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Most realistic Reds accept that City are going to win something, sometime. It would be an awesome achievement if they didn't after spending £400m. There is a convincing argument that the "35 years" banner should be replaced by one saying "43 years", i.e. since they last won the league. Appropriate.
Picking a suitable team to get the job done is what you do in semi-finals and many of us are ‘well-annoyed’ that Berbatov started the match. This might well have been a case of Ferguson trying to placate the moody Eastern European. A foolish gamble in the wrong fixture.
Would Little Pea have scored either of the chances Berba missed at the start of the match? We will never know, but my suspicion is that he would have done. One wonders how Rooney feels about his outburst now, surely there must be some sense of taking responsibility for it. I expect top performances from him between now and the end of the season.
After those two misses and Nani hitting the bar I began to feel that it just might not be our day. When Scholes got a straight red for a tackle about a third as bad as Carragher’s last month, we all knew that it wasn’t. Thankfully our friends from Liverpool made sure that Sunday was, God bless them.
The country will not be waiting with baited breath to see if Dalglish is issued a ban for telling Wenger to ‘p*ss off’. That sort of thing simply doesn’t happen to managers who are not Sir Alex Ferguson.
Although it is woeful to see so many disinfectant blue shirts walking around the city at the moment it is still better than losing to Ciddy in a cup final. Which incidentally has never happened.
The message is an old one but you can’t hear it too many times.
Manchester is Red.
Here is a quote from Tupac to help you get through the week:
"You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even months over-analysing a situation; trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could've, would've happened... or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move the f*ck on."
— Tupac Shakur
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Posted by KRS on 04/19/2011
The fact is that with a possible exception of Mario Balotelli, only United or Chelsea would ever have received the ban that Rooney got, and the explanation is simple: With the success shared between these two teams the last few seasons, they are the only teams that the FA could hit without being accused of bullying the little guys (with all due respect to Arsenal and Liverpool).
If the British media had decided to make a case out of the fact that Dalglish got off where Rooney was hit hard, then the FA would have been in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't"-situation, but sadly it is easy to dislike a club with the success we've had the last 20 years, so Liverpool will get the benefit of the doubt that United never got.
It is sad that our FA-Cup campaign this season had to end with a question of 'What if Rooney had played?', but all we and United can do is hopefully show a collective finger to the FA by winning the league despite their interference.
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Posted by d on 04/19/2011
I didn't think that there was much between the two teams on Saturday. Which in my experience, has been pretty common for about 2 seasons now. Berba missed his chances, and Carrick threw a hissy fit when Toure was pressuring him. I think it's time to recognize that there isn't much besides United's manager and the sheiks check book that separate the two teams now. I for one am OK with that. Similar to having two great strikers in a squad, the rivalry will make us better, sharper, hungrier. It's only a matter of time before City gel, and really challenge, and I talking about more then bragging rights.
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Posted by Moorside Red on 04/19/2011
One thing to bear in mind is City have not won this competition yet. Yes, they go into the final as favourites, but it would be foolish to write off Stoke's chances completely. The thing that concerned me rather more about Saturday's game was that this team looked decidedly flat without Rooney and Giggs. If the noisy neighbours are to remain little more than that there is a need for some serious investment in the Summer, particularly in the midfield.
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Posted by Red on 04/19/2011
Noisy neighbour huh! Mu just about picking up tonight as they face Newcastle, remember rooney can play now. After the match, i think we need another midfield player like rodwell, sahin, modric .... Mu still can win the double this season. Berbatov need improvement.
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Posted by Hari on 04/19/2011
I agree about berbatov-but what was really stunning was the absence of that fire and courage in united's players-which has won them at least 10 points this season!In fact they actually seemed scared after city scored-something i have never seen before.Strangely the united fans were very quiet-it was cheering for city and booing for united-it was almost like a home game for city!
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Posted by Lot on 04/19/2011
Yes, we lost the game, but who knows, this might give the team a better chance to go for the 2 top prizes.
