Emotions run high

No matter what happens in this 2hours, just hope it will be the best for us. Just held your chin up high. Even Sir Alex said this is just the beginning. Let's make it a beautiful beginning. Hope Devils can walk proudly out from the Bridge!

GLORY GLORY MAN UTD!!!

Phakdee Eleven

Sebagai starting, ni bukan macam 7-eleven atau Ocean Eleven. Tapi ni ialah kesebelasan utama yg aku rasa patut Fergie letak kat the Bridge malam lusa. Mari kita mulakan dari bawah ke atas.

Keeper:
Yang ni tak payah nak bincang la kan, konpem VDS.

Pertahanan:
Kat tengah, baik letak Vidic dan Evans. Si Vidic dah start training semula, so sepatutnya ok. Jgn ko gi takik Drogba dlm penalti box sudah.. Dahla Drog tu tgh mengancam skang ni. Evans patut ganti si Mat Filem tu. Fergie saje je la cakap calf dia tak elok2 lg. Tapi aku rasa mmg Fergie takmo dia main kot. Haha, padan muka! Kanan kiri akan diapit oleh OShea dan Evra. Neville jgn harap ko dpt main. Tak larat ko nak kejar Malouda atau pun Jokol tu. Tak pasal2 half time kena tukar seluar sebab terkincit.

Tengah:
Seperti biasa aku inginkan seorang yg laju dan sorang cool utk mengemudi center midfield. Fletcher 'si rempit' dan Giggs 'si legend' patut beraksi. Scholes dah main dgn CSKA aritu, so perlu recover dulu kot. Ando masih muda utk game ni. Park injured lagi. Gandingan ni la yg demolish pasukan biru ini di Old Trafford musim lepas dgn jaringan 3 gol berbalas TIADA! Pengapit pula tiada lain Nani dan Valencia. Overlap mereka masih mengancam, dgn harapan Ashley Cole yg akan terkincit.

Hadapan:
Part ni agak susah utk dijangka. Berba tgh on form, Rooney bersemangat selepas menjadi bapa, Owen semakin menjumpai sentuhan semula. Tapi mengikut game2 sebelum ni, pastinya Berba dan Rooney yg akan start. Lagipon Fergie dah cakap awal2 musim yg Owen akan digunakan sepenuhnya bila tiba masa peak, di bulan December (Boxing Day) dan bulan Mac hingga Mei (masa tu tgh kejar EPL, FA Cup dan UCL serentak). Jgn risau Owen, ko tetap akan main di min ke-70.

Secara statistiknya, Merah belum mengatasi Biru di sarang mereka sejak 2002, 7 tahun lamanya. Ni bukan title decider, tapi cukup utk send message to others utk mengatakan hanya ada satu merah dan satu biru sahaja yg betul2 mampu menjulang EPL pada Mei 2010 nanti.

Nota kaki: rumah Merah 2 - rumah Biru 1

Win Lose or Draw

Mata aku tetap depan TV sampai pukul 3.30 pagi smlm, melayan ESPN yg tunjuk game ManUtd dgn Blackburn. Puas hati aku tgk Berbatov dan Rooney skor semula. Dan yang lagi best, Fergie ubah hampir semua midfield dan defend.

Walaupon first half nampak mcm tak dpt nak penetrate Blackburn, tapi Berba mmg nampak mengancam sket berbanding game sebelum ni. Dgn adanya Carrick dan Ando, bahagian tengah nampak lebih laju dan teratur ditambah diapit oleh Nani dan Valencia.

Defence solid gak walaupon Brown dan Evans yang main. Baik dieorang drpd Rio kot. Papepun aku rasa result game ni good build up utk next UCL dan clash dgn Chelsea minggu depan.

Rooney lebih konpiden, Owen semakin mengancam, Berba on form. Obertan? Nanti dulu kot.. Cuma Fergie kena cari lagi ramuan sepatutnya di bahagian tengah lagi. Kasik mantap betul2.

ps: Nasib baik ManUtd bagi 3 points kat Liv minggu lepas. Kalau tak, 7 games kalah berturut2.

Midfield Dilemma

Besok ManUtd bakal berentap dgn pasukan Hitam Terbakar (Blackburn). Dgn masih panas kerana kekalahan dgn Liverpool, pastinya Fergie ingin menang dlm game ni. Walaupon dah layak ke suku akhir Carling, ditambah dgn Owen skor, tetapi bagi media, tetap game ni seperti penentu kepada hala tuju ManUtd pada May 2010.

