Swansea City 2-1 Manchester United

I've no confidence of us getting a result ahead of every game at the moment and probably even less of us putting in a good performance. Yet on Saturday, even though it was far from perfect, and we looked very shaky at the back, i felt that the first half performance was a bit more like it. By more like it, I mean that the mindset of the players seemed to be to attack, there was a little bit more speed about everything, well the passing anyway.
And then we get a second half like that, it wasn't just getting beat, it was that fact you could never really see a goal coming, however much possession we had. The substitutions were totally baffling again, both full backs withdrawn to be replaced by two wingers, playing full back. Why on Earth wasn't Wilson on the bench. If he isn't going to play or even get onto the subs bench, he might as well go out on loan, I've said before that I don't think he's played enough football this season.
Everything seemed to be looking up after that first goal, possibly the best team goal we have scored all season, a proper United goal on the break, fast incisive passing and a fine finish from Herrera. It didn't take long for the joy to subside as the defence went to sleep to allow an easy equaliser almost straight away. Shaw took most of the blame for the goal, though nobody covered themselves in glory. I actually thought he had a decent game. I would sooner have seen him stay on and Young brought on in front of him on the wing. But it seems the chances of that happening are zero.
We can grasp at straws and claim we didn't deserve to get beat, we probably didn't, but we also sure didn't deserve to take the three points. That top four spot is starting to look very ropey, Woodward must be a very worried man. If we look at our form, the team selection's and our main rivals for those champions league spots, things don't look good. I've long thought we would struggle, but as things stand I really can't see us coming above either Liverpool or Arsenal, maybe even Tottenham. I'm clinging onto the fact that in general Van Gaal has seemed to have been a lucky manager so far this season. If that luck runs out now, I think we're sunk.

  


Music

Aphrodite´s Child - 666: Never mind that I'd never heard this, I'd never even heard of it, until I read about it indirectly recently. I was never that big a fan of Vangelis, but he was the leading light behind this and it is an excellent album. Spot the vocalist?

Johnny Marr - Playland: On a roll with his solo career, this is another cracking album of superior catchy indie rock indie.

Macy Gray - The Way: I'd never listened to an album of hers, heard plenty of singles and the odd track and usually liked them. That perception wasn't wrong, this is a pretty good album, plenty of tunes that stick in your brain.

Mark Lanegan Band - Phantom Radio: Now I've heard plenty of Mark Lanegan and like the cut of his jib, this is not his strongest album, but it's still well worth a listen.

Prince - Art Official Age: I like Prince without being his biggest fan, he brought out 2 albums last year, this was the less raunchier affair. It is a decent listen and has a couple of excellent tunes, but I can't help thinking I'll prefer the other when I get around to listening to it.

SBTRKT - Wonder Where We Land: I can't say I was that overstruck with this, yes it does have it's moments, but not enough for me and there's a couple of tracks where i just have to skip.

The Jazz Epistles - The Complete Recordings: I can't remember where I read about this apartheid era black African jazz combo, but this is a superb jazz record, a must listen.

Thurston Moore - The Best Day: I only got around to Sonic Youth late and there's loads of albums for me to still get ears around. But it doesn't really look as if we're going to be getting any more albums for the forseeable future, so this will be more than enough to be getting on with, loved it.

