Manchester United Blog » Premiership

Chicharito Gives United Win

Tony — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 04:38:08 +0000

The last time Manchester United suffered a defeat on New Years day back was back in 1996, against Spurs at White Heart Lane. This time it was Rooney who would lead the Red Devils. Rooney who has had a rocky start to the season, to say the least would finally get his first goal from open play since last March! It came only two minutes into the first half, and it was a brilliant header from an Evra cross.

West Brom would get that one back though only 12 minutes later after a spectacular shot from Morrison, Kuszczak had absolutely no chance.

West Brom were truley unlucky as they dominated most of the game and even missed a penalty in the 62nd minute after Rio Ferdinand clipped Thomas just inside the box.

And if anyone is going to make you pay for a mistake like that, It’s Manchester United. It was super sub Javier Hernandez who would hit in the game winner from a Wayne Rooney Corner Kick. His 8th of the season, 5 of which have come from a substitution.

United remain on top of the table with their City rivals, but with two games in hand.

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Manchester United vs Arsenal preview

Tony — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:30:43 +0000

Manchester United will be defending their unbeaten record against the league leaders, in a match that could see United move to the top of the table with a game in hand.

The Gunners have a number of weapons in their Arsenal, but none more dangerous than Samir Nasri at the moment. Nasri has led Arsenal to the top of the table, scoring key goals and giving the Gunners some hope “after Cesc” if the Spaniard does decide to head back to his youth club.

Arsenal’s biggest weakness is their defense, their goal keepers are awful and United will need to test the keepers every chance they get.

United have gone unbeaten for a reason. Their defense has been key to their success, and with Rooney and Berbatov working well together, it’s only a matter of time before Manchester United find the back of the net.

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Modric – Why not go to Old Trafford and try to win?

Tony — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:40:28 +0000

Luka Modric believes Tottenham can go to Old Trafford and attack United, based on their performance against European Champions, Inter Milan. But it’s been 21 years since Tottenham beat United at Old Trafford.

“We showed against Inter in the second half that we can compete with the best teams in the world and United is certainly one of the best teams in the world.

“But why not go there and try to win?

“I know Tottenham haven’t won at Old Trafford for a long time, so why not now?”

What do you think? Can Tottenham, after 21 years of not winning at Old Trafford, walk away with a victory?

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United lucky to walk away with a point

Tony — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 01:52:52 +0000

To say United were held by Sunderland on the weekend would be a lie. United were lucky to walk away with a point, in what was one of the poorest performances I’ve ever seen from a United side.

What was Sir Alex thinking this weekend? This was the starting line-up, Van der Sar in goal, Vidic and Ferdinand at center backs, those were about the only positions he got right. He played O’Shea on the left side. Why? If Evra was resting why not play Fabio on the left, at least he can give you an “Evra” like performance.

The midfield was ok, I wouldnt change much there. But the front line was another mystery to me. Why start Owen? not only that, why start Owen and Macheda together? Macheda and Hernandez played well together in the Champions League and even combined to score the games only goal. Berbatov, who I have criticized countless times, is in pretty good form at the moment. So why bench him?

It is clear how much depth United lack at the moment and how important Antonio Valencia was to the squad. When 2 seasons ago United looked to have a plethora of talent, it looks as if the only option is to buy when the transfer season opens in the winter. If Rooney can find his form again then all United really need is a winger, but it needs to be a world class winger who can jump into the squad and make things happen.

If Rooney doesn’t find his form soon, United will be in a heap of trouble. Any opinions on who United can bring in this winter?

It was all Sunderland in the first-half, with a number of chances in front of goal. All United could do was watch as Sunderland created opportunities. United did not look dangerous one time in the first half.

It only took 45 minutes for Sir Alex to take out Owen, who is obviously a substitute player, and I’ll be surprised if he gets another start all season.

United were once again off to a slow start, United didn’t get any real chances until Javier Hernandez was subbed on for Macheda.

Chicharito gave Berbatov a great ball in the 81st minute which the Bulgarian hit wide.

Another move I didnt understand was Bebe on for Anderson in the 80th minute. Sir Alex should have gone to Gibson, who is a proven goal scorer and compliments Fletcher and Scholes very well.

The game would end with United only having one shot on goal.

United were lucky to walk away with a point.

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United and Liverpool to bring out top guns

Tony — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 18:57:48 +0000

Manchester United vs Liverpool, one of footballs great fixtures. This match is not for the weak and it’s never taken lightly. It’s a battle for the title of “England’s Most Successful Club”. Both teams have a record 18 league titles and have won a combined 116 honors between each other.

