Dubious goal earns Birmingham a draw

Birmingham City 1 Man Utd 1



United took the lead with Berba and should have had a second when Berba's effort hit the post but our inability to win away matches came back to haunt us, once again at the death! We have now lost at least 6 points thanks to goals conceded in the last minutes and this may be fatal at the end of the season.

In my biased opinion, the Birmingham goal should not have stood as Zigic seemed to set up Bowyer with his arms. Both the ref and his assistant did not see anything though, and the goal was allowed. I was confident we could hold on till the end today but alas it was not to be.

We really have to start grinding results away from home if we are to challenge for the title. Our inability to finish off opponents is frustrating although I must say that we played so and so today. One win and seven draws is simply not good enough. That means we have already dropped 14 points on our travels, equivalent to 4 losses and a draw!!

Anyways, another away match beckons on new year's day against the baggies. Let's hope 2011 brings us better fortune and form on our travels. The fact that our 2 postponed matches are both away, one against Chelsea, is not at all reassuring but we have to keep the faith.

A happy new year to all readers...friends and foes!

0-0 at HT

As expected, this is proving a difficult match but I think SAF approached it too cautiously. Rooney is playing wide on the left with Giggs on the right. Both have been ineffective.

Ando, Carick and Gibson have been average to poor and I would personally take off one of them and change to 4-4-2. We are playing a side which is 17th in the EPL and need to grind results in these stadiums to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, our poor away form is again surfacing. I have a feeling that this could be Chicharito's match. I'd like to see him after 60 minutes instead of Berba who seems tired and out of touch.

We need to do something to change this match which is going exactly as Birmingham want it to go. Fingers crossed we get the first goal as I can't see us getting back if we go behind in this one. We have to keep the faith...GO ON REDS!!

Tricky match at Birmingham

As Carlos commented following my last post, this is going to be tough. Birmingham always raise their game against us and this will probably be no different. I hope we can absorb their pressure and be effective going forward.

Berba and Rooney start up front whilst Gibson is drafted in the middle. Or so it seems! Rooney may go to the flank to allow us to play 4-5-1 instead of Gibson on the right where he is generally hopeless. We'll see....getting the jitters already for this one...GO ON REDS!!

Van Der Sar,
Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra,
Gibson, Carrick, Anderson,
Rooney, Berbatov, Giggs

First hurdle of Christmas Programme over and done with

Man Utd 2 Sunderland 0



In the first of 4 matches up to the 4 January, United disposed of Sunderland with relative ease. We should have been 3 or 4 up by HT but a combination of misfortune and lack of killer instinct saw us leading only 1-0.

The second goal cam off a deflected shot from Berba, who seems to be getting all the luck these days while Rooney continues to struggle to find the net. Not much to add to this one apart from the fact that we will miss Park's energy and Giggs showed some great touches early on but was already fading after 30 minutes so we do need some cover on the flanks.

We will see how many changes SAF will make for the Tuesday match at Birmingham an then again on New Year's day against WBA. Personally, I am hoping we can recover Nani and Fletcher as we will need both of them in these coming matches....but let's enjoy the moment and a HUGE congrats to SAF who today overtook SMB as the longest serving Manager in the United history. I am sure he'll be focusing on the trip to the midlands though...

Incredibly, still only 1-0 up

We should have got this one wrapped up by the 30th minute. Two woodworks and a couple of other chances should have been enough to get a second and even third goal and see Sunderland off.

We are still only one-nil though, and after 30 minutes of dominance, we started giving Sunderland some possession and football being what it is, we should really go out for the second after the restart. Rooney is trying hard but it seems he just can't hit the target whilst Berba scored again, served impeccably by Rooney's cross.

I just wish that Ando and Carrick can be a bit more dangerous going forward but overall I think we have played well. That second goal is vital though...GO ON REDS!!

Footy returns

After the havoc caused by the weather in the UK, we finally get to play again with a home game against Sunderland. The next 10 days, with 4 matches in such a short time, are in my opinion crucial for the title race.

One match at a time though, and with Nani injured, SAF has to rely on Giggsy to cover the left flank as he is obviously (and rightly, I may add) not confident Obertan and Bebe can do the job! Beckham on loan till the end of the season anyone?? With Park going away for a few weeks after today's match, we are set to suffer on the wings!

I am keeping fingers crossed Rooney gets his goal today and starts scoring again with some regularity. We desperately need his goals to stay top...

van der Sar

Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra

Park Carrick Anderson Giggs
Rooney Berbatov

...GO ON REDS!!

SUBS: Kuszczak, Neville, Smalling, Gibson, Bebe, Hernandez, Macheda.

United go top after beating Arsenal

Man Utd 1 Arsenal 0



Rooney had the chance to seal it with the second goal but blasted the penalty over the bar, leaving me to sweat it out during the last 10 minutes. I think it was a wee harsh on the Arsenal defender and in all probability the first half incident (Chamakh hands in the box) was more of a penalty.

