Rooney Hat-Trick Sinks Pompey

It's never an easy match when you're away to Portsmouth, but we made it look easy on Saturday! United kicked off with a modified squad, that featured five midfielders instead of four and only one striker: Wayne Rooney. The changes seemed effective immediately from the beginning of the game, as Manchester's midfield controlled the tempo of the match. With 60% of the total possession for the match, anyone watching could tell who had the upper hand. Pinpoint passes from the likes of Carrick and Scholes found Rooney in the box again and again. It was only a matter of time before the lad finished one off. In the 25th minute, Rooney received the ball and looked likely to score when he was brought down by a dirty tackle from a Portsmouth player. The ref wasted no time blowing his whistle and pointing to the spot.

Rooney slotted the ball right into the lower left corner of the net, and Begovic, Pompey's keeper, had no chance. 0-1 United. Only 7 minutes later, Portsmouth became more aggressive and managed to get the ball into United's penalty area. Boateng fell down on his own accord, and when the referee awarded him a penalty, most watching couldn't figure out what United had done wrong. A call's a call, though, and Boateng stepped up and took his penalty well. 1-1.

At the beginning of the second half, a fantastic pass from Ryan Giggs found Rooney who made no mistake in finding the net with his first touch. 1-2 United.

A frustrated Portsmouth began fouling United players left and right. With their inability to control the play came the apparent realization that playing cleanly could not work. In the 54th minute, when Rooney was fouled in the penalty area again, nobody was surprised. Rooney settled himself and scored his second penalty and third goal of the match. HAT TRICK! 1-3 United.

At this point, the match was mostly over. It takes a determined and talented team to come back from a two goal deficit. Pompey is certainly capable of it as a team, but they weren't on Saturday. The only event worth noting for the rest of the match took place in the 87th minute. Anderson was fouled outside of the box and United was awarded a free kick. Ryan Giggs stepped back from the ball, got ready, and struck the ball brilliantly to score United's fourth goal of the match and his 100th goal as a Manchester United player! Congratulations Ryan Giggs! You're a true legend. 1-4 United

Ryan's 100th Goal in a Red Shirt

Top 10 United Goals of All Time

I've been blogging about Manchester United since September, and despite a few dry spells where I've gotten lazy, I thing I've done a pretty damned good job of keeping you guys up to date with the ins and outs of The Reds. However, there are two main problems that I'd like to address. And I'd like to address them NOW.

1. This blog has only focused on United THIS SEASON

Manchester United is a club with a rich and glorious history. Yes, we are huge now, and enjoying as much success as ever. However, it is important to remember the days of old and the legends that have made Manchester United what it is today.

2. Too many words, not enough pics and videos

Who likes to read, anyway?

With no further ado, I present to you:

THE TOP 10 UNITED GOALS OF ALL TIME

Nani with a no-no... time for a new winger?

When you think of Manchester United, you probably think of several things. Manchester United is personified by world class players, the biggest fanbase in the world, and, of course, Sir Alex Ferguson. Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed as manager in November of 1986, and he has been an integral part of United ever since. A true leader and natural manager, Ferguson has been able to save United from bad spells, make them even better during winning streaks, and bolster and improve the squad consistently, year after year.

The manager of a team is the uncontested leader (even dictator) of its players. He governs his club as he sees fit. He trains the players how he wants to, buys and sells the players he desires and no longer needs, and decides how the team will play any given game. Any Manchester United footballer should respect and fear Sir Alex Ferguson. This explains why any player who "acts up" can expect to be punished swiftly and severely. United's Portuguese winger, Nani, is not exempt.

Why is it, then, that Nani has been reportedly criticizing Ferguson and his managing style recently? The story can be found all over the web, including here. An excerpt from the article:

"He can go from complimenting you to just plain trashing you in a matter of minutes. Has it happened to me? Hell, yes. He'll say 'Nani, how could you miss this or this'?

"He shouts at players in front of everyone. No-one escapes, everybody is the same. (Ryan) Giggs and (Gary) Neville suffer most, because they have more experience."

Nani has not been living up to the high expectations that everyone has had for him this year, and this story may just be enough for Sir Alex Ferguson to want to be rid of him. Simply put, Manchester United is a top club, and it has no room for players who underperform and then complain. Obviously, this is just a prediction... but I don't expect to see Nani in a red shirt in the 2010/2011 season.

Never Count Out the Reds!

Mancester United faced off against CSKA Moscow once again, this time at Old Trafford in Manchester. With some key injuries keeping players out of the match, including the dynamic defensive duo of Ferdinand and Vidic, United did not look to be as strong of a side as they have been in recent ties. CSKA went ahead first after being fairly threatening in the 25th minute, but Moscow couldn't celebrate for too long, as Owen made it 1-1 in the 29th.

A mere two minutes after Owen's goal, CSKA responded and made it 1-2. The half ended with this score and the Red Devils went into the dressing room looking discouraged. When the second half begin, their discouragement only grew as the Russians scored again in the 47th. Milo Krasic, in particular, was a very dangerous player who managed to be involved in every goal, in some way.

United made some key changes around the 60 minute mark, bringing on Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra. This brought some much needed creativity and speed for United. Things looked more threatening, but the goals were still not coming. In the 82nd, United's new Frenchman, Obertan, came on to make his mark. He must have been a good luck charm, because United started looking fast and furious. In the 84th, a ball found its way into the box and onto the head of Paul Scholes. The ball flew into the upper left corner and it was 2-3. Whispers of a United comeback began. It looked possible.

