ManUisNo.1

Both Manchester Premiership Teams Win, But City's Balotelli A Disgrace to Football

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:55:00 +0000

Both of Manchester's Premiership clubs won on Sunday, but one left a bitter taste to many football fans.

Manchester United overcame Arsenal at the Emirates winning by 2-1.

Antonio Valencia scored first for United just before half-time with a great header from Giggs' well targeted pass. Arsenal then drew level after Robin van Persie's shot went in with about 20 minutes of the game left.

Danny Welbeck worked hard and got himself into a good position and benefited from Valencia's work on the edge of the box to score United's winning goal. Substitute Rafael was himself substituted just a few minutes earlier, but he wasn't too pleased at Fergie's decision.

As for Manchester City, Harry Redknapp, Spurs manager, had a grievance about Balotelli who clearly stamped on the head of Scott Parker with a back heel when Parker was on the floor after a collision. How Balotelli got away with not being red-carded I have no idea. Hopefully the FA will do the right thing and review the event, and Balotelli should receive a four-match ban, should the FA intervene. Violent conduct has no place in football, and Balotelli and the City management should be ashamed of what happened. Sadly this is one player picking up a reputation for very different reasons.

Had the player been sent off the game would have been so different. It was Balotelli who was later fouled in the penalty area, and it was he who scored the resulting penalty. City won the match 3-2.

And to make matters worse, there is a question over whether an elbow by Joleon Lescott in the face of Younes Kabou was accidental or deliberate. It looked deliberate to me, as well as the MOTD2 pundits, so there could and perhaps should have been only nine City players on the field at the end, with a very different scoreline likely.

Manchester United Fortunate in Derby Match

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:44:00 +0000

All was going so well in yesterday's match between Manchester City and Manchester United. It even looked like United might take sweet revenge with a similar scoreline when City beat them 1-6 in the Premiership a few months ago.

At half time United were 3 goals to nil up. City contentiously had a player (Vincent Kompany) sent off early in the first half just a couple of minutes after Wayne Rooney got the first goal for the Red Devils. What went wrong during the half time break I have no idea, but United seemed to get complacent, and City came out in the second half all guns blazing. Having said that United could and should have had a second penalty, but the ref wasn't interested.

Should Paul Scholes have been sent on with still around 30 minutes of the match to go? Well, debatable, but his mistake did cost United a goal for the opposition, as his pass in his own half was too soft to reach its target.

The final result was 2-3 so Manchester United go through to the next round of the FA Cup, and will meet Liverpool. Though judging from Alex Ferguson's reaction after the match his players will need to perform a lot better than they did in the second half of yesterday's game.

Sad Day For English Football Over Racism Rows

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:26:00 +0000

The English FA's independent commission has slapped an eight match ban on Liverpool's Luis Suárez, and given him a £40,000 fine. It all stemmed from the match between Liverpool and Manchester United back in October when Suárez called United's Patrice Evra certain names that Evra took offence to.

They did not accept Suárez's argument that the words he used were perfectly acceptable for someone from Uruguay. The Uruguayan had argued that it came down to cultural differences and semantics, and that what was unacceptable in the UK was ok in South America.

Liverpool, Suárez's club, might appeal the verdict. They are deeply unhappy with the verdict.

And further south in London, Chelsea's John Terry has been charged by the Crown Prosecution Service that he is to be prosecuted over an alleged racist slur made towards the Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

Terry will appear before West London magistrates' court on 1 February charged with a racially aggravated public order offence. This was alleged to have taken place made during the Chelsea match with QPR at Loftus Road on 23 October.

In one way it's sad that racism has reared its ugly head again, but good in another way in the fact that at least it is being taken seriously by the authorities.

Both Manchester Teams Out Of Champions League

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:59:00 +0000

It's so embarrassing! Manchester United getting knocked out of the Champions League last night after losing 2-1 to Basle means they drop down to the Europa League.

Manchester city, too, even with a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich, await the same fate. A win by 2-0 at Villarreal secured Napoli's Champions League place for the next round, which meant City losing out on a place.

Both Manchester teams have of course only themselves to blame because of poor results in previous matches. But somehow watching Manchester United play on a Thursday night just doesn't seem right.

FA Cup Third Round Throws Manchester Teams Together

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:47:00 +0000

The FA Cup third round-round threw up a match that will have mixed emotions for both sets of Manchester supporters. City and United go head-to-head in a Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium next month.

Neither side will want a struggle to get through to the fourth round, but that's what's in prospect. It is unlikely to be an easy passage for either side.

Manchester United will be looking for revenge after being humiliated 6-1 in the Premiership by City.

The only other all Premiership match is between Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers.

