Manchester United's Early Struggle

So the 2007/2008 season of the English Premier League has finally started. Being here in the United States though, I haven't been able to watch much of the early season action due to the fact that the coverage here sucks ass. They show mid table clashes that no one is really interested in and the times they do show the big matches, it's always at a time that I'm unavailable.

Anyway, Manchester United have been struggling to find their form early this season. After all that spending, you'd expect them to go flying off blocks, but that hasn't been the case.

I finally watched them labor to a 1-0 against Sunderland on Sunday and immediately it became apparent to me why they've been struggling.


1) Loss of key players

The loss of key players is bound to hurt any team at any level. The experience of Gary Neville at the back and the attacking edge given by Park Ji-Sung, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney have been sorely missed by the team. On Sunday, Park's hard running, Ronaldo's cutting runs and Rooney's strength up front would certainly have helped against an organized and hard working team like Sunderland.



The oldest form of defending: Putting men behind the ball.


2) Changing a winning team

One of the oldest sayings when it comes to sports is, "Never change a winning team". And history has proven that to be true. Just look at famous "tinkermen" like Claudio Ranieri, Rafael Benitez and Sven-Goran Eriksson. In this case though, Sir Alex Ferguson has been forced to make numerous changes to his team due to the loss of key players so early in the season. He would have wanted to bring new signings Nani, Anderson and Tevez slowly into the team by putting them on as substitutes as the season progressed. Instead, he's been forced to throw them right into the thick of the action much earlier than expected.



If you can't score, you can't win.


This was probably a key factor behind their derby loss to Manchester City. 3 players in the starting 11 had never played in a Manchester derby before. When it comes to derbies, this plays a role because players who have never experienced an English derby are usually either overwhelmed by the occasion and play badly or don't play with enough passion and tenacity as those who have.


3) New signings

Sir Alex Ferguson's 4 new signings haven't impressed at all despite their hefty price tags. The reason? They're still adapting to the English game. Traditionally, players from other leagues always take time before they adapt to the English league. The English league is much quicker, more physical and aerial in style compared to the other leagues in Europe. The league's legendary players like Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp took a while before their real talent showed. Cristiano Ronaldo finally shone last season after learning that doing 2000 stepovers a minute doesn't get you past defenders. And just look at Michael Ballack, who still hasn't justified his £121,000 a week salary.



The adaptability of the new signings will be crucial.


Nani and Anderson were signed from the Portuguese league and let's be honest here, the Portuguese league is full of diving, useless flair and play acting. Just look at FC Porto, their national team and how Ronaldo played when he first signed for Man Utd. Against Sunderland, watching Nani and Anderson struggle with a defender clipping at their heels before they got the ball was a clear indication of that. Not given time to hold on to the ball and do their fancy party tricks, they simply faded as the game progressed. Carlos Tevez may have played for West Ham last season, but after watching him on Saturday, I feel that he still hasn't adapted as well. On top of that, this season he has to adapt to Manchester United's style of play which differs very much from West Ham's. The English game's aerial nature and Tevez's 5'7, 1.7M stature, may be the stumbling block to overcome before he finally adapts.


It's still early in the season and while there may be still more twists and turns to come, falling behind this early is not an option a team going for the Championship can afford. Manchester United will be boosted with the return of Ronaldo from suspension and the international break coming up, Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping his players will come through the matches unscathed.

Champions Of England

YEAH! Hail the Champions of England, Manchester United!

It's been an excellent season for Man Utd and today it's finally produced some silverware.

But the defining moment was really last week, when Chelsea drew with Bolton, and Man Utd came from behind to beat Everton 4-2. That was the ultimate turning point in the title race.



The goal that won it for Man Utd.



The goal that lost it for Chelsea.


I'm glad that Man Utd won the title because they've finally taught Chelsea some humilty and shoved their arrogance down their ass. I'll be honest. I like Chelsea. I like Jose Mourinho. I admire his self-belief and the way he has instilled that champion mentality into his team and backed it up with silverware. But this season, they've gone over the line. When Drogba and Essien started claiming they're the best even before the season was halfway through, self belief turned into arrogance. Mourinho's constant whining about penalties and insults of Ronaldo and his family was totally unprofessional and I'm glad Sir Alex Ferguson responded by putting Mourinho's comments into perspective.


