Hello,
Derek here, subbing for Dan.
Going into this game, United wanted to put the pressure back on Chelsea and they did, beating Spurs 3-1. Spurs came into this game hot, beating two London teams in less than a week but was it too much to ask for them to come to Old Trafford and beat United?
United was 2-0 this season against Spurs (3-1 PL and 2-0 in League Cup) going into this game. Spurs do not have a great record at Old Trafford. United has won 8 out of last 10 at Old Trafford and have a great overall record against Spurs in the PL ( 25-7-3). I do not look at overall records. I like to know what has happened lately. For me, the Spurs of late play a similar game as United. They play a fast, passing game, using wingers to set-up plays and push central mid-field players forward. The problem is against United is that United is better. That may sound like a "Red Till Dead" thing to say but it is true. Player for player, United is better or equal to their counter-part. So if Spurs want to play the same game, go right a head. Want proof:
Evra > Bale
Rafael = Ekoota
Scholes > Palacios
Fletcher > Huddlestone (a waste of characters even typing this one)
Giggs > Modric
Nani > Bently
Valencia > Defoe
Burba > Pavlyuchenko (yes, P has 5 goals while B has 12)
The first half was dominated by United save one or two Spurs set-plays in United territory. The camera was pretty much stationary in the Spurs half. The second half started well with a Giggs penalty, his first PK in a premier league game. Yes, you heard that right. I could not believe it when I read the stat myself but it is true. He has taken PK in cup tie competitions but never in the PL league. I would chalk it up to having guys with Bruce, Cantona and Ronaldo on your team at the same time. Credit to Spurs as they made some changes and it seemed to work as they fought back to tie the game via a Ledley King header as he was pretty much on top of Rafael. For about 10 minutes, United look shell-shocked but Nani took control with a great go-a-head goal and Giggs put in his second PK goal later to cement the win.
No Wayne Rooney as reports say he has a groin injury. By the way, I am not 100% convinced of this. I mean, Fergie bluffed Rooney this week to get in the minds of the Spurs. He could be doing it again and there is no injury save the ankle or perhaps the groin injury is not severe.
Chelsea won their game with a ton of goals against Stoke at home leaving United behind by only a point. Next week, Chelsea play Liverpool away and United play Sunderland away.
See you on Sunday @ 11am. Hey, we can finally have some beers.
Derek
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Need Synonyms For Terrible (at Blackburn - 04.11.10)
Hello,
Derek substituting for Dan who had parenting duty on the weekend. We granted him compassionate leave.
Ok, so I need synonyms for "terrible": abhorrent, appalling, atrocious, awe-inspiring, awesome, awful, beastly, dangerous, desperate, dire, disastrous, disturbing, dread, dreaded, dreadful, extreme, fearful, frightful, ghastly, gruesome, harrowing, hateful, hideous, horrendous, horrid, horrifying, inconvenient, loathsome, monstrous, obnoxious, odious, offensive, petrifying, poor, repulsive, revolting, rotten, serious, severe, shocking, unfortunate, unnerving, unpleasant, unwelcome, vile.
Some of the words to describe United's performance away against Blackburn Rovers with, essentially, the league on the line in some ways. Where to start: well, I have to start with Burba. I heard a member of the club say this comment at the end of the game: "could this be his last start for United". He remarked that Burba may play a role in one of the remaining four games however he might not be with United next season. Perhaps a bit harsh however one cannot dismiss the lack critical play from the Bulgarian international. He has second to a clearly not 100% Wayne Rooney in the Champions League. He did not produce at Chelsea knowing in advance Rooney would not play. He also knew the team was Rooney-less against Blackburn but did not produce.
With strikers, I have a lot of sympathy because if the mid-field and defence are not playing well, how can strikers get the service they need? With the Chelsea game, especially in the first half, United's midfield and defence were struggling so I was on-the-fence regarding whether or not we should point the finger. Against Blackburn however, United dominated position and could not produce the goal. I am a fan of Burbatov and believe he is a world class player however should we as fans point the finger at him or point the finger at Sir Alex and the coaching staff for not integrating his style of play into United's style of play? Should we buy a player like Berbatov, with a specific style of play that made him a world-class player and expect him to change? I am not sure.
What I am sure about about is the nails in the coffin. If Chelsea wins on Tuesday, that will be one of three final nails in the winning-the-league coffin. A Chelsea win would put them 4-points up with four games to go. We also seem to be forgetting that if Arsenal wins their 34th game this week, they go into 2nd.
You send me your synonym for "terrible" to describe United's passing this weekend.
With the title on the line, I expect more from United.
Cheers.
Derek
Derek substituting for Dan who had parenting duty on the weekend. We granted him compassionate leave.
Ok, so I need synonyms for "terrible": abhorrent, appalling, atrocious, awe-inspiring, awesome, awful, beastly, dangerous, desperate, dire, disastrous, disturbing, dread, dreaded, dreadful, extreme, fearful, frightful, ghastly, gruesome, harrowing, hateful, hideous, horrendous, horrid, horrifying, inconvenient, loathsome, monstrous, obnoxious, odious, offensive, petrifying, poor, repulsive, revolting, rotten, serious, severe, shocking, unfortunate, unnerving, unpleasant, unwelcome, vile.
Some of the words to describe United's performance away against Blackburn Rovers with, essentially, the league on the line in some ways. Where to start: well, I have to start with Burba. I heard a member of the club say this comment at the end of the game: "could this be his last start for United". He remarked that Burba may play a role in one of the remaining four games however he might not be with United next season. Perhaps a bit harsh however one cannot dismiss the lack critical play from the Bulgarian international. He has second to a clearly not 100% Wayne Rooney in the Champions League. He did not produce at Chelsea knowing in advance Rooney would not play. He also knew the team was Rooney-less against Blackburn but did not produce.
With strikers, I have a lot of sympathy because if the mid-field and defence are not playing well, how can strikers get the service they need? With the Chelsea game, especially in the first half, United's midfield and defence were struggling so I was on-the-fence regarding whether or not we should point the finger. Against Blackburn however, United dominated position and could not produce the goal. I am a fan of Burbatov and believe he is a world class player however should we as fans point the finger at him or point the finger at Sir Alex and the coaching staff for not integrating his style of play into United's style of play? Should we buy a player like Berbatov, with a specific style of play that made him a world-class player and expect him to change? I am not sure.
What I am sure about about is the nails in the coffin. If Chelsea wins on Tuesday, that will be one of three final nails in the winning-the-league coffin. A Chelsea win would put them 4-points up with four games to go. We also seem to be forgetting that if Arsenal wins their 34th game this week, they go into 2nd.
You send me your synonym for "terrible" to describe United's passing this weekend.
With the title on the line, I expect more from United.
Cheers.
Derek
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