 victory in front of the home fans revived the many European memories this storied club holds in its vaults, with tonight's circumstances and result most closely approximating United's famous comeback against Barcelona nearly 30 years ago.

Led by a Robin Van Persie hat trick, and inspirational play from Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Antonio Valencia, the Red Devils' offense was not the only storyline to emerge from the pulsating encounter; rather, it was David De Gea's stunning work in between the posts that saved the team from disaster on several occasions, the Spaniard staking his legitimate claim to world's best with his performance -- a position he no doubt holds in the hearts of any true United supporter after yet another otherworldly outing.

Although the predictable reaction in the twitter-verse was to greet the evening's victory as "saving" the manager's job, and even more so as a game that could well represent a "turnaround" in United's quagmire of a season, instead the victory should be savored for what it truly was: a win for the home crowd, and a game that woke up the echoes reverberating throughout the stadium from the clubs' legendary European past.

Herewith, the individual player ratings on a rare night to be enjoyed from this season:

De Gea: Stunning, instinctive saves both before and after the break: a stone wall that kept his team alive. Man of the Match: 9.5

Rafael: Confident, decent defensive performance tonight. 8.0

Jones: Solid at the back. 7.5

Ferdinand: Did just enough to put off Olympiacos. 7.5

Evra: Nearly scored on a header before the break, but caught out repeatedly on defense and became a bigger and bigger liability as the game wore on. 5.5

Valencia: Targeted early for physical treatment and hammered repeatedly. Played one-eyed for most of the contest, and put in one hell of a shift. 8.0

Carrick: Clearance near the line was key. 7.0

Giggs: Three picture perfect passes, and all before the halftime whistle. Ageless on nights like tonight. 8.0

Welbeck: Looked a warrior out there today, gave it absolutely everything he had. 8.0

Rooney: Denied only by the post after 17 minutes. Inspirational performance from the future captain. 9.0

van Persie: Bowled over for the penalty and blasted it home to start the fight back. Tapped home Wazza's cross and hammered a free kick to make it complete. A bit worryingly, was stretchered off at the end. 8.5

Substitutes:

Young (Valencia), 79: N/A

Fletcher (Welbeck), 83: N/A

Fellaini (van Persie), 91: One of the great time wasting performances of the modern era. 7.5

This is farlieonfootie for March 19.

David Moyes Must Go: Liverpool 3 - Manchester United 0

2014-03-16T14:52:00.000-04:00

....In other news, a disjointed, dispirited and downbeat Manchester United lost for the ninth time in the League this season, the most recent defeat coming at the hands of the club's historical archival, Liverpool. The 3-0 spanking will have come as a surprise only to those who haven't seen the club play recently, as the Reds were throughly outclassed on their home pitch, never truly in the contest, out-coached, completely and utterly overrun in midfield and guilty of too many mental and physical lapses for one person to count.

If David Moyes and the club's legions of fans were hoping the two recent victories in the League were a sign of things to come, they would do well to remember who those victories came against -- sides near the bottom of the table. The gap between the home side and the top four side from Liverpool looked like a yawning chasm on Sunday afternoon, with the startling 43 point turnaround from last season's point total seemingly a highly accurate reflection of the clubs' opposing trajectories. One side looked to have a good young coach, a solid game plan, hounded the opposition at every turn, and received big performances from its stars; the home club had none of that.

While we have been somewhat hesitant to join the "Moyes Out" brigade -- creeping slowly but surely in that direction, yet desperately trying to resist the temptation to overreact to any single development -- the belief can no longer be denied: David Moyes must go. Manchester United will not re-join the top ranks of English football until they free themselves of the weighty anchor that the former Everton manager has become.

Moyes may be a nice man; he may even be a good coach. What he is patently not is a good choice as Manager of Manchester United. To those who think this call unwise and too hasty, I understand your position but disagree. I could write chapter and verse as to the failings of Sir Alex's hand-chosen successor, but I will not -- the mental energy required is beyond my meager strength at this time, and many of the reasons have been commented upon here and in many other places. In short, suffice it to say that Everton man's time is up due to the many reason enumerated elsewhere. To persist in the current path is not a productive solution, and represents pure folly on the part of those hoping for a quick return to the pinnacle of English football.

