Tottenham v United (04-02-07, 16.00)

[superparky13]

There is no way Chelsea will catch us

The praise that we are getting, great football and goals and Andy Gray said " These are the games you have to win, the ones where you don't play your best but still win" A quote before the first goal. I love it when we have to scrap are way to a 4-0 victory.

how people say we aint got good enough strength in depth is beyond me!

We only have v.d.s out and we have players who would have been starters last season not in the squad like Fletcher, Silvestre Brown O'Shea Smith and Solksjaer. Yes a few aren't quality but they helped us finish second and if Chelsea didn;t have Roman they would have won us the league. So I say Premiership is imperative and so is the F.A Cup it is Uniteds right to win it for the forst time at wembly and we need to get to the Semi Fonal at least in Europe but we could win it if we play like we play in the league and just .... well Fergies league motto and as the fans sing "ATTACK, ATTACK,ATTACK,ATTACK,ATTACK"

[aussiegraham (Ret.)]

Now that was worth getting out of bed at 3 a.m for!

On Ronnie's penalty, Jol said (Sporting Life): "I don't think it was a penalty but Steed Malbranque stuck his foot out and pulled it in again.He took advantage of that but I don't know. It didn't help."

"The referee must make a decision, he is a human being. He was standing there with a good view of it."

Jol added: "I wouldn't say Ronaldo was diving. It was a difficult situation."

He couldn't say much more really, with Berbatov hitting the deck in a blatant dive for a penalty. Don't know why the ref didn't book him for it.

IMHO Ronnie didn't dive, he had momentum and his speed doesn't get represented in slow motion replays. I think he went down easily, but justifiably.

[Red Yank]

The first half gave me the impression we were in for a frustrating match and all of the free kicks close to the penalty area were also very unsettling. The second half really showed how great a side United can be when they focus on playing good flowing football. 4-0 away to Spurs is a great result especially on a weekend that saw Arsenal and Liverpool draw and Chelsea hang on to a 1-0 lead.

I have to disagree with your comment about the lack of depth being an issue supersparky13 and that's because it hasn't really been tested since we haven't had any major injuries to our players. Now I'm not saying that it's impossible for the likes of Richardson, Fletcher and O'Shea to do well if they had to start but from what I've seen thus far I can't say I'm convinced. They've all come through as squad players but let's hope they can do the same if called upon to start.

[DriftingRedDevil]

nyjorge said:

The first half gave me the impression we were in for a frustrating match and all of the free kicks close to the penalty area were also very unsettling. The second half really showed how great a side United can be when they focus on playing good flowing football. 4-0 away to Spurs is a great result especially on a weekend that saw Arsenal and Liverpool draw and Chelsea hang on to a 1-0 lead.

I have to disagree with your comment about the lack of depth being an issue supersparky13 and that's because it hasn't really been tested since we haven't had any major injuries to our players. Now I'm not saying that it's impossible for the likes of Richardson, Fletcher and O'Shea to do well if they had to start but from what I've seen thus far I can't say I'm convinced. They've all come through as squad players but let's hope they can do the same if called upon to start.

I agree with you RY, the only place that I would say we have depth in is in the strikers, with Smith coming back and Dong finally getting here, Ole with 9 goals almost all coming as a sub. The arrival of Larsson as well. I think that we have good depth there but other than that I pray that we don't get any injuries. I don't want our depth to be tested in the midfield or defense because it's finally starting to click the last thing we need is an injury.

[richeh]

btw robbie keane was talking for piss out of rio's lop sided mouth, not realy called for imo.

[missunited]

Spurs 0 United 4: Verdict

FORGET Chelsea's laboured 1-0 win at Charlton on Saturday: this was the real deal.

The Reds swatted Tottenham aside with the sort of football that was the hallmark of both the 1994 Dream Team and the 1999 Treble-winning side.

Could United be on for another Treble? Nobody at Old Trafford is getting that carried away, and, of course, it depends on Ferguson's men steering clear of the sort of injuries that forced off Edwin van der Sar and Wayne Rooney at White Hart Lane.

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Monday, 5th February 2007
Spurs 0 United 4: Verdict
Mike Whalley

GIGGS: Completed the job
GIGGS: Completed the job
FORGET Chelsea's laboured 1-0 win at Charlton on Saturday: this was the real deal.

The Reds swatted Tottenham aside with the sort of football that was the hallmark of both the 1994 Dream Team and the 1999 Treble-winning side.

