Archive for November, 2007

Review: Manchester United 2 Sporting 1

Published by
Paul
at November 28, 2007 in Champions League, Manchester United and Reviews. 2 Comments

Manchester United 2 (Tevez 61, Ronaldo 90+2) Sporting 1 (Abel 22)

Christiano Ronaldo scored a late freekick to win the game for United and give them 5 wins out of 5 and win their group in the Champions League.

However at half time with Sporting leading 1-0 it looked anything like another comfortable home night in Europe. Sporting had dominated United’s midfield and Saha, up front on his own, had done very little to suggest United don’t need to spend in the January transfer window. The fact that Sporting’s goal was something of a fluke (a cross that swerved into the net but should have been saved) was offset by Sporting’s claim that a 2nd goal was wrongly disallowed for offside.

Fergie wasted little time in making changes, removing the ineffective Fletcher and Nani with Tevez and Giggs. United looked a much better team. Those fans who think Ryan’s time is up should watch this 2nd half performance closely. One moment stood out. Giggs played a clever ball in field to Evra but it was intercepted. Rather than hold his head in his hands, or look annoyed, he simply worked back and won the ball back. Then he showed some incredible skill to beat two players and setup another attack. Fantastic.

United’s equaliser was more fortuitous than Sporting’s goal. After good work in the box from Saha, Ronaldo had a shot that was going wide before it hit the back of Had’s legs and (possibly) coming off Tevez’s legs and into the net. The replays didn’t show conclusive proof of who got the last touch, but I’ll let the Argentine have the goal.

Without Fletcher getting in their way, Anderson and Carrick were having a better game, but Louis Saha’s poor form continued and he was replaced by Owen Hargreaves. Hargreaves nearly scored with his first touch but the keeper was having a good game.

United’s winner came in injury time when we were awarded a rather soft freekick. Ronaldo stepped up and it was one of those that went towards the goal. There was so much swerve on it, that even on the third replay I thought it was going to go towards the other corner. When he gets them right, Ronaldo’s freekicks are special.

Special mentions to two of the defenders. Nemanja Vidic for taking a full blown body charge without blinking, just getting up and running back into position. I swear the guy is not human. And Patrice Evra for having another great game. Strong tackling and fast in attack. A perfect modern fullback. Do you even think about that Argentine bloke that we used to have? However, I can do without the dive that got him booked.

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Sporting Preview: Champions league Group: Match Day 5

Published by
Paul
at November 26, 2007 in Champions League, Manchester United and Previews. 0 Comments

Resting Ronaldo so he could face his former club seems a very silly way to drop 3 vital league points, but this is what it looks like Fergie has done.

Whilst the official line was that Ronaldo had a thigh strain, it is odd that he is now fit enough to face Sporting. Without Rooney, Ronaldo is a must play as Tevez doesn’t appear to be a match winner yet (given his form at West Ham I’m hoping for a January blitz) and Louis Saha is desparately short of form and fitness.

Ferguson took a gamble on not playing him, and it failed. Shame we didn’t play them when Sammy Lee was still in charge, but then that was why he was sacked. Looks like the international break has done us no favours this time. This one defeat to Bolton won’t break our season, but it can throw us out of our groove and eventually out of the race.

Sporting still have a chance of qualifying so we can’t just throw in a team of youngsters but we’d be in a lot of trouble if Ronaldo joined the injury list because of this game.

Sir Alex has been charged with misconduct by the FA, and rightly so. I don’t suppose any fine or ban will have any effect on the old man, but if he wasn’t charged the stories of “one rule for Fergie, one rule for the rest” will be perpetuated.

The stupidest sacking of the season has swiftly followed the most obvious. Billy Davies was never going to keep Derby up and it now looks like he was sacked for winning the play-offs. You have to look at the example Watford set. Promoted by the playoffs, relegated last season, didn’t sack Adrian Boothroyd and are now top of the Championship by 5 points with a stronger side. Derby have probably set themselves back 3 seasons.

Finally, it appears that Garth Crooks has a sense of humour. He has put Patrice Evra and Kevin Davies together in his team of the week. One would hope that Davies would try to concentrate on scoring goals instead of kicking his own full back. However, his strike rate this season (1 goal in 15 games) compared to his disciplinary record (5 yellows in 15) would suggest otherwise. What is the point of a striker who gets banned as often as he scores?

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Review: Bolton 1 Manchester United 0

Published by
Paul
at November 26, 2007 in Manchester United, Premiership and Reviews. 3 Comments

Bolton 1 (Anelka 11) Manchester United 0

A uncharacteristicly poor first half performance from United at the Reebok, a defensive mistake and a bad miss from Tevez meant United came away from Bolton with no points for the first time in 28 years.

I heard on the radio that Fergie had been sent off, whilst coming back from my coaching course (I passed! but more on that later). I was of the firm conviction that he was wrong and that he should just shut up. We laughed at Arsenal for falling for the Bolton trick season after season and in this game we did the same.

