AC Milan vs Manchester United

Finally, after 4 years, Manchester United is able to score a goal at the San Siro. Not only did they manage to score, they managed to bring 3 away goals back to Old Trafford. This may be the factor that decides which European giant will be able to proceed to the quater-finals of the champions league.

The first half was horrendous for the Red Devils. First they conceded an early goal in the third minute. Ronaldinho was at the end of a David Beckham's freekick to volley it into the net. Ronaldinho was left completely unmarked in the box. You can never give the two time Wolrd Player Of The Year any space or he will tear you to shreds. United's defence was sleeping for almost the entire of the first half. Alex Ferguson gave Jonny Evans a "hairdryer treatment" at the sidelines. The United manager was fuming mad. AC Milan dominated possession and made the Red Devils chase the ball. United were conceding too many freekicks. The first freekick had already dealt them a major blow, how could they afford to give away anymore freekicks? Then came the goal United were craving. A cross by Darren Fletcher that was met by Paul Scholes. This was not definitely not the cleanest of goals. Paul Scholes completely missed the volley, but was lucky that the ball rebounded off his left shin. There was no pace on the ball, but Dida could not prevent the ball from crossing the line.

The second half was a totally different story. I am sure Sir Alex Ferguson had made the entire team wake up. United dominated the second half. Then Antonio Valencia came on for the disoriented Nani. This was a major turning point in the game. With his first touch of the ball, he helped gave United the lead. A beautiful cross from the right wing, met by Rooney to head it into the net. 1-2, but that was not the end. A cross swung into the box by Darren Fletcher was again met by Rooney. That was a point blank header. The Milan defenders stood rooted to the ground, unable to track Rooney's run.1-3, almost everyone thought the game was put to bed, until the 85th minute. Rafael ventured into the midfield giving the ball away. Ronaldinho made a run into the box and passed it across. The subsitute Clarence Seedorf cheekily "back heeled" the ball into the net.

The final score, 2-3 to Manchester United. The second leg will be an interesting tie as AC Milan will go all out to try to win united by two goals in order to proceed to the next round. Hopefully Giggs would be able to play after he fractured his arm, Vidic and Ferdinand should be able to be at the heart of the defence. Hopefully, Manchester United would be able to win the second leg and proceed into the quarter-finals and edge closer to participate in the Champions League Final for the third time in a row.

Arsenal vs Manchester United review

The Red Devils are soaring again!

After watching the highlights of the match(I can't watch the BPL for now as I have only subscribed for the 10/11 season), Manchester United are playing like champions! For the first half of the season, the Red Devils did not show why they were the team that won the past three Barclays Premier League. They have been sloppy in defence, lack a younger "midfield general" other than Scholes, they need a more "hardworking" striker(that is not like Berbatov) to support Rooney. They looked like they really missed Ronaldo for him tearing apart the defence and his scoring goals.

But, this was not the case for the "Match of the Season" earlier in the morning.The first chance by Arsenal was shot just wide by Arshavin. It was a great run by Arshavin, giving Wes Brown a problem catching up with the small Russian. I felt that Arshavin, after pulling the ball back in the penalty box, should have played a short pass to either Fabregas or Nasri to blast it into the net, rather than going for the curler. If Arsenal had scored, it would certainly change the face of the game.

Nani was spectacular, compared to his previous performances. He was creating space, creating chance after chance. Great ball control in the penalty box and not a bad cross that led to the goal. The own-goal by Almunia was a terrible mistake. He completely misjudged the ball, "tipping" it into his own net. Even if Almunia did not misjudge the flight of the ball, Park Ji Sung would most certainly have tapped it into the net as he was left completely unmarked.

The second goal was a classic Manchester United counter attack. Nani again the creater. He spotted Rooney's run into the penalty box, and play a through pass to him. Rooney hit it first time, and the ball was at the back at the net. Great finish by the English International for his twenty-second goal of the season, one short of his best in a season.

The third goal was another counter attack! A great lofted throught pass by Carrick, which was brilliantly brought down by Park. The South Korean captain then dribbled into the penalty box and slot it calmly pass Almunia.

The consolation goal for Arsenal was the cause of a sloppy clearance by Wes Brown, which dropped nicely in front of Vermaelen to volley it. His volley was deflected by Jonny Evans into the back of the United goal.

All in all, Manchester United played way above the Gunners. They Gunners were out-classed and out-played by the Red Devils. I think this match will be a major turning point in the season, this could be the reason why Manchester United will be bringing back the BPL Trophy back to Old Trafford for the 19th time(a new record) and the fourth straight time at the end of the season.

