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United Destroy Schalke (05.04.11)

2011-05-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

Hello,

After the first leg destruction, I wanted to wait till the second leg, hoping there would be something for me to write about besides this:

United >>>>>>>>>>Schalke 04.

Nope.

So, I will leave you with this question:

Pick one (and only one) of the following to explain how Schalke, who destroyed Inter, lost so badly to United:

i) United > Inter

ii) Schalke not as good as people thought going in

iii) Schalke simply tired after long season

iv) Schalke were afraid of United going into the home leg

Think about it.

My vote is #4.

See you for the CL final.

Derek

City Beat United - Out of the FA Cup (at Wembley, 04.16.11)

2011-04-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

Hello,

The title was hard to type.

The game was hard to watch.

Manchester City has put themselves in position to end their 35year trophy drought and, to the delight of their fans, at the expense of city rivals Manchester United. United dominated possession in the first 25-30 minutes and could have easily put the game to bed but Dimitar Berbatov could not finish the job: one perhaps great save from Hart but the other, an open net which flew over the bar.

After about 30 minutes, City started controlling the game and besides a cross-bar-slash-save from Hart off a Nani free-kick, United had little offence. Yaya Toure was City's second-half match-winner, seizing on another epic blunder by Michael Carrick before finishing. That is two back-to-back cup blunders for Carrick if anyone is counting. Later, Scholes was given his marching orders for a thigh-high challenge on Pablo Zabaleta.

I have decided to challenge our readers on what went wrong in this match. Pick one from the following.

1 – Berba inability to finishing
2 – Hernandez not starting
3 – Michael Carrick
4 – Scholes’ red card
5 – No Giggs on the bench
6 – Rooney big mouth/suspension
7 – City just better

I am picking none of those. I am picking another. Confidence. I have talked about body language before here. As a counsellor in real-life, I am trained to watch for it. I watched the game again, trying to figure out what went wrong after 30 minutes, especially in the mid-field. City moved Silva over to the right with Johnson but that was so obvious, I team like United should have adapted. I do not think that was the problem. I think of the problem was confidence. I think the players, after about 30 minutes and the missed Berba chances all were saying this in their minds:

"Who is going to score. No Giggs on the bench for the spark. No Rooney to help spark the team and help set-up Herndendez even if he comes on."

I also say this because of body language. If you watch the body language of Berba (easy one) but also Rio, Vidic, Scholes and especially Evra. Twice Evra stormed into the left side of the City box late in the game and shot. Very unlike him. He usually passes. If you look at his body language after 30 minutes and in the box after the shot it says: "I have to do it myself because no one else will".

Confidence.

Ben also mentioned something smart on the podcast: Berba cannot turn his game around. When he is playing well, watch out. When he is off at the beginning, it is a LONG game. He pointed out his trademark take down to the left of the City goal. The ball is coming in and usually he takes it out of the air with such ease that we as United fans are used to it. This time, his foot brought it down but it hit his knee and went out. As Ben said, he cannot turn his game around and at least Rooney, even having a bad day, runs around and works hard to contribute in other ways. Berba does not.

His days are numbers baring any financial things behind the scenes. If United can sell and replace him (ie: funds are available), he is gone.

City played better and deserved the win after 30 minutes.

I am now a huge STOKE fan.

Derek

Monkey Off Back? United Neat Chelsea To Advance in CL (04.12.11)

2011-04-18T06:39:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Sorry about the late post again.

Up 1-0, Manchester United came home to face rivals Chelsea in the second leg of the Champions League. While a week earlier, I was nervous, those feeling were not there this week. United played well at Stamford Bridge and got their first victory at Chelsea since 2002. I also felt, as I posted below, that not only did Chelsea throw everything (or 95%) of their attacking and defensive formations at us, they did it with multiple players as well. United saw Torres/Anelka and then Torres/Drogba and even Essien in a defensive position after he was playing clean-up as well as attacking. This, to me, gave United an advantage.

The soon-to-be-gone Chelsea manager Carlos Ancelotti made two mistakes: the first was starting Torres. Over the last five years, the Drogba/Anelka duo has dominated United. Anelka, in my opinion, also allows Lampard to move around for freely. Lampard, to me, is the key player on the team. If he is playing well, watch out as the goals are coming. Not necessarily from him by the goals are coming. This brings me to the second mistake: not finding a way to get Lampard in the game. Lampard was completely out of both games. United controlled (I would not say dominated) the mid-field and Frank was out of the game. He did have two good chances across both games but could not finish. Now, in the second game, Anelka did start but the circumstances were different. Away and down a goal.

As for United, they played well again save the defensive shut-down which led to Drogba's goal. Park was, for most, the man of the match. While I disagree with some pundits who say he "scores goals in big games" (check the numbers, he has never scored against European opposition, only Arsenal and Liverpool), what he does is play a role. He runs for 70 minutes, tires out a man or tracks a threatening player. In this game, he played the whole 90 minutes because he scored. Nine of ten times, he will be substituted around the 70th minute after tiring his opponent out or forcing teams to change tactics after marking a threatening player. He did his job. I do not think he should start every game and I am very vocal about this.

Hernendez had another great game for what he is good at. He cannot seem to hold up the ball nor set much up but he is brilliant as the poacher and striker, playing off the shoulders of defenders. He has great speed and a nose for goal. I do not think he would be as effective without another man. He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney. Rooney ran and worked for 90 minutes. He was everywhere. Some people worry about replacing Scholes when you might just have to look across the dressing room and there he is. While Wayne was technically the guy who coughed up the ball before the Drobga goal (people do not seem to realize this), he movement off the ball is unreal and he broke up so many Chelsea attacks. His vision for attack and cross-balls are unreal. He also showed in today's game that he came run down the line and cross.

Overall, a great effort and is the monkey that is Chelsea off their backs?

We shall see in May in the Premier League.

