Manchester United vs Spurs - 24 April 2010

Sunderland vs Manchester United - 2 May 2010

This was the must win match for United to overtake Chelsea to lead the league but they blew it. The match was a exciting one. Rooney wasn't in the line up as he had slightly worsen his injured ankle during the CL match back on Thursday. Surprisingly, SAF played a 4-4-2 formation with Babartov and Macheda up front, Giggs and Scholes in the center midfield. I am ok with the strikers but to have Giggs and Scholes together in center doesn't seems right for me. Giggs is not competent enough to play the supporting and distribution role while Scholes as holding midfield. Moreover, who else is he supporting when there are 2 strikers and no Rooney around ?

As the match goes, United dominate 90% of the first half and Valencia had a one on one chance with Robinson but his effort was blocked away by his flying leg. Comes the 2nd half, Blackburn pushed United a bit to tell United that they themselves are capable to get the win here. So the ball when through and flow on the pitch and then comes the full time whistle.

To sum up, a boring match. I think Big Sam had successfully integrate his style of play from Bolton to Blackburn. Recall that during his time a Bolton, they were the team that had lesser goals scored and lots of 0 - 0 draw against the strong teams. Good job Sam.

Well, at the point of writing this there was a piece of good news for United as SAF is now running out of patience with Babartov and considering selling him but for 25m ? Perhaps lower... United signed a unknown striker from Chivas, Mexico, Javier Hernandez. His arrival means that either other prolific strikers will not be coming in or existing ones will have to go. The likes of Mecheda and Welbeck. Look, if SAF bought Benzema, then United will have 5 strikers, that is if Babar is sold, how can they be that happy ? Tevez wasn't happy already when there are only 3 strikers around.

Great match for the start. We did a fabulous start AGAIN by scoring a Cristiano like strike against ROMA few seasons back in the 3rd minute. What's better than the game was to add to the tally with a Joe Cole goal that was scored against United just last week by Nani.

United started the game with the "no, you won't get the ball" mentality and it was a joy to watch. The 2 center midfield, Carrick and Fletcher, was dominant in the park. No Bayern player looked confident and they had no solution for that play. Valencia, Nani and Rafael were particularly outstanding as you can see they are a gear above all the players on the pitch.

1st goal, Rooney (ya, he played... nice tactic by the old fox) fake a one two and set up Gibson for the stunner. Not sure what the goalkeeper is doing do as he reacted only after the ball is in the back of the net.

2nd goal, a pure brilliance from Valencia to take on the left back and Kudos to Nani to keep running and found a good space to score that magnificent back heel goal. United was leading on aggregate but still wary that Bayern could come back with just 1 away goal.

3rd goal, United caught Bayern's defense sleeping and took a quick throw, which saw Valencia ran and ran and ran. He did a quick pass trying to pick up Rooney but it was Nani that does the final execution with some quality. He did that infamous double somersault. (Are you getting your potential driven here?)

After the 3rd goal, Bayern got their i was say freak and sloppy goal that United could have dealt better with. That really kick up the spirit for the Bayern players that they are still in the match. Rafael was booked early in the 18th minute and I feared the inexperience of him could well bring United down, and i was right.

Just 5 minutes into the 2nd half, Rafael tug Ribery's arm and was booked again to earn him a sent off. I shared the same sentiment with SAF that it was the Bayern's players pressuring the Ref to show him the 2nd yellow. In the normal BPL matches, that would earn him a final warning that he will be sent of if any challenge was made. Now United had 40 minutes to endure, what was being changed was John O'shea for Rooney who was limping after what was seen to be re-inured during the first half., so it was a safe decision to make. SAF made Nani the lone striker role which i feel the reason is that he is able to run fastest during counter attacks. Gibson was moved to the left. United was being pressed all the way until Robben made that stunning strike that brought Byern to meet Lyon in the Semi. That's it.

