Welcome to the 14th Can They Score Manchester United Podcast.
If you’re listening on a Mobile Device, use this link – Episode 14
This week’s first episode features Steven, Adam and I as we discuss United’s 1 – 1 draw at Anfield, look ahead to tomorrow’s CL match and, as always, answer a few listener’s questions.
Four defeats on the spin, and beaten by two of our closest rivals along the way might suggest it’s time for the Academy to panic, but hold on, not so fast. There were many positives on Friday and the 2-1 defeat away to Liverpool in no way tells the whole story of this competitive, exciting Academy match that could’ve gone either way.
Put bluntly the game was decided by an error from United’s young Australian keeper Liam Jacob but there’s so much more to it than that.
Well it wasn’t a classic that’s for sure. These days it has become apparent to me that waking up at 4:30 Pacific Standard Time to watch my beloved Manchester United is the action of stupid man not interested in his health and sleeping pattern. Frankly, the past few years has taught me to expect a Ferguson game plan and squad selection that would leave me cold and disappointed.
Welcome to the 13th Can They Score Manchester United Podcast.
If you’re listening on a Mobile Device, use this link – Episode 13
This week’s episodes features Tom, Christopher and I as we discuss recent 1st team news, preview our match against Liverpool and answer your questions. Also, this week’s podcast features an interview with Aidan, from the England Football Club, as we talk about United’s young English talent in the Academy.
Ever since the Premier League was started back in 1992 Manchester United have gone from strength to strength. 12 League titles, most wins, most goals scored, and thanks to a bullet header from a certain Cristiano Ronaldo against Middlesbrough, United were also the team to reach 1000 goals first. The Premier League has been United’s league, and with Arsenal and Chelsea both having 9 less titles than us we can rightfully claim it to be our trophy. It is very hard to create a Top 10 list of our best Premiership goals the last 19 years, but here is the choice based on quality, magnitude, and being the type of goal only a Manchester United player could score.
The less said about today’s result the better. I’m not suggesting we should be dismayed or in any way embarrassed – far from it, Wolves looked a competent side with some talented lads. What I mean is, the 5-2 scoreline masks what was actually a closely contested game played at a high tempo and in the right spirit. Unfortunately for United they were missing key players and their defence continues to make individual mistakes and then struggle to rectify them as a unit.
Today was one of those rare days at Old Trafford where I would have liked to be in the dressing room at halftime to watch for the hairdryer. After all, for 45 minutes Fergie had sat on his hands through what has to be one of the dullest and most uninspiring home performances in recent memory. The lads hardly created a chance and showed even less passion and hunger for the opening half and so Fergie would have had a legitimate right to go off on them at halftime.
The image is burnt into your memory. Lionel Messi kicking a microphone after scoring against Van Der Sar, David Villa curling into the top corner, and watching Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez sit on the pitch in utter despair while Abidal lifts the giant trophy. Yes, the Champions League final may just have been 4 months ago, but it does feel a really long time ago.
There are times as a Manchester United supporter when trying to understand what makes a team succeed or fail can be a challenge. The match at today at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke was indeed a match that challenged my thinking as it forced me to ask many questions but also find trouble answering as many.
It’s always part of the script when you visit Brockhall Village so be prepared for a battle. Blackburn gave exactly that yesterday and came away with points after giving United’s considerably smaller lads a roughing up early on in the game and stamping their authority with two well taken, but somewhat gifted finishes in the opening 21 minutes. Despite the loss United will take positives from their performance in tricky conditions and against stiff opposition.