Derek

United beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (04.06.11)

2011-04-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Wednesday was probably the most nervous I have been going into a match in a long time. Saturday, I arrived 8 minutes before the end of the first half against West Ham, saw the score (2-0 WH) but was not nervous. I was angry but not fearful that United could not come back. Against Chelsea, at the Bridge, I was nervous.

This game has everything a fan and a neutral would want: a heated rivalry, a league lost to the other last season, one team that lifted the European trophy thrice – the other, never. Controversy in the last three meetings between the clubs. Finally, a famous slip in the final that handed the Champions League trophy to the other team. This one has it all.

On paper, besides Barcelona, United fans might not have wanted to see Chelsea’s name on the drawn piece of paper. As we discussed in previous episodes, United has the worst record against Chelsea than any other of the so-called top four clubs in the Premier League. In the last five years, United has five losses with only three wins and three draws against Chelsea.

United’s record at Stamford Bridge does not bold well for the red devils either. You have to back to April of 2002 to find the last time United won at the Bridge. Since the year 2000, United have played 13 matches at the Bridge and have lost 5, drawn 4 and, as mentioned, won only one match.

That said, their overall cup record against Chelsea is much better. United have 7 wins, 3 draws and 4 loses in the last 14 cup matches.

You could see why I was nervous.

United came out with a curious mid-field. Three wingers and no Scholes. Rio was back and while this is a boost, I was still nervous because I was not sure what to expect from him. When healthy, Rio provides the speed in the back and the vision to begin counter-attacks quickly. Having him back there allows players like Rooney and Hernandez to get in the heads of the opponent's back-line. Make them think about it more. For me, getting in the heads of the defenders is so important, especially against teams like Chelsea. Big teams do not tire as easily and can run for a full 90 minutes with losing too much. Psychology is so important and with United's mid-field issues, I am glad to see Rio back. Smalling has done very well but we need Rio against the big clubs in big games.

Facing an FA ban decision, Wayne Rooney scored to give Manchester United their first victory at Stamford Bridge since April of 2002. Lots of controversy again as Chelsea had many shady tackles in the first half. Two in particular on Rooney from Essien and one from Ramires.

While United looked good in the first half, Chelsea's best effort of the game came shortly before half-time when Torres hit the far post and Frank Lampard's weak shot on the rebound was cleared off the line by Patrice Evra.

Chelsea was also denied a penalty deep into added time, when Evra failed to get the ball as he brought down Ramires - and just moments later Torres was booked after tumbling under a challenge from Antonio Valencia.

All in all, I feel this is a big advantage for United and I am not speaking of the score-line. I feel like Chelsea threw almost everything at United both in an attacking and defensive sense. They attacked with every player and combination of players they would field at Old Trafford (Drogba-Torres, Anekla-Torres) and they also showed us a different defensive posture with moving Essien back after he Mikel substitution. They showed us a lot which is advantageous for United going back to Old Trafford where Chelsea's record is not as strong as at home.

Great result.

Derek

United Advance in the CL (v. Marseille, 03.15.11)

2011-03-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Manchester United 2, Marseille 1. United advance thanks to two goals from Hernandez and a great performance by Wayne Rooney. Marseille scored on an own goal by Wes Brown in the 82nd minute which ensured that United fans world-wide had a nervous last 10 minutes.
It was also another game of injuries as both John O'Shea and his replacement Rafael went off with suspected hamstring injuries. Nani had a good but not great game while Valencia came on again, hugging that line and creating chances.

Bring on Real Madrid.

Draw on Friday.

Derek

United Advance in FA Cup (v. Arsenal, 03.12.11)

2011-03-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Sorry about the delay.

Both teams coming in off losses, United beat Arsenal 2-0 at Old Trafford to advance in the FA Cup. Goals by Fabio and Rooney saw the red devils advance despite Arsenal having 54% possession and 11 shots on target, forcing goalkeeper Van Dar Sar into several great saves. Lots of drama as United started 7 defenders, including the De-Silva twins on the wings and, in the second half, United winger Valencia made his long awaited return. Arsenal also finished the game with 10 men after Djourou had to be stretchered off following a nasty collision with Sagna.

So Arsenal's quadruple dream is now down to only one trophy: the league.

Here is a quote from a London Arsenal fan:

Arsenal's problem is: "Depth. When you have your top players like Fabregas, Van Persie, Nasri on constant injury rotation and have to depend on the likes of Bendtner and Walcott who are hit and miss (at best!), it's tough to put together a coherent squad. And don't get me started on the revolving door at the goalkeeper's end. Venger gets a little too settled with a player, even when it is obvious they are harming the rest of the team (Adebayor, Arshavin, etc.). The constant rotation of players hampers any sort of chance at putting together a solid run at any championship."
Nuff said.

Derek

Yawn, United Beat Crawley Town, Yawn, 1-0 (02.19.11)

2011-02-19T14:52:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Yawn. Usually, I can provide a (yawn) interesting, insightful, breakdown (yawn) of the game.

Fact is, I am tired and the game was (yawn).

Ok, Obertan, Babe = on thin ice.

Gibson = on a bit thicker ice.

Herdandez = cannot threaten when starts (though the mid-field service does not help).

Rafael = hopefully ok.

Crawley Town = played well. Hats off.

(yawn)

zzzzz......

(yawn)

Yeah, we are through.

Not a great performance or match report.

Sleep.

Derek

Another Poor Showing But United Advances at Southampton (01.29.11)

2011-02-01T06:38:00.000-08:00

Hello,

First off, a comment about the press. I love how practically every footy press channel talked about Southampton's famous 1976 Wembley win over United. That was the year I was born. The pundits kept saying: "could Southampton revive 1976?". While I can see that the press need to pump up games, this analogy is silly. Personally, I only compare the last two years to see if there are any threats to United. Spirit and belief of a 1976 win will not be the reason for a win nor defeat in 2011.

