Before this and next weeks game, I would have happily took two draws, so yesterday was a pretty good start. Having said that, on another day we might have come away all three points. Unlike last season where under Moyes we didn't look as if we belonged on the same pitch as City and the scousers, yesterday we looked liked we belonged again at this level. To make that even more commendable, we managed that whilst our best player this season so far, Di Maria had his quietest game since his arrival from Madrid.
The surprise team news, was probably not that big a surprise, Jones was out injured, again, with Chris Smalling taking his place. I can't have been the only one who feared the worst, when they heard of Smalling's selection, but to be fair to him he had a very solid game. Rojo, on the other hand was shaky, his passing was pretty good, but he looked vulnerable defensively. Rafael was poor, I'm starting to think that he's not really going to ever make it, defensively he just hasn't improved. Shaw on the other hand put last weeks ropey performance at West Brom firmly behind him with an excellent display. Blind had a decent game, but his lack of pace was shown up a couple of times. The real surprise was Fellaini, given a man marking job to do on Fabregas, he acquited himself admirably, keeping the Spaniard firmly in his pocket.
I noticed Januzaj getting a bit of stick from the crowd, it seems some have already given up on him. He was nowhere near his best yesterday, but he still managed to put in possibly the pass of the match to put Van Persie clean through on goal during the first half. I thought it was a good move putting him on the right during the latter stages, I've always thought he's more dangerous cutting in from the right onto his left foot, ala Robben.
Van Persie realy ought to have done better with that first half chance, but again, to be fair, that was probably his best performance in a while. He looks far happier being the lone man up front. But I wouldn't get too carried away yet, he was better, not brilliant. Mata on the other hand, gave yet another completely innocuous performance, he couldn't complain at being replaced by Wilson for the last twenty minutes.
It was a really soft goal to give away, especially after De Gea's save minutes earlier. As to that save, yes it was an excellent save, but I didn't think it was the best attempt from Hazard, he hit it staright at De Gea.
Chelsea resorted to the usual Mourinho tactics after going a goal up, playing within themselves, and then when United ramped it up during the last ten minutes foul after foul, which obviously came back to haunt them when Ivanovic got his second yellow card and his marching orders. United's equaliser came moments later, poetic justice, I thought.
The surprise team news, was probably not that big a surprise, Jones was out injured, again, with Chris Smalling taking his place. I can't have been the only one who feared the worst, when they heard of Smalling's selection, but to be fair to him he had a very solid game. Rojo, on the other hand was shaky, his passing was pretty good, but he looked vulnerable defensively. Rafael was poor, I'm starting to think that he's not really going to ever make it, defensively he just hasn't improved. Shaw on the other hand put last weeks ropey performance at West Brom firmly behind him with an excellent display. Blind had a decent game, but his lack of pace was shown up a couple of times. The real surprise was Fellaini, given a man marking job to do on Fabregas, he acquited himself admirably, keeping the Spaniard firmly in his pocket.
I noticed Januzaj getting a bit of stick from the crowd, it seems some have already given up on him. He was nowhere near his best yesterday, but he still managed to put in possibly the pass of the match to put Van Persie clean through on goal during the first half. I thought it was a good move putting him on the right during the latter stages, I've always thought he's more dangerous cutting in from the right onto his left foot, ala Robben.
Van Persie realy ought to have done better with that first half chance, but again, to be fair, that was probably his best performance in a while. He looks far happier being the lone man up front. But I wouldn't get too carried away yet, he was better, not brilliant. Mata on the other hand, gave yet another completely innocuous performance, he couldn't complain at being replaced by Wilson for the last twenty minutes.
It was a really soft goal to give away, especially after De Gea's save minutes earlier. As to that save, yes it was an excellent save, but I didn't think it was the best attempt from Hazard, he hit it staright at De Gea.
Chelsea resorted to the usual Mourinho tactics after going a goal up, playing within themselves, and then when United ramped it up during the last ten minutes foul after foul, which obviously came back to haunt them when Ivanovic got his second yellow card and his marching orders. United's equaliser came moments later, poetic justice, I thought.
No comments:
Post a Comment