SAF decisions and De Gea hand Blackburn 3 points

Man Utd 2 Blackburn 3



First it was SAF, who rather arrogantly left Rooney and Giggs out of the squad, and after that an abysmal and amateurish performance by De Gea handed Blackburn an unexpected win. The tampering with line up and positions finally backfired spectacularly on SAF.

Having said that, a decent keeper could have changed the end result and spared SAF his blushes. The second goal by Yakubu went right through De Gea and after having done all the hard work and crawling back to 2-2, De Gea showed once again that he is not United quality when instead of punching the ball away using the advantage of his hands, he gifted a goal to Blackburn.

SAF must now admit that Lindegaard should be the United keeper for the rest of the season. His insistence with De Gea has cost United a Champions League qualification and now had handed Blackburn a win when it was crucial to get 3 points to keep level with City. Whilst it is somewhat true that we need to play Newcastle in 3 days and therefore players must be somewhat rotated, the keeper position is one that must be decided..NOW! And leaving Rooney and Giggs out of the squad was complete madness.

We also need to strengthen our midfield. A half fit Anderson showed that you need midfielders in midfield as he managed to spark a revival by driving the team forward when he came on. Nani was terribly frustrating today. Just when you need him to perform, he invariably lets his team down despite his talent. Today, he was more concerned with sporting his haircut and trying to do the impossible than with helping his team.

Valencia played well though. Pity that both his assists to Berba did not serve to anything at the end! He should have a quite word with De Gea tonight and suggest that he takes up golf or something else but not goalkeeping!!

2011 ends on a sour note and a clear message. We still need to replace VDS in goal and the answer may already be sitting on the bench. It is time for SAF to swallow his pride and admit that De Gea is not ready yet and hand Lindegaard his chance till the end of the season. We also need a class midfielder to come to OT to fill the gap left by Scholes.

A happy new year (duh!) to all!!

Spark needed from somewhere

The early goals in the previous matches paved the way for easy wins but we need to do it the hard way today as Blackburn have taken the lead through a penalty committed by Berba and have consequently parked the bus outside their penalty area. And with no proper midfielders, creativity to open up their defence is evidently lacking. Nani is having one of his frustrating matches when he makes even the simplest tasks look difficult. We are having to rely on Rafael in midfield as SAF is evidently afraid to play him at the back and move Carrick into midfield. Chichi continues to disappoint as he is struggling for form and Welbeck needs to play as striker to be effective.

Is it going to be one of those matches where we drop points due to not having any solution to turn the result around? On SAF's 70th birthday, we should find the determination to crawl back and get 3 points but we need to go out for the second half with all guns blazing and get an early goal. If we are still down with 20 minutes to go, I can see us struggling. SAF needs to shuffle thing around and the players need to send quality crosses in - something clearly missing in the first half.

We need to keep the faith...GO ON REDS....BELIEVE!!!

Blackburn visit OT

Another emergency line up against Blackburn and quite frankly, I have no idea how we will be playing in midfield. Disappointed that Lindegaard does not keep his place but glad to see Rafael back. I hope he can last the 90 minutes as none of the twins seem able to do so unfortunately! Fingers crossed we can get 3 points (1-0 will do) and pile up the pressure on the noisy neighbours!

de Gea Rafael Carrick Jones Evra Valencia Park Nani Welbeck BerbatovHernandez

GO ON REDS!!!

Another 5-0 win

Man Utd 5 Wigan 0



There is no doubt that the inadequate Phil Dowd gave us a helping hand today. The early lead - thanks to a great Evra move finished by Park, settled the nerves of a weird United line up.

With Wigan leaving the initiative to the United players, the United defence rarely had any work to do. Carrick and Evans were in fact never really tested and Valencia could roam forward undisturbed. Lindegaard kept another clean sheet and did what he had to do (routine stuff) when called upon.

