Mistimed, studs up and slightly high, knee-jerk reactions: Manchester United vs Aston Villa, English Premier League

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Truth be told, Aston Villa Football Club should really just be renamed Manchester United's Bitch. More so than Newcastle United even (another Manchester United's Bitch). The Villans have got their ass handed to them by United more times than I can remember. In fact, I always look forward to matches against Villa, because we almost always play well against them.

Part of the reason for this is thanks to Villa themselves, for which they deserve credit, no really. They, unlike many other teams that play against United especially at Old Trafford, don't come and park their team bus in front of goal. Villa almost always try to play football - as in trying to be positive, pass the ball and try to attack - against United. So, the end result is that inevitably they get out classed by United's slicker and better football. And I absolutely admire that, because with their wretched record against us, it would have been the perfect excuse for them to try anti football tactics against us, but they never did. If only all the other teams thought this way, it would make life a whole lot easier.

Anyway, back to the game which could be described in four words. Sublime. Genius. Ronaldo. Rooney. You just have to watch the replay of the goals to agree with me.

The first by Ronnie was the work of genius. The sheer impudence to even come up with that is just unbelievable. The Villa defence failed to deal with a set piece properly and the ball fell to Ronaldo, but he was surrounded by opposing players, with one closing right up on him, and the window to get off a decent shot pretty much gone. Except, this is Ronnie we're talking about, and with a fluid back flick, he put the ball past the defenders legs, past the surprised keeper and into the back of the net.

If the first was all about Ronaldo's genius, the second is about great team play, vision, passing and movement, but no less impressive. It was classic United this one. After a Villa attack broke down in front on the 18 yard area, United burst forward in typical United fashion. Tevez got the ball, just inside his half with a couple of players closing him down, he made a pass to Scholes who immediately Rooney. At the same time Tevez plowed forwards. Rooney cut inside and passes back to Scholes who has moved into a more advance position, who in turn finds an onrushing Ronaldo. Ronaldo dribbles into the box and delivers a cross right to Tevez's forehead for 2 nil. It was a beautiful, fluid, clinical move from start to finish.

The 3rd was more of the same. This time it started way back with van der Sar, who feeds Evra to Scholes then Giggs. Evra steaming forwards at this point providing an option, but Giggs opts for Ronaldo, who in another outrageous display of footballing genius, produces an almost improbable back flick right into the path of a goal-wards bound Rooney, who makes no mistakes this time, fooling Scott Carson with a drop of the shoulder and then rounding Carson and passing the ball into the net with his left foot.

United were cutting Villa open at will and the 4th was just inevitable and to be honest could and should have come a lot sooner. Again, incisive passing from United, lead by Scholes, fashions an opening in Villa's now demoralized back four. Ronaldo finds Rooney completely unmarked and he took his second goal with glee, striking it hard and low towards the near post.

The scoreline at the end was not flattering. It could well have been 7 - 0. Villa started out well and probably matched United for the first 15 minutes or so. But once United upped a gear or two, Villa just couldn't live with it. Rooney should have had 3 or 4, Tevez and Ronaldo should have had 2 each.

When we play with this kind of swagger, it is just fantastic to watch. It certainly looks like we're hitting our peak form at the right time. Rooney looks back to goal scoring ways. Ronnie is in irrepressible form. Most of the squad seem fit and ready, apart from a  few worries with Rio, Evra and Carrick (which I hope is just Fergie blowing it up to mind fuck the Romans). Unlike last season where we were severely depleted at this point and limping towards the finish line.

Now, that we are this close to the finish line, we've got to give it everything we've got. Every game. Concentration has to be 100%. We're so close. Next up is Roma in the Champions League. Although, we beat them 7-1 last season, they are a better team this time around and lets not forget they beat Real Madrid home and away in the last round. So they are tough opponents for sure.

I hope all the key players are fit and ready for this. Rio is absolutely vital to our defence. Evra is our best leftback by far. And Carrick offers fluidity to our midfield (not to mention starting the rout of Roma last season). Nani will not be playing in Rome which is a shame because he can offer lots of penetration and extra attacking edge. Giggs did slightly better against Villa so I hope he ups his game big time against Roma (he plays well against Italian teams, most of the time). Most of all I hope, Rooney and Ronaldo continue their awesome form and the whole team play with the kind of passion, determination and flair that we know they are capable of.

Highlights against Villa

Really really late, slightly hungover knee-jerk reactions: Manchester United vs Deluded Scouse Twats

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I'm back after a short hiatus. A combination of work and other responsibilities took its toll on bullshit writing.

Anyway, time for a kickstart and what better way than the awesome pwnaged United gave Liverpool. There's no other way to describe it other than the Scouse bastards got their asses handed to them at Old Trafford. In fact, we've pretty much owned them in this fixture for what seems like centuries. It's very important that we remind Liverpool of the gulf in class that exists between United and their little club.

