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Manchester United vs AFC Bournemouth Match Analysis

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Yes. It was just Bournemouth. Even before this game, it was just Cardiff and Huddersfield. But for the Manchester United fans, it doesn’t matter. What matters to them at this is the swagger of Manchester United and this swagger is well and truly back at Old Trafford. Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United may have very well won these three game but it was the manner of these victories that has really excited the supporters.
Solksjaer’s second home game in charge started exactly the way the Norwegian would have wanted it to. Marcus Rashford had the ball near the right-hand corner and was surrounded by two Cherries defenders. But what he did next left really left thousands on the Stretford End gasping for air. His quick feet and a dribble left him free on the byline and he put in a teasing cross across the face of the goal and Paul Pogba duly obliged. It was 1-0 and not even five minutes had passed on the clock.
Eddie Howe is one of the world’s best young managers and his Bournemouth side re…

Manchester United Vs Bournemouth Player Ratings

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has taken Manchester United and the Premier League by storm since being announced as the caretaker manager for the rest of the season. Solskjaer has become only the third person in Man Utd history to win their first three games after a short line of Sir Matt Busby and Jose Mourhino. Wins over Cardiff, Huddersfield and now Bournemouth make it nine out of nine points since arriving after Mourhino was sacked. Paul 'No longer the virus' Pogba opened the score-sheet in the 5th minute after Marcus Rashford gave him an assist, absolutely destroying the Bournemouth's defense with wonderful skill. It was almost a perfect night for Pogba as he very nearly completed a hat-trick but it was just not meant to be tonight.

It was a good and entertaining display from the boys in Red tonight though as United could be in a potential race for Top 4.

Now we get into my Manchester United Player Ratings as we see who stood tall and who had a bit of a rough night.


Manchester …

Manchester United vs AFC Bournemouth Preview

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Manchester United vs AFC Bournemouth Preview Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has got two wins from two and now faces his second home game in a row against 12th place Bournemouth who have just endured a 5-0 loss to Spurs on Boxing Day with a brace from Son and goals from Kane, Eriksen and Lucas Moura. Eddie Howe's side came close to getting a result from United in early November after Callum Wilson's opener gave Bournemouth hope but goals from Martial in the first half and Rashford in the 92nd minute sealed three points for United that day. While Bournemouth were on an unbeaten run of five league games then, United are on the front foot going into this weekend's game after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's arrival and a rejuvinated side that plays attacking football. Both teams will play attacking football and use their pace in wide areas to trouble the respective struggling defences with both conceding 30+ goals in 19 games.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that Alexis, Lukaku and Martia…

OPINION: Are United Reconnecting with their Authentic Identity?

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There is no doubt that Manchester United have improved in their play significantly since Mourinho left. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told the players to express themselves and attack, playing liquid football. However, our two opponents were Cardiff and Huddersfield. Time will tell if we can continue like this against the top teams. It has also been clear that he is not afraid to trust youth. James Garner and Angel Gomes have both traveled with the squad for the last two games and Gomes made a short cameo against Huddersfield. Furthermore, Mason Greenwood looks set to make his debut against Reading in the FA Cup. Are Manchester United going back to their roots and reconnecting with their authentic identity?

Here are the opinions of some of our writers...
Barry (@PS_20Times) In recent years Danny Higginbotham and the rest of the football world have referred to Manchester United as a football club that has lost its identity. Commercial interests aside, different managers with varying footba…

Manchester United vs Huddersfield Town Match Analysis and Player Ratings

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Picture taken from Manchester United's Twitter Profile

Today was all about the homecoming of a Manchester United legend, who goes by the name of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. An excited crowd welcomed their legend home by giving him a rapturous reception as he walked out on to the pitch before kick off. If it was even possible Solskjaer had made himself more popular by leading the team to an impressive 5-1 win at Cardiff City in his first match in charge last weekend. Today, the new manager would have been looking for his United team, who showed three changes to their side to put in another dominant performance and take the three points against an Huddersfield team who started the game bottom of the league.

