Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are

That's the pivotal point, really, when United play mid-table-or-lower opposition at home: are the opposition willing to play?

You expect the 4-5-1 formation and the majority of possession, but would this be “one of those days” where scoring becomes difficult, the game becomes nervy?

At kickoff, West Ham did employ the predictable formation, but sought every opportunity to push Kieron Dyer up the left flank with Carleton Cole. Credit to West Ham for attacking when the opportunity presented itself.

Also at kickoff, much too much had been made of Wayne Rooney's goalless streak in the British media, which was going on something like 12 or 13 games.

Last Spring, astute United supporters worried the physical and mental strain of carrying United would come back to haunt Rooney at some point, as the cumulative knocks and minutes proved Wazza's human after all.

Fast-forward to the present; it's with joy and delight that we watched a trademark Scholes pass switch the point of attack, travel just inches over Spector's shoulder and land comfortably at Giggs' feet. Quickly and decisively Giggs tears apart Spector. Penalty.

Up steps Wazza. It's one-nil to the good. Streak broken.

But, much more than Rooney's own personal duck were broken during this comfortable match:
- United proved yet again their focus only sharpens after disappointment.
- The back-line were solid, with another vintage performance from Captain Vidic.
- Nani and Berbatov were constant threats, as their confidence continues to grow.
- Scholes and Giggs were immaculate in attack.
- Rooney showed signs of getting his legs, touch, and feel for the game.
- Owen, Carrick, and Smalling got a run out as substitutes, while Park and Valencia rested.

As the commentator said after Nani's exquisitely-taken goal, “Just another picture-book goal at Old Trafford.”

And that's the point: expectation.

Sir Alex and the senior players instill an aura of belief in this club that cannot be underestimated, as we've seen it repeatedly at Old Trafford: almost-ho-hum brilliant football.

Each year, I always enjoy the over-reaction of the media in England to the early part of the campaign, as you know Tottenham will be obliterated for losing at home today to a suddenly-plucky Wigan.

But this result shouldn't surprise us entirely, as Wigan are a bit schizophrenic and Spurs fell prey to the inevitable hangover match after a massive result earlier in the week. It's a straight, one-off bad result for Harry's Spurs, plain and simple.

Each year, people love to question United.

Yet United's propensity to play compelling football so routinely after dropped points demonstrates that belief, that confidence that prove Fergie's men haven't lost anything at all. These games also provide a wonderful opportunity for player development without pressure for those like Chris Smalling that need first-team football.

Thus, the cycle continues: points earned, confidence gained, and expectations continue from one generation to the next. That's the United way.

So, after all's said and done, West Ham did come out to play and the result was a comprehensive 3-0 United victory. You just gotta wonder what type of tabloid-headline-play-on-Hammers awaits Grant's men as they return to London at the bottom of the league. Have fun looking it up, United brethren.

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Next report will be after the Everton match. Cheers.

Evergreen, Sublime, and Cliché

After United's comprehensive 3-0 victory over Newcastle, you can only sit back in deep admiration of the skill, craft and guile so elegantly displayed by the ginger-haired assasin.

And, no Scholes’ master-class performance would be remotely complete without a poorly placed tackle or two, ultimately leading a yellow card to open the EPL season: the cherry on top of the sundae.

I know, I know.

As a United supporter, you must ask yourself “Am I living in a dream world, some form of Groundhog Day or Life on Mars episode that takes you back in time to relive yet again another elegant display by the man who scores goals?"

If so, I don't ever want to leave this place.

No way, no how could anyone have expected this fine form from the two long-standing servants to the club. Yet, Messrs Scholes and Giggs continue to amaze, delight, and re-define our expectations of thirty-something footballers.

But really, how much longer must we put up with the same, repetitive descriptions of our beloved midfielders?!

How many times have we witnessed “evergreen” Giggs and “sublime” Scholes to describe their vintage performances?!

The fact that one game into the 2010/11 campaign, I'm having flashbacks to three years’ worth of superlative match reports praising on one, the other, or both players is astonishing.

The other fact - that reporters have become altogether repetitive with their own language after such fine performances - demonstrates their own awe and virtual speechlessness, with the descriptions becoming almost cliché.

Thirty-five is the new twenty-five, with the evergreen and sublime, the men avoiding father time.

Cheers to another year of relentless, redundant adjectives and hyperbole from the men you must see.

I don't ever want to leave this place indeed.

Are You Ready for Some Football?!

So much anticipation, so little time.

The beginning of the English Premier League campaign can be a strange one, timing-wise, for an American sports lover, as the pennant races are in full swing, NFL preseason games have begun, and the PGA continues, with basketball and hockey waiting in the wings.

As the years have progressed, my love for true football – soccer – has grown, as evidenced by this blog, but I've never lost my allegiances and passion for my hometown Gophers, Twins, Vikings, Wild, and even Timber-Chihuahuas (Timberwolves).

