Vintage Man United!

Monday was kinda sleepy... can't blame me though.. watched the match to the end and the adrenalin flow was so intoxicating that I could not sleep till its way past 4am.. that explains why I did not write about it yesterday.

Manchester United 3 Chelsea 0

What a game. Chelsea parading a midfield par excellence in Deco, Ballack, J Cole, Obi Mikel and Lampard! While Fergie lined up a shocker in Giggsy and Fletcher with Ronaldo and Park. I was aghast but Giggsy and Fletcher did not disappoint. They were simply awesome, Giggs was a pleasure to watch and Evans was fantastic as a replacement for Rio. Gazza and Evra as ever no nonsense and simply great going forward. Berbatov though I wished he would be involved more but its his style really that he poked and prod with his grace is simply vintage. Manchester United at their best! Chelsea meanwhile just disintegrated.. Carvalho and Terry who?

The goal I liked best? Wayne Rooney's poking between Ca$hley Cole's legs! Serves him right for just wanting to shield the ball instead of whacking it wide for a corner or throw in! No wonder Rafa is worried that he let fly a tirade accusing Manchester United of everything... hahaha...

Watch out Benitez... them scousers ain't gonna stay top for much longer! You will crumble as magnificently as the great Kevin Keegan did when he was manager of the Magpies.. :).

We deserve more than a Draw!

Watched the game early this morning... Manchester United travelled to Parkhead to play Celtic. As for me, I would rather United play some other team than the Bravehearts... they are indeed a hard team to break down and it certainly was.

United wasted a hatful of chances to level and go ahead but it was either repelled by the Hoop's hardwork or sheer luck, but as the saying goes... "The harder you work, the luckier you get." Manchester United did exactly that. After seeing the other English teams falter, Chelsea at the Olimpico to Roma.. (sweet sweet victory for the Romans) and Liverpool prove toothless yet again against Athletico Madrid only to be saved by Stevie G's penalty.. (Sigh). I had a bad feeling that Manchester United will suffer similar fate, but after watching their performance, I must say United played with a lot of determination and heart. At the end, we got what we deserved A DRAW. Yet, we could have won, but in football, its like this la... you do not take your chances well, you may even lose the game.

Berbatov had a golden opportunity to nail it in stoppage time but I guess he was tired and off focus. Many other chances came and went, and it was to a certain extent, the blue feeling envelops me... as if "this is just one of those days that nothing will go right for us" feeling. Yet my droopy eyes peered open and when Giggs nodded in the rebound off a Ronaldo's screamer.. I swear that my physical body was still on the couch while I jumped up and muffled my screams with the pillow... gosh what a relief! I gasped...

So, Manchester United is still undefeated and although technically they have not yet qualified for the next round.. I think it will take a miracle for Aalborg and Celtic to unseat United and Villareal as the qualifiers from Group E. So, its back to the Barclays Premier League where we play perennial whinners... Arsenal next at Emirates. Arsenal brilliant at times but seem to have a weakness.. they cannot have people roughing them up... :). Stoke City did that... can United? Its a taboo for me to predict the scores.. so .. Lets wait till this Saturday yeah?

United back in Stride?

Manchester United played Bolton over the weekend... damn.. I still have a grudge against Cristiano Ronaldo but I have to admit, if United were to lose him next season it would be a great blow. On his day, he is a one man demolition team. He seems to improve with every season, be it his game or his reading of the game... I just hope Nani learns from him more and not trying to cook up spectacular goals...

The second goal by Rooney really tell on the quality of Ronaldo although Rooney still has a lot to do, it was plain exquisite, but I guess as long as Rondo is with Man United, he will get my support.. damn.. I will hate to see that lad go..

Anyway many will will still gripe over the penalty but I guess, sometimes its raw justice and we got a little bit of luck there that night and looking at things, we certainly can do with a dose of it. The sight of Chelsea and Liverpool topping the league and United being 5 points back with a game in hand isn't really great but the good thing is we are keeping in touch even with our poor form. But, the last 30 minutes was exquisite United flowing and I think many United fans would want to see the team play that brand of football for the remainder of the season. Scholes was imperious in midfield, customary of his old self, Berbatov was as silky as he is but I guess it would do him a world of good with a goal. Rooney was trying to work out one for him that night but I think with his quality, he will come through it real soon!

