   |
|
|
Not so long ago, Man United were playing 'catch up' with Liverpool, the most successful domestic side England has ever produced. Now, though, the former are dominating to such an extent as to make the Premiership rather embarrassingly one sided. What's more, most critics would agree that, so far this season, with very few exceptions (such as last weekend's 6-1 thrashing of Arsenal), they are yet to consistently get into top gear. To put it bluntly, they haven't been playing particularly inspiring football at times, yet have done just enough to win...and done so with alarming regularity. As we speak, they are 16 points ahead of the rest of the competition. Hardly satisfactory...
For once, it looks like we'll have something approaching a full strength team to take on the old enemy. DOL looks set to start with Harry Kewell whilst Radbe and Smithy return from one match bans.
The Man United team news is equally promising - from our point of view. Giggs, who despite all the Beckham hype seems to me to be their most consistently dangerous player, is out with a hamstring injury whilst Andy Cole will miss the game through suspension. Most promising news, though, is that Roy Keane is doubtdul with fluid on the knee. Should he miss the game, then we really do have a fighting chance.
With Saturday's game clearly our biggest of the season, our popular AWAY FANS feature today contains no less than THREE unofficial Manchester United sites - 'Red Cafe', 'Red Rants' and 'red11.org'. What do they make of saturday's match?
*Sites: Red Cafe, Red Rants and red11.org
URLs: Red Cafe www.redcafe.net
Red Rants www.redrants.co.uk
red11.org www.red11.org
* Comparatively speaking, do you think you're having a good season?
Red Cafe Yes absolutely. 16 points clear in the league and top of Group A in the Champions' League would be considered a good season I think! Elimination from the FA Cup was a major disappointment, but we're looking good for a hat-trick of Premierships and at least a quarter-final place in Europe.
Red Rants Yeah, pretty good really, the FA Cup exit aside.
red11.org At the start of the season, the Premiership and the Champions League were the main targets, so yes, at the start of March, a 16-point lead and in good shape for the Quarter-Finals is as good as any Man United fan would have hoped for.
* Who do you think are your best player(s) at present ?
Red Cafe Roy Keane is playing at his magnificent best at the moment. He has kept the team firing at 100% through a difficult few weeks and is yet again proving his worth to the team. When he isn't available, the whole side clearly misses his leadership and sometimes lacks direction and purpose without him.
Teddy Sheringham is having a great season as well and the goals keep flowing. He must be a contender for Player of the Season.
Red Rants Giggs, Sheringham and Brown in particular, but it's hard to single out players in a team...
red11.org At this moment, Roy Keane is playing brilliantly. He was a major factor in demolishing Arsenal 6-1 last week. Jaap Stam is also sealing up the defence. He was missed at times earlier in the campaign.
* Your worst player(s) ?
Red Cafe Up until Sunday, I might have said Dwight Yorke since he was out of favour for much of the season. Other than that, nobody has really underperformed in the side. Mikael Silvestre has improved greatly in the recent weeks and every area of the team is looking solid. Sorry, there's no answer to hat question ;-)
Red Rants None that I can think of...
red11.org I would not label any of our players like that, as a fan we are supposed to encourage all them, whether in form or ou of form.
*Your players to watch (youngsters or underrated players) ?
Red Cafe Luke Chadwick. He's only had a few run outs in the team this season but already he's showed his potential. He has a bit of the Ryan Giggs about him with great pace and dribbling skills and is most definitely one to watch for the future. Whether he will feature at all at Elland Road is unlikely.
Red Rants Luke Chadwick is one for the future, and everybody overlooks Nicky Butt which is pretty unfair.
red11.org Wes Brown is not only a United regular for years to come, he is going to be an England regular for years to come too. Leeds spend £18 million on Rio Ferdinand. In our opinion Wes is far better, and less prone to concentration lapses. Silvestre is the most-improved player for us this season.
*Your preferred formation for Saturday's game?
Red Cafe The usual 4-4-2 will line up on Saturday. Fabien Barthez in goal, Stam and Brown in the centre of defence, probably Gary Neville and Silvestre at full back. Midfield is likely to be Keane, Scholes, Beckham and Butt as Giggs is still out with a hamstring injury. Andy Cole is suspended, so either Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Teddy Sheringham will partner Dwight Yorke up front.
Red Rants 4-4-2. God knows how Fergie will perm the team though!
ed11.org Fabien Barthez in goal. Behind the Gallic showmanship he is one of the best keepers in the world. Check out how many goals he concedes: currently one every 157 minutes. Back four of Gary Neville, Mikael Silvestre, Jaap Stam and Wes Brown. Midfield of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt. Keane will be out with a knee injury I think. Up front Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Giggs is injured and Andy Cole's banned, so the final place may go to flying young winger Luke Chadwick, or perhaps Phil Neville in a midfield role.
*Your best chant ?
Red Cafe We are the Pride of all Europe,
Cock of the North,
We hate the Scousers, the cockneys of course (and LEEDS!),
We are United without any doubt,
Red Rants Yip Jaap Stam is a big dutchman
Get past him if you f**king can
Try a little trick and he'll make you look a prick
Yip Jaap, Jaap Stam
red11.org Hard to say. With it being Elland Road, something to do with Sheep may be aired, or the future residence of Lee Bowyer. That was popular when you were at OT in October. Any reference to '25 years' will be referring to Manchester Citys last trophy win, which the Anniversary was last week.
