De-flowering: Manchester United 1 - Shanghai Shenhua 0

photo by dawnzy58	via PhotoRee

Although the continent changed, the song remained the same from Manchester United with a lineup that included an overabundance of youngsters to face the mega-rich Shanghai Shehnua -- loosely translated as the Flower of Shanghai -- on China's east coast on Wednesday evening. Although the home side lacked the newly acquired Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka due to injury and rest, and fielded a largely second string side against their English visitors, excitement was still high among the many spectators watching the game at Shanghai Stadium. To the match report we go:

o Playing with a defensive set up that included five in the middle of the park, Shenhua frustrated United over the first half of action, and looked better than expected, at least to this particular non-expert in Chinese football.

o The scariest moment of the pre-season saw United's newest signing Nick Powell collide with one of several Wangs in the Shenhua midfield, remaining motionless while the crowd gasped. The concern was enough for Sir Alex to stretch his legs to obtain a  better view of the injured players, and it was with a great sense of relief that both men eventually hobbled to their feet as play resumed.

o A short while later it was Powell in the center of the action again, capping off a perfectly timed goal-bound run with a horrendously aimed shot that pulled just wide of the home team's net. Powell buried his head in the hands, knowing he had missed a gift-wrapped opportunity to end the relative goal drought experienced by the visitors since the pre-season kicked off.

o Although the home side never looked likely to score deploying only a solitary striker up top, neither did they look likely to concede, keeping their shape well and parking the bus in front of goal for large stretches of the contest.

o Anders Lindegaard had to come up big to deny Shenhua's Australian mid-fielder Joel Griffiths in the dying minutes of an otherwise uneventful first 45. Once again, it was with a faint sense of relief that the Reds trudged to the locker room locked in a less-than-thrilling nil-nil draw.

Saturday Snoozefest: Manchester United 1 - Ajax Cape Town FC 1

Photo by epSos.de on Flickr

To the very bottom of the country we head, as Manchester United travel from Durban down to Cape Town to face an unheralded and eponymous Ajax club on the second leg of the legendary club's pre-season tour. Once again the Gaffer opts for a mix of youthful enthusiasm and veteran leadership, with unfamiliar names such as Marnick Vermijl and Scott Wootton lining up alongside the familiar monikers of Paul Scholes, Antonio Valencia and Chicharito.

Sir Alex chooses today's game to give newboy Shinji Kagawa his first start for the team, a debut eagerly anticipated by the club's legions of fans. Although the names of Robin Van Persie and Lukas Moura continue to be whispered by both fans and press alike, Kagawa is here and now, and we'll look to see how the Japanese international does in his first curtain call. Without any further ado, to a wet but temporarily sunny Cape Town Stadium we go:

o The game began with a frantic pace, easy on the eye for both the fans and neutrals alike. Although the initial pace was fast and furious, the opportunities for goals were few and far between in the early going. United saw more of the ball but the home side performed well, too -- as may be expected of the winners of the domestic South African league.

o Tyler Blackett performed well, showcasing his willingness to get involved in nearly every United attack down the left hand side of the pitch. The teenager ran his legs off in support of his older teammates, displaying a promising mix of speed, athleticism and physical strength.

o It was great to have the MUFC broadcasters calling the game on Fox Soccer, as we don't get the opportunity to hear Stewart Gardner and the irrepressible Paddy Crerand all that often in the States.  One thing I've learned watching this tour is that Paddy is wrong more often than he's right about offside calls -- the club should buck up to get him and Stewart a better view of the action than they must have had.

o It took every bit of 35 minutes for the visitors to direct a ball on net, with Chicharito finally succeeding in testing the Ajax 'keeper with a bouncing header.  Although the watching pleasure had substantially deteiorated from the game's promising opening, the Ajax fans had to be relatively pleased at the deadlock.  The home side defended in numbers throughout the first half, keeping their shape and showing good discipline off the ball.

o My personal highlight of the first 45 minutes of "action": "So, we're in the final minutes of the first half."

o Kagawa displayed some shimmering skills, offering perfectly weighted passes to his teammates that should have led to scores on more than one occasion. Offering just a glimpse of his massive potential was more than enough to make this watcher a true believer -- this man could lead the Leagu in assists this year if he plays like he did on Saturday.

