Too many strikers spoil the broth

The current list - Rooney, Berbatov, Owen, Macheda, Welbeck, Obertan, Diouf, Hernandez. Now this new guy Bebe. Whats the point? Yes, it is good to catch them early and temper their skills. But 8 is one too many.

Why not throw on Welbeck and Macheda a bit more and turn them into an Andy Cole or Yorke. They are not going to remain on the sidelines forever. Sooner or later, they will go the Foster way. Enough, I say.

Having 8 strikers does give you confidence that you can always have someone who is performing well. But this ruins it for some players. This will prompt Fergie to change strikers even if they don't perform for 1 or 2 matches. That way no one will ever get an extended run. Could be very harmful for the team as well as the players!

Trophy Cabinet Count 2010-11 = 1

Ha! What a start!

The joy of watching your team standing on the podium is something which can only be related to and not explained. The moment they start jumping and the champagne bottles come out, you have only one thing going through your mind. "Wish I was there".

Given it was a long time since United won anything even though they were 'close' (just for my satisfaction) everywhere last season, it was extra special.

Community Shield is a tournament with quite a bit of history associated with it. It started in 1898-99 and has evolved since. I don't know why it ain't considered in the elite class like others, but I like to watch the game just cause you get to see two very good teams (usually) playing after three football barren months and one of them has been United for most of the past few years.

The Match!

Both teams started without much of an ado. But the buzz about the United frontline is amazing. Chicharito just plants fear in the heart of the opposition's defense given his speed. And we have the ever classy Berbatov providing him beautiful through balls. Rooney is needed like all those previous seasons, but I hope we start depending less on him. There is no striker who is as hardworking. Owen, I do not know what to say. The first goal was thanks to Valencia's run. I agree Scholes and Rooney played their part but it was Valencia's foresight which resulted in the goal. Clinical finish.

He scored a goal in his debut game for the club, yes. But for me, this was his real debut. And he delivered again, in a freakish way though. Berba's cross was really good and he could have finished it any which way he wanted to but chose this. Even though it's too early to comment, I daresay he fits the current United structure well (Who doesn't?). Welcome aboard, Javier Hernandez.

Chelsea played some good football in the middle and did a good job to pull one back. Van der Sar was impregnable except for that occasion. If not for him, the scoreline would be much different. Essien and Lampard are that team's soul and troubled United the most.

The third goal! It stands right up there. Only that man has the audacity to showcase sheer class with such ease. Dimitar Berbatov, take a bow! He's not played for United at his best. I just hope it happens this season. I hope he gets the Spurs days back, where he was at his peak. I think we did a great job by not selling him away.

All in all, a great game for the Red Devils. The plus: Many of them getting to play. The main show begins this weekend. Week in and week out of clapping and shouting and ruining missed chances. The fear of having a heart attack anytime. The fun of having arguments and laughing at others (One of the advantages of supporting Manchester United). The quest to overtake Liverpool. It's a long wait to see them jumping on the podium again. I shall wait, but. Wait, for the joy it gives you is worth every bit of it.

Go United!

Welcome Season 2010/11

With 3 months of summer wasted in not so exciting things in life, the excitement is back again with the beginning of the new season of EPL. I always think these 3 months of the year as the most dull months, with no football across the world, no rumors, no tactics, no fight with friends on facebook or orkut communities. Sure, there was the world cup this summer, but for me, no major championship excites as the club competition does, be it the EPL, La Liga, Champs League or even FA cup for that matter.

Anyways, after 3 hard months of waiting, the wait is finally over! The new season starts this weekend with United playing Newcastle on monday. But the best match over the weekend is the big one, Arsenal vs Liverpool, what a match to start of the new season!

United have done a couple of signing, both before the end of last season. One being, the tall, young england defender in Chris Smalling, and the other termed as the wonder kid from mexico, Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez. Oh boy, he is a wonder kid alright, by what i have seen him in the world cup and the pre-season.

United had a good pre-season in US,Mexico, Ireland and the Community Shield. Too bad they didn't come to New York, atleast i could have gone to New York to watch them play. Apart from a very bad display against Philadelphia and Kansas city, in which they lost, they were pretty good in all other games. Watching the last 3 matches of pre-season, i believe the title will be coming back to the place where it belongs. They were marvelous against the MLS all stars, the ireland team and against chelsea in community shield, apart from 82nd minute to 90th minute they were fabulous.

Lets see what United have got for the season, apart from those 2 signings the squad is pretty much the same as last year, but the young players are more matured than last season. Evans can command the defence now in the absence of Vida and Rio. Valencia has jelled more into the team, a constant threat on the flanks and will not hesitate to shoot this season. Da silva brothers, macheda, cleverly are all a season into the big league now and experienced. If we can read anything from the  squad that played against Chelsea in the community shield, we have plenty of players to choose from for each position and no need of new signings. I just hope we will stay away from injuries this season and berba makes this season as one of his best.

If we give support to Rooney in scoring goals, which i think valencia, nani, chicharito and berba are gonna do this time, we dont have to worry about the EPL title coming back to 'The Theatre of Dreams'. With that hope and desire, lets welcome the new exciting season of Football.

PS: I hope this blog will be more active than it was last season.