Manchester United Take The Honours As Rooney Notches Up His Ton

A couple of years ago Manchester City launched an advertising campaign that claimed: ‘This is Our City'. Well I got news for them, no it isn't.

Any Manchester City supporters who were thinking of their new found wealth and how they can compete on an even playing field with United can forget it. At least in the short term it wont be happening. This game just highlighted the gulf between the two teams.

Manchester United are the real thing, the finished article, Champions of England and Champions of Europe and City are "under construction" so to speak.

City were simply out played and players such as Rooney, Carrick, Da Silva and Fletcher stood out but my man of the match was Ji-Sung Park, or 'Three Lung Park' as he is affectionately known. How that guy can cover so much ground and just never give up is remarkable. It was the efforts of Ji-Sung Park that actually lead to the goal.

He was chasing around the 18 yard box for the ball, snapping at the ankles of the City players and eventually he got the ball and passed it wide to Carrick who shot across goal and Rooney fired in the rebound from Jo Hart's save. This was Rooney's 100th club goal and the game was the 150th Manchester derby.

Park never gets much praise but he is a great squad player and today his effort and work rate were second to none.

As for City's superstars Robinho and Micah Richards, did they actually play, I didn't notice.

The Ronaldo sending off will remain a mystery to me. He ran in to try and connect with Rooney's corner, he was at least 3 feet higher than any other player with a clear header on goal and he parried the ball away with his hands. Why would he do that ?

When the dust settled, though, United’s win was undeniably just.

For now, at least, United remain - in Rooney’s words - the "Kings of Manchester".

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Pitch Invader At Celtic Park Gets Jailed For 6 Months

John Murphy aged 18 from Glenavon Road in Glasgow has been thrown in jail for 6 months after he did a one man pitch invasion during the Celtic 'v'Manchester United Champions League clash at Celtic Park on November 5th. Quite right too. What on earth happens inside these drunkards minds when they have a drink ? They seem to think they can take on the world or do as they please. I've known guys who are so nice when sober, then they have a drink and they say some disgusting things and I just completely disown them then. This guy is a complete and utter clown who has probably consumed four cans of lager and then thinks it is OK to do just as he pleases and run onto the pitch, bloody asshole should be locked up for longer if you ask me.

John Murphy was also banned from attending national or international football matches for five years, one of the longest such banning orders imposed in Scotland. Play had to actually be stopped because of him. He also admitted charges of breaching the peace and being drunk in a sports ground when he appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court earlier this month. Celtic were also fined £42,430 by UEFA for the invasion and for the late start to the game, which ended 1-1.

Sheriff Linda Ruxton who seemed a bit non-plussed by this behaviour said his actions were "dangerous and irresponsible". Also adding: "Not only did you create a situation in which there were fears for the safety of the players on the pitch, but you interrupted a high profile match and created a situation which might easily have provoked serious public disorder. Furthermore, you brought Scottish football generally and Celtic Football Club in particular into disrepute and your behaviour caused the club to be fined a substantial amount."

She was actually going to lock him away for nine months but reduced this as he pleaded guilty. Though what that has to do with it is beyond me as the TV cameras showed he was guilty anyway ! After sentencing she also added: "Such a sentence is particularly designed to have a deterrent effect on others who need to appreciate that such behaviour at football matches will not be tolerated by the courts." She did let him off with the charge of drunkeness which I found rather amusing, I doubt he does though.......
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Manchester United 'v' Celtic

Go to Glasgow, beat Celtic and qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League !! Easy !!! It's not easy though, not when you take into account the 12th man of Celtic. Their fanatical and passionate supporters. But Sir Alex is well aware the European champions will face a hostile reception at Celtic Park and he says they must deal with that and a likely attacking approach from the SPL giants.

Celtic managed a 1-0 home win over United in the competition two years ago and Ferguson knows that could boost Gordon Strachan's men ahead of the game.

"There is no question about how they are going to set out and the crowd will help them with that. We have to control that, Celtic will be chastened by the result last time; but obviously with their support they will be very, very determined, and that's one of the issues we will have to deal with. I thought we did that last time at Celtic Park, but then the lad scores a wonder goal." ..... Back To Home Page