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Monday, 9 May 2011

1 more point (vs Chelsea)

By: Shaun | May 8th, 2011
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rio trio 1 point. That’s all we need from our remaining two fixtures to win title # 19 after an amazing display against Chelsea.

This was the first league game in a while where we played like would-be champions. Far too often this season, the knock on us has been a group of rather average over the hill players who somehow manage to grind out unimpressive results. Today, everyone showed up to play and it was a sight to behold.

Impressions:

1.Chicharito – Sure he fluffed his lines a couple of times in the second half to really kill the game. But what composure he displayed 36 seconds into the game to slot past one of the league’s best and set the tone for the rest of the match. With 20 goals in his debut season, it’s getting more difficult for the haters to justify their claims of him being “overrated”.

2.Park started off with so much energy that he must have completely taken Chelsea by surprise. Yes, we know he’s Mr Energy, but the way in which he started off the gates was so pivotal in ensuring that we got to set the tempo and get the crowd involved from the get go.

3.Rooney in the hole was brilliant yet again. In Chicharito, he may have found the perfect complement to his withdrawn forward role. It’s a different partnership than the one he forged with Berba early in the season. Based on the success that they’ve been having lately, the departure of Berba in the summer appears to be more imminent. Especially if he can be used as a makeweight for a big name midfield signing.

chicharito 4.Considering the run of form that Chelsea had been in prior to today’s encounter, I was surprised by their sluggishness. Theirs was not a side that lacked experience. Yet, in what was easily the biggest game of the season for both teams, they looked overwhelmed to start before settling into a rhythm that was still far short of their usual best.

5.VDS made some big stops in the first half. Yes, SAF has told him to go out on top despite the pleas of his defenders to come back next season. I’m going to have to (selfishly) agree with his peers and hope with everything that I have that he considers a u-turn on his retirement decision.

6.Speaking of old geezers, Giggs was a giant in the center of the park today. Aside from being involved in both the goals, he was always on hand to play the short passes to retain possession and help settle some of our nerves after Lampard scored. He also tracked back and tackled well breaking up potential Chelsea attacks. An incredibly hardworking and dedicated display by the old man.

7.Considering the season that Nani was having, it would have been unthinkable to not see him featured in the final run in for the title. Yet, that’s exactly what’s happened with Valencia showing us yet again why SAF prefers him over a player who was quite easily our top performer for months. His direct running troubled Cole throughout the game and the only letdown may have been some of his decision making. But that’s just nitpicking on an otherwise great and direct performance by the Ecuadorian.

64647660 I am well aware that this post reads like a pre-teen girl gushing over her favorite pop idol. Yet, such was the display by United today that few could argue against the result being a fair one on the balance of play. I for one have openly lamented when our performance has been poor this season (and it has been far too often). So, when we actually put in a shift like the one we saw today, I can’t help but get giddy at the thought of us rediscovering the kind of play that we’ve grown so famous for.

All of this would be in vain of course should we fail to earn that one elusive point in our next 2 games.

1 point. Let’s go get it.

Some Related Man United Posts:A typical United display (vs Chelsea)Welcome back Nani (vs Stoke)A win on Boxing Day (vs Sunderland)The return of Rooney (vs Wigan)Doing just enough (vs Wigan)

Category: English Premier League, Manchester United, Match Reports, Old Trafford

Tags: Chicharito, Edwin van der Sar, English Premier League, Ji-Sung Park, Manchester United, Match Reports, Nani, Old Trafford, Premiership, Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Sir Alex Ferguson, Wayne Rooney
Tweet « Academy 5 v 0 Leeds Utd – Report | Home | swapnilwhat a great 1st half performance!!!!
1.surely fabio is our 1st choice RB now
2.how good was valencia yesterday!!!that was probably the worst game cashley's had in a few years...
3.the old carrick is coming back..he looks way more comfortable alongside giggs
4.how on earth was ivanovic not sent off??papers and pundits shout forever when a vidic handball is not punished and today not a single person mentions ivanovicDamienwhat, fucking WHAT ?
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Thursday, 7 April 2011

Sweet smell of justice (vs Chelsea)

By: Shaun | April 6th, 2011
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rooney open Obviously, there was an uproar at the final whistle due to the penalty that Chelsea were NOT awarded when Evra clattered into Ramires at the end. As a United fan, I can say definitively that it was a penalty and that Chelsea were unfortunate to not get one awarded.

