Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Unlucky Seven

Fergie's formation revealed his respect for McLeish's men at St. Andrews. Nobody scores much on this ground either the home or the away side, with only Everton having won here.

United's 4-3-3 that plays like a 4-5-1 without possession had no real width much of the match, with Rooney on the left and Giggs on the right and both players tending to curl inside versus drawing players wide.

The very workman-like United performance received the goal it deserved from a deft flick by Berbatov and return pass from Gibson, with the Bulgarian's first touch leading to a laser-strike from just inside the box that beat Ben Foster's near post.

Sublime pass, run, touch and shot from United's Number Nine.

Everything continued as planned, with another Berba strike clipping the outside of the far post only minutes after his first goal. Momentum swung heavily United's way.

And then, you just had the faintest twinge of that sickening feeling. Up 1-0 on the road, I'm sure it crossed many a United supporter's minds – surely, nothing bad will happen...

Well, it did.

First and foremost, I'm furious with the referee and the linesman for missing the blatant founl and hand-ball-pass that led to Bowyer's smash-and-grab equalizer.

As Sir Alex said in his post-match commentary:

“It was handball, there was a foul on the centre half...he went right through the back of him. If the ref can't see that, what chance have you got?

That's where we expect them to get a referee who sees that. If you can't see that, what chance have you got? We deserved to win the game, we were the better team."

Yet, upon a closer look, sorry SAF, you could see something like this possibly happening from things within United's control.

Clue number one: Giggs holding up the ball at the corner flag during an 84th minute counter. Way too much time left in the match for this tactic in my book. I get that he became trapped in the corner, but where's that trademark Giggsy flick of the defender for a corner instead? There were at least five minutes left to play, plus injury time.

Clue number two: Birmingham had subbed on Hleb, Phillips, and Zigic, so United put everybody behind the ball without maintaining an edge going forward. The Red Devils allowed the Blues too much respect and played too compact for my liking with ten plus minutes left to play. You need to keep some presence available moving forward to retain possession, which United didn't do.

When's the last time United finished off an opponent away from home while they gambled going forward?!

Clue number three: Hleb sends Carr a beautiful through-ball who proceeds to hit a very poor cross. But guess who was sitting wide open on the far post? Mr. Poacher himself, Kevin Phillips. How did he find two yards of open space near injury time?!

Make no mistake. United dominated possession and a horrible refereeing mistake led to an unlucky seventh draw away from home. But, defending with ten men behind the ball with ten minutes left also played a role in this outcome.

And, I just knew, knew somehow I tempted fate with the football Gods with the last blog post, Fear Factor, describing how formidable United look entering the new year. It's like sports broadcasters referencing a streak, only to watch it fall moments later.

Well, most teams on top of the Premier League at Christmas don't win the league in the end.

So, we've got that goin' for us, which is nice.

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Back at you after the West Brom match.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Fear Factor

Would United look refreshed or would the Reds succumb to a banana-skin match?

It's an unlikely slip-up would be the initial thought, with the United defense looking water-tight and Sunderland missing Bramble, Cattermole, Turner, and Welbeck, to name a few.

But, some concerns are justified, given the long layoff for Fergie's men.

Early on, you could tell United were up for the match, as the Reds pressed forward.

In the fifth minute, Anderson sent Giggs through on a Route One counter, with the Welshman looking decades younger while charging forward. A subsequent pass to Rooney on the right, who hit a beautiful far-post cross for a Berbatov back door header: one-nil to the good.

Easy enough. Might be gifts aplenty this afternoon.

Not long after the goal, though, there were two shots off the woodwork – one post, one crossbar – and one-sided possession through much of the first half. The outcome already appeared certain, as United maintained complete control.

But, as half-time arrived, the scoreline remained one-nil, with Steve Bruce the happier of the two managers, relieved to have not conceded any more goals. Wasteful, and at times, unlucky finishing for the Reds.

And, as the second half began, Sunderland looked more organized and poised enough to move forward, causing some unease to begin to descend upon Old Trafford. All that was required was one slip-up for a smash-and-grab job for Sunderland.

Predictably, United regained whatever modicum of control lost over the match, but still no goals were found. Would it be “just one of those days” after all?!

Not today.

In the 57th minute, Berbatov's second came from the most innocuous of attempts stationed on the right-side, at the top of the box. Wayne Rooney's overlapping run around the outside brought Anton Ferdinand tighter to Berba's mark, Phil Bardsley, just as the Bulgarian tried bending the ball with the outside of his right boot toward the far-post, but instead the shot ricocheted off Ferdinand's hip past the wrong-footed Craig Gordon to the near post.

Finally, a break. It's game, set and match United.

The rest of the afternoon allowed both sides to rest key players ahead of midweek fixtures, with any atmosphere quickly escaping Old Trafford, as occasional songs from either the Stretford End or the away end punctuated silent spells where you could clearly hear players yelling instructions to each other on the pitch.

This allowed other questions to emerge in Red Devil minds, such as “Would Berba net another hat-trick?” or “Would Wazza break his duck from open play?” Such was the comfort level.

