Manchester United Season Tracking Version 2

[Springsteen]

Manchester United 2-1 Marseille

A nervous night in some ways but progress to the last 8 assured with a narrow win over the French team. An early goal brought great relief when Javier Hernandez finished off a lovely move between Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs. Marseille though created some very good chances in the first half, most notably with a header just wide. The second half started with mostly pressure from us which never quite culminated in a goal but it happened with time running out when Hernandez tapped in after a ball across from Giggs .A goal with 7 minutes left for Marseille when Wes Brown flicked a header past Van Der Sar saw the ending become slightly nervous but in the end our professionalism shone through and we are in the last 8. The only negative points were the withdrawals from the game of both John O'Shea and Rafael with hamstring injuries. But everything else is present and correct.

Man Of The Match : Wayne Rooney.

 

[skyblue]

united v barca would be a tasty treat

 

[Springsteen]

It's a dream final, albeit one played 2 years ago. It'd be a great test for us, and Barca. Not sure who I'd like to get really, maybe Shahktar.

 

[Carlton]

i now think that arsenal will win the premiership,a game a week is good for them where united are facing possible fixture congestion,stretching the weakest united squad for years to its absolute limit

I agree

 

[Springsteen]

Manchester United 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

The narrowest of victories, but a huge one none the less. The first half was a tale of frustration as chances failed to be converted, so Hernandez made way for Berbatov at the start of the second half. The games major flashpoint came when Evans was shown a straight red for a bad tackle on Holden which also saw the Bolton midfielder stretchered off. The goal then came with 3 minutes to go when Berbatov followed up a Nani effort which Jaaskelainen fumbled. This win, coupled with Arsenal's draw at West Brom, sends us 5 points clear.

Man Of The Match : Michael Carrick

 

[Springsteen]

West Ham United 2-4 Manchester United

Only we can do this, look down and out and then come back. In that manner. We started the better before West Ham broke and Patrice Evra handled a flick attempt by Carlton Cole and Mark Noble coverted the penalty. But we were still the better side, just we couldn't take our chances and when Nemanja Vidic tripped Dema Ba another penalty was awarded. Vidic himself may have been sent off before half time but having looked at it again it wasn't a clear goalscoring opportunity. So 2-0 at the break and changes were made with Patrice Evra was replaced by Javider Hernandez. Mark Noble then tripped Michael Carrick just outside the box and Rooney dispatched a free kick to give us hope and the equaliser came when Rooney trapped the ball just inside the area and finished cooly into the corner. 2-2 became 2-3 when Upson handled a Fabio flick, it was a little soft but I think the referee was trying to even it up. Rooney completed his hat trick and Javier Hernandez added a 4th later on to complete a wonderful comeback that was certainly deserved on the day.

Man Of The Match : Wayne Rooney.

 

[skyblue]

i doubt if ferguson will critisize todays ref considering vidic's antics,he was lucky to stay on the pitch...west ham can consider themselves hard done by

 

[Springsteen]

I think on an accumulation of things Vidic probably should have gone. I mean the one where he pulled back Ba was a yellow, Ba wasn't getting to the ball and therefore it is not a clear goalscoring opportunity, but then he made that foul in the second half. In a way it evens out from not seeing David Luiz sent off last month in a match, swings and roundabouts.

 

[Springsteen]

Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United

A very good away win in the Quarter Final first leg. An example of how to play away in Europe, create the chances as and when and soak up the pressure. The only goal arrived in the 23rd minute when Ryan Giggs accepted a delightful lofted pass from Carrick, took it inside the defender and Wayne Rooney slotted it in off the post. From then on it was a balanced affair with Chelsea coming close when Torres's flick found the post and Lampard's follow up was cleared off the line by Evra. The second half was mainly Chelsea but we showed great resistance to keep them out with the likes of Van Der Sar and Ferdinand fantastic. A penalty for Chelsea was turned down with time running out but that as far as I'm concerned that evens out the wrong award given to them in the last match. Shortly afterwards Torres was booked for diving in the area, which amused me no end.

