United went back to winning ways (finally) with a 3-0 home win over Burnley that will definitely go some way towards numbing some of the pain that has been inflicted over United supporters over the past few weeks. However, if you think that this 3-0 win was one of those old fashioned cakewalks you need to think again. On any other day and against any other opposition we might have ended up conceding two before even registering our first goal. As it turned out, Burnley’s poor finishing handed us the impetus and we duly cashed in on it. [Keep Reading…]
Let me start off with an admission. I am now a certified hypocrite. It is amazing how I have traveled a whole gulf of emotions in a matter of a few years. Watching Michael Owen in the Liverpool red would make me nauseous. Now look at me, championing his cause for a regular starting berth. But who cares, right? Michael Owen is now a Red and whether he hates Scousers or not, he is scoring goals for United. And last night Michael Owen showed the entire world that finishing is an art of which he is a Picasso. [Keep Reading…]
Dear Sir Alex,
First of all, I am a big, big fan of yours. So much so that even if you direct me to kiss your feet, I would do it without any qualms. For years I have seen you build one unconquerable United side after another. I have seen you make astute buys, change games with a few choice words, make inspired substitutions and frustrate opposing managers with some impressive mind-games. However, this letter has not been written to worship your godliness, I bet you get loads of them everyday. This is about yesterday. After watching my beloved United go down meekly to Liverpool of all teams, I was left devastated. More importantly, I was left searching for answers. And who better to give me those than the one who holds all the cards? [Keep Reading…]
Carrick the hero against Wolfsburg
A lively European night at Old Trafford saw Manchester United, the English champions, taking on Vfl Wolfsburg, the German champions, in an encounter that was billed to be an exhibition of attacking football. Before the game, Armin Veh, the Wolfsburg manager, had promised an attacking approach to the game. And for once, an opposing manager did not disappoint. Unlike a number of visiting teams before them, Wolfsburg took the game to United and arguably had the better of the first half. However, in the end, Manchester United’s class and determination proved too much for them to handle and inspite of all their bravado, Wolfsburg will be going back to Germany empty handed after suffering a 2-1 defeat in Manchester. [Keep Reading…]
Ever since the day Carlos Tevez slagged off Sir Alex and ran like a petulant child over to the blue half of Manchester, all I could think of was the day when he would return to Old Trafford as a City player. I dreamt of a mesmerising performance, a display so amazing that it would remind Tevez of the things he is going to miss. I dreamt of a performance that would put the cocky Citizens in their place. That day is finally here. And whether my dreams are going to be fulfilled, I would be finding out in a matter of hours.
However, let me clarify that this fixture is not all about Tevez (regardless of what you would have inferred from the preceding paragraph). It is also about negating a very good team, about making a statement of intent to the entire footballing world, about showing that our victories against Arsenal and Tottenham were not merely flashes in the pan. Ever since the Abu Dhabhi United Group started pouring in the millions into Eastlands, all the talk has been about the rise of Manchester City. About how they are going to be threat to our position as the top dogs of Manchester, about how they might be challenging for the top honours in the league. Their performance up until now have merely fueled the fires of speculation. A win, therefore, is a necessity; not just for our title aspirations but also for the sake of our reputation. [Keep Reading…]
United began the road to Bernabeu in Turkey with a 1-0 win over Besiktas. Paul Scholes, who had been unceremoniously ejected against Tottenham on Saturday popped up 13 minutes from time to head in our only goal of the game after the Besiktas keeper had parried Nani’s left-footed drive. Seeing as this was supposed to be the toughest one out of our initial assignments, we have every reason to be pleased with the result. The performance, however, left much to be desired. [Keep Reading…]
