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Posted by PaulJ on 2009-05-05 @ 7:00:01 -0600

If Not For You

Tuesday evening in good company at Mon Plaisir, a dear friend seen over Italian coffee, a drive up the sunny country with the roof down and the freshness of the wind, the last visit of the season to Sangam with the old crowd back from their climbing and travelling; if a man can not enjoy watching his club in a European Cup semi-final he must be tired of life. It is a special treat even for fans as spoilt as United’s; Real and Puskás, Gento and Di Stéfano; Milan and Schnellinger and Kaká; Juventus and Zidane and Inzaghi; this is only the tenth of my life. The group league games lack a certain tension; a poor performance can always be recovered. The earlier knock-out rounds are played in the darkness, the thrill of the beacon glare of the floodlights in the urban sky, the theatre. The semi-finals are played in the Spring, the clocks adjusted to Summer time, the walk down the Chester Road with the cityscape glimmering in the warmth of the evening sun, the green and purple swathe of the Pennine peaks in the distance, the feeling that in this sunshine it is to the other Old Trafford we should be walking; oh my Lloyd and Engineer of long ago!

We have rarely clashed with teams from Old Albion in European competition and when we have it has turned out well; the thrilling comeback against Tottenham in 1963, the controlled recovery from the first leg draw against Everton in 1965 and, of course, viva John Terry. Sure, visiting supporters are too familiar; there is no-one gazing with curiosity and expectant pleasure at our foreign stadium. But there was nothing in the air that could lead you to mistake this for a league or an FA Cup clash.

Inside the ground there was support born of genuine excitement rather than the vituperative ritual accompanying a league fixture. Around us there sit season ticket holders who have been farming out their tickets for most of the season; I’d thought some of them had shuffled off life’s mortal coil or given up coming but no, they have made sure they are here for this one! In front of us Van der Sar appears strangely garbed in his early morning running kit, grey shorts and black tee shirt but the team selected in front of him is in my view the correct one. John O’Shea is at right back with Evra at left, Rio and Vidic are automatic choices, Anderson is back in the middle with Carrick and Fletcher and up front, glory of glories and at long last in a really big game, we have Carlos Tévez, flanked by Rooney and Ronaldo. The Argentinean’s selection elicits a special cheer.

United are at their best when we attack with abandon and thank goodness that was the attitude this night. We set about Arsene Wenger’s team as if they were a disheartened Tottenham. Anderson and Fletcher commanding the middle of the field, Rooney and Tevez and, yes, Ronaldo harassing them when they tried to play from the back, the result a thrilling display by United against a fine Arsenal side looking bemused by the movement around them. Even the clashes I had feared turned out in our favour; Cesc Fàbregas? Second to Carrick. Theo Walcott on Evra? Not a look-in. The big and tricky Emmanuel Adebayor against a Vidic so recently proved vulnerable? The Togoan not fit to lace the knee-length boots of a Spanish transvestite.

I am torn as a result. Joy at watching a master class, so overwhelming that even as it is happening I realise I am witnessing something special. Frustration that it now rests with but a single goal advantage. If not for Manuel Almunia we would have found a commanding lead; the game was less than two minutes old when Ronaldo’s cross from the right found Rooney deftly lobbing his header back across a crowded area for the top corner and Almunia stretching back to claw it out. Ronaldo’s next killer cross managed to evade everybody before another near perfect delivery, this time from John O'Shea, was met by the effervescent Tévez on the six yard line. Great save? Disappointing miss? Both. The goalkeeper was up for the second shot, too, smothering it with his belly. Then the corner from the right found Carrick at the far edge of the six yard box and he worked his way to the bye line and cut it sharply back. For whom he was aiming is now irrelevant; Mikael Silvestre, facing his own goal, felt obliged to intervene and his foot sent it to the far post from where the visiting defence had gone a-wandering. Ronaldo, Tevez were there to gobble it up but it fell to O’Shea. He leant back and cracked it, outside of the foot, on the volley, and it hammered against the underside of the crossbar and ripped into the net; 17 minutes 1-0.

Still the inspiration did not dissipate, still Tévez and Anderson and Rooney and the others harassed and fought for everything, still Almunia stood between United and a place in the European Cup Final and still we simply could not convert our artistry into lethality; the reflex save from Ronaldo’s super header was another top-class effort.

There is no team in the world can keep up that pace, that energy, that level of accuracy for ever and as the game wore on Arsenal began to get and to retain the ball. According to the Times, Arsenal had 48% possession and 55% territorial advantage; there were prolonged periods when the cacophony of whistling which greeted their studious skills would testify to their method; if they had the ball there was respite. The type of possession is shown by fourteen United goal attempts to four from Arsenal and Almunia’s contribution is reflected by seven to one on target.

