Fixture pileups and injury threaten to ruin all the hard work that United have put in throughout the season. But do we have faith in our glorious manager? Of course we do. As the days progress things look more and more bleak, but if there is one man to pull us through it is Ferguson.
Let’s take a look at who is out. Van Der Sar looks a doubt for Saturday’s game. The man who has rallied the defence in recent weeks, could be a key loss for us on Saturday. I am sure that we would not be facing a replay against Middlesbrough, had he been between the posts on Saturday.
Next up is the defensive pairing of Vidic and Ferdinand. Both face a race to be fit for Saturday. Ferdinand in particular pulled up quite sharply at the weekend, let’s hope it’s nothing serious. I think without those 2 at the back we look particularly vulnerable, especially against the more physical sides.
Then there is Evra and Silvestre. Evra has had a fantastic season and it is a shame to see him pick-up another strain as the season reaches a crucial point. Silvestre has been a fringe player this time around, however his ability to fill in at the back has provided welcome cover for the centre backs at crucial moments of the season when united face fixture pileups. The one saving grace we have is Heinze. His stirling performance at the weekend was nothing short of breath taking. He is a class defender that offers so much going forward and even more defensively. If there was ever a time for a player to reclaim his place in the starting eleven, now would be it.
The midfield is missing Scholes through suspension and Fletcher through injury. Scholes will now be back to face Blackburn and Fletcher’s injury is not as bad as first thought. We hope that, Giggs, Ronaldo, Park, O’Shea and Carrick can hold the fort in the coming weeks.
Up front is where things look decidedly thin. Saha is out until the end of March with a thigh strain and Solskjaer has had an operation on his knee. That leaves us with Rooney, Smith and Dong, the latter two are decidedly lacking in first team experience this season. It is now more than ever that we will rely on Ronaldo and Giggs for attacking support..
Ferguson has been particularly brave about the situation. Unlike Mourinho, you don’t hear him whinging to the press about the terrible time his squad are having and how the opposition are lucky etc etc. Instead what Ferguson does better than any other manager is he supports his entire squad. If one player gets injured he assures the world that another can aptly fill in. He rallies and Marshals his men, giving them a hunger, desire and more importantly a belief that anything and everything is possible, you just need to believe in yourself. Does anybody remember the Champions league final of 99?
So as the season approaches the final stages, I have no doubt that our manager is the man to keep the campaign alive on three fronts. He is a master at man management and I am sure we will see his vast array of skills on show in the coming weeks. Roll on another treble!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Friday, March 09, 2007
Manchester United Quarter final champions league draw
We have been landed a near perfect draw. We play Roma away in the quarter finals and then either Bayern Munich or AC Milan in the semi finals. To be honest it could have gone a lot worse and I for one am glad we avoided English opposition.
I think it is quite amusing that Liverpool and Chelsea face the prospect of playing each other in the semi finals; this will be the third year in a row that they have the potential to meet each other before the final.
This year there is a very real possibility of there being an all English final. Could you imagine 50,000 Liverpool fans and 50,000 Manchester United fans in Greece for the final. I would not fancy policing that one.
Overall a very good draw, now let’s focus on the FA Cup on Saturday. This really could be our year!
I think it is quite amusing that Liverpool and Chelsea face the prospect of playing each other in the semi finals; this will be the third year in a row that they have the potential to meet each other before the final.
This year there is a very real possibility of there being an all English final. Could you imagine 50,000 Liverpool fans and 50,000 Manchester United fans in Greece for the final. I would not fancy policing that one.
Overall a very good draw, now let’s focus on the FA Cup on Saturday. This really could be our year!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Manchester United V Lille Match Review
Good morning people, so we are through to the quarter finals after a 1-0 victory over Lille. It wasn’t vintage United, but we got the job done and now face the prospect of facing some of the European giants for a place in the semi finals.