A Stroll in the Park

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Where else can we begin but with pre-game news that Owen Hargreaves, United's lost boy, is gaining his first Premier League start in over two years today. Seen only once in a United kit (and that only fleetingly) since September 2008, Hargreaves was formerly one of the world's most skilled holding midfielders, but has faced a series of knee operations and extended rehabilitation that have made him the forgotten man of this Red Devils squad. It's a somewhat shocking announcement that he'll start today, and like United fans worldwide, I'm holding my breath today to see how Hargreaves looks on the pitch.


United begin the game in a 4-4-1-1 formation today, opting for Chicharito up front by himself, with Obertan tucking in just behind. Berbatov is left off even the bench today, apparently under the weather. Sickness has ravaged the United roster for today's game, with several Red Devils, including the famed Gaffer himself, feeling the effects. 


Five minutes in, and the news is not good.  It's a hushed Old Trafford crowd that witnesses yet another setback for Hargreaves, as he limps off the field with what looks like a pulled left hamstring, unable to continue.  It's a sad and especially early ending to the much anticipated outing, and Fergie's bold roll of the dice has turned up snake eyes.  

United Feast on Roast Turkey

photo by jdolenga	via PhotoRee

So it's a relatively bare-bones United squad making the trip to Turkey for the game tonight. Out are Ferdinand, Evans, Giggs, Gibson, Giggs, Macheda, Rooney and Neville, and in are Smalling, Bebe, Obertan, Fabio, and Rafael.  Surpirisingly, VdS gets the start between the sticks, probably due to Fergie's desire to increase the odds of keeping a clean sheet tonight. Although Sir Alex insisted in his press conference yesterday that Champions League is the most competitive football on the planet, today's game may not be be Exhibit A for the defense. I will, however, happily agree with him that watching football on a European night is infinitely better than a trip to the dentist (Sorry, Dr. Marks).

Tonight's game could be important, and if United gain the three valuable points that are there for the taking, they will be standing alone on top of Group C with 10 points in hand, typically enough to ensure qualification into the tournament's next round (even with two games still remaining). Given that United have only allowed three shots on target in all three of their prior games, and Bursaspor has yet to score in their Champions League debut, the Red Devils are heavily favored in the match, even though it's an away fixture

It's appalingly loud at the Attaturk Stadium as the game kicks off;  and it's even harder to believe that only 24,000 fans can make so much noise.

Back to the Future

photo by anne.oeldorfhirsch	via PhotoRee

Pre-game thoughts: It's a young squad tonight versus Wolves, with Sir Alex living up to his reputation for using the League Cup to "blood" the squad's younger players and give them top flight exposure under fire.  There's no survivors from the eleven that started the weekend, and it's the first start for Bebe and Ben Amos, which should be intriguing on both counts.  Also receiving rare starts are Brown, Smalling, Evans (haven't heard much of him since Rio has returned), Fabio, Carrick, Gibson, Park, Macheda, and Obertan -- nary a veteran (except Carrick) in the lineup.  The bench has little experience, as well, with Gary Neville and Rafael being the only "veteran" names -- Michael Owen is excluded.  With six starters under the age of 21, it's truly back to the future for the Red Devils tonight.


United's young stars show promise right from the opening whistle, with Bebe giving a glimpse of his much heralded speed inside the first three minutes of the game, attempting to chase down a long forward pass from Smalling before ultimately running out of pitch.  It's just a little hint, but the first view suggests we may see some good things tonight out of the former homeless star.  


Although both sides work out the nerves in the early action, its United getting the better of the game's early stages, with Obertan's direct play in particular causing problems for Wolves' defense. United evidently believe that the pace of the young squad they have on the pitch tonight will give Wolverhampton problems, as they try long pass after long pass in an effort to open up the opponent.

Both teams trade the ball back and forth, although neither creates what would be described as a genuine opportunities, with Obertan and Macheda coming closest for the home side. Bebe also shows good hustle, tracking back and forth on the right side and tantalizing the crowd with brief flashes of pace. Although Macheda is playing up top by himself, he doesn't feature much in the games first half hour as United struggle to get him involved in the offense.

Wolves' best opportunity in a scrappy half comes from a free kick resulting from a Jonny Evans foul 25 yards outside the goal, although David Jones ultimately finds the wall and the threat is snuffed out before Amos has any significant work to do. By half's end, though, it's Wolves with the better of the play in my opinion, as they rack up a succession of corners and free kicks, although they are ultimately unable to capitalize in front of a very subdued Old Trafford crowd.  

