Three points, another game chalked off, a new league record, if that floats your boat, but otherwise, pretty much a game to forget. Which for as much as i can't really say i enjoyed the 90 minutes too much, i can't complain too much at. The game that really matters for me, and Fergie by the looks of things is tomorrow morning's game in west London.
With two games in three days it was always going to be a much changed team, and when both Buttner and Anderson start, you can also say weakened and that's exactly what it was. Still it was a fairly strong side, one that should have been much too strong for O'Neill's side. Saying that i wasn't as confident as i usually would be going into a game like this. Given Sunderland's current free fall and United's weakened team, you never know whether the opposition will show up and give you one of those fighting for everything type performances.
I needn't have worried, the home team's first half performance was up there with Fulham's at Old trafford in the cup, as the worst we have encountered this season. They improved in the second half, they could hardly do otherwise they had been so abject in the first half, but by then we had got the goal. United completely dominated the first half, but it was one of those days where United were content to do just enough and no more.
The second half was a forty five minutes to be endured as United never really got going, as much as United had Monday on their minds, we really should have been beating that mackem side by more than one goal. But we got through it, not totally unscathed unfortunately as Rafael went off in the first half, that could be a blow if it's serious with the fixtures ahead.
Carrick was easily the outstanding player in red, he is in as rich a vein of form as he has had in his whole career at the club, at present. I thought Kagawa was excellent in the first half, but faded in the second, but i felt that was due to the players around him, more than through any fault of his own. Van Persie did reasonably well in general, aside from his goal, but i still wouldn't be surprised to see him start on the bench on Monday.
Negatives, as usual Anderson didn't last the ninety minutes and at times might as well not have been on the pitch for all that he contributed to the game. Some were more impressed by Buttners display than usual, i can't really count myself amongst them. Sure he had a couple of good moments, but he still looked like an accident waiting to happen against a better team to me.
The sacking of O'Neill was a surprise, it goes without saying, i wouldn't have been surprised if he had gone in the summer, but to sack him now, doesn't really make much sense. He hasn't improved this Sunderland side one iota since he arrived at the club though, i know they have been unfortunate with injuries, but that was a really spineless performance yesterday. Not one you would ever really associate with a team managed by Martin O'Neill. You have to wonder whether we'll ever see him managing again in the premier league after this.
So to tomorrow, a game to get you licking your lips and not one that i can expect to say i had to endure it come half two ish, tomorrow afternoon. I really fancy us for this, we will be fresher than we were for the first tie, no running out of legs in the second half in this one. I can see Rooney Welbeck and Nani all starting this, question is, as part of a front three or will we go 4-4-2. It's a biggie anyway, a crack at a bit of revenge against City for that semi final defeat should be all the incentive they need.
With two games in three days it was always going to be a much changed team, and when both Buttner and Anderson start, you can also say weakened and that's exactly what it was. Still it was a fairly strong side, one that should have been much too strong for O'Neill's side. Saying that i wasn't as confident as i usually would be going into a game like this. Given Sunderland's current free fall and United's weakened team, you never know whether the opposition will show up and give you one of those fighting for everything type performances.
I needn't have worried, the home team's first half performance was up there with Fulham's at Old trafford in the cup, as the worst we have encountered this season. They improved in the second half, they could hardly do otherwise they had been so abject in the first half, but by then we had got the goal. United completely dominated the first half, but it was one of those days where United were content to do just enough and no more.
The second half was a forty five minutes to be endured as United never really got going, as much as United had Monday on their minds, we really should have been beating that mackem side by more than one goal. But we got through it, not totally unscathed unfortunately as Rafael went off in the first half, that could be a blow if it's serious with the fixtures ahead.
Carrick was easily the outstanding player in red, he is in as rich a vein of form as he has had in his whole career at the club, at present. I thought Kagawa was excellent in the first half, but faded in the second, but i felt that was due to the players around him, more than through any fault of his own. Van Persie did reasonably well in general, aside from his goal, but i still wouldn't be surprised to see him start on the bench on Monday.
Negatives, as usual Anderson didn't last the ninety minutes and at times might as well not have been on the pitch for all that he contributed to the game. Some were more impressed by Buttners display than usual, i can't really count myself amongst them. Sure he had a couple of good moments, but he still looked like an accident waiting to happen against a better team to me.
The sacking of O'Neill was a surprise, it goes without saying, i wouldn't have been surprised if he had gone in the summer, but to sack him now, doesn't really make much sense. He hasn't improved this Sunderland side one iota since he arrived at the club though, i know they have been unfortunate with injuries, but that was a really spineless performance yesterday. Not one you would ever really associate with a team managed by Martin O'Neill. You have to wonder whether we'll ever see him managing again in the premier league after this.
So to tomorrow, a game to get you licking your lips and not one that i can expect to say i had to endure it come half two ish, tomorrow afternoon. I really fancy us for this, we will be fresher than we were for the first tie, no running out of legs in the second half in this one. I can see Rooney Welbeck and Nani all starting this, question is, as part of a front three or will we go 4-4-2. It's a biggie anyway, a crack at a bit of revenge against City for that semi final defeat should be all the incentive they need.
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