Month in Review - August 2009

So another title defense has kicked-off in not so impressive fashion? Well, over the years we’ve become accustomed to United making not-so-good starts to the season. It’s usually October when we really click into gear and push-on from there. The first month of the premiership has been mixed for us United fans with a shock defeat at Burnley and but compensated to some extent by three points against Arsenal. The performances have been okay-ish. On some occasions, we’ve seen some wonderful incisive play and on some other occasions, sketchy passing. Invariably, all our poor performances or our chances missed are being blamed on Ronaldo’s sale and how we’re empty without him. And when we play well, who needs Ronaldo anyway?!

The first real competitive game of the season was the curtain-raiser, the Community Shield (Charity Shield) opener against Chelsea at fuckall-pitch-Wembley. I’ve always hated the ‘New Wembley’, United have just not managed to score enough there although Wayne Rooney has been prolific for England in the last year or so.. The game kicked-off and United hit the blocks right from the whistle with some wonderful inter-play between bombing full-backs, wingers and strikers. Nani scored the first competitive goal of the season for United with a typical cut-inside and whack! Isn’t his progress this term going to be crucial for us?! There was more of the attacking display and it was exactly what I wanted to see after missing quality football for a good two months. And the last game being in Rome, I was extremely desperate to see some good attacking football by United. The first 30 minutes was a treat before Chelsea managed to get a foothold in the game. After that Chelsea just pushed on and were on the verge of a community shield victory when Wayne Rooney equalized for Manchester United with a coolly taken goal. Giggsy with a terrific through ball. Although United went on to lose the penalty shoot-out, I was delighted to watch some cracking football.

Roll-on the premier league and our opening game at Old Trafford was Birmingham. A game we should’ve won quite handsomely. Once again, United started brightly but really couldn’t capitalize when on top and eventually a Wayne Rooney goal was the difference. Over the two weeks, weak second half performances led me to believe that we were off our peak fitness. Players slowed down a great deal in the second half of games. A week later at DW stadium in Wigan, United played some neat football but had nothing to show for it at half-time. It was frustrating all the more because rivals, pundits, fans all were talking of missing Ronaldo. Sure, we missed Ronaldo but there have been plenty of games where even with Cristiano we struggled to score an early goal and missed chances. I don’t know what was said at half-time but the team came out as if it were possessed. With a single-minded determination, United went about demolishing Wigan Athletic. Wayne Rooney scored his 100^th goal for Man United and Michael Owen scored his first with a composed finish. Dimi Berbatov also got on the score-sheet and Nani sealed the game with a free-kick.

In the mid-week against Burnley, plenty of changes were made. Owen was handed his first start of the season, Anderson and Carrick also played their first games. The game was not telecasted in India and my internet wasn’t working either. Frustratingly for me, I got to know the score-line as 1-0 and yet again, a wonder-goal was scored against us. Really, a lot of small teams get great goals against us. DAMN!! United missed chance after chances and again the question was asked, Are United a lesser force without Ronaldo? A few began to believe this hyped theory but I thought it was just too early to contend that.

Final game of the month was against arch-rivals Arsenal at Old Trafford. United needed to win the game to keep pace with early pace-setters Chelsea, Spurs and would you believe it? Man City. The two teams cancelled each other out and for the early part of the game before Andrei Arshavin struck a venomous shot from all of 30 yards out and beat Ben Foster. United threatened a little more in the second and crucially got their goals when they were on top. A Wayne Rooney penalty after he was brought down in the box by Almunia and a comical own goal by Abou Diaby. United got a big chunk of luck when they were not at their best against a formidable team. Arsenal showed that they still have some work to do if they have to come close to winning the league. I abso-fucking-lutely loved the Wenger humiliation at Old Trafford: D Funny as fuck.

As I said, it’s been a mixed month. Looking ahead, it is clear that United have to improve their quality at football. Fletcher, Rooney and Evra have been United’s top three players of the month. Fletcher is rapidly developing into a monster of a player! His performance against Arsenal was Roy Keane-esque and that is the best compliment I can give Fletch. Rooney is our talisman and if he keeps his form up, I’m tipping us to not only play exciting football but also be there or there abouts in May. Evra’s performances have been top notch really, a continuation from last season may be. After the long and irritating international break we’ve got three back to back tricky fixtures, two away and one at home. Going to Spurs is going to tough as Liverpool have already found out but I’m expecting United to come away with points if we play our best squad. Spurs will always concede goals and really now, we have cut the supply to Defoe.

Besiktas away is another tricky proposition. Noisy Turkish fans and small stadium plus one eye on Man City would lead to believe that United would do well to come away with a draw. I would seriously not mind a draw. Finally, Man City. I don’t care who, how, what, when, why ….we just have to twat City. They’ve been running their gobs a little too much for my liking and I wouldn’t like anything else more than a good little twatting. Since, it’s at Old Trafford; I’m expecting us to beat City quite convincingly. Adebayor is the real threat with the form he’s in and there are lots of decent players at City. Beating them this year would really put them in their place. The other fixtures in September are fairly straight-forward and dropping points would mean losing ground to Chelsea so we really have to kick-on now before we leave too much to do post-Christmas.

Come on you reds!

P.S - This blog was written on 1st September, although it's been published on the 22nd.