If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, the Board at Old Trafford will be headed toward Bedlam if they refuse to act at season's end. Perhaps the most disastrous decision would be to "double down" on Moyes, handing the overwrought manager a purse full of the club's massive treasure.

It pains us to have reached this decision, but it could not be clearer or any more necessary in our mind. Even a mid-week victory over Olympiacos in the Champions League will do nothing to sway our thinking -- not that we are expecting a favorable outcome. David Moyes is not the man Manchester United needs, and his continued employment will do only harm to the club's future prospects. It is time for a change.

This is farlieonfootie for March 16.

Showing The Way Forward: Manchester United 3 - West Bromwich Albion 0

2014-03-08T10:02:00.000-05:00


photo by David Salafia	via PhotoRee

David Moyes rolled out perhaps his best starting lineup for his club's trip to The Hawthorns and was rewarded with a 3-0 victory on Saturday afternoon. Although the final scoreline suggested a leisurely stroll in the park, the Red Devils did not pick up the game's pace until after the hour mark had passed. With Danny Welbeck replacing a frustrated Robin van Persie, the visitors' attack picked up speed and momentum, as space opened on the pitch for the first time all afternoon. Wayne Rooney and Welbeck both provided late scores to complement Phil Jones' header before the interval, but it was Rafael Da Silva, United's attacking right back, who showed his teammates the way forward all afternoon long.

Herewith, the individual player ratings for a game that will quiet the critics, at least for a week's time:

De Gea: Little to do until late, resulting in another shutout. 7.0

Rafael: The return of some attacking panache: denied by a fine Ben Foster save but offered a well-aimed cross for Rooney to put the game on ice. A Man of the Match performance from the Brazilian. 8.5

Jones: Shaky beginning before heading home prior to the interval. Crunching tackles delivered with youthful exuberance. 7.0

Smalling: Displayed an unexpected ability to make up ground. 6.5

Evra: Beaten too easily. 6.0

Carrick: Solid outing; paired well with his Belgian counterpart. 6.5

Fellaini: Played a holding role and provided a target for set pieces. Displaying an increasing steadiness in his new role. 7.5

Mata: His talents are wasted on the wing, although he did contribute a fine defensive clearance. 7.0

Rooney: Barely featured in the action until he nodded home to seal the victory. 6.5

Januzaj: Flagged early for handling in the box before darting in a brilliant cross for Rafael. 6.5

van Persie: Fine whipped delivery to Jones to open the scoring, but substituted early for his own good as the red mist descended. Frustrating. 6.0

Substitutes:

Welbeck (van Persie), 63: Added pace and some much needed impetus to the attack. Tacked on late goal to make the final scoreline appear more comfortable than it truly was. 7.0

Kagawa (Januzaj), 76: Some silky movement. 6.5

Vidic (Rafael), 87: His new role? N/A

This is farlieonfootie for March 8.

Master Class: Olympiacos 2 - Manchester United 0

2014-02-26T12:15:00.001-05:00

David Moyes' Manchester United put on a tactical masterclass in Europe last night, lulling a far superior Olympiacos side into a stupor and allowing them only a couple of niggling goals in a narrow 2-0 Champions League loss at the Karaiskakis Stadium. Smartly realizing they were outgunned from the start, Moyes' boys chose laughter as their most effective counter-attacking weapon, seeking to sit deep and make their Greek opponents collapse in paroxysmic laughing fits in the hope of distracting them from the immediate task at hand.

Hard as it may be to believe in a season in which not much has worked as intended, the Red Devils worked their gameplan to perfection last night, repeatedly pretending to be unfamiliar and allergic to the ball by gifting it to their opponent and hoofing one long ball after another from the back. Chris Smalling offered a standout performance at right back for the visitors, pantomiming as if he were playing on ice and causing his opposing number to double over on several occasions. Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young were their usual steady selves, repeatedly doing the hard work before skying in crosses well over the heads of their closest teammates. And Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick ceded acres of space in the middle of the park, sowing massive confusion through the home side by forcing the Greeks to ask themselves if they were playing a pub XI or the reigning champions of England.

The visitors' strategy was so cleverly utilized that Olympiacos could be forgiven for taking their foot off the pedal after coming to a belief that their opponent was entirely unfamiliar with possessing the ball in the offensive end of the pitch. Remarkably, however, the team's 80 minute shift was nearly undone in an instant when Robin van Persie made the crucial mistake of taking an actual shot on goal -- fortunately for the visitors, however, the ball blazed well over the bar, the momentary threat was averted, and the team returned to their steadfast gameplan.

