The past week has been formidable in doing a number of things for me personally as a fan, and perhaps the same for you too. First, it was nice to hear the comforting words (albeit perhaps rose tinted) from David Gill about our currently financial predicament. And then there is the resurgence of form from Nani and the ongoing world-class showings of Wayne. Coupled with a cup final on the horizon with a win over the noisy-neighbours and a win over one of our closest title rivals, could it get sweeter? Well yes, the news over the wire is Chelsea tied Hull!

United 3 - City 1

It was a game that had the chance of bellowing over into a media frenzy with a bit of football on the side. Luckily for us, we got to see some football. The last three match-ups between the Manchester rivals have been quite excellent. The first was a terrific late gasp winner from new signing Michael Owen which I watched over 20 times in slow-mo. The next was a 2-1 win with an old friend Carlos Tevez, who looks more and more like Rambo with fangs. And finally a terrific performance that stamped our authority and also had a small tad of last minute drama (when really, it didn’t deserver it, as Untied were again the better team).

The match was a good one, with Scholes putting in a nice drive into the corner at a perfect time in the game. Not too early, and not right at the stroke of half-time. Carrick tied the scoring with a trademark “I’ll put it in the corner shall I?” pass or shot into the corner. Then that same little scurrying Argen-amian devil scored a bundled attempt to volley, or as some pundits wanted to believe “a great back-heel”, yea right, and I really meant to fall over when I pirouetted the other night.

It all ended with a nice cross from Giggs and a neat unmarked header past the failing Given, who can take heart in that he basically single-handedly kept them in the second tie regardless of this result. It was nice to shut up City for at least another month, until we go for another short bus ride to the stadium and have to watch that silly blue moon like some Michael J. Fox tribute.

Arsenal 1 - United 3

Now how is that for a score line? I had the score down as a 1-1 tie in my I Know The Score until the night before. After seeing Wenger resort to foolish ribbing of Villa naming them a “long ball team”, unless he meant his own French Lawn Bowling Team, I have no idea what he meant. That was the sign of man grasping at straws, and the 0-0 score line made me wonder about their form.

And indeed, it was time for the trademark Arsenal double-back-flop that they always perform about halfway through the business-end of the season in true “I will be great one day, but I’m only decent right now” mentality. Many papers had headlines referring to the “boys against men” and “girls versus men” comparisons. Let’s not bring schoolboy insults into the avenue of sports, but I can see their reasoning’s behind the jibe.

Wenger can go on and on about potential, but I saw a 24-year-old and a 22-year-old single-handedly rip his team to shreds. Nani was excellent, and made Clichy look like a slow Ryan Giggs (an old man joke, that just hasn’t worked with Giggs this season…). That one move he did to beat the double marking and chip Almunia was exquisite, and the millions upon millions of United fans watching will be putting their rolling eyes back in place when they saw his name ahead of Valencia.

The second goal was master-class between the two, and gave me shivers down my spine as I had flashbacks of another Portguse winger performing the same one-two with Rooney at the Emirates last season. It was scintillating and perhaps the most important fact was that in the key moment Nani released the perfect pass, something that we haven’t seen enough of from the slick-footed might-be-great.

The final goal from United was a great ball from Michael Carrick that left the Arsenal defensive line looking like old-dears in beach chairs down Portsmouth way and instead of passing or fluffing the boy scored! It was delight and astonishment for all of us. The Arsenal goal was even a fluke, where Jonny Evans who played excellent all game made a small error and took the ball from a had-it-covered Van Der Sar.

Fabregas to Barcelona in summer? I’d bet on it. Maybe Vidic can be his pal on the bench.

In the News

Yes, Terry may have cheated on his wife. Strip him of his captaincy and all that.

Rio wants to miss the Villa final. That’s his choice I guess. Yet, with all the ravages to our defense, doesn’t Ferguson need to give him a jab with the old hairdryer? Or boot?

