Yet another dull lethargic performance from United, where once again we had to see the opposition take the lead to stir the home team into a concerted period of pressure. I wasn't particularly enamoured with the team selected when the teams were given out, but i wasn't really expecting the team at the bottom of the table to pose any serious threat.
That they did so, was down to another of our first half performances where you wonder what pre-match team talks are been given out at the moment. You're half expecting these mogadon like displays everytime we take to the field now.
And yes our central midfield was too slow and too predictable, but once again we had nothing coming from the flanks, and if we are going to play 4-4-2 you are going to struggle when your wingers barely get a cross in. Welbeck came in for most of the stick on Saturday and yes he was poor. But at least he has the excuse that he was out of position out there, though he can usually do a better job than he managed against QPR. But what's Young's excuse, Welbeck did manage to get to the byline twice and get dangerous crosses in. Can you say that of the ex Villa man, he really doesn't do enough, he is too often almost anonymous, and it's no fluke that when things aren't going to script, his is one of the first names Fergie looks to take off. I'll hold my hands up i thought he would be a decent signing, i knew he wasn't top of the tree, but i thought he had enough to make him a useful squad member.
Whilst i don't think we deserved to go into the interval behind, we almost did as the opponents took the lead just before half time, only to have to chalked off after a very tight offside call. But United weren't able to lift there game at all at the beginning of the second half, and the seemingly inevitable taking off the lead, by the opposition took just seven minutes to come.
Scholes seems to have come in for the brunt of the criticism for our sluggish midfield performance, but i thought he did alright without ever being anywhere near his best. The Carrick haters won't like this, but we missed him badly. I'm afraid i haven't been as taken with Flecther's comeback as other reds seem to have been. Despite a lovely headed goal, he wasn't really at the races on Saturday, he's nowhere near as sharp as before the condition stuck and to me, Scholes was being asked to do part of his running, which of course was pretty ludicrous. I said after the game that the selection of Flecther was based on sentiment, and i totally agree with this piece, but if some of the rumours are right, that this will be Fergie's final campaign, and their will be a bit of a clean sweep at the end of the season, i can see Flecther joining Scholes, Giggs and maybe Ferdinand in being part of that process.
Anderson seems to have been given the credit for the transformation in our fortunes, and whilst his introduction did bring some much needed mobility to our game. The two headed goals from corners that followed each other sharply were really what changed the game. The final goal did see Anderson at his best as he burst through to feed Henandez to keep the Mexicans goal scoring run going. I'll hold my breath over the idea that Anderson may finally be coming good i think.
Mind you if we thought our game was bad we hadn't seen the battle between second and third place the day after. What a strange affair that was, it was as if there was nothing at stake, and as for the standard of football, Europe's finest won't be quaking in their boots. Mind you, as City are already out and the rent boys may follow them, they wouldn't have to anyway.
It looks like Abramovitch may have surpassed himself this time, just a month ago it was being described as three horse title race, after the appointment of Bebitez and the bad vibes that has brought to that club, it wouldn't surprise me if they end up battling it out for fourth spot again.
That they did so, was down to another of our first half performances where you wonder what pre-match team talks are been given out at the moment. You're half expecting these mogadon like displays everytime we take to the field now.
And yes our central midfield was too slow and too predictable, but once again we had nothing coming from the flanks, and if we are going to play 4-4-2 you are going to struggle when your wingers barely get a cross in. Welbeck came in for most of the stick on Saturday and yes he was poor. But at least he has the excuse that he was out of position out there, though he can usually do a better job than he managed against QPR. But what's Young's excuse, Welbeck did manage to get to the byline twice and get dangerous crosses in. Can you say that of the ex Villa man, he really doesn't do enough, he is too often almost anonymous, and it's no fluke that when things aren't going to script, his is one of the first names Fergie looks to take off. I'll hold my hands up i thought he would be a decent signing, i knew he wasn't top of the tree, but i thought he had enough to make him a useful squad member.
Whilst i don't think we deserved to go into the interval behind, we almost did as the opponents took the lead just before half time, only to have to chalked off after a very tight offside call. But United weren't able to lift there game at all at the beginning of the second half, and the seemingly inevitable taking off the lead, by the opposition took just seven minutes to come.
Scholes seems to have come in for the brunt of the criticism for our sluggish midfield performance, but i thought he did alright without ever being anywhere near his best. The Carrick haters won't like this, but we missed him badly. I'm afraid i haven't been as taken with Flecther's comeback as other reds seem to have been. Despite a lovely headed goal, he wasn't really at the races on Saturday, he's nowhere near as sharp as before the condition stuck and to me, Scholes was being asked to do part of his running, which of course was pretty ludicrous. I said after the game that the selection of Flecther was based on sentiment, and i totally agree with this piece, but if some of the rumours are right, that this will be Fergie's final campaign, and their will be a bit of a clean sweep at the end of the season, i can see Flecther joining Scholes, Giggs and maybe Ferdinand in being part of that process.
Anderson seems to have been given the credit for the transformation in our fortunes, and whilst his introduction did bring some much needed mobility to our game. The two headed goals from corners that followed each other sharply were really what changed the game. The final goal did see Anderson at his best as he burst through to feed Henandez to keep the Mexicans goal scoring run going. I'll hold my breath over the idea that Anderson may finally be coming good i think.
Mind you if we thought our game was bad we hadn't seen the battle between second and third place the day after. What a strange affair that was, it was as if there was nothing at stake, and as for the standard of football, Europe's finest won't be quaking in their boots. Mind you, as City are already out and the rent boys may follow them, they wouldn't have to anyway.
It looks like Abramovitch may have surpassed himself this time, just a month ago it was being described as three horse title race, after the appointment of Bebitez and the bad vibes that has brought to that club, it wouldn't surprise me if they end up battling it out for fourth spot again.
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