One Door Closes and Another Opens: Manchester United 3 - Hull City 1 -- Game Recap and Player Ratings

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On an evening in which time was called on the Manchester United career of club captain Nemanja Vidic -- and potentially on that of player-manager Ryan Giggs, as well -- youth was served in the form of striker James Wilson, who bagged a brace in his senior level debut to lead the home side to a 3-1 victory over Hull City.  After the game the crowd said an emotional goodbye to their widely-admired captain, and witnessed manager Giggs' request for the fans to continue supporting the club during the inevitable re-building that will follow at season's end. 

 

If the game marked the end of an era, the atmosphere at Old Trafford was strangely subdued for much for the evening, as if the crowd were contemplating the many changes to come and thinking back fondly on the magical memories shared with the players on the pitch.  David De Gea made a fine save to preserve his side's slim lead before the game was truly ended by Robin Van Persie's strike -- with the assist coming from none other than late-game substitute Giggs.

 

Herewith we look back at the individual player ratings from another special night at Old Trafford:  

 

De Gea: Would've needed some No-Doze before the half, but looked as if  any effects had worn off by the time Fryatt unloaded to pull back a goal.  Showed great reflexes to save the victory with twelve minutes left and the game still in the balance. 7.5

Valencia: Serviceable, at best. 5.5

Jones: Another dim-witted challenge saw him end up on the training table. 5.0

Smalling: A couple of nice clearances and interceptions after the half. 6.5

Büttner: Nearly stranded his 'keeper with a very poor header. 5.5

Carrick (c): A fairly invisible performance, if we're honest. 5.0

Fellaini: Two headers in one half, with the latter accounting for the Belgian's first assist of the campaign. Should've scored after the break but saw Wilson put in his rebound.  Performance got worse as the evening drew on. 6.0

Kagawa: Misplayed passes were a specialty of his evening. 6.5

Januzaj: Denied a clear penalty only minutes into the contest and was unafraid to run directly at defenders. Looked electric at times with his play, especially in the second half. 8.5

A Parting Gift? Manchester United 1 - Bayern Munich 1: Game Recap and Player Ratings

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Defying the critics at home and abroad, Manchester United played a rope-a-dope first half before showing more of their teeth after the break in a 1-1 Champions League draw at Old Trafford Wednesday night.  Fully embracing what could be the club's last European contest for quite some time, the hosts withstood a brutal frontal assault from their German visitors in the first half, with the Munich holding nearly 80% of the possession prior to the interval.  Nevertheless, it was the home side in the form of Danny Welbeck who missed the best chance of the half to go in front prior to the halftime whistle.

 

After the break was a completely different story, with both teams taking turns attacking the others' goal, and real chances were created at both ends.  United Captain Nemanja Vidic was the first to find the net, with his unmarked header gifting his club an unexpected 1-0 lead.  As should have been expected, however, Bayern fought back to tie the contest through a finely worked play that ended with Bastian Schweinsteiger putting the ball into David De Gea's goal. 

 

Although neither side will be disappointed with the outcome, in general the Germans will be pleased to have scored their away goal, a tally which leaves United needing to score on their trip to the Allianz Arena in a little over a week's time.  The surly nature of the contest was underscored by the  high number of rough tackles, yellow cards and a final red for the Bayern goalscorer, which will mark him as ineligible for the return leg.

 

Herewith, the individual player ratings from a spirited night at Old Trafford:

 

De Gea: Pinpoint clearance and a fine save to deny Ribery before the break.  7.5

Jones: Filled in at right back and was there when he needed to be. 7.5

Ferdinand: Was right in the mix tonight.  Looked like the old days.  7.5

Vidic: Looked nervy at the outset but gradually settled. He may have been unguarded, but it was still a clutch header from a very tough position to give his side the second half lead. 8.0 

Büttner: Appeared overmatched right from the get go, but gradually settled down and played his way into the match. Should be renamed Hoofner. 7.0

Valencia: Early yellow and lucky to stay on the pitch after a bone crunching second half tackle. Moved to right back to accommodate Ashley Young with 15 minutes left. 7.0

Carrick: Decent distribution when he was able to touch the ball. Forced to stay way back for most of the night. 7.0

Fellaini: Just not good enough to play in a holding role. Gifted the ball repeatedly to the visitors and lost his man for the Bayern equalizer. 6.0

