ALL SOCCER; MANU HOPES TO RISE .... KICKERS KEEP FALLING
Lord help me … but once I discovered the English Premier
League several years ago and took WAYNE ROONEY as
my favorite futbol player … the next step was to get hooked
on Manchester United. Talk about bad – make that terrible –
timing! … The once-great franchise guided by SIR ALEX
FERGUSON was about to became an also-ran during a
parade of coaches … none of whom could live up to the
tremendous pressure … and leading to last year’s eighth-
place finish, an all-time low … under ERIK TEN HAG,
who would have been fired except the new bosses in town
couldn’t find anyone to their liking … so they gave him
another make-good-or-be-gone contract that extends though
the 2025-26 campaign even if there are no guarantees the
Dutchman will be around that long.
Injuries – 60 to be exact – plagued ManU in 2023-24.
Naturally, there were other factors, too, but lack of quality
depth (at least according to ten Hag) was a major problem at
a time when the game has become almost year-round …
from the eight-month EPL season to assorted world
competitions followed by a lucrative (estimated $10 million
per team) tour of the United States leading up to the eight-
month … well, you get the idea. Oh, and the players make
so much money they aren’t about to complain … even if it
all takes its toll mentally as well as physically. Sunday
United had a friendly with Arsenal in California ... Guess
what? It lost
the 90-minute match 2-1. More importantly, RASMUS
HOJLUND, who scored the goal, and newcomer LENY
YORO left with – say it isn’t so – injuries … undisclosed,
of course. It was small consolation ManU claimed the
shootout which is added during pre-season games as a bonus
for the ticket-buying fans paying an average of $200 (and
apparently happy to do it) … JAYDEN SANCHO, back
after being banished to Dortmund of the Bundesliga by ten
Hag for insubordination (they kissed and made up), notched
the winning penalty 4-3.
ManU will have a new-look lineup for its Aug. 16 game at
Old Traford against Fulham to kickoff the 2024-05
campaign … There could be a complete makeover on
defense with Yoro, 16 year old from France; JAMAL
MUSTAFA and NORESSAIR MAZRAOUL among
several newcomers … Right back AARON WAN-
BISSAKA is rumored bound for EPL West Ham … and
center back VICTOR LINDELOF. about to return from
injury, could be shipped elsewhere as well … Also likely to
go … midfielder CHRISTIAN ERICKSON, who is on the
final year of his contract.
BY THE WAY … your Richmond Kickers continued to
advance in the wrong direction Saturday, losing 2-1 to
homestanding Lexington (Ky.) City FC … which had one
once in 10 USLLeague One games … ADRIAN
BILLHARDT scored the Richmond goal (his team-best
fifth of the season) 55 seconds into the second half after a
cross into the box intended for EMILIANO TERZAGHI.
The ball was deflected back to Billhardt who, unmarked, had
time to settle it down with his right foot then smack a high,
hard shot with his left from about 12 feet to tie the score at
one … But, little more than a minute later, Lexington
regained the advantage when 6-2 ATES DIOUF, 24, from
Senegal, took a pass that eluded 6-2 center back
GUILLERME DINIZ FRANCA and scored from right
on. Kickers keeper PABLO JARA never had a chance …
Another defensive mistake led to Lexington’s first goal. In
the 41st minute, 6-1 DAKOTA BRANAHAM had his back
to a cross that sailed over his head, directly to AZAAD
LIADIA, 26, from Michigan (the state) and Georgia
Southern University where he was Sun Belt Conference
newcomer of the year in 2019 … who responded with a
spectacular leaping shot for his first goal since April … With
the decision, 11th-place Lexington (2-6-3) won for the first
time in nine games (all competitions) while No. 10
Richmond (3-7-3) has won only once in its last eight.
Kickers are on the road again Saturday (9 p.m., ESPN-plus)
at Northern Colorado. They return to City Stadium Saturday,
Aug. 10 to meet the South Georgia Tormenta.
Until next time ...
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