Eriksen for Real
Another dismal show as Ole’s away woes go on
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN has been given renewed hope of a dream move to Real Madrid with his agent expected in Spain for talks this weekend.
The Dane told Spurs he wanted to quit in the summer but a move to the Bernabeu collapsed with boss Zinedine Zidane not keen.
Real have reopened dialogue with Eriksen’s people and talks are scheduled in Madrid over a January move.
The midfielder, 27, who is refusing to sign a new contract with Spurs, will be a free agent next summer and the winter window represents Tottenham’s last chance to cash in.
He has started only four of his side’s seven Premier League games.
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER branded the plastic pitch here as one of the worst he had ever seen.
Unfortunately for the United boss, his side is something similar.
This dismal stalemate extended Solskjaer’s winless away run to 10 games since being made United’s permanent boss, a record that has lasted 212 days.
United’s failure to find the back of the net means Solskjaer’s side have now scored just seven in their last nine games – pitiful when you consider Manchester City plundered eight in one match. But this is what Manchester turning into from DAVID McDONNELL United are now, a mediocre outfit with no fear factor.
There was no guile, no goal threat and no shot on target from this United side, one that is drifting with no identity.
AZ Alkmaar, third in the Dutch league, were by far the better team while United played without clarity of thought or any discernible game-plan. Alkmaar had the ball in United’s net as early as the 10th minute through front man Myron Boadu.
But his diving header, which flew past David De Gea, was ruled out for offside. United’s keeper then had to make a vital save low down to his right just four minutes later, keeping out a shot from Oussama Idrissi.
United were forced into a policy of containment and it took Solskjaer’s side until the half-hour mark to create their first chance, which they could not even get on target.
Daniel James slung in a cross from the right, which was met by Mason Greenwood on the edge of the six-yard box, but the 18-year-old forward’s effort blocked by former Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar.
The first half ended with United in retreat and Alkmaar asking further questions, forcing a seventh corner of a half in which they were dominant.
Alkmaar continued to cause more problems after the break, Dani De Wit going close in the 51st minute, only to see his near-post effort fly across the face of goal.
The home side appealed for handball a minute later when 18-year-old United defender Brandon Williams – on his first start – appeared to handle Idrissi’s delivery but referee Gediminas Mazeika was not swayed.
In a rare attack, United’s Angel Gomes produced an effort that would have been more at home at the rugby World Cup – high over the bar and into the stands.
Solskjaer thought his side have had a penalty when Rashford, who came off the went down.
But to focus on that perceived injustice would be churlish on a night when his side were lucky to come away with a point.
To compound United’s misery, subsitute Jesse Lingard limped off with a hamstring injury late in the match.
However, given that he has not scored for 21 games, he is unlikely to be missed.
Newcastle, whacked 5-0 by Leicester last weekend, are up next on Sunday – a battle between two teams who fought for the title more than two decades ago but who have since lost their way.
The most damning indictment of this United side is that Newcastle, second from bottom with one win all season, will fancy their chances. should Marcus bench,