Manchester United is “back” … “something special” is brewing

A relegation battle was “quite possible” in October. Manchester United fans have “foggy eyes over the past few days” until July.

United front
“It is clear that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer really builds something special” – John Cross, Daily mirror.

“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could build something special” – Charlie Wyett, The sun.

Manchester United have won a Premier League game more than Burnley and lost as many as Arsenal this season.

Seagull Council
Manchester United defeated Brighton 3-0 on Tuesday. You were great. You have been for a few months.

But football journalism is a constant struggle with nuances: teams are either brilliant or terrible. Gray area does not exist. Middle way is not a thing.

That brings us to Charlie Wyett, who uses the word “excellent” three times in his game report for The sun. And twice “brilliant” and “unbelievable” and once “remarkable”, “breathtaking” and “great”.

They defeated the team in 15th place and rose to fifth place, two points behind a Chelsea transition team that had played one more game. As good as they have been lately, the praise for this great 15-game run in an otherwise difficult season must certainly be tempered at least somewhat.

Wyett himself said United should fire Solskjaer in October. Of course, opinions should change when circumstances dictate, but do we really have to flip from one extreme to the other so ridiculously? Will they be back in first place the next time they lose?

Maybe Wyett calms down a bit with his last paragraph …

“It seems that the fans have got their Manchester United back.”

Or not.

Make a move
This topic is continued by Neil Custis.

‘It was a quick step backwards that United fans would have had dim eyes over the past few days.

“Days when you might start seeing again.”

It’s been six months since they lost to Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Burnley in three weeks.

It’s also been nine months since Custis wrote these two sentences:

‘Personally, I think Solskjaer should have at least two more transfer windows to build his team.

“Unless, of course, the club is in a relegation battle – which is quite possible.”

From a “perfectly possible” relegation battle to a return to the glory days in the time it takes to create a child that they can then use to write for the nation (former) best-selling newspaper.

Setting error
But what thoughts did Custis have about “the most unpopular Manchester United player of all time” whose career in Old Trafford was “over”? in January?

‘Paul Pogba had slipped into the wings with injuries, poor shape and posture when he was looking for a’ new challenge ‘, but even he looks interested now.

“As the club’s world champion and highest paid player, attention will always be there.”

Drop the ‘setting’ and ‘even he looks interested’ shtick and accept that you may have said it wrong.

Forever Young
This Custis article begins as follows:

‘MASON GREENWOOD is in the perfect position to become a superstar.

“At the moment, Man Utd’s 18-year-old ace is not in the spotlight.”

Elsewhere further The sun’s website is this story:

“Mason Greenwood scores Man Utd teammate Rashford’s goal before he turns 19 and is the best young striker in Europe.”

A reminder that Erling Haaland is 15 months older – and obviously better – than the “best young striker in Europe”. Is Kylian Mbappe now considered “old”?

This happens if you limit the criteria to “the best U19 scorer in the five best leagues in Europe”. Which is a little less impressive when you consider that only 12 players under the age of 18 have played in Europe’s top five leagues this season, of which only four have scored two or more goals.

Home and away
“This was the kind of brutal away win that United fans were looking for, especially outside of home, where, despite a general improvement in results, they were still not very good” – Charlie Wyett, The sun.

In contrast to a brutal away win that United fans particularly wished for at home?

Fresh print
The Daily Mirror website promises the impossible on Wednesday:

“Lineker offers a new perspective on the debate between Messi and Ronaldo”

There is no such thing. And if so: “It is possible to love these two superhuman soccer players. Enjoy them both, don’t you?

Plate collector
The Daily Mirror website is also carried away a little on Wednesday:

“Liverpool breaks the nine-year transfer record because its net spending is tiny compared to its rivals.”

Liverpool, which spends less money in a title winning season than any other champion since 2011, does not break a “nine-year transfer record”. It’s a vaguely interesting, but ultimately meaningless idiosyncrasy.

Watch and …

Manchester City will experience its European fate on July 13th. By @MikeKeegan_DM https://t.co/4zv6zoNlD2

– Matt Hughes (@MattHughesDM) July 1, 2020

Why do we scream?

Football365 shithouse headline of the day
“Liverpool has to be missing because Leipzig is quickly replacing Werner.”

How will Liverpool overcome the blow of missing Hwang Hee-chan, who they were said to have “monitored” in December before signing teammate Takumi Minamino at the time?

Recommended reading of the day
David Squires continues Liverpool’s title.

Mark Critchley on Bruno Fernandes.

Recommended observation of the day