May 16
Arsenal Preview: Will United do it?
Arsenal visit OT after a run of brutally demoralising results against us and a Chelsea side that was gutted only three days prior.
United play Arsenal with the knowledge that they don’t need to win, but this current side, with the awareness of making things easier, by winning it today and cooling their heels against Hull, drilled into them by the manager would know better than to relax today.
Or so, one would hope.
I am not really sure how cracking this encounter is going to be; one side with everything to play for while the other with nothing — not even pride, surely — to play for.
United’s dominance of Arsenal over the two legs of the Champions’ League, and Arsenal’s performances against the bigger opponents — so to speak — have had such an effect that, today will be perceived more of a victory march with the North London team reduced to a sideshow that must be surely painful for their fans.
It hasn’t been really good for the Gunners this season, and that United fans have expressed a lot of sympathy for Arsenal fans and their manager is more because of their status this season as an also ran, more than United fan arrogance.
But adversity can cause managers to say strange things. Benitez has been firm in his assertion that United have not been the best team in the league. He also says the last two games of the season must be played at the same time — like they do back home in Spain.
Tomorrow he’ll decide to say head to head record must be considered over goal difference — like they do back home in Spain.
And in a few months he’ll say siestas should be introduced in afternoon matches during half time — like they do back home in Spain. It will give players more energy to come back rejuvenated for the second half, he’d argue.
Wenger meanwhile says this has been Arsenal’s best season in recent times if you just disregard the situation they had in December, the Gallas injury, Toure and Gallas hating each other, injuries, the lack of a Flamini-type player, injuries, the lack of a good ‘keeper, injuries, and the last season, and injuries. But for all these setbacks, Arsenal have had their best season since their unbeaten season. In fact, if you disregard the games they drew and lost, they have gone an entire season winning all their games, the professor would say, but wouldn’t because the reporter cut him off in mid-speech.
Right, enough fooling around.
Fergie talked about resting some players owing to the tiring day’s work that Wigan away was — thanks, in no small part, to the heavy pitch. I think it’s better Fergie plays his best possible team — whatever that means — and do the business before sending the reserves against Hull.
I’d play Fletcher, Anderson and Carrick in midfield. Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez up front, with Vida, Evans, Evra, O’Shea and EVDS at the back. I’m sure, when the team sheet comes out, I’d have got most of that wrong.
Meanwhile Ferguson questions Gerrard’s award in the writers’ choice player of the year. He plumps for Vidic, but then this is a writers’ award and Ferguson is no writer — unless there is a magnum opus on chewing gum and turning red-faced hidden somewhere in some dusty crevice, waiting to be unleashed upon us — and we all know the difference in perspective writers and managers have on the game. Me? I am not losing sleep over why Gerrard won the award. All that matters to me now is, Gerrard = 0 Premiership titles (but next year will be the year, surely)
Prediction: 2-1 to United — there’s no way we’re going to have a clean sheet on either side today. Hopefully, Rio is fit for the final.
Come on ya reds!!!!
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Porto it is then…
- Portsmouth Preview
- Manchester United 2006/2007 Season Review
- The Manchester United Pledge
Tags: Manchester United News
Craig Mc (195)
RedDevilEddy (170)
Opti (135)
Moscow is my heaven (96)
Ian (95)
@Liam: No, i have nothing against argentines, but i call it as i see it.
Tevez, good player, not world class.
messi, better then tevez, not quite the best in the world, yet. he has the potential.
Messi is a more then decent dribbler, but scoring against second rate spanish defences doesnt do it for me, the fact is, hes only managed 1 assist in the 4 english games he played last season and this season, that may seem like a good statistic, but in a CL final, messi is supposedly the type of player you look for to mnake something happen, which obviously he doesnt.
I dont listen to what the media say, i judge talent buy my own eyes, just ask grognard, i think huntelaar would be a risky signing, but he and the media think hes made for this club, thats not saying grognard believes the media, thats grognards own personal opinion.
Like?
0 
0
Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, United are the champions of the PL, but who is the champion of the Red Rants league of ‘giving people the HUMP’ debating?
