How quickly the narrative can change. In November, with Manchester United slipping well off the pace in the Premier League and looking game for an early exit from the Europa League, the pressure began to build on new coach José Mourinho. The Portuguese manager had come off a disastrous season at Chelsea, which ended in his dismissal by Roman Abramovich for the second time. Had the maestro’s mojo truly gone? Certainly, there was plenty of evidence in United’s inconsistent performances and disappointing results to suggest as much. Just a few weeks and eight victories later, nobody will draw that conclusion. Mourinho and United are back.
True, this is a United side that may still fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and the Reds have beaten only Tottenham Hotspur among the top sides. Yet, the smoke signals suggest that Mourinho’s blend of pragmatism and a new-found love of attacking flair is paying dividends. The plan appears to be working.
Confidence has certainly returned to Old Trafford, as has some of the old arrogance. Last minute winners? Check! All out attack? Check! Controversy and the nation’s ire? Check! Boiled piss is undoubtedly a good sign.
The turnaround has come late in the first half of the season, following a succession of frustrating draws during the autumn. Eight victories across four competitions in November, December and January has signalled United’s return. The Reds may lie sixth in the Premier League table, but Mourinho’s team is just a victory away from the top four and remains in three cup competitions.
[blockquote who=”” cite=””]How quickly the narrative can change. In November, with United slipping well off the pace in the Premier League, the pressure began to build. Had Mourinho’s mojo gone? Eight victories later, nobody will draw that conclusion. [/blockquote]
This is a long way from the very real prospect of a 14-point gap to Champions League qualification when Spurs faced United on 11 December. The Lillywhites were probably favourites to take the points that day as well. There have also been sound wins at West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace – victories that would not have come just a few weeks ago. What a difference a month or two makes.
The pieces were coming together before United’s recent winning streak though. Zlatan Ibrahimovic started the season as he finished the last with PSG, even if he did suffer a fallow period in the autumn during which he scored just once in 13 games. Paul Pogba began the campaign under immense scrutiny, but his performances have grown with each week. Meanwhile, Eric Bailly proved to be a revelation in defence from the campaign’s start. Of the summer’s new recruits, only Henrikh Mkhitaryan took time to work his way into Mourinho’s plans. What an impact the Armenian has enjoyed since coming into the team.
Outside the summer’s new signings, Ander Herrera has found a new lease of life under Mourinho, as have in more recent times Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo. It is to the manager’s immense credit. Meanwhile, Juan Mata has enjoyed an excellent first half of the campaign, even if Mourinho’s gradual move to a 4-3-3 system is pushing the Spaniard towards the periphery.
Mourinho too has found some consistency: in approach, tactics and his relationship with United’s supporters. It took a little while, but just perhaps the club is changing the Portuguese in the way that David Moyes and Louis van Gaal could never quite accept. The latter pair suffered, as did United. Mourinho, seemingly, has far more answers than his predecessors, and is far more flexible too.
Questions remain, of course. Can this United side keep up the current level of consistency; will it beat the very best sides in the country? Both will probably need to be true for the Reds to qualify for the Champions League next season. Then, perhaps only then, can supporters dream of reaching for preeminence once again. The club is once again on the right course. 7/10
José Mourinho
The new manager’s gravitas no doubt helped in the recruitment of two world-class stars – Ibrahimovic and Pogba – together with another pair of very fine players in Bailly and Mkhitaryan. But that gravitas has not always been evident this season, even if the Portuguese manager now claims that he never had any concerns about United’s progression. Indeed, at times, the pressure appeared to be getting to the manager: grumpy press conference performances, two sanctions from the FA, public criticism of prominent players.
Yet, Mourinho has made many of the big decisions required. Club captain Wayne Rooney, three years past his sell-by date, was dropped after seven games. It’s the conclusion Sir Alex Ferguson came to before his retirement, but Moyes and Van Gaal weren’t brave enough to follow. The Portuguese eventually brought Michael Carrick back into the side, although it was November before the veteran was a fixture for the Reds.
