We went, we saw and we got conquered.......

       It was always going to be an uphill task. The fact that we scored 1 was always going to be overshadowed by the the fact they scored 2. Even over two legs, they were the better team. United horrendus European form set up a farewell last night, not a very unexpected one, one even many of the most optimistic travelling supporters had braced themselves for. United got what they deserved, so did Athletic.

      There are always lessons to learn from every football match, whether you win or lose," Sir Alex told Channel 5. "It's disappointing more than anything. We haven't progressed in the Champions League and now we're out of the Europa League. I think the best team went through. I don't think we can complain." The best team did win and they did in style. One wondered how long Bilbao could continue their high tempo game.....and 90 minutes they lasted. In all fairness to United they had the ball for an equal time but most of it was in defense.


     United went behind in 23 minutes, as our man to watch, Llorente was unwatched and controlled the ball beautifully with a combo of chest, shoulder and leg and lashed a sublime volley into the goal. Remember the Van Persie goal against Everton, in december i think? This was Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V. Cleverly had a legit penalty claim rejected, and Llorente went out injured.


   Bilbao looked like scoring a few times in the opening stages in the first half, but United hung on until at the 65th when Iraola escaped on the right for the umpteenth time and delivered a centre that dropped at the feet of De Marcos, who should have put Bilbao ahead in the 14th minute only to slice horribly wide after Muniain's shot had come back off the upright. This time the midfielder made no mistake and slotted it home. Roo grabbed a consolation though as he curled a ball from his right after shrugging of his man. 


 United may win the League but the Old Trafford faithful would be reminded that in Europe they have won just 3 games this season and two of those were against Oetul Galati. Bilbao decided to put up quite a show for United, and got out this tie far far better they would have predicted after the draw. United have seen that they need to improve a lot, not to face Real Madrid, but even to face a team 33 points beneath Madrid in the Liga. 


  The sole solace is that this is a United team in transition, and to be fair United shouldn't even be there at the top of the Premier League, and they wouldn't if other teams around them hadn't collapsed so disastrously. The mighty Arsenal, the solid Chelsea, and Spurs who were once title contendors, all gone. 


    But this is a team in transition, so I'd say, well done.

Super Sunday....

      What could be better than a United victory you ask???? A City loss, of course. And when both happen on the same day, and when it means United go to of the table, the average United fan easily puts the mid-week Europa disappointment behind him.

        West-Bromwich Albion under Roy Hodson look this year to cement their first top 10 place Division one finish since the glory days against Ron Atkinson in the 1978-79 season where they finished fourth behind Arsenal, Aston Villa and Ipswich. The majority of this charge was based on their superb away form and they have won eight away games. United got an early reminder of why, as at the 6 minute mark, a ball from Ridgwell almost found the unmarked Keith Andrews who at full length, couldn't get to it. But the warning was far from a sign of things to come. United had firm control of possessions and save a Andrews low-freekick there was nothing to trouble the champions.

        Rooney continued his goal scoring form as a drive from Hernandez, which almost found Foster's hands, was diverted by the frontman into the far post, and unlike the last two United fixtures, United truly deserved to score the opener. As United went into the break ahead, in Wales City were being held by an impressive Swansea side, and as things stood United would go level on points with the leaders.

       The stats spoke all this match as United saw a whooping 65%. However the lack of clear cut chances was reflected by the fact that they had only 8 shots on target to their 23 attempts. Luck helped though as Albion were wrongly denied a penalty, and United later got one, which Rooney calmly converted to score his 25th of the season in all competitions. However Hernandez was denied by the woodwork and Welbeck by the woodwork but United still sailed to a comfortable victory. At the Liberty Stadium, Swans had won the match as late onslaughts from a lack luster City side failed to negate a late opener (85th minute) by late substitute Luke Moore.

  United go top of the table but still have a mountain to climb on Thursday as they must win by 2 clear goals against a Bilbao side that trampled them.

Beat.........again...

     Old Trafford wasn't the best place for an United fan last evening. The tactical plans (If they were any) were falling apart all over the pace, Bilbao were allowed to launch attack after attack, and Manchester United eventually lost. The Spanish side were allowed a firm grasp on United's jugular throughout the match and bit in, not once but thrice.

    The side from Bilbao started the first half on the front foot and United left huge, massive gaps on the pitch uncovered, supplementing Athletic's penetration. To be fair to United, they did launch some pretty good counter attacks, and one of them lead to a goal by Wayne Rooney. The whole move was orchestrated  by Ryan Giggs who played the game in the middle of the park, but I'll get to that later. The Welshman probed into the final third, and played a splendid ball to Hernandez who swerved away from his marker and fired a low shot intended for the bottom corner. Iraizov got to it but couldn't recollect the rebound and Rooney took it in it stride to guide the ball into the net.

