Magpies humiliated again!

Newcastle 1: 5 United

It didn't matter that United were playing at Newcastle's home this time, United still came up with a sterling performance to record a thumping victory. The scoreline surely is going to make matters worse for Kevin Keagan and his revival plans.

Keagan had revealed that he was plotting an upset at St. Jame's Park. And it did turn out to be an open encounter in the first few minutes of the game. Both teams made good moves upfront and the game was being played end to end. But that's when United are more dangerous, because it gives lots of space for our talented front men - Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo. And so it wasn't a surprise that the first goal came from the lethal combination of Rooney and Ronaldo. Ronaldo's pinpoint cross found Rooney make an easy tap-in volley. First goal on, the game seemed to be drifting United's way. Second goal was a beautiful finish - Ronaldo was at the end of a neat through pass from Carrick and he showed typical cool composure to put it past Shay Given.

Second half wasn't any different. United looked like scoring any time while the Magpies didn't look too threatening to the United defense. So when Ronaldo scored his second in no time - this time he coolly ran around the substitute keeper and finished it as coolly the game was as good as over. And it was only left to seen as to how many United would end up scoring. Rooney came up with a brilliant curling effort to score his second of the night and Saha had some reason to smile too - he scored United's fifth of the match.

All in all, a commanding performance specially because it was an away match and United have been rotating players to keep the squad fresh as it's the business end of the season.
The front men looked at their typical menacing best. And I have to say Carrick has been finding form off late and his passing last night was awesome - reminiscent of his last year's form. Nani looked pretty dangerous too and it's good to see him carry on from where he left in the FA Cup victory against Arsenal. The victory was doubly sweeter after seeing Arsenal dropping points at St. Andrews (thanks to the brilliant Mcfadden!). Just 3 point adrift - meaning we can breathe easy now! Keep it going Red Devils!

The beauty of FA Cup

I've always heard that FA Cup has a special place in the heart of the football fans, especially in England. And I got a taste of the brilliant football it can produce and it's ability to inspire teams to perform out of their skins, while watching yesterday's 5th round tie between Liverpool and Championship side Barnsley. It's great to watch lower rung teams challenge big opponents and put their lives on the line to secure something out of FA Cup matches.
Liverpool have been under so much pressure - poor performance in Champions league, they have spurned the wonderful start they had to their League season and their Manager Rafael Benitez has been under fire for some time now. Yet you would expect Liverpool playing at Anfield to have little trouble in getting past their unfancied opponents. As usual Liverpool were on their money looking like scoring many goals. But they could only afford a solitary goal in the first half and Barnsley were defending for their lives - that's what I meant when I said these teams put their lives on the line playing in such big encounters. And that attitude helped them get an equalizer in at the fag end of the first half.

Second half was predictable - Liverpool going for goals like they wanted 10 of them! And they did look like getting as many except for the desperate defending from Barnsley - specially their goalkeeper who kept like a man possessed. It was just amazing watching them stop everything and anything. And just when they seemed to be happy to hold on to a draw for a replay at home, Brian Howard scored off a beautiful effort in the injury time! His shot had no answer from the part time liverpool keeper and they were into the quarters. A team struggling in the Championship at No. 14 overhauled Champions League contender! On of those fairy tales the FA cup is known to dish out often - the very reason why one can consider watching matches which expected to be one-sided and yet get thoroughly entertained while watching. Just incredible!


At Old-Trafford, United were up against their title-rivals Arsenal. United had been under pressure since losing meekly to City last week. And if you are a United supporter, you would know what to expect - a strong come back. And that's what they came up with - a sterling performance to beat Arsenal 4-0. United looked on top all the time and in all departments of the game - something they were found wanting against City on. The victory was more special because it came without some big names - Ronaldo and Tevez their top two scorers so far. But it was great to see Rooney back and lift the team with his energy as he usually does. And so was it good to see Patrice Evra back at the left back position.
This victory could well spur United on ahead of the Champions League and also give mental edge over Arsenal race for the Premier League.

EPL 26 : United fail to pay fitting tribute

Man United 1 : 2 Man City

The weight of paying a fitting tribute to the legends of the Munich air-disaster probably turned too heavy for United as they succumbed to a meek loss to their neighbors.
In a match charged with high emotions, I had imagined United would come all guns blazing. The whole talk of wearing special no-sponsor-tags kit, chances of silence getting disturbed by City fans, the importance United paying a fitting tribute and the like probably took the focus away from the importance of exacting revenge on the City rivals and the fact that we had the catching up job pending on the Title front. Because it wasn't a performance you would expect from a United side which is deemed by Sir Alex as the best he's had in his time at Old Trafford.

