Game 18 : Piece of Cake!

Sunderland 0 : 4 Man Utd
It was as easy as it was expected to be for United. They produced yet another thoroughly clinical performance to see off Roy Keane's side in the Stadium of Light.

It's the busy festive season and we were going to see a few changes. Giggs, Anderson, Tevez and Hargreaves were all rested. Nani, Saha, Fletcher got to start. Sunderland appeared to be very sprightly to start with, but that didn last for too long. The moment Rooney scored the first goal, the flood gates appeared wide open. Rooney provided for an easy tap-in for his striking partner Saha, Ronaldo scored off an unstoppable free-kick and then Saha scored his second through a penalty.

Ronaldo's free-kicks were a treat to watch today. He got three of them in the first half. The first two needed smart saves from the Sunderland keepter, Gordon while the third was just too good for him. Infact, it would have been too good for any keeper in the world. A lot is being discussed about the difference in technique that Ronaldo employs and how effective it is. Whatever the case, Christiano Ronaldo sure is rocking right now and is the top scorer in the League so far, and he's just a winger! Rooney was another one who had a terrific game, often toying with the Sunderland defence. It was good to see him return to scoring ways - it was his first goal after the knee-injury break. Also was good to see Park back on the pitch, after a very long injury lay-off. He sure brings in a lot of pace into the game and of course a bit of Asian magic if you want to call it so!
Another four-goaler to keep the bandwagon going!
Glory Glory United!

A Ronny Show all the way!!

Man United 2 : 1 Everton
Yet another Ronaldo brace to help United earn a hard-fought victory! I'm just amazed how this lad comes up with performance after performance for United, day in and day out.
In terms of performance, United expectedly were the better team with better possession and chances created. But it has to be said United didn't look very comfortable against a very well-organised Everton defense.

The match sprung into life after 2o plus minutes into the first half, when Ronaldo produced one of his best goals this season. He cleverly beat a defender on the right flank and unleashed an unstoppable curler from his left foot which was just too good for Tim Howard, the former United man who's now the Everton keeper. From then on, it looked as if the Red Devils were going to stream roll the Toffees with another high-scoring performance at home. Close chances were created with United showing the inclination to keep pressing forward. But against the run of play, Everton came back into the match with a nicely constructed goal. Tim Cahill was fed nicely by a Pienaar cross and Cahill made easy work of Evra's defense and scored a neat header past Kuszczak.

After that the match was well contested between the two sides and the match settled into an entertaining rhythm. Everton do look a good side when their star players in the front get going. The likes of Yakubu, Cahill and Johnson are a handful against any side and if players like Arteta and Osman (both of whom missed out this match) join in, they can compete with anybody in the league.
The second half saw United press for the winning goal but without much success for most part. Everton too created a few useful chances. United came close with Rooney's thundering shot that was just over the cross bar. I thought he deserved a goal for the sheer work rate. With Everton's defense looking very efficient, it looked as though the match was headed towards a fair draw. But that was only untill Pienaar stupidly brought down Giggs inside the penalty box. Ronaldo stepped in and coolly converted the penalty to give United a late victory.

It was obviously another Ronaldo show and people are only going to heap more praise on him and deservedly so. I'm glad he's just been going on and on as far as his stellar performances are concerned. He looks destined for greatness at Old Trafford and we're just fortunate to have him at United. As for other performance, Anderson, Evra and Tevez were at the usual impressive best. Vidic looked rock solid in defense. I thought Carrick didn't look as confident as he used last season, when he used to be the focal point of United midfield along with Scholesy. I think he needs more time in the middle this season. Overall it was a deserved victory. Two back to back wins against two strong sides are only going to spur the team on for more.

Keep it going United. Keep breathing down Arsenal's neck they'll surely give way!
Glory Glory United...

Match 17: Liverpool 0 : 1United

If Benitez had thought the Champions League survival victory at Marseille had given him enough confidence to overhaul United at Anfield, he was going to be disappointed. He'd never been able to beat United and it was going to stay that way, the improving quality of his side notwithstanding. United just played the perfect defensive game. And so the credit for the victory must go the defense, particularly the defense offered by the two midfielders - Hargreaves and Anderson.

The match was so frenetic and physical, which I'm told is typical of the United-Liverpool matches played over the years. Liverpool certainly looked like they wanted to finish off United in the first 15 minutes. They just kept attacking all the time with great pace and accurate passing but never looked to create too many useful chances upfront. United looked strong in defense but evidently had problems with Van der Saar's indecisive goal-keeping. He almost gave away two goals, all by himself, in the first half alone. But I guess that could be attributed to the freakish pace of the game.
It was all about Liverpool attacking and United having to defend and wait for counter attacks. But you have to say Anderson and Hargreaves took the sting away most times, specially by keeping Stevie G quiet - takes some effort that! United did come up with a few attacks in the first half, but weren't convincing, specially because Ronaldo was kept quiet as well. And so the goal did come against the run of play, but off great thinking. Giggs passed a corner ball to an unmarket Rooney, who's thumping shot found Tevez to deflect into the roof of the net. I remember the commentator on ESPN going "this is rubbish defending" about Liverpool's marking when the goal was scored!

Liverpool had an entire half to reverse their fortunes and you would have expect them to achieve such feats at Anfield. But United were too clinical to be broken down. And it was familiar story again for the Reds, all attack but with little effect. United could have made the victory even more sweeter had Rooney found the net towards the end of the second half, when he missed a sitter, by his standards. But then who'd care what the score was going to be as long as we were winning! I can't believe it was Sir Alex's 50th match against the Kop. Without doubt he's the master of such big games and this victory was a testimony to that. Lot of people would be lining to write Liverpool off now, which is more or less justified given the intensity of the tittle race between United and Arsenal.

The later match between Arsenal and Chelsea was a beautiful match to watch and the score of 1-0 pretty much reflects the closeness of the encounter. I thought Chelsea were unlucky to lose and that too off a rare Cech mistake! Overall the Grandslam Sunday did live up to it's billing.

EPL Game 16 : The Rams battered!

United 4 : 1 Derby
Well, it was going to be a no-brainer as far as the result was concerned. It was just the question of how many we were going to score. And it was United's favourite number again, four!
I should say the dampness of the pitch helped Derby avoid a very heavier loss. It did look difficult for United to play their flowing and attacking football in the conditions, specially in the second half as the rain never relented. Yet, four goals at the end of the day is still quite comprehensive.
Giggs got his first goal of the season and almost got a second. He's been looking at his vintage best in the last few games and hopefully will carry on this way. Tevez deservedly had a brace and could have got a third, had Ronaldo been any kind to him and let him take "his" penalty. I'm sure there would be a debate or two around the Ronaldo penalty. Rooney could have had two as well, but was unlucky specially with his chip which ended up hitting the post.
All in all, a good "practice" game before we head to meet the Reds at Liverpool. Hopefully O'Shea is gonna be playing there!!!

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!