Euro night again this weekend and it will be great! As Raya provided many of us with a reason to wake up at unGodly hours to watch the match!

What made my week? Arsenal got themselves Hull-ed UP! at Emirates! Muahahahahaha!

Horrible Display...

Last week after Manchester United lost to the scousers at Anfield, I was gutted and lost for words. But a few days later I thought, well, Man United played well albeit for the first 20 minutes or so... thereafter they played like headless chicken and the defence was in shambles, no thanks to the part of Edwin van de Sar who for most part of the match looked rather uneasy and rightfully so, he was the cause of Wes Brown's "equalizer". On the other hand, Wes Brown's performance was mediocre to say the least... then again, so was the entire team!

We did not lose to a better team... we lost because we played like a loser. We lost every ball in midfield, all the tackles were mis-timed.. in fact every player tackled like Paul Scholes. Now, Scholes isn't one to be famed for his perfectly timed tackles.. is he? Then when we had people like Ryan Giggs committing errors such as those that led to Liverpool's winner... I guess Manchester United deserve to lose that night....

As in the case with Manchester United... their poor form is not a one off thing.. it goes on in a stretch! Again, they were woeful against an average Villareal side in midweek's Champion's League opener.. (which I did not bother to wake up to watch, but I think I know what United is capable of after coming off a morale sapping loss to Liverpool) and neither do I think that they will recover when they travel to Stamford Bridge last night. Again, they were superb... well, until they grabbed the lead... then with their performance, I was horrified! The fear of Anfield repeating was so real that I shudder to think of the outcome.

Park Ji Sung was abysmal, he ran around like headless chicken and I thought he got lucky with the goal, being at the right place at the right time, but apart from that he was clueless.... Berbatov? He did show glimpses of what he is capable of but too far and few apart to make a difference. Maybe he did not get the right support as he cuts a lonely figure up front most of the time. The worst I think could be reserved for Edwin van der Sar while his substitute Kucszak fared just a tad better if not just as bad... United should count their luck when Joe Cole and Lampard seemed to have left their shooting boots at home, otherwise we would have been ROUTED.

Then again, like any United fan, I think they will be able to turn the corner. After all, they are famed for their slow start to a campaign but, I guess they better start to run before Chelsea disappear over the horizon. With Liverpool the perennial underachievers, I would probably put Chelsea as the most potent contender... Arsenal while showing industry and confidence... may just fade away like the last season. I do not think they have enough depth in the team to carry them through a tough season. At the end, the top 4 spots will be shared by the top 4. Manchester City??? Nahhhhhh! They are far from it....

Weekend's Biggie!

I was thinking to myself this morning when I saw this:

CROATIA 1 ENGLAND 4

I was like... WOW! Yeah, I did not watch the match coz I cannot bring myself to wake up after a hectic day at work to watch another substandard performance dished out by the English squad. But my... am kicking myself for not waking up to watch one of England's most scintillating performance for a long long time.

Theo Walcott? Wayne Rooney? Scorers? Walcott's hattrick? That will probably make Mr. Wanker a man pleased as HELL! Sorry... my bad.. Mr. Wenger. Has Fabio Capello found the better than Beckham on the right in Walcott?

I have always said that the only problem with England is that they must never play Gerarrd and Lampard together. But I must say, England was fabulous last night and I think the credit should go to Mr. Fabulous Capello for turning the team around to have more self belief as individuals and more cohesion as a team even with Calamity James in goal.

Ahhh.. small talk.. small talk... my main aim of today's write is about this weekend's biggie of biggie! After doing a double on them last season, Manchester United..... yeah... the famous Red Devils play our eternal rivals Liverpool at Anfield. The concern here is Manchester United has a history of poor start to a season as well as being poor after a mid-week international assignment by their players. They have Brown, Rio, Rooney, Vidic, Fletcher and Nani involved in midweek.. well at the top of my head at least, I really wonder if they are up to it for the trip to Anfield. It will be an interesting battle and am getting my popcorn ready for this biggie. No other match in the Premier League is bigger than the battle of these two although other battle at a later stage could be of greater significance but a fixture of Man Utd v Liverpool, be it at Old Trafford or Anfield or anywhere for that matter is the biggest for me and this season is no different...

