The Mailbox reacts to Manchester United’s latest disgrace, with Erik ten Hag and Harry Maguire fielding most of the flak. Also: have City struck lucky this season?
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Sympathy with the Devils
2-0 up in Europe. You lose 5-2. I know the feeling.
Mike, LFC, London
Sevilla slaying
Popularity attributed to Einstein is the quote – “ The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Just as relevant is the part in the Terminator where a rather overwrought Kyle Reese explains that the Austrian assassin trying to kill Sarah Connor is inevitable – “ That’s what he does, it’s all he does! You can’t stop him!”
David de Gea cannot play top flight football with the ball at his feet. This is not a controversial opinion, but a fact based on years worth of errors he has committed – frequently leading to opposition goals. Insanity is then asking him to create from the back, however much you may want to, however much you may accurately believe modern football is better played that way. It’s an immutable law of the universe- he cannot do it, so do not ever ask him to do it. The third goal last night was as pure an example of this as you’ll ever see and it really was a breathtaking lack of ability at this level.
Even more fundamental insanity is playing Harry Maguire at *all*. Of course injuries have robbed Ten Hag of his preferred centre backs but Maguire is never ever the answer. Hell, a youth player promoted for the occasion may play well, they may not – there’s only one way to find out.
But Harry Maguire *will* f**k up. It’s what he does, it’s all he does, you can’t stop him! And he seemed determined to add to his collection of calamities as early as possible last night. The first goal saw him demand the ball in an idiotic position and then clumsily give it to En-Nesyri , who then promptly scored. Of course the only person who could have predicted that happening was… every single football supporter who’s ever seen Harry Maguire play. It was an absolute inevitability.
Sevilla did not need the extra help, they were extremely motivated and really rather good last night. Quite possibly they would have won whatever happened and Maguire and De Gea made it an absolute certainty.
The talk of a quadruple was only ever pie in the sky wishful thinking, but a cup treble was very possible. Combined with finishing in a Champions League…
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