Apparently, according to Setanta Sports, or at least Setanta in North America, Manchester United did not win the Premier league title this season. For some reason, I decided to subject myself to the Manchester United v Arsenal game, in the faint hope that Arsenal would be able to stop the rot that had set in over recent weeks, and conjure up a win at Old Trafford that would at least see the Premiership go to the final day, next weekend.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, the closest Arsenal came to halting the party proceedings, was a Cesc Fabrigas effort which struck the post in the closing moments. A few minutes later, the final whistle blew, and Old Trafford lethargically managed to put down the prawn sandwich's and rise to a sing along to the usual cliche 80's "champions" Ballard's, courtesy of Tina Turner and the like.
At this point, most people (apart from Man United fans of course) would have switched the tele off in frustration and grumbled off the rest of the day in a pissy mood. I retained the mood, but for some reason I chose not to hit the standby button, and stubbornly, slumped lazily in my dressing gown, channel changer in one hand, empty cup of tea in the other, masochistically suffered the celebrations like a unhealthy fetish disorder.
During this time of quiet introspection, I noticed that the level of decibel I was producing was not far inferior to that of the Theatre of Dreams. Why was the atmosphere so subdued? Was it because that winning the Premier league was now such a normal custom, that behaving inappropriately had become a choir, or maybe the delay while the pitch staff setup the winners podium, was testing the supporters patience. All I know is, had Liverpool, or many other teams for that matter, managed to clinch the title, I, and along with everyone in the stadium, in pubs and those sat on sofas would be going mental. The 19 year Premier League absenteeism, has made my heart grow fond, very fond indeed.
When finally the stage had been constructed, the fireworks and bottles of champagne readied, all that was left was for the United squad to reemerge from the tunnel, and administer my final whips of pain. Fortunately for me, and I am assuming more realistically because of Broadcasting rights, Setanta saved me from my own torment, and decided to compensate by cutting to generic shots of the Trafford crowd, and then even more astonishingly, to a take a far more important broadcasting assignment in Arsène Wenger's interview, in French -may I add, with Canal +!!!
What ever reasons for Setanta's baffling coverage, whether it be broadcasting rights or other, surely their must have been a more appropriate alternative than interviews not even in the channels language. Had Setanta's recent financial troubles left them short staffed over the weekend, leaving only the interns nervous fingers gingerly hovering over the producers dials?
I will take it as a blessing in disguise, and probably a happy coincidence that will do my mental state a world of good, probably more than the hollow victory for Liverpool at the Hawthorns did, which also indirectly resigned Albion to the Championship next season.
For every neutral or non Man United supporter, attention can be turned to next season, and more importantly, hoping that Sir Alex Ferguson will hang up his managerial boots some time soon, a fate that I think won't occur until Liverpool's now joint record of 18 league titles is eclipsed.
Showing posts with label Old Trafford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Old Trafford. Show all posts
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool
As we have seen so often before, pre-match rants have a tendency to bite back you back. Rafael Benitez' random press conference, in which he proceeded to reel off a list of un-pleasantries aimed at counter part Alex Ferguson in January, coincided with Liverpool's dip in form, and United's healthy gap at the top of the Premier league table.
Today at Old Trafford, Rooney's (deleted) pre-match comments about his unsurprising hate for Liverpool, came back to haunt him in the most unpredictable fashion.
Even after going down 1-nil to a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, Liverpool didn't look like buckling, and were playing with the confidence installed since the 4-nil demolition of Real Madrid.
So, it was no surprise that Liverpool levelled 6 minutes after Ronaldo's spot kick, with Steven Gerrard being awarded a penalty, which is as rare as rocking horse shit at Old Trafford. Patrice Evra, making the mistake, tripping Gerrard in the box.
Liverpool continued to play the better football, and the tireless Torres got the second before half time after a rare mistake by Vidic allowed him a one on one with Edwin Vad der Sar.
