INTO THE LAST 16, BUT....MAN UNITED VS CSKA MOSCOW REVIEW!

So since when did our defenders become referees? I mean how could Wes Brown and co. blatantly let a CSKA player score because they judged that he was offside-- What happened to paying to the whistle? And just when you think it couldn't get any worse, practice of marking the guy at the far post is trashed. 3-1 to CSKA Moscow!
I'll make my point now...If we defend like we did yesterday against Chelsea, we don't stand a chance!
Good thing for us it was Old Trafford and we were attacking the Stretford End, looking for at least two goals. They did come in the last 6 minutes. A Paul Scholes header and a Valencia dive that took a wicked deflection leaving the otherwise impressive Ankifeev helpless. Michael Owen got our first goal and we can now safely say that if he remains fit for the rest of the season, he will get at lest 15 goals for us. He really still knows a thing or two about poaching goals.
I thought Fletch was unlucky with the booking he got and given that UEFA don't accept appeals, we can only hope that yesterday's card does not come to haunt him in the latter stages of the tournament.
I must commend the players for the effort they put in to ensure that our proud home record in the Champions League remains intact. February 2005 was the last time we lost at home and I think we'd have to go back to Deportivo La Corunia in 2002 for the last time we lost a group stage game at home.
Sir Alex did a good job of resting his best players for the game so you think that they will be ready for Sunday. Chelsea are the strongest possible opposition we can face in the league so we'll have to be at our best. It's one of those games where an off-day is unacceptable!
Gabriel Obertan for me, has shown enough to merit a starting berth in our team. I mean there is nothing that Nani gives us at the moment that he can't. He's worth a punt in team. It was early experience that helped Ronaldo be what he is and I really hope that the young Frenchman gets more than just cameo roles in games. He has what it takes to complement Berbatov and Rooney in attack. Enough said!

ONE POINT AWAY--- MAN UNITED VS CSKA MOSCOW PREVIEW!

A quick preview for a game that should not be of major concern for United. We've got Chelsea on Sunday so you feel that this is only a minor distraction for bigger things ahead.
My main concern though is that Sir Alex has got this habit of hoarding players for minor games and resting so many of them for a big game. What I mean is that not up to five or six players need a rest for Sunday. I mean we play on Tuesday at home and so have all week till Sunday fir our next game. You feel that even those who will have played today will be ready. It does affect the team and a case in point must be how our well rested players failed to turn up at Anfield!
Giggs, Vidic, Ferdinand, Park and possibly Berbatov will possibly sit out tonight. I think Fergie will opt to start Owen and Obertan as well as Scholes and Fletcher. The latter should play apart as he will need match fitness before we head to the bridge. I also have this feeling that EVDS will be left out. Gary will most probably start.
CSKA have got a new coach and we all know too well what that could mean as far as their need fr a result is concerned. We have a proud home record in Europe so I hope we at least defend that tonight. A point will put us through while a win will almost certainly guarantee us top spot.
You feel that we need this win to go into Sunday on the back of a win. It really does help!

BACK TO WINNING WAYS----MAN UNITED VS BLACKBURN REVIEW!

Berbatov, Owen and Obertan were guilty of missing chances that we would have looked back on if Blackburn had, in the end, managed to salvage a draw from the game. Thankfully, they didn't. United went into this game on the back of defeat to Liverpool in the league so we badly needed the points especially since we have a tough game in London next week.
Berbatov and Rooney got us the goals that won the game for us but you wonder if the Bulgarian will hit the 25 goal mark by only scoring spectacular goals. I mean he should also start putting away the cheap point black tap ins like the free-header he had today to boost his tally. It was another display of wastefulness from our attackers and when you compare the number of goals our rivals have racked up against Blackburn to our tally tonight, it's worrying.
Hopefully I'm not being too hard on him. Wayne is back to scoring so hope that lasts. We could really do with a goal from him next Sunday. I thought Obertan was too excited/nervous and so failed to put away a couple of chances. Owen is not doing himself any favours by missing the kind of chance he missed today but his goal in mid-week will let him off the hook for now.
I feel that Nani could do with a little bit of competition in the team so hopefully Obertan will start a few games. He seems to have the flash of pace and brilliance that we so desperately need. Valencia needs to start hammering in more crosses in the box than he does. I feel he is too elaborate with the ball. Anderson was my man of the match, shook off competiton from Evra.