Having kept the tie alive with Tuesday's narrow loss, manager Moyes will undoubtedly be pleased and seeking to keep the score "close" in front of the home crowd at Old Trafford in three weeks time.

This is an only half sarcastic farlieonfootie for February 26.

If This is the Future, Give Me Back the Past: Manchester United 2 - Crystal Palace 0

2014-02-22T16:53:00.002-05:00

photo by anoldent
via PhotoRee

An uninspired victory may be better than an pulsating loss or draw, and the three points earned by Manchester United against Crystal Palace on Saturday will undoubtedly lift Mancunian spirits sagging from a depressing start to the 2014 football calendar. If the football on display in the Red Devils' 2-0 victory at Selhurst Park is the future, however, it's difficult not to pine for the past of this glorious franchise, as the contest can charitably be described as being utterly devoid of quality football and true scoring opportunities. Marouane Fellaini, newly restored to the lineup after a lengthy absence due to injury, missed the visitors' easiest chance of the afternoon, and the victory was only secured by Robin Van Persie steadiness from the spot and Wayne Rooney's quality in front of net.

Shown below are our thoughts on the individual player ratings on a match that was largely missing what the Red Devils offer in droves when they play their best football: entertainment.

De Gea: Long periods of boredom punctuated by the need to display his alertness and cat-like reflexes. 6.5

Smalling: Offered very little going forward from the right. 5.5

Vidic: Denied by the bar but commanded the box well. 6.0

Ferdinand: Appeared steadier than in other recent appearances. 6.0

Evra: Won the penalty as the clock hit the hour mark and pulled back a brilliant cross for Wayne Rooney to seal the victory. 7.0

Fellaini: Ventured forward but failed to hit an open net from 12 yards out. Looked comically slow going forward. 4.5

Carrick: Sat deep and had plenty of time to spray the ball around. 6.0

Januzaj: His first half goal was disallowed due to a handball, and he never really came into the game. 5.5

Mata: Could've been whistled for a penalty on defense, and seemingly found it difficult to get untracked at the other end. 5.5

Rooney: Celebrate his new contract with a goal. 6.5

Van Persie: Whiffed on the bicycle kick but buried the penalty. 6.5

Substitutes:

Valencia (Januzaj), 80: N/A

Giggs (Van Persie), 80: N/A

Fletcher (Fellaini), 88: N/A

This is farlieonfootie for February 22, 2013.

Plugging Away: Manchester United 0 - Arsenal 0

2014-02-13T07:56:00.000-05:00


photo by hapal	via PhotoRee

In any other season, the point earned by Manchester United at The Emirates on Wednesday night in a 0 - 0 draw with Arsenal would have been largely satisfactory. Not a vintage performance from the visiting team, by any means, but a shutout and a solid away point against a team near the top of the League; put aside, for the moment, the fact that last night represented only the fourth time in the last eleven meetings that the Reds have failed to defeat Arsene Wenger's men. But on a night in which both Liverpool and Spurs won yet again, and the gap to a Champions League turned into a gaping 11 point hole, a single point was not enough.

Sure, it will do the trick of taking the immediate pressure off manager David Moyes as the Reds jet off to Dubai for a few days of warm weather training. But with the team appearing more afraid to lose rather than risking it all to win, the performance has to be judged as a relative disappointment yet again. It was the kind of match in which the visitors' performance inspired commentator Lee Dixon to implore the Reds to "keep plugging away" -- an apt description of their muted, agonizingly slow attack.