January Tranfer Window

This season's January Transfer Window is not as busy compared two previous seasons, most of the signings are free transfers. What has happened to all to lavished spending that we saw last year? Andrey Arshavin to Arsenal. Robbie Keane, Wilson Palacios and Jermain Defoe to Tottenham Hotspur. Wayne Bridge, Craig Bellamy, Nigel De Jong and Shay Given to Manchester City. And of course, the "infamous" 100 million bid for Kaka from Manchester City.The richest club in the world, Manchester City, has been especially quiet, snapping up the Patrick Viera on a free transfer from Inter Milan. To me, the ex-Arsenal captain is a good buy for Manchester City. They need a general in their midfield, someone to lead the team if they are to break into the the top four, to get that elusive Champions League spot. Maybe, just maybe, at the end of the season,Patrick Viera was the reason why Manchester City will be playing Champions League football next season. Their neighbours next door, and the club I support, Manchester United has been quiet in the January Transfer Window as usual. But, they snatched the promising England Under-21 defender, Chris Smalling from Arsenal. He would be a "Red" next season but, will he be the new Vidic or Ferdinand, we will only know next season. Sol Campbell to Arsenal? What is Arsene Wenger thinking? Is he out of his mind? Sol Campbell is no longer the player he used to be at Arsenal. But Arsenal got nothing to lose, he was brought to the Emirates on a free transfer, if he is a flop, Arsenal can just offload him or sell him, but if he is a success, it may affect Arsenal's title winning hopes this season. Its a win-win situation for Arsenal. To me, the biggest signing is Maxi Rodriguez to Liverpool on a free deal. Maxi Rodriguez is a world class player, not a average player, let alone a player who worths "nothing", to me he worths at least 7 million, not free. Maxi Rodriguez may be instrumental to Liverpool's hope of staying in the top four. Maybe, just maybe, Liverpool is able to squeeze back into the top four.

Other notable signings: Eidur Gudjohnsen from Monaco to Tottenham on loan. Jack Wilshere from Arsenal to Bolton on loan. Younes Kaboul from Portsmouth to Tottenham for 8million pounds.

Things I am posting this year.

First post of the year 2010,
I would still be talking about soccer, but i would occasionally talk about interesting happenings in the sporting world. Compared to last year, I would be constantly posting ad updating you about the EPL matches, soccer transfers and my opinions on the teams etc. I wish everyone a good year ahead and ALL THE WAY MANCHESTER UNITED!

Soccer transfers

Sorry for not posting for such a long while. :)

Now, the transfer window is open, many soccer clubs will be spending loads of money to bring in new talent to their clubs. Manchester United so far have signed three new players, Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen and Obertan. Three talented players, they will most probably have a fruitful career with Manchester United. But, the signing that shocked me most was Owen. He is already twenty nine, his prime of his career, but will he succeed at Old Trafford? The answer is no one will know. Owen is definitely a extremely talented player, a goal poacher which all defenders will fear. But unfortunately, his career has been plague with injuries, but i think this will not stop him from competing with the rest of the squad to play in the strating eleven. He may become a United legend! But one thing is for sure, Man United have nothing to lose, he was brought to Old Trafford on a free transfer. I wish Owen luck for his years at Old Trafford!!

Poets - Billy Collins continued

Fishing on the Susquehanna in July

I have never been fishing on the Susquehanna 

or on any river for that matter 

to be perfectly honest.  

Not in July or any month 

have I had the pleasure--if it is a pleasure-- 

of fishing on the Susquehanna.  

I am more likely to be found

in a quiet room like this one-- 

a painting of a woman on the wall,  

a bowl of tangerines on the table-- 

trying to manufacture the sensation 

of fishing on the Susquehanna.  

There is little doubt

 that others have been fishing

 on the Susquehanna,  

rowing upstream in a wooden boat, 

sliding the oars under the water 

then raising them to drip in the light.  

But the nearest I have ever come to 

fishing on the Susquehanna

was one afternoon in a museum in Philadelphia  

when I balanced a little egg of time in front time

in front of a painting

in which that river curled around a bend  

under a blue cloud-ruffled sky, 

dense trees along the banks,

 and a fellow with a red bandanna  

sitting in a small, green 

flat-bottom boat 

holding the thin whip of a pole.  

That is something I am unlikely

ever to do, I remember 

saying to myself and the person next to me.  

Then I blinked and moved on 

to other American scenes 

of haystacks, water whitening over rocks,  

even one of a brown hare 

who seemed so wired with alertness 

I imagined him springing right out of the frame.

Poets - Billy Collins continued

Some Days
by Billy Collins
Some days I put the people in their places at the table, bend their legs at the knees, if they come with that feature, and fix them into the tiny wooden chairs. All afternoon they face one another, the man in the brown suit, the woman in the blue dress, perfectly motionless, perfectly behaved. But other days, I am the one who is lifted up by the ribs, then lowered into the dining room of a dollhouse to sit with the others at the long table. Very funny, but how would you like it if you never knew from one day to the next if you were going to spend it striding around like a vivid god, your shoulders in the clouds, or sitting down there amidst the wallpaper, staring straight ahead with your little plastic face?