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Man Utd will likely play with 4-4-2 or rather more of 4-2-3-1 with Giggs in a withdrawn role to support Alan Smith upfront and with Rooney lurking in slightly from the left side of the field.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 !!