Manchester United owed me money, so I backed them at 1/2 to beat Spurs.
I had a bet on the champions to win at Manchester City last week but they lost to a 30-yard shot that deflected off the buttocks of Vidic.
Then came August Bank Holiday Super Sunday live from Old Trafford.
In the first half United had no rhythm and no striker and no attacking shape and after half an hour I reckoned they wouldn’t score a goal till Cristiano Ronaldo comes back.
At half-time my friend Doug rang from Antibes and said, “They can’t get the ball to Tevez. There’s a weird seniority vibe going on. It’s so undynamic, it’s just ridiculous. Their most dynamic player is Evra, they should push him up and bring Silvestre on at left back.”
I said, “Giggs is hopeless today, so laborious, I’d take him off.”
Second half, it was still an interesting game and United improved but not enough and after an hour I didn’t mind if Spurs won. I was gonna lose my bet, so an away win was the same as a draw.
Berbatov, the moody maestro, had two penalty claims, but it was NOT handball by Wes Brown.
First time I saw it, I thought Brown chested the ball. Having seen it 20 more times, I still think he chested it. And the ref was in no position to see a penalty, even if the ball did brush Brown’s left arm.
Then, in 68, Nani skipped sideways away from Huddlestone and hit a wonder-shot that flipped off Tevez and over the flailing glove of the luckless Paul Robinson. You lose to a deflected 30-yarder, then a week later you win with a deflected 30-yarder. That’s football, I guess.
Spurs didn’t deserve to lose and I didn’t deserve to win my bet. The best Spurs player was Gareth Bale, who can really cross a ball. He is just 18 will be sold to Man United by Tottenham’s next owners.
Sky pundit Graeme Souness said, “Berbatov is a special player. He’s class, he’s as good as Dalglish or Cantona. Special players are the ones who decide games.”