-
Preview: Inter Milan vs Manchester United
The biggest match of the season so far, so much is the hype and anticipation around this match that it would be really surprising if it really lived upto the expectations. True Inter and United are No 1 in respective leagues with similar number of points(creepy!!), you would expect fireworks right from the word go. But i just feel differently. Inter will be keen to make sure they get to a good start and wont be surprising to find if they start a little defensively, same can be expected of United. It can be noted that San Siro has not been a happy hunting ground for United, so Ferguson would be happy to get a point.
United will have to really play well if they need to win here, esp now that their defense seems to have some trouble. Vidic is suspended,Brown, Neville injured and now after Blackburn game Evans is also injured it seems. A clean sheet here and the tie could very much be ours. There has been a lot of talk about Ibra, that he is the best and all..really..Ibra has a habit of not performing in the crunch games so how does he be the best?? he is talented no doubt but there is a long long way to go if he is to be the best.
United will look to attack the flanks, esp with Ronaldo and Evra teaming up. Both are quick and can cause any defense trouble. The Evra vs Maicon battle will be very interesting as both play very similar games. Inter on the other hand will have a very deadly combination in the form of Adriano and Ibrahimovic, both on their day can tear open any defense. But the question is can they perform? Both have crumbled under pressure in the past, and playing United anywhere can create pressure, so much that the best of best players have been humbled and made to look like kids. Cambiasso will be key for Inter just as Scholes will be for United. Scholes is in really good form, the kind of passing he has brought with him is unmatched and he will be key if United have to get anything from Italy.
Inter has not been in really stunning form when it comes to Champions League football. Inter Milan have the worst record of the 16 teams that qualified, earning only eight points in the group stages. The last time Inter faced English opposition they lost. Manchester United have lost only once to an Italian opposition in last 8 meetings. Also United have the joint best defensive record this year in the competition along with Juventus - with only three goals conceded. Manchester United have been unbeaten in their last 19 Champions League games.
There is no doubt whatsoever that this tie is going to be a cracker over both the legs, but i have a feeling that this might just be decided after the 1st leg.
My Prediction: Inter 0-1 Manchester United
more
-
Review: Manchester United 2-1 Blackburn
Venue: Old Trafford
Time: 17:30 (GMT)
Manchester United taking on Blackburn Rovers looking to extend their unbeaten run to 15 games since their defeat to Arsenal back in November. It was also the last time United conceded a goal in the premier league.
Blackburn on the other hand had an uphill task to stay in the league as they are stuggling in the bottom 3. But the good thing is they have played generally well and yet went on to loose. It will be nearly impossible for them to even get a point from OT.
Sqauds:
Manchester United:
Starting XI: Tomasz Kuszczak, Jonny Evans( Nemanja Vidic 64'), Patrice Evra, Rafael da Silva, Rio Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Nani(Carlos Tevez 64'), Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes(Ryan Giggs 82'), Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney
Subs not Used: Ben Foster, Danny Welbeck, Darren Fletcher, Fabio da Silva
Blackburn Rovers:
Starting XI: Paul Robinson, Andre Ooijer, Ryan Nelsen, Stephen Warnock, Gael Givet, David Dunn(Tugay 73'), Vincenzo Grella(Benny McCarthy 79'), Morten Gamst Pedersen, Keith Andrews, El-Hadji Diouf(Keith Treacy 83'), Roque Santa Cruz
Subs not Used: Jason Brown, Aaron Mokoena, Zurab Khizanishvili, Jason Roberts
It came as a real shock for me when i looked at the team sheet and saw there was no Van der Saar, maybe in the view of the upcoming Champions League match against Inter and the Carling cup final against Spurs, he was rested. Vidic on the bench meant that Johnny Evans would get a chance, i have been really impressed with his performance and it was only fair that he got fair amount of chances to grow as a player.
The first half was really very gripping to be honest with both the teams creating opportunities to score and scoring as well. It was not as many expected that Blackburn will be put under tremendous pressure and simply give in, no it was not. Blackburn fought very bravely and surged forwards. The first goal came as a result of a brilliant ball by Nani, which Nelson failed to clear in the box and Rooney grabbed the opportunity and scored giving United the lead in the 23rd minute.
But Manchester United's 14 match clean sheet record came to an end when both Nani and Paul Scholes waited for each other to collect a loose ball , allowing Andre Ooijer to step in and dart forward. Ooijer then slipped a pass to Santa Cruz. With Rio Ferdinand closing in on the South American, there was no need for Tomasz Kuszczak,to dart out. Both United players then committed themselves to a tackle, allowing Santa Cruz to calmly continue his run and tap into an empty net. It was a run that had to end at some point of course. Manchester United scored through Johnny Evans when he headed a Nani corner home but the goal was disallowed for a non-existing foul.
