Perfect time for International break at MUFC

Two narrow wins at home have put United into the top four for the first time since the start of last season. Although victories against West Ham and Everton were on a knife-edge, it could be argued that the ability to hang on to results is something that United need to learn how to do again. Granted, the difference in each result was an offside decision and a world-class goalkeeping display respectively. With all that in mind, United are now closer to where they want to be in the league.

The curious case of David De Gea

In the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button you can watch Brad Pitt “grow” young as the aging process is reversed. He begins as an elderly man, and finishes as an infant. This is possibly a poor comparison to use in describing a 22 year old professional footballer, but at times you can see the mature David De Gea regress to the youthful, inexperienced ‘keeper in just over 90 mins.

De Gea seems to be a magnet for criticism since he has arrived at Old Trafford. Youth would always be used as an excuse for any misgivings, as well as his lack of experience in “physical English football”. At 22, he does not have a CV to back up his talent and is thus under the microscope. Is he really a top class goal keeper?

There have been wobbles, but there have also been excellent displays, and often these can happen within minutes of each other. On Sunday, he kept United’s lead with a display of fast-twitch reflexes and excellent shot-stopping. After each of these saves he had the aura of a seasoned pro; confident, resolute and authorative. Come the end of the game however, he had regressed. Failing to address a ball in his area with any real conviction, we saw his immature demeanor return. After the Spurs players reeled away in triumph of their equalizer, De Gea seemed to linger while facing his goal. Behind him, some of his teammates’ eyes seemed to warm his back. Minutes earlier he was the authoritarian; now he was the subordinate.

Rooney loves cursing, and so do we.

“F**k”

(Wayne Rooney, April 2^nd)

The above is a direct quote of what caused Wayne Rooney to receive a two match ban from the FA today. For those who are reading this and wonder why I have chosen to conceal some of the letters, I simply do not want to offend anyone and risk the backlash of the internet community. I apologize that I have even used the F and the K. That in itself is offensive and bringing this blog into disrepute.