Ouch.
My ass stings and so should the collective asses known as the Manchester United Red Devil football club.
After a strong finish to last season, a volatile transfer window, the procurement of several strong midfielders and the return of once-favorite son Marcus Rashford (albeit as a second-half substitute), the Reds opened this season at Hull to face newly-promoted Hull City, a team that finished sixth in the Championship League before going on a historic run that earned them promotion to the Premier League and saw them whipping Manchester United’s high-priced darlings 2-0 this morning.
It wasn’t even that close.
Where do I start?
Michael Carrick, lauded for doing absolutely nothing as manager last season except take off the handcuffs and blinders of the players, allowing them to play free and without looking over their shoulders for the disdaining reactions of a manager in danger of losing their position, now needs to realize that was then, and now what is needed is guidance, strategy, and team chemistry. There is simply too much collective talent on this team to look like shit on the first day of the new season.
He was outcoached badly today.
This is not the Premier Learning League.
Unacceptable.
Arsenal looked like why bother playing the rest of the season? They put on a display worthy of their awesome campaign last year and they didn’t even look like they broke a sweat in doing so. Their 3-0 thrashing of newly-promoted and last season’s Championship League champions Coventry City could have very well been 6-0 for the dominance being displayed by Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Welcome to the Premier League.
Go ahead and give them their second consecutive PL trophy now. As long as Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are healthy and playing in top form, they look unbeatable, like Manchester City did a couple seasons ago when Kevin DeBruyne was directing play.
After only one match.
Good thing it takes 38 matches to complete the PL season.
I’m excited to see some of the Big Boys make comebacks: Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton all need to live up to their storied traditions of winning and excellence on the pitch.
Seeing new managers always brings optimism and there will also be a breakout team that no one expected to make a big splash as happens every season it seems like. Could it be scrappy Brentford again who surprised everyone last season?
Manchester City’s dynasty is officially over and with the departure of Pep Guardiola, arguably the greatest manager in the history of Premier League football, they will be a force still, but they also look a little one-dimensional with Erland Haaland leading a very predictable offensive attack. Maybe Jack Grealish will step up and have a kickass season.
They will need it.
Staying healthy will be a key determinant in the final standings, but scoring goals is going to have the final voice as the League can’t continue to be a set-piece game. They can take notes from the high-flying high-scoring Bundesliga on the importance of offense and unrelenting ball pressure.
All in all, football is back and I am a happy camper.
Go you Reds!
Stay well.
