Football Tactics and Opinion
Amidst the spotlight of an exciting 3-3 draw between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park was the feeling of infinite refreshment. This was not the fragile Newcastle, lacking in character and mental courage to challenge the top dogs and to pull themselves out of a relegation dogfight. This too was not Manchester United, boring staid possession, sideways passing and Continue reading “Chaos personified as Newcastle United draw 3-3 with Manchester United”
There was a period – in March – when the mist seemed to clear and the road ahead could be seen with more clarity. Manchester United were rampant, ruthless and effective. As they swept aside Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester City, the thought was that finally those intricately prepared patterns on the Carrington Training Ground were starting to Continue reading “Oh! Louis Van Gaal”
Not many would have disagreed with Arsene Wenger. His observation seemed spot on, his assertion quite right on the money. For the 2013-2014 Champions League season, Bayern Munich were the favourites.
In fact, as Wenger aptly put it, they were the super favourites.
And that truly showed in the opening rounds — especially against Manchester City. At the Etihad Stadium, Bayern Munich out-passed and outplayed the Citizens. It seemed then as if the Bavarian club was on course to achieve the unachievable. Maybe, they could become the first club in the Champions League era to defend the European Cup.
But laboured wins against Arsenal and Manchester United in the knock out rounds brought about a sense of Continue reading “Why the Champions League will be open and more competitive than previous years”
Take two! Like a setting from a film set, with the director angry at the acting in the just shot scene, the post-Ferguson era at Manchester United is at its second take.
The first take was disappointing. David Moyes arrived at Old Trafford and the ridicule seemingly followed him in. Previous highs crashed to mediocre levels. It came as no surprise when he eventually crashed and burned out.
Louis van Gaal has replaced him. His managerial CV includes Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona (twice), AZ Alkmaar, Bayern Munich and the Netherlands national team (twice). His titles include a Champions League trophy, league titles and cup wins in Holland, Spain and Germany.
Described by Jonathan Wilson as red-faced and dogmatic, van Gaal’s managerial career has developed steadily. The older, the wiser. His strict and stubborn approach to his philosophy in his early managerial years have now given way to a mixture ofContinue reading “Decoding Manchester United’s Louis van Gaal”
For a while, Xavi Hernandez seriously considered joining Manchester United.
He was just breaking through from the youth ranks at Barcelona and into the first team and though he was being touted as the next best thing, he had one problem. Pep Guardiola was still ahead of him in the pecking order. The then Barcelona captain commanded the midfield with orchestral fashion. Guardiola had been injured when Xavi had made a name for himself but the Catalan idol, while acknowledging the prodigious talents of the dimunitive Xavi, had promised to make life hard for him to get into the first team. Guardiola had Continue reading “Cesc Fabregas: To leave or not to leave?”
The excitement surrounding the final day drama hinges on that great illusion that everything comes down to one game.
Indeed, when much is at stake coming into the final game, the idea that a whole league season will be determined by one game does not seem all that unlikely. Relegation dogfights, title races, and of late, European positions when stretched as far as the final day bring that all encapsulating feeling that one game will determine everything.
Of course, that is not the entire truth. As Arsene wenger alluded to before his side Continue reading “Final day drama”
The knight has decided to call it a day.
The time has come and Sir Alex Ferguson is going. In years to come, tales will be told about this Scottish manager who has so transformed the game of football. Some of those tales will be true, some will be false, and some will very much border on the mythological.
Because wherever you look, Sir Alex’s achievements seem unbelievable. Not just the sheer quantity of them, but also the longevity. Success is a nebulous quarry, and few achieve it for Continue reading “Alexander”
The celebrations will have to wait a little longer because despite the rise of the blue moon being eclipsed by the red sun, the blue moon showed that it is ready to embark on its new ascent.
The Manchester Derby of this season was not as telling as that of last season. Certainly, the one at this same stage last year was definitive in that Vincent Kompany’s winner inevitably led to the direct destination of the Premier League trophy. That however was at the Etihad, and it was that 6-1 win at Old Trafford that had sent shock waves across Manchester, and the helm of the English League system.
This time, that was not the case as a 15 point gap separated Continue reading “Not yet champions”
93:20.
It was in that exact minute and second that last season’s Premier League title race was ultimately defined. As it signalled the end of the Premier League season, celebrations ensued. Relief was clear for all to see. History had been made. Manchester United had been denied. Manchester City were champions.
That may not be the story anyContinue reading “Did Sergio Aguero win the Premier League for Manchester United?”
Great spectacles are defined by compilations of individual isolated moments.
That was the case as Manchester United welcomed Real Madrid for the second leg of a Round of 16 Champions League tie. Ultimately, a night of stars will be remembered for the various moments of bright lights and sporadic darkness.
As is the norm, the game had started long before the game had started. Not lost on anyone was the fact that the first leg had ended 1-1 at the Bernabeu, Danny Welbeck’s opener handing the Red Devils a valuable away goal. Also,Continue reading “Manchester United see red in the Champions League”
Futball Triangle 