crunch clash – Michmutters
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Manchester United results, UK media reaction to defeat to Brentford, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erik Ten Hag, Liverpool

Manchester United slumped to a 30-year low as their shocking start to their Premier League campaign continued, proving again when it rains it really does pour.

And monsoon season might be rolling in at Old Trafford ahead of a crunch clash with fierce rivals Liverpool next week.

After losing their opening match of the season at home against Brighton, United were heavily favored to bounce back against Brentford on Sunday morning (AEST).

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PL wrap: Mixed results for ‘Top 6’ teams | 03:06

But disaster struck, with a goalkeeping howler from David de Gea allowing the Bees to strike first in what would become a 4-0 first-half riot at the Gtech Community Stadium.

It’s safe to say few saw that coming.

Manager Erik ten Hag, much like the rest of the world, was left stunned as the halftime whistle marked both a moment of reprieve and realization for the Red Devils.

The damage had already been done by that point, though, as a scoreless second period saw United languish at the bottom of the Premier League table for the first time in 30 years.

This is also the first time since 1936 United have lost seven straight away league games, while Brentford recorded the biggest win in the top division since 1938.

Premier League greats Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp reached their boiling points after the abysmal display, as the extent of the defeat added more chaos to the existing drama the club.

“At this moment in time, it’s really desperate. There’s no leadership, there’s no voice, you can’t blame the individual player or the manager, you’ve got to look above and look to the very top,” Neville said on SkySports.

“This week, they’re going to get peppered those players, the coach, the sporting department, the new CO – they’re all going to get peppered. But there’s a family over there in America who are just literally letting their employees take all the hits for them – and that is unforgivable.”

Frustration, shock and disappointment was felt across the country with many of the UK’s leading football scribes weighing in on the reality facing the English giants – if they’re still worthy of that moniker.

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was at the wheel for the Red Devils until he very much wasn’t, as a poor run of form saw the former United star fired.

Louis van Gaal and David Moyes, another two managers who promised so much before they were sacked, still hadn’t sunk as low as Erik ten Hag after just two matches in charge.

Ten Hag is the first United manager to lose his first two league games since John Chapman in 1921.

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton told the BBC United have “hit rock bottom”, while Sky Sports pundit Karen Carney believes that the club “can’t get any lower”.

Premier League legend Alan Shearer believes that issues have been festering for years at the famous club.

Shearer added that the Red Devils are currently “miles away” from the level that they should be playing at — and even suggested recent speculation about a shock move for 33-year-old striker Marko Arnautović may have been an inside job.

“I’m convinced that someone from Man United’s leaked the story linking them with (Marko) Arnautovic, just to see what the reaction was,” Shearer said on Match of the Day.

“I think that sort of sums up where United are.

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“They’re in a mess and it’s going to take time, an unbelievable amount of money to get things right inside the football club and in terms of the right recruitment and it’s going to take a lot of patience from the Manchester United fans because of where they are now to where they want to be – miles away.”

The Telegraph’s Jim White didn’t mince his words as he provided his analysis of United’s “humiliation”, saying that it was the worst performance he’s ever seen by the club.

“Having watched Manchester United for over 50 years, this performance against Brentford is without question the worst I have ever seen them deliver,” White wrote.

“The grim times of Dave Sexton, the misery of the David Moyes era, the negativity of Louis van Gaal, all looked like halcyon days compared to this performance.

“No joy, no coherence, no spirit: this was a team in name only, delivering the kind of performance that Frenkie de Jong would have had on the phone to his agent with instructions to quickly follow up any interest from Chelsea.

“Mistakes happen. But it was the response to that setback that spoke so damagingly of what is going on at Old Trafford. Instead of launching the kind of fight back that once characterized the club, United folded.

“Everywhere they looked hapless, hopeless and haunted.”

Goalkeeper David de Gea, who was once considered to be one of the best players in the world in his position, had an outing to forget in what is becoming a key issue for the club.

