Sharing The Spoils

Villarreal 0 - Manchester United 0

Team: Kuszczak, Rio, Evans, O'Shea, Evra, Carrick (Tevez 86), Fletcher (Gibson 80), Anderson, Nani (Park 85), Ronaldo, Rooney

Here's something that doesn't happen often: Manchester United failed to score in consecutive matches. To be precise, this is the second consecutive goalless draw. But let's be honest, who didn't see it coming? I know I did and I'm glad I made some money off it too. Oh and while I'm at it...fuck leeds.... fuck leeds.....fuck leeds!

The game itself was anything but a dull draw this time round. Both teams made a real fight of it, even though the starting lineups suggested otherwise. Ferguson practically pussed out, playing with 3 in the centre and Rooney up front on his own, barely supported by Nani and Ronaldo. Villarreal weren't any better, playing Rossi as the lone goal poacher.

Yet the game was pleasantly entertaining. Both teams pushed forward when the opportunity arose. I suppose what made the game interesting was that neither side played with any pressure to win, although there were enough meaty challenges to suggest that a loss would not be tolerated.

Ronaldo had a number of good chances from free-kicks but all were well met by the keeper, Lopez. His best chance was a thunderous shot that Lopez parried onto the bar in the 40th minute.

Villarreal tried to turn on the pressure in the second half, but were well met marshalled by the defense. Our fullbacks, Evra and O'Shea, were particularly impressive. Not only were they good in defense, they provided the width whenever we pushed forward. Kuszczak and Evans were rather jittery though. Luckily neither made any fatal errors.

I'm beginning to wonder what the deal is with Tevez. With Berbatov injured, you would think that he would start, but instead, he was on the bench. To add to the intrigue, he was on the touchline preparing to come on at the 70th minute, but was recalled to the bench again, only to come on again on the 86th minute.

I have no idea what was going on. It seemed to me like Ferguson was fucking around with Tevez's mind, and that's the last thing you want to do with a strike already low of confidence. I totally regretted switching to the Chinese commentary, trying to avoid that idiot of a commentator from ESPN, Tommy Smyth. As irritating as that twat is on TV, at least it would've given me an idea of what was happening then.

Anyway, Villarreal were reduced to ten men when Capdevila received a straight red for crudely chopping Ronaldo down. Personally I thought it was rather harsh, but the referee was ridiculously card-happy. I'm surprised that at the end of the day, only 5 other players received yellow. Could've sworn at least half the people on the pitch had yellows to their names.

The good news with this result is that both teams have advanced to the next stage. And we should be in pole position to top the group.

I'm personally looking forward to the big derby this weekend. And we'd better start scoring some goals.

Dull Draw

Aston Villa 0 - Manchester United 0

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, O'Shea, Evra, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Ronaldo (Anderson 82), Rooney, Tevez (Nani 70)

I'm down with a killer flu so I'm going to do this as fast as possible.

- Typical United. When the teams above us drop points, we do likewise. Just so typical. If I wasn't so damn sick, I would have made a fortune with my bookie.

- Tevez's days look numbered. He's terrible and wasn't really in the game at all. Considering that he's still on loan and not officially a United player yet, things are really starting to look bleak for him. I hope he sticks around, but he's got to do alot more to further his cause.

- Ditto Park. Hmmm.....actually that goes for the entire midfield.

- Surprisingly, O'Shea had a good game at right back. Everything good came from him.

- Once again, we had no midfield. Giggs and Carrick in the centre did absolutely nothing....and for dramatic effect....ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

- We had more possession but Villa looked more likely to score. Didn't understand why Fergie brought on Anderson instead of Welbeck. We sorely needed someone upfront who can bang in the goals.

United's 5 Star Performance

Manchester United 5 - Stoke City 0
Scorers
Manchester United: Ronaldo (3,89), Carrick (45), Berbatov (48), Welbeck (84)

Team: Van der Sar, Evans, Vidic, O'Shea, Evra, Fletcher (Gibson 63), Carrick, Park (Welbeck 63), Ronaldo, Berbatov, Tevez (Manucho 75)

Let me start off by saying what a terrible week this has been for me. I missed the QPR game in midweek and have not been able to torrent the game. I'm using a company laptop, hence do not have administrator's rights to install any programs, and that includes all the p2p programs I use for viewing games not shown in the country as well as any torrent clients. To make matters worse, I chipped a tooth and have been rather grouchy all week. At least the week ended on a high.

It's been quite sometime since we actually looked as good as we did today. I believe alot of it boils down to having Fletcher back in the lineup and scoring an early goal which demoralised Stoke.

We opened the game with a Ronaldo special. His freekick swerved and fooled veteran keeper Sorensen. Sorensen should probably have done better but could only palm the ball into the net.

United pressed on for a second but it wouldn't come despite impressive efforts from Park and Tevez. With the exception of Ronaldo, who tried to whine and dive for attention, the rest of the team played a patient game and were finally rewarded with a second before trooping in for their half time oranges.

Ronaldo's pass found Carrick at the edge of the box and quite untypical of Carrick, he dribbled a bit and let fly a stunner into net. 2-0 up and the going was good at the half.

