Monday 13 October 2008

UEFA Champios League Day 2 Analysis and Preview


Starting with my team, we play Aab Aalborg of Denmark. Last time we
went to Denmark, we lost 1-0 and Fergie knows too well that there is
no time for sentimentality or complacency as we try to be the first
team to successfully defend the UCL. Having dropped two points against
Villareal means Man Utd needs to win in Denmark. Losing will mean
going to Parkhead against Celtic and going to Villarreal for a win
which would be very difficult psychologically. Man Utd will use a
strong side; Fergie did use a weakened side last-time in Denmark and
Man Utd ended up scrapping to qualify. So Ronaldo is expected back in
the starting line-up and this Group E clash is easily the biggest game
in Aalborg's history.

The disparities between the two clubs are stark: while United's
average attendance last season was 75,638, Aalborg struggle to fill
their 10,000-capacity stadium. And the £30m Ferguson shelled out for
striker Dimitar Berbatov could fund the Danish club for seven years.
The club is so small that they have a ground with no players' lounge
and even the team manager has no office of his own office, so Ferguson
could miss out on the traditional post-match glass of red wine with
his counterpart.

However, the game will not be between two teams that are too far in
quality. Man Utd are favourites but Aalborg And they have a spine of
senior international players in the shape of Zaza (Morocco), Marek
Saganowski (Poland), Andreas Johansson (Sweden) and Michael Beauchamp
(Australia). Goalkeeper Karim Zaza, saved a penalty in the goalless
draw with Celtic.

But the Aalborg manager doesn't expect to make it to the knock-outs
like Fergie. "My last match will probably be the final Champions
League game at Old Trafford," said Rioch a former Gunners coach.

Talking of Gunners, losing 2-1 to Hull City for the first time since
losing in 1915, Arsene promises changes to the team. But he claims the
changes have nothing to do with punishment for the weekend lose. But
we know it is for that reason. I would have benched most of the
Arsenal frontliners and the midfield which kept sending long balls
upfront having gone 2-1 down instead of playing their brand of
football which is one-touch football. Problem with Arsenal is they
cannot take a beating. It is like Mike Tyson. He could not take a
beating and so whenever he was under the kosh, he lost.

I could not recognise the Arsenal way of play as the game went to the
end. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger thinks the club's next boss must
maintain the stylish brand of play he has established - or risk a
backlash. He says the crowd are used to it and demand it now. Losing
to Hull City was so uncharacteristic especially that they had just won
their last game 6-0 in the Carling Cup win against Sheffield United,
which saw Arsenal field a team with an average age of 19. Most players
were rested for Hull City. Hope they deliver against Porto because the
Portuguese team can be bad customers.

The Gunners could only pick up a point in the Ukraine against Dynamo
Kiev in their opening Group G game but home form will be key if they
are to progress to the knockout stages. Seeing them lose to Hull at
home only makes Porto more determined.

The match with Porto is very important to Arsenal because in the UCL,
a team needs 10 points to qualify, so if they win their home games
they get their 10 points and go through. That is remembering they have
a point already.

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