05.02.09
Want a mad cup final?
4-4 aet, 3 sending-offs, 15-14 on pens?
If Chelsea v Everton will be anything like this come the end of the month, we’re in for a really nice treat.
04.05.09
Macheda shot a turn of luck for United
After sulking on Saturday because of my mother vehemently claiming there is no live football on television (she just wanted to watch the reality singing contest that until last season has never interfered with the football season) I gleefully came down to watch United play Villa after learning that she had gone upstairs to sleep.
Deep down inside I was thinking, could this be another one of those days when a youngster decides the game? Looking at United’s bench for the game I saw the not unfamiliar (any stern United follower would have heard him by now actually) but yet unproven Federico Macheda, who had just scored a hat-trick in the reserves. I didn’t really see anything in it and would probably have fancied Welbeck rather.
2-1 down, Sir Alex sent on the young Italian instead, which struck me as odd. For one thing, Welbeck had the more experience. That move doesn’t sound like a coach needing to end the prospect of three successive defeats in a title run-in. But as we all know, nobody questions Sir Alex’s decisions, but I was left a bit uneasy with it – the youngster’s touch showed enormous inexperience, he lost the ball once or twice. But when you get on for your first-team debut, practically millions of eyes are on you, wanting to see what you can do, so it’s not really his fault I guess.
It went to 2-2, by that time Villa were nervous like they usually have been all season, but you can say the same for United’s attacking endeavours in the last few games. Only that now, there is no Berbatov or Rooney up front and instead two youngsters who haven’t even reached 19 yet.
The ball broke to Welbeck but he was unable to beat Friedel despite taking the right option to drive the ball across and low to the far post. It seemed like Villa would finally get something from the game, any point would be of great value for them right now.
Into injury time, another failed attempt to hold the ball up by Macheda but this time the ball fell luckily into Giggs, who fed a nice through pass to the Italian showing nice movement like all fine strikers do. That’s when it all went right for him – the brilliant pullback, not too near his feet for a dribble but not too far from them, and the curling shot which curved out of Friedel’s reach and into the United goal.
Notice in the replays that both Luke Young and Friedel went to their right and got fooled by Macheda’s lovely turn. Big guy that he is, it wasn’t probable that Macheda would try and run past Young but the amazing thing was how fast his feet moved from looking to be taking it on his left to digging it from under his body, shifting the ball to his right.
So what does that make of him? Another one of Fergie’s finds yes, but like every player that comes from United’s youth academy, you can be sure he’ll be steadily developed, keeping his feet on the ground yet doing unbelievable things. And we’d want to keep this young Italian striker for maybe a little bit longer, having already let go of one.
03.15.09
I hate what football does to me
I often write in neutrality, but there’s no hiding what club I support. And thus, no hiding from the amount of abuse I get after that recent romping last Saturday. I don’t wanna even mention the score – how absurd it is that two numbers and a dash could become such a powerful insult.
On a neutral standpoint it’s great for the league. La Liga looked to be the more exciting title chase until the last round of fixtures of the Premier League. There’s every chance United will lose their game in hand to make it a proper 3-horse race.
What is next for United? A backlash would sure be imminent, but I don’t think it will ever be the same. It’s just not Manchester United, to concede four goals at home. Only 4 points taken from 15 against the rest of the big four English teams marks an astonishing rate of failure. I think the team will crumble unlike the usual that we have seen them at this point of the season. They’ll probably lose the FA Cup final to Chelsea, get drawn against Barca in the CL quarters this week which spells revenge, so that means 2 out of 5 this season. Not that bad. But definitely not even acceptable.
Why the negativity? Because the United fans get hurt the most when the team loses like that. I’d rather get kicked in the balls than get hurled abuse from “long-suffering” Liverpool fans, even though I’ve rarely instigated any sort of bragging (spare the random Glory Glory chant aimed at nobody in particular). The whole United team and especially the crap Vidic need to pay for this. Sir Alex please offload that useless Serb and go retire immediately.
03.10.09
CL Casualty
Oh hi there :D but seriously, the hassle of finding myself a job is taking its toll, it’s consuming me so much I even forget this blog even existed at times.
I fear for the English sides in the run-up to the second leg of the last 16 of this year’s Champions League. While results favour them in a whole last time out, there will be a time when things don’t come their way and I feel the time is now.
The team I feel in great risk of exiting Europe this week is Manchester United. Their fine run of form looks to be ending for the last few games. Now without an away goal advantage, Inter only need to score to eliminate United – you can bet that whatever Mourinho can conjure up in his tactics, he gets it worked out by his excellent players.