I think SAF had made good decision after the sent off but i feel better things could be done. What i would do is to replace Rooney with O'shea like what was done and play without a striker. Keep Nani on the left and Gibson roaming around. The 3 goals that was scored didn't have Rooney involved at all, so I would not deem a striker is necessary.

Well, remember during the 1st leg i said SAF should have played Carrick as holding midfield, it worked, didn't it ? This time Fletcher plays the central roaming around role and should be executing passes like Scholes and Gibson was given the Park's role to run all around the place to pressure and give support to Rooney. I think this could prove to be the new formation that SAF is considering for the final runs of games to the end of the league campaign.

Finally, I hope Bayern wins the Champions League because Manchester United only loses to the eventual winner at any stage. That's better, isn't it ? Rooney should be ok since he is walking normally.

Manchester United 3 - 2 Bayern - Aggregate(4 - 4) Bayern win on away goal.

This match was not so much of an excitement because of the Rooney ankle twist during the previous CL match. However, as a Red Devil fan, I can't control myself but to hope and expect some miracle to happen.

The answer is they did not. Many would have complained that the Drogba goal should not have been counted beside it was a clear offside, but the referee (Mike Dean) redeemed himself by allowing the suspicious handball goal by Macheda to stand. Anyway, Chelsea was the better team and probably deserved to win the game.

Nothing much that i could comment of the way United plays as the really are 2nd to the ball most of the time. They did up the gear after a possibly hair dyer treatment by SAF during the break but they just couldn't salvage anything.

Pundits around the world has been saying chelsea would win the league after the result of the match with 5 games remaining but i doubt so. Anything could happen and even arsenal could be the dark horse to come from behind and snatch the crown. It is just 2 points man, come'on all the pundits. Some might say i am being too optimistic, but rather, I am confident that some weird shit will happen during the 5 games. Chelsea had tough games ahead themselves and i think their players could be jaded as well. I think this is more of a mental toughness endurance to the end and experience is on United side.

Let's see who is the chamopion.

Manchester United 1 - 2 Chelsea

Manchester United vs Spurs - 24 April 2010

Sunderland vs Manchester United - 2 May 2010

This was the must win match for United to overtake Chelsea to lead the league but they blew it. The match was a exciting one. Rooney wasn't in the line up as he had slightly worsen his injured ankle during the CL match back on Thursday. Surprisingly, SAF played a 4-4-2 formation with Babartov and Macheda up front, Giggs and Scholes in the center midfield. I am ok with the strikers but to have Giggs and Scholes together in center doesn't seems right for me. Giggs is not competent enough to play the supporting and distribution role while Scholes as holding midfield. Moreover, who else is he supporting when there are 2 strikers and no Rooney around ?

As the match goes, United dominate 90% of the first half and Valencia had a one on one chance with Robinson but his effort was blocked away by his flying leg. Comes the 2nd half, Blackburn pushed United a bit to tell United that they themselves are capable to get the win here. So the ball when through and flow on the pitch and then comes the full time whistle.

To sum up, a boring match. I think Big Sam had successfully integrate his style of play from Bolton to Blackburn. Recall that during his time a Bolton, they were the team that had lesser goals scored and lots of 0 - 0 draw against the strong teams. Good job Sam.

Well, at the point of writing this there was a piece of good news for United as SAF is now running out of patience with Babartov and considering selling him but for 25m ? Perhaps lower... United signed a unknown striker from Chivas, Mexico, Javier Hernandez. His arrival means that either other prolific strikers will not be coming in or existing ones will have to go. The likes of Mecheda and Welbeck. Look, if SAF bought Benzema, then United will have 5 strikers, that is if Babar is sold, how can they be that happy ? Tevez wasn't happy already when there are only 3 strikers around.

Great match for the start. We did a fabulous start AGAIN by scoring a Cristiano like strike against ROMA few seasons back in the 3rd minute. What's better than the game was to add to the tally with a Joe Cole goal that was scored against United just last week by Nani.