Two mistakes from goalkeeper David de Gea saw Manchester United trail 2-0 to Brentford early in their clash on Sunday (AEST).  (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Two mistakes from goalkeeper David de Gea saw Manchester United trail 2-0 to Brentford early in their clash on Sunday (AEST). (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

The Guardian’s Jonathan Wilson said that while de Gea was still an “excellent shot-stopper”, that his inability to play with the ball at his feet was an issue.

“Can you play out from the back with De Gea? De Gea remains, despite Saturday’s howler, an excellent shot-stopper, which is why last season he was named United’s player of the year for the fourth time,” Wilson wrote.

“But there is a reason he has not played for Spain since October 2020 and why he has apparently fallen behind Brentford’s David Raya in the pecking order.

“He is simply not comfortable on the ball. Last season he completed just 71.3% of his passes. By comparison, Ederson completed 88.1% and Alisson 87.1%.

“While it’s true that’s partly because De Gea was encouraged to play more longer balls, it’s also true that one of the reasons United played more longer balls is De Gea.

Man U HOWLERS gift Brentford goals! | 01:17

“This is a major problem for United: De Gea is one of the few United players who has performed consistently in recent years and yet those struggles with the ball at his feet make it very hard for them to switch to a modern style.

“That, perhaps, is the most disconcerting thing for United. This is supposed to be ten Hag’s honeymoon period, but already he looks in danger of being overwhelmed by just how shambolic the club is … And they’ve got Liverpool next.”

The Athletic’s Adam Crafton said “each week manages to conjure a new sense of stupefying shock” when it came to United, with their fans ruthlessly mocked at half-time.

“At halftime, Brentford, who had not beaten Manchester United since 1938, led their opponents. And this was more than a lead. This was 4-0 and deservedly so,” Crafton wrote.

“There was, in the press box, almost a numbing madness to it all. Brentford’s supporters, too, stared at one another, open-mouthed.

“They taunted their United opponents, telling them they’d be ‘going down with the Fulham’. Fulham, on two points after two games compared to United’s zero, may be offended by the comparison.”

The Red Devils appear to be at a crossroads after failing to sign Arnautovic, as well as other players during the English summer.

Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford for what feels like forever, although Chelsea have since emerged as another potential destination.

According to the BBC, United have spent £672 million ($1.14 billion AUD) since winning their last major trophy in 2017, which was the Europa League.

So far during the transfer window, United have signed Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez.

Club great Rio Ferdinand said that he feels “sorry” for ten Hag after an uneventful transfer window has so far failed to add key players to a struggling squad.

“I don’t feel sorry for the players, I feel sorry for ten Hag,” Ferdinand told the Vibe with Five podcast.

“He’s coming under false pretenses. He’s coming expected new signings.

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“He’s probably sitting there thinking, ‘I’ve been sold a dummy here. I didn’t know I was coming into this’.

“This is an indefensible situation right now because it’s so bad, it’s terrible.

“I mean, we’re only two games in, but we’re two games in on the back of what happened last season as well by the way.

“I wouldn’t blame ten Hag right now. You can pick at his team selection or whatever but this is a bigger problem, a wider problem.”

Midfielder Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, has been accused of getting “away with murder” on the football field by a former Premier League striker.

Gabby Agbonlahor blasted the Portuguese star on the well-known British radio station talkSPORT.

“For me, Fernandes, since he’s been in the Premier League, yes he’s had great stats, goal scoring and assists but he looks like the worst teammate,” Agbonlagor said.

“Every time a player gives it away, every time he gives it away, he throws his arms up at his teammates, he throws his arms up at the bench.

“I’ve played with players like him, you’d be smoking at him. He’ll press now and then. If that was Paul Pogba they would be slaughtering Pogba in the media.

“Fernandes gets away with murder. Did you see Fernandes do anything? It’s easy to say (Harry) Maguire, (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Marcus) Rashford, (Jadon) Sancho.”