Overall I think we deserved to win as we created more chances despite playing in our half most of the match. Nani had a couple of opportunities either to score or to pass it on but made the wrong decisions. Ando was denied by a great save by the young Arsenal keeper who made another great save off Rooney's dipper. Arsenal's only chance was brilliantly blocked by Vidic.

I have to point out how important Ferdinand and Vidic are in such matches, giving nothing away throughout and organising the defence impeccably. Out of the back 4, it was Evra who was the most vulnerable as he was caught out of position a couple of times. I would prefer if he talks less in midweek and concentrates more during matches.

Fletcher showed character and Ando did well as well. Carrick, so and so, while Park seems fully recovered from the terrible form at the beginning of the season and proved his worth today running his socks off and scoring the winner.

Sunday's match at Chelsea is massive...fingers crossed!! In the meantime though, top of the league...and that's a fact!!

1-0 Park

Park came up with an important goal, heading over the rookie keeper from a deflected Nani shot. As expected, Arsenal have had a lot of possession and we have had a very cautious approach.

Now is the time to get them on the counter. They will inevitably push forward and leave gaps at the back which we should be looking to exploit. I hope we do not try to defend this goal from the 46th minutes....GO ON REDS!!!

On getting the jitters...

It's one of those tense nights, with a massive week ahead that could really make or break our season. I am hoping for an improved performance from the match against Valencia. Arsenal will undoubtedly hold the ball more than us and that is exactly why we have to make it matter when we go forward. Any missed chance can be crucial today and that is why I am hoping Berba has put his scoring boots on and Rooney finally finds the net. To be honest, I don't really care who scores as long as we get the 3 points tonight. SAF has gone for a 4-4-2 confirming Anderson and Carrick in the middle. Hope they are up for it and Ando can last at least 70 minutes after which he should be subbed. Our best starting line-up at the moment in my opinion...fingers crossed...GO ON REDS!!!!!!

van der Sar
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Nani Carrick Anderson Park
Rooney Berbatov

UPDATE: seems line up above was wrong and this is how we'll line up:

Van der Sar
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Nani Carrick Fletcher Anderson Park
Rooney

So SAF, for the umpteenth time, confirms that he does not trust Berba to deliver in big games and leaves him out opting to play Rooney alone up front....hmmmm, interesting....in SAF we trust....GO ON REDS!!

Ando gets the point

Man Utd 1 Valencia 1



We went out on fire for the second half and got a deserved equaliser, through Anderson of all players. I think he deserved the goal as he was our best player in the first hour. He should have been subbed for the last 20 minutes as it was clear he was running on empty.

So we are top of our group and the big question is should we hope to avoid Inter or hope to get them?? The FSW is doing quite a good job at dismantling the special one's work, dare I say! Anyways, this is none of my business as I should focus on our, rather than the others' woes!

Berba was poor yesterday and the commentator pointed out that it is 17 CL matches since Berba last scored. Even Bebe and Obertan have done better! Rafael and Fabio did well for the first 60-70 minutes but it seems some of our players are struggling for fitness just at the time when we should be nearing peak fitness. Both of the 20 year olds were making silly mistakes at the end due to fatigue. We gave the ball away too easily after we scored and Valencia could have won it. Carrick was out of sorts after his error but I am glad he was kept on, and Smalling showed all his limitations when he came on. Rooney did well and was unlucky not to score - maybe (hopefully) he'll do so in our next match.

Arsenal come to OT on Monday and we'll have to improve on this performance to take anything away from that match. I am praying Rio gets in shape till Monday as replacements are nowhere near ready to face Arsenal!

0-1 down at HT

Carick's calamity was fully exploited by Valencia who went on to get a goal that could see them take over top spot of the group. We had chances, with Berba and Anderson messing them up, and Rooney and Park unlucky, but overall we need more sharpness up front.

Anderson seems to be returning to full fitness and also distributed some good balls. He only gets too excited when he approaches goal, unfortunately! Carrick is now becoming a sort of calamity in the CL. Hope he gets over it and SAF does not replace him at HT. There is still time to get a goal and I think we have a decent chance if we step up the rhythm and be more precise. Keep the faith....GO ON REDS!!

One point to secure top spot

Apart from the rookie keeper instead of Kuszczak, this is a strong team, much stronger than I expected in fact. SAF seems keen on taking top spot and so he should - remember Bayern anyone!! I hope young Amos is up for it and the defence is steady enough to protect him. Evans not even on the bench which is good news. Hope we get a decent result, if only for my old man who is there at OT cheering the reds on....GO ON REDS!!!

Amos
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Fabio
Nani Carrick Anderson Park
Rooney Berbatov

SUBS: Kuszczak, Smalling, Fletcher, Giggs, Obertan, Macheda, Hernandez.