Oct 25
Everton v Man Utd: Preview
Early kick off it is today, which means an early morning game for me. But more interesting things have happened over the past few days in the lead up to this game — well considering there hasn’t been any updates on this site lately, there has been enough happening that deserved a mention.
So let’s touch a bit on some of the more prominent stories before we dive in to the preview.
Ramon Calderon, known fondly in Manchester as Mr. Prick Two-Face, spoke to 5-Live on Madrid ending their interest in Ronaldo:
“Manchester didn’t want to sell over the last three or four months but we don’t want to get into trouble with them as they are one of the biggest clubs in the world”
I have a lot to say about my opinions on Ronaldo at the moment but I think I’ll devote a separate piece for it, to be posted sometime this week. But I can say what I think of Ramon Calderon and Real Madrid right now — they are a bag of dog-shite mixed with crow piss, and, like any mixture of dog shite and crow piss, the stench would only get worse with time, as it decomposes into something monstrously worse. My point is, they’ll keep coming at you — so I wouldn’t read anything into his comments to BBC. Fuck him and his cohorts, would be a pithy way to put it.
In non-United related news, I would advise people against watching Saw V because I haven’t seen a more predictable pile of crap masquerading as a thriller — not to mention it being hyped beyond reason about its ending — than this one. But then again, what was I expecting anyway ; since Saw, the series has only seen a downward spiral.
Anyway, I don’t know why I was talking about Saw V in a United blog. So don’t ask me.
Fergie also took some time to debunk rumours about Hargreaves that, to me, has reached ridiculous levels. True, Hargreaves hasn’t done much since his protracted arrival — although we have seen glimpses of how good he could be if he had a decent run in the side. But selling a player bought for close to 20 million quid when he has clear ability only a season into his time at the club, reeks of silliness. I can’t say more.
Carlos Tevez — I feel for the guy — has been optimistic as the official site gives us teasers to his interview to MUTV — where he says he’s happy to fight for his place. I think Fergie has been unfair in the way he’s handled Tevez this season. To me he was clearly the best player in pre-season, looking the most lively of a then disjointed team. With a well rested summer he looked hungry. Given a longer run he will be more important to us, however, the blossoming partnership between Rooney and Berbatov is looking exceedingly juicy for Fergie to even consider Tevez’s name on the starting XI. Today, with a tricky trip to Goodison Park awaiting, and with Rooney’s desire to notch goal number 100, it looks like another day will pass with Tevez warming the bench.
What disappoints me — the disappointment is more surprise and wonderment than anything — is the willingness shown by some sections of fans in not shedding a tear if Tevez was to be moved on. And more often than not, a big chunk of those were screaming themselves hoarse asking Ronaldo to show loyalty to the club. Personally, I consider loyalty to be a two way street, and if the player has quality and desire to stay at the club, I see very little reason for people to be eager to move him on. Tevez isn’t short on desire, and he wants to stay. A no brainer for me, if the price is not insanely high in times of the credit crunch.
Onto the small matter of a game today, Everton have been generally shite this season although there is a good chance of them fighting tooth and nail against us. Honestly, if we shake off some of our off-day lethargy moments, and give a fuck about the game for more than an hour we should be able to do the business. Of course, the weekend also gives us the added incentive of moving closer to one (if not both) of the top two teams, as the Red sack of shite from Merseyside play the Blue sack of shite from London in a mammoth game of shit-flinging proportions — which is what the folks at Sky would let you believe with them using a pleasant word instead of ‘shit.’
In team news, Rooney and Berbatov will start, with Tevez spending another game on the bench. Ronaldo will continue to ask Fergie to play him — fit or not, which concerns me slightly if a player can talk a manager into picking him. Nani should hope for a run in the side considering his good performance in midweek, O’Shea would get another run in left back with Rio, Vidic and Neville for company. (Heaven help Brown.) Fletcher and Giggs would play in the middle, it would appear.