Makin byk orang perkatakan tentang dilemma midfield di kelab ni, tetapi sebenarnya Fergie hanya perlu memilih pasangan yg sesuai utk mengepalai jentera bergerak ManUtd di bahagian tengah. Kalau tak cukup duit nak beli player pon, sebab hutang keliling pinggang, lengan dan peha, kualiti yg ada skang cukup utk menang liga (at least).

Kriteria utk menang kebiasaan akan ditentukan oleh sekuat mana pemain tengah nak memegang possession dari pihak lawan. So senang cakap, player tu kena creative, laju dan good passer. Dulu ada Ronaldo, kira okla, sume orang dok harap kat dia. Dia pun lama2 dah makin main macam forward, dah tak memberi sokongan yg sepatutnya pemain tengah lakukan.

Midfield yang aku dok nampak meningkat skang adalah Fletcher, dulu orang anggap dia the 'next beckham'. Tapi dia berbeza sgt drpd cara permainan Mr Posh tu. Dia mmg bagus utk game2 yg big. Ingat semi UCL musim lps vs Arsenal? Walaupun ending dia dibuang padang.

Berbalik kepada kriteria tadi, kreativiti di tengah skuad ManUtd mmg agak kurang. Nak harapkan Scholes dan Giggs yang dah main bermusim2. Yg lain masih ok, tetapi belum ada yg nampak btol2 mampu men'saiko' opponent dgn passing2 yg tak tercapai dek akal. Antara yg lain, Carrick la yg mengatasi carta passing2.

Maka dgn ini, utk menghadapi Blackburn, cadangan adalah utk menurunkan player yg laju dan kreatif. Sebab Fletcher injured lagi, turunlah wahai Carrick dan Ando. Anderson walaupon tak skor slalu, tapi dia mmg rajin utk mark man, stop the ball and make things possible. Dgn adanya dua mamat ni, Fergie bole dabik semula dada dgn 3 mata penuh.

Tambah perasa di bahagian wing oleh Nani dan Valencia, crossing mereka juga bakal membantu Rooney dan Owen gegar jaring. Akhir kata, majulah ManUtd utk Liga Perdana!

Wasalam.

Post-Liverpool Match

Mulanya aku takde idea nak tulis apa lagi dlm blog memandangkan masa semakin suntuk untuk aku. Tapi lepas aku dengar HotFM petang Selasa lepas, aku terpanggil untuk menulis semula. Topik pada hari itu ialah 'perlukah Rio Ferdinand dijual kerana prestasi semasa?'.

Aku rasa Rio memang tgh gabra skang sebab even Fergie pun dah sound dia thru media. Fergie dah ckp kalau dia takleh perform mcm dulu, dia dah takde tempat kat ManUtd dan England utk WC2010. Bagi aku mmg pedih utk dia. Tapi dia dah byk kali buat sangkak musim ni. Gol Bellamy masa derby game aritu, gol Ukraine lawan England, dan terbaru dicanai oleh En Torres yg 80% prestasi.

Musim lepas pun dia ada sangkak gak. Kalau tak salah aku, gol Eto'o masa Final UCL tu dia gak yg salah. Tak kira dia byk kali injured belakang, sampai Evans dpt main bagus. Even rekod cleansheet 14game tu, Vidic dgn Van je yg main semua game. Rio aku rasa main tak sampai separuh. Mungkin semua ni sebab injury dia la kot. Dia tak btol2 fit lagi utk main highly-intense game.

Kalau bole pusing semula, mungkin Evans yg main lwn Liv aritu. Sebab PC kat Rusia aritu Evans ada sama dgn Fergie, tapi dia tak dpt main, Rio yg main. Mungkin Fergie nak test Rio utk warmup before Liv game. Malangnya silap percaturan.

Lepas ni lawan Blackburn, maka Evans patut main dgn Oshea. Vidic pun kena kad merah.

Kalau baca balik previous blog aku, aku ada cite pasal gol skoring ability. Kalau ikut musim lepas, selepas 10 games, ManUtd dah skor sebanyak 19 gol.. Tapi musim ini pada jumlah game yg sama, ManUtd dah skor 21 gol.. So skoring ability ManUtd dah meningkat berbanding musim lepas.. Kena teruskan usaha. Gambate! Takkan nak harapkan Rooney sorang aje. Berbatov dgn gaya malas tu patut rajin2 kan diri utk skor lebih lagi. Owen baik ko jgn injured dah. Jgn pagar makan padi.

