United Corner- Derby Day Disappointment (December 13th 2017)

United Corner- Derby Day Disappointment (December 13th 2017)

The reality is that most of us Manchester United fans would have accepted that Manchester City have the superior eleven starting at the moment, but that doesn't mean we have to accept being second best as we were at Old Trafford on Sunday.

It has taken a couple of days for the defeat to really sink in and the stories of the tunnel fracas and subsequent press conferences both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola has kept the wound a little fresher than I was hoping.

The thing that really grates is that, despite being second best, and despite the feeling United are not as good as City at this moment in time, United should not have lost in the manner they did. Two horrible mistakes from set pieces and the game was gone, but looking back it was only when United began to chase the game that City really had the openings to put the game away and I can't think of too many great chances created before that.

I'm not saying United were playing better.

But I am saying that City were mainly kept at arm's length and those two mistakes from set pieces are haunting me in a game where I feel United could have got a result.

Even with that in mind, there are clearly some way to go before United can really match those lot across the way and I think the next summer transfer window is going to be a really big one for Jose Mourinho. A legitimate number 10 and another wide player have to be the priority, but it can't just be a functioning player but one that can really turn a game.

That would seriously help with the maintaining of possession against a City team who try and starve teams of the ball, while also providing a more effective counter attack.

Some of the tactics may need to be questioned with the long, direct ball clearly not working bar one mistake from the City defence, but that can be a decent plan if mixed in with a little more courage to take the ball down and get around the press.

It can happen and that extra quality will help, while I still believe Paul Pogba was a huge loss for the team and one that may have turned enough in our favour to get something from the game.

This season it is tough to get the ball down and play when you see some of the starters from Sunday, but I do hope the entire team plays with a little more belief in what they are doing the next time we meet City.

That might not be too long with both clubs progressing in the League Cup which reaches its Semi Final Round after the Quarter Finals are played next week. Both United and City also have decent Champions League draws and a chance to open up in the FA Cup with home wins so there is every chance we have to meet again to determine more silverware later in the campaign.

A bit more bravery and a better performance from set pieces and I think United will be closer, especially as City begin to rack up the games and the fatigue later in the season.

Some of that will depend on the title rivals getting closer than the 11 point gap which currently exists. I think United just have to do what Mourinho has been emphasising and that is take each fixture as it comes and see how it plays out.

Games against Bournemouth, West Brom, Leicester City, Burnley (twice), Southampton, Everton and Stoke City represent a good chance for Manchester United to get back on the horse and see where they stand when they head to Wembley Stadium to play Tottenham Hotspur at the end of January.

It is very much within the realms of possibility that United can win all 8 game League games in that time during which Manchester City host Tottenham Hotspur and have to visit Liverpool and suddenly the gap may look more manageable.

I am clutching at straws somewhat, but we have seen United both reel in and blow big leads after Christmas in the last twenty years and I don't want to be handing any prizes to City just yet.

It was also nice to hear from Louis Van Gaal in the aftermath of the loss to Manchester City- a good time for the overrated Dutchman to try and stick the knife in.

Unfortunately the suggestion that his United team were the 'great entertainers' went down faster than a lead balloon, while the fact he thinks he has his 'best year' as manager, despite the money he was handed, is laughable.

One, I've never been as bored watching United as I was under LVG when goalless home draws were the absolute norm as he put spectators and his own players to sleep.

Two, best year? The last two years have shown how important it can be for teams to produce their best in the Premier League without European distractions. Both Leicester City and Chelsea have won the League without European commitments.

Louis Van Gaal took United to 4th and 17 points off the eventual winners Chelsea.

We also lost 4-0 at MK Dons in the League Cup and a home loss at Arsenal meant United ended up without silverware.

The next season the great LVG couldn't get United back into the top four.

Best year? He honestly must have been at the Christmas wine again.

And every day he should thank a broken fax machine for being the reason his only real legacy at Old Trafford would have been selling David De Gea to Real Madrid for Keyler Navas and a bag of crisps!

