We Shall Not Be Moved?

When arriving at Old Trafford on Sunday the general consensus amongst fans was that we could win this game, rather than the hope that we had the season before.

United had come into the game on the back of a 7-game winning streak in the league, the best form in England and heading the table by three points ahead of Chelsea - whom, in contrast to United's start had lost two league games already and by their set standards was very poor.

So United, written off by many, could move six points clear of Chelsea with victory and it had seemed that way after fourty-five minutes of football.

United looked dangerous, the movement of Giggs, Ronaldo, Rooney & Saha had troubled Chelsea's defence and the battling performances by Scholes & Carrick had silenced Chelsea's midfield of Lampard, Makelele and Ballack.

When United made the breakthrough on about the half an hour mark, we thought we'd go onto win it. Let's be honest, Chelsea were shite up until the break! Carrick's interception set Giggsy on his way, he found Wazza with a pass who in turn fed Saha through. Saha was faced by Terry & Carvalho and judging by his day in Parkhead wouldn't have surprised many by blazing it over or losing it to the defenders. But, he showed what had got him back from injury setback after setback. Showed what had forced United's most clinical goalscorer out of the club. That bouncebackability, he stood his ground and slotted the ball past a stretching Carvalho and Cudicini. 1-0 United and in control!

As I said, Chelsea were shite up until the break. United had more of the chances over the 90 minutes and rightly so missed a very good opportunity but Chelsea must be creditted for turning around a truely shit performance into a performance which got them away from OT without a third league defeat of the season. Robben's introduction meant Essien was pushed wide, and he troubled us. They scored from a set piece and from their goal, United again looked like the only team who would win it. We never though and that brings me to another point.

If United really want to win the league we need to sign one or two players in the transfer window. Our first eleven is as good as if not, better than Chelsea's, I can safely say that. What United lacked was a midfielder or striker to come on when we were under the cosh and put his foot in or fear the Chelsea defence. Fergie clearly hadn't intended on making any subs, he was forced to though through the worst circumstances - injuries to Ronaldo and Saha.

Signing a midfielder and striker in the window, would I think, see us winning the league. There have been names touted about; Hargreaves, Nani, Torres, Huntelaar, Darren Bent & Defoe to name a few.

Hargreaves and Torres/Huntelaar would be most United's fans preferred two and they would add something extra to United. Without the talent on the bench to come on and close down the midfield or stretch the opposition's defence United will drop needless points during games in the season just like we did on Sunday.

If we can get through until January without losing that slender three point lead or even increasing that we could then sign the players to see us through to the Summer and see us regain our trophy - without signings in January, Fergie's job and the player's will be made even harder. Injuries will surely set us back again and the youngsters will be forced to come in and do a job under intense scrutiny and pressure. Do we really want to squander our trophy for a third year running?

On to the good news though, Solskjaer and Park will return to training this week and United have looked good this year. Far better than any other English team, that's for sure. The slickness, speed, style and ferocity. Highest scorers in the league, tightest defence in the league. Surely a recipe for success?

Come next May, I really think Fergie will have his ninth Premiership title wrapped up.

"WE WANT OUR TROPHY BACK!"

Smudge Shows The Way

In the FA Cup clash versus Liverpool last season, a poor United display resulting in a 1-0 defeat was overshadowed by a horrific injury sustained by Alan Smith. In closing down a John Arne Riise free kick, Smudge sustained a dislocated ankle and a broken leg. In that same fixture Liverpool’s fans had thrown shit and piss at United fans, sang Munich songs and had then took it upon themselves to sing “John Arne Riise, I wanna know how you broke Smith’s leg?” and then pelt his ambulance with rocks and stones while trying to tip it over.

So on the eve of the Liverpool fixture this season it would have been understandable and enjoyable from a United fans perspective if Alan Smith had come out and unleashed a volley of abuse at Liverpool and their scummy support. Something along the lines of, "The goings-on that day repulsed me. The Kop sang a sick chant, the Bin Dippers players and their manager seemed more interested in winning a cup tie than worrying about my playing career, and the police and paramedics did nothing when a shower of yobs pelted my ambulance with stones. It's payback time for the scumbags."

Instead Smith chose to maintain the high standards of professionalism which Manchester United have been associated for so long, he chose the high road, he chose to save face and instead look on the bright side. He’s back playing football and he’s at the best club in the World. Pre-Liverpool he said this, "Sunday will be the first time I'll have been able to thank all the people at Liverpool who helped me. For every Liverpool person who did something like that with the ambulance there were a million others who wished me well."

Was this the same Alan Smith? The same Alan Smith who had been perceived as a bad lad for so long?

What a difference to Jose Moan-inho’s comments in Chelsea’s programme pre-Barcelona. Like Smith, Mourinho had mulled over horrific injuries. The injury in question the skull fracture to Petr Cech, sustained in the Premier League fixture with Reading. An injury as accidental as Alan Smith’s leg break.

Mourinho could have used his programme notes to say his reaction immediately after the Reading game was over the top, on second viewings Stephen Hunt’s actions were clearly accidental and Reading had given Petr Cech professional treatment, it was now time to put the whole situation away and move on.

Instead he insisted Hunt’s actions were purposeful, he referred to Hunt as a “hunter” and lied about the ambulance service saying it took thirty minutes to arrive when in fact records show it took seven minutes. Even having time to cool down, Mourinho remained close to his utterly stupid words and wanted the world to know that Hunt had injured his player on purpose and should be treated like Ben Thatcher.

So why then does he need to heap more pressure on to Reading, a newly promoted club who gave Cech quality treatment and have apologised since the incident? Why question the NHS, almost saying they intended to mistreat Chelsea? Has Mourinho taken the siege mentality too far? Is it time they took a leaf out of Manchester United’s book and were professional like reigning Champions?

Maybe they are hated for their unlimited wealth, but maybe even more so they are hated because their utter lack of respect, professionalism and honesty.When people think of Chelsea, they don’t think of the English Champions they think of this man, Mourinho, who has a big problem with the whole world it seems who he feels are going against his team. Yeah right!

When compared to Alan Smith though, Chelsea are shown in the true light. That a 25-year old can be so professional shows that Chelsea are not this big power they portray themselves to be they are something to be pitied and if/when Manchester United reclaim our trophy back off them in May it will only mean Chelsea’s professionalism will stoop to new lows.