LAST UPDATE | 5 Dec 2021
Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace
RALF RANGNICK’S REIGN at Manchester United got off to a winning start thanks to a stunning strike from the much-maligned Fred to beat Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
A bright start from the Red Devils fizzled out without reward and the German looked like he might have to settle for a disappointing draw in his first match since taking charge until the end of the season.
But Fred, who had been a target for much of the criticism towards the end of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time as manager, produced a moment of magic with a curling effort on his weaker right foot 13 minutes from time to snatch a crucial victory.
United move back to within three points of the top four and up to sixth in the Premier League table.
There were no immediate changes from Rangnick in the line-up as he named an unchanged side from Thursday’s 3-2 win over Arsenal.
But there was an instant change in approach as United pressed Palace into coughing up possession deep inside their own half twice in the first five minutes.
However, there was a lack of precision to match United’s intensity.
Cristiano Ronaldo took his tally of goals for club and country to 801 with a double in midweek, but his long wait to net from a free-kick goes on as his effort from the edge of the box did not dip in time.
Ronaldo also had a shot blocked by Marc Guehi after deciding against hitting Bruno Fernandes’ dinked pass first time.
United’s best chance of the first 45 minutes fell to Fred, but his goalbound effort was bravely diverted behind by James Tomkins.
Fernandes finally tested Vicente Guaita from Ronaldo’s knockdown before Diogo Dalot fired wastefully over on his weaker left foot with the last kick of the first half.
However, United’s early enthusiasm to impress their new boss drained away as the second half performance more closely resembled the final days of Solskjaer’s reign.
Palace should have gone in front 15 minutes from time when Jordan Ayew somehow turned Tomkins’ header back across goal and beyond the reach of Guehi at the back post.
Rangnick comes with a reputation of putting his faith in young players and showed that as he sacrificed Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford for Mason Greenwood and Anthony Elanga in search of a winner.
Greenwood made a telling contribution as it was from his layoff that Fred looped the ball over Guaita.
After a promising start to Patrick Vieira’s time at Palace, the Eagles have now failed to win in their past four and the Frenchman’s caution helped United towards a first clean sheet at Old Trafford in 16 games.
Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze were only introduced off the bench with six minutes remaining, but had little time to make an impact as a nervy United held out.
Irish qualified out half who doesn’t play for any of the three other provinces,…..has to be Garth Steenson!?
@Bo Jangles Gavigan: or AJ McGinty?
@Fergus Robson: Not sure AJ is still IQ as he has declared for the US and is their starting out half. It’s either Steenson or he’s bluffing and it’s Keatley or JJ.
@Fergus Robson: bo jangles who???
@Bo Jangles Gavigan: “…think laterally at times” – has to be Keatley. Steenson of 2-3 years ago would have been a great option alright. Bit auld now?
@Alexi: I’d agree about his age but saying that he’d be a great short term option for a few years while they develop some talent and he’d provide some quality leadership to an Ulster team who’ve admitted themselves are in transition.
I reckon it’s all a big bluff though and we could very well end up seeing Keats at Ulster yet.
@Bo Jangles Gavigan: agree about steenson as a stop gap/ mentor outhalf. He has huge influence at exeter and look how well they’ve consistently performed
@Bo Jangles Gavigan: @fithypete makes sense but on a separate note, I would guess he is very settled at Exeter.. must be there a good few years now
David Nicofora doesn’t get the credit he deserves
I dont mind having an Irish option but the reality is we have NIQ spaces, plenty of spare wages given who we have lost and a paper thin squad (especially in the backs). We need to bring in 2/3 more players
Outside bet could be Tyler Bleyendaal. He is or is about to be Irish qualified and would expect now to be behind Carberry
@Patrick Barton: Wouldn’t be surprised given Ulster’s history of signing injury prone players
@Patrick Barton: keep him in Munster. Pay your own wage bill..
I would rather see Ulster stick with McPhilips, Lowry and Curtis. It’s not as if we are going to win anything. None of the other names mentioned are realistic.
