Its always a good day when United makes it to the top of the table. Its like sending out a warning signal to the rivals. Today was that day. And I think that this time it has come a little early.
I thought that bringing on Giggs was the turning point. Till then United had shown time and again that they were the stronger side. But somehow the cutting edge that converts attacking moves into goals was missing. And thats exactly what Giggs provided.
I thought that Giggs' pass through the defender's leg to find Berbatov was pure genius. Berbatov didnt have a lot to do once the ball got to him. A simple tap in and finally the goal had come.
Around the same time, news was coming in from the Wigan-Chelsea game. Cech sent off and Wigan were up 2-1. I later saw the incident that led to Cech's sending off - and frankly I thought it was a little harsh to send him off for that. But ya, it was definitely a penalty.
As time went by, things got even better. Giggs showed us why he should be the first-choice free-kick taker for United. After Ronaldo left, the position was up for grabs - but I guess now there is little doubt as to who should take over that responsibility.
A nice curling ball and perfect height - just far enough to prevent the keeper from coming out to punch it away. O'Shea's header was powerful and well-directed and the ball was in the back of the net again.
To make things even better we got the news that Chelsea had gone down 3-1 and were reduced to 9 men after Ashley Cole had to go off and they had used all 3 substitutions.
I think the message that United sent out today was loud and clear - in spite of all the pre-season speculation of United being a spent force after the departure of Ronaldo, it has taken them only 7 games to get to the top of the table.
From now on, I hope that for the rest of season, it will be just one team setting the pace and every one else trying their best not to fall too far behind.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
United 1-0 Wolverampton
Nothing really much to talk about this game. But I dont want to ruin my record of writing a post for every game (3 so far :D). So here goes...
It was pretty much a reserves game with a few senior players trying to get some match practice before the season really picks up pace. The only thing that stood out for me in the game was Fabio's dismissal. He was sort of the tragic hero there. How often do you see a ref send someone off and then ruffle the players hair in a way that says - "Its all right kiddo. These things happen!"
The goal was well-crafted - but then you dont expect any lesser from United, do you! I thought the King dude impressed well during his few minutes on the pitch. A couple of good shots in and he was getting himself into good position. The only disappointment was probably Nani. He couldnt really impose himself onto the game as I expected him to. He is still "like Ronaldo" and has a way to go before he can get there.
Anyway, hope Stoke wont be that big a hurdle tomorrow.
It was pretty much a reserves game with a few senior players trying to get some match practice before the season really picks up pace. The only thing that stood out for me in the game was Fabio's dismissal. He was sort of the tragic hero there. How often do you see a ref send someone off and then ruffle the players hair in a way that says - "Its all right kiddo. These things happen!"
The goal was well-crafted - but then you dont expect any lesser from United, do you! I thought the King dude impressed well during his few minutes on the pitch. A couple of good shots in and he was getting himself into good position. The only disappointment was probably Nani. He couldnt really impose himself onto the game as I expected him to. He is still "like Ronaldo" and has a way to go before he can get there.
Anyway, hope Stoke wont be that big a hurdle tomorrow.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
United 4-3 City
By far the greatest Manchester derby I have ever seen. I was able to see only the last 25 minutes, but I am sure I didnt miss out on the drama. This is the one they are gonna talk about for years to come when they talk about derbies. This is pretty much the gold standard.
My admiration for Fletcher grows. He can raise his game for the big matches and plays at a totally different level (Remember when he scored 2 against Arsenal and pretty much single-handedly decimated them in mid-field). His second goal today was a beauty to watch - a perfect header off a perfectly-taken free kick. And 3-2 United. But that was not surprising - given that United were pressing on the City goal incessantly for about 15 minutes before that. It was only fair that United got a goal.
With 10 minutes to go and a 3-2 lead, all United had to do was shut out City. And if there is one team in the league that can stifle and soak up waves of opponents' attacks without much of a sweat, then its got to be United. And to be frank, City didnt mount a comeback of Herculean proportions. Ya, they were managing to get the ball into United's half, but didnt really have any sting. And it seemed United were safe.
And then it happened. Ferdinand, who was close to the center-line, tried to lob the ball over 2 City players to reach O'Shea ( I think). But the ball fell to an unmarked Craig Bellamy. ( I still dont know why Rio opted for that pass when there were a few safer passing options). But anyway, Bellamy used his pace well to outrun Rio. Rio did his best to cut out the angle for Bellamy. And when Bellamy was finally able to get a shot in, he had already been forced to a quite narrow angle. I really thought Foster should have been able to stop that and done better at his near post. But he didnt. And with 90 minutes on the clock, City were back on level terms - for the third time.