Man Of The Match : Edwin Van der Sar

 

[skyblue]

Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United

A very good away win in the Quarter Final first leg. An example of how to play away in Europe, create the chances as and when and soak up the pressure. The only goal arrived in the 23rd minute when Ryan Giggs accepted a delightful lofted pass from Carrick, took it inside the defender and Wayne Rooney slotted it in off the post. From then on it was a balanced affair with Chelsea coming close when Torres's flick found the post and Lampard's follow up was cleared off the line by Evra. The second half was mainly Chelsea but we showed great resistance to keep them out with the likes of Van Der Sar and Ferdinand fantastic. A penalty for Chelsea was turned down with time running out but that as far as I'm concerned that evens out the wrong award given to them in the last match. Shortly afterwards Torres was booked for diving in the area, which amused me no end.

Man Of The Match : Edwin Van der Sar

fergie wont see that,its a seige mentality in his mind.....and torres was brought down but it wasn't a penalty

 

[Springsteen]

That overpriced ladyboy was lookng for the contact, simulation and rghtfully booked.

 

[Zorak]

That overpriced ladyboy was lookng for the contact, simulation and rghtfully booked.

That was a definate foul on Ramires though. Swings and roundabouts.

 

[Springsteen]

Yeah there was, but like I said, in the league game they had a penalty wrongly awarded, so that's evened out.

It's a good result this one, still have to be focused on the second leg obviously but it's better than I expected.

And I have still scored as many goals for Chelsea as Fernando Torres. Very proud I am.

 

[Zorak]

You have to feel sorry for Anelka, what does he have to do to get a starting place? He's been the complete professional about it all as well.

 

[Zorak]

But well done United

Thanks for beating a team I couldn't despise more.

 

[Springsteen]

I knew Anelka was going to be the sufferer of Torres signing, I also agree he's been professional about it. I believe he and a combination of Drogba or Torres would work better for Chelsea, Drogba and Torres looks good on paper, but has not worked together. As for why I don't know, but Anelka and Drogba next week would be better for Chelsea in my view.

 

[skyblue]

Yeah there was, but like I said, in the league game they had a penalty wrongly awarded, so that's evened out.

It's a good result this one, still have to be focused on the second leg obviously but it's better than I expected.

And I have still scored as many goals for Chelsea as Fernando Torres. Very proud I am.

a league game doesn't even come close to comparing with the last 8 of the champions league

 

[Springsteen]

Manchester United 2-0 Fulham

A routine victory where both sides seemed happy to turn it into a leisurley walk in the park. Fulham started stronger with a couple of chances but when Nani's run was supplemented by Anderson's touch, the ball found it's way through to the Premier League's leading scorer Dimitar Berbatov who finished well despite looking slightly offside. We then hit another gear and on the half hour doubled the lead when Nani's run saw him take it past an outcoming Schwarzer, the Portugese winger stayed composed, put the ball across and it was flicked on by Chris Baird into Antonio Valencia who couldn't miss from 3 yards out. The second half saw us slow down the gears as time went on and Fulham were restricted to half chances and speculative efforts which we were happy to let them have and break when we could. On the day not a very exciting game to watch because of the acceptance of the result by Fulham and our inability to get another couple of goals, but it's yet another win.

Man Of The Match : Nani.

 

[Springsteen]

Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea

Qualification for the semi finals for the 4th time in 5 seasons assured with a deserved win over Chelsea. The first half was defined by a disallowed goal and a far post finish by Javier Hernandez. Chelsea's best chance came from Lampard but it was a weak sidefoot. The first breakthrogh came when Rooney's cross was headed in by Hernandez but the goal was ruled out for offside. However Chelsea didn't learn and when O'Shea put in Giggs, the Welshman passed it across the goal and Hernandez passed it into the roof of the net, it was well onside. Didier Drogba replaces Torres for the second half and a new impetus was in Chelsea, however Ramires was then shown a second yellow for a foul on Nani. Drogba reduced the deficit with 13 minutes to go but less than a minute later Ji Sung Park hammered home to give us a huge cushion and in the end it was enough.

Man Of The Match : Ryan Giggs

 

[Springsteen]

Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City

Perhaps City's biggest ever Derby win, perhaps our worst ever performance in one. Perhaps the victory which ends the long trophy drout for City. Lot of perhaps. They deserved to win though, the first half hour was our game, and we really should have been in front but Berbatov wasted two glorious chances. Then they came back into it and could have been in front before half time but the breakthrough came when Carrick gave it to Toure Yaya who ran on and scored. In the end there wasn't enough determination from us to win, and as hard as it is to accept, they were better than us.

Man Of The Match : Haven't got a clue.