Back to Business

The long drawn saga of a major signing for Manchester United came to a delirious end yesterday when they concluded the one transfer they have been pursuing for a long long time. Signed and delivered minutes before the transfer window closes.... came this man

DMITAR BERBATOV

For all the good and the bad he carries, he is now a Red Devil. Why Sir Alex is so passionate about this man, we are about to find out. I do not think Sir Alex casted his sights far for a signing this season, but I would have liked them to sign a new right back asap. While Wes Brown seem to have moved into the slot well but he lacks the penetrating runs and crosses that Gazza gives to Man Utd when he plays... anyway... back to this man, Berbatov...

He sulked his way out of White Hart Lane... and he joined Spurs most famous Judas at Old Trafford... Rio Ferdinand... I guess, we are Spurs's biggest enemy at this moment... haha...

I am sure Berba won't be a dud of a buy by Sir Alex. For 30.75million pounds, he better not be... but I still find him a more complete finisher than Ruud van Nistelrooy. No doubt Ruud is the best finisher in the box but Berba is complete in the sense that he can create and finish better. Certainly with his ability to be the magnet of a point man, this gives the player who plays the rabbit, in this case its either Rooney or Tevez, the space required for them to weave their magic. It will definitely be a different Manchester United this season. For better or for worse.. they will be different.

Now, lets look at what bungling Rafa is doing at Liverpool... all these seasons, he has done ONE right thing. Buying Fernando Torres.... but in Albert Riera he has at his disposal a good winger but knowing him.. shifting and changing... I am glad that Rafa is still at the helm of the Scousers... they will be going ABSOLUTELY NO-WHERE.

How bout Arsene at Marseille of Britain? Not too good as well... his defence is a suspect... but I like Samir Nasri arguably a fine talent but much will depend on the availability of Van Persie and Adebayor and their scoring form.

Chelsea? They may start sulking soon as they are no longer the moneybags in Premier League. They may be okay for the next couple of seasons until we hand some walking sticks to their star oldies... :).

The new moneybags??? Manchester City? Are they going to rename the team Dubai City? Like Fergie says, this is one team that wants to play football with 11 strikers. Well, good luck to them. Thats what you get when you have owners who do not understand football. They first got a hot air bag in Thaksin.. now they have the sheikh.. well good luck to them. But, I have great respect for Mark Hughes as a manager, I think he will do a great job there with the kind of money at his disposal.

Club in crisis... Keegan sacked... not sacked... resigned... staying.. geez.. Magpies are forever in crisis. A good team but with such boardroom problems, relegation seem to be the only option for them.

2008/09 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Still sitting comfortably in Old Trafford

Manchester United are drawn in Group E together with Yellow Submarine (Villareal), Celtic and Aalborg. Me think we could not have asked for a better draw. The tricky games here would be against Villareal at Madrigal and it would be reunion for Guiseppe Rossi. Good team this Villareal as one cannot discount players like Robert Pires, Nihat, Capdevilla and Senna. Phew... but then again, we also must not discount the Bravehearts, they can be a handful. A pale shadow of the powerhouse it used to be when it became the first British team to lift the European Cup back then as it was known. Nevertheless has got some great names, Arthur Boruc, Nakamura, Samaras, Venegoor of Hesselink, I would think the difficult match with them would be at Parkhead. Aalborg, the Danish side whom many believe to be there just to make up the numbers may just spring a surprise or two... :)

Now, my concern has always been the luck that Chelsea seem to have. Group A together with Bordeaux, Roma and Cluj. I guess that group seems pretty clear its Chelsea and Roma unless Bordeaux can spring a surprise or two.

Between Liverpool and Arsenal, I would take Liverpool as having the toughest group of all. Group D sees Liverpool, Athletico Madrid, Marseille and PSV. This group is probably too close to call but I think, PSV and Liverpool hold a slight edge.

Arsenal meanwhile in Group G with Kiev, Porto and Fenerbahce. Kiev of late has not been able to show the form that makes them so formidable in the past while one must not discount the team from Turkey and Porto has the knack of making life difficult for many teams. Porto and Arsenal hold a very slim edge.

Group of Death? My vote goes to Group F. Bayern Munich, Lyon, Steaua Bucharest and Fiorentina. How bout yours?

Who da Man?

Manchester United has scored two goals in their last two matches. One in their 1-1 draw with Magpies at OT and the other in their 1-0 win over Pompeys at Fratton Park.

