Straight Swap?

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All over the world, headlines would be written about Ryan Giggs getting a late winner for Manchester United in his 900th appearance for the club. Let’s rewind a bit to the start of the game and it sure did bring back some memories of meetings in the early years of the Premier League between the two clubs when Norwich City were one of United’s closest challenger for the title in the inaugral year of the English Premier League. The season was 1992-93 and Ryan Giggs ended the season with his first ever Premier League winners medal around his neck as well as the PFA Young Player of The Year award. Read the full story

A big sigh of relief at the end of the game but why did we have to sigh at the end when it was so comfortable for so long in the match? It was because once Manchester United took a 2 goal lead, United decided to take the foot off the pedal and instead of passing forwards, United decided to pass sideways instead. United could have scored three maybe four maybe if United had decided to keep attacking and keep up the pressure on Liverpool. At the end of the match, we cannot help but feel satisfied and extremely delighted to have beaten our hated and hostile rivals, Liverpool in one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the English and world football calendar. I think all of us, Manchester United fans, could relate with Patrice Evra’s celebration at the end of the match because that is how we felt and given a choice, we might do the same. Read the full story

Sir Alex Ferguson proved why he is the best manager ever in the Premier League and earth after beating Arsenal 2-1 in their home at Emirates Stadium. United knew they needed a win to keep chasing leaders Man City and they looked on course for victory when Antonio Valencia nodded home Ryan Giggs’ cross. Arsenal leveled in the second half through Robin van Persie, but their hopes of a point were blown nine minutes from the end when Danny Welbeck steered Valencia’s cross home from close range. Poor Arsenal lost their third game in row while United raise their away victories to eight and close the gap again with neighbors City. Read the full story

The final whistle is blown at the Etihad Stadium and it is safe and fair to say that Manchester United fans the world over breathed a huge collective sigh of relief. Pre kickoff, we had the shock news of Paul Scholes coming out of retirement to contend with. One way or another, United fans would in general be left wondering on why the sudden change of heart from the normally resolute Englishman and how will the quiet maestro do on his return which depended on him coming on in the game as he was named on the bench. Like many, I was shocked at his change in heart but certainly didn’t look at it as a step forward rather I looked at it as a step backward maybe a step in desperation. Read the full story

In my post-match review cum pre-match preview in the aftermath of the 5-0 trashing we handed out to Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day, I had warned that the greatest danger Manchester United faced now were from themselves and of being over-confident. I had warned about the over-confidence coming from the team selection of Sir Alex Ferguson and true to cue, United were undone on Sir Alex’s 70^th birthday at home at Old Trafford against strugglers, Blackburn Rovers. That is now our third home loss in the season in all competitions. Old Trafford has lost a bit of its invincibility; it isn’t much of a fortress anymore. It might be premature of me to suggest that but if FC Basel and Benfica can come to Old Trafford and play without fear and leave with a point in the Champions League, Manchester City can put 6 past us at home and Crystal Palace can knock us out at home in the Carling Cup, I might just have a point when I say that this season Old Trafford is not much of a fortress anymore. Read the full story