Second, let us talk about the two worst performances perhaps of the year: Gibson and Anderson. While United's midfield is struggling in general, I was ready to strangle Gibson. I have no idea how you can put on a United jersey and not close down players, especially from a League 1 side. Gibson is slow, not very creative and cannot seem to get a string of 2-3 consecutive passes. Similar for Anderson with respect to putting on a United jersey and playing so poorly. I made a joke about the hairdryer coming out at half time and Bill Blair said something I agree with: "why should these players need it? This is Manchester United". Agreed Bill. Also, their poor play affects other players like Scholes and especially the left sided defenders. I sometimes wonder what Scholes, a legend and creative genius, thinks of these younger player's performance, especially up against much lower opponents. Games against League 1 opponents should be viewed as a test by the manager. Well, Gibson and Anderson, you failed. Have a look at 37-year old Giggs. He closes down players, makes runs and passes.

Third, sloppy goals. While the Saints' goal was largely due to Gibson and Anderson (in my opinion), United's goals were basically broken down plays and not necessarily due to great set-ups or goals. The first United goal, scored by Owen, was a broken down play and probably a hand ball by the Saint defender. The second goal was another broken down play but credit to Hernandez for the finish.

United has a tendency to make it difficult on themselves by playing an open style of football. Today, while they did play open style, it was the tactics that caused issues, a goal and lack of dominate first half possession, it was terrible play by two players that caused disruption in the flow. You know who you are.

While Chelsea bought Torres, I was hoping United would by a five star attacking mid-fielder.

No such luck.

Next up for United, at Old Trafford, is non-league side Crawley Town. If you were a Crawley Town fan, would you want the real Red Devils or someone you have a shot at beating? That said, they will cash in on gate money.

See you soon for more FA Cup and Champions League spots.

Derek

United Beats Liverpool in 3rd Round of FA Cup (01.09.11)

2011-01-10T10:40:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Two wins in 2011 is a great way to start the new year although Roy Hodgson might not feel the same way getting sacked the day before the match as Liverpool manager. With some big names like Rooney, Vidic and Van Der Sar rested/injured/sick with virus, Johnny Evans, Hernandez and Kuszczak got the call. Former Liverpool and Newcastle manager Kenny Dalglish, who by the way is getting the Liverpool accent, failed to get the dream start he was looking for as Manchester United ensured his second stint as the new Liverpool boss began with an FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford.

While Liverpool did seem to have momentum for much the game, it was one of those "blah" games. Very tight, unimaginative and scrappy. United started the game with a penalty goal after Berba was taken down in the box by Daniel Agger. While some considered it a "soft" penalty, this writer is confused. If contact is made within the penalty area by a defender, bringing the opposition player down, it is a penalty. Severity has no grounds here. Was it a blatant, flying, two footed/studs tackle: no. The fact remains, Berba was fouled in the box. I hear commentators saying "yes it was a foul" than, in the box, it has to be penalty. If I could give my own personal RED TILL DEAD opinion, Berba is a big guy and does not go down easily. Fans of United have seen him get kicked in the legs by two players and he still maintains control of the ball. If he went down, I believe he was fouled.

Enough about that.

Giggs, who by the way has scored in every PL year since inception, kicked in his 157th goal in 855 appearances giving the reds of Manchester a 1-0 lead.

After that, a flying captained named Stevie G got a straight red card. Now, Ryan Babel of Liverpool put a picture of referee Howard Webb in a United shirt, stating he is a puppet of Fergie after the game but I think you need to read the rule book. You see, when a scouser, sorry, player launches himself forward with both feet/studs in the air at a player that is a red card. It was a dumb tackle which not only cost Liverpool the game but also could really hurt them as Gerrard will miss the next three PL games. His link up with Torres is so important to that team. So, let us review, Liverpool in shambles, mid-table, out of the FA Cup, sacked their manager and now has lost a key player in their push to make the top 5. That player also missed a penalty kick in the last game.

The second half was about 50/50 with Liverpool looking, at times, to be a man up, not down. When United took control, they had some chances with Berbatov, Evra and Rafael coming close and Evans hitting the post with a thunderous header. Evans had his first good game in what seems like at least a year.

My only concern from this game, which I have mentioned before, was the disappearance of Hernandez. He did not contribute much if anything to this game. Coming off the bench seems to be his strong suit at the moment.

Once again United does not play well but gets the win.

Bring on the Saints.

See you next time.

Derek

United Draw Olympique Marseille in CL

2010-12-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Easy one for stats this time as United has only played Marseille once in the CL in 1999-2000.

United lost 1-0 away and 2-1 at home where William Gallas scored for Marseille.
Some other ties to look:

Arsenal against Barcelona - bye bye Arsenal. Wait, you know what Arsenal: you want to taken seriously as a top team then at least do not get blown away this time.

Chelsea against Copenhagen - as poor at the blues form is, I cannot see them not getting through Copenhagen.

Milan against Spurs - on paper anyway, Tottenham drew the worst team they could have. It will experience v. the high flying team from North London. Spurs need to learn how to close up shop away to have a chance in this one. In my opinion.

Inter against Bayern Munich – a repeat of last season’s final. Both teams struggling in their domestic leagues. I think Inter is in big trouble here.

See you in January for the FA Match against Liverpool.

Happy Holidays and thank you for reading.

Derek

Anderson's First OT Goal = First Place in Group C (v. Valencia, 12.07.10)

2010-12-08T15:11:00.000-08:00

Hello,

I was looking forward to this game for two reasons. First, I thought United played as close to a perfect away game in Spain in the first leg against Valencia. Second, with the 7-1 thumping of Blackburn and a week off, I thought United would come out flying. Well, the game turned out to be a mixed bag but the job was done. United has won the group and will advance against a 2nd place opponent in February, three possible opponents being from Italy.

First off, the real shock of the game was before it started seeing Ben Amos in net. Sir Alex does this a lot, giving young players a chance and his confidence was founded as while Amos did not a great game, he was solid enough. While United dominated possession in the first half, as usual, they allowed Valencia plenty of space. Then Carrick cost United a Champions League record by allowing Dominguez to steal the ball and helped Pablo Hernandez score the only goal United allowed during the group stage. It seemed like Carrick had a lifetime to make a decision but stood there. It was strange and Carrick's second CL blunder in less than a year that cost United (if you are counting; remember Bayern at OT).

