Archive for October, 2009

Balls

Monday, October 26th, 2009

I have a lot of affection for the eighties. John Hughes was making quality movies such as this, knee socks were in fashion and United didn’t lose to Liverpool. The days of Whiteside nobbling Steve McMahon and wee Gordie Strachan’s cigar celebration are a distant memory on the horizon.

We are missing Fletcher at the moment. I am big fan of the Scotsman, solid pro, wears the shirt with pride etc., but Bryan Robson he ain’t. If that is not an indictment of our midfield at the moment I don’t know what is.

I have a sneaking suspicion that we will not be able to win the league without hitting top gear as was done last season. We need to not lose to Chelsea.

It is considerably easier to win football matches when you have a full team of players. That’s three on the trot we have lost to these lot and three on the trot when Vidic has been sent off. It’s probably part of their team talk now.

Benitez “Who wants to get Vidic sent off today?”
Hands go up around the dressing room.
“One of you will have to do some real work too you know.” Rafa replies.

Not only should Carragher have been sent off for hauling down Michael Owen, he should have been hung, drawn, quartered, shot, stabbed, burnt, dismembered and fed to a pack of rabid dogs. Maybe even that would have been too good for him. He got a yellow card. “This is Anfield” indeed.

It is not just losing that really grinds, it is the fact that we never really looked like winning. This team can play. The performance we put in at Spurs was majestic but it was the exception rather than the rule. Two points from the top at the end of October is nothing to get sniffy about but I want to see some football out there too.
fergie.jpg
The beach balls raining down on the pitch were hilarious, but that was just about the only smile I was able to raise all afternoon. It was Chelsea’s weekend, and that is annoying.

Posted in 2009/2010 | 4 Comments »

Thankless Tasks

Monday, October 19th, 2009

It was interesting to see the club still advertising ‘tickets available’ in the run up to a home game against local opposition. It has taken a while, but the Glazers may be starting to pay for the continual, cynical raising of ticket prices. Cancel the ambulance, my heart is not bleeding.

I see this lack of sell out becoming a sign of things to come. Perhaps we’ll return to the halcyon days of being able to turn up at the ground and get a ticket at the gate. The club, I am sure, is too valuable to go under but the debt has gone up noticeably this year and these hedge funds are scary things. Do not be surprised if there is some uproarious refinancing to take place in the next 12 months.

On the field, the empire is clinging on. Grinding out results despite not playing well is a good sign in general but it would be nice to see some slicker football in there too. Our best performance so far this season came against Spurs, I know this side has it in them but bite was sorely lacking on Saturday, particularly in half number two.

There are a few glaring problems in the side at the moment. If I was the manager of a top team  I would lick my lips at the defensive weaknesses that are there to be exploited. The chats Fergie and Capello appear to have had with Rio and Foster should help. The hairdryer is at least willing, lets hope the recurring injuries are not weak.

In a week where apologies were all the rage I couldn’t help but focus on two men facing thankless tasks. Gary Megson does a solid job for Bolton, saved them from relegation and has plugged all the holes in the underside of their ship. The fans hate him. True, he is not Cary Grant but give the guy a break. My money is on him being sacked if they lose three in a row. Owen faces the same lack of love. He scored last gasp winner against City but he’ll never be embraced I fear. According to Jamie Carragher’s autobiography he was never truly in the Scouse bosom either. Tough break Mikey, I guess you’re just not a lucky guy.

Although the opener was an own goal, it only existed because of Owen’s movement and intervention. I still can’t see anybody furiously penning a chant for him though.

As far as the ‘ref rant’ business goes it is annoying for one reason and one reason only. It gives the FA their first chance in a while to make someone connected with United scapegoat of the season over nothing. Rio Ferdinand has had his turn, Cantona was nearly burnt at the stake. Now, with Mourinho gone and nobody else smart around, they have to focus on Ferguson to get their disciplinary kicks.

Nonetheless, things should be tasty against the bin dippers next week, it will be all or nothing for them again. Let’s hope our guys find a little bit more bite than they had at the weekend.

Welcome back Edwin.

Posted in 2009/2010 | 2 Comments »