The second half started brilliantly for the visitors when they created a few chances and were really looking to get all 3 points. United had also made their intentions clear. It was all set for a brilliant half of football. Blackburn came close, very close to scoring and taking the lead around the hour mark when Nelson hit the woodwork and Diouf's shot was saved somehow by Kuzczak. But they will be very sorry they did not score as within minutes United scored...Keith Andrews brought down Evra close to the penalty box and Ronaldo hammered in a shot which Robinson could do nothing about.
Just after the goal Evans and Nani was substituted and in came Vidic and Carlos Tevez. The departure of Evans might have raised a few concerns before the Inter match as Vidic is suspended. Rooney, Berbatov and Ronaldo had chances to score towards the end of the game but failed to hit the target and the score read 2-1 to united at the end of the game which meant United have an 8 point lead over Liverpool who play Man City later tonight.
more
-
Unstoppable United March to Top...
A lot has happened since I last posted anything here and that was in September, almost half-a year back..time just seems to fly. Why I did not post, there are a lot of reasons, but I don’t think I should be writing that, When I last posted United, had lot of injury problems and a very unfair-fixture,lost a couple of games,drew a few, in total a very bad start. Many said, they will not be winning the league this season, and given the start, I had a small doubt myself. But now the tables are turned on its head, those who said we are not going to win the league are writing off all other clubs to winning it, how strange.
What is even more intresting is the clean sheets we have kept. 13 games without conceding a goal in the league, and most of the matches,we did not have our best defence. There were like 7-8 games Rio did not play, a few in which Evra was missing. But the best thing is that whoever replaced them did really well. Evans and Rafael have really showed what they are capable of. And one has to say that EVDS has been really brilliant.Even though he has been helped by having some brilliant defenders infront of him, but credit has to be given too him,for he made some brilliant saves. Hope he continues till the end of the season. It looks impossible at this point that he will let a goal in, but that also seems a lil unrealistic as well…
Another good thing that I have to stress upon is that we have been improving in every aspect of our game. There were some games where I feel, United were a little too defensive, trying very hard not to conceed a goal, and that probably made us a bit too cautious. We were not the kind of free-flowing relaxed team and that worried me. But now esp in the game against Fulham(this was the first game I watched since Chelsea where we scored more than 1 goal. And the Chelsea game was brilliant..Men against KG kids..wish we scored more ;)..). What I loved is Berbatov’s goal. It was a move full that probably would have resulted in a goal against any opposition. [Here you can see the move(in pics)]. The game against Fulham, was the game in hand for us. It was important for us to win it as this would mean we would go 5 points clear of 2nd place (surpsingly!!) Liverpool. It is the first time in probably 5 months or so that the top 5 teams have played the same number of matches.
When everything was going just right for us, some of our opponents have not had a good time at all..Chelsea for instance is in totters..They have sacked Big Phil..The hype, the rumors and all the oohs and ahs when he took over in May or June last year has died out all too soon. It is probably Chelsea’s 5th manager in the same number of years in the form of Guus Hiddink. Well, I am not particulary intrested in whats wrong out there,because everything is!! It was probably just as Sir Alex Ferguson had said even before the season started, when he wrote Chelsea completely off from winning the league..
At Anfield, Robbie Keane..Ha..Back to Spurs!! LOLZ…Why the hell did they buy him in the first place!! Also they have lost the momentum and are now 5 points behind..And they have not been in the finest of forms as well..In 2009,out of the last 6 games, Liverpool has managed to get 12 points when United has got all 18. Also they have won only 2 of their last 6 games at home. That too at that time when United has won 5 and drawn 1 ie 16 of 18 points..Thats easily covers the 5 points lead United have.
United are more than favorites to win the League, but they are also in the finals of Carling Cup(which is against Spurs on March 1), Last 16 of champions league and quarter-finals of the FA Cup. It means that United's in the running for doing an impossible task ie to win all 4 cups ie the quadruple..Hope it happens :)
more
-
Liverpool 2-1 United
Oh dear Oh dear..Its been 4 days since trauma @ Anfield that was probably a reason why i had been sick.. Or was it something else? Eager i was for the biggest battle but i have to say United seemed to be playing by too low a standard than usual. For the first 25 min or so, everything looked great, an early goal, lots of movement on and off the ball, it looked great and i swear i felt we were gonna thrash them. All nerves and tension went right through the window, it was matter of by how much we will won rather than are we going to win or not.