Before the match, there was all the usual hype and all the usual bullshit trash talk. Most of which came from Merseyside. They've been yapping about their great recent form, their deadly duo of Gerrard and Torres and about halting United's title run. Yeah right.

And Benitez even attempted to play mind games against the master of mind games himself, Sir Alex Ferguson. And look how that backfired on him. His pitiful attempts to psyche the refs into perhaps favouring Liverpool didn't work. Fergie on the other hand chose to comment on the hot topic of giving match officials respect. Which you could say worked to perfection. Genius.

Contrast that to Mascherano, who must be the stupidest person on the planet. Really. I mean, with the current focus on respecting referees and all that, after the Ashley "The Cunt" Cole incident - during which Steve Bennett was the 4th official - you'd had to have been a lobotomy patient to even attempt to start any sort of bullshit with Steve Bennett. Enter Javier Mascherano, who decides to do just that. He's got more balls than brains that fellow. In fact, I think his skull is full of testicles instead of a brain.

After he gets a deserved yellow card for a mistimed tackle on Scholes, he then proceeded to have a go at Steve Bennett. And after that, for the next 30 minutes or so, he went on a personal quest to annoy the ref and get himself sent off. Why would somebody, who's already got a yellow, decide to do that? Only he would know.

The last straw came when he decided to get involved when Torres - who also had a lot to say to the ref - got booked. You could see what was coming from a mile away. The moment he started towards Bennett, I knew he was in deep shit. It didn't matter what the fuck he said to the ref (pay attention Rafa), because it wasn't that isolated incident that got him booked. It was his continued questioning of the ref's authority.

Now I hope the FA throw the book at him, since they're being so serious about dealing with dissent and respect for officials. Especially after Mascherano went ape shit crazy after Steve Bennett showed him the red.

Now although it was kind of fun to see a Liverpool player exhibit that kind of idiocy to get himself sent off, I would rather he didn't because now their deluded fans get another excuse for their teams embarrassing loss.

The fact is, United dominated even before the sending off. We controlled possession and made the most chances - clear cut chances - and scored a goal. It could easily have been 3 - 0 before the half, with the gilt edged chances that we missed. Rooney and Ronaldo could have had a hat-trick each. Liverpool barely threatened and occasionally mustered up a half chance.

Their double threats were hardly noticed. Rio and Vida took turns to make Torres their bitch. And Gerrard looked a bit like he was lost and didn't know what to do.

Like against Arsenal in the FA Cup, it was a great performance by all the lads (well mostly), who were up for it from the off and kept Liverpool constantly on the back foot. They showed more passion and more desire. Only when anxiety crept in, because we kept missing chances to put the game to bed, did Liverpool gain any sort of impetus.

The defence was solid and had Torres and co in Rio's pocket. The central midfield of Carrick, Scholes and Anderson, controlled the ball so well that Stevie G and co didn't get into the game at all. Although, I have to say I'm a bit disappointed with Anderson, who didn't show enough composure and seemed a bit over excited. Giggs, as he has been this entire season, was quite poor. I don't remember him getting anything right and contributing anything positive at all. Fergie should put him on the bench until he sorts himself out. In the mean while Nani should get a start because he has impressed everytime he is given an opportunity. His delivery is great and the boy packs quite a shot on top of his speed and dribbling skills.

No such complaints about Rooney and Ronaldo. Despite continuing to be wasteful, the both of them delivers time and time again for Manchester United. Ronnie was relatively quiet by his standards but he still manages to make game changing/match winning contributions. Wazza was just awesome. Although he really should have scored, his contribution was all round. He ran Liverpool's 2 centrebacks ragged and was a constant threat. Making chances for himself and others. That awesome first touch to bring van der Sar's goal kick down was incredible. It could and should have been tucked away pass Reina as the Goal of the Season.

I don't want to read too much into one game but this is certainly significant. Obviously we beat Liverpool, yet again, but Arsenal's loss to CSKA London at Stalingrad Bridge, increased our gap at the top to 5 points with a superior goal difference. At the end of the season, when United hopefully retains the title, we'll look back at this match as maybe the significant moment of the season.

But the road ahead is still brutally tough. We've got some tough fixtures, with several potential banana peels along the way, if we're not careful. Throw in the Champions League matches and things get even more interesting. The lads will have to take one game at a time and treat match like they did against Liverpool (except with much better finishing), with passion, determination and flair. If we do, then the title is as good as ours.

MOTD Highlights

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;

Late, hungover and slightly delayed knee-jerk reactions: Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspurs, FA Cup 4th Round

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As you can see, our logo is bigger than theirs.

Anyway, some thoughts about the game.

