United Given A Lesson In Football

Manchester United 1 - Barcelona 3
Scorers
Manchester United: Rooney (34)
Barcelona: Pedro (27), Messi (54), Villa (69)


Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Fabio (Nani 69), Evra, Carrick (Scholes 77), Giggs, Park, Valencia, Rooney, Hernandez

It wasn't even close. After bossing the Premier League, United were on the wrong end of the footballing scales and a fish out of water against an incredible Barcelona team, that in my opinion is probably the best footballing side to ever grace the world.


Barring the first 10 minutes, where we worked our socks off to make a semblence of a fight, the rest of the game was all Barcelona. After finding their feet, they went on to completely and utterly dominate the ball and got a deserved lead when Pedro scored for the Catalans.

We pulled one back when they fell asleep 7 minutes later with a well worked out goal which involved Carrick, Giggs and Rooney, but that was probably all that we could muster against the masters of the game. They had such complete control of the ball that we were made to look like a pub team....a very poor pub team. I've mentioned before just how poor our midfield was, and we barely had a sniff of the ball the entire game.

While Van der Sar, Rio and Vidic had superb games to keep the scoreline respectable, Evra was missing from his position all night long. Evra's had some bad night before, but this probably has to rank right up there as one of the poorest EVER.

Barcelona's master class finally broke thru in the second half with goals from Messi and Villa. Only Van der Sar's sheer brilliance prevented a worse whipping for the men in red. As long as this Barcelona remains, Ferguson will have a hard time finding European glory, especially with this midfield that is barely good enough in England, let alone against the prowess of a team like Barcelona.

It's back to the drawing board for Ferguson, and we can only hope with a substantial, rumoured warchest, we'd be able to bring in some real midfielders.

United Records FA Youth Cup Win

Was glad that I couldn't sleep tonight. I managed to catch the second leg of FA Youth Cup finals between United and Sheffield United (first leg ended 2-2).

Bearing in mind that it's really very very young men playing, I wasn't expecting much, just keeping an eye for players that might make the grade up to the senior team. At the end of the final whistle, I was pleasantly surprised. I don't know many of the players, except those that have played in the reserve team earlier in the season when the games were available on my side of the globe. Players like Will Keane, John Cofie, Paul Progba and Ravel Morrison were the names I knew and heard of.

Was a little disappointed that Cofie didn't start but apparently he just returned from a lengthy injury and featured only in injury time. From what I've seen earlier in the season, he's the most likely to make the jump into the first team. He has all the ingredients to make it as a star striker. Not to mention he's body is filled out and could contend against the bigger, tougher defenders the Premiership has to offer, and at the tender age of 18, there's plenty of room to grow. Very Drogba-like in stature (disclaimer: I also said the same about Manucho, and we all knew what happened to him).

The other three mentioned players all started and played promising roles in the 4-1 victory against the Blades. Morrison and Keane both scored twice. In a very poor and nervy first half, Morrison stood out. He scored the first goal of the game, calmly shooting when all around him, everyone was panicking.

Keane scored the second from the spot after a Blades defender handled Morrison's cross.

The second half was a complete turn around. The two goals in the first half seemed to have calmed the nerves of the lads and we played some outstanding football. The two wingers Gyliano van Velzen and Jesse Lingard had good contributions and definitely caught the eye.

Progba was a tad disappointing. Because of his controversial move from the French Ligue 2, it made him someone to take special note of. From what I saw, he oozes with oodles of talent. Great individual skill and range of passing, however his work-rate seemed very Berbatov. Playing as a central midfielder, I was expecting movement, but when the ball is not at his feet, he seems very static. He doesn't seem to move well without the ball to make space for his teammates to find him. Don't know if he has the mental attitude to take it up to another level.

Ravel Morrison scored United's third with a superb individual effort to bring the score up to 3-0. Then went on to showboat alittle and was caught in possession, indirectly setting the Blades up for a consolation goal. Up till then, he was undoubtedly the player of the game, by a wide margin.

Larnell Cole was given a run when he replaced Lingard and his impact was immense. Sheffield United couldn't cope with his skill and pace, and he indirectly set up Keane for United's fourth via another brilliant individual effort. Larnell Cole continued to torment Sheffield United's left side with mazy runs. I'm a little guarded with my praise for Cole. At the point he entered the game, the Blades were furiously chasing the game and left alot of gaps at the back. A little unsure if his impact would have been that great if the game was level.