. No contest OF COURSE its the CRAIGMEISTER, or CRAIGSHITE-STER 
. Come on, don’t deny it you all, you know I have pissed you off more thasn any other 
. A true red deviler eh?
Like?
0 
0
@Dan: I agree with you actually Dan. I think Tev is a good player, a great combatant, but I would not say he is World Class either! When he plays a FULL game like yesterday, he is too often ineffective. When however he come on for last half hour of games, full of bustling energy, and opposing defenders TIRING, he always does well. So maybe Fergie knows what he is doing after all, by not starting him in the big games, like Ole, he is very good coming off the bench. That’s how I feel about Tev
.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Bro we have played about 10 games more than L’Pool, and against 11 men and not 10 men as Loserpool did for 10 of their games. So that took a lot out of our lot. Also Loserpool caught United on a BAD DAY at OT, and we were without Ronnie and Rooney at Anfield. Let us wait and see how the Rafa-ites do against us in our heads to head NEXT season, before we get convinced that somehow beating us twice makes them suddenly better than us. If we lose to the next season (Lord forbid), then maybe I will say you are on to something Bro
.
Like?
0 
0
@Red Ranter: Now come on RR, stop pretending that you are a BOOZER, when by your own admission you are teetotal
. So I figure thereby, that you are the ONE person who can give a, what you call, SOBER RESPONSE 
.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: Errrrr he’s not just a United player Grog Bro, to most United fans, he is a United legend
. Red Nev, he hates scousers, what a guy 
.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Drunk with joy, emotion. Not alcohol.
Sober, as in clear from the euphoria of the occasion. Right now I am quite caught up in the moment to bother thinking about the negatives.
Hope that answers your question.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Was it that bad?
Like?
0 
0
@Red Ranter: Cor Guvnor, I forgot to bring my dictionary with me this championship morning
.
Like?
0 
0
@Red Ranter: As close to bad as it gets, but considering you are drunk on Euphoria, quite acceptable really
.
Like?
0 
0
The Geordies are threatening me, of what I can expect if our team turn up at Hull, and don’t give it their all. Seeing as N’Castle are dependent on us BEATING Hull to help keep their team from the drop. Those Magpies are peck peck pecking at me, that we will send our youth team to face Hull, and that will hurt the Magpies
. I truly do feel that we will send a lot of our young players to Hull, but I reminded the pestering and moaning Geordies, that EVERTON full strength team couldn’t beat our young uns, and had to rely on penalties. So not to fret about us not being good enough, or boys against men 
.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: God i hope newcastle go down, i cant stand that git manager of theirs shearer. It would just complement the season were they to go down.
Like?
0 
0
@Grognard: to answer your question on the worthiness or unworthiness of United or Liverpool being champions this season, I can honestly tell you this, it has always been my belief that whoever finishes top deserves to be there, yes Liverpool might have won a few battles along the way which they deserve credit for, but ultimately we won the war and winning the war is what all the top teams set out to do at the start of the season, they failed, we suceeded.
All the arguments that you are using about a goal hear or there would have changed things are purely hypothetical mate and can be applied to both sides of the argument coz when you look back over the course of a season, all teams will get points that they deserved and some that they didnt, decisions that went there way, and some that didnt, thats football.
I dont find any of your arguments convincing mate, and obviously you think my counter arguments are unconvincing to, lets just leave it there my freind coz we seem to be going round in circles, bottom line is, for me it has been a very successful season so far, it could be a brilliant season if we do the buisness in Rome, yes we can improve in areas and yes we have been below par for large parts, but does that take anything away from the achievement of being Champions again, not for me mate.
Like?
0 
0
@Red Ranter: OK, so now I know. How could I have been so easily duped?
Like?
0 
0
@Dan: Well you don’t see to well my friend. Messi is a fantastic player and a true genius. His only drawback is his size and that you can hardly fault him for. You already lost your street credit with me over your feelings on Huntelaar.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: Nobody pisses them off better than the Grognard mate. My poison gets in between their pours and just rubs people the wrong way so much more so. I am definitely the King of Nasty, whether I want to be or not. Even if they occasionally get mad at you, you are still known for your comic relief. I’m like a solid blast of hemorrhoid like agony.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I live too far away to get that feeling and no enough about his personality quirks. I suppose if he hates Scousers, he’s halfway OK in my books. Just don’t start him in games though.
