Reload Machine Gun!

No more Misfire tonight! Let's reload our machine gun and smash Fulham...... 5-0

Remembering Frank Swift

I didn't know a City player died in the Munich crash, until I saw the banners in the stands. What a fitting tribute then, last night's derby victory was to the former-number-one-turned-journo Frank Swift. Looking him up, I learned he was famous for single handed saves and for fainting after the 1934 FA cup victory, overcome with emotion. Sounds like a likable guy. He was also in the City side that won the league championship in 1937.

It is okay for me to gloat now?

Total Misfire

Pathetic way to end a week of commemoration of the Munich air crash. A special day ruined by the players who chose to misfire at the worst of times, in every sense.

Disastrous...I'm just lost for words. Did we lose focus on playing football in the midst of all the stuff going on this week? Sad, sad day.

This is a sore one and why the hell does it have to be City. But all credit to them who came into a supposedly tough fixture with great professionalism (unlike United). They had a game plan and they executed it to great effect and took their chances when it came (courtesy of some really shite play by United). They were organised and played efficiently and within themselves. Something that can't be said about United's play on the day.

Now the title is out of United's hands. Even if we beat Arsenal at home and stay undefeated (so much for all that undefeated talk aye Rio? Next time back up your words with actions) we'll need Arsenal to drop points, which looks hard to come by the way they are consistently racking up points.

Knee-jerk reactions: Tottenham Hotspurs vs Manchester United, English Premier League (and also the mid-week match against Portsmouth)

I didn't manage to catch the match against Pompey because over where I live, it was during unholy hours of the morning. But, from what I could gather, it was 15 minutes of football and then followed by 75 minutes of training exercise. Such was United's domination of a hapless Pompey. The Ginger Wizard was back, running the midfield like he owned it and it seemed like he was never away. Carrick had his best performance this season (probably due to playing next to Scholesy again). And we absolutely owned the ball and the middle of the park. Of course, Ronnie put his hand into his magic hat and pulled out 2 more goals, one of which was an awesome freekick. By all accounts, it could and should have been 6 - 0.

Highlights below;

Man Utd v Portsmouth
Uploaded by gunner300

 

After that, during the weekend, United strolled into White Hart Lane, probably expecting the same Spurs they faced last week in the FA Cup. Boy were they in for a shock.

After the FA Cup tie, I commented here that Tottenham didn't seem to believe they could beat us, despite playing well and scoring first. Well, this time around they certainly couldn't be accused of that. All credit to Spurs, they came out with a game plan and just about executed it to perfection. Aggressive and positive from the start. They got into United's face and never allowed us to get into our rhythm. Everyone of the Spurs players, competed all throughout the pitch, pressing at all times. Apart from the first 15 minutes and last 10 minutes or so, United were seriously unsettled and never got anything going. The first goal, really was just reward for Spurs hard work.

The period after the first goal was very very unnerving. I thought we were going to concede another one or worse, get someone sent off. It wasn't helped by the woeful refereeing by Mark Clattenburg, who has certainly made it into Sir Alex's top 10 shit list by now. What a shocker he had and not for the first time. So I was praying we got to half time only a goal down and with 11 guys still on the pitch.

I was sure Fergie would make some changes, at the 60th minute mark if not at half time. Part of the problem is again Owen Hargreaves, whom I have criticised on more than one occasion. His snarling, all action, tackling-anything-that-moves approach may be what he is best at, but I can't help but notice that everytime he plays in the middle of a 4-4-2, our midfield goes missing. We would be unable to retain the ball and control possession. Passing would go to pieces and we wouldn't be able to generate any sustained momentum going forwards. Leaving ourselves vulnerable to opponents applying pressure on our defence. It also wasn't very helpful that our players all sort of lost their composure, which was surprising considering United had 2 veterans in Scholes and Giggs on the pitch. It is at times like these that you expect Scholes and Giggs (especially because he's the skipper) to calm things down.

Maybe Sir Alex thinks the same, because he swapped Hargreaves for Carrick, and later Scholes and Giggs for Anderson and Nani. Only then did we start to impose ourselves on the game and applied pressure on the Spurs defence. Tottenham, again to their credit, were still fighting hard everywhere and came close on a number of occasions. But United, slowly but surely ratcheted up the pressure till finally we broke Spurs resistance and hearts with a goal way deep into added time.

I wouldn't say United were at their best but part of the reason was definitely because of Spurs giving it a huge go. I felt we were a bit surprised to find Tottenham playing like that which is probably why we panicked a bit.

Being a long time United fan, I certainly held the believe that it ain't over till the fat lady sang, and I'm glad I kept the faith right ill the end when Tevez scored. I felt (and Fergie did as well) that it was 1 point saved instead of 2 dropped considering all things. And we'll probably look back, at the end of the season, that this was one vital vital point saved. Championships are defined from matches like this when you get something out of nothing.

Highlights from the game;