Manchester United vs. Zorya Luhansk: At Least Twitter Was Funny

Manchester United vs. Zorya Luhansk will not go down in the annals of classic European nights at Old Trafford. With Daley Blind’s artistry on the ball replaced by the ever-lacklustre Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera replaced by a once-again misfiring Marouane Fellaini—the balance of Jose Mourinho’s team did not look right.

There was endeavour from Marcus Rashford, of course, and a shot which threatened to crack the crossbar in two. Eventually Wayne Rooney came on as a substitute and managed to earn boundless praise from BT Sport’s co-commentator Robbie Savage for a miscue of which the United captain should be ashamed.

Fortunately for Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is very tall, so latched on to Rooney’s awful shank of a shot and that was enough to earn United a scrappy, just-about-deserved three points.

In fairness to Mourinho and his players, it is clear the Europa League is a long way down the pecking order of priorities. Sergio Romero played in goal here, the clearest possible signal that could be sent. If you choose to play Romero over David De Gea, it is clear winning at all costs is not on the agenda. This is unlikely to be the last underwhelming outing for the Red Devils in this competition.

That brings us to Twitter.

As the last few years have proved, while Manchester United fans gathering on Twitter to celebrate wins and trophies can be uplifting, fun and offer a genuine sense of community spirit, Manchester United fans gathering on Twitter when their team are bad always brings out the funniest material.

Gallows humour is an integral part of British culture. Manchester is a particular hotbed. United fans in general are often pretty good at it.

If you can’t get to the game, then watching underwhelming matches is much better with a good social media accompaniment. Given that the football was not really worth analysing—if United do not really care about it, why should we—it seemed fans’ social media output on Twitter seemed a more fitting subject for analysis.

All set. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/MyFhKnswd0

— Ryan Grant (@ryangrant01) September 29, 2016

We start at the beginning. Remember yesterday? Before the game when everything seemed possible, when we were all one day younger and one day less wise? This photograph captures that spirit. Old Trafford looked resplendent in the Autumn evening.

OK, it’s the Europa League logo in the centre circle, lending the whole thing a slightly surreal edge given we are more used to seeing its Champions League equivalent, but still, it is a photograph that is full of promise and expectation. Sadly, the football did not live up to its beautifully lit stage.

Pogba has run over to the touchline where Mourinho and Faria have got booklet of the Zorya players’ pictures. He’s getting a run through.

— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonMEN) September 29, 2016

This was the first sign that perhaps this was not going to be a great evening. After the game, Mourinho was asked what had happened by BT Sport (h/t Samuel Luckhurst of Manchester Evening News). He replied, “You know set pieces, organisation. They changed their team before the game, and Paul [Pogba] was a bit confused with the changes. And obviously I want my assistants to care of all the details.”

From beautiful pure expectation to a shouting match on the touchline … not an ideal trajectory for pre-match optimism.

3mins: Rojo barely getting a touch. Superb tactics from Mourinho

— YungRashfurcated_MBM (@bifurcated_MBM) September 29, 2016

That aforementioned gallows humour? Three minutes in and we have a fine example. Rojo is deeply unpopular among United fans at the moment. …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com