Flat Track Bullies Exposed? Manchester United 1 - Arsenal 0 -- Game Recap and Player Ratings

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Robin Van Persie's 28th minute header provided Manchester United with all the margin it needed as the home side rode the crowd's energy to a crucial 1-0 victory over league-leading Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.  Prior to the game the team's Captain, central defender Nemanja Vidic, had asked his teammates to produce a 'statement' victory, one that testified to the Club's title credentials in a season that has seen its share of ups and downs in the early going. Although he was badly shaken up in a collision with his own goalkeeper at the end of the first half, Vidic evidently received the performance he was looking for, as Wayne Rooney and Phil Jones in particular turned in inspired shifts on their way to victory. 

Although Arsenal looked lively and controlled much of the game's second half, the Red Devils successfully dulled the visitors' cutting edge, holding the Gunners scoreless for the first time this season.  Herewith, our ratings on the individual performances from a victory that saw the Reds gain ground on virtually all of their title rivals: 

De Gea: Nothing to do in the first half bar a punch or two. Busier in the second half but never truly threatened. 7.0

Smalling: Displaying good hustle and intensity on the right, the Englishman worked hard to stretch the Arsenal defense. Had a real chance to put Van Persie's free kick in the net but finished like the center half he is. 6.5

Evans: Read the game well and used his body to make a number of key blocks. 7.0

Vidic: Knocked nearly unconscious upon colliding with his own 'keeper after overseeing a very quiet first half. Departed at the interval. 7.0

Evra: Game plan involved lots of crossing from the left flank but the Frenchman needed to hustle back more on defense. 6.0

Valencia: Looked strong and committed in the air.  Worked his socks off but still lacks the ability to produce a consistently reliable cross. 6.0

Jones: Gritty performance in midfield but tried to do too much on the dribble. Clash of heads with Sczcesny produced an inexplicable yellow from the referee. Broke up play exceptionally well, and was badly missed in midfield when switched to center back. Beginning to come into his own? 8.5

Carrick: A calming presence in the middle, but was unable to dictate the game when Jones was moved back to defense. 6.0

The Avengers: Manchester United 1 - Sunderland 0

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Manchester United defeated a dour and dejected Sunderland side in Saturday's early kick off, 1-0, to maintain their 15 point advantage over second place City. Never really threatened, the Red Devils cantered to victory, with the final score belying the ease of the away side's win.  Riding a Sunderland own goal to an early lead, United tidily avenged  their perceived slight from the Sunderland fans in last season's finale.

If the crowd ended the game dejected, they had begun it in a considerably different mood, with bright sunshine greeting both teams as they walked onto the pitch at the aptly named Stadium of Light. Although United had the game's first efforts on target, it was the home side who carried a fair bit of the early pressure, in large part due to mental mistakes from the visitors. Both teams attacked in the early going, with Sunderland pressuring the ball high up the pitch -- a strategy that worked well when going forward but increasingly left the home side exposed at the back.

After their sloppy opening it was the Red Devils who looked the brighter of the two sides -- passing the ball with authority and creating multiple openings in the Black Cats' defense. It was just past the 25 minute mark when the continual pressure finally paid off -- in the form of a Robin Van Persie ball that ended up in the back of the net. Although claimed by the Dutchman, it's unlikely that the Dubious Goals Panel will fail to notice the double deflection that ended with Titus Bramble beating his own 'keeper for the game's opening score.

Jonny Evans replaced an injured Rafael at the game's half hour mark -- the Brazilian fullback having tweaked his groin -- as United's recent embarrassment of riches at the back were reduced by one. Fifteen minutes later, a quiet half ended with both sides marginally disappointed -- the home side for having failed to test United's goal, and the visitors for not having done more with the opportunities they were presented.

Workmanlike: Manchester United 2 - Everton 0

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It's the home side with the early pressure, as Manchester United welcome a quality Everton side to Old Trafford. Sunday's contest was likely one Sir Alex circled on his personal calendar on the day the schedules were drawn after last year's disastrous 4-4 draw cost the Reds their 20th top flight title. United is energized in the game's early going, neatly personified by old boy Ryan Giggs sprinting down the touchline and young gun Phil Jones busily man-marking the ever dangerous Marouane Fellaini.

