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Here’s installment number eight of the “Things” column. Musings this week are brought to you as ever by Nik, Doron, Rob and focus on the midweek European action that has just taken place.

Author: Doron
I like to think that it’s not often that this blog moans or grumbles but two stories circling in the media today are worthy of a rare controlled outburst! The topics are the UEFA Champions League and Paul Scholes…

Author: Herzog’s Child
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Part 1 of this Q & A preceded Wednesday’s catastrophe. As a result, an obligation was emplaced to ponder on it briefly but not too much. The innards of our exit have been well knifed apart by now, but to ignore it would be a disservice. These are testing times for United. In amongst the enamouring sights of our young troops delivering, a despondency lingers that won’t go away. Why? The reasons vary. The immediate concerns are clear: a lack of quality, coupled with an injury list that wouldn’t look out of place in a war-zone, has already cast doubts over what May will deliver. There’s the debt, too, of course: something far more sinister, yet oddly more ignored by the majority. That was covered in Part 1 *here*. What follows below is a little more light-hearted, but something most, if not all, football supporters can in some way relate to. United’s confirmation that Vidic will miss the rest of the season came at a time when the answers for all of the questions below had been garnered. Suffice to say, there is little point in contemplating it even further – his absence, despite the qualities of those who’ll fit in, has come at the worst time. So, enjoy the views of those below – it is their work, and theirs alone, that has made this session what it is. For their insight, intelligence and time I sincerely thank them. More shall follow soon.

It is being reported that Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament, which will rule him out for the remainder of the 2011/12 season. The news will come as a massive blow to Sir Alex Ferguson who saw his Manchester United side dumped of the Champions League by Swiss side FC Basel. United have suffered a number of injuries to defenders this season, with Vidic and Ferdinand picking up injuries on the opening day of the season against WBA.

Author: Stretford_End
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We’ve been here before. Remember 1998/99? Yes, you may argue that the calibre of teams consisting of Bayern Munich and Barcelona (apologies to any Brondby readers) were far greater than that of the current Benfica and Swiss side FC Basel – but the fact remains – United are in match day six and face the prospect of elimination if they lose the match. Did United underestimate the group? Have we been unlucky? I guess we’ll find out tomorrow evening as it is make or break time for United.

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Manchester United picked up a well earned point in their opening group C game in Lisbon against two times European Cup winners Benfica. Oscar Cardozo opened the scoring for the home team with a well take strike following a superb ball from the the left foot of Gaitan on the left hand side. The big Paraguayan took the ball on his chest before spinning to take the ball passed Evans and strike a right footed shot across the diving Lindegaard. Ryan Giggs hit back just before half time with an excellent left footed strike outside of the box, following a direct run from Antonio Valencia on the right hand side. Ryan Giggs scored his first goal in the Champions League back in September 1994 (just over seventeen years since his latest strike against Benfica) against IFK Gothenberg in 4-2 victory over the Swedish Champions.
Here we discuss the talking points of the 1-1 draw against Benfica.