Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Believe: Manchester United Will Beat Barcelona
I have heard doubts over whether United can do what Real Madrid could not and stop Barcelona. I do not share these doubts.
Manchester United have arguably hit their best form of the season in the last stretch, with notable highlights being convincing wins over Schalke to reach this point and a win over Chelsea to put them on the brink of the title. Many people may make the Spanish champions their favourites to enjoy Champions League glory due to their ability to rip a defence open on a whim, because they can pass a team to death, or maybe just because of the majestic Messi.
However I believe Barcelona actually have more to worry about than United and this Saturday should see a very different encounter to that of two years ago which saw Barcelona ease their way to the trophy
One key to United's chances will be the strength of captain Vidic at the back. As Madrid's Pepe found out, Barcelona have a knack for being able to get players sent off. I cannot see many ways of beating Barcelona with one less man as they look to outnumber teams with a full eleven men on the pitch, never mind ten. Therefore Vidic will have to keep his cool and not allow the pace and skill of Barcelona's attack to get the better of him. With Vidic on the pitch keeping arguably Europe's best defence organised and whole there is no reason why they can't stop Mr Messi.
Throughout the season I have questioned whether young Rafael is a wise choice for big matches. His inexperience can sometimes see him losing his head and lunging in to rash challenges. He also seems to be more of an attacking wing back than a full back sometimes seeing him leave a gap at the back. However as the season has gone on the lad has matured and quashed any doubts. The Brazilian's pace should be enough to see him help in attack and still cover his ground at the back. Therefore I think Rafael would be a solid choice for the final being able to help at both ends of the pitch.
Two years ago United's side seemed to be missing something like a hole in the head or rather more a consistently strong Scotsman. Winning the midfield game will be key against Barcelona. Darren Fletcher's suspension for the 2009 final saw the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets ruling the middle of the park without too much difficulty. A mystery virus has made Fletcher unavailable recently but he played a full 90 minutes against Blackpool and will hopefully be fully fit to face Barcelona this time around.
With his fantastic ability to break attacks up, win the ball and then move it forward Fletcher plays a vital part in the centre and will have a big say in who wins the battle of the midfield if fully fit on Saturday night.
Michael Carrick has shown vast improvement in the recent games, compared with his very much below average overall season. In the first leg against Schalke he broke play after play down from Schalke. Carrick is also a great passer of the ball and has the vision to bring others in to play, starting attacking moves. If Carrick plays with the same tenacity he has been of late he could match up perfectly with Fletcher to break the Barcelona midfield down and move the ball in United's favour.
Park Ji-Sung should be a definite starter for the final. Anyone who knows anything about Manchester United knows Park will give 90 minutes of running and hard work. This could be crucial on Saturday night. Park plays a pivotal role in that he can run at defences and look for an opening to play a ball, he will often be there to receive the ball, he gets himself in the box looking for the slightest chance to snap at, and with all that he is also a defender.
One of the best qualities of the nifty South Korean is that he will get back and help the full back more so than any other attacker. This may be a major factor when the opposition attacking is Barcelona, and more specifically when the attacker giving the full back a handful is Lionel Messi.
An attacker with the defensive capabilities, stamina and ruthless determination of Park may be what many of the teams trying to defend against the Argentinian wonder so far have been missing. As for the other flank, despite Nani's Player's Player of the Year award at United, I would still go with Valencia. Valencia will straight forward run at the Barcelona defence and look to get balls in to the forwards as well as look to get the ball from them in support. He also turned Ashley Cole inside out against Chelsea in a class act. This would also leave Nani on the bench as an impact substitution or the legs to bring on to help keep the ball as so often needed in Europe when United have the lead.
Javier Hernandez. Chicharito. Saturday will be the biggest match of this cheeky chappy's career so far. There is not much to say here that most United fans have not already said throughout the season.
Saturday could be his night. I'm sorry to put the immense pressure on him but Manchester United fans will be looking to him for a goal at some point during the night, I'm sure. The beauty is he can from nowhere make a run, breaking away from the defence at the crucial and perfect moment to bury a threaded ball. There is always a chance in any game of this Little Pea popping up to provide United with what they need. Something he has already done 20 times in his first season.
His name had to come into this somewhere. There is one very important factor in Saturday night. It is not coincidence when he plays better the team plays better. It is no coincidence when his season turned around United looked more on track for the title. Everyone will be looking to Wayne Rooney to drive United forward on Saturday. Against tough opposition, especially in Europe, especially away, Rooney has been played as a lone striker.