Preston North End 1-3 Manchester United

Through to the next round, but yet another dull unsatisfactory performance. Van Gaal rang a few changes, playing to the crowd by bringing in Herrera into midfield and putting Rooney back up top alongside Falcao. Well he pleased a lot of reds if my twitter line was anything to go by. Why that should be, I have no idea.
I think an awful lot of reds are just sheep, if something is going wrong, just change the players. Obviously players are a part of the problem, but as I have been banging on and on about, it's also Van Gaal's systems and the way he wants them to play. You just looked at the line up and it screamed, no width. As sure as night follows day, you knew what kind of performance we'd get, and we got it. It was only when Young was brought on, that we really started to get much joy.
I'm not really convinced by Herrera, he hasn't really been given a fair crack of the whip, that's true, but when he has played he hasn't really looked like the real deal to me. Yes he tries to be inventive, but hasn't really ever done anything that's made me sit up and say wow. On the debit side, he's almost as slow as Blind and is just as lightweight. Let say we bought a Vidal, Strootman, Pogba or whoever in the summer, where would Herrera fit in our best eleven next season then. A midfield two of Blind, good squad player, no more and Herrera isn't frightening to anybody.
We had a lot of possession during that first twenty minutes or so, but yet again to what effect. And anyway, surely against Preston of division one, we should be dominating possession. I felt a bit sorry for Di Maria, he seems to be very in and out with his form at the moment. But yet he seems to have been given the task of sole creator in that role at the tip of the diamond. It's as if nobody else is allowed to create, other than trying to create space by passing the opposition to death. Contrary to Keown's absolutely atrocious co commentary, he did actually put a couple of decent passes in, but neither Rooney or Falcao could get on the end of them.
And now we come to the front two, Rooney was alright, nothing special, but compared to what we've seen from Falcao and Van Persie recently it was an improvement. The Falcao situation is starting to become just plain embarrassing. What on Earth does his agent Mendes have over United, because I'd struggle to find a place for him in the under 21's at the moment.
I have to admit when they got their slightly fortunate opening goal, I wondered whether we'd have it in us to turn it around and actually win the game, because it hadn't happened so far this so season as far as I can remember. Yet again it was Fellaini to the rescue. Am I alone in finding it bizarre that Van Gaal's only response to going behind to a third tier team is to resort to long back post crosses to Fellaini. Is that it?
So Arsenal at home, we've surely got to start playing better than this if we're going to be ending the season on a high.

Manchester United 3-1 Burnley

Another strange night at Old trafford, but at least we took the three points. We go to every game at the moment, whoever we play, fearing that the luck will run out, but in the main it hasn't. So far the Dutchman seems to be one hell of a lucky manager. The football is just as bad as last season really, it might just be even worse if we're being honest. For us to get as out played by Burnley at Old trafford as we were at times during that first half, even after opening the scoring after just six minutes, well that just has to be the nadir of the season so far.
For whatever reason, Van Gaal continued the Van Persie, Falcao partnership and unsurprisingly it was ineffective as ever. The moment he replaced Falcao with Wilson and played Van Persie in a deeper position behind the youngster was the moment where we actually started to look like a team again. We actually started to create chances, with Januzaj and Di Maria playing as proper wingers all of a sudden, it started to look like a proper Manchester United side again. Let's hope Van Gaal has stumbled on his eureka moment and found out his best formation.
The first half was an utter shambles, alright Jones having to go off so early wasn't ideal, but the ineptness of it all was off the scale. Van Gaal was lucky we got that second just before half time, a goal that came out of nowhere. If we hadn't have scored I'm as certain as you can be that our team was going to get booed off the pitch. There was moans and grumbles all around me last night, Van Gaal's honeymoon with the fans is well and truly over. It's a pity that most of them are so brain dead that they usually blame the player with the ball going sideways or back instead of the lack of movement and a formation that never looks working.
At least he seems intent on giving Januzaj a run in the team, he's nowhere near hitting the heights he occasionally showed last season, but the confidence seems to be slowly coming back. And I'd miles sooner have a player that's prepared to take a man on, even if it doesn't always come off than just another safe option. Di Maria had another pretty iffy game, his radar was off all night, but one thing I'll give him is he never hides. I'd definitely be persevering with him.
One player I would not be persevering with is Falcao, he was pretty abject last night. I keep reading ex pros making excuses for him and telling us he'll come good. Maybe he'll score goals again in another team, but I will eat my hat if he's ever the player he was at Athletico Madrid again. Does anybody think his dream move to Real Madrid will ever come off for him now. Christ if they wouldn't take him last summer, there's no way they'll take him after this season's fare.
So we're back to third spot, unless Van Gaal's going to stick with the formation we ended last night with, if not exactly with the same players, I'd fancy us for a top four spot. But if he reverts back to the tactics that have served us so ill, so far this season, I wouldn't bank on anything.

