Proving people wrong is a great thing to do. When someone has lauded their opinion over you, as though it is fact, and you get to show them that they’re wrong, it’s a great feeling.
Manchester United have come under a lot of criticism of late, from the media, from rival supporters and from our own fans. The anger and resentment we feel towards the state of the club off the pitch has lead to frustrations with our feelings at what is happening on the pitch.
There have been some disappointing results and some disappointing performances this season, like there are every season, but our desire for success and perfection has left us wanting. The media work us up in to a frenzy, trying to put across the belief that if United don’t win the league this season, we are in decline, even though us winning the league this May would make us the first English team in footballing history to win the title four years on a trot. That’s how high the expectations are now, with the whole country egging on for us to fail.
After losing 2-1 at Wastelands, I believed strongly that we would be the team to go on to Wembley. We had been the better team and had lost the game because of a ridiculous refereeing decision, something which has dogged our season so far in the big games. Awarding the penalty for Rafael’s tug on Bellamy outside the box changed the game but it also provided us with all we needed to win the second leg: Carlos Tevez.
Oh how we loved him and his work ethic. Most of us could see his flaws – the poor finishing in front of goal, his dreadful control and his bad attitude, but we could ignore that because he worked so hard, kept telling us he loved us and wanted to spend his entire career here.
So when he celebrated in front of our manager like that, whether it was meant for Sir Alex Ferguson or not, the anger and disappointment we felt was all our club needed to boot them out of the cup. At that point, there was no way our manager was going to lose to City. He already wanted that win desperately, which was demonstrated by the strength of team he put out in that first leg. But after Tevez’s behaviour, then subsequent comments in the press the week following, all designed to humiliate our manager and captain, the tie was in the bag.
With Ryan Giggs getting our goal in the first leg, it was nice that Paul Scholes got the opener in the second leg. Here we have two United through and through legends, who some have said are past their best, yet here they are scoring important goals to put us in a final. It was Giggsy who did all the hard work for Scholes’ goal too, charging past City’s back line, getting the ball in, before it fell to Scholes to strike past Shay Given. I’m struggling to remember a time when he’s celebrated a goal of his more heartily. He went pretty mental after opening the scoring against Liverpool a few seasons back on his 500th appearance for the club, but this was something else. He charged towards the Stretford End, surrounded by his ecstatic team mates, like a man possessed and I loved it.
Twenty minutes later it was starting to look as though the game was wrapped up, when Darren Fletcher’s hard work set up Michael Carrick to put us 2-0 up. The usually fairly placid midfielder was seen kissing the badge, after being ambushed by Rooney in a similar celebration to the one that followed his important goal against Wigan towards the end of last season.
A couple of minutes later Rooney should have put it totally out of reach but missed from six yards out. When Tevez scored the all important away goal that City would need after extra time to take the game to penalties, Rooney’s miss became all the more painful. He’d had a great game but we were left frustrated that he’d blown it when it really mattered.
But as if we should have ever doubted him. He came up with the goods in injury time and sent United through to the final. Giggsy whipped in a great cross which Rooney sent flying past Given.
This result was important for so many reasons. Firstly, because it means our first chance of silverware this season and the opportunity to retain the trophy we won last season. Secondly, because there has been so much talk about the power shift in Manchester in light of our huge debt and their status as The Richest Club in the World (TM) so this put our noisy neighbours in their place. And finally, because we had put an end to their hope of winning something, beating them in their first semi-final for 28 years.
We couldn’t have a better platform for another important fixture which we will play today, a game that our manager has named the most important game of our season so far. After beating Arsenal at home this season, following a less than impressive performance, to get the win today in what is an essentially a six pointer at the top, would be brilliant. Depending on the performance, we would have to be happy with a point ahead of kick-off, although a win would really set us on our way.
Antonio Valencia has been rested this week, which is great, given his positioning far out right has been successfully used in his past few games. Nani has grown in confidence following some decent performances in recent weeks and does enjoy a good game against Arsenal. Rooney is in the form of his life, currently topping the Premiership scorers leaderboard, and he often scores against the Goons. Our defence is more certain, with Van der Sar, Rafael and Jonny Evans featuring in plenty of games lately, and Nemanja Vidic is expected to fill in for the suspended Rio Ferdinand.
The last time we played at the Emirates we totally battered them and that painful experience will be lodged in their memories. But we’ve got a Premiership title to win and I really hope we give it our all. Arsenal are a quality side, but if we can stick Fletch on Fabregas all game then our chances of a win increase, with him keen to set the record straight following the criticism from Wenger.
We’ve had a great couple of weeks so let’s hope we can kick on later today and do ourselves proud.
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Check out the great betting odds and free bet for this game and check out the Green and Gold MUST fundraiser at Walkabout on Quay Street, which starts at 2.30 – free green and gold scarves for all.
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Come on United
this is, to me, should be the best match of the season. Everytime we play Arsenal, it should be an entertaining match. Im hoping for football at its best. Come on UNITED !
