Showing posts with label Shinji Kagawa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shinji Kagawa. Show all posts

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Champions League: Manchester United Vs Bayern Munich – Show us what you got Moyes?


Despite the resounding win over Aston Villa, Manchester United’s performance all season has got manager David Moyes still reeling from supporters’ backlash – to a point where the infamous flying banner was used to express their feeling. This is not a good sign and now against Bayern Munich – United faces one of the biggest games at Old Trafford ever since last year’s match against Real Madrid.
How Moyes approach this game will give enough indication to what he will be facing in the coming weeks. Traditionally in the home leg of the Champions League knockout stages teams generally play a more ‘daring’ approach and try to come out with a win and then defend their advantage in the away leg. But Moyes had prove so far that when facing a more ‘superior’ (confident) attacking team, he tends to goes back to his Everton style – a more compact and defensive team line-ups. This is where Moyes may just shoot himself in the foot. Bayern – given their stature now – will punish a proven error-prone United team. As such most United fans would agree this is where Moyes cannot afford to play timid and instead go all out from the minutes the game starts. No matter how good Bayern can be, they are also humans and can be rattle. And looking back at the history of this two teams prove that this will be one of the greatest quarterfinal matchup in recent Champions League matches, if United starting XI does not ‘fold’ by kickoff.
Given Robin Van Persie and Juan Mata’s unavailability United must surely starts with Wayne Rooney and Shinji Kagawa upfront, with Danny Welbeck and Antonio Valencia on the flanks. Ryan Giggs will surely start alongside Michael Carrick (if Carrick is not require to do defensive duties). The sight of 40 years old Giggs starting however brings some dilemma to most United fans, some would think that Giggs is saved for this game and will surely be fire up to help United getting a good results. However it is still considered a worrying sight (despite Giggs’ legendary status) that United is so dependent on him. Even in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final few seasons, a good performance from Giggs (and Paul Scholes) too gave some United fans a good cause for concerns – the dependencies on these two highlight the fact that United has no replacement for them.
From the forwards to the midfield and especially defense, United is facing selection issues. None of these players (with the exception of newly contracted Wayne Rooney) have shown any consistencies all season. It is Moyes’ job to make sure the players are all fire up – just in time before the kick off, if there is any chance of a good result against the currently impressive Bayern Munich. As mentioned before, stranger things have happen in the Champions League – this season could be United’s season to grab that honour. Forget about the fact that winning the Champions League allows United to be in the tournament next season, at least put some hopes for United’s supporters in a disastrous season by playing some great football!

Thursday, 13 March 2014

Premier League: Manchester United Vs Liverpool – The Tide Has Turn!

Never before in recent memories – notably during Sir Alex Ferguson’s era – has Manchester United going into a Premier League game against their most intense rival Liverpool at Old Trafford as the underdogs. Here we are where Liverpool has been playing reasonably well to be at 4th spot – and still within striking distance of the Premier League title, as well as 11 points ahead of United. And United’s season has been crumbling since the turn of the year, so what is the significant of this Sunday’s tie?

Sunday, 23 February 2014

Champions League - Olympiakos Vs Manchester United: Can we dream Moyes?

With the form of football Manchester United is playing – which shows in the appalling results so far, most United fans generally, openly accept that the season could not get any worst. Still 11 points off the 4th place for a place in next season’s Champions League qualification at the end of February does not bode well for David Moyes (and everybody around him). Truth is United is bad – all season, with only occasional display that gets supporters excited temporarily. Will Wayne Rooney elevation into the highest-paid United player ever turn things around? Or does United actually need to do a “Liverpool miracle” to land the coveted Champions League spot – and winning the trophy for the 4th time?

Tuesday, 11 February 2014

Premier League: Arsenal Vs Manchester United – Where to hide now?

Both sides are hurting, Arsenal was comprehensively dumped by Manchester United fourth place Champions League spot rival – Liverpool (how times changed, fighting those mid-table fellows from Anfield – for fourth spot!!). As for United, the same old story (David Moyes’ era) continues – to a point where newcomers to the games would think that Manchester United is a mid-table team, period.

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

Manchester United Transfer News: Does not Mata who, just bring new player(s)?

Although not officially announced at this point, the arrival of Juan Mata from Chelsea has been dominating headlines for days – suggesting that the Spanish playmaker is on the verge of being the latest Red Devil. Is Mata’s signing even necessary, or is he just a statement signing?

Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Premier League – Manchester United Vs Arsenal: Here we come!

This is it, the one true test for Manchester United. There is one slight discrepancy though, United the home team will not be the league leader as has been the case for the last six to eight years – it is Arsenal that is in pole position and sitting 8 points clear of United. This does not really happened before – this unfamiliar positioning of these two teams. But fact is Arsenal who is flying high, still has the same manager in Arsene Wenger while United under David Moyes is still searching for its footing after the end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s successful era.

Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Champions League – Real Sociedad 0 Manchester United 0: Dull!!!

Typical of Manchester United so far this season – inability to finish the game when the chances are there. Robin Van Persie misses a penalty and hit the crossbar, so did Antonio Valencia while the normally reliable Javier Hernandez miss an absolute sitter. Elseway Marouane Fellaini sees red in his first season in Champions League football and Ashley Young re-ignites his love for the dark art of football with his controversial penalty winner.

