Sports
Where has Manchester United gone wrong?
Different question marks to whether Ole Gunnar Solskjær has what it takes to bring back Manchester United to winning ways have emerged recently. These questions keep recurring after week-in-week-out abysmal performances on the pitch.
Manchester United have only garnered 8 points after playing 6 matches, and 10 points adrift Liverpool. The current 2019/2020 English Premier League (EPL) table-toppers have maintained 100 percent impressive start, while Manchester City only lost one game in their 8 premier league games.
Before the kick-off of the EPL campaign, Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjær had added two players to its defensive line, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£45 million) and Harry Maguire (£80 million); as well as Daniel James (£18 million) to beef up the attack.
Hopes were high when United thrashed Chelsea 4-0 in Old Trafford in their first match. However, Chelsea had in all positive indices beaten United but they couldn’t get the result. In subsequent games, most of United players’ performances were simply below average.
It became more worrisome on Sunday when West Ham United mauled United 2:0 at the London Stadium. The Hammers seemed too good for United players after two stunning goals from Andy Yarmolenko and Aaron Cresswell.
United could have taken the lead during the first half of the game but Marcus Rashford whom Ole is trusting to be his frontman failed to hit the target, a couple of times. It has been a recurring phenomenon for the 21-year-old attacker to keep missing clear cut chances this season.
United are yet to replace the current Belgian all-time goal-scorer Romelu Lukaku after his £74 million move to Inter Milan. Ole is also relying on injury-prone Anthony Martial, and other young stars like James, and Mason Greenwood.
Clearly, Ole’s technical skills get everybody thinking ”if he has the competence to lead the Red Devils”. Playing Ashley Young ahead of Marcos Rojo after an impressive Europa League outing was questionable. Juan Mata playing ahead of Angel Gomes as the number 10 man seems to be a bad decision.
The best formation for United has been the 4:3:3 formation but Ole has decided to stick to a 2-man midfield even when the likes of Nemanja Matic hasn’t been good enough, while the Brazilian Fred has shown some glimpses of good performance after Europa League outing on Thursday. Ole should stick to the formation that gave him a series of winnings when he was the caretaker manager. The 4:2:1:3 formation has proven to be ineffective.
Unfortunately, after the West Ham defeat, many fans had taken on social media for Ole to be axed. They are running out of patience after the same mistakes keep repeating themselves every week. Ole hasn’t added a twist to his game plan and that he must do to achieve results.
“You get a bad result, you change. Two weeks ago I didn’t see anyone saying ‘we want Ole out’ and now it’s changing after two weeks. Come on man,” Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand said on Sunday.
The club has had top managers like Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho who have been successful in their careers. These managers ended up been sacked while the problems still remain.
It is imperative for United to fall back to track and cement its spot in top European football competition. This will entail having an independent sporting director who works with the manager to get good quality players.
According to a report by Transfer Markt, Manchester United have spent a whopping €486.33 million on transfers in the last five years. And the current United squad lacks the needed quality to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City. In other words, the club has not done justice to recruitment as mostof the players have been conspicuously inconsistent.
With Ed Woodward, the club’s Chairman handling transfer decisions it may be difficult to get the players United to need to take it back to the top. That is the major reason a sporting director is needed at the club to resolve football transfer woes.
”At Bayern, the people in charge are football men. I always appreciated that. “At Manchester United, on the other hand, Ed Woodward was installed as CEO – somebody with zero understanding of football who was previously an investment banker, Van Gaal said in an interview with Independent.“It cannot be a good thing when a club is run solely from a commercially-driven perspective.
However, there have been lots of positives ever since Ole took over the United team. The cordial relationship and communication between him and the players have been impressive. The mood in the dressing room has been all positive
Speaking on the club’s official YouTube channel, Scott McTominay said: “Ole comes in and it’s ‘boom’.“Everybody’s 10 feet tall, looking around. “We think we can play against anybody. “And I think that comes from the belief instilled in the players and confidence shown.”
The United boss has also shown some level of confidence in his squad. He said many times in press conferences that he is going to succeed in the club. However, some players wouldn’t be part of that group. During the transfer window, he was able to clear some United players who were not taking leaving up to expectation.
The United’s tradition of promoting young academy graduates to the senior team is gradually coming into fruition, with the likes of Gomez, Chong, Garner, and Greenwood making on the list. The club is almost adopting the old United style of counter-attacking football which has been missing in recent years.
At this point, the club must do everything within its powers to regain its position as one of the best football teams in the world. It took Liverpool years to fall back to become competitive again and United is gradually falling into that same trap.
John C. Nwosu, governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has hailed the Super Falcons for lifting the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s African Cup of Nations (WACON) held in Morocco for the 10th time, after a dramatic outing in Rabat, capital of the North African nation.
The Nigerian female team came from behind after a 2:0 lead they were handed down by the Atlas Lionesses at half time to turn the tide in a dramatic fashion, marked by energy, resilience, determination and skill, slotting in three goals in less than 30 minutes.
A totally enthralled Nwosu declared that feat clearly showed how with determination and focus, the most difficult tasks could be achieved and toughest challenges could be surmounted, adding that the feat embodied a lot of life’s lessons.
