Manchester United have their groove back

The virus that was Jose Mourinho has been finally cleansed from the club. I dreamt of waking up to the news that Jose got the sack. Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating that anybody lose their job but Jose had to go. He continuously criticize players in public and his pragmatic, boring playing style is not what us fans expect of Manchester United. Under his watch, I didn't look forward to Manchester United games. I am sure many will share that belief.

Finally, an antidote was found in the short-term, in the form of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, an ex-player who in his prime was one of the best finishers the club ever had. Ole not only has the experience of being a manager but he understands what the club is about. For me in the short-term it made sense. We can already see in a couple of games, the benefits of Ole giving the players freedom to express themselves.

What needs to be done now is that a football director has to be appointed to be responsible for scouting and making transfers and a manager must be appointed who understands what playing style is expected at Manchester United.

Goodbye Mourinho

I have been a Manchester United supporter since fellow countryman, Dwight Yorke signed in the 1998/99 season. What a season that was? I don't want to get sidetracked. Some would say I along with others were spoil by the unprecedented success during this period under the great Sir Alex Ferguson. I think the board needs to be reminded what made the club so successful during this period. It was free-flowing attacking football and developing young players. Two components that is lacking with the present day Manchester United squad. The board hired three consecutive managers who were pragmatic and deployed a defensive style of football, a style that the fans were unaccustomed too. The worse of the three have to be Jose Mourinho. He has made me not excited anymore when Manchester United have a game. That has been replaced with anxiety and stress. He is too defensive and safe as a manager. If that wasn't bad enough, his relationship with the players has broken down and has made head scratching decisions in his team line ups. It comes to a point where I don't believe what he says anymore at press conferences. A question is always posted to fans; Do you want attacking football or to win trophies? My response as always been why can't we have both but if I have to choose one it has to be an attacking philosophy that made Manchester United great. It's time for Mourinho to be shown the door and the club get back to the basics.

Caribbean Premier League 2018

In my post about World Cup 2018 in Russia http://sportfanatic25.blogspot.com/2018/07/world-cup-2018-review-best-world-cup.html  I stated that it was the best world cup that I ever witnessed. Same has to be said about the 6th edition of The Caribbean Premier League. I must give credit to the respective groundsmen, who prepared good pitches which resulted in quality cricket played by all the teams. Another factor was the emerging of young West Indian talent in the form of Shimron Hetmeyer, Oshane Thomas, Sherfane Rutherford, Fabian Allen, Khary Pierre, Romario Shepherd and Rovman Powell. Overseas professionals like Glenn Phillips, Colin Munro, Fawad Ahmed and Ali Khan contributed handsomely in making the CPL a success this year as well as the party like atmosphere at every ground.

Congratulations go out to The Trinbago Knight Riders, who played the best cricket throughout the competition and deserved to repeat as champions. I am hoping this time next year I can say that the 7th edition is the best ever.

Manchester United In Turmoil

Manchester United Football Club are in turmoil. Who is too blame? Is it the board, the manager or the players? Or maybe a combination of all 3?

For me it's the latter. First of all the board should have not hired a defensive-minded manager in Jose Mourinho. Clearly they didn't learn when they hired Moyes and LvG. It just seems to me that The Glazers just don't get what football is about and what it takes to be successful.

Secondly the manager in question, Jose Mourinho seems to have a mental block to attacking tactics. In the last two years the team play safe, without any risks. This is a far cry from the days of Sir Alex whose philosophy at time was greater the risk, greater the reward. The good old days. In addition to the tactics, his relationship with the players have broken down, specifically Shaw, Pogba and Martial. Jose from the outside is frustrated by the lack of players brought in. The board is now waning in their support for their manager. If that is the case, it is best that for both parties they part ways. Let us hope it happen before things get really bad like it did at Chelsea. 

World Cup 2018 Review: Best World Cup ever?

The FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 theme was "Expect The Unexpected." That is exactly what we got as viewers. From defending champions Germany being knocked out at the group stage. Another former champion Spain was eliminated by Russia in the round of 16. Who among you saw those results coming? If you did then you better try your luck at playing lottery because I never imagined that both Germany and Spain could have been knocked out so early in the competition. Brazil was another former champion to bite the dust. I believe that as long as Neymar is in the team they won't win the world cup. He is too theatrical and aims at conning officials and players even though he is blessed with an abundance of talent. They were dumped out in the quarterfinals by an emerging power in Belgium, who I have to admit I picked to win but had to settle for 3rd place, their best finish in 32 years at the World Cup We also witnessed the unexpected run of England into the semi-finals, lead by golden boot winner and captain Harry Kane, which surprised many of their supporters. Russia had a fairy tale run as well where many pundits didn't expect them to get out of the group stage yet alone the quarterfinals where they were just ousted by finalists Croatia via penalty shootout.What about arguably two of the greatest players of all time; Lionel Messi and Ronaldo led teams knocked at the round of 16 on the same day. The Argentina team was doomed from the start when head coach Jorge Sampaoli didn't know his best 11. That is inadequate preparation going into a World Cup, while Portugal came up against a well organized defensive outfit in Uruguay. Even after this World Cup there will be debates who is better.

The most controversial topic of the world cup is the use V.A.R.( Video Assistant Referee ). There were a lot more penalties given because of it. I am for it because too often in the past poor decisions has cost a lot of teams to lose games. This made players have to watch their physicality in the penalty box. For me there has been too much pulling and tugging of players' uniforms.

The World Cup has been the best I ever witnessed. It drama of late goals, penalty shootouts, shocking exits and shocking runs. Take a bow Russia! Qatar in 2022 have huge boots to fill. 

Manchester United 2017/18 Season Review

There were a lot of talking points in the just concluded 2017/18 season which included Manchester United fans are not happy about the style of play used by Manager. Jose Mourinho. They believe it is too slow, lethargic and uninspiring. Another critique by the fans is that Mourinho's lack of desire to develop the youth. Evidence of this is how Martial, Shaw and Rashford have struggled under him. In fact mant believe 2 of the 3 may be sold.

Here is my take. First of all Jose Mourinho has improved Manchester United when compared to Louis Van Gaal stint as manager. Mourinho has won 4, ok maybe 3 trophies as Community Shield doesn't really count in his 2 seasons as manager and when you compare last season to this season he has guided the club from 6th to 2nd in the league. In addition they have recorded 7 more wins, 9 less draws, scored 12 more points, scored 14 more goals. That is quite commendable. In terms of the league all I wanted was that Manchester United to compete for the league title. That wasn't accomplished because Manchester City dominated everybody. Winning the league by 19 points. In most seasons Manchester United would have competed for the league title, so maybe I am consoled by that but I am jealous of the brand of entertaining football that Manchester City and Liverpool play when compared to the boring, uninspiring style of play that Manchester United play. I really don't look forward to seeing Manchester United play. I fight through it because I have been a fan since 1998 and will support this great club till my last breath.

Everybody knows that developing and playing youth is a major part of the identity of Manchester United. Mourinho lacks these qualities. Throughout his career, he has always prefer proven older plays who don't need a lot of attention to get the best of them. This is a flaw in his manager style because not every player will respond to tough love, some respond better to an arm around their shoulder. Just look at Klopp & Pep. They are friends to their players. I don't think it is a coincidence that their teams did well this season. I am really concerned that Manchester United could sell Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw who not only need "an arm around their shoulder" but can developed into superstars unlike a player like Fellaini who is the opposite of a Manchester United player. It was beneath Mourinho and a disgrace to beg him to sign a new contract. Don't get his obsession with him. I didn't understand why he signed Alexis Sanchez to replace Anthony Martial who was having a good season. It is a waste of money. The sad thing is that Mourinho will sign older, proven players like Sanchez.

All these problems circulated among Manchester United I blame on the board. They have hired 3 pragmatic managers who play boring uninspiring football. I was all in on Mourinho coming to Manchester United because I knew he is a winner and an all-time great. Maybe I was naive to think that he would adapt to Manchester United. I have asked myself this question. What is more important? Winning trophies or Playing entertaining football? We were spoiled under Sir Alex. It was a tough question to answer but for me it has to be the style of play and I am of the firmed belief that a brand of exciting football will bring silverware. Sir Alex once said famously that as manager of Manchester United you have a duty to entertain. With that being said let me finish by saying Manchester United is bigger than any player and any manager. The fundamentals of this great club must be adhered to.

