RedsUnite: a man utd blog

Sixth Round FA Cup Draw

While United still managed to draw another Premiership side in today’s FA Cup quarterfinal draw, at least we avoided Chelsea. Manchester United were drawn at home to Portsmouth, a familiar foe. We are 1-1-1 in our last three fixtures against Pompey, with United winning 2-0 at home in our most recent encounter. The other quarterfinal fixtures are as follows:

Sheffield United or Middlesbrough v Cardiff City
Bristol Rovers v West Bromwich Albion
Barnsley v Chelsea

While we may have avoided Chelsea, our continuing streak of tough draws is unlucky if not suspicious. Still, we are fortunate to have received a home draw. We are–Manchester City aside–impenetrable at home. While I am inclined to agree with Wayne Rooney that we are in great form to take on Chelsea, the path of least resistance is probably advised in tournament play. While a home draw to Portsmouth isn’t exactly kind, it sure beats drawing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Responding to the draw, Fergie had this to say:

“It’s a home draw, so it doesn’t matter who you get. But it’s typical that we have another Premier League team! The good thing about the FA Cup, though, is that the opposition bring an increased number of supporters, which makes for a great atmosphere. We’ve had two great home ties against Spurs and Arsenal in the previous rounds, and hopefully we’ll have another one against Portsmouth.”

Juninho Is Playing Tricks On Us

That Juninho sure is clever. He knows that flattery will get him everywhere with us. The Lyon midfielder has been full of praise in the build up to Wednesday’s Champions League clash with United. The Brazilian has referred to us as “certainly the best team in Europe” and stated how impressed he was with our victory over Arsenal on Saturday.

While we aren’t a club to shy away from praise–quite the opposite, really–I know what he’s up to. He’s been painting Lyon as a band of semi-pro dilettantes since the draw was announced. Not so fast, mate.

He must have seen that United struggle to get up for matches against outclassed opponents like City–I kid, City, I kid. He knows that if he plays Lyon up to be a bunch of lummoxes, lucky to be on the same pitch as the glorious Manchester United, we will fall right into his trap. We have no shortage of egos on our side and our best friend is a flattering mirror. Juninho is trying to play the role of that mirror, talking us up to be better than we are. Hopefully United will keep the City match in their mind as a firm reminder that, regardless of how wonderful some might find us, our shit stinks, too.

Wenger is Upset

Arsene Wenger is still a little miffed about Saturday’s result. Who can blame him? His side was completely absent in spirit from Saturday’s game and were completely embarrassed as a result. Who can blame him for publicly having a go at some of his players given the…..what? He isn’t mad about his players? He’s mad about the pitch and Nani’s seal-dribble? Awww, I’m so sorry. If Wenger really thinks that it was Nani’s seal-dribble that “humiliated” his players and not the result, I’d be curious as to what kind of psychedelics might reside in his sock drawer.

In American football, players do dances and the like after they score a touchdown. Sometimes people say the celebrations are excessive, but I’ve always been of the belief that if you don’t want someone to showboat, don’t let them. They can’t dance in the endzone if you don’t let them score a touchdown. Nani wouldn’t have been able to dribble the ball for a kilometer if: 1)the score wasn’t 4-0. 2)There was even a modicum of pressure coming from Arsenal’s defeated side.

I appreciate his concern, however, when he said:

“They are a team with a very good technical level, and the quality of the pitch levels out the technical differences between teams. I have been coming here for 10 or 11 years and I have never seen the pitch as bad as that. It will affect them because the pitch is a disgrace. I cannot believe that players worth £20 million or £25 million are expected to play on that.”

I’m glad you care, Arsene. Taking potshots at our groundskeepers now, huh? Let us allow Fergie to take care of that, shall we.

Neighbors United

The Daily Mail reports that Owen Hargreaves, Wes Brown and Carlos Tevez are all bidding to purchase houses within meters of Wayne Rooney’s 2.5 million pound estate. Now I don’t know if there is any veracity to these claims, and I’m not particularly inclined to care whether or not Rooney’s wife, Colleen McCoughlin, is great friends with Wes Brown’s wife, Leanne. What does interest me, however, is what would make Wes Brown eager to purchase new property in the Manchester area if he is about to leave the club? While the Daily Mail has issued a correction or two in their day, if there is accuracy in this reporting I believe it paints an optimistic forecast about Brown’s future with the club.

Random Stuff

• Fergie Hints at Benzema
• Kuszczak out in the cold for Poland
• Fletcher hoping for more opportunities
• Fergie Prioritizes Champions League
• Sir Alex Ferguson wins first-round of mind games

The Manchester United Blog Report

• United on trail of red-hot striker (A Kick In The Grass)
• Chants vs. Arsenal (Republik of Mancunia)
• Rooney Wants Chelsea. Patient Fletch. Wenger Hates Showboating. (Red Rants)