United brimming with confidence after some recent thumping wins on the domestic front take on AS Roma in the eternal city on Tuesday night in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter final. Fergie and his players' will fancy the task having had much the better of the Romans' in recent encounters, but United lost the first-leg of last seasons quarter-final in the same venue when going down to the odd goal in three, but then went on to thrash Spalletti's team in the return leg. The Reds have played Roma twice already in this season’s competition and they haven’t been beaten, winning the first-leg one-nil and drawing the second 1-1.
Until their clash with Cagliari that ended 1-1, Roma had knocked in nine from four without reply. However, at the weekend several key players were missing from their starting line-up due to suspensions. To add to Roma's problems, their talisman, Totti, who played the whole game, but later complained of a 'thigh injury' that makes him an 'injury doubt' ahead of what is a massive game in the Olympic stadium.
Ferguson wont be distracted any smoke and mirror tactics leading up to this clash and United will hopefully be only too wary of what happened when Roma came to Old Trafford last season with a devil may care attitude with a slim 2-1 advantage - they were given a hiding that they will never forget with the Reds winning 7-1. United while they are riding high on the back of the goal-fests against Villa and Liverpool they must not allow themselves to be over-confident, nor sloppy at the back.
There must be a strong temptation to start the match in Rome with the same team that hammered Aston Villa, but that is unlikely to happen. Fergie will probably start the match with a 4-3-3/4-5-1 line-up with Tevez and Scholes being left on the bench and Anderson and Hargreaves or Carrick coming into the starting eleven. That said there is an argument for pairing Tevez and Rooney again, but my gut feeling is the Scot won’t do that until later in the game.
United must go to Rome with a view to winning the tie at Old Trafford, that means scoring at least one away goal and hopefully not getting beaten on Tuesday. If United are solid at the back over both legs of this quarter final - as they have been pretty much all season - then there's every reason to be confident of reaching another semi-final.
As ever there will no doubt be a great deal of focus regarding off-the-field matters where visiting supporters are concerned. It is to be hoped that the joke that is the Rome police force will not once again end up in the spotlight for either handing out indiscriminate beatings to United supporters and inaction where the Roma fans are concerned.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Vintage United performance leaves Reds within touching distance of glory...
Before the clash with Aston Villa on Saturday I'd posted that with one eye firmly fixed upon Tuesday's clash with Roma, Fergie would likely rest Rooney, but I also added that there was a strong argument for starting with his most offensive line-up and sans injured Saha that meant the former Everton striker had to start. Fergie will have thought long and hard about his options and eventually he went for it with Tevez and Rooney in harness up front. Thank the football gods and Fergie that he did so, because the result was nothing short of a superb display pretty much from start to finish, but especially in that second-half in which the champions were majestic.
It was a performance which personified Manchester United's attacking style of play down the years - no other club in England - not even the current Arsenal at their very best with their admittedly excellent passing game have produced the same level of excitement. Against Aston Villa, United were at the very best and it was a joy to watch.
At the heart of it was Cristiano Ronaldo who was once again by far their best player on the pitch. The former Sporting Lisbon winger is now being called "the greatest player in the world" (rightly so) scored one and made three. It doesn't get much better than that.
Ronaldo's goal on 17 minutes was out of the George Best/Denis Law archives. It was a goal that only a genius could even contemplate scoring. In one magical movement, the Portuguese star took control of the ball inside the Villa penalty box after Wilfred Bouma had deflected a Giggs' corner and back-healed it into the net. There will be those who will question continue to question Ronaldo, but in that one moment he weighed up the situation, dispatched the ball in one movement and in doing so he outwitted the whole of the Villa defence before they had time to react.
If the Ronaldo opener had the mark of sheer individual brilliance, the second on 33 minutes was the nearest thing to a perfect team goal. The execution was clinical and the build up was just as good as the ball was pinged around the Villa half with a series of swift inter-passing before Ronaldo's raking cross found Tevez who had started the move from inside the visitors half and then ended it when smashing home a powerful header when unmarked at the far post.
At that point Villa could have been four down, but the bad news for Martin O'Niell and his players' was that United were only warming to the task, it began to look like a question of how many and the Old Trafford crowd just loves that.
Rooney, who had not scored a league goal at OT since last October finally ended that barren run with two fine second-half goals, it should have been more, but no one was complaining, and of course it was Ronaldo who supplied the final killer balls again with the impudence of a genius.
