It’s Gettin’ Closer!!!

It was an amazing night at Goodison Park, trailing 0-2, Manchester United came back in style wrapping up the match at 4-2. As Sir Alex Ferguson indicated, perseverance is a great attribute, and that was what this United team were able to live up to. It’s Ferguson’s team, and they’re fighting ’till the end.

Trailing 0-2 going into the 51st minute, United were able to keep the composure, unlike last week when they met Middlesbrough, United kept attacking and playing the flowing United way, although with Everton putting up a solid defense before their young Scot -Iain Turner, in for the ineligible Tim Howard– dropped a Giggs’ inswinging corner, and slotted coolly by O’Shea for yet another crucial away goals from the Irishman. From then on, United looked confidence for a comeback, and not too long after Ronaldo was introduced –kept due to small knock that he was carrying– his header forced Phil Neville, a former United stalwart, to conceded an own goal, and it was 2-2!!

Rooney’s goal was marvellous, and it just showed how much talent this kid has. If he were able to put up this type of consistency that he has shown in the last couple of weeks, there’s no doubt United will be a great force in the coming years with Ronaldo partnering him. The best part is definitely Chris Eagles’ icing on the cake on the 93rd minute, as he came in for Solskjaer –his first Premiership appearance in 3 years — and bent a brilliant goal. The celebrations was wild, and with Chelsea drawing 2-2 at home to Bolton (amidst leading up 2-1 at the time when United was 0-2 down), it suggests the Russian domination is coming to an end –and more importantly, and end to non-sense talks that Mourinho kept putting up. It’s gettin’ closer, fight on lads!!!

ROOOOONEY !!!

In a night that was meant for Ronaldo and Kaka to shine, it was Rooney that rose to the occasion. Two brilliant goals, especially the match winning injury time goal, showed that amidst the inconsistency throughout the year, this kid has special talent, special determination, a battling perseverance that no other kid has. It’s no wonder that Sir Alex included him as one of the greatest players he ever had –considering Rooney has only won a League Cup with United.

Back to the game, it was a night of passion, uncertainty, and character in good spirit and fair play at the highest level from both teams. Professionals at the utmost, combined by harmony between Milanese and the Mancunian makes this affair a totally different one with that of AS Roma ties. The end result, if you were to ask me before the game started, wouldn’t be that ‘fantastic’, BUT if you were into the game from the first minute ’till the end, United fans should be singing all night long for the 3-2 win against the much-decorated and disciplined AC Milan team in this first leg of 2007 UEFA Champions’ League Semifinal. Had Gattuso, a player that United has linked with for many occasions in the past- survived his own ultra combativeness style that force the foot injury on him, I would thought that Milan might be able to break the flow of United’s midfield. Having said that though, with Scholes pushing upward and Fletcher taking over the midfield, United were able to keep pressuring Milan and created chances.

Man-of-the-Match: No doubt, Rooney was the key, his two goals turned the pressure on Milan to open up the game next week in San Siro. Fletcher deserves credit for his battling performance in the midfield during the second half, and Giggs/Scholes for their assists in each of the goal. Ronaldo, although having quite a quiet night by his own standards, deserves credit for the early header that forced Dida to concede an own goal –and it turned set the tone for the night.

Sing Manchester United fans, we’re still up for the Treble!!! Up next, Everton!!!

UEFA Champions’ League Semifinal: MAN UTD vs AC MILAN

Manchester United, in a few hours time, will kick-off their pursuit of a double Treble, against another team of my boyhood, AC Milan at Old Trafford, in what to be billed as youth versus their masters. 10 European finals appereances are what AC Milan has accomplished in their decorated history, winning 6 or 7 of them in the process, although the last lost to Liverpool in Istanbul a couple of years ago is something that’s not so pleasant to be looked at even after years have passed by. In a pale comparison, United has only managed two European Cup finals, winning it in 1968 and of course the Treble year in 1999 –which I remembered vividly how the magic of Solskjaer has turned the misery on the German team.

There are three survivors on United’s team tonight from that great 1999 team, being the ever-green Giggs, Scholes, and Wes Brown –Gary Neville (still out due to injury) is the other one. AC Milan, last won in 2003, coincidentally at Old Trafford, still carries the majority of that team including Gattuso, Pirlo, Dida, Kaladze, and of course one of my all time greats, Paolo Maldini.

It’ll be an interesting to game watch, however, there’s no doubt that I’ll be supporting Manchester United. Milan was great, but this United team I thought has something special in the making, something that’s so strong that Sir Alex’s team has been missing these last years, that is, togetherness and ability to pull out something when the going get tough.

