Turn of the Switch

The double’s still on after another schizophrenic performance on the road against a third tier Southampton side.

And you wonder why neutral observers are not impressed by United’s unbeaten run?

Away matches paint a poor picture of the Red Devils’ quality. Sure, United own several excellent, young players out on loan with other clubs. I get that.

But just how bad the team plays in stretches must concern us. How poor was the first 45 minutes yet again?

Here’s your first-half summary…

Aimless balls cut out. Errant passes out of play. Free kicks given away. Zero pressure on the ball. Awful and bloody shocking.

This is a decent Southampton side but they’re not Barcelona boys. What in God’s green earth are you dropping back yards off the ball? Why is Michael Owen coming back behind the midfield line to retrieve the ball?

The better side led 1-0 at halftime through a Chaplow laser from close range in the 45th minute, as Lindegaard had little chance.

Forget the hair dryer, Sir Alex needs a flamethrower at half.

Bring on your full-on full back, Wes Brown, at half for Fabio to shore up the wide defense, as United play with some improved pace and possession, yet give the ball away too cheaply too often.

Nani and Giggs come on in the 58th minute for the mutually poor Anderson and Gibson, as Fergie had no choice whatsoever but to employ all his substitutions before the 60th minute.

Let me digress about Gibson for a moment.

Love the lad’s runs forward with his lethal right boot. But he isn’t sharp enough for someone with such limited range. It’s as simple as that.

He’s a decent option for United in a five-man midfield but looks more and more like his career lies elsewhere, as he’s nothing but a fringe player who’s becoming too old for the role with Tom Cleverly developing nicely elsewhere.

Enter Giggs and Nani, who bring on a much-needed attacking verve, with everyone, especially Obertan, Owen, and Scholes, all picking up their play noticeably.

Ultimately, United’s true character shows through against a Southampton side that played better than the Red Devils for nearly two-thirds of the match, but Fergie’s men believe: it’s ours to win. It’s as simple as that after years of experience pulling off this kind of result.

And, once again, Giggs would play a key role in the reversal of fortunes, as play improves.

First, we find Obertan’s hard cross is deflected, bounces up kindly to Michael Owen’s welcoming head, and is instinctively directed it toward the far post. It’s 1-1 in the 65th minute.

Game on. Momentum fully switches sides.

Later, against more United pressure, a silly Southampton turnover falls straight to Giggs about 35 yards from goal.

He immediately picks out Chicharito splitting the center halves, as Fonte falls, and the little pea reaches back behind to poke the ball under the keeper as it slowly rolls it’s way just inside the far post.

2-1 United. Game. Set. Match.

The glass here is really half full or half empty, depending upon your perspective, as the fight backs, while impressive, also raise questions about the squad’s nature and quality.

The uneven performances could play to Sir Alex’s favor, as the squad cannot become complacent or over-confident after these performances.

Both individual and collective improvement’s required for United to pursue the double and Champions League glory.

With one flick of the switch, the comeback kings move on to the FA Cup’s 5th round. Job done. Character affirmed. And questions remain.

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Back at you after the Villa match. Cheers.

Giggs Will Tear You Apart Again

Watching games on TiVo 6 hours off GMT, after work, and with a media blackout in full effect always feels strange – knowing the result’s occurred before you even hit play on the DVR.

Oh, how I looked forward to the match and having the house to myself while the wife was running errands.

The first 45 minutes felt like the umpteenth repeat of United’s own version of Groundhog Day the movie.

The usual storyline played out away from home, with an underwhelming midfield performance, some shaky defense, little going forward, and more concerns about Rooney’s play – all that we’ve grown accustomed to outside of Old Trafford.

I’ll save any ranting and raving against either Rooney or Gibson, as neither player are wide midfield players, and thus, their ineffectiveness should be taken with a grain of salt.

How sad is it to say the Tangerines were worthy 2-0 leaders at half time.

Full on Fergie hairdryer was due. Would it make a difference?

And that’s when the thought begins to creep in…

”Maybe I should just save myself time and agony and fast forward through the match, well, until I see that United score. Maybe I should watch the President’s State of the Union address live instead.”