The fixtures will come thick and fast during the remainder of December with United playing twice a week and that could continue through January depending on whether we get through to the League Cup Semi Final and any potential FA Cup Replay.

It's a tough time but Pogba is back next week and the squad has the depth to cope with the fixtures. I am hoping United can kick on with the wins to really put the Manchester derby defeat behind us and I am sure there is enough character in the squad to do that.

There is plenty of football and silverware to be played for and Sunday is not going to hold back the team. United can't afford to slip up though with the top four chase looking like one that could go down to the wire, but I believe the boys will get back to winning ways on Wednesday and that will help build some momentum to take into the new calendar year.

Weekend Football Picks 2015 (April 11-13)

The Manchester derby will take centre stage over the next three days as another round of Premier League fixtures are played.

With that in mind, you can read my list of 10 names that are likely to take over as manager of Manchester City this summer.

I have also made a list of 5 ways Louis Van Gaal has turned around some of the criticism that he had begun to receive a month ago and those can be read here.

Finally, in preparation of the second Manchester derby of the season, I have compiled a list of 10 games which have taken place over the last five years which have had an important impact at both clubs which can be read here.


Southampton v Hull City Pick: This game is a big one for Hull City as they look to do enough to avoid finishing in the bottom three of the Premier League, but it is going to be very difficult considering five of their last seven games are against teams in the top seven of the Premier League.

Out of those games, the trip to St Mary's might be the 'easiest' considering the lack of consistency that Southampton have produced in recent weeks. However, the Saints have won consecutive home games which includes a fairly routine win over another struggling team in Burnley.

The lack of goals is a major reason Southampton have slipped off the top four pace, but they still have enough quality to hurt a Hull City team that didn't play well in defeat at Swansea last weekend. The return of Curtis Davies and Andrew Robertson will perhaps make Hull City a little more solid at the back, but the pressure of the situation could also lead to more mistakes.

Southampton don't concede a lot of goals at home too and that could lead to them having the edge in the game. Ronald Koeman will be hoping the 2-0 win over Burnley may see them turn a corner with their struggles in front of goal in the last couple of months, and I do think the home team can win by a couple of goals this weekend.


Sunderland v Crystal Palace Pick: It took something quite special to win the Tyne-Wear derby for Sunderland last week and those priceless three points may be key in helping the side avoid relegation. It was a vital victory on a weekend where both Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City had won and Burnley had also earned a point, although the 29 points earned by Sunderland are not enough on their own.

There will be hope they can use the momentum of the success of last week to propel them to a second win at the Stadium of Light in seven days, but Sunderland have to be careful of the Crystal Palace team that are coming to town.

Sunderland have failed to score in 5 of their previous 6 home games in all competitions before the win over Newcastle United and they had lost to the likes of Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa. That isn't the most inspiring set of results and Crystal Palace will be heading to the North-East with plenty of confidence themselves having beaten Manchester City 2-1 at home on Monday night.

The Eagles have won 4 of their last 5 Premier League games and Crystal Palace have won 6 of their last 7 away games in all competitions. They have won games at Burnley and Leicester City in that time, two teams that have been struggling against relegation, while Crystal Palace have had impressive other wins at West Ham United and Stoke City.

Alan Pardew has gotten the best out of Glenn Murray up front, but he has been well supported by the likes of Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha and that pace will give Sunderland plenty to worry about. As well as Sunderland did in their win over Newcastle United, I don't think confidence is fully restored in the home side and going a goal behind might be a tough position to recover from.


Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa Pick: You have to give Tim Sherwood some credit that he has managed to reinvigorate the goalscoring ability of Aston Villa and especially Christian Benteke who had been struggling earlier this season. While the Belgian has already scored four goals this week, the defensive problems continue to trouble Aston Villa and they have conceded six goals in the last couple of games.

