Quick Takes on the Man Utd - Real Madrid Game - kelvinmak's Blog

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kelvinmak's Blog

Quick Takes on the Man Utd - Real Madrid Game Stuck

Posted on March 5, 2013 at 09:35 PM.

(5)

What's all this hoopla-- an important match was played today? Did something controversial happen?

- Treble No More: Well, there goes Manchester United's dreams of a treble, in probably the most contentious fashion possible. So what comes next for the team? They could lose momentum, stumble, lose a few games (maybe get knocked out of the FA Cup too), and City can pip them for another year; or Fergie can summon his motivational powers and get his team to go unbeaten for the rest of the season. Of course, the outcome is most likely to be somewhere in between the two scenarios, but it's crucial for United to bounce right back, especially given last year's slip up, otherwise the race will be back on before they know it.

- The Red Card: So, what did everybody think? Definitely harsh, but, if you strictly abide by the book (without applying common sense to the situation, mind you), yeah, it's a red for a dangerous play.

Speaking of which, Roy Keane also thinks it's a red. The man's goading of Fergie continues. And it's fun to watch.

(Update: UEFA has no problem with the red, and, as always, a percentage of our population should not be allowed to reproduce, has taken to twitter to issue death threats to the referee.)

- Rooney's Future: Keane, in his pre-match comments for ITV, also thought the writing is on the wall for Wayne Rooney, who started the game on the bench. This I agree with. Long gone is Rooney's explosiveness, and the convenient narrative, that he is more "controlled" and "clinical" doesn't really work either because he's been quite sloppy in his performances for a while now. Plenty of people, myself included, thought he was going to drop into the Scholes role and dictate play from there, but currently that looks doubtful at best.

- Ronaldo's Homecoming: The winger got a nice pre-match ovation from the Old Trafford faithful. What better place to consider how much he has matured over the years than on the pitch where he first vaulted into stardom? From a pimply-faced teenager who was too preoccupied with his own trickery, to the mature, clinical player who rarely wastes a touch today. Two years is a long time, and there may well be a lot of "next Peles" bursting onto the scene by then, but if Real Madrid sells him or he walks after his contract runs out, CR7 is going to be close to irreplaceable.

- Michael Cox talks about Mourinho's tactical nous on bringing on Modric immediately. Regardless of the red card before his introduction, that was a sweet strike by the Croatian.

- Will Real Madrid Win It All?: It's still too early to call, and there are plenty of big guns left in the competition (Dortmund, today, looked especially lethal in their dismantling of Shakhtar), but you would imagine Mourinho is craving to leave on a high note (and give a final finger to his detractors in Spain) if he is, as expected, returning to England in the summer.

What did everybody else think about the match?

(Photo via Tom Jenkins/The Guardian)

Comments

# 1 mo2119 @ Mar 6

Don't get me started on the red... RAGE
Man U was played great. Let's leave it at that.

# 2 SanderBaarsma @ Mar 6

If that was a red card, Diego Lopez should have been sent off in the 15th minute for hitting Vidic in the face with his fist. Unintentional just like Nani, but also dangerous play.

# 3 209vaughn @ Mar 6

One of the worst calls i've ever seen. Nani was attempting to possess the ball. His studs were not up or even pointed towards Arebloa at all. Arebloa ran into Nani. Nani's boot was about waste high the whole time.

I disagree about Rooney. He still is an amazing player. Probably not Top-10 in the world like some wish him to be... But certainly Top-25.

# 4 209vaughn @ Mar 6

Oh by the way Ronaldo is CR7 not CR9.

# 5 kelvinmak @ Mar 6

Whoops, thanks for that, fixed now. Don't know why I had a brain cramp and typed in his old number at Madrid.