And the mouths were talking once again - about how United had been outplayed on the day by City (much like Del Potro had outplayed Federer in the finals of the US Open). All I thought was "Dont write United off just as yet". But to be fair, I knew that it was gonna be difficult.
Injury-time. I didnt even see how many minutes. But it couldnt be much. But Fergie did his best to extend the injury-time. Every substitution in injury-time means the clock is turned back by 30 seconds (even if the time to make the substitution isnt 30 seconds). So by substituting Ando for Carrick in injury time Fergie bought his players a few valuable seconds. But a United goal in the dying moments still seemed like a stretch - even by United's standards.
Clock was running down. Into the 5th minute of added time and United got a free-kick that looked like United last throw of the dice. Free-kick came in. And was headed back out. And I knew that the ref would blow the whistle. But he didnt!! And somehow the ball was played back into the mix. City defenders trying to stifle United attackers and United was desperately looking for an opening.
And somehow the ball fell to Owen at the edge of the box and he was surprisingly unmarked!! The next few seconds was magical as Owen craftily put the ball past Given. And it was 4-3!! In the 96th minute!!! And it was Owen who had won it for United!!
Playing City every season is like watching a kid grow up gradually. A kid with a very rich uncle in Dubai. But we still know who's daddy!!
My admiration for Fletcher grows. He can raise his game for the big matches and plays at a totally different level (Remember when he scored 2 against Arsenal and pretty much single-handedly decimated them in mid-field). His second goal today was a beauty to watch - a perfect header off a perfectly-taken free kick. And 3-2 United. But that was not surprising - given that United were pressing on the City goal incessantly for about 15 minutes before that. It was only fair that United got a goal.
With 10 minutes to go and a 3-2 lead, all United had to do was shut out City. And if there is one team in the league that can stifle and soak up waves of opponents' attacks without much of a sweat, then its got to be United. And to be frank, City didnt mount a comeback of Herculean proportions. Ya, they were managing to get the ball into United's half, but didnt really have any sting. And it seemed United were safe.
And then it happened. Ferdinand, who was close to the center-line, tried to lob the ball over 2 City players to reach O'Shea ( I think). But the ball fell to an unmarked Craig Bellamy. ( I still dont know why Rio opted for that pass when there were a few safer passing options). But anyway, Bellamy used his pace well to outrun Rio. Rio did his best to cut out the angle for Bellamy. And when Bellamy was finally able to get a shot in, he had already been forced to a quite narrow angle. I really thought Foster should have been able to stop that and done better at his near post. But he didnt. And with 90 minutes on the clock, City were back on level terms - for the third time.
And the mouths were talking once again - about how United had been outplayed on the day by City (much like Del Potro had outplayed Federer in the finals of the US Open). All I thought was "Dont write United off just as yet". But to be fair, I knew that it was gonna be difficult.
Injury-time. I didnt even see how many minutes. But it couldnt be much. But Fergie did his best to extend the injury-time. Every substitution in injury-time means the clock is turned back by 30 seconds (even if the time to make the substitution isnt 30 seconds). So by substituting Ando for Carrick in injury time Fergie bought his players a few valuable seconds. But a United goal in the dying moments still seemed like a stretch - even by United's standards.
Clock was running down. Into the 5th minute of added time and United got a free-kick that looked like United last throw of the dice. Free-kick came in. And was headed back out. And I knew that the ref would blow the whistle. But he didnt!! And somehow the ball was played back into the mix. City defenders trying to stifle United attackers and United was desperately looking for an opening.
And somehow the ball fell to Owen at the edge of the box and he was surprisingly unmarked!! The next few seconds was magical as Owen craftily put the ball past Given. And it was 4-3!! In the 96th minute!!! And it was Owen who had won it for United!!
Playing City every season is like watching a kid grow up gradually. A kid with a very rich uncle in Dubai. But we still know who's daddy!!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Besiktas 0-1 United
I dont know why games in Turkey are always tough. It is probably the "alien" surroundings - probably the crowd getting behind the home teams. It is probably because the Turks will throw themselves at you and truly have it in them to put up a fight even when the opponent is much stronger on paper (Remember all the drama and late action in the Turkey games in the Euro?).
