Up until the fourth minute of extra time, when the official bailed them out with a highly questionable call, Manchester United played yet another goalless draw. The Red Devils got a victory handed to them by the referees as Wayne Rooney converted a penalty kick and MUFC marched on to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The 1-0 win over Sheffield United was about as ugly and as tedious as it gets. The pitchforks came out again for Louis van Gaal; as they should.
LVG really took a beat down on the social media today. Paul Scholes, arguably the best midfielder of all time, and a club legend, had some strong words too. Scholes is no stranger to ripping Van Gaal, and this time he one-upped himself by saying that the team looked bored.
Scholes said on BT Sport: “The players looked bored themselves. There’s no spirit, there’s nobody having a go at each other, there’s no smiling, there’s no entertainment.
“I think even Van Gaal on the bench looks bored, but he’ll come out and say he’s happy.
“It wasn’t a great performance, but will he be happy with it? I think he probably will be. I think that’s the way he likes to play football.
“We haven’t seen anything different now for the last six months, that’s the way this team plays football and he’ll be happy with the 1-0 win.”
“But they didn’t create a chance, and had to win a game against a League One side with a penalty in the 94th minute. In my eyes, it’s not good enough.”
The last time Scholes ripped apart United he said they need attack, not the Van Gaal philosophy. The Dutchman said then that the critique didn’t really bother him. He even had a very humorous take on it.
We’ll see how he reacts this time. When fulfilling his postgame media responsibilities, the Iron Tulip said:
“OK, it’s not good today. We did not move the ball quickly today. But we have won and that is the most important thing in the FA Cup — we have to be in the next round and we are there.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.