Should I or shouldn’t I.

At this point, I can’t bear to watch another 45 minutes of Groundhog Day, yet somehow feel guilty if I don’t stick it out for the full 90 minutes.

Well, I’m not proud to say this, but I did fast-forward a bit – maybe the first 5 minutes after the interval – but I couldn’t bring myself to continue on.

As a Red, you knew, knew that United would score. Thus, the real question was could United score two, or better still score three to claim the full three points? A tall task indeed, but possible against such an aggressive side like Blackpool.

You knew the Tangerine back line would have gaps – it was more a question of if the Red Devils could take advantage of the holes.

Almost immediately after stopping the DVR’s fast-forward, I notice Sir Ryan Giggs on the left wing – ah, there’s hope. The evergreen wizard’s been unleashed on a match just crying out for some penetration from the flank by United, with Nani being maddeningly inconsistent with his runs and crosses in the first half.

And now, another form of Groundhog Day fast approaches, one that’s welcomed time and time again: the predictable loss of words for Giggs’ performance.

Class. Ageless wonder. Vintage performance.

How lucky are we, United brethren, to take in master class performance after performance even at the ripe old age of 37?

Seriously, if I’m ever feeling down, all I have to do is play back in my mind the wonder goal against the Gunners in the FA Cup Semi – the best goal ever, outside of Champions League magic, of course. Seeing it still sends chills down my spine more than a decade later.

And to think Giggs can still dribble through much younger defenders almost at will, on a day where United played poorly and needed a spark to remain unbeaten and go five points clear at the top of the table, is utterly remarkable.

Giggs didn’t do it alone, with Chicharito’s and Berba’s performance meriting equal praise, but I’ll write about those sublime strikers on another day.

Today is the day that Giggsy hath made, one where we all rejoice in him tearing you apart – yet again. Pure class never gets old, does it?

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Back at you after the FA Cup match on the weekend. Cheers.

We Take What We Want

Birmingham City had one eye on the present, one on the future, with Garnder, Jerome and Larsson starting on the bench today ahead of their Carling Cup Semi-Final against West Ham later in the week.

United, too, face the prospect of a midweek fixture thanks to a frozen pitch at Bloomfield Road last December.

Any analyst worth a grain of salt knew this would be the most unlikely of banana skins for United, as you doubted lightening would strike twice for the Blues given their horrible goal scoring this campaign and Red Devils defensive form.

Rather, in the build up to this match, the ongoing conversation was about the Reds unbeaten run and whether United have another gear at their disposal.

The not-firing-on-all-cylinders criticism must drive Sir Alex nuts, but really, it’s a compliment to the history and expectation people have from these shirts.

Our collective view of United is simply scarred by success, as the club and the league have changed dramatically. It’ not enough for United to go unbeaten, but we must analyze how the results were achieved, as I too fall prey to this perspective.

Today it would be too easy to say the 5-0 thrashing of Birmingham sends a “message” to the rest of the league about intent, as it’s a fabulous result, one that’s beautiful to watch, pads the goal differential and puts Fergie’s men solely on top of the table.

However, any real message will come on the road in the weeks to come, especially in the make-up fixture with Blackpool, who will surely attack United as they have done brilliantly at home for a newly promoted side.

This Red Devils squad has shown some weaknesses, especially defending late on in missing that killer punch the road. But the simple fact we’re accustomed to Premier-League-Leading-United without any holes whatsoever clouds our view.

Just ponder what’s transpired this season:
- Valencia’s been out since mid-September
- Rooney’s transfer request and one goal from open play
- Park has been absent for nearly a month
- Anderson, Carrick, Ferdinand, Rooney, and Scholes have spent significant time out injured, while Hargreaves remains out indefinitely

Despite everything, United are one controversial road goal away from being considered very, very comfortable leaders of the Premier League, which is an amazing testament to the managerial nous of Sir Alex Ferguson.

With one eye on the past and one on the present, consider that…

THE number nineteen remains within grasp despite everything that’s happened over the past couple of years, ranging from Ronaldo’s transfer to Tevez’ betrayal.