Those issues will be tested to the full by Tottenham Hotspur who might have failed to score in their last two away games, but who have scored at least twice in 6 straight Premier League games. Spurs have needed to do that because they have been poor defensively themselves and they haven't kept a clean sheet in that run of games, while they have conceded at least two goals in their last 3 games at White Hart Lane in the Premier League.

Sherwood is not someone who will ask his Aston Villa team to take a backward step and I think he will want them to express themselves at the club where he was the manager last season. He clearly believes Aston Villa have to score goals with their problems at the back and Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping Harry Kane can win the battle of the two in-form strikers that will take to the field on Saturday.

Games between these teams have been entertaining and I think both teams will create their chances in this one. There have been plenty of goals scored in recent games at White Hart Lane and Aston Villa seem to have found something going forward so I will back there being at least three goals in this one.


Burnley v Arsenal Pick: This is the fifth straight game that Burnley will be taking on a side that is based in the top seven of the Premier League and picking up four points from a possible twelve is not a bad return for a side battling against relegation. However, games are running out for Burnley to try and make their escape from the bottom three and they have to continue earning points even in the face of an in-form Arsenal visiting Turf Moor.

Burnley did beat Manchester City and draw with Tottenham Hotspur in their last two games at home and they have kept clean sheets in both, but Arsenal are expected to pose a different challenge. Both City and Spurs were not in the greatest of form heading into games with Burnley, but Arsenal have won 7 of their last 8 away games in all competitions including the last 5 in a row.

Prior to their last two results, Burnley haven't exactly been watertight at home and Arsenal have plenty of attacking options to cause problems. I don't want to dismiss Burnley so I do have to say Arsenal look short enough for this live game on Saturday evening, but I think backing the away side to score either two or three goals at odds against might be a decent option.

Arsenal have scored either two or three goals in 7 of their last 8 away games with the only exception coming in a 2-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur. They are also playing with the confidence to close the gap on Chelsea at the top of the Premier League even if a real title challenge is perhaps beyond them at this stage of the season.

The Gunners scored three times in the last 20 minutes in a 3-0 home win over Burnley earlier this season and I don't think they allow Burnley to get away without being posed the questions in defence that both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur failed to do.


Queens Park Rangers v Chelsea Pick: A late Christian Benteke goal pushed Queens Park Rangers back into the bottom three during the week, but there were plenty of positives to take out of that game following the win over West Brom last Saturday. The players have spoken of their desire to ride that momentum into this West London derby on Sunday and they clearly feel they can trouble Chelsea.

However, Chris Ramsey is going to have to find the right balance between attack and defence against the pace of the forward players that Chelsea will look to employ on the counter-attack. While Queens Park Rangers have begun to score goals and will feel they can threaten the Chelsea defence, they also have to be aware of former player Loic Remy who will be leading the line for the away side.

Queens Park Rangers will likely have a tough time escaping the bottom three if they can't improve a defence that has conceded plenty of goals, including at least two goals to the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Everton at Loftus Road over the last couple of months.

Chelsea will look to become the latest to do that as they have scored at least twice in 4 of their last 5 away games in the Premier League, but it is their own vulnerability at the back that Queens Park Rangers will look to expose. Hull City scored twice against Chelsea in a recent game at the KC Stadium and Charlie Austin and Bobby Zamora can both cause problems in this one.

Games between Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road have been tight affairs in recent seasons, but this one looks like it could buck the trend. Last week Super Sunday was a let down for those who like seeing goals, but this game could provide at least three as both teams look to get forward to win the game.


Manchester United v Manchester City Pick: Over the last few seasons, games between Manchester City and Manchester United have been key ones when it came to deciding the Premier League title winners. This season is very different in that regard with both teams off the pace set by Chelsea, but this is still a huge game considering the top four ramifications it could have.

The losing team in the Manchester derby could find themselves being put under pressure by Liverpool on Monday evening when it comes to Champions League places.

The momentum is with Manchester United who have been producing some quality football in recent games and who have won 5 straight Premier League games. Louis Van Gaal isn't backing down from the reigning Champions either considering how well Manchester United have played at Old Trafford, especially the fact they have scored plenty of goals here.

