Sunday, 17 August 2014

Moyes: I wasnt given time to succeed or fail

Moyes: I wasnt given time to succeed or fail

Moyes: I wasnt given time to succeed or fail

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 05:49 PM PDT

Moyes, in an exclusive with the Daily Mail, said he moved from Everton to Manchester as he believed he had time to build a successful team, after predecessor Alex Ferguson stood aside after 27 years in the job. But the Scotsman labelled the job impossible, as United let him go less than a year into his six-year contract in April. Moyes was speaking in the days leading into Saturdays Premier League curtain-raiser, which saw Swansea City trump United 2-1 at Old Trafford. It was a step into the unknown and, looking back now, it was near enough the impossible job, Moyes said. But it was the right job for me. Id been at Everton for more than 11 years. Wed qualified for the Champions League, got to an FA Cup final, Id been voted manager of the season three times. I was among the most experienced managers in the Premier League. United had always had British managers. I was devastated to lose the job because it was something I felt I could make a real success of. We knew it was going to take time to make the necessary changes. It was going to take time to evolve. But we were in the process of making other important changes. In the end, I dont feel I was given time to succeed or fail. Moyes said he saw similarities at United with long-time club Everton, where he conceded his start was also rusty before he lasted 11 years. It was not easy to begin with at Everton either. We had a couple of tough years before we had the club the way we wanted it, Moyes said. But the reason I went to United was because I thought I was joining a club that would give me time. That was the big thing. I didnt want to change anything immediately. I wanted to take my time working out what I thought was needed. Moyes said he would continue to follow the clubs fortunes after his first club-less close-season since he was 16. Its going to hurt this weekend that Im not managing Manchester United, because thats obviously what Id have liked to have been doing, he said. But Ill watch the games. I wont be running away from it. Football is something Ive been involved in since I was a boy.

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Saturday: Back threes, new boys and late blows

