It could turn out to be the only memorable night of a pretty rotten season, so we should savour it whilst we can. I had no expectations ahead of last night, how could you, when we have only one victory against a team from the top nine all season. But we knew they don't travel well and are no great shakes. After watching them last night, I'm still non plussed that we could have been so bad over there.
I can't help thinking the decision to bring Giggs back was pure panic, rather than any well crafted masterplan. Likewise Welbeck, any fool could see that we have needed his pace, but Moyes still couldn't bring himself to leave Rooney or Van Persie out of the side. It worked on the night, but what's going to happen when Mata and Januzaj both come into the reckoning for the next biggie against City. I can't help thinking it will be back to the bench and more frustration for the Longsight forward. It's a good job that he's a Manchester lad and a United fan, otherwise you'd imagine he would be another player wondering where his future lies. I couldn't believe it when Moyes brought him off, he was the one man to stretch them and boy did Evra need his support as they had obviously identified him as a weak point. Even on a good night last night, you can't help wondering what on Earth goes through Moyes mind at times.
Playing Ferdinand wasn't as much of a risk at home to the Greeks, that said, we were still susceptible at the back. I suppose to a degree we had to be, chasing the three goals, but we wouldn't have got away with last nights defending against any of the big beasts of European football. It says it all that we had to rely on Giggs to the extent we did, not just creating the first two goals and having a hand in the third, but almost coaching the team on the pitch. Was he trying to tell us something ? But of course that left us a little light defensively, we winged it and got away with it. But I'm alright with that, we actually went for it, for once.
The goals came at good times, though maybe the third came a little early for a team in our current parlous condition. De Gea continued his fine season with a couple of great saves and Van Persie showed us that he's still a great centre forward when he wants to be. So we're in the hat for the next round, and Moyes lives to fight another day.
I can't help thinking the decision to bring Giggs back was pure panic, rather than any well crafted masterplan. Likewise Welbeck, any fool could see that we have needed his pace, but Moyes still couldn't bring himself to leave Rooney or Van Persie out of the side. It worked on the night, but what's going to happen when Mata and Januzaj both come into the reckoning for the next biggie against City. I can't help thinking it will be back to the bench and more frustration for the Longsight forward. It's a good job that he's a Manchester lad and a United fan, otherwise you'd imagine he would be another player wondering where his future lies. I couldn't believe it when Moyes brought him off, he was the one man to stretch them and boy did Evra need his support as they had obviously identified him as a weak point. Even on a good night last night, you can't help wondering what on Earth goes through Moyes mind at times.
Playing Ferdinand wasn't as much of a risk at home to the Greeks, that said, we were still susceptible at the back. I suppose to a degree we had to be, chasing the three goals, but we wouldn't have got away with last nights defending against any of the big beasts of European football. It says it all that we had to rely on Giggs to the extent we did, not just creating the first two goals and having a hand in the third, but almost coaching the team on the pitch. Was he trying to tell us something ? But of course that left us a little light defensively, we winged it and got away with it. But I'm alright with that, we actually went for it, for once.
The goals came at good times, though maybe the third came a little early for a team in our current parlous condition. De Gea continued his fine season with a couple of great saves and Van Persie showed us that he's still a great centre forward when he wants to be. So we're in the hat for the next round, and Moyes lives to fight another day.
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