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Champions of Europe!

How can you possibly put that into words! What an incredible incredible day!

I hear there is a game tomorrow...

...an important one at that? Well a lot has been said about the game. We are favorities, Fergie needs it for his legacy, we've under-acheived in Europe and must win to set it right, the pitch is bad, we have the lucky dressing room at the stadium, Roman will have influenced the officials, Vidic sat out training, Cole was two footed by Makelele, the list goes on. When the ref blows the whistle, none of this will matter. The eleven players on the pitch have to win it on the day. Nothing that happens tomorrow will change the fact that this has been a great season or the fact that we have been the best team in Europe for two seasons running now. It'd be good to have the trophy tomorrow for validation and nothing else.

Fergie has talked about his selection dilemma, especially on this rare occasion when everyone is fit (yes, that includes paper cup Saha). He does have an interesting dilemma - does he start both Scholes and Giggs? We've not done very well when both have started recently , so should he stick to Park in the starting eleven? Giggs has experience but we can't afford two people having an off day in the middle. My starting line up would be: EVDS, Brown, Vidic, Rio, Evra, Scholes, Hargreaves, Carrick, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez. That would mean we have the luxury of bringing in the likes of Park, Giggs, Nani and Anderson from the bench. Rio and Vidic, on form, should be able to take care of Drogba. We have to be wary of not affording the likes of Ballack or Lampard any space outside the box. Many teams get caught against Chelsea when the runners pick up the pieces from the front men. In Ballack and Lampard and Essien, they have players who can score from such situations. That is why Hargreaves must start in the holding role in front of the back four to mop all such balls away. Chelsea know only one way to play and they'll play from the back and test our patience. It won't be a classic but I think this one will be more open than the game we played against Barcelona at Nou Camp.

It's another 20 odd hours to kick off, by this time tomorrow we will know how it went down in Moscow.

Moscow - Here come United!

There is something cyclical about football. It was proved  yet again today. Nine years back, the ginger prince was wearing a suit and watching in the stands as United picked up the famous trophy at Nou Camp. A win that was made possible largely due to his displays earlier in the tournament. But the game can be cruel sometimes and he had to sit out what would have been the biggest occasion of his career. Fast forward 9 years and United need to beat Barca to reach the finals of the same competition - so who better than the ginger prince to get us the goal to get there! As Fergie said after the game, he will be the first name on the team sheet in Moscow - and who can argue with that?
Having said that, today's was as complete a team performance as it can get. Every player ran tireless and worked hard for the cause. The back four, without Vidic, was immense. I can't stop praising Rio and it is displays like this that will cement his place as the best central defender in the world. Brown and Evra were formidable today, so was Owen, playing at right back. Tevez and Park covered every blade of grass and gave all they had. Scholes got us the goal and Carrick made some important interceptions to break their play. Overall a great great team performance.

The loss of Rooney  and Vidic before the game made this win even more special. Both are players of immense stature and influence, and to come away with a win in such a huge game without them is very satisfactory for everyone concerned.

I've been highly critical of Fergie's selection and tactics  for the last few games. I think some of it was deserved as well but so far he has proved me wrong. We've been guilty of being tactically naive in the past and playing the same brand of football no matter the occasion or the opponent, but this year , our displays against Roma and Barcelona have been full of tactical nous. It's not always pretty to watch, not always breath taking, but functional and effective. Even today when I saw the team sheet, I wasn't impressed. It's hard to understand what Anderson needs to do to get a game - he has been stellar all season and I think is highly suited for games like these. I do hope he has a part to play in the remaining few games to come.
So, It is Mocow on May 21st, our opponents would be either CSKA Chelski or Liverpool. I wonder how much influence Roman may have should Chelski reach the finals - it isn't hard to imagine Roman having his say in Russia - his backyard.

Anyways, focus is back on domestic matters. Games like this are energy zapping and highly draining both physically and mentally. Hopefully, the lads will recover in time for the game against West Ham on Saturday. I am also awaiting news on Rooney, Vidic and Evra who was stretchered off late in the game today.Hope all of them are available on Saturday - a win against West Ham will mean one hand on the trophy!