Most important of all, Mourinho eventually chose to build the team around Pogba, and not Rooney. In switching to a 4-3-3 system, the manager has dispensed with a number 10, but freed the Frenchman to do what he does better than most: drive from midfield, create chances and dominate games. In turn, United’s style has changed from the antiquated approach used by Moyes, to the prosaic offered but y Van Gaal, to something altogether more direct and dynamic under Mourinho.
Mourinho has garnered the best from a number of fringe players, while drawing star turns from Herrera, Mata, Pogba and, eventually, Mkhitaryan. The criticism that he took too long to bring the Armenian into the side is fair, although United will at least benefit from the player’s freshness as the season draws to a close. Mourinho could have used Antony Martial and Marcus Rashford more, and in more central areas, but the pair do appear to be coming into form now.
Those that Mourinho has ostracised, including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay, are probably not good enough to be at the club, or at least haven’t done enough to justify a place. Mourinho has at least been clear, even if each has cause to feel aggrieved at the lack of opportunities. 7/10
David de Gea
Three times United’s player of the year, de Gea is hoping for a far quieter campaign this time around. As ever, the Spaniard has been near flawless, with fewer standout performances if only because others have taken the limelight. It’s about time. Even if de Gea garners fewer headlines this season, he remains one of the two finest goalkeepers on the planet. The five-year contract signed last year is looking very good business for United. Appearances: 26 | Assists: 0 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 8/10
Sergio Romero
At least any pretension to the throne has gone. Romero is far from the world beating goalkeeper some hipsters proffered the Argentine to be, but with appearances limited to cup competitions, the former Monaco stopper can at least do little damage. That De Gea remains injury free is a huge blessing. Appearances: 6 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 5/10
Matteo Darmian
The Italian has struggled to recover from second half of last season when his fitness was as inconsistent as his form. The former Torino player is a sound defender, but his lack of attacking prowess means that there are likely to be few opportunities in a Mourinho team that relies on full-backs for width. Darmian is an option when fit, but it would surprise few if he moves on next summer when Mourinho may well look to undo the transfer market damage done under Moyes and Van Gaal. Appearances: 12 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 5/10
Antonio Valencia
There have been plenty of occasions during Valencia’s conversion from tepid winger to amateur full-back, when the Ecuadorian gave a good impression of being the weakest link in the chain. No longer. Mourinho has polished an unknown gem, moulding Valencia not only into a more confident attacker, but a better-than-average defender. There’s no guarantee that he remains the long-term option, but for now Valencia is enjoying a fine season. Appearances: 22 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 7/10
Luke Shaw
What a disappointment it will be if Shaw does not make it at Old Trafford. After all, the basic toolset is there – pace, attacking talent to spare, defensive nous greater than his youthful age should afford. Yet fitness, form – sometimes both – have let the player down once again this season. Rumours that Mourinho is not enamoured with the Englishman grow stronger by the day. It might just be that Shaw has the next five months to resolve his issues or face a career away from Manchester. That would be a sad outcome indeed. Appearances: 14 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 5/10
Marcos Rojo
What a difference a new manager makes. Rojo was not fully trusted by Van Gaal, nor fit enough, often enough, to prove the Dutchman wrong. When the former Sporting player was fit, his performances infrequently rose above calamitous. Many expected Rojo to move on last summer; most supporters would have welcomed it. Yet, here he is, a fixture in the first team and possibly in the best form of his career. Appearances: 23 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 7/10
Daley Blind
Blind exceeded expectations in a central defensive role last season, although there was plenty of evidence that it is a position to which he is ill-suited. The Dutchman briefly appeared in the role for Mourinho this season, and has featured often at left-back where he is far more comfortable, although he is not guaranteed to be first choice in that position either. Blind remains a useful squad player who rarely lets the team down, underlined by the number appearances he has made this season. Appearances: 22 | Assists: 2 | Goals: 1 | 6/10
Chris Smalling
