Apr 12 2008
It is not in my nature to necessarily pick on people’s misery, especially if it comes from a person known for his serial whingeries (I take the liberty of ‘inventing’ such a word). But sometimes they take whining to an entirely new level that it becomes hard to ignore.
On the eve of United’s clash with Arsenal, Arsene Wenger let’s fly his agony missiles.
Apr 10 2008
It feels nice to be in the semi-finals for the second year running. We have a mouthwatering semi-final draw against Barcelona. For a change, I don’t feel the least intimidated about the Catalan outfit. Had we played them a couple of years ago, I’d have been quaking in my boots. But today’s Barca are unfortunately a poor imitation of their once all-conquering self. But one must also exercise some caution here. We must remember the Milan game of last year.
Milan were poor in Serie A last season but managed to win the Champions’ League. In recent times it’s been a trend where a team that has been dire in the domestic league has managed to turn it around in the Champions’ League. Barcelona are well behind Real Madrid in La Liga, and come April 23rd, they may be entirely ruled out of their title chances. So they may choose to rest players ahead of playing us.
However, to be honest, if Messi does not make it at Camp Nou, I don’t see how we could be threatened that much.
Apr 09 2008
Welcome back. Yesterday, Liverpool beat Arsenal 4-2. Yes, the ‘dippers actually scored four goals. How they manage to turn it in Europe is beyond me. I didn’t get to see the game but from reports, they were helped by a dodgy looking penalty decision. I really can’t feel too happy nor too sad about the result. I heard that Wenger looked like he was going to kill himself by digging his head into the turf. Meanwhile Chelsea completed a robotic win against a Fenerbahce side that showed little ambition going forward.
So there you have the first semifinal decided: 90 minutes, and perhaps a little more, of shit slinging orgy. But all that’s an aeon and a half away. So let’s get to today’s game against Roma.
Apr 07 2008
I had a small sneaky feeling, somewhere deep in the crevices of my mind that Alfonso Alves will score, after having come so close against Chelsea. After all he hadn’t been prolific for nothing. Little did I realise that he will make a more than significant contribution to the course of our season from now on, with finishes as cool as an iceberg; one may wonder if we had one more finisher as cool as that — apart from Ronaldo — we may have yet taken full points from this game.
Continue reading “Boro 2-2 Man Utd: Alves Breaks United Momentum”
Apr 06 2008
Arsenal were dealt another major blow yesterday by Liverpool, of all teams. Man City, on the other hand, showed little intention to do us any favours by rolling over for Chelsea — like they did last time while getting spanked 6-1. So Chelsea creep up with a two point gap. Therefore we must win this game to keep the pressure up going into the crunch fixtures, which include Arsenal at home and Chelsea away. Blackburn away could also prove to be tricky and West Ham can prove to be a potential banana skin.
But that is all looking too far ahead. Fact is, we can make things very easy for us if we beat inferior opposition, i.e., those outside the supposed big four.
Apr 04 2008
Okay, apart from today’s earlier piece, here’s your daily fix as well.
1. Times Online thinks it is Hargreaves’ tardiness that’s cost him playing time. Now I am not certain of passing judgment here because I don’t see a single source quoted in the article (”one source said”, doesn’t cut it for me). It’s all up in the air and speculative. But I find it hard to understand how, someone who was desperate to play for United would be so tardy. Not to mention, someone who had his football education at the altar of punctuality and efficiency that is Germany. Last I checked, tardiness is the worst thing you can do to piss off a German. And I find it hard to believe Hargo would be guilty of that.
2. Messi expects to be fit for United. Hopefully, Schalke come from behind to knock them out. A Barcelona with a fit Messi is a much different proposition.
3. Fergie confident of tying up Rio, and soon.
4. Wenger tries to do what Fergie did to him in December — saying United will drop points. I am sure we will, but the question is how much, and hopefully Arsenal and Chelsea too will. Hopefully they manage another draw against ‘Pool in the weekend. Unfortunately, Benitez could scupper that by rotating his side keeping the second leg CL tie in mind.
5. Ronaldhinho out of United tie. Hmm, now that’s interesting. Not that he’s particularly setting the stage on fire at the moment.
More links when I find them.
Apr 04 2008
We are playing Middlesbrough on Sunday, so we’ll get to talking about them, possibly from tomorrow. We have also discussed Vidic’s injury in the comments yesterday — always trust iron-man Vidic’s superhuman powers of recovery. He’s a tough lad and hopefully he should return in a little over three weeks, to put it more conservatively.
Apart from my usual daily updates — well, I try to make it daily — I do notice that I have written very few pure opinion pieces recently. So I thought I’d make up for that by talking about one facet of United’s play this season that could eventually prove to be decisive.
Apr 02 2008
It’s the day after beating Roma, and boy doesn’t it feel nice. Today will see another pair of Champions’ League games with three other English teams on duty; Liverpool take on Arsenal and Chelsea play Fenerbahce.
The reaction from the media has been positive, although some have gone overboard in their praise. Paul Doyle in particular declares that Fergie has finally found the answer to winning European games away. Now I find such effusive over-the-top praise as a little unnecessary. Fergie got things right yesterday, the team played well. End of. But that does not necessarily mean that he’s found a cure for everything in the world. If unfair criticism can infuriate, over the top praise is on the other extreme end of the spectrum — and is no less annoying.
Trust the Guardian bloggers to barrack Fergie the next time he manages a tame away draw in Europe — these people excel in Orwellian doublespeak.
Continue reading “Featured Video: Manchester United Reserves v Newcastle and Citeh”
Apr 01 2008
So there we go, in yet another edition of a Roma-United clash; the word ‘clash’, we’d hope is not literal, and something our fans don’t face today.
But before diving into the excitement, let’s get a little United related news out of the way first. It’ll be quick, I assure you.
Mar 31 2008
We still have a day to go before the Champions’ League tie against Roma. News is filtering through that Totti may be doubtful for the clash, which is good to hear. However, we do have some injury concerns of our own, although there is a good chance that most of the injury-afflicted players would be back for Tuesday. We should be able to have some idea as the day wears on. But more on Roma tomorrow, when we preview the game.
Meanwhile, we will talk a little about some other United stories.
Continue reading “A Tale of Full Backs and Some Idle Speculation”
