Red Rants

We take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup, again. It seemed sort of inevitable when the drawing was made — we played them last time like some million times in January itself, I suppose.

Anyway, we have had a great record against them in recent times, although it must be said that Martin O’Neill’s sides can never be written off. They are a good side with a decent midfield and an excellent forward line. However their defence might appear a bit crap, as demonstrated by our last meeting. Zat Knight, particularly, seems injury prone and if we get our swagger back — something that was missing over the last couple of games — we could comfortably overcome them.

Continue reading “Aston Villa v Man Utd:Preview”

It might be a little too late for a match report, so it wouldn’t be one as such.

United didn’t produce a performance to be necessarily proud of in beating Birmingham but started 2008 on a winning note. While the first half and initial periods in the second saw us practically toying with Alex McLeish’s men, the latter part of the game saw us trying our best to repeat the horror show at West Ham. We suddenly looked content giving the ball away and inviting the opposition on to our half. It was a strange performance; something you don’t associate with United at home.

Continue reading “United Labour Through But Fergie Makes the Most Outrageous Remarks”

The Interwebs have been acting up lately, to my chagrin. And that is the reason I couldn’t post yesterday. I really wanted to post something yesterday, you know, with it being the last day of 2007 and all; I had a Best of 2007 post lined up. Anyhow I will get around to doing that sometime later today or tomorrow.

At the moment, though, we have the small matter of a match today, where we invite Birmingham and hope to kick off 2008 on a bright note. Speaking of which, here’s wishing all readers a very happy new year. How did you spend last night?

Continue reading “Man Utd vs Birmingham: Preview”

West Ham 2-1 Man Utd

There are days when you will have to hand it to the opposition. As much as I hate to say it, I would be forced to concede that West Ham were the better team yesterday. They outplayed, out scored, out ran and outnumbered (in midfield) us right through the game. And yes, they had that extra intensity to go on and win the game.

It is fairly simple (and sometimes, even boring) writing a match report following a win; you go through the usual format of reportage, saying how good such and such player was. Writing a report after a defeat is a far more enlightening experience, although it must be said that it is extremely hard to get motivated and get to the writing part in the first place.

So here we go with the report.

Continue reading “Hammers Beat United As Champions Squander The Advantage”

A former cult-hero, in Carlos Tevez, returns as the Reds visit Upton Park to take on the Hammers in their last clash of 2007. Manchester United will be looking to keep their winning run intact and maintain their lead over Arsenal.

Continue reading “West Ham v Man Utd: Preview”

Yesterday was not a pretty sight. Not from Reds’ legend Roy Keane’s perspective that is. His side were simply no match for United’s superiority. It was so easy that it was cruel. I’ve seen Korean sides on our far-east pre-season tours show more resistance. After yesterday, you’d have to feel for Roy Keane and his side; and hope, for his sake, that he manages to keep them up.

Our sympathies for Keano aside, it was a superb performance from a United side that had quite a few changes to the composition of its starting XI.

Continue reading “United Stroll Past Sunderland And Go Clear At The Top”

Right. It’s boxing day, and we play Roy Keane’s boys. The Gaffer has mentioned making changes, but “one or two” at the most. Among those changes would be the return of Rio to the centre of defence and Hargreaves to midfield.

As you would see this is Boxing day, with tons of football going around, I wouldn’t leave your lot to waste time on this site — there is a pretty interesting game going on between Villa and Chelsea — so I’ll leave you with our squad composition and get back to watching that game.

First XI from: Kuszczak, Heaton, Brown, O’Shea, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Nani, Eagles, Carrick, Hargreaves, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Tevez, Rooney, Saha.

Back to the game then. Discuss and I will get back with a good, good post game report. Honest!

Update: Dang! Chelsea equalised. Oh well, looks a good game nonetheless.

That boy Ronaldo showed nerves of steel to send United up, and within a point of leaders Arsenal. For our most fortuitous of wins, we have to thank the Portuguese lad - and Steven Pienaar’s moment of indiscretion - as a resolute Everton team made a result look highly unlikely, till that point.

We dominated possession and had loads of chances, but it looked like one of those days, where even if one were to be presented with a mile wide goal one would miss. For all the possession, we never really looked like scoring.

Continue reading “Ronaldo to the Rescue… Again”

I had a good Saturday which was only tempered by that good-for-nothing Robbie Keane who couldn’t score a penalty past Almunia.

But today is a new day and one hopes we put several past the other Scouse team to make it a good Sunday.

In team news, we should expect Rio, Tevez and Brown to start; apparently they had some knocks soon after the Liverpool game. I suppose the partying (and subsequent bollocking from SAF) would have been enough to shake them up.

Not much else in team news, and I expect the same team of last week to start this time round. I am feeling a little lazy today. So I will link you all to several previews.

BBC’s Preview
Preview on Soccernet

My Prediction: 2-0 to United.

Alright then, I’m off now. See you after the game!

Well, well, well. We have lot’s to talk about, don’t we? So let’s get started on our daily waffle.

Continue reading “Reds’ New Signing | United Rich For Real? | Lyon Draw”