EPL Game 14: Frustrating loss to Bolton

Bolton 1: 0 Man United
I'm no crystal-ball gazer, nor am I a pessimist. But something told me things were not right going into the North-west derby. There was no Rooney, Tevez was to play after coming back from a busy international week. Vidic was doubtful and a "not 100% fit" Saha was going to play full 90 minutes. And when the match started, the most shocking news awaited us - Ronaldo was not even in the squad! With all these factors, I wondered how we'd win against a resurgent Bolton side. Well, the same things that caused me to worry turned out to be the contributing factors to the outcome - a shock defeat.
Gerard Pique, the young, talented defender from Spain was replacing Vidic. It wasn't going to be the most eye-bro raising replacement, given the amount of respect Sir Alex has for the youngster. If there was anything he lacked, it was experience. And as luck would have it, that's what led to United conceding the first goal. Pique over-zealously jumped at a looping ball directed at the United box and was beaten by the flight, only to gift Anelka an easy finish, past Van der Saar. But that goal came only 11 minutes into the first half and not even the most skeptical of United supporters was going to lose heart from an early goal. United are known to come back from behind. But it didn't turn out that way, at least in the first half. Bolton just grew in confidence and kept attacking. It's incredible, we never had a meaningful chance created in the whole of the first half. We seemed to miss Ronaldo and Rooney so much, it was just getting as frustrating as the winter cold.
Yet I was sure second half would be different. And so it was going to be. Anderson came in and breathed life into the mid-field. United garnered more possession and began to play with the typical flair. Yet, not many close chances were created, surely not as much as you'd expect with an in-form United team. Hargreaves came close with his curling free-kick which was kept out by Jaaskeleinen. Long range efforts by Nani, Hargreaves, Carrick and the like weren't fruitful. The best chance came in the later stages of the half, Tevez had a tap-in from an Evra cross, which he missed by a few yards. Given the form Tevez was in, he was expected to score there and that miss undeniably cost us the match.
Honestly United looked scrappy without the talismanic Ronaldo and Rooney. With literally the whole of Bolton defending, we found few chances coming our way. On the whole, it was an utterly frustrating evening. With Arsenal winning again (I don't believe they won again through late goals and against my prayers!), and given their form , United have to get back to winning ways and stay tough to keep the title race going.

EPL 13 - United 2 : 0 Blackburn

A very entertaining affair indeed. Blackburn have had a very good start to their season and have been hot on the heels of the big four. They've been the team that's looked most likely to trouble them, if any, in the league. Lot of people predicted an even contest at Trafford, respecting the Rovers' form and that's how it looked for most part of the first half. Both teams wrestling against each other for possession and shots on goal. Samba came closest to scoring the first goal thundering a shot on the post! But a two-minute period of brilliance from United totally floored the Rovers. Ronaldo showed how confident he is with his goal-scoring form with his first goal, which was aimed with supreme accuracy into the top corner. He actually made it look simpler than most forwards in EPL would find. The second was a delightful team goal. On the counter-attack, Saha finds Tevez who's cross, from left flank off the outside of his right foot found Ronaldo in front to smash it past Friedel.
Nobody would have any qualms conceding what a great eye for a goal that man from Portugal has. There's no doubt he's been among the best in the world since last season. And it's hearting to see him carry on, hungry for more success. Just don't stop Ronaldo!
Rooney falling trap to another injury(a freak one this time!) has left me gutted. The lad was
in such red-hot goal-scoring form and his partnership with Tevez was blossoming beautifully. I guess while we fans will miss his goals, albeit against weaker teams(thankfully!), it would be Steve Mclaren who'd be feeling most of the heat in his absence. Having said that, I hope England somehow make it to the Euro Cup or it would be such a loss of entertaining football!
Coming back to the match, though it was decided in those two unbelievable minutes, United did continue playing the usual attacking football. I certainly enjoyed it thought it was bereft of goals. I still enjoyed the vintage play of Giggs, sprightly play by Anderson and cool-headed defending from Rio and Vidic. Hope the juggernaut keeps rolling!

EPL Game 12 - Arsenal 2: 2 Man United

It's taken me quite some time to decide to write this blog. Honestly, it makes me sulk to think about what happened at the Emirates. Playing against the so called hi-flying gunners at their backyard, we had the match in our hands at 2-1 and yet they scored in the injury time to level the scores. At the end of the match Arsenal were celebrating like they had won the Premiership, while honestly they had lost 2 points as it was they who went in as favorites. Even the most ardent United fan would have settled for a draw before the match, but certainly not the way it happened. But then such things can only happen in football.

Come to think of it, it was a great advertisement for football. Two of the most attacking clubs in the world playing against each other, and in attacking fashion. As expected, Arsenal started the match with nothing but goal-scoring intentions. They kept attacking. But United seemed to have thier defensive strategy on target. Though Arsenal enjoyed a lot of possession, almost for the whole of the first half, they didn't seem to create a single clear-cut chance. And lot of credit for that should go the pair of Anderson and Hargreaves, who dented their attacks from going any farther into United penalty area. The seeming strategy of "defend and counter attack" payed off perfectly for United as they tasted the first blood at the fag end of the half. Rooney deflecting a Ronaldo cross past Almunia - though it did take a slight deflection of Gallas.

It didn't take long for Arsenal to come back into the game. But it was the most convincing way to get a goal. As Van der Saar was distracted off the goal from a cross, Fabregas found an empty net to plug the ball into to spark wild celebrations. United did keep pressing forward through the second half. With Saha coming on for Tevez, the game took a turn. A beautiful pass of Saha saw Evra making ground on the left to find an unmarked Ronaldo, who tapped in gleefully. That was in the 82nd minute and United were all set to avenge their home defeat to Arsenal last season.
But fate would have it different. Arsenal scored off what I can only call a freak goal - A barrage of shots at the goal with United defenders scampering around to block them and suddenly the goal is awarded by the linesman. The scores were level and United were denied a much deserved victory. Overall taking the chances into consideration, it was United who looked the better side. Arsenal survived, thanks to 2 unconvincing goals. And supporters like me were left to rue a historic let gone by.
Nevertheless, it was a good game for United, specially for keeping the Gunners at bay and almost snatching a victory at their home. We'll wait for Arsenal to come to Old Trafford!