Weekend Football Thoughts 2015 (September 19-20)

There was one hugely controversial issue in the Premier League this weekend which can't be ignored, while I won't apologise for this being a piece leaning towards Manchester United on what was a successful weekend for the club after the disappointment in Eindhoven.

Is there a Bigger Wind-Up Merchant than Diego Costa in the Premier League?

I have no love lost for Arsenal and found it amusing how their fans reacted to Diego Costa's attitude on the field considering how so many of the same fans 'love' Martin Keown and his actions against Ruud Van Nistelrooy ten years ago.

But let's face facts- I have said for a year that there are very few bigger wind up merchants in the Premier League than Diego Costa.

He is constantly playing on the edge when it comes to the rules, but how he seems to get away with his over aggressive approach is beyond me. The referees must see what Costa gets up to, yet no one seems to put a stamp down on the behaviour.

A blatant slap in Laurent Koscielny's face was followed by a running battle with Gabriel, a player he has had previous with during their time in Spain. An argument escalated as Mike Dean lost control of the situation and somehow Costa was able to get Gabriel wound up to the point of kicking out and being sent off.

There is no doubting it was a key moment in the match which turned in favour of Chelsea, but something has to be done about Costa. Something to show him he can't keep doing this on a football pitch and expect to get away with it because the FA won't punish him retrospectively.

Referees have to have an eye out on him at all times and hopefully they can get on top of Costa and not allow a situation to develop where he is completely responsible for having a fellow professional sent off.


Since I wrote this, Diego Costa has been charged by the FA and does look set for a three game suspension for the 'punch' on Koscielny.

North East Footballing Troubles

Middlesbrough look to be a team on the up in this part of the world, but Hull City were relegated from the Premier League last season and both Sunderland and Newcastle United are looking like they are on a path to join The Tigers in the Championship.

Steve McClaren and Dick Advocaat have to be leading the 'Sack Race' at this moment in time as both Newcastle United and Sunderland struggle, but the Dutch manager is the one in more immediate trouble as far as I am concerned.

I can't imagine Mike Ashley making a snap decision on a manager he has appointed for just five games, but Advocaat has admitted he will walk if he can't begin to turn things around.

The worry for both teams has to be that they have lost some really disappointing games and ones they would have circled as 'can't afford to lose' type of games. Newcastle United losing at home to Watford is a very poor result, but the manner of Sunderland's losses at Leicester and Bournemouth has to be a concern.

You can't doubt the passion that supporters have in this part of England, but that can also lead to a toxic environment when things aren't going right. It doesn't get easier for either team this weekend as Newcastle United host Chelsea and Sunderland visit Manchester United off the back of Capital One Cup action and this already looks like desperate times for the two clubs in the North East in the Premier League.

West Ham United are Displaying the Form to get into Europe

There has to be some sense of irony that Slaven Bilic is presiding over a West Ham United team that have won some impressive games that could lead to a European berth next season.

After barely giving the Europa League any attention this season, it would be funny if the side play well enough to get back into that competition next time around. The Champions League looks beyond them despite the form they have displayed in winning at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, but the lack of regard West Ham United showed the Europa League makes me wonder what is the ambition of the club?

Are they simply going to look to finish high enough to get into a position to be knocked out in the Qualifiers of the Europa League next season?

Or was it the fact they had to begin so early in European competition that bothered Bilic?

It is a strange situation to me, but take nothing away from West Ham United who have played some very attractive football this season. They rode their luck to win the game at The Etihad Stadium, as you have to sometimes, but adds to the impressive away wins in the Premier League.

If it wasn't for defeats to Leicester City and Bournemouth, which look even more surprising now, West Ham United might have been leading the pile in the Premier League.

David De Gea Staying at Manchester United is a huge deal

Most Manchester United fans are sensible enough to understand the draw of Real Madrid for a player like David De Gea, as they did when Cristiano Ronaldo made it clear his future lay in the Spanish capital, but keeping him could be the best transfer business Manchester United had in the summer of 2015.

Take nothing away from some of the players brought into the club, but David De Gea has to be amongst the top two or three goalkeepers in the world and keeping him is a huge boost.

That image above doesn't do the save he made on Sunday any justice.

As he did last season, De Gea made a jaw-dropping save in the second half with Manchester United leading the game and it was a moment that effectively won the three points. They say goalkeepers are worth an additional three or four wins a season and De Gea certainly proved that point on Sunday with a save that truly was world class.

Watching in real time, I figured it was a certainty that the ball was about to hit the back of the net until somehow De Gea clawed it out from behind him and once again reminded everyone of the importance of keeping the Spaniard at Old Trafford.

Anthony Martial Needs Time, but looks the Real Deal

I haven't said too much about Anthony Martial because I simply hadn't seen a lot of him prior to his move to Manchester United.

The price looked a big one, but it is one that will be determined by the career that Martial creates for him in the future.

His announcement with a fantastic finish against Liverpool was brilliant, but I also thought he played well in Eindhoven even if he didn't score.

