Aug 11
United Take First ‘Trophy’ of Season
It was a penalty shootout again, like last season’s community shield. But at least last season saw two goals in open play. This was a 0-0 draw where United dominated possession throughout the game only to find it extremely hard to put the ball into the net.
It’s emblematic of United’s troubles, if any. They do seem a striker short. Their strikers spend more time outside the box than inside. But it could be argued that with a defence like that of Portsmouth a Rooney-Tevez combination could have finished the game in normal time.
The general team play however, was good. Despite a patched up midfield consisting of Scholes, O’Shea and Fletcher they ran over the physically imposing Pompey midfield. The passing was crisp and the build up play very good. All in all a very good day’s work out and it should hold the team in good stead ahead of Newcastle next week.
The defence was imperious, as usual, and Gary Neville, whilst not the overlapping right back we’ve grown used to, showed he meant business by putting in a few crunching tackles — which was a good sight.
But separate space needs to be reserved for our star performer of the day. Carlos Tevez showed what a good summer’s rest can do for a player. And he’s been impressive in pre-season, running and beating a couple of players, and yesterday was no different. He, like most United players yesterday, played like he really cared about the occasion and when he was robbed of a cast-iron penalty, he lashed out at Herman Hreidarsson (I think I butchered his name, but fuck him!) The summer would have done a world of good for Rooney and Tevez and I mentioned this a few days before that Tevez will be the man to fear for opposition defences this season. If he get’s a good target man in front of him we will get the best out of him. But it will be a tough ask for Fergie to make the call on whom to pick if we do get the striker we’ve been talking about all summer.
Speaking of strikers, Fergie’s talking about ‘looking elsewhere’ when asked about Berbatov. Maybe he is, maybe he’s just bluffing his way into asking Spurs to agree on a reasonable fee. Maybe they’ve just inquired about Henry’s availability instead of actually having put in a bid. (Oh my God! I hope we don’t get him.) Henry can’t head, so I don’t get why we might be interested in him. Names like Huntelaar keep popping up, but I am not really sure to be honest.
In any which way, the player would have to slot in straight away as time is short.
It’s exciting either way, as the season’s not too far away now. I hope you’ve got yourselves registered for the fantasy football league. If not click here.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Who the f*** are Man United?
- Manchester United Title Winning Celebrations: Quotes and Videos
- Manchester City vs Manchester United: Match Preview
- Today’s Roundup: Good News from the Boss
- The Academy: Youth Cup Adventure 2012
Tags: Match Reports
Opti (542)
Stephen (500)
RedDevilEddy (463)
Craig Mc (349)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
I tried to follow the Grognard/ Red Ranter dialogue, but became too frustrated by the fact that the content was completely unrelated to the subject of the initial post, and in opposition to the spirit of this cite. The rants are about football. All members of this cite should feel a basic comaradaree based on he fact that we have varying levels of respect for the world’s greatest club.
I also think that this favorite club vs. religion argument is off the mark. This club is completely globalized, and as an inevitable consequence has people of varying levels of attatchment to it. But I think any resentment toward people who don’t wake up, kiss the badge, and pray to lord Alex is stupid. If you can’t wake up one day and be a united supporter, thn its impossible for the club to sustain a fanbase. aLL fans start somewhere. (personally, I’m south African, so for me, its either Pool or United: obvious choice really)
I think what Grognard said, and things of the sort, are from a place of anger that others shouldn’t be allowed to claim to support a club that you support more ardently.
I think everyone here thinks they are the nuber one manchester utd supporter. And inside, we all have a little resentment toward others who claim the same.
But at the end of the day, this sport is supposed to be a game, whose spectators enjoy the spectacle of watching it played on such a grand stage. It is supposed to bring people together, not factionalise them into rival supporters, or stratas of supporters within the club (with supposedly grater levels of loyalty). And looking at it from a positive light, conflict between clubs should be of less concern than the club’s success, which means if one of the best players to grace the Englsh stage (yes, Henry) where to join utd, than I’m all for benefitting from his talent. He should’ve won the ballon d’or insted of cannavaro. Wat a f*cked decision.
Thats my say. A little verbose but reading the above posts is really quite unsetteling. Hopefully this can add a glimmer of positivity.
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Oh, and I’ll bet my left nut Henry won’t come.
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@Craig Mc: It’s not England that changed him, it’s Chelsea that’s poisoned him. Still, he is great for Germany but as a Chelsea player he is difficult for me to tolerate. Yes my German leanings are definitely challenged while he’s with those wankers. Until then Riquleme is more in my heart than Ballack is. At least he doesn’t play for someone I despise.
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language timothy. Ballack is improving all the time now he understands the english game. Not a chelsea fan but they will win the prem this year !
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