Well I won't pretend that last night's display was sexy football, but it was a decent Euro away performance and a decent point to boot. They have an excellent home record, so to restrict them to so few chances, and even to impotency in attack, during that first half was pretty creditable. Given our defensive performance so far this season, it was a pleasant surprise. It would have been nice if we'd had more bite up front, and then kept possession better in the second half, but in the context of our season so far and the context of the group, it was a good night.
Vidic was back in the heart of our defence, and not the Vidic that we saw during the eastlands battering. Accompanied by Smalling and with both first choice full backs in place, the back four was more like a Manchester United back four. The change of formation defintely helped give the team a more solid look. During the first half we had plenty of possession, without ever really looking like opening them up too much. But whilst United had the ball, their dangerous attack never really got a look in.
Cleverley looked a better player in the 4-3-3 floating around making himself available, giving and getting. As with others though, he couldn't keep it going and faded out of things during the second half, a perrenial problem for him, though his defensive work was fine. Carrick gave a reasonable performance, though I don't think he's really carried last season's form through yet.
Fellaini carried on his indifferent form, though he was nowhere near the finished article in the first half, he stil managed to create them problems. But his game went from bad to worse during the second half. There's an argument Moyes left it too late in taking him off, maybe we could have regained the intitiative before they equalied if Giggs had come on earlier. You can only hope Fellaini's finding his feet at the club, because at the moment he's showing signs off being the player I always thought of him being at Everton. When he gets the ball in the final third, he looks like a duck out of water when it comes to our passsing game.
Van Perise was left isolated a little too much, especially in the second half, I'd presumed Cleverley would try and get forward to help him, but that wasn't the case. Welbeck and Valencia both had solid games, I'd have Welbeck in my teams every time for the biggest games, that's without the goal. Apparently he still get's tons of stick, absolutely loses me that, he does a job and a half for the team and when he's given more responsibility later in his career he will shove the criticism back down their throats, positive of that. Anway fuck the thicker elements of our support, Moyes obviously fancies him in the big games, as did Fergie.
So on to Sunderland on Saturday, I suppose with all eyes on us after our disappointing start, it's pretty imperative we get the three points. Even after yesterday's improved display, I'll wait until I see the team sheet before I dare to hope we've turned the corner.
Vidic was back in the heart of our defence, and not the Vidic that we saw during the eastlands battering. Accompanied by Smalling and with both first choice full backs in place, the back four was more like a Manchester United back four. The change of formation defintely helped give the team a more solid look. During the first half we had plenty of possession, without ever really looking like opening them up too much. But whilst United had the ball, their dangerous attack never really got a look in.
Cleverley looked a better player in the 4-3-3 floating around making himself available, giving and getting. As with others though, he couldn't keep it going and faded out of things during the second half, a perrenial problem for him, though his defensive work was fine. Carrick gave a reasonable performance, though I don't think he's really carried last season's form through yet.
Fellaini carried on his indifferent form, though he was nowhere near the finished article in the first half, he stil managed to create them problems. But his game went from bad to worse during the second half. There's an argument Moyes left it too late in taking him off, maybe we could have regained the intitiative before they equalied if Giggs had come on earlier. You can only hope Fellaini's finding his feet at the club, because at the moment he's showing signs off being the player I always thought of him being at Everton. When he gets the ball in the final third, he looks like a duck out of water when it comes to our passsing game.
Van Perise was left isolated a little too much, especially in the second half, I'd presumed Cleverley would try and get forward to help him, but that wasn't the case. Welbeck and Valencia both had solid games, I'd have Welbeck in my teams every time for the biggest games, that's without the goal. Apparently he still get's tons of stick, absolutely loses me that, he does a job and a half for the team and when he's given more responsibility later in his career he will shove the criticism back down their throats, positive of that. Anway fuck the thicker elements of our support, Moyes obviously fancies him in the big games, as did Fergie.
So on to Sunderland on Saturday, I suppose with all eyes on us after our disappointing start, it's pretty imperative we get the three points. Even after yesterday's improved display, I'll wait until I see the team sheet before I dare to hope we've turned the corner.
No comments:
Post a Comment