An excerpt from the article:

Mourinho's comments about his fellow Portuguese in turn upset Ferguson, who said on Friday: "Everyone is entitled to have a comment or opinion. That doesn't mean to say they are liars."

And Ferguson added: "Mourinho is on about us changing the regulations. I would like to know who is doing it? Is it us? The FA? The Premier League? Uefa?

"I really feel he has been let off lightly with those comments.

"The biggest fear for us is that by citing the fact we are not allowed to get penalties at Old Trafford, it puts a terrible pressure on the referees."

Ferguson also pointed to several decisions that he felt had gone against his own club.

"Does he remember the goal Paul Scholes had disallowed for offside when we played against Porto in the European Cup?" said the United boss.

"We didn't like it and we complained. But we didn't go to war on it.

"Or should he be pointing to the fact Tottenham were forced to play on a Easter Saturday morning, a day and a half after their previous game, to allow Chelsea to rest before their European tie?

"We have to play Manchester City at 12.45 on a Saturday after a European tie in Milan next Wednesday. Is that fair? We don't think so but we are not going to start accusing the Premier League of carving things up with Chelsea."


But I know, most of all, I'll be laughing at one guy. John Obi Mikel. For those of you who don't know the story, he signed for Man Utd, then made an about turn and said that he was "pressured" into signing the contract and that he wanted to sign for Chelsea instead. What a bastard. In the end, it was settled by Chelsea buying him from Man Utd for 12 million pounds without him ever kicking a ball.



I guess that was how he was pressured.

Well, I say thank you John Obi Mikel, for the 12 million pounds because we don't need scum like you to win the Premiership title.

Now for everything to be perfect, we just need to beat Chelsea in the FA Cup to clinch the double, and for AC Milan to beat Liverpool in the Champions League final. Milan simply need to play the way they did when they beat Man Utd at the San Siro, and they'll have no problems beating the boring, long ball, lucky penalty shootout kings, Liverpool.


Now, the Premiership trophy is finally back where it belongs.


Stand up, for the the Champions.

.

Weekend

I played 2 football matches on Saturday and Sunday. And both games got me pissed off.

The first game was with my former colleagues in DFS. It ended in a 1-1 draw and although I scored, what really pissed me off was that I missed 2 clear cut chances to win the game. I sort of twisted my ankle in a challenge early in the game and from then on I was playing in pain all the way. What added insult to injury really, was that the other team sucked. Real bad. They were probably around 20, much, much ayounger than our team (which probably had an average age of 34) and still, they couldn't outrun or outpass a group of old men.

The second game pissed me off too. Why? First, my ankle was still injured and I couldn't walk properly. Secondly, we lost 4-2 to a team that sucked real bad. Again. And once again, I was playing with old men against younger opponents. All my team mates had families already. The other team were a bunch of JC students which couldn't even pass the ball properly.

Honestly, when it comes to football, I really hate to lose. But then again, I guess when playing with team mates twice your age, defeat is something that's bound to occur more often.

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Manchester United 2 - 0 Liverpool

United Back On Top




This was a match dominated by Man Utd. Their passing was crisp, fast and flowing. Liverpool were totally outplayed and outclassed. Man Utd showed much more determination when it came to challenging for 50-50 balls. Also, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic played exceptionally well and look to get better with every game.

Liverpool looked jaded in the midfield. The Liverpool players, especially Gerrard, are probably getting tired of Benitez's tinkering around. As a player, it affects your morale greatly when you aren't sure of your place in the team no matter how well you play. And even when you play, you aren't playing in your best position. What was Pennant doing on the left side of midfield?





You can't deny the second goal by Ferdinand was a great one. Watch the replay. Look at the point where the ball hits the net. It's right in the corner, just inside the cross bar and far post. You can't stop a shot like that.

So now, another rival is 11 points behind and we're top of the table. Certainly a victory to savour.