The Red Devils failed to qualify for this year’s Champions League after finishing sixth in the 2021/22 Premier League season – 35 points behind champions Manchester City.

While they appear set to sign Adrien Rabiot from Juventus, French journalist Julien Laurens also slammed United’s transfer strategy.

“They are not helping themselves,” Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live’s EuroLeagues podcast.

“The non-existence of a transfer strategy, not just now but since Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson) left, is not just baffling, it’s outrageous.”

The club have reached a new low as a non-league side threw a jab, literally laughing in the wake of United’s horror loss.

Oldham Athletic’s chairman Frank Rothwell was interviewed after his side’s 3-2 win over Dorking Wanderers, where he made the most of his chance to have a dig.

“Do you know what’s happening to United?” Rothwell said, before he reportedly began to laugh.

Manchester United face rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Tuesday week and when it comes to their future

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Sports

South Sydney Rabbitohs, Latrell Mitchell, Matty Johns, premiership race, rugby league, New South Wales, Parramatta Eels, top four race

Matty Johns believes that South Sydney can “come from nowhere” to win the NRL premiership this season, but only if they address a potentially decisive part of their game.

South Sydney can move up to fifth on the ladder if they beat Parramatta in a crunch clash at CommBank Stadium on Friday night.

Both teams will be looking to keep their top four hopes alive with a win in the blockbuster, while the loser could risk dropping down the ladder.

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The Rabbitohs began their impressive run of form against Parramatta early last month, recording the first of four consecutive wins.

After wins over the struggling Newcastle Knights and Bulldogs, Souths made a statement with a 12-point win over the Melbourne Storm.

While they lost in golden point the week after against the Sharks, they bounced back with an emphatic win over the Warriors on the Sunshine Coast.

But not everyone is sold on their recent successes, with Matty Johns comparing the team to a “nice Sunday drive.”

“South Sydney, their recent performances remind me of someone taking a nice Sunday drive, and I mean that both in praise and criticism,” Johns said on SEN’s Morning Glory.

“Watching South Sydney, and I think it’s a bad practice, it’s something they’ve got to be really careful of, they’re lifting the intensity only when they think they need to.

“That’s a concern because intensity and focus and poise under pressure is not something you just reach for out of the kit bag and say ‘alright we’re gonna do it now’.

“Last week I was expecting a real statement game against the Warriors, and they delivered in the first-half. Their intent and their blueprint (on) how they played their best football was the evidence.

Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell has been in some sensational form for the Rabbitohs since returning from injury. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“But the second-half there was just no intensity in the contest… and I’m probably knit-picking a little bit because I do like to see coaches showing a range of emotions, but in that second-half when they were really wiping the floor with the Warriors, whenever they cut up to the coaches box the whole coaching staff were really pissing themselves laughing.

“That’s almost a little bit symbolic of where Souths are. It’s got to start tonight, they’ve got to start to lift and they’ve got to start to play with finals intensity football.”

Latrell Mitchell has been in sensational form for the Rabbitohs, after returning from an almost three month absence against the Eels.

Mitchell has had nine try assists since returning just over one month ago, as well as 33 tackle breaks and four tries.

While the Rabbitohs have largely reaped the rewards since he returned, although Johns issued the team with a warning.

“Latrell plays his best football when he’s relaxed. He’s come back from the States really relaxed, and his touch from him, the way he’s playing is just superb, but it does n’t mean that the rest of the side play their best relaxed, ”he added.

“At the moment there’s a reliance on ‘Trell will get it done’. When you’ve got players like Latrell Mitchell in your football side, they are the icing on the cake. They’re the one who can actually get it done for you.

“But you can’t rely on them. Even with Andrew Johns in our side, our forwards were tearing heads off, hitting the line that hard… If suddenly we went out there and say ‘Joey will get us home’, it just doesn’t happen.”

