Originally posted by marcteng:u went alone to watch GI joe? nice or not
Not alone lah, with some friends... The show good lah if you like lots of action kind... But I don't think the ladies will like this type of movie... They will probably prefer Jack Neo's ghost movie... That one full house woh... GI Joe almost full...
CHELSEA
Petr Cech - 7 - Guilty of poor positioning and letting Nani's good shot look a little too great as United took the lead, but made three good saves from Park, Berbatov and particularly Fletcher thereafter, to keep Chelsea in the game.
Branislav Ivanovic - 5- Was run ragged, particularly in the early stages, by a combination of Nani, Evra and even Rooney. Certainly had his work cut out, and when the ball broke for him at the other end from a corner, he couldn't quite get past the man on the line.
Ricardo Carvalho - 8 - Was a solid, if not occasionally cynical figure, at the back and was in the right place at the right time with a cool head - in every sense of the word - to draw Chelsea level just when they needed it.
John Terry - 7 - Made a series of strong last-ditch challenges and looked a man fully focused on the season ahead, with the weeks of Manchester City transfer speculation firmly behind him.
Ashley Cole - 6 - Wasn't always at his best with the ball at his feet going forward, but manned his flank well enough to avoid United getting too much joy.
Jon Obi Mikel - 5 - Overrun from early on, struggled to contain United's fast-moving forward runners. As time went on, he got better adjusted to getting his foot on the ball and easing the pressure on Chelsea, but he's not quite looking like Makelele just yet.
Michael Essien - 7 - Energetic as ever and looked to be first to every ball. As the game progressed, he certainly played a vital part in closing down United's passing game and ensuring Chelsea were the stronger side in the second half.
Florent Malouda - 6 - Had a big miss on the volley and was otherwise tidy, without being particularly impressive in possession. Never really able to penetrate the United defense either on a run or with a cross.
Frank Lampard - 7 - Shadowed by Fletcher in the early stages but grew into the game in the second period, kept his head to score the goal that put Chelsea in front and also scored in the penalty shootout, albeit not with one of his best efforts.
Nicolas Anelka - 7 - Showed good movement and energy, not to mention a willingness to shoot and shoot well. Perhaps deserved more for his efforts.
Didier Drogba - 6 - Was his usual physical presence up front and showed glimpses of his powerful shooting ability and clattered into Ben Foster which led to Chelsea's first. Good penalty as well - and the cliched question is: would he have done the same in Moscow?
Substitutes
Jose Bosingwa - 7 - Showed in the second half why he is a better right-back than Ivanovic. His pace and more natural positional sense made him a lot more difficult to beat.
Michael Ballack - 6 - Didn't do a whole lot after coming on, other than cause controversy. First for going to ground a little too easily and winning a foul, then for bodychecking Patrice Evra and not being disciplined for his trouble, as Chelsea went down the other end and scored. Put away his penalty, of course.
Deco - n/a.
Salomon Kalou - 7 - Didn't do a lot in open play, but scored the winning penalty in sensational style.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Ben Foster - 5 - Shaky all round. Perhaps could have claimed under threat from Drogba and almost certainly should have done better to prevent Lampard putting Chelsea in the lead.
John O'Shea - 7 - Showed good touch early on and confidence up and down his flank.
Jonny Evans - 7 - Looks like carrying on his impressive form from last season into this one. Very solid and dealt with the threat of Drogba quite well.
Rio Ferdinand - 7 - A bit off the pace, but didn't let it show too often in what was generally a comfortable performance.
Patrice Evra - 7 - The center of attention. He was outstanding for the majority of the game, and was controversially fouled after which he was down and out and Chelsea went on to score. Played an eventual part in United losing the encounter with his penalty in the shootout, which made Gareth Southgate's look like vintage Zidane.
Ji-sung Park - 5 - Quite simply lacked finesse when it mattered. He missed a chance under difficult circumstances early on, but from then on, as United played their deft touches going forward, far too many of his were misplaced.
Michael Carrick - 6 - Not bad, but not good enough. There will be a vast amount of onus placed on Carrick's shoulder's to be United's heartbeat from center midfield all season, and while he enjoyed a fruitful and fairly carefree opening 25 minutes, when Chelsea began to squeeze, he struggled to make an impact.