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 02:20 PM PDT

Manchester United 1-2 Swansea City Louis van Gaal's first competitive game as Manchester United manager was perhaps a touch too competitive for the Dutchman's liking: the Swans shocked their hosts with the kind of eyebrow-raising Old Trafford defeat that became such a habit under David Moyes. Nobody was too surprised when Van Gaal picked a 3-4-1-2 formation, although some of the personnel had the hacks a-Googlin': Tyler Blackett played at left centre-back with Jess Lingard at right wing-back (and Ashley Young on the opposite flank). Neither academy graduate let the team down, but at half-time Van Gaal abandoned the back three and switched to a 4-2-3-1: so much for the tactical revolution. By that time Swansea were leading through a well-executed, if hardly difficult, counter-attack: Ki Sung-Yeung was left completely unmarked to collect and dispatch Nathan Dyer's pass. United levelled through a short-range overhead kick from new captain Wayne Rooney on 53 minutes, but there was to be no happy beginning for the new skipper or gaffer. With United's underachieving midfield increasingly resorting to the long ball forward – a situation seldom helped by the arrival of substitute Marouane Fellaini – it was Swansea who scored the game's third goal, handed to them by more poor defending (ersatz left-back Young failed to deal with sub Jefferson Montero's cross) and a slice of luck (Wayne Routledge's scuffed shot landing perfectly for Gylfi Sugurdsson to snaffle). Van Gaal may have proved himself open to new ideas – implementing a back three but being equally ready to abandon it if necessary – and refused to criticise his players, but he will not have enjoyed being beaten by a rookie manager. Garry Monk, of course, will be rightly delighted with his side, top of the nascent league. Analyse it with Stats Zone in your browser • Report • Reaction from Van Gaal MonkLeicester City 2-2 Everton Top-flight newbies Leicester merrily traded blows with top-four contenders Everton in a game with two dozen efforts on goal, almost perfectly divided between the two teams: the visitors shaded the shot-count 13-11, but each side had three attempts on target and five efforts off-target. Amid a party atmosphere at the King Power Stadium, Everton quickly settled into their ball-hungry ways – they ended the game with 63.7% possession and completed 504 passes to Leicester's 259 – and took the lead through Aiden McGeady's gorgeous 20th-minute curler. However, Nigel Pearson's men didn't win the title last year by giving up and within 95 seconds they were level, record signing Leonardo Ulloa paying off the first slice of his £8m fee by forcing home the leveller from a corner. Everton nosed back in front before half-time when Steven Naismith cleverly finished inside the area, but gutsy Leicester refused to buckle and with four minutes left, sub Chris Wood – on for Ulloa – curled the ball home from just inside the area to earn the home side a share of the points. Analyse it with Stats Zone • Report • Reaction from Pearson MartinezQPR 0-1 Hull City Harry Redknapp's triumphant return didn't go quite to plan as Hull beat QPR at Loftus Road despite the loss of Robert Snodgrass to a worrying injury. Steve Bruce's side have already begun their season in earnest, with the Europa League clashes against AS Trencin as a result of reaching the FA Cup final last season. Upon their return to London, the Tigers fought hard for their points in a fairly even game – Rangers had 51.1% possession and the two sides posted near-identical pass totals (see Stats Zone screen below). QPR had the better of the first half, registering nine shots to Hull's three (none of which demanded a save from Robert Green). However, Loic Remy – tipped by many to have left the club by now – was wasteful, failing to score with any of his five attempts on goal, and the home side's profligacy in front of goal was summed up when Charlie Austin's weak late penalty was comfortably saved by Allan McGregor. That made a winner out of James Chester, who had headed home a Stephen Quinn corner after outmanoeuvring Rangers new boy Rio Ferdinand at the back post. As with Manchester United, the home side abandoned their much-discussed 3-5-2 formation as they chased the game, but as with Manchester United, it did them no good – unlike Hull, who have used a back three for a number of seasons and seem quite good at it. Analyse it with Stats Zone • Report • Reaction from Redknapp BruceStoke City 0-1 Aston Villa In the week that their former hero Tony Pulis hit the headlines and the road, Stoke played like a team in transition, or perhaps still in the changing room. With Mark Hughes fielding three new signings, the Potters also announced shortly before kick-off that they had signed Victor Moses on a season-long loan. They certainly need more penetration up front; whether Moses will provide it remains to be seen. Stoke registered 12 shots to Villa's seven, but only two of them were on target. New face Bojan Krkic, brought in from Barcelona, typified Stoke: inventiveness outside the box and inaccuracy inside it, with none of his three efforts bothering Brad Guzan. (He wasn't the worst offender: Marko Arnautovic managed to miss the target with all four of his attempts.) By