United celebrate top spot in Champion league group.
Friday, February 1, 2008

Manchester United are placed right on top of the log in the Champions League group F after a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal earned United a 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon.

The Portuguese captain’s injury-time free-kick deprived his former club of a point after a battling effort that had the hosts struggling for much of the match.

On his return to the starting line-up Ronaldo soon reminded Sir Alex Ferguson of what he had been missing with a neat back-heel that unlocked Sporting’s defense but was squandered by Louis Saha. I wonder if his recent injury is still in the back of his mind.

However the visitors took the lead on 21 minutes when a speculative effort from Abel crept at Tomas Kuszczak’s near post.

They looked good value for their advantage for the remainder of the half as they restricted United to attempts from distance and quietened an expectant Old Trafford crowd.

The introduction of Carlos Tevez and Ryan Giggs revitalised the home attack after the interval and on the hour the diminutive Argentinean claimed the final touch that took Ronaldo’s shot past a helpless Rui Patricio. Now remind me again why Tevez did not start the game?

Sporting’s backline came under a barrage of United attacks for the final third of the match with Ronaldo and substitute Owen Hargreaves both coming close before the dramatic climax.

In time added on Ronaldo whipped a vicious free-kick round the wall and into the corner of the net to grab the win and render his side’s trip to Roma no more than a dead rubber

Posted by gjoe 6:32 PM 0 comments  

Apart from Berbatov’s talks with United and Ronaldinho’s move to chelsea here’s the one which tops the race.

According to Sunday’s People Manchester United are looking keen to sign Cameroon international and Barca’s Top notch Samuel Eto’ as this season’s new player..Speculations say that Eto’s deal can be worth 5million pounds or may be a “swap” with Saha.Speculations started for Eto’ since his long absense in starting line-up and iregularity with match appearances.Eto’ since has been linked to many clubs.

The “swap” deal wont be any productive for Barca seeing Saha’s present condition,its make more obivious for United to buy him(if for any chance Ferguson feels his worth).United has been seeking for a clinical striker who can make goals out from Ronaldo nad Nani’s crosses .Eto’ has been with Barca 2004 after his move from Mallorca.

Posted by gjoe 6:30 PM 0 comments  

Ferguson fines United players

Alex Ferguson has warned his Manchester United players they face the axe if they step out of line again in the aftermath of their Christmas party. United have been at the centre of a series of lurid tabloid headlines since the party and Ferguson says such articles are undermining their efforts to win the Premier League title.

The Scot claims the club is built on foundations of togetherness and that anyone who threatens that could be asked to leave. Rumors are flying high that Sir Alex has imposed a 1 million pound fine to all the players that was involved in the Christmas Party. Man, I love his Scotsman, he’s got balls and I agree with what he has done 100%.He said: “Football has changed but you cannot lose your control. That is why we make changes here at Manchester United when we see anyone interfering with this sense of control.”

With the January transfer window just days away Ferguson could have the opportunity to sell any of those players he thinks are causing trouble. Sir Alex Ferguson has been known to be hard on all his players and have never hesitated to sell his stars, because of ill discipline.

“When we see this, then it’s time for them to go because this club is based on everyone being together,” said the United boss.

“When we start going off at tangents you have to assess it - definitely.”

Ferguson also said he does not like the way modern-day footballers feel they must steal the limelight away from their team-mates, insisting no individual is bigger than the team.

“What annoys me about some players today is this personal glory thing. It’s ugly seeing these kind of celebrations.”

But Ferguson maintains he has no intention of walking away from Old Trafford himself, claiming his current squad is the best he has ever worked with.

Posted by gjoe 6:26 PM 0 comments  

Munich air disaster - 50th anniversary: United make a hash of preparations.

Manchester United supporters have been angered by the club's insensitivity at the unveiling of a huge image of the Busby Babes which adorns virtually the whole of Old Trafford East stand facade. The image has been erected as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster in which eight of the Busby Babes lost their lives.

In an age where sponsors logos appear just about everywhere, the club took the somewhat controversial decision to include their main sponsors logo alongside the famed photo of the Busby Babes team line-up which was taken before a European Cup tie in Belgrade in February 1958 just prior to the air crash.

I'm not giving the sponsor yet more publicity by naming them here, but the irony is that in protesting about the point they have received a lot more publicity than perhaps they might have done otherwise, though it is publicity of the sort than any half decent organisation would not want, given the gross insensitivity of this error of judgement. United have effectively put a sponsors name on a memorial. It's a bit like including a sponsors logo on a grave stone. You simply would not do it.

As if including the sponsors name wasn't bad enough, the club also managed to get the words wrong in the famous Manchester United Calypso song which has been sung by the fans throughout the last five decades in memory of the Babes. To their credit the club have agreed to amend the wording which should read "...bunch of bouncing Busby Babes".

However, the club have stated that they see nothing wrong with including the sponsors name in this memorial tribute, this speaks volumes about the people who run Manchester United.

The lousy local rag that is the Manchester Evening News is also cashing in on the anniversary by producing a special supplement, you do wonder where the profits of this venture will end up, no doubting in the coffers of the paper's owners.