Unsurprisingly, it's the Reds with the game's first real opportunity: Robin Van Persie fluffs his opening lines, however, denting the post after faking Tim Howard out of his jock in a move that left the goalmouth begging. But the score does not remain level for more than a few more minutes: RVP makes up for his uncharacteristic miss by squaring the ball to a wide open Ryan Giggs, who batters the post himself but gets a kinder rebound than his Dutch teammate was treated to. The game's opener marks the Welshman's first goal of the Premier League campaign, a statistic that means Giggs has now scored in every single season of the Premier League's existence -- a record that can never be broken.

Although United look dangerous on almost every foray forward, Everton offer stubborn resistance, with midfielder Kevin Mirallas generating several early corner kicks through a show of sheer grit and determination. The Toffees seek to use their height and physicality as weapons to strike the Reds, but in particular Jones, Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans appear well up for the challenge.

The visitors seize the initiative after the home side's opener, and Leon Osman offers David De Gea his first real test of the afternoon.  The Spaniard's outstretched arms are equal to the test, however, and Vidic's sacrificial block puts an end to the threat. Everton amps up the pressure after the half hour mark, and it takes a timely intervention from right back Rafael to steer the ball away from the bruising Victor Anichebe and out of harm's way.

United change to more of a counter-attacking style to see out the first half, although RVP is repeatedly flagged for being offside -- until he no longer is. Philip Neville's deep lying position means the Flying Dutchman is onside near stoppage time, and despite valiant efforts by both Everton 'keeper Tim Howard and Center Back Johnny Heitinga, the League's leading scorer is not to be denied, and United's lead bulges along with the back of the net to two goals just before the half.

A Few Things...

Inside the Mind of Correspondent Ed

 ...from inside the mind of Correspondent Ed:

Much has been written on this site about the Manchester United versus Spurs game this weekend, but a few points are beingmissed.  First, in light of how many goals have been given up by United this year, it is possible to say -- as someone did -- that United without RVP might very well be a mid-table team?  They simply are not very good in the back as Vidic is not near his form (and seems to have lost a few steps), Evra seems pretty mediocre against tough competition, and Ferdinand also appears a bit long in the tooth.  Only one of the most annoying players in football -- Rafael -- is having a good season.

FOF is half right regarding  David De Gea.  Half because he is correct that he was in a tough position for that first punch.  Incorrect because those first two saves were largely good fortune.  The first being a ricochet that was going to hit him in the feet regardless of what he did; the second, a shot by Dempsey, was poor and pretty much right where he was standing before he jumped the wrong way.

Most telling about United was their setup: triple up on Bale, cede possession, and hope for a counter.  This against a team that United shouldn't consider at their level -- this is not Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.  The fact that it almost worked for United was largely the result of good fortune, as United could've and probably should've been down big in this one considering the enormous advantages in possession (60%) and shots on goal (15 to 4).  In particular, the midfield of Moussa Dembele and Scott Parker simply outclassed their opponents.  Strange days at United and not, as Sir Alex has said, one of his best teams.  I suspect if things don't change the table will, and soon.

#    #    #

Well, everyone loves an underdog, and it was exciting to see League Two's Bradford City get past Aston Villa (after getting past Arsenal) to get to the Capital One Cup Final.  They didn't look that good at times, but it does prove that the levels down to the fourth division are not always that different, and that in a one or two game series virtually everyone has a chance to win.  Hope BC come to play in the finals….

Why Stop at Five?: Six Thoughts on Manchester United 2 - West Bromwich Albion 0

Columnist Ed Grinds it Out
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o Sodden: The non-stop Manchester rain swamped the pitch and made for slow going throughout the affair. Much muddier than usual and pockmarked in multiple spots, the Old Trafford pitch played extremely "heavy" and made the option of moving the ball around the park virtually unworkable.

o 1,2,3: 2 own goals at Old Trafford in 3 days was only 1 too many -- that's because the second one of the week came off the leg of West Brom defender Gareth McAuley, who kneed Ashley Young's fizzing cross between his own goalkeeper's legs inside the game's 10 minute mark. The unaccustomed early lead gave the home side some significant confidence, as they dominated possession in the game's first quarter hour - controlling 80% of the ball.  West Brom played as if they were allergic to the far side of the midfield line, showing only the faintest inclination to move forward, and none at all to press the ball on defense.

