Manchester Derby

This weekend 2 derbies were played. Chelsea Vs Tottenham and Manchester United Vs Manchester City. Man U and Man Cities rivalry is 153 games old. Every time they play against each other. All fan get their money and time worth.

This match was in highlight because of another reason. CARLOS TEVEZ. The Argentine striker who was served united for last season for 99 matches now is in City squad. City bought him for 26 million. Tevez was half fit before the match but in absence of Adebayor and Robinho they were short of strikers. And important thing was Tevez was eager to play this match and wanted to show United fans and their manager what they are missing this season. But whatever happened last weekend between Adebayor and Van Persie was unlikely to happen this time with Tevez because both are different in nature. Tevez always had more professional approach of game.

Manchester City started the game with 4-5-1 combination. With Tevez as sole attacker, and Ballamy and Wright-Phillip as wingers. They also had services of Gareth Barry in defensive midfield.

Rooney started the match in style with scoring in 2^nd min exploiting the major flaw in City’s squad i.e. their defense. Rooney showed United’s critics that after the departure of Ronaldo still side has potential to lift any trophy this season. After the goal Man u looked pumped up to score another. Next 20 min belonged to Man u. against opponents like Man U it is really difficult to come from behind and score the goal in away game unless they make any foolish mistake. And the mistake was made by the weakest link in United’s squad i.e. Ben Foster. He rushed outside the box to receive the ball and collect by taking it inside the box, and as Tevez always does he rushed to pressurize the keeper. And tackled him cleanly and passed it to Barry. Barry scored in open goal to equalize the score. After the goal from City remaining half belonged yellows (cards) and miss chances by City especially Tevez shot which went on to hit the post.

City looked better side in first half. United’s tempo was not good in first half. Giggs – Evra combination from left flank, Berbatov’s stylish game, and Sir Alex Fergusson’s tact ticks nothing was working for Man u.

Man u started second half as they started the first one Giggs set piece was converted by Fletcher by powerful header. But the game still was not over at least for Creig Ballamy. He scored with the stunning bullet from outside the box.

Now the game became more excited both teams were trying their best to get all three points from this game. Man u was attacking only from left flank with Giggs and Evra passing the ball accurately to each other and threatening City with their skills.

Shay Given made some stunning saves by the headers from Barbatov and one volley from Giggs. Then Sir Alex played his Trump Card and bought Michael Owen in. City was surviving very dangerously in the process conceding corners and free kicks. And one of the free kicks by gigs was converted by Fletcher in 80^th min scoring his second. Again the city’s defense was there to blame. They got to find new right back.

But there was not over yet. Everybody was giving high best. Everybody was trying to score the goal. This match now really was equally poised. Then the moment came….. Rio Ferdinand, one of the best defender in the world made high school level mistake. In the process flicking the ball over the head of City player he given away the ball in his feet and invited them to equalize. Craig Bellamy scored his second in extra time. It was looking like United have given away 2 important points….. Fourth official added extra 4 mins in clock. At the 94^th min United fans were looked really disappointed. But the vessel didn’t blow at 95^th min also. And super sub Michael Owen scored his first goal on Old Trafford playing for United with just the flick of his right foot at 95 min 27 sec in the clock. (Time added was correct as Bellamy’s calibration took 55 sec, and Carrick substitution took 30 sec making total of 95 min 25 sec. and it is referee’s decision whether or not to add extra time like this in extra time.) United got their well deserved 3 points from this game. Man u won 4-3.

There were many things to take for both of the teams.

11. United after all these years can say have found replacement for Roy Kean in the form of Fletcher? And he likes his new responsibility.

22. Giggs still is playing well and anchoring the team well.

33. Van Der Sar can’t delay his comeback.

44. Silly mistakes from players like Ferdinand could have cost them loss of 2 important points. “These mistakes are not the nature of United squad.” Were the words of United boss Sit Alex Fergusson.

55. Berbatov should start scoring. He missed too many goals in this match.

For City

11. Craig Bellamy’s game was plus point.

22. They can’t play with sole attacker in form of Tevez (may be Adebayor is okay.)

33. They really need good defenders.

City Vs Gunners

This week 2 important games were played in Barclays Premier League. In first game, gunners were back in Manchester, but this time against rich city boys at ‘City of Manchester Stadium’. Man city were hosting the gunners this weekend. City has built the best team after many years they have won all their encounters this season from the first game. If they win this game then they will win all 4 out of 4 first time after 1986.

City manger Mark Hughes has different approaches for home and away games with 4-4-2 combination for away and home with 4-3-3 combination. They have Stephen Ireland, Craig Bellamy, and Shaun Wright-Phillips but most importantly Kolo Toure (defender) and Emmanuel Adebayor (attacker) transferred from arsenal to city this season. These two are the key players for this season. Adebayor is one of the best centre forewords in world, if his mind is right but it’s impossible to get his mind right for whole season. He doesn’t like physically being challenged. So Gallas should play physical game against him as he is best defender in Arsenal side.

Arsenal had some good news before this game. Their captain Cesc Fàbregas and Tomáš Rosický back in team. But both teams still have some injury problems Tevez, Robinho are out because of injury for City and Arshavin got injured on his international duty last weekend.

Last time when gunners visited City of Manchester Stadium then their title hopes got shattered last season, so it was interesting to see their game this time.

City also is the strongest contender for title this season. And they could send strong message to other teams by winning this game.

