Man United Almost Champions of the World…
As a Man United fan, am still reeling from the disappointment of the football season’s finale, so my motivation for putting together this piece is to rise up to the challenge thrown by my good brother and friend (a Chelsea fan-Habib Pom Jeng). He somehow used mild sarcasm to provoke a swift action to a long overdue annual premiership football review. On that note, this report though objective is also subjective.
So here we go, Man United are Premiership Champions again, equalling the 18th title haul set by Liverpool FC back in the day. This season’s challenge is not different to what we get used to in English football, a two or three horse race with Man United securing a berth and in most cases, marching on to claim the title. Alright, in recent years, Chelsea showed some resilience in the campaigns and even managed a couple of titles in between; but they just could not build any further to stamp their authority. Before them, Arsenal flew the challengers’ flag with their French superstars (Henry, Vieira, Peres and Wiltold) but also failed to overcome Man United’s dominance. So when Liverpool stepped up to the position of chief rivalry, most regard it as another passing attempt, though in the end they gave a good account of themselves and won over few doubters; yet Man United remained undisputed champs.
Perhaps the Chelsea supporters would feel that they are the closest match and threat to Man United but the way Liverpool performed this year will surely push them ahead as the more likely genuine contenders in coming years.
Liverpool started the Season very well, setting the pace and stayed top of the table for most part of the first half. In the football fraternity, it is widely believed that the team that tops the table after the Christmas break should go on to win it. Though Liverpool of the past decade would have to do better than that to convince ardent followers because of their inconsistency, but not this time it seemed, for a moment it almost looked surreal. Here was Christmas and they were looking stronger and invincible, beating teams confidently. I remember receiving one of the usual phone calls from a die-hard ‘Sanusi’ on Boxing Day, he was so full of energy, shouting over the phone, “What have you got to say, We are this n that”. I understood he was perplexed and yet overjoyed by this new height of Liverpool football (Save the History Days). I kind of gave credit but cautioned him “a slow motion--DEFAL NDANKA” (Take it Easy).
By the turnaround in January, surprise-surprise they were still holding firm at the top with a 3 points lead over Man United. Master tactician Sir Alex, had to do something to destabilise them, for the points were not that many but Liverpool were so comfortable, which was the danger. So he irked Benitez, lamenting on the fixture table, knowing Rafa is not as tough as his last sparring victim (The Chosen One -- Philosophical Jose Mauringho). The Liverpool gaffer fell for it and unleashed a furious outburst at Sir Alex, the infamous Statement of Facts (DEFFANTEH), counter accusing Man United among other things:
· Getting away with murder
· Show contempt to referees and always put them under pressure, especially at old Trafford.
· Questioning referees at dressing rooms and under tunnels
Then came the blunder, in his next important match against lowly Stoke, Benitez left out key strikers, Torres & Keane for no good reasons and ended up dropping two points. Ferguson took advantage, he motivated his players and won his game in hand and the following one to leapfrog Liverpool and top the table for the first time. Then he turned the screws again labelling Benitez “an angry and disturbed man”. The effect of this duel is regarded as the defining moment of the season for many commentators. Benitez lost the spat and his team began to crumble.
Rafa is fond of making bad judgements and sticking to them as if to prove a point. In a match against Portsmouth in February, he benched six first team starters and was facing another humiliation until Torres and Kuyt came from the bench in the last 10 minutes to secure him an unlikely three points. He was constantly changing his starting line up, and by the time he finally mustered courage to be fielding his best side, the season had already advanced and Man United had opened a healthy gap.
Though their were still some ups and downs left in the season, like when Liverpool old boy Murphy helped Fulham to beat United against all odds, also when Aston Villa were leading United 2-1 with only 10 minutes to go, then Ronaldo got the equaliser before super sub, new kid on the block ‘Macheda’ got the winner in injury time. Ironically, this same Villa side that put out a stoic performance against united with Friedel (Old Liverpool keeper) between the sticks, were thrashed 5nil by Liverpool the previous week, where the same Friedel performed like a YO-YO. Man united fans would have almost yelled FIX FIX!!
Another major talking point of the season was when Man United came from behind 2 nil down to beat Spurs 5-2 away. The turning point in the match was a penalty awarded to United that never was, which gave them the chance to pull a goal back and there from advanced like true Champions to get four more indisputable goals. Still many felt, the penalty favour was outright robbery and added claim to biasness towards Man United.
