Given it was the second game in three days, I expected a fair few changes yersterday and given our injury list and our lack of depth in certain positions, knew that this would be no easy three points. So I would have bit your hand of for a 1-0 victory before the game, and despite the fact that the first half showed up some of our old deficiencies, I'll happily take yesterdays performance.
I had a feeling that Moyes might leave Rooney out, but hoped that if he did he would include Welbeck, I don't rate Hernandez as good enough to lead the front line up on his own. And whilst the lack of movement behind him and on the wings didn't help things, he gave the kind of performance that did nothing to shake that belief. Playing Kagawa and Giggs didn't help matters, neither really ever got into the game and it could easily have been the Japanese interntional who got hooked at half time to allow the introduction of Welbeck in the second half to completely change the tone of the game.
Another reflection on the events of the last few weeks is how Moyes has been following the Ferguson how to manage United guidebook, almost to the letter. Squad rotation, managing to get to the team to win, whilst not on their game and then the comeback at Hull. Something else he seem to be getting better at is making game changing substitutions. And the pleasing thing there, has been the way he has looked to youth, using either Januzaj or Welbeck to stir things up.
Saying that it was disappointing to see Fabio restricted to the subs bench yesterday after Rafael's injury at Hull on boxing day. It would seem that Moyes has identified Smalling as part of his plans going forward and has decided to play Smalling as often as possible to get more experience. He is still no right back though, there's no hiding that. What made the Fabio situation worse yesterday though, was the performance of Evra, especially during the first half, where almost our problems arose. They went past him as if he wasn't there at times, two games in three days looked well beyond him at times, surely Fabio could have done a better job for the team there yesterday. If Fabio can't get a sniff of first team action on days such as yesterday, it's not really fair to keep him at the club any longer, he should be allowed to leave during the next transfer window if he can find a club.
The game started with United controlling possession with the home team sitting deep, allowing United to control the ball, but with United unable to do anything with it. Once Norwich had seen how little we had to give, they decided to go for it and the rest of the half left United living dangerously at the back. Some reds seem to think we defended reasonably well yesteday, I can't agree with that, we looked as edgy and nervous as we had done in the first ten minutes at Hull and only luck, poor finishing and a couple of decent saves from De Gea kept the home team out.
Fair's fair to Moyes, he identified the problem and didn't hang around changing things around at half time, bringing Welbeck on for Giggs. That move completely changed the game as United now took total control of the game, even if we didn't really create as many changes as we might have. And the goal, when it came, had a big slice of fortune to it, but Welbeck made it happen by working hard, getting in their faces and making something happen. He didn't look like someone who can't finish when the chance presented itself, taking it around the goalie and coolly slotting it into the back of the net.
We saw the rest of the game out, not entirely convincingly, I thought we sat back a little, when we should have been pressing for a kiler second goal as they searched for an equaliser. But our slow climb back up the table managed to keep it's momentum.
I was slightly surprised at City's narrow win, but today's fixture between the rent boys and the dippers is the one to watch for me. If Chelsea can beat them we would be right back on Liverpools tail, and my first goal for the rest of the season is to climb above them and stay there.
I had a feeling that Moyes might leave Rooney out, but hoped that if he did he would include Welbeck, I don't rate Hernandez as good enough to lead the front line up on his own. And whilst the lack of movement behind him and on the wings didn't help things, he gave the kind of performance that did nothing to shake that belief. Playing Kagawa and Giggs didn't help matters, neither really ever got into the game and it could easily have been the Japanese interntional who got hooked at half time to allow the introduction of Welbeck in the second half to completely change the tone of the game.
Another reflection on the events of the last few weeks is how Moyes has been following the Ferguson how to manage United guidebook, almost to the letter. Squad rotation, managing to get to the team to win, whilst not on their game and then the comeback at Hull. Something else he seem to be getting better at is making game changing substitutions. And the pleasing thing there, has been the way he has looked to youth, using either Januzaj or Welbeck to stir things up.
Saying that it was disappointing to see Fabio restricted to the subs bench yesterday after Rafael's injury at Hull on boxing day. It would seem that Moyes has identified Smalling as part of his plans going forward and has decided to play Smalling as often as possible to get more experience. He is still no right back though, there's no hiding that. What made the Fabio situation worse yesterday though, was the performance of Evra, especially during the first half, where almost our problems arose. They went past him as if he wasn't there at times, two games in three days looked well beyond him at times, surely Fabio could have done a better job for the team there yesterday. If Fabio can't get a sniff of first team action on days such as yesterday, it's not really fair to keep him at the club any longer, he should be allowed to leave during the next transfer window if he can find a club.
The game started with United controlling possession with the home team sitting deep, allowing United to control the ball, but with United unable to do anything with it. Once Norwich had seen how little we had to give, they decided to go for it and the rest of the half left United living dangerously at the back. Some reds seem to think we defended reasonably well yesteday, I can't agree with that, we looked as edgy and nervous as we had done in the first ten minutes at Hull and only luck, poor finishing and a couple of decent saves from De Gea kept the home team out.
Fair's fair to Moyes, he identified the problem and didn't hang around changing things around at half time, bringing Welbeck on for Giggs. That move completely changed the game as United now took total control of the game, even if we didn't really create as many changes as we might have. And the goal, when it came, had a big slice of fortune to it, but Welbeck made it happen by working hard, getting in their faces and making something happen. He didn't look like someone who can't finish when the chance presented itself, taking it around the goalie and coolly slotting it into the back of the net.
We saw the rest of the game out, not entirely convincingly, I thought we sat back a little, when we should have been pressing for a kiler second goal as they searched for an equaliser. But our slow climb back up the table managed to keep it's momentum.
I was slightly surprised at City's narrow win, but today's fixture between the rent boys and the dippers is the one to watch for me. If Chelsea can beat them we would be right back on Liverpools tail, and my first goal for the rest of the season is to climb above them and stay there.
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