Meanwhile, the official Manchester City supporters club have sent a letter to United asking if prior to the badly timed derby at Old Trafford rather than have a minute's silence, fans should applaud the disaster. You do not applaud disasters, it is as simple as that and City fans will, for once, have to behave themselves. United should not be dictated to by numpties who have no sense of respect, decency or history. It is so bad that Man City fans have had to be reminded by their own club by letter than one of their own Frank Swift perished in the crash.

In repsonse to the request a spokesman for United said "It's a solemn event."
He added: "We don't think applause is the best way to commemorate the death of 23 people."

Manchester City supporters have a long history of letting their club and Manchester down when the two sides meet by mocking the 1958 disaster. Let us hope that for once sense prevails on February 10th when the two sides clash.

Posted by gjoe 6:21 PM 0 comments  

Bizarre: Man City and Newcastle make it a week not to forget

Last week Manchester City shocked just about everyone with the goings on at Bramall Lane, but few should have been that surprised at the result.

However, FA Cup ties against the likes of Sheffield United away are rarely easy - the Blades have knocked out the Red Devils in the not too distant past. But losing because of a bunch of balloons could only happen to City, surely?

Perhaps the biggest question of all is what were the City fans doing taking balloons to a Championship club in the first place? Visiting fans, had according to at least one City supporter on fan site www.Blueview.co.uk embarrassed the club: "In taking balloons to Sheffield, we looked like a non-league club on our big day out".

As if the sight of Michael Balloon, sorry Ball, wasn't bizarre enough came the news that Dennis Wise was to join Keegan at Newcastle. Surely nobody outside of Mike Ashley's inner circle would have dreamt that could ever happen?

Keegan wasted no time in showing who is going to be the boss when he made it clear that the former Leeds manager will report to him. This double-act could turn out to be like watching the Krankies in Panto... "he's behind you Kev". The show must go on and on...

Posted by gjoe 6:11 PM 0 comments  

Ronaldo shines as the big selection debate resurfaces

United returned to action last night when Portsmouth were the visitors to Old Trafford, the Reds needed to win to go back to the top of the table after Arsenal had regained pole position the night before.

From the start of last night's encounter, Ronaldo looked very much up for it, the Portuguese winger had been controversially sent off when the two sites met at Fratton Park earlier on this season in a game that finished 1-1.

For the first 15 minutes in particular Ronaldo looked like a man on a mission, he was at the centre of everything which was good about the Red Devils attacks, so it came as no surprise that on ten minutes he opened the scoring with a brilliant goal. The Reds top goal-scorer linked up with Nani on the left, first he cushioned the ball with his chest back to his compatriot who returned the ball into space behind a Portsmouth defender, Ronaldo ran onto the ball picked his spot and placed his shot underneath the body of England 'keeper David James.

Three minutes later United who were swarming all over the visitors like a red rash, were awarded a free-kick twenty five yards from the Pompey goal, up stepped Ronaldo who blasted the ball up and over the wall and into the top corner giving James no chance again, the Portsmouth keeper never even moved, the ball was hit so hard he wouldn't have even seen it until it hit the rigging.

At that point in the game, fans will no doubt have been thinking this could turn out to be a cricket score, as the Reds link-up play had been first class. Portsmouth for their part were rocking and one or two of their players could have been forgiven for looking for any metaphorical port in a storm.

However, as the game went on and despite United continuing to create chances and dominating the game, too many players in Red shirts played the wrong ball as the Reds play became over intricate.

At half time Harry Redknapp made a couple of changes and the visitors improved second half, but it did not alter the general pattern of the game with United dominating and creating the better chances. Rooney who didn't have one of his better games was guilty of poor finishing on more than one occasion.

Scholes, Carrick, Park and Nani had started the game in preference to Tevez, Anderson, Hargreaves and Giggs.

Scholes, who played well, was replaced by Anderson on 62 minutes, the latter went to be arguably alongside Ronaldo the stand out player on the night. While Scholes plays clever incisive balls to feet, Anderson works like a Trojan and covers the ground like a March Hare. The former Porto star's introduction and the performance that followed will have no doubt have given Fergie an awful lot to think about this week prior to the Reds next game when they face Spurs in North London.

On the evidence of last night, Anderson seems to be fine about being left out, the Old Trafford fans have started to sign his name too, which is always a good sign that things are going well. But it remains to be seen how Fergie will keep all of his stars happy.

Tevez, when he eventually came on for Rooney on 73 minutes had the look of a brooding cave-man, but as ever, he gave his all in the cause of winning for United.

Hargreaves for his part, one suspects will be just happy to be playing his part after such an injury ravaged season. The former Bayern midfield player replaced Ronaldo on 73 minutes, he was introduced as an insurance policy to ensure victory.

Against Pompey Fergie had appeared to give Ronaldo a free role at the expense of leaving out Tevez, with the largely ineffective Park filling in for the Portuguese winger on the right. The burning question is what will Ferguson do for the remainder of the season? Will the United manager go for the legs, skill and industry of Anderson or will he opt for the silky skills of Scholes? Will Fergie start with both of them by deploying just Rooney up front - many Reds fans, and me included, believe that this is the worst of all options.

Graeme Sounnes said at the beginning of the season that he thinks that Fergie does not know what his best team is. If that is true, and I for one agree with the former Rangers manager, then Reds fans will hoping that the manager solves this puzzle and comes up with the right team for the bigger challenges that lie ahead.

Posted by gjoe 6:10 PM 0 comments