Nov 16
Man Utd 5-0 Stoke City: Right Response, But Still a Long Way to Go
A home game. Five goals banged in. The frustrations of last week should slightly be assuaged. But it won’t, because the same Arsenal team lost to Villa yesterday. Makes our defeat at the Emirates seem all the more perplexing.
But let’s not go there now.
There were plenty of good things to talk about today. The scoreline would obviously suggest that we have been dominant. And for once, that was true. Ronaldo returned to his free kick scoring form, and while he did a fair bit of running at the opposition, he wasn’t getting too much help from the referee.
Fergie started a back four of O’Shea, Vidic, Evans and Evra; Rio’s injury forced the manager’s hand, giving Jonny Evans another chance to prove his mettle. The Northern Irishman continues to impress, seemingly not awed by the occasion — of having to step in for Rio — and giving another nerveless, assured performance. I would be gutted if we sold him at any point before seeing him develop fully — and I think he is going to be a big player for us.
Michael Carrick was another of the big players for us yesterday. He controlled the game, and topped it off with a left footed bullet from the edge of the area. (Quick question: did he have a left foot before this?) But a part of the credit must also go to Darren Fletcher, who is doing what Owen Hargreaves was bought to do. The boy was full of energy and is doing his reputation no harm with another good midfield performance. In the past he used to turn it off in the odd big game or two. Now he’s become a lot more consistent — which bodes well for us. It also freed Carrick to do his thing, and even make forays forward.
The other two things I wanted to talk about was on the introduction of new faces — Welbeck and Manucho. The former is definitely not a new face, as followers of our reserve league might argue. But at 17 years of age, he made a dream start to his United career, with a superbly taken goal. It’s stuff like this that make people sit up and take notice. Of course, being English, it won’t take the media too long to declare him to be the next Pele, so we need to keep ourselves on the ground and hope he’s got a lot more than yesterday’s screamer. Welbeck can appear ungainly at times, though, and he does have questionable balance and first touch, from games I’ve seen him play for the reserves. But he’s only 17, so there is a lot to feel optimistic about.
Manucho needs more games before one can pass judgements on his quality. He was involved in Welbeck’s goal, and his movement was impressive yesterday. But I will need to see a lot more before I can comment on him. We need more situations like yesterday (when we are at least a couple goals up) to be able to blood the likes of Welbeck, Evans and Manucho, so there’s hoping.
Finally, we still are eight points off the pace with tough games coming up against Villa, City and Spurs. Game in hand or not, there is still a lot of catching-up to do, as well as a lot of hoping — that Liverpool and Chelsea will simultaneously implode — to do. Till then, we have to be winning games to harbour hopes of winning the league.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Rooney Out For A Month
- Glazers: Manchester United is not for sale
- Man Utd Blog 2007/2008 Home Kit
- Heinze loses arbitration for Liverpool move, what’s next for him and United?
Tags: Match Reports
Opti (542)
Stephen (490)
RedDevilEddy (462)
Craig Mc (349)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@NicoQB: It’s difficult to know about these humanitarian works as the tabloids are not interested in stories like this mate. They just want something juicy to sell their papers. You’re right mate, it feels good know that our count has a heart of gold
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@donibrasco: Rooney wasn’t the player benched when Berba showed up mate. That is why we are not talking about him. In Fergie’s eyes the player can go onto the pitch sit around and take a crap all game and he could do no wrong in the gaffer’s eyes. In fact I have always been a supporter of rotating the three players in order to give teams a different and uncertain look as well, the three would be fresher over the season. But Fergie lacks the courage to sit Rooney down for a game every four or five games. And before you all lambaste me for calling the Boss a coward, think about it. I honestly think he feels that three points are less certain without Rooney and he also feels a mint was spent on Berba and he is his kind of player, therefore, he won’t sit him down either. He is wrong. Whether I am a big Tevez fan or not he should be starting more and he should be giving the other two more chances to rest and stay fresh for the whole season. But being eight points behind seems to spook Fergie enough that he doesn’t want to do that nor does he want to rest Ronaldo either. I’m sorry but I just don’t always agree with the moves or lack of moves the gaffer makes these days. Tevez should play more and Park should not play at all.