Herewith, the individual player ratings from the Emirates:

De Gea: The Spaniard kept his concentration and denied Cazorla twice when called upon in the game's waning moments. 6.5

Rafael: Some decent runs but not the best of deliveries. Landed awkwardly and departed at the interval. 5.5

Smalling: A key block at center half and filled in capably on the right after Rafael's injury. 6.0

Vidic: Strong defending in the air and on the ground after a nervy opening. Did just enough to put off Giroud late on. 6.5

Evra: Never looked in synch with Mata on the left. Gave away a stupid free kick near the contest's end, the kind which has hurt the Reds much too often this season. 5.5

Valencia: Lacking in confidence, he appeared unwilling or unable to take on the opposition. Still, a key header off the line to save a goal. 5.5

Cleverley: Played more forward passes but the accuracy was generally lacking. On the silver linings side, better than his last few outings. 5.0

Carrick: Cleaned up a number of messes and gave it all to preserve the shutout. 6.5

Mata: Cut RVP loose in the six yard box, but the Dutchman was unable to take advantage. Unable to find the target on the volley after the break. 6.0

Rooney: Quiet first half other than his all too frequent eruptions at referee Mark Clattenburg. Specialized in the poor first touch all night, but did pick out Van Persie with a delicious cross near the end. 5.5

Van Persie: Missed a golden opportunity early, and was denied late on by a brilliant Sczcesny save. 5.5

Substitutes:

Ferdinand (Rafael), 46: Steady. 5.5

Januzaj (Mata), 75: Quiet. 5.5

Young (Valencia), 82: N/A

This is farlieonfootie for February 13.

Crossed at the Last Minute: Manchester United 2 - Fulham 2

2014-02-10T08:35:00.001-05:00

Manchester United suffered another late setback yesterday, drawing 2-2 with a relegation-threatened Fulham side. Providing tonic to the League's weaklings yet again, United dominated possession yet failed to create any real attacking threat for much of the contest. Going down early to Fulham's first attack of the afternoon forced the Reds to fight back and pull ahead late in the contest. Being held to a draw with virtually the last kick of the contest at a venue where they made last gasp victories their signature move will only add to the heaps of frustration the team and their many fans are currently suffering.

Herewith, the game day ratings for another chapter in a season that has rapidly turned into a farce:

De Gea: Nothing to do but pick the ball out of the net twice. 6.5

Rafael: Decent crosses but unable to connect. Why was he pulled? 6.5

Vidic: Didn't do nearly enough with his clearance in extra time. 5.0

Smalling: Nothing to do. Literally nothing to do. 6.0

Evra: Wild shot from distance and a tame header just before the interval. 5.5

Carrick: Sat deep in the middle and shot wide from distance. Distributed the ball well, especially from distance. Gave his side the lead with a deflected bullet. 6.5

Fletcher: Failed to track Steve Sidwell for Fulham's first goal in four games. 4.5

Young: Open lots but not enough end product. 5.0

Mata: Not totally ineffective on the flank, but influence mainly down to long passes and extraordinary touches. Denied from point blank but got his third assist in three games on the rebound. 7.0

Rooney: Failed to attack the net, and was largely invisible before the break. Forced to shoot wide in the second half before being denied by Steklenburg. Looked tired. 6.5

Van Persie: Stuffed early and managed to sky Rafael's cross, as well. Denied before the half and not given a penalty shout in the second half. Tucked one in late on to make it a game. 6.5

Substitutes:

Januzaj (Fletcher), 62: Injected immediate energy, not to mention some class crosses. 7.0

Valencia (Rafael), 68: N/A

Hernandez (Young), 68: Most notable play was to block Januzaj. Blazed over the bar near the ninety minute mark. 6.0

This is farlieonfootie for February 10.

Hoofin' it: Stoke City 2 - Manchester United 1

2014-02-02T07:46:00.002-05:00


photo by Corey Ann	via PhotoRee

Wayne Rooney as a deep lying playmaker, Michael Carrick at center back, the visiting team employing hoof and run tactics and playing down to the level of its relegation-threatened opponent: such are the shambolic depths to which Manchester United plummeted with its latest piece of history making, the Red Devils losing to Stoke City for the first time in 30 years. If a team is the reflection of its manager, Manchester United would be preternaturally aging and under intense pressure after its latest loss, another dispiriting and dreary affair at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent. To those United fans who gained succor from the signing of Juan Mata during the recent transfer window, Saturday's performance -- yet another "unlucky" one according to David Moyes -- was a reality check, as a team which used to score goals for fun has been reduced to scrapping and losing against bottom of the table competitors.