o Lethargic: One or two outbursts of action to the contrary, the game settled down into a pace slightly faster than that at which the famed tortoise moved. Both sides played as if there was a gentleman's agreement to play kick about at a down tempo rate, the ball switching from side to side like a slow moving metronome, with neither goaltender having to do any heavy lifting.

o Unscientific: We don't believe the experimental starting lineup chosen by Sir Alex on Saturday worked. Although it allowed the Scot to rest several of his most valuable players, pairing Shinji Kagawa and Danny Welbeck up top appeared a strange move, all the more so given the duo's lack of recent playing time.  It was as if Sir Alex believed the Baggies' strong first half was all a bit of a mirage, and for the hour or so, the decision didn't come back to bite him.  But despite the fact the Baggies spent much of the that time playing as if they had some place they'd rather be, United created as few opportunities as we can recall in any recent home game.

Five Thoughts on the Manchester Derby

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1. It Ain't Over Just Yet, Folks: Yesterday's huge United victory notwithstanding, the BPL title has not been decided. Let's get real: Manchester United have a six point lead at the top of the table with five months of the season still left to play. Anyone remember the Reds having a larger lead than the current one back in April 2012, before coming unglued against Everton and handing the title race over to City?  While it may now legitimately be a two horse race, and United have a clear advantage, it's an awful long season and I'm fairly certain no one on the Red side of Manchester should be celebrating anything just yet.

2. Wazza's Turning Purple:  Wayne Rooney's finally hit a purple patch, and it's come at just the right time of year. Still the heart and soul of the club, Roo has struggled in front of goal for much of the season's early going. But as any veteran United watcher knows, when the man starts scoring he scores in droves. Considering the upcoming fixture congestion, could there be a better time for Wayne to take the team upon his back and fire a Christmas-time point haul?  If only he can stay away from the holiday party scene things are looking quite good....

3. Frustration and Hatred are Not the Same Thing: We're getting a little tired of people calling out the haters whenever a player who has been criticized come up trumps and has a good game. We've been as frustrated as anyone with Ashley Young's play in the season's first half, but that doesn't mean we dislike Young and shouldn't be able to enjoy a fine performance such as Sunday's. It just means we're expecting a bit more consistency from the player in question. If it's true that his early season injury caused Young's multiple sub-par performances, then we'll look forward as much as any United fan to seeing what the fleet-footed winger can do when he's fit.

Picking Up Where We Left Off: More Thoughts on the Season to Date

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Picking up where we left off yesterday, some mildly entertaining and slightly insightful analysis of the action in the first three weeks of the Barclay's Premier League season:

Chelsea are Not as Good as They Appear: We could ultimately be proven wrong on this, but we don't think so.  The Blues clearly have a friend in the FA scheduling department, as this is the third straight season in which they've started out with a very user-friendly run of games.   While playing softies at home may lead to a bulging net and high degree of confidence in the season's early going, we remember when Chelsea started out like a house-a-fire last year, too -- and we all recall how that one turned out.  We've plowed this ground in an earlier post, but the Blues appear to be as leaky as Correspondent's Ed's nose during allergy season, and we're big believers that Champions are built from the back up.

It's Difficult to Gauge Just How Good Man United is: It typically takes Sir Alex's men a few games to really get rolling, and a woeful return of goals in the pre-season would seem to indicate that the new players on the squad have yet to really bed in.  Combine this with the fact that Nemanja Vidic -- United's most reliable defender -- hadn't played competitively in almost eight months, and he and the oft-injured Rio Ferdinand have started exactly one game together this season, and you have a recipe for a very murky defensive outlook, too.  Our guess is that the Reds will turn it on at some point -- they always do -- likely after Sir Alex is able to establish a more regular rotation of his players.  We believe that it will only be after the injury list begins to shorten that we'll have a true bead on United's prospects.  We're certain they've ultimately got plenty of goals in them, but how will the midfield and defense stand up to the best in the League?

City Look a Bit Shaky, Don't They?: Despite two wins, the Citizens have not exactly stamped their authority on their opponents to date, and look on par with United defensively.  They appear to have withstood the early loss of El Kun through some wicked play from frontman Carlos Tevez, but there's another significant question hanging over the heads n Eastlands: Can they win the League without David Silva hitting the heights he reached last season?  The Spaniard clearly looks overwrought, as we indicated he would here.  While we have no idea how Maicon and Garcia will adapt to English League play, the guess here is hat the former will be an improvement over Mancini's current choices, and the the latter will offer City more bite in the middle of the pitch -- the combination of Toure and Garcia should provide some real bite -- even if he does have very questionable judgment.

