January, you’d be happy to hear, was a good month for Manchester United. And it is, on the simple premise that January will nearly always be more important than September, their best of the season yet. United were able to preserve their seven point lead at the top, beat Liverpool and ensure there were no defeats, with thanks to Robin van Persie and company (haw haw, outsiders can get their one-man team jokes out of the way now).
This monthly review is very simple: it’s a monthly review. Half-hearted, sometimes irreverent, but a monthly review nevertheless. The sub-headings, below, if you’re wondering, are actual January holidays*, though the exact date in which they fall isn’t really relevant.
International Sceptics Day
According to most places on the internet, this day actually falls in October, but can apparently be celebrated in January. Honestly, you’d have to really underestimate people in attempting to limit scepticism to just a single day — even The Happy Wanderers can’t possibly do that. And David de Gea is proof of that.
Now, some De Gea criticism is justified. Of course it is. There are times when he does struggle to impose himself, like against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1-1 draw, where his weak punch eventually led to Clint Dempsey scoring a late equaliser. What wasn’t said, however, was that United’s defence made a series of other mistakes (a list here) in the lead up to that goal, including just general sluggishness that doesn’t go down too well in the 90th minute. Perceptions were not helped against Southampton in the 2-1 win, either; though how much he was at fault for Southampton’s and Jay Rodriguez’s goal (did anyone else know he was English?) depends on how you think he was supposed to have reacted to Michael Carrick’s dire, and unexpectedly dire, backpass. (Carrick says he takes “the blame for that”, but how boring.)
What the Spaniard needs now is another solid, prolonged period of good form, like he had this time last year, mostly unblemished from February to May. Some forget, but few negative things were said then because he made sure few negative things were said.
Fun at Work Day
Whenever Manchester United win, against whoever, it’s always the man on television with the tragic shirt that appears as if he’s under some sort of obligation to remind the people at home that “this side is beatable.” United have had to deal with that a lot post-Ronaldo, and not for no reason; indeed, they might not be like a lot of Sir Alex Ferguson’s old teams. But not being that side or that one (or that one) doesn’t have to be such a bad thing, not when, right now, they’re better than the current opposition. Were this bunch to take on the double-winning side of 2007/08, which would be awesome, then, yes, feel free to point that out as much as you like.
What this current side can do, just like the others, is win a lot. Oh yes. And as often as they grind out victories, they win convincingly. The very start of the month saw United score four in their annual spanking of Wigan at the DW and, weeks later, they beat Fulham 4-1 in the FA Cup 4th round. Just like the others Fergie sides of past, they win well, too.
Old Rock Day
It must have been a damn shame for Robin van Persie that, having scored such a wonderful goal in the last minute of a cup tie, he would be overshadowed by a geriatric. Ryan Giggs’ lofted ball to set up the goal against West Ham in the 3rd round of the FA Cup was all kinds of stunning; not least because this was yet another invaluable cameo provided by the Welshman who turns 40 next November. In the last few years, Giggs has been good for it, but would typically flounder to get to his moment. This season, he has added a much-needed freshness whenever he has been brought on, or picked to start. That pivotal pass allowed Giggs to continue his good form that he was able to carry from December against the Hammers into the replay; and he stood out in United’s 1-0 win. He starred once again in the same competition against Fulham ten days later.
Coming of Age Day
The Coming of Age day is a Japanese holiday, but that didn’t stop Tom Cleverley from celebrating it.
Humiliation Day
There’s a rumour going around that claims for every missed Wayne Rooney penalty kick, an angry man gets the most cutest bug-eyed kittens he can find, takes them to the dark basement in his house and places half-and-half scarves around their necks. This most recently happened soon after United’s win over West Ham in the cup replay. The news soon reached Old Trafford, and is apparently the reason why Ryan Giggs was given the responsibility against Fulham in the following round even with Rooney on the pitch.
Rooney’s penalty woes seem much more complicated than the argument that he’s a bad taker. When he scores them, he scores some of the best: those powerful and precise ones that don’t even get a consolation touch from the goalkeeper. But it clearly hasn’t happened enough. Rooney, Opta say, has missed ten out of 29 spot-kicks for Manchester United in his career (35%!), so, yes, maybe he isn’t very good. Oh, and that’s ten kittens.
