VIEW: United vs Portsmouth. 5-0

On the day we remembered the legacy of the Busby Babes for the 52nd year, and the horrific moment we lost the core of that golden team, it was fitting that we performed to those legendary setting standards set by United's most influential leader.




OK, slight exaggeration perhaps, especially as the opposition were for the entirety of the game nothing short of shocking. However at times, I felt we swaggered across the Old Trafford turf with the arrogance of Champions. So much so in fact that we could afford to take 3 of our best, attacking players off with just under a third of the game left; giving the blend of youth on the bench, as well as players-with-a-point-to-prove, a run out.




We switched off a bit for the final 20 minutes mind, yet by that stage, the damage was well and truly done in utterly resounding, devastating fashion. Once we found our rhythm (pretty much as soon as the game kicked off), our football glided with the fluidity and reasserted, entitled confidence that recent victories have granted. I expected a high scoring game, but even I was surprised by my attitude at full-time: one of frustration at the fact we didn't score more.




What's more annoying - on a day that was yet again, as with the previous home league game against Hull, more about the off-field noises than just merely the football on show (I'll cover that more in my next post) - was the manner in which the goals have been perceived. Although the number 5 next to Manchester United's name, placed alongside a big fat 0, is of course rather nice, it's always that bit nicer when all the credit goes to your team, isn't it?




Three out of our five well worked and well taken goals have unfortunately (for the United players involved) gone down as own-goals...as if we really needed any help from Portsmouth today! As far as I was concerned, only one of the goals was a proper o.g: Wilson's for the fifth. But hey, what do I know? I'm not one of those esteemed committee members who analyses dubious goals. Nani, for the second game running, was unlucky not to get credit for his goalward strike, and Carrick's was simply a deflected shot; since when is that automatically deemed an own-goal?? But for the ones that were kindly granted to players from our own team - Rooney's header from Fletcher's cross and Berbatov's brilliant piece of solo work that was enhanced and simplified by the non-existent Portsmouth defence - they were both taken superbly.




I genuinely couldn't think of one individual outstanding performer on the day, as we all pulled together and worked the ball as a team. Clichéd? Perhaps. But I like to think of it more as a fitting tribute to the magnitude of the 6th February: a day that will forever elucidate the clubs traditions and underlying importance to the fans.




We played well and most importantly, we played together. Formidable, selfless and United. With Sir Matt and the Flowers of Manchester looking down on us, seeing if the footballing legacy they built up inside this very ground are still inert; and I just hope we did them proud.




Lest we forget.

Good.

Obvious really. Top of the table  and we could even stay there for the first entire weekend in (I don't even know how long) if my mates in North London help us out tomorrow.




Bad.

Are we going to rue those missed opportunities to extend our goal-difference by astronomic amounts (NB: Valencia unable to complement Berbatov's beautiful chip-pass to find the net, as well as Diouf's chance at the end)? Maybe I'm being a bit greedy, but in this eclectic and largely challenging league, how often are we going to play a team as bad as Portsmouth?




Questions...

Why did we attack against the Stretford End in the first half?

And why (although I suspect I know the admirable reason for this) were the Portsmouth fans wearing the Green and Gold?

Answers below please...