THE number nineteen awaits United regardless of the club’s massive debts.

THE number nineteen sits reachable despite Rooney’s horrible dip in form and flirtations elsewhere, threatening to break hearts and derail the club’s entire season.

Now reflect upon the reasons United sit in pole position….

Every measured moment the evergreen Giggs and Scholes play and mentor young lads is a testament to Ferguson’s loyalty to long-standing servants of the club, when at one time, it would have been easier to give up on these players.

Every goal lazy Berbatov scores is a testament to Fergie’s belief in a player’s class, a player that would have been too easy to sell this past summer.

Every goal Chicharito scores is a testament to Sir Alex’s eye for talent and value, despite the criticism that United didn’t land more spectacular transfers this past summer.

And of course, every game Rooney plays, after handing in his transfer request, is a testament to the respect for and “one-off genius” of Ferguson.

No way, no how Rooney is with United without Fergie.

Let us be crystal clear that this year, out of all the years in the EPL, there’s only one reason United remain on top of the Premier League, and that’s due to the long-term confidence instilled and nurtured in the players by one Sir Alex Ferguson.

Let us be crystal clear that this year, out of all other years, Sir Alex deserves to crown his career with the beloved nineteenth title.

After all, we’re Man United and we take what we want.

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Back at you after the Blackpool match. Cheers.

The Beat Goes On

Hang on a minute… I still need to catch my breath.

Whew. There we go. In the immortal words of Fergie: “Football, bloody hell.”

Before kickoff, United have taken more points off Spurs than any other Premiership club, having not lost in 20 games since a meaningless 3-1 fixture where United had already won the title back in May 2001. Red Devil supporters have good reason to look at this ground playfully as Three Points Lane.

However, this could be arguably the best Spurs side in the history of the EPL. Adding to the intrigue was Carrick and Berbatov starting against their former club, with United requiring a point to regain pole position over City on goal differential and two games in-hand.

Straight from the kickoff, Carrick gave the ball away to Gareth Bale, who was immediately off to the races down the left-hand side and led to the game’s first scoring opportunity inside 30 seconds. Hang on, as we’re in for a real ride today.

What an amazing first half.

Suffice it to say the first 45 minutes epitomized the best of the EPL by providing end-to-end, breathless football on a razor’s edge – plenty of pace, width, and full throttle attaching play and world-class defending to keep the score line nil-nil.

What would the second half entail?

In the second half both sides showed some minimal level of caution as the game became more about holding breath than taking it away.

Sir Alex upped the terror alert level, in the 62nd minute, by replacing the largely ineffective Nani with Anderson, putting Wazza out on the right wing in a five-man midfield, leaving Berba as the sole striker moving forward.

The talking point of the entire match, however, would involve our bouncing baby Brazilian yet again.

Last time United lost, Rafael was sent off for a relatively cheap second bookable offense.

Today, superstitions became heightened as Rafael barely clipped Assou-Ekotto moving forward, as it was clear United’s Number 21 was attempting to get out of the way of the on-rushing full back.

Down goes the player, out comes Mike Dean’s cards, and off goes the Brazilian.

Commentator Efan Ekoku immediately called it: Mike Dean got it wrong. Rooney also picked up a yellow for arguing with Mr. Bean (sorry, can’t resist).

Now the return of Paul Scholes to action would be delayed for at least another match. Fergie was left with no real alternative than to put on Chicharito for Berbatov to provide some pace in the lone striker position.

Ultimately, United held ground and returned back to the top of the Premier League above the Middle Eastland blues.

Which leads me to my final, quick reactions to this match.

First, obviously, the ref got Rafael’s sending off decision wrong. No question about it, it was a very harsh decision.

However, the young Brazilian was flying around tackling all afternoon, even having the balls to make a yellow card gesture after being fouled harshly himself. This does absolutely nothing but put the player that much closer to a second yellow in Mr. Bean’s book.

United’s young right-back needs learn to accept whatever refereeing decision is given, especially because he’s so quick and tackles so frequently. He needs refs to view him as an honest and hard, not hotheaded, footballer. Please ask Fletcher for advice here.