Closer Than They Appear: Manchester United 0 - Barcelona 0 (2-0 aet)

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For United fans, it was an all too familiar foe for the penultimate game of the 2012 pre-season tour, with the spectre of the two recent Champions League spankings hanging over yesterday's meeting with Barcelona. Both clubs sent out strong lineups for the game, with names like Messi, Valdes and Puyol wearing the Blaugrana, while United tweaked their starting eleven to include David De Gea for the first time, and showcasing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in the central defense. Antonio Valencia started once again at right back, perhaps suggesting a strategy by Sir Alex to get as much firepower as possible into his lineup.  To the Ullevi Stadium, in Gothenburg, Sweden, we head for the game details:

o New year, new coach, same philosophy: despite switching from the tutelage of Pep Guardiola to that of their new manager Tito Vilanova, Barcelona yesterday looked much like the Barcelona of old. Playing patient, possession-oriented football, Barcelona tiki-tacked United to death over the early going, and used their high press defense to create several decent first half opportunities on goal.

o A depressing thought for United fans: I wish soon-to-be four time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi was older than 25. Barcelona is going to be very tough to beat for anything while this guy is still around.

o United displayed a willingness to press the ball themselves near the game's half hour mark, creating a significant number of Barcelona turnovers, and leading to the Reds' most sustained possession of the first half. We saw this strategy employed in the early part of last season -- will United go back to it again..?

o These pages have been critical of Anderson at times, but let's give credit where credit's due: the Big Man frustrated Lio Messi while he was on the pitch over the first 45, shadowing the Barcelona wunderkind -- albeit creating a rather round and rotund shadow -- and not allowing the Argentine maestro his customary marauding freedom.

o Wazza's First Half PK could have separated the two sides, but the Englishman's effort was decidedly pre-season in form.

o I found myself wondering why Vida came off after 45 minutes after playing an hour over the weekend. Let's hope it was conservative move in nature by the United coaching staff rather than a sign of something nagging in the Serbian's recovery.

Drawing: Manchester United 0 - Valerenga 0

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Manchester United journeyed north to Norway and unlike on their previous travels, this time the team looked more like the eleven that will start the season in just over two week's time at Goodison Park versus Everton.  Due to the popularity of United in Norway, the crowd seemed equally enthused by the appearance of both the home side and the visitors -- with virtually every early touch greeted by strong vocal support. 

Yesterday's starting lineup featured Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Nani and Ashley Young for the first time this preseason, joined -- most notably of all -- by Nemanja Vidic for the first time since the horrific knee injury he sustained at Basel as United were dumped out of the Champions League last season. To Ulleval Stadium we go, joining the 25.000-plus in attendance for our match report:

o Yesterday's match picked up right where the last game in China left off (in fact, the same could be said for the whole of the pre-season to date): with not much happening. Despite the early enthusiasm of the crowd, there was a subdued quality to the contest's opening quarter hour, with both sides combining to create almost no real chances in front of goal.

o In addition to Ryan Giggs, the most notable absence from the United bench was Sir Alex himself. While the Twitterverse was going wild with speculation that the Scotsman's absence was due to his desire to stay behind to conclude the signing of Brazilian Lucas Moura, we'll wait for the official announcement, if and when it comes. For all of its problems, the United midfield -- if Moura is indeed added --  is getting a bit crowded: Nani, Young, Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Valencia, Kagawa, Anderson, Cleverly, Powell and more. The competition for a starting spot is going to be fierce, indeed.

o  If the main point of the pre-season is to gain match fitness, mission accomplished. If the secondary point of the tour is to gain on pitch chemistry with the new players and give the team a sense of confidence around the net, it's been much more of a split decision. A couple of narrow victories and a tie followed by yet another muddling match of football in which there seemed to be a force field around the net will not exactly have the team steaming into its next match with Barcelona.

o  Paul Scholes is the new Darren Gibson. At least that's the way it seemed yesterday, as every one of the Ginger Prince's touches at the top of the box was greeted with the crowd urging Scholes to just "Shoooooooooot!"

Flerve Cheers for United

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This article is reprinted with gracious permission from our friends at Stretford End Arising, where it ran earlier this week.  Please give them a visit; if you're a United fan it's well worth your time.