Could United be on for another Treble? Nobody at Old Trafford is getting that carried away, and, of course, it depends on Ferguson's men steering clear of the sort of injuries that forced off Edwin van der Sar and Wayne Rooney at White Hart Lane.
Advertisement your story continues below

But there is no question that the Reds are in a trophy-winning groove, and if they can keep this sort of momentum going, you get the sense that the sky really is the limit.

Ferguson hinted before yesterday's game that away form would decide whether United or Chelsea carry off the Premiership title in just over three months' time .

And with United having the tougher run-in away from home, with visits to Liverpool, Chelsea and a derby at Eastlands still to come, it was vital that they made a strong statement of intent at a ground where they have won on their last five visits.

Cruncher

That statement of intent was made inside the first 45 seconds, when Paul Scholes launched into a crunching challenge on Spurs' winger Aaron Lennon.

The Reds had to win the physical battle against a Tottenham side still smarting from Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final defeat at neighbours Arsenal.

The fact that they did that was as much down to Scholes' industry in midfield as it was to Ronaldo's trickery on the wing.

But it was difficult to pick out a single weak performance.

Even substitute John O'Shea had a blinder as an emergency goalkeeper in the last few minutes after van der Sar had been forced off with a broken nose following a collision with Robbie Keane.

Van der Sar made a crucial save to deny Dimitar Berbatov in the 33rd minute when the Bulgarian striker latched on to Tom Huddlestone's through pass and turned away from Nemanja Vidic.

But the main talking point of the first half surrounded referee Mark Clattenburg, who turned down what seemed to be two clear-cut penalties before giving one that was far less certain.

First, Clattenburg rejected Henrik Larsson's claim when he was clipped by Spurs defender Anthony Gardner as he raced on to Gary Neville's quick throw- in just before the half-hour mark.

But Neville himself was lucky just moments later, when he had former Wigan full back Pascal Chimbonda in a bearhug as they challenged for Lennon's free-kick.

Clipped

Clattenburg finally gave a penalty in the last minute of the first half, as Ronaldo was maybe just clipped by Steed Malbranque.

Ronaldo slotted his penalty past Paul Robinson, just as he did in that now infamous World Cup penalty shootout.

Having nosed their way in front at the end of an even first half, United blew Spurs away with ten minutes of whirlwind football at the start of the second.

From a corner, Carrick delivered a terrific in-swinger on his return to his former club, and Vidic powered in his third goal for the Reds since his arrival from Spartak Moscow last January.

Within seven minutes, the game was over as Ronaldo tied Lee Young-Pyo in knots down the right flank before crossing in low for Scholes to bundle in a goal he richly deserved.

United really started to enjoy themselves after that, with Rooney bending a shot just wide after Larsson had teed him up.

And even though van der Sar had to make two good saves to deny Berbatov a consolation, United were always in control.

And they proved their dominance when Ryan Giggs lofted a delightful finish over Robinson with 13 minutes left after substitute Louis Saha had played him through.

[mrsrepublik]

danishred said:

Im stoked. Finally a match on U.S TV.

Danish... we've been able to get the last 4/5 matches here on Setanta Channel in the U.S. - it's a random one, but check your local listings... (ha) seriously, most cable services will even let you add just that one channel.

[mrsrepublik]

moxdevil said:

Brilliant performance, especially second half. When will oppo fans learn not to boo Ronnie? numpties. Hope VDS aint too serious, though his nose looked pretty bent out of shape.

Think his nose was actually on his ear now last I checked. F-in hell... but boo Rooney or Ronaldo, bc last I checked the crowd drops an octave every time our precious deerfeet gets near the ball.


Oh sweet spanking 4-0

[mrsrepublik]

tom said:

Top quality performance from all the team, I wa worried about today, spurs came out to prove a point after the defeat to arsenal but we were strong and classy

I'd brought my non-footie friend out to the pub and she hardly recognized me with all the shouting. I could have done without the heart attack for the first half, but what a BRILLIANT finish.

Agreed, Tom.. classy was key here.. and the boys just had a fantastic time at it too, innit

[danishred]

mrsrepublik said:

danishred said:

Im stoked. Finally a match on U.S TV.

Danish... we've been able to get the last 4/5 matches here on Setanta Channel in the U.S. - it's a random one, but check your local listings... (ha) seriously, most cable services will even let you add just that one channel.

But isnt that a PPV channel??

*Post no. 600*

[sahahahaha]

Just glad to keep keep it at 9 points between us and Chelsea. Ronaldo dived for the penalty (not that i'd admit that to any other fans but it's true) and Larsson should have got a penalty but all in all the ref had a shit game.

The more I watch Rooney and today especially the more he looks like Scholes replacement.