It is for this reason that both team have brought in their top guns. Torres and Gerrard return for Liverpool. While Van der Sar, Vidic, Evra and Scholes will return to the squad, along with Nani, and Berbatov.

Currently sitting in 16th, Liverpool need to make up some ground, but that wont be easy at Old Trafford. My money is on United as always and I predict a 2-1 victory for the Red Devils.

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Sunderland vs Manchester United

Tony — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:31:47 +0000

A must win for United, as Chelsea beat a very weak and fragile Liverpool at Anfield. It really felt like if someone was going to take points from Chelsea this late in the season, it would be Liverpool. I couldn’t have been more wrong, Liverpool looked despicable, a team with no pride waiting for the season to come to an end.

United would start Wayne Rooney after both an ankle and groin injury. Sir Alex would play a 4-4-2 to give Berbatov a spot on the team. It feels like its a charity start for Berbatov. I think Sir Alex knows that he has this week and next week to “show off” the Bulgarian to potential buyers (AC Milan) before the summer transfer window. If Berbatov performs well, United can squeeze just a little more money out of him. The flip side to this is Berbatov will perform like his usual self and depreciate another five or six million euros.

It only took United 4 minutes to create a goal scoring opportunity, after Rooney was able to control a not so great ball with his chest and create a side volley which Gordon pushed away into the path of Giggs, but it was cleared by the Sunderland defender. Great chance for United.

8 minutes in Rooney gets the ball to Berbatov at the top of the box and Berbatov refuses to strike.

Giggsy almost hits a wonder goal in the 23rd minute. He received a ball from Valencia, turned in then out and struck it with his left as it hits the top of the cross-bar and out.

2 minutes later on the opposite end, Van der Sar at 39 shows he is still one of the best keepers in the world as he pushes a great shot up and over the bar.

Nani would strike in the 28th minute to put United up 1-nil. United managed to get 5 passes in and around the Sunderland area before Fletcher put a ball out to Nani on the outside and with a tough angle Nani manged to hit it with the outside of his right foot to curl it around Gordon and find the back post.

In the 43rd minute United would have a break with Rooney carrying down the middle of the pitch, Nani on his right and Berbatov on his left. It was 3v3 and Rooney decided to go with Berbatov. If you still believe Berbatov can play at United, please defend and explain this particular play, because this happens a dozen times each game. He slows the game down and allows defenders to regain their shape, then loses the ball.

5 minutes later, again Berbatov is given a ball by Rooney after United did a great job at recovering. Rooney does wonderfully by pulling all the defenders to the left side then slides it into Berbatov on the right side and the Bulgarian again, instead of going to the ball and meeting it with a strike he allows the ball to come to him across this body and then shoots it wide, he has to meet that ball to get a better angle!

United need to either loan or sell Berbatov this summer. Just get him out of Old Trafford. United have Chicharito coming in the summer, and he will bring a Tevez style of football to United. He’s known for his work ethic and pace and his desire to never give up.

1-nil at half

At the start of the second half, Berbatov would recover a ball on the right flank. Then when you expect him to do more, he gets bullied off the ball by Malbranque far too easily and it goes off of him for a goal kick.

A minute later is when it starts to get embarrassing. At this point you almost start to feel sorry for the ex-Tottenham player. Then you remember he is making over £4 million a year, thats almost £20 thousand a day. For that kind of money he needs to put away these chances! Rooney does brilliantly from the left flank and puts in a ball across the face of goal for Berbatov to tuck it away, and he manages to kick it up and over the bar. This was harder to miss than to make!

Finally, Sir Alex puts him out of his misery in the 70th min. as Carrick comes on for the Bulgarian who should have at least had one goal.

Manchester United would have one more chance at goal, when Rooney, Nani and Carrick combine, but the Sunderland defense kicks it off the line, literally.

This would end 1-0, it probably should have been up 4-0 but a win is a win. Now the title will be decided on the last day. United will host Stoke, while Chelsea will host Wigan.

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Manchester United vs Tottenham

Tony — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 23:56:12 +0000

For those who criticized the Premier League at the end of last season for “being too predictable”, this season has been everything but predictable. What could be more exciting than the current title race, where the league leader changed three times in the last month, and just when we thought it was all Chelsea, they fumble last week in a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham.

After the unintentional favor Spurs gave United last week, Tottenham looked to pass the same favor along to Chelsea by offing United at Old Trafford. But like they would soon find out, that is no easy task.

In January United score 11 goals in the premier league, 10 in February, and 10 in March. Since Wayne Rooney’s injury, United have manged to score only 2 goals in the month of April! Just goes to show how important the English international is to United. But that would all change in this crucial game.