Neither would come today, as more references to Rooney's nine month goal scoring drought continues in the football media. Tedious commentary, as far as I'm concerned.

This goalless spell includes multiple injuries and two months off after the World Cup. Guess how many EPL games Rooney's played this campaign after today? Six of seventeen, I believe. That's hardly worth a cumulative time tally in my book.

Yes, Wazza is pressing at the moment, as he positions himself predictably, at times, to play the ball to his favored right foot, has an overly-anxious first touch, or shoots straight at the keeper. Today, Wayne was quite unlucky not to see his superb chip drift just away from the far post early in the first half. His time will come, inevitably.

You got the feeling that if the Number Ten broke his duck, the flood gates would surely open up, as it would be a huge relief to the team as well as the individual player.

But, who needs Wazza's goals, when Berba's scored 13 before the New Year?

Actually, the answer's right there in front of us, if we simply look back in time.

Rooney's goals come in bunches and suggest a long-term trend in form, thereby one seems to inspire better play from the rest of the lads.

On the other hand, Berbatov's goals can also arrive in bunches, but they can also disappear as quickly as they come. There's a fleeting quality here, one which doesn't seem as contagious to those around the Number Nine. At least up until now.

Now picture this: both Berbatov and Rooney in-form simultaneously, with one goal from either talisman inspiring not only confidence in each other but the rest of the team as well. A daunting proposition for opponents, especially at Old Trafford. You concede and you're done, goes the psychological pressure.

I know the rest of the league has improved markedly.

I know United still can show very uneven finishing form.

I know any run by the Red Devils relies heavily on the health of the Rio-Vidic-van der Sar partnership at the back.

But, when I see United on top of the league, with games in-hand, and Rooney's form and partnership with Berbatov improving markedly, opposition fear akin to a 90's edition of United isn't entirely beyond reach here, as we've never witnessed both Rooney and Berbatov red-hot simultaneously, which appears more likely by the match.

Seventeen unbeaten, without hitting top gear, without Rio and Wazza for large stretches, astonishes most football observers.

United's rested and well-poised for a trademark, second-half run at the title, one that re-ignites old fear in the opposition.

Let's raise our glass to that glorious fear factor. May our opponents feel their beaten the moment they go down one-nil. Cheers.

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Back at you after the Birmingham match.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Tight as a Drum

Whenever Arsene Wenger visits Old Trafford, you feel as though you could put a piece of coal you-know-where and end up with a diamond by half time, such is the Frenchman's anxiety and angst.

Even Fergies pre-match comments about certain United supporters refraining from taunting The Professor with crude jibes did nothing to refrain the crowd or Wenger himself from his prickly reactions to losing yet again to United.

Let me see... today it was... it waaaass... the pitches fault... yeah, that's it.

It had absolutely nothing to do with Anderson buzzing around the midfield, looking like he owns everyone, including Fabregas.

It had absolutely nothing to do with an immaculately-positioned back-line, with Evra and Rafael bombing forward when the opportunity presented itself.

It had nothing to do with Park, Wazza, and Nani interchanging and linking play with runs from the midfield, with Nani terrorizing the Gunners yet again.

Give me a break, please.

As much as I personally dislike the pedophile references to Mr. Wenger, the Nutty Professor does nothing in-and-around Old Trafford but make a target of himself.

For all of Arsenal's technical wizardry and attempts to be Barcelona-of-the-North, they played more cautious football than West Brom did on this very same ground. That, my friend has nothing to do with the pitch.

Largely, the Gunners created very little today and were simply second best. The United back four owned this match, with vintage performances from Rio and Vidic – two shut-up-shop artisans at their very best.

And there you have it: Arsenal stretched tight, United sealed tight. One-nil to the good, when a more comfortable scoreline seemed justified for the Red Devils.

Now United move two-points clear at top of the table, with a game in-hand as well, before heading to Stamford Bridge to meet Chelsea on the weekend. Can't wait until Sunday.

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Back at you after the Chelsea match.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Fair Play?

Without a Blackpool v United game today, I'm without the usual grist to write my weekly BeDeviled blog post. It's utterly unacceptable that Blackpool doesn't have under-soil heating, even if they're a “small” budget team. They should have used £300K of that £30M promotion money to work on the ground for christ’s sake. United could pay a price for this added fixture towards the end of the season, which is totally unfair. But, that's all there is to say here.

Well, now what?

With my free time, I wanted to add my thoughts to the discussion about the World Cup bids landing in Russia and Qatar in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

First, let me say I was gutted not to be attending the 2018 World Cup in England and 2022 in the US. And my immediate reaction to the selection was that the process was entirely corrupt – friggin' back-handed, corrupt and fois-gras-eating FIFA. I got texts from fellow American United supporters immediately expressing the same feelings: oil money won two World Cups.

However, once I calmed down, read some analysis from various sources, and watched people's reactions, my reason returned.

Now nobody knows exactly if there was total and rampant corruption. Could have been, but let's not assume that and look a bit closer at the reactions and possible views from the non-English-and-US camps.

