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Champions!

FA Premiership
MANCHESTER UNITED 0
ARSENAL 0

In the end, the actual match was a sideshow.  The 0-0 draw against Arsenal may not have been a particularly impressive United performance, but it did the job, and delivered our 11th Premiership title in 17 years.  With what space they do devote to the actual game, most football writers draw a parallel between the result and the manner in which United have gone about this title triumph.  Here's David Walsh in the Sunday Times:

"NOTHING became United’s campaign as much as the winning of it. One point was all they needed against Arsenal and, ultimately, it was all they wanted. They had plenty of defending to do yesterday but never looked like losing.

That’s how it is with serial winners: they assess what needs to be done, they get it done and move on. United will have to be better against Barcelona a week on Wednesday and you can bet that they will be."

And beyond some individual mentions for the assured defending of Jonny Evans and John O'Shea (see, especially, Ian Herbert in the Independent on Sunday), that's largely it on the game itself.  The rest of the column inches are devoted to the title celebrations and one or two questions that are circling around Old Trafford.  The celebrations first.

Seeing the players circling Old Trafford with the Premiership trophy, few commentators failed to be struck by the strength of United's squad.  Paul Hayward spells it out in the Observer:

"The story of United's campaign, though, is not the loss of talent but its relentless acquisition, as Gary Neville testified on the pitch. Neville spoke of 'the quality and depth of the team, all 20 players', and pointed out that Federico Macheda, the 17-year-old Italian super-sub, 'could have won the league for us, and he's not even getting a medal today'.

The big-match stalwarts of Ferguson's latest creation have carried them over the line, as big-match stalwarts always do. Edwin van der Sar, Patrice Evra the centre-half pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand (injured yesterday), Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney: these were the prime-time warriors in a season when United, curiously, won only one of their six games against fellow members of the league's immutable Big Four.

Around this core spun a constellation of older heads (Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes et al) and understudies who will offer imperilled Hull no rest on Sunday. Tevez is generally one of those invaluable back-up men, as are Park Ji-sung , Anderson, John O'Shea, Nani, Danny Welbeck and the precocious Macheda, whose stunning late goal in the 3-2 win over Aston Villa on 5 April helped jolt United out of a trough. Six days later Macheda struck again in a 2-1 win at Sunderland.

The debate about which has been the finest of Ferguson's championship-winning teams will fill the hours on flights to Rome. But this is surely his best and most well-balanced squad."

Fergie himself echoed this sentiment, speaking post-match:

"This is a great side, a really great side. Actually, it's a really great squad.

"I could have picked two sides today, I had to leave good players out like Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov and Anderson. It is not easy."

But his emphasis was largely on next season, and mountains yet to be scaled:

"Asked if it felt special to have equalled Liverpool's record, Fergie declared: 'It will become a lot more special when we have got in front of them. And that's what we will be aiming for next year. We are going for it again.

'They were the greatest team in the land when I arrived. But we have built slowly and now we will go again.'"

And, in a great testament to the culture of success of Old Trafford, most of the players seem to have their eyes on next season as well:

"Club captain Gary Neville, who lifted the Premier League trophy even though he did not play against Arsenal, said Liverpool would be a huge threat next season.

Neville said: 'They pushed us very hard and next season we will have our work cut out.'

PFA Footballer of the Year Ryan Giggs, 35, who made a rare start yesterday, said: 'I hope we win another one next year.

'No one has ever won it four times on the trot so that is another record for us to break.'"

It takes something pretty big to overshadow all the title celebrations, but the continuing speculation over the future of Carlos Tevez threatened to do that.  The Argentinian seemed a bid a final farewell to the Old Trafford faithful yesterday, as he left the pitch in tears.  And there was a two-hour protest by fans after the game, urging Fergie to "sign him up".  Most of the papers go heavy on the situation, but the News of the World has a particularly thorough write-up.  It begins:

"ANGRY Manchester United fans hurled bottles and sprayed beer at the Old Trafford entrance in protest over the newly-crowned champions' treatment of Carlos Tevez.

Liverpool are ready to make a stunning £22million bid after the Argentine admitted in an exclusive News of the World interview that he is being forced to quit United.

And after yesterday's goalless draw against Arsenal which clinched a record-equalling 18th title, hundreds of fuming fans laid siege to the directors' glass entrance, chanting: 'Fergie, Fergie, sign him up.'"

