Oct 29
Man Utd v West Ham: Preview
I despise mid-week games. One, work schedules (and time difference on this side of the pond) make it difficult to catch the action on a work day. Two, it gives about three days from the weekend prior, to regroup and play. But a player pocketing about 90k a week shouldn’t complain these days and that’s how it should be.
Before talking about today’s game against West Ham, let’s talk briefly about the whole Heinze-Fergie science fiction story arc that’s grabbed column inches lately. These were Fergie’s comments:
“When we sold Gabriel Heinze to Real Madrid we knew it was going to happen, because Ronaldo was very close to Heinze. I knew what they were doing. I don’t believe they were interested in Heinze – good player though he is. The end-game was to get Ronaldo. What made it really obscene was that Madrid, as General Franco’s club, had a history of being able to get whoever and whatever they wanted, before democracy came to Spain.”
Now, whilst the manager may be right about the sense of entitlement that engulfs everything about Real Madrid, the club, it seems a bit far fetched to consider that Heinze was a pawn used as a bait to lure the star man, Ronaldo.
It was obvious we were looking to flog the Argentine to any club but Liverpool and Madrid came in for him. Considering Roberto Carlos wasn’t getting any younger, Heinze looked like an able deputy. It is possible that Fergie may have gotten carried away as well as fed up with the way Real Madrid have behaved and thought of adding some spice of his own in his assessment of the club. I really don’t buy his reasoning regarding Heinze, and I honestly think it is a load of bollocks — although a calculated one at that.
Back to the game, there has been talk of easing Carrick into the fold and it would be a sign of relief to see the midfielder make his come back from injury.
Today’s XI though should contain EVDS, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Neville, Giggs, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Nani. Rooney and Berbatov up front. I do, however, hope Fergie starts Tevez instead of either Rooney or Berba.
As I said, I don’t like midweek games and hence don’t enjoy writing previews either. So I predict a 2-1 and sign off for now.
See you after the game… cheerio!
Related items from Red Rants:
- West Ham v Man Utd: Live
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- West Ham United vs Manchester United: Match Preview
- Tevez Update: Is a Solution Finally In Sight?
- West Ham v Man Utd: Preview
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (542)
Stephen (492)
RedDevilEddy (462)
Craig Mc (349)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@Stephen: Rafael can’t get passed that last defender and get a decent cross into the box to save his feckin life though
. He is a fiery little tackler though 
.
Now, how did I know you GF had long nails
, cos they all do Bro.
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@Gabriel: Gabriel, Fergie’s bear baiting is not admirable though, and he deserves the flak he is getting back. If we dish it out, and Fergie did, we have to expect SOME back. The crack today by Calderon about Fergie losing it because he is getting OLD – rather genious I thought
. So back over to you Fergie for round three 
.
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@NicoQB: thanks Bro!,enjoyed that.Great to beat that Massive club at any level. Manucho looked busy
@Craig Mc: yeah Craig, apparently Tony Mowbray was at the reserve game against the bitters to check Manucho out, he’s looking to bolster the Baggies front line in Jan. £6 million was the sum mentioned! And the question is will Fergie take the money and run?
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@AndyCR7: And Arsenal will continue to be a joke as long as they have Aluminum in goal. Lets face it Almunia couldn’t make a big save if his life depended on it. He is for me the worst keeper in the Prem and I wouldn’t buy him if I owned a Coca Cola League team neither. The guy is just rubbish. Also, Arsenal need a holding midfielder. As long as they feel they don’t need one they will have what I call a very ordinary and very average defense. Wenger is a great manager but his stubbornness and inability to realize that money needs to be spent on some experience is letting him down. And yet, they are in the tick of things. Go figure!
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@Grognard: Gomes?
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@borakmanutd.com: use http://www.fbtz.com , register once with them, and they ve got the right links for all the games
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Well I am late for my reply or review of yesterdays game. Sorry guys but I on occasion even shock myself when I try to actually have a life.