However, Van Gaal is smart enough to know that this is going to be anything but a straight forward game for Manchester United considering the quality that Manuel Pellegrini has at his disposal. Manchester City might have lost again on Monday, but they had enough chances to win the game at Selhurst Park and you have to think they won't be as wasteful again.

Manchester City also have enjoyed playing at Old Trafford in recent years with 3 straight wins in the Premier League, including two by wide margins.

I can see both teams having their chances to score considering how vulnerable Manchester City have been at times and the manner in which Manchester United have performed. On the other hand, Manchester City can create plenty themselves and this could be yet another entertaining Manchester derby for the neutrals.

The last six games between these teams at Old Trafford have seen at least three goals shared between them. Picking a winner is tough, but backing there being at least three goals again between these teams looks the call.


Liverpool v Newcastle United Pick: Some of the tempo has come out of the Liverpool play in recent games which has been identified as the reason behind their losses against Manchester United and Arsenal by Brendan Rodgers. The playing surface at Anfield has also come in for some criticism by the manager, but Liverpool have to put that all to one side as their last chance to get into the top four in the Premier League begins this week.

Liverpool have to win their final seven games in the League and hope Manchester City or Manchester United slip up- the former has been in poor form of late and dropping a lot of points, while the latter still has a difficult fixture list to negotiate.

The loser of the Manchester derby on Sunday will be the team that Liverpool can begin to target, but they have to win on Monday if there is any hope left that Champions League football can return to Anfield for a second season in succession.

They might not have been able to pick a better opponent than Newcastle United- the Magpies look to be safe from the relegation battle, but don't have a lot to aim for in the remainder of the season and were beaten by Sunderland yet again last weekend.

Injuries have hurt Newcastle United defensively and John Carver is not getting the right response from his players, while they have suffered some heavy defeats in recent away games. Both Manchester City and Everton crushed Newcastle United and an early goal for Liverpool, who have won 8 of 9 at Anfield against these visitors, could lead to another collapse of sorts from the Magpies.

An extra day rest between the game at Blackburn Rovers and this one should only benefit Liverpool and I fancy them to win by a couple of goals at least.

MY PICKS: Southampton - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.93 Bet365 (2 Units)
Crystal Palace @ 2.75 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Tottenham Hotspur-Aston Villa Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.73 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Arsenal Total Goals: 2-3 Goals @ 2.05 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Queens Park Rangers-Chelsea Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.73 Sporting Bet (2 Units)
Manchester United-Manchester City Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Liverpool - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.17 Bet Victor (2 Units)

April Update: 4-3, + 1.70 Units (14 Units Staked, + 12.14% Yield)

March Final: 30-18, + 30.66 Units (88 Units Staked, + 34.84% Yield)
February Final: 20-24-2, + 3.19 Units (75 Units Staked, + 4.25% Yield)
January Final: 10-22-1, - 10.54 Units (57 Units Staked, - 18.49% Yield)
December Final: 25-19-1, + 18.70 Units (81 Units Staked, + 23.09% Yield)
November Final: 17-21, - 0.59 Units (69 Units Staked, - 1% Yield)
October Final: 8-18, - 14.79 Units (47 Units Staked, - 31.47% Yield)
September Final: 12-18, - 2.28 Units (41 Units Staked, - 5.56% Yield)
August Final: 8-22, - 19.92 Units (51 Units Staked, - 39.06% Yield)

Season 2014/15: 130-162-4, + 4.43 Units (509 Units Staked, + 0.09% Yield)
Season 2013/14: 164-185-3, + 15.84 Units (577 Units Staked, + 2.75% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)

Five Years, Ten Important Manchester Derbies (April 9th 2015)

Five Years, Ten Important Manchester Derbies

The Manchester derby has always been one of the first games that fans of either club would have circled when the fixture list was released over the years, although most Manchester United fans will happily admit that it was the Liverpool game that was considered 'bigger'.

