Up in Smoke

photo by H.G. WOOD PROJECT	via PhotoRee

My column up in smoke today, just like United's season.  Eighty minutes in and the column down the drain as the "autosave" feature on Blogger saves an accidental deletion of my entire day's production, with no option for retrieval.  Here's my attempt at recreating an especially witty piece:

Pre-game news starts off with a bang: a Roo-less lineup, as Sir Alex evidently believes that a United team with number 10 on the bench can handle the Baggies.  I'm of two minds about his decision: on the the one hand I was hoping to pick up some surprise points on the boys in my fantasy league, and liked Rooney's chances to get on the scoresheet; on the other hand I'm well pleased with the guy who's been chosen to replace him: Chicharito.  ¡Vamos United!

I'm less happy with the midfield, as Ando and Carick are both granted rare starts today.  I'll be keeping a close eye on them. 

I'm a bit more content in the 4th minute, as the game gets underway immediately: a swerving free kick from Nani is tapped past Baggies' 'keeper Scott Carson by an uncovered Chicharito, 1-nil to United.  I knew I liked this kid...

United start the game crackling with electricity, as the side that played Sunderland a fortnight ago fades to an awful memory.  Chicharito, Nani and Berba look especially lively.  Acres of green space allow Giggs and Nani room to run rampant against a dishevelled West Brom defense that looks nothing like the side that largely shut down Arsenal last time out.  There could be lots of goals today....  Strike that: should be lots of goals, as the Red Devils flub several easy chances to tear the game wide open, including a Berba tap-in from point blank range.  I hope we don't rue those chances later on this afternoon....

A response to my concern is quickly forthcoming: a Berba retweet to Nani is guided easily into the back of the net for a 2-nil United lead.  The game is becoming more comfortable now, and that's an especially sweet goal for me.  I've captained Nani and started Berba on my fantasy team today, resulting in13 points in the back of the net on that play alone.

Full credit to Roberto DiMatteo's boys as they refuse to throw in the towel and begin to create some opportunities on their offensive end. United take their foot off the gas pedal, happy to absorb pressure and look for opportunities to counter attack.   The Red Devils play several of the first half's last minutes with 10 men on the pitch, as Giggsy limps off with a recurrence of his lingering hamstring issue, until Gibbo finally replaces him just before time is called. 

United would have been better if they stayed in the locker room, as the second half of the game has a distictly different feel.  Shortly after a Vidic header off the post that was thisclose to killing the game off, United concede and and let the Baggies back into the match.  A ping pong of a goal caroms in off Evra and West Brom has a toehold at 2-1. 

The game is now set up as a true test of whether or not this Red Devil team possesses the "killer instinct"  that Sir Alex has recently demanded.  Unfortunately, there's an almost immediate answer to that, and it's not a good one: the defense goes wobbly, and a Van der Sar howler leads to  a 2-2 tie.  A shockingly easy catch for the Dutchman spills directly into the path of Baggie midfielder Somen Tchoyi, and he makes no mistake: the United lead up in smoke, along with the season.  United in tatters, Baggies fans going wild, and Rooney, Scholes and Macheda to the warm-up line.

photo by Tambako the Jaguar	via PhotoRee

United appear shell shocked as West Brom take the game to them, a rare occurrence for an opponent at Old Trafford.  The mystique is clearly gone with the lead, and the crowd at Old Trafford grows restless and begins to fear the worst.  A 72nd minute introduction of Rooney and Scholes lifts the crowd slightly (and confirm my impression of a weak game for both Anderson and Carrick), but there's no Hollywood ending to this, as the late Rooney winner is never forthcoming.  Boos ring the stadium as United walk off the pitch -- disappointed and disappointing, yet again.

Game Day Beer Review: Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest-Märzen (5.8% ABV). Pours medium light amber in color, with a thick, off-white head. First impression is a rich, malty bread-like flavor that fades quickly into a slightly sweet finish with notes of toffee. Not overly complex, but one of the better examples of this classic fall style. Sessionable and recommended: B+

The beer's better than United, as they are just not good enough for me today. I'm unhappy, unthirsty, and farlieonfootie for October 16.

Around The World in 80 Keystrokes

Getting pretty thin here in advance of the coming weekend's internationals.  Saw that Brazil beat Iran 3-nothing earlier today, although I don't believe that actually qualifies as news.

Lost in Translation.  Kiko Macheda was quoted today in famed Italian sports mag Gazzetta dello Sport as calling teammate Wayne Rooney "crass and vulgar."  Elsewhere, Macheda's remark were translated as calling Rooney a "chav."  I'm not sure either of those translations are correct, or furthermore what the latter term even means.  I highly doubt Macheda actually used the term "crass" or "vulgar," as only a true englishman would use such formal language to describe a fun-loving rogue like Rooney, and I refuse to believe that the term "chav" is actually English.  Sounds more like Italian to me.....  I think the actual term that Macheda used was "coatto," but as you'll recall that I am still searching night and day for a suave Italian correspondent who can sit idly by while wearing a sleek black Armani suit, smoke cigarettes in a bored-with-the-world type manner, and sleep with American women while reading Gazzetta dello Sport and translating Italian football interviews for farlieonfootie, I don't have a definitive handle on the story at this juncture.

Great Football Story, Even Better Personal Story.  ESPN the Magazine features a great story this week on the comeback of US Mens' National Team forward Charlie Davies.  Chronicling his remarkable recovery from a life-threatening crash almost a year ago, the story is an uplifting read on the powers of belief and determination.  Nothing funny to add here, but definitely worth your time to read.

photo by mikebrown59	via PhotoRee

The Man United Goal is Becoming a Crowded Place.  Here's another name to add to the list of the many goalkeepers United is supposedly "keeping tabs" on: Gigi Buffon.  Don't know where he's going to fit, as United has already "earmarked" David De Gea of Atletico, Igor Akinfeev of CSKA's Army Men, and Aalesund's Anders Lindegaard among others to replace current starter Edwin Van der Sar, who appears ready to retire at season's end.  Not that any of those rumors will sit well with the present heir apparent, Thomas Kuszczak.

Calling Albert de Salvo to the Witness Stand, Please; We Need a Character Reference on David Berkowitz.  The latest player to stand up in defense of Nigel De Jong is none other than legbreaker Ryan Shawcross of Stoke City, one of the kings of the au courant "stuck in" style of defending.  Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal would have been happy to stand up for De Jong, too, if only Shawcross' shocking tackle that ended his season last year made it hard for Ramsey to stand up for much of anything at all these days.  For good measure, Shawcross also backed  Wolves' Karl Henry in the same interview.  Henry, you'll recall, not only broke Bobby Zamora's leg a few weeks back, he was involved just this past week in this lovely little piece of defending.   Can you imagine the bloodshed that would occur if these three ever played on the same team?

And that's farlieonfootie for October 8.