West Ham United 1-1 Manchester United

It ain't getting any better, the last minute equaliser may have spared some blushes, but the football we played, was just utter gash, again. The team he sent out, looked reasonable on paper, not great, but good enough to have performed far better than that. It takes some doing to make one of the less talented squads we have had over the last twenty five years look less than the sum of its parts, but that's where we are.
Individual players seem to be regressing, Di Maria who looked the business against Cambridge couldn't do a thing right. We are talking about a man who played a big part in making Real Madrid the current champions league holders. Januzaj who I though started decently enough yesterday, eventually sank without trace. There were only really two players who could hold their hand up and say they performed to their potential, De Gea obviously and Shaw who just to cap a terrible display by the team managed to get himself sent off at the death.
Whilst it may not have been great defending, their goal was superbly taken and unfortunately thoroughly deserved. The defence looked shaky all afternoon, the midfield were outplayed for most of the afternoon and our attack was toothless. When we did manage to create chances, towards the end, we couldn't take them. Van Persie hit his low struck shot straight at the goalie when he probably should have gone across him. But at least he hit the target, Falcao's miss was unbelievable, it was Gary Birtles like. Van Gaal was supposed to have big balls, get Wilson in or move Rooney back up front. To refuse to even bring Wilson on was just bizarre.
The midfield just looks nothing at the moment, Rooney is completely out of position, it's plain for all to see. I'm not really over struck by Blind either, he may have got the equaliser, but he doesn't really stand out when playing in the centre of the park. Bringing on Fellaini seems to be his answer to everything, it works, it has to be said. But we were led to believe he would have sold him in the summer if he hadn't got injured. How the fuck would he be trying to retrieve dire situations without the Belgian bogbrush.
As for formations, we've no width high up the pitch, whatever system he goes with. Two out and out centre forwards didn't work for Moyes and it's not working for Van Gaal. It's all a bit of a mess, Burnley couldn't have picked a better time to be visiting Old trafford. I know I'm not alone in not having any confidence about us beating anybody at the moment.

A little word on the lack of transfer activity, coming in to Old trafford, anyway. The main priority as far as our next set of transfer dealings is to make sure we get it right, so I was quite happy to see no new faces. If the players Van Gaal has got in mind weren't available, don't buy for the sake of buying. Because when I look at the likes of Mata and Herrera, that's what I see. I was never struck on Mata at Chelsea and he hasn't done anything at United to change my mind. Herrera may be a decent player or may be crap, but it would seem, whatever he is, he doesn't fit the Van Gaal philosophy.
Saying all that, I'm not really that sure I would really want to be trusting Van Gaal with a big fat transfer fund. I'm no big fan of Hummels, fine footballer, slow as a carthorse though. Strootman, whom Van Gaal seemingly covets, would seem to be a massive risk now he's had another operation of that knee. That's if he is any good, people who have seen plenty of him, I haven't, reckon he isn't that mobile.
My main problem with Van Gaal though is the philosophy, buying players who function in multiple roles. You've got to have some specialists, and a strong quick fuck off centre half has got to be a priority, not somebody who can play left back or left wing back. Ditto, we need a top quality central midfielder, maybe even two. Carrick isn't getting any younger, Blind is a good squad player, no more and Herrera's face doesn't seem to fit.
A right back would be nice, but I have to admit, I would like to see more width up front, so a winger would be nice. I have absolutely no idea where we'll find one, but if we can't find one, I would bring Nani back for another season. I know that would be pretty unpopular, but it would give us more attacking options and as far I'm concerned we can't have too many of them.
As for attack, I wouldn't be making Falcao permanent and I have a feeling Van Persie may be off, that's a rumour anyway. We've almost certainly seen the best of the Dutchman, so I'd be reasonably happy with that. That would leave us with Rooney, Wilson and I've always thought Januzaj could do more than a job there. Maybe that's a player light, depends on the formation Van Gaal isn't going to go with next season.
For the last two seasons we have basically played with two centre forwards, yet we've been so boring to watch. I'd like to see more width in the team next season, if the best way of managing that, and staying solid is to dispense with on of those forwards, I'd go along with that. There aren't many teams that play with two out and out centre forwards any more. And we could hardly be less boring than we have been over the last few seasons. I suppose one of the tricks is to try and get the rest of the team to chip in with more goals.
Anyway that's my transfer thoughts for the moment, no doubt come May, some of those thoughts may have changed.




Be - The Seven Movements: Gareth Be from Manchester brought out this little gem last year, put the headphones on and take it all in.

Flying Lotus - You're Dead: This is the second album of his that I've heard, Until the Quiet was excellent, this is at least it's equal, electronic, hip hop and jazz combine to dazzling effect.
 
Foxygen - And Star Power: More California indie psychedelia, their last album was pretty good and this defintiely has it's moments. It's a good album that with a bit of editing down could have been a very good one.
 
King Tuff - Black Moon Spell: I love this slice of US indie rock that comes across at times as pastiche, but there still killer rock songs.
 
Monty Alexander - Harlem Kingston express vol.2: Jazz in a reggae stylee, could have been horrible, is surprisingly very good, the better the cover, the better the performance.
 
Vashti Bunyan - Heartleap: The one album sixties wonder has become prolific since her return, as with all her stuff you really need to let those songs sink in, it's no classic, but a more than decent effort.
 
