Squeaky bum time has come to us over confident reds, of who i'll have to admit i was one. I expected us to win last night, or at the very least, to not get beat. A look at the table and a look at the form, not with standing Wigan's recent resurgence suggested United's unbelievable record against the pie eaters would continue. In fact i was even talking about how we shouldn't want Wigan to go down really, before the game because they were a guaranteed six points a season. Famous last words.
But though the result was a shock to the system, it probably shouldn't have been. We have been getting results without really playing well for quite a while now. In fact, one of the remarkable facets of that run was just how rarely we have really put a top performance in. How many times have we said we didn't really play that well, but we got the three points and that's all that matters at this stage of the season. Of course the three points are paramount but performance levels do matter as well and we couldn't really carry on as we had been without being brought back down to earth somewhere. It's just that last night seemed the least likely time for it to happen.
I didn't have too many concerns about the team selection except a slight worry about Jones at right back who seems, to borrow a horse racing term, to have gone over the top for this season. His early season form and confidence seems to have disappeared since the injuries he suffered after the new year. But Rafael wasn't that brilliant either on Sunday so if there was a game to give him a run out during the run in, last night seemed as good as any i suppose. On the night, whilst not being terrible he wasn't the force of earlier in the season.
The first few minutes gave cause for slight concern as amazingly United just couldn't get hold of the ball, not a usual occurence against Wigan of course. After twenty minutes or so of that Fergie was furiously on the touchline giving Rooney tactical instructions. I suppose you have to give Martinez credit as his tactics took United by suprise and for the first half worked a treat. They flooded the midfield and completely stifled our wide men at the same time. So United hardly saw the ball and when we did we couldn't do anything with it.
For all their possession Wigan didn't really create much, but did manage to find the back of the net only to see it ruled out. I couldn't really see much wrong with it at the time and replays didn't suggest much either. But as the saying goes, decisions tend to even themselves out and the two decisions that went against us in the second half gave that some credence.
Fergie had to change something at half time and did so by bringing Cleverley on and matching their three men in midfield by putting Rooney wide on the left. Young who hadn't managed to get into the game in an attacking mode, but to be fair to him worked hard, made way. The change made some sense, but leaving Hernandez up top on his own in a front three didn't, as we have seen time and time again, it's not a situation that brings the best out of him. Unsuprisingly Welbeck was brought on with about half an hour to go.
But it wasn't just being out numbered in midfield that had hindered, but yet again, the way United can't handle teams getting about us, working hard, dare i say it wanting it more. As i have been banging on about for half this season it seems, the pace of our game is just too slow, there is not enough energy. Giggs took some stick last night in the boozer i watched it in and it has to be said he hasn't been at his best recently. People were moaning about his work rate, but that's not what he is picked for, he's picked to bring experience and vision that are needed in the tight games, a la Norwich. My theory is that since Scholes has come back, Giggs hasn't really played enough football, hence the slump in form. I'm not really sure what we can do about that. Of course one answer is, that we really shouldn't be relying on a 37 and a 38 old, but we do and that's where we are. Hopefully Cleverley will have an injury free season next year and maybe Pogba will start to come through, if he does actually stay that is. But we really do need at least one extra quality midfielder at the club for next season if we are to stay competitive, but how long have we been saying that for.
Of couse their goal when it came, didn't see the officials or Wayne Rooney's defensive qualities at their best. It never even looked like a corner, no wonder Jones couldn't believe it had been given. But Rooney was beaten far too easily to allow Maloney the room to hit a superb bending shot that De Gea couldn't save. United huffed and puffed after that but never really looked like blowing the Wigan defence down. Once again if the opposition can put a straight jacket around Valencia United's attack looks far short of the creativity that's needed to open up a determined defence. The frustration eventually stated to get to Valencia last night and as the game went on he got progressively worse. I thhink he is a cracking player, but even his biggest fans have to admit he is very one dimnesional.
So it was nice to see Nani come back to the squad and it was when he was brought on instead of Rooney that United actually started to look like they may eventually hace a goal in them. But was Fergie right to take off Rooney, i'm not sure to be honest, he is our most likely goalscorer but he hasn't actually been playing that well recently, he has been giving it away outside the area just as much as everybody else, maybe Fergie was sending a message to Rooney and the rest of the squad.
United should have had a penalty, but it was one of those nights and we didn't get. I can't complain too much we didn't really deserve anything out of the game, getting a penalty looked about the only way we would score on the night, which says it all.
I have always been an optimist and i still think we'll win the league, but not so much because of my confidence in United, more in that i think City will drop points on Tyneside and Norwich away won't be an easy game for them either. Though i think they will be glad to play their game before us this weekend. I suppose it spoke volumes for City at the moment that when the pressure was seemingly off them, they put in their most convincing result in weeks. Of course with the gap back at 5 points and a sniff of the title back in their nostrils the pressure is back on them, how will they handle it this time.
Fergie wasn't thrilled by the officials but concedes that United didn't deserve anything from the game. Mancini tries to take the pressure of by claiming the title race is finished, and that's just not mind games.