In the most unchronological way I hope I have put across some of the things we need to work on to keep our chances alive of winning a milestone 4th league title in a row.
We did well in the Cup on Tuesday and have to deal with Tottenham at home at the end of next month to seal a last four berth! CSKA Moscow should not be a worry on Wednesday but how about the game on Sunday, there is everything to lose in that one! More on that later!

OOoops!----LIVERPOOL VS MAN UNITED REVIEW!

Yeah well, you should probably read the preview before this one (that's in case you missed it). I mean it was always going to be the curse of the form-book wasn't it? Any top club that was in Liverpool's form only needed such a big game to motivate them and deliver them from their blushes. It's that simple. We've had that curse working in our favour on a few occasions so it shouldn't be too hard to understand. Remember us ending Arsenal's unbeaten run back in 2005? Remember beating Jose's Chelsea 1-0 at OT--that Darren Fletcher goal? I mean it was already documented for me. I never expected, but hopped.

Good thing though that this is the league we're talking about and so it never matters if you lose to Liverpool every season home and away if it means that at the end you will win the title. Yes, the press will have a field day this week writing all crap about how we are missing Ronaldo---as if we don't miss Cantona, Best, Charlton, Law, etc---I mean is there any point in having them in our team now. Whenever they will learn that Ronaldo was not dismissed from OT?!
I still feel that if we can get the three points from the lesser sides in the league, we can still win the league. I mean we only beat a big-four opponent once last season--and considering that we've already beaten one this season, defeat to one of them should not mean doom.
Realistically, it will be harder for us this season--but this is United we are talking about. That we are distraught after what happened on Sunday is why I'm still confident in this season. If defeat is still sickening then I can only assume that we won't have many this season. You expect the lads to go on another run of wins that will quickly make us forget the game. I like the fact that whenever we lose, Sir Alex asks for a response from his players. That is what a team going for the the title does.

As far as the performance is concerned, well, it was not the worst of the season because with a better referee and a little bit of luck, we could have won the game. Our through balls were intercepted at the last minute by Liverpool's defence and the ref kept giving the home side soft free-kicks in the opening half whilst the likes of Lucas were let off a number of times. However, I thought Ferdidand was easily dealt with by Torres for the opener. The England centre half could and should have done better.
Vidic got his third consecutive red-card against Liverpool. The only concern there should not be for how long he'll be out but rather if that will keep playing on his mind for as long as he is in a game against Liverpool.
Valencia was unlucky as his hot came off the bar. EVDS survived a horrific tackle from that hyena Mascherano. It was really dramatic---nuff said!

We take on Barnsley tomorrow in the Carling Cup--and all eyes will be on Gabriel Obertan's debut for United. Could he be the answer to our problems on the wings? It's a chance for us to quickly put the defeat to the Dippers behind us and I really hope that we do.

THE CURSE OF THE FORM BOOK---LIVERPOOL VS MAN UNITED PREVIEW!

If there is one thing that makes me sick in football, it's the way in which it can turn around and give you a kick in the teeth. Ahead of this tie, Liverpool's problems are well documented. Four straight defeats in all competitions have left Rafa in a sort of job comma. The club has also failed to shake off the board-room problems. Injuries to their only two players (Torres, and Gerrard) have made it impossible to hide their weaknesses on pitch. One or both could return for this game and boy how they are desperate for a win.
I fifth league defeat by the start of November would only serve to remind me that Liverpool are back to being themselves---remember Geraard Houllier days when by the end of October, they had fallen so far behind that it was a case of who between Arsenal and United would win the league.