    Bilbao weren't demotivated, no sir. They started where they'd left of. Their quick movement proved to quick for United. Which brings this blogger to his point. Why did Sir Alex field Giggs and Park in the central mid-field position? Admittedly they are experienced, but they are slow, and against a faster three they were no match and they proved it. And as the play shifted across the field, the whole structure of United's central mid-field swayed. So did the defence, except they didn't sway, they just kept breaking. De Gea, probably United's man of the match for a few games now was the only string that prevented from Athletic handing out a real hammering.

  But even the Spaniard couldn't help when his compatriot Llorente collected the ball at the edge of the penalty area, played it wide, and ran it to convert the incoming, resulting cross, helped Bilbao comeback on level terms.

  United's attacks still had the sting in attack though and almost scored a few times themselves. Ferguson's half time team talk helped a little as United slowly saw more of the ball. More, but not enough. Athletic were still allowed to keep up their tiki-taka and in the stroke of the hour, they scored and this time through De Marcus who was offside but not given.

  United suddenly had more of the ball, but just like time and time again this season, they lacked the finishing edge. But then the tide turned as Bilbao were given a free kick in their half due to Patrice Evra's boot flying off.  Instead of customarily playing it to the keeper, the side from Spain who had been exemplary all evening decided to keep the ball.....This blogger feels that was an utter disgrace to their performance........But anyway De Marcos got it and drove it at De Gea and the shot stopper did what he does best, saved it. But Rafael who should have cleared it assumed that the Spaniard would recollect himself in a split second and reclaim the rebound, and the lurking Munian took advantage and put Athletico 3-1 ahead. United did get a Rooney goal from a penalty but have plenty to improve if they are to get to the quarter finals, which going by their European form this yer, they probably won't.

Man to Watch......

Fernando Llorente Torres......

Though born in Pamplona, Navarre, Llorente grew up in the municipality of Rincón de Soto in La Rioja. He joined Athletic de Bilbao's youth system in 1996, at the age of 11, being eligible through his Navarrese roots (Bilbao takes players of only Bilbao roots!). After many seasons in the junior levels, he joined Athletic's feeder club that played in the Fourth Division, CD Baskonia. He played 33 games and scored 12, thus earning a promotion to Bilbao Athletic, the team's reserve squad in the Third Division. He scored 4 in 16 games and was awarded a contract extension. On 16 January 2005, he made his first-team - and La Liga - debut in a 1–1 home draw against RCD Espanyol. Three days later, in a Copa del Rey match with UD Lanzarote, he scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 victory.


   This season the mid-fielder has been a big threat and in one spurt of form in the end of January he scored a hat-trick before getting a brace just 4 days later. He then scored once in the next game and netted twice in the next. In 29 appearances for the club, he has scored 19 times, 2 of them in Europe. The in-form mid-fielder is our man to watch over the two legs....

The Charge

-Rahul

The marathon is ending. The participants are tiring, and it is now or never for the two horses at front of the pack. They can’t afford to slip up but in the end, it is inevitable. Only one can get the prize, from now on it is pure jungle law, Survival of the Fittest.

   United and City at the end of last season would not have imagined themselves at this position. United surely had never expected City to turn from F.A Cup winners to Title contenders and thus title rivals in the space of lesser than a season. The city derby has never been this huge. The next time they lock horns (April 30^th ) could be the decider on which way the title is going to go.

     United’s win against third placed Tottenham showed that the champions don’t have to have to be at their best to drill out an result from even clashes of highest profile. 3-1 the score line said but like many times this season, scorelines hardly told the tale. Spurs had 52% possession and most of the game took place in United’s half. They had 18 goal attempts to United’s 6. The stand out factor was however that they only had a Shots On Target to Attempts ratio of 1:3 (33%) while United had a ratio of 5:6 (a whooping 83%). Even more significant was the clinical finishing. United converted 3 of their 5 shots on target to goals while Spurs could manage only 1 off their 6.

  This clinical finishing showed that United were still favorites to keep the trophy at The Theatre of Dreams. Another factor that could complement United’s title charge is the difficulty or rather ease of the final sprint. United have played all of the top 6 twice except City who they play on April 30^th. This means that they face only lower table teams in the final run-in. City on the other hand have to face Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool again.