Villa for their part, while being outclassed had their chances, Maloney was unlucky on two occasions as he brought out the very best from stand-in 'keeper Tomasz Kuszczak. Ronaldo could have scored a hatrick, it was that kind of game and if had finished up 6-2 it would have been a fair reflection of what was very entertaining match which will be rightly remembered for the brilliance of Ronaldo.
United and the fans will want to see more of the same in the remaining games, but Fergie has little room for error domestically with some very tough looking games on the horizon. After the win over Villa the United manager was taking nothing for granted and quite right too, but the Reds are in a very strong position now, we are on count down to retaining the title.
Next up it's Roma and once again the manager has the task of deciding how to approach this huge Champions League quarter final. Does he take the cautious route and start with just Rooney, or does he go for it as he did against Villa? While the fans would love to see a repeat performance in the eternal city on Tuesday, it's more likely that Fergie will try to flood the midfield with the hope of snatching an away goal and worst case a draw. However, both teams know each other so well now and so it is to be hoped that Fergie pitches it just right. Bring on the Romans'.
It was a performance which personified Manchester United's attacking style of play down the years - no other club in England - not even the current Arsenal at their very best with their admittedly excellent passing game have produced the same level of excitement. Against Aston Villa, United were at the very best and it was a joy to watch.
At the heart of it was Cristiano Ronaldo who was once again by far their best player on the pitch. The former Sporting Lisbon winger is now being called "the greatest player in the world" (rightly so) scored one and made three. It doesn't get much better than that.
Ronaldo's goal on 17 minutes was out of the George Best/Denis Law archives. It was a goal that only a genius could even contemplate scoring. In one magical movement, the Portuguese star took control of the ball inside the Villa penalty box after Wilfred Bouma had deflected a Giggs' corner and back-healed it into the net. There will be those who will question continue to question Ronaldo, but in that one moment he weighed up the situation, dispatched the ball in one movement and in doing so he outwitted the whole of the Villa defence before they had time to react.
If the Ronaldo opener had the mark of sheer individual brilliance, the second on 33 minutes was the nearest thing to a perfect team goal. The execution was clinical and the build up was just as good as the ball was pinged around the Villa half with a series of swift inter-passing before Ronaldo's raking cross found Tevez who had started the move from inside the visitors half and then ended it when smashing home a powerful header when unmarked at the far post.
At that point Villa could have been four down, but the bad news for Martin O'Niell and his players' was that United were only warming to the task, it began to look like a question of how many and the Old Trafford crowd just loves that.
Rooney, who had not scored a league goal at OT since last October finally ended that barren run with two fine second-half goals, it should have been more, but no one was complaining, and of course it was Ronaldo who supplied the final killer balls again with the impudence of a genius.
Villa for their part, while being outclassed had their chances, Maloney was unlucky on two occasions as he brought out the very best from stand-in 'keeper Tomasz Kuszczak. Ronaldo could have scored a hatrick, it was that kind of game and if had finished up 6-2 it would have been a fair reflection of what was very entertaining match which will be rightly remembered for the brilliance of Ronaldo.
United and the fans will want to see more of the same in the remaining games, but Fergie has little room for error domestically with some very tough looking games on the horizon. After the win over Villa the United manager was taking nothing for granted and quite right too, but the Reds are in a very strong position now, we are on count down to retaining the title.
Next up it's Roma and once again the manager has the task of deciding how to approach this huge Champions League quarter final. Does he take the cautious route and start with just Rooney, or does he go for it as he did against Villa? While the fans would love to see a repeat performance in the eternal city on Tuesday, it's more likely that Fergie will try to flood the midfield with the hope of snatching an away goal and worst case a draw. However, both teams know each other so well now and so it is to be hoped that Fergie pitches it just right. Bring on the Romans'.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Analysis: Big week for United as striker dilemma resurfaces...
United take on Aston Villa later today and once again the Reds will be without injured Louis "sicknote" Saha, who has, apparently, pulled a hamstring. It's a great pity for United because it would have been an ideal opportunity for the French striker to start especially with next Tuesday's clash with Roma in mind. This latest injury blow concerning Saha serves to once again highlight how wrong Ferguson was when saying that his squad did not need strengthening in January.
To that end United fans will be hoping that this summer the manager goes out and finally resolves his forward line options with the addition of an out and out target man - and someone who isn't injury prone. United have secured Angolan striker Manucho, but according to reports there are still work permit issues to resolve.
Against Liverpool last weekend the Reds started with just one striker, today the manager will do likewise except this time Carlos Tevez will more than likely start, while Wayne Rooney will be on the bench.