contrast, Andy Weimann dispatched his only attempt – five minutes after the break – with enviable efficiency. Under Paul Lambert the Villans have tended toward the smash-and-grab, habitually surrendering possession while their opponents pile up the passes; it can invite capitulation, but occasionally it rope-a-dopes the unwary and this was just such an occasion. Stoke had 35.4% of the ball and completed 431 passes to Villa's 189, but the points went south down the M6. Analyse it with Stats Zone • Report • Reaction from Hughes LambertWest Brom 2-2 Sunderland Although perhaps not a fixture you'd expect to build a Match of the Day around, West Brom vs Sunderland rarely lacks goals: there's only been one 0-0 in their last 23 meetings. And on this occasion, unlike the last time Sunderland came to town – when Paolo Di Canio fronted up the away end – the teams played nice and shared the goals. It's not often that "Lee Cattermole" and "thunderbolt" are sentence neighbours but the pugnacious midfielder lashed the Mackems ahead early doors from 25 yards. That was arguably against the run of play and certainly Sunderland didn't exactly force the issue thereafter, allowing Alan Irvine's team to get up some steam. Saido Berahino bagged a brace for the Baggies, levelling from the spot just before half-time when Neil Swarbrick puzzled Gus Poyet by decreeing that Valentine Roberge had fouled Victor Anichebe, then casually side-footing home a tempting cross from Sunderland old boy Craig Gardner. By that point each side had seen goals disallowed – West Brom through Craig Dawson, Sunderland through Steven Fletcher – but the officials had no problem with Seb Larsson's late leveller, swept home after good work by debutant Patrick van Aanholt. Each manager professed himself satisfied with a point, but each may be more keen to get all three by the time the teams clash again in late February. Analyse it with Stats Zone • Report • Reaction from Irvine PoyetWest Ham 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur After thrice losing to West Ham last season Spurs gained revenge in delicious style, with a goal in time added on after the Hammers had been on the front foot for most of the game. Sam Allardyce – under such pressure that he was still the bookies' favourite to be the first top-flight manager sacked even when punters were pouring thousands on Tony Pulis – bristled at goalscorer Eric Dier's suggestion that the home side were "direct", and some of the stats back him up: of West Ham's 409 passes, 356 were short and a healthy 344, or 84%, completed – not the mark of a team that lumps it mindlessly. That said, they did attempt 53 long balls to Spurs' 23. More worryingly, however they got the ball forward they didn't use it very well up at the sharp end: although they registered 18 attempts to Spurs' 10, each side got four on target – typical of the Hammers, whose 37% shot accuracy last season was the top flight's worst. The home side had a numerical advantage for half an hour either side of half-time, with Kyle Naughton somewhat questionably sent off for hands before James Collins rather daftly collected a second yellow. To make matters worse for Allardyce, Mark Noble chose the derby to miss his first penalty in 11 attempts – and just when it looked like the game would end in a draw, Dier drifted forward and calmly rounded Adrian to give Mauricio Pochettino a debut win. Spurs were far from brilliant, but you wouldn't find a frown in the away end at five to five. Analyse it with Stats Zone • Reaction from Pochettino AllardyceArsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace Tony Pulis would be spinning in his grave, if he were dead rather than simply in a huff: Palace capitulated by conceding two goals from set-pieces as Arsenal coughed and spluttered their way to a first opening-day win in five attempts. The south Londoners may have lost Pulis but his spirit remains and under caretaker Keith Millen Palace were the same obdurate opponents, dropping into a 4-5-1 without the ball and hoping to spring a surprise on the break. Arsenal dominated possession but went behind 10 minutes before the break when Palace new boy Brede Hangeland broke a three-season scoring duck, back-headering home after outmuscling Alexis Sanchez and Laurent Koscielny. Maddeningly for Millen (and presumably Pulis, somewhere), Palace couldn't hold on until half-time – and the roles were almost exactly reversed, as Sanchez hoisted an injury-time free-kick over the defence, where Koscielny outsmarted Hangeland to score his own back-header. After the break Millen's men again stood firm against home possession, even as Arsene Wenger threw on Olivier Giroud (for the willing but limited Yaya Sanogo) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Arsenal eventually completed 637 passes to Palace's 123. The visitors could have coped with Jason Puncheon's second yellow in the 89th minute, but as the game ticked into overtime they again conceded from a set-piece, Arsenal's various creative types repeatedly hoisting the ball into the danger zone until Aaron Ramsey found himself unmarked in an unmissable position. Relief for Arsenal, disbelief for Palace, but both will need to improve if they're to reach their goals. Analyse it with Stats Zone • Report • Reaction from Ramsey

