The start of the season is finally there and we have had a rather quiet silly season, other than being rumoured to have been interested in everyone who can kick a ball and has a high price tag. Pretty much like Harry Redknapp during every break but it seems that all our signings were done since a long time and chances of anyone other than Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez joining the ranks are rather slim. And just like last year, it doesn’t matter because our squad *is* strong already and the two only signings we made were sensible ones.
Contrary to what most people have announced, we do not need any more new signings because ManUtd is already a stronger squad than last season, even after CR7 and Tevez left Old Trafford.
With the arrival of the talented Gabriel Obertan, Michael Owen, who signed on a free and Antonio Valencia’s arrival times certainly look great for the Red Devils.
Although at many times last season our vulnerabilities have been exploited, we must be honest and admit that the squad wasn’t weaker due to the departure of Cryboy and the Gelled Tumbler. What did happen though was that we struggled once more with a huge amount of injuries and these cost us lots. And to be honest, if I see one problem this season it’s in the defensive department again.
After a bomb attack on the hotel Manchester United was supposed to stay in for the game against an Indonesian All Star team, ManUtd cancelled both the trip to Indonesia and game. At least eight people died in the attacks and 50 people or more were injured.
The Australian Football Assosociation had offered to organize a game against Melbourne Victory or Sydney FC but ManUtd refused to take on the offer because it would mean an additional 20 hrs of travel time. Instead the Red Devils agreed to play a rematch against Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. Continue reading »
In a press conference at OT Sir Alex Ferguson presented the new signings and announced that ManUtd will not be spending any more money this summer.
Contrary to what most people have announced, we do not need any more new signings because MAnUtd is already a stronger squad than last season, even after CR7 and Tevez left Old Trafford. With the arrival of the talented Gabriel Obertan, Michael Owen, who signed on a free and Antonio Valencia‘s arrival times certainly look great for the Red Devils.
There is no doubt that we will see a different United, still as fast and dangerous on the breakout but our attack will be different. There where Ronaldo loved to keep the ball and try to score as often as possible, his assist rate was rather one-sided and he would only pass when on the break out. Only seldom did he pass to Rooney or Berbatov when we had pushed the opponent in their 16 and were trying to find an opening. Continue reading »
Only having just two post for this month its good to get back over here.This been hell busy one for me.Anyways,these international break did buy me some time to settle with my work and now i am finally back.
Quickly getting with the match preview.United’s last game was upto EPL level.We still have room to improve but for time being with few players we cannot expect more.Carrick and Hargo are still out with their injuries.Long time since they both were together at field.Hargreaves as such had bad past with injuries and it will be quite creepy for us if he doesnt recover well before UFEA legs.
We are also missing a few more players with their international duties.Anderson and Tevez both are likely to miss today’s game with their late arrival.Rest of team is quite prefect.Ronaldo and Rooney both being in expection form.
Match is at Trafford, so there are no chances to losing against West Brom.So we can instead utilize this chance as a more booster and manage as much as goals we can.
Prediction:-Easy Game and Good Score.
4-1 Easy win!!!
The Community Shield delivered exactly what every ManU fan expected: a win against Chelsea. Sadly our trophy win wasn’t as exciting as we’d have loved it to be, but penalties decided the tie.
ManU dominated the first half, with fast football in the midfield and a well organized position game. The Chelsea midfield was almost invisible during all of the first 45 minutes and the Reds ruled. Chelsea hardly created any chance, actually they hardly created any good midfield combination. We covered the whole midfield and except two breakthrough chances Chelsea was rather invisible. During the first 30 minutes our best man definitely was Patrice Evra, and it was him in the 34rd minute who, after a quick 1-2 with Ronaldo, delivered the decisive assist on Giggs left foot. Giggs terminated without hesitating in the right upper corner. View Giggs’ goal here.
For the next 10 minutes ManU continued to control the midfield, but a brilliant pass of Ashley Cole launched Malouda who scored, after arguably having pulled down Rio Ferdinand. 1-1 Was the score when both teams left the pitch.
After the break Chelsea became more prominent in the game, but not because they controlled more, rather because the number of bad passes by ManU started to accumulate. Ronaldo’s chance in the early minutes of the second half, brilliantly saved by Chech, was not representative of our game at all. Even after Mikael Silvestre was changed for Nani, ManU couldn’t really take advantage of the game. ManU slightly kept control of the game, but mostly because of the weak performance of Chelsea.
The scoreboard locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes lead to penalties and this would become the moment of one of the most questioned players lately: Edwin Van Der Sar. Edwin saved the first three Chelsea penalties, taken resp. by Pizarro, Lampard and Shaun Wright-Philips. Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick both converted perfectly, leaving the honours of scoring the decisive penalty to Wayne Rooney.
Even though Jose could once more realize how little a club Chelsea is, today’s game learned us that there still is a long way to go and we still have to improve on almost every line. Defense, midfield and even the attack will have to work lots to integrate Carlos Tevez’s style in our game. Nothing is won yet, but it all looks great so far.
Today the 2007/2008 Season really starts for ManU with the Community Shield game against the smallest club of the English Top 5, Chelsea FC.