[Red Yank]

sahahahaha said:

Just glad to keep keep it at 9 points between us and Chelsea. Ronaldo dived for the penalty (not that i'd admit that to any other fans but it's true) and Larsson should have got a penalty but all in all the ref had a shit game.

The more I watch Rooney and today especially the more he looks like Scholes replacement.

At first I thought there was some real contact when Ronnie went down but when I saw the replay it looked like that wasn't the case. I was really hoping Ronnie was on his way to cleaning up his act but there it was again. I'm glad the win didn't rely on just that goal because that would have been the talk of the week, but either way I wish it wouldn't have happened. The second half showed that we had enough talent to out play the opposition without having to fall easily in the box.

I agree about the officiating being pretty poor though as the cards were flying everywhere.

[missunited]

nyjorge said:

sahahahaha said:

Just glad to keep keep it at 9 points between us and Chelsea. Ronaldo dived for the penalty (not that i'd admit that to any other fans but it's true) and Larsson should have got a penalty but all in all the ref had a shit game.

The more I watch Rooney and today especially the more he looks like Scholes replacement.

At first I thought there was some real contact when Ronnie went down but when I saw the replay it looked like that wasn't the case. I was really hoping Ronnie was on his way to cleaning up his act but there it was again. I'm glad the win didn't rely on just that goal because that would have been the talk of the week, but either way I wish it wouldn't have happened. The second half showed that we had enough talent to out play the opposition without having to fall easily in the box.

But if Ronaldo hadn't gotten that penalty and he hadn't scored.... who's to say we'd done anything in the second half, we might not have scored at all. Not making going down easy/diving ok though, that was nothing like the theatricals he used to pull off.

Ronaldo went down a bit easy, but Larsson should have had the penalty earlier, that's why the ref gave it. Had nothing to do with Ronnie, Ref made the conscious decission of handing out an easy pen after denying us what actually was a pen... not a job well done by him, but I've seen more world class refs done the same, everyone have bad days!

[Red Yank]

missunited said:

But if Ronaldo hadn't gotten that penalty and he hadn't scored.... who's to say we'd done anything in the second half, we might not have scored at all. Not making going down easy/diving ok though, that was nothing like the theatricals he used to pull off.

Ronaldo went down a bit easy, but Larsson should have had the penalty earlier, that's why the ref gave it. Had nothing to do with Ronnie, Ref made the conscious decission of handing out an easy pen after denying us what actually was a pen... not a job well done by him, but I've seen more world class refs done the same, everyone have bad days!

No, it wasn't theatrical but certainly questionable and since Spurs were frustrating us early on I really got the sense it was to get the first goal quickly in the event the rest of the match proved to be equally frustrating. The penalty goal really changed the way Spurs played as they looked pretty deflated afterwards but my point is that I don't appreciate those kinds of goals when there's plenty of talent on the team to win games without using those tactics.

It's certainly not a good idea to issue one penalty to make up for another one and if that was the logic then the ref has got a few screws loose.

[missunited]

nyjorge said:

missunited said:

But if Ronaldo hadn't gotten that penalty and he hadn't scored.... who's to say we'd done anything in the second half, we might not have scored at all. Not making going down easy/diving ok though, that was nothing like the theatricals he used to pull off.

Ronaldo went down a bit easy, but Larsson should have had the penalty earlier, that's why the ref gave it. Had nothing to do with Ronnie, Ref made the conscious decission of handing out an easy pen after denying us what actually was a pen... not a job well done by him, but I've seen more world class refs done the same, everyone have bad days!

No, it wasn't theatrical but certainly questionable and since Spurs were frustrating us early on I really got the sense it was to get the first goal quickly in the event the rest of the match proved to be equally frustrating. The penalty goal really changed the way Spurs played as they looked pretty deflated afterwards but my point is that I don't appreciate those kinds of goals when there's plenty of talent on the team to win games without using those tactics.

It's certainly not a good idea to issue one penalty to make up for another one and if that was the logic then the ref has got a few screws loose.

We weren't playing very well, and we're like every other team, sometimes we try to get an easy way out. No one will be complaining about a little dive by Ronaldo if it comes down to those three points winning us the league It's all well and good wanting to be proper and always play by the rules, but the thing is, we've had players who've done dirty tackles, who have dived etc and it's won us matches, that's football. And what Ronaldo did yesterday really wasn't even that major, he was just doing what any player would have done in the box, he went down, and didn't argue with the ref when he thought it was a penalty.

And the ref is only human, whenever you make a mistake, wouldn't you try and put it right? He shouldn't do it of course, and he should be consistant, but it's human to fail as they say.