The ties will be played on weekend of January 7/8

Manchester United Bouncing Back to Winning Ways

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:45:00 +0000

Nice to see Manchester United bouncing back after their dismal performance against Manchester City. Man U fans will want to forget it, City fans will treasure those memories because getting one up on United is such a rare event.

United's last match in the Premiership, winning against Everton by a single goal was enough to seal a victory, though perhaps not as convincingly as United supporters would have wished for. And in the Champions League match during the week the Reds were well deserved victors over their Romanian opposition.

This Saturday Manchester United face Sunderland at Old Trafford. Old boy Steve Bruce has never beaten his old gaffer as a manager in 17 attempts. Sunderland haven't won at United since 1968 either, and it's hard to see United getting anything other than a win.

It looks like Michael Owen, Ashley Young, Ryan Giggs, Chris Smalling, and Tom Cleverley will all be absentees through injury, but Vidic should play.

I'm currently reading Gary Neville's autobiography entitled Red: My Autobiography which looks back at his years at school when it seems most of his schoolmates were Liverpool fans on through his time with Manchester United. As the back cover points out, "...if any player can be said to epitomize Manchester United, it is Gary Neville."

Humiliation for Manchester United

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:28:00 +0000

Words like "embarrassment" "suicidal" "crazy football" and "worst day in football" aren't often heard around Old Trafford, but those were the words being spoken at 3.30 on Sunday afternoon by United's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. And the fact that Manchester City were at United's home ground made it all the worse!

Losing 6-1 is never much fun, but when it meant that your arch-rivals consolidated their lead at the top of the Premiership by 5 points it's hard to swallow.

Fergie's team selection clearly wasn't up to much, unusually for him, and even the substitutions brought little impact to the game. United were outclassed in all areas, and without Vidic the defence was pretty woeful.

Of course it doesn't help when you are playing for half of the match with only 10 men. Jonny Evans brought down Balotelli on the edge of the box and was red-carded. By the time Fletcher scored in the 81st minute it was too late, and it didn't all end on 90 minutes as 2 more goals were added by Silva (90+1) and Dzeko (90+3).

The vast majority of the 75,487 crowd will have gone away from the ground very unhappy, not just with the result, but the way it happened.

Manchester United Fortunate to get Draw at Anfield

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 09:09:00 +0000

If Sir Alex Ferguson had the intention of going to Anfield and coming away with an away draw he was successful. A draw against such opposition as Liverpool can rarely be considered a bad thing.

And the fact that Manchester United looked for the most part out of sorts and disjointed makes it an even better result.

Yes, Sir Alex rotated the team following the week's Internationals, that was to be expected. And following Wayne Rooney's not so good week in which he was given a 3-match ban in England's European matches, I suppose keeping him out of the starting line up against Liverpool made some sense. But, not just the players, but the tactics seemed wrong.

It's understandable that the United manager wanted a fresh XI for matches in the Champions League and against Manchester City in the coming week. And, as it turned out, a loss is what needed to be avoided, but it was a gamble that only just paid off.

Liverpool were the better, more cohesive team. They went in the lead in the second half through a Gerrard free kick where the United wall failed to keep together as Giggs broke away and the ball flew through the gap.

Minutes later one of the three United substitutes, Javier Hernandez, does what he does so well, score, to bring the sides level at 1-1. And that's how it finished. Whether it was a point gained or two points dropped is open to debate, but judging from the way United play I'd go for the former.

The double blow was that Manchester City went to the top of the Premiership after their 4-1 demolition of Aston Villa.

Manchester United Stay Top of Premiership

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:13:00 +0000

Manchester United stay top of the Premiership on goal difference (just!) after beating Norwich at home by 2-0. The goals came in the second half, courtesy of Anderson and Danny Welbeck.

Meanwhile Blackburn Rovers, at home to Manchester City, lost 0-4, after a boring first half. A protest aganst the Blackburn manager was held by supporters after the match.

Even Newcastle United are reaching unchartered heights as they went to third after their win over Wolves.

Manchester United were certainly not at their best, and things only really got lively after Ryan Giggs came on. Yet again, his distance passing was top quality.

Tevez Refusal To Come On As Substitute Could See Him Exit City

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:06:00 +0000

When Carlos Tevez left Old Trafford to join Manchester City a couple of years ago he was a hero to the City fans. Now he's rapidly turning out to be the villain.

His comments on Argentine TV about never playing in Manchester again because of the rainy weather didn't endear him to the supporters. Nevertheless, he did return to play in Manchester.

But, last night in the Champions League when he apparently refused to go on the pitch as second half substitute that must have made Roberto Mancini see red! Mancini wants Tevez out, many of the the fans want him out, now it's down to the owners to decide what to do with their £200,000 a week "star."

As Mancini himself commented, it wouldn't happen at Bayern Munich, nor Manchester United. Sadly it seems the manager isn't commanding the respect from his players he ought to have.