While, in the Sunday Times, Lee Dixon writes that Fergie should do all he can to hang on to Tevez:

"But an even bigger priority is sorting out the Carlos Tevez situation. I can’t believe he will be allowed to leave the club, because he’s a huge part of their play now with his energy and what he gives when he is on the pitch. Would I pay £32m for him? It’s a huge chunk of money, but if you sell Ronaldo you will have money and I don’t think there is anyone else like him."  

As for Ronaldo - the other big question mark hanging over the Summer - there's a typically mixed message.  In his post-match comments, Ronnie talked about how he "loves" United.  But he added caveats about how "In the future you never know".  So far as the Ronaldo situation is concerned, Fergie strikes a reassuring tone in an interview with the Sunday Times, and we'll more on that later.

For now, though, let's revel in yet another Premiership title while looking ahead at the challenges to come.  Congratulations, United.  Now, let's add to the trophy haul in Rome.

Pete

On the brink

FA Premiership
WIGAN 1 (Rodallega 28)
MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (Tevez 61, Carrick 86)

So it comes to this: United need one point from two games, and they win a third Premiership title in a row.  But for most of last night's match against Wigan it was looking as though the men from Old Trafford might leave themselves with a more difficult task: 1-0 down at half-time, with the equaliser waiting until the 61st minute, and the winner until the 86th.  Nailbiting stuff but, as most of this morning's papers agree, the stuff of champions.  Here's how Shaun Custis writes it up in the Sun:

"It was a night when United had to dig deep against a fiercely committed Wigan, who threatened to spark a major upset.

That is the character of champions. Even when they are not at their best and nothing is going right, they still come through."

Of course, most of the commentators' praise is reserved for the equaliser hero, Carlos Tevez, whose beautiful goal has only fuelled the will-he?-won't-he? questions surrounding his future.  As the Daily Mail puts it:

"But it was Tevez who came to United’s rescue. Tevez who stepped off the bench to score a hugely important equaliser that was just brilliant in its execution.

Only three minutes after joining what was proving a difficult contest for the defending champions, Tevez revitalised a stuttering United with the deftest of backheels...

...This time he resisted the temptation to run to his tormentors and cup his ears in petulant protest. This time he simply let the brilliance of his football do the talking and chose, instead, to run to those who adore him: the supporters who responded to the sight of his 61st minute goal by again beseeching Sir Alex Ferguson to ‘sign him up’.

When he makes the kind of impact he did here at a pulsating JJB Stadium and performs every bit as impressively as he did in Sunday’s Manchester derby, it is hard to find a reason not to."

Relatedly, the biggest news coming out of the evening seems to be Sir Alex's claim that he wants Tevez to stay, and that the club are negotiating with his representatives.  Although, as Patrick blogged earlier, Kia Joorabchian has responded with some claims of his own, which only serve to confuse the matter even more.

There are column inches for some other players, too. Carrick gets praise for his well-taken goal; Vidic comes under the spotlight for both his role in Wigan's goal and for his dominant defending apart from that; and a handful of United players are cited for falling over on the slippery pitch.  Most of the non-Tevez attention, though, goes to Cristiano Ronaldo, who put in a particularly limp performance.  The Independent's Sam Wallace describes it thus:

"There was no doubting the contribution from Tevez, but it was harder to measure the value of Ronaldo's night's work. As Ferguson said afterwards, Ronaldo might have a had a hat-trick were it not for all his carelessness in front of goal and in the first half, as he found himself tightly marked, the United winger was once more protesting theatrically." 

And Matt Hughes of the Times mentions Ronaldo in an article (not online) about the "problems" that United face, despite their on-pitch success:

"For a manager on the brink of making history, Sir Alex Ferguson is facing up to a worrying number of problems. Since they suffered successive defeats by Liverpool and Fulham in March, there has been a sense of United limping towards the title, taking advantage of mediocrity elsewhere, rather than making a compelling case for themselves.

Ferguson's team remain as united as ever, but there is conflict in the corridors elsewhere in the club as long-open wounds have been allowed to fester: Carlos Tevez's disenchantment has been splattered across the back pages of several newspapers all week, while Cristiano Ronaldo's level of commitment is almost impossible to guage, as his mood seems to change by the day. Another long summer of uncertainty is in store."

But putting aside Tevez, Ronaldo, the slippery pitch or Carrick's winner, I return to the crucial, overriding, point: United are now on the brink of yet another Premiership title.  Fingers crossed that they seal it against Arsenal on Saturday.