Smalling was an outstanding performer last season, becoming first choice both for United and England after years of inconsistency and injury. The former Fulham defender has not enjoyed life under Mourinho to the same extent, having begun the season on the bench. He forced his way into the team, forming a promising partnership with Bailly, only for a broken toe to open the door to Rojo and compatriot Phil Jones. Smalling holds the talent to earn another shot, but the position at centre back is now more competitive than many had realised. Appearances: 15 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 1 | 6/10
Phil Jones
This time last year Rant wondered “how many chances” the former Blackburn player might have left. One more, apparently, and he has taken it with gusto over the past two months. Part defender, part casualty of his own war, Jones has rarely been fit enough, long enough to hold down a position in United’s back four. He has been at the club for five and a half seasons. Last summer Mourinho would have been forgiven for moving the Englishman on. Now Jones is an asset once again. Until he is inevitably injured, of course. Appearances: 13 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 6/10
Eric Bailly
The Ivorian may have cost upwards of £30 million, but it is already looking like a bargain. Fast across the ground, strong in the tackle, and so very comfortable on the ball, Bailly has all the tools to become a major hit at Old Trafford. There are certainly lapses of concentration, but that is forgivable in a young player in his first season in England. What a pity that the former Villarreal defender suffered injury before joining his country at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. There will be plenty to offer United as the season draws to a close. Appearances: 18 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 8/10
Juan Mata
The Spaniard remains United’s most creative player, and at times has excelled as the team’s creative heartbeat in the number 10 role to which he is naturally suited. Mourinho’s decision to move away from a template 4-2-3-1 system to something that looks a little more like a three-man attack has not worked in Mata’s favour, nor has Mkhitaryan’s emergence over the past two months. Mata is likely to make very important contributions before the season closes, and is one of the Reds’ best performers this season – but he may not always be the first name on Mourinho’s team sheet. Appearances: 25 | Assists: 4 | Goals: 6 | 8/10
Paul Pogba
Don’t let negative reviews fool you; Pogba is an outstanding player, becoming an ever more outstanding performer with each passing week. There are high expectations for the Frenchman, of course, and the fourth estate is all too happy to highlight anything that falls short of the very highest standards. Yet, Mourinho’s decision to build a team around the 23-year-old is probably the best move that United’s new manager has made this season – for player and team. Pogba is now dominating games. Good news for the rest of the campaign, bad news for United’s rivals. Appearances: 26 | Assists: 4 | Goals: 6 | 9/10
Ander Herrera
It bordered on the criminal that the Basque was not in Van Gaal’s team every week, but there was always something about his tenacity in the tackle and range of inventive passing that would appeal to Mourinho. Herrera has become an outstanding all-rounder performer for the Portuguese manager, at both number eight and six, offering balance to the side and freeing up Pogba to perform in more attacking areas. Van Gaal paid for his mistake, Mourinho is benefiting from trusting the former Atletico Bilbao player. Appearances: 25 | Assists: 6 | Goals: 1 | 8/10
Jesse Lingard
The Mancunian is an important squad player, offering an impressive work rate, tactical nous and a penchant for a spectacular strike. There are times when Lingard’s talent has been dismissed, but he deserves his place in the United squad. Yet, that lack of composure in front of goal is too often apparent, and he hasn’t progressed as far under Mourinho as some others in the squad. Still, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for Lingard this season, even with Mata and Mkhitaryan ahead in the pecking order for a place on the right side of United’s attack. Appearances: 18 | Assists: 3 | Goals: 3 | 6/10
Michael Carrick
What exactly was Mourinho thinking by leaving the Geordie out of his side for much of the first two months of the campaign? Carrick’s composure, ability to quickly recycle the ball, and defensive nous has been crucial to United’s revival. Carrick’s reintegration into the United side has also empowered Pogba to push forward with more freedom. It took a long time coming, but Mourinho eventually made the right call. He has earned the new one year contract, which is seemingly on offer. How United will miss the 35-year-old when he finally retires. Appearances: 16 | Assists: 1 | Goals: 1 | 7/10
[blockquote who=”” cite=””]What exactly was Mourinho thinking by leaving the Geordie out of his side for much of the first two months of the campaign? He has earned a new contract, and United will miss the 35-year-old when he finally retires.[/blockquote]
Marouane Fellaini
Now into his fourth season as a United player, and there are still few stranger acquisitions in the club’s recent history. Fellaini is neither a good defender, nor a good attacker, poor in possession, and a tactical liability. Yet, Mourinho, like Moyes and Van Gaal before him, seem enchanted by Fellaini’s myth: that he can perform in midfield at the highest level, that he’s good in the air, that he’s an attacking threat. He is none of those things. Appearances: 20 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 5/10