Second, the goat-to-hero award goes to none other than Chicharito, who nearly gifted Spurs a goal with his drop-pass to an astonished Giggs in the United box, who over-ran the crazy pass. Van der Vaart smartly hit the sitter first-time and just inches over the far post.

Later, the “little pea” makes a perfectly timed tackle in the same box to thwart Lennon charging toward goal. Even a fraction of a second or six-inches off in the tackle and it’s a sure penalty – absolutely and unquestionably the best tackle of the entire match.

And finally, it’s to no one’s surprise that my Man of the Match is: Capt’n Vidic. Nemanja marshaled the team and back line superbly. Despite the nil-nil score line, every forward moved menacingly off the ball all afternoon.

Vidic’s timing was impeccable, whether out-battling Crouch for a header, or tracking someone to the near post to block a shot, or knowing when to close a winger out wide, he put on a clinic.

If you want to teach young footballers how to play center half, simply have them study film of United’s Number Fifteen today. Displays like this will put him in the running for EPL Player of the Year consideration.

Who knew that despite all the first half fury today, it would end scoreless, as the streaks continue on all fronts and the beat goes on: United remain top of the league.

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Back at you after the Birmingham match. Cheers.

Unconvincing

Do you think the article's title is about Pool or United or Howard Webb?

Let's try all three, but to varying degrees.

In what was surely the tastiest tie of the FA Cup's third round, and the only all Premier League clash, THE main story line will be like ESPNSoccernet's title “The Tale of Two Decisions”, as Mr. Webb will face scathing scrutiny from Merseyside and most neutral football observers.

First, the penalty in the 2nd minute, where Berba gets behind Agger and beautifully controls a long ball over the top from Fletcher. Agger sticks a leg in, there's slight contact, and Berbatov goes down. Excellent penalty from Giggsy. One-nil United.

Second, there's the two-footed lunge by Gerrard on Michael Carrick in the 32nd minute at midfield directly in front of Webb.

Yes, Gerrard was late. Yes, he caught Carrick. And yes, United fans immediately chant “Off! Off! Off!”

But, this foul is a yellow card most the time, I contend.

Rarely would a referee make one of these decisions in a match, let alone both for United. Liverpool could feel hard done.

Yet, on both occasions, Pool players put themselves in horrible positions, one where the referee can make the call and everyone knows that playing in front of 76,000+ does impact referee decision making.

First, Agger allowed Berba to get behind him from a ball hit on the other side of the half way line. Abject poor positioning, especially a couple minutes into the match. Compounding matters, Agger sticks his leg in well behind that ball. Complain all you want about a dive, but it's criminal defending.

Second, you could tell by Gerrard's reaction to the card, where he did not protest and simply left the pitch, that he accepted the punishment for the two-footed dive. Everyone knows that you can't leave both feet in the lightning-fast, modern game. Simple as that.

On both occasions, Liverpool played a heavy hand in their own demise.

Which leads me to United.

Up one-nil early and playing most of the match with a man-advantage, largely, the Red Devils spent way too much time passing the ball backwards and between full backs.

I know you want to retain possession. I know you want to make Liverpool work and defend. I even know you may try to lull Pool into loosing concentration, leaving an opening to attack.

But, how often have we seen one-goal leads disappear this campaign? Where's that killer instinct to put your hated rivals away? Often absent, I'd contend. The inability to hit well-timed, decisive goals when the game sits there for the taking causes concern.

United did boss the game in a methodical manner, but at one-nil, it truly did not feel done and dusted until stoppage time. Liverpool never really threatened, but you're only one set-piece, or dare I say dodgy-decision, away from total disaster: a loss or reply at Anfield.

Which leads me to the rarest of occasions: criticism for Sir Alex.

What on God's green earth are you doing putting in Chris Smalling for Jonny Evans in the 84th minute?
Was Evans hurt? Was this a test for the young Smalling?

It's incredibly difficult to put in a center half that late and have him catch up to the speed and intensity of the match. And, what does the decision say to Jonny Evans?

On both accounts, you put a very young center half under unnecessary pressure and maybe cause another to lose confidence. Since United got the result, one could argue, it worked. But, was it worth the risk? I think not.