Darren Fletcher - 7 - Tracked Lampard well early on and had a good shot of his own when at his most confident. A solid outing.
Nani - 7 - Certainly did his best Cristiano Ronaldo impression on the afternoon, full of running, skill, goal-threat and, for good measure, a sweetly struck opening goal from outside the area. He did, though, let Carvalho go to head home the equalizer.
Dimitar Berbatov - 7 - Showed great touch and more work rate than he is often credited with, but never quite hit top gear or got into the box to really make his classy touches count in front of goal.
Wayne Rooney - 8 - Already looks a little more like the Rooney of which every England fan has been dreaming. A relentless forward free role, always classy in possession and perhaps his only flaw was a lack of a consistent goal threat. Just to prove a point, then, he showed quite incredible composure to latch onto a Giggs throughball and stick a left-footed effort past Petr Cech at the death to take the game to penalties.
Substitutes
Luis Antonio Valencia - 6 - The new signing looked short of pace and ideas. Certainly had the work rate to put in a solid shift down the right flank, but not a lot more beyond that.
Ryan Giggs - 7 - Played a delightful through ball for Rooney, from which he equalized, but disappointed with an abysmal penalty at the beginning of the shootout.
Michael Owen - 6 - Certainly eager - maybe a little too eager - to prove himself in his first competitive game for United. A couple of inches away from potentially heading home from a Giggs set-piece, though.
Paul Scholes - 6 - Some good distribution, as always, in his brief cameo.
Fabio da Silva - 7 - Looked full of running and smart in possession, though not overly involved during his short appearance.
how did this thread get so long. u guys discuss when the match is ongoing? how do u do tat :O
Originally posted by Y_Shun:showed ancelotti diamond doesn't work, so ffs, change ur diamond!
It kinda worked in the 2nd half mah when Bosingwa came on.
But I dont think he's got the right personnel yet for this formation la. Essien playing on the right wing at the start just didn't look right. and Lampard played on the left towards the end of the match too.
Everyone knows Lampard's best position is through the middle...Maybe once their wingers Zhirkov and Cole return then can see the real diamond formation.
how come o shea got a 7 and malouda got 6? I thought Malouda is causing o shea problems on the left side. Utd weaknesses is on the right side, with O Shea unable to cope with Malouda type of running.
Lol so who was the MOM?
Originally posted by ViNnO:Lol so who was the MOM?
carvalho
Originally posted by marcteng:carvalho
Lol... i am still fed up with tt ref man.....
Originally posted by ViNnO:
Lol... i am still fed up with tt ref man.....
not only you lar lol. whoever watches the match yesterday rued the failings of the ref. so inconsistent in his ruling. as usual we will get to see lot of this ref blurcock and cockeye in the course of the seasons haiz. its part of the game already, unless there are tv replays incorporated.
Is rooney second goal off side?
Originally posted by marcteng:not only you lar lol. whoever watches the match yesterday rued the failings of the ref. so inconsistent in his ruling. as usual we will get to see lot of this ref blurcock and cockeye in the course of the seasons haiz. its part of the game already, unless there are tv replays incorporated.
well, play to whistle la. No-one can assume just because ref blowed the whistle earlier for someone seemingly "injured", will blow the whistle again when MU player was fouled right? Given that FA is clamping down on ref's protection, hopefully, MU doesn't get into trouble, trying to give the ref a "warm" discussion.
Anyway, my comments -> even in a charity match, I am amazed by the blues' relentless pursit of much-starved success.
was reading some of the UK fans' comment. rather interesting.
some are still asking for berbacock's blood given his seemingly non-existence.but for me, I think a few times, he was able to burst clear and almost had a goal. Was quite surprised @ his sudden "acceleration", Bolt-inspired?
Valencia is rather disappointing, given his limited time, he seems to push the ball forward and tried to use his pace, but against Cole who also got pace to burn, he was quickly shutdown.. A big worry.
but the biggest worry is still deserved for foster. Despite the one-handed save against drogba, he seems really nervous. His kicks and placement are a worry.