Be sure to read club executive member BEN PIKE's article on Carrick on RED RANTS.

Within a couple of minutes, United had nearly produced the equaliser as Rooney hit the bar. I thought Rooney played very well and is beginning to look like the player he was last year. Leaner, faster and a huge threat. The team plays better when he is on the pitch. His vision and passing ability in this game, save a few loose passes, was outstanding. Park has also stepped up his game for the first time in as long as I can remember.

As mentioned on Facebook, Anderson had only scored one time before, away against Tottenham. He had the instinct to follow in Park's thunderbolt strike that the Valencia keeper Guaita was unable to hold on to and blast it in for the equalizer. Bit of sloppy play from United allowed two shots on Amos who handled them nicely at the end of the game.

Job done.

Hopefully Rio is ok.

My next post will be United's possible opponents. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading,

Derek

United Dumped Out of Carling Cup (at West Ham, 11.30.10)

2010-12-02T10:23:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Sorry about the late report but I only caught the first 30 minutes live. Had to watch it on Wednesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson made 10 changes to the side that hammered Blackburn on the weekend with only Anderson starting. There were some experienced players on the pitcher in the form of Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea but it did not prove enough against the West Ham onslaught.

Defensive mistakes from Smalling and especially Evans cost United this game. While a year ago, a game like this from Evans would have been slightly shocking, today, it does not and that cannot bold well of Evan's future should he continue to under perform. As fans, we might never know the real reason why. Could the injuries he has suffered over the last two seasons taken their toll? Are the injuries taking its toll not only physically but mentally as well? Time will tell but time may not be on Evans side.

Another big surprise, especially for this ELP preview writer, is the state of West Ham. More specifically, I am surprised that Manager Avram Grant has not found a way out of relegation yet however I still feel they will not go down.

Denied a goal just moments earlier, Spector nodded West Ham ahead. Obinna supplied an exquisite chip that Spector, having crept inside Fletcher, headed into the net. Still, center backs mistakes really to allow Obinna to approach so close. Fabio slipped attempting to block Obinna's shot instead fell into the path of Spector who blasted home from close range. From there, Cole went on to score two, both, again, defensive blunders.

My other comments will be pointed at Babe, Herdandez and Mechada. First, I cannot understand how Babe gets the start over Mechada. His last few starts, especially the last one, were dreadful. He looked way out of his comfort zone and has a lot to learn about life in the EPL. For me, find a warm spot on the bench as you will not see action for a long time. Second, Herdandez did very little. Now, many fans bought up his jerseys and said outragous comments like: "we do not need Rooney, we have Herdandez". I laughed out loud. I hope some of these angry and new football fans have paid attention in the last few weeks. Yes, I agree, Hernandez is talented and could be a great goal scorer...in the future. The idea that he could lead United to a league and European title this season is laughable. Third, Machada. Now, he started on the bench and is still very young. I will give him a pass on the last couple games as I think he is talented. With United playing Arsenal, Chelsea and then Liverpool in their first FA Cup Round, I have a tough time seeing any of the these players, especially Babe, getting a start. During the Christmas matches, I can see Hernandez getting some time.

All credit to West Ham.

United out of the Carling Cup.

Thanks,

Derek

Rooney Sends United To Knock-Out Stage (at Rangers, 11.25.10)

2010-11-25T08:41:00.000-08:00

Hello,

I am very busy working on getting my Old Trafford trip pictures online along with two new pages of the website so this will be a short one.

United travelled to Ibrox to face Rangers and Wayne Rooney returned to the starting line-up. It was a tough day for a lot of players in my opinion. Evans struggled at the back even though Rangers did not go forward very much during the game. It seemed like every "chance" the Glasgow team got was on Evans' side. Giggs looked a bit rusty but we all know we will pull it together after a spell on the bench. In the last 3-4 games, Berba has looked like he did last year and this game was no different although I might give him a pass as serve to him was not great. The highlight of this game was the return of Rooney who played well and helped stretch out the Rangers defence, something I feel United goes not do well without him. Rooney took the penalty well and there was mixed feelings from the club, specifically from one Patrick Mooney.

I am also happy to report that Fabio also had a solid European game which is a good sign for the future.

Rangers had their chance when they were up 1-0 at home to Valencia and blew it in the final minutes. If they had won that game, a loss here would not have knocked them out.

United still has work to do as a loss in the final game against Valencia at Old Trafford would mean 2nd place and tougher opposition. All United need is a draw but, knowing United, they will go after a win.

That is why I love this team.

Derek

Ok, I Will Say It: "Turkish Delight" For United (v. Bursaspor, 11.02.10)

2010-11-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

Hello,

As the numbers I reported in the previous entry reflected, United has an ok record in Turkey. I like watching games in Turkey because the fans are electric and very loud for the entire 90 minutes. While Bursaspor is no Fenerbahçe, it is still a hostile environment which makes for a good match and great experience for the younger players. United brough lots of youth as they were without ten players on this trip, including the rested Rio Ferdinand, sick Anderson & Machada along with injured Rooney and Giggs. Really though, all Sir Alex needed was a certain mid-field legend named Paul Scholes. We will discuss him later.

It was another impressive Champions League away win. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that United played an almost perfect away game in Spain against Valenvia. While Bursaspor is no Spainish team, they have solid formation and ball control. Take into account this was in Turkey and one could argue that United has back-to-back very impressive away wins.

The first half was solid from United and really Bursaspor as well with no goals to report. Nani came off early with an injury, which is the first of two United players to come off injured. Second-half goals from Darren Fletcher, Gabriel Obertan and Bebe extended United's unbeaten record in all competitions to 23. United also only need a draw against Rangers at Ibrox to claim their place in the knockout phase with a game to spare (against Valencia at home). Fletcher also left the game in the second half with what appeared to be a ankle injury. As readers of this blog may know, I think Fletcher is key to the line-up so let's hope this is not serious.