By farlieonfootie and Correpspondent Ed

It took exactly 35 games and 39 seconds, but it was all finally over when Carlo Ancellotti’s left eyebrow – you know, the one that seems permanently raised at press conferences – literally popped up and off his forehead and scuttled off the pitch at Old Trafford, all the while screaming and spitting out profanities at David Luiz’s inability to defend against the simplest of through passes. You laugh, but that eyebrow showed more emotion on Sunday than any of the high priced players on Chelsea except, perhaps, for the always offensive John Terry. 

So, to borrow a theme from the brilliant @runofplay, this most unpredictable of all EPL title chases has ended in the least shocking manner: Manchester United winning the league (let’s not be coy about this one, despite the fact that it’s not technically over), Chelsea trailing -- just so -- and Arsenal throwing away yet another bright start as the nerves got a bit tight down the stretch. With City looking poised to finish fourth, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who would have picked another team to finish in the Top Four when the season opened way back in August. Maybe the odd Spurs fan (and by odd, we mean “odd”), but if they were under the impression that Huerelho Gomes (coincidentally, “Huerelho” is also Spanish for “odd”) were up to the job when the campaign began, they have been repeatedly and thoroughly dis-abused of that notion during the course of the past nine months. 

Like an Overstuffed Easy Chair

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Manchester United defeated a spirited Aston Villa side today in a 3-1 win at Old Trafford in which the final scoreline does not reflect the true ease of the contest. Displaying only flashes of brilliance, United turned in a performance as comfortable as an overstuffed easy chair while cruising to victory, and could have scored goals by the bucketfull if not for a typically magnificent performance in goal by Villa's wise old American 'keeper, Brad Friedel.

Perhaps most worryingly for their rivals, the Red Devil attack this evening was spearheaded not by the EPL's leading scorer, Dimitar Berbatov, but rather by his once and future strike partner, Wayne Rooney, who increased his season scoring output by 66% with a brace.  With his performance tonight, Rooney reminded friend and foe alike that he can still strike like a deadly cobra, and the rest of the league would do well to sit up and take notice.

Also turning back the clock to yesteryear was Sir Ryan Giggs, who turned in yet another scintillating performance in midfield -- his third world class performance in a row to this viewer's eyes. Giggs not only showed bursts of his old pace, but time and again he demonstrated his unparallelled vision and creativity on the pitch in tearing the Villa midfield into tiny little pieces. United looked threatening virtually every time Giggs touched the ball, and much of the attack this evening ran through Giggs and the left hand side of the pitch.

True Mediocrity

 Correspondent Ed and Friends Watching Spurs 
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And now for an alternate take on the Spurs vs. Manchester United game, this time from our fearless correspondent Ed.  Although farlieonfootie is publishing the article unedited, the company is looking into suing its own correspondent for blood libel.  Most of his statements are patently false with intent to injure reputations.  In the end, though, coorporate has decided that the only reputation injured will be Correspomdent Ed's own, as his pathetic plea for help will be recognized for what it truly is.

When a team's best case for winning a game comes down to arguing over shirt pulling, and they still can't win with a one man advantage at home for the final quarter of the game, they aren't winning the title.  End of argument; Full stop.

Without further ado, here's Ed:

Just in case you weren’t sure why most people who hear about Manchester United being undefeated react with a yawn, today’s game at Spurs should answer any questions you might have.  United were outplayed, outclassed, and at the end of the day did everything they could to secure one of those figurative sweet kisses with your sister – the zero to zero tie (sorry, Britain, just not ready to use that “nil” word quite yet).  In a league where teams like Blackpool risk their very place in the league every week by throwing all but the kitchen sink at opponents to get wins, Manchester United preferred to send their entire squad into the penalty area for most of the second half. 

Great going guys. 

Way to show heart. 

Woo.

Hoo.

True Grit

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Now that's what I call a game.  Manchester United, showing True Grit and determination, survived a very tough cross examination by Tottenham Hotspur at the Lane this afternoon.   After spending all fall and winter bemoaning the points dropped on the road this season, this was well and truly a point gained for the Red Devils against a very talented Spurs side.