One, Spurs were good but also slightly shit. It is the reason why they continue to be also rans despite having a pretty good squad full of talent. They never really, really believed they could beat us. Yes it sounds crazy especially when they could have won (if Jenas didn't have the finishing ability of a camel) but despite United being slightly off colour and Spurs being very much in the match (and scoring the early goal), they never went for our jugular. Instead, you sort of get the feeling they were contented to get anything out of the match rather than focusing fully on beating United. I mean, its an FA Cup tie. They've got nothing to lose. I know they're in the Carling Cup final but that's a Mickey Mouse trophy compared to the FA Cup. They should have went out there and left it all out on the pitch. If they had did that, on a day United looked very much beatable, they would have gone through to the next round. Somehow it seemed like they were contented with their work earlier against Arsenal and thought this match was bonus and it would alright if they lose, so long as they tried.

Wrong attitude and a BIG reason why Tottenham continue to be underachievers. A lack of a winners attitude. Compare that to Liverpool. It isn't that they are that good or better than the Spurs but the bin dippers somehow misguidedly think they're one of the best teams around. It is this deluded believe that they can beat any team on a given day that allows them to do well in cup competitions, despite them actually being a crap mediocre team, as the league table shows.

Two, like I said, United were a bit off colour. We started slow off the blocks and it took Robbie Keane's goal to shock us into action. Even then there's a bit of misfiring going on all over the pitch. Defence a bit disorganised at times, midfield goes missing at times and forwards still making the wrong decisions and giving the ball away (more on why later). The 3 - 1 scoreline definitely flattered us as it was much closer than that.

Three, Hargreaves, Hargreaves, Hargreaves. Somebody needs to remind him what his primary job is. He is the midfield enforcer/anchorman and he shields the back four. He's supposed to break up play, tackle/foul/kick people, win the ball and play the simple ball to his teammates. Sure he can join the attack, SOMETIMES, but not at the price of leaving the Grand fucking Canyon down the middle for the opponents to exploit. This has happened for several times he's played. It compounds matters when he gets creative and loses the ball doing it and we are left dangerously outnumbered on a counter attack. It's like he thinks he's Paul Scholes. His position and awareness has been poor to say the least. It seems like he just runs after the man with the ball regardless. I mean, being a defensive midfielder isn't just about throwing yourself at anything that moves like a maniac, which is what Hargreaves is doing. Maybe he's trying to impress the new England boss and overdoing it, who knows. He definitely need to learn how to play more with his head, rather than just his feet.

Four, again it shows just how important it is to have continuity at the back. Vidic goes down with the flu, Brown steps in and you could see immediately that him and Rio lack understanding. Many times not knowing what his partner is doing/going to do. It isn't Brown or Rio's fault, they certainly didn't play poorly. There just needs to be consistency to the entire defensive unit because organisation and discipline is so much more important there than anywhere else.

Five, Evra didn't have the best of games. For once he was exposed against speedy little Aaron Lennon who gave him a torrid time. Not entirely his fault as he should have had cover coming in from midfield (Hargreaves again). You could see he was knackered when he got subbed. This is also the first time I've seen Evra having problem's with a winger's pace. He's been solid and consistent just about all the time and he's also a real threat down the left flank. Evra's been a revelation so far and probably is the best left back in the league. Genuinely top class bloke as well.

Six, the Ginger Prince is BACK!!! Love to see him back in action and he looks like he was never away, pinging passes from all over the park and also doing the customary of giving the ball away in front of his own 18 yard box. Now all he needs to do is get needless bookings for badly mistimed tackles, hehehe. I just love Scholesy. Having him back for the run in is fantastic, with his experience and unquestioned quality. Only thing is, what's our centre midfield pairing going to be like? More headache for Fergie.

Seven, it is absolutely great to have Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo up front at the same time, 3 genuine world class, match winners. Anyone, of them would score and change the match. 2 of them could be on an off day and somebody would still pop up with the goods. In fact, all 3 could be on a off day (God forbid!) and they could still impact a match with a moment of quality or just for being on the pitch because they attract so much of the opponents defensive effort. Just like against Spurs, when Ronnie and Rooney were misfiring and the link up play (especially on the counter) just isn't as slick as it should be. Up pops Tevez for the equaliser.

Finally, it was always going to be Arsenal, wasn't it? Fergie knew it and we all knew it. 3 Premier League sides in a row. Somebody must really "love" United to come with with that draw. Oh well, since we were going to have to beat them bastards sooner or later anyway.

Here's the highlights from the game;

Up next, United turn their attentions back to the league. Pompey as usual, would be a tough opponent. A win is essential. United have got to let the 2 pretenders to the throne know who's boss and that all roads to trophies go through Old Trafford. The team will have to bring it, every single time they step on to the pitch. The games come thick and fast now. It is squeaky bum time!