Two Clubs...One City..

Like most cities, there are two sides….one side with the posh elite and the other with the commoners. One side industrial/commercial and the other residential…and the city of Manchester is like every other city, split in two, even more when it comes to football….come this weekend, the city will either be blue or red, and after 90minutes of 22 men battling over a sack of air one side will be happy the other sad. And even if the spoils are shared…one side will definitely go home the happier. Blue host red as Manchester city hosts Manchester united, that’s right, the Manchester derby coming to a television near you 1:30pm,Sunday the 9th of December. This derby over the last couple of years had nothing but who will have bragging rights as the best in the city but with an inflow of money, purchase of world class players and silverware all on the blue side now…it has become way more than just a derby game as a game between these clubs can determine who lifts the trophy come May. The day of the red dominating hasn’t come to an end but it is well balanced with blue.

 

There is already some pain on the blue side of Manchester as they (Manchester city) have been kicked out of the champions league without winning a single game, their run in Europe epitomised the word rubbish because they failed to even qualify for the europa league. One may say it is better for them seeing as they can concentrate on all domestic cups but the question is why they couldn’t win with a squad filled with world class players? Having said that, they are unbeaten in the premier league,even without hitting the form they hard last season. Now the next question would be, how can a team be the champions of England, the English league supposedly the best in the world, how can Manchester city not win in Europe?…as a man city fan, the reply would be….as long as we beat Man United on Sunday, I don’t care. Manchester city sit second in the league after 15 games, 3 points behind Manchester United, they currently have the best squad in the league and arguably the best midfielder in the world in Yaya Toure...Alot can be said about a team not playing well but still winning games, and against their local and possibly biggest rival, they would not need any inspiration to win against united on Sunday.

 

At the moment there is currently no pain on the red side of Manchester , sitting first on the table, 3 points ahead of their local rivals and the current English champions. They qualified top of their group for the champions league and have a strike force described by Sir Alex as nothing more than World class. but there is a pain that still touches most fans on the red side…..the 6-1 thrashing they received last year at Old Trafford by City and a Vincent Kompany header that gave city 3 points at the ethihad early this year…the pain lingers as city have current bragging rights not only in the city but in the country. United loosing to Cluj in their champions league although they played a second string team, the weakness in midfield still shows.Ryans Giggs and Paul Scholes both played suggesting that they are most likely to miss the derby and it was a game they both would have done well if it was a testimonial. Anderson is out with a hamstring injury, tom cleverly limped off against Cluj, so Fletcher, still struggling to get back to himself and Michael Carrick that occasionally remembers he is a good player. But it’s a derby and form never really matters, at least the united fans will hope so. There are rumours that this might be Mancini's last season,especially after a poor run in the champions league,on the other hand,Fergie seems to be going strong and plans not to leave anytime soon. Both managers do share one thing and that is not to lose come Sunday. There have been 163 meetings between both clubs,United winning 68 and city winning 45. There have been 50 draws but come Sunday am sure there wont be a 51st draw.United rested 7 players against Cluj and will be fresh and buzzing,Kompany and co playing a day before United should also have had enough rest so barring injuries,they are both all up for it.

 

A statue stands in Old Trafford,tribute given to the best ever manager in English football,there is no doubt that sir Alex will live and die as the best manager but if the blue side continues to dominate in the city and in the country,in a couple of years all we will remember is a man that lost power to his local rivals. I am sure he wouldn’t want that. It should be a good game,and hopefully no red cards,racism or some idiot doing monkey chants at any player. We shall see after 90 minutes from 1:30pm on Sunday. In more words to come..Sabi Boi

Superstition?maybe not but Paranoia...

Superstition as they say is part of the game, and certain sports men and women tend to create a pattern that they follow before every game.Chicharito prays at the pass line before every game, Eric Cantona didn't warm up with the first team and me (sabi), when I used to play, never tied my boot laces till the ball was passed..Win or loose, superstition will always be part of the game....when what u believe as superstition continues to hang on the negative, paranoia sets in...And there probably will be some paranoia amongst the man united fans. United have lost 3 games in the league this season, 1 was the first game against Everton, kick off was at 8pm and the other 2 were 5:30 kick offs...losing to Tottenham at home and Norwich away. United have won in a 5:30pm kickoff against villa but even that was a very cagey affair...and was won by the brilliance of the man that prays on the touch line...paranoid yet?

United travelled to reading this weekend,5:30pm kick off...there were certain things that were not in the red devils favour,1,Reading you could say were due a win from playing well for some matches and not winning plus they sit 19th in the league. Never easy playing relegation teams.2, Reading were at home and of course the beautiful paranoia of the 5:30 kick off,Reading  definitely fancied their chances...With the strike force being the core for united this season were  looking to continue their great form especially coming from a win without conceding first and keeping a clean sheet against Westham. United’s defence should be up for it too right? The answer would be no...United conceded first (surprise surprise) and if u ever wanted a game that showed people how not to defend...this was one.

Manchester united have never conceded 3 goals in less than 30 minutes in English football and even after coming from a goal down to lead 2-1, two corners from Nicky Shorey put Reading ahead 3-2...another lesson in how not to defend a corner shown by United...it was a good game for the neutral but for united and Reading....a lot of teams will be glad to play them both if their defending will continue in its generosity.