*How much silverware do you think Man U will end up with this season ?
Red Cafe I think the Premiership is almost wrapped up at this stage, baring a complete disaster. The Champions' League will be extremely difficult to win but once the quarter-finals get underway anything is possible.
Red Rants The League for sure. Maybe (with some luck) the European Cup?
red11.org The Premiership race is virtually over, even Wenger has thrown in the towel. I thought in August we were maybe just short of the quality to go all the way in Europe, but with a favourable draw, who knows?
*Prediction for Saturday and Man U scorers (if applicable)?
Red Cafe Leeds are playing well at the moment and it's always a tough game at Elland Road, so I'll be generous and predict a score draw! :-) Dwight Yorke to continue his goalscoring resurgence.
Red Rants 2-1 to United; Solskjaer and Sheringham (if they both play...)
red11.org I see a 1-1 draw, possibly Yorke for the Reds.
It had to happen. A flag was unfurled in the visitors end - it read "Istanbul Reds". That sums them up.
Leeds fans rather than ignoring it began singing the full repertoire of Munich songs. The bloke in front of me snapped his seat in frustration. The same man hurled coins at Beckham as took a corner in front of us in the 2nd half. These things you don't see on TV. This game is like no other. Pure hatred.
Leeds outclassed Man U today. To be more specific we outclassed them in midfield. Without Roy Keane and Giggs and with the 1 dimensional Beckham having been sussed out - the Red midfield could not cope with the workrate, fight and stamina of Bowyer, Dacourt and Batty.
Keane was a live wire - popping up all over the place and pouncing back on any back passes the Man U defence were forced into. Barthez was living a charmed life. Viduka, after a slow start, realised he had to get physical with Stam if he was going to survive. He did quite well. For all the Leeds possession, though, we seldom created any clear cut chances.
Close to half time, Harte challenged Farthez for a cross and the bald French twit dropped the ball which was cleared to safety. Affronted by Harte's attempt to win the ball the Bald Twit lashed out at Harte and kicked him to the ground. I saw it all. The ref clearly didn't. The linesman pretended he hadn't. It was a certain red card, an absolute certainty. Between them the officials bottled it. Yellow card.
Harte took the penalty but agonisingly could not convert it. I hid in the bogs while the Mancs/Cockneys celebrated.
Second half saw Kewell replace Matteo and Smith come on , somewhat surprisingly, for Robbie Keane. Leeds continued to dominate the possession but they seemed to lack any finesse with Keane having departed. Smithy looked lost.
Against the run of play Man U took the lead. The spawny gets. A good move by the reds saw 7yr old Solskjaer released and his tame shot from the edge of the box somehow bounced out of Martyn's grasp and Pluke Chadwick tucked the rebound into an empty net. The defence were all over the shop. Mills had not tracked back but Martyn's error was cruel on Leeds.
Leeds stepped up another gear and Smithy became an inspiration. He ran the Man U defence ragged. Kewell ran at Gary Neville and to be fair the English full back handled him quite well. The Aussie did have a fair amount of joy but his crosses tantalisingly eluded the Leeds forwards. Just as it seemed Man U were going to perform the ultimate smash and grab (one shot on target, one goal) Leeds brought the house down with a splendid equaliser. Mills galloped down the right and his cross was flicked on by Bowyer and nodded forcefully home but Viduka at full stretch. Farthez stood there like the lemon he is.
In injury time Leeds had the ball in the net again. Half the Leeds fans thought it was a goal - I'd seen the flag go up so didn't join in the wild, if premature celebrations. Oh how we deserved it but the Linesman had spotted an offside or two. He was considerably nearer than me so I wouldn't like to comment on the cheating, scum lover's decision to deny us a sweet victory.
We didn't win but is was a huge moral victory for Leeds who taunted the Galatasaray and Cockney Reds with "what's it like to be outclassed ?" Even they would admit it.
I have never seen Man U cause us so little problems. One shot and 3 corners. Champions - yes, World beaters - no. I am mentally and physically drained from this game. Great entertainment, a superb (if extremely nasty) atmosphere and a magnificent performance from the lads.
Martyn 5 - eek !
Mills 6.5 Chadwick made him look a mug on occasions but did well for our goal.
Harte 6 Dopey sod !
Rio 7.5 Did very well but fell asleep for their goal
Rads 7.5 As above.
Batty, Dacourt 9 - Simply the best.
Bowyer 8 - Blood and guts display.
Matteo 7 - Kept B*ckham quiet 1st half
Viduka 8 - Storming header and did well against the imposing and supposedly impassable Stam
Keane 7.5 - Full of beans but farted too loudly at half time and got taken off.
Subs
Smiffy 7.5 - Slow start but was magnificent by the end.
Kewell 7 - Eased back gently, Neville is no mug (am I the only person who thinks Neville is actually quite good ?) and Kewell did one cross with his right foot round the back of his left foot. Unreal.
Reporter: Stotty
To read more of Stotty's stuff - the most original Leeds site on the Net - visit him @
