Manchester United Newsletter - Rangnick's first defeat, Magpies prepare January bid for Van de Beek
Manchester United start 2022 with a 1-0 defeat against Wolves at Old Trafford.
Hey everyone!
First of all, I hope you all had a great New Year’s Eve and didn’t go too mad. United inflicted more pain on us to start the new year with a 1-0 defeat against Wolves, but nobody can say they didn’t see it coming, with the players thus far failing to buy into what Ralf Rangnick is renowned for… high intensity, pressing and forward passing.
I’m beginning to ask myself how hard can it be to get a performance out of these players? Then, Luke Shaw comes out stating that he didn’t feel the sense of togetherness he should feel alongside his teammates on the pitch, but it showed in our performance against Bruno Lage’s side.
We all know that Rangnick can’t call upon the striking duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani, with the latter, I think, being a far better super sub in this day and age. That takes nothing away from the King of Uruguay but given how Rangnick wants to play I’m not sure we’ll see them as a duo every week.
The only positive I can take from the defeat against Wolves was Phil Jones’ performance. You’ve got to take your hat off to him after playing like that despite not making a senior appearance in over two years. It will either help the club put him in the transfer window or give Rangnick something to think about, with Axel Tuanzebe set to join Napoli on loan this month.
Back to the news. It’s a lot of Van de Beek stuff, obviously, as United don’t want to be seen as ‘buyers’ in the January transfer market unless someone they want becomes available.
But before that, here is a report on the 1-0 defeat against Wolves, including five separate talking points from the game.
Have a look at this one here now on how Rangnick believes United should keep Van de Beek in January.
Plus a look at how Newcastle United appear to be preparing a January bid for the midfielder.
However, ESPN claim Van de Beek’s representatives will be allowed to submit options in January but any loan offer would have to cover his full wage until the end of the season and include a loan fee. Even if United receive a suitable proposal for the player, Rangnick will be given the final say on whether he is allowed to leave.
It would have to be a good offer to prize Van de Beek away midseason.
United already need to add more quality in midfielder and I don’t see how letting the Dutchman leave now helps the team moving forward.
One can’t blame Van de Beek for being miffed at his current situation, mind.
United and Me - by James Gorse
Christmas is a very special time of the year and often very busy both on and off the field, numerous social engagements and packed festive football schedule means there is a lot to do in a short time.
Although this year as was the year before has been ruined by Covid, the pandemic has changed all our lives and sadly shows no sign of leaving.
With the new Omnicron Variant being more infectious than previous variants of the virus, it does mean many people will spend Christmas away from their loved ones or even on their own.
It’s also at this time of year when people’s mental health does get worse, and I am no different. The festive period can be a lonely time even when you are surrounded by lots of people.
In the last few years my mental health has deteriorated, and I have had breakdowns and was very fortunate to get some help when I reached out. Other people aren’t so lucky and been unable to speak up or ask for help.
In my struggles I have found football a big plus and in particular Manchester United to be something to help me get through the darker periods in my life. United haven’t played for a few days now and it seems like a few weeks but it’s a miracle if any games go ahead at the moment.
There is a Mitchell and Webb sketch where the joke is that the football is too much and continuous and will never stop, most people would get fatigue from this endless cycle of football, and I do confess I do like the summers where there is a break to recharge the batteries.
But having something continuous to look forward can be a blessing having a constant in your life can give you some sense of routine or normality even when everything else is going wrong.
My whole family are big United fans, and my dad is the reason for that, a match going Red since the late 1950’s, my early memories are of watching the games on Sky without really knowing too much of what was happening but sharing in his passion that was soon to become my obsession.
My first full season where I followed and understood the game and United is the infamous 95/96 season and from then on that was it, how could you not watch Eric Cantona and not be awestruck by him?
From then on, it’s been the obsession in my life, and I have experienced the highs and the lows of this club and wouldn’t change anything, maybe that Aguero goal but still.
In the last few years with my breakdown and the pandemic has changed my outlook on not only life but my relationship with this club and the game itself.
Of course, being in my thirties I have seen and lived through the Sir Alex Ferguson years and all the riches and great moments that they brought. I got to share a lot of them with my family and my dad in particular so I will always have a fondness for those years.
Since Sir Alex retired, I have been lucky enough to get a season ticket at Old Trafford and be able to go and watch the games with my dad and realised that winning every week and constant trophies is not the be all and end all of this game.
The thing I realised is that this game is unpredictable and in that lies the beauty of the game and in life, every game is the possibility to be one of the best days of your life or one of the worst.
As fans we live for the highs, but I learn not to dwell on the lows too much as there is always another game coming around the corner. This approach is something I have tried to adopt into my own life, not dwelling on each setback instead just waiting for the next moment to come along.
There was a short time when my anxiety did get the better of me inside the ground but when I get in my seat and hear the crowd begin to sing and the match start then I feel at home.
In those 90 minutes I feel like all my problems are left outside as I enter the turnstiles, and nothing matters but the game and my enjoyment of it. The highs and the lows are all part of the rollercoaster of emotions of this game and this club.
Being a United fan is one of the things I am proudest about in my life, it gives me a sense of belonging to something a lot bigger than myself. Most people struggle to find somewhere to fit in and here I found where I belong
Social Media can be a toxic place but also a beacon of light and a tool to unite people with similar interests, I found and interact with people similar to me from all walks of life who I would never have met otherwise.
Sometimes lifelines can be given to you by the strangest things and mine was given to me by 22 players kicking a ball around for 90 minutes a couple of times a week. This club could go on a league trophy drought for another 26 years just like from 1967 to 1993 and my love would not change, this is for the love not the glory.
I bottled things up for too long until everything fell apart and I had to get help, United and Football became a way of escapism from my problems and realities. In a world of so much noise and confusion, football is the simplest thing and that’s why we love it the way we do.
My outlook on life changed when I hit my lowest and I try to enjoy thing a lot more and not to dwell on things that make my unhappy. Instead, slowly I took steps to channel my energy and passion into football and United, I started to write for this site and its one of the best things I have done.
Allowing me to share my passion and my opinions even if some of my opinions are not as good, I mean I thought Morgan Schneiderlin would be a decent buy, so they aren’t all winners.
Having United as a constant, a distraction and a source for my hopes and dreams was a big thing to pull me out of my funk and back onto the right path. Once you find your team that’s it for life, they will give you the greatest moments of your life but also break your heart, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
This is a time for just checking in with your friends and family, a text or phone call to check in or even about something trivial could make a huge difference believe me, below are some numbers for organisations in the UK that can help.
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK-0800 689 5652
Samiritans- https://www.samaritans.org/ 116 123