For many years Manchester City were not the regular title challenger that they have become and were arguably a little more than a yo-yo club that had been moving up and down the English pyramid.

However, they have gone through a couple of different owners over the last few years which has given them the financial clout to challenge the very best, which meant the neighbours from Old Trafford. Over the last five years, Manchester City have become a regular title contender and games between these two clubs have increased in importance in each passing season when it comes to handing out trophies.

This season is perhaps the first time in the Premier League era when neither club is challenging for the Premier League title with real belief of being able to catch Chelsea, but that doesn't mean there is nothing to play for as both fight for Champions League football and automatic qualification to the Group Stage.

The following is a list of ten Manchester derby games that have had a real significance for one, or both of these clubs.

September 20th 2009: Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City

An early meeting between these rivals was significant as being the return of Carlos Tevez to Old Trafford having moved across the blue-red divide in Manchester over the summer. It ended up being a derby that was described as 'probably the best of all time' by Sir Alex Ferguson as the momentum shifted both ways before a late Michael Owen winner.

Mark Hughes would only be the manager at the Etihad Stadium for a further three months before being replaced by Roberto Mancini, but the performance from Manchester City against the reigning Champions and Champions League Runners Up from four months earlier showed the potential the club had with the investment provided by Sheikh Mansour.

January 27th 2010: Manchester United 3-1 Manchester City

Roberto Mancini had taken over at Manchester City and led the club through to the League Cup Semi Final where Manchester United were waiting in a two legged tie. After beating Manchester United 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City saw Carlos Tevez level the tie up late in the Second Leg at Old Trafford.

The game was all set to go into extra time to determine the Finalist, but Wayne Rooney popped up with an injury time goal that sent Manchester United through 5-4 on aggregate. Manchester City failed to reach their first domestic Final for 29 years and the team had suffered two agonising injury-time defeats to Manchester United during the season and surely couldn't be expected to suffer another such loss... Could they?

April 17th 2010: Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United

They could you know! For the third time in the 2009-10 season, Manchester United broke Manchester City hearts with an injury time goal as Paul Scholes popped up late to win this game at the Etihad Stadium.

It kept Manchester United in the hunt for a fourth consecutive Premier League title, while also denting Manchester City's chance of reaching the top four which might have slowed the club's development. However, it was inevitable that Manchester City would be a success with the amount of money being pumped into the club, while this game was also significant in being the first time Manchester City were favoured to beat their rivals in many a year by the 'experts'.

That alone showed the shift in how Manchester City were being perceived when it came to winning games and trophies.

February 12th 2011: Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City

It was a special moment from Wayne Rooney late in the day that separated the rivals on this occasion, but once again the signs were that Manchester City were not that far away from Manchester United in terms of ability on any given day.

The match was very even with this outstanding moment captured above the difference on the day and it also meant Manchester United were on their way to another Premier League success, the fourth in five years, while Manchester City's title challenge was dented on this day.

However, Manchester City were still very much on course for a top four finish and a Champions League place, while they would have some revenge later in the season that sparked a change in fortunes in the derby in the coming years.

April 16th 2011: Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United

The FA Cup Semi Final was played at Wembley Stadium and was the moment that this group of Manchester City players finally saw they were capable of beating Manchester United in a really important game.

It was the two missed chances from Dimitar Berbatov in the first half that Manchester United fans will remember, but a Yaya Toure effort ended any chances of a repeat of 1999 for the Red Devils. Manchester United did win the Premier League to make up for this loss, but this was a significant moment for Manchester City.

Manchester City had reached their first FA Cup Final in thirty years and would later win their first piece of silverware for thirty-five years and was the moment that would spark the next few seasons of picking up trophies in a regular manner.

October 23rd 2011: Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City

Just months after that FA Cup Semi Final victory, Manchester City really announced their ability to compete with the best in England in a stunning win at Old Trafford. There were extenuating circumstances for the final scoreline including the fact that Manchester United had been reduced to ten men and inexplicably for chasing a game that saw them concede three times in the final few minutes of the game.