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@NicoQB: Good points but a little unfair towards Tevez I think. For all his mistakes, Carlito does contribute a lot of effort and his effort alone creates space and opportunities for others. He should play in order to keep himself sharp but to also rest Rooney and Berbatov more for the season. In fact I am so certain the League is lost so early in the season I would start Tevez more and rest both Berba and Rooney more in those games and save them for the Champions League games that are more important and vital to Fergie.
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What do you people make of the stories that Berba is ready to quit Bulgaria? I personally don’t know a lot about Bulgarian football, but a Bulgarian mate from another forum told that Berba is being made a scapegoat by the Bulgarian press and their F.A for the poor performances of the national team. He is not very well loved in his country and people blame him for their poor performances which i find sad.
Almost similar to our fans blaming him for our poor performances right?
Anyway, if he does quit, then it will be very beneficial for us. No more injuries and fatigue for Berba playing in these meaningless (atleast for us) internationals.
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@Karl: OK that is where the battle lines have been drawn their mate.
Seriously, Berbatov has class oozing out of his pours 24/7. Have you watched this player when he was with Spurs and with Leverkusen or have you just tuned into him now? If you have watched him before his United entry I would find it hard to stomach what you just said about him. The player is class personified.
As for Drogba, my God that was a silver dagger in my heart man. Other than the Antichrist himself John Terry, Drogba is the single most dispicable and disgusting entity in professional football today. God how I hate that player’s guts. Honestly, I would question my allegiance to United if either Terry or the Drogba ever put on that beloved kit and patrolled that hallowed ground as United players. Hell I would welcome Thierry Fucking Henry and that prick Vieira before those two. Hell I would welcome Wenger becoming our manager before those two. EEEEEK!
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@Karl: There are many who would claim Ronaldo hasn’t reached Cantona levels yet. We are talking about the King. His throne is not threatened easily and Berbatov in fairness, has not had the time to properly be compared in substance. In style however, an argument can be made. But lets give the player season or two under his belt before we seriously compare him with the King.
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@Karl: Shevchenko was class, but just not at Chelsea. Put him down all you want but the player was a phemom with Milan. Veron too was a great player everywhere else he has played, but just not with United. Cantona was not as great with his previous clubs as he was with us. You just never know how a player will react tot he pressure cooker that is Old Trafford.
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@RDJ: He is surrounded by 10 useless gits and then he has to take all the pressure about how the team sucks.
They lose 6-1 but they don’t question the terrible defense and goalkeeping that allowed an average side like Serbia to do to them what Argentina did to Serbia in the past World Cup. I have said this about Berbas game before. No service no glory. He is a great player but like all great strikers of the past, he is only going to contribute goals and raves when he gets proper service into the box.
Look at this news from the very positive perspective that if Berba quits Bulgaria, we will never have to worry about him getting injured or worn out again on international duty. Good news if you ask me. Bulgaria doesn’t deserve a class player like Berbatov.
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First of all we dont need to hate Berbatov or Tevez coz both of them plays for United!!!..
This whole argument of Tevez vs Berbatov comes down to the infamous style vs substance argument that has been prevaling in world football for long…is Brazil better than Germany??or Italy better than Argentina???
When Rooney-Tevez-Ronaldo leads the attack, we play more like Brazil/Argentina national side, 3 clever hardworking players running around off the ball and runs at defenders on the ball….pacy,quick passing and would give that entertainment every ticket holder look for…But some times, these style or tenacity doesnt yield anything, just like Arsenal.For all the stylish passing and movement we might end up with nothing…it might come down to shooting or one wrong decision or anyhting like that…when it clicks, it is something to cherish (last season vs Villa,vs Boro, both games vs Newcastle)…
with Berbatov in , we are having a extravagant alternative which can be loosely connect to more European style of play…One focal point of attack and players running off him..Berbatov is good at his first touches and finess passes and well taken goals…but not a great runner with the ball and not a pacy,clever runner off the ball..he just positions himself at the right place and takes the chances that come his way well…Ticket holders go happy coz they won the game well enough..