When Tévez and Anderson had done what damage they could they were withdrawn to a huge ovation and we brought Giggs and Berbatov to play a different game. Arsenal, too, changed approach and brought on Nicklas Bendtner and Eduardo da Silva. When we got the ball we broke away but it was typical United, breathless movement until the final ball. Almunia was tested by Giggs, through on the left and then the same player took a wonderful ball from Rooney and rounded the ‘keeper. The offside looked a travesty though in fact the linesman got it right. As we all know, if you are only one goal up, anything can happen.

The match and, who knows, the semi-final itself, turned on two key second-half moments. Ronaldo got the ball in the middle of the field and they only half closed him down. His shot from thirty three yards should have been the goal of the season given the occasion but it hit the crossbar and went over. Then as time drifted away and it became evident that United were not going to secure the commanding lead our play deserved, Eduardo won a free kick and Bendtner got a clean header with Van der Sar rashly trying to race through a crowd of players, crippling Rio in the huge pile-up of bodies triggered by the collision. The header went wide, Rio went to hospital with injured ribs, and they thankfully had no away goal.

Another night of memories, then. All still to play for. A narrow lead. The inclusion of Tévez and Anderson had worked to a point, ruffled the Arsenal feathers, provided a great spectacle. Tévez did not want to go off when the time came but the hurricane had blown out by then. Rooney was hard working and as inventive as ever. Ronaldo nearly swung the tie. Did he spend a frustrating amount of time whingeing at the referee and strolling back from offside positions? Is the Pope a Catholic?

My man of the match was John O’Shea, for his runs and crosses up the right, for a couple of vital tackles and for being the one who had the nerve to let fly so decisively when he saw glory. The same O’Shea who had been getting unbelievable stick from one of those part time supporters. If the man came more often he might have more of a clue. Lucky to be in the side, John? If not for you we’d be laying awake all night, we’d be sad and blue. Indeed on a value added basis the Irishman has a claim for my man of the season!

Paul James

Posted by Barry on 2009-04-29 @ 23:45:37 -0600

Manchester United hold the edge in the battle for a place in the Champions League final after John O'Shea's early goal gave them victory in an absorbing encounter with Arsenal.

O'Shea scored from close range after Arsenal failed to clear a corner - giving United a slender but fully deserved advantage to take into the semi-final second leg at the Emirates next Tuesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson has made it his mission to make United the first side to successfully defend the Champions League title and they set about their old Premier League adversaries with relish from the first whistle.

And, while United will be happy to go to Arsenal in the ascendancy and having prevented Arsene Wenger's side from scoring a crucial away goal, they will have regrets that they failed to capitalise on the superiority they exerted throughout.

Semi-final will go to the wire - Ferguson
Arsenal were penned in for long periods as United played at the high tempo that suits them best, and it was only a mixture of the excellence of goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and good fortune that kept the deficit within manageable proportions.

Almunia saved superbly from Wayne Rooney, denied Carlos Tevez with a double block and turned away Cristiano Ronaldo's header from six yards as United turned on the style in a dazzling first 45 minutes.

Arsenal managed to steady the ship after the interval, but they never seriously threatened United apart from a tame Cesc Fabregas shot and a volley from Emmanuel Adebayor after the break.

Ronaldo struck the bar from 30 yards with 20 minutes remaining as United continued to press for what could have proved a decisive second goal, but Arsenal survived and will still feel there is life in the tie yet, despite delivering a disappointing performance.

United never allowed Arsenal to get into their trademark passing rhythm, playing with more drive and energy than the Gunners, who were overrun in midfield at times and struggled to cope with the pace and variety of Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo in attack.

Ferguson prefaced the game by suggesting it could be the "perfect semi-final" - it was not quite that for United, but you suspect they will be highly satisfied with the outcome.

United's fans certainly celebrated at the final whistle in a manner that suggested they feel they have taken a significant stride towards retaining the trophy they won so dramatically on penalties against Chelsea in Moscow last May. Wenger, however, will harbour hopes that the undoubted talent in his side, kept under wraps for so long here, can turn things around on home territory.

Ferguson's selection of Tevez ahead of Dimitar Berbatov suggested he wanted an energetic, high-tempo approach against an Arsenal defence undermined by injuries to influential pair William Gallas and Gael Clichy.

And that was exactly what he got in thrilling opening exchanges completely controlled by United and played out in a vibrant Old Trafford atmosphere.

Arsenal goalkeeper Almunia was in action inside the first 90 seconds, retreating desperately towards his goal to claw out Rooney's looping header.

And youngster Kieran Gibbs then showed early nerves as he slipped to let in Ronaldo, but United's winger flashed the ball across the face of goal with no-one on hand to apply the crucial final touch.

Arsenal were on the ropes, and it took a superb double save from Alumnia to deny Tevez after a slick exchange with O'Shea as United swarmed all over a Gunners side struggling to come to terms with the pace of the game.

Ronaldo hit the crossbar with a powerful dipping strike
Wenger's players never looked like surviving this fierce early barrage, and so it proved as United took a deserved lead in the 18th minute.

