UnitedBlog - Manchester United Blog

Champions Again!

 18 - and that's a FACT, RAFA!

That was easy!

 
The biggest game of the season, quite remarkably, turned into a walk in the park. For a change, the superiority in class did show up in the final score card as well.It was a great team performance and besides the first 5 minutes, Arsenal never really threatened and there was never a hint they had a fight in them. It was quite bizarre, especially if you consider how Wenger was talking them up in the build up. The crowd seemed up for it as well, but it was quite pathetic that most of them left way before the final whistle.

Fergie persisted with the same team as in the first leg, the only change being Park coming in for Tevez. I didn't mind that and I think playing away from home with a goal advantage, you should only take so many risks. Once again, our midfield trio really ran over them all over the park. That's where the game was won. With Rio and Vidic rock solid at the back, the result was never in doubt once Ronaldo had scored a 40 yard scorcher. We used the ball very effectively and I haven't seen a more mature United team in my years of following the club.

Of course, this being United, everything can't be perfect. The ref had a howler in sending Fletcher off. Where is the common sense? At 4-0 up on aggregate, it's a dead game, even if you have to award a penalty, who is going to complaint if you don't show the red?And I am not even arguing whether it was a penalty in the first place or not. It's a terribly bad call - one that is so harsh on Fletcher. He must truly be gutted but all the fans totally appreciate his role in getting us to the final. There's a slight chance of the referee noting this as a mistake in his match report - but I won't be holding my breath!

Overall, a great day and now no matter who wins tomorrow, we should enjoy the ocassion and play like we do in Rome. There's a small matter of ensuring the title first - more on the Manchester derby soon.

Hanging in the balance

I won't repeat the cliches that have been thrown around in the last two weeks but the position we find ourselves today does concern me a bit.There are two aspects to it - had someone offered Fergie this position at the start of the season, he woud've grabbed it with both hands. Heck we'd be happy to be in touching distance of the front runners at this stage of the season given all the distractions this year. However it's the manner in which things have unfolded in the last two weeks that's a little concerning. We caught up from a distant 3rd to taking a comfortable lead in a couple of months or so. Then suddenly two losses coincided directly with the scousers hitting the form of their lives. Couple that with our suspensions and injuries, this does look to be a precarious position. Momentum is an extra point, just like goal difference is. On the positive side, it's still in our hands. And that's a big advantage. Fergie knows it's not over and he'll make it a point his squad understands that. I just hope he doesn't go with mind baffling team selection like he did with Fulham. Berbatov is not our answer - no he isn't.

Given the momentum swing, in theory this break does us more good than harm. However, ultimately it's the eleven players on the pitch that have to prove that. Villa are desperate to stop their slump and it's not going to be an easy game. They'd be watching the tapes of our recent games and ready to have a go. I would expect us to be nervous and that will only get worse the longer the game goes on without us taking decisive control. All in all, it's going to be a cracker and all of premiership is going to be watching.

Champions League Draw

So for a change we get the easier half of the draw. Revenge time on Porto. By all means it's not going to be easy but definitely a tad bit easier. I hope we stuff Porto for the injustice of a few years back. We are playing the home leg at home so let's see how the team adjusts to that.

However, right now the focus must be on Fulham and it's a huge game. A win and the thoughts of last weekend will be banished and anything less will mean the doubts will be getting real. We just need to go out there and play our natural game and score a few. Yeah, it's that easy.

Bye Bye, the not so special one

The hype that surrounds Jose Mourinho is unprecedented. No matter where he goes, he will almost always be more in the news than the eleven players on the pitch and that was no different in the run up to this tie. His arrogant and cocky quotes are a media persons delight and he never disappoints. On a night when he sent out United with his cheating and diving Porto back in the day, he entered the conscience of the English people with a sliding celebration that probably left his sharp suit with permanent stains. The rest was proverbial history. How United fans would have loathed the sight of him repeating his celebratory antics tonight? Nightmares are made of this.

But it wasn't to be. The champions of Italy were sent crashing out tonight. United surely didn't go out all guns blazing. In fact they never really got out of the third gear at best. That in itself is the biggest transition from the teams of the past - they've learnt to win. It's not always pretty, but the ghosts of Madrid are well and truly buried now. On many a European nights have we seen ourselves on the other side of the show - being frustrated by teams who know how to hold the ball, who don't hesitate to be patient and pass it around all night till an opening emerges. We are that team now, totally confident on the ball, patient and a team with a plan B. Gone is the naivety of "I'll score 1 more than you" that often cost us dear in the past.

Today was one such educational step forward. Although there was the odd occasion when the urge to do a fancy step over or try a cute flick on took over, but mostly it was a mature display. This team has the experience now and no matter what happens from now on, they've show they belong up there with the best. The fact that once again there are four English teams in the last 8 of the CL shows that to be sitting atop the most difficult league in the world today means more than it did in the past.