United played my favorite, 4-5-1 with the right players playing in the right positions. Scholes, Fletcher, and Giggs in the middle, Valencia and Nani on the wings and Berbatov up top. I was surprised to see Rafael back in the line-up after his performance in the Champions League, but Sir Alex was apparently able to forgive.

Harry Rednap’s side looked dangerous, as both Defoe and Pavlyuchenko started up top. While in the middle players like Modric, Bentley and Palacios have all been key in Tottenham’s success this year.

First 6 minutes Scholes wins the ball at midfield, doing some of the dirty work, and gets the ball out to Berbatov, with plenty of space to at least create a goal scoring opportunity. Nope, the Bulgarian had no one behind him, something he should have noticed when receiving the ball, but still for some reason decides to take a look back, as he does the ball gets away from him and the Spurs defense does away with the danger. If there was any doubt that Berbatov was not fit for the Serie A, take a look at the flop after he is dispossessed. That has Italian Serie A/AC Milan written all over it. He even resembles Inzaghi.

10 Minutes later, another flop from the Bulgarian, classic Italian,

It may seem like I’m picking on Berbatov today, more than usual, but he was about as useless as you can be while still having a pulse.

In the 21st minute the Bulgarian had another one v one. What does he decide to do? Give Nani a square hospital ball. Take a guy on for Christ sake man!

30th minute again, Berbatov should have done better. Evra put in a great ball into the middle, that the Spurs defense had trouble clearing and it fell for Berbatov who tries to hit it one time and is blocked by the defender. If thats Rooney, he takes one touch to the right to open up the goal and scores!

Berbatov failed to hit the target again in the 40th minute. He needs to at least make the keeper work from that distance. Just inside the box, he had a lovely first touch but hit it too low and sent the ball sailing over the bar. Again, a Rooney, Torres, a Drogba put that away.

Nil-Nil at half, as Tottenham failed to create anything worth mentioning.

The second half was a goal fest. Starting with a Pk which Berbatov helped build. After recieving the ball he waited for arguably the best left back in the world to overlap, then slipped him the ball with a back heel, and Evra did the rest. As Giggsy would tuck away his first penalty ever in the premier league.

Tottenham would equalize as Rafael looked to nonchalant on that back post. If he stays on his post instead of taking a step up, he clears that ball off the line. United need to really tighten up their defense from corners and set pieces. They are goals given up too cheaply and it already cost them the Champions League.

10 minutes later Nani would give us a taste of what hes capable of with a brilliant and extremely difficult goal, from no angle he manages to chip Gomes to give United a one goal advantage. Also, give credit to Macheda who gave Nani a brilliant through ball.

Nani would then force another Pk, and Giggsy put away his second Pk of his Premier League career to give United a 3-1 win over Tottenham, who had been rampant, defeating both Arseanl and Chelsea.

Now all eyes will be on Chelsea v Liverpool this Sunday, as it will surely be a vital piece in determining the Premier League Champions this season!

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Manchester City vs Manchester United

Tony — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:36:12 +0000

The weekend couldn’t have gone any better for United, their prayers were answered as they got a much needed win over their noisy neighbors.

Be careful what you wish for. City boss, Roberto Mancini, learned this the hard way. Mancini had had voiced his desire over Rooney’s participation in the derby, and he got what he asked for. Rooney was fit to start and certainly made his presence known.

I liked Uniteds line up, it was their very effective 4-3-3 or 4-5-1, whatever you want to call it, it works. Sir Alex can rotate the three center midfielders, as long as it’s Scholes, Fletcher, Carrick, or Gibson, and it works. You can add Anderson and Hargreaves to the list of players he can rotate into those positions, when they are fit. On the wings Nani, Valencia, Giggs, and Park are interchangeable. On defense we can always count on the left back and at least one of the center backs. The point is, This is the best line-up for United, period.

City started about as strong as they could have, I think City would have been better off with Wright-Philips or Ireland at right wing, instead of Adam Johnson, but oh well.

United were the first to create an opportunity, only 4 minutes in Fletcher would have a decent effort from 20 yards out that went just wide of the goal.

City’s only real opportunity in the first half came from Carlitos Tevez, when he hit a free kick from 28 yards out. But Van der Sar read it and made a very comfortable save, as he held on to it.

5 minutes before the half, Rooney created a great chance, a shot he would’ve converted nine times out of ten. Valencia drew two defenders, and then headed it on to Rooney, who instead of going on to it directly and attempting the shot. He let it run across his body for a left footed shot, a move that sent the City defender flying across, but hit it wide of the post, one of those chances you would love to get back.

Both sides level at the half.

