Back on the victory trail albeit without really recapturing any sign of the form that seems to have vanished post Real Madrid. Then again we were away at Stoke, and to add to that a wind was blowing that would have harmed the chances of a decent football match against a team that likes to play with the ball on the floor.
The start was pretty crucial, an early goal just minutes into the game, knocked their low conference for six and gave United a boost after our shaky form of late. Rooney started the game in central midfield, which, regardless of whether that's a position he settles into later into his career, given the resources available to us at the moment, was a pretty smart move. He gave a decent display, though I'm not sure it was worth the man of the match awarded to him by Gary Neville. Still he helped the once again, excellent Carrick more or less control the centre of the park for the majority of the encounter.
Not that this really converted itself into goal mouth action. The chances were few and far between for the whole of the match. Stoke didn't offer much, they were poor, without descending to the level of Sunderland's abject display against a couple of weeks back. I would be quite happy for them to go down, their dislike for us, for one, but more to the point, they have played the most unattractive football that we have seen during all the years the premier league has been going. I have a feeling they may just stay up, though how they'll do that with such a dismal goalscoring record, I'm not sure really.
From their point of view, they opening goal was a pretty awful goal to concede, when Carrick got his toe to the ball, i didn't expect it to trickle into the back of the net. The second and decisive goal was fairly straight forward for the referee to give, Van Persie was clever and was definitely upended. The Dutchman made no mistake with the penalty, and with the celebration after where he almost took the 71 year old Fergie out, he showed just how much the goal drought must have affected him. I actually thought that it was great to see the outpouring of relief, at the time, but when i thought about it, I'm not so sure. If his recent lacklustre form is down his goal drought, he should be reassured that his all round game, leading the line is just as important.
Anyway that sealed the win and softened the blow of City's semi final win later in the day, which of course probably means a second FA cup final victory in three years. I couldn't see anything other, than a City victory yesterday, the amount of game the rent boys have had to play, and the travelling they have had to put in, meant City had to be favourites.
So onto West Ham on Wednesday and another team hovering just above the relegation zone. I expect this to be a far harder task, than yesterday, and wouldn't be surprised if we have to be satisfied with a point. I suppose it will all be down to the team that Fergie puts out. Will Rafael come back into contention, where is Jonny Evans, will Phil Jones go into midfield, has Cleverley completely fallen out of favour for the remainder of the season. I'd like to see Welbeck start, whether through the middle or out wide. Hernandez couldn't get into the game yesterday, if we don't dominate a game, he doesn't really contribute. For all the talk of Rooney's future in the summer, there must be as big a question mark about the Mexicans, if the rumours about him not being happy at the number of big games he's missed out on this summer are true.
The start was pretty crucial, an early goal just minutes into the game, knocked their low conference for six and gave United a boost after our shaky form of late. Rooney started the game in central midfield, which, regardless of whether that's a position he settles into later into his career, given the resources available to us at the moment, was a pretty smart move. He gave a decent display, though I'm not sure it was worth the man of the match awarded to him by Gary Neville. Still he helped the once again, excellent Carrick more or less control the centre of the park for the majority of the encounter.
Not that this really converted itself into goal mouth action. The chances were few and far between for the whole of the match. Stoke didn't offer much, they were poor, without descending to the level of Sunderland's abject display against a couple of weeks back. I would be quite happy for them to go down, their dislike for us, for one, but more to the point, they have played the most unattractive football that we have seen during all the years the premier league has been going. I have a feeling they may just stay up, though how they'll do that with such a dismal goalscoring record, I'm not sure really.
From their point of view, they opening goal was a pretty awful goal to concede, when Carrick got his toe to the ball, i didn't expect it to trickle into the back of the net. The second and decisive goal was fairly straight forward for the referee to give, Van Persie was clever and was definitely upended. The Dutchman made no mistake with the penalty, and with the celebration after where he almost took the 71 year old Fergie out, he showed just how much the goal drought must have affected him. I actually thought that it was great to see the outpouring of relief, at the time, but when i thought about it, I'm not so sure. If his recent lacklustre form is down his goal drought, he should be reassured that his all round game, leading the line is just as important.
Anyway that sealed the win and softened the blow of City's semi final win later in the day, which of course probably means a second FA cup final victory in three years. I couldn't see anything other, than a City victory yesterday, the amount of game the rent boys have had to play, and the travelling they have had to put in, meant City had to be favourites.
So onto West Ham on Wednesday and another team hovering just above the relegation zone. I expect this to be a far harder task, than yesterday, and wouldn't be surprised if we have to be satisfied with a point. I suppose it will all be down to the team that Fergie puts out. Will Rafael come back into contention, where is Jonny Evans, will Phil Jones go into midfield, has Cleverley completely fallen out of favour for the remainder of the season. I'd like to see Welbeck start, whether through the middle or out wide. Hernandez couldn't get into the game yesterday, if we don't dominate a game, he doesn't really contribute. For all the talk of Rooney's future in the summer, there must be as big a question mark about the Mexicans, if the rumours about him not being happy at the number of big games he's missed out on this summer are true.
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