If last week's performance was a pleasant surprise, because it came completely out of the blue, Saturday was the first real instance where reds could start to think optimistically about the future , the first half performance was as good as we have seen over the last couple of seasons. We played at a faster pace, the passing was far better than we have seen for ages, there was a drive from central midfield that some of us thought we didn't possess, we counter attacked at pace and most excitingly of all our best players were the younger lads who we need to come good.
The combination of Januzaj and Welbeck looked looked excellent in the first half, Welbeck's pace and workrate allied to the confidence of two goals last week at Villa park and playing in his best position gave us a thruts up front we haven't seen for some time. I like Van Persie as a player, but he does tend to slow things up, at times when a counter attack looks like it might be on the cards. Welbeck scares back fours to death with his pace and movement. Januzaj showed glimpses of his genius, both goals was absolutely top drawer.
Valenica had an in and out game, but his combination with Rafael, especially in the first half is starting to look really strong again. In fact, if Valencia had finished off the counter attack right at the end of the first half, that would probably have been the goal of the game.
Rooney once again sat deeper, almost central midfield at times, and he looked all the better for it. As a team we look so much better when he plays deeper, of course it helped him that Jones and Cleverley gave what was as good a performance from a central midfield two as we have seen this season. Jones was magnificent, he could definitely make a career as a defensive or even box to box central midield player. I'd still see him as our future centre half, but he is starting to justify Fergie's seemingly, at times, over the top praise of the ex Blackburn man. Alongside him Cleverley is starting to look like the player who excited us when he first got into the team, a couple of seasons ago. He was busy, but as important, was his inclination to go forward. He still playing the role of keeping the ball moving and making himself available, but is no longer always taking the easy option. He was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet again, the goalie made a brilliant save from him in the first couple of minutes, and then the referee blew up too early for a foul when Cleverley had found himself clean through. But if he keeps making those runs and keeps getting into those positions the goals will come.
Even at the back there were reasons to think the future looks good as Evans and Smalling gave a really solid performance, only conceding the goal, when substitute Buttner fell asleep. So Staurday was the first game where I have come away from the game feeling really good about things. Let's hope we don't stumble again over the next couple of games, the next two in particular are really the games where we need to be taking three points if we are to start to climb our way back up the table .
The combination of Januzaj and Welbeck looked looked excellent in the first half, Welbeck's pace and workrate allied to the confidence of two goals last week at Villa park and playing in his best position gave us a thruts up front we haven't seen for some time. I like Van Persie as a player, but he does tend to slow things up, at times when a counter attack looks like it might be on the cards. Welbeck scares back fours to death with his pace and movement. Januzaj showed glimpses of his genius, both goals was absolutely top drawer.
Valenica had an in and out game, but his combination with Rafael, especially in the first half is starting to look really strong again. In fact, if Valencia had finished off the counter attack right at the end of the first half, that would probably have been the goal of the game.
Rooney once again sat deeper, almost central midfield at times, and he looked all the better for it. As a team we look so much better when he plays deeper, of course it helped him that Jones and Cleverley gave what was as good a performance from a central midfield two as we have seen this season. Jones was magnificent, he could definitely make a career as a defensive or even box to box central midield player. I'd still see him as our future centre half, but he is starting to justify Fergie's seemingly, at times, over the top praise of the ex Blackburn man. Alongside him Cleverley is starting to look like the player who excited us when he first got into the team, a couple of seasons ago. He was busy, but as important, was his inclination to go forward. He still playing the role of keeping the ball moving and making himself available, but is no longer always taking the easy option. He was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet again, the goalie made a brilliant save from him in the first couple of minutes, and then the referee blew up too early for a foul when Cleverley had found himself clean through. But if he keeps making those runs and keeps getting into those positions the goals will come.
Even at the back there were reasons to think the future looks good as Evans and Smalling gave a really solid performance, only conceding the goal, when substitute Buttner fell asleep. So Staurday was the first game where I have come away from the game feeling really good about things. Let's hope we don't stumble again over the next couple of games, the next two in particular are really the games where we need to be taking three points if we are to start to climb our way back up the table .
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