This writer's mother once told him if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all, so we'll leave the recap here and move into a set of player ratings that no one in red will be particularly pleased to see:

De Gea: Hung out to dry by Michael Carrick on the first, and had absolutely no chance on Adam's laser. 6.5

Jones: Unafraid to sacrifice the body, but did it one too many times. Hope he's okay. 6.5

Smalling: Moved to center back early. 6.0

Evans: Failed to make even the 10 minute mark. N/A

Evra: Physical match, got more hang time than an NBA player. 6.5

Carrick: Broke up play well but scored what should be ruled as his second own goal of the season with a weak attempt at a block. Should never have been playing center half. 5.5

Cleverley: Unobtrusive? Yes. Ineffective? It goes without saying. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, then David Moyes is officially insane for his persistence in keeping Tom Cleverley in the lineup. Moon ball from point blank range in stoppage time. 4.5

Young: Unable to conjure up the mid-week magic. 5.0

Rooney: Dropped to center mid when Jones went out, faded badly in the second half. 6.0

Mata: Not much to talk about other than one more assist. Seemed wasted on the right. 6.0

Van Persie: Didn't sniff the ball much in the first 30 minutes. Made no mistake after the break when he tied the game up. 6.5

Substitutes:

Rafael (Evans), 10: Steady. 6.0

Welbeck (Jones), 43: Asleep at the switch. A rather bizarre selection from the manager when Darren Fletcher appeared the natural choice. 4.5

Hernandez (Van Persie), 79: Beautiful cutback near the end but no one there to take advantage. 6.0

This is farlieonfootie for February 2.

The Debut: Manchester United 2 - Cardiff City 0 -- Game Recap and Player Ratings

2014-01-29T07:59:00.002-05:00


photo by benben	via PhotoRee

Juan Mata made his Manchester United debut Tuesday night, but it was Robin Van Persie hogging the headlines as the Dutchman got off the mark early to lead the home side to a relatively comfortable 2-0 win over Cardiff City at Old Trafford. Ashley Young bagged the second goal of the evening to put the contest comfortably beyond the Bluebird's reach in the second half. Never truly looking threatened on defense -- although definitely appearing confused and slow at times -- United played better than they have in recent weeks, although still far from the fluid heights fans may remember from recent seasons.

Indeed, while it appears that Mata will indeed be a creative spark so desperately needed by the side, the mere fact he was backed by Ryan Giggs and Phil Jones in the engine room speaks to the issues still apparent in the Red Devils' midfield. Herewith, the individual player ratings for a game that saw the team turn around a string of poor performances in front of the home crowd:

De Gea: Little to do on either side of the interval; a relative breeze. 7.0

Rafael: Sloppy in possession, but looked decent in attack. 5.5

Smalling: Rose high in the air on numerous occasions. 6.0

Evans: Covered for his teammates and turned in another solid performance. 6.0

Evra (c): A dangerous weapon rampaging down the left, and easily could have had a couple of assists if Mata and Januzaj had scored. However, the Frenchman was also caught out defensively a number of times. 6.0

Valencia: Hit the bar early when he really should have scored, and was denied by Marshall late in the game. 5.5

Jones: Sat deep for most of the match and came up with a late block. Not terribly convincing. 5.0

Giggs: Unable to influence the match from the middle. 5.0

Young: A great cross to start the game, placed on a virtual platter for Valencia. His goal, the team's second of the evening, was an absolute gem. 7.0

Mata: Offered a glimpse of what he can do when he picked out a wide open Young on 20 minutes, but the winger was unable to control the ball. Still (and understandably) didn't look quite on the same song sheet as his teammates yet. 7.5

Van Persie: The Dutchman showed just how much he's been missed when he headed twice in succession to find the net before the ten minute mark. 7.0

Substitutes:

Rooney (Van Persie), 63: Almost scored several times on his return to the pitch. 6.5

Cleverley (Giggs), 71: Didn't seem to add much. 5.5

Januzaj (Mata), 85: Should've scored in stoppage time. 6.0

This is farlieonfootie for January 29.

Black Mark: Sunderland 1 (2) - Manchester United 2 (1) -- Capital One Cup Game Summary and Player Ratings

2014-01-23T07:30:00.000-05:00


photo by Flowery Luza*	via PhotoRee

Manchester United's season veered from bad to worse on Wednesday night as the Red Devils crashed out of the Capital One Cup semi-finals to 19th ranked Sunderland, losing 2-1 on penalties at Old Trafford. United manager David Moyes suffered yet another indignity in a season full of them, overseeing a side that was dominated during the second half and was only a minute away from exiting the competition at home without taking the game to penalties, a fate it later appeared some of the United players may have preferred. Saved only by an increasingly infrequent Fergie-time goal by Javier Hernandez, United were unable to convert from the spot, spurning four of their five opportunities, and sending a midfielder and two defenders among others forward for their roll of the penalty dice.