The Merseyside Reds were somewhat surprisingly caught out on numerous occasions when United simply lobbed the ball over the top of their central defenders. Having been no doubt been impressed by Rooney (finishing apart) last weekend Fabio Capello deployed the Reds hitman as a lone striker against France in midweek, but the service was poor and the tactic simply did not work, which left many observers to once again concur that in order to make the most of Rooney's undoubted talents he needs a partner in crime.
Against Liverpool, the tactic of deploying a solitary striker worked, not least because the visitors defending and 'keeping was some way below their usual best. However, if United are to go on and win the Premier League and the Champions League the manager will have to continue to pray that both Rooney and Tevez can avoid injury as his resources are pitifully thin up front.
Villa haven't won in four games, scoring just two goals along the way, but at the beginning of the month they should have beaten the Gunners at the Emirates only for Arsenal to grab an unlikely equaliser late on in the game.
Today's clash represents another great chance to cement the Reds lead at the top of the table. Nothing less than three points will be acceptable. There is a strong argument for starting with your strongest/most offensive team - which would include both Rooney and Tevez - the same can be said of the clash with Roma who have scored nine in their last four without reply. However, Ferguson tends to be cautious ahead of and in the really big games which has meant that United have started some games in with just one striker.
If this tactic leads the Reds to glory in their remaining competitions, no one will complain, but should we fail the fans will no doubt look back on this cautious approach and once again wonder what could have been - especially if we fail in the Champions League. As far as the Premier League goes, we can only throw it away now as United are very much in the driving seat.
As for the rest of the team news, Nani is struggling with a knock and Darren Fletcher has been ruled out for what is left of the rest of the season after playing for Scotland in a meaningless friendly. Ryan Giggs could start along with Scholes, both need to improve on recent performances, though Fergie may opt to start with Park in preference to the Welshman.
To that end United fans will be hoping that this summer the manager goes out and finally resolves his forward line options with the addition of an out and out target man - and someone who isn't injury prone. United have secured Angolan striker Manucho, but according to reports there are still work permit issues to resolve.
Against Liverpool last weekend the Reds started with just one striker, today the manager will do likewise except this time Carlos Tevez will more than likely start, while Wayne Rooney will be on the bench.
The Merseyside Reds were somewhat surprisingly caught out on numerous occasions when United simply lobbed the ball over the top of their central defenders. Having been no doubt been impressed by Rooney (finishing apart) last weekend Fabio Capello deployed the Reds hitman as a lone striker against France in midweek, but the service was poor and the tactic simply did not work, which left many observers to once again concur that in order to make the most of Rooney's undoubted talents he needs a partner in crime.
Against Liverpool, the tactic of deploying a solitary striker worked, not least because the visitors defending and 'keeping was some way below their usual best. However, if United are to go on and win the Premier League and the Champions League the manager will have to continue to pray that both Rooney and Tevez can avoid injury as his resources are pitifully thin up front.
Villa haven't won in four games, scoring just two goals along the way, but at the beginning of the month they should have beaten the Gunners at the Emirates only for Arsenal to grab an unlikely equaliser late on in the game.
Today's clash represents another great chance to cement the Reds lead at the top of the table. Nothing less than three points will be acceptable. There is a strong argument for starting with your strongest/most offensive team - which would include both Rooney and Tevez - the same can be said of the clash with Roma who have scored nine in their last four without reply. However, Ferguson tends to be cautious ahead of and in the really big games which has meant that United have started some games in with just one striker.
If this tactic leads the Reds to glory in their remaining competitions, no one will complain, but should we fail the fans will no doubt look back on this cautious approach and once again wonder what could have been - especially if we fail in the Champions League. As far as the Premier League goes, we can only throw it away now as United are very much in the driving seat.
As for the rest of the team news, Nani is struggling with a knock and Darren Fletcher has been ruled out for what is left of the rest of the season after playing for Scotland in a meaningless friendly. Ryan Giggs could start along with Scholes, both need to improve on recent performances, though Fergie may opt to start with Park in preference to the Welshman.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Manchester United and the Temple of Doom....(one for the anoraks)
It surely cannot be that often that a football club has played part in helping to make a Steven Spielberg / George Lucas film, but that is precisely what happened when they were making the Temple of Doom - which formed part of the Indiana Jones trilogy.
The leading star the film was of course none other than Harrison Ford; however, while riding an elephant in Sri Lanka, Ford dislodged a disc in his back. The star of the silver-screen first travelled to London's Harley Street in the hope of fixing the problem. Fearing that there could be litigation issues if the Harley Street doctors' made Ford's back worse, they all refused treatment.