Good News, Bad News and a small matter of a CL Semi Final

Not that it is a surprise, but Cristiano Ronaldo is PFA's Player of the year for 2nd year running. The guy has been miles ahead of everyone else and long may it continue. As he himself said though, it will be worthwhile only if we have anything to show for his form at the end of the season. This week will tell us a lot about that. So that was the good news and its out of the way.
It was also good to see Rio and Vidic as central defenders of choice for the team of the year - they really pick themselves up for those spots and this is really a world class partnership in the making. Our mean defense this season is really the reason we are top of the table right now - just ahead of Chelski on GD.

Now for the bad news. Contrary to Fergie's firm statement post Chelsea game that both Rio and Vidic will play on Tuesday, reports today suggest the haven't shrugged off their injuries yet. They didn't train with the squad and that really not good news. Both are very vital for us and in a game of this stature, we will definitely feel their absence. This injury bug has really hit us at the wrong time. I just hope Fergie's gamble of leaving it this late and not clinching the advantage early doesn't cost us the season.

All eyes will be at Old Trafford on Tuesday and both gaffers have come out stating their teams will go out and "attack attack attack". Well Fergie said that before the first leg and we didn't see that happening. This time though, I don't think we have any other options. An early goal for them is what I dread - I hope we don't concede all night. This is the kind of game the squad should be up for - the mathematics is simple - win it and you go to Moscow - lose it and you've let a great great opportunity to lift the European cup go by again - a chance that may not come back soon. It promises to be a cracker and contrary to the events at Nou Camp, I actually do think it will be a more open game with both sides showing intent to play. Team selection for us will be vital again and I hope its a balanced selection - not like the one we saw at the weekend. Alright then, tomorrow we will know if we are going to a European final for the first time this decade - it'll be sweet to do it in the 50th anniversary of Munich - but there is work to do yet.

Anti-Climactic Damp Squib!

Yesterday was probably the most disappointed me and most fans have been coming out of an undefeated game. I was aware this was not going to be all that classic as everyone expected, but what was on show was so pathetically dire, it belied belief. Once again, Ferguson didn’t walk his talk. Once again, he played players out of position. Once again in European away games, we didn’t play to our strengths. What resulted was an utter bore fest, with us chasing shadows for most of the game. Rooney was frustrated on the wing. Ronaldo was the only outlet who the team could hardly get the ball to. Scholes and Carrick huffed and puffed and chased all game without threatening to play forward. Barcelona as expected saw all of the ball, but didn’t really penetrate that much. If anything positive came off it was the fact that we didn’t concede even after they kept the ball for almost all of the game.

Now once again, Fergie and players have come out and spun this performance as a "highly tactical" one and there are noises of “mission accomplished” coming out of the camp. Expectedly. It’s all B.S. Players and Fergie have come out and said “Now we will attack at OT”. Now being the operative word. We’ve left it late once again and I am afraid and prepared for the worst on Tuesday. It’s happened before and it’s very likely to happen again on Tuesday. Fergie risked a whole lot yesterday. He should be prepared to pay the cost.

The penalty came too early and not many players are mentally up for it in the 2^nd minute  You could see Ronaldo was also not too sure – the stutter was missing and he missed it. We can only guess how the game would have unfolded should he have scored. A lot of experts have come out and criticized Ronaldo once again and have made direct comparisons between Ronaldo and Messi. How can you judge Ronaldo in a game where his team had 20 odd % of possession? When everyone else played behind the ball for almost the entire game? When the likes of Rooney and Park and Tevez were wasted and hardly knew their roles? It was all down to Ferguson’s selection and tactics yesterday.  I can’t fault the players for that.  And given all of that, Ronaldo had a penalty, was denied at least one more clear shout and Messi didn’t trouble EVDS even once. I think Messi is a great talent, I saw Barcelona play at Nou Camp November of last year and he clearly stood out as the best player on the pitch then; but these comparisons based on one game aren’t valid as judgments on players.

Overall, this was a huge huge disappointment. How big a cost we’ll have to pay for this? Well we’ll know in 6 days. Meanwhile, it’s a trip to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, a win will clinch us the title – so as games go this is the biggest league game of the season. It seems like we’ll have to do it without Vidic. I am positive about our chances, and only a defeat will hurt our title chances. More on that coming soon.

