A hard fought (literally at times) victory against a team playing for penalties that lost to another Ronaldo penalty.
Let’s deal with the penalty first as it is the main talking point again thanks to the baby-like antics of Middlesbrough. It was a penalty. Woodgate slid in on Ronaldo as the winger used his pace and skill to head towards goal. Even though Woodgate pulled his leg back, he still caught Ronaldo and brought him down.
Boro were clearly incensed by the perceived injustice and lost it completely, having Morrison sent off for a clear attempt to injure a show-boating Ronaldo. The mellee that ensued nearly got Rooney sent off as he had already been booked and got involved needlessly. Rooney still needs to let his football do the talking like Ronaldo does.
Middlesbrough were limited to mainly long range shots and didn’t trouble United too much. But apart from a period at the start of the second half, United didn’t look like scoring either. They were not able find a way through the 8 man defence. Thankfully, it is the last game that Scholes will miss, as he would have provided extra craft to find a way through. His replacement this time was Richardson who was completely ineffective. I was wrong and Giggs, Ronaldo and Rooney all started. Fergie has obviously heard that the New Wembley is a nice place to visit.
A record equalling semi-final then at Villa Park. United go onto to play relegation bound Watford, who will be without their best player, as goalkeeper Foster is on loan from us, and cannot play.
Popularity: 7% [?]
I expect United will rest some of the key players for this game. I doubt many from Rooney, Ronaldo or Giggs will start, and Scholes misses out through suspension. Bottom of the list of priorities for fans and manager alike, it wouldn’t surprise me if United were too flat for the game and go out.
Then again, Middlesbrough did lose to City at the weekend and are quite unpredictable in whether they bother to play.
Popularity: 7% [?]
It’s the sort of performance that makes you start to think “We might just win it this year”. Like many fans, I’m a bit superstitious. If I even catch myself thinking that we’ll win the league this season, that will be enough to ensure that Rooney and Ronaldo will accidentally crash into each other and break each others legs. Then, Chelsea will win one game 15-0 and United will crumble back into 2nd place again. All because I dared to believe we might actually do it.
All that aside, United simply blasted Bolton aside with some devastating attacking movements. Ronaldo is simply world class and unless a world class defender is against him, he will create chance after chance. This time the main beneficiaries were Park and Rooney, both getting a couple of goals.
United brought Park in to replace Saha/Larsson but it was Giggs who was nominally the furthest forward attacking midfielder. You wouldn’t have known as all United’s forward players were very fluid and the Bolton defenders could keep track of them. United’s first three goals were all down to Ronaldo; an excellent run to the byline to play in Park from 8 yards, a brilliant run and passing combination with Rooney (starting at the end of United’s penalty area) and a shot that the Bolton keeper should have saved, but instead spooned out to Park.
United’s final goal was set up by Alan Smith, on as a sub for Ronaldo. It was a good pass and a great finish from Rooney, who had the pace and power to move around the ball so he could blast-slice the ball into the corner of the goal.
The only downside was the injury to Neville. It looked really bad, the sort of ankle ligament injury that keeps you out for far longer than you think. England will definately be without him, but for how long will United. Luckily, it is a position where we do have good backup, Wes Brown filling in competently.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Man Utd v Bolton (1245 GMT)
United go into this game with a League lead reduced back to 6 points following Chelsea’s win over City in midweek. Our form has been patchy recently and we are down to one striker. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story as we’ve been winning consistenly in the league, and our best player and goal-scorer, Christiano Ronaldo, is on top form. You could play Alan Brazil and Peter Davenport up front and win with Ronaldo playing like he is.
Prediction: 2-0
Popularity: 8% [?]
United came from behind with another Ronaldo penalty to draw this game.
I felt that United did enough in the first half to control the game, but did not turn some excellent passing moves into clear cut chances. Only one created a real chance and that was the goal, Rooney taking excellently. However, defences lapses and a goalkeeper mix up let Middlesbrough back into the game.
In the second half, it was more even, and United did not click as they did at times in the first half. It was clear they missed Scholes. In the end, it was a 50/50 decision for the penalty where the defender did raise his arms, but was able 2 yards from the ball and it was going straight for his face. I’ve seen them not given.
The main plus from the game is the replay means that Scholes will miss one less league match from his three game suspension.
Popularity: 6% [?]