VICTORY
Today the Reds won a massive 3 points at the Hawthorns. Always a sticky (no pun intended) place to play, United started off the match with a bang. Wayne Rooney scored his first goal from free play in the 3' with a header. Maybe Wazza should concentrate on his aerial game. The only point he's scored with his feet so far is a penalty way back. He's still in the match though, helping others score...very important to us!
Chicharito, who subbed in for Berbatov in the 61', also scored a header that gave us the points.
The match was not the prettiest footy from United, especially after a poor clearance resulted in the Baggies leveling in the 13'. WBA had a chance to go ahead when Rio Ferdinand barely clipped Odemwingie in the area. But Odemwingie (who fell like he'd been shot from the upper deck) missed the pen...BADLY! So bad that the ball's eventual spot couldn't be seen on TV.
After that snafu, United seemed to kick up the heat a bit (probably spurred on by the hairdryer treatment at halftime). And beautiful little Javier Hernandez earned his stripes by scoring another winner for United (he has made a habit of this...a la Ole-G S).
Gary Neville, United's very own spitfire, was very lucky to not get a red and give up another penalty to WBA. Even SAF said, "I think it was a penalty, he was very lucky."
Ji-Sung Park and his spirited play were missed today. And Nani needs to hurry up and return. I thought he would be back by now, but SAF is still resting him. I need to be patient because we still have a few months to go! I suppose I'm still in Valencia depression; I miss his never-give-up play on the wing...sigh.
In the end, Rooney was hacked down and hobbled off with an ankle injury. But SAF had used all of his subs when he took off Gary Neville for Fabio. So when the 4th official signalled for 5 minutes of extra play, the trooper Roo ran back on the field so the Reds wouldn't have to defend the lead with 10 men.
SAF indicated in his post-match remarks that Rooney had suffered an ankle injury but that it wasn't bad and he would probably be back for the Stoke match on Tuesday. Let's hope.
Still top and still undefeated. Come on, you Reds!
WAZZA REVEALS A WORLD CUP SECRET
Speaking of Rooney, he gave a very open interview this week talking about the transfer saga and such. One interesting note was his admission that he has been hiding some guilt since the WC 2006 incident with Cristiano. Everyone knows that all of England blamed CR7 for what they saw as an attempt to get Rooney sent off during the match with Portugal. It worked (and the ensuing wink left Ronny with a moniker...the Winker). But Rooney said in the interview that he was guilty of the same earlier in the match when he approached the ref to tell him he thought Ronny had been guilty of a dive and should be given a card!!!! The press gave Ronny an awful time (and still do) after that fiasco, so it was nice of Wazza to clear the air a bit.
They are very good friends and he admitted that he missed him. Awwww...I miss the RooRon linkup play too, but Roo pairs well with Berba and he and Valencia had a great understanding of each other (a la Ronny) last year.
UNITED ON LOAN
Another interesting tidbit that has emerged since the transfer window is officially open. SAF has decided not to buy in the January window (not surprising), but did indicate that he might shake up the team a bit.
With Danny Welbeck lighting up the board at Sunderland on loan (scored another today...Go Danny!), SAF thinks sending out 19-yr-old Kiko Macheda would be smart as well. His idea is to give Kiko some more time on the pitch to improve his play, like Danny has done.
Kiko's agent (you know how I despise agents) added fuel to the fire today when he said, "I don't think the player will simply arrive on a pure loan, though. I think any deal would at least be a loan with the option to buy."
*cue the "RM wants Macheda" headlines from Marca*
UPDATE: Apparently, Kiko is headed to the Serie BlaaAaah and Sampdoria. I hope this doesn't mean that he's homesick and we won't see him again. I trust United to figure out the best course for the players.
RIO THE TWITTER KING
Rio Ferdinand has one of the most popular twitter sites for footballing fans. @rioferdy5 lights up the board daily and even trends worldwide. If you're not a twitter officionado, to trend means that everyone is talking about you.
He is the only United player to have a twitter site, even after United sent out a communique last year saying that none of the players were allowed to have official sites or a facebook page.
When asked about this and why United doesn't have a twitter site, Rio responded, "I serve as my own and United's." :)
So I had to laugh when Rio sent out some family news to his "twitfam," whom he also refers to as "tweeps." His brother, Anton, who is a defender for Sunderland, bought his "l'il men", Tate and Lorenz, Black Cats kits for Christmas.
Here are the tweets from Rio on Dec. 29:
rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand
Anton bought my lil men Sunderland kits for xmas-I get home 2day+they are wearing them...I thought we agreed they wouldn't be worn?!*Fuming*
rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand
Look at them, feel them, hang them up...but playing football+running around in them in the garden shouting "rooney...ferdinand..." is nuts!!
rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand
Lucky they still singing man utd songs + sayin they support man utd...so I can still let them be part of the family!!
rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand
"I only like this kit because of anton + because its got red on it daddy" that's my lil man right there!! Had to hi 5 him for that!
Rio and his wife, Rebecca, are expecting another Lil Ferdinand. I'm hoping for a girl this time so I can read future tweets from Rio about watching his Lil Gal run around the pitch in her pink boots! Note to Rio: Susana would be a nice name. :)
As a bonus...a twitpic of Anderson with Rio on the train back to Manchester
Our United lads clean up well! *whistles*
and more photos from the match:
Wazza opens the scoring
Chicharito makes it 2-1
Yeah, babyyyyyy!!!!!
Of COURSE I'll give you a hug!
Some Rio love for Chicha. Look at the Hawthorns goons trying to hold them back! haha
No comments:
Post a Comment