United started the game with the same vigour as they finished the game in Cardiff last weekend, with lots of energy in the play and a quick tempo to their passing. United fans who firmly believe they are seeing their team play the way they should, responded to the vibrant start with son…

Manchester United vs Huddersfield Town Preview

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Manchester United vs Huddersfield Town Preview Merry Christmas everyone and hopefully another three points is a delayed present awaiting United under the tree on Boxing Day as United take on Huddersfield at 3pm GMT. It could not have gone better for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United in the Welsh capital as United hit Cardiff for five, scoring five for the first time in the league since Sir Alex's 5-5 draw with West Brom in his final game as United's manager. Honestly, when I watched the game I was waiting for something to groan and moan about, perhaps some misplaced passes, poor decision-making or just simply some sideways passing football. But for the most part there was nothing to criticise as the passing was attack-minded and if there was unnecessary sideways passing, I cannot remember it! Now the Red Devils return to Old Trafford and take on a struggling Huddersfield side who find themselves remaining in 19th place in the league after a home defeat to a rejuvin…

Cardiff City vs Manchester United Player Ratings

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And Solksjaer has won it.

One can debate and debate long and hard whether the sacking of Jose Mourinho was a right call or not. But that's in the past and the present, under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer is just unbelievably good. Solksjaer's United swept the floor with Cardiff on Saturday night and the 5-1 scoreline did justice to the performance. Yes, it was only Cardiff and yes it was Solksjaer's first game in charge for the club but still,  a big performance like that was needed to take away all the negativity around the club.

Starting XI De Gea, Young, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw, Matic, Herrera, Pogba, Lingard, Martial, Rashford

Player Ratings
De Gea(GK): 8/10
De Gea was a spectator for most of the first half and faced a penalty which was quite unsaveable, to be honest. In the second half, he stretched out to make a great save from a curling effort from Murphy. His distribution from the back was immense as many a time, he started the attack with his pinpoint balls into the midfield …

Cardiff City vs Manchester United Match Analysis

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Source: The Telegraph 
Manchester United XI vs Cardiff:  De Gea, Ashely Young, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford
The Premier League match vs Cardiff saw the first game in charge for the new interim manager of Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The mood was much better and more positive around the club as a whole following the departure of Mourinho and the appointment of Solskjaer, the only icing on the cake for United fans would have been a win at Cardiff. And this is exactly what happened, United ran out emphatic 5-1 winners against Cardiff marking Solskjaer's new reign in style.
The five goals for United were scored by Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard with a brace. This was a stark change from the United performances we have come to expect under Mourinho, the team played with a fast pace and tempo and were able to dominate and control the whole game …

Cardiff City vs Manchester United Preview

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Cardiff City vs Manchester United Preview This wouldn't seem like a big game last week but due to recent events, this could be huge for Manchester United. After a humbling 3-1 loss at Anfield in which the stats made United look like a semi-professional side, Jose Mourinho was relieved of his duties at Manchester United and a temporary manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed until the remainder of the season until a new manager is appointed for the 2019/20 season and further. It seems that United fans are excited for this game as, based on the performances of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's previous teams of Cardiff City and Molde, United will play exciting, attacking football and back to how Sir Alex aimed to play.

The new manager has had his first press conference this morning and has said that there is a clean slate for every player under him and places are up for grabs. Unsurprisingly, this makes it more difficult to pick a prediction for the lineup or even the formation! But t…

OPINION: Should Jose Mourinho have been sacked?

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Jose Mourinho's sacking came as a shock to most Manchester United fans as although many wanted it to happen, not many thought it was a realistic possibility at this time. This is because everybody thought that the Glazers would not be willing to spend £24million to dispense of Mourinho mid-season, when they could save a lot of money if they waited until summer. Nonetheless, they put their hands in their pockets and finally put the needs of the club first!

Here, a few of our writers will discuss their thoughts on the sacking of Mourinho: 
Suraj 
The problems at the club are extremely deep-rooted. While the manager was only part of the problem, it is a small step, albeit in the right direction. Mourinho had lost the dressing room and the confidence of the board which is always a deal breaker for any manager. Jose fought himself into a corner with his constant berating of the board or players, a lot of which I agree with, but still unnecessary at most times.

Now we need to develop a…

BREAKING NEWS:~ Jose Mourinho has been sacked!