  MANCHESTER UNITED FIXTURE LIST TILL THE END OF THE SEASON………(City’s?.......well it’s just tougher)

Date	Competition	Team
8th March	Europa	Athletic Bilbao
11th March	Premier League	West Bromwich Albion
15th March	Europa	Athletic Bilbao
18th March	Premier League	Wolves
26th March	Premier League	Fulham
29th March	Europa*	QF*
2nd April	Premier League	Blackburn Rovers
5th April	Europa*	QF Leg2*
8th April	Premier League	QPR
11th April	Premier League	Wigan
15th April	Premier League	Aston Villa
19th April	Europa*	SF *
22nd April	Premier League	Everton
26th April	Europa*	SF Leg2*
30th April	Premier League	MANCHESTER CITY
6th May	Premier League	Swansea
9th May	Europa*	FINAL*
13th May	Premier League	Suderland

Obviously, the closeness between Europa and League ties can have a huge impact on the team’s performance especially if United face City in any of those European ties. If it not the final, the winners of that clash will go into the April clash as favorites on paper, but with these two paper seldom matters.

 Another possibility is that even before the 30^th one of these juggernauts will falter. The more probable one to slip looks to be City, largely due to their fixture list, but as United have proved on previous occasions this season, they are not to be trusted.

 Unprectibality is thus a big factor this title race. 11 games lest in the season and the Manchester clubs look to be the only contenders. The eyes of the world will be on them; the season will be defined by how they capitalize on their opportunity. United however have been there more recently and thus are favorites…But things change, so don’t count depend on that ‘favorite’ tag for too long…Things are about to get interesting………..

Three points stolen....

-Rahul

Manchester United defeated Tottenham Hotspurs last night 3-1, but the scoreline flattered the Red Devils. The United central mid-field of Carrick and Scholes were obscured for large periods in the first half, and the defencive line was not as solid as expected, but the Lancashire men showed why they were champions with a bit of clinical finishing and luck.

  The first half saw a small, minute spell of United domination, but then on it was Spurs’ game to lose. They were easily the better team and should maybe have gone ahead early as an Aaron Lennon shot from outside the D sailed just above the cross bar. The minutes following saw a collapse from the Reds’ defence and at times the gap between the midfield two and the central defenders was almost half the pitch. A ‘not exactly great' clearance from David de Gea saw Sandro pick it out and play to Adebeyor who passed trough the back four with ease before the Spaniard executed a brilliant save.

  Spurs then got a free kick right outside United’s D, but Kaboul’s curling effort yielded no gains. Spurs however had the ball in the net in the 37^th minute though as a Lennon run into the D past Phil Jones, who went down for the challenge easily, found Emanuel Adebeyor back heel the ball into the roof of the net. White-Hart Lane erupted but the spirit was quickly drowned when Mark Atkinson ruled it a hand-ball and thus a free kick United’s way. Replays showed that Atkinson was right and Adebeyor did in fact clearly handle the ball.

  That didn’t stop chants from the White half of, ‘One Nil To The Referee’ when United took the lead through a Ashley Young corner converted by Wayne Rooney who was poorly marked by Kyle Walker. The younger Englishman was more involved in preventing Rooney’s movement than the ball in from Young. Thus the three Englishman ensured that United went into the break in front.

      Spurs resumed probing after the break and came close when Livermore’s rasping shot took a thin deflection off Saha’s leg to threaten De Gea, but the Spaniard reacted sharply to get low down and block impressively with his arm. Tottenham kept coming and Benoit Assou-Ekotto was next to get sight of goal, whipping in a free kick from the right flank that swerved and dipped but just cleared the bar. 

 United though were soon doing their share of probing, and a Spurs defencive collapse saw Jones throw fall to Nani, who easily got past Luka Modric into the penalty area and played the ball in. Friedel almost got a touch, but the ball rose to find Young who calmly slotted it, far post. Poor Brad Friedel at that time was inside the goal and marked by his own men.

 White Hart Lane faithful hadn’t yet got out of shock, when 9 minutes later, Young, unpressed on by the Spurs defence, calmly curled into the top corner. Those who saw United-Arsenal ( 8-2) will know what I’m talking about. The Englishman has been having quite a week, scoring against the Dutch for his country at mid-week and a brace here.

  Consolation came though as a Defoe shot found the back of the net, past the watching De Gea, who was easily the man of the match.

    The final whistle all but swept away Spurs title hopes as they are now 13 points off the top with11 games to go, and City and United don’t look like they are stopping any time soon. Now even their third pace finish is bothered by Arsenal who are looking over their necks at the moment and have a bigger number in the goal difference column.

 

    For United however, the win was a clear signal to their neighbours that they are still there, and as United’s fixture list from now to the end of the end of the season is relatively easier, it means that suddenly United are favourites. United showed that they can churn out a result even when they are far from their best. 

Teddy Sheringham believes Mourinho is the man to succeed Sir Alex at Manchester United

The former Red Devils striker has nominated Real Madrid's ex-Chelsea boss as his choice to take over the managerial reigns at Old Trafford when the present incumbent steps down

Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham believes Jose Mourinho can be the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
Mourinho’s Real Madrid are currently sitting top of La Liga, but the Portuguese manager has been unsettled by the club’s internal issues and may be looking for a way out at the end of the season, with England his desired destination.