Juventus could also undo Chelsea if they play the right way. Only faced with a slender deficit, this is the time when they can turn the tie their way – 90 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino, or more.
The rest of the English teams don’t have it easy, but generally they would be fine. I remember writing about how the draw came unpleasant for the four sides – I don’t dare to tip all four will get through this stage. It’s up to them to prove me wrong.
02.09.09
…eh what?
Just hours after posting about needing old heads to save your club, it seems that experience can’t help you win things on the flipside: Chelsea have sacked Scolari.
That’s it. I propose a manager’s contract to be 18 months at max. That way clubs can’t lose money from compensation.
Why can’t we sack players under normal circumstances? And the minute a manager loses the dressing room he is sure to be out, as players don’t perform for him or listen to his tactics anymore. There must be a compromise, I feel.
I can remember 3 periods when Man United didn’t win anything but they still kept Sir Alex. Nobody dares to think of a successor to him – that’s because nobody fits the bill as yet. But the rest of the teams in England (save the Arse) and all around Europe see the manager as easily sackable.
So what’s my point of all this? After the tragedies that befell Ramos, Keano, Ince, Adams, now Scolari, even Schuster, don’t be a manager. If it isn’t your players backstabbing you, it’s the overambitious board of directors swift on the trigger if you don’t get a win in 3.
02.08.09
Experience will make your team stay up
In a short while, Tony Adams will be joining the other three lads from the famous Arsenal back four – in the punditry seat.
Just three months after landing the Pompey job – and I backed him to do well – he’s gonna be sacked by the board, with Avram Grant slated to return but this time in the manager’s seat.
The sacking of Paul Ince looked like a huge pointer and spelt doom for similar young managers in the game. When you’re down there, experience and an old head is priceless. Which club stayed up last season? Fulham, who brought in the experienced Roy Hodgson – I remembered they were written off with two more games to go.
The successor of Ince is Big Sam who, until recently, were unbeaten, because the side defended very well all of a sudden, with virtually the same back line Ince had. It shows that any team can defend well with discipline and motivation.
And of course, somebody has to knock in those qualities into the players’ head. Nobody can do a better job at this than an experienced manager.
In other news, seeming that the transfer window is stern shut it’s time to finally create a master league for WE2009. You will see me updating less.
01.14.09
How to get Kaká
No amount of money – not even £100m – can buy Kaká, Man City’s owners need to know that. They need to do their homework first.
Kaká is an Evangelical Christian, a very devout one at that. He gives half his salary to his church. For sure he won’t be tempted to move just for his personal gain (very unlike Robinho). Also considering from where the money comes from and who the owners are, I doubt he wants to play for these Arab billionaires.
City needs to buy someone else. Preferably less pious.
01.13.09
Shocking Headline
I just had to post this…
From the Independent:
A football supporter who allegedly threw a coin that hit an assistant referee during a Barclays Premier League match was today charged with battery.
12.29.08
What’s in a (near-)namesake?
Recently, Chippenham Town’s attacking midfielder David Pratt became the fastest senior league football player to get sent off – just three seconds after kick off. His team are playing in the 7th tier of England’s league system.
If not for the subtle difference, it probably would’ve been quite a concern to former England international David Platt, both players play in the same position. But hang on, he wouldn’t rest so easily if I tell him this: when both names are written in Japanese, they would be the same!
12.28.08
Marseille a turn for the worst
When you’re rushing at the ball, don’t do a Marseille turn. Instead do it when you have complete possession.
The sending-off of Benoit Assou-Ekotto against West Brom was just the consequence of that. The initial step of the turn, to shield the ball from your opponent, involves you turning your back on him, planting your foot in front of the ball to act as a pivot for your other foot to drag the ball away. But when done wrongly and the forward foot hits the other player, this initial move could be seen as a stomp on your opponent – which always results in a red card. What makes it even more hazardous is that you couldn’t see where the opponent is because you’re looking away from them. Other examples of this is Augustin Binya for Benfica versus Celtic’s Scott Brown, though there was a hint of pre-meditated assault at that time.
Congratulations to Clint “Deuce” Dempsey for scoring two goals against Chelsea. Last season he was adjudged to manhandle Michael Ballack in the box which resulted in a penalty and a 1-0 win for the Blues. Sweet revenge eh?
Liverpool’s big win against a disappointing Newcastle United looks to give them the right tonic for the belief that they can make it all the way. A 5-1 win without Torres and Keane is astounding. Well now I guess we won’t see them again for awhile.