This week will decide it all

What a week of football this promises to be. For a fan there is nothing better than the fact that your team is still competing and involved at this time of the season. Big games coming thick and fast, blood pressure going through the roof, no nails left on the fingers and yet you wouldn't want to have it any other way. Barcelona and Chelsea, two away games in a matter of days, each game that could decide if we end up with silverware or not this season - no pressure.

Nou Camp is a special venue to anyone attached with the club. Every mention brings back memories of 99 and eventual hopes and comparisons to the treble year. The game tomorrow, will not be won based on history or form, it will be won by eleven players on the pitch. Nothing else will matter. I must admit this is the most confident the fans are going in to a big game. I think we have what it takes to win these sort of games now. We are tactically more aware (think Roma away) and have the midfield resources to run a game or change things if required. In spite of their domestic form, Barcelona are going to be formidable opponents. The occasion is such that all players will be up for it. I don't think this will be an out and out open game as many fans expect. Both sides will be cagey, we will have to be patient and be prepared to do some chasing especially in the initial part of the game. We will have to be extremely purposeful with the ball though, the game will be ours if we use the ball well whenever we get it and if we are clinical in front of the goal. Obvious words but I can't offer anything deeper at the moment.

The biggest selection dilemma facing Fergie will be the selections of Giggs and Scholes. Giggs had a howler at the weekend and Scholes has also shown cluelessness in recent games. Does Fergie go for the jugular and drop both? Will he play one for the experience? I would definitely go with Anderson, Hargreaves and Carrick with Nani, Rooney and Ronaldo.

This will be a big test for the squad. Not only for the maturity with which they handle highly skilled opponents on the pitch but also how the occasion and the venue impacts their mental mode. The back four will have their work cut out with the likes of Messi, Etoo, Bojan and Henry all capable of creating havoc. We've had bad memories of the likes of Ronaldo and Kaka almost single handedly messing us up in the past. That must not happen. This can become tricky for us as the threat of Messi and Bojan can keep our full backs busy and we will miss the runs of Evra and Brown down the flanks.

Anyways, I think this is when the fans stop talking and the players do the talking for the fans on the pitch. This is the biggest week of the season, and as games go, there will only be ONE game bigger than this one; that will be in Moscow and only if we get past this one.

A dream date with Barcelona beckons

So there it is. A dream date with Barcelona is set. Today’s performance was again, professional and functional. With Ronaldo and Rooney missing, it was apparent we won’t have the cutting edge in front of the goal. Our passing in the first half was brilliant. Owen Hargreaves and Park Ji Sung had the best game of their United careers. Owen could have had a couple of goals in the first half itself. What was surprising was his supply from the right – it was quite a revelation today. Park’s energy, movement and constant running kept their back four busy and midfielders sufficiently hassled through the game.

The moment of the tie clearly was the penalty call against Brown. It was a soft call, but a penalty it was. De Rossi wasn’t up for it and from then on there was going to be just one winner. They saw more of the ball in the second half, but we dealt with it. Rio on one leg was phenomenal. Special shout out to Silvestre for doing well on his return from a long layoff.

What a moment it was to see Gaza come on! The crowd at Old Trafford extended him an amazing reception which was befitting of the occasion.

Boss revealed Rio had 3 stitches on his foot during the half time. I hope he makes it for Sunday. Carrick had a knock on his calf but should be OK. Barcelona next and to use a cliché it is the biggest test for the maturity of the squad. We’ve come through some tough games already and that will be no different. In his post match conference Boss talked about the need to be positive at Nou Camp. We’ll see if his team selection will walk his talk. I do think we have a fair chance if we have a full strength squad. The tie will have all the neutrals drooling – two quality sides that represent all that is good with the game. Both sets of fans though will be reasonably nervous. However, contrast this to the other semi finalists – Chelski and the Scousers – two teams who can pretty much bore an audience to death on their best days!

On to Arse on Sunday, we should be favorites on form but that tag has often proved tricky. We need to be ruthless in front of the goal and make all our chances count. Arsenal will play like they have nothing to lose, so it should be an interesting game. Today’s performances will make the team selection a headache for Fergie, but it’s a good position to be in. More thoughts on Arse coming up.