We would have to wait until the hour mark for the first chance of the half, it came from City as Tevez fed Bellamy on the wing, but instead of bringing it in, the Welshman cuts his angle off by continuing to dribble down the line and hitting it with his left foot well wide of the goal.

15 minutes later City would appeal for a penalty as Barry is taken down by Neville in the box. But a second look at the replay, and you could see Barry goes down far too easily. While at the other end Giggs was given a great chance, but didn’t time it right. He should not have let the ball bounce a second time, it allowed Given to pounce on it and maybe cause it was on Giggsy’s right foot, but a Valencia or a Nani, would have finished that.

United were very lucky not to concede a goal in the 85th minute, when a Bellamy corner forced Van der Sar off his line and into a position where he was completely beat, not only was he in mans land, he decided to have a seat and watch as his team scrambled to clear the ball off their line.

Then when everyone had accepted the nil-nil result, United would again grab a late winner, as Paul Scholes, one of Uniteds most decorated players, received a great ball from Evra, but this was all Scholesy. A wonderful finish, as he directs the ball perfectly with his head, something not very easily done, and easily one of Uniteds best goals of the season, both for skill and significance.

Chelsea is still in the driver seat but much to my surprise United are back in the title race. I probably shouldn’t have counted them out so early, there are three games left and anything can happen.

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Can United still win the Premier League?

Tony — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:34:23 +0000

Here are United, Chelsea, and Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures;

Manchester United
Apr 7           vs Bayern                        Champions League
Apr 11         at Bolton                          Premier League
Apr 17        at Manchester City      Premier League
Apr 24        vs Tottenham                Premier League
May 1          at Sunderland                Premier League
May 9          vs Stoke City                  Premier League

Chelsea
Apr 10        at Aston Villa          FA Cup
Apr 13        vs Bolton                   Premier League
Apr 17        at Tottenham          Premier League
Apr 25        vs Stoke                     Premier League
May 1          at Liverpool             Premier League
May 9          vs Wigan                    Premier League

Arsenal
Apr 6           at Barcelona                    Champions League
Apr 14        at Tottenham                   Premier League
Apr 18        at Wigan                             Premier League
Apr 24        vs Manchester City       Premier League
May 1          at Blackburn                    Premier League
May 9          vs Fulham                        Premier League

All three teams will have to play Tottenham. United and Arsenal will have to play Manchester City. And Chelsea will have to travel to Anfield and play Liverpool. Those three teams Manchester City, Tottenham, and Liverpool (currently 4th, 5th, and 6th) have dreams of their own and that is to play Champions League football. Look for those specific fixtures, as those matches will determine the Premier League Champions.

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Manchester Uniteds 09/10 fixtures

Tony — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:09:32 +0000

Uniteds 09/10 fixtures!

Saturday 15 August
Man Utd v Birmingham 15:00

Tuesday 18 August
Burnley v Man Utd 19:45

Saturday 22 August
Wigan v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 29 August
Man Utd v Arsenal 15:00

Saturday 12 September
Tottenham v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 19 September
Man Utd v Man City 15:00

Saturday 26 September
Stoke v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 03 October
Man Utd v Sunderland 15:00

Saturday 17 October
Man Utd v Bolton 15:00

Saturday 24 October
Liverpool v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 31 October
Man Utd v Blackburn 15:00

Saturday 7 November
Chelsea v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 21 November
Man Utd v Everton 15:00

Saturday 28 November
Portsmouth v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 05 December
West Ham v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 12 December
Man Utd v Aston Villa 15:00

Tuesday 15 December
Man Utd v Wolverhampton 19:45

Saturday 19 December
Fulham v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 26 December
Hull v Man Utd 15:00

Monday 28 December
Man Utd v Wigan 15:00

Saturday 09 January
Birmingham v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 16 January
Man Utd v Burnley 15:00

Tuesday 26 January
Man Utd v Hull 19:45

Saturday 30 January
Arsenal v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 6 February
Man Utd v Portsmouth 15:00

Wednesday 10 February
Aston Villa v Man Utd 19:45

Saturday 20 February
Everton v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 27 February
Man Utd v West Ham 15:00

Saturday 06 March
Wolverhampton v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 13 March
Man Utd v Fulham 15:00

Saturday 20 March
Man Utd v Liverpool 15:00

Saturday 27 March
Bolton v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 3 April
Man Utd v Chelsea 15:00

Saturday 10 April
Blackburn v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 17 April
Man City v Man Utd 15:00

Saturday 24 April
Man Utd v Tottenham 15:00

Saturday 01 May
Sunderland v Man Utd 15:00

Sunday 09 May
Man Utd v Stoke 15:00

Eurosport

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