Pete

Tevez: Progress but no offer?

After another crucial goal from Carlos Tevez last night, Sir Alex Ferguson was making more positive noises about the striker's future.

"I think we've had progress today," he said. "David Gill's had a good meeting today, I've spoken to Carlos and we've given him an offer we hope he accepts. That's where we are."

However according to The Sun Carlos' agent Kia Joorabchian said: "No offer of personal terms has been made. We had a chat with David Gill but no offer was made."

It's hard to know if the claim and counter claim change anything about Tevez future, as the question was never about wanting him at Old Trafford or not, it was about matching Joorabchian's valuation.

After proving his worth again last night, fans can only hope they strike a deal.

Patrick

Ronaldo and Tevez rebel against Fergie but deliver victory over City

MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (Ronaldo 18, Tevez 45)
MANCHESTER CITY 0

The football in yesterday's Derby will quickly be forgotten. It was far from a classic. It will be remembered for the first time that United started a game without an Englishman, for what is likely to be one of Tevez's last contributions to United and for Ronaldo's trantrum-like behaviour when substituted.  The MIrror records the 22 year-old's childish behaviour:

"Snatching at a tracksuit top, shaking his head in dismay and mouthing his displeasure whenever the TV cameras were on him, Ronaldo left noone in any doubt of his anger at being replaced. Publicly, Fergie paid lip service to Ronaldo's reaction, claiming it was good to see players frustrated at being taken off. Privately, however, you can be sure Ronaldo received the full hairdryer treatment from his boss in the dressing-room afterwards."

Ronaldo needs to learn that being at Man Utd means being a team player.  Mark Ogden at The Telegraph:

"One of the main planks of United's success in recent seasons has been Ferguson's successful handling of the rotation system. Players are brought in, left out, rested, rotated - call it what you will, but it has worked and that is why United are within sight of retaining the Premier League and Champions League titles. Ronaldo is rested much less frequently than the majority of his team-mates. Even Wayne Rooney has more bench-time than his high maintenance team-mate. But do you reckon that Rooney threw his training top to the floor and sat with a face on in the dressing-room after being told by Ferguson that he wouldn't be starting against City? Did Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs skulk around, muttering under their breath that the manager was out of order to name them on the bench? Probably not. All of the above have bought into the team ethic at Old Trafford, but Ronaldo clearly still considers himself to be a special case."

Ben Smith in The Times worries about the implications for the game of players getting above themselves:

"The Manchester United manager’s authority was challenged by two of his players at Old Trafford yesterday as Carlos Tévez, who is involved in a transfer dispute with the club, raced in his direction and cupped his hands to his ears after he had scored United’s second goal, before Cristiano Ronaldo reacted with petulant display of disgust and anger at being replaced by Paul Scholes in the second half. Can the actions of these players simply be put down to the pressures that come with competing for silverware at the end of the season? Isn't it time that the big clubs and top players took more responsibility for the image of the game?"

A free kick from Ronaldo and a great goal from Tevez won the points.  Only four more are needed from the last three games to secure a third successive premiership title.  Let's hope Utd can clinch things next Saturday in front of the Old Traffford crowd in the game against Arsenal.

United 5 - 2 Spurs: A game of two halves

The old football cliche, has scarcely rung more true than yesterday at Old Trafford. United, at sixes and sevens with each other one half. were nearly hitting sixes and sevens past Spurs the other.

It was an amazing game to see, my only complaint can be that all seven goals were down at the other end!

United fans have seen many a great comeback down the years, but despite their air of inevitability, these are still among the most thrilling United games to watch. As Jonathan Northolt writes in the Sunday Times: "No matter how often Manchester United write the script their supporters will never tire of it".

The big decision

Having made few chances in the first half, United needed something to go their way. With Howard Webb deciding Gomes brought down Carrick we got that and it set us on our way. Though Harry Redknapp moaned, and even Fergie said it was fortunate, I would not side with The Sun in calling the decision "a shocker."

Instead as The Mirror put it: "Heurelho Gomes will argue forever he got a touch to the ball when he sent through Michael Carrick. Carrick will always know he got there first. The man who matters decided it was a foul."

Given the penalty we were denied at Wembley, few fans will be losing sleep over how our first goal came.

Our loss, Carlos?

Though it was Rooney and Ronaldo shared the bulk of the goals they were not the only people to receive praise from today's press. Rooney as man of the match may have been "the pivot upon which every action of United's comeback turned," but it was "the tonic of Tevez" that roused the Reds from their first half stupour.

