City Gutted, Gunners Next

Save the date: 28/2/10, Wembley. That's when United will add another piece of silverware to their overcrowded cabinet. This after Wayne Rooney clinched a late winner in an enthralling two-legged last four tie with their hated city neighbors. The future is looking rosy, if not Red. Of course it went off with City. It always does.

Heads up Villa. We're gonna do ya. But with the Prem and European fixtures fast approaching, the Reds' celebrations will have to be contained. And no fixture looms larger than this weekend's trip to the Emerites, where the hit and miss Gunners will have to show what they're made of.

City Blues Turn Red




Nani thinks United's 4-0 Hull City victory has put the Reds in the right frame of mind for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi with the hated Citizens. Especially given Rooney's recent form, nodding to the striker's 4 goal, one man demolishon crew mentality.

Meanwhile, Wellbeck is on loan to Preston North End for the rest of the season. That may well be good for him, given his recent bench-riding and lackluster starts and stops.

For now United's top of the Prem, with Arsenal looming on the horizon. The plot should thicken over the next month. By March, we'll know who's who. My money's on United, natch.

Go Fletch

Reds Face
Burnely Minus
Star Midfielder




Sad really. The Blues were supposed to lift our spirits. But only left us, well, you know. Fletcher's sending off didn't help. Stupid trip on his part. But a second yellow? Hardly. "Saturday was disappointing because I was constantly being fouled and when I said something the ref said to me it is a man's game," he told MEN Sport.

Sir Alex was none too pleased. But then he hasn't had much to gloat about lately. Leeds did 'em good. That's the one that will sting the longest. Both in pride, and pounds.

When things go
Pear Shaped...



You go to Birmingham. It beats Leeds. But more on that gutting later. The upside of the holiday fixture cluster is that the Reds are trailing Chelski in the EPL standings by a mere two points. Perfect timing, as most of their starting prima ballerinas depart for the African Cup of Nations. Enjoy it while you can. We'll do 'em good soon enough.

Birmingham a go
B-City are "extremely confident" Saturday's St. Andrew's match will go on, despite arctic conditions in the Midlands. The club's official website goes on to say: "There is nothing to prevent this match from taking place, at present." Except fear that is. The Blues are middling in the mire. How did they even reach that summit? And whom have they dismantled en route? Absolutely no one.

We all hate Leeds scum
Why them? Why now? WTF? "Well I didn't expect that, I must admit" bitched a deflated Sir Alex in the post-mortem press conference. That, after a performance that lacked determination and grit to their lowly, yet despised rivals of old, in a passionate FA 3rd Round Cup tie? Oi ya Leeds faithful. Shut it. We were battered then fried. And that's that.

Spare us the romantic gushing of yesteryear
Despite the supposed inert desire associated with ‘the oldest Cup competition in the world®’, the Red United faced a collection of hacks two divisions beneath them; 42 places below (that’s right, I counted). From Yorkshire. At OldTrafford. In January. And lost.

There are no words.