Showing posts with label Sir Alex Ferguson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sir Alex Ferguson. 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?

Thursday, 20 February 2014

Premier League: Crystal Palace Vs Manchester United – This is it?

This is it for David Moyes’ team? How much does Manchester United wants that 4th spot for Champions League football next season? After the euphoria of signing Juan Mata (honestly he did not deliver the extra invigorating factor as Mesut Ozil), the warm weather training in Dubai and so much talk about possible next season signings, the final 12 games for this season will determined Moyes’ team fate for next season.

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.

Sunday, 19 January 2014

Chelsea 3 Manchester United 1: Sir Alex Ferguson spoiled us!!!

Yes, Fergie and the success he brought to regions of Manchester United’s fans over the last two decades. During the trophyless season when Carlo Ancelotti took Chelsea to the double, United fans are still proud of their season – for fighting all the way, the December through to the end of season when United was still very much fighting for the title. But this is different, 14 points adrift just half way in January with 7 losses already – out of FA Cup and facing the elite in Champions League, with Wednesday’s games against Sunderland in the Capital One Cup hanging unfavorably!

Wednesday, 8 January 2014

Manchester United Transfer News: Honestly David Moyes, we want …….

We want you to take the current ‘ordinary-labeled’ squad and make them better like they used to be (therefore like how they can be). Put the hunger back in them, make them want the ball all the time, make them fight until the last few seconds of stoppage time, makes them feel ‘privilege’ everytime they put on the Manchester United jersey. Yes that top the list and not another Marouane Fellaini….

Capital One Cup: Sunderland Vs Manchester United: Our only trophy??

Premier League title good as gone, even for the die hards (although miracle does happen), Champions League looks too tough a task for the currently average Manchester United team and the lost at Old Trafford to Swansea City in the FA Cup leaves United with Capital One Cup as the only trophy that has a fair chance of winning this season – not withstanding that there is a ‘impressive’ Manchester City standing in the way…

Thursday, 19 December 2013

Capital One Cup: Stoke City Vs Manchester United: Is this Moyes only silverware chance?

While the Premier League title seems a distance (but not totally out of it), David Moyes’ hopes of silverware lies in the three cup competition, one of which is tonight’s game against Stoke City at Britannia Stadium. The Champions League where Manchester United was surprisingly doing well – topping the group without loss, and drawing the relatively ‘safe’ Olympiakos in round 16 – will only gets tougher in the knockout stage progress with quality teams like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona waiting. Therefore it is the domestic cups which Moyes will have an eye at – particularly the Capital One Cup.

Thursday, 5 December 2013

Premier League – Manchester United Vs Newcastle United: What now?

David Moyes and his team will be facing another high flying team – Newcastle United – at home. As in the case of Southampton, West Bromwich Albion and lately Everton, teams like these goes to Old Trafford with confidence knowing that they could return with positive results – and the fear factor United used to possess under Sir Alex Ferguson is long gone.

Premier League – Manchester United 0 Everton 1: Everton a better team now!!

David Moyes could not get the better of the man who replaced him at Everton – in his own backyard! That does not sound good – at all to any Manchester United’s supporters. Managing Everton and United is totally different – it is akin to driving a Japanese car compares to driving a German marquee brand. The quality of the squad is also way different and yet Everton managed to create history at Old Trafford on Wednesday night!

Monday, 2 December 2013

Premier League – Tottenham Hotspurs 2 Manchester United 2: Another 2 points dropped

Another draw and another 2 points dropped – and now Manchester United is 9 points off Arsenal (a rather surprise league leader). In the end United was saved by a dubious penalty through Danny Welbeck – and subsequently Wayne Rooney.

Monday, 11 November 2013

Premier League – Manchester United 1 Arsenal 0: This is the stuff of champions!

What a result – despite the 1-0 scoreline. It is the manner in which Manchester United won that has changed a lot of perception about them – and their title hopes. This is the Arsenal team sitting on top of the Premier League table – eight points ahead of United, the defending champion.

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!

Tuesday, 29 October 2013

Capital One Cup – Manchester United 4 Norwich City 0: Hernandez and Fabio

The night belongs to these two players – Javier Hernandez and Fabio da Silva. Two players that find it hard to get game times under new manager David Moyes. For once the score line reflects the class between the two sides but of course both sides did field squad players and youngsters. Still, this win completes the last of the four series of home games for Manchester United at Old Trafford this month and it can be deemed – satisfactory (3 wins and a draw).

Monday, 28 October 2013

Capital One Cup – Manchester United Vs Norwich City: Let’s see the others!

On the back of that much talk about performance from Manchester United against Stoke City, the attention shift to the next fixture – Capital One home fixture against Norwich City. For once too since Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign, this might not be that one fixture where United fans will get to see more younger players – with the exception of Adnan Januzaj, or maybe Wilfred Zaha.

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.

Sunday, 20 October 2013

Premier League - Manchester United 1 Southampton 1: Here Comes Our Nightmares!!

It has been said before, time and time – that the new era post Sir Alex Ferguson will be difficult, for the club and its fans. Even the man himself warned that the difficulties will be ‘present’ – for periods longer than most fans would expect. And it has been said that David Moyes must be, and will be given time to manage Manchester United after Ferguson’s successful era. But in the new era, United is the defending Premier League champion, a football powerhouse as well as one of the biggest clubs in the football world – as compared to when Ferguson took over in 1986.

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.