When Dowd made his umpteenth gaffe of his career, sending off a Wigan player when a yellow should have been more than enough, it was downhill all the way.

Berba got a hat-trick and was at times smiling. Park did well following his goal and seems on the mend whilst Gibson failed to convince even in a match like this. Chichi is struggling for form following his injury and needs a goal to get him back on track.

Blackburn come to OT on Saturday...we are still second of course, but only 5 goals away from being first...BELIEVE!!!

2-0 up and Wigan with 10 men

Phil Dowd showed once again that he is not fit to be in charge of EPL. If that red card had been shown to a United player, SAF would have got the mother of all suspensions for his post-match comments. The goal by Park early on settled us down and Berba added another when Wigan were already in 10. Any loss of points today would be cataclysmic given the way things stand at HT. I hope we can score another couple and keep a clean sheet. GO ON REDS!

SAF makes this interesting.

Lindegaard

Valencia Carrick Evans Evra

Nani Giggs Gibson Park
Chichi Berba

Any false steps today will open a can of worms. SAF is risking big time.
We'll see. GO ON REDS!

5 away goals

Fulham 0 Man Utd 5



An early goal by Welbeck set us on track and by the end of the first half, Nani and Giggs added another 2 to ensure the 3 points are home and dry. We switched off the engines in the second half and it was only thanks to an alert Lindegaard that we kept a clean sheet. He proved once again that he transmits more security to the defence. Two great goals by Rooney and Berba put the icing on the Christmas cake.

What is really worrying is the injury list that keeps growing. Today we lost Jones and Young to injury and at this rate, we will be needing the youth players by the end of January!

Wigan will now visit OT on boxing day. A merry Christmas to all.

3 first half goals

I do not recall the last time we were 3-0 up at HT but our players are returning to form. Jones had to be substituted and that is worrying. Rooney is playing well but still has moments of complete carelessness and Young is one player who seems completely out of form. I am not complaining. Nani is returning to form and so is Valencia!

Fulham away

Lindegaard
Smalling Jones Evans Evra
Valencia Carick Giggs Nani
Rooney Welbeck

GO ON REDS

More signs of improvement

QPR 0 Man Utd 2



Rooney's goal in the first minute gave us confidence and at times we could see the United we saw at the beginng of the season. Flashes of the best Valencia are nice to see, Nani did well although he concluded very little. Jones did commit a few mistakes in the middle but his energy is proving valuable and Carrick's return to form is critical for United. His goal was typical of a confident player and he should keep his place if he keep playing so well.

Our main problems lie in defence which today was only tested with some high balls which Rio and Evans dealt with. They normally struggle against teams who keep it low and at one point on 75 minutes, I thought that there was going to be a repeat of the Basel second goal as both Rio and De Gea went to sleep only for DJ Campbell scoop the ball over the bar.

Chichi is back for the important Christmas programme and as SAF says, if we are near the top come January, we will have a chance. Will Arsenal have what it takes this afternoon? The pressure is now beginning to mount...

We now stay in London to face Fulham on Wednesday night.
Roll on Wednesday...

1-0 up but we should have scored more

A combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping by the QPR keeper see us hanging on to the first minute goal by Rooney. The fact that Evans and Jones had our best chances to double the score is perhaps the reason why we are still just 1-0 up. And the worrying aspect is that QPR are not just looking. They know our defence is vulnerable and with De Gea firmly rooted between the posts, our defence has to deal with all the crosses with no help from the keeper. Evra has been turned inside out by the QPR winger. If I was SAF with options for the LB position, I would take him off at HT!

We need a second goal. My feeling is that there will be other goals in this match and who gets the second goal is critical. If we get the goal, QPR will probably concede defeat but if they get an equaliser, we can be in trouble despite dominating most of the first half. Welbeck needs to be more alert as he has been rather poor this half despite his admirable work rate.

Let's get a second goal and wrap this up....GO ON REDS!!