Manchester City Upstaged by a Dominant United

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:40:00 +0000

I almost feel sorry for Manchester City. They go away to Spurs on Sunday and beat them 5-1, a very good result.

Then, later in the day, Manchester United upstage everyone and demolish Arsenal 8-2 to go top of the Premiership table. And, naturally enough, it's United who are first on the football highlights on Match of the Day 2.

And whilst I'm sure the first thing non-United supporters will point to is that Arsenal put out a weakened side, the fact remains that you can only play what's in front of you. United could have actually scored a dozen times, and that scoreline in no way exaggerates just how superior their play was to an Arsenal side that looked defeated as soon as the first 5 minutes had passed.

Nice to see Rooney score his hat-trick, he played well for the team and never stopped running, even close to the end of the match.

On a final note it looks like Owen Hargreaves will be joining Manchester City later today before the transfer deadline. I hope he does well, he had a lot of injuries when he was on United's books and we never really got to see the very best of his talent.

Ticket Price Rises to Football Matches Hitting Some Supporters

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:40:00 +0000

At the beginning of the football season weird placings on the tables frequently happen.

After just the second weekend of Premiership fixtures we have top of the table Manchester City, which is no huge surprise, then second Wolves and third are Aston Villa. Somehow I doubt we'll see the same placings one month from now.

How far can the costs of football tickets rise before supporters say "enough is enough!" I wonder. When so many people are out of work, inflation is quite high, and wages are being kept low, a lot of people are struggling to budget for essentials, never mind entertainment. At a club like Manchester United they can virtually guarantee a sell out crowd every match. Tickets have risen this season which the club cliams is to take account of the rise in VAT. For individual matches they now stand at:
Adult:          £28-£50
Senior:         Half price, capped at £20
16-17           Half price, capped at £20
Junior:          £10
Still, that could be considered very good value when compared with some London clubs. Chelsea for example has changed some of its prices depending on who they are playing, with a newly created AA category of home Premier League games. The AA category includes the games against Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United and Manchester City. The old ticket would have cost £75 for the upper tier of the West Stand. That same ticket has risen by a staggering 16% to £87.

It has to be said that some clubs have held prices or in some cases even reduced them in an effort to get their supporters in to the ground.

Manchester United play Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford later at 8pm.

Scholes to Retire From Football but Berbatov Stays

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:07:00 +0000

Sad about Paul Scholes retiring from the game. He's been a loyal and faithful servant of Manchester for a good number of years and will be missed by supporters and other players alike. He's an unassuming sort of person, doesn't seek the limelight and dislikes interviews. And above all Scholes a great player!

Some good news though is that it looks likely Dimitar Berbatov will stay with Manchester United. We cannot afford to be losing players of his calibre, he was joint top scorer last season for the Golden Boot award.

Manchester United Clinch Premiership Title

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Mon, 16 May 2011 08:08:00 +0000

Manchester United have done it! They have won the League for a record 19th time, beating Liverpool by one.

The match on Saturday against Blackburn Rovers wasn't the most exciting I've seen, but the single point in the 1-1 draw was enough to clinch the Premiership title. The one point also suited Blackburn who now look safe from being relegated.

Still the European Champions League against Barcelona to look forward to, on the 28th May, at Wembley. On paper Barcelona look stronger, but the way United have been playing who knows? It should be a good match.

I doubt Sir Alex will field a very strong side when they play their last Premiership match of the season against Blackpool, there really is no need for him to do so. He'll have an eye on the Barca match the following Saturday.

Rooney Sent To US For Further Rehabilitation

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney has been sent to America for rehabilitation and conditioning work to improve his fitness. This means he will miss the derby match next Wednesday against Manchester City.

The Red Devils would have liked Rooney to be available in the big match, but it won't happen.

Rooney has not figured for United since their 2-2 draw with West Brom on 16th October, with matters off the field having dominated the headlines since then.

Rooney is due to return to the UK from the US on 13th November, but when he will put on a United shirt again remains to be seen.

Redknapp Upset at Manchester United Goal

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:22:00 +0000

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will stop doing post-match interviews if punished for describing Manchester United winger Nani's goal on Saturday as "a farce".

The Football Association will decide on Tuesday whether to charge Redknapp for his comments after Spurs' 2-0 defeat.

"Good luck to them if they want to make an issue of what I said, then I'll make some issues as well," said Redknapp.

"Don't expect me to come out on the TV any more, ever, and speak to the press after the game, because I won't do it."

With Manchester United leading 1-0, and six minutes of the match remaining, Nani slotted past Heurelho Gomes with the Spurs keeper looking on, believing he had lined up a free-kick after the winger's handball.

Stoke 1 Manchester United 2

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 15:05:00 +0000

In one of the strangest weeks Manchester United and football itself has ever known, the week ended with a United victory over Stoke.

