King Henrik?
So, many years after it was first mooted, this afternoon he finally arrives at Old Trafford. Back when he was taking the Scotland by storm and transforming a two horse race into a canter for one, you could barely chuck a stone at Old Trafford without hitting someone who had it on unimpeachable authority that he was United bound in the summer. Of course, like so many other done deals, the speculation proved entirely free of any proximity to the truth. But this afternoon he'll stroll out from the tunnel to meet the acclaim of a not quite full house. But enough about Martin O' Neill, today's all about Henrik Larsson. (Though, before we get to Henrik, who can forget O'Neill's priceless cameo's in recent World Cups, playing just off Alan Hansen, blindsiding Lineker with his unexpected shimmies from left-field)?
Larsson's affair with United looks set to be a fleeting one, but I'm confident that it will be consummated with a goal against Villa's rather leaky defence this afternoon. In fact were it not for the thrill and the lure of seeing Larsson perform in a red shirt, I know that I'd be trudging along this afternoon more out of a sense of duty than anything else. (That said, the terms of the season ticket that Malcolm kindly agreed for me stiplulate that I was paying for a ticket regardless.)
Indeed, Villa twice at home in the space of seven days would normally have me plunging the depths, but the Larsson factor should put a bounce in my step and carry me through games that have an atmosphere that usually owes a lot to chlorofoam. Villa fans will regale us with the traditional hymns of visitors suffering a dearth of originality and wit. United will respond by snoring a little bit louder. Hopefully that pattern will be broken by the dazzling performance from our newest old codger.
While Ronaldo has quite righly soaked up the plaudits in recent weeks, it has to be noted that the platform for our so far, so brilliant season is the rejuvenation of Scholes and Giggs. Scholes continues to be one of the most elusive players on the pitch, inhabitiing his own little time zone, where the seconds seem to freeze, allowing him freedom to just drift past opponents. It's probably the gift of a magnetic first touch that cushions the ball with a delicacy that borders on the miraculous.
Giggs has been on equally splendid form. The familiar groans of derision that for a long time soundtracked his game, have long been silenced (latching onto John O Shea at the moment instead), and the accuracy of his passing is a thing of wonder and beauty. Such has been the form of this pair and Ronaldo that it's shielded the lumbering, labouring performances of Wayne Rooney from too much scrutiny. Should a dip in form occur - and with the title so delicately poised, we pray it doesn't - Rooney can expect to come in for a fierce interrogation from the press.
For now, that fear can subside and we look forward to Larsson removing Chelseas's lingering grip on the title before he returns home in the spring.
P.S. Resepct to the Liverpool fans for their vehement show of disgust at the Sun at the start of last nights game. What's the betting United fans sing 'Justice for the 39' today though?
posted by Royton Red @ 11:18 AM
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