All fair points, but the current lot are nowhere close to the squad from 14 years ago. Mentality is missing. I hope I am wrong, but this season is going to be just like the previous seasons. More pain!!!
Manchester United lost yesterday.
Carrick said, “It’s only game one.”
And honestly, I needed that reminder.
Because there was a Manchester United team once that lost its opening league game and ended up producing one of the greatest responses in Premier League history.
2012/13.
United lost 1–0 to Everton at Goodison Park.
The knives came out immediately.
City had just won the title in the most painful way imaginable. People were already wondering whether Sir Alex Ferguson's reign was finally coming to an end.
Then United did what United under Fergie always seemed to do.
They got angry.....They got better.....They kept going.
17 games conceded first.
29 wins overall.
Read that again.
This wasn't a team that cruised through the season. They were knocked backwards repeatedly and kept getting back up.
Southampton led 2–1.
Van Persie scored in the 87th minute....Then again in the 92nd.
Newcastle put United behind three times.
Chicharito won it in the 90th minute.
Then came the Etihad.
2–0 up.
City fought back to 2–2.
92nd minute.
Van Persie free-kick.....Deflection.....Goal!!
Absolute madness.
By April, the title race was over.
Aston Villa came to Old Trafford and Van Persie scored that ridiculous volley from Rooney's cross-field pass.
Three goals....Three points.
Title number 20.
Four games still left.
United finished 11 points ahead of City.
And a few weeks later, Sir Alex Ferguson walked away with the trophy.
That's why I keep thinking about Carrick's words.
It's only game one.
Yesterday was disappointing. Of course it was.
But one result doesn't tell you what this season will become.
The 2012/13 team conceded first in 17 league games and still won 29.
They didn't panic after setbacks.
They responded to them.
The season is a marathon.
So don't let Matchday 1 convince you that you know how Matchday 38 will look.
Sometimes the team that loses first is the team that learns fastest.
17 games conceded first. 29 wins. One Premier League title.
The 2012/13 season wasn't just a title win.
It was an absolute masterclass in elite mentality. 🛡️🧬🔴
🚨🚨| BREAKING: Bruno Fernandes is 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 to a move to Galatasaray this summer. 🇹🇷
Manchester United want £64M for the Portuguese, but any club outside England can trigger the £56M release clause.
[@yagosabuncuoglu via @MENnewsdesk]
Lad you ain’t a top player to warrant a Top club unfortunately. You couldn’t get in ahead of Gordon in the World Cup team. I’d say you start getting used to Turkish food
🚨🏴 Marcus Rashford has zero plans to move to Turkey this summer, zero talks with Fenerbahçe.
He’s returning for pre-season at Man Utd as Carrick wants to work with him.
Rashford can still leave #MUFC but only in case of top club bid.
🎥 https://t.co/05rxVmONVf
FIFA President Gianni Infantino:
“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA’s governance.
“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.
“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.
“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.
“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.”
Sky Sports News understands Ben Stokes future is considering his future after he and Gus Atkinson breached the England team’s new midnight curfew and were at a nightclub when an altercation took place with a Saracens rugby player.
🚨👀 Michael Carrick on what he wants from midfielders for Man United: “You need to have composure, poise and be positive”.
"You need to have the physical strength to deal with the quick transitions in the way we want to play and to create excitement”, told Sky Sports.
🚨👋🏼 Pep Guardiola: “We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way... So as my time comes to an end, be happy. Oasis are back again”.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me. Thank you for loving me...”.
🚨 Luis Enrique: “I've never seen such an intensity and physical level. We have to congratulate everyone”.
“We deserved to win, we deserved to draw and we deserved to lose today. It was a fantastic game”.
There are moments when one gets emotional. Watching Bhuvi bowl so beautifully today brought back memories of the days when he was just 17. I was the UP captain, and was impressed by his control and swing. But selectors said he was too young. I insisted. Bhuvi made his Ranji debut, got Sachin Paaji for duck in the final. He's 36 now, still troubles the best of batsmen with his swing. India comeback? Why not, Bhuvi still has it in him.