Yet, while I watched brief stretches of the Twins and Vikings games this weekend, I watched the entire Spurs v City and Pool v Arsenal matches, along with the first half of Villa v West Ham.

There's something strange about watching 3-4 hours of football during our all-too-brief Minnesota summer, especially when it doesn't involve United. And, next weekend, we'll order a month's worth of the football package on the in-laws DirecTV just to watch Fulham v United during a potentially-glorious Sunday morning at the lake cabin.

Please do not read into this commentary that I'm complaining or whining. Far from it. I'm ecstatic with the start of the EPL Season. But, on such occasions, both my outdoor nature and other sports allegiances feel somewhat conflicted, somewhat restrained by football passions.

Which brings me to United v Newcastle.

I freakin' hate waiting until Monday for this match, as my work schedule won't allow me to watch it live, regrettably, but thankfully the game's timing does allow United's players an extra-and-needed day or two of rest.

Tomorrow, I'll head home from work hoping my own personal media blackout will hold and not ruin the result for me and another United supporter or two that will manage to avoid all things football related until the DVR-provided 5:30pm CDT kickoff.

One benefit of being in America is the ability to successfully maintain a media blackout for EPL matches. True enough.

Another benefit of being Stateside is watching entire football matches on weekend mornings, thereby giving you the afternoon and evening for important, non-footballing pursuits, such as attending a good friend's wedding without any conflict, for example. Another bonus.

The HUGE drawback of being in the US is the time difference for any midweek games that kickoff midday, such the need to take vacation to watch important Champions League matches. That bites.

So, as Hank Williams Jr. warms up his NFL intro, yes indeed, I'm more than ready for some real football.

Cheers. Back at you on Tuesday with thoughts about the opening match.

Season Preview

Oh, the sweet anticipation.

Tomorrow's Community Shield officially starts United's campaign against the primary title-challenger, Chelsea. The World Cup, as marvelous as it is, will never substitute for United. No way, no how.

It's been almost 3 months since the season ended, with several intriguing story lines that lead us into the 2010-2011 campaign, including:
- Rooney and Rio's forgettable World Cups
- A successful North American Tour
- Javier Hernandez' and Tom Cleverly's emergence
- Chris Smalling needing more seasoning
- Diouf and Wellbeck headed out on loan
- A substantial injury list (Rio, Anderson, Hargreaves, Carrick, Obertan & Da Silvas)
- Growing Green and Gold discontent

The lack of high-priced talent acquisitions adds to an already volatile mix of angst among the Red Devil supporters. There's been growing discontent with United's lack of spending on transfer targets. I wonder if Javier Hernandez cost £30M, would people trust that Fergie does have a transfer kitty? Ah, but I digress.

United return every key player from last year's campaign, with the addition of Chicharito and Smalling as well as Cleverly pushing himself into consideration to stay with the first team this term. You can easily argue that this squad is stronger than last year's edition. True, the club needs to pick and choose Neville's, Giggs' and Scholes' moments, but there appears to be plenty of cover across the team.

Only Sir Alex knows if the youth and veterans within the club merit only two off-season pick-ups. United barely missed the title on the last day of the season, largely without Rio and Vidic playing together, which is an accomplishment. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, as my old shop teacher used to say.

What I feel, personally, that people miss is that Nani's, Park's, and Valencia's performances improved markedly during the course of the season, enough to merit the gaffer's confidence this year. If this threesome were individual stocks, they're solid “hold” recommendations for your portfolio. None, with the exception of Park's industry perhaps, have demonstrated a consistent, world-class form, but you can see the development, the progress. Add the Da Silvas’ development into the mix, along with Evra's stellar play, and width shouldn't be a problem this term. Hardly.

Where United have the largest question marks are in the center of the park, with the health of the backline, van der Sar's age, and creative, linking play from someone not named Giggs and Scholes, as possible issues. Otherwise, I like the goal-scoring options in Berba, Chicharito, Owen, and Kiko to accompany Rooney. If Wazza goes down for any length of time, all bets are off, obviously, as he remains the one irreplaceable member of this squad.

Last year at this time, everyone doubted United in the post-Ronaldo era: “Where would the goals come from?!” And United proceeded to score more goals that the previous two years with Ronnie, as Rooney flourished in the spotlight.

This year, why should anyone doubt Sir Alex Ferguson's squad?! Personally, I don't get it. I see the potential pitfalls – center of the park, the debt – yet place 110%-trust in SAF's judgement.

As Daniel Taylor put it, Fergie's “job is to make 2010-11 more memorable for what happens in red and white rather than green and gold.” (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/aug/07/alex-ferguson-manchester-united)

Here's to the red and white's nineteenth title.
Here's to Sir Alex's ultimate “mission accomplished.”

Oh, the sweet anticipation.