Rene Meulensteen admits Fergie's recent vist to watch Lille was to have a look at Belgian international Eden Hazard. Unless United actually know they already have him tied up, i'd think that means he won't end up at United next season. United don't announce to the world who they are going to sign any more, that just leaves City and the rest to offer the player more money.
So presuming he is a red herring, who are we looking at. I have to admit that quite like the look of Gaitan at Benfica, especially as he can play on the left. My worry there would be his nationality. Once Real or Barca come in for him he would be off there in a shot. After that i'm not sure, i didn't think Eriksen of Ajax stood out enough against us and i'm not convinced about Dortmund's Japanese international we have been linked with either.
A couple of years down the line Daehli will have matured enough to start to force his way into the squad, he really looks a special talent to me, then there is the Belgian already at the club Perreira, he is only 16 but he looks like he could be some player, though we have of course said that before. There are plenty of top prsopects at the club. What we really want is a 28 to 30 year old experienced top class midfielder to get us through the next few years.
If Fergie isn't convinced that Fabio can do the job at left back then a replacement for Evra has to be a big priority, sad to say the Frenchmen has become almost as big a liabilty in the premier league as he he has been at champions league level for a couple of seasons now. I suppose the fact that Evra has been almost the only ever present amongst that back four for the last couple of seasons hasn't helped his game. I wouldn't write him off totally yet, but we have to be looking at an eventual replacement or at the least, somebody to back him up and give him the odd game off.
It was a busy weekend for the younger reds earlier in the week with the under 19's playing in a tournament in Dallas, the squad comprised mostly of our youth team. They acquitted themselves well getting to the final only to lose 2-1. An under 17 tournament held in Amsterdam saw a squad made up mainly of our academy also get to a final against hosts Ajax only to get beat on penalties after surrendering a two goal lead. Daehli once again took the eye in a final that i saw on Eurosport. United played pretty well, they were definitely the better football side but ran out of legs in the last ten minutes on a tiring pitch. Hopefully i'll get to see the highlights of the rest of the tournament.
It's a big night on Friday as the youngsters take on Chelsea in the semi final second leg of the FA Youth cup. It will be a hard task but i wouldn't put it past them to turn it around, the first goal will probably be crucial.
Paul Wilson argues that this seasons premier league woes reveal the strength's in the English game as well as the flaws. I don't really buy that, i have heard others say that United and City didn't treat the competition as seriously as the champions league, did they watch City for the last twenty minutes of their tie at home to Porto, they tried all right.
And United were trying all right, just because they decided the tie was gone in the second half doesn't mean that we weren't giving it our all in the rest of that tie against Bilbao. The plain fact was that we weren't good enough over the two legs and Fergie knew it, and he knows that it's back to the drawing board as far as the team and the tactics are concerned, next season in the Champions league
But though the result was a shock to the system, it probably shouldn't have been. We have been getting results without really playing well for quite a while now. In fact, one of the remarkable facets of that run was just how rarely we have really put a top performance in. How many times have we said we didn't really play that well, but we got the three points and that's all that matters at this stage of the season. Of course the three points are paramount but performance levels do matter as well and we couldn't really carry on as we had been without being brought back down to earth somewhere. It's just that last night seemed the least likely time for it to happen.
I didn't have too many concerns about the team selection except a slight worry about Jones at right back who seems, to borrow a horse racing term, to have gone over the top for this season. His early season form and confidence seems to have disappeared since the injuries he suffered after the new year. But Rafael wasn't that brilliant either on Sunday so if there was a game to give him a run out during the run in, last night seemed as good as any i suppose. On the night, whilst not being terrible he wasn't the force of earlier in the season.
The first few minutes gave cause for slight concern as amazingly United just couldn't get hold of the ball, not a usual occurence against Wigan of course. After twenty minutes or so of that Fergie was furiously on the touchline giving Rooney tactical instructions. I suppose you have to give Martinez credit as his tactics took United by suprise and for the first half worked a treat. They flooded the midfield and completely stifled our wide men at the same time. So United hardly saw the ball and when we did we couldn't do anything with it.
For all their possession Wigan didn't really create much, but did manage to find the back of the net only to see it ruled out. I couldn't really see much wrong with it at the time and replays didn't suggest much either. But as the saying goes, decisions tend to even themselves out and the two decisions that went against us in the second half gave that some credence.
Fergie had to change something at half time and did so by bringing Cleverley on and matching their three men in midfield by putting Rooney wide on the left. Young who hadn't managed to get into the game in an attacking mode, but to be fair to him worked hard, made way. The change made some sense, but leaving Hernandez up top on his own in a front three didn't, as we have seen time and time again, it's not a situation that brings the best out of him. Unsuprisingly Welbeck was brought on with about half an hour to go.