The action picks up in the second half as United begin to string things together just a bit more, Obertan and Macheda fashioning a decent opportunity which the Italian flashes just wide when it counts. Two minutes later and it's Darren Gibson unleashing a typical cannon blast of a free kick that registers as the Reds' first shot on goal after 53 minutes. Shortly after Gibson's shot is parried away by Wolves 'keeper Wayne Hennessy, it's Ji-Sung Park with a clear opportunity to put United ahead, and the South Korean really should have done better with his effort, as he's unable to get the ball in the back of the net off a nifty through ball from Michael Carrick.

Despite United's pressure, the goal when it comes is still shocking and unexpected, as the play develops from a United counter off a venomous Wolves' shot from the top of the 18 yard box. The shot is painfully blocked by Jonny Evans (the body-aching thud can be heard all the way back here in Florida), and the resulting rebound is picked up by Obertan who races the length of the pitch before dishing off wide to Bebe.  The Portuguese winger runs roughshod over Wolves' defense, galloping into the box and attempting....something.

I'm not sure whether it's a shot or a cross, but it loops over Hennessy and has to has headed off the goal line by defender Kevin Foley, and Wolves appear to have narrowly escaped the best United opportunity yet. Before play can continue, though, the referee's assistant is signaling a goal, and the replays appear to confirm the decision as correct. If it's a shot, it's one of the more audacious attempts at goal I can remember in a long time. I think it was more likely a centering cross, but before you can say "Bebe," United's newest star is sauntering over in the corner and the scoreboard reads United 1 - Wolverhampton 0 with a little under 35 minutes left to play. 

Before United even manage to take their lead to the hour mark, though, Wolves level the game with a George Elokobi free header thumping home a corner kick. It's game on as the hushed Old Trafford crowd rumbles back to life. 

Both sides miss nice opportunities as the game opens up, with Hunt clipping the bar for Wolves and Macheda missing a perfect set up from Bebe to take the lead for the Red Devils as the game enters the final quarter of action.   Ji-Sung Park finally restores order in the game's 70th minute, picking up an awkward Wolves' attempt at clearance and depositing it in the back of the net for a 2-1 United lead.

Fergie goes for experience to try and see out the game, swapping Fabio for Gary Neville's 601st appearance for the club. The move doesn't pay off, though, as it's the aforementioned Kevin Foley capitalizing on a Darren Gibson giveaway to blow the ball past Ben Amos' outstretched foot, and the score is suddenly tied at 2.

Sir Alex throws one last roll of the dice to stop the teams from heading into extra time, bringing Chicharito on in place of a clearly exhausted Bebe in the game's 82nd minute. Wolves counter with Irish international Kevin Doyle, although truth be told I'm happy to see Matt Jarvis exit the pitch, as he's been a holy terror on the left side all night long.

In the end, it's no surprise really. It's the Little Sweet Pea scoring the 5th and final goal of the night and winning it for the Reds in the game's 90th minute. Call me crazy, but this kid is going to be our leading scorer this season, could in fact be tops in the league, and you heard it here first.  He's ecstatic, and so am I -- and I'm farlieonfootie for October 27th.

Game Day Beer Review: Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale (6.00% ABV). Pours medium amber orange in color with a healthy two fingered off-white head that leaves behind decent lacing. Smell is of pumpkin spices mixed with something vegetal in nature. Up front taste is all smooth pumpkin pie, including a definite cinnamon and nutmeg presence, but then a very earthy, vegetal after-taste with a hint of hop bitternes kicks in and spoils the party. Lacking balance in my opinion, this is not my favorite example of this great fall seasonal style: B -

Après Moi le Deluge, or Fit to be Tied?

photo by DrPleishner	via PhotoRee

After me, the flood. In the ceiling above the United dressing room ceiling, apparently. A pipe bursting at the Stadium of $hite before kick off caused the ceiling in the United dressing room to collapse and the game to be delayed 20 minutes. Let's hope there's no foreshadowing involved here.....