Opposite Day
The game between Manchester United and Liverpool in mid-January was billed as the battle of the league’s best strikers; Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez. The Dutchman would prevail and it seems right in the eyes of those that are partial towards him. He managed five goals in the five that he played across the month, but his ability to do more elsewhere is why he has been endeared to everyone. As he stood over the ball waiting to cross from a free-kick in the game against Southampton, there was a welcoming feel of inevitability about it that’s revolutionised the way United fans also feel about corner-kicks on the right-hand side. Here, Van Persie would swing the ball in and the renascent Evra, leaping like a salmon on a trampoline, was able to nod it across goal for Wayne Rooney to score.
It was Evra and Rooney that would receive the pat on their backsides, as praising Van Persie for anything on a football pitch seems pointless now
The actual game against Liverpool could be filed under fan’s favourite ‘raising their game for the big occasion’. Football is generally unpredictable, and great because of it, but, when you take it broadly, it does tend to follow much of the same patterns. One such pattern is a very familiar one; a team plays well in the first-half, and then the other team plays well in the second. And it can happen in any game, with any team. Some can’t seem to fathom this, and it’s difficult to blame them. United’s near-surrender after half-time against Southampton, as disappointing as it felt, and as cowardly as it seemed, is just the way football works. In the first 45 against Liverpool at Old Trafford, United were dominant and could have had more than their one. They scored another soon after, but it was Liverpool’s half; indeed, Liverpool could have had more than their one. This all made for a great contest; the pattern is important here because it disregards the fact that there is clear gulf between the two clubs (you like your subtle jokes, right?).
We’ve Signed Zaha Day
Yay! A new player!
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January was a good month, but it’ll be february that matters now. Real and Ronnie coming home. Fulham, Everton and arry’s QPR. Tricky all.
Would love the 411 on where Zaha fits in when you get time scott.
Medumtum
Coming home? really since when has Old Trafford been his home?
Great read. Cheers
@medumtum,
Fulham? Are you serious? We outclassed them in the Cup. They’re not doing well in the league. People need to finally realise that they’re actually not a very good team even with Berba. QPR shouldn’t be too difficult either. If you’re worried about those games I dread to think how you cope with the prospect of playing City, Chelsea and Arsenal…
I am increasingly happy with our Zaha signing. That dude has a shitload of potential to be something truly special. He is ridiculously strong for a 20 year old. When he starts running, he’s like a freight train. Very difficult to bring him down without fouling him. You think i’m exhadurating? Please watch him this weekend and you will see what I am saying. Under the guidance of legends and world class players Zaha will rise to the next level.
@TheRadLegion. Surely Old Trafford is Ronnie’s footballing home.
@Olivermills6. I said tricky. The way United are I am more worried about these ‘easy’ fixtures where its easy to lose concentration and drop points. We showed it last year where not only did we lose points against weaker teams but from winning positions. Its not all about complacency either, teams involved in a relegation dogfight are always going to be hungry. And a lot of mid tier teams look at a Utd fixture as a cup final. We’ve beaten the more difficult teams away. Just Arsenal at the Emirates left while we host City and Chelsea. City game is obviously crucial. Otherwise its games like our match against QPR and Everton that will now decide the title.
for fun if you haven’t seen it yet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avTwcPiqNS4
Here we go…!
http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1510217-manchester-united-201213-the-worst-team-ever-to-win-the-premier-league
Liverstool dominated the 2nd half against United and bragged like they have dominated the league all season long. Pfftttt
How could there not be a gulf in quality is anybody’s guess (but apparently not Liverstool fans)
Medumtum – what like his home is also at sporting lisbon or real madrid?. Oldtrafford is not his home.
Great December, great january if we have a great february we will at least have a double or even the treble
@BayoRed. I generally wait until the end of March before assessing our trophy chances for the season. We have to beat Madrid first before I can look into the future in Europe and a possible run to Wembley again. In the F.A. Cup. We have to get to the semis first and in the league we have to keep stretching this lead as much as possible. If by the end of March, we have these three things in the bag then I can realistically see us having a go for the lot.
We’re playing averge at best but getting results. We’ll need to step it up against Madrid or they could tear us a new arsehole. We will need to play with serious intensity unlike in our recent games.