A bad, late error by David De Gea, an easy shot rolling calamitously off the goalkeeper's hands and into the home side's net, neatly encapsulated the team's fate this season. A mental lapse, a lack of confidence and an inability to bounce back sealed the Red Devils' fate on an evening that will remain a black mark on Moyes' CV whether or not he is able to turn around his United career. In one of the uglier performances in a season already full of none-too-pretty game -- particularly at home -- Wednesday night's performance may have taken the cake, and only served to pit loyal United supporters even further against each other. And so the question after the latest setback remains: patience or flight, and what cost does each entail....?

As Moyes looks increasingly overwhelmed, United's Board must decide how best to move forward. Taking a quick glance at the manager's obviously agitated body language, however, it is becoming clear to this observer that he may be aggravating the problem currently rather than alleviating it. Moyes clearly needs help; the question is, will he receive it?

Herewith, some individual ratings on a night that many of the players will want to forget as quickly as possible:

De Gea: Little to do before the break and less to do afterward. A schoolboy mistake, though, by the 'keeper to send the contest to penalties. 4.0

Rafael: A threat darting forward and blazed just over the bar to start the second half. 5.0

Smalling: An all over menace and massive in the air and on the ground. 7.5

Evans: An unlikely hero with the first goal. Kept his team afloat on defense, too. 7.0

Büttner: Little to recommend, to be honest, other than a late block of an Adam Johnson shot. 5.0

Januzaj: Silky smoothness on and off the ball, although much too willing to pull the trigger from distance in the second half. Needs to bulk up in the off-season, too. 6.5

Carrick: Metronomic in the middle and forced to help out on defense, as well. 5.5

Fletcher (c): Quiet performance but began to be steadily overwhelmed in the second half, and suffered too many late game turnovers. 5.0

Kagawa: Telepathic first half communication with Chicharito, but faded badly in the second half. 4.5

Welbeck: His shot turned into a nice flick on, but otherwise another quiet evening. 4.5

Hernandez: Denied by Vito Mannone within the first six minutes, but never quite got in the rhythm of the game. Still able to pull a rabbit out of his hat when he needed to, though. 6.0

Substitutes:

Valencia (Kagawa), 62: If possible, the team played even worse after he came on the pitch. Fresh legs but at what cost? 4.0

Evra (Büttner), 85: N/A

Jones (Carrick), ET: N/A

Penalties:

Sunderland: XX11X

United: X1XXX (Welbeck, Fletcher, Januzaj, Jones, Rafael)

This is farlieonfootie for January 23.

How Did it Come to This?: Chelsea 3 - Manchester United 1

2014-01-20T12:19:00.000-05:00


photo by mtstradling	via PhotoRee

Coming as a mild surprise to only those dyed the deepest shade of red, Manchester United's 3-1 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge yesterday afternoon laid utterly bare the issues enveloping the club at the present moment: devoid of confidence, lacking both conviction and any kind of cutting edge, and if not for the invention of young Belgian Adnan Januzaj, a squad that looks bereft of both leadership and skill at all levels. Serenaded by Chelsea fans begging him to stay on the job for as long as possible, United manager David Moyes could only offer up his pat stable of excuses on the post mortem of his team's latest defeat, the seventh of the current campaign: playing well at times, United were victims of "bad luck" and "did not deserve to be 2-0 down at half time."

Noting that his team "showed a lot of good things today," Moyes will be busy trying to figure out just quite how things could have gotten so far off track that his opposite number, Jose Mourinho, was able to spend the vast middle of what used to be a competitive match sitting comfortably on the sideline enjoying some banter with the fans before shutting down his team's attacking intent with more than a half hour still to play -- seemingly trying consciously not to embarrass his opposite number.