I have a good feeling about today. I hope we start the same XI from the City match the other night (obviously Rio out and Vida in!)
COME ON UNITED
waynes game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N7X5avfp5s&
The city game means nothing now. United have come into the back of certain games with good wins behind them-1-0 away win at CSKA before the Liverpool game. 5-0 win against Wigan before the Leeds game.3-1 win at the German Champions Wolfsburg before the Fulham game
When its United-Arsenal form goes out of the window.Hope its a good open game and not a sleep inducing one like most other big games. However given that no team can afford to lose this one i feel it will be a boring one.SAF will pack the midfield and Wenger will do the same because he dosent have 2 fit senior strikers.Both teams will cancel each other out for long periods and the odd mistake or odd moment of quality may decide this one
Anyone Gues todays formation & Team??
Im going with 451
vds
Brown – Vidic – Evans – Evra
Valencia – Carrick – Fletcher – Giggs – Park
Rooney
Im struggleing… Dont know if Vidic will play, Id honestly prefer Brown in center half and rafa at right back. I cringe every time a player makes a comeback from injury against a top team!
Center Midfield??
for me Carrick and Fletcher are certs! Its the next place i am struggleing with. Scholes is in mighty fine form for me, but i think he has played to many games. I think giggs wins this spot although was very very tempted with Gibson. Reasons – Full of running & a goal threat!
Park?…….. These Games Suit park, Arsenal play possession football. This suits parks style of play and i would be very supprised if he doesnt start! Although id be even more supprised if he scored! hahaha
I’m just annoyed I have to close the store up at four, won’t be out until half four! Arrrggg. Hopefully will find a decent stream to keep up on it.
VDS
Rafael – Vidic – Evans – Evra
Valencia – Nani – Fletcher – Giggs
Rooney – Berbatov
Bringing on Owen/Diouf for Nani/Berbatov later on.
Third comment, heh – just found out Sky Player works online (when registered on 360!). Fantastic, won’t miss a beat.
Great article!
Always Be Closing
Nani in central midfield? Are you mad?:)
PS: Coffee is for closers.
This isn’t necessarily my preferred formation but this is what I think SAF will put out on the pitch.
————-VDS————
Rafael-Vidic-Evans-Evra
————Carrick———-
Nani-Fletcher-Anderson-Park
———–Rooney————-
SAF will keep faith in Nani and Rafael featured in both legs against City so why not here. Anderson is the speed in the centre of midfield that we need to cope with Arsenals one touch football. He needs to be like Fletcher and hamper Song, Nasri and Fabregas all day long.
On paper this game has all the pointers to an end to end ding-dong battle.
Few would argue that the 2 teams which set the bar for attractive, free scoring football are not Manchester United and Arsenal.
Both teams really have it to play for. We need to win, they need to win.
Neither of us gains from a draw, the end of season is drawing nearer and the opportunity for whoever sits second to overtake whoever sits on top become fewer.
The main factor, which unfortunately in the game today is completely unforseeable, is how the officials perform or fail to perform.
Far too often big, important games are decided by the referee or his henchmen (sorry, linesmen) fucking something up. Sometimes it goes in your favour, if you are United away from home often it goes against you though.
That is my biggest worry today. A wrong decision which disallows a goal, awards or denies a penalty or sends off an innocent party.
Sky will be filming the whole game today in 3D as an experiment before it becomes the norm. But STILL Platini and Blatter refuse to allow the use of technology to avoid injustices and cheating to determine how a game is won or lost and how peoples careers are affected.
France go to the World Cup – Ireland dont. One look at the replay possibly rewrites the entire story.
Today we can only hope that the Referee is on his game and that the linesmen get it right all the time. A fair game is in both teams interests and victory is always sweetest when honourable.
I wonder if this time tomorrow United or Arsenal fans will be saying ” we was robbed” or “the best team won” ?
Can’t see Giggsy starting this one. Here’s the team that i predict:
VDS – Brown, Evans, Vidic, Evra – Valencia, Carrick, Fletch, Anderson, Park – Rooney
The only exception I can see is Berbatov instead of Anderson.
Colbert – hah, perhaps! But then 4-5-1 was mad until the Shitty game.
Glad you appreciate the reference. (:
Playing brown would be suicidal.he har been rubbish this season.hope we stick with rafael at right back
aig – Hi mate. Brown in the main HAS been poor but he is much better at right back. Reckon Rafa will get the nod though as he has done alright recently and scored there last season. Right off shopping now then back for comedy club’s game.
The key to winning this game is to partner Ando and Fletch in midfield. They will be the main ballwinners and will control the middle. My team for today:
VDS
Rafael Vidic Evans Evra
Valencia Ando Fletcher Giggs Nani
Rooney
Not feeling very confident about today’s game, mainly because we seem to blow away the opportunity of going above our rival opponents. Fergie will most certainly play a 4-5-1, in which it is more difficult to create goals in, but the lads should try their hardest to get more than 1 point in this game.
