Dreaming of Manchester
147 comments February 12th, 2011
As I hurriedly type this, we’re less than an hour away from the Manchester Derby. From my Sky-less abode, I have about half an hour to type this up, and then get to a pub if I’m to catch the game.
I needn’t bother. For, like a footballistic Tiresias, I have foreseen it. Last night, as I slept an iPlayer and Chinese takeaway fuelled sleep, my mind swilled with visions of what would pass today.
In the dream, I tuned in to United vs City after just nine minutes. In an intriguing replica of last week’s Newcastle v Arsenal game, United were already 3-0 up. Ryan Giggs had scored the third with a cheeky lob, and pundits were queuing up to name him Footballer of the Year again, primarily because he is old and quite cuddly.
Sadly, unlike Arsenal the previous week, United didn’t completely collapse in the second half, and went on to win 4-0. As it happens, in reality, the line-ups have just been announced, and neither Dimitar Berbatov nor Edin Dzeko are afforded starting spots, so it doesn’t look (on paper) like a goalfest.
Whatever happens in Manchester, Arsenal will be in a position to benefit. If City lose, we and United could begin to break away in to a more manageable two-horse raise. If United lose, we gain ground on the leaders. And a draw could be the most beneficial result of all.
Of course, it’s all dependent on us beating Wolves. I also dreamt that we did just that, winning 3-1, but two of our goals were scored by Sol Campbell, who doesn’t play for us, and one was a forty-yard free-kick. Even for a dream, that’s a fairly unreliable prediction.
Right. The team news is generally good. The international break has hopefully allowed the players to forget about that dreadful 45 minutes at St. James’. Come On You Gunners.