Storm sizzle poor Panthers | 02:01

Despite a tough run home, in which they play the Eels, Panthers, Cowboys and Roosters, Johns believes they can go all the way.

“The way they’re playing, that relaxed style, and the fact they’re playing within themselves and winning, well done to you boys. But they’re in a position, in my opinion, they can win this competition.

“They can come from nowhere and win this competition but they will not win it with the way they’re playing at the moment.

“It’s nothing about talent or anything like that, they’ve just got to develop, in the next few weeks, a really hard edge, and tonight’s a perfect opportunity.”

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Categories
Sports

Full squads, team sheets, line-ups, ins and outs, changes, injuries, SuperCoach, news, fixture, games

Geelong has pulled a selection shock, naming Rhys Stanley to return from a knee injury that was originally expected to sideline him for multiple games.

But after only missing last week’s win over the Western Bulldogs, Stanley will return against St Kilda this week alongside Jonathan Ceglar in the ruck.

Elsewhere, Fremantle has made something of a selection statement, axing Liam Henry and Travis Colyer as Darcy Tucker and Nathan O’Driscoll return for the club’s crucial meeting against the Dogs.

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Luke Beveridge has made his own bold moves, dumping Baku Khamis, Mitch Hannan and Rory McComb as Alex Keath and Adam Treloar return and father-son prodigy Sam Darcy makes his debut.

Carlton has named Caleb Marchbank, Jack Martin, Lachie Fogarty and Paddy Dow, the latter three on an extended bench for its crunch clash with Brisbane, with injured trio Matt Kennedy, Nic Newman, and Lachie Plowman coming out of the side.

MORE TO EAT.

MELBOURNE v COLLINGWOOD

Friday, August 5, 7:50pm at MCG

OF IS

B: Rivers, Petty, May
HB: Jordan, Lever, Hibberd
C: Brayshaw, Oliver, Hunt
HF: Pickett, Fritscg, Langdon
F: Neal-Bullen, Brown, Spargo
A: Gawn, Viney, Petracca
I/C: Salem, Jackson Melksham, Sparrow
EMG: Harmes, Tomlinson, van Rooyen, Chandler
IN: Brown
OUT: Weideman (omitted), Chandler (sub)

FEET

B: Murphy, Moore, Howe
HB: Pendlebury, Maynard, Quaynor
C: J.Daicos, Crisp, Noble
HF: Elliott, Cameron, Sidebottom
F: McCreery, Mihocek, DE Goet
FOLL: Cox, N.Daicos, Lipinski
I/C: Carmichael, Johnson, Hoskin-Elliott, Ginnivan
EMG: Bianco, Henry, C. Brown, Kelly
IN: Mihocek
OUT: Adams (injured), Bianco (omitted)

HAWTHORN v GOLD COAST

Saturday, August 6, 1:45pm at UTAS Stadium

hawks

B: Sicily, Jeka, Scrimshaw
HB: Impey, Hardwick, Grainger-Bars
C: Ward, Mitchell, Morrison
HF: Serong, Breust, Macdonald
F: Butler, Gunston, Moore
FOLL: McEvoy, Nwcome, O’Meara
I/C: Maginess, Nash, Day, Koschitze
EMG: Blank, Phillips, Howe
IN: Impey, Grainger-Barras, Serong
OUT: Jiath (suspended) Morris, Lewis (both injured), Blank (managed)

SUNS

B: Graham, Collins, Lemmens
HB: Faraar, Andrew, Ellis
C: Sharp, Miller, Hollands
HF: Ainsworth, Chol, Swallow
F: Lukosius, Casboult, Hollman
FOLL: Witts, Rowell, Anderson
I/C: Davies, Rankine, MacPherson, Rosas
EMG: Moyle, Bowes, Fiorini, Atkins
IN: Ellis, Davies
OUT: Atkins, Markov (both omitted), Oea (sub)

