Manchester United face a daunting prospect of overturning a 2-goal deficit tonight at the Theatre of Dreams where impossible used to be nothing. However, tonight, Uche Jombo's state in the movie, 'Holding Hope' is the best scenario to describe Moyes and his faltering boys at the moment. Rafa Da Silva looked shell shocked and star struck on Sunday as if he was playing against the likes of Garrincha, Stanley Matthews and Enzo Francescoli. Nemanja Vidic's heart and soul seems to have travelled to the Meazza already and Robin Van Persie is dreaming of something more important that winning more trophies for Manchester United. It has been an utterly terrible season and that is putting it mildly. There is nothing more hurting than seeing one of the best teams in History being taken apart week in, week out by rivals and amateurs. The team is beyond mediocre all thanks to the attitude of the players and the tactical ineptitude of 'Dithering Dave'. It is now a full circle.
Steven Gerrard almost scored a hat-trick of penalties against Manchester United on Sunday, before my very eyes and on my birthday. Things haven't been this tragic and there isn't any chance that better days are not far ahead. Even when United went three seasons without winning a League title, they still mounted a serious challenge on all fronts. We are seeing a complete reversal of fortunes at the moment. Beaten and bruised by Liverpool at Old Trafford surely must be the height. Well, for now.
Olympiakos come into this encounter with a huge advantage. It is not often that you see a Greek team (with all due respect) holding a comfortable lead over a European super power but as it has been the case this season, United are rewriting history for all the wrong reasons. Alejandro Dominguez must have thought he was in his living room three weeks ago when he effortlessly put the red army to the sword in a battle that was one sided from start to finish. For a moment, I thought Juan Roman Riquelme had signed for the Greek team before the game. Arsenal's Joel Campbell even had time to score one of the most beautiful goals in this year's competition, that night. All this and more have been difficult to bear by fans that aren't even on the pitches. It is disturbing and confusing at the same time that the players and manager don't seem to care. The Mitro-gol less Greeks will aim to finish the demolition job tonight.
David Moyes has the support of so many people but himself. The man is in unfamiliar territory. Handling a club as big as Manchester United has been an arduous task for him and the results show that. Imagine the defending champions losing 9 of the first 29 League games and languishing in a distant 7th position in the League. Yet, the duty of the fans is to stand by their new manager, no matter what. He has another chance tonight to right one of his numerous wrongs.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
MANCHESTER UNITED
DDG, Rafael, Jones, Smalling, Evra, Fellaini, Carrick, Young/TonyV, Giggs, Rooney, RVP
Juan Mata is ineligible for tonight's encounter. It isn't such a big miss. He hasn't done much since he arrived. Maybe next season will be the perfect time for him to find his form. TonyV should be brought in as United are chasing a lost cause and have to throw everything at them. Ryan Giggs is one of the most experienced heads in the game. He has to be included in the starting eleven. Robin Van Persie is on a mission to destroy the good work he started last season. The old man is sulking and that has contributed a lot to his poor form. At the moment, the only bright spark at the club, the only thing of joy is David De Gea. The rest are pipes.
OLYMPIAKOS
Roberto, Salino, Marcano, Manolas, Bong, Maniatis, Ndinga, Dominguez, Campbell, Fuster, Valdez
Michael Olaitan hasn't played for Piraeus since he collapsed a few weeks ago in the defeat to Panathinaikos. He is expected to sit out this important fixture. Old timer, Nelson Valdez should get a look in from the start in his absence. Alejandro Dominguez is the playmaker of the team. He should come good, knowing fully well that MUFC pose little or no threat nowadays.
Today's match is a classic case of 'let's attempt to reach the top of the mountain even though we have no clue where it is' for Manchester United. Only time will tell how long Moyes can keep piling up bad results and still retain his position as manager.AGAIN, the duty of the fans and supporters is to stand by their new manager, come rain, come sun............
Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990
