Bayern Munich 0 - 0 United (7-6pens)

van der Sar;

Fletcher, Ferdinand (Cathcart 69), Evans, Evra;

Gibson, (Valencia 63), Scholes, Giggs, Nani;

Owen (Rooney 78), Berbatov (Anderson 78)

United lost the 'massive' Audi Cup final to Byern on penalties. It wasn't the best of matches and United never really got going.

Berbatov managed to hit the bar but so did Bayern Munich. Valencia looked promising and Owen gave me a heck of a fright when he ended on the ground clutching his feet in pain. In the end Evra and Evans missed the penalties while Van der Sar could only save one and hence the Audi Cup was handed to Bayern.

I won't really give too much attention to today's performance since Fergie didn't field the best team from the start and the lads were obviously tired after yesterday's match, but then again, so were Bayern! Anyway we do need to improve if we want to emulate and better last year's results.

United 2 - 1 Boca Juniors

Kuszczak;

O'Shea, Cathcart, Brown (Ferdinand 37), Fabio (Evra 77);

Valencia (Nani 68), Anderson (Fletcher 77), Carrick (Scholes 77), Park (Giggs 68);

Rooney, Macheda (Berbatov 68)

In my last blog I claimed that Anderson will never score and here I am looking like a complete jackass once again. Anderson scored his first goal in a United shirt and it was an absolute beauty! New boy Valencia put in an excellent performance and scored in the process. If he plays like he did today I expect him to bag at least 10 goals during the course of the season. I was highly impressed by Fabio, Antonio and debut boy Cathcart. Anderson and Carrick ran the show in midfield while Macheda and Rooney didn't have the best of games. This match supports my opinion that Macheda is not yet ready to face the 'big' teams. Kuszczak showed that he's a good goalie but cannot kick a ball without sending it in the side stands while Wes Brown got injured. I hope it's nothing too serious.

The first half was a joy to watch but the second half was a different story. United never really reached the level and tempo of the first 45 minutes. Maybe the long journey from Asia has had it's effects on the players because some looked exhausted after the break.

All in all it was a good match were we got to play against a decent team rather than the poor teams we played in Asia. United will play the Audi Cup final tomorrow vs either Milan or Byern. It's just a friendly tournament but it's a great chance to start the season with a moral boosting tournament win and prove to all the doubters that there is life after Ronaldo.

Gangzhou 2 - 8 United

Van der Sar (Foster, 45);

Fabio, Evans, Ferdinand (Brown, 59), Evra;

Nani, Scholes (Anderson, 59), Fletcher (Giggs, 59), Tosic (Park, 59);

Berbatov (Gibson, 70), Owen (Rooney, 45).

The final game of the Asia Tour proved to be a really entertaining match. United’s 8 goals were scored by Giggs who scored a hat trick, Owen who scored 2 while Nani, Tosic and Berbatov scored the rest. United scored some amazing goals, and I’m obviously happy with the result but I’m disappointed with the goals we conceded.

Berbatov looked very sharp and made some mouth watering passes, two delightful assists and scored a good goal. Nani had another excellent game; I said it time and time again, he’ll shine this season. Owen scored a brace with the second being an absolute eye pleaser and Giggs came off the bench to score a hat trick. Van der Sar wasn’t troubled but our future number 1, Foster, conceded two goals and was at fault for the first one. Rooney had a frustrating match while Anderson hit the woodwork and fired wide from an ideal position. He’ll never score.

I’m certainly delighted today with the result but winning a match against a team I can hardly pronounce is not such a massive achievement. It was a good warm up to the Audi cup though!

FC Seoul 2 - 3 United

Kuszczak (Van der Sar 46);
O'Shea, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra (Fabio 74);
Fletcher (Gibson 46), Anderson (Nani 61), Carrick (Park 74), Giggs (Scholes 61);
Rooney (Berbatov 61), Macheda (Owen 61).

United won their 3rd preseason game. I didn't watch the match since I was on my way back to Gozo from my work place in Valletta. Macheda(who made me look like a complete jackass after scoring yet another goal(see what I wrote in my previous blog)), Rooney and an excellent header by Berbatov sealed the issue.

The extract below is from Republik of Mancunia...

Federico Macheda equalised for United at 2-2 in today’s win over FC Seoul. He took the ball around the goalkeeper brilliantly before slotting it in to the back of the net.

Sir Alex Ferguson was very pleased with the goal and reckons that Macheda will be in our first team group of strikers this season.

“The goal Macheda scored was excellent,” said Ferguson. “The lad has a real chance. His movement is very good and he does well when he gets onto the shoulder of the last defender. He took his goal very well. It’s pleasing to see our strikers scoring – obviously the main players are Rooney, Berbatov and Owen and I’m very comfortable with that. But if Macheda continues his progress then it gives me a big advantage. An extra player like that will do us the world of good.”

