Man U Lose...

Manager is still away and Klopp is looking forward to a second successive win. Heated discussions between Klopp and his coaching team were about the tactics and team formation. Having successfully deployed the gegenpreessing last week, we switch to Man U this week. Aptly against a team called Old Man United. But hell they were not old. There were more youngsters than my fingers could count.

Nevertheless we started with the same 4-3-3 formation and deployed Yiong as the false nine. We didn’t start well and were immediately put on the back foot. We lost the middle and were second to every ball as OMU controlled the game. Their effective passing led to several chances for them and only spurned opportunities kept the scoreline down. Indeed, we lost the ball in the middle and they took the chance. Then a penalty was awarded against us. Somehow the shot hit the post and was cleared away by our defence. Strangely I seem to suffer from Ron problem too as I also cannot remember how we conceded the 2nd goal. 2-0 down at half time and we were really staring defeat in the face. Just like today’s West Ham vs Man U game.

We started better in the 2nd half. Putting in more effort and energy into our game. And we duly got our rewards as Max wriggled around in the box and lashed a shot into the bottom corner from an acute angle. As we piled on the pressure, Harold came into the game. He sent a cross field ball into the box. The keeper couldn’t reach it and it landed to Jerome. Faced with an open goal. He miskicked and put it wide. Red faced, he laid on the ground and was disgusted with himself. OMU wasn’t out of the game and they had a lot of chances. We lost the ball again in the middle and their forward lobbed an exquisite ball over Sherman. 3-1. Then another mistake allowed their striker to charge into the box. He could only hit the far post and deflected away from the incoming opponent. Lucky us. Incepcion were playing better. Putting in hard challenges and closing down the opponents quickly. Harold again put a cross field ball which the keeper couldn’t reach. Stuart came in and with a touch, softly lifting it over the keeper for our second goal. We tried hard but couldn’t make our chances count. Maybe because they changed their keeper again as he kept us out comfortably.

Game ended 3-2 as Klopp (last week) became Mourinho this week. Failing to galvanise the team and raising the game to match. But credit to the opponents who were truly the better team. Maybe it’s time for LLLC to return.