The second started in much the same fashion as the first. Stoke barely got their feet wet, before they were hit by a Berbatov special. His bungled first touch offered the Stoke defence to clear the ball, but they allowed him time and space to rectify the mistake. And he needed no second invitation to turn and slam the ball home. Stoke were truely dead and buried.

With the game firmly in the pocket, Ferguson rung in the changes, replacing Fletcher, Park and Tevez with Gibson, Welbeck and Manucho. The game immediately went stale and we lost rhythm. Without Fletcher controlling the midfield, we allowed Stoke back into the game. Thankfully, Stoke were as poor as their position in the league table suggests.

It wasn't until the final 10 minutes before the new men blended in and we started to take control again. Welbeck announced his arrival to the big stage in a thunderous fashion in the 84th minute. His wicked strike from way beyond the box flew in beyond the outstretched arms of Sorensen. It was a brilliant strike from the 18 year old. We fully expect more to come from him.

Ronaldo ended Stoke's misery with another freekick.

Overall, this was a topnotched display. Barring the short period after removing
Fletcher from the game, we were totally on top of the game. What's more impressive was that Manucho and Welbeck provided the type of hunger we've been missing going forward. With them in the game, we were more direct without the Arsenal-style type of football of passing it into the net. But I'm kinda weary just how much they would feature in future games when Rooney returns from injury.

Who Says You Can't win With Kids

Arsenal 2 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Arsenal: Nasri (22, 47)
Manchester United: Rafael (89)

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Neville (Rafael 63), Evra, Carrick, Anderson (Giggs 72), Park, Ronaldo, Rooney (Tevez 77), Babertov

If there was one game we needed Fletcher, this was it. It's a terribly disappointing result considering the frontline Arsenal was able to put out due to injuries and suspension.

We had the better of the opening exchanges, alot contributed by Almunia's jittery goalkeeping. He handled a backpass in the opening minute and gave away a freekick in the penalty area. But we squandered the chance to take the early advantage.

He then spilled a Rooney strike that Babertov scored from, only to be flagged offside. It was all going well for us at that point. We were controlling midfield and Arsenal were pegged back.

Then it all fell apart. Narsi's strike was deflected off Neville and into the goal. It sparked wild celebrations from the Emirate crowd and Arsenal grew in confidence.

Right at the opening of the second half, slack marking allowed Narsi to add to his goal total. The defence went to sleep and Nasri scored the second. Arsenal were good value for their lead. They had held us back comfortably and struck well on the counter.

In fact midway thru the half, Narsi could have had a penalty when Vidic yanked and pulled him down, but the ref waved play on. Although we had the lion's share of the possession, Arsenal were the ones that looked like scoring, threatening to sweep us away with good counter-attacking play. I felt their midfield outplayed ours, and without the workrate of Fletcher, we were second best. I wonder what happened to Fletcher as he was not even on the substitute's bench. I can only assume he's struggling with some injury, which is a shame.

It wasn't until near death that substitute Rafael pulled one back with a strike that showed good technic. He chested the ball and let fly from outside the box. It was a strike that put our expensively assembled strikeforce to shame. But it was way too little, way too late. It's startling just how dry Rooney has gone after being redhot for sometime and Tevez just doesn't get enough games to even get warmed up.

I can't seem to remember when was the last time we won at the Emirates. In fact our record against the 'big four' away, barring Liverpool has been rather abysmal. I think in our last 13 away games against Chelsea and Arsenal, we've only won once. It's quite a damning statistic. I suppose at least the silverlining here is that we've played all three teams away this season. It's imperative that we need the full compliment of points when the reverse fixtures come to have any hope of a hattrick of titles. And given the way we continue to jerk off in defence, that's going to be a tall order indeed.

Almost There

Celtic 1 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Celtics: McDonald (13)
Manchester United: Giggs (84)

Team: Foster, Rio, Vidic, O'Shea, Rafael (Evra 66), Fletcher, Carrick, Nani (Berbatov 45), Ronaldo, Giggs, Tevez (Rooney 71)

A victory at Celtic Park would have seen us thru to the next round of the Champions League, but Ferguson, with the massive weekend fixture against Arsenal in mind, put out a light weight strikeforce. Add to the fact that Celtic have an incredible record at Celtic Park. Moreover it didn't help that we were wearing our blue away Champions League jersey. It's the colour of Celtic's fiercest rivals, Rangers, and in cheeky sort of way on our part, gave them all the motivation to put one over us. Despite that, the irony brought out a few chuckles.

We started the game well enough, without actually troubling the Scottish defence. Like the game in Old Trafford a fortnight back, Celtic didn't look like any threat. Yet on the 13th minute, they took the lead. Poor marking and bad positioning by Foster allowed McDonald the time and space to float the ball into the corner of the net. It was a beautifully weighted ball and quite a brilliant goal.

The only threat from our part came almost entirely from corners. Barring the last game against Hull City, we're woeful with corners. Yet today we came close everytime we had corners. Sadly, apart from the set pieces, the Celtic defence held firm.

