This is almost the same time when I wrote last year and in my last post :) I was critical of negative tactics of Sir Alex Ferguson in last year's champions league semifinal against FC Barcelona. Now we all know that United were the champions and I enjoyed the victory over Chelsea like any other hardcore United fan. It was ultimate drama as Ronaldo missed his penalty and we were one kick away from losing it. Thanks to viva Terry we are the European champions as well as word champions. Now I can thank Sir Alex Ferguson for his tactics against Barcilona.
Coming to this years campaign , we were almost there till we saw off Inter Milan in Champion's league pre-quarter final. Sir Alex has chosen different teams and they all have delivered. All the midfielders have been doing commendable job. Carrick, Fletcher and Giggs have been outstanding. Scholes , Anderson have done their job with Scholes being brilliant in some matches. Darren Gibson has been very promising.
So when came Liverpool match we all were very excited , bring on anyone we will see. I guess same feeling crept in Sir Alex Ferguson's mind. When I saw the team sheet I was happy that for a change Tevez is palying with Rooney which was such an exciting partnership last year. Also I got a bit bored of Berbatov. He is a nice bloke , good player but he slows us down. He is a good passer but lately he has started overdoing it with the ball. When there are through passes he doesn't seem to be reaching to them. An striker should be fast with Berbatov like skills. I so dearly wanted Torres to come to Manchester United but he Joined his fellow Spaniard. I can understand that. But Torres is a complete striker. Ok so I was happy with Berbatov's absence but I was amazed that Anderson and Carrick were there in the midfield. I can imagine from where it might have come. The last performance of Anderson against Gerrard was outstanding and Carrick has been marvelous. But Anderson has just come out of injury and Carrick has played with Fletcher and Scholes who are so much hardworking and technically better than Anderson. This selection would have made sense if Anderson has played a few games more. So before the game itself I had a doubt and I so dearly wanted myself to be proved wrong but my instincts were right :(
Saying all that still it was a good match till Nemenja tried to play some football against his characteristic. He would never have imagined that any striker can molest him and take the ball away the way Torres did. It was painful to see our rock being dismantled but on the other side as a football neutral it was wonderful to watch Torres. Vidic must be wondering what the hell. But it is good for his game as he came against someone so good. I am sure Nemenja will learn a lot from this game and will be aware of the danger next time, hopefully in Champions League semifinal.
Whatever Nemenja was thinking about Torres's molestation same happened to Patrice Evra. When Torres played that ball Evra must have thought it was his as Gerrard was behind enough to be confident. But it was Gerrard with his long legs and full throttle running who rounded Evra and reached to the ball just split second ahead of Evra. It was nightmare but again Evra will think that there are men who can overrun him. Mind you these are all personal battles and these are good reminders to our heroes Evra and Vidic to learn and take all care while defending. Never be overconfident with good players. None other team's players have troubled Evra and Vidic the way Torres and Gerrard did at least in my memory. Vidic was taught lessons by both Gerrard and Torres. So Three mistakes three goals , game over. Had it been any other team or instead of Gerrard and Torres any other strikers we would have definitely won 1-0 at least .
Sir Alex Ferguson pointed out after Inter Milan's match that we were poor but inter was not able to capitalize but Liverpool did. Torres and Gerrard were the difference between the teams. On the other hand our midfielders were pedestrians, neither they covered our defense nor created enough. Height of it all came when we were four against three and Carrick overhit the pass to Ronaldo and Evra for a throwin on a conter attck. Had our midfield performed I guess Gerrard and Torres would have been busy helping their midfield. I expect a lot from Carrick but against Inter and Liverpool he looked pale.
I was Ok after the defeat as it taught a few lessons and good goals were scored against us. Hopefully we will learn our lessons and do better next time. Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez are not doing enough as they did last season. Tevez runs a lot fine , but very little end product. Tevez and Rooney's first touches are a bit poor, ball doesn't stick to their legs. But I would prefer them over Berbatov. He has not done enough.
As Sir Alex and Sir Bobby said , let this win be a blessing in disguise for red devil's season.
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3 comments:
Your view after this weekend's game.. against what's that team... yeah Fulham and another blast from pool? What next?
Some guys are habitual to the practice. I fee Scholes is one of them. During practice sessions also he must be playing volleyball when ball is going over his head and into the net. That instinct needs to be curbed. He should be asked to tie his hands behind his back and then stand at the post while a corner being taken in practise. Its the second time in my memory he has done this.
Anyway Berbatov again proved me right. Currently he is good for nothing. I hope he realises as soon as possible that he is playing football and running and showing passions are integral parts of it.
Once down to 10 and a goal behind it was an uphill task. This season I have not seen United come from behind in any game so there the character needs to be build and Rooney and Ronaldo are showing exactly opposite. Just get on with the game guys. Remember last minute goals scored in United's history. Second half United was all over. Park got a shooting chance, blazed over. Fletcher got a chance, very weak shot. Ronaldo got two chances, he headed straight at goalkeeper ( I can't spell schwazreger name) and then the double or should i say tripple save from park, rooney and rooney again by goalkeeper. So satisfied with performance, disgusted with discipline. Hopefully Rooney and Ronaldo has enough hunger for trophies to forget personal frustrations and learn to get on with the game.
Liverpool are playing brilliant. If they are able to keep the two horses fit then they have the best chance to win CL. If Manchester United does a Newcastle then they can sneak the EPL as well. Kyut and Riera seem to raise their game with Gerrard and Torres in the team.
Villa were great till the second goal was scored. After that I stopped watching. Manchester United should show more respect to villans in their next game as they are as wounded as United.
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