Harrison Ford then turned to Manchester United's club doctor for help, which was duly given allowing shooting to continue, although he eventually ended up having surgery back in California which finally resolved his back problems.
Not a lot of people know that Spielberg served as an uncredited executive producer on, Shrek, but rumours that the Hollywood director modelled the cartoon character on Wayne Rooney are not actually true, nor are the rumours that Sir Alex Ferguson could be cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi ("use the *@*@ing force Rooney...") in a mooted remake of Stars Wars.
However, there could be some substance behind the stories suggesting that Peter Crouch could star in Steven Spielberg's proposed remake of the 1934 classic "The Circus Clown". Watch this space.
The leading star the film was of course none other than Harrison Ford; however, while riding an elephant in Sri Lanka, Ford dislodged a disc in his back. The star of the silver-screen first travelled to London's Harley Street in the hope of fixing the problem. Fearing that there could be litigation issues if the Harley Street doctors' made Ford's back worse, they all refused treatment.
Harrison Ford then turned to Manchester United's club doctor for help, which was duly given allowing shooting to continue, although he eventually ended up having surgery back in California which finally resolved his back problems.
Not a lot of people know that Spielberg served as an uncredited executive producer on, Shrek, but rumours that the Hollywood director modelled the cartoon character on Wayne Rooney are not actually true, nor are the rumours that Sir Alex Ferguson could be cast as Obi-Wan Kenobi ("use the *@*@ing force Rooney...") in a mooted remake of Stars Wars.
However, there could be some substance behind the stories suggesting that Peter Crouch could star in Steven Spielberg's proposed remake of the 1934 classic "The Circus Clown". Watch this space.
Capello compares Beckham to Ronaldo and Rooney to Torres - has he last the plot?
According to the Daily Star's Brian Woolnough, Fabio Capello was not only happy with England's unconvincing performance in Paris, but he also gave an interview in which he compared Beckham to Ronaldo - he went further suggesting that Rooney could be like Fernando Torres. Has the Italian been reading the Kevin Keegan book on football management?
Ronaldo and Beckham cannot seriously be compared, nor can Rooney and Torres, but according to Woolnough the Italian was being deadly serious. The fact is given Capello's record he can say what he likes, the tabloids wont lay into him - not yet anyway - but the FA should be slightly alarmed at such statements (if they are collectively awake that is).
Perhaps having taken stock of the English players at his disposal Capello has been left clutching at straws - it's certainly sounds like that is the case. If any previous England manager had made the same comparisons the tabloids would have had a field day, as the Sun did with the "Turnip" aka Graham Taylor. Added to which there would be calls for the men in white coats to take the manager away. We are nowhere near that stage yet with the former Real Madrid coach.
They are coming to take me away, haha heehee...
However, the Italian's honeymoon period looks to be coming to a swift end, the question is how long with the marriage last? One thing is for sure if Capello carries on like this he might give us the fans a few laughs along the way - I'd like to see him losing the plot with the FA and the press. Do they really need to be told that there are not enough quality English players in the Premier League? Do they really need to be told that something HAS to be done about this? One of the problems is the agenda setting journalists ALL have their own reasons for not supporting initiatives on player quotas - which in my view will help the English national side in the long term. The imposition of quotas might be against EU laws - but that doesn't make it right.
Perhaps the greatest single thing that the Italian can bring to the English game is a different perspective and given his standing in the game it is hoped that those in power will listen to him when he speaks out, if only he doesn't continue to give Keeganesq press briefings....
Ronaldo and Beckham cannot seriously be compared, nor can Rooney and Torres, but according to Woolnough the Italian was being deadly serious. The fact is given Capello's record he can say what he likes, the tabloids wont lay into him - not yet anyway - but the FA should be slightly alarmed at such statements (if they are collectively awake that is).
Perhaps having taken stock of the English players at his disposal Capello has been left clutching at straws - it's certainly sounds like that is the case. If any previous England manager had made the same comparisons the tabloids would have had a field day, as the Sun did with the "Turnip" aka Graham Taylor. Added to which there would be calls for the men in white coats to take the manager away. We are nowhere near that stage yet with the former Real Madrid coach.
They are coming to take me away, haha heehee...However, the Italian's honeymoon period looks to be coming to a swift end, the question is how long with the marriage last? One thing is for sure if Capello carries on like this he might give us the fans a few laughs along the way - I'd like to see him losing the plot with the FA and the press. Do they really need to be told that there are not enough quality English players in the Premier League? Do they really need to be told that something HAS to be done about this? One of the problems is the agenda setting journalists ALL have their own reasons for not supporting initiatives on player quotas - which in my view will help the English national side in the long term. The imposition of quotas might be against EU laws - but that doesn't make it right.