Playing nine against eleven for one death defying moment, United spent the last twenty minutes of the game a man short, thanks to yet another dodgy Mike Dean decision [Ed. Note: how long is one man allowed to keep officiating in the league, when it's obvious his decisions are biased against a team, to say nothing of his general incompetence?  See here and here for examples of me calling Dean out previously for his bias, as well as here for me noting his incredible incompetence.  It's time for this guy to go.]  Despite finishing the game without their right back, United hung tough on the road, and incredibly, had an opportunity to nick the full three points just before the whistle blew.  Sir Alex has to be well pleased with his side's fantastic effort.

Ten Reasons I'm Thankful to be a Manchester United Fan

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Even the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Turkey Loves Manchester United
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On this day of American Thanksgiving, here are ten reasons among many that I'm thankful to be a Red:

1.  No Carlos Tevez. Could this guy be any more annoying?  I hate him, absolutely detest him, so I'm thankful he's moved across town to the noisy neighbors' house. Good riddance, and good luck over there. By the way, I don't think they've won anything for, oh, about 34 years or thereabouts. Enjoy being trophyless, Mr. Tevez.

2. Chicharito. I love this guy. Regular readers of farlieonfootie will have been on the little Mexican's bandwagon for some time now, and the rest of the world is still figuring out just how good this guy is going to be. The sky's the limit, in my opinion, as the Little Sweet Pea seems ebullient not only to be scoring regularly, but even more so just to be playing.

3. Nani's Creativity. In a season in which the Red Devils have been struggling offensively, even against supposedly "lesser" Premier League sides, Nani has been a shining beacon of creativity on the right side of midfield. I shudder to think where we'd be without him this year, and it shows just how much the Portuguese winger has improved that a year ago I'll readily admit I wasn't sure he belonged at Old Trafford. I'm sure of it now, though, and thankful he plays for United.

Manchester United Hit Top as Wigan See Red

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farlieonfootie and Spurs correspondent James, in attendance at Old Trafford today for the visit of Wigan Athletic.   I like James' style: a real corporate guy who shares the same vision for farlieonfootie as the brass back at the home office.  It's a pleasure watching a game with James, with his keen footie eye and cerebral approach to the game -- not to mention his love of a good beer....  One of several we drank on the day is profiled below.

Old Trafford / Manchester, England / November 20

It's the Youth Parade on Full Offensive Display at the Theatre of Dreams Today, with Obertan and Macheda up front, supported by Nani and Park, with Fletch and Carrick pulling the strings in midfield.

It's Wigan, though, with the day's first real opportunity, as first Rafael is beaten and then Vidic slips, the two combining to present Wigan hitman Hugo Rodallega with a ball that's been wrapped with a bow. It's a good thing Rodallega himself slips as he goes to strike it, or United would be on the short end of the scoreline only five minutes into the match.

Nani blows in a fine free kick just a few short minutes later, and Vidic, now playing offense, is only a step or two short of heading it into the net. The big Serbian is forced to track back quickly, and switch back to his more accustomed defensive role, as he and Rodallega are busy playing a game of one-on-one, the two racing the length of the field after Rodallega is passed into the clear on a seeing-eye through ball. In the end, Vidic has just enough pace to close down the speedy Honduran, and forces him into a shot that ends up as a relatively comfortable save for Van der Sar.

From Russia With Love

Actual View from farlieonfootie Correspondent Ed's Accomodations in Siberia
photo by diasUndKompott	via PhotoRee

November 15, 2010/ Minsk, Russia

It’s a cold one today here in the former USSR, and as I finish up my research for a future three-part docu-drama blog for farlieonfootie on FC Dynamo Minsk, I thought it might be about time to publish the first quarter All-Ed team.  What does it take to be a member of this coveted group?  Well, great play, style, toughness, and as regular readers of my columns already know, more than one name. 

So these are the guys I want to go to battle with for the rest of the EPL season.  We’re a little weak at the back – as is the whole of the EPL this season – but hey, no one likes watching those nil - nil games anyhow.  My guys are going to play attacking footie, and put some numbers on the board.  And at while my coach wants to go with the 4-3-3, we’ve got to do what matches our talent best, and go with the 4-4-1-1:

1.    The Tick.   One might at first think that Didier Drogba would be the obvious choice for striker – the size, speed, stats and ominous name would seem to put him over the top.  But I prefer Carlos Tevez -- the little guy who tells Man United he’s the best striker on the team and then goes out and proves it.