Like?
0 
0
@Craig Mc: I was going to ask you about that. I could see your life being in danger if Fergie fields the B Team next weekend. And he most certainly will because he could give a rats ass about Newcastle and especially Alan Shearer who snubbed him when he went out to buy him in the mid 90′s. This will not endure you to Geordie fans if the Toon lose. Prey Rafael, Machedo and the youth brigade come through for your health only.
Like?
0 
0
@Matt: I think like Leeds, it’s a shame when a big club goes down. Newcastle with all their problems is a big club and it’s not good for the league to have a big club relegated. But yes, Shearer has less managerial ability than a common house fly. He’s way over his head and his run will not be long. In fact, if they get relegated, I could see him quit because I do not really see him as hungry for the job. I think he was pressured into it.
Like?
0 
0
@Fred The Red: What I see is a very thin line of separation and when that line is so thin, hypothetical if’s and buts play a big role in concluding who is best and who is lucky. And trust me, we were lucky a lot this season. Yes we are champions but we are not resounding champions who know they are better because they won comfortably or at least because they dominated the other top 3 teams over the years. We won by a nose hair and for me that’s not good enough. What you and everyone else who have complained to understand in my argument is that I look at things differently than you or most of the fans out there who just define a win as a win. I have said on numerous occasions that I am a bit of an elitist and a perfectionist when it comes to my tastes and desires in sports and entertainment. I can handle my team finishing second or third if I can clearly see they are not good enough, but I have a harder time when I see a team who wins it when I know that they aren’t as good as their victories proclaim.
A lot of factors come in to play on the road to a championship and United just had a break or two more than Liverpool. The difference between them is a an if or a but, because against us, they were the better team this year, and that will always sit and fester in my soul. Had we lost to them twice and badly but finished second, I wouldn’t be so upset.
I suppose it has a lot to do with the fact that in my life I have followed 6 sports with great passion and interest and 7 leagues as well as International football for countries. I have seen too many of my teams or the enemies win and lose and in my day I have seen a lot of unworthy and highly overrated teams get crowned champions while seeing many far better teams lose and in many cases get cheated or screwed out of a title. So many factors from referees, to weather to injuries to fatigue and scheduling have played major roles in often crowning the wrong team. Now my bias tells me the right team was crowned yesterday simply because I hate the Scouse and because I love United. But if I am honest with myself, only 1/3 of our team could really rejoice with this triumph. Our defensive unit who did a masterful and consistent job all year. Our midfield and attack was for the most part in shambles all season. And we lucked out on many results where we never deserved the three points.
Being a bit of a perfectionist never allows you to just inject the moment into your system and let it just happen. You cannot help but over analyze the team, the games the scenarios that defined the team’s entire campaign.
When it comes to Europe I have no problem saying that United are the best team. They did all that was asked of them and they were especially great warriors on the road when they had to be. Winning in Rome would make them worthy champions where Barcelona are incredibly undeserving as I still feel the referee secured their spot in the final because Chelsea were by far the superior team to them. That kind of realistic and honest perspective comes from not just a fan of a team or the game, but truly a student and objective mind. And whether that is appreciated or respected on Red Rants, that is what I am. I will and always call it as I see it, not just as a pro United supporter.
Like?
0 
0
The Grog is right, celebrate all we want now but when we’re honest (and sober)the bitter taste of the double loss to ‘Pool will still haunt us.
My Scouser mate keeps taunting me with it, that it takes the gloss of us being Champions. Well I say he can well hold on to that point as the years without winning anything piles up on him and then he dies.
Let’s beat Barca and that’s another trophy to taunt the Scousers with. And let’s do them good next season, cant wait.
Jon, you are a genius. Have you got the tix for when United come over to Malaysia ?
Like?
0 
0