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BREAKING NEWS:~ Jose Mourinho has been sacked! Well some fans have been waiting since Tottenham beat United 3-0 at home, others more recently against Manchester City but now, after a 3-1 loss at Anfield; Manchester United have parted ways with the Portugese manager. I was a fan of Jose's appointment and think the club has progressed since Sir Alex's departure but this season has simply been not. good. enough. The questions that need answering are, why this happened, what will happen for the remainder of the season and how will United cope and adapt?
Why did this happen? The turmoil surrounding this club this season has been down to a number of things, the issue on the surface is the poor form the team is in and how they play. United have conceded more goals this season as they have the whole of last season and have only got two clean sheets in the league so far. Not only this, but United are eleven points off Chelsea in fourth and have scored less than the other top six (29) r…

Liverpool vs Manchester United Analysis and Player Ratings

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Photo from Manchester United's Twitter Page
Well, no surprises today as Manchester United fell to their fifth defeat in the Premier League this season. Another abject United performance that saw them outclassed and beaten 3-1 by their fiercest rivals Liverpool.

Manager Jose Mourinho made eight changes for their midweek defeat to Valencia CF in the UEFA Champions league in order to protect some of his key players ahead of today’s game. United fans would have probably forgiven the woeful team performance on Wednesday night in Spain and swallowed the bitter pill of defeat if they could of guaranteed that they would see a performance befitting of Manchester United today and take the three points.

The first 20 minutes of the game saw United start in their usual sluggish and nervy way, unable to string three passes together or complete simple five yard balls to a teammate. Not one United midfield player was capable of showing any composure or class on the ball.

Liverpool were on top from…

Liverpool vs Manchester United Preview

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Liverpool vs Manchester United Preview Such a big game for both teams as United make the short journey to Anfield to take on Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. If Liverpool win, they will remain at first place in the Premier League regardless of Manchester City's result against Everton. If United win then it shows that they can perform when it matters and could hurl them back into the top four fray once again. A draw would realistically be a good result for Manchester United as Anfield has had may big profile victims in 2018, including PSG, Roma and Manchester City twice. 
These bitter rivals have had some interesting encounters since Jose took charge of the Red Devils. Jose has not lost at Anfield as the United manager and has grinded out not one but two 0-0 draws against Jurgen Klopp's heavy metal Liverpool teams with the help of an outstanding David de Gea to save United, as is standard these days, denying Can and Coutinho in 2016 and Joel Matip in 2017, rea…

Liverpool vs Manchester United Combined XI

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Liverpool vs Manchester United Combined XI Mixed feelings from the Manchester United camp this week as they make the short journey to Anfield on Sunday for their big clash against Liverpool. United went into the Valencia game with no pressure to win after a comfortable victory against Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon. However, a slow, dreary and passive performance against Valencia allowed the lower-mid table Spanish side to ease their way into a 2-0 lead with messy defending and lacklustre attacking play and has certainly cast doubt over United's ability to get anything from the game. Liverpool themselves are top of the table after a 4-0 victory at Bournemouth and have progressed to the Round of Sixteen in the Champions League after a 1-0 victory over Napoli at home did just enough. Both teams have class in their sides, one team has the more impressive form but both sides seem to be accomplished in a 4-3-3 formation and so that is the one that I'll pick for this …

Valencia Vs Manchester United Analysis and Player Ratings

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Manchester United fell to a defeat in Spain against Valencia who are currently sitting 15th place in their respective league, La Liga. But after watching this game you probably wouldn’t think they’re in 15th... in fact, if I had to guess which team are sitting 15th, I would have probably put my money on Manchester United. And as a Man Utd fan I am honestly afraid of the fact that we made it into the round of 16.

Manchester United could have topped the group with Young Boys shockingly defeating Juventus to a 2-1 victory in Switzerland, meaning all Man Utd had to do was get a victory and they'd win the group! That of course did not happen-but don’t worry, if you missed it, I am here to catch you all up on this frustrating day, along with giving my Man United player ratings as usual.

With Manchester United already qualified through to the knockout stage of the Champions League,  Jose Mourhino decided to rotate and make 8 changes to the Man Utd squad that defeated Fulham in the 4-1 v…