Morgan Schneiderlin
Frozen out by Mourinho and destined for Everton. The Frenchman is a willing player, but a little short on quality given the standards normally set at United. It was to Schneiderlin’s misfortune that Van Gaal classified the former Southampton player as a defensive midfielder. He is not, but in that observation is also the realisation that he is competing against Herrera and Pogba for a place in the team. Appearances: 8 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 3/10
Bastian Schweinsteiger
The German is five years past his peak and, at times, looked it last season. Although Schweinsteiger is a natural leader and remains classy on the ball, it did not take Mourinho long to realise that the former Bayern Munich player has no place at United. He will surely leave the club this winter. Appearances: 2 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 2/10
Ashley Young
Young has contributed little this season, save for an occasional appearance from the bench or stint as a reserve full-back. The Stevenage-born player has Van Gaal to thank for a three-year contract extension that’ll keep the former England player at Old Trafford until 2018, on more than £100,000 per week. Good business if you can get it. Appearances: 10 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 3/10
Memphis Depay
The Dutchman arrived with fanfare, a huge price tag and a love of attention. No longer a big fish in a small pond, Memphis has never come to terms with what it means to be a United player. The raw talent has never really filtered through and Mourinho is not prepared to offer the winger more time in the team. It’ll be good for the player to move on, although an opportunity lost for all parties. Appearances: 6 | Assists: 0 | Goals: 0 | 1/10
Anthony Martial
The Frenchman’s brilliance has taken a long time to blossom this season, after personal problems, a summer away with France, and a manager unwilling to compromise standards conspired to hold the player back. There are signs that the Martial of old is ready to break out though, albeit the forward must be content with a place on the left wing if he is to become a fixture in Mourinho’s team. Appearances: 19 | Assists: 3 | Goals: 6 | 6/10
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Was it worth the wait? Mourinho claims credit for holding the brilliant Armenian back, although there remains the nagging feeling that Mkhitaryan could have contributed much to United’s inconsistent first four months of the campaign. All that can be forgotten now though. Mkhitaryan will almost certainly enjoy a highly productive second half of the season, with his ability to unlock defences in the final third by running at pace now essential to United’s approach. His scorpion kick against Sunderland on Boxing Day will live long in the memory. Appearances: 16 | Assists: 2 | Goals: 4 | 8/10
Marcus Rashford
The teenager has been part of United’s first team squad for a little under a year and what a 12 months it has been. Rashford first came into Van Gaal’s team out of necessity and stayed there on merit, scoring eight times and earning a call-up to the England squad for Euro 2016. The Mancunian’s second season has been more of a struggle, with an extended period on the left seemingly impacting the player’s confidence, as well as that goal output. Opportunities in cup competitions will come, but the 19-year-old will have to accept that he is unlikely to dislodge Ibrahimovic from Mourinho’s first team any time soon. Appearances: 26 | Assists: 3 | Goals: 6 | 6/10
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan has spent much of the season being, well, Zlatan. On the pitch Ibrahimovic is a conservative mover until the optimal moment, although it is noticeable that his tendency to drop deep has been reigned in by Mourinho’s switch in formation. His goals now number 18 in all competitions, despite a lengthy fallow spell through the autumn. Not bad for an old man. The Swede is also a bone-fide leader in a squad that used to contain too many shrinking violets. Vital to United’s hopes of winning silverware and getting back into the Champions League. Appearances: 28 | Assists: 5 | Goals: 18 | 8/10
Wayne Rooney
This time last season Rant described the United captain as “a problem whose solution is found only on the bench.” No longer the beneficiary of Moyes’ fawning or Van Gaal’s “special privileges,” Mourinho took the only rational decision and dropped Rooney, enabling the team to find a new focal point and move on in the captain’s absence. Not that all of Rooney’s performances have been poor this season, and he has garnered a large number of assists as well. If the Scouser can provided a rotation option, or offer positive cameos from the bench it will go some way to justifying Moyes’ most destructive legacy: Rooney’s £13 million annual salary. Appearances: 23 | Assists: 10 | Goals: 4 | 6/10
Wouldn’t agree with de gea getting a better mark than Valencia but other than that pretty much spot on.