The game plan of resting our key players for the weekend was thrown awry. We brought on Berbatov, and subsequently Rooney to boaster the attack but to no avail. Celtic parked 11 men behind the ball and for the longest time looked like repeating the same feat the last time we visited them.

Just when United heads were begining to droop, Ronaldo fired a long shot that Boruc could only parry. Giggs was the first to react and pounced on the rebound to equalize. After totally dominating the second half, it was a well deserved goal. We did press on in the final minutes, but the scores stood level.

Given the circumstances, it was a good result. Villarreal also drew at Aalborg. With a home game against the lesser fancied Danes, we should qualify for the second round without much trouble.

We can now concentrate on the domestic games, starting with beating the gooners this weekend.

United Survives 2nd Half Collapse

Manchester United 4 - Hull City 3
Scorers
Manchester United: Ronaldo (2, 43), Carrick (29), Vidic (57)
Hull City: Cousin (23), Mendy (69), Giovanni (pen 81)

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Neville, Carrick (Giggs 72), Anderson (O'Shea 88), Nani (Tevez 64), Ronaldo, rooney, Berbatov

My terrible weekend just seemed to get worse. The laptop I was using may have been old and slow, but it gave me plenty of hope when I caught the early game between Everton and Fulham. The stream was flawless and I was hoping it would be the same for the all important United game against the Tigers.

Unfortunately that's where my luck ended. I was happily going thru the lineups when all of a sudden the screen went blank. After a frantic 15 or so minutes trying to get it to work, I finally gave up and decided to travel to the coffeeshop 200 metres away from my apartment to hopefully catch the game. With Arsenal and Chelsea both playing at the same time, I was pretty sure it wouldn't be showing the United game. But I made the trip anyway. Better to have a glimpse of hope than to sulk in front of the laptop. Moreover, I would probably hurt myself trying to kick it.

At least there was a bit of good fortune there when I arrived, it was showing the United game. And we were one goal up. Then I realised I forgot to bring my wallet along. So I had to scramper back to get it. It was probably the longest 400 metres (200m to and fro) I had to freaking endure. By the time I huffed and puffed my way back, the scores were level and a good 25 minutes had passed.

Carrick didn't disappoint Ferguson's selection as he ran thru the Tigers' defense and put us into the lead with a good goal.

Ronaldo is currently on red hot form and he added his second from a corner. His header hit a Hull defender and bounced beyond the keeper.

We were 3-1 up at the half and I could finally catch my breath, while watching the first half highlights. I must say I'm pleasantlu surprised by Ronaldo's recent run of goals. His first goal was created by good interplay between Berbatov and himself.

Hull City's equalizer was a typical inability to defend from a set play. It's something I've been constantly criticizing. It's a weakness we've yet to rectify for some years.

At least we played well in the first half to be up 3-1 and looked to maul the Tigers in the second.

We had the majority of the possession in the second half and it wasn't long before Vidic found himself on the scoresheet from yet another corner. For once we're helluva efficient exploiting the corners.

Then we completely went to sleep. Mendy pulled one back when Evra's horrible header left him one on one with Van der Sar. Mendy looped the ball over Van der Sar and into the net, despite Vidic's last gasp attempt to clear it.

Rio made matters worse with ten minutes to go. He pulled Mendy down in the box and Giovanni brought the score to 4-3.

The last ten minutes were nervewrecking at best. We completely lost our composure and kept hoofing the ball up into the Hull half. Tevez and Rooney were on a mission to get themselves sent off.

For once I was glad we had Giggs in midfield and even happier when Ferguson brought on O'Shea late in the game. Both were tremendously cool, holding the ball when everyone around them was panicking.

Ferguson needs to address this recent trend of 2nd half collapses. This is the third game in a row we've played like little school girls in the 2nd half. Moreover Rooney and Tevez are just trying too damn hard to score. They should be letting the game come to them.

I just hope we fair better against Celtic in midweek. I hope my laptop fairs better in midweek too or I'd have to make another trip down to the coffeeshop filled with ABUs.

Up In Flames

Disaster struck in the worst way possible today. My pc finally gave in to the constant kicking it receives whenever we play like crap, and decided to spontaneously combust in protest. That's right, it literally burst out in flames.

So right now, I'm stuck with a dodgy internet connection on a very old laptop. What this means is that there's a high chance I'm going to miss the next 3-4 games until a new desktop arrives. If I do somehow manage to catch the games, reviews will not be as prompt. Moreover, it's slow as hell just typing this post without having it to pause every few seconds.

Another thing to note, I'm now exclusively on Internet Explorer (utterly crap browser) and I realise that the blog is best viewed with Firefox. I dressed the blog up using Firefox and hence the alignments, fonts and colours all work best with it.

Lastly, and most importantly, for those of you who do know me personally, please do not use my singnet email account. I have no idea when the new desktop will arrive and I have no means to check that account on this laptop. So if there are any urgent messages, especially from Beijing, please use my yahoo account. I would have kept sent you all an email privately, but my contacts have gone up in flames.