Manchester United Is In Shambles

Manchester United Is In Shambles

Have the glory days of England's most celebrated football club ended?

Matthew McGrath
Matthew McGrath Dec 7, 2018
330
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I have to get something off my chest: José Mourinho is washed up.

Sure, the Portuguese gaffer has enjoyed a successful managerial career. He's secured two Primeira Liga titles, two Serie A titles, one La Liga title, and three Premier League titles, and was even named FIFA World Coach of the Year in 2010 during his stint at Inter Milan.

Mou's achievements are ancient relics. The current Manchester United boss has been on the hot seat for months as his squad continues to underperform week in and week out. Last Saturday, United drew 0-0 at home against a mediocre Crystal Palace side. Everton gained three points in a 1-0 victory over bottom feeders Cardiff, catapulting the Toffees into 6th in the Premier League Table while Mourinho's team slid into 7th.

For most clubs, 7th place in England's top division is considered to be a solid position. For the Red Devils, 7th place indicates something is wrong.

United has been inconsistent on both sides of the pitch this season. The 20-time English Champions are the only team in the top half of the table that maintains a negative goal difference. Only six clubs, all of which sit 14th or lower in the table, have conceded more goals thus far.

Mourinho prides himself on defensive stability as his best teams were renowned for frustrating opponents with their tight-knit structure and ability to halt even the most pertinent attacks. United's current backline, however, lacks discipline and has been easily exploited by opposing teams this season.

The Red Devils have also encountered difficulty on the offensive end. While 20 team goals in 13 fixtures certainly aren't dismal numbers, Mourinho's men have failed to exceed expectations. Heralded summer-signing Fred has tallied only one goal in 485 minutes of game time, and English prodigy Marcus Rashford can't hit water if he fell out of a boat.

Explosive Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez, who was scooped up from Arsenal in January, finds himself in Mourinho's doghouse, hardly seeing the pitch in recent weeks after a spell of unproductiveness.

There have been very few bright spots at Old Trafford this season. Former outcast Anthony Martial is in excellent form after bagging six goals in eight games, and cultural icon Paul Pogba has rediscovered himself following a poor showing in the previous campaign.


Anthony Martial scores splendid, curling strike www.youtube.com


Obviously, this has been a disappointing season for Manchester United players and fans alike. José Mourinho refuses to adapt to the new style of English football and his team has suffered as a result. It looks likely, though not definite, that the Red Devils will finish outside the Top Four for the 4th time in six seasons since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.

Somehow, United has clinched a spot in the Champions League Knockout Stage. An impressive victory at Juventus and a last-second winner from Marouane Fellaini against Young Boys propelled Mou's squad into the next round. It will be interesting to see how United fair in the knockout stage of the world's most illustrious football competition despite the team's poor Premier League record.

Manchester United needs a fresh start. Mourinho has proven himself right out of a job and will inevitably be fired after his team loses at home to Fulham or Huddersfield. Could former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane be brought in as Mourinho's replacement? After all, Zizou has had a massively successful managerial career, winning the Champions League title three times during his 3-year stint at the Bernabéu.

This is something I can definitely envision in the near future.

While the glory days of the 1990s and early 2000s have ended, Manchester United must reestablish itself as an intimidating club not only within England but also on an international level. The Red Devils find themselves in real flames, but the question is: who will be the one to put out the fire?

Not José Mourinho and his outdated strategies, that's for sure.


Matthew McGrath
Matthew McGrath Dec 7, 2018
At Rowan University

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To High School Seniors In Their Last Semester

Senior year moves pretty fast; if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
Ali Makinen
Ali Makinen Jan 30, 2017
200143
views

Dammit, you made it. The final semester of your senior year. You’re at the top of the food chain of high school, and it feels so good. You’re probably praying this last semester flies by, that you get out of town as soon as possible.

At this point, you’re calling teachers by their first names, the entire staff knows you by name, and you’re walking around school standing tall, owning those hallways. You’re convinced you’re ready to leave and move on to the next chapter in your life.

You’ve already experienced your last football game, standing in the cold in the front row of the student section all season long, decked out in your school colors and cheering loud and proud. That is, until they lost, and you realized you will never have that experience again. Never again.

SEE ALSO: What I Wish I Knew As A Second-Semester High School Senior

You already had your last winter break. Preparing and celebrating the holidays with your family, ice skating and sledding with your best friends. Those quiet nights alone in your room watching Netflix, taking for granted your loved ones just a few rooms away. Never again.

If you’re an athlete, you may have already played in your last game or ran your last race. The crowd cheering, proudly wearing your school’s name across your chest, giving it your all. For some, it may be the end of your athletic career. Before you knew it, you were standing in an empty gym, staring up at the banners and thinking about the mark you left on your school, wondering where on earth the time went. Never again.