Lille looked dangerous from set pieces and threatened us a few times on the break, whereas united lacked that final ball into either Larrson or Rooney. I thought Rooney’s touch let him down somewhat and Larrson seemed to struggle with the physical nature of the game. But let me complain no more, we did what we needed to do and that’s what counts!
The draw for the quarter finals is tomorrow and the big question is… who do and don’t you want to face? you can vote for your choice in our Man Utd forum. Personally I would like to avoid and English team, the excitement of the champion’s league revolves around playing the top clubs in Europe and not in playing domestic teams.
Therefore the 3 teams I would like to face in order of preference would be Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Valencia. I know this is tough opposition, but I don’t think we need to fear anyone in this competition, it’s almost as though the bigger the team, the better we play.
I know that I have said this many times this season, but the next few games really are crucial if we are to push on all fronts for silverware. Without Scholes in midfield and limited options up front, the team must pull together more than ever. We have 2 physical games against Bolton and Blackburn coming up, I see this as potential slip ups. Our saving grace without doubt is our defence. We look so solid at the back, that we rarely look like conceding. It is up front that we really need to work hard, wasn’t it great to see Smith have a run out last night?
Right that’s it from me this morning, I forgot to mention earlier, the atmosphere at Old Trafford was excellent last, it reminded me of previous seasons, let’s have more of it!
Lille looked dangerous from set pieces and threatened us a few times on the break, whereas united lacked that final ball into either Larrson or Rooney. I thought Rooney’s touch let him down somewhat and Larrson seemed to struggle with the physical nature of the game. But let me complain no more, we did what we needed to do and that’s what counts!
The draw for the quarter finals is tomorrow and the big question is… who do and don’t you want to face? you can vote for your choice in our Man Utd forum. Personally I would like to avoid and English team, the excitement of the champion’s league revolves around playing the top clubs in Europe and not in playing domestic teams.
Therefore the 3 teams I would like to face in order of preference would be Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Valencia. I know this is tough opposition, but I don’t think we need to fear anyone in this competition, it’s almost as though the bigger the team, the better we play.
I know that I have said this many times this season, but the next few games really are crucial if we are to push on all fronts for silverware. Without Scholes in midfield and limited options up front, the team must pull together more than ever. We have 2 physical games against Bolton and Blackburn coming up, I see this as potential slip ups. Our saving grace without doubt is our defence. We look so solid at the back, that we rarely look like conceding. It is up front that we really need to work hard, wasn’t it great to see Smith have a run out last night?
Right that’s it from me this morning, I forgot to mention earlier, the atmosphere at Old Trafford was excellent last, it reminded me of previous seasons, let’s have more of it!
Monday, March 05, 2007
Liverpool V Manchester United review and Highlights
Well people what a weekend. We have successfully done the double over our arch rivals. It was one of those games where you always thought there was no chance we would walk away with the points, then once they had thrown everything at us, you felt sure that we could nick it at the end. What a game!!
I thought that we were largely outplayed for a lot of the game, but that is to be expected when you go to Anfield, the crowd can act like a twelfth man at times and I think this was certainly the case on Saturday. But in the end it was superb defending by our boys and that was the difference between the sides.
Rio Ferdinand was excellent, as was Van Der Sar. His save from Crouch in the dying minutes was the difference between 3 points and 0 points. In the end we had one chance in the dying seconds and we grabbed it with both hands. It was a sterling performance that reminded me of a team we had 8 years ago.
Something feels different this year. No matter how up against it we are, we have the drive and determination to get results when it matters. Last season I am sure we would have crumbled under the pressure from Liverpool. Heads would have dropped and we simply wouldn’t believe that we could do it.
This season it is different. Against Fulham and Liverpool, we didn’t care whether there was 10 minutes or 30 seconds left to play. We would always go for it knowing that we could score that vital goal that would take us one step further to glory.