However, there's one incident that you cannot help wondering. I remembdered that there was an incident when Gary celebrated MU's goal in front of the Loserfool fans, he was attacked by the media and the FA had also stepped in to warn him (was he punished, i can't remember). But hey, what did Macini's angelboy, Balotelli did after the match? Why the FA is not doing anything? Has the sheiks wrote a big fat cheque to you? Or is the Chairman having some influence here? Let's see whether the same is being applied when a MU player does the same thing. Some fans were still saying FA and referees are on MU side?
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Posted by j on 04/19/2011
Lot:
Or like the time Neville didn't get punished for getting up OFF THE BENCH to go fret in front of the City supporters. Leave it alone. You're team lost, end of story.
As for Mr. Payne, on a regular basis you're the most biased blogger on the site and yet again you've managed to go an entire article without an objective statement. Carragher didn't play this game, and attempting to make Paul Scholes challenge seem ok by saying that is disgraceful.
Yet again you've also managed to not say that an opponent outplayed you as well. City created more chances on the night, and scored the goal at the height of their dominance at the end of the first half (four chances in quick succession - Barry, Balotelli , Lescott, Kompany) and to deny that City outplayed you in the second period would be scandalous. You have a symptom of Man United fans: you have never lost a game in 23 years. It's always the ref or the FA who loses games for you.
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Posted by kevin on 04/19/2011
Dalgish banned for telling Wenger to piss off...surely you must be joking. The man has more class in his right shoe lace then your manager
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Posted by David Smith on 04/19/2011
Can't say I was annoyed as I normally would be after losing such an important match on Saturday. United were absolutely gutless in that second half. Citeh's gift of a goal was a travesty of the highest order and the heads went down soon after. I thought Anderson's introduction was timely though as he was the only Red able to move the ball forward with any purpose. His energy and desire might of just got us an equaliser any other day, but not Saturday. Too many massive matches the last few weeks; playing every three or four days was bound to catch up sooner or later...pity it was sooner and against the Noisy Neighbours. I don't subscribe to blaming Berba for the misses. All strikers miss sitters and it's only when United don't win does he become the pariah again. Scholes is the one who left United a man short and his time, like Gary's, has finally come. I expect a good response tonight at Newcastle because it's the United way. Just like it's Citeh's to go and get beat in the Cup Final.
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Posted by Shiner on 04/19/2011
Wow, talk about your sore losers, completely lacking any grace whatsoever. Even your "professional" correspondent. So sad.
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Posted by Mike Red on 04/19/2011
That is two FA cup' that Berba has cost us in recent memory. The team lacked the fight of Rooney or Giggs.Ferdinand was struggling and the others didnt khow what to do as we lacked leadership closer upfront. These type of games are definitely not for Berba. Carrick really let me down but he played well against Chelsea so he gets some sympathy.
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Posted by smalls on 04/20/2011
its really funny how all the united haters like to read and complain on our blog. btw "J", check ur sources. the goal was scored in the 52nd minute and im pretty sure thats NOT the end of the first half. we looked as if we were tired for the city game, i would agree with that. i disagree with fergie NEVER making a sub until the 70th minute (minus injuries). and it woulda been nice if Berba scored those 2 chances in 30 seconds. Scholes' red card, in a semi-final thats a red??? ok... Water under the bridge. its only the FA cup, and plus, Stoke are looking to be a menace!! Champions League and Premier League are still in our grasp, and i cant say im scared to face ANY of the teams in our schedule. LETS GO RED DEVILS!!!! LUHG from NY
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Posted by ??? on 04/20/2011
Surely this is some sort of satire.
Let's see...arrogant? check. Sore loser? certainly. Blaming the referee? of course. Totally ungracious toward the other club in town? as always.
Small wonder why you're so despised...