First of two away matches in London

United play their match away to QPR knowing that a win will take them to the top and put pressure on our noisy neighbours who face a tough match against the Gunners, albeit at home. De Gea plays, and so does Evans, so in my book we have two weak points there. Jones in midfield again, alongside Carrick, with Nani and Valencia providing the width. Welbeck starts and that should help out Roo getting more scoring opportunities. I hope we get a good start and score early to settle my nerves down. I am feeling a bit under the cosh and the last thing I need is one of those nervous 90 minutes. Fingers crossed...

De Gea,
Smalling, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra,
Valencia, Jones, Carrick, Nani,
Rooney, Welbeck

GO ON REDS!!

A positive reaction

Man Utd 4 Wolves 1



A brace each by Nani and Rooney saw Wolves off and eased the pressure off at OT. A positive reaction from most of the players with Nani and Valencia enterprising and Jones and Carrick combining well in midfield. Nice to see Rooney returning to the goals although his game is still below par.

There is still room for improvement. Smalling at RB struggled against the Wolves speedy wingers and De Gea panics whenever a cross comes in, unsettling the entire defence. Up fron, Macheda and Welbeck both lack sharpness but Welbeck contributes to the United and Rooney's game much better.

We now go to QPR for a tough match down in London. Let's hope we see further improvement.

2-0 at HT

Goals by Nani and Rooney seem to have set us on the right road to collect 3 points today. A positive reaction all round with Welbeck showing that with 2 strikers and Rooney allowed to wander around, we play much better. This confirms that it was a tactical error not to play 4-4-2 against Basel but that is now in the past.

De Gea had little to do but when it comes to crosses he continues to stay in goal and when the crosses come in and when Rio apparently blew his top, he had to come out and punched when he should have collected!

Nani and Valencia more enterprising with Carrick and Jones providing a good combination in midfield.

Hope we can get another goal or two and play some decent football. That would help us to look forward to the forthcoming Christmas programme with some optimism....GO ON REDS!

We need to react

Following the debacle in the CL, I am expecting a reaction from the players and SAF. Apart from the 3 points, the United supporters expect some positive signs from players who in all honesty, have not earned their wages in the last few weeks. De Gea keeps his place despite costing us a place in the last 16 of the CL. SAF is stubborn enough to persist and his untouchable position at the club allows him to do so. If De Gea eventually makes it, he will prove me wring once again but I can't see the boy suddenly becoming a Man Utd quality keeper. He's had his chance and messed up...big time! Same applies for Evans who in my opinion is nowhere near United quality but keeps piling up appearances when he should in fact be playing for a club fighting for survival. Valencia and Nani have the quality, but have failed to show it in recent weeks. Same applies for Rooney and to a certain extent Evra. We now need to react and focus on the EPL and give the Europa league the kind of attention that we normally give the Carling Cup.

Starting today...GO ON REDS!!!

De Gea
Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra
Valencia, Carrick, Jones, Nani
Rooney, Welbeck

Bench: Lindegaard, Fryers, Gibson, Giggs, Park, Young, Macheda

United out

Basel 2 Man Utd 1



SAF must recite a mea culpa for getting it completely wrong in the group matches of this year's CL. We gave away 4 points at home and quite frankly, the message was on the wall. Today he again got it wrong as we should have played with two strikers. This apart from the fact that we had too many players out of form, and out of position! What about Fletcher and/or Carrick in midfield???

Smalling, Park, Rooney, Young - all out of form. Jones played decently but at this level you need quality and not makeshift midfielders! Giggs was our best player despite getting a few wrong passes....and this says it all! De Gea has again proved that he is not ready for United. He gifted Basel the first goal and he and Smalling made a hash of a simple cross for their second. Tim Howard was dropped and made a scapegoat for palming the ball into a Porto's player path a few years ago. Lindegaard has proved reliable and should be given the chance to claim the keeper's place at this stage. If SAF persists with the De Gea, he will continue to jeopardise a season which already seems pretty much compromised in December!

