The Waiter Looks for Excuses Why Liverpool Might Not Win The League, AKA Rafa’s Epic Rant.

Long before Christmas Rafa Benitez launched an epic rant against Ferguson last season. After the rant Liverpool’s results started to get worse and worse. Once more it has been proven that the Achilles heel of Liverpool one Spaniard is. Fact.

Neville Celebrates Victory

After the final whistle in January 2006, a game won 1-0 after an injury time goal of Rio Ferdinand, our skipper Gary Neville ran the whole length of the pitch to celebrate the victory and kiss the ManUtd badge… in front of the Liverpool fans. Rooney also joined in on the fun. Neville would later be fined £5000 by the FA.

Ferdinand’s Injury Time Goal – January 2006

An injury time header from Ferdinand decided the game at Old Trafford.

Rio at Old Trafford – October 2006.

Some months later Rio Ferdinand again would score against Liverpool. This probably is one of his best goals ever and gave ManUtd a deserved 2-0 victory after Paul Scholes’ goal in the first half.

John O’Shea at Anfield – March 2007

The moment John O’Shea became a Legend: an injury time winning header at Anfield.

Manchester United booked their third win in as many games in the group stages of the 2009-2010 Champions League last night and is now all but qualified for the knock out phase with two home games and one away game at Vfl. Wolfsburg to go.

The Reds delivered a performance worthy of Champions and after CSKA was better in the first 10 minutes ManUtd quickly took control of the game, without pushing the Russian squad too hard. It was obvious that we needed to get used to the ‘plastic’ pitch and there were some awkward moments initially but as time passed the Russian could only enjoy the odd counter anymore as the English Champions controlled the game brilliantly. The first half was dominated by the ever so great Paul Scholes, Nani and Valencia. Brazilian youngster Fabio Da Silva also delivered a great performance in the first half, but had to be stretchered off near the end of the second half with a cramp.

At the start of the second half the Reds continued to control the game in a mature way and upped the tempo as time ran out. The back four delivered a solid performance after they got used to the pitch. Ferdinand and Vidic aren’t back to infamous level yet, but it was obvious that the defence felt a lot more reassured with EVDS back in goal. Brown who came on after 56 minutes for Rio also delivered a solid display, although hardly threatened. Neville looked at least 5 years younger and at some point even almost scored with his left foot!

With 20 minutes to go Scholes was substituted by Owen, who showed his hunger and mistimed his volley on a cross from the excellent Valencia. When Owen came on Berbatov had more space and someone to play off/to but it would be Valencia who scored for ManUtd in the 86th minute, only minutes after hitting the crossbar after a brilliant combination play with Berbatov.

One minute after scoring the Red Devils substituted youngster Fabio Da Silva who suffered a cramp and Carrick came on. SAF clearly was looking for the kill and Anderson almost scored his second of the season but his goalbound effort was deflected.

All in all a very solid display and the Reds won deservedly in Moscow. Now we can get our beach balls ready for Sunday when we will beat Rafa and inflict the waiter with his 7th defeat out of 14 games this season.

Squad:Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio Da Silva, O’Shea, Valencia, Scholes, Anderson, Nani, Berbatov // Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Owen, Carrick, Welbeck, Jonathan Evans, Macheda.

Well to start off,the fixture got me very exciting.Taking CSKA Moscow at their artificial pitch did get me on for the game.Well atleast i hoped the russians would do their part of homework.

By the first half,i was pretty sure United would be happy squaring points.Nobody was in mood to get things going.CSKA were prepared for draw and didn’t worry entering into our halves.
For major period of time,we were all sleepy and clumsy.Nani and Rafa both had pathetic night.They played selfish,made loads of error and still had time to complain about other during game.There was one more prick who turned my night wasted was Berbatov.Though he has some first class first touches and ability to hold ball,these attributes are useless if u dont run.His major period was passed for asking balls and looking for free men.There were times when he literally killed the game momentum to zero.Nothing exciting is being seen this season ahead.Owen too looks weak.He lacks alertness and Power to be a finisher.
It could have been a bored draw game,well it turned one if we clip those last 10 minutes.Good to see Scholes and Brown back in action.Anderson had pretty much average game like rest of the,/Gary Neville was nice to watch.His area was going well with crosses and quick through balls.
Nonetheless, u can’t go and watch game with just few pack of players performing.Majority didnt really bad and that made team look really bad.
My thoughts may sound were negative but that’s our present truth.We are not looking fearless.It’s all going through luck by these moments.Well our past victories have been these snatchy one goal win rather than a comfortable victory.
We are still missing elements that we had last season or even essence of Ronaldo’s attack.The strikers have now gone to our weaker attribute.We still have chance to improve a lot.
Or wait for this transfer season to get atleast a decent striker.
This week we are taking scousers!!

However we are taking CSKA Moscow today in our group clash at Luzhniki Stadium.United are still without Rooney and Giggs is also likely to be out of squad.Vidic is back in team along with Ferdinand.
Owen and Berbatov are likely to manage their positions while Fletcher can be hopefully seen for today’s game.