All in all, it was a great second half that we played, and the players mentioned today caught my attention. There were other players who probably have great potential as well, but I've not been able to comment on them, hence I'm only going by this game that I caught. Hopefully more than just a few can emmulate the Fergie Fledglings.

Oh, before I go off to bed, it's our 10th FA Youth Cup. I'm too lazy to check the stats, but apparently that's a record. Good year to be a United fan!

United Ends Season In Style

Manchester United 4 - Blackpool 2
Scorers
Manchester United: Park (21), Anderson (62), Evatt (og 74), Owen (81)
Blackpool: Adam (40), Taylor Fletcher (57)


Team: Van der Sar, Vidic (Rooney 84), Evans, Rafael (Smalling 46), Evra, Scholes, Anderson, Fletcher, Park (Owen 63), Nani, Berbatov

We finished the season in style with a convincing win against a dogged and feisty Blackpool and with a tinge of regret, sent them back down to the Championship. Blackpool had deserved more for their enterprising style of play but were eventually found wanting at the final hurdle.

The game itself was an awesome spectacle. Blackpool came in knowing that they needed the points to have any chance of survival while in keeping with the integrity of the game, we had to field a team strong enough to compete.

It all started well and dandy for the away side but they squandered two early opportunities before Park latched on to Berbatov's true ball to lift the ball over Gilks and into the net. The celebrations were muted and almost apologetic. Blackpool was not the type of team you root against.

To their credit, they never hung their heads and came with renewed endeavour and eventually found an equalizer via a Charlie Adam freekick before the break.

The game was thrilling but what was more thrilling were the side plots that were emerging from all the current scores at that point from the other relegation candidates. At one point it seemed like 4 teams were stuck on 40 points and goal difference would be the deciders.

Blackpool got their reward early in the second when Taylor-Fletcher gave them the lead and sent their crowd into raptures. Even the Old Trafford crowd were applauding their efforts.

Unfortunately, their joy was shortlived. Anderson scored his first Premier League goal of the season to draw level for the home faithful. To compound matters, Evatt then diverted Smalling's cross into his own net. It was painful and cruel for a team that won the hearts of many during the course of the season.

As Blackpool pushed men forward to find the points for survival, Owen, coming on as a substitute, came on to punish Blackpool with a 4th to effectively seal their doom.

After the game ended, both Ferguson and Van der Sar came forth to address the crowd before the trophy celebrations. I missed most of it as I was busily scrambling to check the scores of the other games. Long story short, we lifted the trophy for the 19th time and now look forward to Neville's testimonial on Tuesday and more significantly, a battle against Barcelona in the Champions League on Saturday.

19

Blackburn 1 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Blackburn: Emerton (20)
Manchester United: Rooney (pen 73)

Team: Kuszczak, Rio, Vidic, Fabio (Scholes 62), Evans, Carrick, Giggs, Valencia, Nani (Berbatov 81), Rooney, Hernandez

The title says it all. We finally knocked Liverpool off the fucking perch. Let's hope we keep it that way in the years to come.

This game was anything but a walk in the park. We started off well and Nani hit the crossbar early in the game, but we didn't score and Blackburn took advantage of Kuszczak's poor keeping to score 20 minutes into the game. With Van der Sar leaving at the end of the season, Kuszczak probably himself out of the team. It was a jittery performance of epic proportions and we were lucky to not to be down more with some dodgy handling and poor decision making.

Once Blackburn got their goal, we never really looked like scoring. In fact throughout the game we looked second best for most of the night. Most the the threat came from Blackburn while we laboured to create chances against a parked bus in front of the goal.

The breakthru came from the most unlikely source. Hernandez broke free of the offside trap and was fumbled over by Paul Robinson, resulting in a consultation between the referee and his assistant. The decision was a somewhat harsh penalty. Whilst the ball was running away from Hernandez after a heavy touch, Robinson did bring him down. Rooney took the responsibility and smashed the penalty home to our 19th title.

The remaining time was spent by both teams settling for the point and mucking around with the ball.