Before we wrap this up, let's talk Paul Scholes. I sit beside a gentleman named BILL BLAIR who could not say enough about Scholes in this game...and he is correct. Scholes was open practically the whole game and has such a football mind that he find space and players with such ease it is scary to think of the team without him at this point. Legend.

So this leave RANGERS away and VALENCIA at home to complete the group stage.

See you in a couple of weeks.

Derek

Some Turkey Numbers (10.01.10)

2010-11-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Before the game in Turkey tomorrow, here's some United v. Turkish opposition:

Bursaspor P1 W1 D0 L0 F1 A0
Galatasaray P4 W1 D3 L0 F7 A3
Fenerbahçe P4 W2 D0 L2 F8 A6
Besiktas P2 W1 D0 L1 F1 A1

Overall: P11 W5 D3 L3 F17 A10

See you tomorrow,

Derek

Yawn, Then Excitement as United beats Wolves in CC (10.26.10)

2010-10-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

Hello,

As the English might say, the first half was dismal. A not-so-full Old Trafford watched as Sir Alex Ferguson made 11 changes from the team that played at Stoke on the weekend and yawned for the first 45 minutes. A game of first starts as Ben Amos got his first start of the season along with Bebe, the relatively-unknown striker signed in the summer for £7.4 million from Portuguese side Vitoria de Guimaraes.

Speaking of Babe, the second half started much better as the new winger opened his United bank acount with a fortunate opening goal before George Elokobi equalised for Wolves. Park Ji-Sung, who is struggling to find his form this season, made it 2-1 to the home side but Kevin Foley pulled Wolves level again. More United defensive problems.

Before I get to the Hernandez goal, what else happened? Not a great showing for either Gabriel Obertan or Federico Macheda whose best chance came when he sent a shot straight at Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. At the beginning of the second half, Wolves winger Matt Jarvis kept running down the right and sent over a ball to the far post that Steven Fletcher missed wide. Gibson had another so-so game with the highlight maybe being a swerving free-kick that was on target...unfortunately, swerved straight into the goalkeepers arms.

No one, not even the fans want extra time in the early round of the Carling Cup in this writer's opinion so Ferguson took off the, shall I say tired-looking Bebe for the weekend's goalscoring hero Hernandez. The young Mexican-International was immediately influential, sending Obertan sprinting in on goal but his finish was once again disappointing (see above). Hernandez's eye for the back of the net would not be denied however as, in the very last minute of normal time, he left two Wolves defenders in a heap and lifted the ball with ease over Hennessey.

Overall, another ok game for the young players who hopefully learned from their mistakes. Bebe got in almost a full game along with Smalling, Gibson and Macheda.

This writer wants Ipswich Town in the next round.

Derek

A CL Win Overshadowed By Loss (v. Bursaspor, 10.20.10)

2010-10-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I will keep this review short and sweet because I am heading out of town but I also want to spend some time thinking of what I will write regarding Wayne Rooney. As readers know, he has been my favorite player since 2003-2004. I have mixed thoughts and emotions on the issue but I will write on it later.

Regarding beating the Turkish League champions 1-0 at Old Trafford, it was not a great game. You could feel the energy was drained out of the fans at the theatre of dreams, the manager and maybe the players. This is a game where United should have went out, at home, and scored at least 3-4 goals to gain that confidence. They did not. In my opinion, they played terrible. Especially the mid-field.

Sorry for the short blog but I am gutted about the Rooney stuff.

Derek

The Gain in Spain (at Valencia, 09.30.10)

2010-09-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

Hello,

It is amazing what a game will do. Going into this match, United had three, back-to-back away draws in the PL and one in CL against Rangers at home. United also seemed to be leaking goals with some mid-field question marks and no Rooney going into Spain. Couple that with a not-so-great record on Spanish soil and one could see how United fans could be nervous. A loss or tie would mean having to make up ground in teh group. With this win, United can look at the two games against (so-called) feather-weight Bursaspor, knowing those six points will virtually secure their place in the last 16 of this season's Champions League. How things change.

Let's begin shall we.

Despite the commentators and some reports saying United were sloppy in the first half and the game looked like a goaless draw until Hernandez scored, I will step out on a limb and say that United played almost a perfect away European game against the current leaders of La Liga.

Yes, there were moments. Valancia had possibly their best shot after a rare mistake from Edwin van der Sar, who completely failed to cut out Alejandro Dominguez's right-wing cross. Soldado headed the ball well over the wide open net. Remember commentators, this is a good team, in La Liga, at home who are the current leaders. Did you expect United to dominate? Did you not expect Valencia to have chances? Do you even watch football? How many chances would you say are ok before calling United sloppy? One, ten? United played a great, measured game. Attacking at times, defending at times and leaving open lanes in the mid-field to try and tempt Valencia into mistakes. The returning Rio with Vidic made a huge difference on the back-line with both making huge defensive saves.

Then, in the second half, Sir Alex brought on Federico Macheda for Berbatov and Hernandez for Anderson. Anderson was in there to do a job and he did it. Ran around, opening and closing lanes and tired out the starting mid-field players. Hernandez, a striker for a mid-field player, came on with a specific task to compliment Macheda and he performed it well. A great series from Nani, Macheda to Hernandez saw the winning goal. That is all United needed. Hmm, after that, the commentator did not say sloppy? Hmmm...

As Fletcher said afterwards: "It was an all-round team performance from the front players, to midfielders, to the defenders. Everyone put in a shift, worked hard tactically and concentrated through the whole game. If you lose concentration away from home against a talented team like Valencia, you get punished. Even when things were getting difficult and people were getting tired the concentration levels were high."

The plan worked.

Oh yeah, Soldado < Vidic.

Derek

United In Spain Statistics (09.28.10)

2010-09-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Here are some scary statistics when United travels to Spain.

