Manchester United vs Bolton Wanderers

United need to win tonight to keep the 6 points advantage over Chelsea before a visit to Stamford Bridge at the end of this month. That, is a fact that everyone aware of, although with Saha, Solskjaer out due to injury, and Larsson no longer with United, Rooney will be the lone striker tonight, unless Ferguson opt to get Alan Smith his first start in more than one year in Premiership. That I thought, would not be too wise.

It’ll be interesting to see how United players react to this situation, given Scholes is also out due to suspension. The team though this year has shown some character and togetherness, that even Eric Cantona has given praise to this generation of United. It’ll be a long day if Bolton managed to pressure United to make mistakes in the first 15 minutes to concede a goal, although I doubt it’ll happen. Playing at Old Trafford, with Ronaldo at top form, I’ll give a depleted United side an edge over Allerdyce’s Bolton team. It won’t be pretty but the boys will get it done. UNITED 2 – BOLTON 1

MAN UTD vs. WATFORD

In a few hours time, United will kick-off their Premiership match against Watford, looking to maintain their 6 points over Chelsea, with Liverpool lurking 2 point behind Chelsea after their win at Upton Park yesterday.  Watford will be without Danny Shittu and Foster, the United on-loan goalie.  I’m pretty glad that Premiership prohibit players on load to play against their parent club as the memory of Morientes torturing his own club, Real Madrid during his loan time at Monaco in the Champions League is still vivid.  His career was never been the same after he returned to Madrid from that pretty successful Monaco spell.

Back to the game, United, on the other, will be on full-squad with Ronaldo and van der Sar back into the games after being rested at the FA Cup win against Portsmouth at home.  Playing at home, expected United to play high tempo early in the game, and trying to settle into an early lead. The key would be on Scholes and Carrick controlling the midfield and breaking plays to give a few steps advantage for Ronaldo and Giggs on the flanks to split the defense.  Larsson will partner Rooney up front as Saha is still not coming back 100%.

If United were able to take an early lead, it’ll be United all over, however, if Watford managed to hold it until the hour mark, they might have a chance to snatch something memorable, much like what Sunderland did to United last year.  So, United to be on a high alert especially Watford is on high spirit following a 2 match winning run and a dog-fight all the way into the end of season for relegation battle.

mindcubes’ longtail: After the slip at Arsenal, I think United players got the idea.  Converting chances and an alert defense is the key to winning championships.  United, with a fresh Ronaldo running at defense, should be able to get the first of 12 wins that Sir Alex mentioned needed to win back the EPL crown this season.  UNITED 4 – WATFORD 1

Manchester United – Aston Villa (Round 2)

It’s round two of United vs. Villa at Old Trafford after last week United’s 2-1 victorious over Martin O’Neill’s team. Expect Larsson to start alongside Rooney at the front again, with van der Sar, Scholes, Gary Neville, Giggs and Vidic back into the first eleven. It’ll be another tight game for United with the key lies in midfield. If Scholes and Carrick can control the tempo and United could get an early lead, it’ll be over by the time United score the second goal. However, if the defense slipped and Villa scored a shocking goal, it’ll be a long day for United.

I believe though United with Larsson in sparkling form and Vidic coming back to partner Ferdinand at the center of the defense would be able to get a full 3 points after slipping-up at St. James’ Park a couple weeks ago.

mindcubes’ longtail: UNITED 2 – VILLA 0 (Ronaldo, Larsson)

Manchester United @ Newcastle United

In a little over an hour, Manchester United will be playing Newcastle United at St.James’ Park for their first campaign in 2007, having been 6 points clear of Chelsea at the summit of the Premiership. Throughout the year, United has shown the type of resiliency and persistence that has been lacked of in recent years. The emergence of Vidic at the back along with the maturing Ferdinand added a composed United back-line along with the always reliable Gary Neville and the emergence of Evra competing with Heinze at the left back.

The return of Scholes at the midfield adds the type of vision and the ability to change the course of the game with a tackle or a long pass along with the arrival of Carrick who has been playing pretty well at the anchor position, breaking tackles and sending in long balls.

With Ronaldo playing at his best form of his life, he makes a good case for Player of the Year, and along with Saha, who has been able to fill-in the shoes of the departed van Nistelrooy, United attack hasn’t looked so orchestrated in so many years, with Giggs playing one of the best year of his career.

van der Sar at the back has been the answer to Ferguson to the long tem problem after Schmeichel left, and the 36-years old Dutchman look as composed as ever, albeit he is a totally different personality with that of Peter Schmeichel.

That all above, with the exception of Neville who was out of injured, would probably the first 11 that Ferguson will name for this tricky encounter with the Magpies. Expect tough battle in midfield with possibly 4-5-1 formation, United needs to be at their best controlling the tempo and taking an early lead to settle into the game.

mindubes’ long tail: NEWCASTLE UTD 0 – MANCHESTER UTD 2

UNITED – READING Preview

Reading will travel to Old Trafford today knowing they’ve come up big at Stamford Bridge with a point against Chelsea, as well as holding United to a 1-1 draw at their first meeting at the Madejski stadium earlier in the season.

Manchester United coming into the game having a 4-points lead at the summit of the Premiership table, knowing another win would ensure they keep riding high. Especially with Chelsea not performing well (although their mouth is still performing well), another win and a New Year present from Chelsea would give United a 7 points lead going into 2007.