   Sheringham told The Sunday Mirror: “I think that Mourinho would be ideal for United. It is going to be one of the best jobs in football when Sir Alex retires – but also one of the most difficult.

“It will be intimidating to follow a man who has achieved so much. Mourinho is one of the few people who could ­handle it. There is no doubt in my mind about that.”
The former Tottenham striker also believes the ex-Chelsea boss could be lured to the managerial position at White Hart Lane if Harry Redknapp is given the England job. Mourinho is said to be looking to move back to London, where he enjoyed success with Chelsea.
He added: “He loves London – he has said that many times. And there is no question that in the last few years, Tottenham have made tremendous strides under Harry Redknapp.
“It will be a great job for someone – maybe ­Mourinho. But United are ­different. Mourinho says he is the Special One and he has proved that no matter where he has been.
“He is a proven winner. And it will need a special ­individual to take over at Old ­Trafford when that job eventually comes up. He could handle it, I am sure of that.”
Sheringham knows all about replacing a club legend as he was brought in as a straight replacement for Eric Cantona when the enigmatic Frenchman retired. The striker was one of the goal scoring heroes as United scored two in two minutes in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
The 45-year-old said: “United is a huge club. Certainly one of the biggest, if not the ­biggest in the world. It is certainly up there with Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“I went all over the world in football and ­everywhere there was a ­fanatical ­following of ­Manchester United fans.
“You go to China and ­anywhere else in Asia and they are crazy for ­United. That is what the new man will ­inherit.
“It is daunting. Especially after the success that Sir Alex has brought to the club. But that would not bother Mourinho. He will take it in his stride.
“I understand that he and Sir Alex get on well so, you never know, he might have been given the nod about it.
“For me, he would be the one to take over if he is given the chance.”

900 MAN

"This is embarrassing to say but I have cried twice in my life watching a football player. The first one was Maradona and the second was Ryan Giggs" - Alessandro Del Piero

"His talent is God-given. He will have wonderful skill even when he’s got his bus pass, because that sort of ability never deserts you" 

- Brian Kidd

"Ryan makes you believe there is a football God"  

- Ron Atkinson

"Giggs is the detonator, the man who can make Manchester United explode" - Jean Tigana

"There’s no way that Ryan Giggs is another George Best: he's another Ryan Giggs."

- Denis Law

"One hundred games from now? How old would that make him? Stanley Matthews played at 50 I suppose. We will just have to wait and see." - Sir Alex Ferguson

"Eric Cantona is a great player, but he's not as good as Ryan Giggs"

- Johan Cruyff

"I think Ryan Giggs must be the best player in England. He is outstanding. Any team in the world would love to have him" - John Jensen

"Like [George] Best, there is a special fantasia about him"

 - Fabio Capello      

“The first time I saw Giggsy, he was playing for Salford Boys against United’s apprentices. He was thin and wiry but he just glided past four of our apprentices as if they weren’t even there, then he put the ball in the back of the net. I just thought ‘This kid’s an absolute natural'" – Bryan Robson

"It's almost impossible to replace a player like Ryan Giggs - you do not find many players like him. He is a rarity. He has world class attributes and has achieved so much at one club. You can only look up to him"

- Sir Alex Ferguson

"I can't remember exactly how old I was but I remember pretending to be Ryan in the back garden" - Tom Cleverley

"He has achieved so much, but he is still years away from his prime, a frightening concept for defenders"

- Tommy Docherty

"All of us at Juventus agreed Manchester United were the best side we met in the Champions League. They have so many talented young players and can only get better and better. Giggs is truly world class" - Zinedine Zidane

"Beckham and Scholes have shown their talents as goalscorers for England, but Giggs is the best. He was brilliant against us and he will be even better next year"

- Alessandro Del Piero

"When he's at the top of his game, there's not a team in the world that can handle Giggs' speed and penetration" - Sir Alex Ferguson

"I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and he floated across the ground like a cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind"

- Sir Alex Ferguson

"Ryan’s amazing. His energy, his work-rate, his passing and his movement are unbelievable. It’s a privilege to play with him. He’s 36 but plays more like a 26-year-old as he’s up and down the pitch all the time; he’s everywhere" - Ji-Sung Park

"To spend 20 years at one club is unique in this era. Ryan has been a fantastic servant to United. It will be a comforting thought if he ends his career here. When Ryan runs at players he gives them twisted blood. They don't want to be a defender any more"

- Sir Alex Ferguson

“I think it will only be when he hangs up his boots that people will realise just how remarkable a player he is and just what he has achieved” - Rio Ferdinand

“A young Giggsy was like a Ballet Dancer. I had never seen a young player like that and I had seen the Busby Babes”

 – Eric Harrison