United have won only once in 18 games on Spanish soil (2-0 v Deportivo La Coruna in 2002) and have failed to find the net on the last three occasions (Villarreal, Barcelona, Villarreal).

With Valencia top the table and United struggling defensively, this could be a rough trip.

Derek

United Draws Wolves in CC (09.25.10)

2010-09-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hello,

As you may have heard, United drew Wolves in the Carling Cup. This match will be at Old Trafford, the week of October 25th.

To refresh your memory, United beat Wolves in their first round match of the Carling Cup last year, 1-0 with a goal from Welbeck. The starting line-up consisted of: Tomasz Kuszczak (G), Gary Neville (D), Wes Brown (D), Jonathan Evans (D), Fabio Da Silva (D) , Michael Carrick (M) , Nani (M), Darron Gibson (M), Michael Owen (F), Danny Welbeck (F), Federico Macheda.

United has an all-time record of 5-2-2 against Wolves with 18 goals for and a shocking 11 goals against.

This has been your stats update.

Derek

The Literal "B" Team Defeats Scunthorpe in Carling Cup (09.22.10)

2010-09-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hello,

When I say the "B", I mean it. Even Sir Alex did not make the trip putting assistant Mike Phelan in charge. United are the holders of the Carling Cup and it has been very important for the club, giving the younger players a chance to work on their craft. It has also allowed players coming off injuries to get some time. Sir Alex does a great job allowing this competition to be a ground for players to showcase their abilities and play for a chance to get a start in bigger matches. You feel an energy about the players in these games. The games themselves can also be very entertaining.

I also enjoy watching the smaller market teams and their fans. They tend to be passionate. While I do not want them to win necessarily, I do enjoy those teams keeping it close and even scoring a goal. I know that may not be a “Red Till Dead” thing to say but the smaller market fans deserve some joy. So long as they do not beat United. My wish came true in this game as Scunthorpe’s Josh Wright made a great strike to give the home team the lead in the 19th minute. The celebration from Wright and the fans was nice to watch even though United were down 1-0. It did not take long for Darron Gibson to level and United went ahead before half-time through Chris Smalling.

While not much of a modern day Owen fan, Michael scored two goals along with another from Park Ji-sung who, before that point, seemed like he was struggling a bit. Although down, Scunthorpe pushed and kept possession well in the second half and got they goal they deserved in injury time from Martyn Woolford.

A couple of items from this game:

The commentator was very hard on Tomasz Kuszczak. I realize he has to make the game entertaining but it almost seemed like Kiszcak slept with his wife or something :)

Rio was ok but not great. I always wonder if those two years United’s defense was unbreakable whether Rio pushed so hard he cannot go back. He seems to lacking that extra bit of pace that made him the best defender in the league.

Federico Macheda and especially Javier Hernandez did not impress me that much. Yeah, they combined for goals and assists but Hernandez seems to be struggling finding his place lately. Fans probably lifted their expectations so high after Hernandez scored against Chelsea.

Biggest disappointment was not seeing too much of Bebe.

Overall a good win.

Who is next?

Derek

Can We Call This A Disaster? (v. Rangers, 09.14.10)

2010-09-16T05:16:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Sorry about the late report. I had to work and missed the first half so I have to tape it and watch it the next day. After watching the game 1.5 times, I have some thoughts.

Did Sir Alex gamble and loss? Yep. First, the team was struggling to find the net with their "A" squad so he makes 10 changes. Second, that "A" squad has only played two games of four with Rooney so it was like starting over. Many times during the match, you saw the confusion and lack of flow between the mid-field, Wayne and Hernandez. Third, our scoring leader, who did not play in the World Cup and should be fresh, not to mention it is the beginning of the season, did not play. I cannot believe I am complaining because Berbatov was not even on the bench. Yikes.

Did Rangers deserve the point. Yep. They played a pretty good game. Yes, United's offence were not firing but that does not matter. When United pressed, Rangers back-line did ok. The team played well. Yeah, there were some questionable falls to the ground but they are at Old Trafford in the Champions League.

The bad night was made worse by the very serious injury to United star winger, Valencia. This was a player who fed a lot of balls to Wayne Rooney for goals last year and was on the rise. A lot of fans thought this could be an even better season than last. As I write this, the surgery was a "success" but no word on return time. I heard Jesus Navas from Sevilla will be available in January.

So, let's see: another scoreless game, tons of errors by Sir Alex and a serious injury to one of our star and valuable players. I would call this game a disaster.

Meanwhile, Chelsea roles on even on the road.

Testing times.

See you in a couple of weeks.

Derek

United Beat Chelsea to Win Shield (08.08.10)

2010-08-08T13:59:00.001-07:00

Hello,

Welcome back to a new season of BLOGS on RED TILL DEAD.COM. My name is Derek Collins-Newman and the blogger for the Cup Competitions which include the FA COMMUNITY SHIELD. While I am not much of a fan of this particular competition, this year's edition was much better than the last couple. The crowd was also in better form, with each team supporters booing their opponent's England villain. United beat Chelsea 3-1 and played very well for most of the game save a spell in the second half but that could be due to the many substitutions.

While both teams made only a couple small moves during the summer, the glimpses at new faces Yossi Benayoun, Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez would have to wait to after half time. Herdandez would make another splash, this time with his face.

The first half was a good half of football with both teams having some chances and both teams having players completely disappear for 20 minutes at time (are you listening Owen). While being booed, Wayne Rooney ran down another great ball from Scholes to give a sublime pass through some defenders legs to Valencia for the goal. I hope Capello was watching: put Rooney up front NOT all over the pitch. Hernandez took to the field in the second half and, with the help of his face, gave the reds the lead. Chelsea did perform better in the second half, pushing United back, especially after Drogba came on. After Chelsea scored, Berbatov's great touch helped put the game out of reach for both the Chelsea keeper and Chelsea themselves.

