AC Milan and Man United

[PAG]

So, all the hype about David Beckham facing Man United for the first time, has finally arrived. Any pundits about the result? It's now just after 2.15 am (Thai), so 30 minutes before the kick off. My own prediction is 3-2 for United. Any takers?

[FarangRed]

Beware of Milan old boys

United could come unstuck in the last 16 of the Champions League if they dismiss AC Milan as a bunch of ageing veteran campaigners.

The Italian side have 15 players over 30 in their Euro squad and are said to be showing their age in Serie A.

But Sir Alex Ferguson prefers to call it experience and warns the Reds that they will have to be wary of the know-how packed into Leonardo's squad.

The Reds will bring in one of their own old hands with the return of Rio Ferdinand.

Milan 1 - MUFC 2

[FarangRed]

Just a quick question have we ever won at the San Siro? bye the way

[withnallstoke]

As an aside, Stoke 2 v 1 Man Citeh prediction.

[FarangRed]

wtf? 1-0

[PAG]

No, we've never won in the San Siro, but that probably puts the odds in our favour (all things must come to an end), or at least it did until 30 seconds ago when AC scored the first goal. Long time to go.

[FarangRed]

The frenetic action stalls for the first time and despite some errors by United and Milan's lead, you just get the feeling that there could be something in this game for the visitors

[PAG]

Is it Beckham who scores as an 'old boy'? No, it's Paul Scholes. Game on.

[FarangRed]

there you go Paul Scholes 1-1 now

[Loy Toy]

1~1 and Paul Scholes scores a shocker.

Well they all count and youth may win the game after all.

[FarangRed]

GOAAAAALLLL!!!

And wouldn't you know it... they could have been three or four behind and they pull one back in extremely fortunate circumstances, Paul Scholes with a swing and a miss, the ball deflecting off his standing leg and rolling benignly into the bottom corner with Dida scrambling. You couldn't make it up

[PAG]

Half time, and definitely AC have had the better first half. United aren't clicking at the moment, with some very wasted midfield passing going on. The main thing in their favour I think, is they have enough options on the bench (particularly Valencia for Nani) to change things around and put AC under more pressure.

Certainly worth staying up for (not that it was never going to happen, and God/Buddha bless her, the missus has got up, donned her Man U shirt, and is finding it as enthralling as I am).

[FarangRed]

MUST DO BETTER

It was a sensational start by Milan and a frenetic first 25 minutes with both sides threatening but Milan were the side looking most likely to score as United's defensive lapses contrived to hand the Rosseneri an insurmountable lead. But some luck and wasteful finishing - especially from Huntelaar - kept United in it and Milan paid the price when United fluked an equaliser - albeit from a good move. United have been uncharacteristically sloppy and need to tighten up desperately, especially as while Milan have looked good in patches, United have handed them most of their opportunities and Sir Alex will know he can get a result from this game. Half time 1-1

[PAG]

1-2!!!!

Who else but ROONEY!!!!! Cracking header, and Man U seem to be getting more into their typical counter attacking stride. AC look dangerous still, but they're running out of ideas. We need one more goal (and with Valencia onboard it's more than possible), but need to maintain the pressure to the last second.

[PAG]

AC are disintegrating!!!!! 1-3 to United, and yet another ROONEY goal. Sublime, and AC look they aren't really in the game any more. Big sigh, unfortunately I don't have any Regency to hand, but will take a long sip of my Tiger.

[PAG]

So, all the hype about David Beckham facing Man United for the first time, has finally arrived. Any pundits about the result? It's now just after 2.15 am (Thai), so 30 minutes before the kick off. My own prediction is 3-2 for United. Any takers?

Don't believe this, it's now 2-3 for United, with may 4 or 5 minutes remaining. Maybe I need to get a new vocation as soothsayer?????

[PAG]

So, all the hype about David Beckham facing Man United for the first time, has finally arrived. Any pundits about the result? It's now just after 2.15 am (Thai), so 30 minutes before the kick off. My own prediction is 3-2 for United. Any takers?

Well, as predicted, 2-3 for Man United. Great game, only spoilt by the irrational sending off of Michael Carrick a few minutes before the end. No matter, United really outplayed AC tonight, through cohesion, good passing, all round defensive work, and the ability to counter quickly and effectively. Smooth.

[Mad Hatter]

As an aside, Stoke 2 v 1 Man Citeh prediction.

Not a bad prediction for a novice. The forcasted score using the near universal LAFF prediction computer program is a more realistic Stoke 1 Man City 0. There is also a high probability after 90 mins of a 0-0 or 1-1 result.



PS Jolly good and well deserved result for Man Utd this evening.

[FarangRed]

Not to take anything away from a great result but we had them on the ropes at 3-1 and I thought, took the foot off the pedal. At 3-1 I would have brought Berbie on for Park and let Wayne run loose on the left. Nani had a howler but Valencia showed just how good he is. Becks was sh***.

[FarangRed]

Player ratings from MEN what you think guys post your ratings here.

AC Milan 2 United 3: Player ratings February 16, 2010
Van der Sar: Unlucky that Ronaldinho's opener took a deflection. Otherwise, spectacular save from playmaker Pirlo crowned a solid enough showing 8

Rafael: Chosen ahead of more experienced Brown or Neville and he will have learnt so much from playing against such technically adept opponents 6

Ferdinand: The new England skipper's return had the shakiest of starts but quickly found his feet to marshal the often under-siege back four as the Reds carved out a remarkable win 7

Evans: Perfectly-timed tackle to end Pato's menacing run but then almost ruined it all with sloppy clearance that set up Huntelaar chance. Not his best first-half 6

Evra: Disappointing clearance from that third-minute Beckham free-kick. Like the rest of the Reds, dramatically improved after the break 6

Carrick: Guilty along with the rest of United midfield of not imposing himself. Will be disappointed with his showing as he attempts to take Capello's eye and his night was summed up by his bizarre red card. 6

Scholes: Total fluke for equaliser but he was in the right place for Fletcher's excellent cross. No wonder sub Neville couldn't stop laughing 7

Fletcher: May have escaped much of furious Fergie's half-time hairdryer treatment by setting up the equaliser 8

Park: Daft foul to give Beckham perfect place for trademark free-kick. Even his industry made little impact against opponents ridiculously dubbed Dad's Army in uneducated circles 7

Rooney: When he got the service showed not once but twice that he's in the form of his life 9

Nani: Surprisingly chosen ahead of Valencia and United were much better when the Ecuadorian was on 6

[FarangRed]

missed this bit at the bottom,
Valencia (Nani 64) - Immediately showed Nani what he should have been doing 8

[Loy Toy]

I watched the first half and I thought United played shite with them lucky not to be 3 or 4 goals down.

Anyhoo it doesn't matter how you win as long as you do win and Sir Alex has another one under his belt.

Having said that I don't know what would happen to them if they lost Rooney as it seems he is the only one with any real passion.

[FarangRed]

^dead rite

[pompeybloke]

My own prediction is 3-2 for United. Any takers?

Fine prediction that. Had to be 33's possibly 50's, if you'd punted it.

Agree with FarangRed that Milan were on the ropes at 3-1 down and should of been buried, but it still should be easypeasy in the return...quite meek were Milan.

[Mr Brown]

My own prediction is 3-2 for United. Any takers?

Well done