With Scholes and Vidic missing out the game due to suspension, expect Giggs and Ronaldo to start on both wings, and Fletcher and O’Shea in the middle. Brown again will again start at the defense for Vidic alongside Ferdinand, who was rested at the game against Wigan. Expect Rooney and Saha to start from the beginning at attack. Gary Neville will be back captaining the side alongside Evra –who’s performing good lately– at full-backs.

It will be a typical English games with high balls and crosses, and with Ronaldo at the top form of his game, expect United to take an early lead and settle into the game. Reading, although showing great resilience and spirits during their first campaign in the Premiership, might be putting pressure on themselves expecting another front-page storyline, but I believe this year’s United squad has the necessary characters and discipline to come out on top of their game.

mindcubes’ long tail: UNITED 4 – READING 0

UNITED – WIGAN Preview

With Scholes and Vidic suspended, and Carrick still being side-lined through injury, United need to depend on their bench production in a Boxing Day battle against the spirited Wigan Athletics, who was too unlucky not to come out with at least a point against Chelsea.

Expect Fletcher to come in again for Carrick, with Silvestre or Brown coming in for Vidic, and O’Shea coming in for Scholes. It will be a tougher battle for United especially with the midfield duo missing, although with Ronaldo at the peak of his game, and Rooney coming in fresh after being rested at Villa, United would be looking for an early goal to settle the game in.

mindcubes’ long tail: MAN UTD 3 – WIGAN ATHLETICS 0. It won’t be pretty but the lads will get it done.

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It’s Crunch Time!

3 games, 3 losses, and the Broncos is facing a tough schedules ahead before meeting their fate to this year’s NFL playoff … all behind a rookie quarterback in Jay Cutler, and a stockpile of injuries to key starters.

Just as how good this kid is, everyone knows he got the talent, tools, and poise to do well in the league, but the real question is, can Denver fans wait for him to develop the kind of game that he’s best at with the kind of time that a rookie would need? Tough question, and we all know how Brian Griese, who is one of the most accurate short-passer, has turned into after all the high expectations following a back-to-back Super Bowl in the late 90s. I hope Cutler’s fate won’t end up like that, and we all know that the Broncos defense might hold the key to how far the Broncos would be able to go this year. Having said that, the offense needs to produce, albeit knowing Plummer has been benched and Cutler now needs to learn fast and avoid the rookie mistakes (such as the need to take sack rather than forcing a throw that ends up in the wrong endzone, and even worse, ignited the whole opponent’s teams).

Well, as a Bronco fan, I hope we beat the Chargers and the over-hyped Rivers this week at San Diego. Tough game, lots of injuries, facing a team on a winning run, this is not the type of game that you’d love to play when you needed a win badly. BUT that’s exactly the opposite, this is exactly what characters are made of, and what every great team needs to go through. As unlikely as it is, I can see Broncos pull out a shocker here. BRONCOS 24 – CHARGERS 21 ... Elam kicking a 55-yarder to win the game!!

Manchester United @ Blackburn Rovers

In a little over an hour, Manchester United will be playing Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. It’s a tricky encounter for United especially with Mark Hughes’ records of never lost to his old boss, Sir Alex and the memorable double completed by the Rovers last season with a 2-1 win and 4-3 win at Old Trafford and Ewood Park respectively.

Sir Alex, still in the glory of celebrating 20 years in charge, has mentioned that he’ll be naming the same team that beat Bolton and Portsmouth convincingly in the past couple of weeks. That means we can expect to see Giggs and Ronaldo at both flanks, with Carrick and Scholes directing in midfield. Saha will continue his good run up-front with Rooney while Vidic and Ferdinand at the back started to form great partnership similar to the days of Bruce and Pallister. As usual, Gary Neville will be the captain with Evra claiming the spot on the left back and van der Sar at the goal. Expect the game to be high tempo with Brad Friedl –Rovers’ American goalie to be at his best.

mindcubes’ longtail … I don’t see United losing three times in a row to the same team, and with both Sir Alex and Scholes picking up Manager and Player of the Month Award for October respectively, it’s a perfect match for Manchester United to bounce back from the humiliating defeat during midweek to Southend. Scholes, will be the key playmaker in the midfield with Vidic producing anoter stellar performance and Carrick scores his first goal for United. ROVERS 0 – UNITED 2.

it’s time for the old nemesis

a raiders visit to the mile high couldn’t be better knowing they are 0-4 (yes, 0-4!!), while the broncos is having a good time with its 3-1 record after a convincing win against the was unbeatable ravens last week.

broncos’ offense is still not showing their old-self but at least plummer is moving the ball and the broncos defense has been the catalyst during this young season. elam and ernster also played huge part to the 3-1 record. on the other hand, moss, and sapp, and all other raiders have not been living up to expectations. having said that, raiders and broncos have always been an interesting one to catch. a late game between two old nemesis, this one won’t be a walkover for the broncos, but with a strong running game and solid defense, the broncos will pull another one through. RAIDERS 6 – BRONCOS 17.

roll up the dice

in the past few weeks i’ve made a number of predictions for the english premier league and nfl, which i’ll start calling it ‘roll up the dice‘ … well just for the records, so far the dice has been rolling pretty favorably, it’s 3 out of 4, with good for manutd vs. newcastle (2-0), good for benfica vs. manutd (0-1), good for broncos vs. new england (a win for the broncos) and bad for reading vs. manutd (1-1).  not too bad for a bloke operating at the very long tail of a sports analysis/predictions.