VIEW: United vs City (Cup). 0-1

'...so THAT's how you take a bib off...?'

Yes it's a delayed report (as is becoming a trend of mine), but on the plus side it has well and truly allowed me to absorb and reflect any adverse emotions that I shouldn't, but would have, shared with you on my blog.

So now boys and girls, I can safely say that, after a messy night on Saturday and a Sunday spent ignoring-slash-digesting the above image that was splattered all over the back pages: I am over it. Over the result, over the disappointment, over the embarrassment of having to face it all while being sat literally metres away from the blue end of Wembley, and over the fact that they'll more than likely break the 35 year drought without a trophy.

Why? Because all we care about is number 1 - not whether Citeh get the bragging rights for one measly victory over us while we have been spoilt with glorious last-second wins and stunning overhead kicks against them in recent years. Nor whether we may have to finally take down 'that' banner at the Stretford End. But instead, we care about winning and proving to the world that we are the best. And for United, with the FA Cup firmly holding  its position as third priority for about 15 years now, we have to simply reflect on being knocked out and instead thank God that we got through the Chelsea Champions League quarter final days earlier, as well as being firmly in control of the League (a special mention to our friend Eboue at this point, for doing all he could the day after to make sure his Arsenal team pose as little threat to United as possible in the remaining few games...)

My point is peeps, that the FA Cup doesn't matter any more. Let's face it. And if we had to lose to City in one of the remaining competitions we were involved in - and I mean simply had to lose - then everyone would agree that this would be the chosen one. For a defeat against them in the closing stages of the season that would see us lose out on the title, or God forbid meeting them in the Champions League semi finals and losing (might happen one day...) would be sickening and unforgivable.

As for the game itself, it genuinely never took off; yet another reason - the close nature and equally average performances by either team - that helped brush it aside the result.




It was a typical 'each team cancels each other out' sort of game which was inevitably defined and decided by a number of errors: firstly 22 goal Berbatov's sitter that he missed in the first half, and secondly the comedy of errors that lead to Toure's winner. We missed Rooney. Alot. And Ferguson's decision to leave out Hernandez and play a 4-5-1, leaving Giggs out and starting the legendary liability that is Paul Scholes (who completely deserved his red card against Zabaleta) in the process was another contributing error to our defeat.

They could still lose against Stoke - who did put five past an alright Bolton side - and thus enhance the seasons climax even further (assuming we do still win a trophy this season). But for now, let us concentrate on what's truly important: the Premier League and Champions League. Two competitions that truly determine which team rules domestically and on the content (respectively), two competitions whereby everyone involved wants to win, as to win defines greatness...and two competitions that those f**king blue c**nting Bertie bastards have never even come close to competing in. Show THAT to our fans Baltelli you mug.