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: (more…)

The morning after and I’m still surprised. How proud I am of the boys who took the field for us yesterday. I was cynical about them from the start yesterday and they spent the next 90 minutes proving me wrong. It was one of those matches where you watch the entire contest with a smile on your face, because you know that the result is not in question. This was an inspired United side featuring players who took great advantage of their moment in the sun.

Darren Fletcher. How proud of him are you? When you discuss the concept of a team, guys like this are often overlooked but how important was he yesterday. I can’t help but to cheer for the lad with my heart on my sleeve. I must confess, two years ago I detested Fletcher. In my eyes, he was emblematic of all the problems with that 2005/06 United side. While his workrate could never have been questioned, he was an unfinished product that needed more time before he was placed in the center of the pitch. In a squad seemingly full of 19 and 20 year olds that step right in and produce, I forget sometimes that not everyone matures at the same rate. Fletcher may have taken a little while to blossom into the player he is today, but he should be proud of himself today. I don’t know that I am ever happier for a player than I am when I see Darren Fletcher excel. Good for you, Fletch.

Ji-Sung Park. While it may not have entirely come off for him, yesterday was a celebration of the depth of the side and the (more…)

Arsenal Go Five Clear

Arsenal won 2-0 against Blackburn Rovers last night to solidify their lead atop the Premiership table. Their victory sets them five points clear of United and eight points clear of a Chelsea side that seem to be going through many of the same issues we are. In fact, the only positive to be taken from this past weekend was that Chelsea look just as dull and uninspired as we do(save Liverpool’s continuing nightmare). Their boss, Avram Grant, is having an enormously difficult time, as Fergie is, finding a midfield pairing that works and they are unable to take advantage when given an opportunity to gain considerable ground on us.

Arsenal, however, aren’t having such problems and Wenger deserves credit for that.  Arsene has proven that he will place the club before individual egos, something Ferguson seems disinclined to do. Wenger has benched Gilberto Silva, one of Arsenal’s best performers last year and given the captain’s armband to William Gallas despite the fact that Gilberto was Arsenal’s vice-captain in 2006-2007. When Thierry Henry left for Barcelona many thought that Gilberto would be his successor. Wenger chose Gallas, however, who has handled his captain role tremendously well. Certainly Wenger could have been more tactful in the manner in which Gilberto has had his role and importance reduced, but it doesn’t change the fact that Wenger has made difficult choices that must have been unpopular in some corners for the betterment of the club. While Gilberto’s quality and history with the club would suggest that he is deserving of a larger role, if he doesn’t fit what Wenger is trying to do he will not play. And while Gilberto may have been the heir apparent to Henry, Henry’s departure signaled a new era at Arsenal and new leadership made sense. Here’s hoping that SAF is taking notes, for these problems apply to United today.

Now we have to listen to Eriksson

Sven Goran Eriksson is feeling pretty good these days. In his first year as Manchester City boss he has ushered the Blues to their first double over United since 1969-1970. If I were him, I suppose, I’d be running my mouth as well. On the Blues victory over United Sunday, Eriksson had this to say:

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We’ve all had a day to dry our tears now. We’ve had time to sit and ponder our recent form and try to discern just what, exactly, is wrong with us. We were beaten by City for the second time this season and now we must figure out why that happened. Within the Manchester United community, however, the answers have varied widely.

Carlos Quieroz, left to field questions in place of Sir Alex who departed quickly from Old Trafford, offered this:

“We believe the team was affected by international call-ups. But talking about that would be an excuse. It was not our day. We didn’t play well and need to accept that. It was really unusual to see a couple of our players playing so slow, without tempo and making mistakes. That’s never happened before and if it is a coincidence we will let other people decide. The reality is that the players have been affected. Not only the English players but others like Ronaldo and Vidic were not so sharp.”

I agree with his assessment that “a couple of our players were playing so slow, without tempo and making mistakes,” but this is the Manchester Derby. Anyone who can seriously claim fatigue as an excuse when playing against their crosstown rivals, in a match to commemorate the Munich Air Disaster, during a season where there is almost no margin for error needs to have their mindset examined more closely. You have to get up for games like these.

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Well what do we have for you today?

Fabio Capello’s tenure at the helm of the English national team is certainly off to an interesting start. He was hardly greeted with open arms by the 86,000 who filled Wembley Stadium to see England defeat Switzerland 2-1 in a friendly. While there was second-guessing of his side selections and tactics, the most interesting storyline to this United supporter is his defiance of Sir Alex Ferguson and other EPL bosses. Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown played the full 90 and Wayne Rooney saw 86 minutes, which, if continued, is certain to draw the ire of Ferguson. With United’s busy schedule in the run-in, the last thing Ferguson needs is Capello running his players in the ground to insure a 7-1 victory over Faroe Islands in an exhibition. While we shouldn’t assume that Capello will continue to play our men in such large minutes, Capello hasn’t shown himself to be the most agreeable fellow since his arrival to England. His stature in the game gives him the strength to stand up to Ferguson and others in a manner that certainly Sven Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren could not. I expect both men to do what is best for their sides, with little regard for the others plight. That leaves me to wonder, what kind of impact will Capello’s reign have on our efforts this year?

Cristiano Ronaldo has, again, discussed his desire to move to Spain one day. The Portuguese winger had this to say:

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