matchday 2 @ lisbon for united against benfica in the champions league. a repeat of last year where ronaldo got the headlines for all the wrong reason. as much as i’m a big fan of man utd for the last 16 years, united these days just lack the quality of what made them so awesome, so courageous in the 90s especially during the cantona, hughes, ince, and schmeichel days. they lack the character these days. giggs is one of the last standing squad out of that awesome team in the 90’s that still showing up fighting spirit and the determination that was the character and the symbol of sir alex’s team. it has been disappointing for the last few years (ever since beckham was sold to real madrid –though his qualities for england are questionable, his contribution from the right wing for man utd, honestly gotta be recognized especially playing in the premiership for that pace and crosses are gems), that man utd has been playing for only league cup or fa cup.
the 2006 campaign has started brightly but the last two league games form is worrying and one might wonder if the return of rooney from suspension (and his only 6 games in 6 months) might’ve affected the rhytm of the team who’s been playing so well? it’ll be interesting to see how united youngsters respond to these challanges as they should be able to capitilize on a not-so-strong Group F.
mindcubes’ long tail …
richardson probably will be dropped to bench as he’s wasting too many opportunities in the midfield. brown most likely will come in for vidic, as heinze looks to continue his fine performance on the left back. midfield: i’ll expect scholes and carrick to control the tempo again from the midfield, supported by fletcher and ronaldo on the wings, while rooney and saha should start from the attack. i wouldn’t expect a 5 men midfield as what happened at reading last week as it’s really not so wise to leave saha on the bench especially after a two goals game against celtics. united might be in for a tough game, but benfica will be without rui costa. benfica 0 – man utd 1 !! 
1 response so far ↓
newcastle utd @ manchester utd « live the life of // September 30, 2006 at 10:24 pm |
[...] after a hard-fought match at lisbon (of which i predicted oh ah bingo a 1-0 win for man utd!!), man utd is up against the other united, newcastle united this coming sunday at old trafford. scott parker (newcastle’s captain) might get extra motivation after a recent call-up to the england squads, while rooney, continually supported by his team-mates, needs to pick-up his game knowing a both in-form saha-rooney partership might be the key to unlocking’ united ’s inabilities to capitilize on possessions in the last few games. newcastle has a key player in obefami martins, a promising player –of who internazionale’s president, massimo moratti, once called him ‘my little michael owen’ although his true potential are yet to be realized in a tough-tackling natures of the premiership. united, though with heinze back at left back, at least start showing some consistency at the back while carrick and scholes continues to work on their partnership in the middle of the park. [...]