VIEW: United vs Valencia. 1-1
Uneventful, mistake-ridden, awful in the final third and can’t finish to save our lives. Just another game in United’s below-par season!
Good.
Top of the group. Ludicrously harsh opening statement there, of course. We got the job done with the point we needed and cleared the group with an impressive 14 points, and that’s all that matters. So what does that mean? No Barca, Real or Bayern in the next round. However let’s not forget that the likes of Lyon, AC and holders Inter are hardly going to give us an easy ride.
Anderson. He was influential as he was against Blackburn, and nowhere near as wasteful or lazy as he was against West Ham. The sporadic nature of his form proves that he is still a way off full fitness. He played nearly the entire game yesterday (subbed for Fletcher late on) but after 60 minutes was panting as wildly as Benitez after climbing the seven stairs to the Old Trafford dugout. Either way, he played brilliantly yesterday; pinging the ball in the fashion of his mentor Scholes and even scoring his first ever goal at OT. Anderson can be a great, in the same way Nani is fast becoming, if he can just keep his head down, work hard and in turn be rewarded with the games he needs.
Rooney. Had a couple of great chances and showed glimpses of the skill that makes him so adorned across the world of football. Still to score from open play this season, but its coming – with the 30 yard effort that smashed the bar the closest he’s come all season.
Bad.
No clean-sheet record. What a horrible goal to give away as well…
Carrick. Ironically I tweeted about Carrick’s decent passing and possession early on. Yet after 32 minutes he was caught in possession and failed to find his man as Valencia opened the scoring. Thankfully not a detrimental mistake, but annoying to have conceded a goal as stupid as that when you think of how awesome and just the last goal we conceded in the Champions League was.
Berbatov. Wasted more than his fair share of opportunities. Whether it was in a one-on-one situation with ‘keeper Guaita or attempting to keep a header on target, performances like this really make you wonder how the hell he has got himself alongside the goalscoring elite as one of only four players to have notched up five goals in a single Premier League game.
Ferdinand. Went off at half-time with fears ringing through Old Trafford that he’s suffered yet another serious injury. Ferguson reckons he’ll be alright for Arsenal on Monday though…so a bit of a pointless point really!
Player Ratings.
Amos 6; Rafael 6, Ferdinand 7, Vidic 7, Fabio 7; Nani 7, Carrick 5, Anderson 8, Park 6; Berbatov 6, Rooney 7
Uneventful, mistake-ridden....Awful.
ReplyDeleteOld Trafford resembled the Emirates a library.
What do the majority know that a minority continue to ignore.
An attendance of 74500? who is kidding who?
This the theatre of broken dreams for sure, allowing a team vastly lacking the class of Barcelona or Real Madrid to dominate postion so much having 10% more than ourselves not acceptable.
I know I was shitting myself when Hernandez scored for them and quickly thought i am so glad Soldado was not playing or we would have been a goner bye then.Although i can see the benifit of some short term pain for long term gain.To free ourselves from the stranglehold on the Club bye our "beloved owners".
Anderson yes he had a good game if you consider his Goal and that is him doubling his Manchester United scoring record, is this good enough for a club of Uniteds status acceptable?
Carrick i just feel he has hit rock bottom he seldom looks for a forward pass always looking for someone to take the intiative wether it be scholes or as last night Anderson.Its not good enough and one goal per 10 games average is not Champions league winning material.
With Carrick, Park and Anderson collectively guilty of 42 misplaced passes in conjuction with limited Goals coming from Uniteds midfield it does not take a rocket scientist to identify where serious large financial investment is required.
Dimitar Berbatov, Valencia are not a Blackburn or a Liverstool although he got in postions again and again to score he just keeps fluffing his lines. 4 goals in Europe against teams like Sellick and Aalborg is not great, but we must keep the faith with him.I like most United supporters recognise he has immense ability we just need to witness it more regularly not so spasmodic.
On Rio hope he is well and it was just a precaution, probably away twittering with Robbie Savage.
On the players ratings i feel sorry for Micheal Carricks wife. lol
Agree on all the points awarded.