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Sunday, February 28, 2016

Highs and Lows of EPL Week 27

This is the week when the sun shone brightly at Old Trafford. An accidental injury to main striker Anthony Martial threw up a bright new star in the form of Marcus Rashford. His fairy-tale entrance continued as his brace and an assist helped the Red Devils to dent old rivals Arsenal title aspirations at Old Trafford. LvG continued to throw the academy players into the deep pool.....Timothy Fosu_Mensah, Joe Riley, James Weir, etc. Wenger must be tearing his hair out to find a way to beat his fiercest rival..he just have to wait.
For once, LvG went to the touchline to protest against a foul and he made a hash of it by slipping hilariously...
Marcus Rashford
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the game. Photograph: Jon Super/AP

Louis van Gaal
The famous picture of LvG tumbling...

Manchester United’s manager Louis van Gaal has words with the fourth official Mike Dean on the touchline before falling over. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images

Meanwhile Spurs went to second on the table after a 2-1 win over Swansea while Leicester carved out a 1-0 win over Norwich to remain top.

Man City beat Klopp's Liverpool by 3-1 penalties to win the Capital Cup after 1-1. A farewell present to Pelligrini before Guardiola takes over.

Manchester City's Vincent Kompany lifts the Capital One Cup at Wembley Stadium  Source : skySPORTS
Manchester City's Vincent Kompany lifts the Capital One Cup at Wembley Stadium

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Highs and Lows of EPL Week 26 FA Cup 5th Rd

Leicester and Liverpool got their rest as the rest of the top 6 teams battle it out in the 5th Round. Will Utd suffer a worse embarrassment in the hands of Shrewsbury?

Spurs and Man City are out of the FA Cup after losing to Palace (1-0) and Chelsea (5-1) respectively. City fielded virtually a youth team due to 'fixture congestion' and suffered for it.

Man Utd safely made it to the q-finals with a routine 3-0 win over Shrewsbury. They have yet another injury, this time reserved striker Will Keane who lasted only 7 minutes after coming on as a sub for Martial. Utd now faces West Ham at home.

Jesse Lingard celebrates the third.
Jesse Lingard scored the 3rd goal

Champions League : A mixed week for all English teams. Chelsea lost 2-1 to PSG, Arsenal again lost to Barcelona 2-0 at home while City grew in confidence to beat D Kiev 3-1 away.

Europa League : LvG puzzled everyone that he wanted to see the 'horny' side of Utd in the must win second leg against Midjtylland.

Just when the Red Devils seemed to be falling into another abyss, a youth product came on to inspire them to a 5-1 (6-3 aggregate) victory over Midjtylland at Old Trafford. Teenage debutant, emergency striker, Marcus Rashford replaced Anthony Martial who injured his hamstring during warm up, scored twice after Utd first fell behind, then gifted with an own goal and then Mata missed a penalty. Utd had to field a virtually youth side with the who length of injuries. Next, Arsenal in the PL on Sunday.
Rashford celebrates after scoring on his United debut — the 18-year-old was originally named on the benchRashford scored on his debut
Source: MailOnline

The other British teams, Liverpool and Spurs safely made it into the next round.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Dreams - Chap Goh Mei

The full round moon on Chap Goh Mei morning 22 Feb 2016 Monday

A wierd fearful dream at night. The dream starts:

I was with two friends returning home after work. We climbed up a slope to reach what to be Jalan Bukit Ho Swee. Immediately we were confronted by two opposing groups of youths who were shouting and taunting each other. Most of them carried a weapon of a sort and we were right in the middle. A group of middle aged men were at the side. They shouted to us to leave but the two groups took it as a signal to start an attack!! We saw them converging towards us and we bolted, just in time to reach another hillock towards our home block. On reaching the top, a few youths nearly caught us from behind...their parang raised. Phew.....safely pulled up before they struck.

                               This was the road that my dream took place

In our own block of what seemed to be two-room flat, we did not dare to go back directly home. Instead, I made a detour by going up to another level and then walked down to our home. Along the corridor, gangs of rascals and gangsters loitered and caused problems along the way.

The dream ended when a note was slipped under the door of our locked house. The message was written on Chinese square paper. It warned us about the consequence of not joining the gangs. It was delivered by three youngsters who boldly sauntered away.......

This dream had the fear element of uncertainty and danger in an area where one is supposedly safe. Lawlessness will enbold people to act beyond rationale human limits as they would thought that they have the power over everyone.



Thursday, February 18, 2016

Lows of Man Utd Europa League

Midweek European competitions
Europa Cup
Another low for the Red Devils. Another extreme embarassment. How much lower will LvG bring to Utd before he leaves?? The last 32 first leg defeat at Midtjylland  against a supposedly minnow Danish team is something which shocked and stunned every Red Devil at how ordinary the team is now. David Moyes could have done better. How long will the bosses stick with LvG?? Next up is the FA cup 5th Rd against Shrewsbury, another 'lowly' team.....expect the unexpected once more.
LvG may want to use his catalogue of injuries as an excuse. Rooney injured after defeat at Sunderland. Now, David de Gea injured his knee during warmup at Midtyjlland. What a mess!! Isn't he totally embarrassed by this latest episode and hang on???

