ANGEL DI MARIA made his Manchester United debut at Turf Moor this lunchtime and we went minute-by-minute. Email adrian@thescore.ie, tweet us @thescore_ie, find us on Facebook or leave a comment below.
Gather around friends, and look at the new guy.
Angel Di Maria makes his first start for Manchester United this afternoon with a very tricky looking trip to Lancashire rivals Burnley.
Louis van Gaal will know he’ll do well to not sign autographs after the final whistle if the Premier League heavyweights fail to atone for their defeat at MK Dons in midweek.
How do you see this one going?
Here’s the team that LVG can get his season back on track.
He’s sticking with the ol’ 3-5-2 then.
The players have emerged from the tunnel to a mixture of Arcade Fire’s Wake Up and the Turf Moor crowd’s loud roar. This is gonna be a real welcome for new signing Angel di Maria from Real Madrid.
This is not the Bernabeu.
Oh my days! Burnley are inches from going ahead!
David Jones — a former United youth star — lashes a free-kick off the crossbar after Phil Jones typically gives away a stupid free kick with a barge.
Moments later a shaky-looking Jonny Evans puts De Gea under massive pressure with an under-hit back pass while under zero pressure.
One United fan’s HD stream offer on Twitter made us chuckle:
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Di Maria’s been bright enough so far, showing some nice touches from deep. And he just showed exactly what he’ll bring to the party, playing in Robin van Persie with a lovely direct ball from the centre circle.
The Dutch striker took it on his chest and got a crisp shot away but the Burnley keeper Heaton got a strong hand to it.
Don’t take my word for it; here’s that Di Maria pass to RVP:
He’s been great so far.
‘You win nothing with kids.’ Michael Carrick’s in the stands with United’s fresh-faced new signing.
Interesting comment from one reader Sean Flanagan:
“I have a wee theory about to United’s poor start to the season so far, which I have yet to see written anywhere (I’m open to correction).
Players who have been at United for years appear to be lacking in confidence, particularly central midfielders and defenders. I reckon that boasting about having so much to spend on new players was bad enough, but the worst idea was identifying areas we need to strengthen and then not having them strengthened by the start of the season!
Everybody knows we need a proper central defensive midfielder like Keane was. Hence all the hype about Vidal. Everybody also knows the likes of Evans and Jones are prone to being rubbish so we need to strengthen there too, hence the hype about Blind, Rojo, and Shaw. Our wingers have been singled out as blunt instruments, hence the long running saga over DiMaria.
Such speculation must have an impact on the egos of the existing players. Imagine playing in any of these positions over these past few weeks, knowing that the club are actively trying to find a better player in your position! Your confidence would be shot, especially when you’re (by association) being partly blamed for the worst season United have had in ages!! Most of us agree that there is a lot of dead wood still at United, but I’m sure they know who they are too.
I reckon these kinds of big transfers should ideally be completed before the season starts and leave the time between gameweek 1 and Deadline Day to strengthen the squad!”
What do you reckon?
Manchester United have had 63% of the possession but Burnley have looked like the side most likely to score in the past few moments.
First, Valencia plays a loose pass down the right which is intercepted; Jutkiewicz dinks a clever ball into the box and Arfield — between two centre halves — heads just over.
Moments later, De Gea has his palms stung by a long range shot that looked dangerous. Half an hour now elapsed.
The newly-appointed England skipper looks a right mug here:
Ashley Young went down in the penalty box but the referee waves play on. The dive-prone United winger didn’t make a meal of the slight coming together and quickly picked himself up.
So what’s Dutch for hairdryer treatment?
We’ve had our half-time cuppa, the players are back out on the pitch and we’re under way.
That coat was a brave choice, Sir Bobby:
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As we approach the hour mark, Di Maria’s recorded his first shot on goal as a United player.
The Argentine arrives on the end of a Rooney pass to the edge of the D but his effort is deflected behind for a corner that comes to nothing. More importantly, Lovejoy is here:
“I’m not too sure what position he is going to play in. I don’t think he is strong enough for a left-back in England. And the only place we can seem to get him into the team in central midfield. He’s a very good footballer but is he the answer? We will wait and see.”
- Paul Scholes wasn’t impressed on BT earlier when talking about new signing Daley Blind.
Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck is on in place of Van Persie. Almost 75 minutes elapsed now.
What a chance for Wayne Rooney to at last break the deadlock. A corner arrives at the back post and the England captain completely mistimes his jump and nods tamely wide.
This isn’t great.
This is your five-minute warning. With 85 minutes elapsed, United are in possession and are going sideline to sideline in front of the Burnley back four without ever really threatening.
Juan Mata is off and Adnan Januzaj is on for United. Stephen Reid looks to be getting ready to come on too for the hosts.
Massive penalty shout. Ashley Young’s shot on goal travels a long way before striking Ashley Barnes’ stretched-out arm. That should probably have been a spotter right?
Former Ireland international Reid is now in fact on the pitch for his Burnley debut.
How’ya gettin’ on there, Fergie?
United are absolutely muck!!!
I agree, Daithi, and I’m a ManU fan. All that’s been holding them together was Ferguson. It’ll take a while to pick themselves up. Hope Van Gaal is given enough time!
Yeah, I think it’s a while off till they get themselves together!! Rooney was savagely bad!! Mata was poor. Evans, young, all were garbage!!
That’ll be two points dropped for Burnley come the end of season relegation battle. Bad result. Should be beating the likes of muck like United!