The Replacements 09/10

The whole world has been known that the departure of the most expensive player to the Galacticos squad in Bernabeu. The same feeling is felt to the lost of our most loyal Argentine to our neighbor (most probably). But the main challenge here is how to keep our club sustainability to keep hold the Premier League and getting back the Champions League and FA Cup into our hands.

Let’s get started with facts! {All of these data is in comparison ONLY between four players i.e. Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney and Berbatov as they are the forward line).



In last season, we need to admit that Ronaldo was the main player who helped us to retain our Premier League for third time in a row; in terms of goals. He has scored 18 goals which comprises of nearly 41% out of total 44 goals. Even though last season was a hard time for Tevez, he still managed to score 5 goals; which most of it is crucial to our title (except against Liverpool at Anfield).





Where as in Champions League, 6 out of 14 goals were from them. In total 41 out of 75 goals during the whole season. These stats show that without them, we will lose nearly 55% goal scoring rate for next season. Scary, huh?





Now we will look back two seasons ago when we lift the doubles i.e. Premier League and Champions League. In EPL, they scored 45 goals from 62 goals (73% scoring rate) and in UCL they scored 12 from 16 (75%). In total for the whole season, they scored 61 from 74 goals (83%).



From these stats, it shows that we need somebody to fill the goal-scoring gap for us. As if we want to retain the EPL for next season, with Rooney and Berbatov in the same scoring rate, we need Owen and others to create 20 to 25 goals. Furthermore, if we want to get back the Champions League trophy, we have to get Owen and co. to score additional 10 to 15 goals! In summary, the team excluding Rooney and Berbatov need to score 30 to 40 goals to win the EPL and UCL again!!!

Hopefully, we can put our future to Rooney to increase his scoring rate. If Sir Alex can suit him to his position same in England squad, he should be perfectly fit; with bigger prize coming up at the end of next season, 2010 World Cup Finals! And to Owen, please don’t let us down especially the manager whom has a lot of faith in you even before you are a Kop!

10 May 2009 : Man City (Home) - BPL

Manchester City. We have lost to them at home last season. And that is the only lost we had against them in Premiership era. Now with lots of new players coming in the Blue squad, we had a tougher challenge.

We just qualify for final of UCL and we need to keep that momentum up. They are 4 games left in BPL, and Liverpool really gives us a serious threat. Credits to them as they are really up to it through out this season. They had been closer and closer each season.

Back into this game, this is a derby match, which always giving us such an intense. Players have to be up to it. Remember Evra making his debut in this derby and he was substituted even before half time. That shows how's the feeling.

I'm not seeing back four will be changed, but our midfielders are. We need some experience the heart of the field and Scholes is the best person for that. Upfront we need somebody who can heat up the game and Tevez is the man.

Hopefully we can get 4 wins out of 4 in this final lap of BPL. Go United! Go for glory, again!

Line-Up: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Rooney, Scholes, Nani, Tevez, Welbeck

Prediction: 3-1 United

05 May 2009 : Arsenal (Away) - UCL [Post Match]

3-1. Totally dominated the game. We are so lucky to get two quick goals in 11 minutes, which make tough for the opponents trying to get 4 goals.

Credits to our midfielders. They work so hard to contain that area. Anderson, Fletcher, Carrick.. Very solid at the back as well.

Sadly, we are frustrated by Fletcher will not play in the final. He was on the ball, but referee just didn't see it. Hope that will act as one of the motivation to win the cup.

EPL matches are just around the corner, with Man City is the first. Hope we can win that game. 7 points to be won in order to lift the cup for 3 years consecutively.

Let's hope for the best!!!

Line-up: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Rio, Vidic, Evra (Rafael), Fletcher, Park (Giggs), Carrick, Anderson (Berbatov), Rooney, Ronaldo

Final score: 3-1

02 May 2009 : Boro (Away) - BPL [Post Match]

2-0. Very promising display by United prior heading to London for the second leg match against Gunners. But all of our competitors are winning as well, therefore we couldn't be too relaxed. Arsenal & Liverpool won by 3-0 each.

Back to the game, our midfield looks very solid and organize, even though we have changed the line-up. Hail to our FPA Player of the Year. He silenced all the critics by proving he is still worth it!

Other players such as Evans, Park, really impressed as well. Now Fergie has a lot of thinking to do for the next selection.

Nothing much I can comment of the match itself. But one thing for sure, 6 games left for this season (4 EPL + 2 UCL), let us hope it will be 6 wins out of 6!

GLORY GLORY!!!

Line-Up: Foster, O’Shea, Evans, Vidic, Evra (Rafael), Park (Nani), Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Macheda (Tevez), Berbatov (6 out of 11 correct!)