"A stony faced Louis van Gaal has a faraway look in his eyes, as though he’s not able to quite comprehend just how badly life at Manchester United is turning out for him. Credit to Midtjylland, who have just secured the biggest victory in their history. "

Player ratings

Romero 7 - In for De Gea minutes before kick-off. Made key saves, including a sublime one at full stretch. Little he could do to stop either goal.
Love 4 - Caught out of position several times on first United start and booked for poor tackle.
Smalling 5 - Nothing he could do to stop deflection off him for equaliser, but should have snuffed out danger earlier.
McNair 4 - Culpable along with rest of defence for equaliser, as he was dragged all over the place.
Blind 4 - Calm and composed at left-back but also all at sea for the equaliser.
Carrick 4 - Diligent enough on the ball but his weak pass ultimately led to Midtjylland’s leveller.
Herrera 3 - Lucky not to get early yellow for rash tackle. Sloppy on the ball. Subbed.
Lingard 5 - Booked. Provided the assist for United’s opener but faded thereafter. Cautioned late on.
Mata 4 - Wasted headed chance. Allowed Onuachu to score from edge of area before being subbed.
Memphis 6 - Early shot blocked. Made some decent runs and scored opener at second attempt.
Martial 5 - Caused defenders problems with his quick feet, but not enough of a threat throughout.
Subs: Schneiderlin 5 (Herrera, 72), Pereira 5 (Mata, 78)
Source : Mirror

Louis van Gaal looks forlorn. Source : Getty Images


Sunday, February 14, 2016

Highs and Lows of EPL Week 25

'It shall be difficult...,' LvG replied when asked about UCL qualification. He and Rooney also mentioned about qualification in other way eg winning Europa League. This came after a limp 2-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland were just too aggressive, they also said. It was the Black Cats first win over the Red Devils at Wearside since 1997!! See how far Man Utd had declined since SAF retired.
Image result for Man Utd vs Sunderland 2016
Martial scored the equaliser but Utd failed finally

Arsenal and Spurs enhanced their title hopes with wins over their nearest rivals. Danny Welbeck came back from injuries to score a last minute winner against Leicester at Emirates. Spurs also edged out Man City 2-1.

Midweek next will be the UCL and Europa League matches.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Highs and Lows of EPL Week 24

Chelsea vs Man Utd : Two elderly Dutchmen at the twilight of their career met in EPL; Gus Hindink vs LvG

Image result for Guus Hiddink and van Gaal

The Foxes should start to believe that they can win the PL after they rocked their nearest rival, Man City 3-1 at Etihad. In fact they were on the way to a clean sheet until Aguero late goal. It is now 6 points difference between them and 5 points ahead of second place Arsenal.
Now next week's match against Arsenal at Emirates will further prove the Foxes' ambitions.
Also Man City vs Spurs......

Spurs, on a hot spree are now in second spot after winning 1-0, their 4th consecutive win. They are now in second, 5 points behind the Foxes. They are also starting to believe in their title aspiration.

Diego Costa scored an extra time equaliser to deny the Red Devils at Stamford Bridge. LvG team is now going further and further behind the 4th position held by Man City at this moment.

Tottenham kept up the pressure on leaders Leicester with a 1-0 home win over Watford at the weekend
Spurs' narrow win over Watford 1-0

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Highs and Lows of EPL Week 23 FA Cup 4th Rd

This week marks the end of the winter window period for player's transfers. On the Red Devils front. it was very very quiet. LvG would be sticking on with the current lot.
The 4th round of the FA cup was held this weekend. Nearly all the Premier league clubs were through to the 5th round. Liverpool had to visit Upton Park for a replay after 0-0 draw against West Ham.
Utd easily beat Derby Co at Pride Park 3-1 to relieve the pressure on LvG who blasted the Press for 'sacking him the 4th time'
Goalscorers Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney celebrate after Mata added the third.     Blind celebrates with teammates after putting United back in front.
Man of  match : Anthony Martial for his two assists.

It was an open secret that Pep Guardiola would take over from Manuel Pelligrini at Manchester City at the end of this season. It is now official, announced 1st Feb 2016. Once again the Citizens went one up over the Red Devils as Guardiola is a highly prized catch! Who will it be after LvG?
Pelligrini knew that his days are numbered but kept his professional and dignified silence.


Source : nbc.com

Mid week matches:
It has been a good week for the top 5 except Arsenal who drew 0-0 with Soton at Emirates. Leicester stayed top with a 2-0 win over Liverpool. Player of the Season designate, Jamie Vardy scored a brace.
The Red Devils actually thrashed Stoke without their usual domination!! They also scored two in the first half, something which they have not done in many matched this season not since September.