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Uniteds confidence will be smashed - Van Gaal

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 12:08 PM PDT

United started their 2014-15 Premier League campaign poorly, as goals to Ki Sung-yueng and Gylfi Sigurdsson gave Swansea a surprise away win. New United captain Wayne Rooney cancelled out Kis opener and he hit the post with a 25-yard free-kick as his side pressed for a winner. But the Old Trafford outfit still trying to get over David Moyes disastrous season in charge thatsaw them finish seventh last term were left shell-shocked by Sigurdssons 72nd-minute winner. United enjoyed an excellent pre-season campaign and new manager Van Gaal acknowledged the loss will be a big hit to the confidence of his players, who he felt looked nervous at times during the clash. Of course, it is very disappointing for the players, the fans, for me, and the staff, Van Gaal told reporters. When you have preparation time and you win everything and then you lose your first match, it cannot be worse, I believe. We have built up a lot of confidence and then it shall be smashed down because of this result. But we have to know that it is only one game of many games. You shall not be the champion at this moment. You shall be the champion in May. I saw a lot of players looking very nervous, making the wrong choices and that is a pity. These players have to forget that expectation because that is Manchester United. You have to cope with that pressure.

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The quality is not there at United - Scholes

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 10:20 AM PDT

Uniteds shock seventh-placed finish last term means they are playing no part in this seasons elite European club competition something that has not happened since the 1995-96 campaign. And the Old Trafford outfit made a poor start to the new Premier League season on Saturday as goals from Ki Sung-yueng and Gylfi Sigurdsson gave Swansea City a surprise 2-1 away win. New United managerLouis van Gaal gave 20-year-old defender Tyler Blackett a Premier League debut in his favoured 3-4-1-2 formation, but he was forced to switch systems at the break and play Ashley Young as a left-back. Uniteds defensive frailties were evident during the match, but former midfielderScholes felt the entire side struggled, particularly in midfield. It wasnt good enough, Scholes told BT Sport. When you miss the likes of [departed defensive trio Nemanja] Vidic, [Rio] Ferdinand and [Patrice] Evrayou saw defensively, they were inexperienced and just got caught too many times. In the midfield area, the quality just wasnt there. When youve got strikers like [Wayne] Rooney and [Javier] Hernandeztheres nothing to feed off. When they got the goal [Rooney equalised in the 53rd minute] you expect United to go on and score one, two, threebut you never got that impression. Scholes, who made over 700 appearances for United, is disappointed by the clubs inability to attract stars to the club in the transfer window, despite the likes of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw joining in the close-season. And he feels that Toni Kroos and Cesc Fabregas, who have moved to Real Madrid and Chelsea respectively, would have been excellent additions to Uniteds squad. Theres no doubt theres a massive improvement needed from these players if he [Van Gaal] doesnt spend, he added. The two quality players who havent come here and gone to other clubs, Toni Kroos and Cesc Fabregas, would have made a huge difference here.

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Monk: All that mattered was us

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 08:39 AM PDT

Much was made of Louis van Gaals era in charge of United beginning at Old Trafford in the opening game of the new Premier League season,but Swansea spoiled the party with an excellent victory. New United captain Wayne Rooney cancelled out Ki Sung-yuengs opener eight minutes into the second half and the England starthen hit the post with an excellent free-kick as the hosts ramped up the pressure. But United, who never looked comfortable in either of the 3-4-1-2 and 4-4-1-1 systems employed by Van Gaal, were stunned when, with 18 minutes remaining, Gylfi Sigurdsson powered home from close range. Monk who spent 10 years at Swansea as a player before making the step up to head coach said his pre-match message was about ignoring the distractions, something his side did admirably. Im happy but not because it was against Manchester United because all I care about is the three points, Monk said. Thats what I made the players worry about all week. I told them not to care it was Manchester United, the first game of the season, with all the nerves. I reminded them it was just another grass pitch and 11 players against 11. Its not that Old Trafford has lost a fear factor - this is Manchester United with the history it is steeped in, the resources they have, the players out on the pitch even considering the injuries they had. But I didnt care, all I cared about was us. It doesnt matter where you go, you have to make sure the focus is on what you do, no matter who you play because if youre not right, youll lose the game. We were right in many areas and got the right result. Monk also felt that Swanseas status as rank outsiders was used as motivation for his squad. I can pretty much guarantee no-one outside of Swansea gave us a hope, he added. So I told the players to go and show exactly what were about. The win was Swanseas second at Old Trafford in 2014. The Welsh club won by the same scoreline in the third round of last years FA Cup.

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We never played as a team - Van Gaal

