Football Tips

Tizz Talks Premier League: Manchester Utd Bottom Half Finish?


After what I have just seen this weekend I had to take this bet on. The once formidable Manchester United were not only beaten, they were absolutely obliterated by Brentford.

All the goals came in the first-half, quite possibly the worst 45 minutes in the clubs history, but the second half for me was equally as worrying. When you are in a position like that you are expected to show some character, and try to at least lessen the blow. They offered absolutely nothing and that shows just how much this plight has materialised.

Eric Ten Hag has the hardest job in world football right now and he does not have the squad or the backing of the board take the necessary steps to making this club great again. I also don’t want to let him off the hook here, he got his team selection horribly wrong. The warning signs were there in the opening defeat against Brighton yet he decided to stick with 10 of the same 11 players in the starting lineup, with Ronaldo the only change.

Playing Martinez and Maguire against Ben Mee and Ivan Toney was reckless and they were exposed not only in set-pieces but in open-play by a lack of height and physical presence.

Paddy Power are offering 5/1 for Manchester United to finish in the bottom 10 this season and I have been reeled in by them odds.

Here are 5 things that I think the club have to act on for my bet not to become true:

Strip Maguire of the captaincy and drop him

It can’t be said anymore than it’s already been said, by know it must be screaming him in the face? He has now had his first two competitive games as manager and his captain his guided a ship that has conceded 6 goals, and has been exposed on numerous occasions. This is no longer a dip in form, this is a player that has been found out at the highest level and he is simply not up to the task.

Honestly, Eric Bailly would even be a better option in my opinion, probably lindelof too, but a three time Champions League and World Cup winner should not be sat on the bench while a player who couldn’t outrun a starfish is martialling the defence. Varane needs to be the focal point of this defence and if he is going to opt to play a 5ft 8 centre-half next to him, that is a sword he will have to die by.

Take £60,000,000 for Rashford from PSG

If reports are true that PSG are looking to table a bid of £60,000,000 for Marcus Rashford they should take the money and run. That there is a treasure chest that could fund them some players that will actually improve the squad, there is the money for De Jong, who I will come onto in a minute. When was the last time Rashford had a good game for the club?

His stats do not justify him being anywhere near a £60,000,000 forward, he has 59 Premier League goals to show for 7 seasons, that’s an average of 8.4 goals per season, for a club who expect to be in the Champions League every season. His returns equate to a goal every 3.5 games, like I said, take the money and run.

What to do about Mr Siuuuuuu

The longer this Ronaldo uncertainty hangs over the club the longer they can expect unrest and a lack of harmony in the dressing room. Either they get him onside or they do everything they can to enable him to leave. The constant back and forth of media stories is not good for the club and it makes it impossible for them to move forward.

Just today there has been supposed leaks of his contract being under question and another story breaking about him being one of five core players sending an ‘SOS’ message to the board to sign new players. It doesn’t matter who your captain is, when you have a figure like that in your dressing room his presence and voice is going to be heard over anyone elses.

Sort out De Jongest transfer story of the window

Another saga that has dragged it’s heels for too long. Either go out and get him this week or get an alternative, don’t hang your hat any longer. Man United need a fix right now, and if De Jong is the guy that the new manager believes he needs to play in his system, then they have to back him, but it needs to happen before the Liverpool game.

If they have a final bid rejected by Barcelona and it’s not enough for Barcelona to help pay off the money they owe the player they need to walk away and find an alternative option. If he opts to go to Chelsea then there needs to be serious questions asked about this whole transfer window, and how the club goes about finding and acquiring targets.

Start again

This would usually be an extreme last resort option, but in this case it has become apparent that a complete overhaul is needed. David De Gea, for as much as he has been one of United’s better players for the last few seasons is still on £350,000 per week, he doesn’t justify that, so either try and recoup some money for him now or don’t renew his contract, his contract runs out next summer but they have the option to extend another year. Rashford, Maguire, Van De Beek, Shaw, Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Fred, Bailly, Lindelof, Jones just to name a few are players that have had their chance at the club and have proven they can’t cut the mustard.

It’s all well and good players going to the board asking them to bring in new players, but look at yourself, are you playing at a level that justifies your ridiculous salary, or do you need to be more accountable. These players don’t feel any consequence for a bad performance, the fact that 10 of the 11 players that lost to Brighton started against Brentford shows that. Players of the past would be worried about their future at the club if they put in a string of bad performances.

Sam Tizzle

Sam Tizzle

Sam provides football tips on Freebets, with a strong focus on the Premier League