Finally, there's some beautiful symmetry knowing that days immediately after Dalglish last left Liverpool a certain youngster, Ryan Giggs, began his glorious career at United and was the player to see off King Kenny in his first return match.

Giggs' career provides a nice contrast to today's rather methodical win over Liverpool.

Here's to Giggs tearing Pool apart, again. Cheers.

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Back at you after the Tottenham match.

Needlessly Nervy

Stoke deployed a direct 4-4-2 at Old Trafford. And why not? They've been battered here in recent history. Why not go down with a real fight with two strikers.

But, playing with two forwards against superior competition requires real discipline to shape, with Shawcross and Huth needing stellar performances to keep Chicharito and Berbatov at bay.

As for United, exit Wayne Rooney, enter Chicharito, and welcome back Nani. Largely, it would be up to Nani and Giggs, with alternating overlapping runs from Evra or Rafael, to provide width and creativity in attack.

Since this post will arrive long after the final whistle, one where United's dominance did not reflect itself in the 2-1 final score, I'll focus on three take-aways from the match.

First, United lack the traditional killer instinct.

Despite an overwhelming possession statistic and lopsided number of chances for the Red Devils, United never once held a two-goal lead. Which is troublesome, especially given United's penchant for losing leads, albeit typically on the road.

Too often this campaign we've witnessed gilt-edged chances, the kind that would put the match away, miss their intended target. Sometimes it's just one of those days, one where they don't go in.

But this year's ridiculous, with the number of chances missed when it's time to put the match to bed. Do you really think Stoke have it in them to come from two goals down? Please. They average 1.238 goals per match. Hardly world beaters. Going down two away from home looks like Mt. Everest to this squad – just look at their last two trips to Old Trafford as your evidence.

However, they did score during a decent 5-8 minute stretch immediately after half time.

Where the Potters once hung on by a thread, now their purpose and drive rose palatably for everyone to see, thereby transforming the match. Allowing a goal from an opponent who hasn't scored a top-flight goal on your ground for 30 years is a foreboding event, one that can make even the most un-superstitious fan feel anxious about the outcome.

Second, thus far United confound everyone outside the club, both the media and supporters alike.

United's 20 match unbeaten run continues more through perseverance than anything else. I know every single fan has had the “what if's” float across their consciousness. The Red Devils are only two or three missed chances away from running away with this league title.

Which inevitably leads us to think of classic Cantona-timed moments or a Solskjaer rescue-job from the bench. Right now, this team has had some late-goal heroics, but strangely feels like it doesn't have anyone in particular to count on nor a collective presence to put teams away. Yet, the streak continues. Confounding, really.

Last, this match highlighted three bright stars that are both United's present and future.

Special recognition goes out to Chicharito and Nani, as they traded goal scoring and assist responsibilities and provided the majority of the menace in attack, while young Chris Smalling did brilliantly well against decent competition, another milestone in his development, despite getting pulled out for the goal.

For all his bad decisions and inconsistent crosses, Nani still terrorizes all with the ability to run past or dribble through people, which was a relief today with Park and Valencia out. Nani's quick move for a half-yard of space and left-footed laser from the top of the box sealed the victory – pure quality.

Meanwhile, Chicharito's goal, a deft trailing-leg deflected-shot, oozes class and that born-not-made poacher instinct. Hernandez' near post runs are lighting-quick, brilliantly timed, and everyone knows the likely destination, but defenders can't stop them. Just ask Ryan Shawcross. Speed and instincts kill here even when well-marked.

What should I say about Mr. Smalling's performance. Well, let's let Sir Alex do the talking instead, shall we:

"You have to have faith and trust in the players. They have earned that trust. I see them every day in training and in the games they have played in. They have never let me down.

And Chris Smalling was excellent. At 20 years of age he is doing very well. I am pleased with his improvement. He is certainly the future of the club.”

And there you have it.

No killer instinct. The unbeaten stretch continues. And United demonstrate the ability to continue to identify and develop world-class players.

Three point are three points, oh Zen-master, even if they were needlessly nervy in the end.

