Dear Media… Calm the F*** Down

By: Taylor Rockwell | February 25th, 2009

Pretty much the only thing I’ve heard since yesterday’s match ended in a goalless draw was how United had missed a golden opportunity. How United should see this as a loss. How United will struggle at home against this Inter side. Jesus Christ, let’s put this in perspective.

I will concede that Manchester United are the Champions of England, Champions of Europe, and Champions of the World (an easy thing to concede, as it is fact). Therefore, they are always seen as the team to beat. Or are they? It is a fundamental error to make such a leap in logic. Yesterday’s result notwithstanding, if United had played Barcelona away, who would have been the favorite? The underdog? My guess is that if we had gotten out of the Camp Nou with a 0-0 draw, I would have been ecstatic.

However, if United go away to a club that 1) has won the Italian Serie A three years running, 2) have a home ground that is not exactly a welcome place for foreign teams to play, 3) are coached by a world class manager, and 4) have world class talent, and they depart with a 0-0 draw, then they still failed? How does that work? All the Italian message boards yesterday were talking some serious shit about how much better the Serie A is than the Premiership. And yet, we’re supposed to accept that the disparity in power between this season’s two runaway champions is such that a draw AT HOME IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE is seen as getting a result? It seems like 2 and 2 are adding up to make 5.

NOTE: For all you Inter fans who take me a wee bit too seriously when I say things like, “Jose Mourinho’s Current Team (the one that we will be destroying sometime next week)” and will inevitably use similar extreme statements to argue against me, please take time to also note that I predicted Inter to get the result 2-1.

Anyway, to be certain, United (Berba, I’m looking in your direction) should be kicking themselves for not getting that crucial away goal. But now the tie goes back to Old Trafford, a venue that slightly (just slightly) lends United some confidence. A venue where United have looked as solid as possible this season. A venue where (you knew this was coming) they defeated Roma 7-1 after being down 2-1 from the first leg. Obviously, I don’t expect that same result. And obviously, it didn’t help that we failed to score. But I refuse to accept that a 0-0 draw is what Inter was playing for. If it were, I don’t think Mourinho would have stormed off into the locker room before the first half was over.

So, let’s all just calm down. As reader Matt noted, “John O’Shea…who sucks normally…ask any of us…managed to make whoever ran at him look like turd, as well as Jonny Evans…who’s 21 and obv [sic] not first choice either. Do you actually think you faced the best united team today?” In two weeks time, Vidic will be available, Rafael will be fit, and Rooney will start. Then, if it’s still a scoreless draw, Inter can celebrate… after they win in extra time/penalties. Until then, I’m drawing confidence from the fact that a makeshift defense held two world class attackers to perimeter shots and bad misses, that John O’Shea defied the old adage that “The Champions League is the competition for all the greatest players in Europe… and John O’Shea,” and that, finally, Fergie seemed to win the managerial battle.

Highlights

Random update: For those of you not aware, The Offside was recently contacted by the Net Result legal team and told that it was illegal for us to be using club crests without authorization. So, Wayne and I have sent letters to United begging and pleading for usage rights. According to an email sent earlier today, they are evaluating our request and will be in touch. Not sure what that means, but we’ll keep you updated.