Overall, the US delegation clearly expressed their disappointment and showed grace in congratulating the winners and expressing confidence in their ability to host the World Cup.

Conversely, you'll find nothing but pissing and moaning from the English, which infuriates me to no end, as someone that would love to attend a World Cup in England during my lifetime.

The English have done nothing BUT prove that they don't deserve the World Cup Finals anytime in the next quarter century. This comes from someone that people consider an Anglophile due to my penchant for British culture, largely developed by friendships with Brit Ex-pats, love of the EPL, and passion for United.

Plu-eeeze, dear Inger-landers, get a grip, for the love of God – I implore you. May the power of Christ compel you. May the power of Christ compel you.

First, you find everyone from Golden Balls to Andy Anson expressing that the English had “the best bid”, as Anson expressed to and was reported by the BBC:

"I still find it hard to understand what happened," he told a media conference in Zurich on Friday morning.

"When you have the best technical bid, fantastic inspection visits, the best economic report, and, from what people told us, the best presentation, it's quite hard to stomach that all that seemed to count for absolutely nothing.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush - individual members promised to vote for us and didn't clearly.
They are saying to us that our media killed us but I don't believe that for one minute, but that's what we are being told.”

"Russia did a lot of last-minute lobbying and votes appeared to switch at the last minute - we know some switched in the early hours of the morning."

First, how naïve can you be?!

This is politics, my friend. What people say and do are entirely different things. I absolutely know this and my job doesn't involve leading a country's bid for anything. These comments are bush league. And when Sepp Blatter praised the bid days before the announcement, you knew that was the kiss of death akin to a football team's board expressing every confidence in an under-fire manager.

Second, “best bid” by what criteria?

I've read the media accounts of leaked FIFA evaluations about the bids. I think England probably had the lowest-risk and greatest immediate-term financial gain. True enough. Safest, most reliably profitable bid. Well done.

But, that's not the ONLY criteria.

FIFA didn't buy the vision, which is sooo overlooked in most of the accounts I read from the UK. All I've read is anger, angst, and aggression.

As an American, I've been subject to countless conversations with English football fans for decades about being proud forebears of the beautiful game.

Fair enough. Something to be proud of without question. And, typically, the English, who don't know me, assume I know nothing of this fact because I'm an American. Wrong, you arrogant twit, I often think as I travel through Europe.

But it doesn't stop there. So, what's the English response to losing the bid?

Yep, we need FIFA reform.

You just can't make this up. You don't get your way, so let's revise the process. Grow up, England. You're acting like a pre-teen complaining to your parents that your younger siblings get preferential treatment. “It's not fair because...” hand-wringing isn't very becoming, m’boy.

Thus, as someone that desperately wants England to land a World Cup Finals, here are three entirely viable answers to the big question “Why not England?!”

First, the Olympics are coming to London in 2012. I know this isn't football, but in a grander sense of fairness, the English bid had this fact going against it.

Second, if you openly distain FIFA, don't be surprised if there's a backlash. Looking down your nose at the rest of the world's football cost you, mate. Or, in football-song-speak, “You're going down, you're going down, you're going down” cried football's governing body in unison.

And most important, the absolute arrogance and entitlement mentality was only accentuated by having Prince William and David Beckham lead the bid process under the auspices of “Bring HOME the World Cup 2018.”

Yes, you have the fans and facilities. Yes, it would make money. Yes, you're the “home” of the beautiful game.

But, would it grow the game's popularity?

How many Western European countries have already hosted the World Cup Finals?

The answers here are obvious, even to an English bid supporter.

Central to Russia's bid was clearly showing FIFA that history would be made by hosting the World Cup for the first time in an Eastern European country, one where the game’s popularity has room for growth – no matter how infuriating it is to see Roman Arkadyevich Abramovic celebrate winning the bid – grrrr, Chelski – you can at least gather the possibility that this bid could have been awarded without corruption. This is a contrasting vision to be fair.

Finally, as an American, I firmly believe we, arguably, have much more to complain about than the English.

Qatar?! Are you kidding me? When I first heard the news, I lost it.

Again, with some perspective, I can see the appeal of the Qatar bid's vision.

It's the first World Cup Finals in a Middle Eastern country. It'll be the most compact World Cup Finals in history, thereby allowing the world's cultures to mix at the finals as never before. It's eleven years away, thereby providing enough time to build the necessary infrastructure and stadiums. And, it promised charity – dismantling stadiums and rebuilding them in developing countries.

Based on these merits and the understanding they have the cash to deliver the goods, I can see the appeal. Yes, there's risk here, and the Qatar bid provided daring answers. Full credit to them. Again, FIFA wanted to roll the die and make history here.

Game, set, match: Qatar.

Thankfully, as an American, our bid team showed honest disappointment and enough class to congratulate the winner as well as express confidence in Qatar's ability to pull off their vision.

No calls for FIFA reform. No excessive angst. Who do you think will get a World Cup Finals next: US or England?!

England's childish behavior will be remembered for a long time by delegates. Football isn't coming home anytime soon, much to my chagrin.

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Back at you possibly after the Arsenal clash. Cheers.