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Back at you after the Liverpool FA Cup match. Cheers.

Seeing Red

Following United and the EPL from the US has historically taken serious effort. If you were to tell me in the mid-90's that I could watch every single Red Devils match from the comforts of home or a pub, I'd be thrilled. In that day and age I was grateful for ANY and EVERY United match. I was delighted to listen to the matches live via the internet in the late 90's. Such was the world.

Fast forward to the present, with the advent of the internet, satellite TV, and DVRs, I expect to watch each and every game.

Which leads me to the sad state of affairs today.

For some unbeknownst reason, our DirecTV DVR flakes out once every 3-4 months and fails to record something.

Unfortunately, I lose about one football match per year to this maddening defect. My suspicions lie with some software download upgrade at 3:37AM that somehow nullifies something on the list to be recorded.

Which leads me, boys and girls, to the story of how ether swallowed the United v West Brom match.

Given the match didn't record, at least initially, I wasn't concerned, as I knew the match was on ESPN, who also happens to stream their EPL matches free and online. “I'll simply watch the match off ESPN3” was my first reaction.

Smartly, I have my wife log online and look up the match, so as to keep the media blackout in effect. It'll just take a moment...

Well, after an hour of troubleshooting, including emailing ESPN to fix the link to replay of the match, which instead starts an old college football match, I give up.

I MUST KNOW NOW, as I log on to look up the score, all the while knowing that I'm giving up my much anticipated football fix.

Thus...

No delight in watching Rooney's first goal from open play in nine months. No pained relief from what by all accounts was a stone-cold-penalty-red-card for Gary Neville. No joyous victory dance in the living room when Chicharito put United ahead in the 75th minute. No ultimate relief in three road points.

My footballing year isn't off to a good start... or, is it?!

By all accounts, United gutted out a victory today with the luck missing from the Birmingham City match. Truly these things tend to even out over time, but usually not in back-to-back matches. Maybe this is good fortune...

No spilled coffee all over myself, our fox terrier, and the couch. No first-hand angst over SAF's selection of Gary Neville as right back and tension watching him play. No long wait before my large, brunch breakfast.

Ah, who am I kidding?! This angers me to no end, as I'm tired of football – or soccer dear suits in Bristol – being sooo disrespected by ESPN.

First, ESPN3 routinely posts entire games fairly quickly after completion. Thus, I expect it, as it's the only EPL game they have today, which they advertised heavily on both ESPN3 and ESPNSoccernet this morning. Fair expectation, but their link leads to Northwester v Texas Tech in college football. Strike one.

Second, when we emailed to report this problem, all links were taken down to replay the match within 20 minutes, but the picture of Rooney remains up on the ESPN3 soccer-sub page, even now some 5 hours after the match. Maddening to say the least. Strike two.

Third, where are your priorities?!

You paid truck-loads of money for each and every World Cup match, thereby seemingly being committed to your footy audience. What gives today?

If you want to cultivate a football – er, soccer – following, make your single EPL match available for replay and don't make excuses you're short of server space for online streaming, even today, the holiest of days for college sports in the US. I don't buy you're that cheap, after all you have specific sub-websites devoted to following sports for specific cities, for the love of God.

But, if you are really short of streaming capacity, for the sake of argument, and it's a business decision to NOT make the match available for replay, then don't advertise so on multiple internet pages. Strike three. Batter out. [In an analogy you can at least understand]

If you really aspire to be the big, bad and respected global sports brand ESPN, you'd better not continue to screw with the followers of the most popular sport on the planet in your original market.

You've already lost esteem with football fans for past scheduling miscues, hiring almost exclusively Brit-analysts for the recent World Cup, and of course, the onion-bag man himself, Tommy Smyth is the coup de gras. Never-ever would you tolerate employing someone so annoying as Mr. Smyth in any sport except soccer.

You'll never be respected in world football, nor as a global sports brand for that matter, if you leave footy fans seeing red - especially on the very first day of the New Year. Your complete lack of understanding and care for the beautiful game speaks for itself. Always has. Always will.

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Back at you after the Stoke match. Cheers.