Man United started the second half with a real urgency, pinning Liverpool back deeper and deeper. Torres and Gerrard were looking very isolated and it was beginning to look like it was only a matter of time before Man United got back in the game. Which, after 60 minutes, left me surprised when Alex Ferguson made a triple substitution. I have never really been a fan of triple substitutions, unless your team is playing dreadfully then its worth a gamble, but in this instance Man United were in good shape and dominating proceedings.
The gamble to use the triple substitution, back fired only moments later when, Vidic brought down Gerrard who was clean through on goal. United will argue that Vidic was not the last man, but there was no way Ferdinand was going to catch Gerrard. Referee Rob Styles, held his bottle like he did when he awarded the Liverpool penalty, and gave Vidic his marching orders.
From the resulting freekick, Fabio Aurelio managed to do what Ronaldo had failed to do on numerous occasions, finding the net with a superb finish, that left keeper, Edwin Van der Sar rooted to the spot to the deafening silence of the Old Trafford crowd.
That effectively ended the tie, as United, even with a fair amount of possession and being awarded freekick after freekick, never really looked like scoring, and individual errors became the theme of the day For Ferguson's troops.
To put the icing on the cake, Dossena finished off the rout, after a great lob over Van der Sar making it 4-1 to Liverpool, leaving Old Trafford half empty, and turning it in to the theater of nightmares for United.
Man Utd v Liverpool
Today at Old Trafford, Rooney's (deleted) pre-match comments about his unsurprising hate for Liverpool, came back to haunt him in the most unpredictable fashion.
Even after going down 1-nil to a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, Liverpool didn't look like buckling, and were playing with the confidence installed since the 4-nil demolition of Real Madrid.
So, it was no surprise that Liverpool levelled 6 minutes after Ronaldo's spot kick, with Steven Gerrard being awarded a penalty, which is as rare as rocking horse shit at Old Trafford. Patrice Evra, making the mistake, tripping Gerrard in the box.
Liverpool continued to play the better football, and the tireless Torres got the second before half time after a rare mistake by Vidic allowed him a one on one with Edwin Vad der Sar.
Man United started the second half with a real urgency, pinning Liverpool back deeper and deeper. Torres and Gerrard were looking very isolated and it was beginning to look like it was only a matter of time before Man United got back in the game. Which, after 60 minutes, left me surprised when Alex Ferguson made a triple substitution. I have never really been a fan of triple substitutions, unless your team is playing dreadfully then its worth a gamble, but in this instance Man United were in good shape and dominating proceedings.
The gamble to use the triple substitution, back fired only moments later when, Vidic brought down Gerrard who was clean through on goal. United will argue that Vidic was not the last man, but there was no way Ferdinand was going to catch Gerrard. Referee Rob Styles, held his bottle like he did when he awarded the Liverpool penalty, and gave Vidic his marching orders.
From the resulting freekick, Fabio Aurelio managed to do what Ronaldo had failed to do on numerous occasions, finding the net with a superb finish, that left keeper, Edwin Van der Sar rooted to the spot to the deafening silence of the Old Trafford crowd.
That effectively ended the tie, as United, even with a fair amount of possession and being awarded freekick after freekick, never really looked like scoring, and individual errors became the theme of the day For Ferguson's troops.
To put the icing on the cake, Dossena finished off the rout, after a great lob over Van der Sar making it 4-1 to Liverpool, leaving Old Trafford half empty, and turning it in to the theater of nightmares for United.
Man Utd v Liverpool
Thursday, 12 March 2009
European Bliss Domestic Miss
"Miss" might be a bit of harsh word to described Liverpool's domestic performance this season, given that they are currently placed 3rd in the Premier League, but why is it in such contrast to the European performances we now come to expect from Liverpool year in year out?
Real Madrid, who had less Spanish players in their starting 11 than Liverpool, were hammered 4-0, on another famous night at Anfield on Tuesday. And, it could have been far worse for Madrid, if it were not for their man of the match, but now dejected Goalkeeper, Iker Casillas.
