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.
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.
Park Ji-sung is might not play for us anymore this year. His recovery might take until January. The South Korean, who should feature in every World 11 Bench Sitters, if there were such a thing, will surely be missed, but a fresh Park in January could be a bonus for a squad aiming at a 66 games season.
Gaby Heinze’s agent has told the Club that the Argentinian tackler wants to move on. I can understand that Gaby wants to play more regularly, but with his growing consistency I actually expected him to become regular again at OT. I admit, I have a weak spot for Gaby. Heinze could leave us buying out the remainder of his contract, because he has already played 3 seasons for ManU and not yet secured a new deal. This would leave me with a very bitter taste. I hope we can at least get the 5million buy out for him.
But what are 5million for Heinze compared to the rumoured 5.5million Sunderland paid for Richardson? Once more we have to say ‘Thank You, Roy!’ Hopefully Roy Keane will also be interested in Smith and pay more than any other team has offered so far. Yes, I’ld still prefer Smith to leave and hold on to Rossi. 9 goals in 19 appearances in a very defensively played Serie A, that can only be an asset for us. Especially when the player’s only 20.
And now go sign up for our Fantasy League if you haven’t yet!
I am already going to publish my pre-season Top 5 prediction for next term, even though the transfer window isn’t closed yet. But all the teams are back at work and in only four weeks it’s time for the Charity Shield. Another reason is that it’s really boring to continue posting about the Tevez saga. Here we go.
Champions: Manchester United. Our squad for next season is incredibly strong. And that doesn’t depend on Tevez’s arrival. All positions are covered by internationals and every player will have to fight to play on Saturday. Even our second team consists of almost all international players. We have a very creative team with a healthy mix of experience and age, even though we might feature one of the youngest squads in the League.
Even our young players already have many years of experience at the top level and lads such as Rooney, Ronaldo and Owen all know when they need to push, need to take the game in hands.
Runner-up: Liverpool. I’ll admit that Rafa impresses me right at the moment. He’s been very active during the transfer period so far and has spent his money wisely on younger players and at the same time signed new long term deals for Gerrard and Carragher, assuring continuity and experience. Much to my surprise, Benitez has continued investing in young talents and if he manages to finally bring in talented youngsters in the first team, I think Liverpool will be the surprise next term and finish on #2. Several points behind us, but maybe we’ll have a genuine opponent in the seasons after.
Third: Chelsea. Mourinho, who obviously had no high transfer budget available, has done everything except adding new quality his season’s squad. Further signings aren’t planned either and Arjen Robben looks on his way out too. Remember how firm Mourinho used to be last season when he remembered everyone about Drogba’s existing contract? Nowadays, all he says about Robben is that he wishes he stays. Not much optimism there.
Chelsea’s signings are all but impressive. No new name is an improvementto the squad. Every Prem outsider will think Sidwho? I don’t understand how Mourinho believes that Pizarro, who hardly managed it to claim his spot in a struggling Bayern Munich squad could add quality at Stamford Bridge. Malouda won’t become a second surprise like Essien, and expect Ballack to fight back this season. Michael is a fighter and probably has adapted to the Prem’s pace now and to his role at Chelsea, having less freedom than before. Sheva will score, but he just doesn’t fit the hard working Chelsea stylem he needs more space than one gets in the Prem. Another problem for Sheva is that Drogba dominates much more in the air and with Cole back (and Robben/Malouda/SWP) that will be an important factor for Chelsea.
Only if everyone is fit for 50+ Chelsea has a chance to compete with Liverpool for #2, but that’s a dream. Expect a new manager at Stamford Bridge before March 08.
Fourth: Tottenham. If there has been one surprise over the last two seasons, it was Martin Jol. Jol has installed an attractive game at White Heart Lane and shown his ambition during the transfer period. If Tottenham’s defense can improve/stabilize, they might be able to qualify for CL this time. And who knows, maybe even compete for third.
Fifth: Arsenal I think Wenger’s golden period has ended. One of the problems Wenger every year again has to deal with is his ego. He might be a brilliant manager, but last 2 season’s have proven that his influence on his stars smaller, perturbing even, is once they have matured and grown an own voice. Think Cole, Pires and now Gallas. And Robin Van Persie, who might become their key player next term, surely isn’t a lad who will remain quiet. Expect some bust-ups between those two. Unless Wenger brings some more talents, but most of all \experience to the Emirates Stadium, I predict a dark future for Arsenal, especially if Spurs and Liverpool continue to improve.
The seemingly not ending power game between West Ham and Kia Joorabchian, who claims still to own the economical rights for Carlos Tevez, could in worst of cases turn out bitter for Manchester United. What if the whole saga pushed Carlos (and Kia) away from the Premier League?
In an interview with the Daily Mirror SAF told that the squad for next term his best squad since 1999 is, warning not only rivals but also everyone contending for a regular spot in the squad. And honestly, our team for the 2007/2008 Season is not only the best squad since 1999 but could become the best generation since many years again.
No-one will play all the games next year and hopefully they accept that and move on to the business of trying to achieve success for us.
SAF has built a young and exciting squad, more than just the Galacticos in Europe. SAF has done what Arsene Wenger still hasn’t managed, he built a squads made of talents, talents with an already proven track in competition on high level. And above all a squad with many years of future. And if Tevez would join us, that move can only raise the Samba level at Old Trafford. To spice things even more up, today SAF said that he doesn’t want to sell anyone, even not players who are highly expected to leave, but at the same time he admitted that some might want to leave because they want to play more games.
I don’t expect anybody to leave
But it may happen because some players will view the situation and think maybe they won’t get enough games to satisfy them.
It is sure that people like Heinze, Smith and even Rossi will want to be regularly part of the first team, and Nani and Anderson might not get the numbers of games they wish to play during next season, because how things look now… SAF can build 2 teams. Two teams, both playing for Europe. The first team competing on every front, the second team with the likes of Smith, Brown, Saha, hopefully Evra and not Heinze, and Anderson and Nani, would compete for direct UEFA Cup qualification.
Lets have a look at the possibly strongest line-up for next season. And I might be controversial here, but I opt for 3-4-3 instead of 4-4-2. Goal: Van Der Sar Defense: Rio, Vidic and Neville. Midfield: Heinze (defensive midfielder, same position as Didier Deschamps during France 98), Giggs, Scholes/Carrick (considering Scholes might not play 60 games) and Hargreaves. Attack: Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez.
Who’s left over for the second team, competing for direct UEFA Cup qualification or more even? Goal: Kuszczack Defense: Evra, Brown, O’Shea, Silvestre, Lee Midfield: Anderson, Park, Richardson, Flecther, Nani Attack: Solksjaer, Rossi, Saha, Smith.
Ooopps, there are more than enough players to build a competitive second team. It seems to me that SAF’s biggest problem next year will be to satisfy everyone, unless some players were to leave.
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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 