Game started as every Arsenal game starts, arsenal started dominating with more possession and threats on City’s goal. But Almunia pushed the header back into the nets scoring own goal in 20^th min. But first half got over without any further happenings.

Gunners were not playing to their potential. Arsène Wenger was not happy with the way they were playing. Their defenders were putting flop show, Adebayor was creating many chances. But gunners were not having any answers to Shaun Wright-Phillips and Craig Bellamy’s attacks.

In second half Robin van Persie equalized with stunning shot by his left foot. But Craig Bellamy, Adebayor, and Shaun Wright-Phillip all City’s star players scored on crucial time. By this time it was game over for the gunners. But Rosisky scored to bring gunners back in the game. But script of the game was already written by Adebayor and his team.

Adebayor was declared as ‘Man of the Match’. He was involved in 2 incidences. One with van Persie. Adebayor kicked van Persie deliberately, but not noticed by referee, so not collected yellow card. But he was penalized after his celebration after scoring and celebrating in front of Arsenal fans.

Man city surely showed that they are better of the two and are strong contender for this year’s Premier League.

manu vs arsenal

The biggest game of the barclays premire league (previously called english premire league) played between Manchester United (man u) and Arsenal last week (29^th aug 2009) at Old Trafford (home ground for man u). These two clubs have the biggest fan following across the world.

This was the important game especially for the champions of the last season man u. They lost to new team, Burnley 2 weeks ago in the away match. Man u fans were shoked after that defeat. Compared to last season manu team is looking weak, after their playmaker Cristiano Ronaldo left the club at the start of new season to join real madrid for record fee transfer. Now their midfield is looking very ordinary. They also had some problems in the defence as Rio ferdinand, the best defender of the team and their first choice goal keeper Van Der Sar both are injured.

Arsenal also had issues to solve before this match. Their captain Fabrigas was injured. Arsenal is also struggling to find their form since 2004-05 season. Their key players left the club one by one after the exit of former captain Theory Henry. But Arsen Wanger, manager of the team believes in building the youth team. Their average age is very much less than other teams in premire league.

Man u was not playing with their traditional formation 4-4-2 (4-defenders, 4-midfielders, 2-attackers). Sir Alex Fergusson manager of the team was playing with slightly defensive strategy at the start with only one attacker Wayne Rooney. Ryan Giggs ,the most experianced player was captain of the team,who has served the team for many years.

Arsenal started with attacking approach. Manu’s 2 wingers and one attacker formation was not working for them. They had no player to receive the ball in the box near Arsenal’s goal. Arsenal was playing as unit. With batter passing and quick movements, as they had young legs in the team. At the other end Manu’s counter attacks looked very slow.

Arshawin, the Russian attacker of Arsenal had some chances early in the game, he was trying his best to score, but manu’s experianced defence looked rock solid. Atlast at the 40^th min the splendid bullet shot by arshawin went directly into the nets of Manu. Ben Foster, the keeper of the team and replacement for Van Der Sar looked very ordinery at that perticular time. Sir alex had much half time talk to deliver to the team.

Manu’s midfield with Fletcher and Carrick is average compared to what they had few years ago with Devid Beckham, Roy Kean known for one of the best midfield of that time. Scholes and Giggs are still there serving the club but they are also not quick as they used to be because of their ages. Fergusson surely will be facing this problem for remaining whole season as no new sighnings will be made declaired by himself.

Games like this require match winners. But this season Manu doesn’t have many with the exit of ronaldo. Only Rooney and Giggs are match winners are there in Manu and its very difficult to find potential match winners in reserved squad. Arsenal faced similar situation few years ago but now they have built the attacking unit which can defend.

Game started after the half time without bringing any change in luck for Manu. At 48^th min Ben Foster came to resque of manu with nice save, he saved the short range shot by Van Persie with his reflexes. But otherwise for whole game Fosters looked really confused to attack or to stay on his place to collect the ball. He looked heavily dependant on his defenders for their tackles and their offside traps.

But as expeced Manu bounced back. Almunie’s(goal keeper- Arsenal) poorely judged tackle awarded him yellow card and penalty for Manu. Rooney earned and scored the penalty. It was really a nice through pass by Giggs to Rooney to earn penalty. After this goal Arsenal looked scattered and Manu got the free kick 10 yard outside the box. Giggs with his curling balls is always the threat for opposition and this time was no exception. Diaby tried to give back pass in Almunie’s hands with his miss judge header. Diaby scored the own goal. Manu took 2-1 lead for the first time in the match. Manu shown real character to come out of the mess. Giggs is going on and on to resque the team for all these years when his team is in mess.

Now Arsenal was really struggling to form the game. Arsen wanger brought Eduardo, their meed week hero against Celtic who scored twice to take the team to victory. They tried substitutions, different strategies and everything but nothing was working for them. At last minutes of the game Arsenal paniked and collected total 6 yellow cards in the game(last year at old trafford they collected 5).

Manu brought their stylish player Barbatov very late. In that time also he missed one golden chance at extra time. At the end of stopish time Van Persie scored the goal but that was not counted as Gallas who gave the pass to Van Persie was offside.

Manu won the crucial encounter 2-1.

There were few thing that arsenal should work on to win the championship. The most important is proffessinalism. Arsenal have quality players in their squad. But difference in Manu’s game and Arsenals is only Arsenal players don’t know how to play under pressure, how to win big games. They should learn from their mistakes.