Controversy? What controversy?
Is anybody else disappointed by the way the media have portrayed the draw against Birmingham yesterday?
From just reading match reports in the media you’d think we were lucky to come away with a point from St. Andrews yesterday, despite dominating the entire game.
For almost 40 minutes it was constant pressure from us on the Birmingham goal, then they went to the other end and got a bit lucky with their first meaningful attack of the game.
The second half started much as the first did, more United pressure, until eventually it paid off. Patrice Evra drilled a low cross into the 6 yard box and defender Scott Dann turned it into his own net under pressure from Park.
The linesman raised his flag for offside. Birmingham players protested to referee Mark Clattenburg, who then consulted with said linesman before deciding the goal should stand.
The first thing to note is that replays showed that no United player was standing in an offside position when Evra played the ball into the box.
The second thing to note is that the ball came off the Birmingham defender, making any potential offside irrelevant anyway.
The goal was perfectly legitimate, yet countless reports have billed it as a “controversial” goal that “saved” United.
If they simply criticized our lack of cutting edge up front, or lapses in concentration at the back, that would be fine. But to claim we were lucky to escape with a point in a game we dominated from start to finish is an insult to the game.
Short URL: http://www.strettyender.com/?p=999
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Dear Stretty
You are correct in your assertion that Manu dominated the first half, but absolutely wrong to imply that you were the major force in the second. Your tiddly Polish keeper kept you in the game from the dynamic Chucho at least twice, and Johnson’s volley would have won it for us if he’d hit it anywhere but at the midriff of said goalie. Fletcher was a disgrace all match. Filthy tackling and chipping away in Clattenburg’s ear meant he was always destined for an early bath. The cynical challenge on Jerome won him his just desserts. And the laughingly stupid 6 minutes at the end nearly cost you dear as we piled on the pressure at the death. Fergie was sweating, and you were lucky to scurry back to Surrey with a point.
Super Blue
Very much agree with ya mate. To add to this, there were several occasions which seem to have slipped scrutiny where we should have had penalties for handball in the box, 2 legitimate claims at least. Another thing is that nobody has mentioned how lucky chelsea were to escape with a draw at Birmingham a few weeks ago. That seems to have slipped under the radar. Credit to Birmingham, the set up shop and made it difficult for us to penetrate their defence, I felt our performance was quite good, we just seem to be lacking the bit of luck all the other top 6 teams are getting. If Fletch hadn’t been ridiculously sent off, I have no doubt we would have gone on to win
dominated the whole game?You’re joking.You dominated unyil we scored,after that we had all the best chances.Possession is nothing if you don’t do anything with it.Until the OG,United wern’t a threat.A typical one eyed view you give here.
for all your “dominance” you had one meaningful shot on target, yes you were shown too much respect in the first half and allowed to come forward at will. In the second half brum had more chances to have wrapped it up by 2 or 3 goals to 1. By the way it doesn’t matter if a ball had been played on by an opponent or not if a player is in an offside position when the ball was played to him he is still offside (in shreks case it was proved that he was ONside) so therefore it was a legit goal. Yes I am disappointed the way the media have reported how the draw was viewed by the media “brum manage to hold united”
For all man u’s huffing and puffing they did not score a goal.
Fletch should have gone a lot earlier he had already been booked and had persistently fouled afterwards, also the ranting tirade against the officials (for which larsson got booked when he argued about the goal) “Fletch’s” 2nd yellow and therefore his sending off was for a deliberate professional foul
I agee that united may have most of the possession but goals count at the end of the day! Unfotuhately United are missing key players who have either left or don’t want to play for the club. Ferguson’s days at United are over he has become his own worst enemy.
A contented Brummie !
Birmingham City played a defenisve game and allowed Manure to put the pressure on.. Being able to defend well and soak up pressure is part of the game and Birmingham City are the masters of this.. This is why we have one of the highest number of clean sheets and one of the lowest Goals Against records..
Manchester United did not dominate the whole game, first half, most definitely, second half was pretty even in most peoples estimation I’d imagine.
Just a question, do you not think Fergie harranguing the referee for ample “injury time” is not an insult to the game?? Funny how it was actually Birmingham City who had the best chances of scoring in this extended “let’s see if Manure can win the game” period of time
Not every ball hit hand situtation is a penalty it has to be deliberate handball, but like too many fans you assume every challenge, every fall, every handball should result in a free kick/penalty/sending off.
You guys are deluding yourselves. First half United had possession. Possession doesn’t win matches. You created nothing.
The quality chances fell to Blues… and, let’s remember… a Man Utd player didn’t score today! Most of your ten shots were long rangers which were easily blocked. It took a deflected own goal off Dann to rescue you a point, otherwise you were totally devoid of ideas due to our brilliant defense.
Every time Jerome or Benitez got on the ball, Evans and Brown shat themselves and you were lucky that Benitez couldn’t shoot either side of Kuszczak on a number of occasions otherwise it would’ve been 2 and out of sight.