However, when I saw the game later, it was clear that the Bolton tactics were further than just to foul as much possible. Kevin Davis has got a vendetta against Patrice Evra for some reason (the horrendous Alan Shearer backed Davis on MOTD which says it all) and was out to put him out of the game. Evra unfortunately retaliated which gave the morons at Five Live something else to talk about because they were saying Evra was lucky to be on the pitch. In the end, I think Fergie was right to have a go, because the ref was much firmer in the 2nd half, and if not, I don’t think Evra would have lasted the match. Remember, Gary Neville hasn’t played since on of those “firm” Bolton tackles from last season.

United teams of the past would have stood firm, but the current side is very young and didn’t cope well. With injuries to our three best players (Rooney, Ronaldo and Vidic) we lacked that certain something, and two key moments turned the game from a 1-0 win to a 1-0 defeat.

Firstly, the young defender Pique made a fatal error, jumping under a lofted ball into the area which Analka put away with typical aplomb. I’m more and more convinced United should sign him in preference to any other Premiership striker.

At the other end (or rather the same end but in the 2nd half) Tevez missed a great chance, slicing wide a shot from just 6 yards.

Bolton are now battling for relegation and have reverted to type under Megson, which should keep them up this season. So, you can’t really moan about their tactics. Except for Kevin Davis.

For United, I wouldn’t worry about this one off defeat in terms of our performances later in the season. I am starting to worry that Arsenal are potentially 6-points clear at the top and not looking like losing.

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McClaren Sacked and Bolton Preview

Published by
Paul
at November 23, 2007 in Manchester United, Premiership and Previews. 0 Comments

I’m sure everyone in football (especially if you are English) will know that England manager Steve McClaren got sacked on Thursday. It was the right decision in my opinion as it seemed that he didn’t have a good idea of how his team should have played. Switching to 4-5-1 without trying it, playing Crouch on his own up front and then not playing Beckham to supply the crosses, sticking in a rookie keeper in a vital game and persisting with both Gerrard and Lampard in the middle of midfield when time and time again it has shown not to work. He got a second chance and blew it again. It’s interesting to have to talk about failures on this blog because its not normally the case with Manchester United.

Of course, it is not just the manager that is the problem in English football. There has been a major problem in English football for many years now. I believe the FA at the grassroots level is on the right track to fixing this, having starting my FA Coaching Level 1 course last week (another long weekend this week!). It is certainly eye opening and I’ll probably discuss this more in a future post.

Onto United who have the opposite problem; how to maintain their good run of form. Definitely out still is Wayne Rooney, but whilst he seems to get injured as easily as Louis Saha, he has the recovery powers of that cheerleader from Heroes — nearly. Anyway, he should be back for the Fulham game. Carloz Tevez seems to be a doubt after getting back from Argentinian duty on Friday. I say duty but he only played 24 minutes after getting sent off in a game which Argentina lost 2-1. Fergie thinks he will be okay. If not, it will be a remarkable reversal of fortunes as Glassman Saha will be our only fit striker. Until he breaks his arm, signing a match program before the game.

At the back, Nemanja Vidic is a doubt after getting a knock for Serbia. But at the back we have good cover despite the long term absence of Gary Neville. Either Pique will come in as a direct replacement (my preferred option) or Simpson will come in a right-back and Wes Brown will switch inside.

As for Bolton, I don’t see them causing much trouble. In total disarray this season and whilst new manager Gary Megson has made them more solid, United are capable of breaking them down. My only concern is Le Incredible Sulk, Nicolas Anelka.

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International Break and Coaching

Published by
Paul
at November 15, 2007 in Manchester United. 5 Comments

Is it me or have there been more International Breaks at the start of this season than ever before? I seem to remember the odd one every 6 months or something, yet it seems we’ve had about 4 already this season.

Anyway, Owen Hargreaves has been counted out of the meaningless England game coming up (as well as the Austria friendly which seems to be old legends match) which is very good news for United fans as he won’t get injured (oops he is supposed to be injured isn’t he?). Also not playing is the suspended Rio Ferdinand, who should be giving lessons about how to grow up a bit to his brother.

Sad news finally as we learnt this week of the death of Busby Babe John Doherty. Doherty played 26 times for United and scored 7 goals before injury ended his career at just 23. Alex Ferguson said :-

“Since I came to the club John has always been part of it. His work with the former players was absolutely outstanding. I think it’s down to the work John did that the Old Boys Association was able to maintain such a terrific standard. I’ve been to many of the dinners and John and David Sadler and Warren Bradley, who also quite recently passed away, were all part of a great team working very successfully and keeping in touch with former players, which is never easy.

RIP John.

I’m taking advantage of the break in United games and taking a short break myself. Instead of going to play for my country, I’m on the Level 1 FA Couching course. I’ve started helping out a local side with their development team (5-7 year olds) and the team are paying for me to learn how to coach them. The actual coach has already done the Level 2 and is really good with the kids and it opens your eyes to some of the things the professionals do on the pitch.

It is a heavy course, 2 whole weekends, so little time for extra stuff like blogging. However, if it will make slightly more knowledgeable about football it will only be of benefit of this blog :) Also, if I see Avram Grant there, I’ll let you know.

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