Don't blame it on Rio [and Roma preview]

So there is a chance that Rio can make it for the game on Wednesday. I hope he does - although we have the 2 goal advantage, an early goal for Roma will totally change the complexion of the game. Without Rio and Vidic, I don't see us keeping a clean sheet. So its only a matter of when they'll score and that timing will be crucial. Boss has talked about how we must work our socks off like we did in the first leg.

We’ve got one foot in the semi final, and to get through we have to approach the game in the right fashion and go and win it. The result in Rome is not a pass into the semi final. We achieved that because we worked our socks off, the team discipline was excellent and tactically we were good. That’s the kind of performance we need on Wednesday, because it’s not an absolute certainty that we'll go through.

It is quite evident that we will line up with Rooney up front and I think Anderson, Carrick and Hargreaves will start. Nani may have a role to play if he is fit in time for the game. Park has done well in the last two apperances. So Ronaldo and Park with Rooney up front seems to be what Fergie will go with. Selection of the back four will really be interesting - If Rio doesn't pass the medical, than there is only Brown and Pique as potential centre backs. If he does, then I think Fergie will stick with Brown and Rio in the middle, not Pique.

We have the advantage, now its a matter of driving it home and closing the tie out without giving us a scare ahead of a very important game against the cry babies from North London over the weekend. Let's go for it lads!

Advantage Manchester United

AS Roma 0 2 Manchester United
Stadio Olimpico, 04.01.2008

The performance wasn't breathtaking. It wasn't fluent. It was effective. It was functional. And it gives United the vital edge going into the return leg at Old Trafford.
You can always bet that Fergie's team selection will spring a surprise on you - but even then you wouldn't have expected to see Park to start on that team sheet. A true "WTF" moment before the start. No Tevez either confirming my suspicion that it's going to be another very cautious performance - nothing like the 4-0 demolition of Villa just a few days back. And so it was - United happy to play at walking pace. We started well with keeping possession without really threatening them. But as it often happens, the home team settled soon and started to shade possession. For a while there things were quite dire. United happy to chase shadows while Roma not really doing anything of note. We had the likes of Rooney behind the ball every time they had possession. I don't agree with it, but it did deliver today.

It was Ronaldo's amazing courage that gave us the lead. Scholes' perfect floated ball saw Ronaldo leap up ahead of the defender and head it in - a jump that would have made Michael Jordan proud! He did hurt himself in the process and for a second the entire red world held a collective breath wondering if it was too early to celebrate that goal. It was to everyone's relief then seeing him back on his feet. That goal really rattled Roma and their fans. They started brightly in the second half but couldn't really make any of the chances count with EVDS making a couple of brilliant saves to keep us ahead. Rooney's goal off a fumble made it easy and from then on Roma had no belief of getting anything out of the game. Ronaldo, Carrick and Rooney all missed easy chances to make it three and virtually seal the tie. But 2-0 is a great away result - although to some level the scoreline does flatter the performance we put out there today. Some may say this was a perfect away European display or that it was a tactical masterpiece from Fergie. I am not entire sold on that yet. Will it work with a more attack minded side (uh, like Barcelona?)?

Vidic's injury around the 30 minute mark was something that spoilt the victory today. This team has some interchangeable parts - but Rio and Vidic are not one of those. We need them both fit for every game we play from now on. But its likely now that Vidic will miss games - it's just a matter of how many. I don't think we can cope without him for the rest of the season. O'shea came in today and did the job but it will be another thing to try and fit in the role for the remaining games - both in the league and in the CL. I am eagerly waiting the news on Vidic's scan.

The boss did admit that we got the breaks today:

It was a marvellous result for us. We showed discipline and composure on the ball.Ronaldo's goal changed the game for us. It was a fantastic header. His spring and courage to go in front of the defender surprised the Roma player.It was a centre-forward's header - it reminded me of myself. I thought Roma had some good chances the first 15 minutes of the second half. But there are breaks in a football match and I think they were with us today.

 

 

Man of the Match : Tough one between Ronaldo and EVDS. Ronaldo shades it just.

Moment of the Match: EVDS's early second half save from a header at 1-0 that kept the lead intact.

