Kudos to Barca

Barcelona 2 Man Utd 0




Barcelona took the mantle of Champions of Europe as we lost out in our fight to retain the title at the last hurdle. There is no doubt that Barcelona deserved their win but I still feel that the defining moment was the first goal that came in their first decent attack just when we were dominating the match. We never really recovered from that and although we did try a comeback in the second half, we never really tested the makeshift Barca defence.

I will not fall into the temptation to try and analyse what went wrong. If Park's tap in had gone in during the first ten minutes we would probably be commenting a different game altogether but it did not. We simply did not have enough fire power up front to threaten their defence despite SAF's changes and the second goal killed us off completely. Vidic is probably one of the world's best centre halves but he is developing an irritating habit of getting it wrong on the important matches. I think he was too easily beaten in the action to the first goal. Well, I suppose I could stay up all night finding reasons but the fact is that we'll need to have another go at the CL next season.

Sometimes, you just have to applaud your opponents and I think this was such an occasion. In Xavi and Iniesta they have 2 great midfielders who have showed they are the best in the business at the moment. Our midfield could not cope with them.

To be honest, no United supporter can really complain. If we feel disappointed that we 'just' won the Charity Shield, the World Club Competition, The Carling and the EPL this season, I can't imagine how supporters of other teams who have won zilch would be feeling. I do not think Daniel has done a bad job at all despite today's defeat and he will definitely keep his place as mascot next season.

We'll be back, we'll keep the red flag flying high...cause Man Utd NEVER die!!

Thanks to all readers and comments during another great season...see you in July for the 2009/2010 fixtures and pre-season.

The final countdown...

...to the season has started. One match to go, the final of the most prestigious club tournament in Europe, and it's so evenly poised. It's not going to be easy watching it on TV when I desperately wanted to be in Rome but not tickets could be found so here I am! The boys are 90 minutes, possibly more, from achieving the status of legends. If we lose, it would still have been a great season but boy does a win change the whole situation. It would mean denying Barca the treble and also us achieving what no other team has achieved in the CL - winning it two times in succession!!

I think SAF will play with a 4-3-3 that will mostly be a 4-5-1 as the wide men will be asked to defend. I hope that we do not sit back too much and let Barca have the ball all the time as they will inevitably break us down at some stage. I think that if we really have a go at them we can score and then try to hit them on the counter. Their defence should be vulnerable but as anyone with an iota of experience will tell you, all the arguments do not really count in a final.



To be honest, I was not really optimistic up to a few days ago as most of the signs are in favour of Barca. The way they managed to scrape through to the final against Chelsea and the fact that we are due to lose a final after 4 successive triumphs are all signs, I was saying to myself.

But then up came a few people who traditionally never get it right saying that Barca will win it and I started getting more and more positive about it. In fact, I now have the feeling that we will score tonight and it is a matter of holding Barca at bay...no easy task, mind you.



I have hope...in our mascot Daniel who's done a great job since taking over his dad and also in Anderson, the soft toy. I'll probably not be posting pre-match and HT comments as the magical trio will be reuniting to watch the final together at Carlos' den. Let us hope that we will have the same luck we had when we watched the match against Chelsea, way back in January. If we win, Daniel will be included in the next photo with the cups next time round and the magical trio will be converted to the Fab Four!!

GO ON REDS...Keep the faith...BELIEVE!!!

A HUGE THANK YOU

Hull City 0 Man Utd 1



Not much to add to the title. An extraordinary season in which we played solidly like champions do. We stuttered and scraped a result in most matches and only showed glimpses of magical football in a few games this season but our consistent and solid displays won us yet another title with 91 points (ooops sorry, I meant 90 points...thanks Dad for pointing that out. At least I know I have one loyal reader!)

It was great to see the youngsters doing so well today. Some very positive displays and a wonder goal saw us through and Hull, at the end, stayed up thanks to the barcodes losing and going down.

Whatever happens on Wednesday, THANK YOU boys - you've been great and we are proud to support Manchester United.

1-0 at HT

An excellent goal by Gibson see us leading much to the dismay of the Hull fans. I am rather pleased by the performance as we are doing well when in possession. Hull fans got some relief from the news coming from Birmingham as Villa scored against Newcastle. The United fans cheered as well...LOL!

The end of a glorious season

We, as United supporters have the luxury of being able to watch the last match in the full knowledge that the 3 points are not in any way important at this stage as WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. For once, I will not be sweating for the 3 points and will just watch the match to make sure that I would have not missed one single league match this season. Hull need 3 points to survive and I would not be surprised if they get them given the line up. To be honest, they should have not been in this position and if they do go down, it will only be their fault. The full focus if of course on Wednesday and that is the way it should be!

Kus

Rafael
Neville
Brown
De Laet

Nani
Fletcher
Gibson
Welbeck

martin
macheda


Subs: Amos, Tosic, Possebon, Eckersley, C.Evans, Drinkwater, James

As ever, till I die, GO ON REDS!!

The record equalling 18th title - Champions of England

CHAMPIONS

Man Utd 0 Arsenal 0

In typical fashion this season, we did it the hard way. We opted to defend the 0-0 rather than try to win it at all costs. Arsenal played their part and had a lot of possession but the red fortress held on and at the end what counts is that WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!

