Jan 30
Man Utd v Portsmouth: Preview
Today’s midweek game features Portsmouth, a team we lost 2-1 drew 1-1 in our last encounter this season. It was also a game that saw the dismissal of Ronaldo to a head butt. Those were early days in the season when we got off to a rocky start. Things have changed drastically since then.
Portsmouth, who had an excellent start to the season now sit in ninth place. They have lost the likes of Kanu, Muntari, Utaka, Bouba Diop to the African Cup of Nations — which is akin to ripping the heart of the team. Portsmouth’s African contingent have been their star performers and their loss has been fairly telling. Only Benjani remains.
All this should come as good news to us. It’s a home fixture against a weakened Pompey side. One couldn’t have asked for a better time to be facing them.
The team composition will be interesting for the first time — especially in central midfield. Scholes’ return leaves Fergie with a happy headache. I would imagine Fergie going with Scholes and Hargreaves, but with it being a home game he could also play both Anderson and Scholes. Oh well, your guess is as good as mine.
Vidic is unlikely to play as he continues to recover from the virus. Rio and Brown in the centre were unconvincing against Spurs, as a pair. Let’s hope they do better today. Ronaldo and Giggs could play in the wings, although one would want to ask the question as to when Ronaldo would really get a rest. The lad’s been playing virtually every single game for us, in recent times, while being kicked all over the park.
Michael Carrick has spoken about meeting our short term goals of securing maximum points this week; one against Pompey and another against Spurs in the weekend. He talks a lot to the press, doesn’t he?
And O’Shea has also been talking. With him it has been about the fact that we can pick maximum points from now on. (I know, it sounds boring, but read it if you want to.)
Prediction: 2-0 to United
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
- Rooney Out For A Month
- Porto it is then…
Tags: Manchester United News
Craig Mc (195)
RedDevilEddy (170)
Opti (135)
Moscow is my heaven (96)
Ian (95)
40 for him this season. Small problem!
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Can someone please post the video link of Ronnie’s free-kick? You Tube is blocked at my place, please post link from a low-key site. Thanks in advance.
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check my blog!
You can see both of his goals! Enjoy:-
http://www.goalcentre.com/manchester-united-vs-portsmouth-highlights/
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IMO, the problem with Rooney is, as soon as he gets some sort of rythm of scoring, he gets himself injured. (he always seem to take a while to get back into scoring after a lay-off).
Other than that, I am amazed at his abilities. He is a real natural and I wouldn’t trade him for any other striker on this planet even if he doesn’t score for the entire season. He’ll make others score. He is just that good. (I’m pretty sure the Ronaldo free-kick was his idea). I feel that, where Ronaldo is skillful, Rooney has the vision (perhaps even better than Scholes). That also explains how he and Tevez can link up so well, without speaking the same language. They both seem to share some sort of natural understanding of the game.
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it was a really boring match tbh, none of our players played particularly, bad but some players could of played better.
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I almost went ballistic when Anderson’s ball almost creeped in. I was breathless for a couple of minutes afterwards. Damn. I’m sure he’ll score soon. When that happens, I’m going to have myself a ‘samba party’.
Mr.Muhozi, at the time, I read everything you had to say about Anderson. You could not have been more right. He is a brilliant lad. I’ve gone so far as to order myself, my son, and my wife Anderson shirts. He is going to be amazing!
Do you guys know..have we had any other Brazilians before Kleberson and Anderson? I can’t recall.
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the best in the world. simply the best. thats what can be said of ronaldo. unbelievable free kick.
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On Ronaldo’s performance, Redknapp added: “[Ronaldo was] unplayable. The free-kick was unreal.”
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Dan: I’m not sure what you want to see from a match. We may not have run up a cricket score but the passing and movement in the first half was of the absolute highest quality, a real pleasure to watch. The backline were exemplary, Carrick and Scholes superb in the engine room and the attackers were a constant menace.
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yeah i was off my seat as anderson’s ball rolled past the post! arg! but signs are showing that he’s gna get his goal soon. i hope!
the whole team played excellent today, everyone had their fair share of work. thought evra could have provided rooney with a goal in the first half but he chose to blaze the ball into the stands.
hope this game will help lads like nani and jisung build confidence. nani is improving no doubt about that, just needs to use his pace to make runs down the flanks and send crosses into the area or cut inside and have a shot. jisung’s terrific work rate makes up for his lack of technical ability. has to really work on his first touch, as he’s getting into really good positions but his touch is just letting him down.
overall, breathtaking performance from the lads! (esp anderson HEH!)
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sorry jb, but in my opinion it was a match i didnt really enjoy that much.
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