Anderson equalised after United went down 1-0 with a curling shot to the left post, the Brazilian maintaining his form that has put him in the first team for the last two games, it was sad to see him limp off at half time with a hamstring injury.....Rafael on the other hand was having a very shaky game and had committed two fouls in the first 20minutes putting him in the referees books. He was substituted before half time, refused to shake the hand of sir Alex, his jacket was tossed on him by the kit man and it took Ryan Giggs to cool him down. I think he was substituted for 2 reasons,1,to be used against Man city next weekend and 2,his replacement Smalling, was put in to match the set pieces using his height,so Rafa better apologise....5:30 kick offs, bringing out the drama for the reds..

Wayne Rooney scored twice, his first goal from the penalty spot and his 2nd to level united 3-3, he assisted Robin Van Persie to put united ahead 4-3...and just before half time, United should have been 5-3 up after the ball had crossed the line from a Van persie shot but the goal wasn't given...i guess we could say that evens things out from the goal that wasn't given at St James park. Wayne Rooney gave possibly his best performance for united this season, selfless play, helping in the defence and getting a brace. Robin van Persie should have had a hatrick but the united supporters will hope he is sharper against city this coming weekend.

On a good day, the performance put in by the Reading players should have given them 3 points but bad defending cost them that. They had spirited performances from each and every Reading player but the man of the match from Reading for me was Robson-Kanu...ease on the ball, taking on players and got a goal for his side. Sad story on his part that it wasn’t good enough because he was have a good time with Patrice Evra .

 

United have now won 2 out of 4 premier league 5:30pm kick offs so you could say there is nothing superstitious about that time but there is definitely plenty of paranoia for united fans and the fans of any other team United plays. You can be sure that United will concede but you are also sure that a comeback is in the cards. But with city coming up, as a Manchester United fan….you better hope City doesn’t score first. On the other hand the game against City is at 1:30pm on Sunday so the paranoia here is on the city fans…United always brightens up during Christmas.

 

In more words to come..Sabi Boi..

The Russian or the Spaniard?

How many of you caught the Chelsea V Fulham game on the 28^th of November? And for those of you that were unfortunate to see the game I am guessing no one watched past the first half? If you did, you’re probably a Chelsea fan or seriously in need of a girlfriend/boyfriend. In my opinion I think that's one of the worst Chelsea games I have seen in a very long time. There were literally no highlights in the game. It was so bad that at some point due to lack of interesting moments in the game, replays of players passing the ball became the talking points. My question is this: Where has Chelsea gone wrong? If you must pick one, will it be the over enthusiastic rich Russian owner or the feather weight goal-shy blonde 'Spanish striker'?
















Stand up Mr Abramovich. He took over at Chelsea, clearing the debts of the club and looking to make Chelsea one of the biggest clubs in world football. It was a move accepted and applauded by everyone especially the Chelsea fans. Under Mr Abromovich’s reign, the Chelsea faithful have seen 9 managers in 10 years; you could say he has a business approach rather than a football approach in running his club. But in those 10 years Chelsea has won 8 trophies. And in those 8 trophies, the Chelsea fans have bragging rights as the only London club to win the champions league. My question is has he become too involved in the game. What really is the role of a manger in a club? Is he too strong willed to see his favourite players play for and prosper in his team? Cases can be made for Shevchenko and Torres 'the Blondie . Is his desire to see the Spanish blonde succeed too strong that he had to fire coaches at will? Is Torres the reason he got Rafeal Benitez to head the team?

Stand up Mr Torres. The one striker I know that falls anytime he is challenged, whether he is touched or not. The only Spanish player that makes you think he is Spanish by adoption. I really don't know why Chelsea fans find it difficult to believe that he is past his prime. Is he really goal shy? You could throw in many questions as to why Torres isn't the Torres we saw in Liverpool, the same Torres that Vidic of Manchester United still has nightmares about. The fact remains that he has failed to live up to his £50 million bill paid to Liverpool for whom we all believed was the best striker in the world. It is a bit unfair to say Blondie is the reason why Chelsea isn't up and firing especially the way they (Chelsea) started this season winning 7 in 8 matches but strikers are played and paid to score goals and with a man that scored 82 goals in 214 appearances for Athletico Madrid, 65 goals in 102 appearances for Liverpool……11 goals for over 70 games for Chelsea is not good enough. Or just maybe he needs more prayers? 

Every player is measured and compared with the previous player that was in their role…comparing Torres with Didier Drogba..Torres has been weighed, measured and found wanting...How about giving Daniel Sturridge a chance?

 

Mr Abromovich’s pride is looking to be stained, wasting (looks like it) £50 million for a striker that has a better chance being a model than scoring goals. He is desperate for Torres to live up to the mark, so desperate that it is believed to affect his decisions in sacking and hiring managers. Torres can be used as a lesson….”what we do on earth echoes in eternity” in other words, he is only playing because of what he has achieved in the past. The same way nobody remembers the amount of fights Mohammed Ali lost, all we remember is Mohammed Ali

 

So the Russian or the Spaniard? You tell me...