The one funny stat is that even during those troublesome Houllier days, the Dippers used to surprise United with one or two unexpected defeats. It was a trend that was ended by Diego Forlan (remember that X-mas gift from Dudeck).
You see the thing is, Liverpool has performed so poorly in the last four games that they can't do any worse tomorrow. That means we will probably have to be at our very best to keep out what I would in this case call a wounded animal. It's up to us to make sure thy remain with no teeth. The goals we conceded last season there were basically as a result of giving in to their hurried style. Giggs should never have done hat he did and you thought that EVDS and brown could have dealt with their equaliser much better.
The pressure is on them again to come at u and look for the win, and whilst it's also on us to get the win that returns us to the top of the league, a point would still be an improvement on last season's result (I mean we got nothing out of 6 against them!).
For the love of all that is good and holy in this world, I hope Fergie was just kidding when he hinted that Rooney still has to prove his fitness for the game. I mean we need him for this one. Giggs should start, and so should the likes of Fletcher, Carrick and Berbatov. I really hope that Fergie keeps the defence first choice. Now Vidic has been sent off in each of the last times we've met the Dippers so fingers crossed he does last 90 minutes for this one.
Obviously there will be a motive to avenge last season's defeats. This game is as to England what Madrid and Barca is to Spain--so I mean it when I say the stakes are high! That's why we the fans shall be doing our very best to sneak in with beach-balls and give the Kop end a good run for their....don't even know what to add there!

UNITED zzzZZZ THEIR WAY PAST CASKA MOSCOW---THE REVIEW!

Yeah so it was not by any stretch a good game of football--blame that on the pitch, not on United at least! Sir Alex, as expected, flooded the midfield and let CSKA figure out a way past us. They didn't, and late on he brought on Owen, changed to the conventional 4-4-2 and with a few minutes left, a good build up involving Nani and Berbatov led to Valencia getting us the goal that won us the game and put us virtually through the group stages. It's three games left and we need only a point to be sure.

As far as our performance is concerned, I was not too bothered, but I still feel that our defence needs to be more certain. We seem to be shaky when the opposition has a go at us. I really hope that Rio and Vida can get more games together so that they rebuild their understanding. In times ahead, we shall need results similar to that we got in Moscow--where you rely on your defence to actually win you the match. We've done it so well in the last couple of seasons so I trust that we can emulate that solidity.

Many United fans and friends alike who were watching the game with me were calling for the head of Nani. They actually don't mind if we sell him off by January. Regular readers of this blog will also appreciate that I've been too critical on him these past few weeks but I've been watching a certain aspect of his game that has impressed me. I mean I got tired of waiting for some sort of tricks and flicks from Nani that I started noting what I should call, other facets to his game. Let's face it, he's not as consistent as we expect him to be but we can't say that we don't benefit at all from his presence on pitch. I been watching him closely this season and ow I can comfortably say that he really does try to get back the ball when he loses it. I mean if you sit and replay the game, you'd realise that the Portuguese was playing some sort of Darren Fletcher role. I know that is not what we expect of him but I'm not as disappointed in him now that I realise that he does add us something that even Ronaldo did not give us at all. I mean at least we can sit more comfortably when he loses the ball compared to when Ronaldo lost it. The fact that he has had a hand in our last two away Champions League games will improve his life, but you feel that he must start putting away some of the chances he gets. Valencia's two goals in two games have driven away the critics for a while. Nani should probably buy himself some time and notch in one or two.

Wes Brown made an appearance in the game, coming on for Rio but I'm wondering when Sir Alex will finally restore him to the right-back slot that worked so well for him in our 'Double Champions' season of 2007/2008. John O'Shea remains just good cover for me and I feel that Brown can provide more of an attacking threat down the right.

Anyhow, it's the Dippers on Sunday and boy what prospects lie ahead for us. I mean imagine we inflict on them a, what, fifth defeat in a row? Oh and I forgot, this is really their year! Hah!

CSKA MOSCOW VS MAN UNITED PREVIEW!