Please Kiko, keep making me feel like a complete idiot and prove me wrong :)

MalaysiaXI 0 - 2 United

Foster (Kuszczak 46);

Neville (O’Shea 62), Brown, J.Evans (Ferdinand 62), Fabio (Evra 58);

Fletcher (Anderson 69), Carrick (Gibson 70), Giggs (Scholes 69), Tosic (Nani 62);

Owen (Berbatov 62), Macheda (Rooney 67).

Macheda and Owen scored the two goals that decided this match. Macheda's goal was the result of a good buildup and an excellent assist by Fletcher. Meanwhile Owen scored his second goal in two matches.

It was a satisfactory effort from the boys today. Some were poor while others tried and managed to impress. Macheda was, in my opinion, disapointing. Sometimes I doubt whether he's ready to step from the reserves level up to the first team level this year. He's just 18 and although he already scored a couple of senior goals, two of which were priceless, I'm not too sure if he could keep scoring such goals regularly this season. I'm not even sure whether he can handle the EPL defences let alone score! I hope I'm proved wrong by the Italian.

The game was boring, very boring. I may have found it boring either because United played like crap for most of the match or because I watched this match with an Asian commentary, on my computer monitor. Anyway, 3 minutes into the second half I fell fast asleep and was only woken up by the crowd roar when Rooney entered the pitch. By then there was Nani, Berbatov and a couple of other first teamers playing and that's when the match ignited. Nani was, once again, great. He tried and tried, managed to deliver a couple of decent crosses and passed the ball inteligently. Rooney forgot that this was just a preseason friendly and managed to engage in an argument with the Malaysian keeper and even Nani. Wayne was also unlucky not to score.

Owen moved well and scored a goal while Berbatov passed the ball majestically at times and spurned a couple of decent chances in front of goal. Brown at the back was a rock and so was Evans. Anderson could have scored his first Man Utd goal but managed to hit the ball wide barely 6m away from the goal line. The lads do need to improve if they want to beat Seoul who are much better than the team we faced today...

Malaysia XI 2 - 3 United

United won the first game of the preseason tour and Owen scored on his debut. The other scorers were Rooney and Nani.

I was highly impressed by Nani. I have already stressed out on previous posts that this is the season for him to shine. Berbatov wasn't that bad either, he could have scored a wonder goal if it wasn't for an excellent save from the Malaysia keeper.

Macheda, Fabio, Evra and Foster disappointed me and Gibson didn't impress me either. These are still early times and the lads are obviously a bit rusty but I expect more concentration from our future number 1 as well as our only left back. Our next game is next Monday...

Meanwhile since my last blog United bought a 21 year old striker Diouf, sold Manucho and Campbell.

United buy Obertan

I never heard of this guy so I thought I copy some information about the player and paste it on this blog...

Gabriel Obertan

Date of birth 26 February 1989 (1989-02-26) (age 20)
Place of birth Pantin, France
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Winger


Youth career
1997–2002 Paris-Pantin
2002–2003 Paris
2003–2004 Paris-Saint Germain
2004–2005 INF Clairefontaine
2005–2006 Bordeaux

Senior career1 Years Club Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Bordeaux 54 (3) 2009 → Lorient (loan) 15 (1)

Valencia & Owen Join United

Antonio Valencia and Micheal Owen joined United this week. The former’s arrival was imminent but the latter’s shocked the footballing world.

I never really followed Wigan hence I can't give my verdict on Antonio but from the videos I have seen on YouTube he seems to be a decent player. While this signing won't get Real Madrid envious I certainly believe that this player’s pace combined with a capability to find the back of the net will help United in attack. He’s definitely no match to Ronaldo but think I he’ll certainly do his best to help the United fans forget Cristiano quickly. I expect Antonio to bag at least 10 goals this season given the fact that he managed to score 6 with Wigan during season 08-09.

The other signing, a jaw dropping one in the form of Micheal Owen, was signed for free. I thing it’s a win-win situation for United. Micheal will only be paid per appearance and he didn’t cost United a single quid. My gut feeling is that he’ll do well unless another injury dampens his season. Owen scored 10 goals last season for Newcastle and a total of 30 goals in 76 appearances during his stint at StJames Park. His career goal ratio is roughly a goal per two matches. While this signing may have been laughable for some people I believe Owen, just like Larsson 2 seasons ago, will prove to be a good signing and if he won’t there won’t be any regrets for spending silly amounts of money. I just hope Owen revives his career at Old Trafford for United’s and England’s sake. With the World Cup looming large Owen has a chance to get back in the England squad and get used to Wayne’s style of play.

Meanwhile United have also bought another Italian teenager. His name is Masacci and he’s 16 years old. I don’t really like Italians and now we have 3 or 4 but in Fergie I trust! Meanwhile Possebon has been loaned to Braga for a year...All the best!