Whatever be the reason, big clubs are always out of their comfort zone and look scrappy and unsure of themselves when playing in Turkey. Today United was no different. I saw only the second half. And even though they didn't do anything wrong, things just weren't clicking for them. Its not that the Turks were playing great football but somehow they were preventing their opponents from doing so either.
As the game remained goalless for quite a while, United did look pressurized. It was up to them to take the attack to the opposition. They needed the 3 points out of this game because on paper this was the weakest team in the group. Wolfsburg is an unknown quantity but we have seen again today that they can do some damage (The Wolfsburgs-CSKA game ended 3-1 for the Germans). And playing in Luzhniki (fond memories as it may bring) might not be that easy also.
So it was sort of a sigh of relief when Scholes finally headed it in with 13 minutes to go. The goal was as scrappy as the whole game had been. It started with Owen finding Nani in a bit of space at the edge of the penalty box. Nani did well to dummy the defender and get a powerful shot on goal. The goalkeeper could only get his hand in the way of the shot and the ball lobbed up inside the box. Scholes got his head to it first and directed it inside the post. Not the prettiest of goals but phew!
At the end of the day, another 1-0 victory on a day when United played way below their best. Spekaing of 1-0 wins, many people find United's game to be boring primarily because 1-0 wins are so common (and so frustrating for the rivals). They say its not exciting and thrilling and goals dont fly in every couple of minutes. They say the flamboyance and skill is missing. (And may I add these comments come mostly from supporters of a club that has arses everywhere - the name of the club, the manager, one of their main goal-scorer - everywhere...).
Anyway, I will say a couple of things in this regard. Firstly, football is not only about goals. Defense is also vital. (It is like saying cricket is all about battinig and batsman hitting a six is more commendable than a bowler bowling a maiden). A good attacking force can win you matches, but to win championships you need a good defense. And no wonder the arse-club complains so much. They have never really understood this aspect of the game (which is probably why they have won only 3 championships in the last 17 years compared to United's 11). While they invest all their efforts in their attack and have a considerable pride in their ability to create such amazing, crafty goals, they never really get anywhere in the league because probably Old Drunken Boys F.C. has a better defense than them. So they might play supergood on one day and put half-a-dozen past a decent team, but they next week they will lose to a pretty weak team. Consistency - thats the word.
Secondly, I must say that on most seasons including last season, United scores the same number of goals if not more than the aforementioned club. On their good days both clubs are capable of routing the opponents with 5-0 victories. But the difference lies of off-days. While they will lose 0-3, United will still win 1-0 even by playing crappy football. Thats exactly what happened today.
Whatever be the reason, big clubs are always out of their comfort zone and look scrappy and unsure of themselves when playing in Turkey. Today United was no different. I saw only the second half. And even though they didn't do anything wrong, things just weren't clicking for them. Its not that the Turks were playing great football but somehow they were preventing their opponents from doing so either.
As the game remained goalless for quite a while, United did look pressurized. It was up to them to take the attack to the opposition. They needed the 3 points out of this game because on paper this was the weakest team in the group. Wolfsburg is an unknown quantity but we have seen again today that they can do some damage (The Wolfsburgs-CSKA game ended 3-1 for the Germans). And playing in Luzhniki (fond memories as it may bring) might not be that easy also.
So it was sort of a sigh of relief when Scholes finally headed it in with 13 minutes to go. The goal was as scrappy as the whole game had been. It started with Owen finding Nani in a bit of space at the edge of the penalty box. Nani did well to dummy the defender and get a powerful shot on goal. The goalkeeper could only get his hand in the way of the shot and the ball lobbed up inside the box. Scholes got his head to it first and directed it inside the post. Not the prettiest of goals but phew!
At the end of the day, another 1-0 victory on a day when United played way below their best. Spekaing of 1-0 wins, many people find United's game to be boring primarily because 1-0 wins are so common (and so frustrating for the rivals). They say its not exciting and thrilling and goals dont fly in every couple of minutes. They say the flamboyance and skill is missing. (And may I add these comments come mostly from supporters of a club that has arses everywhere - the name of the club, the manager, one of their main goal-scorer - everywhere...).
Anyway, I will say a couple of things in this regard. Firstly, football is not only about goals. Defense is also vital. (It is like saying cricket is all about battinig and batsman hitting a six is more commendable than a bowler bowling a maiden). A good attacking force can win you matches, but to win championships you need a good defense. And no wonder the arse-club complains so much. They have never really understood this aspect of the game (which is probably why they have won only 3 championships in the last 17 years compared to United's 11). While they invest all their efforts in their attack and have a considerable pride in their ability to create such amazing, crafty goals, they never really get anywhere in the league because probably Old Drunken Boys F.C. has a better defense than them. So they might play supergood on one day and put half-a-dozen past a decent team, but they next week they will lose to a pretty weak team. Consistency - thats the word.