With that said, it’s nice to be at the end of 90 minutes vs Chelsea and not be on the wrong end of some incorrect refereeing. We had to endure some terrible game changing (title altering) calls last season in our games against the Londoners that essentially decided the title. When we met up a few weeks ago in the league, a couple of questionable decisions by the referee culminating in the awarding of a penalty that a Chelsea player himself (Ivanovic) said should not have been awarded.

My intention is not to rub it into anyone’s nose because the game as we know and love it should ultimately be decided by the 11 players on each team and no one else. It should certainly NOT be determined by the guy in black/yellow (whatever other colors the refs wear these days). The way today’s game finished was an unfortunate end to a rather engaging encounter that would have left the paying fans feeling like they got their money’s worth.

Just a couple of other quick impressions:

rio team 1. VDS – how awesome is that man? I don’t care who we bring it to replace him, no one is going to be able to step into his shoes for at least a few years and bring the stability and assurance that he exudes everytime he trots out of the tunnel with the first team.

2. 1st goal was a masterclass. Michael Carrick delivered the kind of ball that we know he’s capable of, but seldom executes. It landed right at the feet of Giggs who showed the perfect first touch to get the ball forward past the defender before squaring it back for Rooney to roll into the bottom corner. Every part of that move was brilliant.

3. Evra could have been hero and villain by the end of the 90. He cleared well off the line toward the end of the first half when it looked like Chelsea would scramble the loose ball in. Then, he bundled over Ramires at the end of the second only to have the ref wave play on. A lucky boy that Patrice.

4. Rio and Vidic at the back are a sight for sore eyes. The issue is ensuring that they stay free from injury (Rio) and suspension (Vidic).

5. This tie is still as wide open as can be. For all our neat play in the first half, we’ve seen Chelsea turn it on and put us under intense pressure (both in the 2nd half of today’s game and the 2nd half of our league encounter). We know they have the firepower in their ranks to score goals for fun. The second leg should be a nervy, but incredibly entertaining encounter.

I’m going to enjoy this win for a little while more simply because of the away goal advantage it provides us heading into the second leg. The Chelsea fans I know are still outraged over the calls/non calls from the game. We know how it feels because we were in their shoes way too often and it’s just nice to have the tables turned for once.

Hopefully the 2nd leg can be decided solely by the players on the field and not the man with the whistle. Based on history however, I highly doubt it.

Some Related Man United Posts:Martin Atkinson is a…(vs Chelsea)Chicharito getting it done (vs Marseille)Top of the group (vs Valencia)Hard fought win at Ibrox (vs Rangers)Another away draw (vs Marseille)

Category: Champions League, Manchester United, Match Reports

Tags: Champions League, Edwin van der Sar, Manchester United, Match Reports, Patrice Evra, Wayne Rooney
Tweet « 2 match ban for Rooney | Home | chupAs a Chelsea fan, I can tell you there's no way we can turn this tie around. Especially not at the Old Trafford. Torres looks like the same player he was in South Africa (meaning he'll never score, especially not against a defense like that of United), Anelka lacks the quality to be a decisive player in big matches and Drogba is getting old and seems a bit out of form. Lampard, Essien, Malouda are all out of form. Kalou, Ramires and Mikel are not good enough to compete against the biggest of teams and they will never be. Chelsea lacks quality from the midfield upwards right now.

We need a miracle to qualify.Swapnilin a way i don't mind rooney's ban.we still have a lot of work to do in the second leg it the weekend's rest will mean rooney will be fresh for the tie.i think berba and chicha are enough to see fulham through.chelsea on the other hand have to play their best 11 on the weekend to stand any chance of winning the league.will miss rooney for fa semis though but i still think we'll win that.we haven't won the fa cup for a long time and the players will be itching to go to the finals....
also i'm glad torres wasn't sent off for diving twice,as long as he plays i don't see chelsea scoring!!!lol...Alan HoldenMy heart was in my mouth when Evra scissored Ramires, but for once (in 7 years) the ref was on our side.
Everything about the goal was sublime, and Carrick was my man of the match. We have the vital away goal to bring to fortress OT. Bring it on!Swissdevilyour wrong mate, the foul was comitted outside of the box, should have been a freekick though...NickI just watched the replay and I agree with you. Ramires' foot was still outside the 18 yard box when contact was first made. He really does make a meal of any contact near the areablog comments powered by Disqus