United started the game with the "no, you won't get the ball" mentality and it was a joy to watch. The 2 center midfield, Carrick and Fletcher, was dominant in the park. No Bayern player looked confident and they had no solution for that play. Valencia, Nani and Rafael were particularly outstanding as you can see they are a gear above all the players on the pitch.

1st goal, Rooney (ya, he played... nice tactic by the old fox) fake a one two and set up Gibson for the stunner. Not sure what the goalkeeper is doing do as he reacted only after the ball is in the back of the net.

2nd goal, a pure brilliance from Valencia to take on the left back and Kudos to Nani to keep running and found a good space to score that magnificent back heel goal. United was leading on aggregate but still wary that Bayern could come back with just 1 away goal.

3rd goal, United caught Bayern's defense sleeping and took a quick throw, which saw Valencia ran and ran and ran. He did a quick pass trying to pick up Rooney but it was Nani that does the final execution with some quality. He did that infamous double somersault. (Are you getting your potential driven here?)

After the 3rd goal, Bayern got their i was say freak and sloppy goal that United could have dealt better with. That really kick up the spirit for the Bayern players that they are still in the match. Rafael was booked early in the 18th minute and I feared the inexperience of him could well bring United down, and i was right.

Just 5 minutes into the 2nd half, Rafael tug Ribery's arm and was booked again to earn him a sent off. I shared the same sentiment with SAF that it was the Bayern's players pressuring the Ref to show him the 2nd yellow. In the normal BPL matches, that would earn him a final warning that he will be sent of if any challenge was made. Now United had 40 minutes to endure, what was being changed was John O'shea for Rooney who was limping after what was seen to be re-inured during the first half., so it was a safe decision to make. SAF made Nani the lone striker role which i feel the reason is that he is able to run fastest during counter attacks. Gibson was moved to the left. United was being pressed all the way until Robben made that stunning strike that brought Byern to meet Lyon in the Semi. That's it.

I think SAF had made good decision after the sent off but i feel better things could be done. What i would do is to replace Rooney with O'shea like what was done and play without a striker. Keep Nani on the left and Gibson roaming around. The 3 goals that was scored didn't have Rooney involved at all, so I would not deem a striker is necessary.

Well, remember during the 1st leg i said SAF should have played Carrick as holding midfield, it worked, didn't it ? This time Fletcher plays the central roaming around role and should be executing passes like Scholes and Gibson was given the Park's role to run all around the place to pressure and give support to Rooney. I think this could prove to be the new formation that SAF is considering for the final runs of games to the end of the league campaign.

Finally, I hope Bayern wins the Champions League because Manchester United only loses to the eventual winner at any stage. That's better, isn't it ? Rooney should be ok since he is walking normally.

Manchester United 3 - 2 Bayern - Aggregate(4 - 4) Bayern win on away goal.

This match was not so much of an excitement because of the Rooney ankle twist during the previous CL match. However, as a Red Devil fan, I can't control myself but to hope and expect some miracle to happen.

The answer is they did not. Many would have complained that the Drogba goal should not have been counted beside it was a clear offside, but the referee (Mike Dean) redeemed himself by allowing the suspicious handball goal by Macheda to stand. Anyway, Chelsea was the better team and probably deserved to win the game.

Nothing much that i could comment of the way United plays as the really are 2nd to the ball most of the time. They did up the gear after a possibly hair dyer treatment by SAF during the break but they just couldn't salvage anything.

Pundits around the world has been saying chelsea would win the league after the result of the match with 5 games remaining but i doubt so. Anything could happen and even arsenal could be the dark horse to come from behind and snatch the crown. It is just 2 points man, come'on all the pundits. Some might say i am being too optimistic, but rather, I am confident that some weird shit will happen during the 5 games. Chelsea had tough games ahead themselves and i think their players could be jaded as well. I think this is more of a mental toughness endurance to the end and experience is on United side.

Let's see who is the chamopion.

Manchester United 1 - 2 Chelsea