Vs Bolton, Reebok Stadium - 26 Sep 2010

Another away match, another draw, another valuable 2 points dropped - This is getting very frustrating these days, especially for the rivals' results on Saturday, we could have narrowed down the gap at the top to bare minimum. Not to be!!!

We started again with the 4-4-2 formation and Rio who was expected to make a comeback in this match, didn't. Johny Evans once again had a torrid time, this time with Kevin Davies who was the first to reach to almost all the long balls. He ensured he brought the ball down to the strikers' feat each time and that created enough opportunities (not any take though) to the heavily imposing, Elmander.


Berbatov who looks to be in red-hot form, spurned a glorious (one of Wayne's best in recent times) through ball from Rooney by trying to shoot from an almost improbable angle. He could have squared it up to Ryan Giggs who was completely unmarked - a key moment.

Zat Knight became the 2nd defender in the season to score against United to break the deadlock. Evra who was supposed to protect the area next to the upright was caught off guard as we left enough space.



It took a moment of real class and thrill for the equaliser - Nani collected the ball from our own half and made a scorching run through the midfield and the defence. The finish was sublime as well, it reminded us of those whirlwind runs that Ronaldo used to make.

United were made to pay on the counter, brilliantly initiated and concluded by the former City man, Martin Petrov - the deflection off Fletcher was indeed unfortunate. United made substitutions at brisk pace and I for one have always wanted Michael Owen to get more minutes under his belt. In spite of being the shortest amidst a crowded Bolton defence, he was the one who got the touch and thereby the equalizer in the 74th minute.


From then on how we managed to end the match without creating one genuine opportunity, is beyond my level of imagination. We deserved nothing more than a point against a team which looked better than us on that day.

It's frustrating, but we have to move on...Sunderland away next, isn't the greatest place to look for a turnaround in our away fortunes. But with United, you never know!

Vs Liverpool, Old Trafford - 19 Sep 2010

I do not know about the historical rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool, since I have picked up a real interest in the sport and EPL as recently as 2006. During those days, Liverpool will never look a threat to United and I have never realized the seriousness with which their respective fans used to look at this fixture.

It was sometime in 2009 when Liverpool came to Old Trafford and defeated us 4-1, I stood up and started looking at Liverpool with real hatred and hardcore vengeance. Such was the intensity of the defeat that whenever I think about Steven Gerrard running towards the camera and planting a kiss, I feel infuriated.


This season is no different, after a couple of heart-breaking late scoring draws (a win against lowly West Ham in between) I was keenly looking forward to this game and really wanted us to scored a few. We made a dominant start as expected, holding the majority of possession and creating few clear cut chances. When the first half was about to end, Berbatov nonchalantly nodded in our first goal - who was his marker? - Fernando Torres who did everything except marking Dimitar. In the half time review I was amused to hear Steve McMahon ask - "What on earth is Torres doing there? He could done the same thing sitting in the dressing room". And yes, he is one expert reviewer whom I hate for the way he hates United.

After Berbatov acrobatically knocked in the second, I thought it was Game Set and Match for United, let's look ahead. But such has been United's defensive frailties this season, I was proved wrong. Steven Gerrard stepped into twice in dead ball situations and equalized in dramatic circumstances. United, having dominated the match so far, wouldn't be one bit pleased with a point and therefore, SAF replaced Ryan Giggs with 'Kiko' Macheda and that proved to be the tonic we needed. At 85 minutes, Berbatov jumped tallest over Cara and scored his third of the match - the first hat-trick by an United player in this fixture in 64 years.


We held on to the lead and sealed a famous win and here is Berbatov being hailed as a hero. The Bulgarian was ridiculed from every corner for some indifferent form in the last season. But I have always been an admirer of Berba, trust me I had him in my Fantasy League team for a couple of weeks last season and I just brought him in the current one and gained 17 points.

By his own admission, Berbatov has not been able to express himself well over the last 2 seasons, largely due to the inflated prize tag that Manchester United attached to him. This season could be a turnaround and one to remember - He has started brilliantly, United needs him to continue...

Vs Everton, Goodison Park - 11 Sep 2010

I was off to a friend's wedding in Ooty and precisely at the time of this match, I had no access to the Television. Utter disappointment, but for a change I kept sports on the secondary.

Therefore, I didn't want to write a review on a match that I didn't catch up live.

All I did was, I came back and saw the 92nd Minute goal's replay and "boy - How sick did I feel?". I got an update from a friend after the Berba Goal, and I said that is that. We are through with three points. What I saw was a remarkably disgusting feeling - to say the least.


I was speechless wondering, "What's going on out here?". We have clearly thrown away 2 points of phenomenal importance. I am absolutely certain, I'll look back towards this match if we lose the league by a point or two.

But United will never be pessimistic, so as an United lover I have to look ahead. There are still 34 matches to go, why panic so early?

Based on whatever I have heard from reviews, we deserved to win this match by a goal difference of 3 at least for the number of chances we created. We did prove to be wasteful again and there fore, we were made to pay - Simple.

We have to get more serious in front of goal and our finishing has to be lot more clinical if we are to push Chelsea off the top of the pack.

Next up is Liverpool (after Rangers in CL) - Never an easy game considering the stakes on hand. We have to take all three on Sunday, which I think looks extremely positive for the way Liverpool are playing now.