Fletcher deserved to be sent off, even if the second booking was a bit soft. From the first minute he was in the ear of the ref and kept digging at players after the ball had gone. He was doing it because he’s not really good enough for a club like Man Utd.
Overall, United were lucky to come away with a draw, because you hardly ever stretched us and we had the better quality chances to put the game to bed.
Yes, United dominated the first half and probably could have gone in at the break leading by two or three – if they had a striker with an eye for goal. The sort of striker Michael Owen used to be, for example. But the early domination rarely ended in clear cut chances – and was in any case more the result of Birmingham’s timid display rather than United’s creativity. It is telling that United’s goal was scored by a Birmingham player. But for Dann’s understandable error under pressure, this would have ended in a home victory.
For at least twenty minutes of the second half, possibly a little more, Birmingham did create the sort of clear cut chances that United never managed. Chucho was guilty of being too precise with two efforts. Had he skewed or miss-hit either it probably would have resulted in a Brum victory.
At the final whistle I felt that for all of United’s domination, Sir Alex would probably have felt relieved, if anything, that he was leaving with a point. He acknowledged that a draw was probably a fair result – which is about as close as he is ever likely to come to admitting his relief at the draw.
I would agree though that the Fletcher sending off was ridiculous. There were about half a dozen other fouls that he committed that were more deserving of yellow cards than the one that saw him dismissed.
What a load of typical biased tosh by Stretty who ever he is, Yes Utd dominated the first half but apart from Rooney chance never looked like scoring. First phase of the 2nd half Blues dominated and could have had 2 except for good saves. Utd come back in to the game scored but then Blues should have gone on to score several. In desperation Utd put in a load of bad tackles from behind(Fletcher,Evans,Scholes and all should have been booked) Fletcher cynically tripped Jerome when he was on a charge and deserved the booking for consistent fouling.Times are changing maybe Utd’s dominance is coming to an end
understandable you felt you could have won but it shows you how bad united have become when they have to rely on an own to win a game against a team you would considor inferior, well birmingham city stuck up ya, that feeling you had after the game ive had that for 43 years and about 6 weeks ago it went away, who are ya ?
Both a bit blinkered I think. You undoubtedly put us under pressure – granted. There were however more refereeing decisions that went in your favour than against you. You got away with 2 or 3 fouls that if checked could have changed the game. As for going on to win, unlikely, and Fletcher was only sent off right at the end.
You failed to break us down and didn’t much look like doing so despite the pressure. You rode a little bit of luck getting an own goal from us otherwise you would have lost as we got the ball in the net and you hadn’t. We were aware of your team’s undoubted ability and I think your team (and manager) were aware of our form and recent performances. This realism did not embed in most of your supporters that I chatted to who apparently were of the opinion that they were going to “slaughter us”
Oh boo hoo.
You dominated when we weren’t at our best and still couldn’t score. Jerome only needs 1 chance. We call him 1 chance Jerome for nothing.
2 points dropped for city.
i think you should read what you’ve typed, Birmingham players didn’t protest the linesmans flag, the united players did, and then Birmingham protested that the goal stood.
You had the first half no doubt; and Birmingham played well in the second and were the better team . Be FAIR not with red coloured specs. Was a fair result even though I support the blues. your goal was an own goal fair enough to you. What is your problem?
you having a laugh 1st half yes you ran but 2nd half you really need to take those red tinted specs off mate .
we had 2 clear chances before we scored for you only youre keeper saved you and after it was 1-1 i dont remember you having a shot on goal but hey thats just my opinion but at least its a balanced opinion
You obviously weren’t at St Andrews yesterday judging by your “Despite dominating the game” comment. Your ESPN match stats may say you had the most possession but its what you do with the ball when its at your feet that counts and yesterday you did very little. The best player on the pitch for you yesterday was Park on the left. Why Park was took off and Giggs brought on only Fergie knows because Giggs was less than interested in the game. First half we never closed you down and unusually for us this season we showed you far to much respect. As soon as we realized you were far from the Utd of the past it was very much an open game but sitting at the ground you get a full view of the game not the camera mans and can see that.
As for Fletchers sending, if he had of kept his mouth shut instead of arguing with Clattenberg at every opportunity like some spoilt child he may have been more lenient. Had he not carded him for that he would have gone off for descent eventually anyway.
For the record Jezz09, twice Wes Brown handled the ball in your area but neither was that mentioned. We never “set up shop” as you said. We played 4-4-2 with Jerome and Benitez upfront and they constantly caused you problems hence why your defender Raphael constantly hacked at Mcfadden and Benitez because he couldn’t win the ball fairly. He never got booked once after numerous warnings by the referee as well, add to the Fergie style extra time of SIX laughable minutes of extra time and the own goal that wouldn’t have stood had it been a goal from one of your own players because you were offside and i think you did get your fare share of luck Saturday.
