No Way Jose.

When all the pieces start to fit together, you wouldn’t think to mix them up again.

Which leaves me with the question. Why? Why change a what is quite literally a winning formula?

After seeing a glimpse of what Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United are capable of in recent fixtures, including a truly stunning first half performance against Liverpool, the breaks seem to be well and truly on again. There’s parking the bus, then there’s just stopping it from running.

I can’t say I’m angry and at this point it doesn’t even come as a surprise. No. I feel confused about the situation. Jose has proved time and time again he is capable of winning. The task of following David Moyes and Louis van Gaal was never going to be easy. I’m not expecting perfection. Far from it. I can  cope without titles and glory.

The thing which is most difficult to accept is watching a team who are allegedly Manchester United and seeing nothing whatsoever to back it up. Try. And try again. And when you get knocked down, try harder. No ifs of buts.

How can any manager excuse such a negative style of play? At home. In the champions league! Proven attacking players watching on like the rest of us. A seemingly defensive effort. The irony of conceding two goals isn’t lost on me.

Honestly though, we truly deserved it. And maybe years from now we will say we needed it to happen. Could this finally be the moment that something begins to change? I certainly won’t count on it. It’s not easy to feel positive when everytime you see magic on the pitch, or even a hint of it, we revert back.

A woeful performance is one thing. Then to dismiss the matter entirely is a whole different ball game (if only)! I simply cannot comprehend Jose’s post match comments and apparent shrug of the shoulders after what was ultimately his error. He got his tactics wrong. The players should take every bit of the blame too obviously!

It’s fine though right? We’ve been in this position before as Mourinho brought up. While he was sitting pretty enjoying the opposite in his different managerial positions. Thanks for the reminder. Just the optimism we were looking for after watching such an embarrassing performance!

Manchester United to me is much more than a football club. It means so much to so many around the world. It’s escapism. We immerse ourselves in every bit of it. Yes. It’s a global brand. Underneath that there is a heart. A soul. Or at least there used to be.

Now? I don’t know anymore. The thing is money can buy you a lot. The supposed best players and big names. It can’t buy courage or respect though.

Does it still mean as much to them as it does to us? Or has the social media age made likes and new haircuts all the more important? I would like to think there’s still chance to prove me completely wrong.

Of course there are exceptions. While he gets a lot of criticism at times, from myself included, Romelu Lukaku should be seen as an example. He is still old school for me. When you’re on the pitch, everything else stops and you give your everything. And feel it with the fans. That right there is what makes it more than a game or business.

As we all know though, there are 11 players on the pitch. Although yesterday, I could have easily questioned that at times.

There are no excuses. The performance against Sevilla shown a disregard to the fans at the very least. So, I’m sorry Jose. It may not mean very much to you. For others, it means a great deal.

I have stood by Mourinho and his sometimes boring style of football. Of course, he and United together have had highs already. Which is brilliant.

There comes a point though when you have to hold your hands up. It doesn’t matter how successful you are. Nobody is above getting it wrong sometimes. I would respect the manager so much more if he could admit to that.

I would just like to emphasise something here too. There is no correlation with being an apparent ‘true’ fan and being completely satisfied with your team. Every one of us has the right to have an opinion. To voice it. To feel disappointed. And in no way does this deter our continuing support or make us any less loyal.

Who knows what’s next? Your guess is as good as mine. Money won’t change it. Instagram pictures or post match dismissals won’t make a slight bit of difference. Ultimately, something has got to change.

But that will never be my support for United. Know the difference!

Forever and ever, I’ll follow the reds.

[Photo credit: goal.com]