At this stage, I would have preferred to finish last rather than having to play the Europe league. The ever increasing injury list and lack of in depth quality may lead to panic buys in January in an effort to save the season. SAF must solve the keeper issue quickly as VDS is being sorely missed and I do believe that Lindegaard will provide more stability. With Vidic out for a while, we need to reconstruct our defence and a decent midfielder needs to be acquired from somewhere.

Difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel in moments like these but we have been through this before and need to react as we have always done....

NUMQUAM MORIBIMUR!

45 minutes away from elimination

It's no use playing well when at their first attempt, you present your opponents with a goal. De Gea was clearly at fault and if we do go out, questions will be asked about why Lindegaard did not play.

We are not having luck at all and that is the main reason why I think we are going out. Apart from the weird decisions by SAF such as playing Rooney up front alone when he is clearly out of form, we are getting one injury after the other. Vidic will probably be out for a few months if the knee ligaments are gone. It was an awkward twist and I hope he has not torn the ACL!

And when Evans comes on instead of Vidic, the signs that we are doomed are not only visible, but being spelt out to us! Fletcher could have come in midfield and Jones moved back, or at RB and Smalling moved to the centre. The Rio - Evans combination, with De Gea behind them has got a Basle second goal spelt all over it.

My only hope if that Nani gets the better of the Basle left back and supplies a quality ball to someone to tap it in but we need a second striker near Rooney to score. SAF should have the courage to bring on Welbeck or Macheda instead of Park or Young and play 4-4-2.

Going out now will be damaging not only to the image of the club but also to the coffers.

I have to keep the faith despite all these adversities...BELIEVE...GO ON REDS!!

Risky business

We should not have arrived at the last match of the group stage in this position but it is useless complaining now. SAF has not got too much options up front but seriously, we have no proper central midfielders for this crunch match!! I would have thought that Fletch was a must today! The fact that he is on the bench means that he is fit. Quite frankly, I am not too optimistic today but am hoping that SAF proves me wrong for the umpteenth time. The defence looks OK but all the rest is a hotchpotch for me....and will Rooney play the lone striker match?

De Gea,
Smalling, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra,
Nani, Park, Jones, Giggs, Young
Rooney

Bench: Lindegaard, Evans, Fletcher, Gibson, Valencia, Welbeck, Macheda

BELIEVE!!! GO ON REDS!!

Jones goal enough for United

Villa 0 Man Utd 1



A Phil Jones goal in the first half was enough for an important away win. The defence was solid and Lindegaard was reassuring as keeper. Our wingers again failed to deliver the goods. Young and Valencia could not get past their marker and failed to deliver quality balls into the box. Rooney continued with his dismal form and we have problems up front now that Chichi will be sidelined with injury. Someone must start scoring otherwise we're going to struggle in every game.

We now to Basle needing a draw to go through to the KO stages of the CL.

Jones with the lead

A good first half but we need to push for the second. Pity about the injury to Chichi. If he has torn his ankle ligaments we will not see him for a while. Defensively we are doing fine but we need to be more incisive going forward. I would like Rooney get a goal before the match on Wednesday as it will boost his confidence in no small measure. But we need the 3 points today before thinking of Wednesday!!

Fingers crossed...keep the faith...BELIEVE!!

Trip to Villa Park with pressure on us.

As expected, all the big guns have won their matches so we have to follow them. Our recent form has been poor but I am hoping there are signs of improvement today. Villa has been a happy hunting ground for us but we do need more than the draw we got in our last 2 visits here.

Lindegarrd in goal gets my thumbs up, and defence looks solid as long as Evra keeps his positioning. Not sure about that midfield though...we'll see.

Lindegaard
Smalling Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Nani Carrick Jones Young
Hernandez Rooney

subs: De Gea, Evans, Giggs, Park, Welbeck, Fletcher, Valencia.

GO ON REDS!!