Rooney was going, now he's staying.

So, for today's match, the Red Devils had to make do without the striker due to an injury. But, the gloom lifted, the team did their Manager and fans proud.

Javier Hernandez scored their first goal. United's play was, for the most part, fluid and attacking. They also looked tight in defence.

Near the end substitute Tuncay looked like he had snatched a point with a brilliant equaliser.

The Mexican youngster struck again however with four minutes remaining, to win all three points for United, and their first away win this season.

Reports That Rooney Will Not Sign New United Deal

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 10:27:00 +0000

Wayne Rooney 'will not sign new Manchester United deal'

Ferguson named Rooney as a substitute against West Brom

Manchester United have been informed that Wayne Rooney will not sign a new contract with the club, according to reports from the Press Association.

The 24-year-old striker's current deal runs out in the summer of 2012 and it is understood negotiations over a new contract have broken down.
There has been speculation that Rooney will be sold in the January transfer window, with Real Madrid interested.
However, United's response was to label that claim as "nonsense".
More to follow.

Press Association

Young Mexican Wins it for Manchester United

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:03:00 +0000

The 22 year old Mexican by the name of Javier Hernández who impressed last night with a near miss, and importantly a goal, in Manchester United's 1-0 win over Valencia.

It was some great play by Nani to keep the ball and set Macheda away to make the pass to the Mexican.

Hernández scored with just five minutes to go to give United a rare Champions League victory in Spain. The result puts United top of their group.

Manchester United Drop More Points

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 08:02:00 +0000

Isn't it strange that Manchester United seem so often to struggle against the weaker teams?

Over the weekend Chelsea went down to Manchester City, and Arsenal got beaten by West Brom, giving United a great chance to pull back 3 points when they played their match away to Bolton Wanderers.

But, it wasn't United's day, and they came away with yet another one point from an away game. No disrepect to Bolton, but this, as with the Fulham and Evertyon games, was a match you'd expect them to win. 6 points dropped against just the 3 of Chelsea's isn't exactly a confidence-filling start to the season.

The bright spot in the 2-2 draw was Nani's fantastic run from the half way line to score United's equaliser.

Manchester United's Berbatov Scores Hat Trick Over Liverpool

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:44:00 +0000

Dimitar berbatov went some way to repaying his £30 million price tag on Sunday.

His hat trick gave Manchester Untied all three points in their victory over archrivals Liverpool.

2-0 up should have meant United were home and dry, but a penalty which was converted by Gerrard, along with an excellent free kick on the edge of the box, meant United were pegged back to 2-2. That would have been a travesty, and Berbatov made it 3-2 with a header in the final minutes. The 2nd goal of a his, an overhead kick, was wonderful, stunning, breathtaking - call it what you will. United needed this win, and they really deserved it.

More Consistency Demanded Of Players By Man United Boss

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 09:52:00 +0000

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Manchester Utd ahead of their big Liverpool game today.

His players have already let slip two leads to end up with draws. The 'killer instinct' has been lacking, and that just isn't good enough when rivals Chelsea and even Arsenal are firing on all cylinders.

A victory against Liverpool will hopefully spur United on, but even though Liverpool are spluttering with their season the match won't be easy for the Red Devils.

Manchester United Drop Another Two Points

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 11:23:00 +0000

Wayne Rooney stayed at home as his Manchester United team travelled to Everton.

Unfortunately Rooney's not being able to keep it in his pants might have cost United the victory.

Who knows whether by the end of normal time United would have been leading by 3-1. If they had been it's only conjecture, but would Everton have been able to come back to score twice in injury time?

With Rooney absent it meant the side faced adjustments with Neville once again at his usual right back position. O'Shea was out of his natural position and played in midfield. Giigs played more forward.

Points dropped like this may well come back to haunt Manchester United at the end of the season, and Rooney may have to take some of the blame!

Spurs No Chance With Ferdinand Move

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:45:00 +0000

Spurs made a discreet move for England captain Rio Ferdinand, but didn't get far with it.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made it clear to Tottenham that Ferdinand is not for sale.

Meanwhile, in their match against West Ham United, Manchester United produced a clinical performance against the Hammers. Wayne Rooney scored his first goal for 5 months from a penalty kick to give United the lead. Nani’s brilliant run gave United a 2-0 lead in the 50th minute and a Berbatov volley made it 3-0 in the 69th minute.

Giggs on Form as Manchester United Beat Newcastle

noreply@blogger.com (dex) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:17:00 +0000

What a great start of the new football season for Manchester United!

They beat Newcastle United 3-0 last night.

After a slow start to the match Berbatov, Fletcher and Giggs ensured the victory for Manchester United. Ryan Giggs came on as substitute, and stands out as being the only player to not only play, but to score in every Premiership season since it started up 19 years ago.