We keep hearing how Joe and DN are committed to making Ulster strong again but little sign of it. No coach until 2019, no physio or s and c coach, no CEO.
Player pool is threadbare with 12 players leaving, Marshall out with Acl and Ludik out
with a career threatening injury
DN claims someone will fill in for McFarland if he does not come till 2019. We were told that Farrell was going to help out after the 6 Nations. He never arrived.
@Patrick Barton: if he can stay injury free he’d be the best choice from an Ulster point of view. Good player, did very well for Munster in the 2016/17 season but kind of imploded towards the end. Having said that, he had Williams at 9 when his form dipped and I wouldn’t say that was a coincidence!
@Daniel Casey: He’s one injury away from retirement. Keep him on your wage bill.
@Trevor Johnston: thank you Trevor, perfectly put.
Jack carthy to Ulster is the word on the street…
@Anto Whelan: Moving 2 or 3rd choice is fine. But it’d be a poor form to move Connacht’s in contract first choice. It would be a real sign of what the IRFU think of Connacht.
Mark my words Madigan will be back at Leinster if sexton gets injured.
@Chris Mc: There is literally no hope of that happening. Madigan is in contract and earning far more than Leinster or IRFU would want to or should pay him. A short term injury deal wouldn’t be an option, and considering Madigan won’t be avail until he’s 30 and we have Ross Byrne (plus the fact Madigan isn’t great) it’s just not realistic, no matter how much you keep pushing it!
@Chris Mc: u don’t rate Ross Byrne or Frawley?
@Chris Mc:
All the talk about Madigan, his not even that good.
He had glimpses with Leinster and Ireland, that’s all tho. Plus his age profile. And obviously his wage bill.
@Jim Demps: the only other Irish our half is like to see at Ravenhill next season apart from Ross Byrne is Jonny Sexton , and that won’t happen . So Ross Byrne is the best Irish option available and that was the case before Carbery went to Munster .
@Peter Dickson: and I have fat fingers.
@Jim Demps: Chris doesn’t rate them. The rest of us do.
@Peter Dickson: Ross Byrne isn’t going to Ulster
@Conor Paddington: I haven’t seen anything of frawley but Byrne is a fine player. Not perfect like Chris wants but he’s only 23.
I’d imagine the Irfu IQ team are negotiating with someone from abroad who’s got Irish ties that no one has suggested yet. ( I was thinking Simon Hickey but he’s signed for Edinburgh) Mike Haley was a bolt from the blue but a fine signing for us.
@Jim Demps: frawley yes I rate him very highly but he’s very inexperienced , Byrne is a very good player but plays too deep and I’m not sure of his defence. Just not my cup of tea.
My point is if sexton gets injured Leinster will buy and the carrot of playing for them and a shot at another World Cup would be hard to resist.
Mad Dog?
@Philip Farrell: They can’t buy him as the petition to rename the RDS has enough signatures I hear….
@grandslamkbo: What’s it to be El Madrigal or Madigan Square Gardens?
Magidan has really improved in both and defence under pat lamb. Started most games and great breaks and tackles this season. He is great option but is already on lucrative contact.
@slyi: Madigan has been playing 2nd tier rugby . If he didn’t look good/better something would be very wrong .
I dont know why people mention Madigan for Ulster? he’s reported to be on a €500,000 salary double what Jackson was being paid and he isaqq half the player at outhalf.
Has only made first choice 10 in the second tier, couldnt push past Gopperth, Jackson, Keatley or Hinkley.
He’s not worth what Ulster were paying Jackson, so would he really move to Ulster for less than half of what he is being paid now? Its a non starter.
DN said it wouldnt be someone already at a province and I cant see Steenson moving at this stage of his career. All the NH would be signed up for the season and if Ulster have troubke getting McFarland early i cant see them biying someone out of contract. It all points to a non capped super rugby player with a Irish parent/grandparent we didnt know about.
Has to be either Steenson, Madigan, Bleyendaal or JJ.
@Peter Nagle: why not keatley?
Burns brothers IQ?