Simon Leach

Lawyer, father, United, music, politics, football, cricket, golf and tennis. Views are my own.

[Alternative MUFC. @AlternativeMUFC]

People celebrating a manager being sacked just doesn't sit right with me at all. Of course you can be glad that the club came to the decision that you wanted, but using that as a form of celebration is pretty tone deaf.

If anything, it's a shame and an embarrassment that this club finds itself in this position yet again. A sad day for the club to have to be making these decisions in the first place. If anything, frustration and melancholy would be my natural go-to feelings when the reality of how shit we really are as a club reaches such desperate times as it did yesterday.

Some big accounts on this app have been bouncing around on my timeline more vocal in their joy yesterday than they were when we won a trophy back in May.

I'm not calling for a day of mourning but some maturity and context wouldn't hurt.

While I agree that the decision was the correct one, we've been here too many times to think that a change of manager is the missing piece of the jigsaw and will change anything in the longterm.

We had some unbelievable moments under Erik and we achieved more in this two year 'banter era' than most clubs do in a generation.

Cheers Bald, I for one wish you all the best.

[Richard Branson @richardbranson]

The question is not so much whether someone deserves to die, but whether we deserve to kill.” Powerful words from Bryan Stevenson, author of #JustMercy. The way I look at it, we never have. And we never will. Here’s why we need to abolish the death penalty for good: https://t.co/sPDtFHsjTO

#WorldDayAgainstTheDeathPenalty

[Neo-Kenny @Neo_Kenny_]

"They're eating the dogs"

The best line ever spoken during a presidential debate. 😂

[Brian Roemmele @BrianRoemmele]

In 1968, Sidney Poitier was at a press conference at the height of his career.

He made it very clear how he felt about the press.

Funny that I had to find this on a discarded film reel with 1000s of books, Microfiche and films.

Now you can see it.

[Alternative MUFC. @AlternativeMUFC]

@oasis @TicketmasterUK @Twickets Skyrocketing the tickets from £145 face value to £356 'in demand' pricing is disgraceful.

Taking full advantage of peoples desperation. No doubt many people who couldn't afford this paid it through sheer panic and pressure.

And after all the 'no touting talk'.

Tramps.

[IAN HYLAND @HylandIan]

Surely anyone who buys an Oasis ticket for any night apart from the opening night is taking a bit of a risk.

[The Rock Revival @TheRockRevival_]

Say nothing. Just retweet.

[Mainly Oasis @mainlyoasis]

You’re telling me we could be experiencing this live next year?! 👀

[The Extreme Music Enthusiast @TheExtremeMusi1]

I still find it hard to believe that this is real.

Ennio Morricone would be proud

[Joanna Hardy-Susskind @Joanna__Hardy]

In 2019 there were 71 ineffective criminal trials because there weren’t enough lawyers to conduct them.

71 seemed a lot.

By 2023 that number was 1,436.

We warned everyone that legal aid lawyers were leaving.

And we were right.

[Benjamin Hunt @JustAFootyFan_]

The stat going round about passes into Martial and Hojlund, really doesn't look good. But our personnel issues, are a big reason for that. Looking at various bits of data, and context, from last season shows that.

Big Chances created by #MUFC:
1. Bruno Fernandes
2. Casemiro
2. Luke Shaw
4. Christian Eriksen
4. Jadon Sancho

Chances Created:
1. Bruno Fernandes
2. Jadon Sancho
3. Christian Eriksen
4. Luke Shaw
5. Fred

Chances created per 90:
1. Bruno Fernandes
2. Jadon Sancho
3. Fred
4. Donny Van de Beek
4. Christian Eriksen
4. Wout Weghorst
7. Antony
7. Marcel Sabitzer
9. Anthony Elanga
10. Casemiro
10. Diogo Dalot

We use our wingers to hold width and open central spaces, which is why they all cut inside. In hopes to utilise and manipulate the spaces they created. But, now all they do is hold the width and we hope to get the ball in the box and win games that way.

Last season we played the 3rd fewest crosses in the league. This season we've played the 3rd most. The point of our wingers is to isolate full backs and hopefully a midfielder too, to double up. Creating more space for our central creators. However, this season, we've had none of our central creators...

It doesn't help also. When you look at the players that played the most passes for United last season, either. Which helped with our dominance in games at times:
1. Lindelof
2. Martinez
3. Shaw
4. Eriksen
5. Casemiro
6. Fred
7. Varane
8. Dalot
9. Bruno
10. Malacia

Our lack of proper line breakers from deep in Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen, has forced us to go long and wide, and making our wingers go from the outlet to the creators.

It shows also, why Bruno hasn't been as good in chance creation. Last season if you shut down Bruno, then we had Martinez, Eriksen and even Casemiro to dictate from deep. So the opposition would have to split duties, which afford Bruno more space. However, this season, shut off Bruno, shut off United.

This lack of deep line breakers, causes United to have to go long and wide from deep in build-up. Which is also a big reason why we are seeing McTominay start so often. This is to maximise our ability in the 50/50s when going long. Thus hurts us when wanting to control the game, but with this current personnel, ten Hag feels directness and physicality is the way forwards.

However, get him his players back, and we see a completely different United side.

[Simon Leach @SimonLeach07]

Hi best game for us so far. No idea where 5 out of 10 came from. Passing and tackling good. He also moved the ball forward!

[BoylePete1970 BIG OLD PETE @BPete1970]

I’m not been over impressed with Amrabat since joining United but I honestly thought he played well tonight & his best performance for us yet sky gave him 5 ?

[Simon Leach @SimonLeach07]

Taibi 3rd October 1999. Chelsea 5 Man United 0. The comparison is there for all to see.

[Simon Leach @SimonLeach07]

😂👏

[Sarmo @sarm0161]

Buying a player for £80M and selling them for £30M is better business than letting someone go to Juventus for free, buying them back from Juventus for £90M and then letting them go to Juventus for free.

[Oasis @oasis]

👌 @pianorockbr

[Simon Leach @SimonLeach07]

Sixes and sevens. Two losses to City by 6, one to Tottenham by 6 and one to Liverpool by 7, all in the last 12 years. Every one a truly awful performance and three of them against our biggest rivals. I have no explanation for this, but it does need explaining. 🤷‍♂️

[Simon Leach @SimonLeach07]

Fond memories. You would have been proud of what your firm has achieved, Andrew.

[Simon Leach @SimonLeach07]

Superb book.