REASON TEN HAG’S OLD TRAFFORD REVOLUTION IS TAKING SHAPE
BRAZILIAN THE TYPE OF LEADER REDS HAVE NOT HAD SINCE KEANEwill HAAL JUST NOT RIGHT AT ETIHAD
He was way overpriced and I wouldn’t be convinced by him at all.
But Casemiro is clearly aware that his compatriot is under pressure and going through a tough time.
After he found the net, he went to Antony to acknowledge his role in setting up the goal.
Lift
It was very deliberate, in my opinion. He wanted to give a beleaguered teammate a lift — that’s what leaders too.
Not only is there still a bite to Casemiro’s game, there is also a calmness and composure.
He is the main reason why United have improved significantly this season.
The influence he has on other players is clear to see. United are on a different level when he’s on the pitch.
You see his value when he’s not there.
If Casemiro hadn’t been suspended for the trip to Arsenal, I think United might have got at least a point out of the game.
It was his own fault he wasn’t there as a reckless challenge led to a yellow card that put him in ban territory.
He has that edge to his game, just like Keane had. There are times, like this one, where it
be costly, but it is an important element of the way he plays.
You need midfielders with that jagged edge.
It’s easy to overlook how United have been trying to make do in midfield for a long time — even when Ferguson was there.
Plodders
For the last third of his career, he didn’t have a Keane or a Bryan Robson in the midfield.
Anderson wasn’t the only journeyman in there. Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djemba were two other plodders that wore the red shirt.
Near the end, Ferguson had to persuade Paul Scholes to come out of retirement.
He had to play Ryan Giggs in the middle, even though he wasn’t far off his 40th birthday.
After Ferguson’s retirement, that central problem remained for a long, long time.
All sorts of supposed solutions were tried — from Belgian giant Marouane Fellaini to the highly-decorated Bastian Schweinsteiger.
When the latter arrived, he was in his early 30s and had a long list of trophies to his name.
But it was clear very quickly that the flame had died in the German World Cup winner.
He just went through the motions while at Old Trafford.
Samba star Casemiro ouldn’t be more different.
He’s United’s best signing in years and could just spark themt to life.
SOMETHING just doesn’t seem to be right at Manchester City this season.
I thought they’d cruise to the title, but now I’m not so sure. Arsenal made six changes for their FA Cup date on Friday but were well able to go toe to toe with a close to full strength City, who were at home.
That will give the Gunners plenty of heart, especially as they have to play City twice in the title race run-in.
The main reason why I had
City as the strongest of favourites was the capture of Erling Haaland.
He looked like a goal machine and he has proven himself to be just that.
Scoring
City have 53 goals from their 20 Premier League games, and Haaland scored 25 of those.
But here’s the thing: After 20 games last season, they had scored 50 times.
Their scoring rate has only gone up slightly since the signing of Haaland. The big difference is that he’s doing the bulk of the scoring, whereas the goals used to be spread around. So are City a better team now than they were a year ago? It’s questionable.
The biggest issue is in midfield. Kevin de Bruyne really operates in the attacking third of the pitch and I don’t think
City have a dominant central midfielder.
It’s a big, big issue.
ON SATURDAY, Aaron Connolly turned 23 and he marked the occasion with his first two goals on loan at Hull City.
It was a reminder that he hasn’t gone away.
There were a few Ireland strikers in the past — think of John Aldridge and Jon Walters, for example — who didn’t win their first cap until their mid 20s.
So Connolly can get back in the frame for the national team — but it’s up to himself.
Lesson
He has admitted that he hasn’t always done things the right way. Hopefully, he’s learned his lesson as there are no shortcuts in the modern game.
I remember Connolly causing Portugal plenty of problems in Lisbon — and that was a big game.
Hopefully, he can get his career back on track.