MINDCUBES‘ CORNERKICK: Ferguson will likely play with 4-3-1-2 with Giggs playing just behind Rooney and Smith and Ronaldo attacking from wings supported by Carrick and Scholes (returned from suspension) in the middle of the park. Evra, if fit will likely take the left full-back with Heinze playing in the center covering the injured Ferdinand. It’ll be interesting to see whether Ferguson will risk O’Shea who’s not fully fit and play Fletcher on the right back, but my guess is that O’Shea will start considering Kaka and Seedorf who could attack from anywher in the midfield. It’ll be a tight game, with Milan playing possesion game and waiting for United to open up, but I just thought United, coming from a disappointing 1-1 draw with Boro and with Ronaldo claiming PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year (for only the second player to do so, being the last one is 30 years ago), will be strongly motivated and with 76000 crowds behind, it’ll be one step slower for the aging Milan backfield. United will come out on top, although they must be on their best nights to avoid any away goal conceded. MAN UTD 2 – AC MILAN 0

Newcastle 0 – Chelsea 0

I can’t be happier with the result!   Full credit to the Newcastle team who was disciplined at the back throughout the game, and the kid Carroll could’ve made it a day to forget for Chelsea.  Joe Cole almost snatched a winner though for Chelsea at the 93rd minute.

Manchester United got a break from this result, and we’re back at 3 points advantage.  With two matches before Man U meet Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, United will be visiting Everton and Manchester City (where they haven’t won in the last couple of years), while Chelsea will be playing home to Bolton and away to Emirates Stadium, oh yeah Arsenal!!

Both teams’ schedules are tricky, on paper it might look that Chelsea’s schedule is tougher considering the visit to Arsenal, however, I guess 3 away games in successions for United, i.e. Goodison Park, City of Manchester Stadium, and San Siro Milan, before these two sides meet at Stamford Bridge might require a brilliant tactical planning from Sir Alex, considering the mounting injuries that we have.

Fight on, United!!

FA CUP Semifinal: WATFORD vs. MAN UTD

In an hour time, Manchester United will face Watford for a place in the 2007 FA Cup Final at the historic new Wembley stadium. The morale is high after a 7-1 thrashing of the Italian side Roma during the mid-week, while Watford is coming-off an impressive 4-2 victory over Portsmouth, who beat United 2-1 last week in a game where nothing was right for United.

Watford’s best player, their Man Utd’s on-loan goalie, Ben Foster will miss this game due to Premiership rule that doesn’t allow a player to play against his parent club — a rule that I supported wholly especially when looking at what Fernando Morientes did to his own club, Real Madrid while he was on loan at Monaco. United themselves, will be again without Saha –who’s still not yet fit for this match, Gary Neville –who faces another week on the sidelines, and the latest injury victim, John O’Shea who picked up a calf knock early in the second half on the game against Roma.

Man Utd will likely play with 4-4-2 or rather more of 4-2-3-1 with Giggs in a withdrawn role to support Alan Smith upfront and with Rooney lurking in slightly from the left side of the field. Scholes is expected to start, mainly due to his enermous exprience in the FA Cup –although Fletcher’s performance in midweek might suggest differently. Evra will most likely come in for O’Shea at right-back, while Heinze, Brown, and Ferdinand will continue their defensive partnership.

MINDCUBES’ CORNERKICK: Although Watford might try to produce the biggest headline story this year, I thought they might just end up putting too much pressure on themselves. If Man Utd managed to get a goal in the first 20 minutes, it’s all over for Watford, BUT if Watford can pull one in in the first quarter of the game, I think they might have a good chance of making the history –by disrupting United’s flowing rhythm. The confidence though is very high for United, and I just don’t believe they will let this slip-up. Alan Smith will get another chance for another headline, and he will surely take it. WATFORD 0 – MANCHESTER UNITED 4

I Sette Magnifici

The picture says it all … the magnificent seven!!

It’s been a few days since the magnificent seven goals “best-ever” European performance that Sir Alex’s team has ever produces –according to the man himself — and I’m still feeling the euphoria, this awesome feeling knowing that this team has character, this team is hungry, this team has the togetherness that when everything just seems not right for whatever reason, we’re all standing together, re-group, and pull one back –a big one that make everyone else looking at us in great awe –with respect.

4 assists from captain marvel Giggs, two amazing goals from Carrick, the determination and relentless performance from Alan Smith –his first European starts since his horrified broken leg injury more than year ago — that ignites the stadium, the scintillating performance from Cristiano Ronaldo, a compose and confidence back-line inspired by the energetic Heinze, and the list could go on and on … this was truly the best ever performance that I’ve seen from all the United teams that I’ve watched growing up.