My first thought on seeing a strange United roster: Where's Berba?  It's a road game, and Rooney's out, so where's our leading goal scorer this season?  On the bench, apparently. Better hope Owen stays on his current form. Sir Alex seems to be tinkering with the lineup in a bid to find a second pair of strikers in the absence of the favored pairing of Berbatov and Rooney.

Second, third and fourth thoughts: A first start today for Anderson, and Rio Ferdinand, too.  Also, Evra's on the bench; maybe SAF is reading farlieonfootie after all!

United are clearly hoping the clean sheet at Valencia mid-week, which represented the first time our center back pairing of Rio and Vida played together this season, is the beginning of a trend. As for Anderson, who knows.... I've never quite figured this guy out. He doesn't score goals, and he has rarely bossed the midfield in the past two years after a semi-promising start to his United career. Fingers crossed he has a good game today.

Guess I didn't cross my fingers tightly enough.  The start isn't promising: sluggish, slow and out of sorts. And that's Sunderland.  United look even worse. The Red Devils are let off the hook several times on clear cut Sunderland chances, and Nemanja Vidic looks as if he's auditioning for a starting spot in the linebacking corps of the New York Football Giants.  United play as if the match is being held underwater, perhaps an appropriate style given the dressing room situation, and create only one opportunity in the game's first 45 minutes.

United are completely overrun in their deep-lying midfield formation, with almost no possession to show for the first half. Did I miss the news that Xavi, Iniesta and Messi were mysteriously transferred to Sunderland in advance of today's match?  I can't remember the last time we were dominated on the ball like this. Scholes, O'Shea and Anderson are responsible for a couple of shocking giveaways and Macheda and Owen spend more time defending Sunderland corners near their own goal than they do in the opposite half of the pitch -- you know, the one in which the Sunderland goal is located.

It's Berba on for Owen to start the second half, and within the first minute of the re-start he has more touches than Owen and Macheda combined.  Within two minutes the ball is in the back of the net, although it's Chris Foy and not Mike Dean refereeing the game, and Berba is correctly judged  two yards offside when he re-directs the ball past the Sunderland 'keeper Filet Mignon.

The game drifts along aimlessly for the next 20 minutes, as United slowly play their way back into the match. Clearly the United uniforms, soggy from their pre-match soaking, seem dried out and lighter after a blast of the Fergie hairdryer at halftime. Chicharito enters the game in the 65th minute as United seek to gain the upper hand and look for a late winner. Instead, the move seems to inspire Sunderland as they turn up the pressure in repsonse to the urging of the home crowd.

Inexplicably, Anderson stays in the game until the 80th minute, continuing to  provide poor quality crosses and pinpoint accurate passes to the field staff and assistant referees.  Incredibly, Bebe comes on to take his place, appearing for the first time in the regular season. It's Fergie's equivalent of throwing in the kitchen sink.  Steve Bruce immediately responds with the introduction of Ghanaian World Cup hero Asamoah Gyan, who on his first touch attempts a simple Berba-style bicylcle kick straight into VDS's open arms. Pepe Reina take note.

United do not threaten again as Sunderland  runs out the clock. Another United road game, another not-good-enough result. I'm fit to be tied, and so is United. And that's farlieonfootie for October 2nd.

Column Three: Who Loves Ya, Bebe?!

Random Thoughts from tonight's League Cup Match featuring Manchester United vs Scunthorpe:

* Bebe!  United's most intriguing signing of the summer finally entered a first team game in the 74th minute as a repacement for Park Ji-Sung.  Or Ji-Sung Park.  Depending on who you are talking to.  Or whether or not you're in Korea.  I've never gotten his name straight, and I'm a professional fan.  Do not attempt to pronounce it at home.  One thing I do know is that the tv announcers (presenters, I think the Brits call them) pronounced his name one way for a few years, and then switched it around to the other way a couple of years ago-- I just don't remember which one is currently in style.  I do know that Park sells alot of United t-shirts in Asia, though, and that very few players work harder on the pitch than he does.

Anyway, back to Bebe.  You remember him, don't you?  From the Portuguese Homeless World Cup team?  Still not ringing a bell?  Wut?  You mean you didn't know Portugal fielded a Homeless World Cup team, or even that there was Homeless World Cup?  Well neither did I, until I read about it this summer when Manchester United sensationally signed their homeless superstar out of virtual thin air.  I guess the tv viewership  for the HWC must be fairly low almost by definition, because if the participants are homeless, they probably aren't big owners of televisions, either.   Apparently no one knows about it, and this allowed United to sign our potential superstar for only 7 million pounds, which could -- or could not -- be a bargain.  We'll see.

