Manchester United 1 V Chelsea 1 Alex Ferguson Get Scared by Ba – Click here for more blooper videos
Alex Ferguson Get Scared by Balloon
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Chelsea 1 (Kalou 80) Manchester United 1 (Park 18)
United eventually folded under pressure from Chelsea after taking an early lead. Kalou’s goal preserved Chelsea’s unbeaten run at home.
Once again, United took the lead against a Big Four team away from home, gave away possession and eventually conceded. This time United managed a respectable draw, but a win would have dented Chelsea’s season and kick started United’s.
United started brightly and were clearly on top. Eventually a beautiful move brought a goal, with Cech saving Berbatov’s shot, but only palming it to the oncoming Park.
United’s goalkeeper, Van der Sar wasn’t doing much better and continued his early season poor form by not holding shots and crosses. He was replaced by Kuszczak after was injured in a clash with Malouda, which Chelsea claimed as a penalty.
Chelsea dominated possession from then on in, but United defence were keeping them at arm’s length, ably covered by Park and Hargreaves on the flanks. Alex Ferguson made a big decision and played both Neville and Jonny Evans, leaving poor Wes Brown on the bench. It is hard to understand why Neville was chosen over Brown, because whilst Neville but his heart and body into the game as usual, he wasn’t up to the pace of the game, and it was often last ditch interceptions that saved the day.
This was ever more evident when Scholes was replaced by Ronaldo. Hargreaves moved into the middle, whilst Ronaldo was supposed to replace Hargreaves, but the Portugese player had other ideas. It was down to the ever committed and team man, Wayne Rooney to fill in on the right. I’m ever more impressed by the young England man’s commitment to the team, something that appears to be lacking in Ronaldo after this summer.
The equaliser could have come sooner. Joe Cole put in an excellent cross and Nicholas Anelka managed to miss from two yards. Surely, he must be on his way out of the team now that Drogba is fit. Speaking of which, whilst he came on in the second half, I didn’t really notice him that much. Whilst there were some misunderstandings between Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans, in general the young defender had a good game, and proved to be an able deputy for Vidic.
Sadly Van der Sar’s deputy, Kuszczak was at fault for the equaliser. The Chelsea freekick came in and made it to the 6-yard box before Kalou was allowed to head home. Whilst he wasn’t marked well, at that angle it is hard to defend, as the defender has to come backwards. In truth, the keeper could and should have claimed the ball.
In the end, the United of last season would have beaten Chelsea today, and that side needs to come forward soon otherwise United will be out of the title race before it begins.
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Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Sunday, 21 September
Kick-off: 1400 BST
Last time we played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge we lost 2-1 but it turned out not to matter. We did was was required in the remaining games in the season and won the league. If we were to lose tomorrow, it could be a bit more of a problem. For a start we’d be 9 points behind the second richest team in the world, and we’d struggle to get back from that (although Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Stoke proves that no wins are certain in the Premier League)
Fergie has many selection problems for the game, one forced by the suspension of Vidic. Either Jonny Evans will continue in central defence, a gamble on the young man’s ability to handle the big game, or Wes Brown will move into the centre and Gary Neville will continue at right back, a gamble of Neville’s ability to continue at the highest level.
The other major problem is up front. Which two (or three) strikers should he play. Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez or Berbatov? Controvercially, playing against the United forwards, will be John Terry. Let’s make sure there is a rounding chorus of “She fell over” to welcome him.
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I was listening to the Guardian’s football weekly podcast and was bewildered by Barry Glendenning’s remarks about the reception Christiano Ronaldo got the other night at Old Trafford. Glendenning called the generous and appriciative reception Ronaldo got the equivilent of making your wife a cup of tea after finding her in bed with another woman.
Ronaldo was roundly cheered and applauded on his return, rather than the media’s hoped for boos and jeers. For that would have made a good story for the press to get their teeth into.
In fact, rather than believing most of the media storm about Ronaldo’s transfer to Real Madrid over the summer, the Old Trafford crowd decided to thank Ronaldo for an excellent season and hope that he could help United get the goal that would win the game for United.
The other implication was that United fan’s only cheered and sang for him because United had struggled so far this season. And that, had United won every game so far this season 5-0, Ronaldo would have been booed when he finally arrived on the pitch.
What do you think of the crowd reaction to Ronaldo’s return ?
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Despite the scoreline and the ending of the 12 game winning run at Old Trafford this was a pretty resonable result and display from United.
It was quite a modified side that took the field with Nani and Park on the wings, Jonny Evans and Gary Neville coming back in as captain and right-back. Park and Nani looked bright and inventive in the opening third of the game, with Nani showing great skill but not quite finding the final ball. Park was showing his usual enthusiastic play and could, no should, have got two penalties in the first half. He had his foot stood on which the ref ignored, and then was brought down when the player got non of the ball. The ref even gave a goalkick so he knew that the Villareal player hadn’t got a touch.
Hargreaves was back from injury and put in a wonderful corner. Shame it was Rio Ferdinand on the end of it. The keeper flapped and missed and Rio, showing the preditory instinct of a brontosaurus only managed to connect with his heel and send the ball back across the goal instead of into the net.
Whilst we showed much promise and good play in the first half, we did not kick on in the second and Villareal got back into the game. With their one true, flowing move they cut open the United team but Guille Franco tried a fancy flick to score and put the shot onto the post.
This woke United up and in response, Christiano Ronaldo made his return to the team, much to the delight of the crowd. Whilst not completely match fit, he did lift the side and United create two futher great chances to win the match. Firstly Rooney put in Tevez for a great chance, but it was saved off the line. Then, Ronaldo crossed and Jonny Evans managed to hit the post with a header. The game eventually petered out and finished 0-0.
On another day, the ref would have give one of the two penalties and we’d have taken one of the two great chances and the game would have been a 2-1 win. Fergie must now ponder on what can change his fortune against Chelsea on Sunday.
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