But it wasn't just being out numbered in midfield that had hindered, but yet again, the way United can't handle teams getting about us, working hard, dare i say it wanting it more. As i have been banging on about for half this season it seems, the pace of our game is just too slow, there is not enough energy. Giggs took some stick last night in the boozer i watched it in and it has to be said he hasn't been at his best recently. People were moaning about his work rate, but that's not what he is picked for, he's picked to bring experience and vision that are needed in the tight games, a la Norwich. My theory is that since Scholes has come back, Giggs hasn't really played enough football, hence the slump in form. I'm not really sure what we can do about that. Of course one answer is, that we really shouldn't be relying on a 37 and a 38 old, but we do and that's where we are. Hopefully Cleverley will have an injury free season next year and maybe Pogba will start to come through, if he does actually stay that is. But we really do need at least one extra quality midfielder at the club for next season if we are to stay competitive, but how long have we been saying that for.
Of couse their goal when it came, didn't see the officials or Wayne Rooney's defensive qualities at their best. It never even looked like a corner, no wonder Jones couldn't believe it had been given. But Rooney was beaten far too easily to allow Maloney the room to hit a superb bending shot that De Gea couldn't save. United huffed and puffed after that but never really looked like blowing the Wigan defence down. Once again if the opposition can put a straight jacket around Valencia United's attack looks far short of the creativity that's needed to open up a determined defence. The frustration eventually stated to get to Valencia last night and as the game went on he got progressively worse. I thhink he is a cracking player, but even his biggest fans have to admit he is very one dimnesional.
So it was nice to see Nani come back to the squad and it was when he was brought on instead of Rooney that United actually started to look like they may eventually hace a goal in them. But was Fergie right to take off Rooney, i'm not sure to be honest, he is our most likely goalscorer but he hasn't actually been playing that well recently, he has been giving it away outside the area just as much as everybody else, maybe Fergie was sending a message to Rooney and the rest of the squad.
United should have had a penalty, but it was one of those nights and we didn't get. I can't complain too much we didn't really deserve anything out of the game, getting a penalty looked about the only way we would score on the night, which says it all.
I have always been an optimist and i still think we'll win the league, but not so much because of my confidence in United, more in that i think City will drop points on Tyneside and Norwich away won't be an easy game for them either. Though i think they will be glad to play their game before us this weekend. I suppose it spoke volumes for City at the moment that when the pressure was seemingly off them, they put in their most convincing result in weeks. Of course with the gap back at 5 points and a sniff of the title back in their nostrils the pressure is back on them, how will they handle it this time.
Fergie wasn't thrilled by the officials but concedes that United didn't deserve anything from the game. Mancini tries to take the pressure of by claiming the title race is finished, and that's just not mind games.
Rene Meulensteen admits Fergie's recent vist to watch Lille was to have a look at Belgian international Eden Hazard. Unless United actually know they already have him tied up, i'd think that means he won't end up at United next season. United don't announce to the world who they are going to sign any more, that just leaves City and the rest to offer the player more money.
So presuming he is a red herring, who are we looking at. I have to admit that quite like the look of Gaitan at Benfica, especially as he can play on the left. My worry there would be his nationality. Once Real or Barca come in for him he would be off there in a shot. After that i'm not sure, i didn't think Eriksen of Ajax stood out enough against us and i'm not convinced about Dortmund's Japanese international we have been linked with either.
A couple of years down the line Daehli will have matured enough to start to force his way into the squad, he really looks a special talent to me, then there is the Belgian already at the club Perreira, he is only 16 but he looks like he could be some player, though we have of course said that before. There are plenty of top prsopects at the club. What we really want is a 28 to 30 year old experienced top class midfielder to get us through the next few years.
If Fergie isn't convinced that Fabio can do the job at left back then a replacement for Evra has to be a big priority, sad to say the Frenchmen has become almost as big a liabilty in the premier league as he he has been at champions league level for a couple of seasons now. I suppose the fact that Evra has been almost the only ever present amongst that back four for the last couple of seasons hasn't helped his game. I wouldn't write him off totally yet, but we have to be looking at an eventual replacement or at the least, somebody to back him up and give him the odd game off.
It was a busy weekend for the younger reds earlier in the week with the under 19's playing in a tournament in Dallas, the squad comprised mostly of our youth team. They acquitted themselves well getting to the final only to lose 2-1. An under 17 tournament held in Amsterdam saw a squad made up mainly of our academy also get to a final against hosts Ajax only to get beat on penalties after surrendering a two goal lead. Daehli once again took the eye in a final that i saw on Eurosport. United played pretty well, they were definitely the better football side but ran out of legs in the last ten minutes on a tiring pitch. Hopefully i'll get to see the highlights of the rest of the tournament.
It's a big night on Friday as the youngsters take on Chelsea in the semi final second leg of the FA Youth cup. It will be a hard task but i wouldn't put it past them to turn it around, the first goal will probably be crucial.
Paul Wilson argues that this seasons premier league woes reveal the strength's in the English game as well as the flaws. I don't really buy that, i have heard others say that United and City didn't treat the competition as seriously as the champions league, did they watch City for the last twenty minutes of their tie at home to Porto, they tried all right.
And United were trying all right, just because they decided the tie was gone in the second half doesn't mean that we weren't giving it our all in the rest of that tie against Bilbao. The plain fact was that we weren't good enough over the two legs and Fergie knew it, and he knows that it's back to the drawing board as far as the team and the tactics are concerned, next season in the Champions league
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