In any event, back to Bebe -- he made his debut tonight!  I'm kind of sad he had to lop off the dreadlocks, though.  It must be true: United really ARE the Yankees of the EPL -- instead of no facial hair, though, they appear to have a no dreadlock policy.  Guess we won't be recruiting heavily in Jamaica, although I do know famed sprinter Usain Bolt (what a great name for a track star!) is a huge United fan, so maybe he can convince promising footballers in the Islands that it's worth it to shave their head to play for United.

So Bebe entered the game and no sooner did he do so than a naked man ran onto the pitch.  Seriously.  You can't make this stuff up.  Stopped the game for a minute or two, because no one wanted to tackle him.   Don't blame them, really.  But soon enough Bebe had a good touch or two, nothing spectacular.  Then the game was over.  Certainly not reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo's debut against Bolton in 2003 (watch this if you want to see how to make a debut: Cristiano Ronaldo's Debut Match Against Bolton).  Can't wait to see what Bebe can do as his United career begins, but I didn't really get a good sense of him tonight.  Guess I'll have to wait for the next League Cup match to see him again.  Let's mark his grade down tonight as an "incomplete" and come back to him again in a future column.

* You know it's a sign you've been watching too much of a sport when you know the referees by sight.  Hello, Mike Dean.  I still hate you for costing Manchester United the EPL title last year.  Yes, when you neglected to see Didier Drogba in an offside position of at least a yard, it cost us not only a game but the overall EPL title, as well.  Not that it was anything big, of course.  It also personally cost me a uniform, because that's what I had to buy my friend Telly when Chelsea won the title and I lost our bet (guess who I was backing?).  I thought cheekily about putting Mike Dean's name on the back of Telly's uniform, to mark it like a Scarlet Letter, but quickly came to my better senses.  I am glad, though, to see that the people who oversee the EPL have thought enough of Mike Dean to "promote" him to refereeing important League Cup matches in front of 9,000 rabid fans versus the boring league-deciding matches he used to ref in front of 75,000.  I'm sure he's pleased, as well.

* What is it with Claret and Blue?  In fact, what is it with claret?  I thought that was a type of wine, not a color.  I mean, I know the Brits like their wine (in fact, maybe all of their liquor), but is there really such little originality across the pond that seemingly 50% or more of the teams wear claret and blue uniforms?  Villa, West Ham, Burnley, and now I find Scunthorpe all appear to wear the same uniform.  Perhaps they get volume discounts.  Seriously, though, it's as if the Cards, Yanks, A's and Toledo Mud Hens all wore the exact same color pattern.  Is it just me, or is this slightly weird?!  And don't even bother to get me started on the fact that the Brits don't actually call them uniforms, they call them "kits."  And horizontal stripes are called "hoops." I know this because it's how my friend Telly described -- in luxurious detail --  the type of uniform he wanted me to buy for him when I lost the bet.  Thanks again, Mike Dean. 

* Michael Owen is back.  Seriously.  Two goals tonight -- a brace.  Yes, the second was basically bundled into the net, but the first was pure Owen, as only he can do.  Still has a good burst of speed, and always puts himself into a good position according to SAF (that's Sir Alex Ferdinand, the coach of United, for you newbies).  First goals in a long time for Owen, but I'll take them.  I'm glad to see him score. He's been kind of the forgotten man among the United strikers this year, so it's nice to see him open his account; we'll need it as we get deeper into the season.  I do know one thing: depth at striker NEVER hurts.

*  SAF was in Spain tonight?  Skipped the game to scout Valencia, who United play in the Champions League next week, and left the Assistant Coach, Mike Phelan, in charge.  Seriously?  That's how little respect we have for Scunthorpe?  Can you imagine the conversation before the game?: "I'm sorry guys, but our coach couldn't make it tonight -- he had to go watch someone we play next week....  Umm, but he said to say hello."  Maybe I'm confused, but that's what I thought "scouts" were for.  In any event, Fergie knows best, as he has proved time and time again, and the scoreline proved him right again tonight.  United 5 - Scunthorpe 2.  And that's farlieonfootie for today, September 23.