Secondly, I must say that on most seasons including last season, United scores the same number of goals if not more than the aforementioned club. On their good days both clubs are capable of routing the opponents with 5-0 victories. But the difference lies of off-days. While they will lose 0-3, United will still win 1-0 even by playing crappy football. Thats exactly what happened today.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Tottenham 1-3 United
United games always have a story. And that's the best part of it. Till last season the most common start-of-the-season story used to be - United up by a goal relatively early and falling back and defending for the rest of the game and doing a pretty good job at cushioning the blows from the opposition attack. Of course the story of the games changed as the season progressed.
And that is what I think United is doing different this time around. More goals are coming in at the beginning of the season and the come-back-from-behind wins are becoming so common that you start expecting them. In essence, they are definitely quick off the starting blocks.
I started watching the game around the 10th minute and United were already down by a goal. Although I was not happy about it, I definitely wasn't alarmed. There is something about this side - a combination professionalism and heart - that makes you believe that they will win - no matter what. That reminds me of what a commentator said seconds before United mounted a historic comeback in the finals of the Champions League in 1999 - " Can United score? They always score!!"
Anyway, coming back to today's game. I didn't see the first Tottenham goal but I read that it was an overhead kick inside the first minute - sounds pretty amazing! But everyone knew that the it will not end 1-0. And after the first 15 minutes or so, it was all United. They HAD to get an equalizer before halftime. I didnt know where it was going to come from but I was so sure that its gonna come in the first half.
Seeing Giggs score always brings a smile to your face. The fact that it was a masterful free kick only makes you smile wider. The fact that it sees United get back on level terms makes you wanna say - "I knew it!". 811 games, 149 goals and still going strong. But there's something about him more than the stats. He embodies something I call Unitedism. He represents a class of players who play for a club because they love it and not because of the money or fame. There are other players with meteoric rise to super-stardom over a season or so. And then there are players like Ryan Giggs- those who are in for the long run. And we all know that winning a marathon needs more than winning a sprint. It like comparing Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh.
Ando's goal (United's second) was a bonus. This lad has been toiling hard for more than two years now and finally, FINALLY he's got his first goal. And was it sweetly struck! And it capped off a 15-20 minute period of United dominance. And I feel it was that period - the second part of the first half - that won the game for United. Dominance in terms of possession is what United are good at and they did just that.
2-1 at half-time and it was perfectly poised for a United rout in the second half. But I must say that Tottemhan came out strongly in the second half. Far from a United rout, it looked more like a Spurs comeback. And on top of that, United went down by a man. Paul Scholes of all people!! Even the most enthusiastic of United fans will not complain too much about the two yellow cards that resulted in Scholes being sent off. I can think of referees who would have given a straight red for the first tackle.
After that, White Hart Lane was probably at its vocal best (no where close to Old Trafford, but nonetheless). The next phase of play - about 20 minutes or so- reminded me of the usual start-of-the-season story for United. Waves of opposition attack soaked in by Rio and company. Midfielders were dropping back to form a second line of defense. Tense. There were a couple of times when I was even expecting to see the bulge in the net behind Foster - only to realize that it went just wide or off the crossbar. Lennon wasnt at his lethal best, but I thought Crouch was quite impressive. He was definitely more threatening than the image I had developed of him from his Liverpool days - a sorry looking tall lanky fellow who secretly believed that he should have gone into long-jumping instead. But today he was different - a constant threat.
But then the game was put to bed. A United breakway in the period of Tottenham dominance - and dont we love those! I thought it was a beauty of a ball from Fletcher to find Rooney who went past the last defender as if he never existed. Cudicini couldnt do much about that either. And there it was. A 3-1 turnaround. Rooney's 5th in as many games (He truly is keeping up to his promise of scoring Ronaldo's share of goals as well!). And there was joy in the world again!
United played the rest of the game with a attitude that said - "Ya, you guys thought you could beat us!"
Oh! And I almost forgot Evra. If there is anyone whose attacking style reminds me of Ronaldo then its Evra. Whenever he gets the ball, you almost wanna say "Run Evra run!". And more often than not, he obliges. How often do you see someone making a tackle in his own penalty box and 30 seconds later taking a pop at the opposition goal after bursting down the length of the pitch and making quite a few opponent players look like clowns in the process. I even remember towards the end of the game there was a United attack with Rooney with the ball out on the left wing. And guess who was bursting down the pitch to the centre forward position -it was Evra.
