One season of football can really change the way you feel about a club. As long as I've been watching, Manchester United have been Public Enemy No. 1. A team to be hated and feared. Respected and admired, certainly. But mostly hated and feared. And ever since Cristiano Ronaldo left, United have never been at the top of my non-Arsenal soccer viewing. Even when they were putting out title-winning sides, I took no particular enjoyment in watching them play.
Until now, that is. United's utter ineptitude last season laid the groundwork by removing most of the fear and loathing and replacing it with grateful, long-awaited feelings of schadenfreude. And this season, they are probably the most entertaining side for a neutral viewer. Their attacking options are like something that was dreamed up by Roman Abramovich after a few lines of fine Colombian (not talking about Falcao) a few years ago, who then shook his head and laughed at his own silliness. Meanwhile, their defense is playing like someone told them that the FA has changed the offside rule to five yards behind the last man. And that the ball is made of hot lava. Basically, it means that the viewer is guaranteed a minimum of four goals per game, and it's not entirely clear which side is going to score them.
Anyway, if this doesn't convince you, watch and admire at Rafael screaming in desperation at Saido Berahino as he peels away, trying to put him off scoring the way your annoying friend yells right before your shot in a game of H-O-R-S-E. (Note: it didn't work. At all.) Good stuff.
1 comment:
Great find. He really is exactly as annoying as we suspected.
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