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 08:14 AM PDT

In his first competitive match in charge of United, who could only finish seventh in the Premier League last term, Van Gaal saw his side struggle with his favoured 3-4-1-2 system he had used throughout pre-season. The home side were sloppy in the first half in the opening game of the top-flight campaign on Saturday and although they improved after the break, as new captain Wayne Rooney cancelled out Ki Sung-yuengs 20-yard effort, Swansea were still able to find a winner. Gylfi Sigurdsson was the hero for the Welsh side, powering home Wayne Routledges cut-back with just 18 minutes remaining as United who also saw Rooney hit the post with an excellent free-kick in the second half started their campaign with a defeat. The Dutchman felt his whole team were to blame for the loss and urged the clubs supporters to be patient when judging his team. Van Gaal told BT Sport: We dont reach our level, what we have showed in the past matches, and that is disappointing because this is the most important match. We are disappointing [in] defence and we are disappointing ourselves. And thats why we lost today. Of course we need defenders, but that I have already said in former press conferences. You cannot say because of one game that we lost, and all the others we won, that it is the defence [that cost them]. It is the team and how we played today. We never played as a team, I think. That is our error. Van Gaal felt his side were much improved in the second half and refused to criticise the effort of his players. We scored a fantastic goal and then we have chances to make it 2-1, he added. But chances is not enough. At the end the result is counting. We have to evaluate why. They [players] have done their utmost bestthe second half, they have run all the miles together. But I think we have to always keep the heads up. Van Gaal will demand an improvement from his players when they travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland next Sunday.

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Manchester United 1 Swansea City 2: Sigurdsson winner stuns Old Trafford

Posted: 16 Aug 2014 07:24 AM PDT

Sigurdsson bagged the winner 18 minutes from time on Saturday as Van Gaal tasked with improving the fortunes at Old Trafford after David Moyes disastrous spell in charge last term endured a day he will want to forget in his opening Premier League fixture. The Dutchmans 3-4-1-2 system did not appear to suit United despite being used in pre-season and they found themselves behind when Ki Sung-yueng scored from 20 yards just before the half-hour mark. Van Gaal, known for his tinkering, swapped to 4-4-1-1 in the second half and it appeared to be the tonic for Uniteds response, led by new captain Wayne Rooney, who levelled with a clever overhead kick eight minutes after the break. Rooney saw an outstanding free-kick crash against the post with 24 minutes left and Old Trafford was then stunned when Sigurdsson Swanseas main signing of the close-season finished well after Wayne Routledges cut-back. The result is sure to put early pressure on Van Gaal and is likely to see further spending from United in the transfer window, as they look to recover from last terms seventh-place finish. The victory was Swanseas second at Old Trafford in 2014 and second ever - as the Welsh club also won a third-round FA Cup tie by the same scoreline in January. Van Gaal gave 20-year-old defender Tyler Blackett a Premier League debut, while Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera and Jesse Lingard also made their top-flight bows. Lingard started in the unfamiliar position of right wing-back and was nearly caught out just six minutes in, when Routledge drifted across him untracked, but the Swansea mans first touch meant that Jonjo Shelveys clever ball in behind was squandered. Sigurdsson back at Swansea for a second spell, this time permanently, after signing from Tottenham saw his 25-yard shot in the 12th minute fall awkwardly for United goalkeeper David de Gea, but the Spaniard did well to smother it. Lingard was then injured in a challenge with Ashley Williams, and replaced by Adnan Januzaj, before the hosts eventually got going, with Lukasz Fabianski the only debutant for the visitors from the start needing to be alert to keep out Phil Jones deflected cross and Juan Matas inswinging effort. Swansea were able to convert one of their chances, though, as Ki delighted the travelling fans in the 28th minute. The South Korea international was played in by Sigurdsson, who initially linked with Nathan Dyer, and he hit a sweet left-footed effort that curled into the right corner from 20 yards. Van Gaals men failed to mount a significant response before the break and as a result, he replaced the ineffective Javier Hernandez with Nani and changed systems. Rooney then produced the equaliser eight minutes into the second half, showing great anticipation to thrash Jones near-post flick-on home from four yards in sensational style. The England star continued to threaten, with Williams required to deny him with a last-gasp tackle, before he was then thwarted by the woodwork as his wicked 25-yard set-piece left Fabianski rooted to the spot, but crashed back off the post. And Swansea made the hosts pay for their profligacy as a quick free-kick, taken by Wilfried Bony, set them free. A cross from substitute Jefferson Montero made its way through to Routledge at the far post, and although he slipped, his ball fortunately fell for Sigurdsson, who hammered an effort through a sea of bodies that was too hot to handle for De Gea. United, so often saved by late goals, rarely looked like levelling, but were denied a penalty despite Januzajs cross striking the arm of Angel Rangel in injury time, as Swansea claimed an excellent win against the odds.

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