AND IT WAS! In the 90th minute, a shot from outside the box from the boot of Valencia deflected off of a CSKA defender and the ball found its way past the keeper. It was 3-3 with only seconds left, and CSKA had their brilliant victory snatched right at the death. The match ended as a draw and United marched off the pitch triumphantly. It takes a team of tremendous quality to play poorly for 80 minutes, and then be able to comeback from a 2 goal deficit, and United is a team like that.

A Late Victory in Moscow

Last night, United headed to Russia to face off against CSKA Moscow. With a pitch made of plastic, freezing temperatures, and very few supporters travelling, Manchester United had their work cut out for them. It didn’t help, either, that Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney, the two shining stars of the recent United squat were absent due to minor injuries.

Most of the match unfolded with little action. Scholes and Anderson were able to control the midfield for the Red Devils and the Moscow side looked uninspired. One bright spot for CSKA was their winger, Krasic. He was more than willing to take our defense on and infused some much needed creativity into the match.

Our wingers for the night were Nani and Valencia, two young, skilled Portugese players. Both have extremely high expectations to live up to but have largely failed to do so, thus far. On this night, though, they looked up to the task. Nani’s dribbling was impressive and Valencia sure knows how to cross.

Our Brazilian acquisiton from the summer, Fabio, started his first game for United at leftback. Fans looked on, anxious to see how he would perform. He’s got pace and an attacking mindset, perhaps too much for a defender, but he is certainly capable of causing problems.

Most of the match (86 minutes, actually) passed without incident. Sure, there were shots, chances, fouls, corners, offside calls, but neither side looked overly threatened. There was one moment of real magic where Nani and Valencia combined for not only a one-two, but a three-four as well. This display of passing right outside the CSKA box inspired football fans around the world and gave a glimpse of what is (hopefully) to come from the two Portugese.

But then, in the 86^th, Anderson sent a cross into the box aimed at Berbatov. Berbs got his head to it and it fell near the far post, to Valencia who finished it smartly. He met the ball on the half volley and it shot past the keeper, Akinfeev, who looked impenetrable for most of the match. United had gotten yet another late goal, and held on for the win.

I <3 Beach Balls

LOLOLOL. Liverpool F.C, United's biggest and most hated rivals have been doing very poorly so far this season. They're failing to stay competitive in the league and may be written off as a threat very soon if they don't turn things around immediately. This is pleasing in its own right. What just tickles me pink, though... is when things go from bad to worse for them.

Liverpool played Sunderland this past Sunday. You may not know, but it's a tradition for fans to play with beach balls at English football matches. Well... WELL... a beach ball found its way onto the pitch early on. In the fifth minute...

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

Liverpool were, for a lack of a better term, deflated (bada boom tsshhhhh) after that and Sunderland held on to win it.

Lackluster United Struggle Against Sunderland

Well, lads, Saturday was a rough one. Sunderland travelled to Old Trafford and the faced off against the Champions for a match they must have been dreading. No team in the world can feel completely confident against United, but a lesser side like Sunderland couldn't have been secure in any way, at all.

Fortunately for Sunderland, the United side that kicked off on Saturday didn't feature its usual frightening attack and venom. Pass after pass fell to the feet of Sunderland players and everyone looked very sub-par. After only seven minutes of sloppy football, Darren Bent continued his campaign for glory by scoring a cracker of a goal for Sunderland. 0-1.

One of two things happens after United falls behind in any given match. The first, and most common, is the fury of Hell being unleashed. The players wake up from whatever fog they were in, get angry at their failure, and then take their rage out on the other team. The other, more unfortunate thing that happens is that United loses any of the confidence they had and looks lost on the pitch. This is what happened against Sunderland.

The half finished with United looking listless and Sunderland not doing a whole lot, themselves.

The second half began and play resumed in the same way it did in the first. In other words, it was boring. Then, out of nowhere, in the 51st minute, Giggs sent in a pinpoint cross to Berbatov, who was acrobatic and skillful enough to bicycle kick it into the corner of the net, past the keeper. The bike was first touch and far out enough from the goal to be spectacular. Goal of the season contender, for sure. Berbatov, you're really showing your class now. I'm sorry I doubted you. 1-1.

United fans were still in ecstasy about the magic that Berbs had just produced and feeling hopeful for the future when the unthinkable happened. Sunderland found themselves in United's final third. A ball was sent into the box, Vidic was caught sleeping, and Jones finished smartly to deflate United again in the 58th. 2-2.

United were defeated. Completely, it seemed like. For the next 30 minutes, we attacked, but without any creativity. Things became more and more urgent, and we began moving faster, but there was still no spark, no chemistry. We're a late game type of team, though. Our players are some of the fittest in the world. We always have fantastic substitutes available. We can outrun and outlast anyone. That's why as the minutes ticked down and it got closer to the end of the match, Sunderland found themselves being threatened. We kept speeding up the pace, but still weren't doing enough.

The second half ended and all eyes fell on the third official who was signalling for four minutes of stoppage time. Four minutes! Sunderland and their fans let out a collective groan. Suddenly, United managed to get the ball into the box. It fell to Evra who struck it with power. It buzzed across into the path of the Sunderland defender, Anton Ferdinand, who broke one or two hearts as he clumsily hoofed the ball into the back of his own net. United haters everywhere shook their heads and asked themselves what else was new. It was 2-2, and it wasn't pretty, but I'll take it.