I was some what nervous before the game, even though Liverpool were carrying the away goal and victory from the Bernabeu a week earlier, as I was expecting Real to come out all gun blazing. However, what ever tactical plan Juande Ramos had envisaged prior to kick off, was immediately devoured by Liverpool from the off. First Fernando Torres with an immense turn leaving World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro flat footed and embarrassed before Casillas came to his aid.
Gerrard then tested Casillas again, just before the keeper tipped a rare 25 yard volley from Javier Mascherano, on to the bar. And all this before Liverpool eventually made the possession pay through Torres, who had a relatively simple finish after Kuyt squared. Pepe complained about a suspicion of offside or maybe it was being man handled, either of which hold little weight.
Liverpool's second came courtesy of a penalty, due to one time Liverpool target (and ex manc), Gabriel Heinze, who will have felt hard done by the handball given against him. He should take up the complaint with Liverpool's 12th man. Gerrard slotted the pen making it 3-nil on aggregate at half time.
If there were to be any sort of come back by Real Madrid, the idea was quickly diminished by another Gerrard goal at the start of the second half. A great half volley after being picked out by good work from Ryan Babel.
Unlikely goal scorer Dossena then capped off the outstanding Liverpool performance with his first goal for the club, completing the demolition.
Its hard to believe that this is the same Liverpool that were beat by Middlesbrough 2-nil last week in what I can only describe as one of the worst Liverpool performance I have witnessed, in recent memory. That defeat put a major dent in Liverpool's already dwindling Premier League title aspirations, which now makes the next encounter at Old Trafford this weekend, all or nothing.
Benitez proved he can beat Real Madrid, one of Europe's all time greats, away from home, but he now needs to transfer that European formula on to the domestic scene.
Until the weekend here are the highlights of the Liverpool's emphatic win over Real Madrid....
Liverpool v Real Madrid
Real Madrid, who had less Spanish players in their starting 11 than Liverpool, were hammered 4-0, on another famous night at Anfield on Tuesday. And, it could have been far worse for Madrid, if it were not for their man of the match, but now dejected Goalkeeper, Iker Casillas.
I was some what nervous before the game, even though Liverpool were carrying the away goal and victory from the Bernabeu a week earlier, as I was expecting Real to come out all gun blazing. However, what ever tactical plan Juande Ramos had envisaged prior to kick off, was immediately devoured by Liverpool from the off. First Fernando Torres with an immense turn leaving World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro flat footed and embarrassed before Casillas came to his aid.
Gerrard then tested Casillas again, just before the keeper tipped a rare 25 yard volley from Javier Mascherano, on to the bar. And all this before Liverpool eventually made the possession pay through Torres, who had a relatively simple finish after Kuyt squared. Pepe complained about a suspicion of offside or maybe it was being man handled, either of which hold little weight.
Liverpool's second came courtesy of a penalty, due to one time Liverpool target (and ex manc), Gabriel Heinze, who will have felt hard done by the handball given against him. He should take up the complaint with Liverpool's 12th man. Gerrard slotted the pen making it 3-nil on aggregate at half time.
If there were to be any sort of come back by Real Madrid, the idea was quickly diminished by another Gerrard goal at the start of the second half. A great half volley after being picked out by good work from Ryan Babel.
Unlikely goal scorer Dossena then capped off the outstanding Liverpool performance with his first goal for the club, completing the demolition.
Its hard to believe that this is the same Liverpool that were beat by Middlesbrough 2-nil last week in what I can only describe as one of the worst Liverpool performance I have witnessed, in recent memory. That defeat put a major dent in Liverpool's already dwindling Premier League title aspirations, which now makes the next encounter at Old Trafford this weekend, all or nothing.
Benitez proved he can beat Real Madrid, one of Europe's all time greats, away from home, but he now needs to transfer that European formula on to the domestic scene.
Until the weekend here are the highlights of the Liverpool's emphatic win over Real Madrid....
Liverpool v Real Madrid
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