With the pre-season over, a couple things stand out for me. First, Paul Scholes is playing excellent football. Second, Wayne Rooney will be fine to start the season. Third, Hernandez not only scores but is very fast and gets open. If he can handle the tough ELP season, we are in for a treat. Forth, Vidic needs to stay healthy to help Jonny Evans and Smalling through the season. Finally, Valencia looked solid and like Pat (club member) says is a true winger.

For me, it comes down to United and Chelsea again this season. If all things stay the same and 8 defenders do not get injured at same time, I think the PL title is coming back to Old Trafford.

See you next time.

Derek

United Crash Out of Champions League (04.07.10)

2010-04-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Ok, I have had a few days to think about this. There are so many angles to which to talk about this game but I think you have heard them all so I will not do too in depth. I would like to talk about a few things however.

The best way to deal with threats such a Robben and Ribbery is to force them backwards. United has done this very well over the years, especially when winning trophies against big clubs. This way, the big players are not attacking and, if they do get the ball, they are further away from our net. Pretty simple. United has to attack. They did that in the first half until Rooney re-hurt his ankle. Valancia, Nani and Rafael were all attacking at pace. Young Rafael made Ribbery look pretty average until his sending off. United attacked, drove Bayern back, scored three goals and looked in control. Then, Rooney hurt himself and clearly lost a lot in terms of speed. Bayern noticed this and started pushing their back line up as Rooney was no threat on the counter. When the back line moved up, so did Robben and Ribbery. I will discuss Rooney a bit later.

Was the referee uneven? Many United fans say so. Trying to be unbiased, I would say the referee got 90% of the calls correct against Rafael but seemed to not warn or card Ribbery for retaliation in the same situation. What really bothered me was the lack of cards being handed out to the Bayern defenders who clearly kicked Rooney in the leg, no attempt to play the ball. Bayern were smart and played to the referee's attention.

Bayern's first goal at the end of the first half saw terrible defending by Carrick to say the least. He was in front of his man and the flow of play was moving against the Bayern player. Sometime tells me Fergie had a word with him in dressing room. For more opinion on this, see Ben's opinion on our RED RANT blog.

Now, what happened in the second half. Clearly, Rafeal's sending off played the biggest factor in the game. Even 11-11, United probably would have held Bayern to one goal. I once again wonder what Sir Alex was thinking in leaving Rooney out there. I mean, it is clear that he has no confidence in Burba. He would rather send in a player not 100% in his place. I am not saying Sir Alex was risking Rooney's season as he would not do that. Rooney and the medical staff probably gave the ok. Still, once he re-hurt himself, he still did not put Burba in, even up by a goal on aggregate. That sends a message to we the fans.

Speed is what got us a head in both legs. The opening goal in Bayern was off a corner created by pace and speed. The opening three goals at Old Trafford created by pace and speed. When Rooney was hurt, they no longer considered him a threat and were able to use men concerned with Rooney to close down the wingers not to mention playing on Rafael's inexperience. If Sir Alex was content to defend, why not bring in Macheda who is young and fast to at least make Bayern's back line think about it. He could be at least a threat with speed and could run back to defend. Rooney was just standing there, limping. Instead, he left Rooney out there too long and was not a threat. Confusing for this fan.

Have a look at the goals for Bayern. Many were botched defensive plays.

Disappointing.

Well, this is my last post till the new season. It has been a pleasure to do the cup competitions match reports and I hope to see you all here next season.

Cheers and thanks to everyone in the club.

Derek

Gutted...Will Need a Day To Recover

2010-04-07T16:29:00.001-07:00

Hello,

Need a day or two to think this one over.

Derek

Bayern Sinks United (03.30.10)

2010-03-30T17:56:00.000-07:00

Hello,

After watching Bayern face Fiorentina in the last round, I had some thoughts. First, Bayern's defensive line was not great. Not just one of them, all of them seemed nervous around the ball. Second, the midfield was ok, not great, just ok. They did not control the game in boths legs against the Italian team. Robben is a threat and Ribery, although coming off an injury, was a concern. Going into this game, with United on a role, I really thought United would win. I was wrong.

With Robben injured, United started off strong with Wayne Rooney scoring in the first two minutes of the game. I always get nervous when United score early. Anyone remember Liverpool last year? Something weird happens when they score really early. United played ok in the first half although you could tell Bayern wanted this game more.

In the second half, things fell a part. Bayern were all over United, dominating in the mid-field and forcing VDS into more saves than I have seen this year. Where I thought Bayern's defensive line was shaky, it was United's that proved even more shakey. Gary Neville, playing in his third straight starting role, clearly handled the ball which allowed Ribery to deflect a shot off of Rooney. The score was tied but it was Bayern clearly in control.

After a complete defensive meltdown by Evra and company, Olic applied the cool finish for Bayern's winner. The goal was celebrated but the cameras went straight to Rooney who appeared to land awkwardly on his right ankle after trying to avoid having his left foot being stomped on by Mario Gomez. Rooney limped off the pitch and needed help from the trainers. This is not a great sign for United nor England. As I write this, no word on the injury.

Besides the shocking display from the defence, one has to wonder what happened to our usual competent midfielders. Fletcher was taken out of the game which I think is the most critical part. Park was no where to be found. Nani was ok but I heard his name less and less as the game went on before being pulled. Giggs did little save a great corner kick and some nice defending in the corner. Then there is Burba who came on and really did nothing to help the attack. Rooney was left up there with little quality service. Perhaps Sir Alex has to re-think his away, Park, 4-5-1 set-up. Maybe teams have seen this too many times in the last two years. I am not saying change the whole set-up but perhaps tweak it a bit.

Although United only has to win 1-0 at Old Trafford, this game was hopefully a wake-up call for the lads. They must play better next week. They must play better because Bayern may have Robben back and United may not have Rooney.

One last thing - to the Bayern fan in the crowd today - we do not mind your celebration but smile while you can. See you next week.

