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Post by Chris on Nov 8, 2018 9:20:54 GMT
It's nice to see the back pages dominated by positive United stories for once.
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Post by caino on Nov 8, 2018 9:26:57 GMT
Jose Mourinho used to be faithful to his centre-forwards as Didier Drogba, Diego Costa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic would testify.
The Manchester United manager has had a more roving eye recently but Alexis Sanchez’s performance against Juventus on Wednedsay might be the start of a great relationship as Jose’s No 9.
Mourinho went into the game against Europe’s toughest defence having played three different centre-forwards in his last three games – very uncharacteristic of him.
But with Romelu Lukaku, nine games without a goal, left in Manchester to rest tender muscles and Marcus Rashford back on the bench, Sanchez was given another chance to kickstart his United career as their main attacker.
It was a fascinating experiment and one that the Chilean will have won many fans even if United’s attacking forays were relatively scarce.
One of the criticisms aimed at £75milion Lukaku was his lack of hold-up play and aggression against defenders.
Sanchez, the Premier League’s highest-paid player but one who has largely struggled since joining from Arsenal at the start of 2018, showed good technical ability, keeping the ball and bringing others into play, something that benefited Ashley Young, Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial in particular. His first touches found their intended target virtually every time.
He also showed a game intelligence by dropping into pockets of space between the lines that left Leonardo Bonucci with the awkward decision whether to follow into unwanted space, or to allow the South American to turn.
And while Sanchez is not of the physical stature of Drogba or Costa, he harries defenders and gets into their faces more than any of his rivals at Old Trafford; Rashford, Martial or Lukaku.
On one occasion, his charge towards Juve goalkeeper Wojcech Szczesny forced him to hammer the ball out for a throw. If Mourinho wants to press teams, Sanchez would be the ideal man to keep furthest up the pitch.
It was a compliment to Sanchez that Juve captain Giorgio Chiellini clattered into him with a challenge that left the United player wincing.
United were in the rare position of being underdogs and they will have been pleased with the way they held Juventus at bay until Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of his spectacular volleys midway through the second half
What will have gladdened Mourinho is that Sanchez stayed disciplined and kept his position as the focal point of the attack even when United didn’t have the ball. He resisted the temptation to chase for it like a headless chicken.
For Sanchez’s part, he might have a legitimate grumble that not enough of United’s midfield players got forward enough to pose Juventus a consistent threat.
Sanchez, who turns 30-years-old next month, lacks the after-burner pace to scare defences like Juventus. He wouldn’t win a foot race with Lukaku, Martial or Rashford so needs team-mates around him.
He’s more than three years younger than Ronaldo but could never have matched his goal when the Portuguese superstar ran in behind Victor Lindelof before connecting with a stunning volley.
But in United’s current predicament of trying to build gradually rather than blow teams away, Sanchez looks the best option until Lukaku finds form, fitness and confidence.
Like at Bournemouth, the quicker Rashford came off the bench for the final 20 minutes to put Juventus under pressure, though this time it was Jesse Lingard rather than Sanchez who made way.
Interestingly, with both Rashford and Sanchez on the pitch, it was the older man who was kept central and Rashford asked to try his luck down the right flank, until Sanchez himself was withdrawn for Marouane Fellaini 12 minutes from the end.
It won’t have gone unnoticed that United’s next game is against a team equally as powerful as Juventus – Manchester City.
Mourinho will want his centre-forward to be mobile and bring team-mates into play. And last season Sanchez enjoyed arguably his best performance in a United shirt, setting up goals for Paul Pogba in a famous 3-2 derby win at The Etihad.
The pair seem to have a natural understanding. In one attack in Turin, they exchanged passes on the edge of the box that bamboozled even the experienced Juventus back-line.
Mourinho will surely be faithful to Sanchez this weekend.
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Post by Stew on Nov 8, 2018 9:34:44 GMT
Messi had slightly better stats than Salah too last season. And has also been carrying his team for more than one season. And also won something. As boring as it may be,its been between Messi and Ronaldo for a reason. Because they are the best. The onus is on the rest to step up and prove why they deserve to dislodge them. And one season isn't enough. Salah's "great" season is their normal season. Exactly. Last year increasingly looks like a one off. There was nothing in his past to suggest he was capable of it, I think he just got hot and ran with it. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2018 9:59:45 GMT
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Post by . on Nov 8, 2018 10:13:58 GMT
Didn't see his six-pack at full-time??  |
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Post by Karma on Nov 8, 2018 10:33:48 GMT
Honestly think Paul Scholes might be the most boring person alive btw. He's going full Souness! I don't know how anyone can argue he hasn't got an agenda now! How can you be so petty after a result like that? I presume Fergie always behaved like a gent as well? |
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Post by Karma on Nov 8, 2018 10:38:37 GMT
Messi had slightly better stats than Salah too last season. And has also been carrying his team for more than one season. And also won something. As boring as it may be,its been between Messi and Ronaldo for a reason. Because they are the best. The onus is on the rest to step up and prove why they deserve to dislodge them. And one season isn't enough. Salah's "great" season is their normal season. Exactly. Last year increasingly looks like a one off. There was nothing in his past to suggest he was capable of it, I think he just got hot and ran with it. I don't disagree that he looks like a one season wonder but he pretty much carried them to the final. Luckily for us Ramos clattered him and took out their best player. I'm not saying I would want him to win it but based on last season his contribution was immense! It would be nice to see someone else win it. There are plenty of others who could create a good argument for it this time around. |
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Post by ratbag on Nov 8, 2018 10:57:26 GMT
Thanks Carbs but my laptop won't let me go to imgur...says it's unsafe... Not to worry... |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2018 10:59:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2018 11:02:06 GMT
Matic was a lot better last night as well. Think the legs of Herrera helped him hugely. Still think he's due a rest though.
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Post by ratbag on Nov 8, 2018 11:09:19 GMT
Matic was a lot better last night as well. Think the legs of Herrera helped him hugely. Still think he's due a rest though. Agreed...he just needs a couple of weeks off...play Pereira instead? He doesn't have the presence of Matic but he can get around and can stick a foot in as required... Having said that...he'd probably go with Fellaini... |
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Post by RAZ on Nov 8, 2018 11:16:31 GMT
what a great feeling to wake up today. this team has given me back some emotions in recent weeks after sucking the love out of me at the start of the season.
have they turned it around for good?not sure,i'm cautios about this seeing as this group of players are still the same bunch that behaved like jekyll & hyde for so many years now. but the signs are there and a good performance and result against city will make me even more positive looking into the future. i dont even expect a win. a draw and strong performance at the etihad is good enough for me as we will lose games at some point,thats inevitable.
i understand people,pundits and even some fans not liking mourinhos antics lately. but i certainly do,thats the cunt of a jose i wanted at united. and i hope his arrogance lifts the players even more in thinking and behaving like man united players for the rest of the season.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2018 11:20:15 GMT
Thanks Carbs but my laptop won't let me go to imgur...says it's unsafe... Not to worry... How odd, I assume you're using an ad-blocker? It's just a picture of Mou at the end of the game. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2018 11:20:57 GMT
I've been looking for the gif version - thanks. |
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Post by . on Nov 8, 2018 11:47:25 GMT
If we can strengthen the squad even more in the January transfer window, I can see us going deeper into this competition.
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