GWS GIANTS v ESSENDON

Saturday, August 6, 2:10pm at GIANTS Stadium

GIANTS

B: Cumming, Taylor, Haynes
H.B.: Kennedy, Keefe, Perryman
C: Kelly, Ward, Whitfield
HF: Taranto, Greene, Peatling
F: Coniglio, Hogan, Lloyd
FOLL: Preuss, Hopper, Green
I/C: Himmelberg, Aleer, Briggs
EMG: Brown, Ash, Fleeton, Bruhn
IN: Coniglio, Briggs, Riccardi
OUT: Ash, O’Hallaran, Brown, (all omitted), Wehr (injured)

BOMBER

B: Ridley, Laverde, Zerk-Thatcher
HB: Redman, Kelly, Hind
C: Durham, Langford, Heppell
HF: Guelfi, Martin, Hobbs
F: Wright, Stringer, Stewart
FOLL: Draper, Merrett, Parish
I/C: McGrath, Perkins, Snelling, Jones
EMG: D’Ambrosio, Menzie, Bryan, Cutler
IN: Parish, McGrath
OUT: Caldwell, (injured), D’Ambrosio, Menzie (sub)

WESTERN BULLDOGS v FREMANTLE

Saturday, August 6, 4:35pm at Marvel Stadium

DOGS

B: Williams, Keath, Cordy

HB: Treloar, Darcy, Dale

C: Richards, Liberatore, Smith

HF: Johannisen, Bruce, Dunkley

F: Weightman, Naughton, Ugle-Hagan

FOL: English, Bontempelli, Macrae

I/C: West, McNeil, Daniel, Garcia

EMG: Martin, Vandermeer, McLean, Khamis

IN: Keath, Treloar, Darcy

OUT: Khamis, Hannan, McComb (all omitted), Gardner (injured)

DOCKERS

B: Chapman, Cox, Walker

HB: Young, Pearce, Ryan

C: Clark, Brayshaw, Acres

HF: Schultz, Lobb, Serong

F: Frederick, Taberner, Walters

FOL: Darcy, Brodie, Aish

I/C: Logue, Tucker, Mundy, O’Driscoll

EMG: Banfield, Johnson, Henry, Wilson

IN: Tucker, O’Driscoll

OUT: Henry, Colyer (both omitted), Banfield (sub)

GEELONG v ST KILDA

Saturday, August 6, 7:25pm at GMHBA Stadium

CATS

B: Guthrie, De Koning, Bews

H.B.: Kolodjashnij, Stewart, Henry.

C: Duncan, Blicavs, Smith

HF: Close, Cameron, Stengle

F: Hawkins, Stanley, Dangerfield

FOL: Ceglar, C. Guthrie, Parfitt

I/C: O’Connor, Holmes, Atkins, Miers

EMG: Menegola, Tuohy, Dahlhaus, Evans

IN: Stanley

OUT: Selwood (managed), Rohan (injured)

SAINTS

B: Wilkie, Howard, Webster

HB: Battle, Sharman, Sinclair

C: Clark, Windhager, Wood

HF: Membery, Hill, Butler

F: Higgins, King, Owens

FOL: Marshall, Steele, Ross

I/C: Paton, Hannebery, Crouch, Long

EMG: Jones, Lienert, Byrnes, Campbell

IN: Howard

OUT: Lienert, Byrnes (both omitted)

PORT ADELAIDE v RICHMOND

Saturday, August 6, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: Burton, Jonas, McKenzie

HB: Byrne-Jones, Aliir, Houston

C: Amon, Boak, Duursma

HF: Butters, Finlayson, Farrell

F: Gray, Dixon, Powell-Pepper

FOL: Teakle, Wines, Rozee

I/C: Bergman, Drew, Burgoyne, McEntee

EMG: Bonner, Clurey, Mead, Georgiades

IN: Houston, Teakle

OUT: Jones (injured), Marshall (HS protocol), Georgiades (omitted)

