Dimitar Berbatov scored a hat-trick as rampant Manchester United beat Wigan Athletic 5-0 to go level on points with Manchester City after the Premier League leaders were held 0-0 at West Bromwich Albion last night.

Berbatov scored twice before converting a late penalty, with Park Ji-Sung and Wigan old boy Antonio Valencia adding United’s other goals against the visitors who had Conor Sammon sent off late in the first-half.

United’s second successive 5-0 victory – they also thrashed Fulham by the same score on Wednesday – allowed them to halve their goal difference deficit on City who started the day with a plus-10 tally over their neighbours and ended it on plus-five.

The last four league matches for United have produced 16 goals for and only one against.

If I were a Liverpool fan – and I thank God every single day that I am not – I would be thoroughly ashamed of my LFC’s statement which followed the FA’s decision to ban Luis Suarez for eight matches. However, there is one paragraph in particular which I find absolutely pathetic and also an indication of guilt:

Luis himself is of a mixed race family background as his grandfather was black. He has played with black players and mixed with their families whilst with the Uruguay national side and was Captain at Ajax Amsterdam of a team with a proud multi-cultural profile, many of whom became good friends. It seems incredible to us that a player of mixed heritage should be accused and found guilty in the way he has based on the evidence presented.

Bitch, please! 

The fact that his grandfather was black and that he has black friends means absolutely nothing. It has no bearing whatsoever as to whether he abused Patrice Evra and it certainly does not give him permission to do so.

I have heard members of the Chinese diaspora complain, and make racist comments, about fellow Chinese people from other countries. I have heard Indians complain about, and make racist remarks, about Indians who have a different nationality. And I have heard people who have gay relatives abuse gay people at work.

In fact, a former colleague of mine had a gay uncle with whom he was very close and whom loved very much, but he himself was overheard bitching about an (unpopular) gay colleague with all sorts of derogatory comments and jokes about gays. When this was leaked to the HR department by one person, his defence was, of course, that he had a gay uncle and that he would “never in a million years” say something derogatory about gays. Nobody backed up the allegations, as he was a well-liked guy and HR could not sack him as it was only the testimony of one person against his. The case was closed.

The point is, human beings will always make derogatory comments about other human beings who are different. Even amongst the same race, but different nationalities! I can’t even repeat some of the things I’ve read and heard people from England, Scotland and Ireland say to each other.

So please, Liverpool, don’t play the “his grand daddy’s black and he has black friends card.” Luis Suarez is not black. He said what he said, because he is not and because Evra is. Evra was obviously riled and disturbed by what he had said and made it immediately clear to the ref.

Stewart downing pulls off a “Pedro”

Charlie Adam pulls off a “Gerrard”

Steven Gerrard classic dives

From @beardedgenius

Man Utd 3 – 1 Chelsea. EPL 5 – 2011/2012 by fred_nguyen

After last night’s 1-1 stalemate against Benfica, Sir Alex Ferguson was quite adamant that David De Gea would play against Chelsea and looking at the Spanish keeper’s chalkboards, it is easy to see why.

De Gea’s distribution and ability on the ball is absolutely vital to Manchester United’s defensive and build-up play. What’s more, is that the former Atletico keeper seems to have grown in confidence with every passing match and the numbers appear to back up that observation.

In his premier league debut against West Brom, David De Gea attempted only 30 passes and completed 14 of them for a pass completion rate of 47%. While a strong indicator of his team mates still getting used to him is that he only received 9 passes throughout the match.

These seemingly average numbers have improved in each subsequent match and by the time the Red Devils were done spanking Bolton 0-5 at the Reebok, De Gea’s numbers read 57 passes attempted,  44 completed, Pass Completion Rate: 78%. Numbers of passes received:  A whopping 34 compared to his counterpart, Jussi Jaaskelainen, who received a paltry 5 passes all game.

What these numbers tell us is that the Manchester United goalkeeper plays a vital part in both the defensive and build-up phases of play and that the keeper functions as a quasi sweeper. He’s an additional defender, not only able to receive the ball in order to minimize losing possession, but also tasked to play the ball out of defence intelligently. Compare De Gea’s passing to his counterparts and you can see that he doesn’t just hoof it up front, but plays it (accurately) to his team mates in central and wide areas.

In the first 4 premier league matches of this campaign, De Gea completed a total of 47 passes more than his counterparts while only misplacing 5 passes more than the opposite keeper.

Total Passes attemted | succesful | unsuccesful
DDG 168 111 57 rest = 116 64 52

David De Gea also received the ball a total of 83 times while his counterparts received a total of 25 passes in 4 matches. That’s less than De Gea received in the match against Bolton.

Oh, and the next time a Gooner tells you about their patient build-up play, point them to the chalkboards comparing De Gea’s and Szczasny’s passing.

De Gea vs WBA compared to Foster

Passes attemted succesful unsuccesful
De Gea 30 14 16 vs Foster 28 15 13

De Gea Pass Completion Rate:  47%

Passes received

De Gea vs Tottenham compared to Friedel

Passes attemted succesful unsuccesful
De Gea 48 29 19 vs Friedel 30 15 15

De Gea Pass Completion Rate: 61%

Passes received

De Gea vs Arsenal compared to Szczesny

Passes attemted succesful unsuccesful
De Gea 33 24 9 vs Szczesny 30 14 16

De Gea Pass Completion Rate: 73%

Passes received

De Gea vs Bolton compared to Jaaskelainen

Passes attemted succesful unsuccesful
De Gea 57 44 13 vs Jaaskelainen 28 20 8

De Gea Pass Completion Rate: 78%

Passes received

Total Passes attemted | succesful | unsuccesful
DDG 168 111 57 vs rest = 116 64 52

Ryan Giggs broke his own record to establish himself once again as the oldest goalscorer in the Champions League. Giggsy has also scored in the Champions League in more seasons than any other player. Well done, Sir Ryan Giggs!

szólj hozzá: Ben 1-1 Man

Who is the dirtiest, most disgusting cunt in the premier league? A vile player who injures a young player with infinitely more talent than himself and then issues no apology, thereby indicating he meant to injure said young talented footballer…

When Jonny Evans injured Stuart Holden, he apologized for it immediately.

Tom Cleverley’s injuy was the only negative from a superior Manchester United performance.

Kevin Davies is a disgusting cunt.

szólj hozzá: Bol 0-5 Man U