Chelsea did a change to their RB, and that changed the momentum for the 2nd half.
Sadly, Rooney seems to come alive only after the "injustice", the equaliser seems marginally, and was quite good fortune.
I do like Fabio for his energy is good. And he seems to have better anticipation than brother leh.
Overall, despite what Chelsea was doing, not too amazed by their "diamond", maybe it takes time for it to sparkle, but nothing to shout about. Similiarly, MUFC seems to start well but finish poorly. Anyway, just a good appetiser for all of us.
its quite difficult for valencia in at such a pace when he came on the field to play at an unrelenting pace. somemore he was not present at the far east tour pre-season training and matches. he will improve, I am sure of that. his asset is his stamina and pace, and his arm look bulging lol.
Originally posted by marcteng:its quite difficult for valencia in at such a pace when he came on the field to play at an unrelenting pace. somemore he was not present at the far east tour pre-season training and matches. he will improve, I am sure of that. his asset is his stamina and pace, and his arm look bulging lol.
hi, he did not play against valencia meh?? I think he did la.
no doubt, it is difficult for him to get started but I did expect more lor.
Originally posted by iceFatboy:hi, he did not play against valencia meh?? I think he did la.
no doubt, it is difficult for him to get started but I did expect more lor.
yes he did played against boca juniors and valencia, but was subbed out soon. dun judge him based on 1 match. I believed his pace and stamina will stand him in good stead.
No one is doing Chris Foye any favours.
Did anyone watch what ballack said after the match during the interview?
He admitted it was a push and will not mind if the ref blew for a foul.
Hopefully the FA does something to chris foye. really.
Originally posted by Pitot:No one is doing Chris Foye any favours.
Did anyone watch what ballack said after the match during the interview?
He admitted it was a push and will not mind if the ref blew for a foul.
Hopefully the FA does something to chris foye. really.
without the aid of video replay, every season sure have ref missing out or giving wrong decision de.
Originally posted by marcteng:without the aid of video replay, every season sure have ref missing out or giving wrong decision de.
Except for the fact that the replay shows him looking directly at the incident.
I am not asking why he didnt blew for the foul. I was asking where was the consistency.
Why did he not stop the game when evra was down but did so when ballack was down moments earlier. There is no need for any video replay for that.
Originally posted by Pitot:Except for the fact that the replay shows him looking directly at the incident.
I am not asking why he didnt blew for the foul. I was asking where was the consistency.
Why did he not stop the game when evra was down but did so when ballack was down moments earlier. There is no need for any video replay for that.
well, often whenever such incidents occur, you will get people defending the ref as to whether he actually see the incident and whether there was any doubt as to what happened. Like a penalty claim.
nevertheless, this incident may speaks volume of the ref's consistency. but given they are often "protected" and simply "untouchables". Do hope the FA will do a simple "pull up your socks"..
Anyone know what got mark clattenburg (sp?) demoted from the premier league last season?
ok found.
During the local derby match between Everton and Liverpool on 20 October 2007, he made a number of controversial decisions including declining Everton's appeals for a penalty in the third minute of added time, with the score at 1-2, when Jamie Carragher appeared to hold back Everton's Joleon Lescott in the Liverpool six yard box.[17] He was suspended from officiating the following weekend's Premier League matches as a result.[18]
Clattenburg was appointed to take charge of The FA Community Shield on 9 August 2008, with Dave Richardson and Ian Gosling assisting and Andre Marriner acting as fourth official.[19] However, Clattenburg was suspended from refereeing, pending an investigation into alleged debts incurred by companies to which he is connected.[20] The match between 2008 FA Cup winners Portsmouth and 2007/08 Premier League champions Manchester United took place at Wembley Stadium with Peter Walton as the replacement referee.[21]
Following the investigation into his personal life and business debts, the referees' governing body dismissed Clattenburg, citing a breach of contract. He denied all the allegations and appealed the decision.[22]
He appealed the decision, on 18 February 2009 Professional Game Match Officials Limited stated that Clattenburg would be reinstated as a "Select Group" referee. However, he had to serve an eight-month suspension, starting from his original suspension date of 6 August 2008.