Mourinho said a while back that the season wasn’t over. We had to go to Anfield, Emirates and the Bridge, all difficult places. Mourinho fully expected these fixtures to be an opportunity for his team to close the gap on United and really make a title race. Well we have two of those results out of the way and are still 9 points clear. We are now fully in the driving seat and the title is ours to lose. Judging by the celebrations this weekend I think the players no this more than any of us.
We now have 3 fairly tough domestic games against Bolton, Blackburn and Middlesbrough and will have to face them without our midfield man Scholes. It’s not often you see him react like that and we will miss him badly for them. But I am confident the team can cope and bring the title closer to home.
I thought that we were largely outplayed for a lot of the game, but that is to be expected when you go to Anfield, the crowd can act like a twelfth man at times and I think this was certainly the case on Saturday. But in the end it was superb defending by our boys and that was the difference between the sides.
Rio Ferdinand was excellent, as was Van Der Sar. His save from Crouch in the dying minutes was the difference between 3 points and 0 points. In the end we had one chance in the dying seconds and we grabbed it with both hands. It was a sterling performance that reminded me of a team we had 8 years ago.
Something feels different this year. No matter how up against it we are, we have the drive and determination to get results when it matters. Last season I am sure we would have crumbled under the pressure from Liverpool. Heads would have dropped and we simply wouldn’t believe that we could do it.
This season it is different. Against Fulham and Liverpool, we didn’t care whether there was 10 minutes or 30 seconds left to play. We would always go for it knowing that we could score that vital goal that would take us one step further to glory.
Mourinho said a while back that the season wasn’t over. We had to go to Anfield, Emirates and the Bridge, all difficult places. Mourinho fully expected these fixtures to be an opportunity for his team to close the gap on United and really make a title race. Well we have two of those results out of the way and are still 9 points clear. We are now fully in the driving seat and the title is ours to lose. Judging by the celebrations this weekend I think the players no this more than any of us.
We now have 3 fairly tough domestic games against Bolton, Blackburn and Middlesbrough and will have to face them without our midfield man Scholes. It’s not often you see him react like that and we will miss him badly for them. But I am confident the team can cope and bring the title closer to home.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
MAnchester United V Reading preview and all the best Man United videos
Tonight sees us take on Reading in the FA cup, a game that will surely be more difficult than we expect. We have been fortunate in our last 2 games, winning when we perhaps should have lost. Tonight we must get back to our confident winning ways with Liverpool coming up at the weekend.
I’m not going to write too much this morning, I think that Ferguson will field a weakened side with a few stars on the bench should he need them. I think Park and Fletcher will play as well as Heinze. I would also like to see Saha start as we need him in form for when Larrson leaves. Join the Reading games discussion thread here
I thought that today I would show you some videos that I have found, some you may have seen before and other people in the forum have found. Thanks to everyone for all your help. United you are the greatest team in the world and we love you! Let's start with the best, still brings a tear to my eye!
I’m not going to write too much this morning, I think that Ferguson will field a weakened side with a few stars on the bench should he need them. I think Park and Fletcher will play as well as Heinze. I would also like to see Saha start as we need him in form for when Larrson leaves. Join the Reading games discussion thread here
I thought that today I would show you some videos that I have found, some you may have seen before and other people in the forum have found. Thanks to everyone for all your help. United you are the greatest team in the world and we love you! Let's start with the best, still brings a tear to my eye!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Fulham V Manchester United Review and highlights
What a weekend!!! Speaking to a fellow United fan he was saying to me that the result against Fulham was all about management. It would be fair to say that Fulham were the dominant team throughout the game and we really should have lost, but Ferguson’s man management paid off and we took the vital 3 points to go 9 clear!
It was a day of mixed fortunes. United went down to an early goal from Mcbride as Fulham never really looked like rolling over. United’s defence looked stretched and largely ineffective and it looked as though 9 points clear was not a possibility. Then came another moment of brilliance from Rooney and Giggs and it was 1-1 before the break.
