Man United Win At Last

Manchester United 2 Swansea City 1

Manchester United started the year in a positive mood with a hard fought victory over Swansea City at Old Trafford.

Goals from Martial and Rooney, the first time they have scored in the same match, ensured that United kick started 2016 with a much-needed win and a valuable 3 points.

United's first match of the year and it couldn't have been against a trickier opponent than the team from South Wales, who have held a certain jinx over the Red Devils and van Gaal.

Swansea had won four out of the last five meetings between the two sides in all competitions and were the team that welcomed van Gaal to the English game when they beat his side at Old Trafford in his first match in charge.

So, in United's current predicament of not having won in the last eight games of 2015, the Swans would certainly provide a stern test for United.

Van Gaal decided to make one change from the side that performed to a level that deserved more than the point they obtained in the goalless draw against Chelsea and that was to recall Jones into the defence in place of Darmian.

United's starting XI consisted of: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Jones, Blind, Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Mata, Herrera, Rooney And Martial.

Swansea got the game underway at a rain-soaked Old Trafford but the weather didn't dampen the home fans voices as they got behind their players from the start. It was Herrera, who almost worked his way into a shooting position within the first minute only to be denied as he readied to pull the trigger.

The home side started the match as they had left off against Chelsea on the attack with Blind and especially Young providing openings down the wings.

The visitors sat back looking to attack on the counter, which they did when Ayew found some space but failed to make good use of the ball. Something that United would have to be wary of.

Swansea set up to put pressure on United whenever the home defenders had the ball which seemed to unsettle Smalling and his defenders who tended to rush the play out of their own half.

At the other end, United lacked ideas as to how to break through the back four as they tried to play their way through the middle when the width provided by Blind and Young would have been the better option to get behind the defence.

A cross delivered from Young fell to the unmarked Rooney at the far post, but his weak effort hit the side netting. Having only scored a handful of goals in 2015 that was a perfect chance for the captain to start the new year with a bang.

With thirty minutes on the clock, it was the same old familiar story of United being unable to break their opponents down and produce the goals that would not only lift the players but also the atmosphere within the Theatre of Dreams.

De Gea was made to work as he caught an effort from Routledge at full stretch. Martial was bundled off the ball on the edge of the box and it was the quick thinking Herrera, who took the kick quickly and played in Mata. His first effort was blocked then the keeper Fabianski saved the poor follow up shot far too easily.

Another cross from Young looped into the area and was met by the head of Rooney. Unfortunately, he was surrounded by three defenders and even though he did well to rise above the rest he failed to find the power needed.

Continue reading full article...

Manchester United Views is a Manchester United blog written by Miles Dunton, with lost of blog posts all about Manchester United. Check out his full blog at http://milesduntonmufc.blogspot.co.uk/.

Don't forget you can promote your own blog by submitting articles to the Football Blog Directory.

All Good Things Must Come To An End

Jamie Vardy's Record-Breaking Run Comes To An End

Leicester City's amazing season continued with an emphatic 3-0 win at Swansea. I doubt any Leicester City fan will take any great offence at the fact that most people are more than a little surprised by the incredible form that Leicester have shown this season. Not even the most die hard Leicester fan would have imagined that Claudio Ranieri's men would be top of the league in December - and there on merit!

Today it was the turn of Swansea City to discover why Leicester City must now be considered genuine title contenders. Swansea continued their poor run of form as they were swept away 3-0 by the Leicester bandwagon. Today it was Riyad Mahrez who grabbed the headlines though with a stunning hat-trick.

Jamie Vardy came into today's game having scored in eleven consecutive Premier League games, breaking Ruud Van Nistelroy's record on the way. However, the record for consecutive games scored in English Football's top flight belonged to Jimmy Dunne, who scored in 12 consecutive games for Sheffield United way back in the 1931-32 season. Vardy fell just one game short of equalling Dunne's 84 year old record.

It would be wrong to focus on Vardy's failure to match this record however. Rather, we should be celebrating the amazing success story of Jamie Vardy and his brilliant achievement of setting the Premier League record. Football didn't begin in 1992 - but it did change. Today's game is an elite game, played by superstars from across the globe. In these days of expensive players, astronomical wages and the dominance of the financially powerful clubs, it is refreshing to watch a player who has risen through the ranks the hard way grab the headlines and plaudits.

Vardy's journey to Premier League stardom began with a playing career for Stocksbridge Park Steels in non-league football, and his path to Premier League football included stops at FC Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town.

Vardy's goalscoring run could have continued against Swansea City had referee Michael Oliver awarded a late penalty for handball against Kyle Bartley. There is little doubt that Vardy would have been handed the opportunity to take the penalty and extend his record. however, while this would have pleased those following this romantic story of success, it would have been harsh on Bartley as the ball appeared to strike his hand rather than the other way around.

Fate determined that the record goalscoring run ended at Swansea. As the title says, all good things must come to an end. Is the same true of Leicester City's occupation of a place at the top of the league? Winning the title may be a step too far in a league full of teams who can spend the wealth of nation states in the January transfer window. However, Leicester have surprised everybody so far this season and the football world needs to wake up to the fact that they could continue to do so. Today may have seen the end of a record run, but there is no reason to suggest that it will see an end to Leicester's form.

At the end of May Jamie Vardy may have something far more valuable than a place in the record books to be celebrating!

Have The Swans Lost Their Wings?

Have the Swans lost their wings? I think it’s best we firstly to talk about the drumming of Swansea in the hands of Chelsea. An emphatic 5-0 away win for the deadly blues, I don’t think anyone could have anticipated this score line. 

Where did it all go wrong? Let’s begin with the biggest January transfer window news so far, Wilfred Bony making his way to City, there is no wonder that the Swans struggled to even score a goal. Gomis the lone striker failed to make an impact as well as the early substitute Emnes and really the whole team were shooting blanks as there was no shots on target. 

I personally thought it would be a tight knit game but how wrong was I. Took the visitors 50 seconds to open the scoring, so the Swans were in trouble from early. Brought on by a misplaced pass to allow Oscar for his first of the match. However apart from the mistakes made by Swansea, Chelsea passed really well especially for the 2nd goal with Costa rounding it off or his 16th goal of the season. 

Mistakes galore! failed back pass to keeper let to 3rd goal. It was only first half and they conceded 4 goals. Swansea were truly outplayed in all departments. Passing with fluidity, confidence and looked like a side of champions I must admit. 

Chelsea played fantastically but then again Swansea by far didn't have the best of games also. So Chelsea move 5 points clear head of City, and as we know City have a tough game, hosting the north London club Arsenal who are on a good run of performances.

For more posts updates click on the icons below:

Too Busy Making Banners To Write Blogs?

Anybody who regularly watches Match Of The Day will know that Blackburn Rovers fans have a lot to say these days. There is a lot of pain there and they want the world to know. Well, I say that. It seems that they want the world to see their banners, but are any of them actually blogging about it? They may well be, but as things stand Blackburn Rovers are one of only two Premier League teams without a blog listed on the directory. So come on guys. Put the bed sheets down for 2 minutes and get your blogs listed. You can't blame Steve Kean for this one!!

The other Premier League team without a blog listed is Swansea City. First time ever in the Premier League - you'd think they would have plenty to say about that. As well as those two there are quite a few with only a single blog on the listings - we're on the lookout for more!

Its not that we're only after premier league blogs. Far from it. We're looking for blogs from all over the world and all levels. You have to start somewhere though, and once we have the Premier League fully covered we'll be moving on to our next victims.

So get submitting and add your blog to the site using our submission form.