As Duncan White in The Telegraph puts it: "Ferguson’s dressing room rhetoric undoubtedly played a role but it was the half-time introduction of Carlos Tevez for the insipid Nani that catalysed the whole team."

Even Fergie reserved special praise for our number 32:  "He won the game for us. He turned the game… although obviously everyone played their part", but will it be enough to keep Carlos at Old Trafford for another season?

All of Sir Alex's substitutions were spot on today. While Nani clearly failed to rise to the occasion given a rare Premier League start, Fletcher's passing was unimaginative and the introduction of Scholes gave us another huge lift. Rafael, showing exuberance going forward, displayed inexperience at the back, and will shoulder some of the blame for Spurs' second. Once United got their noses in front, trading da Silva for the less flashy mettle of John O'Shea was almost a no-brainer.

Closer to glory

"This is the stuff of which champions are made", writes Steve Tongue in The Independent. Three points clear with a game in hand five games from the end of the season truly puts United in a great position. But was this the day the title was in effect decided?

"It was here, in a match of unrelenting and enthralling drama, that the title race had its most significant moment to date. United deserve all the superlatives for the determination, drive and sheer guts," writes Daniel Taylor in The Observer, while in Paul Wilson's analysis, the title race is all but over:

"They will surely win the league from this position. With five games to play they still have their focus, their best players, a lead and a fresh head of steam. It's just a question of what else they bring home."

However, given the twists and turns that Old Trafford saw over the course of 90 minutes, it would be complacent to think the next few weeks be a smooth ride. Yet if it does come to be regarded as the season's pivotal moment, yesterday we saw a game more than worthy of the label.

Patrick

A Striking Dilemma

After seasons when it seemed that United were a little short of out and out strikers, the Reds now have an embarrassment of riches. With Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez, Ronaldo, Danny Welbeck, Fraizer Campbell and of course Kiko Macheda on the books, who will Fergie have in mind, when he thinks inside the box next season?

 

Wayne Rooney Appearances 229, Goals 95

 

With 17 goals this season, Rooney has once again brought a decent haul of goals. Yet to judge Rooney by goals is to use the wrong metric. You cannot measure his work rate, his vision and his link up play by goals.

 

Despite criticism of his temper, the flipside is an enthusiasm for playing - and playing for United, given his willingness to play out his career here. Any starting eleven would be weaker without its number 10.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo Apps 285, Goals  133

 

Is he a winger? Is he a striker? When, once again, Ronaldo is United’s top scorer any consideration of strikers would be sorely lacking without him.

 

Though his attitude this season has been criticised, and at times his form less scintillating than the vintage 07-08 display, his crucial goals in the Villa and Porto games suggest even £75m may be a bargain for the Bernabeu.

Carlos Tevez Apps 92, Goals 32

Another forward who may be leaving OT behind if the papers are to believed. Carlos’ first team frustrations are easy to understand, the contribution his goals, work-rate and near telepathic link with Rooney played last season.  Despite lack of opportunities he has still turned in the goals, both crucial and spectacular this term.

 

As the chants of “Fergie sign him up” testify, many a Red would hate to see him go.

 

Dimitar Berbatov, Appearances: 36 Goals 13

 

After the drama of his eventual signing, and the record fee that was paid, Berbatov’s first few months were relatively quiet. But just as the scepticism was building, Dimi produced that moment of magic against West Ham, placating most of the cynics.

 

Though his control and passing have given United an extra dimension, there is still a feeling that he is yet to establish himself as one of United’s big game performers. But there’s always next season.

 

Manucho Apps 1 Goals 0 (Hull Apps 14, Goals 2)

 

Having scored arguably the goal of the African Nations cup last year, there is palpable intrigue at just what Manucho could do . Despite an impressive goals to games ratio for Panathanaikos last season, he has only netted twice during his loan spell at Hull, so whether he is ready for the life in the Premier League fast lane remains open to question..

 

Danny Welbeck Apps 12, Goals 3

 

The screamer against Stoke may have announced his arrival in the Premier League, but Danny Welbeck’s appearance have been restricted largely to the  league cup. 

 

After a reasonable performance out wide at Wembley, he might find more joy on the wing if he is stay at United, given the names ahead of him in the queue.

