Sparkles

Is it still ok to talk about football on this forum ? No doubt in my mind after watching the game v Spurs and a replay that the performance was the best I've seen for a long time. I'm not normally a stats person but the distance covered by players and shots were right up there with days long gone. Fred's goal obviously carried some luck but that been in short supply this season and Bruno's might just be the turning point for him to recover some form. Last season our defence was like a sieve. Varane is showing leadership and class and the much maligned "dwarf" Martinez closed down Kane and others and will prove to be one of the clubs best ever signings ,love his attitude. Even De Gea after a decade at the club is finally using the ball to more effect. Shaw has responded well to some competition and for him a chance to play in the WC Not getting carried away this is a strange season, top 4 should be the aim anything more is not likely unless injuries decimate other sides. But of course all the discussion and unnecessary distraction has been Ronaldo. I think EtH has handled this well and Ronaldo may find the rest of the squad will not allow a wedge to be created between management and performance .On one hand Ronaldo likes to talk on social media about unity and commitment to the team and then stages a walk out like a petulant child. My personal theory with Ronaldo is that he knows full well he has lost any pace he had ,his finishing has been well below what he expects and he is taking his own frustrations of his form out on others, mainly EtH. For the benefit of the team I do hope he can be moved on in January which is what he wanted prior to the season starting. That his manager hawked him around with no takers from CL teams he may well find a distinct lack of interest especially in his unrealistic wage demands His options are very limited

Simply not true. For more years that I can remember I have obtained the necessary letters/documents from Bangkok Bank, KSK, signed off by staff. Never waited more than 15 minutes for an employee to go to a computer located in the rear of the office and print them out. I then proceed to Immigration. Every BB account is on their computer system. Of course KSK branch is now closed and most of the staff relocated to a bank owned branch at Chang Phuak, a few 100 metres north of the moat on the road to City Hall, LHS ,plenty of parking. I visited the bank some weeks ago and was met at the entrance by Khun Sombat, Assistant Manager and long time contact and friend, who assured me it was business as usual and I could expect the documents to be provided on the spot when required.

Tonight v Everton is a pivotal moment even so early in the season, not to get 3 points makes top 4 even at this early stage, start looking it might be out of reach. To expand on my whinge about the likes of Sancho's performances who rightly got hooked at half time last Thursday against Omonia, a team made out up of journey men who would struggle in the Championship. He was taken off along with Malacia, as he too was having a shocker, because he looked totally disinterested. To scramble a win against opposition like that shows how dire we presently are. A comparison : Sancho v Foden, both the same age and 2 years ago most would have said that they were almost equals in potential. Fast forward and Foden is now scoring goals and making assists, running at defenders, causing havoc, and being one of the first on the team sheet for England. Sancho has regressed to a point where he is not worth a place in our starting 11. Interesting if anyone saw an interview this week between Joe Cole and Paul Scholes. Scholes was asked what was our greatest ever Managers main demands of a player. Scholes, a man of few words said just one "desire" that's how SAF evaluated his players and if he didn't see "desire" he moved them on or left them in the stands. Today as we know some players are just so precious and lacking character, Ali ,Lingard, Pogba you could make a long list. The club is now apparently scrambling to get Ganarcho an extended contract ,to lose him would be a disaster IMO .If you want to see "desire" he epitomizes it and there are others in the youth pipeline waiting for a chance. Lastly Scholes was asked who was the most under rated player he ever played with ? Quick as a flash, Michael Carrick...hear hear

His performance for Melbourne Victories win was quite outstanding, sure to be a fans favourite. Played right wing, laid on 2 assists ,one an inch perfect cross, game played in torrential rain. Looks fitter than most 35 years old's. Perhaps we should have resigned him????

@ mrbojangles My apologies the info I was given by an old team mate was wrong Nani is playing for Melbourne Victory not Melbourne City, yes it does get confusing .City played last night and won 2-1 Melbourne Victory play Sydney FC tonight. So many promising young Australian players have headed overseas which is good for their careers but leaves the A League lacking in quality.

On Sancho's recent performances and Rashford's against City Barrow would be about their level. What impressed me about Garnacho that the game was winding down to a draw but he took it upon himself to make the difference ,his run leaving defenders in his wake was that of someone fully committed and a clinical finish. I'm sure its on you tube. Is Sancho fully committed ? no Is Rashford giving his all ? in bursts. Their chances of making the England squad are very slim at best but I'm more interested in them making an effort for MU and justifying their massive wages.

The coach always gets the blame but that doesn't excuse the number of times McTominay and others gave the ball away. I lost count. Prior to the game I would have have taken a 2-1 defeat as a sign of further improvement but that score line simply is not acceptable and no matter what formations the lack of energy amongst a whole lot of players defending and the inability of Sancho and Antony to track back and help defend was obvious. After praising McTominay and Erikson for their performance in the International break they made the mf non existent. I simply can't come to grips with the inconsistency. I would have hooked both of them at HT. Maybe they will have all have a good look in the mirror which is normal after a flogging. Just read the Donny Van de Beek and Wan Bissaka are injured, couldn't have been from playing, please leave in January I hope Sancho was shown a video of Garnacho playing for the under 21's in the EFL Cup v Barrow. Locked up at 1-1, in the last few seconds he took it on himself to motor up the left wing at incredible speed ,cut inside and slot home the winner. I didn't see any commitment from Sancho or Rashford v City ,none at all and this kid is giving his all.

Aware of that. I get A league games from my TV provider. Games are not that great to be honest but at grass roots the game is thriving, especially in junior & women's football. A league competition just starting, played in summer as to avoid RL ,Aussie Rules and Rugby. Every game covered live.

I have no idea who makes these selections and never thought Rashford would even get close but if it gives him some confidence all good for someone who has been woefully out of form compared with 2 years back and dropped by Southgate from the England squad. Speaking of woeful form if anyone saw Ronaldo's latest effort for Portugal would not surprise ,if fit, Rashford plays as a central striker and Ronaldo warms the bench again. His lost of form is hard to fathom from his lack of pace, even allowing for father time, his first touch to finishing, its all left him, you can see his confidence ebbing away Bit of trivia yet another former MU icon Dwight Yorke has gone into coaching in the Australian A league with a relatively new club Macarthur a team based west of Sydney . After only 5 games in the job his team just won the Australia Cup which is their version of the FA Cup. Their season proper kicks off next weekend. Finally Nani, remember him ? has joined Melbourne to play in the A league .He is their marquee signing, not sure what he has got left, time will tell.

Well done for Rick keeping the flag flying. Hard for me to have a lot of interest in this stop, start season. After this international "contest" we will have to endure a WC in a country that should never have got the guernsey. I have friends/former team mates who are reasonably well but after checking out costs of flights and accom they won't be going. FIFA the hot bed of corrupt decisions. But to MU, interesting the rapid improvement in Dalot ,not just this last game but though the start of this season, remembering he is still only 23 years of age. Same goes for Mc Tominay, watched his last, and best game, for Scotland ,much more composed on the ball ,ETH effect ? who knows. Erikson has to be the best "free" of the season, the guy is sheer class ,sorry Poggs you are not missed at all. Time will tell but the EtH influence seems to be rubbing off on most ,even Luke Shaw is looking fitter that I can remember. Lastly the Mason Greenwood situation seems to be never ending. As I understand the dribble of news coming throughg says he is on bail and still receiving wages. Wasn't this incident last January, hopefully not an indicator of the pace of England's justice system.