Last 3 weeks ManU has played several friendlies and SAF had time to introduces all the new players, with Owen Hargreaves featuring in a ManU shirt for the first time yesterday afternoon, in the 3-1 won game against Peterborough. With the exception of Carlos Tevez, every newcomer has had the occasion to showcase why they were brought to OT, and none has failed to grab the opportunity.
Nani, Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha, made his debut in the game against Shenzhen FC and immediately scored. Nani also scored in the following friendly against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical. Nani and SAF made the headlines, with the gabber prohibiting Nani to further celebrate goals with his beloved somersault. Maybe soon we’ll see wheelbarrels!
Anderson, Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira, debuted on Thursday in the Doncaster friendly, playing 45 minutes and immediately showing the world what we can expect from him in the next years. The impression Anderson left on me was a mix of both Rooney’s and Ronaldo’s style. Anderson surely can compete with Wayne in his first two years at OT, when it comes to run mileage and just like Cristiano he has a great ball control, but in several moments he didn’t know what to do with the ball and whether ran dead or passed the ball rather unimpressively. Notable is that he passed the ball many times after only 1 or 2 ball touches, proving that he’ll perfectly fit the fast paced English and ManU style. Watch this boy, he is set to become the perfect replacement for Ryan Giggs.
Owen Hargreaves debuted the second half in the Peterborough game, quickly showing what his trademark is: long runs with the ball, starting from the defensive line and pulling the game open with long crosses.
With Carlos Tevez, who’s move finally got finalized on Friday, still to be presented, ManU is set to play for the next years among the world’s elite and grab several international prices, with a fast and very attractive game.
Rumours, rumours and more rumours. But according to an entry over at TeamTalk WHU is set to release Tevez’s registration tomorrow. Talks between Kia and West Ham are rumoured to have reached an agreement, resulting in a meager payment of £1 to £3million for the Hammers. FA still has to ratify the agreement. West Ham’s Eggerts also confirmed he hopes that the move can be finalized within the next 24 hours.
‘Wait and see’, tells my brain me.
Newcastle have confirmed an agreement with ManU over Alan Smith.
ManU – Internazionale : 2-3.
OK, we lost. We lost a friendly against the Italian defending champions. We sucked during first half, especially the defense. But after the break improvement could be seen. We played much more organized. I’m sure this game was a great wake-up after the Asia Tour hype. Kevin from Football Gossip.com uploaded a video of the goals at Youtube.
Our second goal showed what could become a major problem on set pieces this season: an offensive aerial force of ManU is inexisting. Nevertheless, I can’t wait anymore. Sunday it’s party time! Jose, here we come!
Gaby['s agent] decided to seek legal advice against ManU. Gaby['s agent] has hired lawyers and wants to force Heinze’s move from OT to Liverpool. Should we care?
SAF thinks this can only show ManU’s right, but I’m not that sure about that yet. I will never forget the Bosman case and although the situation was different, I’ll tell you that a ‘no-compete’ holds very little legal ground, especially if te case would go to Straatsburg. The common sports sense tells us that contracts have to be followed, but ‘regular employees’ can buy out their contract at any time. Of course there’s such a thing as ‘competition’, but let me tell you that on a legal base, ManU stands no chance. How do I know this? In my all day job, I’m bound myself by a no-compete. A no-compete I have agreed with, but nevertheless I can buy myself out ANYTIME. No matter how long I’ve already served the company or what date has been passed. I’m a free person and I am legally supported to leave ANY company I work for, respecting certain resignation rules. And even if I would have want to leave my employer after only some weeks, there would have bee no way to stop me. My buy-out fee just would have been higher. But I digress.
Back to Gaby. Lets suppose that Heinze really wants to leave OT, even though he never publicly expressed this desire himself. The Carlsberg club has offered the required 6.8mio GBP to assure a move, but ManU has blocked this historical move to Liverpool. But should we really care?
Contrary to the popular voice, I say ‘NO!. Even if ManU gave Heinze all the possibilities to work his way back last 2 seasons, even if Heinze is the public’s darling. No, we shouldn’t care. And I’ll tell you why not.
What ManU needs and wants are players committed to the club. Players who live the dream of playing at OT. Players who want to be part of TBDFCITW. Players proud to wear the ManU shirt. Players devoting their entire life to OT.
Do we want lads who earn 50k+/week and aren’t ready to fight for a regular spot? Do we want to support those guys, no matter how good they might be, if they don’t think OT is worth fighting for on the training pitch?
No, we couldn’t care less about them!
Even if their name is Gabriel Heinze and they used to be the player of the year. Let him go. Grab the money, it’s a great deal! No really, it is! Just think about it. Gaby is Argentinan and his prime language is Spanish. If you were Argentinan, speaking Spanish, what would your first choice be if you claimed that top clubs were ready to sign you? Barca, Real Madrid or an English club trying to rebuild themselves? Yes, we just hit the nail on the head. There’s no club other than Liverpool prepared to invest 6.8mio in Gaby. And no matter how much I like this rough tackling Argentinan, I think the fact that no major club has made an adequate bid for him speaks volumes.
