Musa Okwonga – Page 4 – Football Scout

Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and Phil Jones get 5/10 in Man United defeat

Tottenham took control of the second half at Manchester United, burying three goals in the Theatre of Dreams to up the pressure on Jose Mourinho.

In the aftermath of Manchester United’s loss to Tottenham, Craig Burley says it’s time for Jose Mourinho, Ed Woodward or both to leave Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho reacts to Manchester United’s 3-0 loss at home against Tottenham, and heaps praise on the fans at Old Trafford.

Where do Manchester United go from here? There were good signs, but they were sadly far outweighed by the bad.

In some ways, this 3-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur — their second in two games in the Premier League — was more dispiriting than their defeat to Brighton. Against Brighton, they showed a lack of intensity throughout; here, spurred on by six changes to their starting eleven, they nevertheless succumbed to a counter-attacking performance of the most ruthless efficiency. The…

Eric Bailly a calamity as abject Manchester United suffer Brighton setback

Can Jose Mourinho get his squad to rebound from a tough loss to Brighton or has his negativity and demeanor affected them beyond repair?

Jose Mourinho refused to blame specific players for Manchester United’s shock defeat to Brighton.

Jose Mourinho’s men looked utterly listless in a shock early-season defeat for Manchester United at the hands of Brighton.
Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat at Brighton on Sunday does not even begin to do justice to the abject nature of their display.
This was arguably the worst of their Premier League performances under Jose Mourinho, and it is worrying to think what might have happened if they had produced this play against Liverpool or Manchester City. The repercussions from the manner of this loss may well be swift and far-reaching. Two games into the league season, United look woefully unprepared for the months ahead.
Positives
It…

Fred the midfield dynamo Manchester United have missed

The FC crew choose who they would keep between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho.
Fred’s acquisition from Shakhtar Donetsk at first appeared to be a sign of a busy and successful summer transfer window at Manchester United, but it ended up being an anomaly. Amid much of the gloom at, it perhaps became easy to overlook his arrival along with Porto’s Diogo Dalot, a defender rated very highly by those at the club he left. Yet in his performance against Leicester City in the opening game of the Premier League season, Fred announced himself in compelling fashion.
Fred was not flawless…

Man United should welcome Marouane Fellaini back given his Belgium form

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez told ESPN Thierry Henry’s success as a player with France can help his team deal with pressure in the World Cup semi-finals.

Stewart Robson challenges the FC crew to find a flaw in his best XI of France and Belgium players ahead of their clash in the World Cup semifinals.

Marouane Fellaini has done it. Regardless of what happens from here, he has helped Belgium to produce performances worthy of their potential. They were long known as the “Golden Generation” of players, noted for their rare elegance, but it is one of their least heralded players who has done much to elevate them.

How has Fellaini done this, and how much more effective can he be for United next season?

First questions first. History will record that Fellaini played an essential role as Belgium…

Paul Pogba’s discipline shines for France and will benefit Man United

France’s Thomas Lemar reveals if Paul Pogba finds his form in the World Cup they will go far and can beat Argentina.
As France defeated Argentina 4-2 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup earlier this week, it was striking to reflect that we had just seen a very different side of Paul Pogba.
We already knew about his outstanding passing range, but what we had not consistently seen, either at international level or at club level with Manchester United, was the dogged defensive discipline that we more often associate with his partner in France’s midfield: N’Golo Kante.
Against Argentina, though, Pogba…

Romelu Lukaku’s leadership at the World Cup a boon for Manchester United

England’s Jordan Pickford insists the squad want to beat Belgium to keep their winning mentality going into the World Cup knockout stages.

Belgium’s Toby Alderweireld believes England have improved massively since Gareth Southgate took over and has created a positive mentality in the squad.

Belgium’s Roberto Martinez insists he must rotate his team against England to make sure his squad is fresh for the knockout stages.

Paul Mariner reveals his grades for England’s starting XI vs. Panama and explains why they can’t let up despite having already advanced.
The excellent news for Manchester United is that Romelu Lukaku has had a stellar World Cup, with four goals in his first two games as Belgium have dismissed their opponents. Some will quickly counter that they have only so far faced Tunisia and Panama, the latter being by some distance the worst team at the World Cup. Yet Lukaku’s intelligent play and general presence would have unsettled far better sides than the two he and his colleagues have dispatched.
His goals have shown the range of finishing…

Manchester United need Willian: He is the perfect Jose Mourinho player

Steve Nicol explains why Fred is a great addition to Manchester United’s midfield and why the club were smart to seal the move before the World Cup.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho used his footballing expertise to predict the outcome of the World Cup group stages.
Recent reports have suggested that Manchester United are looking to add not one Brazilian midfielder to their ranks, but two. Much has been written about Fred, acquired from Shakhtar Donetsk, but Chelsea’s Willian could prove an even more versatile signing. It is unclear why Chelsea would contemplate letting him go, but if United have a chance to buy him they should take it.
Willian is the perfect Jose Mourinho player: in the sense that he is tactically intelligent, works extremely hard in defence…

Anthony Martial’s misery: Man United striker likely finished under Jose Mourinho

ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop assesses the latest transfer rumours surrounding Gareth Bale, Edinson Cavani and many more in Rumour Rater.
Anthony Martial is unhappy at Old Trafford. This much is not new: but the reports now emerging are that his disquiet may force him from Old Trafford. How has it come to this?
Well, unfortunately, this could have been foreseen. Much is made of Jose Mourinho’s inability to bring the best from young attackers under his tutelage. As has been well documented, two of the world’s leading creative talents — Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne — have flourished elsewhere…

Luke Shaw decline a huge frustration for England, Manchester United

While Diogo Dalot may not be a Man United regular next season, Shaka Hislop feels it’s a statement of intent for the future.
Here’s a cruel irony: just as England have adopted a tactical setup that plays to Luke Shaw’s best strengths, the defender finds himself at home for the summer.
Gareth Southgate has chosen to make England line up in a 3-5-2 formation, reminiscent of that which saw Glenn Hoddle’s side play with such freedom at World Cup 1998, a strategy which would suit Shaw’s natural desire to attack the final third.
This deployment, ahead of three highly attentive and ball-playing centre-backs, would also lessen…

Man United, Jose Mourinho playing catch up to Liverpool in transfer market

ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop delves into rumours surrounding Neymar, Willian, Anthony Martial and more in Transfer Rater.
It has been a consistent article of faith that Jose Mourinho knows exactly what he is doing in the transfer market. The only criticism of him in this regard has been that he buys great quality but in insufficient quantity.
Recently, though, that reputation has taken a grim turn. When he brought Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Bailly, Mourinho’s acumen was widely praised. Now, though, after a second transfer window, the assessment is less charitable. Ibrahimovic, a very…

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