Rooney wants to break 30 goals. Alright then, let’s have a go. Who was that smart man saying he could win European Player of the Year? Oh yes, me. I also remember saying this would be his most prolific year yet, despite his mate leaving. Wow, I’m good.

CHELSEA TIED HULL 1-1 AT THE KC STADIUM. Now we just need Arsenal to do another trademark move: recover from a dip in form when it seems all but lost for their title ambitions.

Next Week

Well, the game in mid-week for Chelsea has really set us up for a treat. If Wenger can get some steel in that midfield to combat Lampard and Co. then perhaps we have a chance of watching United perch back up where they belong. There is a definite chance that it will end in a goal scoring tie, but I’m not about to put any money on that match.

Either Arsenal show up invigorated and deliver, or they don’t. But I guess we could say that about all 38 games over the season. United will surely make up the goal difference against a woeful Portsmouth, as if it ends in a fortuitous result such as a draw or loss for Chelsea, we only have to win, and by 3-0 if they tie. Well, there you have it then; we’ll win 3-0.

The past two weeks have brought some average results all in all. The defense has remained fragile, despite the return of Wes Brown and Jonny Evans. There has been good and bad news on the injury front, which seems to change daily. The financial issues affecting United seemed dire, although positive news has just arrived.

Birmingham 1 - United 1

This would have been a shock results only a few years ago (or perhaps even months), but now with the big pockets that Birmingham have adopted and the shrewd management skills of another Alex, in McLeish. The first Birmingham manager to receive Manager of the Month (December 2009), has broke the record for nine consecutive games with the same starting eleven, and a 12-game unbeaten run that is also a club record in the top flight.

It would appear that everything is going well for the Birmingham contingent. McLeish enjoyed glory days under Sir Alex at Aberdeen, and they respect each other. The game in itself was relatively un-moving. The Reds played well in the first half, but could not put a host of chances away. Joe Hart did well to deny the Devils, but against the run of play Jerome scored a poachers goal.

It took an own goal after some great wing-play by Patrice Evra, who has been in exceptional form over January, usually wearing the captains arm-band. The final score came somewhat fortunately to United overall, as Birmingham had opportunities in the second half that Kuszczak saved neatly.

United 3 - Burnley 0

The score line would make you believe that United ran somewhat rampant through a dishevled Burnley. Yet, despite losing Coyle to Bolton, Burnley did not loose any of the fight that has been instilled in them. Nor have they lost the nice pass and move game that has got them into the Premier League. They are perhaps the best footballing club out of the three new-comers, and have been punished or rewarded for it this season.

It has to be said Burnley squandered chances, most notably a terrible miscue by Nugent. Nice interplay from Nani (oh my!) to Rooney, with Rooney slipping in an inch perfect pass for Berbatov, who put in the ball from a tight angle. The second came from a spilled Berbatov shot, to which Rooney (who looked like he had made a poor decision by taking a touch) wiggled to put a shot into the bottom corner. Diouf scored a nice first goal for the club, by heading over the on-rushing Jensen in the dying moments.

Manchester City 2 - United 1

All the headlines were about Tevez wanting to score against United, although it seems strange as he did choose to leave United, and now he acts all sour. The funny part to all of it is he seems less enthused to celebrate with his teammates and fans, and more involved in “giving it to Gary Neville” or Ferguson, or United fans. I think its obvious he knows he’s at a second best, and where he wants to be.

United clearly dominated the opening stages and a nice ball from Valencia was turned in by Giggs. City was awarded a cheap penalty after Rafael deemed to tug on Bellamy’s shirt in the box. It was quite obviously outside of the box, and then Bellamy (probably noticing he had now reached inside the box) fell over. It was a dive, but the initial was a foul so a free kick should have been awarded. Graham Poll agrees.

The equalizer came after some terrible defending whereas Tevez was left relatively unmarked. A poachers goal for the currently in-form Argentinean. He felt the need to run over to the United bench and look like Prince Charles, but purposively it was a shout-out to some Argentinean cartoon character. Why does this guy have soothers and cartoon characters in his repertoire? We all have kids, but come on!