On both occasions, many would have expected Rooney or Tevez to find the spot. But, it all came from this man.

ALL HAIL FLETCHER!!!!

Long thought to be a fringe player, Darren Fletcher, the midfielder from the land of fine single malt whiskey. I have always thought of him to be a good player but he lacks the built to be a very good midfielder. He has come good this season saving the blushes of Red Devils.

While we await the arrival of Dmitar Berbatov, well, many said that his whining ways may not be wanted at OT, I would like to draw some parallels to what Fergie has done to these flawed genius and turned them into legends at OT. The first name that came to mind.... was none other than Kung-fu extraordinaire...

Who else? The Great Eric Cantona

Berba to be turned into another inspirational player in the mould of King Cantona? Not far from it in terms of temperament.. flawed genius needs the Fergie's touch!

Moreover his predatory instincts will give Man United the edge sorely missed. Tevez and Rooney are real hardworking players but they run too much. Berba may suit the setup. I feel he is a more complete player than Van Nistelrooy in many aspects. He can dribble, he can shoot, he can head, he is deadly in the penalty area, he is well built and he is FAST. Lets hope that he doesnt whine in the famous RED of Manchester United.

Ronaldo Remains a Devil

At least for another season. HERE.

I am not sure how I will receive or react when he pulled the famous red of Manchester this coming season on the back of his insistence of going to Real Madrid. But one thing is for sure, he will be missing from the lineup for the first 2 months of the season after undergoing an ankle surgery earlier on.

Maybe other Red Devils fans may be more forgiving but I guess, we should at least respect and support the team regardless of history as long as he is still wearing the club's jersey he should have our undivided support. Maybe its easier said than done.....

On a side note, the Olympics is about to begin and I think Malaysia has the best chance yet to win their first gold medal at the Olympics this year. Lee Chong Wei. He has the skills and the mental strength to go the distance. But with a top notch field, every game from Round 1 onwards is a final. Chong Wei represents Malaysia's best hope yet and he is sure to get my support. His path to a final destiny with Lin Dan starts with an encounter against Ronald Susilo of Singapore... long rocky route... Will write more on Olympics and the key battles that I would be watching.. :).

Wither New Signings

As the new season opener draws closer for Barclays Premier League, my hope for Manchester United to sign a couple of players dim by the day.

After a highly successful season culminating in them winning the coveted Champions League at Luzhniki now is a distant memory as Sir Alex Ferguson struggles to keep the team together. I think he has his thoughts as to why and how he wants to retain Cristiano Ronaldo. I have given up on him. For me, a player who no longer wishes to play for you do not deserve a place in the team.

He is however, STILL, SAF's blue eyed boy in the Manc's outfit. Yesterday we had Tevez coming out and urge the team to just let him go if he so stubbornly wanted to... I still believe we should just sell him. I do not think any amount of fantastic display next season by him will endear him back to the fans. Rightfully, the fans forgave him for what he did to Rooney while on England duty... that was England. Today, we are talking about him pushing the patience of fans rooting for the team in RED. I for one do not think that many would welcome him back after this strained episode.

Ronaldo aside, I hope we can get loads of moolah from his sale. I am still itching to know if SAF has got any signings in the bag!!!??? Dmitar Berbatov? He would guarantee us at least 25 goals a season... but I would prefer to see Huntelaar in the red of Manchester United. Still have not lost hope of having Wesley Sniejder and Sergio Ramos playing for us. They would be great replacements for Scholes and Gary Neville.

Sir Alex, please do not let us wait too long to see a fresh new face at Old Trafford... with pretty much nothing to show so far... I hope action comes thick and fast after the team's return from South Africa!

My Favourite Team

Ahhh.. enough of politics....

But looking at the only team I supported since childhood isnt really that bright either... sigh...

After two seasons of winning the Premier League and having done the double last year, many would have expected Manchester United to maintain the core of the team and be THE club this coming season and have a real go at more titles this season.

But it seems to be falling off at its seams.

First it was Ronaldo... which I already had my piece here.

