Sunday, 22 April 2012

Manchester United 4-4 Everton: A comeback quicker than an angry belieber

For those who don't know who/what a "belieber" is, then you're a lucky, lucky person. Also for the "angry beliebers" that find their way onto this page, thanks I needed the extra hits.

Now they've gone I'll say I don't normally do match reports but for me this was one of the games of the season (because of bias) and Tony Hibbert got two assists, these kind of games don't happen every year.

Everton started very brightly, there's less pressure left on them now after Saturday (I hate Andy Carroll), all they have left to challenge for in their season is pride and finishing above Liverpool. You could see that Moyes had them raring to go as they took the game to United in the first 20 minutes.

I must say that while he had a bit more in the transfer kitty than previous seasons, Moyes has been shrewd but excellent in the transfer market once again. Darron Gibson (playing against his old club today) has settled in excellently next to Fellaini in midfield. His array of passing is sublime and he can dig deep and help grind out results as well. He's turning into Everton's Paul Scholes. But of course the best piece of business bar Papiss Cisse has got to be Jelavic. He's 'jelled' with the team quickly and after today he's bagged himself 6 goals in 9 games. That's more than Yakubu in his entire career at Everton!*.

On 33 minutes the Croatian continued his fine goal scoring form by nodding a Tony Hibbert cross (yes, you read that right) over De Gea into the United net. Old Trafford stunned...

Then Rooney and Welbeck scored... Possible partnership at the Euros? (Once Rooney serves his ban of course). Oh and Nani scored as well...

It was 3-1 with 67 minutes gone, the United fans were relaxing and Fergie (wearing Nike trainers... no me either) was having a laugh with the Fourth Official. Probably discussing how he wouldn't need that much injury time this game after all.

But they didn't count on one man stepping forward, bursting down the right wing with lightning pace and delivering a pinpoint cross into the box, Hibbert had another assist. It was actually a decent finish by Fellaini who has recaptured his form of last season before that *insert expletive here* Kyriagkos broke his leg. A powerful volley into the bottom corner that De Gea couldn't keep out (been hearing that a lot this season though).

Then Rooney scored... again...

United's 2 goal lead was restored once again, the crowd began to relax (again) and Fergie kept chewing (it's like he's sponsored by Orbit). But then Jelavic scored... again. The ball was headed by Rio onto Jonny Evans' head and fell nicely for Jelllyfish to slot into the bottom corner.

Tension rose again through the Trafford faithful, and before you could say Bilyaletdinov the ball was past De Gea (again) and Everton had pulled off the comeback of the season. This goal was probably our best, it was nice build up play before Fellaini turned and found the run of Pienaar who cooly slotted home.

Fergie time then followed but Everton held out after a late scare from Rio (could you imagine the amount of tweets if that had gone in). Final score: Man U 4-4 Everton.

Oh, final point. Peter Odemwingie = Legend

*Statistics may not be 100% correct
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Monday, 9 April 2012

We've signed Two and a Half Men

Looking back through the Football Hearsay archives I noticed that I hadn't done a Sheen FC update in a while. So, without further ado here it is...

After being top at Christmas Sheen FC have dropped down to second and are looking up at a huge points gap between them and 1st place. The recent transfer window has shut and three new faces have joined up with the squad to train with head coach Steve Claridge.

Kyle Walker, Fab Collocini and Vincent Kompany all come in to join Leighton Baines to sure up the defence.

Unaware that Collocini is probably out for the season I made a dick move and didn't look at the players I was signing. I'm willing to hold my hands up and admit some poor management on my part.

Here's how the league table stands at the moment:

As you can see the infamous team 'blah' are coming back to haunt us, they now occupy 3rd place and are making a late assault for the title. Let's hope the new signings settle in and go for the league. 

Keep on Winning

(p.s. did you see what I did with the title? Because of the injury, huh? Huh? Yeah, that's right.)
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Sunday, 8 April 2012

Scholes the passmaster


I decided to take an unconventional view on the game at Old Trafford today and watch one player. There was of course a lot of talent on show in Manchester but the one man out there that consistently performs is the old master himself, Paul Scholes. It turned out that I was basically watching the whole game anyway.

Every good thing United did today went through Scholes three or four times and he still has it, age has not hit him like it does to mere mortals. Many write off players once they pass 33/34 but the role Scholes plays and his impeccable ability has allowed him to continue this long. Being that he has such an array of passing, all he had to do was sit in an area which ranged from the centre circle to just outside the QPR box. He just moved into space allowing United to pass through him and create their attacks.

The way Scholes played the game means that he can fit into a Premier League team, had he been a winger the pace of the English game would’ve probably been too much for him. Unless you’re Ryan Giggs, that must be the yoga or something.

 From the outset in an overcast Manchester he was spraying the ball from left to right perfectly every time. He was vital to every United move and it showed after he was substituted to a standing ovation. United had less guile, they couldn’t break down Rangers with such ease.

But we can’t overlook the fact that Man U’s job was made a little easier thanks to some shocking decisions from both the referee and his linesman on the far side to allow an offside Ashley Young to dive and win a disgustingly cheap penalty, but enough of that.

Scholes finished off a classic performance with one of his trademark strikes, bullet into the bottom corner out of Kenny’s reach. I said to myself at half time after watching him that he’d score the next goal. I contemplated putting a bet on it but after deliberation decided against it. What an idiot I am, the odds were 11/1 and had I been brave I’d be sitting here looking at a nice £110.

But my failure out of the way, Scholes rightly received the Man of the Match award (from Gary Neville) and his return has really rejuvenated United and it looks as if he will push them towards another league title. Best free transfer of the season by far.
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