May 2012 - The Seasons End

This is the final month of the 2012 season, which sees us play only two fixtures. We have the final league game of the season away to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Our other match is now the most important match of the season, with us travelling to the Allianz-Arena in Munchen, to take on Ajax in the Champions Cup Final.

Angelo Balanta has recovered from his broken arm slightly earlier than expected, but not soon enough for the first match. Due to a lack of match fitness he will probably make the bench for the Champions Cup final. Martin Stranzl stubbed a toe in training, making him unavailable for the league match. At best he would have been a bench warmer in these matches anyhow.

Manchester United (A) Premier League

We travel to Old Trafford, finding ourselves as underdogs for this match. I'm hoping that we can find some inspiration for this final match, to put an end to a run of poor league results, and show some real pride.

The match started with United pushing us back, forcing us to defend, and we were finding it difficult to put passes together. In the 12th minute Lung jr had to make a good save to keep United out, from a shot that shouldn't have been allowed as it was at least a yard offside. After this scare, we seemed to settle, and start passing a bit better, but still not convincing. In the 19th minute however we finally managed to put together a great series of passes, with Scocco playing Fatih Yucel into the area, allowing him to get around the keeper and put the ball in the net. United were angry, feeling it was offside, but as the pass was made he was being played onside by 4 players, one at least 2 yards ahead of him. Within seconds of the restart Scocco managed to intercept a pass, and just as he was getting clear of Ferdinand to try and get a run on goal, he was fouled, resulting in a yellow card, which looked somewhat like frustration boiling over. We were looking much more assured on the ball after going ahead. In the 25th minute from a corner, Lung jr had to make another solid save to deny United again. In the 32nd minute United equalised, but in slightly odd circumstances. Just before, United had put the ball out, to allow a player to be treated. Instead of throwing the ball straight for a goal kick as should happen, we'd tried to go on the attack, which broke down, with a lucky bounce going straight to Rooney on the left wing, allowing him to counter attack, and he centred the ball into the area, making for an easy goal. It's a bit disappointing, because if this bug wasn't there, we'd not have conceded in this fashion. In the 39th minute Rooney thought he'd scored, and was upset when he was given offside, which he clearly was by at least 2 yards. It was a bit worrying how often United were able to work opportunities, and some of our clearances were very poor. The half finished with the scores level at 1-1.

I was fairly pleased with how we'd played, because the pace that United possess is very dangerous. I told the players that they can win this before sending them back out. The match was fairly even at the restart with opportunities hard to come by. In the 56th minute Lung jr had to make a good save from a long shot. In the 77th minute Lung jr had to make another save from yet another shot, where offside should have been given. In the 84th minute Grenier was dubiously given as committing a foul in the United box, which was annoying, as the ball he'd won, dropped to Buzsaky, which he hammered home. In the 86th minute a piece of magic happened, with Buzsaky lobbing the ball over the defence for Grenier to run onto in the right side of the area. The keeper rushed out for it, but Grenier got to it quicker and headed it over into the centre of the area, where Fatih Yucel was waiting to gratefully head it home to give us the lead. The United players were livid, believing that there was an offside, leading to Darren Fletcher receiving a yellow card. We managed to control the ball for most of the remaining time, although right at the end United gave us a scare, but we managed to hold on to secure a rare 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.

I was pleased with the way the players had performed in this match. It seems they were determined to gain revenge for the defeat that was inflicted upon at Loftus Road back in the December. Both our goals had been superb, but the buildup play in the 2nd was superb. This was a good battling performance, and one that the players can be proud of.  Apparently Mancini, the United manager was angry about the first goal, believing it was offside, which it most definitely wasn't, so he should get a nice warning from the FA. This concludes the league season, leaving us just the single match left to play.

Result: 2-1

Ajax (N) Champions Cup Final

We travel to Munchen and the Allianz-Arena to take on Ajax, a match for which we are marginal favourites. I feel confident that the players will be up for this, as they'll be wanting to do this for the fans. I find it bizarre that in the middle of May the temperature for this match in Germany can be as low as 5 degrees Celcuis with drizzle.

The match started as a real midfield battle with both sides restricted to long shots early on. We were looking the more dangerous team. In the 20th minute we finally created a good chance with Grenier getting his head to a cross, only to see the keeper save it. We continued to push forward, creating a few more shots. In the 33rd minute Fatih Yucel got free of the defence only to make a rather limp shot giving the keeper an easy save. In the 35th minute our pressure finally paid off with Zigoni heading home a header from a corner taken by Grenier. In the 42nd minute Sunny hit a thunderous shot from outside the area, unfortunately too near the keeper. The half ended with us leading 1-0.

I was pleased with what I'd seen, with us restricting Ajax quite well, and fully deserved to have a lead. I sent the players back out telling them to bring the trophy home for the fans. We started the half by pushing forward looking to extend our lead. In the 53rd minute Ajax created their first really good chance, which Lung jr saved to keep us ahead, and a great save in the 55th after a mistake by Sunny allowed Ajax to get through. In the 57th minute Fatih Yucel put a header from a corner just over the bar. In the 63rd minute Ephraim provided a superb cross into the area, where Zigoni was waiting 2 yards from the line, only to make a complete mess with the ball bouncing clear off him. In the 74th minute Ajax grabbed an equaliser with an amazing long shot, somehow beating Lung jr; very disappointing. It looked like Ajax were now looking more confident and closing us down much better, so I made a couple of substitutions. In the 83rd minute Balanta struck a superb curling shot from just outside the area, which the keeper managed to somehow dive full length and hook away from the goal. Just as I was wondering how he could do that, I realised the ball was dropping to Grenier in the area, and he made no mistake in putting the ball into the net, to give us the lead again. Ajax then started to try and push, with us defending. We helped ourselves by taking up quite a bit of that time by getting forward with the ball. During that time Ajax created one chance with the shot being blocked by a defender to deny the opportunity. The match came to a finish with us running out 2-1 victors.

I was absolutely delighted by this win, which had been hard work, but I felt we'd done enough to deserve it. As this was the last match of the season and we'd achieved the almost unbelievable in lifting the Champions Cup, I told the players it was a fantastic result and to enjoy the victory. Grenier ran out as the man of the match, not only grabbing the winner for the 2nd year in a row in a cup final, but provided the assist for the first goal. The celebrations were amazing with fireworks and streamers going off everywhere. I was so proud of the players as we paraded around the ground showing off the trophy. Once our media commitments were finally done, we went back to our hotel for a big party, to celebrate this fantastic victory, as well as the long overdue celebration from lifting the Premiership title.

Result: 2-1

Monthly Roundup

A fantastic month in which we won both our fixtures, showing some of our best performances. The players really seemed to want revenge over Manchester United, and sealed the victory with a delightful move. The Champions Cup match had been close, in which we put together a good performance.

The league table shows that Arsenal managed to finish 2nd with Liverpool 3rd, who at one point looked unlikely to finish in the top four. Bolton and Newcastle are now confirmed as being relegated with Wigan.

There were some great performances in the two matches, with Fatih Yucel and Grenier being the most consistent. I have chosen Grenier for providing 2 assists, and grabbing the winner in the Champions Cup Final. The odd thing is, Grenier is not rated particularly highly, but is intelligent with some very good attributes for the position he plays, which seems to allow him perform very well.

This victory now means I have entered the top ten of English managers ranked at number 9. This brings the season to a close. The next post will give an analysis of how the players and signings performed during the season. I have already been scouting for new players to strengthen the squad, and will be upping the search before the players return from holiday.