a new beginning

well, two years and more have passed. and much has happened since my last post in April of 2009. i was in Delhi then, now i am in Agartala. i was unemployed then, feeling guilty about leaning on everyone around me. now i am fortunately employed and very happy to support my parents back home instead of the other way round.

however, some things have stayed the same. Sir Alex Ferguson remains manager, the greatest ever and his charges are the Premier League Champions again after a one year hiatus in their relentless acquisition of trophies under him. that's four League titles in five years now and what's more United are now ahead of everyone in England with 19 League titles. and to think 12 of them are won in the Premier League era under Ferguson. but some things still hurt the same come the end of May. back then, it was in the Eternal City and this year at the 'home of football' where the hypocrites footballing wizards of Barcelona pipped us in the battle for four European Cups with a masterful display (and there i was thinking United was in with a chance after Rooney equalized).


this summer has, however, brought changes to United. there are three new signings in Phil Jones, David de Gea and Ashley Young. and early signs suggest that Ashley Young will be a major threat for opposing teams on the left wing. Phil Jones will most probably have to wait a couple more years for a regular starting role in the centre of the defence but will get opportunities as cover for the injury-prone Ferdinand. of the new signings, the new goalkeeper, David de Gea will need tie to settle after his big money move from Atletico Madrid. he is still very young in goalkeeping terms but without a shadow of doubt has huge potential. and if he can adjust to the change in his surroundings quickly, i think United have a goalkeeper of the highest class for the next 10-15 years minimum. and as would any United fan, i hope he settles in very quickly. also, it looks like we will get to see some of the young talents at the club more regularly this time, especially Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck who spent last season on loan at other Premier League clubs gaining valuable experience. I'm sure we'll also get to see more of Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison as well during the course of the season.

all this is because of the retirement of no less than three United legends during the past year. Gary Neville hung up his boots mid-season while Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Sar did the same after the Wembley heartbreak. and the team also lost two faithful and loyal servants in Wes Brown and John O' Shea who both moved on in search of more pitch time and signed for Sunderland. it seems such a massive loss for the club to have to lose such big players and their years of experience playing for United. but the manager seems to be confident that the current youthful United side is what is needed to continue the quest for more trophies.

here's hoping to a new and exciting as well as another trophy-winning season for United.  GGMU.

long gone

i know, i know. i've been been gone a long time just like the team's form. 13 consecutive clean sheets and all of a sudden... poof!!!! goals flying in like pans thrown at a drunk husband by a very angry wife. very bad pun or whatever it's called. i don't care right now. all i really want to do now is to see the Red Devils negotiate one of their most important weeks of the season without a hitch. we've got Porto away for a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League and then a trip to Wembly for the a place in the F.A. Cup final against Everton.

before the Liverpool game, there was a hope, very real hope of bagging an unprecedented five trophies. but now we seem to be struggling everywhere, fighting to stay ahead. the league is intriguingly poised with just a point keeping us ahead of the scousers. though there is a game in hand, i would rather it were three points in the bag than that.

this week is pivotal. should we crash out of the two remaining knock-out competitions (God forbid), i think we could even end up losing the league title. with the defence looking very shaky every time we play, even against weak (supposedly) oppositions, Porto will be a tough task. and having granted them two away goals, it is upto us to force the game and try to win it as there is no other way.

the wembley game is on sunday if i am not mistaken. and we will be facing an everton side that's playing with a lot of confidence and in very good form. but i think sir Alex won't be too bothered about that. what will surely weigh on his mind will be how to come away from Lisbon with a chance to have a crack at Champions league history after a potential semi-final clash with Arsenal.

WE'RE ON TOP

23 games played and just 10 goals conceded. That's just ... Wow! Of the 19 other teams in the Barclays Premier League, only 6 teams have been able to find the back of United's net. Most of it courtesy of their ongoing record run of 12 consecutive clean sheets. This watertight defence has made up for an attack that's still trying to find some kind of form. Injuries to Ronaldo, at the start of the season, and now Rooney haven't helped. But United now have a two point lead at the top with a game in hand over 2nd placed Liverpool.

Everton last weekend was a tough one even if it was at Old Trafford and another 1-0 was always on the cards after the exertions mid-week at West Brom, which by the way gave a glimpse of the type of football we are capable of. All in all it wasn't a bad week but for the misfortunes of Chelsea at Anfield. A draw [or as Sir Alex Ferguson wished - a defeat for both teams] would have suited United just fine. However, FA Cup misery and Gerrard's injury mid-week would have remedied the exultations of any Scouser over their defeat of the Blues.

Up next is a trip to Upton Park where we haven't had much joy for a couple of seasons now. With Zola's men in good form themselves, it will be a test for the defence to continue their unbeaten run against Carlton Cole and co. But i think our 'winning and not conceding' run will continue and United could be 4 points clear at least with a game in hand after the latest round of fixtures. Because i think Liverpool will struggle at Fratton Park without Steven Gerrard and could come away with just a point even though Portsmouth are in free fall.

West Brom vs Man Utd

Man utd take the field against west brom just a few minutes from now in an attempt to cement their lead at the top. A defence that has gone more than 900 minutes without conceding a goal will be put to test with just Vidic only, fit of all the first choice defenders. A lot will rest on the performance of Edwin van der Sar in goal with a record of most consecutive league clean sheets on the offer. Another 1-0 will do just fine for me.

Man Utd vs Tottenham FA Cup 4th round

The Red Devils take on Spurs in the 4th round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Saturday. United are facing an injury crisis with just one first choice defender, Nemanja Vidic, fit for the game. There are also injury worries in midfield but i think we will be able to cope. But it will a patched up defence that will be up against Spurs and that's where my worries lie.

The good news, though, is that Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has come out saying that Premier League survival and not the Cup is his priority and so he will be fielding a weakened side following that amazing game at Burnley where they limped through to the final of the Carling Cup where they will be defending their title against United on March 1 at Wembley.

I think the match will be a tight one with United missing a number of key players with United edging it by a goal the way they've been doing it in the league. If Spurs do put out a weak team, it'll be advantage United.

My wishlist for the night would be to see a glimpse of Fabio da Silva and Zoran Tosic in action. And of course, a United win.

Setting things straight

I'm just getting started and i just want to put a few things out there. This blog will be about football, centered around the only club i've supported ever since i heard about them, Manchester United. I think i can hear the "oh no, not another United fan" groans.Sorry folks but class always gets appreciated.

So here's my deal. I am indeed a Manchester United fan and i've been one for a decade now. Some would say that i'm just a fan because of the success they've had and to a certain extent i also believe it's true. But i also believe that the name, not to mention the footall they play, would have always drawn me to the club even if they weren't the force that they have been and still are and will be. I just think the name is magnetic for a football fan. And the way they play just adds to one's delight.

My best player ever is the Ginger Prince, Paul Scholes. He, for me is the epitome of an attacking midfielder. A brilliant passer of the ball with unmatched vision and to that a right foot with a deathly power, the knack of finding space in the final third and an eye for goal. Age has caught up with him and affected his way of playing but he remains a master in my eyes.

I, too played football in school and college. I was a John O'Shea-like footballer. I started of as a goalkeeper so that i could break into the school team. Once established, i got promoted to defence where i played centre-back/half. Then i shifted to a midfield-cum-striker role in college depending on the way the coach would play me. I scored just 1 goal while playing for my school. It was a free kick that i curled into the top corner in a match we lost 4-1. I scored 3 goals for my college team in 9 matches.

Now i don't play no more but i try to watch every Man Utd match on the telly. Live or rerun, i just love watching them play. And i hope i can keep posting about their exploits from now on. GGMU.