Prediction: 2-0 to United.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
- Rooney Out For A Month
- Porto it is then…
Tags: Manchester United News
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Once again Berbatov shows us his fine work ethic and anyone who said he was strong – when he was touched he fell to the ground like a little girl or worse – Nelson Dida
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At around half 11 the Ramos sacking was confirmed, under an hour later Redknapp#s confirmed as the Spurs manager.
And Levy seriously thought about calling us up on tapping up!
Good move for spurs, it had to be done with the way things were going.
Good move for ‘Arry too, he’ll be able to take Spurs on to higher levels than he’s been to before.
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Even better, Spurs fired Gus Poyet. We should snap him up as our number 2. He knows what he is doing, we know SAF looked at him but Spurs wanted a massive settlement and now he is free. Today sure as hell showed we need a European in and about the tactics room, and he can speak a language or three, If we haven’t signed him up by the time papers go to press tomorrow night I’d be amazed…
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http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=931938
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http://penguinunited.blogspot.com/
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@Rd: I just got back late and still haven’t watched the game so it will have to wait until late tomorrow when I am finished with this work I am doing. Hope you are looking forward to the gloom and doom from the Prince of F$@%ing Darkness as a poor tie with Everton I’m sure is going to bring on his wrath. GGGGRRRRRRRR!!!!
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Although I have been a little quiet the last few days this site has gone funeralistic (new word). Where is everybody? JEEZ Wake the fuck up!
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@Traverse: I thought Poyet was South American?
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@Grognard: I think part of the blame should go to me to be honest. The lack of regular posts may have put off some of the regulars.
With my work commitments, RR has regressed this season — second season syndrome perhaps?
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Alright I was going to wait until tomorrow to comment on the game but I just can’t wait. I’ll make my observations in point form for effect.
1. Julian Lescott is an ugly mofo and his forehead reminds me of the Sven Goram Erickson puppet on I’m on Setanta Sports. What a melon head.
2. Rather than get angry at Everton for some of their roughhouse tactics in the second half I commend them on showing a lot of heart even though they have very little skill. Moyes is a good motivator but I still feel his tactics were amateur hour and United just blew too many good opportunities in both halves to win the game by two or three goals. Everton had two real opportunities all game and they scored one goal. I counted eight good opportunities for United. They need to be sharper than that.
3. Ronaldo’s lack of finish and first touch has really got me mystified. He should be over the injury rust and conditioning period. He had his moments and he also had some bad luck but he just isn’t comfortable out there. And please, until he can prove to me that he can get the fucking ball over a wall, please have someone else take the free kicks. Stop complaining about the wall and get your head in the game Ronnie. He seems far to occupied with the moments he is unfairly fouled and no call is given. And Phil Neville’s foul on him was not as bad as he made it out to be. Sure it was worth a yellow but Ronaldo rolling around was just a joke and the main reason referees don’t like calling fouls for him. His finishing at times is atrocious or he just seems like a step behind his usual pace and self. Two chances in the last ten minutes that last years Ronaldo would have blasted home. Like I said, I am mystified.
4. I think Fletcher really did a great imitation of a young Paul Scholes in the game. Tidy with his passes and a good instincts on when to go forward. His goal was sublime and an obvious reason why he should be starting. Keep it up Fletch.
5. Ryan Giggs also looked very good today and he made some nice passes and very nifty moves. Unfortunately nothing came from his efforts but the quality and style was there and I think he looked great.
6. Today we saw the Anderson everybody loved so much last year. Desire and more confidence on the ball. His ball to Ronaldo in the 83rd minute should have been a goal and it was truly fantastic. His body control and strength on and off the ball were excellent and he really showed me something considering I have never been one of his loudest advocates. Way to go Andy!!!!
7. Rooney had an off game and players need to wake up to Berbatov’s genius when it comes to passes. Too many times they just didn’t get what he was thinking and that’s too bad because his ideas are true genius. Rooney had a couple of great chances but was unlucky. His yellow card was 50/50 ball where both guys had their cleats up so I am still trying to understand why he was the only one carded?