 

Fraizer Campbell Apps 4, Goals 0 (Spurs: Apps 14, Goals 3)

 

Denied opening his United account on the first day of the season by Shay Given’s head, Campbell has been unable to follow up promising spells at Royal Antwerp and Hull with regular Premier League football. Shipped out to Spurs as part of the Berbatov bargain, Frazer has seen his chances at White Hart Lane limited by Spurs policy of buying back their old strikers. Still to prove himself at the top level.

Kiko Macheda Apps 3, Goals 2

 

The least experienced of United’s forward line arguably needs the least introduction after the six crucial points his two United goals have already earned.  Having turned in impressive performances Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reserve team, if Macheda continues to show such promise, we would be mad to le him go just yet.

 

Patrick

Will the Kop be chanting Argentina, Argentina next season?

Although Real Madrid are favourites to sign Carlos Tevez if the Argentinian leaves Man Utd when his loan agreement comes to an end The Times reports this morning that Liverpool is interested in signing him too.  That would move the Benitez-Ferguson mind games to another level.

The top brass at Man Utd must now regret letting Torres sign for Liverpool.  Losing Tevez to our arch rivals would be harder still to swallow.

Meanwhile Carrick tells The Sun that he wants Tevez to stay at Old Trafford:

“We want him to stay, Carlos is a top player. He has scored some very important goals for us over the last few years. We’ve got a world-class squad, we’ve got world- class players and Carlos is one of them. We want to keep moving forward as a team and as a squad so we’d like to keep our best players here. But it’s down to the manager. I’m sure he knows the best way to make sure we do keep progressing.”

The call on Tevez represents one of Fergie's biggest ever decisions.

"A routine victory but exactly the kind of victory, it should be said, that wins titles"

Premiership
MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (Rooney 9, Carrick 82)
PORTSMOUTH 0

The title of this post is the verdict of Matt Lawton in the Daily Mail.  He congratulated MU for their work rate but The Sun chooses to focus on Fergie's unhappiness that his team didn't finish Portsmouth off before Michael Carrick's 82nd minute winner.  They certainly had the chances with Giggs missing two golden opportunities:

"Fergie said: “We were too casual so I’m not taking anything for granted. We have got to put our foot down. There is no leeway unless you can keep performing properly. This could have been embarrassing as we could have thrown the game away when we should have been five or six up. In the first half the football was some of the best you’ll see all season. But when you miss chances at 1-0 up you encourage your opponents.”"

Kevin McCarra, The Guardian, agrees:

"Opportunities for a second goal were squandered and Portsmouth did not get the full attention of the hosts until they hinted at levelling the score. With 66 minutes gone, Patrice Evra misjudged the flight of the ball and the substitute Jermaine Pennant got behind him before picking out Peter Crouch with a pass that the striker miscued."

As well as another clean sheet one big plus to emerge from last night was Anderson's performance.  Shaun Custis agrees in The Sun:

"It has taken Anderson nearly two years to adapt to the English game since a £20million move from Porto. But he is getting there and the fans are warming to him. He was an important figure against his former club in the Champions League quarter-final success and here he was United’s best player. When he was subbed the Old Trafford crowd, which had been so quiet all night, rose to applaud his contribution."

The Mail's Matt Lawton notes that Berbatov's name was greeted with boos from United supporters when it was announced.  He was an unused substitute in last night's game.  The Old Trafford crowd - preparing to pay £1 more a game from next season - would almost certainly vote for Tevez if they had to choose between keeping the Argentinian or the Bulgarian.  The Mirror has more on Tevez's radio interview in which he revealed that he is likely to leave United (reluctantly) in the summer.

Three points clear and a game in hand means we are now well placed for a third successive title but the race to the finish line won't be helped by the fact that Neville and O'Shea will be missing for "weeks".

A report on last night's game wouldn't be complete without a tribute to Mr 600 himself, Paul Scholes.  Martin Samuel does the job well in the Mail:

"He has been through so many matches like this it was clearly nothing special, despite the milestone. He has always been more interested in serving the team than servicing his ego and, those looking for a celebratory flamboyance in his game will have been disappointed. White boots with a red tongue were about the size of it. Even his haircut has not changed in all his years at Old Trafford. No harsh number ones or experiments. He is that wonderful contradiction: almost an anti-footballer off the field, and a pure footballer on it. Paying tribute to him beforehand, Ferguson said every club in Europe wanted Scholes, but he had not received one offer in all his time at Old Trafford. It was known throughout football that he was unobtainable."

Tim