David Moyes and the Unwanted Records He’s Broken at Man United

In Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie, Manchester United have one of the most potent attacking forces in British football. However, that was barely seen on Saturday evening against Stoke City who edged them out 2-1 in the process becoming the 8th club this season to rake in maximum points out of the reigning Premier League champions. It was always going to be a hard match against the Trotters but you would have thought United would nevertheless give a performance with the brilliance that outweighed their opponent’s combative approach. But it wasn’t to be.

Stoke City’s win was their first against the Old Trafford side since Boxing Day 1984. That was 30 years ago. It is the latest setback for United under the tutelage of David Moyes who has ‘broken’ all manner of records since taking the reins at the Greater Manchester club. The resultant effect is that United are running the risk of missing out on Champions League football for the first time in 19 years as they currently trail 4th placed Liverpool by 7 points.

Here are some of the club records that the Scotsman has helped United annihilate:

• Their 2-1 defeat against West Brom in September last year was the first time they lost to the Baggies since 1978. Back then, Ron Atkinson’s West Brom trailed 2-3 at half time but three second half goals ensured they bagged three points in what is considered as one of their greatest games in their history. Morgan Amalfitano and Saido Berahino who netted for West Brom as well as Wayne Rooney who scored United’s only goal had not been born.

• After the loss to West Brom came the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Moyes’ former club Everton in December 12th 2013. That was the Toffees’ first win at Old Trafford since their 3-0 success in 1992. Romelo Lukaku, who assisted Bryan Oviedo for the solitary goal win was not ever born then. David Moyes failed to win at Old Trafford in 11 years in charge of the Merseyside outfit. Roberto Martinez did it in one game.

• The 1-0 home loss to Newcastle was the first since 1972 when Toons cruised 2-0 in a game that had the likes of George Best, Bobby Charlton and Brian Kid in United’s starting IX. 

• Their defeat in the third round of the FA Cup at the hands of Swansea was their first ever home loss against the Welsh outfit in all competitions. It was also the first time the Red Devils got eliminated at that stage of the competition, something that happened only once in Sir Alex Fergusson's 27 years in charge of the club.

• Their current home league form of four defeats is their worst in over 10 years.

• The three loses in January to Tottenham, Sunderland and Chelsea were their first in the month for 40 years. With those matches all played in one week, the Glazers’-owned club lost three matches in a week for the first time in 22 seasons. 

• The defeat to Sunderland in the league cup was United’s maiden, the Stadium of Lights side having failed to nick victory in the fixture in 20 previous attempts dating back to 2000. 

• United dropped only 25 points throughout their title winning campaign last season. They have dropped 32 points from their 24 premier league matches this season.

• Their current league position, 7th, is their lowest at this point of the season since 1988/89.

• And there’s more to come!

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

European Leagues Review: Eto’o Nets Hat-Trick in Chelsea’s Thrashing of Man United, Madrid Cruise Past Levante as PSG Remain Top in Ligue 1

ENGLAND

Arsenal ensured they remained on top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 win over Fulham. The Craven Cottage outfit had weathered the Gunners’ storm during the first half until Santi Carzola popped in with a goal in the 57^th minute. He scored his second just after the hour mark as Arsene Wenger’s men registered their 6^th win on the trot. Both Manchester City and Chelsea won to pile pressure on the league leaders, City bashing Cardiff City 4-2 while Samuel Etoo scored his first hat-trick in the Premier League as Chelsea thrashed Manchester United 3-1. With Liverpool drawing 2-2 at Anfield, Everton had the chance to move into fourth place and dislodge their Merseyside rivals but they were held to a 1-1 stalemate against West Brom. Sunderland fought back from a 2-0 losing position to secure a point against visiting Southampton while Jose Puncheon atoned for his horrific penalty miss a week earlier as he scored the winner for Crystal Palace against Stoke City.

SPAIN

Real Madrid were the biggest benefactors of the weekend La Liga round 20 matches. Having thrashed Real Betis 5-0, Los Blancos saw other results go their way as the top two, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, drew their matches. Barcelona were frustrated at Levante who took the lead with only ten minutes on the clock. However, Gerard Pique netted to draw level and that’s how the game would end. David Villa put Atletico ahead in the 18^th minute but a goal from Ivan Rakitic in the 73^rd minute denied them the three points which could have sent them on top. Both Villareal and Athletico Bilbao won their matches as the race for the 4^th Champions League position gathered steam. All the bottom five teams lost their matches.

ITALY

Reigning Serie A Champions, Juventus, cemented their position at the top with a 4-2 win over Sampdoria in Turin. Arturo Vidal netted a brace, either side of Fernando Llorente’s 24^th minute goal while Paul Pogba also found the back of the net for the Old Lady. Roma beat Livorno 3-0 to ensure Juve were still in their sight but Napoli lost further ground as they were held 2-2 at Bologna. Mario Balotelli’s 82^nd minute penalty helped Milan to a 1-0 win over Hellas Verona as Inter Milan lost by the same score line at Genoa.

FRANCE

The top two in French Ligue 1 recorded victories. Paris Saint Germain hit Nantes 5-0 with Monaco beating Toulouse 2-0 to pull themselves away from the chasing pack which includes Lille who lost their second match in a row , the former Champions losing 2-0 at Saint Etienne.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

Cristiano Ronaldo Wins 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or

After a 5-year wait that boarded between being so close and being too far, Portuguese and Real Madrid gem Cristiano Ronaldo has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the second time in his career.

And who better to beat to the world of football’s highest individual accolade than the man who sat on that throne not for one, two or three but four years; Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo, who had a goal fest in 2013 finding the back of the net 66 times in only 59 appearances for club and country was announced the winner at a gala evening in Zurich. The 28-year-old garnered 1,365 points to finish above Lionel Messi and French winger Franck Ribery who received 1,205 and 1,127 points respectively.

A teary Ronaldo thanked his teammates and his family saying, “Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level, I have to thank. My wife, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved."

His win ended Messi’s 4-year reign as the world’s best player and he becomes only the 10th player to win the award in more than one occasion. 

Other awards on the night saw Pele collect the first ever Ballon d’Or prix for recognition for his outstanding work during days when the award was given only to European players. Former Bayern Munich coach, Jupp Heynckes was presented with the coach of the year award for leading Bayern to unprecedented treble winning season where they swept all in front of them including the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic won the Ferenc Puskas award for his outstanding overhead kick against England while German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer collected the Women’s World Player of the Year award.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!