8. The Rooney yellow and the Neville yellow are just examples of how the referee let the game get out of hand for not calling stuff earlier. Oh and kudos to Vidic and Giggsy for shaking old Louis Saha’s world a bit. Amazing thing is he got up each time and continued. If he was wearing the red of Man Utd that would have been four months in the infirmary flirting with the nurses and crying about his lot in life. The guy is spineless and his game showed it. If I was Saha I would have been so sky high for this game that it would have taken minor miracle to keep him off the scoresheet. As it was, he was invisible until of course he was fouled. The guy is absolutely useless and has no heart whatsoever. Just rubbish.
9. So when is Carlos Tevez ever going to come on and actually score a goal or get close enough to the goal to score a goal? I am tired of the rambling gringo running around with no real point to his game. Get centered and start heading for goal. He just seems like a guy who isn’t sure what his role is. It’s easy Carlos. next to your name in the program it says ST or F. That means striker or forward. They are generally know n for being the guys who try to score goals, not run around midfield like the Tazmanian Devil accomplishing shite. Honestly sometimes that stuff is entertaining and even productive, but here’s the thing mate, SCORE SOME FUCKING GOALS ALREADY!!!!
Sorry about the caps RR.
10. And finally, why the Hell does a class team like United not devour all it’s opponents like they do on FIFA 09? Damn it, why can’t life reflect the reality of my expert use of the side in FIFA 09? Why can’t they kick ass and take names and never let up on teams. OK so I’m joking around a little but bare with me. My FIFA 09 comparison has a point. In a video game the I never and I say never let uop on a team after I have scored a goal. I am a greedy mofo and I love goals so I go for the jugular. United had Everton where they wanted them after the first goal but they let them off the hook. Sure they created some chances but seriously, Everton tactical setup was perfectly suited to United’s game and they should have laid an ass kicking after the first goal. But like many other games they play, they love to let teams off the hook. Sure they score a fair amount of goals but our class and skill is so superior to Everton’s that scoring less than 3 goals against them when they have the ball so much and control of the midfield is inexcusable. Sometimes they lack killer instinct and that little extra bit of quality at the every end. And also, what the Hell was Rio smoking today? Christ he was awful. We know he is good for a couple howlers in a season. Fortunately today his howlers did not count against us.
So we end up with a draw in a game we should have won easily. I’m guessing this won’t be fatal because I am predicting either 0-0 or 1-1 between the Scousers and Chelski tomorrow. Both teams will bottle it and play for a boring draw because they are both formed from the finest shit money can buy. Yes the Grognard was extra cranky today. Still, hope you had a bit of a laugh with my review of this game. The game that got away.
Cheers!
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@Red Ranter: I fully understand mate and don’t concern yourself too much. Work is work and you need to concentrate on it. I’ll try to keep everybody interested and stirred up. Hope you enjoyed my latest entry. It’s totally Grognified.
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Grog, with all due respect man, you can’t compare Fifa 09, GTA
or any other computer game with the real thing. We’re talking about real people here. We all saw what happened when the best defender in the world had a 5 minute break yesterday. These things don’t happen in a computer. And no one kisses his badge with pride in front of his childhood friends, who happen to support the opposition. I absolutely adore Rooney! 
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@james f: It was a sarcastic joke and an observation on the way I wish things could be.. I’m not a fucking idiot for crying out loud. I just made the point that it’s too bad real life can’t imitate art. To actually literally take my meaning as a serious comparison absolutely astonishes me. Of course you can’t compare FIFA 09 to the real thing. Duh!!!!!
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@Grognard: But you said that “My FIFA 09 comparison has a point”.
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@james f: Yes but you missed the point mate. My point was humorously frustrating. It was that my team never settles down and stops attacking with killer instinct in a video game because I won’t let it happen. It’s too bad that in real life Fergie can’t seem to motivate the players to have more killer instinct and to not relax and settle for a 1-0 lead. Had they gone for the jugular the game would have been over at half time.
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