T&T Commonwealth 2018 Performance

It was really a mixed bag in terms of performance at these Commonwealth Games. The highlights have to be Gold Medal winning performances by Jereem "The Dream" Richards in the Men 200 Metres Championship race in dramatic fashion because Zarnel Hughes of England was disqualified. Michelle Lee Ahye in the Women 100 Metres Championship race as well as Dylan Carter winning Silver in the Men 50 Metres Butterfly Championship race as well as breaking the national record in the 100 Metres Freestyle Final. Special mention has to be made for Shakeil Waithe for placing 7th in the Men Javelin Final in his 1st Global games. 

They were the positives coming out of these Commonwealth Games but there were disappointments which arrive in The Men 400 Metres, where the country was expected that at least Machel Cedenio and Lalonde Gordon advance to the final, maybe an outside chance for Renny Quow who is on his way out . Instead all 3 entrants failed to qualify in the final which in turn impacted the 4x400 Men Relay Team which failed to mount the podium. There were further disappointments in the Women 4x100 Metres Relay Final where it was expected that T&T would medal with Michelle Lee Ahye anchoring but Michelle Lee Ahye was a no show, which resulted Trinidad & Tobago finishing 4th. While the women were disappointing, it was small in comparison to their male counterparts who failed to pass their baton around which resulted in them not qualifying for the final. They didn't fear any better in the individual 100 metres where Keston Bledman, Emmanuel Callender and Johnatan Farinha failed to qualify for the final. It is time for Bledman and Callender to retire. They are in their late 30's and both have never medal at a global games before. I question if their is sufficient preparation for Trinidad & Tobago Relay Teams. Ato Boldon, former Olympian and World Championship Medalist has criticized the preparation of the teams. Hope the parties involve get their act together. Let us hope that this Commonwealth Games laid the foundation for more finals and medals for athletes representing Trinidad & Tobago.

Jose: My Way or The Highway

As I look ahead to today's crucial second leg round of 16 UEFA Champions League game against Sevilla, I want to ask the question if progress is being made? Manchester United are just 4 points off their total points they accumulated last season, with 8 games remaining, added to that they have drawn 10 less games, which was a major complaint among fans, including myself. Jose has also improved the performances of few players like Jesse Lingard who is having his best season with 13 goals in 37 appearances, which is the most he scored in a season, beating easily the 7 goals he mustered in 42 games in 2015/16 season. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have improved significantly, especially Smalling who was depended on when other centre backs were out with injuries. Anthony Martial is another player who has improved from last season for Manchester United with 11 goals and 10 assists in 38 games from 8 goals and 8 assists in 42 games. I can't forget about the revelation that Scott McTominay has been, entering into the 1st team from the reserves. The proof is there to see that progress is being made.

I have seen many fans criticize the playing style of Manchester United. They have said Jose doesn't play attacking football, he is too defensive and must adapt to the identity of Manchester United, which is to play attacking,entertaining football that the fans want. Many have gone to the extreme that they want him him to be fired because of this. Now I am not of the view that he needs to be removed as manager because Manchester United are getting the results that are needed for him to remain as manager. When I see Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspurs play entertaining, exciting football, I questioned why can't Manchester United play like them, especially the runaway leaders Manchester City who seems to score without much effort. I believe many fans think like this but once the team keep getting positive results we have to support the manager because I can't see him changing. Jose has a balanced approach to football; such approach has made him very successful. I myself have gotten used to games like Liverpool, where after scoring 2 goals his team dropped back and try to contain the opposition until the final whistle. We must all adapt to him. The question is, whether you prefer results over performance. I know there are some fans believe in the latter, but for me I want to see Manchester United to win the Premier league, UEFA Champions League. I am of the firm belief that can be achieved under Jose Mourinho, he is still the Special One.