Well imo Utd have done all the hard work in the league already.I know all the cliches,never a easy game,never take a team for granted etc but look at Utd’s next 7
Fulham away
Everton home
QPR a
Norwich h
West Ham a
Reading h
Sunderland a
Then City home,cliches aside Utd must be fancied to take maximum points from those games
WeAreUnitedVideo – Bryan Robson with a cultured left foot. Quinton Fortune bloody rotten shooting.
wayne – I think City have Liverpool and Chelsea next , they could drop more point in these games.
Bobby Charlton’s combover- I think we have played our best football against the big teams.
dazbomber their next 3 are Dippers h,Southampton a,Rent Boys h,also have Everton a before they play us 4 fairly tough games
@dazbomber
Good points. If you look at the teams we’ve dropped points against, it’s only really Norwich where you’d say we categorically could’ve done better. Spurs and Everton are good teams who can take points off you home or away. Liberty is not an easy place to go this season.
City, by contrast, have dropped points you wouldn’t expect far more often – Sunderland, QPR, West Ham to name a few,
We know it’s consistent beating of the beatable teams that wins you the league. At the moment we are doing that better than City, with the added bonus of having won some huge games.
We are in a good condition in term of injuries and confidence.I agree with some of the reds though, we need to raise the level of our games and intensity of our concentration for the coming crucial month, we really need to toughen up in the back and start picking every game seriously.
As Real Madrid is on the horizon, I am sure the lads will be overly excited about the prospect of playing at Santiago Bernabeu but that shouldn’t change our philosophy about premier league.the talk of the treble is a little premature at this stage and will further promote the unnecessary distraction among the lads.
there are two more EPL matches before the team heads to the santiago bernabeu.fulham and everton,away and home respectively.i fancy us winning the fulham match convincingly but the everton one could be a potential banana skin.i hope what happened last season doesnt repeat itself,but the chances of that happening are rather unlikely,considering that the 4-4 was more of a freak result due to carelessness by our players.im very excited about the real match and the EPL matches i mentioned are perfect warm-ups,i think.
Think you will find City will surge back to take full points from Liverpool and Chelsea,they are too great a team to drop any points.The weekends draw was just a blip as any City supporter will tell you.
btw when i said “the real match” in my previous comment,i meant Real Madrid match.yeah,im particular about these little things.
Correction the midweek game was the blip.
I still believe, and despite the apparently easy fixture ahead there are still more banana skin left, Fulham at craven cottage will be a different animal even though they play us without the God father.against Saints the lads were looking tired specially in the second half, however I am sure Fergie will freshen up things.hopefully we will get the tippe points:/
Just hope we find the form we all want for 2 games v the virus.
El Classlico ManUtd v Real Madrid.
Just found a nice video from Anton, who has been featured on ROM before.
If this don’t get your heart pumpin, you’ll be needing a new heart!
http://tinyurl.com/afbfx7h
parry don’t know about City being to great a team to drop points,they’ve looked pretty ordinary all year.Crap form in the CL looked slow and disinterested against QPR maybe they’ll beat Dippers and Rent Boys but certainly think Southampton/Everton away will be problematic
Bottom line their next seven is much tougher than Utd’s setting up a scenario were we can finish them at OT
maybe u should go support the ‘great’ city then pottyhead……tit
parry so much for city being a great team cocked it up in the UCL group stage two seasons in a row,no wins this season in the group stage,won the title on only GD last season.”too great a team to drop any points”?people are saying barca are the best in the world,they drop points too.you’re having a laugh,mate.
wayne – Hello mate. No Parry does it to put a hex on it and it usually works!!
AlphaRS – Not then pal. How fucking predictable. Every fucking year they say the same shit. Worst team? Best strike force in Europe. Fucking idiots.
King Eric lol ok mate didn’t realize parry was a reverse physiology witch doctor
yeah, how is it the worst team ever with rooney hernandez and van persie vidic ferdinand etc etc
red joey/drv3011.
Hmm,you’s have almost got me feeling ashamed of myself.Not quite but almost.Question for you’s new on the site are we?
parry mate,i aint questioning your support for man utd,if thats what you think, its just that you make city sound so great but they arent really all that.they’re defo gonna drop points,just as we will.(cant see us throwing away the 7 pt lead at the top though)like wayne said,they’ve been rather ordinary.