I must say that United started the match with typical flair finding space upfront and creating a few chances for shots on goal - Tevez and Giggs having a go at the City goal. But as time passed City, known for it's tight defense this season seemed to close down well on most of United's attacks. Dunne and Richards looked very solid in their defense and City keeper Hart didn't have much work to do.
The first goal came off a rare mistake by Rio Ferdinand - Steven Ireland's shot was blocked by VDS but unluckily the ball rebounded nicely for Vassel to put it past him into the net - a shock lapse for United. United did try to respond with a few shots on goal, but they were not that convincing - the best chance possibly was the turn and shoot effort by Tevez but it didn't test the keeper awfully much. Within a few minutes the unimaginable happened - United were 2-nill down this time the goal coming off debutant Benjani's shoulder from a neat Petrov Cross.

You could be forgiven for thinking that United probably would fight back for a memorable victory befitting of the occasion. But it wasn't the night for such optimism - Man City were too composed and organized to be broken down. In fact, they kept the attack going and did have a few more chances to build on the 2 goal cushion. United did try to up the ante but they were never really convincing. Scholes still looked off-colour, Ronaldo certainly wasn't anywhere near his best and was kept quiet most times. The substitution also didn't have much of a fire-power - Park, Carrick and Hargreaves didn't seem to achieve much to change the situation. And I guess the absence of Wayne Rooney was bitterly felt all through the second half which underlies the importance of his play-making abilities as much as his goal-scoring prowess. Frustration was the catch-word of the United performance in the second half. Though United did come up with a goal late in the dying moments, it was a case of too little too late.

With United sorely missing Rooney, I felt they had missed a trick by not going for another striker in the Jan transfer window. How can you have treble aspirations when you have just two fully fit strikers? We have already seen that Tevez playing all alone upfront can be pretty ineffective. I also feel that banking on Ronaldo for goals all the time doesn't augur well for us - because he's going to have his off-days too - specially against well-organised sides. Over-all it was a sad night for us. We've got to pick ourselves up and come back strongly and leave nothing to chance - no more slip-ups till the very last match if we are to win the title again. Knowing the fighting spirit of United, I'm sure we can bet on a very strong come-back. Amen!

Match 25: Last Gasp goal to United's rescue

Spurs 1:1 United

Carlos Tevez came up with a valuable injury-time goal to rescue a point for United to prevent a fourth slip-up this season. Honestly speaking, and as Sir Alex put it after the match, if United deserved anything from the match, it was nothing more than a point. On a day when Arsenal produce an inspired performance to hand Man City their first home defeat, United certainly had a tough job to accomplish at White Hart lane against the resurgent Spurs.

And so it turned out to be. Tottenham looked the better side everywhere, particularly in the first half and United didn't have too much of a breathing space upfront. The first goal predictably came from Tottenham but with a pinch of controversy attached. Jenas seemed to have handled the ball while passing it to Arron Lennon who's cross could only be parried by VDS towards a waiting Berbatov who put it into the net gleefully. I thought it was a little unlucky for United to concede the goal that way and that kept the pressure constantly on United.

If you'd hoped for better performance from United in the second half, you were bound to be disappointed. Particularly with United being in such goal-scoring form. But it still was Spurs who were the better team for most time specially when it came to keeping the front men of United quiet. United did change a few things around to make amends - like swapping Rooney and Ronaldo's positions - but it wasn't looking like it was going to work for them. Anderson came on for Scholes and seemed to bring life and purpose into the United attacks. On the other side, Spurs had enough chances to put the match to rest - but could quite take them. You have to say United's so talked about transfer prospect, Berbatov looked very good throughout the match. It was the last few minutes that United seemed to cause troubles for the Spurs defense. And just when the match seemed to have slipped through United's hands, Carlos Tevez scored off a corner - a goal which turned the match upside down for the hapless Spurs.

It was a huge relief to see United rescue a point in the fashion they did. It could be a very important point saved going by the title race this season. But it was hardly a performance to write too much about. I would say we were lucky not to concede too many goals. The number of yellows United received was another highlight of the match. And it's a pity Rooney would miss the Manchester derby because of his yellow because we all know how important he is inspite of not being among the goals.

Rooney's Royal Goal to the rescue

Reading 0 : 2 Man United

Wayne Rooney rescued United from what looked like another slip-up through a smart goal to keep United ahead in the race. Reading surprised everybody by employing an attacking approach all through the match. It had to come from a side managed by an ex-United player, Steve Coppell who seemed to have thought that attack was the best form of defense against United. And it seemed to be working for Reading for much of the 90 minutes.