Perhaps the greatest single thing that the Italian can bring to the English game is a different perspective and given his standing in the game it is hoped that those in power will listen to him when he speaks out, if only he doesn't continue to give Keeganesq press briefings....
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Arsenal fans pay Anderson back-handed compliment...
Reports claim that fans at the Emirates stadium booed Manchester United midfielder Anderson when Brazil took on Sweden last night. It is assumed that those who booed the Brazilian were Arsenal fans - no surprise there. Over the years fans have always given rival stars stick, when it happens it's usually a sign that the player in question is doing well, so rather than be upset Anderson should take this as a back-handed compliment. After a somewhat quiet start to his United career the former Porto star has really looked the business for the Red Devils this season.
Elsewhere on a night lacking in high-drama on the pitch, most fans were surely dividing their attention between watching two teams trying to off-load fish on Islington Market as the new series of the Apprentice got under way and France vs England in Paris - which turned out to be a damp squib.
Question; Was anyone surprised that England lost, even though France were seriously under strength? I for one was not. Capello will not provide any answers to England's problems and the sooner everyone realises that the better. Appointing an Italian was a joke, the FA should have given the job to either Steve Coppell or even Alan Curbishley, at least they are English. If we are going to be a laughing stock we might as well do it with one of our own in charge.
An Englishman being slapped around the head with a giant Cod - the FA have beeng doing it for decades to English fans...
Elsewhere on a night lacking in high-drama on the pitch, most fans were surely dividing their attention between watching two teams trying to off-load fish on Islington Market as the new series of the Apprentice got under way and France vs England in Paris - which turned out to be a damp squib.
Question; Was anyone surprised that England lost, even though France were seriously under strength? I for one was not. Capello will not provide any answers to England's problems and the sooner everyone realises that the better. Appointing an Italian was a joke, the FA should have given the job to either Steve Coppell or even Alan Curbishley, at least they are English. If we are going to be a laughing stock we might as well do it with one of our own in charge.
An Englishman being slapped around the head with a giant Cod - the FA have beeng doing it for decades to English fans...
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Capello right to give Rio skipper's armband...
Fabio Capello has already proven he's not averse to ruffling a few feathers when he left out David Beckham from his first squad. Goldenballs has of course been included in the latest squad that will face France this week, but the really big news is that John Terry hasn't been given the captain's armband, instead it has gone to Rio Ferdinand who says he is delighted and honoured to be the new skipper, if only on a temporary basis until the Italian settles on a permanent captain.
Ferguson recently said that Rio could be an England captain, maybe Fabio has taken the United manager's comments onboard? I personally believe that Rio's style of defending is more effective than John Terry where international football is concerned. Terry isn't that quick and Rio is arguably the best in the business at making interceptions, which in my view is more important than the ability to dive-in and make last-ditch tackles as the Chelsea star has done so expertly for the Blues over the last few seasons.
On top of which United have conceded fewer goals than Chelsea this season in the league, this is another indicator that Rio has been doing an excellent job alongside Vidic whose style is more like that of John Terry.
It's another bold move by the Italian coach and it will be interesting to see how the players respond to the new coach.
Ferguson recently said that Rio could be an England captain, maybe Fabio has taken the United manager's comments onboard? I personally believe that Rio's style of defending is more effective than John Terry where international football is concerned. Terry isn't that quick and Rio is arguably the best in the business at making interceptions, which in my view is more important than the ability to dive-in and make last-ditch tackles as the Chelsea star has done so expertly for the Blues over the last few seasons.
On top of which United have conceded fewer goals than Chelsea this season in the league, this is another indicator that Rio has been doing an excellent job alongside Vidic whose style is more like that of John Terry.
It's another bold move by the Italian coach and it will be interesting to see how the players respond to the new coach.
Arsenal's title challenge over?
It remains to be seen what will happen to Arsenal following their capitulation against Chelsea at the weekend. Wenger's team failed to deal with the power of Drogba - who looks like he's coming back to his menacing best. Furthermore, this coming weekend Arsenal travel to Bolton where they have dropped points on their travels before and with the Trotters fighting for their Premier League survival, failure to win against Megson's side could signal the end of another title challenge - especially if Manchester United beat Aston Villa at Old Trafford later in the afternoon.
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