How did it come to this, that the reigning Champions of England are viewed as victims who need to be pitied...? The answer may be partly in the player ratings below, but it has become increasingly clear that this is a club with a major problem in its midst: the current manager and how to get him "up to speed" before the spit truly hits the fan:

De Gea: Stranded by Carrick for Chelsea's opener and little he could have done for Samuel Eto'o's third. Will be slightly disappointed with himself to have given up a second before the break. 6.5

Rafael: Decent interplay on the wing with Antonio Valencia but gone completely missing for Chelsea's second goal of the afternoon. 5.0

Vidic: Still commanding in the air, but not the same player he once was. 5.0

Evans: More well hidden than Edward Snowden. 4.5

Evra: Absolutely shambolic defending for Chelsea's second. Completely switched off. 4.0

Valencia: Ultra-predictable and not a single decent cross to his credit. 4.0

Jones: Rushed back into service, he looked off the pace early, and was beaten like a mere schoolboy by Samuel Eto'o. 4.5

Carrick: Unlucky to score at the wrong end of the pitch. 5.5

Young: Denied by Petr Cech during United's torrid early start. Never seen again after that. 4.0

Januzaj: Appeared to be the only player trying before the break, but was relatively uninvolved in the second half. 6.5

Welbeck: Never really in the game but still should've equalized when it was still a one goal game near the 40 minute mark. 4.5

Substitutes:

Smalling (Evra), 51: Serviceable job in replacing an injured Patrice Evra. 5.0

Hernandez (Young), 56: The fact he didn't start against Chelsea should be a dark mark on Moyes CV. Still managed a goal to remind everyone how much he loves scoring against the Blues. 6.5

This is farlieonfootie for January 20.

Celebration: Manchester United 2 - Swansea City 0 -- Game Recap and Player Ratings

2014-01-12T15:10:00.001-05:00


photo by thelastminute	via PhotoRee

Perhaps the beating of the team with the single worst form in the League over the past 6 games while playing at home would normally not be a cause for celebration, but it was for David Moyes yesterday, along with million of other Manchester United fans around the globe. In a nutshell, this is what the current Red Devils' season has become: a narrow 2-0 victory at Old Trafford which prevents a four game losing streak is a huge positive. The fact that Chelsea at Stamford Bridge looms next on the Red Devils' schedule seems not to have registered with most observers as of yet, or at the very least United supporters are putting it out of their minds just to remember what it feels like to win and celebrate again.

Yesterday's victory was the proverbial tale of two halves, with United looking flat, disjointed and painfully slow before the break, and more like their old, attacking selves after the interval. The manager's switch of Shinji Kagawa and Adnan Januzaj's positioning had something to do with the revival, with the former moving to the middle and the latter drifting out to the left for the final 45 minutes of the contest. Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck provided the goals and the defense did their best to shut down a Swans' attack that was missing several key players.

So while the immediate crisis may be over, the question of whether or not United have turned the corner is as open as ever. Without further ado, our thoughts on the individual player performances in a victory that provided some much-needed relief:

De Gea: A most comfortable afternoon. 7.0

Rafael: More defensive focus than usual, but should have had an assist when a lung-busting run of 70 yards was spurned by Shinji Kagawa. 7.5

Smalling: Silky smooth in the center but could've easily added a third goal. 7.0

Vidic (c): Diving clearances highlighted his physical commitment. 7.5

Evra: More first half shots than anyone else, and an assist to boot. Gave his all throughout, especially in the second half. 7.5

Valencia: Didn't do much before the break but stuffed home a rebound for an early second half lead. 6.5

Carrick: Still has the eye for a pass and can block a shot when need be. One of his better recent efforts. 7.0

Fletcher: Industrious effort, and a good part of what's been missing in the middle. Mr. Cleverley, please take note. 7.0

Januzaj: Rattled the crossbar early and became much more influential after the break. 8.0

Kagawa: Wasn't in the game until his header led to the game's first goal. Grew in influence as he moved to the middle and should have had an assist for Smalling. Still can't figure our how he didn't score a third goal himself. 7.0

Welbeck: Should've put the ball away in front of halftime but did his business after the break. 7.0

Substitutes:

Büttner (Evra), 80: Still a defensive liability. 5.5

Hernandez (Welbeck), 86: N/A

This is farlieonfootie for January 12.