I actually spent a good couple of hours recovering from the male orgasm I got from Mr. Berbatov’s sublime exhibition of class and style. That assist for Ronny’s second goal is exactly why he was bought and why he costs over 30 million. Sheer class and Cantonesque quality to the extreme. I keep replaying the moment on my dvd recorder because frankly, it’s better than sex. I never get tired of it because skill like that is what separates football from a lot of other sports. That kind of finesse, touch and vision is a gift from the Gods and right now United fans should be thanking their good fortune to none other than Daniel Levy for finally allowing the great Dimitar to ply his trade for us rather than Spurs. WOW!!!!
As for the game, great to see Ronaldo score a couple. I thought he played well and he really is starting to move better as well. What I like about his game this year is he will take his shots but he is more than willing to pass to teammates more than last year where he was a little more than selfish at times. With a little luck he could have had a few assists as well as two goals. Berba was unlucky not to have a goal or two and Carlito is just snake bitten. He can’t buy a goal for his life right now.
Rafael starting midweek is a smart move for Fergy as is giving EVDS a rest. He knows how to rotate players around a tight schedule and he does it like a master. Rafael gets another game under his belt against ordinary opposition and further prepares himself for the takeover of that position in a year or two. Red Nev and Brownie will just have to deal with that. He is the future at that position.
The game was a spectacle of domination in the first half. Two goals but clearly we dominated the ball the time of the possession and with some luck could have had four or five at half time. Then the second half came and United did once again what I am most critical of them for. They called off the dogs and coasted the rest of the way. I honestly wish this team would have the killer instinct to not just beat a team but to thoroughly destroy them. Too often the relax after a 2-0 lead and they just coast. When they do score 5 or 6 it often comes after they have played a poor first half and they have been read the riot act from Fergie at half time. But if they go into a half with a two goal lead it usually stays that way. I really would like for this team to smell blood. Their manager is class and does not like to humiliate opponents, but still, the teams above us need a message sent that we are hungry and intimidating. Beating West Ham 2-0 at home will hardly send messages of terror to Rafa Benitez or Big Phil. West Ham was ripe for a good ass kicking yesterday but we let them off the hook. I’m sorry but I just don’t get that. Why relax, why take the metal of the pedal????? Perhaps they were bit tired with a midweek game but then again, I am sure West Ham was too. At least we played a good game defensively. a clean sheet is always nice and sends messages to Arsenal that you can’t win the EPL by giving up 4 goals at home. Anyway, a win is a win and Ronny is back……I think. Great stuff and we will always have Berba’s assist to remember. Like I said earlier, better than sex.
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@Stephen: Gomes is a decent keeper who has had a bad year at Spurs. In fairness to him his defense in front of him is total shite where Almunia’s is not. Gomes also makes a lot of big saves. Almunia hasn’t made a save since 2005. I just hate him and think he is total crap.
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@Craig Mc: He’s just a kid Craig. Give him a bit of a chance to develop those skills more. Unlike Evra who can get by a fullback with help from his winger and who also couldn’t cross a ball if his life depended on it. Lets be fair to the boy.
By the way, I thought Nani looked pretty damned good in the first half yesterday. He did fall off like all the rest in the second half though. Still, very encouraging. He seems to be getting the message.
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@Grognard: Woodgate and King obviously when playing, are surely better than Gallas and Silvestre?
Gomes to me looks a clown, his decision making make PIG look good.
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oh, and the match report is up. in case anyone’s still interested.
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@Red Ranter: Sorry RR!
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@Stephen: Perhaps but he is still better than Almunia.
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@Grognard: We were very fortunate not to see the opposition get a couple of goals though Grog when we went off the boil and fizzled out at half time. Like I mentioned before, the hammer players had two outstanding one on one opportunities in the 2nd half, and had they had strikers they would have scored. Besides which, we need to remember how close it was last season to having the PL settled on GOAL difference. Chelski and L’fool are fairly well ahead of us in that department at the moment. So we need to give teams like Hammers a hammering and rain in the goals like you said Grog.
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