Of course, I loathe to see an awesome player move to the Merseyside. But hey… if Heinze doesn’t have the pride, the spirit to understand that Liverpool and ManU just don’t comply… let the poor bugger go to Merseyside. And thank Rafa for investing that much of money in a guy without any form of layalty. I strongly doubt that Heinze will repeat what Westerveld did only some years ago. Move to Merseyside and grab a red card in his fourth game for Liverpool. A derby against Everton. And Westerveld only got that card because he lived the Liverpool spirit. And the heat of the eternal derby against Everton. Heinze just has proven those are values he can’t be bothered about.
Honestly… that is not the kind of player I want to see at OT!
Sorry for not having posted several days, I’ve not forgotten you! But I must admit… last week was boring. Nothing happened and the news headlines still were the same: Tevez & Gaby, with a little Smithy.
In between all the transfer talk, we played two more games in Asia. And scored 10 times. But lets not overrate those 10 goals. Those were friendlies. Friendlies in Asia, at a total different pace. ManU were allowed time on the ball, covering was as close as Liverpool and ManUtd are and… the games were fun. We have one more game in Asia, on Friday against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical and next Tuesday we play Inter Milan in a friendly at OT.
I can’t repeat it enough, but it’s time for the Prem to start. I’m bored of all the talk. I want to see the lads play. I want to see goals. I want action. I want England, Europe and the whole world Europe to realize whose The Best Damn Football Club in The World (TBDFCITW)! Because it’s us! ManU!
And if rumours are true, if that’s going to be our away kit… we will even have The Most Awesome Kit On The Whole Planet (TMKOTWP)! Even though the picture is blurred, that black kit totally rocks! I want one! Two actually: an Owen and a Rio shirt for me please. I’ll have a Ronaldo and a Gaby one for the home kit.
Let the Season start now please. Let whoever wants to leave leave, let everyone who’s allowed to join us join us, I don’t care anymore right now… all I want now is football.
Uncle Jose already started the stupidities and I’m looking forward to many more to come!
They are contenders for the title, of course, but I still believe Chelsea have the best players in the world.
Don’t forget our Fantasy League and I’ll do my best, but don’t guarantee anything, not to sound as a cheerboy anymore, like I do in this entry. :D
It seems as the Tevez saga has reached a first end stage with ManU calling the help of the FIFA to arbitrate the move. For weeks WHU, MSI and ManU have been discussing the case, but it seems they just don’t want to reach an agreement. More specifically WestHam doesn’t want to reach an agreement.
Tevez has expressed his desire to join OT. Joorabchian wants to bring the player to OT and cash in big time. David Gill and SAF are hopeful and think the Argentinian could make a swift move to OT. Tevez even straightly flew from the Copa America to Manchester for a medical.
But the Upton Park crew sees things differently. Obviously they do, because it looks like they won’t see a penny for Tevez.
Remarkably calm is the Premier League. Why? Didn’t the Premier League demand that every contract with MSI, Joorabchian’s company, were cancelled? Doesn’t rule U18 imply that no player is allowed to have third party contracts? Hasn’t the Premier League fined WHU for exactly this infraction?
More even, the Premier League recently stated that they will not agree with a move if a majority of the transfer fee doesn’t go to WHU? Why can’t the Premier League intervene? Am I wrong or has the Premier League most to lose?
Imagine that FIFA agrees with Tevez move. I think Sheffield would quickly find another Court Room, probably a European one, in Straatzburg. And the outcome of those cases is never predictable. But I think from now on I ill stop writing about the Tevez transfer. Until the day Tevez is presented as ManU player or the deal is blown off.
Newcastle United FC???
I am surprised about predictions in the comments. Both TR and Mark expect Newcastle to rank well. I don’t see what NUFC could reach next year, although they are on my list of teams to be considered for direct UEFA Cup qualification. But that’s it. To be considered. Is it the Big Sam effect or are it the Ashley millions, I just don’t see it. The only thing I see is a terribly poor defense. Their midfield might be solid, but lacks any creativity, the attack will surely revive once Owen gets firing again and gives Viduka traction. But that NUFC defense.
SAF Still Enjoying It.
SAF said today he will never set a date to retire. As long as he can lead an entertaining squad.
Urawa Reds – ManU : 2-2.
Can someone please explain me what happens to the ball on the first Urawa goal? Suddenly every pace in the shot disappears and the ball takes an unnatural trajectory. WTF!?
I am not bothered with the result. It was our first game of the pre-season. We don’t need to win those games. As long as the players can have some game time, try out some squad setups and combinations and have fun. Heck, until the Charity Community Shield we can continue the draws. I don’t care right now all that needs to be done is find the eleven players who match up best. There’s nothing to win anyway. Not until August, 5th at Wembley. ManU – Chelsea.
The Community Shield delivered exactly what every ManU fan expected: a win against Chelsea.
Today the 2007/2008 Season really starts for ManU with the Community Shield game against the smallest club of the English Top 5, Chelsea FC.
Rumours, rumours and more rumours. But according to an 