Final Score: 2-0 United

02 May 2009 : Boro (Away) - BPL

Middlesbrough. In Premiership era, we only lost twice to them at Riverside. We won 8 and draw 3 matches. But just to be aware, the last two matches at Riverside (1 in EPL, 1 in FA Cup) we just drew with them 2-2 in both games. Therefore, we couldn't have complacency with this game.

If we can produce the same intensity during first leg of semi in UCL, we can win this game. We are fast, organized, and discipline.

Fergie said that he will re-shuffle his players for this Boro match, just to rest players who will play at Emirates 3 days later. We came to this exact situation in 2007, which we produce sublime comeback against Everton and embarrassingly defeated 0-3 at Milan 3 days later.

With Liverpool playing against Newcastle, we need to be at the top of our game as well. If we lose, we will be second-placed with lower goal difference.

Target for this game is to get 3 points, high scoring margin, no injuries.

There are only 7 matches to go to complete this quadruple season. To get 7 out of 7 wins will make sure we are living in Theater of Dreams! Glory Glory!

Line-Up: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Park, Anderson, Nani, Macheda, Welbeck

Prediction: 1-0 United

29 April 2009 : Arsenal (Home) – UCL [Post match]

1-0. As predicted in last column. In overall, we played well. We looked solid at the back and threatening up front. The line-up picked by Fergie is the best looking at our current ‘games-in-every-3 days’ agenda. But that is what all about when you are looking to lift two trophies in end of the season.

Our backline is the back-four, but the thing we never expect is of all the players, our right-back is the one who scored the crucial goal! Happy birthday O’Shea! This will be your best birthday gift ever, I assumed.

Using 4 midfielders including Rooney, Fletcher, Carrick and Anderson was a good move as we need a compact team at the centre. They all are very quick and always the first to get the ball. It’s effective as we can control the deadly-passing from Mr Cesc.

Unfortunately, that night was not a very good for Tevez. Even though he tried his best, but he can’t put the ball at the back of the net. He really wanted to score just to prove why United still hunger for his talent.
Next week, it will be a very different game in Emirates. Arsenal will push all out to get goals at home. Fergie must re-shuffle his players to accommodate that situation, and hoping he won’t be picking the same team from the first leg. Hopefully, Rio will be fit for that game.

Line-up: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Rio (Evans), Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Anderson (Giggs), Carrick, Rooney, Tevez (Berbatov), Ronaldo

Final score: 1-0

29 April 2009 : Arsenal (Home) – UCL

Arsenal. It is one of the big clubs in England. I still can remember the ‘pizzagate’ issue, Keano vs Viera era, etc. Now we are going to face them for the first time in Europe competition. In domestic cup matches, we had won 10, drew 2, and lost 7. Meanwhile in Premiership, we won 13, drew 10, and lost 10. In those 20 wins, we won 13 matches at home. Statistically, we can win tonight’s match. Nevertheless, European nights always different compared to domestic game. Statistics can fool you.

Through my observation during Arsenal vs Boro last weekend, Arsenal is at their peak again. With Cesc Fabregas started to score again, the midfielder will impose a bigger threat to us. Arshavin and van Persie won’t be playing, but they still have Adebayor upfront. We need somebody to close and man-marked Fabregas in order for us to have possession. By playing at home, I think Fergie should put two strikers at the top rather than one. Arsenal also loves to play overlapping and crossing from the flanks, therefore our wing backs should be fit enough to mark, chase, tackle, and counter-attack. To have all this traits, we can put our faith to Evra and O’Shea.

Hopefully we will win this match so we can go to Emirates with an advantage. May the best team win and I put all my faith to United! Glory Glory!

Line-Up: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez

Prediction: 1-0 United

25 April 2009 : Spurs (Home) – BPL [post match]

When you try to think back on greatest comebacks for United, everybody will think of the triumph in Nou Camp stadium in 1999. With a tap from Sheringham and Solksjaer, the trophy has to change the ribbon colour in the last minute of the game. But the latest comeback was against Spurs, after being 2-0 down. With 5 goals in 22 minutes, it such an interesting game to watch, especially you are United fans. The last comeback after being 2-0 down, (if I can remember) was against Everton at Goodison Park in season 2006/07 and that game was in 28 April 2007; just nearly 2 years back.

I’m glad we had gone through another match in Premier League and it is just 5 matches to go. But just to be aware, we will play away more than at home. Even at home, we will welcome Man City and Arsenal, two big matches; two big rivals in many perspective. Furthermore, we have to search for the 2 goals margin to equalize Liverpool’s goal difference.