Today’s plan be simple.Take attack for first half.Score as many goals as possible.Work out the other with substitutes.
Fergie will hopefully bring few of our reserves today.We can even start with one or 2 faces.Park is said to be travelling at Russia so we expect him too.
At present United are leading the group stage and hopefully we can come as winner.

Good Luck United !!

The game is the third in the qualification stages and if after wins in Besiktas and at OT against Vf. Wolfsburg we can be victorious again in the Russian capital a big step towards the knock out stages of this years CL will be made.

Ferguson will select the squad from the following players who all travelled Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster; Neville, Rafael, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Brown, J Evans, Fabio; Valencia, Scholes, Carrick, C Evans, Anderson, Nani; Owen, Berbatov, Macheda, Welbeck.

I really wonder what happened to Zoran Tosic. After he was allowed some appearances last season everyone seems to have forgotten about him. There is no doubt that with Ryan Giggs in the form of his life (again) and Nani still waiting to deliver on a constant base we have cover for the right wing, but one would have thought that the Serbian international would at least have played himself in the travelling squad in the absence of Giggs.

Welcome to our live report of the second game in the Champions League group stages: Manchester United – Vfl. Wolfsburg.
Follow the live report after the jump.

Michael Carrick scores the winner for Manchester United.

[liveblog]1[/liveblog]

Tonight the Red Devils face the German Champions League debutants VFL Wolfsburg for the second game of the group stages in the Champions League. It is our first CL home game this season and we certainly hope the squad will continue their excellent run, a much better one than the Dippers, who lost their third competitive game already this season away at Fiorentina.

There have been minor injury and illness scares with Owen suffering a slight groin problem and Evra been ill but both should be fit. Busy and annoying worker bee Park Ji Sung has been ruled out due to illness. Otherwise the complete squad is available, also Brown and Ferdinand. The gaffer has not hinted at who will start but we can expect Foster in front of the net.

In other news, EVDS has returned to training and Owen Hargreaves returned home from the US to continue his rehabilitation at Carrington. The Canadian born England star is expected back within a month.

As usual there will be live updates on the Manchester United Blog Facebook page.

I think we’ll win 3-0. What do you think?

Our first champions league game and it looked like a league cup scenario.Had it not been for the crowd it was a dull 90 minutes of soccer and an eye paining night.These are those few matches for which i have high hopes to be entertained and United turns out pissed out.
Fergie without doubts came with plans to outclassed Turks.The best possibles were on the ground and there was no chance to drop any points.But as game progressed it was turning into a dull soccer game where u would enjoy watching chicks in the crowd.Sadly we didnt have that too.
Crowd could have played a major role but the Turks never expected them to be this loud.The game started and then….Nothing happened for first half !!.Those 45 minutes were more than pathetic to both sides.No real threat moving in any of directions and only direct shots coming through the way.Fergie’s 4-5-1 didnt work out for first 65 minutes and then suddenly he was blessed with wisdom for which he then move back to the 4-4-2 bringing Berbatov with Owen.Fustrated Rooney was removed and saved for week end along with his anger leaking on the pitch.Fergie being unbothered and hopefully positive for the fixtures focused his eyes to the game.The game then advanced to better side and United started looking more adventurous.The game looked for alive cause United filled their boots with 2 best wingers.Valencia showed why he was picked and Nani just doing right.And finally the much awaited happened.United scored their first goal from Scholes after the keeper failed to Keep Nani’s ball out.A spectacular goal compared to the standards that we played.All that was boring ended impressively.

A good goal that that kept me talking for a debate with my friend for why we were missing Ronaldo and Tevez.

All that was looking boring turned into a hard earned victory.Nothing spectacular but all hard work.
However a good start to Champions League campagin.

I am out with updates with players,coaches and staff so there’s no news coming from my side.I was however reading tabloids about Ronaldo being a wuss and he hopefully signing off the Spaniards. Ferguson hasn’t yet comment anything on Ronaldo’s transfer or Tevez’s stay but both things are kept out from today’s game.Both lads are playing probably their final game for United and Fergie will make sure to sweat every possible magic from them.

Barca as team are usually focused with their game n are not making any tabloids like us.Their team though is hit with series of injury list and they still might look to get their injured ones fit first rather than dealing with transfers.Messi is the key for today’s game.If he’s in mood,there’s a lot for Van De Sar to do.It would be a league combined in one game and there couldn’t be any causalities with players.

For my pick,Rooney,Tevez,Ronaldo,Carrick,Scholes,Giggs,Evra,Ferdinand,Vidic and Rafa shall do great.Anderson,Evans and Berbatov can be on benches.Fergie would probably start with Berbatov and put Tevez down which won’t be any good for United.Again my words,Today’s game will be more on picking correct players for both sides.If we go with wrong strike force Fergie has spilled his beans, and if he pulls right cards we are master of Europe.

Prediction:-I think the game will start with enough excitement to kill world’s oldest coach with heart attack.Ronaldo will start with his usual bitchiness but will turn into a scorer as the game will progress.Rooney will make sure that Barca’s defense and especially Pique stay in their bay.Vidaa-Ferdinand will crush Messi in their arm pits and Evra will make  Xavi like he did to Drogba.All in all United are winning !!!!!

2-1