“What we saw today is the can-do spirit of that Nigerians are known for. It is a spirit that has broken many barriers and achieved great things. I particularly noticed the teamwork and synergy among the girls and their determination not to give up. It shows the reward of unity of purpose.
“As I watched our girls lift this beautiful trophy up, my spirit was also lifted. I am sure I am not alone. This spectacular achievement today shows how much we can achieve in Nigeria when we de-emphasise those things that divide the nation and emphasise the things that unite us.
“This is the focus of the ADC. We take it as a task to unite Nigeria by promoting unity, equity, justice and fair play in all facets of the society, knowing that together, working individually and collectively, we wake the sleeping giant.
“It is particularly so as we make deliberate moves to recreate a new Anambra where the government and the people will form an environment of common vision and move in the same direction, achieve a common goal. That vision has gained a strong fillip by this wonderful feat in Morocco.”
Well done girls. Once again, you have put smiles on millions of Nigerians, both home and abroad. May this joy continue to resonate everywhere in the life of our dear nation, now and in future.
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has congratulated the Super Falcons of Nigeria on their 10th Women African Cup of Nations, WAFCON, title, saying that they demonstrated the resilience of the Nigerian spirit.
The Super Falcons, who fell behind by two goals in the first half, staged a memorable comeback in Rabat in the second half, beating their Moroccan counterparts before their huge crowd of home fans to lift the WAFCON 2025 trophy courtesy of goals delivered by Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jennifer Echegini.
Mbah, who took to his verified social media handle, @PNMbah, to celebrate the impressive Nigerian side wrote, “Congratulations, Super Falcons, on your well-deserved WAFCON 2025 triumph.
“Coming from two goals down to beat the Moroccans to the trophy underscores the resilience and invincibility of the Nigerian spirit and what we can achieve as a people by working together in oneness of mind.
“We are super proud of you.
“Again, congratulations, girls, and keep flying higher.”
Sports
Mbah Receives EPL Trophy, Seeks Guinness’ Partnership to Grow Sports in Enugu
…Why we choose Enugu- Guinness, reports SANDRA ANI
The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed his eagerness to partner with Guinness Nigeria PLC to accelerate his administration’s sports development effort, describing the state as the home of sporting legends, who have ruled the world of sports as well as home of abundant talents for the future.
Mbah spoke when a team of Guinness Nigeria’s management showcased the English Premier League, EPL, trophy, to him at Government House, Enugu, on Friday.
It is recalled that Guinness Nigeria and the Premier League partnered to bring the iconic silverware for display in Enugu on Friday, May 16 and in Lagos on Saturday May 17 and Sunday, 18 to give EPL’s teeming fans in Nigeria the rare opportunity to experience the trophy.
Speaking during the presentation of the trophy at the Lion Building, Enugu State Government House, Mbah noted that beside putting in place legislative frameworks for sports development, his administration was also embarking on a massive reconstruction of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village preparatory to hosting the 2026 edition of the National Sports Festival.
“Like Guinness, we regard sports as a positive force in Enugu. We are not surprised that the Guinness flagship event is being held here in Enugu. Just like Guinness, we also see sports as a platform to foster social cohesion. We are not just paying lip service to sports; we actually have our skin in the game.
“We believe that the EPL is quite a spectacle with audiences across the world and you couldn’t have chosen a better city for the flagship event than Enugu.
“Again, since here is the home of Rangers and since we have also recognised that this is where it all happens, let us begin to think about more collaboration with Guinness to see how we can secure endorsement with the Guinness corporate brand. This should be on the table because Rangers also won the 2023/2024 Nigerian Premier League title.
“We are just about giving the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village a new lease of life, making sure they meet FIFA and World Athletics standards ahead of the National Sports Festival. So, we look forward to more strategic collaboration with Guinness. We are quite a business-friendly state,” he stated.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and the Corporate Relations Director at Guinness Nigeria PLC, Rotimi Odusola, described Enugu State as the spiritual home of sports in Nigeria, noting the exploits of Rangers.
He said it was only natural to choose Enugu for the display of the EPL silverware, given its history and the great job Governor Mbah had done in repositioning the state.
“Some may wonder why Enugu. There is a reason for us to choose Enugu as the first place in Nigeria since this trophy arrived yesterday. It is because we know that Enugu State is the spiritual home of football in Nigeria. As a young football lover, I can’t forget all of the stories around Enugu Rangers football team.
“I want to also appreciate you for the work you are doing. The last time I was in Enugu was in 2022 and I have seen remarkable improvements in Enugu State since my last visit.
“This presentation of the EPL trophy is an opportunity for us to reinforce Guinness Nigeria being a business that has been intricate in the fabric of Nigeria for 75 years. We also want to use this opportunity to create magical moments for our consumers and members of the public through the collaboration between Guinness globally and the English Premier League,” he added.
The event was witnessed by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Enugu State, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke; Director, Marketing and Innovations, Guinness Nigeria, Yinka Bakare; Director, Corporate Relations, Guinness Nigeria, Rotimi Odusola; Head of Marketing, Guinness Nigeria, Ramanathan Sollayepan; Head of Division, South-East Region, Guinness Nigeria, Adesoji Opeyemi; General Manager, Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, Barr. Amobi Ezeaku; and the Chairman, Enugu State Football Association, Barr. Tony Ugwu, among others.
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