I am still of the opinion that no player is bigger than the club... if he so desires to go.. he should just do it. As in Ronaldo's case, if indeed Real Madrid thinks that he is the best player in the world, they should just cough up the amount needed. I would not mind really if its an exchange deal for Wesley Sniejder and Sergio Ramos.. haha

Then there seem to be some uncertainty in their backroom with Carlos Queiroz on his way to become the coach of the Portuguese national side after the departure of Luis Felipe Scolari to our flavoured rival at the moment Chelsea... and they seem to be playing real dirty for long with Big Phil urging Ronaldo to go to Real Madrid... haha... I have never regarded Chelsea as the biggest rival of Manchester United, they never will be. In fact they rank fourth in my most intense rival scale, first being Liverpool, followed by Arsenal and derby rivals, the blues of Manchester. That aside. The loss of CQ would be a huge blow to United in their quest for silverware next season, more so their ability now to hold on to players like Nani, Anderson and probably Manucho.

Manucho, the man who wreaked havoc in the last African Nation's Cup for Angola seem destined to follow the footsteps of great African players and to be the latest to grace the BPL stage after the likes of Okocha, Essien, Drogba, Adebayor, Toure amongst others. And he has to arrive INJURED! What else could have gone wrong for United next season has gone wrong!

Worse to follow, its been 2 weeks since Euro 2008 ended and there seem to be no light at the end of the tunnel as to any new talents are walking in to the famed Theatre of Dreams! Many would like to see the likes of Huntelaar, Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema to grace Old Trafford but there is hardly any news on that. I hope Sir Alex will pull a rabbit out of the hat like he did last season with a surprise which brought Nani and Anderson to OT. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Ev(e)ra Great News!

With the uncertainty looming over Cristiano Ronaldo and probably his departure from Old Trafford, Man United fans can at last breathe a sigh of relief over the new contract signed by one of United's most hardworking player. To me he is the Man of the Match everytime Manchester United plays. His tireless runs and brave tackles.... he is....

PATRICE EVRA

Patrice Evra today signed a new deal with the Red Devils! That is indeed the best news I hear coming out of Old Trafford in quite a while since we jubilated the night at Luzhniki. Evra will stay at United until 2012 and I am sure he will continue to ply the left flank with a spare tank of oxygen behind his back.

Just Go....

The man who came to Manchester United as a young precocious talent, whom today is regarded as the best footballer in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo. His skills and speed dazzles fans and opponents. His step overs, his dazzling array of dribbling skills, his physics defying free kicks..... he is simply blessed with great skills and rightfully so to that Manchester United is rumoured to be more than willing to offer him a 200k per week... and that is Sterling mind you! But, I think he is worth it if his performances in 2006/07 is any yardstick.

But what I cannot stomach are the news of him wanting to leave the club and being reluctant to commit. There may be more than meets the eye with all the news reports but, for me is, if a player is not willing to play for the team anymore, he should just GO.

Much as I would like Ronaldo to stay at Manchester United, I cannot accept that the club that I love would be held ransom by one man. With his family pitching in to fight his cause, I think the only logical thing for United to do is to sell him to Real Madrid. If that is where his heart is and we can make a bundle of the sale and bring in the likes of Micah Richards, Roque Santa Cruz or Jan Klaas Huntelaar... or maybe... just maybe... Karim Benzema? All for about 80mil... that would make good business sense.

Ronaldo should know better, Real Madrid is not the place for a player to further develop, its probably the end of the road.... for many at least. I can only wish Ronaldo good luck... and to Sir Alex Ferguson... SELL HIM.

pIcTaReS!!!!

Found some pics that spoke volumes.


Sir Alex Ferguson posing with both trophies, The Old Big Ears, European Champions League and the Barclays Premier League trophy. Both won with Chelsea playing bridesmaid. I guess that is where the satisfaction lies.

While many people talk about John Terry's miskick, I think it could be summed up as below:



The kick that blew the cup away.

Drama @ Luzhniki

Date: 22nd May 2008

Time: 2:45am (Malaysian Time)

Venue: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

Champions League Final 2007/08

The Prize

The Defining Moment

THE CHAMPIONS!

Many of us waited in anticipation for the kickoff, it was as nervous as it can be, but as in all competition, there can only be one winner. Manchester United started off sprightly and should have sealed the match in the first 40 minutes but as they had done time and time again, its always the hard way. After Ronaldo headed home a Wes Brown's inch perfect cross, fate ruled that a double deflection left Van Der Sar stranded and Lampard stroked home the equalizer.