Derek

Champions League - Quarter Final Preview

2010-03-17T15:22:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Let's see United's CL records against who is in the draw on Friday:

Arsenal:
2 games played, 2 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses , 4 goals for, 1 goals against

Bayern Munich:
7 games played, 1 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses , 7 goals for, 8 goals against

Bordeaux (never played in CL):

Barcelona:
7 games played, 1 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses , 9 goals for, 14 goals against

CSKA Moscow:
2 games played, 1 wins, 1 draws, 0 losses , 4 goals for, 3 goals against

Inter Milan:
4 games played, 2 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses , 5 goals for, 1 goals against

Lyon:
4 games played, 2 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses , 6 goals for, 4 goals against

Thoughts?

Derek

United Destroys AC Milan - 03.10.10

2010-03-10T18:57:00.000-08:00

Hello,

The boss said it best after the game: "With the kind of team I’ve got, it doesn’t matter who we play next."

I have not missed one United game this year, not one. I have even watched a couple games twice. Those are games United either wins big time or loses badly. To find out what is working and what is not. This was, by far, the best all-around game United has played all season and it was in the Champions League, against AC Milan.

Where to start. Well, it has to start with Rooney. He does it all: with his head, his speed, his feet and to watch him move around the park is outstanding. He drove those Milan defenders into the ground. After the third goal, they had nothing left and that has a lot to do with Wayne Rooney. Second, I was critical of Park during the first half but he once again did his job, the job Sir Alex asked of him. Scholes and Fletcher completely dominated the midfield while Nani had a so-so game. I counted four really bad mistakes in the first half but he made up for it with the pass for Rooney's second. Gary Neville = pure class and handled what's his name? Oh yeah, Ronaldinho. I do remember even hearing his name after the 30 minute mark. What a job Park and Neville did on him.

Sir Alex said after the game that it was a "Manchester United" game.

For us in the club, it was a joy to watch. By the way, a year ago, it was just Dan, Derek, Mike and about 3-4 other fans for the round of 16 match in the CL (well, Ben and Pat were in Milan). On Wednesday, we had 24 members, our best turn out for a mid-week game ever to see United destroy AC Milan.

Brilliant.

Derek

United = Carling Cup Champions

2010-02-28T10:12:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Although not a great game from the players nor perhaps the manager (Owen?) but United has its first trophy of the season at the expense of a good Villa team.

The game started off with pace and energy until, at least for United fans, Vidic brought down Agbonlahor in the box. It was a penalty and I still do not know how Vidic avoided a card of some kind. Refs confuse me. A similar play happened later against Owen: last man back, free kick but the yellow card came out. Strange. United dominated the first half but even with the Owen goal, I am still not a fan. He does not create anything and, really, only cost us a sub which could have been used to get Scholes on the pitch and pull a struggling Carrick.

Second half sucked the life out of the crowd and, it seemed, out of our club until Rooney headed the winning goal. His header that hit the post was like a lightning bolt or something. Clearly, Burba was injured and forced Rooney to play rover, a position I do not like seeing him in. I often wonder if Chelsea were to ask Drogba to play that role as often as Rooney has if he would. In a final, at Wembley, Rooney showed even more class, playing rover and even defending to allow Berbatov to rest in the striker position. Rooney is the class act of the Premier League.

This may not sound like a RED TILL DEAD thing-to-say but I like Villa and hope they go on to win the FA CUP. They are a good team with a good work ethic and deserve something. Hopefully this cup final will inspire them to push. They played fine today but even at the top of their game, United seems to find a way.

Congratulations to Tomasz Kuszczak who deserved to play the cup final after being solid post Foster. Fergie knows the game and knows how to inspire even the 2nd or 3rd string players. He is a motivator in the biggest sense of the word. I think the team needs to congratulate Rafael who played his role through this competition well and is beginning to fit into the squad very well. Let's not forget Evra who seems to put in a well-above-average performance week-in and week-out.

Winning trophies means something, despite what other managers seem to think. It is a spring-board to confidence and positive team-energy. I think other teams such as Arsenal and Liverpool need to start thinking about this. Are you listening Rafa/Liverpool? I think if you win the Europa League, you will be a bigger threat next year.

Cheers and see you in a week for the CL.

Derek

United > AC Milan in Leg One (02.16.10)

2010-02-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Quick one: United > AC Milan. That about covers it. I know I need to be more objective when writing these match reports but, if you watched the game, you know United will go through.

To begin, the first two goals were flukes. Milan capitalized on Evra's mis-kick/clearence and scored. United went on to score a fluky goal off Paul Scholes' left shin after trying to kick the ball with his right foot.

Second, Milan completely fell apart and were exhausted in the second half.

Third, if United kept their concentration, the second Milan goal would never have happened not to mention Vidic will probably be back for the return leg. This spells trouble for the striker-less attack of Milan.

Oh and by the way, Milan has to score two goals and hold United to no goals at Old Trafford.

Not going to happen.

Derek

United Out of FA Cup - Maybe A Good Thing (01.03.10)

2010-02-24T10:11:00.000-08:00

Hello,

United played Leeds United for the time in six years and not since 1981 have they returned across the Pennines celebrating victory. United fielded a strong team but this is the magic of the FA Cup. It happens every year. We, as United fans, are used to laughing at other teams who use to League One sides. United rarely goes out in this stage of the competition. Leeds came out and played the game of their lives against a United side still trying to find their legs after complete defensive injury meltdown to having a half and half team. I mean, for a while, United's A-Team midfield was playing defence. How can you build momentum throughout the season working under those conditions?

Jonathan Howson saw his opening and launched a long ball over the top for Beckford, who was gained ground on Wes Brown. Brown was only playing because Nemanja Vidic had been injured in the warm-up. Kuszczak was slow to react and Beckford had time to nip the ball beyond the Pole and send it rolling over the line. For the rest of the game, United looked like they were never coming back.

Now, I personally believe crashing out of the FA Cup might be a blessing. All the injuried defensive players need time to recover. We cannot afford out back-ups playing in too many competitions as the PL and Champions League are too important.

Till next year,

Derek