The season was not quite a two team affair as Chelsea was on most part lurking behind in third place. The problem with Chelsea is that they were not doing enough to force a three way challenge. Their season was in trouble from the beginning, a new coach in Brazilian Scolari, who could not see eye to eye with key players like Drogba and Ballack. Though he bravely kept Drogba out and Anelka was doing the business for him, but this Chelsea was not the same team built by Mouringho, the spark is missing. So in the end, another new management had to be ushered in, Dutch Guus Hiddink came too late to make any major impact on the title race. He at least revitalised Drogba and at times they show true potentials. But the disappointment, as they play catch up to both Liverpool & Man United, is that on occasions where you would expect them to gain ground, and they would just freeze.
Their best run was in the Champions League and nemesis Drogba tormented Liverpool as usual, in the quarter finals. Also in the semis, they performed well over two legs to go through against Barcelona, who scraped through on the away goal rule, courtesy of an unlikely injury time equaliser. But the ugly scenes after the final whistle and Drogba’s tantrums lost them most neutrals’ support. Fair enough, Chelsea felt robbed as four penalties claimed were turned down, but with TV replays, it looked like only the one handled by Pique when Anelka lifted the ball round him, was clear cut. Malouda felled in the box was a touch and go as the referee allowed him advantage to play on from the first infringement point outside the penalty area, so it was right to award a free kick later. The other two claims from Drogba and Ballack in the end are dismissible.
Drogba must have felt ashamed of himself, he had many clear goal scoring opportunities and had he taken any, the match would have been beyond Barca. His antics reminds me of Thiery Henry when Arsenal played Barca in the Champions League Final in May 2006. He was the key player for Arsenal but spurned their best chance for a winner when they were already one nil up. Barcelona rallied and scored two late goals to lift the trophy. Instead of apologising to his team mates and fans, Henry launched an attack on Barca players and the media, talking rubbish about how the supposed big Spanish guns never shone on the night. As there was outside talk of his then impending move to the Nou Camp, his guilt forced him to sign an extra year for Arsenal only to realise his deferred dream in joining the Barcelona he was disrespecting, when his extension expired. So just like in this current case of Drogba, I think its guilt and damn guilt that disturb their minds.
In short, after another tough season, Chelsea only had the FA Cup to show for their travails, though still some silverware but they better try and lure back Mauringho for any chance of a revival.
As for Arsenal, Wenger for the first time is been targeted by boo boys and angry fans for lack of success in the past four seasons. His policy of old, recruiting cheap or unknown players and developing them to world class level is no longer working. His team lack depth and quality. He has to spend big, not a couple of players as he alluded in recent interviews, otherwise they will continue to wallow for Fourth positioning.
For Spurs, I deliberately choose to ignore them (Omar Sisay please find yourself a worthy team to support); they are still mediocre and I won’t be surprise if Harry does a runner on them.
In the bottom rung of the table, Hull who were newly promoted, did so well in the first half of the season and seemed to have accumulated enough points to guarantee safety. But since the cutting-off Christmas threshold, they had only managed one win in the rest of the season and are lucky to stay in the Premiership because of Newcastle’s poorer showing. It is beyond belief that Newcastle could not even manage a draw in their last two biggest games at home to Fulham and away to Villa, to save their premiership lives.
Sunderland also had a lucky escape, Middlesboro deserved to go down judging by their season poor performance and West Brom are just out of their League.
Salute Man United and let’s see if Liverpool will continue from where they left, next season. It is becoming boring and more like a football monopoly…
Am sure others will ask, how about Barcelona…
No excuse, Barca ran Man United through a football master class, apart from the first 10 minutes; the Red Devils were spectator participants. Iniester and Xavi were running the gauntlet; they were far superior to the Man United midfield. I think Alex made the biggest mistake in his selection. Last year, over 2 legs, Man United beat this same Barca side and that feat would have been repeated if Rooney and Tevez were partnered upfront; then Ronaldo dropped in Midfield with any other three but Giggs. The Barca defence was missing key players that Yaya Toure had to be a makeshift centre half, you wonder who would not have fancied their chances but Sir Alex of all people trying to play it safe. He got it wrong and missed his golden opportunity to break another Championship record, moreover left United fans shamefully brought down to ground zero after perching in seventh heaven. As a result, all United bashers had a field day and will rob it in for a long time.
Another trouble is Ronaldo, he was getting out of hand and started showing outright contempt for the boss. Though he has to be celebrated as he had developed to be the best in the world under Sir Alex, winning us many trophies; but it is a blessing that he had finally been sold for a record £80M. We remind the haters that the Mighty United are both Euro and Domestic champs last year and Euro runners up and still domestic kings again this year. So no need to hide, we can come out and celebrate United…
Njok Malik
London, UK