Just two years earlier Sir Alex Ferguson had described the derby win as 'possibly the best derby of all time' but he described this one as a 'terrible defeat' and 'worst ever day'.

No one could have predicted the significance the result would eventually have on the season though as Manchester City would win the title on goal difference over Manchester United.

April 30th 2012: Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United

The first Premier League game might have sent some shockwaves throughout Europe, but the second was considered the 'biggest game in twenty Premier League years' as Manchester United held a three point lead over Manchester City with three games left to play.

It was a game where Sir Alex Ferguson got his tactics wrong and gave Manchester City the impetus to win the game and take over at the top of the Premier League table with two games left thanks to a Vincent Kompany winner.

They still had to win the title the hard way, but this was the moment Manchester City took control having reeled in a big Manchester United lead in the table and the day the 'noisy neighbours' became more than a mere nuisance.

December 9th 2012: Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United

The two teams had another significant battle off the field in the summer of 2012 over Robin Van Persie when the Dutchman made it clear he wanted to leave Arsenal with his final destination being in Manchester.

During the course of the season, Roberto Mancini would claim Van Persie made the difference between these two rivals as the Premier League title was once again contested by them.

On this day, Mancini's words were spot on as Manchester City fought back from 0-2 down only to be undone by a last minute free kick from Van Persie. It was yet another injury time winner for Manchester United and one in a season that would eventually see Sir Alex Ferguson retire with another Premier League title winning medal in his pocket.

Roberto Mancini would also be relieved of his post as Manchester City manager and it would be all change when the teams met the following season.

September 22nd 2013: Manchester City 4-1 Manchester United

The title race was expected to be between Manchester City and Manchester United with perhaps Chelsea being their closest challengers at the beginning of this season. However, both Manuel Pellegrini and David Moyes were managing in their first ever Manchester derby in this September meeting and perhaps the game signalled which way the two clubs would be going under their new management.

Games this early in the season shouldn't be that important, but the manner of the defeat became a feature of Manchester United performances under Moyes as United were blown apart early and often.

Pellegrini also saw his team display the ruthless attacking ability that would lead to two trophies later in the season, although they had to show their dominance over Manchester United one more time before winning the Premier League title.

March 25th 2014: Manchester United 0-3 Manchester City

A third consecutive home defeat to Manchester City was just another kick in the teeth for Manchester United fans and was another moment of disappointment for David Moyes in a miserable season in charge at Old Trafford.

Moyes didn't have long left in the hot-seat at Old Trafford as this defeat came off the back of a 0-3 home hammering at the hands of Liverpool and the disarray that had set in at Manchester United was highlighted in this one.

Any hope of success for United fans evaporated inside sixty seconds and the scoreline was reflective of the gulf between the teams. Finishing outside of the European positions was the fate left for Manchester United while Manchester City reeled in Liverpool and won the Premier League title for the second time in three seasons.

As we go into the second Manchester derby of the season, it does feel like the role has been reversed for Manuel Pellegrini as he is the manager under pressure this time around compared with his last visit to Old Trafford. It does look like a change will be made in the summer and I do wonder if the 0-3 win last season was the peak of the Manchester City success of recent years in this fixture.

The last three seasons have mainly seen Manchester City come out on top in the big games, but their group of players look like they might be coming to the end of their time together, while Louis Van Gaal seems to be building in the right direction.

A win for Manchester United on Sunday will certainly make it feel like there has been a significant shift back to the red half of Manchester and this has to be the most confident home fans have entered a derby since 2011.

United Corner- Manchester derby, Champions League and League Cup (September 27)

United Corner- Champions League Match Day 1, Manchester Derby, Capital One Cup and month ahead (September 27th)






Coming out of an international break is always tough for the bigger teams in the European Leagues as they are obviously filled with more talent than some of the other teams and that can lead to slow starts in the first League matches after those breaks. That is the only reason I can offer up for Manchester United's uninspired performance against Crystal Palace on September 14 as United lacked the tempo that has been a feature of their game over the years.