Phil Jones – ‘casualty of his own war’…brilliant!
To sum up, Mourinho is MUFC & he’s slowly getting us back to where we should be! ?
I’d quibble with a lot of the “marks/10″ but what’s the point ? Opinions are just opinions.
But, MC16 just a 7” ? He’s the glue that holds the team together – when Carrick plays, UTD win. And, that’s more than a statistical aberration.
The central defence has been good but the full-backs have been distinctly mediocre.
The midfield/attack is congealing – and that takes time as these guys have been learning to play together.
In judging the first half of the season, it’s important to keep in mind that there were five drawn-matches (Burnley, Stoke, Everton, West Ham and TheArse) which a team with more confidence would have won. I’d wager that if those five matches were replayed now TheLads would win at least four of them – eight points down the drain !
It’s also important to keep in mind that in three losses – Watford, ManShitty, and CSKALondon – there were absolutely atrocious refereeing decisions: Martial was KO-ed against Watford; Claudio Bravo’s “challenge” on TheWayneBoy should have been a red-card AND a penalty; and how David Luiz escaped without a red card defies credulity (not to mention, defying the rules of the game !) These three decisions were not only “bad” but they also changed the flow of these three matches – I’m not sure that TheLads would have won all three of those matches but I do think that the results in each case would have been different playing against ten men.
For me, Jo$e has done a great job of letting guys play themselves into (or out of) contention for the first eleven. He exudes confidence and his interviews are almost-always comedy-gold. The off-season recruitment has been absolutely spot-on and he’s frozen-out guys who are either surplus-to-requirements or just not-good-enough.
Overall, then, the first half of this season has been a pleasant surprise as TheLads have improved significantly and it sure looks like the best is yet to come
As Mourinho has remarked, if a team’s goalkeeper keeps getting the player of the year award then there is something wrong. De Gea will not come close to being player of the year this time, not because of a drop in performance, but because of the marked improvement in the outfield players. Mourinho has managed to achieve what his two predecessors failed to do – get the best out of the players both individually and collectively.
The United players were clearly underwhelmed by Moyes Evertonisation of the coaching staff and his insipid aspiration to be as good as City. His one dimensional ‘get crosses in’ tactic when chasing a game, is a fading memory. Under van Gaal’s Frankenstein – like approach, the team looked decidedly unattractive, a cobbled together collection of ill-fitting body parts burdened by the task of playing risk-free, possession football, where a shot on target became a collectors’ item.
Now under Mourinho the mojo is back. Performances have lifted individually and collectively and the entertainment level for the fans is reminiscent of earlier times. A frustrating autumn has been replaced by an exciting winter with optimism for the coming spring.
Doesn’t look as if Schweinsteiger has any intention of leaving just yet. He got a great reception when coming on against Reading and I think he will push for a place. If something happens to Carrick then Schweiny is the player best suited to do the job. Certainly preferable to Fellaini.
For me, Daley Blind is an obvious “replacement” for MC16. However, kinda-like the LittleDutchBoy, if he’s taken out of his jack-of-all-trades role then the dyke is likely to spring other leaks. I’d like to see him moved to “TheCarrickRole” but he’s so damned-valuable filling holes in the back four and, particularly, he’s a much better left back than Darmian and Luke Shaw isn’t up-to-speed after that horrific leg-break. Plus, when he plays there’s less pressure on AV25 to provide attacking width from the other side.
I wrote above that the full-backs are distinctly mediocre – not one of them is a complete player – Valencia is strong and fast but pretty useless as an attacker; Shaw seems a bit lost; Darmian seems a lot lost; and, Blind is too slow.