As I've already stated I see Hernandez as an important piece in the United jigsaw for the final and I do not think Rooney as a lone striker will get them anywhere. However due to the fact United will need to win the battle in the midfield Rooney will have an important role to play here.
He can drop back to get the ball immediately from the midfielders and look to bring the wide midfielders and Hernandez in to play or dare a driving run forward, as he does. Rooney when playing at his best has the ability to bring flair to a match from nowhere and this may be needed on Saturday if United find themselves with their backs against the wall.
Manchester United have done brilliantly to get this far and stand proud at the end of a successful league campaign. There is one more key component I have not yet mentioned, the best manager in the world. Hopefully at the end of an eventful season he can lead United to do what they couldn't two years ago, take the game to Barcelona and bring the trophy home.
Good luck United!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Sir Alex Ferguson Confirm De Gea Interest
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed United are close to signing Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea.
Speaking after Gary Neville's testimonial match on Tuesday night, the manager said: "We've been working on it [De Gea transfer] for quite a while. We identified him quite a while back as one we should go for.
"He's a young goalkeeper, very quick, good composure, presence and an outstanding replacement for van der Sar.
"We were looking for the same type of qualities as Edwin, because the one great quality Edwin always had was his composure and organisational ability.
"With David De Gea, he is very similar that way."
De Gea, 20, has already won two European honours - the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup - but is still awaiting a senior cap with Spain having represented his country at various levels up to Under-21. He was named in the provisional 30-man squad for last summer's World Cup but missed the cut when coach Vincente del Bosque reduced his list to 23 players for the actual tournament.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Juventus Tracking Luis Nani for £25m
In demand: Juventus could test United's resolve with a £25m offer for star winger Nani
Juventus are ready to test Manchester United's resolve over Portuguese winger Nani with a £25million offer.
The Italian club's general manager Guiseppe Moratta was in Manchester on Tuesday night ahead of Gary Neville's testimonial and was expected to have dinner with old friend Sir Alex Ferguson and watch the FA Youth Cup match against Sheffield United.
However, he has also been asked by new manager Antonio Conte to test the water over Nani with Juventus determined to bring in a big name signing to change their fortunes.
United are unlikely to let the 24-year-old go after such an outstanding season where he was named players' player of the year but Juventus may up their offer as Moratta looks to back Conte with £110m to rebuild.
Sir Ryan Giggs In Pictures His Man Utd Career Highlights
Ryan Giggs in pictures
1992: Manchester United youth team coach Eric Harrison poses with Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Terry Cooke. Giggs captained the team to an FA Youth Cup win that year.
14 August 1993: Portrait of Ryan Giggs of Manchester United during a photocall at Old Trafford
3 May 1993: Ryan Giggs celebrates with the Premiership Trophy in the dressing room after the FA Carling Premiership match between Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford
8 May 1994: Ryan Giggs of Manchester United lifts the Premiership Trophy after the club becomes FA Carling Premiership Winners in the 1993-94 season at Old Trafford
1994: Ryan Giggs with girlfriend, TV personality Dani Behr
14 April 1999: Ryan Giggs celebrates scoring the winning goal against Arsenal in the semi-final of the FA cup. Manchester United beat Arsenal 2-1 to face Newcastle United in the final.
1995: Ryan Giggs and Davinia Taylor are pictured together at a restaurant
26 May 1999: Manchester United's Ryan Giggs kisses the European Cup after beating Bayern Munich at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium
24 September 2003: Ryan Giggs and his fiancee Stacey Cooke attend the United for Unicef charity dinner at The Midland Hotel, Manchester
3 May 2006: Ryan Giggs is presented with the Player of the Year award by Sir Alex Ferguson at the annual awards dinner at Old Trafford
11 December 2007: Manchester United and Wales footballer Ryan Giggs receives an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to football from the Queen inside the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace
2 June 2007: Wales captain Ryan Giggs waves on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium
15 July 2008: Ryan Giggs receives an honorary degree from the University of Salford, Manchester
13 December 2009: Ryan Giggs wins Sports Personality of the Year 2009 with 29.4% of the vote
7 September 2010: Ryan Giggs and wife Stacey attend the GQ Men of the Year Awards at the Royal Opera House, London
18 May 2011: Ryan Giggs arrives with his wife Stacey for Manchester United 2011 Player of the Year award at Old Trafford
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Man Utd New Kit For Season 2011-12 Available Pre Order Now
