Well with twenty minutes to go, I feared the worst, we were playing as badly as we had all season. But fair play to Moyes, he went for it with those substitutions, and we got the rewards, so we left the ground feeling as good as we have so far this season.
Yet what went before those last fifteen to twenty minutes can't really be forgotten, it was dire. The defending which had showed signs of improving was poor to calamatous. The centre of the park was like a giant hole. Carrick's best game of the season so far was for England. He wasn't poor, but he certainly isn't living up to the standards he has set himself. Alongside him, Cleverley gave another of those performances, where you just think, no, he's not really United class. He just doesn't seem to impose himself enough in any facet of the game. The way that their Austrian international, who was excellent by the way, went past him down our right hand side for their first goal summed his ineffectiveness up.
Of course I don't entirely blame our midfield two, with our rigid tactics of 4-4-2, with neither Rooney or Van Persie dropping into the hole regularly, they're usually outnumbered. The first twenty minutes of the second half saw us playing in such rigid straight lines, it was unbelievable. It was only with the introduction of Januzaj that things changed. His ability to make things happen unsettled the Stoke rearguard consistently for the first time in the match. As much as I think the sun shines out of Januzaj's arse, I would have given him the man of the match, he affected the game more than the rest of our big guns put together, we shouldn't have to rely on him against the like of Stoke and Sunderland.
Nani started well, only to make a couple of mistakes, which saw him get some stick of the crowd, hitting his confidence to the point where he couldn't put a foot right for most of the second half. The booing he received when he was hooked for Januzaj, was a fucking disgrace, but not totally surprising, our present match going fan base is no better, in fact it's probably worse now than most of the wankers we used to take the piss out of.
Kagawa had a quiet game after our excitement at his improved showing in midweek, but again, it wasn't much of a surprise, he's never going to excel playing on the left in such a stifling role. We certainly aren't getting the best out of any of our players at the moment for me.
I know Rooney has shown improved of late, though nowhere near the level some are claiming, but I still feel the clubs determination to indulge him is a long term mistake. One he is never going to be the player he was, never mind the player we thought he would become when we bought him. Two the club will look desperate and foolish if, as I suspect, he doesn't sign a new contract and pushes for an exit again next summer.
And, oh the irony, when Moyes made his match changing substitutions, it involved shifting Rooney back in the centre of the park, the centre of the park he's complained about. That and Van Persie moving behind Hernandez, along side bringing Januzaj on, saw us look like a really potent attacking force for the first time in the match.
So yes it was a reminder of what United are all about, never say die comebacks, but I'm not sure it will be the turning point some are hoping that it may turn out to be. Turning to tomorrow's night league cup tie, of course a win would be much needed, but i would like to see a couple of our youngsters get a look in, even if it's only coming on the bench. I'm not particularly hopeful it'll happen I'm afraid
Yet what went before those last fifteen to twenty minutes can't really be forgotten, it was dire. The defending which had showed signs of improving was poor to calamatous. The centre of the park was like a giant hole. Carrick's best game of the season so far was for England. He wasn't poor, but he certainly isn't living up to the standards he has set himself. Alongside him, Cleverley gave another of those performances, where you just think, no, he's not really United class. He just doesn't seem to impose himself enough in any facet of the game. The way that their Austrian international, who was excellent by the way, went past him down our right hand side for their first goal summed his ineffectiveness up.
Of course I don't entirely blame our midfield two, with our rigid tactics of 4-4-2, with neither Rooney or Van Persie dropping into the hole regularly, they're usually outnumbered. The first twenty minutes of the second half saw us playing in such rigid straight lines, it was unbelievable. It was only with the introduction of Januzaj that things changed. His ability to make things happen unsettled the Stoke rearguard consistently for the first time in the match. As much as I think the sun shines out of Januzaj's arse, I would have given him the man of the match, he affected the game more than the rest of our big guns put together, we shouldn't have to rely on him against the like of Stoke and Sunderland.
Nani started well, only to make a couple of mistakes, which saw him get some stick of the crowd, hitting his confidence to the point where he couldn't put a foot right for most of the second half. The booing he received when he was hooked for Januzaj, was a fucking disgrace, but not totally surprising, our present match going fan base is no better, in fact it's probably worse now than most of the wankers we used to take the piss out of.
Kagawa had a quiet game after our excitement at his improved showing in midweek, but again, it wasn't much of a surprise, he's never going to excel playing on the left in such a stifling role. We certainly aren't getting the best out of any of our players at the moment for me.
I know Rooney has shown improved of late, though nowhere near the level some are claiming, but I still feel the clubs determination to indulge him is a long term mistake. One he is never going to be the player he was, never mind the player we thought he would become when we bought him. Two the club will look desperate and foolish if, as I suspect, he doesn't sign a new contract and pushes for an exit again next summer.
And, oh the irony, when Moyes made his match changing substitutions, it involved shifting Rooney back in the centre of the park, the centre of the park he's complained about. That and Van Persie moving behind Hernandez, along side bringing Januzaj on, saw us look like a really potent attacking force for the first time in the match.
So yes it was a reminder of what United are all about, never say die comebacks, but I'm not sure it will be the turning point some are hoping that it may turn out to be. Turning to tomorrow's night league cup tie, of course a win would be much needed, but i would like to see a couple of our youngsters get a look in, even if it's only coming on the bench. I'm not particularly hopeful it'll happen I'm afraid
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