Gary Neville is a Red

Guess what arrived in the post yesterday? I have been searching for this book for the longest time around town. Couldn't find it even at the more posh outlet. Better still, most of the salesgirls would give me the look when I asked. What? Gary Neville? Who is Gary Neville? Gary Neville the Red. Never heard of him? I finally ordered it online, through Amazon, and got the copy within a week.

I remember the chants vividly around Old Trafford every time Gary went in with a meaty tackle. The whole stadium would erupt, to the tune of London Bridge, "Gary Neville is a Red, is a Red, is a Red, Gary Neville is a Red, he hates Scousers!". And he does. Big time! He got fined for running the whole length of the field at Old Trafford towards the Liverpool supporters after Rio Ferdinand put one into the top corner, to celebrate. Alone. The rest of the team were running to Rio. But not Gary. He was bigging it up alone, in front of the Liverpool supporters, kissing his United badge! Class!

A true fan who was lucky enough to have the chance to play for United and made a career out of it. He would play for free given the chance. He would bleed for the club. No argument. Not the most talented, but did he not give his all. He would rather retire - as he actually did - rather than play for another team.

He can be heard now giving the odd commentary on TV. His comments were insightful and given with passion. But don't let him commentate on any of United's matches, as he would be unashamedly biased. I have finished the first three chapters thus far. Mainly about how he came about to start on football. Riveting.

A Drab One Nil Win

After the heavy loss to Man City, Sir Alex had taken sensible steps to plug up the leak. The couple of Premiership games following the match went one nil our way. We beefed up the midfield, and kept everything tight at the back.

The midweek Champions League game also followed the same pattern. Unfortunately there would be a price to pay. We had to put our swashbuckling style in check. It put out for a dour spectacles, but after the debacle at Old Traffic, that was exactly what the Doctor ordered.

We relied on our old boy, Wes Brown to contribute a goal our way. Otherwise, apart from the last 20 minutes of the game when United picked up the pace of the game, the game was pedestrian. Both keepers weren't exactly tested.

Something to keep me awake last ngiht

One nil. Three points. Couldn't really complaint really. And congratulations to Sir Alex for his 25 years at Old Trafford. a fitting tribute that the huge North Stand were named on his honour.

We Came Up Short

You win some. You lose some. And occasionally you get well beaten. And tonight was one of those occasion. Citeh played well. They wanted the game more. We were lackluster. We lacked passion. We deserved to get beat. And did they not half delivered it to us. Would really hate to be in United's dressing room at this very minute. The hairdryer must be out at full blast!

Hopefully we would learn a thing or two from this mauling. We were far too comfortable. And that bread overconfidence and arrogance. I felt that we did not give enough respect to the opponent. They had certainly improved. And in all honesty, only Rooney turned up for the game.

The only consolation was this heavy defeat came early in the season, with enough time for us to adjust. Hopefully, in the next few matches, we would get things back on track, while hoping City drop a few points as well. There were times when we were soundly beaten before and went on to win the Premiership - although to be fair, these tended to be away from home.

At NZ earlier, getting my tandoori fix before the game. Obviously that did not work this time ....Sports-wise, it had certainly been an eventful day. The horrific death of Marco Simoncelli at Sepang MotoGP. The Old Blacks lifting the Webb Ellis on home soil. And then this defeat. My thoughts though goes to Simoncelli's family. RIP!

Lucky Draw at Anfield

Waiting for my take-out Tandoori from NZ before the gameSo, it was a draw. Usually I would be disappointed but considering the circumstances, we were lucky to get anything after a display like that. Plus the fact that we lost on the last three trips to Anfield.

We played badly in the first half. It was as if we were content to keep Liverpool at bay by sitting back. We put the hardworking trio of Fletcher, Park and Jones in the middle of the park, and were happy just to grab the odd chances. Nani, Chicarito and Rooney were left on the bench. So was the more attack-minded Anderson. We were lucky not to go a goal behind.

The tempo was raised on the second half, and at times, we were overrun. It took the introduction of Rooney and Nani, and later, Chica for us to get going. And that was only after we were chasing the game, courtesy of a soft freekick which Gerrard converted - with Uncle Giggsy trying to protect his balls - breaking the wall.

We were more adventurous with the substitutes on the field, and with ten minutes remaining, Chica did what he did best - finding space in a crowded penalty area while tightly marked. Superb! The game then opened up.

It could have gone either way. De Gea did some splendid saves with the defense somehow forgotten to mark Jordan Handerson on a couple of occasions. The best defensive display was by Rooney in the end. He stopped a certain goal with a headed clearance near the death.

It was a draw, and if I was a Liverpool supporter, I would be disappointed. And the game again reinforced my utter dismay towards Suarez. A good player, but a cheat on the pitch - cue the World Cup Quarter Finals in South Africa last year against Ghana ….. you know the rest.

Back to My Ritual

After hanging around for quite a bit at KLCC, we made it home at nearly 6pm. Since there would be a game tonight - United playing Norwich - I made a quick pit-stop at NZ.

After missing out on tandoori in the last couple of games which United drew, I better get back to my celebrated ritual. That would meat stopping over for a rake-out of mee ladna and tandoori chicken at NZ. I can bet Norwich would be slaughtered tonight at Old Trafford!