Arsenal failed to clear a corner, and when Michael Carrick's cross was deflected into his path by Mikael Silvestre, O'Shea lashed a finish high past Almunia.

Arsenal's only response was a low 20-yard shot from Fabregas that was comfortably collected by Edwin van der Sar.

Almunia was the keeper in constant action, and he performed heroics again after 28 minutes to keep out Ronaldo's header from an inviting cross by the industrious Tevez.

The only black spot in the opening 45 minutes for United - apart from not capitalising fully on their outstanding approach play - was a yellow card for Tevez after he collided with Almunia in a chase for possession.

Arsenal looked to have settled more after the break, and even felt bold enough to pose another brief threat after 62 minutes when Adebayor's volley flew over the top, although Van der Sar had the effort well covered.

Bullish Wenger confident despite defeat
United made a double substitution with 25 minutes left, sending on Ryan Giggs - making his 800th appearance for the club - and Berbatov for Anderson and Tevez.

And Ronaldo almost marked their arrival with United's second as he sent a thunderous right-foot shot against the crossbar with Almunia motionless.

Wenger made a change of his own, replacing the subdued Theo Walcott with Nicklas Bendtner, and then sent on Eduardo for Adebayor as the game entered its final 10 minutes.

The changes made little alteration to the pattern of the game, with Arsenal ultimately content not to concede a second after some harrowing moments.

It is advantage United - who suffered a scare late on when Rio Ferdinand went off after suffering a blow to the ribs - but the narrow lead still leaves the semi-final in the balance ahead of next week's return game.
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BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Arsenal's Manuel Almunia (7.57 on 90 minutes).
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Manchester Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand (Evans 87), Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson (Giggs 66), Ronaldo, Tevez (Berbatov 66), Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Park, Scholes, Rafael Da Silva.
Booked: Tevez.
Goals: O'Shea 18.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Song, Diaby, Walcott (Bendtner 70), Fabregas, Nasri, Adebayor (Eduardo 82).
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Denilson, Ramsey, Djourou, Eboue.

Att: 74,733
Ref: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).

bbc.co.uk

Posted by Barry on 2009-04-29 @ 0:50:18 -0600

UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson looks like having all his key players available for the Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Although Gary Neville is out with a foot injury, Wes Brown was among the first-team squad which trained at Carrington on Tuesday morning, with Ferguson still to decide which four of the 20 outfield players on duty to leave out.

Brown, who has managed just a couple of substitute appearances since injuring his foot in October, is likely to be one of those, although the Scot may consider using the experience of a player who was part of the side which won the Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow last May.

Ferguson also faces a delicate decision up front.

Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov all scored in the 5-2 win over Tottenham at the weekend - but it was the half-time introduction of Carlos Tevez which set the Reds on the way to victory from 2-0 down.

The Argentinian has already expressed his dissatisfaction at the number of appearances he has made this season but now may be hopeful of facing the Gunners.

It also seems highly likely John O'Shea will be handed the right-back berth, his greater experience preferred to Rafael De Silva, who signed a two-year contract extension on Monday.

Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre (back) hopes to be fit to face his former club.

Captain Cesc Fabregas (ankle/knee) and defender Johan Djourou (knee) also completed the session but leading scorer Robin van Persie (groin) and left-back Gael Clichy (back) remain sidelined, while Russian midfielder Andrey Arshavin is ineligible.

Centre-half William Gallas (knee) and long-term absentee Tomas Rosicky will miss the rest of the campaign.

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Rafael, Ronaldo, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez.

Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Nasri, Song, Denilson, Fabregas, Walcott, Adebayor, Fabianski, Djourou, Eduardo, Bendtner, Diaby, Vela, Ramsey, Eboue.

Key opponent: Theo Walcott - jet-heeled youngster will be a threat

Prediction: United 2 Arsenal 1 - The Reds should win but their defence is still not fully convincing - as the first half against Spurs proved

MEN

Posted by Barry on 2009-04-19 @ 3:30:13 -0600

2009-04-15 - United eliminate Porto and will face Arsenal in the Semi-Final!

2009-03-20 - United are drawn against FC Porto in the Quarter Finals.

2009-03-11 - United advance to the Quarter Finals!
2008-12-19 - First knockout round - United drawn against Inter Milan

2008-12-10 - Manchester United win Group E
2008-11-25 - Manchester United qualify for the next Stage.
2008-08-28 - Manchester United is drawn into Group E.
QuarterFinal Stage - Fixtures / Results
MatchDay 9 - APR 08 2009
England Manchester United FC FC Porto 2 - 2
MatchDay 10 - APR 15 2008
FC Porto England Manchester United FC 0 - 1
Knockout Stage - Fixtures / Results
MatchDay 7 - 24 FEB 2009
FC Internazionale Milano England Manchester United FC 0 - 0
MatchDay 8 - 10 MAR 2009
England Manchester United FC FC Internazionale Milano 2 - 0