We are now on 18 titles - equal with Liverpool - and THAT'S A FACT!

A big thank you to all the players who grinded result after result following a slow start to the season and believed in themselves and despite not playing the best football United played in recent years we went top in January and kept at it despite a lean spell in March. Giggsy - he's won it an astonishing 11 times!!

Finally a HUGE thak you to SAF. I may not always agree with his choices but time after time he has been proved right. This year he managed to rotate the squad successfully, something which he did not really excel in during the years. Three titles in succession is not easy but...

WE ARE SPECIAL - WE ARE MANCHESTER UNITED!

0-0 is good enough but...

...I just wish we do not have to defend a 0-0 in the last 15 minutes with Arsenal having a lot of possession. We have conceded too much possession to Arsenal in the first 45 minutes and when we had the ball, we gave it away cheaply. Tevez must get stuck in and Giggsy is not doing much. I would take him off and put Anderson on to get a little extra energy in that midfield after 60 minutes. Van Persie and Rooney both missed their headers and we seem to be just waiting for the match to end and this could be dangerous.

The Arsenal defence is vulnerable if attacked but we need to put them under pressure. Let's get a goal at the start and then sit back and have them on the counter. Doing it at 0-0 will mean squeaky bum time during the last 10 minutes. I just hope that it does not take conceding a goal to wake us up! It may be too late then...I am very, VERY nervous!!

GO ON REDS...just 45 minutes more without conceding...BELIEVE!!

Come on you reds...

We are possibly 90 minutes away from the 18th title. It's time to 'keep your bottle and use your heads' as the song goes. SAF has put out a strong squad, possibly the best 11 available at the moment although I would prefer Park to Giggs. Hope the boys do the job and win the title for Tom Buckley - the Mancunian of the year who lost his fight with cancer at just 24 years old. Like a true red, he did not go down without a fight and he'll be cheering his beloved reds from heaven.

Van der Sar

O'Shea Vidic Evans Evra

Fletcher Carrick Giggs

Ronaldo Tevez Rooney


Subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Rafael, Anderson, Park, Scholes, Berbatov.

GO ON REDS...keep the faith...BELIEVE!!!

Comeback kings just one point away

Wigan 1 Man Utd 2




I had a feeling that we could win this despite a bad first half. SAF read my blog HT suggestion and brought on Tevez instead one of the 3 central midfielders and he immediately paid back with an exquisite equaliser. Carick then popped up with a winner that leaves us with one point needed to become champions.

I could not understand Anderson's position today (and neither could he apparently) and Ronaldo had an off day today as he could have scored at least two. Rooney exemplary today despite missing a clear chance at 0-0 and the best news today came from SAF who announced that Tevez has been offered a deal. Hope he accepts it!

As I had suggested a few months back, the league could well be decided on Saturday when we play Arsenal at OT. The place should be buzzing and I do hope that we get that vital point.

BELIEVE!!

0-1 at HT. We need to bounce back.

In matches like this, you desperately need to take the chances and we did not so far. Wigan are doing their duty and playing well but we have been poor in midfield in term of covering and the defence is evidently much weaker with Evans instead of Rio.

I have a feeling that we can bounce back in the second half. So far, we've done it the hard way this season and I should have not expected any better today!! I would include Tevez instead of one of the 3 central midfielders, move Rooney out on the left and let Tevez have a go at their central defence which seems quite weak if attacked with quick football. Of course, quick football is very hard to get with Berba in the team as he slows everything down.

As things stand, a draw today will do me fine but we can win this!!

GO ON REDS, keep the faith...BELIEVE!!

Ther run-in to the EPL title starts NOW!!

Juts keep your bottle boys and you should see this through. Good line-up - we should get the all important 3 point that will take us incredibly close to the EPL title. In my opinion, SAF should play the best 11 in the next match against Arsenal as well. If we get the points needed, he'll be able to field a reserve team for the last match. But one match at a time - full focus on Wigan.

GO ON REDS!!

United team

--------VDS---------

JOS--Evans--Vida-- Evra

Carrick--Scholes--Anderson

Ronaldo--Berba--Rooney

Closer and closer

Man Utd 2 Man City 0







A derby win is always welcome - this completed our revenge for last season's results but more importantly this win took us one step closer to the title. Two good goals secured the points and ensured that my first derby ended with a win. It was pretty much control with minimum effort during the second half.



Tevez sent out a 'come and get me - this is what I can do' message to SAF and the chants by the United fans encouraging SAF to sign him. For what it's worth, I support this appeals wholeheartedly. I think he has been very good at United and should stay.



I do not like the antics by any professional player and Ronaldo could do well to avoid making a jackass of himself when substituted.



Off to get a plane back home...Wigan next!

Derby win will take us very close to the title.

Our blue 'friends' will of course do anything possible to ruin the party but I am confident we can get the three points that will take us very close to the title if we do not commit any silly mistakes and remain focused. No pre-match and HT comments today as I'm off to a full day of travel to be there and support my beloved red devils. Will post my after match comments late this evening or tomorrow morning.

GO ON REDS...keep the faith...BELIEVE!!