From then, it was uphill all the way for United in the second half. Luck maybe played a part then when the upright and crossbar denied Chelsea. Then when it comes to the shootout, I have lost count as to how many big names have flopped big time at this juncture and true to history, Cristiano Ronaldo of all people predictively stroked the ball to the right and Cech made a splendid block. Then when Van Der Sar got his palm to Ashley Cole's shot, it was not good enough to keep it out. At 4-4 and John Terry, Chelsea's captain marvel walked up to take the last mandatory penalty. All seemed lost and buried for United. Surely John Terry could do no wrong. How wrong! For all his heroics right up to the instintive header that kept out a sure goal in the first half, Terry slipped and his shot skewed to the left post and went OUT.

United Rejoiced! It means now its sudden death! After Ryan Giggs made it 6-5, it was upto Enfant Terrible, Nicholas Anelka to even the score. Many claimed Van Der Sar tried to unsettle Anelka with his antics, but, isnt all about making the opponent edgy? Anelka blasted to the right and Van Der Sar kept it out. Indeed VDS is now Van "The" Czar!!!! Wild celebrations ensued, Manchester United are Champions of Europe after a lapse of 9 years, and what a time to win it on the eve of their 50th Anniversary of that tragic night in Munich. Indeed, the Gods must be smiling on United. Some even commented that the Busby Babes had bananas watching the shootoff and dropped a banana skin where Terry slipped!

Well... maybe.... just maybe...

But what the heck! We have done the DOUBLE!!!!

We are Champions of EUROPE and ENGLAND 2007/08!

Daddy's Day Out!

Well, its now becoming more frequent with wifey now out to Macau since Monday, daddy has been having a whale of a time with the kids.

Monday was breakfast as usual, then the movies, then the pool, then the park... then the arcade! Yeah! Thats where the boys like to be! And that is where daddy loves them to be while I spend some time reading some magazines.

Wasnt much fun though as we need to sleep early for school and work the next day but it was a whale of a fun. But its mommy's turn to sit the kids next week as I will be out of town for some work. It would be tiring indeed but so far we are coping well with the boys.

Gonna put the boys to sleep early tonight as daddy intends to sneak out with the "Other Boys" for a wee morning out to watch the finals of Champions League between Daddy's long time love Manchester United against the most despicable Chelsea. Would love to see the constant blur face of Avram Grant sobbing and say, "I am not the special one.. boooo hoooo hoooo hooo..."

Eve @ Luzhniki, Moscow

I had wanted to write about it when we (Manchester United) clinched the BPL trophy the previous weekend with a 2-0 defeat of Wigan at the JJB, but, heck, I just got back from a holiday and was of a laze to write about it, but, nonetheless, I was happy as hell after Giggs calmed my nerves by slotting in the no.2 for the night.

Nevertheless, I felt it was fitting for Giggsy when he raised the trophy as I train my focus on the team's preparation for the biggie. Yes, tonight at Luzhniki, Moscow. Manchester United v Chelsea. Arguably the team that United would dread playing the most as the recent statistics do not favour the team, but like all United fans out there we are screaming for payback time. Yes, we lost the battle at Stamford Bridge, but we won the war in the end. We are English Premiership Champions 2007/08. For good measure too, it was our second in a row.

Now as we train our thoughts on tonight's big match, I felt the most apt quote of the day goes to....



Yes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, when he put it aptly in his recent interview, while he recalled his most famous night at Barcelona, 26th May 1999.

"But if that night taught me one thing, then it was that you should never sulk about not playing. I made a pact with myself that whenever you play, play 100% and told myself that otherwise there's no point in being there. If you sulk on the bench and you're called on, you are not ready because there is something going on in your head."

Mark of a true professional and a true legend.

Whatever it is, this team that Fergie has built around the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, stands between glory and also rans tonight but I hope the following scene is re-enacted.

Unbriddled Joy

it could be OURS!!!!! again... :)

This morning I woke up to one of the best news I have heard, Chelsea 1 Wigan 1! It could not have come at a more crucial time. This means Manchester United is 5 points ahead with 4 games to go and they could probably wrap up the title even before they set foot at Stamford Bridge in under a fortnight's time!

Emile Heskey may have given joy to many United fans last night and it will be interesting to see Avram Grant's solemn face.. after so confidently declaring Chelsea will put Manchester United under pressure... instead the pressure got to him.