If we need a goal, I would throw in Owen and take out a midfielder, switching to 4-4-2. Owen excels in big games and he would be fired up, wanting to score, to make amends for missing his chances against Hull.
Just heard David Gill on radio 5 live and I have to say i’m a little bit more confident about our future.
He talks alot of sense and unless he is lying through his teeth things just might not be as bad as the anti-united press make out.
£100 million in the bank and ‘all it takes is one phone call’ for any player we want………..
………….VDS………..
rafael vidic evans evra
……fletch Carrick……
Nani Valencia Giggs
………Rooney…………
Mine is a 4-2-3-1.
nani is in fine form and is excellent on the right. He is young and full of energy. He can play three games in a week. Valencia will also play as he has been rested for today`s match it seems. Not so sure anout giggs but if we have these three players just behind rooney to keep aresnal`s defence busy, Rooney will definitely cause some serious damage!
Fletch always plays fantastic football against big teams in important matches and especially against arsenal.
If carrick can deliver a good performance todaywe will control midfield and we`l win for sure!I dont wanna see ando today with all his issues!
2-1.
rooney and valencia!
Gotta disagree with the Brown comments… Think he’s been quality when he’s played.
Vds
rafael evans vidic evra
valencia carrick fletcher nani
berbatov rooney
wont happen but thats the team i want rather than trying to stifle arsenal and showing them respect
Scott
We have been proving people wrong all our life – yet every time we do so we are still hated – still not respected – still not recognised for our achievements more so under SAF.
That is a testimony to our philosophy
Manchester United will never die
aig- can nani play on the left as efficiently as he has been doing on the right?
The last two matches where the lad played on the right completely changed my opinion of him. I was the first to say bye bye to nani(happily) on this blog after reports of his comments about him being mis managed surfaced.
I now think he is not that bad. I just think he`s not a left winger. He is poor on the left and brilliant on the right.
Lets hope he is played where he can be at his best..he reminded me of Ronaldo against Hull…
Make or break match, not even a draw will do today…COME YOU REDS!
If SAF doesn’t play Berbatov in this match, then why did he buy him?
Off topic, whats this about MO7 LEAVING? Bull in my eyes it would really upset me . . .
VDS
Rafael-Vidic-Evans-Evra
Valencia-Fletcher-Carrick-Nani
Rooney-Berbatov
Thats my team prediction
I think it will be
VDS
Rafael Vidic Evans Evra
Carrick
Fletcher Anderson
Valencia Nani
Rooney
From an Arsenal fan, who has watched all our games and is fully aware of our limitations, I’d say you would be best off playing a 4 4 2 with Berbatov and Fletch and Anderson in the middle. Its the one I would fear most anyway.
Although you won your 4-5-1 was negative and did play into our hands at old trafford, you created very little and handed us the initiative,the last thing you should ever do against us. Out of interest how come some of you are baying for it again? The best way to beat us is playing aggresively and direct, trying to put us on the back foot. I’m fully expecting Fergus to have a line up approaching this. I don’t mean this at all as a dig against their abilities but , I’d be happy to see Owen Carrick or Scholes starting.
Worst of luck
Goooooooooonnnnneeeeeeeerrrrrrs
Kungfukick
unfortunately due to valencias recent good form on the right wing and his hesitation to use left foot nani has no other choice but to do well on the left.they should not be rotated much because both are young and will want to play regularly.nani is high on confidence right now so its worth trying.
jespermoses Said,
January 31st, 2010 @13:33
“Just heard David Gill on radio 5 live and I have to say i’m a little bit more confident about our future.
He talks alot of sense and unless he is lying through his teeth things just might not be as bad as the anti-united press make out.
£100 million in the bank and ‘all it takes is one phone call’ for any player we want………..”
There’s one born every minute!
Unrelated: Just read an article on the Mail site suggesting Owen will be shown the door in the summer. Hope it’s true.
“£100m” “Any player we want.” PMSL. Okay, let’s sign Karim Benzema from Lyon – oh, wait…
@Fred….so are you saying David Gill is lying and he dosen’t want the best for United??
Nah, mate. I wouldn’t dream of saying such a thing about that nice Mr Gill. I’m sure Villa and Silva will be along any day now. Maybe even Kaka or Messi! Any player we want, just a phone call away, remember? He’s certainly put my mind at ease. Praise Malcolm Glazer and his wonderful regime at United! Thankyou for raising ticket prices every year, it makes me appreciate watching United even more!
I know what your saying about ticket prices but do you really think that would change if someone else was in charge.
I dont give a fuck about buying Kakas and Messis I just know that if SAF identified a player and wanted him he’d get him.
If someone else was in charge I don’t think they would have raised the ticket prices to the ludicrously high level that they are now. Also the con that is viagogo where a match ticket automatically doubles in price.