TIGERS

B: Gibcus, Tarrant, Balta

HB: Baker, Vlastuin, Rioli

C: Pickett, Short, McIntosh

HF: Graham, Cotchin, Bolton

F: Riewoldt, Cumberland, Lynch

FOL: Nankervis, Prestia, Sonsie

I/C: Ross, Miller, Rioli, Broad

EMG: Mansell, Dow, Edwards, Soldo

IN: Gibcus

OUT: Edwards (managed), Grimes (injured)

NORTH MELBOURNE v SYDNEY

Sunday, August 7, 1:10pm at Marvel Stadium

ROOS

B: Corr, McKay, La. Young

HB: Dawson, McDonald, Stephenson

C: Scott, Davies-Uniacke, Taylor

HF: Powell, Zurhaar, Greenwood

F: Curtis, Larkey, Ziebell

FOL: Goldstein, Simpkin, Horne-Francis

I/C (from): Anderson, Walker, Coleman-Jones, Turner, Goater, Lazzaro, Perez, Hall

IN: Corr, Young, Curtis, Goater, Perez, Hall

OUT: Bonar, Spicer (both omitted), Archer (injured)

SWANS

B: McCartin, Rampe, McCartin

HB: Lloyd, Fox, Florent

C: McInerney, Mills, Stephens

HF: Hayward, Reid, Gulden

F: Papley, Franklin, Heeney

FOL: Hickey, Warner, Parker

I/C (from): Blakey, Clarke, Rowbottom, Roberts, Ladhams, McDonald, Ronke, Kennedy

IN: Roberts, McDonald, Ladhams, Ronke

OUT: Amartey (omitted)

BRISBANE v CARLTON

Sunday, August 7, 3:20pm at Gabba

LIONS

B: Gardiner, Adams, Rich

HB: Starcevich, Andrews, Coleman

C: Bailey, Zorko, McCluggage

HF: Rayner, Hipwood, McCarthy

F: McStay, Daniher, Cameron

FOL: McInerney, Neale, Berry

I/C (from): Lohmann, Ah Chee, Robinson, Lyons, Prior, Fort, Mathieson, Answerth

IN: Rich, Starcevich, Lohmann, Prior

OUT: Cockatoo (omitted)

BLUES

B: Saad, Le Young, Docherty

HB: Marchbank, Weitering, McGovern

C: Cottrell, Cripps, Cerra

HF: O’Brien, McKay, Owies

F: Motlop, Curnow, Silvagni

FOL: Pittonet, Walsh, Fisher

I/C (from): Martin, Setterfield, Durdin, De Koning, Dow, Fogarty, Kemp, Newnes

IN: Marchbank, Martin, Fogarty, Dow, Kemp, Newnes

OUT: Kennedy, Newman (both injured), Plowman (omitted)

WEST COAST v ADELAIDE

Sunday, August 7, 4:10pm at Optus Stadium

EAGLES

B: Hurn, Barrass, Duggan

HB: Hough, Edwards, Jones

C: Waterman, Kelly, Gaff

HF: Ryan, Darling, Cripps

F: Williams, Kennedy, Rioli

FOL: Naitanui, Redden, Shuey

I/C (from): Langdon, Petrevski-Seton, O’Neill, Foley, Nelson, Bazzo, Clark, Dixon

IN: Kennedy, Langdon, Petrevski-Seton, Bazzo, Nelson, Clark

OUT: Petruccelle, West (both injured), Culley (suspension)

CROWS

B: Worrell, Butts, Hamill

HB: Smith, Murray, Dawson

C: Hinge, Laird, Jones

HF: McAdam, Fogarty, Keays

F: Milera, Walker, Murphy

FOL: O’Brien, Berry, Schoenberg

I/C (from): Davis, Frampton, Hately, Soligo, Himmelberg, Parnell, McHenry, Sholl

IN: Frampton, Hately, Sholl

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