An early preview for our next game! It's Moscow and most of us should remember the weird time for kick-off that Russian ties provide. It will be 5.30 pm in Manchester and 7.30pm where I am now when United kick-off at a venue we would all like to think of as our home! I mean when you consider the luck that we had on that pitch a couple of years ago, you'd think we had it charmed in our favour. Many of my friends have actually taken time off to look at the Champions League final video 2008, and it's still hard to believe that Drogba hit the post late in the second half at 1-1, then Lampard hit the bar in extra-time still at 1-1, then the Drog gets sent off before the shoot-out, and we think it's not advantage anyway, then Ronaldo (of all people) misses his kick, then EVDS can only help Ashley Cole's shot in, then Nani only just manages to keep us in the tie, and then the mother of all luck smiles upon us--John Terry misses Chelsea's clinching kick, then Anderson blasts us in the lead once again, then Giggs gives us match point and finally EVDS fools Anelka by pointing one way and diving the other way, the right way, then all of us forget our religions, customs, family and (for me) problems and unite in the heavenly glory of European Cup success! You can't say that Sir Matt Busby and the Busby Babes didn't have a hand in proceedings that night. Michael Carrick reckons that it was his best night and but for the miracles of '99, it would be top of my list as well!

Anyway, this is supposed to be a preview post---we are lacking a little over 5 senior players for this one and that must be largely because of the game on Sunday! CSKA are one of those sides that will punish you when the opportunity presents itself. They rarely let you off the hook. In that respect I won't see a point from this game as bad at all. Having said that, we still have the squad to win there, and it can only help that we go to Anfield on the back of a win!

SIR ALEX CHARGED, UNITED REVIST THE LUZHNIKI STADIUM!

I've deliberately been quiet about the Sir Alex and Riley rant that has been having rounds over the last couple of weeks, largely because I'm never surprised by Sir Alex's rants at referees. I'm at pains to actually remember the last time United had a season without the old Gaffer getting baned for at least a couple of games for surely the same reason. Let's face it, it's part of United's season! I mean isn't it a common image seeing Fergie in the stands on the phone instructing the assistants on what sub to make?
Anyway, we'll miss his influence if he does get as big as a 5 match touchline ban. No doubt about that!

On a more football front, we've got CASKA Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday and it's gutting that Giggs, Rooney, Evra, and Fletcher are among the lads unable to make it there. You do wonder if Sir Alex has Liverpool in mind. I wouldn't blame him though as we only need four points to make it through the group--and who cares who finishes top, last season we got top and got ourselves a draw fit enough for the final at the last 16 stage!
United will be returning to one of the most historic destinations in the club's illustrious history. We'll certainly will never forget that slip by Mr Chelsea!

HA! HA! HA!

THAT WAS MORE LIKE UNITED!---MAN UNITED VS BOLTON REVIEW!

Forget the fact that there was role reversal towards the end whereby the away side was looking for a late equaliser at Old Trafford, this league is not as easy as many think it is. United, nonetheless did play like United. I mean you only have to look at the video of the game against Sunderland and compare with that of yesterday to appreciate what I mean. Right from the first whistle, our lads clicked and went in search of goals and I must say that but for Jaaskalenean, it could have been a more comfortable afternoon for United.
The goals came from a Zhat Night deflection and a first for the club for Mr. Antonio Valencia who must have read one or two things about him on this blog and thence upped his game. His speed was vital for us as it complemented Giggs vision and intelligence on the other side.

Now this is not for a full match report, but rather to make one or two notes.
You have to feel for Berbatov because this lad does really make us tick upfront and yet the goals do not flow for him as much as he and all of us would like. I don't know how many point-blank chances he had to score in the derby but Given somehow kept him out. He was so good yesterday that you thought he deserved a goal. First Owen unfortunately got in the way of what could have been a superb goal in the first half, then the Bolton keeper somehow kept out his acrobatic volley in the second half. I really think the team is more like United when Berba is in. He does complement the talents of both Owen and Rooney.

Anderson did well in midfield--he tends to blow hot and cold these days. Ferdinand more like himself at the back--whether this was because of the return of EVDS is something that we'll never know. It was gutting not to keep a clean sheet, but when you consider what the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool went through in their respective games, we'll take the win as edgy as it was.
Top of the league again! One really hopes that we stay there much longer than we did a couple of weeks ago.