All said and done - 3 points in the bag. Tottenham's winning streak ended and they were brought back into line. Hopefully by next weekend there wont be any unbeaten teams left in the league - if you know what I mean.
Oh! And Champions League action starts this week!!
And that is what I think United is doing different this time around. More goals are coming in at the beginning of the season and the come-back-from-behind wins are becoming so common that you start expecting them. In essence, they are definitely quick off the starting blocks.
I started watching the game around the 10th minute and United were already down by a goal. Although I was not happy about it, I definitely wasn't alarmed. There is something about this side - a combination professionalism and heart - that makes you believe that they will win - no matter what. That reminds me of what a commentator said seconds before United mounted a historic comeback in the finals of the Champions League in 1999 - " Can United score? They always score!!"
Anyway, coming back to today's game. I didn't see the first Tottenham goal but I read that it was an overhead kick inside the first minute - sounds pretty amazing! But everyone knew that the it will not end 1-0. And after the first 15 minutes or so, it was all United. They HAD to get an equalizer before halftime. I didnt know where it was going to come from but I was so sure that its gonna come in the first half.
Seeing Giggs score always brings a smile to your face. The fact that it was a masterful free kick only makes you smile wider. The fact that it sees United get back on level terms makes you wanna say - "I knew it!". 811 games, 149 goals and still going strong. But there's something about him more than the stats. He embodies something I call Unitedism. He represents a class of players who play for a club because they love it and not because of the money or fame. There are other players with meteoric rise to super-stardom over a season or so. And then there are players like Ryan Giggs- those who are in for the long run. And we all know that winning a marathon needs more than winning a sprint. It like comparing Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh.
Ando's goal (United's second) was a bonus. This lad has been toiling hard for more than two years now and finally, FINALLY he's got his first goal. And was it sweetly struck! And it capped off a 15-20 minute period of United dominance. And I feel it was that period - the second part of the first half - that won the game for United. Dominance in terms of possession is what United are good at and they did just that.
2-1 at half-time and it was perfectly poised for a United rout in the second half. But I must say that Tottemhan came out strongly in the second half. Far from a United rout, it looked more like a Spurs comeback. And on top of that, United went down by a man. Paul Scholes of all people!! Even the most enthusiastic of United fans will not complain too much about the two yellow cards that resulted in Scholes being sent off. I can think of referees who would have given a straight red for the first tackle.
After that, White Hart Lane was probably at its vocal best (no where close to Old Trafford, but nonetheless). The next phase of play - about 20 minutes or so- reminded me of the usual start-of-the-season story for United. Waves of opposition attack soaked in by Rio and company. Midfielders were dropping back to form a second line of defense. Tense. There were a couple of times when I was even expecting to see the bulge in the net behind Foster - only to realize that it went just wide or off the crossbar. Lennon wasnt at his lethal best, but I thought Crouch was quite impressive. He was definitely more threatening than the image I had developed of him from his Liverpool days - a sorry looking tall lanky fellow who secretly believed that he should have gone into long-jumping instead. But today he was different - a constant threat.
But then the game was put to bed. A United breakway in the period of Tottenham dominance - and dont we love those! I thought it was a beauty of a ball from Fletcher to find Rooney who went past the last defender as if he never existed. Cudicini couldnt do much about that either. And there it was. A 3-1 turnaround. Rooney's 5th in as many games (He truly is keeping up to his promise of scoring Ronaldo's share of goals as well!). And there was joy in the world again!
United played the rest of the game with a attitude that said - "Ya, you guys thought you could beat us!"
Oh! And I almost forgot Evra. If there is anyone whose attacking style reminds me of Ronaldo then its Evra. Whenever he gets the ball, you almost wanna say "Run Evra run!". And more often than not, he obliges. How often do you see someone making a tackle in his own penalty box and 30 seconds later taking a pop at the opposition goal after bursting down the length of the pitch and making quite a few opponent players look like clowns in the process. I even remember towards the end of the game there was a United attack with Rooney with the ball out on the left wing. And guess who was bursting down the pitch to the centre forward position -it was Evra.
All said and done - 3 points in the bag. Tottenham's winning streak ended and they were brought back into line. Hopefully by next weekend there wont be any unbeaten teams left in the league - if you know what I mean.
Oh! And Champions League action starts this week!!
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