In my opinion Gary Neville didn’t say anything out of the ordinary; he just stuck by Ferguson’s decision that Tevez was too much money. This is something everyone agreed with, including the media. Just because City has to pay exorbitant amounts of money as they have no history to pull for players, is there problem. It became an inflated market. I mean, Lescot went for 24 million. What a joke! Neville is right, Carlos, get over it. He isn’t a boot-licker or a moron. I’ve had enough of this Argentinean; can someone please shut him up? I mean, its always a translation, the guys been here 4 years and still can’t speak English. Move on!

In the News - Financial Crisis at United

So, I can’t escape it. A few blogs ago I wrote about the Asian consortium that was going to come and buy from the Glazers. Purposively they had a cash deal of over 1.2B. I for one thought with all the issues that they would sell, take their tidy £250M profit and move on to say a women’s volleyball team or something. I was wrong, they came back with a “not for sale” sign (do they make those?), and since that moment we have heard nothing but the plunging debt surrounding our beloved club.

It appears however that, at least in most camps, this news is rather one-sided. In a world where reporting on death rather than birth is the norm, its hardly surprising that the facts that are bore to life are usually ones that bare no resemblance to the whole story. The truth of the matter is that United was, is, and will be a great sporting franchise, in fact the #1 in the world. It has global recognition that has been built over a long period of success (take note City).

The news about all the selling of Old Trafford (something that will likely happen to all stadiums in the coming decades, look at Newcastle, it makes good business sense people!), or at least the naming rights, and Carrington. Selling Carrington would be a little bit silly, as I can’t see the place selling for more than 80M at most. The smartest thing for the Glazers to do (and they are obviously shrewd business men despite what we would like to assume), would be to refinance the senior lenders and pay them off. Then via an agreement they will be able to pay down their initial and terrible “in leiu” or payment in kind interest loans.

Much like refinancing your credit card, mortgage, line of credit, Manchester united gear loans, and putting them into one large loan; that is what they have done. They just raised £503M which refinances almost all of the £508M debt. The other 200M debt would be paid via profit payments. The interest rates are currently at 14.25 per cent and the PIK loan has raised from £138M to £202M since 2006 (don’t work out what it would be in 2020, it’ll kill you).

What does this mean? Mainly that instead of paying approximately 81M per year in interest payments, United will be paying around £45M, lessening to £41M by 2017. That is when the bonds mature and pay out to the banks that have financed the refinance.

In the end, rest assured that Manchester United is a great business. Its not as if it will be like a Leeds and loose the hundreds of millions of fans, merchandise, TV backing, and global appeal over a year or two. That kind of decline would take decades, and there isn’t an analyst out there that won’t agree that on paper, once the lending situation and global economy climbs, United is the best sports franchise to own. That is why the Glazers will fight tooth and nail to keep it.

Sales grew by 10%, with media revenue increasing to £99.7M, commercial to £70M (from £64M). And despite all the cold climate recession bound wallets, match day revenue is up by 9% from 108.8 to 101.5M.

I hope you’ve read this and have some qualms put down. Another note is that a separate £75M credit line has been raised for Ferguson to buy. So if you were thinking that it was desperate times and desperate measures, the old man does have a pocket to delve into; but just like the other experienced managers of the top teams, very little spending will occur in January.

So here I am, sitting at home during my nice Christmas holidays, watching United thoroughly move up a gear. I’m thinking about how nice it’ll be to comment about our prodigious move ominously into the second leg of the season; the one we always do. Then the shocker happens, and it’s all doom and gloom in the forums and media.

Well let’s put it into perspective. In the EPL we won two (and might I add I predicted the 3-1 expertly, and of course I wasn’t expecting such an emphatic spanking to Wigan, nor the reverse-spank from Leeds), and we are out of the FA Cup.