This weekend both contenders travel. Chelsea to Goodison Park, whose Everton side who looked promising enough for fourth spot faded now 5 points behind 4th spot Champions to be... Liverpool. While Manchester United face a tricky visit to Ewood Park where former United great Mark Hughes would want to make up for their 3-1 defeat at Anfield last week.

Meanwhile if results keep panning out the way it is... Arsenal may yet find themselves finishing as runners-up and gaining the spot in Champions League next season without having to go through qualification. For that they need a huge dose of assistance from Everton and Manchester United and decent performances from themselves in the last 4 matches.

I say, Lets wrap up the title this weekend.... I shall be a supporter of the blue half of Merseyside for one weekend....

United in Pole Position!!

It was one of the best matches I have seen so far this season. A match where both teams displayed footballing flair of the highest quality and I was glad I witnessed it on ESPN... hahahaha... I guess I would not be too happy if it was not Manchester United that won the match.

Certainly Arsenal looked more dangerous in the first half as they showed great movement on and off the ball and threatened only for Rio and VDS to deny them time and again... sometimes sheer luck. Thus when Arsenal got the lead, I thought it was poorly defended, the defenders was guilty of ball watching and so was Van Der Sar and it was easy picking for Adebayor to nod in via his HANDS!... darn! I swear it was the HAND of Samson without his locks of hair!

That certainly woke United up and from the ensuing attack, Gallas, (by now Wenger must have regretted buying him) handed United a penalty. Nothing controversial as Gallas wilfully played his arm... :). Then, the drama when Webb called on a retake after Ronaldo slotted in the initial kick to the right of Lehman. Cheeky and to a certain extent arrogant, Ronaldo again aimed his shot to the right of Lehman but the sheer power of it saw it flew past a diving Lehman.

Next a gem of a freekick by Owen Hargreaves. If anyone were to ask me, who is the most improved player in a United shirt of late, Hargreaves would get my vote... most definitely. He showed again with his sheer quality with the freekick which dipped viciously after going above the wall and left Lehman stranded as he reeled off in delight. By now, Manchester United knows that any central facing freekick should now be taken by Owen Hargreaves. He was magnificent even before the goal and United took the lead!

Gawd! By now I was clasping my hands together in prayer for the clock to wind down asap! A few tense moment on both ends of the goalmouth but nothing came of it and the League title beckons yet again. Some tricky matches coming right up.... Ewood Park, Stamford Bridge and JJB. Nothing can be taken yet.... with everything to play for. Tonight I hope Wigan do us a small favour and hopefully we will not need another when we travel to JJB!

What next?

Has the entry of 3 English Clubs into Europe's most prestigious cup competition underline English Premier League status now as THE BEST? While it was only previously claimed to be THE BEST.. I think after last night's matches, I would like to believe that at last English clubs are beginning to flex their authority over the rest of Europe. Thanks to their appeal and the amount of money going into the teams in the league.

Manchester United v Barcelona

This would be the ultimate match for me. It will be a match between two of the most exciting teams in Europe. Both with great flair and tenacity. United will come up against known foe in Thierry Henry and it would be great folly not to pay attention to him. Not forgetting Samuel Eto', Barca though may not see the form they had two seasons ago, the glittering list of players that includes the likes of Victor Valdez, Andreas Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Xavi, Gabriel Milito, Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta cannot be taken lightly. While United welcomes back Mikael Silvestre and Gary Neville, and, probably can count on Gerard Pique to hold the fort with Rio while parading an exciting Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez, this match will be too close to call. The team that takes their chances well will go through and probably most deserving of the Cup. Then again, knockout games are cruel. It favours the team that rises to the occasion. For this, we turn to the other semifinal... an all English affair and probably a permanent fixture in Champions League for the past couple of seasons.

Liverpool v Chelsea

Liverpool, may have seen better times but in Rafa they trust... (good for us) While Chelsea, Avram Grant may struggle and grunt through this match and although sluggish, this team has the quality to pull through based on one man's brilliance. The thing is it can come from anyone.. from Drogba, Cole, Lampard, Essien, Kalou... this team oozes quality but I still think Grant does not have what it takes to take Chelsea all the way. My money is on Manchester United v Liverpool final in Moscow. Simply because Liverpool is a Cup team. They thrive on short objectives and it will be a fitting grudge final between two of England's most successful clubs. That will be a classic!