bahan bacaan:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-2561091,00.html
The Times, January 23, 2007
Late goals put United’s stamina under the microscope
by Oliver Kay:
The first doubts about Manchester United’s powers of
endurance in the Barclays Premiership title race were
raised by their dramatic defeat at the Emirates
Stadium on Sunday, but to listen to the noises from
the victorious Arsenal camp yesterday, Arsène Wenger
believes that there is no doubt about it.
"At half-time the coach [Wenger] told us to keep
concentrating and keep going because Manchester would
run out of steam in the last 20 minutes," Mathieu
Flamini, the Arsenal midfield player, said as he
reflected on the late goals from Robin van Persie and
Thierry Henry that breathed new life into the title
race. "He insisted, 'They’re never the same after 70
minutes.' And once again he was right."
Is Wenger really right? Sir Alex Ferguson suggested
otherwise on Sunday evening, expressing surprise at
the unexpected late twist that cost United the chance
to move nine points clear of Chelsea at the top of the
table. "If we get into that winning position again, we
won’t be making mistakes like that, that’s for
sure," Ferguson said. "Maybe the experience of losing
so late will be good for us."
But this was not the first time United have dropped
points this season after fading in the closing stages
of a match. Their three Premiership defeats, all by
one goal, have come from late goals — Emmanuel
Adebayor in the 86th minute for Arsenal at Old
Trafford, Nigel Reo-Coker in the 73rd minute for West
Ham United last month and now Van Persie and Henry in
the 83rd and 90th minutes on Sunday. Throw in the late
winners scored against United in the Champions League
by FC Copenhagen (73rd minute) and Celtic (81st) and
the equalisers scored by Chelsea (69th) and Newcastle
United (74th) in the Premiership and the pattern
becomes disturbing.
The reverse was once true of United, whose defining
moment in the past decade came with the late goals by
Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that brought
victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League
final in 1999. Nowadays the boot is usually on the
other foot.
It cannot be said with certainty whether this is a
question of concentration, tactics or, as Flamini
seemed to imply, tired legs among United’s older
players. Ferguson would prefer to talk of inexperience
among the youngsters in his team, but only in the hope
that no one has noticed that his starting XI on Sunday
included five players over 30 (Champions League
winners all) and only two (Wayne Rooney and Cristiano
Ronaldo) under 25. The average age of Arsenal’ s
starting line-up was almost four years younger.
If Arsenal represent the future, though, United are
the here and now. Whatever their difficulties this
season, they have been by far the most impressive team
in the Premiership and the title remains theirs to
lose. Difficult away assigments against Tottenham
Hotspur, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Chelsea, Everton and
Manchester City represent significant hurdles, but the
other side of that coin is that their seven remaining
home matches in the Premiership look winnable.
"Both teams [United and Chelsea] will drop points in
the run-in," Ferguson said. "It’s the name of the
game. It happens. How we cope is the measure of us.
It’s only true champions who come out of that
disappointment and show their true worth. I will be
expecting us to do that."
But the weekend’s results, with Chelsea losing 2-0
at Anfield, mean that Liverpool and Arsenal cannot be
dismissed from contention. "All the players had a talk
after losing at Sheffield United [on December 30] and
said that something had to change with our mentality
and we had to be stronger in every part of our game,"
Francesc Fàbregas, the Arsenal midfield player, said.
"Since then we have changed and moved on. No one can
stop us if we play like we are doing."
The battle for honours:
The big four are the top four, but which of the
quartet have a realistic chance of winning the
Premiership after a weekend in which Arsenal and
Liverpool narrowed the gaps?
Manchester United:
Key fixtures: Blackburn Rovers (h), Liverpool (a),
Chelsea (a), Manchester City (a), Tottenham Hotspur
(a)
Outlook: The whole team, apart from Wayne Rooney, are
playing close to their best. They must avoid injuries
Key man: Rooney. Could ease his side to the title with
a return to form
Prediction: Champions
Chelsea:
Key fixtures: Manchester United (h), Bolton Wanderers
(h), West Ham United (a), Newcastle United (a),
Arsenal (a)
Outlook: Below their best, hindered by injuries. Still
strong title contenders
Key man: Frank Lampard. In the absence of John Terry,
José Mourinho will rely on Lampard in the run-in
Prediction: Second
Liverpool:
Key fixtures: Manchester United (h), Arsenal (h),
Everton (h), Newcastle United (a), Reading (a)
Outlook: Challenge was over by October but they have
gained some respectability. Second is not impossible
Key man: Steven Gerrard. Has formed a fine partnership
with Xabi Alonso and is at the peak of his powers
Prediction: Fourth
Arsenal:
Key fixtures: Chelsea (h), Bolton Wanderers (h),
Liverpool (a), Newcastle United (a), Tottenham Hotspur
(a)
Outlook: Are starting to convert the many good chances
they create. No chance of title, though
Key man: Emmanuel Adebayor. The powerful striker’s
importance has increased with Robin van Persie’s
injury
Prediction: Third
*hehehe...diprediksi cuma nomor 4 nih....biarin...*
-omar-
"England's most decorated club picks up another trophy" Martin Tyler, FA Cup
Final, 13 May 2006
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