There is an important league fixture against the scousers on the horizon. Going by the quotes, their camp is pretty confident after beating a 2nd grade Madrid side with the help of a blind referee. It bodes well overall for the tie. We need to start with Tevez and Rooney and get Rafael in for O'Shea. I think one of Giggs and Scholes will naturally be relegated to the bench for that one. It's got a cracker written all over it and although it won't change as much as it promised a few weeks back, a defeat for Liverpool will be the end of their league season and that would be a sweet enough reward.

Looking good at the top

United go second but Injuries galore

After the highs of the Chelsea game, this was bound to happen. We struggled past Wigan even though it took us 57 seconds to get ahead. From then on, it was a familiar story of missed chances as all of Tevez, Berbatov and Ronaldo guilty of missing very good opportunities. At 1-0, Wigan were never really out of it but luckily Vidic was such a presence at the centre that we avoided any bad surprises.

Worryingly though, Wayne Rooney hurt his hamstring and has been ruled out for 3 weeks. Both Tevez and Evans suffered knocks but there is no confirmation yet on their seriousness. Good 3 points though, sees us pass chelski for the 2nd spot. Now lets hope Rio is back next week and there are no other injuries to worry about. Rooney's injury is the perfect chance for Tevez to show his mettle. A lot of people (including myself) have questioned Berbatov's selection over Tevez and now it's the time for Tevez to pay back for all the support he's had from the fans.

A win at the Reebok on Saturday will take us top of the league, where we belong. An Everton win on Monday will keep us there. Go Moyes!

Fergie's masterclass

That was a fine result, yesterday. The kind of result that the team needed after an uninspiring run of one nil results in the league. I must admit on seeing the team sheet, I was rather nervous and perplexed. How would a midfield that included the aging legs of Ryan Giggs, JS Park and Darren Fletcher do against the likes of Deco, Ballack and Lampard? Why were the likes of Carrick and Scholes and Anderson on the bench? As it unfolded, Fergie's gamble more than paid off. Giggs was deployed more centrally and had a blinder. We dominated from the start and had most of the ball in the first half. But in the second half, they really didn't show up and it was a rather one sided affair. I would go as far as to say it was one of the easier outings we've had this season.

Boss said later that he had conveyed his decision to play Giggs and Fletcher against Chelsea two weeks in advance. He also acknowledged it was a tactic that could have failed. But it worked beautifully. Giggs is one of those players who don't cease to amaze you even after being around for good part of two decades. The way he uses the ball in possession and the way he tracks back to win the ball when not in possession is a pleasure to watch. He can still his marker for dead with a dribble and pick a pass that no one else can see. Park was tireless as always and did a great hassling job. Rooney's worked hard as ever ,though he was lucky to have escaped a card after mouthing off at the ref early in the game.

Vidic and Evans had a tremendous game. Rio is the best central defender in the world and to not miss him against the likes of Drogba and Anelka is no mean feat. I've always liked Evans - he has a great head on his shoulders and the makings of a great player. But I'm amazed at how well Vidic has stepped into the role of a leader at the back. It's very important to have a vocal leader in the back four and Vidic does a brilliant job at that apart from being such a hard defender himself. Praises are often showered on more of the gifted bunch up front but don't take anything away from the back four. Evra's return really showed what we've missed down the left and Gary Neville is almost back to his best shape. I just hope our season kicks into gear now. As Rafa continues to make a full ass of himself, things will only get worse for him should we go top in the next two weeks or so. Then will be the best time to get some daylight between us and the remaining two.

Rafa's rage!

It was extremely funny to read Benitez lose the plot once again. And the pressure is not even on yet. Obviously it was pre-planned - given that he read it out from a print out. Man this is so funny. The top of the table is not for the weak hearted. And Benitez will soon find that out. The old master has seen a lot of Johny come latelys come and go. There was the young upstart in Moronho who came and left. There is the French professor who has been made irrelevant lately. There was the "I'd love it" Keegan and now it's Rafa trying to play the game with someone who invented it. If he had taken his lessons, he'd know how it all ends up. [With an old Scott smiling ear to ear and raising a glass of wine on another mission accomplished]

Welcome Tosic and Ljajic

So we've signed a pair of young lads I know nothing about. Apparently Tosic can play on either flank but is primarily a left winger. Ljajic isn't back from loan till summer so I'm sure we'll know more about him by then. With Giggs being used more centrally and rightly so, this means Nani and Tosic are our options on the left side. Although Park puts in good work, I don't see that as his position of strength. In terms of numbers and cover for midfield positions, I think this is the best squad we've hard for 2 decades now.

With this piece of business, the club has closed all dealings for the transfer window. It's quite predictable, Fergie doesn't like to buy in January and we are more or less well covered everywhere else. I'm not sure though that Fergie has found the right combination up-front. There has been a paucity of goals this season and that will need addressing if things don't change in the 2nd half of the season. Then there's the Tevez saga that refuses to go. A permanent deal for him is not done yet and I don't know if that's down to Fergie wanting to keep his options open.

Next up is a trip to Southampton for a cup game on Sunday. Here's to starting the new year with a thumping win.