Hernandez was no doubt the player of the game if not the season. He's determination and goals this entire season has brought us to the title. And it's a title to cherish in more ways than one.

Firstly, as mentioned earlier, we knocked the scousers off the fucking perch. Secondly, we did it with a somewhat thin looking team on paper. What carried us thru was the whole mental setup Ferguson has instilled in the team. At the start of the season, I would never have expected us to be anywhere near the title challengers, let alone win it with a game to spare. Of course it helps that all the title aspirants managed to somehow fuck up along the way, but take nothing away from the mental strength of this team.

Irregardless of how the Champions League plays out, this has been a special season.

No Place Like Home

Manchester United 2 - Chelsea 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Hernandez (1), Vidic (23)
Chelsea: Lampard (68)

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, O'Shea (Evans 46), Fabio (Smalling 88), Carrick, Giggs, Park, Valencia, Rooney, Hernandez

Champions elect! Surely there can be no way we can fuck this one up even if we tried. 6 points clear and only 6 left to play for, it's going to take a herculean effort just to screw this one up, especially when our next two opponents are Blackburn and Blackpool, both fighting to stay alive in the Premiership.

The day started on a brilliant note. Hernandez was on hand to blaze thru to Park's pass in the opening seconds of the game and he made sure of an early lead, setting the stage alight with an exciting performance by the home team.

It was mostly United right from kick off. Chelsea never really had their engine going and were picked off in midfield by the ever-green Giggs and the ever industrious Park. It wasn't long before we got our second.

Vidic was left unmarked for a Giggs' corner and he grabbed the invitation to head United two up with barely half an hour gone. The title looked firmly in our grasp and Chelsea were left with the impossible to deal.

Despite playing well, we allowed Chelsea to pull one back with Lampard poking home at close range, but the game was mostly well dominated by us. We had the monopoly of chances. Rooney and Hernandez squandered most of the shots which would have made the scoreline more reflective of the wonderful performance we put in on the day.

Next week we travel to Ewood Park to face Blackburn. A point would see the title come to Old Trafford and a 19th overall title. More importantly, it means we leapfrog those no-good scousers.

Wembley, Here We Come

Manchester United 4 - Schalke 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Valencia (26), Gibson (31), Anderson (72, 76)
Schalke: Jurado (34)


Team: Van der Sar, Smalling, Evans, O'Shea, Fabio (Evra 59), Scholes (Fletcher 73), Gibson, Anderson, Valencia, Nani, Bervatov (Owen 77)

We're having one of our most important elections in Singapore and I'm spending much of my time convincing family and friends on our options.

To keep things brief, we play a really good game. We probably didn't have as many chances as last week, but this shadow put forth did really well. We smashed 4 past the best keeper in the world and always looked threatening whenever we had the ball.

The important thing here is that we rest our big guns against our big game against Chelsea.

While that game could define our season, I'll probably not be penning my thoughts on it. It's the date that our election results will be announced and and I could very well be drunk on joy or sorrow, depending which way the wind blows.

It's Going Down The Wire

Arsenal 1 - Manchester United 0
Scorer
Arsenal: Ramsey (56)


Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, Fabio, Evra, Carrick (Owen 85), Anderson (Valencia 56), Park, Nani, Rooney, Hernandez (Berbatov 74)

Well, I suppose it all boils down to next week's game against Chelsea. Once again we cannot produce away from home.

But let's not take credit away from Arsenal. They played a really good game. For the first 25 or so minutes, it looked like they were going to run away with the game, just like they have been doing all season. The problem with Arsenal is that they love to pass the ball. It's almost they are in love with the idea of passing the ball and totally forgetting that the whole point of it is to put it into the back of the net. They simply refuse to shoot unless it's a pass into the net.

For all the possession, I didn't think they had a shot on target in the first half and we went into the break deadlocked.

The second half was slightly better from us, but it was Arsenal who struck first blood. A lack of concentration at the back allowed Van Persie to wigggle his way and find Ramsey for the smart finish. Ferguson threw on the big guns but we never looked like scoring.

So it seems that next week's game at Old Trafford is what this season is all about. Win it and we're almost sure of crossing the finish line. Lose it and we're set for a nervous end to the season.