Which way to take really depends upon the way we play? For example, at Everton in second half we found a tough hard defense which shut off all the attack using Berbatov-Rooney-Ronaldo combo…Thats when we need to switch our tactic and attack them in an altogether different way…- one touch, quick passign and clever runs behind defenders…You need forwards who tires the hardworking defense which will cause them to break down – Rooney-Tevez combo works that out easilty..
But when we are able to create chances against the a pacy defense who picks the forward runs a play a low line, Berbatov -Rooney is the way to go coz Berba can make use of the extra space between midfield and defense to pick out the runs around him…
Again, can we pick one as our permanent tactic…i dont know!!!..The argument continues…..
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Grognard,
ROFL. I like your response. As much as you hate the guy (I know I do with a passion), you have to admit, he is good (perhaps not exceptional) in what he does. I think he would have been the perfect striker for us.
As far as Shrek1, Shrek2 and Sheva2 is concerned, I think I will give it a rest until the end of the season. My frustration, I think you summed it up perfectly in post#402. I will try to keep an open mind on all of them and hope that ALL THREE succeed and bring us lots of entertainment pleasure.
My only other gripe with you and some other guys on this blog (which I feel is total bull) is with my boy Anderson. Just wait until he starts scoring. I’ve bough a bottle of Johnie Walker Blue which I’m keeping sealed until the day he scores his first open goal for United. Just hope it’s soon because my wife is pestering me to see what expensive wine taste like.
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@Shyam, I love the way you express yourself. I wish I had that ability. Fully agree.
@Grognard, my previous post related to your comment405. (Didn’t see your thousand other updates since that one). And, I am not putting Sheva down. I still believe he is a top-class striker.
@Stephen, the reason I used Shevchenko is because of the analogy. I am defo not saying Sheva is a bad player.
Here’s to giving it a rest on my part.
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Ok I think I am back.. well sorta. But while I am getting the house in order before returning full steam, here’s something you can all do.
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..
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@Karl: And the best thing that I can say to you is that I indeed hope you are right. Despite my misgivings over Anderson and Tevez, I would like nothing more than for them to prove me wrong. After all is said and done my only concern is not my ego and to be proven right, but for the success of Manchester United. And I am sure that on that we are 100% in agreement. And despite the negatives that I have brought out regarding Carlos Tevez, the reality is I kind of like the guy. I do love his passion and pit bull terrier style up to a point. I love his attitude and last year he showed me an ability to not score a ton of goals but to score timely and very clutch goals. If he can regain that ability and benefit the club by bulging the old onion bag on a more consistent basis, I will come on to this blog and publicly apologize to all you Tevez supporters. As for Anderson, I’m sorry but I just think there is much ado about nothing with him. There is nothing in his game that really rocks me but then again, he is young and lets see how develops. What you and some other see I don’t, but time will tell who is right or wrong again.
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It was Ronaldo last time and now its Tevez… Tevez to Madrid?
I understand every journalist have right to publish and speak…but isnt it high time someone sue this fecking nuts called Marca if this information is false …
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Sue Marca… What are you on about
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Play Anderson up top left and you will see a more flashy player Grog, if flashy players are what tickels ur fancy
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looks like we signed a new winger
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1088421/EXCLUSIVE-United-8m-swoop-Serbian-midfielder-Tosic.html?ITO=1490
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@SHANNON: Anderson shmanderson, I just don’t believe in this guy. He has yet to show me the offensive skill that I think the position he plays needs. It’s bad enough he can’t score but his playmaking and lack of finesse is an active stab in my side. I honestly don’t see what the fuss is about with this guy?
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I agree with Groggy with Anderson comment…He got enough chances already to show what he really is..we used to compare him with Fabregas but he doesnt seem to be in that league..He is strong,quick,good tackler but not his playmaking and decision making is just plain ordinary…he is yet to show that spark which marks him as world class..
And United signed a left winger.. United sign Tosic
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