All this talk of City in Europe. Let’s be honest, we’d have struggled to get out of that group.
Beratov out for the fulham match.. that can only be a good thing. Like Rooney said tho this will be a totally different game from the cup match. Lets hope for the same result tho.
drv3011.
Dont think you quite get it buddy.
*berbatov*
King Eric and AlphaRS – funny how that article no longer exists
any side that has Rooney RVP and hernandez in their lineup, is pretty damn good
“In a world of “ifs” and “buts” – a virtual world – the score against Southampton could very easily have been 3-1 or 4-1 or even 5-1.
RVP’s marginally off-sides/on-sides “goal”,
KagawaBunga’s shot off the woodwork which ricocheted away from two/three attackers driving the goal, AND, most significantly in my opinion,
the complete balls-up by TheWayneBoy when he was in one-on-one with the keeper.
On the other side, MC16 put DDG in jeopardy which gifted Soton their goal while DDG only had one significant save to make – from the free kick. Otherwise, they huffed and puffed but hardly threatened to blow the house down.
Returning to the real world – three points while ManShitty only got one to create a seven-point gap with an expanded goal-difference. Maybe not easy-peasy but my glass is way more than half-full.
Wayne @ 14:48: “look at Utd’s next 7
Fulham away
Everton home
QPR a
Norwich h
West Ham a
Reading h
Sunderland a
Then City home,cliches aside Utd must be fancied to take maximum points from those games”
Last year TheLads lost to Wigan and that was disastrous in terms of points and, more importantly, momentum which just leaked away and watched an 8-point lead disappear. So, banana-skins are there but no bookie would give odds on any one of those matches being an upset in which UTD don’t get maximum points.
On the other hand, if TheLads keep their concentration and squeeze maximum points out of those fixtures then the match against ManShitty @ OT should be pretty “insignificant” since I reckon they’re in tough over the next three weeks without Kompany and GreatBigHugeYaYa plus, of course, they won’t have SuperMario to kick around any more.
been on this site longer than u bitter boy
red joey.
Hah well pat your head but make sure you dont do any more damage to yourself.
dannysoya – Oh you are right mate about Zaha. The lads pace is ridiculous.As we have said he absolutely tore us a new one at OT that night. We couldnt contain him.
parry and myself have had one or two disagreements but he is a United fan, there is no doubt about that. It’s called reverse physchology as Wayne said.
red joey has commented on 11 threads since his first ever comment on RoM 4 months ago.
parryheid has argued on 520 threads in the last 2½ years, and has been ‘local’ for 5+ years.
Spot the difference.
red joey jumping to conclusions, watch out for the roo-bars.
Dresded Red.
Thanks for clearing that small matter up.Now can you solve where an old sparring partner of mine namely Smart Alex has gone?
parryheid – that’s absolutely my pleasure mate. Truth will out.
With regard to the contributor formerly known as Sir Alex the Smart, he and I are one. You will doubtless remember that moniker was usurped by a demented troll, and used to viciously attack my friends. I had used DreadedRed previously, and was advised by Costas, Fred and WillieRedNut to drop the much maligned Smarty rather smartly, and to re-assume my dreadful redness. After advising Scott of my intentions, I had a make-over, added dreads, and reapplied my red thoughts to these threads of Mancunia.
Six months ago I took over a lovely beach-bar/seafood restaurant in the heart of a tourist mecca. A wonderful life indeed, but a massive drain on any time I’m able to spend on the net. I’ve also learnt that every patron gets a kick out of pouring alcohol down the publican’s throat, leaving me hardly suited to intelligent conversation. No complaints though, I’m living the hazy dream – beach, beer, bikinis and bounty of the sea abound.
I am now a proud Republikan publican, and the public can see through me. Spar away parry my Red pen-pal with a penchant to think outside the box. In this ring, the canvas is ours.
Dreaded Red.
Well that pleases me no end, I thought you had been driven of the site by the individual you mention.Which I thought odd as you are as opinionated and at least as strong willed as I am.Made my day that has buddy,stay living the good life.