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Premier League – Fulham Vs Manchester United: Let’s keep the momentum

The 4-0 win over Norwich City at the Capital One Cup will soon become a distant memory. After all it is at a minor domestic cup and the opponent was basically a ‘no-show’. It is still an important win especially given David Moyes’ difficult start as Sir Alex Ferguson’s replacement. The talk will be back on one issue – team selection!

Monday, 28 October 2013

Premier League: Manchester United 3 Stoke City 2: This is definitely Man Utd!

David Moyes finally did few things in this game that will win him ‘brownies’ point among die hard Manchester United fans. For one the manner of which United clawed back from being down bring back what had been missing all season – the ability to fight back and secure victory. And while Moyes’ team selection was not spot on, his tactical changes were, and for that Moyes deserve credit for this hard fought win.

Friday, 25 October 2013

Premier League: Manchester United Vs Stoke City: Moyes Vs Hughes

This is the third of the four series of home game which are deemed ‘winnable’, and so far it is one draw and one win – both games are still far from convincing. It will also pit David Moyes against Stoke City’s new manager Mark Hughes, a former United boy. Hughes has already fire the first shot at Moyes by saying that United should be doing better and Moyes could be facing the sack. This is nothing short of mind games from Hughes, knowing that the new United under Moyes is still vunerable and shaky.

Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Champions League: Manchester United 1 Real Sociedad 0: Better than none!

Yes, that is how desperate Manchester United fans have become – a win with a solidarity goal (own goal by opponent in the opening minutes). It was at Old Trafford and facing an opponent considered the weakest in United’s Champions League group and all this United side can do was one own goal win!

Monday, 21 October 2013

Champions League: Manchester United Vs Real Sociedad: Get The Results Moyes!

What a start to Manchester United’s season under new manager David Moyes – worst starts in more than 24 years. Hopes of retaining the Premier League title has been written off by many. In cup competitions will now lay any hopes of silverware and United is involved in two of them – the Champions League and the Capital One Cup, both considered different categories of prestige but silverware nonetheless.

Thursday, 17 October 2013

Premier League - Manchester United Vs Southampton: Who is it going to be Moyes?

Always the talking point for all of Manchester United’s fans everywhere – who is going to be David Moyes starting XI? After 26 years of Sir Alex Ferguson, most United fans – despite Ferguson’s constant rotation – can almost knows the way Ferguson picked his team. But since Moyes took over – an unconvincing one so far – his team selection still leaves many United fans scratching their heads.

Sunday, 13 October 2013

Transfer News: Kagawa, Valencia Out?

With the winter transfer window fast approaching, Manchester United – after the debacle of the summer transfer – has been continuingly linked with various players, the latest being a swap deal involving Leighton Baines and Antonio Valencia. The other swap deal circulating in the rumors mills is Shinji Kagawa and Borussia Dortmund’s Neven Subotic.

Sunday, 6 October 2013

Sunderland 1 Manchester United 2: This is a relief!

This win is a welcome relief – for Manchester United, for the fans and especially for David Moyes as he began his reign as United manager in a dreadful manner. Was it a convincing performance – definitely no, as United needed 18 year old debutant Adnan Januzaj to save them from another uninspiring performance.

Thursday, 3 October 2013

Sunderland Vs Manchester United: What will it be now?

David Moyes complained about Manchester United fixtures, about how tough the run of games United is suppose to face. But his ‘complaints’ stopped at Manchester City games. West Bromwich Albion was supposed to be the ‘easier’ start of the run, follow by Sunderland before the international break and look at what happened!

Champions League – Shakhtar Donetsk 1 Manchester United 1: It’s all about Giggs

There will be no argument – on the importance of the point gathered last night at the Donbass Arena. It is an away Champions League game and it is against one of the most formidable opponent in Manchester United’s group. By doing so, David Moyes also avoid his ‘first’ European loss as United manager.

Wednesday, 2 October 2013

Transfer News: David Moyes will buy again!

Depending on the source of news it was reported that the Glaziers will sanction big money for manager David Moyes to dip into the winter transfer window – and shop. Various names had been linked, notably Ander Hererra of Athletic Bilbao, Leighton Baines of Everton and Fabio Coentrao of Real Madrid. Of the three probably Coentrao will be European cup-tied leaving Baines and Herrera as the more obvious choices – do we need them?

Monday, 30 September 2013

Shakhtar Donetsk Vs Manchester United: Have Moyes Learnt?

This will be the first away Champions league games for David Moyes – and he needs to make sure he gets it right. After a difficult start to the season – 8 games, 4 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw – makes it looks right Moyes is really out of depth in his job as the new manager of Manchester United, or is he?

Sunday, 29 September 2013

Manchester United 1 West Bromwich Albion 2: Oh No Moyes, Not Again!!

David Moyes did achieve a ‘first’ – his first lost at Old Trafford and it was not pretty – the manner of the loss. Put it in simple stats – 6 Premier league games, 3 losses, one draw, and two wins (only one was convincing – against Swansea), making Manchester United lying a lowly 12th in the league table. The other two wins came at cup ties – both at Old Trafford. While general consensus is that Moyes has a gigantic shoe to fill and will be rightly given time to lead United in the new era, the manner of his team selection, his tactical ability as well as his role as the motivator for the team has come into question.