I honestly sat at Old Trafford that day and was not convinced of where United were going to find an opening until the Crystal Palace player was sent off at the end of the first half. Anderson was a major disappointment and there also seemed to be a fear from the two central midfielders to try and fizz the ball to the wide players who certainly had created room at times.

The final pass was also poor for the majority of the game, but three days later all seemed to be back to the level that was required. In the Champions League opener, United put in their best performance not just of this season, but going back a few months into the end of the reign of Sir Alex and the only negative was conceding two goals out of nothing.

There was tempo and pace that was missing days earlier and even Antonio Valencia was showing signs of some of his old form and I can't have been the only one that went into the Manchester derby in much better heart than I had thought I would after the performance on Saturday.


Unfortunately for United, they didn't get going at all in the Manchester derby on Sunday as the pace and power of Manchester City overran United and made them look a little old at times. It wasn't a freak result like the one City had at Old Trafford a couple of years ago and they were well worthy of the margin of victory with my personal opinion being that they did ease off after scoring the fourth as it was a case of job done.

Too many of the starting eleven under-performed and that isn't something you can afford in a game of this magnitude. I would be surprised if Ashley Young is given another League start in the next couple of weeks before the next set of international fixtures, especially with the return of Nani to the fold, while Robin Van Persie was another miss.

David Moyes was right in saying this was not the time to worry too much, even though it was a poor performance and he is right as City would have given any team in Europe trouble with the manner in which they played. However, I would be a little concerned with the ease in which some of their goals came as the midfield failed to track runners while Maruoane Fellaini has to learn that you can't switch off for a moment, but the big game against Liverpool at least allowed United to erase Sunday as soon as possible.


Obviously the big concern was that United would not get the desired result from the game against Liverpool on Wednesday night and the pressure on David Moyes would have increased, not necessarily from the fans that attend Old Trafford, but those who seem to ignorantly write stupid statements on the social networks and the media who need to fill the back pages.

When the team news was announced, I won't lie and say I wasn't concerned as Liverpool certainly played their strongest team while United made a number of changes, but the result was the most important factor of the night and that is what we achieved from the game. Liverpool may have felt hard done by as they did seem to create more opportunities, but the final ball let them down and there wasn't that much to separate the sides which is a testimony to the squad players United can call on.

It was announced after the game that David Moyes had made the best start to a Manchester United manager's career since Sir Matt Busby in 1946 as Moyes had overseen 5 wins from the first 8 games, a far cry from all the negative noise that came out after Sunday's result.


I do find it strange that so many so called Manchester United fans have been on David Moyes back to the extent that they have at times, especially considering I have sympathy for the start that he was handed in the Premier League.

Some will tell you that United picked up 7 points from the same fixtures against Swansea, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City last season, but it would be harsh to criticise Moyes considering the manner in which those points came last year. At Anfield, Liverpool had a man sent off in the first half, at City we had blown a 0-2 lead and were definitely looking the less likely to win that game so I think Moyes is probably only a point under a par performance.

The next six weeks are much more critical for Moyes though as United have games against West Brom, at Sunderland, Southampton, Stoke and at Fulham before the home game against Arsenal and I think anything less than 13 points from those five games would be a disappointment and would put United in a tough spot compared with the likely leaders by that point.

The Champions League fixtures make it tough for an inexperienced manager as to keeping the squad as fresh as possible, but the words of Ryan Giggs will help Moyes through that and I do think United are going to be in a much stronger position by November 2nd.


My last thought for this post: Please, please, please don't be that person that goes up to people to show how smart and savvy you are with the statistic that David Moyes has had a better start in his first 8 games than Sir Alex Ferguson.

Unless you're an idiot, that would hardly surprise you considering the state of the club in November 1986 compared with July 2013 so let's just leave that statistic in with the large pile of useless ones that people quote to prove a point.