Don't believe what the Scousers say

Evra has never played the race card:

http://therepublikofmancunia.com/how-patrice-evra-has-never-played-the-race-card-and-why-assumptions-are-dangerous/

Final prediction

Here's hoping my uncanny ability will work one more time: Barcelona to win a disappointing game.

Once more for luck...

The prediction all ManU supporters wanted to hear: United will pay for not taking their chances in the first leg - Arsenal to progress to the Champions League final.

Bet your house on it

Given my previous record, I've been asked by some Man Utd supporters to make public my verdict on the outcome of tomorrow's tie. Happy to oblige - Utd will be knocked out and Porto will advance to the semi-finals. Guaranteed fact.

Fallacious prediction #2734

Okay, I know I should have learnt my lesson after predicting that Man Utd might have blown it by only drawing 0-0 at Barcelona in the Champions League last season. I just have this feeling they're going to pay the price for not converting any of the chances they created against Inter last week. The fact they were so dominant against Fulham at the weekend only increases my fears. I just don't see United playing that well again on Wednesday - and surely Inter can't play as badly as they did in the first leg? If it wasn’t Mourninho I’d certainly favour United – but as it’s him, I’m afraid I’m expecting the worst…

Bring on the Scousers?

For only the second time in my life, I think I might actually want those Lucky Scousers to win a game tonight (the previous occasion was a league fixture against the Geordies - the one team I dislike more – when there was an outside chance that they might actually win something for once in their miserable existence). The chance to see Man United beat (hopefully thump) them in the final, thereby shutting their fans up for ever, is just too good an opportunity to miss. Of course the nightmare scenario, where the Scousers have yet another of their lucky European nights, is simply too awful to contemplate. But this is perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sort out the ultimate bragging rights, finally and for ever. So, as much as it pains me to admit it, I think I’ll be hoping that Chelsea slip up tonight. Well, perhaps...

Have Man Utd blown it?

If Barcelona knock United out next week, it will be easy to look at the 2nd minute of the first leg as the turning point. But although Ronaldo's penalty miss was pretty unforgivable, given how important an away goal would have been, I wonder if tactically Ferguson got it wrong. In the 70s and 80s, 0-0 away from home in the first leg of a European tie was a great result - you'd then be confident of going back to your fortress and wrapping up the tie. Nowadays, I'm not so sure that it is such a good result. I think away goals have become far more important these days, and United may rue not having been a bit more adventurous at Camp Nou, especially with Puyol missing (did they have any shots on target?).

Now United have to win at Old Trafford, and should Barca take the lead, or even if United are ahead by a goal with 20 or so minutes to go, things could become very precarious. I actually make Barca slight favourites now - I can see Messi continuing to cause United problems, whilst Henry (should he play) certainly won't need any motivation to try and silence the Theatre of Dreams. It's about time Ronaldo had a big game when it really matters - if he doesn't, I suspect it could well become 'squeaky bum' time on Tuesday night.