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Posted by David Smith on 04/20/2011
Dear ???,
Not arrogant, just better. The banner at Old Trafford and away games confirms it. Sore losers? When you're the biggest and best, you expect to win. On the rare occasions we don't, it's not only shocking, but painful. Blaming the referee? Referees are human and sometimes they make mistakes, or they simply just bottle it. Either way, when it results in dropped points or leads to a cup exit, they rightly get blamed. It's a United patent though; no other club is allowed to blame the ref! Totally ungracious toward the other club in town? False. There's only one massive side from Greater Manchester and it ain't the Noisy Neighbours, Citeh. Besides, there's nothing gracious in going three and a half decades without a single trophy, then trying to buy success and a history. Despised? GOOD! Like "J" you can fuck off as well. However, after tonight's glorious result at the Lane, I will allow you a quick return on May 22nd after Vidic has lifted our 19th.
Tootles.
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Posted by Somnath Mallick on 04/21/2011
Posting this a little late! Berba although may have missed 2 crucial chances against City... But I don't think that only 2 chances missed should be deciding factor for the loss. City played well after the 35th mins. mark and we didn't create anything after that!
We had a draw against NU. Although i think that the title is still within our grasp, but don't want it to left too late! Looking at the next few weeks fixtures, i would say that squad rotation is the key here and our depth would be tested to the core! Berba has to pick himself up and play well in the following matches. Everton, Shalke, Arsenal, Shalke, Chelsea... that is a daunting task. Rotating the squad and save them from fatigue is an absolute key that SAF may have to do and also do get it right every time! Because one slip up in any of these matches can be costly. But i am hopeful of a positive result at the end of the season in EPL and UCL both!
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Posted by johanzul on 04/21/2011
I usually starts with congrats. So here goes, Congrat Man City for showing us that we do not deserve to be champion of FA cup. Yeah, yeah, we can throw lame excuses such as Man City not creating enuf or more chances compared to us but hey, a win is still a win, a win is always a good result. I'm not a sore loser, I accepted defeat. So, there're many MU fans out there who is more intelligent and practical rather than fanatic.
Congrat Berba for misses two glorious chances. I remember watching him scored against Blackburn huge and big time in which I still not convince him as a great striker which just proved me right. Your stats just proved your are good but not great for 30M, yet.
Congrat too Carrick for giving chance for City to scored. Great passing by the way same as your shooting in front of goal.
Either way, still, all of the players still earned salary and paycheck, even if you say sorry, it is not like you are taking your wallet out to pay for fans seats or cut down your $$$.
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Posted by winston on 04/21/2011
Stay classy, David Smith.
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Posted by Big Al on 04/22/2011
Look at it like this. City are under the spot light now. Playing for forth place for a CL spot with Spurs and a FA Cup final must win. Lets see how they cope with the pressure - Ya never know they might end up winning / achiving nowt.
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Posted by h7 on 04/23/2011
Why can't fans of other teams read their own blogs instead of flocking here to tell us how despised we are, unprofessional our biased but fan blogger is etc etc...whether we whine or not should not matter to the rest...!
this just shows how 'more important' we are...Keep posting comments you 'other' fans, we enjoy winding you up...show us how sad your lives are by replying to this msg! :)
Posted by Steve Gibbs on 04/30/2011
New Banner:
400 MILLION POUNDS = 1 FA CUP
Posted by Andrew Erach on 07/07/2011
Manchester United, unlike any other club in Europe has never bought a Dutch flop since Sir Alex Took over as manager. Remember;Jaap Stam, Ruud Van Nistelroy and Edwin van der Sar, they have all been phenominal in the team. Am sure Wesley Sneider will be another one to remember at Old Trafod. Purchase for us Wesley
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About
Mark Payne writes about football for a variety of media outlets. He reported on the 2010 World Cup for Australia’s ABC network and worked at one of the FIFA fan sites. He has been ESPN’s Manchester United correspondent for four years. His writing attracts a worldwide following and in 2011 this blog was nominated for an award. To contact Mark for football discussion e-mail him on markpayne.editor@hotmail.com at any time. He wears lucky socks on match days.
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