Just a month ago, people were talking about this weak Manchester United team in the same breath as The Invincible’s. I wasn’t too bothered then, because I knew that they couldn’t last the entire season without losing given their current form and squad. And they haven’t. The most mediocre Manchester United midfield I’ve seen in years was totally overrun by Lucas, Maxi Rodríguez and Raul Meireles this weekend, having already surrendered to a weaker Chelsea team. I think it’s fair to say in both games, United were outplayed and the other team simply wanted it more. Scholes/Giggs are not capable of running the midfield in a top game any more, their legs have gone. Carrick is going backwards, both in passing and ability. Fletcher has always been a journeyman (albeit very good at what he does) and was unfancied in this game, whilst Gibson is like a shit Paul Scholes who kicks the ball at goal every time he gets it.
That this team may well still win the league is the most upsetting thing – Arsenal will never get a better chance than now – we will never again experience a league with such a weak Chelsea and United team. City will get better when they upgrade all their players again, and it’s surely only a matter of time before King Kenny brings in some better faces.
Can you imagine if Arsenal had of been 5 points clear with a game in hand two weeks ago, only to throw it away and end up potentially level on points with their nearest rivals? The press would have nailed Arsene Wenger to the wall. Yet, this Manchester United team who “know how to win titles” have done almost exactly that. If Arsenal were to win their game in hand, Manchester United will have effectively thrown away 8 points whilst the press would have you believe that Arsenal are bottlers.
More importantly, there are those in our support who will tell you that Arsene Wenger should have signed a goalkeeper in the summer. They’ll point to Manchester United as an example of a team with a world class keeper who has made a difference. “Sir Chesneys youthful in-experience led to a mistake in the Carling Cup final” they’ll shout, “with a EVDS that wouldn’t happen”! Well lads, I hope you were watching yesterday – suspect for all three goals, EVDS literally gave the ball to “HEY YOU GUYS!!” so he could finish his hat trick. I mean, seriously, if a player can score a hat-trick from a combined total of 7 yards, you’re doing goalkeeping wrong.
How did Carragher stay on the pitch? The horrible prick nearly killed Nani, who himself is a horrible… prick. But, seriously, what they didn’t show you on Match Of The Day or Sky, was that his leg looked like a popped sausage. Here, if you’re not squeamish: http://yfrog.com/gznmydrj At first I thought he was making the most of it, I mean he did get up and run after the ref – but to see a player in tears on the floor, even a cretin like Nani is never nice. That FIFA persist with rules than mean the FA now can’t retroactively punish Carragher, instead choosing to focus there strength and might on Snoods, is as incredulous as it is heartbreaking.
The plus side is, I think it’s unlikely that Nani will feature against us in the FA Cup, it would have to be a desperate Ferguson that plays him with that injury less than a week later. Although stranger things have happened….
The Spurs game was great wasn’t it? I sure hate Smoggy Mick, but fuck me, he’s got that Wolves team going. A bit of piss and vinegar and they’re racking up points like a 12 year old on Call Of Duty. Another fantastic day for refereeing, perfectly good goal disallowed after Gomes tried to fuck the striker, yet somehow ended up with the free kick, coupled with Hutton not being sent of for a straight red offence. If that wasn’t a goalscoring opportunity, then I’m a premiership referee. I mean, I could be, at least I know the rules of the game.
And so at the end of the weekend, 1pt is still better than no points, whilst 3pts would have been nice.