Moan of the Match: Undoubtedly the injury suffered by Vidic.This could cost us the title and the CL. Such cruel similarity with the happenings of last season. [ Anderson's performance today was the runner up]

Focus is back on the bread and butter league this weekend. Thoughts on that when I get a chance to catch my breath.

Roma Preview

When the draw for the final stages of the Champions League was made, many people made the assumption that Barca V United is an inevitable conclusion for the semi finals. Whereas the matchup will make any football fan drool, I think both teams have much work pending to make that happen. Any opinions on Man United V Roma are always biased by the 7-1 drubbing we game them last year. Although that was the most dominant European display by any team in recent times– such destruction of a top team is one-off and just can’t be repeated year after year. Roma are way better than that. We did play them twice earlier in the group stages and as you would imagine, those games didn’t produce the magic of 7-1; nor were Roma unrealistic as to get carried away by calls for “revenge”. Both games were rather cagey affairs. I don’t expect any different on Tuesday.

The big news ahead of the game sadly is the potential injury list on both teams. Reports today suggest that Totti is a major doubt for the game, suffering a knock in the draw against Cagliari. United have some troubles of their own – Evra, Carrick and Rio are nursing knocks and EVDS seems certain to miss the trip with a groin injury. Off the three, Rio’s would be the biggest loss and the one we can’t afford to happen. We lost the plot against Milan last season in identical fashion when our central defensive partnership was broken ahead of the home game. On form, we should take care of Roma but its small breaks like these that we need to go in our favor.

A big factor as always will be Fergie’s team selection. We’ve seen how he has been so utterly reluctant in going gung-ho in away games in Europe. I think we are at our best when we play 4-4-2 with two strikers up front and not the 4-5-1 [or 4-4-1-1] crap that he so often employs in away games. The fact that he played Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez for full 90 minutes even after we were 3-0 up at the weekend has me suspecting that he will go with just one of Rooney or Tevez up front. That is obviously not very positive. He didn’t even play 2 strikers up front against Lyon in a home game – so this does look like a Rooney up front all alone kinda day in the making. Keeping a clean sheet should be a goal on Tuesday, but as we’ve often seen in the past, it’s the away goal that is most vital. Apart from its obvious value, the away goal does 2 good things for you – A) It puts a lot of pressure on the conceding team in the reverse fixture and B) It ensures the away team comes to play and makes sure that the game opens up at some point. That can only help us when the two teams meet again at Old Trafford. Will we get a goal in Rome if we go out with Rooney up front all alone? We can but that will be going about it the difficult way. Fergie has talked about how this is the strongest squad he has had – which is an enormous compliment but I am not sure if he actually meant it or if it was a ploy to give the lads some confidence. It’s time now for Fergie to put his money where his mouth is. Play 4-4-2, let the boys have a go and play like they like to do. We have quality all over the park – I can only imagine what Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo can do when supported by Giggs /Scholes/Carrick/Nani. We’ve seen it in the league – now it’s time to unleash them in Europe. Wishful thinking I know, but a fan can dream. I know we’ve been bitten by the gung ho approach in Europe in the past [think Madrid, Porto]; and that since then Fergie has been extremely cautious for fear of being called tactically naïve. At the same time, this team is the strongest we’ve had post the class of 99. I’ve heard arguments how it was the 4-5-1 that produced the 4-0 destruction of Arsenal recently, but how many times have we scored 3 or more with a 4-5-1? So my message clearly is to play Rooney and Tevez up front right from the start.

The other dilemma facing Fergie would the selection of the midfield. Should he stick with Scholes and Carrick in the middle? Or will he be more cautious and pick Hargreaves? Obviously if he goes with 4-5-1 then I think it will be all three. Since Scholes played the full game on Satuday, maybe Anderson will come in from the start? This is surely a great dilemma to have – our midfield situation is the best I can ever remember – certainly the best in the post Keano phase. Remember the times when our answer used to be Fletcher? So glad that dull phase is over! I am really looking forward to the game on Tuesday. I hope the lads are up for it as this is really THE time when men are separated from the boys.

Go United!

P.S.

All the best to all the reds making the difficult trip to Rome. I salute your courage given the events of last year - be Safe!