I got a fever!!! and the only prescription is more cow bell! Well for week 2 of the EPL, I'd take a home win vs Spurs instead and I got it.
United's second game of the young season was this past Monday Aug 22 vs North London's Tottenham Hotspurs aka Spurs. To be honest, if I had to pick a second team in the EPL to like or follow, it be Spurs. Here's a little history between the two teams....
Tottenham Hotspur's first meeting with Manchester United came in the old 1st round (today's 3rd round) of the FA Cup in January 1899 when United were known as Newton Heath. The match was drawn 1-1 at Northumberland Park, but Spurs won the replay 5-3 at Bank Street in Clayton, Manchester.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were founder members of the Premier League in 1992-93 and are two of the seven clubs who have been ever-present up to the 2010-11 season - Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool being the other five.
The previous 18 seasons have seen United dominate Spurs with 26 wins to Tottenham's 3 with a further 7 matches drawn. Monday's match was the 180 meeting between the two clubs who were the "glamour teams" of the 1960's.
This game was being played at Manchester United's home stadium, Old Trafford aka "Theatre of Dreams".
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| OLD TRAFFORD |
It is one of the greatest sporting venues in the entire world, seriously, it's like the Mona Lisa of stadiums, people are in awe over it. It broke ground in 1909 for a whopping 90,000 pounds and opened on February 19 1910. It has the reputation of one of the hardest grounds for a visiting club to get a result in and last year it was a fortress, with United dropping only a few points all season. It really was the backbone for their record breaking 19 domestic title and push to the Champions League Final. Sadly, I personally haven't even been and I cry myself to sleep each night that passes I don't go. I'm planing to go sometime this season if I can swing it however for now I just keep dreaming. Ok so onto the game...
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| ROONEY |
I actually took the afternoon off from work to go home and watch this game. I also had the pleasure of watching it with my favourite little guy in the whole world, my dog Rooney. Yes, before you ask, I had his name picked out even before I got him. He's the best and loves to watch football.
Going into this game, United had a few injury concerns, most notably in defence. 1st choice defenders Rio Ferdinand and Namanja Vidic were both out meaning that 19 year old and new signing Phil Jones would start with Jonny Evans (24 years old) in central defence while 22 year old Chris Smalling would start on the right side. The only defender over 25 was Patrick Evra (30 years old) defending his usual left back. Keeping with the trend, Alex Ferguson gave some of his other younger players their well deserved start. Midfielder Tom Cleverley who's been playing fantastic football and forward Danny Welbeck who has also been playing great got the nod. From the start of the whistle, I thought this game was fast paced, exciting and really wide open with lots of space for the players. I don't know if it was the youthful energy of United's team selection, the fact that this was Tottenham's first game of the season (their game last week was cancelled due to the London Riots), or just the home crowd and atmosphere at Old Trafford but whatever it was it made for a very entertaining first half.
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| HAIR PLUGS |
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| WELBECK & CLEVERLEY |
I think Ferguson had a few things to say to his team in the locker room because the second half of the game United came out flying. Most of the second half was controlled by United. United came out faster, stronger and more determined then Tottenham to score and in the 60th min United was in front with a brilliant header by Welbeck from Cleverley. They almost had a second just 4 mins later from a Wayne Rooney free kick but Friedel made a great save and pushed it aside for a corner. At this point of the game United just looked like the better team on the pitch but to be fair to Tottenham, it was their first game of the season and some players looked a little sluggish. United got their second, an easy finish for Anderson from a beautiful back heel ball from Welbeck in the 76th. The goal was beautiful and started when Anderson gave a nice little ball to Welbeck in the box and with Tottenham's goalie Friedel coming out to block the angle, Welbeck calmly back heeled it back to Anderson who had a wide open net. Rooney was celebrating the goal before Anderson even shot the ball. It looked like an easy 3 points after that but not before a nervous moment in the 78th when Jermain Dafoe of Tottenham hit the post after De Dea couldn't control a corner kick which then fell to Dafoe. In the 82nd, Ferguson pulled a triple substitution bringing in the ageless wonder Ryan Giggs for Tom Cleverley, Ji-Sung Park for Ashley Young and back from a concussion, the little Pea Javier Chicharito for Welback. Rooney finished off the scoring with an great header from Ryan Giggs to make the final 3-0 and keep United level on points with Manchester City and Wolves on top of the league. Here is an updated EPL Table:
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 Barclays Premier League : Table Monday, 22 August 2011 21:52 UK 
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United is really playing great football right now and their next game is on Sunday Aug 28 at home to Arsenal which is huge. Alex Ferguson admits though that he'll have difficulties picking a striking partner for Wayne Rooney with Welbeck playing so good, Chicharito now back and with last seasons golden boot winner (most premier goals) Dimitar Berbatov still available. It will be interesting to see if he keeps the same line up or goes for more experience vs Arsenal. Either way, I'l be up at the Main Event watching with my boys from the RED MOB so if you're free, come up and have a pint and cheer on United. Till next time. HVE IT!!
Since Anderson had a goal in the is game his chant will be featured this week. Cheers
HE'S BETTER THAN KLEBERSON
ANDERSON-SON-SON
HE'S OUR MIDFIELD MAGICIAN
TO THE LFET, TO THE RIGHT
DO THE SAMBA DANCE TONIGHT
HE IS CLASS, WITH THE BRASS
AND HE SHITS ON FABREGAS
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