CLASS OF ’92 , DROSS OF2018 Legends see another toothless display from Jose’s strugglers
PERHAPS it was a coincidence, perhaps it was some sort of pincer movement from the Class of ’92.
There they were. David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, in the stands, Paul Scholes in withering form in the TV studio.
Beckham, Giggs and Neville did not have to say anything, their glum faces screaming disapproval.
Nicky Butt was here too but he is a Manchester United employee, so he would not be part of any scheme to put pressure on Jose Mourinho. Of course not. Nor would the others, obviously, but their presence
and Scholes’ words heaps it on Mourinho.
Anything less than a victory against Newcastle here on Saturday and Jose will be in deep trouble.
There was no lack of effort but there was a lack of quality that verged on the startling at times.
But at least the players put in a decent shift, something that should be a given but hasn’t been recently.
It might have been for the benefit of sceptical supporters, it might have been to convince Mourinho they care, but whatever the motivation, a pre-match huddle – the first in the Jose era, some regulars claimed – seemed to have some effect. In the opening 15 minutes, there was a greater
sense of urgency, a stronger enthusiasm for pressing, than there had been in that limp performance at the London Stadium.
And there was an attacking directness, particularly from Marcus Rashford, even if he was magnetised to the middle when Mourinho might have wanted more width.
But after a fast start yielded few chances, United began to get a little frustrated and careless in possession.
They were fortunate Valencia did not take advantage. Their mediocre start to the La Liga season camouflages a very decent team and not even an old-school reducer
from Antonio Valencia could blunt the sharpness of Goncalo Guedes.
Quite how referee Slavko Vincic did not deem the defender’s offence worthy of a yellow card is anybody’s guess, especially as he proceeded to caution Francis Coquelin and Rodrigo for trivialities.
It was only of minor assistance to United but
they need all the help available right now.
While attitude and commitment was an improvement, there are certain players who are simply out of form, whose technical skills have momentarily taken flight.
Alexis Sanchez (left) gave it away cheaply far too many times and Nemanja Matic was far too ponderous in recycling possession. And when the early promise came to nought, the mediocrity of recent weeks soon returned.
United registered just a single shot on target in the first half and Neto could have thrown his cap on Rashford’s effort. Not that it seemed to bother Jose a great deal – he spent a minute or so in the half-time tunnel, hugging and laughing with Guedes. Maybe he was asking his fellow Portuguese to go easy on him, which is exactly what he did when curling a good chance wide. Nothing much came off for Guedes but with his sense of adventure, with his daring and quick feet, he was a contrast to most in red.
Perhaps he will turn up at Old Trafford one day, that is presuming Mourinho hangs around for much longer.
At least he endeared himself with one decision, hooking Sanchez and replacing him with Anthony Martial with 15 minutes left.
It made little difference to another disjointed, patternless United performance that brought some boos tumbling from the stands.