Its sad to see such a great team of the last 15 years beginning to look mediocre. Evra and Rooney and are beginning to become your Gerrard and Torres. I genuinly hope that Fergie buys and builds his fourth Utd team because this current crop are not what were used to seeing turning out wearing Utd shirts. We need your lot or as the kings of Europe as the rest of us need to be able to attract the players cant play for you but want to play against the best in the world and if the best in the world aren’t sining for you they go abroad to Barca and Real and the Premier League dies. Really good players aspire to play for Real, Barca and Utd not Man City, Chelsea or Arsenal thats for sure!
I am a blues supporter, but have to agree re your goal. There was no controversy – it was a perfectly good goal. The press have their script – the demise of Man Utd and the fairytale rise of unfashionable Birmingham City. We have had lousy press for years and suddenly we can do no wrong – will not last, of course!
Jezz09 – Fletcher should not have been sent off, but only one team was going to win at the end – US!!
The reason that the press have portrayed that ManUre were lucky to get a point is because (guess what!) ManUre were lucky to escape with a draw.
OK, you may have had loads of possesion in the first half, but why not try counting the amount of shots you had on target eh?
Face it – you were out worked by a Birmingham team that should have beaten you.
If Benites had taken one of his (easy) attempts, the goal that Birmingham scored for you wouldn’t have mattered.
If the boot was on the other foot & Birmingham had got the same goal at Old Trafford, there is no way that the referee would have eveb thought to talk to the linesman.
Grandad was lucky that his insistance for 3 times the required or due injury time did not back fire.
Well done to little manchester for managing to gain a lucky point at the Super Blues.
Good luck for the rest of the season – you may even manage to make a Europa League place if you are lucky!!
KRO rob
yes you were the better side in the first half, you dominated. Second half though lads it was your keeper who made 3 good saves, our keeper never had a save to make.
But your right, nothing wrong with your goal.
Guys – I’m a long time united fan and was at St Andrews. I think you’ve lost the plot. I agree totally with your fist half comments – we were all over them, start to finish however we never created a single worthwhile chance. Second half – I don’t know what game you were watching but we didn’t get out of our own half for 20 minutes!! we were dreadful – have a look at the stats. It did pick up later on and got the deserved draw (deserved due to our first half performance) agreed sending off was soft but made little difference. Give you a flavour we were singing “we’re champions & we’re crap”.
You certainly did dominate the first half and were unlucky to be behind at half time. But as for the second half it was evenly matched and it was quoted on Sky Sports and Match of the Day that Birmingham had more shots on target in the second half. The only reason the goal was deemed ‘controversial’ was because the linesman was overuled which rarely happens when it involves a goal. And if your own Assisstant Manager states that he was ‘happy to come away with something’ I think it’s safe to assume that it’s not a bad media portrayal of the outcome.
You might have dominated the first half, but certainly not the second. Hart only had to make one save, and that was after another poor decision from the lino when Valencia came back from an offside position, and played the ball.
Your keeper kept you in the game in the second half.
Well, perhaps the tv coverage (motd by any chance) portrayed this to be so but those at the game saw a different story. Yes, for the first 35 mins you completely dominated the play without looking much of a threat. yes, we were very lucky to score in our second attack and it was a scrappy goal. But the Blues were very much in the ascendancy in the 2nd half and you’ll find that your goalie was much busier than hours.
The ref had a mare for both sides and the linemen weren’t much better. The offside flag for your goal was wrong and Benitez had a run stopped by a flag when there were 3 players between him and the goal.
Thanks for the credit – a point against united is dreamland for us long suffering blues fans – but don’t belittle our input into this game.
There was nothing wrong with the goal. The linesman flagged rightly because Rooney was offside, but that was irrelevent because Dann put the ball in.
McLeish was ok about it after, I’ve been impressed with the way he handles himself on the media.
I would have bitten someones hand off if we’d been offered a point before the game, but I was a little disappointed in the end. I was pleased that we stayed in the game with our work ethic and never say die attitude.
We’ve come a long way – just need to carry on. I don’t think UTD have much to worry about really.
I disagree about the offside. IF Rooney was offside (inconclusive due to the angle of the camera WE see), then the goal should not have stood. Rooney made the run into the 6 yrd box, which means he’s active. The defender is forced to slide in because if he doesn’t, Rooney scores.
Again, I thought he looked level from the camera angle the tele showed us, which means he was actually off from where the linesman was standing.
we should of won the game end of,ok you had the better of the opening 30 mins but after that it was blues who took control,if benitez miskicked his shots then we could of won this game 2 or 3-1 fletcher should of gone a lot earlier with his ranting at the ref consistantly like a little child who spat his dummy out now onto the offside decsion if rooney wasnt there in the 6 yard box then dann would not of tried to make a clearance so therfore rooney was interfering in play but hey if that happened at old trafford and it was us who scored we all know the goal would not of stood so get over it and be thankfull you left our fortress with a lucky point,We are unbeatable we are unbeatable K.R.O!