Abject and Powerless: Sunderland 2 - Manchester United 1

2014-01-08T09:26:00.000-05:00

Is that all they got?

photo by Phillie Casablanca

via PhotoRee

Unlike Sir Alex and Sir Bobby, we had to find ways to keep ourselves amused last night watching the very latest drab display of football from Manchester United. So, to match the modicum of effort put out by the players in a 2-1 loss to bottom-of-the-table Sunderland, we condensed our usual player reviews to only one word per each half played, viz:

De Gea: Beaten and Spotted. 5.0

Rafael: Useful but Mouthy. 4.5

Vidic: Upset and Heady. 5.5

Evans: Blocked and Covered. 5.0

Evra: Hand-y and Unimpressive. 4.5

Valencia: Missing and Predictable. 4.0

Carrick: Deep and Puzzling. 4.5

Cleverley: Useless and Again. 2.0

Giggs: Offside and Fading. 4.0

Januzaj: Energetic and Determined. 6.0

Welbeck: Lethargic and Lonely. 4.5

Substitutes:

Smalling (Evans), 61: Handfull 4.5

Fletcher (Cleverley), 74: Surprising 5.5

Hernandez (Valencia), 87: Tardy N/A

This is a GloryHunting farlieonfootie for January 8.

David Moyes in Quotes: Swansea City 2 - Manchester United 1, With Player Ratings

2014-01-06T07:30:00.000-05:00

Rather than our usual game recap, we've decided to skip the commentary and offer up some rather insightful quotes from our fearless leader. Although we benignly neglected to read much of the news after yet another dispiriting home loss, we'll leave you with these pearls of wisdom and witty bon mots from our present leader, Mr. Moyes:

"I can see why they were champions." -- September 1, 2013 Score: Liverpool 1 - MUFC 0

"But for a minute in Cardiff near the end you would have been saying Man United had a really good week." -- December 1, 2013 Score: Cardiff City 2 - Manchester United 2

"I don't think I'll feel under pressure...to... [buy in January] as I'll try to do the right things. I tend to take my time and try to assess what are the best talents to bring in." -- December 9, 2013

Moyes insisted United had “deserved to win” -- January 2, 2014 Score: Spurs 2 - MUFC 1

I think the amount of games we play...[has an impact on the injuries we've sufered] -- January 5, 2014.
We didn't deserve to lose." -- January 5, 2014 Score: Swansea City 2 - MUFC 1

Obviously, the guy is either living in an alternate universe or completely clueless as to what is going on at the club. Rather than bash him, however, we'll let you judge him by his own words -- and so onto the individual player ratings:

Lindegaard: Not much to do other than pick the ball out of the net twice. 5.0

Smalling: Note to Mr. Moyes: Chris Smalling is not a proper right back, no matter how often you line him up there. He also showed some surprising vulnerability to the diving disease which is currently ravaging the club. 4.5

Evans: Generally, more willing to run forward than 90% of the men playing in front of him. 5.0

Ferdinand (c): Sucked in like a vacuum on Swansea's opener. 4.0

Büttner: A new set piece and corner kick taker, with some dangerous offerings. A sweet ball in for Chicharito's leveler -- perhaps Moyes should give him a shot at left wing, because it's fairly clear he's not a defender, although he did have a great, late challenge on Bony. 5.5

Valencia: If he was paid £1 for every time he received the ball in a dangerous position and mishit the cross he would be among the wealthiest players in England. In another interesting stat, if he received £1 for each time he touched the ball with his left foot, he would be among the poorest players in England. 4.0

Fletcher: Immediately took charge in the middle, but beaten badly as a right back. 5.0

Cleverley: When not passing the ball sideways and backward, he gave away multiple fouls in dangerous positions. Free kicks are apparently not his specialty, either. 3.5

Kagawa: Must be a fan of author Ralph Ellison, as his game resembles The Invisible Man™. Appears to be playing in a different time zone than his teammates. 3.0

Welbeck: Played deeper than usual and was much too slow and overly intricate near the box. 4.0

Hernandez: Speed to burn up top but a swing and a miss when it first counted. Made up for it almost immediately with a tap in on Buttner's picture-perfect ball. 4.5

Substitutes:

Januzaj (Valencia), 63: How did the Champions' season come to rely on the introduction of a shockingly skinny-shouldered 18 year old? 4.5

Fabio (Ferdinand), 76: Red within four minutes. How's that for his long-awaited return? 2.0

This is farlieonfootie for January 6.