Brilliant lads!!  … and Old Trafford was singing and dancing all night long !!

UEFA Champions’ League Last 8: MAN UTD vs ROMA

In a little over an hour, Man Utd will try to erase their misery over the past week when they host AS Roma, with 1-2 deficit.  With Scholes suspended, and a lost at Portsmouth along with injuries to Gary Neviille, Park Ji-sung, Vidic, Saha, Ferguson still managed to joke around during the press conference today.  I have to admit that as a lifelong fans, I’m worried of United’s attacking force that depends too much on Ronaldo to create “magic” and finishes it as well –although Rooney’s at times showed why he is so highly rated.  Giggs, playing in the position of slightly behind the striker in a central role looked lost, and normally good things happened when he switched to flanks –as to what happened in the play that preceded the goal at Liverpool.  With Scholes out, and Park also injured, it will be interesting to see whether Ferguson will play Solskjaer in the right side of the wing.  I hope that’s not the case, as here’s what I would imagined the best team for United’s tonight against Roma:

4-4-2:

• left-back: Heinze : no doubt about him, his battling qualities brings life to Man Utd although Evra is better at creating chances upfront and not conceding fouls
• right-back: O’Shea: utility man showed he could be dependable
• center-back: Ferdinand: inconsistency may cost United
• center-back: Brown: powerful enough to slot-in for Vidic, but lack of speed could be easily exposed
• left-wing: Giggs: with Panucci at right back, Giggs could swap around with Ronaldo to confuse Roma’s defense
• right-wing: Ronaldo: without question, is the key to this Man Utd team, he needs though to improve on his finishing
• center-midfielder: Carrick: worthy successor to Keane, need to bring himself to attack more
• center-midfielder: Fletcher: needs to be at his best or otherwise it’ll be Taddei’s night again
• forward: Rooney: scored the vital away goal at Roma, well simply he needs to take his chances again tonight, even if there’s only one
• forward: Solskjaer: experience will prove vital

MINDCUBES’ CORNERKICK: United will bounce back, as with Totti’s not fully fit and Perrotta out, United’s supported will need to sing all night long.  MAN UTD 2 – ROMA 0

A Team with Great Belief in Themselves

The title was part of the commentator’s tribute to Manchester United’s shortly after their third goal against the Blackburn Rovers, after going down 1-0 at halftime and losing their key defender for the season early in the first half. I couldn’t agree more with him, this is a team worthy of champions, a team that’s hungry for success, and a team whose togetherness has brought them pretty far this season. Character is one of the key point on this team, so ready to de-throne Chelsea from their arrogance that has lasted for nearly 3 years.

The man of the match could go either Scholes or Carrick, although if I were to pick, Scholes would be my pick. His equalizer is the key to the game, especially with the way he danced through almost 4 defenders before putting the ball into the net with great composure. His goal, and the timing of the goal gave plenty of time for United to keep pressuring Rovers’ defence while at the same time getting rid of their frustration as chances built-up have been denied by either poor finishing or Fridel’s brilliance –as he showed twice denying Rooney from point blanks.

It was a great result for United, the second successive 4-1 (after last week’s result against Bolton). The way United pressed, passed, and controlled the game during the second half is virtually second to none, not even Barcelona matched that performance. Ronaldo, again proved to be the flair and the creative genius on the wings coupled with composure off Scholes and Carrick in the middle, and the tireless Park supporting and fighting the ball everywhere.

Game Analysis (Premiership, Old Trafford, MANCHESTER UTD 4 – BLACKBURN ROVERS 1)

• Blackburn’s 1st goal: Panic, simply the result of panic after Vidic was injured and United’s hurriedly trying to get their first goal
• United’s 1st goal: absolutely brilliant, one of Scholes’ best goal of all time
• United’s 2nd goal: amazing composure from Carrick, the goal is crowded, but the shot selection is just perfect
• United’s 3rd goal: Park again showed positioning is important, slotting in the rebound into the opposite corner
• United’s 4th goal: Ole, Ole, Ole!!! This is an amazing guy, his confidence and minutes to goals ratio this season is unbelievable (when you think of his age and him being out for nearly 2 seasons)

Brilliant game, excellent result, although Vidic’s broken collarbone will sideline him for the rest of the season. It’s a blow for United considering his contribution on defense (and attacks) this season, although looking at the bright side, this is an opportunity for Brown to get good run of matches in the central defence (and probably make his cases with England), and with Gary Neville out of three weeks, O’Shea will prove to be an important of this squad, now plying his trade at right-back position. Alan Smith is showing nice touches as well, and I just thought Sir Alex might just be right on his confidence and trust on this squad.

Fight on, lads!! Next, Roma!!