@mtaalam: Surely, even if this is not your research, you should have thought about those claims before posting. So let me give you a good rebuttal from a research done by a United fan!

'While this is indeed an engaging and perceptive article if you are not a United fan,as a United fan I have a few points of clarity I wish to address. Firstly please study the following quote:

'In 2006-07,for example,United were winning 15 times on entering stoppage time and referees added an average 194.53sec. In the four games when United were not winning there was an average of 217.25sec.'

While it is a curious coincidence indeed that United were seemingly afforded extra time when trailing the opposition it should be noted that,going into the 91st minute leading 15 of their 19 home games is the most important point. I have done a little research myself and have compiled a list of the results at OT for that season.

Manchester United 1-1 Middlesbrough
Manchester United 0-1 West Ham
Manchester United 2-0 Sheffield United
Manchester United 4-1 Blackburn
Manchester United 4-1 Bolton
Manchester United 2-0 Charlton Athletic
Manchester United 4-0 Watford
Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa
Manchester United 3-2 Reading
Manchester United 3-1 Wigan
Manchester United 3-1 Manchester City
Manchester United 3-0 Everton
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea
Manchester United 3-0 Portsmouth
Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool
Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham
Manchester United 5-1 Fulham

The first thing I am sure you will notice is that United entered the 91st on four occasions without the lead and these were the games that the wonderful helping hand of officials helped them in an article called 'Manchester-united-goals-stoppage-time'. What will dazzle your petty little eyes is the fact that,as the list of results confirms Manchester United also finished 4 games without the lead. Now far be it from me to dispute the importance of those 22.72 extra seconds afforded to the Champs when not winning but they obviously didn't do much good did they??

Also,another interesting note from my analysis is that of the 15 games United won at home on that list they won 2 by one goal,7 by two goals and 6 by 3 or more goals. Again far be it from me to dispute the malcontent who penned this piece of piss but we all know that in instances where a team is trailing by 2 or more goals the referee blows up a little earlier as there is likely to be insufficient time for anything to happen that will have an impact on the scoreline,particularly in those games United won by 3 or more goals.

This habit of minimising injury time in games where it is effectively over as a contest is surely a factor in the lower average of injury time played in games where United were ripping teams to shreds??

The end,thank you for reading my thoroughly magnificent musings.'


Immorality: The morality of those who are having a better time!

So how do you explain the 7mins added on by the ref over the weekend while the 4th official had indicated 4mins? There's a saying 'Never count Man-U out before the final whistle',now we know what it means.

Bright and interesting people talk about ideas.
Those of average intelligence talk about things.
Stupid people talk about other people.

@ Mtalaam,



Seems like you missed earlier discusions,here is the explanation;



City scored in the very final seconds of the ninety. The game did not restart until over 91 minutes had elapsed. Every substitution should result in another 30 seconds being played and United replaced Anderson with Michael Carrick in the 93rd. The four minutes of injury time signalled is a minimum period,not a maximum.

So even if Michael Owen scored after an outrageous-sounding 95 minutes and 28 seconds,it was legitimate for the the game to have been in play at that time.










FACTS:-Bellamy scored at 89:55,four minutes were signaled. Play restarted at 91:01 (1:06 time wasted). Sub (30 seconds). That gave both teams a total of 1:36 over the original four,and Owen scored at 95:28 (ie 8 seconds short of this),FACT.!!

And like it has been said below,the extra time is added for both teams not one. If Manutd oponents cant score during this time,they have themselves to blame.

@sasha
Added time does not always favour both teams especially if one team has prior knowledge of it.

Imagine this scenario:
You are an athlete in a race,could be 100 meters or even a marathon. Just when you are about to hit the tape after the kick to win you hear another 20 meters have been added....

...now imagine that the person right behind you has prior knowledge of it and starts his kick then.

Bright and interesting people talk about ideas.
Those of average intelligence talk about things.
Stupid people talk about other people.

I think you are a conspiracy theorist. This was just a one win and panic-stricken-conspiratorial-Man-U-hating fraternity is busy at work spinning yarns.Cool it chaps,the road ahead is long and winding,perhaps in the end you might find your redeeming grace. Man U won fairly and need I add,with flair.

Patience Pays in Guaranteed Checks

@ reddevil
You need not post. Your user name says everything you'll ever need to say and more.

As for the rest of you manufanatics one day the truth will come out - just ask Briatore.

Bright and interesting people talk about ideas.
Those of average intelligence talk about things.
Stupid people talk about other people.