You cannot deny what Tevez had done to the team when he came from the bench. It sends a strong message to the club that we need him no matter if we had bought players upfront.

Hopefully we can finish our final lap strong. Put fatigue out of the recipe.

Line-up : Van der Sar, Rafael (O’Shea), Rio, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Fletcher (Scholes), Nani (Tevez), Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney (9 out of 11 correct!)

Final Score : 5-2

25 April 2009 : Spurs (Home) - BPL

Spurs. The club that always giving us hard time in cup tie. We have lost to them more often than winning in League Cup (only 1 win, 1 draw and 5 loss in 7 matches) and getting win 5 out of 10 matches in FA Cup. But it is different result in Premiership. We never lost to them at home in Premiership era (same with Portsmouth). We managed to get 42 points out of 48! Good statistics.

Yet, never be carried away. Focus is key. With Tevez hinting going to Spain next season, everybody needs to do their job effectively.

Last match, our squad looks solid, even when Rio was out of equation. But I think we need to freshen things up upfront. We need goals, not just outstanding play. With Rooney starts to hitting back of the net, he should bring more enthusiasm among players.

I couldn't say much for this game as I need to prepare myself as tomorrow I will be moving in to my new house. Glory Glory Man Utd! Let's go and get another 3 points!

Line-up : Van der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Rio, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Tevez, Rooney

Prediction : 2-0 United

22 April 2009 : Portsmouth (Home) - BPL [Post-Match]

2-0. Very good result for us. Now we are 3 points closer to 18th championship title. Credits to Portsmouth that they kept fighting until the end. But after 82 minutes trying to seal the game, came Carrick low drive shot to secure the full points.

For me, at this final stage of season, experience is the best recipe for success. Thanks Giggsy for the crossing he made for the first goal; and thanks to Scholesy for the thru pass for the second goal. We really need that kind of play.

Don't be relaxed with this win guys. We have to be even more cautious. Looking from outside, we are winning title again; we got those 3 points; we led the table with 3 points; we won with 2 goals margin. But, we have to look deeper than that. There are still 18 points to be fought; we are 3 goals lesser compared to Liverpool's goal difference; we still have to play Boro away from home and welcome Man City and Arsenal at home! All of this will determine our position come end of May.

In the end, I really enjoy this season as many ups and downs for us. Hoping final day it will an 'up' for us!

Line-up : Van der Sar, Gary (O'Shea (Rafael)), Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Anderson (Carrick), Scholes, Giggs, Rooney - 7 out of 11 correct! hehe

Final score : 2-0 United

22 April 2009 : Portsmouth (Home) - BPL

Portsmouth. From all EPL clubs, we will meet the club who’s had knock out us from FA Cup last season. They done it in our home soil and then became champions of FA Cup 2008/09. Now we meet them again in different scenario; i.e. playing for Premier League match with 7 games left for this season.

Yes, we were disappointed for not going to Wembley again for this year FA Cup Final against Chelsea, but we can still move on and get our QUADRUPLE! Impossible? Not really, as we have the capability to do it.

Coming back to Portsmouth, we never lost against them in Premier League era. We got 15 points out of 15! Good statistics. But never be complacent. More over, the last time we lost against them is in season 2004/05 at Fratton Park. That game ended we defeated 2-0. If you can remember the second goal was in the 90th minute with Rio Ferdinand back passed to Van der Sar and our goalie misjudge it! (Please correct me if I’m wrong)

We need to win this game, in order to put more pressure to our rival, Liverpool. They drew 4-4 against Arsenal yesterday and it really a big boost for us! Never write-off Chelsea, they kept going inaudibly behind us. One major slip, instead Red, maybe Blue ribbon will be tied at EPL trophy this season!

Hopefully Fergie will field his strongest team. I personally am hoping a big win, just to get our superior goal difference. But there main thing is to get those valuable 3 points. Glory Glory Man Utd!

Line-up: Van der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Rio, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez

Prediction: 4-0 to United

Introduction - Welcome Man Utd Fans!

This blog is a place where I will express my personal opinion and prediction about all Man Utd matches. Hopefully, there will be pre-match and post-match analysis covering from EPL, FA Cup (unfortunately no more; maybe season 2009/10) and UCL.

Please feel free to comment or giving your perspective; and most important thing, please don’t take it too seriously as this is only an opinion from a fan which never been in Old Trafford, never watch Man Utd live match, but truly supports Man Utd club since a kid and hopefully up until the end.

Enjoy!