The cup is half-full: We are out of a cup that may give us more injuries, the last thing we need right now; allowing us to focus on the Champions League and EPL (to a lesser extent retaining the League Cup).

The cup is half-empty: We need more players; our formations aren’t working; our strikers need new boots; our defense is leaky.

Let’s focus on the positives, shall we.

Hull 1 - United 3

Well, the score-line is somewhat flattering all in all. Rooney helped with that quite a lot, I’d have to say. He has got his boots somewhat re-aligned (ahem, if I talk without the foreshadowing headlights)… The scored one and setup the other 3, with a horrible back-pass. Valencia was once again a torrent of speed and tricks on the wing, providing Rooney with his opener.

The own-goal probably goes down to both Park and Rooney as it was pressure personified. Rooney with a nice pass, and Park rushing in for the tap in. The last goal was a superb pass by Rooney through the Hull defense for Berbatov to tap home. Somewhere in between all that was a Fagan penalty, but who really cares.

As I said, no Bullard, no Bullocks.

United 5 - Wigan 0

Well, de-ja-vu for all of us then? Kirkland must be sick with all this 10-0 over two lark. I’m not sure if he really hurt his back, or just thought to hell with this, let Pollitt get scored on for fun. And that’s really how it went over the course of the game.

Rooney missed a wonder-goal with a nutmeg, turn, curler, off-the-post type move. His goal was a tip past Kirkland from a Rafael cross. The second was a fantastic move with Berbatov throwing out a wonderful outside boot pass, to which the Ecuadorian cut his pass back to Carrick who did his usually side footed finish.

The third was a nice goal from Rafael, working a driven shot to the corner, giving his thumbs to his twin. (I noticed Fabio got praise for a goal in the Wigan game from the commentators, hmm that is the second time now. Tit-for-tat and all that.) The next a cross from Valencia, for a toe-poke finish by the Bulgarian. The final was a well deserved goal for Valencia, with a nice pass from Rooney and lobbed finish.

Two points to the good, like a horned Jackson, the Blues can see the devil in the mirror.

United 0 - Leeds 1

And yes. A defeat in the FA Cup.

Beckford scored a goal that Tomas should have saved. He never should have come out when Brown was obviously catching him. Yet that is pretty much nout, as United should have scored and it was terrible finishing from all areas of the park.

As Ferguson said, it was a shocking performance, and Phelan said it was unacceptable. I agree with both of them, and more importantly the words from Ferguson about Wednesdays match. Those young guns and members of the “can’t shoot a elephant with a shotgun” club should warm their arses on the bench. Especially the young four-tet who were mostly removed over the 60-80 minute marks.

Obertan needs to pass and use his pace on the wings; not cut inside. Welbeck should be played either as a striker or not. Anderson battled well, but thinks he has the boots of Scholes or Carrick for the pass, and just doesn’t. And Gibson scored a few volleys and now thinks he is Ol’ Deadeye.

In the News

Rooney is going to be hassled by yet another La Liga club. Well, really there is only two, so you guess it. The old Transfer foe is purposively massing a 65M pound scoop for the boy-wonder. Come on! That’s not going to work, some other “can’t find an article worth publishing” journalist already told us Barca has 85M.

I’d pick Barca over Real any-day. I mean, who wants to go missing under all that hairspray and fake-tan? I think the phrase “wouldn’t sell that mob a virus” is still true. I mean, yes we let Ronaldo go, but he wanted to and the money was great.

Money being great is not enough, when you have just sold your prized asset. The Glazers are putting together some interest-saving loan deal with the banks, and made 85M cash profit after paying their loans last year. Why oh why do we keep hearing crisis this crisis that? We’re not Portsmouth, their proof is in their pudding.

Next Week

So on Wednesday as alluded to we face City in a cup derby. It probably received less hype (and perhaps deservedly so) than the Leeds clash. I would expect a resounding response from the faithful, or the hairdryer will be at High Heat come sundown.

Here’s to a better report come next week!