For a change, United didn't look as potent as they've been lately. Ronaldo and Rooney struggled to take their chances. Ronaldo in particular, with the confidence of a hat-trick behind him, seemed to go for the goal from all angles. But every time he seemed to struggle to hit the target and was evidently getting frustrated with himself. With Reading playing an attacking game, it looked like an end to end encounter and an entertaining one at that too. In fact, Reading seemed to have better chances in the first half - at one instance, they almost scored only to be denied by some desperate defending by Nemanja Vidic. The best chance of the half for United was the Owen Hargreaves strike off a free-kick that almost sneaked into the top corner.

United looked determined to score in the second half. But it was pretty much the same story with their attacks. Ryan Giggs came close to scoring off a parried Hahneman stop, but it wasn't to be. United seemed to be getting frustrated with not taking their chances. The dejection could clearly be felt by looking at Ronaldo who almost seemed to come to tears for wasting the chances - just shows the kind of perfectionist he is! But when the goal did come around the 77th minute, it was such a relief. And it came off the famed right foot of Wayne Rooney - he smartly flicked a Tevez pass past the keeper. You could see from the celebration as to how relieved he was specially as he hadn't been among the goals the past few matches. Later, Ronaldo made amends for all his misses by scoring the second in the dying moments, on a counter attack.


It was a tough victory to say the least and I think much of the credit should go to the United defense for keeping the spirited Reading from scoring. Tough victories such as this, away from home show why United indeed are the title favourites.

EPL Match 22: NewCastle butchered at Old Trafford!

Man United 6 : 0 Newcastle United

United handed Newcastle united their worst drubbing this season. An already beleaguered Newcastle, in the absence of Big Sam, had to face an absolutely brilliant United attack that produced it's best score this season. It was just a perfect night for United with Ronaldo finally scoring his so-far-elusive hat-trick and United looking so good that they could have had a double-figure score.

The first half was all about Rooney going for his shots and not scoring! There was no doubt he had quality on most of his shots but Shay Given just seemed determined not concede a goal against 'Wazza'. Rooney could have had at least 4 goals within the first half! That apart there were 2 strong appeals for penalty from United, both of which looked to be on except that ref. Rob Styles didn't think so. Such was the attacking flair of United in the first half. Yet, not taking the chances seemed to hurt them a little as the first half came to a close.

United were bound to change the equation come second half and that's what we all got to see. Christiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a smartly taken free-kick, creaming the ball under the jumping Newcastle wall from just outside the penalty box. And suddenly the floodgates were all open. Tevez scored off a gift provided by the erring Newcastle defence. Ronaldo scored his second, when he characteristically cut inside defenders from the right and put it past Given.
Rooney still kept missing the chances that came his way yet created a beautiful chance for Rio Ferdinand to cash in. Then Ronaldo pounced to take his much deserved hat-trick. Tevez finished it all with a second goal, which turned out to be a dubious one though. The hard thing to see though was the sight of ex-United 'Smudge' Smith having to be sent off for arguing over that goal.

As for me, it was United's best display of the season. They just seemed to outrun their opponents and were always there to pounce on anything on offer. Defense looked their usual dogged best and kept another clean sheet. Van Der Saar was hardly made to sweat against a sorry-looking Newcastle. Not much has been said of the defense, but going by the performances and stats, United back four certainly looks to be the best in Europe at this moment.

With a determined Birmingham City, under Alan Mcleish, holding Arsenal to draw at the Emirates, United have regained the top position, courtesy of superior goal difference. And with the team looking as good as it is now, I just think I'm convinced United will retain the crown.
GO UNITED!

EPL Game 21: United 1 : 0 Birmingham

It was very disappointing to know United had conceded the lead to Arsenal over the weekend, courtesy 1-2 defeat at Upton Park. It was all the more shocking to know that Ronaldo missed a penalty there, that eventually lead us to drop all 3 points. Disappointment apart, this season's title race seems to be shaping into a real humdinger for sure.

As for this match, against Birmingham, the scoreline would suggest a close encounter. And close it was but only during the last few minutes! I honestly don't think the score does enough to indicate the United domination. Tevez could easily have scored a brace and Ronaldo his elusive hat-trick and Park, who was making a comeback could have had a couple as well. But then, the finishing somehow lacked the usual sting and sometimes the necessary luck. The goal that was scored came off a beautiful team-work between Tevez and Ronaldo who were the strike pair owing to Rooney's absence.

Lot of people have not been amused at the margin of victory. And it's quite understandable given that we were playing at OT against a bottom of the table team. But then, enough chances were created, specially in the second half and it could so easily have been a goal-fest. Somehow, United lacked quality final touches. And it didn't help that we were missing Rooney due to illness and we had Park playing after a very long lay-off. And the team just got rusty with more and more chances getting spurned. But then, the most important thing was that we won and we're taking the race further on. With FA Cup and later Champions League coming into the equation, I get the feeling the team that can best maintain it's squad and form could well win the title.