The second half brought more of the same from Fulham, they relentlessly pressured United and it was looking as though we were heading for a loss let alone a draw. Then 0n 88 minutes that man Ronaldo, produced a moment of individual brilliance to grab us the vital points to keep the pressure on Chelsea.
It was plain to see how much it means to this team. When Ronaldo scored, the management, the subs and the team went crazy, it was like the champions league final all over again. If anyone questioned United’s hunger and desire before the game, they surely couldn’t say as much now.
The result made it quite clear to me how every game seems like a six pointe. If we won we would be 9 clear, but had we lost Chelsea could come within 3 points of us. The way it stands at the moment we can afford to lose against Chelsea and Liverpool and still win the title, the ball is very much in our court!
It was a day of mixed fortunes. United went down to an early goal from Mcbride as Fulham never really looked like rolling over. United’s defence looked stretched and largely ineffective and it looked as though 9 points clear was not a possibility. Then came another moment of brilliance from Rooney and Giggs and it was 1-1 before the break.
The second half brought more of the same from Fulham, they relentlessly pressured United and it was looking as though we were heading for a loss let alone a draw. Then 0n 88 minutes that man Ronaldo, produced a moment of individual brilliance to grab us the vital points to keep the pressure on Chelsea.
It was plain to see how much it means to this team. When Ronaldo scored, the management, the subs and the team went crazy, it was like the champions league final all over again. If anyone questioned United’s hunger and desire before the game, they surely couldn’t say as much now.
The result made it quite clear to me how every game seems like a six pointe. If we won we would be 9 clear, but had we lost Chelsea could come within 3 points of us. The way it stands at the moment we can afford to lose against Chelsea and Liverpool and still win the title, the ball is very much in our court!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Lille saga continues, Can United go 9 clear?
Lille are accusing Manchester United of issuing tickets to fans too early and as a result a number of forgeries were produced that resulted in the crowd problems in the United end. The tie that was held on Tuesday of this week is descending into a shambles of the highest order. Whatever next? Will Lille hold Man Utd responsible for the missiles that were thrown by their fans?
There is so much bad blood revolving the midweek fixture the return to Old Traffard promises to be a frosty affair. Let’s hope the Old Trafford crowd produce aan electric atmosphere and inspire the players to put on a magnificent performance. We need to win and win convincingly. Ferguson will be telling his players that they must let the football do the talking, whilst officials deal with the commotion off field!
We have a huge game against Fulham on Saturday and it’s even more significant because we have the opportunity to go 9 points clear at the top. Chelsea have lost their skipper again and have it all to do. United aren’t home and dry, but the more pressure that United can put on the Blues the greater chance we have.
From the beginning of the season and this blog in fact I have said we are a team that can win this title. I love United and always knew that we had every chance of bringing the title home and most people on this blog agreed with me, read my ramblings here
So 9 points clear with 10 games to go is a great place to be. If we pull it off we will be one step closer to putting United back on the map. We are still in 3 competitions and have every chance of winning them all. I feel the United anthem coming on!
There is so much bad blood revolving the midweek fixture the return to Old Traffard promises to be a frosty affair. Let’s hope the Old Trafford crowd produce aan electric atmosphere and inspire the players to put on a magnificent performance. We need to win and win convincingly. Ferguson will be telling his players that they must let the football do the talking, whilst officials deal with the commotion off field!
We have a huge game against Fulham on Saturday and it’s even more significant because we have the opportunity to go 9 points clear at the top. Chelsea have lost their skipper again and have it all to do. United aren’t home and dry, but the more pressure that United can put on the Blues the greater chance we have.
From the beginning of the season and this blog in fact I have said we are a team that can win this title. I love United and always knew that we had every chance of bringing the title home and most people on this blog agreed with me, read my ramblings here
So 9 points clear with 10 games to go is a great place to be. If we pull it off we will be one step closer to putting United back on the map. We are still in 3 competitions and have every chance of winning them all. I feel the United anthem coming on!
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