Don’t lose faith in Utd. The xG wasn’t bad

Here’s the good news for Utd fans. And I’m quoting the manager ‘You can see the xG we didn’t concede as many goals. I don’t think we are in the same pattern’. Nope. Nor me. I’ve no idea. But I guess it means something to somebody and it might just be encouraging if it does.

Anyway. The interview went on like this ‘we stick together. And on the second-half we show some resilience’. What? Your team was hopeless in both halves.

How many times have I said he lives in a parallel universe? It’s embarrassing. Remember - this is Manchester Uniiiited.

I’d sack him now. No. I’d have sacked him in the summer. Maybe even before that. He’s not the right man to manage United. He’s reducing them to a laughing stock.

‘I’m not Harry Potter’, he went on to tell reporters. He’s right. I’d say more Graham Potter.

Everything I’ve argued came home to roost Sunday. United were awful. Simply awful - on the back of ten Hag’s Benitez moment when he claimed he’d had more success than Jurgen Klopp in the last two years. Fact. Let’s throw a McEnroe in while we’re at it ‘you can not be serious’. What was he thinking when he tried to taunt Liverpool like that?

If there had been any Utd fans left inside Old Trafford on the final whistle surely they’d have let ten Hag know how they were feeling? All you could hear were Liverpool supporters, who‘d enjoyed watching their team ram those daft words back down ten Hag’s throat.

I wonder if the clever people running United have got the balls to sack him during this break? Why not?

I also wonder how many Utd fans are now wishing the Qatari bid had prevailed? They would’ve swept away the whole stagnant sorry mess that Utd have become - invested millions on and off the field and put the club back in the big time.

I don’t want to spend any more time on this subject - except to say our game needs a strong Utd. I don’t take pleasure now - nor have I ever - in their decline.

I thought Liverpool were good. No more. But they didn’t have to be. They swept Utd away without getting out of second gear. I’m hoping my reservations about Arne Slot were wrong. In fairness, he’s made a great start and what players are saying leads me to believe they’re enjoying working with him.

Anyone would think he’d got a magic wand. Ah - Harry Potter maybe? It’s taken him no time to get the Anfield machine running smoothly, proving it can be done. They’re second after three wins and they haven’t conceded yet.

Doubtless ten Hag will point out that Utd were top for 17 hours earlier in the season?

Let this be my last word on Declan Rice’s sending off. Why all the hysteria? ‘The worst red of all time’ screamed Piers Morgan - leading the Arsenal collective indignation.

A couple of things here. It wasn’t a red. For delaying the re-start he was booked. He’d already been booked so he had to go. He was stupid. He knew what he was doing. I’m afraid the laws of the game apply to England internationals the same as they do anybody else.

I agree Chris Kavanagh could’ve looked away - and he might’ve done had Rice not collapsed like a pack of cards trying to get Veltman sent-off.

I also agree that Pedro should’ve been booked - but that wouldn’t have negated Rice’s offence.

Arteta said pre-season Arsenal would need to be perfect in order to win the title. They were imperfect on Saturday and only have themselves to blame for dropping two points. The laws of the game were implemented correctly.

A quick mention for Russell Martin, who reckons his suicidal approach to the game would be ‘questioned less I was foreign’. No it wouldn’t Russell.

Wise up man before it’s too late. Saints remind me of Burnley last season - who were, of course, managed by a foreigner. He too insisted he wanted to play the ‘right way’. He too got spanked most weekends and his team were all but down by Christmas.

I said then Vincent Kompany’s approach was a season long interview for a better job. Burnley fans reared up in his defence. But was I right wasnt I? His mate Guardiola played him into Munich - and Burnley went down. He got what he wanted and he didn’t care a jot about Burnley.

I’m not saying Martin is auditioning, but he’s heading for the exit door if Saints don’t change.

Did anyone else see the article in the Sunday Mirror re-shirt sponsorship by gambling companies?

The Mirror reported PL clubs netted £530m from shirt sponsorship deals in the summer - £125.5m of it from gambling companies. That’s a rise of £50.5m from the previous season.

How long is it since PL clubs agreed to ban front-of-shirt gambling sponsors? Oh that’s right - July of 2024. And a ban comes into place in 2026. You couldn’t make it up. ‘Gamble responsibly’ guys.