However, the two goals against Southampton this weekend to help turn that game were very, very promising.

I don't really want to judge someone on a special goal like the one Martial got against Liverpool, but I love to see what a player is like doing the basics under some pressure.

The basics in this case were the composure in front of goal shown for the second goal, or Martial's decision making for the first to turn Virgil Van Dijk. Both were signs of someone who is completely calm in front of goal and there is no more of a confidence booster than seeing a player be able to do that.

I don't want to go overboard like some have the tendency to do, but it was the clinical finishing reminiscent of Ruud Van Nistelrooy that really appealed to me and makes me a believer in Martial. He is 19 years old so will have his ups and downs, but composure like he showed at St Mary's can't be taught and seeing him have that in the locker is a really big positive for me.

Give the young man time to develop the rest of his game and Manchester United really might have a star of the future on their hands.

United Corner- 5 Ways Louis Van Gaal's Fortunes have Improved at Old Trafford (April 9th 2015)

United Corner- 5 Ways Louis Van Gaal's Fortunes have Improved at Old Trafford (April 9th 2015)

I know there was a lot of excitement about the appointment of Louis Van Gaal in the summer, although I can still state that I was not one of those getting overly-giddy. The strong performance of the Netherlands at the World Cup only increased the expectation, but I have at least maintained what I expected from Manchester United this season.

There was never a moment that I felt Manchester United were as bad as they showed last season under David Moyes, but a poor run of form meant the top four was far from assured. Back in December, I was convinced Manchester United were well on their way to a Champions League spot, but they allowed the challengers to get close as the March fixtures approached.

Louis Van Gaal was beginning to have more questions asked about himself, while games against Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool increased in difficulty after the defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup Sixth Round.

I don’t think many would argue with me that the side have produced their two best performances in those games as Manchester United won both and now look in a strong position to finish in the top four once again. There are still some big fixtures to come, but these five issues look to have turned the Manchester United season and also the Louis Van Gaal fortunes.

Robin Van Persie’s Injury

You might not have heard many people say this a couple of years ago, but Robin Van Persie’s injury seems to have come at the right time for Louis Van Gaal.

There seemed to be a real loyalty towards his fellow Dutchman despite some below par performances and while the focus may have been on Radamel Falcao’s struggles, Van Persie had hardly been setting the world alight.

Van Persie is very much a striker that thrives on the service he is given, but a lack of energy in some performances made that difficult.

His injury meant Louis Van Gaal turned back to Wayne Rooney to lead the line and the energy and work-rate provided by the English striker has really given the midfield someone to aim for. The bigger impact may be the fact that Rooney moving out of midfield meant there was room for other players.

Getting Ander Herrera and Juan Mata integrated into the team

Other players like Ander Herrera and latterly Juan Mata.

Ander Herrera has really been the player that the fans have wanted to see with his performances always being good to watch and also the fact he provides goals from the midfield. It was something of a surprise that Van Gaal seemed to continue to overlook the Spaniard, but Rooney moving out of midfield made space for Herrera and he has blossomed in recent weeks.

Herrera himself has said he hadn’t taken on board all that Van Gaal had wanted from him earlier in the season but his understanding with Juan Mata has really sparked some creativity from the midfield.

Juan Mata is a top player and one I admire massively, but he looked a little lost in the mix at Old Trafford until returning in the Tottenham Hotspur game. The suspension of Angel Di Maria turned out to be a blessing in disguise and Mata has responded in the manner the fans would expect, while giving Manchester United more of a forward thinking player and added creativity and goals in the starting eleven.

Removing the Confusing Back Three Formation

This has happened for a while, but the Manchester United team do look more comfortable in their roles with a back four rather than the wing back system that they had used for a while.

Some of the mistakes that were being made have been cut out at the same time and there does seem to be more cohesiveness between the centre halves which has also seen the team pick up more clean sheets.

David De Gea’s Continuing Form

Forget the mistake that David De Gea made at the weekend against Aston Villa, the continuing strong form he is showing behind the back four is inspiring further confidence.

Unfortunately it might also mean there are more admiring glances being given to De Gea from Real Madrid, but for this season it could be enough to see Manchester United finish in the top four.

There have been rumours that Van Gaal and De Gea don’t see eye to eye on things, but the former has to be thankful to the latter in keeping United moving forward.

Removing the Fear

A big key to the improved performances has been the attitude of the players and I have to give Louis Van Gaal the biggest credit for this.

There seems to be a much more positive approach to games and Manchester United don’t look nervous these days compared with the difficult time they had at the turn of the calendar year.

The ‘philosophy’ has finally been bought into by the players and the likes of Ander Herrera and Juan Mata are very keen to get the play moving forward which is a far cry from the days where the midfield seemed much keener to play with their back to the opposition goal.

Getting the best out of Marouane Fellaini is another credit that has to be given to Louis Van Gaal and there is now a real confidence going into the second Manchester derby of the season.