Feb 23, 2008
(Newcastle supporters: I’m sorry. I fully appreciate your plight. As a Chicago Cubs baseball fan I’m fully aware of what it’s like to support a side that does nothing but disappoint you so profoundly on an annual basis. Please take no offense to the following.)
What a sorry side Newcastle is. They truly owe their supporters an apology. Seldom does a side capitulate so willingly in the face of the slightest difficulty. They play with the kind of resignation only seen in sides destined for relegation. It is as if they fully anticipate the worst, then actively court it once they fall behind. I couldn’t imagine supporting a side like Newcastle; they are truly undeserving of support.
It isn’t as though they are a small club; 14th in the Football Money League at £129.4m. What have they done with their riches? Fielded a side of players whose goal differential against the top half of the EPL table is -26. In their last four matches against Arsenal and Manchester United they have been defeated by an aggregate total of 17-1. They will have taken 2 points from their last nine matches and they have only come from behind to win once all season. It’s one thing to be a poor side, but to quit is unforgivable. (more…)
Feb 22, 2008
I know that Manchester United has been a bit erratic of late. They have experienced massive fluctuations in form within extremely short intervals. They have amazed and awed, then stunned and confounded us. From our demoralizing loss to Manchester City to our triumphant slaughter of Arsenal, just which Manchester United side you will get has been difficult to predict. I’m willing to stick my neck out on this one however: Manchester United will win convincingly at St. James Park tomorrow.
There is no evidence to suggest that Newcastle United will succeed this weekend. Consider these indicators:
- Last time we met, Manchester United destroyed Newcastle 6-0.
- Newcastle has taken two points out of its last eight league matches, the second worst form in the EPL.
- During those eight games they have scored three, conceded 19.
- Manchester United are undefeated in their twelve matches against Newcastle.
Usually I write pretty thorough match previews. I just can’t seem to find any reason to spend any more time analyzing a match that is comically imbalanced on its face. I’ve been staring at my computer screen for two hours, trying to find a clever way of writing what we all know: Manchester United can only defeat themselves this weekend, for Newcastle United is beneath us by any conceivable metric.
Feb 21, 2008
Yeah, I don’t really know anything about the match last night that I didn’t read in the papers. It wasn’t televised here in the States and I had to work during the match, so I wasn’t able to Sopcast it either. Poor me.
From what I’ve read, however, there seem to be a few talking points:
- Sir Alex needs to stop favoring “over-the-hill” experienced types
- Giggs looked horrible and Scholes not much better
- Rooney was ineffectual as the lone striker and should have done better with the chances he was offered
- Ferdinand was a couple of feet away from one of the greatest calamities in Champions League history
- Nani and Tevez added an instantaneous spark to the side and should not be left out
- Rooney’s attitude leaves something to be desired
- Benzema is a going to cost us a fortune (more…)