White Manna - Come down safari: I've seen their first album described as space rock on The Quietus, and that's a fair description of their sound. That would usually be right up my street, but whilst their 2nd album is a decent listen, all bar the last track don't really seem to go anywhere, maybe I've been listening to so much Krautrock influenced stuff, i missed thee Motorik beat.
  

Manchester United 3-0 Cambridge United

I can't pretend I was a particularly happy bunny when I saw the team selected last night, but whilst the performance was nothing special, it was better than I'd been expecting after seeing said line up. Seeing no Januzaj, no Wilson was grim, even no Herrera. If the Basque isn't going to get a start against a team from the lowest tier in English football, he really ought to be thinking about his options for next year.
There's caution and there's caution. Moyes was accused by some reds of being the new Sexton last year, but this season feels even more Sextonesque to my eyes.
At least he didn't revert to a back four, when I saw the line up, I wasn't quite sure. But the night was lit up by an excellent performance from Di Maria. It wasn't just his runs, but he seemed last night to be going deeper, demanding the ball and playing those cross field balls that can open up spaces. In fact it looked as if he had been told that it was his job to open up the play as we hardly saw a cross field ball from Rooney all night. Given his success rate over recent games, no bad thing.
As majestic as Di Maria was at times, the same could not be said for his midfield partner Rooney. I'm not sure what the future holds for him, if Van Gaal really has decided that he doesn't fancy him as a striker any more. Because his recent form in the deeper role is just going to show what we already really knew, he can do a job there, at a push, but he's never going to be the answer there.
I expect Van Persie and Falcao to leave in the summer, so unless we are going to buy a couple of strikers, you would think he still has a future. Wilson showed last night, when he came on, why he has to start to get more first team action. Van Persie, for once, couldn't complain about the service he was provided with, I reckon he missed about four pretty good chances. Wilson scored a cracker from what you would hardly class as a chance, the type of goal he regularly scored coming up the ranks.
I was going to say the back four were hardly tested, then remembered we were almost a goal down in the first few minutes. But in the main, United were pretty much untested, which of course is how it should have been.
I'm not getting carried away though, it was a reasonable performance, which is the least we should have expected. As to the tactics, not for the first time this season, Van Gaal opted for a strategy that got Moyes all kinds of grief, crosses to the back post looking for Fellaini, to be fair, it worked. But fuck me, that against Cambridge, like I said, very Sexton.

Manchester United 3-1 Leicester City

Three goals, three points, moments of reasonably attacking play, a bit more width in our play, but still a lot of reds left the stadium not entirely happy. I wasn't as disappointed as some, but I could see why they were unhappy. When the third goal went in, you hoped that this would be the moment when United finally let rip under Van Gaal. Yet instead we got a second half of largely square and backwards passing possession football that did nothing to endear either the players or the manager to the fans.
It's becoming pretty obvious to me now, that even if Van Gaal manages to make United competitive at the top level again, i.e challenging for titles and champions league's, he won't really be fondly remembered by many. I can see why neither Barca or Bayern Munich fans have much time for him.
At least he stuck to a four man defence yesterday, I hope the three man rearguard is gone for good, but fear it's probably not. It was good to see Januzaj given another start, and I thought that was good for the team, even though we played a diamond, he gave us a natural width in attacking area's that we have missed all season. He wasn't brilliant, but that was easily his best game of the season. The longer the game went on, the more confidence he seemed to get. Hopefully he will now get a real run of games.
Yesterday was Di Maria's best game in a long time as well, again not perfect by any means, but he was a threat all afternoon. On the other hand Rooney had a bit of a shocker, I don't know how long the central midfield experiment is going to last, but he's never going to be top draw in that position. Blind had a decent game, it was a fine pass for the first goal. He's a good squad player, but if United are ever to get back to where we want them to be, he wouldn't ever be getting into your my best eleven.
Up front Van Persie took his goal superbly, he had a reasonable game without being anything special. As for Falcao, I though that was probably as well as he has played. Though he still hasn't put in the kind of performance, that would persuade me that United should make the move permanent.
The last goal was a bit of a gift, but it hadn't really registered that Jones had been demoted from corner taking responsibilities, until the celebrations, where Jones led the celebrations with Rooney as if he was more than happy with that decision.
Their late consolation was something we could have done without. From a half time scoreline where it looked as if we could really improve our goal difference, to just a two goal victory. I hope a top four spot doesn't come down to goal difference, because we have had some chances to improve it that we have just frittered away.