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 Article
by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter
@ MUFCINFO.COM
After being a fine upstanding gent and giving my usual seat for this
match up to aid someone else in trouble, little did I know I would be
stitched up by my Arch Nemesis (Editor: Thanks Tanner!!!!) & be
outside the stadium at 8pm with a season ticket that didn't feckin
work, so a massive drama later & a bit of a change of plan, I ended up
in the South Stand care of a ticket someone offered me for £20 after
being let down by his mates.
With the dust settled after my trauma of getting in the ground, I was
positioned next to the 50 or so Villarreal fans, Cristiano Ronaldo was
as expected on the subs bench at the start and SAF also surprised many
by including Jonny Evans as Rio Ferdinand's defensive partner
deputising for Nemanja Vidic who was on the bench.
With Hargreaves & Fletcher in the centre ala Butt & Keane style from
the 90's & Ji Sung Park & Nani on the wings, United had a different
look and feel.
As is per usual in the early stage of this season, United are creating
but not scoring & Rio Ferdinand had the 1st decent effort of the game,
but he was taken by suprise as an Owen Hargreaves' corner found its
way to the far post resulting in the Peckham born star to misjudge his
swing.
United bossed most of the possession but the only real note worth
mentioning was with Carlos Tevez & Nani who both made Diego Lopez in
the Villarreal goal earn his crust with saves.
On an easy night for United
defenders, the visiting Yellow Submarines were easily kept at arms
reach with Hargreaves & Fletcher's industrious running and shielding a
back four, which it has to be said the defence probably wont have an
easier match again this year.
Shortly before the half time whistle blew
the game might have changed considerably
after Joan Capdevila's clearly fouled Ji-Sung Park but referee
Wolfgang Stark under controversy decided against giving United a
penalty.
Wayne Rooney then tried a halfway line Beckham esq attempt, but the
effort was well wide and upon the half time whistle some slightly
disgruntled sections of the stadium through gritted teeth applauded &
moaned at the lack of goals & entertainment.
Villarreal in the second half, after some good football then pressured
United reminding the Reds of the score line & the fact that time was
beginning to run out.
And shortly after Franco struck the upright after a cross from Lopez,
fortune however smiled on United as the ball bounced straight back
into the arms of EVDS.
SAF then made a double substitution as Anderson & Ronaldo we
introduced for Hargreaves & Park.
As expected there was major excitement from the crowd as our Jewel in
the Crown began his 6th season in a United shirt (Editor: now
Ronaldo's co*k teasing of Madrid is over, hopefully we'll see many
more seasons at OT.) with immediate impact & urgency, Ronaldo with
his direct running caused problems as he exchanged with Rooney to tee
up Tevez, the unlucky Argentinean saw his effort cleared off the line
by Gonzalo Rodriguez as our luck infront of goal continued.
Nani then crossed for Ronaldo who headed wide before the returning
Ronaldo set up Jonny Evans who struck the wood work with a diving
header.
United kept possession but still could not find the elusive goal, a
situation similar to last years slow start, and with 270 minutes of
football between the two sides the spoils were shared again as the
Spanish visitors hung in for a point.
SAF said after the game "We
made a lot of good chances, we played really good football, we played
with speed. I have no complaints. On another day we could have scored
four or five. "They are a very experienced side, very
competitive team. They defend determinedly."
"Cristiano Ronaldo has had a turbulent summer and a lot has been said
about it, but when I had my meeting in June in Portugal with him that
was over.
"He dedicated himself to getting fit and his commitment to the club.
The crowd's reception was important for Cristiano.
"I think he realises what a great club he is at and how loyal the fans
are. He will take great encouragement from that.
HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW
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On the whole United
performed quite well, chances were created, penalties not given,
woodwork struck, defensively sound & the Celtic v
Aalborg BK game
finished all square.
So on the bright side, Ronaldo is back & Berbatov is still to show
what he's all about, so the doom & gloom isnt quite as bad as many
fans are making out.
Bring on Chelsea. |