Poor result for Burnley. Need to be beating their relegation rivals at home to have a chance of staying up!
Burnley started very well against Chelsea a couple of weeks ago but were well beaten eventually – could well be something similar today. Anything less will be disastrous for Utd.
Noticed that Burnley’s starting 11 is entirely British – something very rare nowadays
I wouldn’t have Evans in my local pub team.
What’s worse is we let Pique go because we thought he was the next big thing!
Although you never know a prolonged run in the first team may see him come good.
Ah now, with all the money he has he’d surely pay for a few rounds
Pique was always going to end up back at barca
Pique was always going to end up back at barca
There’s an echo in here.
And United fans with the usual ‘welcome to the biggest club in the world’ deluded
Good chance for united to pick up 3 points against the team backed for relegation…but I still worry about the back 3 (jones, Evans and blackett) I think this game is a perfect chance for jutciewicz (sorry, I can’t spell it) and ings to prove themselves against a fairly lacklustre defense
Relegation 6 pointer !!!
Utd done very well to get the draw that’s 2 points in the bag WOW!!!!
Could be the point that saves United from relegation come next May.
A dreadful performance by Utd – as bad as anything that they produced last season. 2 pts from 3 games against the giants of Swansea, Sunderland and Burnley. Hard to see them finish in the Top 6, could be much lower than last season if they don’t cop on soon.
It’s early days yet but they’d want to get their shit in gear sharpish!
It would be plain stupid to play Evans again – after his dire performance against MK Dons.
Time for him to move on….
Great squad player!
Poor mans john o Shea he is. O Shea could play in goal
Yoda are you?
I have a wee theory about to United’s poor start to the season so far, which I have yet to see written anywhere (I’m open to correction).
Players who have been at United for years appear to be lacking in confidence, particularly central midfielders and defenders.
I reckon that boasting about having so much to spend on new players was bad enough, but the worst idea was identifying areas we need to strengthen and then not having them strengthened by the start of the season!
Everybody knows we need a proper central defensive midfielder like Keane was. Hence all the hype about Vidal. Everybody also knows the likes of Evans and Jones are prone to being rubbish so we need to strengthen there too, hence the hype about Blind, Rojo, and Shaw. Our wingers have been singled out as blunt instruments, hence the long running saga over DiMaria.
Such speculation must have an impact on the egos of the existing players. Imagine playing in any of these positions over these past few weeks, knowing that the club are actively trying to find a better player in your position! Your confidence would be shot, especially when you’re (by association) being partly blamed for the worst season United have had in ages!! Most of us agree that there is a lot of dead wood still at United, but I’m sure they know who they are too.
I reckon these kinds of big transfers should ideally be completed before the season starts and leave the time between gameweek 1 and Deadline Day to strengthen the squad!
True Man Utd players would relish the competition.
Does Ronaldo ever accept that anybody is better than him?
In any professional job the bottom 10percent of performers should always be moved on!
True class always finds another level, and manages to raise their game.
Time to get rid of the passengers at United and keep the winners!
I agree. But shouldn’t they be moved on before the season starts? I suppose the World Cup has had a big impact on Uniteds ability to do that this year…
Most definitely, a period if transition should be just that!
Vidic should have never been allowed to go before a high class centre back was found.
Your talking about a club that still hasn’t replaced Keane or Scholes!
Spot on. And they hail Carrick as the Messiah when all he can do is pass backwards!!
He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!
“They all”? Who? His kids,never heard anyone say that about carrick.
Mainly the English media in fairness. Christ lads, this is feckin desperate stuff.
Good result for united.
Sean Dyche has to go. Poor result for Burnley :):):)
Di Maria looking great so far. Utterly ridiculous decision by Real to offload him.
For 60 odd million, great business by Madrid. Good player in fairness but Madrid tend to make few mistakes when selling players. Remember the furore when they sold Ozil for 50 million. Probably worth 20 now
Pure muck how is Anderson still getting a game
Bring back Moyes.
Just not creating enough chances. A team like burnley shouldn’t be coping as easy as they are at the moment.
Come on. No offemcr but its burnley and we kept a clean sheet but when we cant find a goal with 4 world class attackers it has to be the tactics #352is532
Should’ve won that,more injuries too. So much for 6 easy games to start.
Did not see game, too early here in Canada for me…. No such thing as easy games I would guess these days. Watching Man City game though, when is a blatant penalty not a penalty for smaller clubs though? Right in front of Ref and assistant too…. Stoke robbed……
We had a peno claim too with a few to go,handball in the box,I’m not even sure what’s a ball to hand/hand ball is anymore.
3-1 Utd for me.
Burnley 3-1 Utd?
2 – 0 to Burnley.
ManU’s glory days will not recommence for some years.
It takes a while to completely rebuild a team.
The foundations of the last ones were home grown.
Buying random players on the market is a lot more difficult as – who knows if they’ll gel.
You forgot your “mid table team” gem.
So easy to cancel United out.
No leader(s) or class….
The most scary statistic from this morning is that diMaria cost more than every player that has ever played for Burnley in its 100+ year history added together. And by some margin.
Can’t believe West Ham signed Song from Barca…..he’d be perfect for Utd
If MU now have a lengthy injury list I feel a bit sorry for van Gaal, it’s been hard enough anyway. Now for red thumbs, come on the blues.
Looks like a Oreo for each player in the Sky Sports pic!