Given the way a 4-3-3/4-3-2-1 operate, the fullbacks have a pretty important attacking job since, in reality, those formations in the contemporary game are really a version of three-at-the-back/five-at-the-back since “TheCarrickRole” is both an auxiliary central defender and a controlling/holding midfielder. This role is important that it requires a very special skill-set to master. In my opinion, finding a “replacement” for MC16 is important but, really, no more important that significantly up-grading the full-backs. I’d expect that the emphasis in the next transfer window is bringing in some quality to address these needs – unless the reserves/kids have some surprises and guys like Fosu-Mensah and Joe Riley and Tuanzebe can grow into the first-team.
If Schneiderlin is on his way to Everton, I wouldn’t mind seeing Coleman coming here in part-exchange.
Yep; Seamus Coleman is Everton’s most impressive player – game in, game out. BUT Valencia is a workhorse who will play every match unless he’s injured – Coleman is almost 30 and you have to wonder what role he’d play @ UTD.
many people think that jose should have introduced miki in the squad much before and count it as one of his mistakes.I think jose realised as soon as miki arrived that he was not physically ready for the rigors of the premiere league more importantly he was not ready for the intensity of football he wanted to play .and I believe he was put on an intense physical conditioning program to make him ready for the team and only when the staff was confident of the progress he made he was introduced in the team.something similar I believe is happening with luke shaw as well right now
Nice try. Good piece of spinning.
Lingard is from Warrington, not Manchester
Most of the comments on the players are bang on but some of the ratings are a bit crazy.
I thought Ibrahimovic would be another Lampard MLS-era style-embarrassment along the lines of Falcao and Schweinsteiger; the Swede has been our player of the season so far (more than Pogba and perennial MVP De Gea), and his implausible yet effortless winner at Selhurst Park was I think our goal of the season so far (more impressive even than Mkhitaryan’s flick).
Mourinho was right about Carrick too: he can’t cut it in a 4-2-3-1 anymore, and was rightly left out whilst we retained that Pogba-unfriendly formation. What the manager continues to be wrong about however is the continued presence of Fellaini at our club let alone in our side, and the simultaneous constructive dismissal of Schneiderlin. I don’t see how anyone can say Schneiderlin isn’t the right quality for United – he has had zero fair chance since signing for us – whilst simultaneously calling for fans to play fair with the rightly booed Moroccan.
Shipping Schneiderlin out won’t however result in Fosu-Mensah or any another youth player getting any more of a chance; we’ll just buy even bigger for his replacement instead. Whilst restoring part of the club’s identity lost after Ferguson, Mourinho is also busy burying another part of it – the bit about winning with kids – but then we knew that.
2nd half of the season depends on: Klopp cannot be allowed to beat us at Wembley next month, and Europa League success must be added to our history, whether or not Top 4 status is attained (by no means certain).
“Whilst restoring part of the club’s identity lost after Ferguson, Mourinho is also busy burying another part of it – the bit about winning with kids – but then we knew that.”
Marcus Rashford ? He’s “good enough” so he plays.
Anthony Martial is on the cusp of being “good enough” but he’s been getting chances to prove himself.
Luke Shaw hasn’t been “good enough” – and he’s been injury-prone – so he’s getting the cold shoulder until he can prove himself.
Tim Fosu-Mensah/Axel Tuanzebe/etc. are still just “kids” who need to prove themselves at the practice-ground before getting match-time.
What has really impressed my about Jo$e’s management has been that he’s given players the opportunity to impress him – e.g., Juan Mata, Phil Jones, and Marco Rojo – if they don’t impress (like Memphis or Ashley Young or Morgan Schneiderlin), then he seems to let them know where they stand – no bullshitting about being “a valuable guy”. In this regard, Mourinho differs from SAF in his man-management because, with Jo$e, it’s pretty straightforward, if you’re good enough then age/reputation/salary don’t matter.
Jesse isn’t a manc
u all seems to be talking about Morgan…. what’s Mr Fellani-dela-ferari spot in the team… he’s a curse to United.
do u all wanna say Fellani was good enough and that was why he keep playing for united?
how many game does he need to convince Mr Jo$e he’s never d united player…. i think stating that Mr. Jo$e was straight forward was an understatement on this case….
i need someone to convince me here that keeping fellani and dispensing Morgan isn’t being bais…
i need your answers now