Such was the intensity of the game in the opening few minutes, i dared not to blink, for i was not wanting to miss anything. Oh no i did not. But slowly we were losing the hold, Edwin Van der Saar nearly messed it up when he made yet another blunder from a corner this time and luckily i think the shot from Kuyt struck his arm and Brown cleared it. I thought i nearly missed a beat there.
But fate seems to be favoring the Scousers as it has on their previous 2 victories this season, yet another error from VDS and this time most unfortunately, the ball it Brown as VDS tried to clear it (i personally feel he should not have) and made a right mess of it, the ball hit Brown and went in. United were surely guilty of letting their opponents work their wasy abck into the match. Liverpool were clearly the better side from then on.
I don't know what went wrong or what happened but we never kept the ball for more than a couple of minutes if i remember. We kept losing the ball and at this level it is NOT AT ALL ACCEPTABLE, AT LEAST NOT FROM UNITED.
The second half commenced and there were a few changes, Carrrick seemed to have injured himself after a tackle with Benayoun( i do not give a damn if the spelling is right or wrong, so dare not point it.) and was replaced by Giggs. Nani was also brought on for Anderson, i did not remember if ever played or not!!
Well things just was getting worse and worse for us, Liverpool were much much better than us on that day, not like we don't have a squad to beat them, if every United played as much as 50% of their best, we could have given them a sound thrashing any day, any place any time, but it just was not our day.
To aggravate things, Giggs made one error of not kicking the ball out of play and just waited for it to go out and he lost the possession and Babel scored. Damn him!! they were up 2 goals to one, the FIRST GOAL THAT "THEY" HAVE SCORED AGAINST US FOR QUITE SOME TIME IN THE LEAGUE. They had just a goal to show in the last 8 outings and that was scored by a United Player,Here too, first one for Liverpool was scored by Brown.
When things could not get any worse, Vidic goes and gets himself booked for the second time in the match resulting in a RED card and to add more problems for Sir Alex. i was glad when it was all over, i just could not watch any more, it was that pathetic a display from us.
Hope we have our problems sorted out. and by the way what the hell was Rooney doing as a winger? I do not know why, but the midfield never seemed to be the potent threat it used to be..Better sort it out soon... Next up are Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, hope we beat them, that will shut may a idiots out here, laughin at our loss, But its only a matter of time before we dust the problems off and come back strong. But i just hope that it will happen on the 2oth
more
-
PREVIEW: LIVERPOOL vs MANCHESTER UNITED
United will take on Liverpool tomorrow at Anfield for yet another mouth-watering match. United obliviously has had the results in their favor in past few seasons.
As well as the injury plusses United also have the psychological advantage of a six-match, seven-year unbeaten run at Anfield. United's last Premier League defeat there was back in November 2001. Since then they have won five times and drawn twice.
Under Rafa Benitez Liverpool have not even managed to score against United at home in four league attempts.
This is something that Rafa would not be proud of, but it would at the bac of his mind that he never got the better of Ferguson. It will be only adding to the pressure if they do not win this one. Liverpool would be missing the services of Torres and Gerrard who are both out with injuries, but according to Rafa they are recovering well enough to play tomorrow.If the duo does not play, i personally do not think Liverpool will stand much chance.
Liverpool have now been promoted from being a "one-man army" to a "two-man army" with the team depending very heavily on Gerrard and Torres to win them games. But with both doubtful for the game, i do not know how they will really be much of a threat. Some Liverpool fans are hoping that Robbie Keane will "inspire" them and they may win the game, which looks more unlikely by each passing minute.
Meanwhile United have their own injury problems, Ronaldo is still out but is expected to be back soon, Hargreaves i am not very sure will be playing or not. Some say he is some say he is not, so it would be better to see for yourselves tomorrow.. But one good news for us would be that Tevez is back earlier than expected as he was harshly sent-off while palying for Argentina against Paraguay in a world cup qualifier match. So he will be fresh. Last season it was Tevez who scored the winning goal at Anfield so it will definitely up his morale and confidence.
Also it seems certain that Carrick and Giggs return from injury. I will be intresting to see the combination Ferguson uses up-front as all 3 of his strikers are fit and rearing to go no doubt. The spotlight will be of course on United's latest signing Dimitar Berbatov, The Bulgarian will be itching for his debut in front of the Kop. But Ferguson will also have to think about accommodating or disappointing Carlos Tevez or Wayne Rooney.
It is one game that i personally love to watch, a game that is extremely tough to predict. Am really excited about the game and dying to watch it...
more
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