I’m telling you right now, you’re going to miss it all. Everything you’ve ever known. Those early mornings when you debate going to first hour because you really need those McDonald’s hash browns. The late nights driving home from practice, stopping for ice cream of course, ready for a late night of homework. Getting food on a whim with your friends. Endless fights with your siblings. Your favorite chips in the pantry. A fridge full of food. Coming home to and getting tackled by your dog. Driving around your hometown, passing the same sights you’ve seen every day for as long as you can remember. Hugs from your mom after a long day. Laughs with your dad. And that best friend of yours? You’re going to miss them more than anything. I’m telling you right now, nothing will ever be the same. Never again.

SEE ALSO: I'm The Girl That Enjoyed High School

Before you start packing your bags, slow down, take a deep breath, and look around. You’ve got it pretty good here. The end of your senior year can be the time of your life; it’s truly amazing. So go to the winter dance, go to Prom, spend Senior Skip Day with your classmates, go to every sporting event you can, while you still can. College is pretty great, but it’s the little things you’re gonna miss the most. Don’t take it for granted because soon, you’ll be standing in a packed gym in your cap and gown, wondering where the heck the time went. You’ve got a long, beautiful life ahead of you, full of joy but also full of challenges. You’re going to meet so many wonderful people, people who will treat you right and people who won’t.


So, take it all in. Be excited for the future and look forward to it, but be mindful of the present. You’ve got this.
Cover Image Credit: Hartford Courant
Ali Makinen
Ali Makinen Jan 30, 2017
At Millennials of New Jersey

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5 Reasons You Should Not Fear Rejection, From The Girl Who Was Afraid Of Being Rejected

Rejection hurts. It can make us spiral into thoughts that we didn't even know existed, deep down within us. But, rejection can also be incredibly eye-opening.

Danielle Axelrod
Danielle Axelrod Jan 23, 2019
4
views

Rejection. It's just a word, yet it is rather terrifying to most people. Unwanted. Not good enough. Hopeless. Unworthy. Synonyms that echo from the simple word and cloud our minds when it comes our way.

Yet, rejection can be a good thing. Yes, you heard me right. In fact, I wouldn't be the strong person I am today if it hadn't of been for rejection. I mean think about it- could you imagine you were successful in every part of your life? What would you learn? How would you grow? Where would your strength develop?

Rejection hurts. It can make us spiral into thoughts that we didn't even know existed, deep down within us. But, rejection can also be incredibly eye-opening. It can source a strength within is. It can break boundaries and walls we unknowingly have in our bodies. It can free us and allow us to fly.

Here's why we shouldn't be afraid of rejection:

1. People who reject us have their own issues to battle

When people reject us or decide they don't want to include us in their life, there is usually insecurity that lies within them. They may be intimidated of you, or fearful that you may be a threat to their social status. They may not want to accept what you have to offer because they simply are not in the right state to do so yet. They have their own battles they are facing, and they are afraid to let you in because they aren't ready to stand up to their Goliath yet.

2. Rejection allows us to examine ourselves more closely.

The first thing that comes to my mind when I am not chosen or forgotten about is: what is wrong with me? What can I fix? What can I change? Now, I am not saying you need to change anything, or fix anything. I am simply saying that this is where we need to dig down deep inside of us and stifle those thoughts so that we can pull confidence out of us that we may not have known existed. But, we are also not perfect humans, and maybe there are a few tweaks we can make to better ourselves. It's all about looking at ourselves more closely in a truthful and positive manner.

3. Rejection helps us strive to work harder.

I don't know about you- but when I am rejected or not chosen, a small fire builds inside of me and I am motivated to prove them wrong. A rejection from one person or one company or one publisher does not mean a rejection from everyone. 100 rejections, in fact, does not mean a rejection from everyone. All you need is one acceptance. One person, job, friend, publisher, etc.. to choose you. Keep striving. Keep working. It will come!

4. Rejection humbles us.

I think everyone should experience a form of rejection because it is truly a humbling thing. It almost makes you feel so small and child-like, that it brings back a grounding and a sobering state that allows you to take a breath and truly think about everything you are working for. Although it hurts, it is a great place to be. To look in the mirror and realize that you may have some things to work on. Or you may have to find that inner strength to shut the voices of fear. Or you need to tone down your cockiness. Whatever the motive may be, rejection finds a way to bring us back to a grounded state. I think we should all experience this. It will bring you places you could never imagine.

5. Rejection helps bring a restored strength and confidence.

We have two choices. We can let rejection bring us down and keep us there, or we can build confidence and strength within us and overcome it. For so long, I've gone with choice number one. But this year, I say no. Choice number two will be the only way to respond to rejection, and I cannot wait to see where it takes me. I will not let other people's opinions of me stand in the way of my hopes and dreams or God's plan for my life. I am capable. I am strong. I am resilient. I am enough. And so are you!

Of course, rejection hurts, but just as beauty is made from ashes, so can you rise and form a beautiful success story. Nearly every successful person has a failure they dealt with in the past. Don't let yours keep you down. Take it, mold it into wings, and fly.

Danielle Axelrod
Danielle Axelrod Jan 23, 2019
At Albany, NY

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